1 Inquisition Confessors, Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly, Pearl, a Maelstrom Forest Cat arrive, following Delilah.

2 Ashford Archer, Bethany, 1 Ashford Ranger, Faustus, the feisty, fluffy, three legged kitten arrive, following Olivia.

1 Inquisition Confessors, Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly, Pearl, a Maelstrom Forest Cat arrive, following Delilah.

1 Inquisition Confessors, Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly, Pearl, a Maelstrom Forest Cat leave, following Delilah.

1 Inquisition Confessors, Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly, Pearl, a Maelstrom Forest Cat arrive, following Delilah.

Merek wields Torean Nightsong.

Ian gets ugly, singed, stained, multicolor scarf from Oiled leather bag.

Rysen wields Ruby Axe.

Quintin wields steel sword.

Stefano, an inconspicuous Lycene bodyguard, Carmela, a gleaming dusken-feathered crow, Alba, a small, azure-eyed white cat arrive, following Mirella.

Delilah takes Moonfire, a twilight-dipped recurve bow of opalescent steel from Twilight messenger bag awash in stars.

Delilah wields Moonfire, a twilight-dipped recurve bow of opalescent steel.

Tescelina wields Equinox and Solstice, a silvery rapier and golden parrying dagger.

Stefano, an inconspicuous Lycene bodyguard, Carmela, a gleaming dusken-feathered crow, Alba, a small, azure-eyed white cat arrive, following Mirella.

In comes Olivia, Quintin and Rhiannon. Olivia has some Rangers with her too. Looks like half of Ashford Keep has shown up to hunt this creature down and put an end to the masks. Avenge poor Ol' Sam. Olivia is straight up armored. Rhiannon would have made her. She looks kind of grumpy about it, but she wanted to come, and that was the Deal. Of course Quintin has an apple... or seven. Where does he get all those... Better check the Orangery Later for stripped trees... "I am telling you Rhia. I have a plan. You'll See."

Damien Pierce - A Charming Assistant, 1 Redreef Warden, 1 Thrax Guards, 1 Redoubt Buccaneers, Vagari - Cinder Kitten arrive, following Mikani.

Mirella wields a slender Lycene-styled diamondplate dagger.

Olivia wields a pair of brushed silver hairpins crowned with pink chalcedony roses.

It has been several days since the children's festival that was held within the Uppers, and the words of that little boy charmed by Ailith rings in the ears of those who spoke to him. "I saw it. Even her house was a monster. Stood up on two legs, bent like a seabird's. Tucked into the corner of the Wall, dark and dank and smelly. It was just past the warehouse with a black fish on a red wave." The directions... could be worse. They could definitely be *better*. Word has spread and there is talk that a bunch of fools are on a hunt for ghosts, and they have no small audience as those curious gather near the docks of the Lowers. The air is chilly, and the air is cold and wet. The sky hangs low overhead, oppressively gray, barely light, giving everything a dim illumination.

In comes Olivia, Quintin and Rhiannon. Olivia has some Rangers with her too. Looks like half of Ashford Keep has shown up to hunt this creature down and put an end to the masks. Avenge poor Ol' Sam. Olivia is straight up armored. Rhiannon would have made her. She looks kind of grumpy about it, but she wanted to come, and that was the Deal. Of course Quintin has an apple... or seven. Where does he get all those... Better check the Orangery Later for stripped trees... "I am telling you Rhia. I have a plan. You'll See."

Mirella has rolled a critical success!
Mirella checked wits + streetwise at difficulty 25, rolling 94 higher.

Merek checked wits + streetwise at difficulty 25, rolling 6 higher.

Ian comes with, er... just Ian, the hurried message that he dashed off to his brother when he found out the hunt was on having gone unreturned. Well, Ian and Ian's scarf, which probably counts for at LEAST one or two guards, right? ... Right? He keeps the scarf looped and tucked into his belt where it can be easily accessed, and it hangs there and stinks in malevolent silence. He's not visibly armed, and is stepping very carefully on the slick and sometimes icy city streets.

Rhiannon checked wits + streetwise at difficulty 25, rolling 15 lower.

