Oh, and if I can elect to fight defensively at the same time I’m using dazzling display, I’ll do that.
Ah, us Buffyites know that the first villian never lasts to the end of the season.
[IC]
“Relax big guy, I think we’ve got this last one dead to rights. Smoke 'em if you got 'em…”
I move towards the remaining troll, ready to attack it if no further fire attacks from fellow party members are forthcoming.
My bird shall remain perched relatively near the downed mage, keen on the lookout for any additional allies of his joining the party.
One more sneak attack on the dazzled troll. Let’s hope this one works.
If the troll drops before my turn comes up, I will instead start searching the room for—well, I’m not sure exactly, since I still don’t know what’s going on. Any unusual books in arcane scripts–I’ll have to give these to someone who can read them, any secret passages or seeming magical devices, things like that. But if the troll is still up I will attack.
Zach is still unhurt and feral, so he’ll go all Mr Hyde on the remaining troll.
Initiative:
21: Joseph
19: Solsken
18: Harald
16: Troll
15: Mage
13: Aji
9: Taye
9: Troll
7: Giacomo
6: Zachary
Joseph’s whip lashes out and wraps around the wounded troll’s leg, and this time, it knots and holds as Joseph pulls, and the troll crashes to the ground, still smoldering from Taye’s magical flames.
Solsken steps forward and swings his curved sword with both hands. He scores a deep blow in the troll’s side as it lies on the ground.
Harald grits his teeth and runs forward, though without his previous vigor. Still, he scoops up the dropped firebrand and thrusts it into the standing troll’s vitals. It screams, stumbles, and drops to the floor.
Aji’s pinned porcupine struggles, but it can’t break free or bring its quills or claws into play. Aji strikes it hard with his elbow in the head, and it stops struggling, bleeding from its mouth.
That’s the lot. HP totals to come.
Although no immediate flames are visible (other than those on the trolls’ torches), the room is filled with a thin haze of smoke. The library is richly decorated with expensive silk wall hangings, Persian carpets on the floor, and finely-carved tables, shelves, and lecturns covered with books, scrolls, and stacks of loose papers. Shelves of books run on for dozens of yards, including classical volumes on history, geography, natural and theological philosophy, alchemy, music and art, mathematics, formal logic, and poetry. One whole section is devoted to accounts, correspondences, and histories of the Crusades and Crusading military orders like the Knights Templar and Hospitaller, the Spanish Knights of Santiago, and the very new Teutonic knights of the north. Joseph can see that a table far from the window is covered with what looks like double-entry bookkeeping, cargo manifests, and correspondences in several languages, including Italian, Arabic, Greek, French, and Catalan. Near the window, a book-stand holds an unassuming memoir from a Hanseatic merchant who traveled and traded all across the Baltic sea. The mage and trolls were standing right next to this book-stand when the party entered the library.
The hazy smoke filtering up the stairwell is not yet getting thicker, but it probably wouldn’t be wise to tarry.
Harald: Has taken 28 damage
Taye: Has taken 8 damage
Joseph: Has taken 7 damage
Aji: Has taken 10 damage
Solsken, Giacomo, and Zachary are unhurt.
Is the porcupine dead, or just unconscious?
You’re honestly not sure. You failed your Knowledge (Nature) check.
Zachary rummages through his robes for any more cure potions he happens to have brought with him, the first for Aji and then some for Harald.
Faen…bassards, allbassards… Harald vigorously kicks the troll’s head a couple of times for good measure, then goes and carefully retrieves Ingrid from the other one Well, that’s today’s supper sorted out, eh guys ? Oooh, and I need a drink or twelve to put my insides back where they belong, Christ. Harald staggers a bit and looks unsteady on his feet Let’s go get paid before our noble employer starts thinking sellswords aren’t honourable and beneath his purse’s grandeur or some such tripe.
Joseph first turns to look in on Aji’s status, calling out, “Don’t let your guard down just because his is, big guy! Seems like he can change form without much effort, so even tying him up may not be effective once he’s conscious.”
Then he moves towards where the mage was standing, pausing to scoop up any interesting-looking bookkeeping or correspondence. The Arabic stuff is particularly interesting: any contact between the Catholic city-states and the Muslim sultanates is bound to be juicy. Those go into a waterproof scroll case.
He grabs up the memoir without bothering to look inside, slipping it into a satchel, then examines the bookstand. If it looks like it might be capable of hiding something, he’ll call Giacomo over to examine it.
Joseph recalls that he heard the sound of what were probably books being thrown to the floor as shelves were searched. He looks for those, trying to get a sense of what else the mage may have been looking for.
“All this mess just to have a few uninterrupted minutes in a library,” he muses.
I’ll take Joseph’s advice, and carry the porcupine back with my hand firmly wrapped around its neck.
If the damage Taye has taken will heal on its on I won’t need one of Hawkins potions. I DO want a good long look at the histories and records of the Crusades, as well as any dealing with magic and artifacts. Taking any that I can without being observed. Using my Knowledge (Arcana) if needed.
“Friend Hawkins, once you complete diapering Harald (said with a mischievous grin) there appear to be some formulae here you may wish to see. Also, might you have some concoction to render the mage incapable? Or should we cut his throat and be done?”
Giacomo gives Joseph an approving nod for securing the journal. Its location by itself and its proximity to the mage indicate that there is more to this volume than meets the eye.
“We had best collect these books and move them away from danger, as the noble lord requested.”
Giacomo begins to gather books, keeping an eye for anything unusual.
Out I go outside to retrieve my lost spear, note the porcupine being held by an ally, and do the Nature check that was asked for.
“Harald, you never looked better-rosy cheeks become you.”
“Whatever this miscreant has done,” Zachary slurs through malformed lips, visibly fighting for control of his wits, “it was better he should be handed over alive for the Doge’s justice. Does anyone have a sack to shove him in?”
A tome on classical alchemy would make a good read for later, but it won’t avail much to riffle through it right now.
'm not putting a wizard in my bag, it’s unsanitary. I don’t know where it’s been !
“Better to keep a hand around its throat for now. We’ll be passing him off to the authorities soon enough and won’t have to worry about it.”