Merek has put on his best black leathers, steel rings equipping his gear. He has on his cloak also while his hood is up, sword in hand. Soldiers from the Guard follow their Officer while he makes his way with the others, "Formation Two," he calls, then they spread to either side while following him.

Rhiannon is there beside Olivia, where she always is. She looks over at the healer at her comment and then she folds her arms over her chest. She's wearing green and brown armor, a bow in the quiver on her back and a sword at her waist. "You.. have a plan? You know, plans have issues with working when your allies do not know those plans."

"A splendid day for ghosts, Duchess," Tescelina notes with the muted, if pleasant wistfulness her quiet voice so oft contains. Accompanied by even the specter of misty breath from the much dreaded cold. Garbed in close-fit silvery armor over shoulders, torso, and hands she looks the picture of a dusky chevalier. Her rapier and dagger freed from the oppressive peace of silk ties. Those reside in her hair, binding it back into a bushy tail which flowers from the diadem armor on her head; adorned with back-swept curled horns. The white dragon knight more than prepared for a bit of trouble as she accompanies Delilah on this particular escapade, arriving to join the others. As much for academic purposes as much as the goodwill of mankind, no doubt. "I hope I can be of assistance."

In absolutely no sense did Delilah empty out the Inquest of its dominant force, in part because Alistair and Laric may have significant questions about doing so. However, she has a Confessor with her, and of course a very competent combatant. Because someone says 'house with legs' and she takes such matters as seriously as a woman in her role would. It means bringing a bow, rather than hairpins that might not serve her terribly well. The wet and cold fail to much inflict trouble upon her, though, even as she drifts beside Tescelina with an errant gait terribly mindful of where she goes. Spotting the Ashfords when they enter the vicinity beckons for a wave, but a sharp look in Ian's direction brings her shoulders into a somewhat less tense position by a matter of degrees. Barely, but it counts for something. "Lord Kennex," she murmurs Ianward, a bonafide direction on any compass. A good one, at that. She hardly looks the picture of a combatant entirely, cast in shades of midnight and bloody dusk, but she so rarely if ever does.

Talk of a group of brave (or foolish) ghost-hunters have brought an audience to the chill surroundings of the Lower's docks, and Mirella is no exception to this. The black-clad Lycene in her dark coat is a quiet presence, likely to have gone unnoticed until she appears in the crowd just in time to mention. Arms folded in front of her waist, she nods as a bird-legged house is mentioned. Casuallyand quietly she notes to anyone who might be near her. "I know of a house like that. Odd-looking thing."

Olivia checked intellect + alchemy at difficulty 45, rolling 3 higher.

Delilah mutters, "... ... footing. The ... has been treacherous ... ... ... ... ... ... in the past. ... ... ... does not ... up ... ... rooftops ..."

1 Nightgold trained guards arrives, following Azolla.

Rysen arrives in armor with his axe and sword near to hand. He is alone, and comes to stand beside Ian and Merek. "I've heard there's good information as to the location of its lair," says Rysen in a grim tone, crossing his arms in front of him. "After the battle on the roof, I'm happy to seize any chance we can get at seeing some justice for those names on the wall, and for the unremembered too."

Ian stops walking before he looks up and nods to Delilah. "Duchess. Lord Rysen." His tone is bland, neither grim nor lighthearted. It's what it always is. This could be a normal stroll down the street to a bar, to look at him. Well, aside from that horrible scarf. "I'll admit I've been looking forward to a rematch."

Rhiannon rocks back on her heels. "I think I heard something about a house like that. But it was in the Ward of the Crown." she turns to look that direction, frowning a little bit. She just stares at Olivia while she waits for an answer. Olivia doesn't usually give her direct answers.

Quintin has just disposed of his apple core; his head is tilted up to observe what's going on above, if anything. There are some absent nods for people he recognizes - Ian, Delilah, Rysen, Tes... alright. Nods for just about everyone. "Quite the turnout. Oh, and a guardsman. We won't be arrested today, I hope."

Olivia reaches in her satchel and starts handing out Vials of oil. She skips over to Ian and then Merek. They Get one. Then she walks to Rysen. He gets a nod and a vial. "I made this poison. I am hoping if the creature has blood, it will have biles and humors. Coat your blade with this oil, I am hoping that enough of this will slow her down or make her sleep." She only had time to prepare enough for three blades.

Azolla is there with Olivia having been told she could get some practical experience at healing. Azolla remains quiet for now and close by the people who do combat, her guard accompanies her today as if worried for his charge he keeps close and all his attention is on her safety. She is there to aid any wounded but she has her dagger close at hand just in case.

Ian passes the poison back to Olivia with a shake of his head. "I've gotten by without leaning on poison so far. Give this to someone who'll put it to better use."

Tescelina has rolled a critical success!
Tescelina checked intellect + occult at difficulty 35, rolling 40 higher.

Olivia holds up the vial for a different swordy type to use it

"Lord Rysen, good to see you again. And lord Quintin and ladies Olivia and Rhiannon." Lilah can dispense with greetings simple as that, and nodding to her companion with ease. "Lady Tescelina Wyrmguard. I see, Mistress Mirella. You know where? Then I believe you have become our guide." Deputization by copper-haired chit, that sounds about right. "Is it possible this thing is moving around between wards at times? That would be a disturbing thought." Her gaze flickers away and then back to Quintin. "Arrested? Unlikely. Possibly questioned at length afterwards by the High Inquisitor? I cannot promise no, but we have coffee. Mistress Mirella is our point. Those more tactically sound than I, would you so kindly tell us the best route to proceed there? I assume unit of people bristling with weapons and me taking notes may not be strategically ideal."

Rhiannon pulls out an arrow and offers it to Olivia. "If you tip my arrows, then we can get more of them covered, right?"She nods to the others around. "Hello. Looks like we have some fighters. Good. I'm not best in close combat. It's best to have a range of talents." Delilah gets what might almost be a smile. "Duchess."

Rysen chuckles and nods to Ian. He bows respectfully to Delilah, and smiles when she greets him. Turning back to Ian, he says, "Hopefully we'll have a better shot pinning it down, now that we know how agile she is." He pauses a moment, and then says to Ian, "Something's been bothering me since the last battle. When she struck you, she reacted strangly, did she not? She ceased to attack when she cut your armor and fled... Did you see it the same way? Do you think she was suprised when she could not sever flesh?"

When Olivia hands him the vial, he accepts it, saying, "Thank you, Liv... My Lady." He takes out his axe, and carefully applies the poison to each edge before handing the vial back to Olivia. A smile passes his lips, and he says, "Ever the clever warrior, Lady Olivia."

Olivia hands the vial over to Rhiannon with a smile, "I trust you to know when to use it Rhia." She smiles at Rysen and continues walking along. Rattling OTHER vials in her satchel.

Tescelina folds her hands behind her back as she stays close to Delilah, like a vigilant guard ought. "M'lords, m'ladies." Is her quiet greeting. "A house with legs, yes?" She murmurs as if in thought and polite refuses Olivia's vial. "A knight would never use such a thing, though I do not doubt its effectiveness," she is sure to say with all due respect.

Ian rolls his shoulders to Rysen. "If I had to take a guess, I'd say it's like a predator. It realized we weren't going to be easy prey and left." He pauses. "I'm not sure there's just going to be one of those things. A lot of body parts are missing."

Olivia wrinkles her nose a bit, "I think it is an unwilling participant. While it needs to be put down.. I don't think it want's to be this beast."

"I will do my best to aid Olivia in caring for anyone who is injured but I am not that skilled with combat so I will try to stay out of the Frey of the battle," Azolla says gently. "Also I am Lady Azolla Nightgold for those who do not know me," she adds. She is keeping close to the group as she speaks

Quintin adjusts his gauntlets, glancing sidelong at Olivia. "What makes you say that?"

Olivia glances at Quintin, "Call it a Physicians instinct cousin." She glances back at Azolla and winks. "Just stay behind Lord Rysen Az, when the time comes we will patch him up." A grin.

Rysen's grey eyes shift coldly to Tescelina, but then he turns back to Ian and nods. "That's a rather dark thought, but a good thing to keep in mind," he says frowning. "She seemed... created, which is also a troubling thought, since she certainly could not have been fitted with those limbs herself." Rysen glances back at Azolla, and his show some concern, but he nods to her and says, "Glad to have you looking after our wounds, My Lady."

"I declare I'm the official accompanying you for official purposes, like officially observing questionable architectural transportation and their denizens." Delilah's mirth bleeds away at the mention of poison, and she nods askance when Tescelina speaks up. "It strikes me that we are going to see a fair number of them. A survey of the house might be ideal, so we can assess entrances in and exits. Of course, if it can get up and run down the street, I might be mistaken. But I'm ready to happily stay back with the healers and help how I can." With a curl of her fingers loosely around her bow, she asides, sotto voce to Rhiannon, "Do not expect a performance equal to yours. I am ready to move as soon as everyone else is."

At Delilah's suggestion, Mirella heads off, leading the party through the winding and often cramped streets of the Lowers. The difference between the Lowers and Uppers is stark. There is more refuse here, piled up along the cobbled streets, buried under grungy snow. There are little clumps of denizens all peering at the oddity of this group marching through these streets, the nobles and the Iron Guard in particular given sour, sullen looks. There are a few jeers from local toughs, huddled on the corners, eager to rib the silks in their shiny armor trudging through the filthy snow. After about twenty minutes, a warehouse comes into view, tall and malodorous, the scent of old fish ripe, despite the cold. A faded sigil is painted on the side, a black fish on a faded red wave. Further down the street, tucked into a corner of the great wall, there is a house, lifted up on stilts, two of the four cracked, twisted, appearing, if seen through the eyes of a nervous young child, to resemble the legs of a seabird. There is a rickety looking staircase that leads up to the door, a good fifteen feet above the ground.

Merek checked intellect + alchemy at difficulty 45, rolling 2 higher.

Azolla offers Rysen a reassuring smile and says, "Of course my friend, I would happily be close at hand if you are to be getting yourself into trouble." She nods at Olivia and sticks close to Rysen, her guard also somewhere close at hand watching Azolla

Mikani has been here the whole time. Just really quiet. She walks by Azolla and Rysen. Her eyes vigilant as they walk through the streets.

Olivia peers up at the door. "Well.... Shall I knock?" She goes to start walking that way.

Ian stops and looks up, taking in the house with a sweep of his electric blue eyes.

Merek takes up the vial, while he nods a bit to Olivia, as well as to the soldiers with him, while he makes a motion as he does also. He does look to Tesce, "A Knight uses all they need to, to save people," he says, "We're not fighting with people, we are fighting with dark forces, m'Lady," he offers. He then takes a moment to open his vial and begins to place it into a bottle flask which he shifts another concoction next to, working that alchemy.
The man puts a reagent within it that will allow the liquid to expand and catch more in the splash if thrown. He mixes it all up like some kind of alchemical scientist, "So, which one of you can throw better than me and is sure you can center it between a few? The splash should be able to catch a few in it with the liquids consistency changed up, causing spread and easier transmission through skin." He nods as they make the house.

Rysen chuckles at Delilah's comments concerning official business, and nods in agreement with Merek. As Olivia mentions knocking on the door, Rysen places a hand on her shoulder and says quietly, "Please wait, My Lady. Let's see if Lady Rhiannon or any of the others can get a look inside." He smiles at Mirella. "Certainly seems like you've led us to the right place."

Rhiannon looks over at Delilah as they walk along. "Well, I do wonder if I should melt away and sneak along with you guys. Might be best if our entire force is not out in the open. She taps Olivia on the shoulder, nods to Quintin, and then unless stopped, goes sneaky.

Olivia glances at the hand on her shoulder and shrugs it off. "I will wait 5 minutes. Then I am going to rescue my cousin if she isn't back." She says sternly

The Stilt House is semi-isolated in its corner, the front door fifteen feet from the ground. The warehouse is the closest building, cattycorner to the house, aproximately 75 feet from the front of the house. There is a delapidated shed, the roof about 8 feet high near the house, about 30 feet from the door. It might hold two people. Maybe.

Indeed, Mirella's previous action prior to leading the group through the cramped streets can be ignored. Instead she goes about the business of acting as guide as mentioned, occasionally turning to Delilah to murmur something quietly to the Whitehawk lady. Jeering commoners are given a narrow-eyed glance in contrast, her expression cool and hard to read. Then, upon reaching their destination, she upnods towards the house, even though it's plain for anyone to see the likeness to the child's description of it being like a seabird. Folding her arms, Mirella waits calmly for others to act, glancing around with lazy sweeps of her duskstone gaze, impassive and silent until someone wishes to speak to her. That person happens to be Rysen. To him she smiles faintly but politely and comments, "Seems so, my lord."

Quintin checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Tescelina offers Rysen a polite smile at his look and she appears attentive to the others, if strangely dreamy. Moving beside them in some parallel way as they follow Mirella through the corridors of the Lowers. She stands out dramatically here, her fancy boots most assuredly dirtied by the walk though of no never mind to her -- dirty things can be cleaned. At the approach of the staircase, she stops with the others. Once there, she turns her eyes on observation, surveying the area quietly.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 3 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 30, rolling 42 higher.

Azolla she is sticking close to Rysen but does not say anything or do anything but follow along close by him with her guard also following close by.

"Fair enough," replies Rysen to Olivia, but doesn't sound pleased. He stays near Azolla, and says to Ian, "My Lord, shall we surround the house? I think perhaps we should take a look in the warehouse nearby as well before we breach."

The Lowers may not be the most elegant place to be, but Delilah's dark attire helps mitigate somewhat. No one can see the stains if they don't stick. She looses a bit of paper and makes a few notes as they reach the warehouse, and she shows very few signs whatsoever of intending to climb. Someone else gets the shed. "I'd advise we go around the wareehouse," she concurs with Rysen. "Let's get a sense of any occupation and peek in the windows. The last thing we want is out of a frying pan and into the fire at an abattoir."

Reigna GM Roll checked perception(4) + survival(4) at difficulty 25, rolling 33 higher.

Ian nods towards the sheer city wall that the house buts right up to. "I think I can climb that. I'm betting this thing goes in through the roof."

Ian checked strength + athletics at difficulty 45, rolling 3 lower.

"Don't be a liability," Quintin says, tiredly, to Olivia. Then he's loping off through the snow toward the warehouse with the black fish sigil. He grabs hold of a window frame and starts hauling himself up. It's like climbing a tree. Kind of.

Mirella checked perception + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Olivia's face turns red at Quintins comments.... She is pissed. Now the plans start getting formulated.

Rhiannon is already gone when Quinton takes off and likely she's there on the roof of the warehouse waiting when Quintin arrives. She has her bow in hand, one of the arrows treated in her hand and she's quietly watching the house. She makes a great sniper and this is the best spot in the area.

Ian heads over to the wall and, after tucking his cane into his belt and scanning it for a moment, starts up. He's literally hanging from his fingertips from tiny outcroppings in the rock of the wall, and the rock of the wall, like the street, is slick with ice and snow. He gets up a little ways and then his fingers slip and down he comes. He doesn't land especially well; he should have landed on his feet, but his legs crumple under him. He swears under his breath but picks himself up again, seemingly unhurt.

Mikani reaches out to pull Olivia back. She tries to loop her arm in Olivia's arm. "I'm cold. Nicer to stand together yes?"

"I might need assistance if anything requires much strength," Azolla says sighinglightly. She does her best not to be a nuisance or liability. She is just hear to heal any wounded.

Rysen laughs softly at Quintin's comment, but his hand is resting on the hilt of his axe as he stands between Olivia, Azolla, Delilah and the buildings. "Thank the gods and spirits," mutters Rysen at Mikani's intervention.

Olivia has no clue where her cousin went. But she promised to go find her if she did not come back. She goes to take a step towards the stairs again and Mikani's arm snags her. "Coming with Mikani? Shall we knock on this door together?"

Tescelina checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 10 lower.

Delilah checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Azolla checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Tescelina exhales a small breath and moves to investigate the situation of the house, her hands lowering from behind her back. One resting on the scabbard of her rapier. Eyes widening a bit, from their half-lidded state, to soak in the details with a sharp attention.

At Ian's words of consideration about climbing the wall, Mirella twists her lips to one side and squints at the stone. She notes, "Is that a crack there? Could be a decent handhold if it is. Tough climb, though."

Ian squints at the wall and nods to Mirella. "No, you're right. That looks dry." He'll try the climb a second time.

Merek offers Mikani the concoction, if she wishes, then he surveys the warehouse, "Looks... Like a warehouse, yes," he admits.

Olivia grunts a bit and slips free of her new escort. She makes her way to the door she had promised to knock on.

Ian checked strength + athletics at difficulty 45, rolling 14 higher.

Mikani takes the concoction as Olivia pulls her off. "I'm not sure it's been five minutes." Mika comments as she walks with the woman.

Olivia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 10 lower.

Rysen checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Moving at angles from Tescelina, Delilah mirrors her but in the opposite direction. She pulls up her light scarf to cover her lower face, her hood already lifted. A few quick footsteps and she is up to the glass, her breath barely a film. Gloves already in place prevent her from leaving much of an impression as she lightly runs her finger around a window frame, respectful and distant in her motions. Otherwise she doesn't much touch, relying on a looping surveillance of the building. Eventually when she circles back to Tescelina, her response is a bit muffled: "I don't care much for fish tonight."

Azolla checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 5 lower.

Mikani checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

As Olivia starts to try to climb the stairs, Rysen bounds up a few after her, catching her before she slips. "That's a sign from Petrichor, Livie. Let us wait a few moments at least." He gestures to the base of the stairs, and nods to Merek who is a step behind.

With a better idea of a path to take to climb up, Ian tries again. His very fingertips grip the tiny outcroppings of stone; he almost looks like he's climbing the wall like a fly or a spider, his hands magically sticking. At least from a distance. He's careful about getting on the actual roof of the house, though. There's no way someone in the house wouldn't hear the sound of someone on the roof. Instead, he gives it a good once over to get a sense of whether there's an easy way in from here, how slanted the roof is, whether it even looks like it'll bear his weight.

Olivia grunts again and kind of unthreateningly points a hairpin at Rysen. She just squints. Currently too flustered for words.

Azolla tries to keep up with Rysen but there is a fine layer of ice on the stairs and she slips, nearly colliding into Rysen and Olivia before stabilizing herself on Rysen's arm.

At the conclusion of the circuit, she is holding her own handkerchief against her face. Its a thorough examination and yet yields no fruit. Only fish. Which has, admittedly, Tescelina clearing her throat with some constrained disgust. Clearly, she's in agreement. "We must steel ourselves, I'm afraid. The grim of this place is thick. It will take a breach, to unravel these secrets." Her eyes move toward the door of the warehouse.

Quintin checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 5 higher.

Merek moves to follow up with Rysen, climbing and working his way through whatever is there to manae, while he takes his time to take his sword and shift it, while he motions to Mikani if he sees where she is, "Make sure when you throw it, you throw it where they're close enough together to catch more than one, it'll splash, but it won't go across the whole room."

Once Ian scales the wall, Mirella looks up with one last dark-eyed glance of appraisal. There might be a hint of respect in her gaze, but it doesn't linger. A few moments later, she wanders silently over to where Delilah was investigating her surroundings. With a slow, clipped nod, she walks beside the Duchess-Consort, calm and quiet as a shadow.

Rhiannon checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 24 higher.

Tescelina checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Quintin checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 8 higher.

Delilah checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Ian checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 1 lower.

Quintin checked intellect + war at difficulty 25, rolling 13 higher.

Rhiannon turns slightly on the roof, bow at hand and the poison-tipped arrow in her hand. She lines it up, aiming for the spot that she hears teh sound approaching. Her presence is still calm. She is a scout and hiding and sniping from the shadows is her specialty. She nudges at Quintin to see if he'll signal those below"

On top of the wall, Ian gives a sharp, piercing whistle and points down the street behind the warehouse, alerting those below to -- something.

That /something/ is probably something Delilah herself would rather not encounter. She pulls on Mirella's arm and makes for the stairs, careful about her footing for all those pyreweave boots of hers lend some assistance to it.

Azolla is to busy trying to keep her footing. Azolla's cheeks flush a pinkish color as she says, "Maybe it would be best for me to set up a sort of area for injured to be brought to me. I might be more of a liability if I attempt to much strain physically. I was not built for such endeavors it seems."

Olivia looks up at the whistle and narrows her eyes. She shakes her head at Azolla, "What this thing is. Just be ready to move and keep the knights between you and it." And she tries to go up the stairs again.

Quintin frowns, peering about, looking over the situation from up on high. He looks at the street behind the warehouse, but turns back to regard the stilted house. Gray eyes take in his surroundings, calculating. Now it's his turn to whistle, waving at Delilah and the others. He points them toward a collection of barrels --- cover.

Tescelina notes only the haste at which the duchess moves, following the whistle. She makes her way between where Delilah and Mirella head to the stairs and the warehouse itself.

Mirella is such a magpie that she can't help but stare openly and with admiration at the hairpins that adorn Delilah's coppery hair. So it is that she's a little surprised, wide-eyed and slow to react, when the other woman pulls at her arm. She recovers from her shiny-induced daze quick enough, though, her soft boots making barely a patter on the ground. Good thing that the Lycene woman is small and light, and doesn't require much tugging to get her to dart after Delilah.

Merek moves up to where Azolla and Olivia are, then he motions to his soldiers, "Formation," they form a light circle to protect them while they travel, mainly those two, but he does look to the others that are combatants as he crosses his arms a bit.

Several things happen all at the same time. The Stilt House's front door bursts open with a blast of splintering wood and a massive, massive shape appears in the void where the door once was. It is... what is it? It's head is mostly human shaped. Mostly. The lower half of the face is distorted, bare bone jaws and huge, ivory stained teeth are parted as the screaming cry comes up rusty from his throat. Human eyes stare at those gathered on the stairs, as he lifts an arm, shaggily furred, and the hand, like the face, is distorted, the fingers overshadowed by massive black claws. The creature... person? Roars again and makes to lunge at the nearest person on the stairs.

Meanwhile...

From the direction they came comes a grinding, scraping sound, metal on stone. Coming into sight is... something. It is nearly impossible to decipher what it is. A market cart, carrying a person, rather than goods. This person is strapped in, and tucked under each arm are thin, sharpened poles that look like light lances. Pushing the cart is a hefty looking older woman, her face disfigured and mostly hidden under an old, dirty mask. She pushes the cart with her feet, picking up speed while her hands manipulate the rider's arms, crudely aiming those lances as she charges towards those standing near the warehouse.

Mirella checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 17 higher.

Ian checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 2 higher.

Mikani checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 10 higher.

Olivia checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 5 lower.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) at difficulty 10, rolling 25 higher.

Quintin checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Merek checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 9 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) at difficulty 10, rolling 13 higher.

Azolla checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

Tescelina checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

Delilah checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

Tescelina checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Azolla checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 1 lower.

Merek checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Olivia checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 14 higher.

Mirella has rolled a critical success!
Mirella checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 30 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + melee(5) at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + melee(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

39 inflicted and Merek is unharmed.

Tescelina checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

The massive bear-like creature hauls back and sends a swipe towards Olivia, however Merek, having taken a protective position, takes the blow instead. The claws strike the man's armor, but no damage is done.

Olivia squeals as the Bear comes at her and she tries to scrunch up, but thankfully Merek is there for her today.

Although she's inclined to get distracted by shiny hairpins, it's Mirella's wway to always be scoping out her surroundings. Wwhen the scary things appear, she's already turning back towards Delilah with a look on her face that communicates a kind of muted horror that is hidden beneath that usual poker-faced expression. The expression doesn't last for long, however, as she points to a place where the Duchess-Consort might climb up to relative safety. She'll boost her up if needs be.

Seems that Mirella's pointing Delilah to the wall where Ian scrambled up. The climb is an easier one, though, high enough to get her out the way without being impossible to scale. Hopefully.

Azolla is keeping close to Merek and her Guard, trying to avoid getting caught up in the fight and losing her footing on the stairs

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Olivia before departing.

Mikani softly presses Olivia and Azolla behind her as she moves to protect the two women. Her dagger drawn as she readies if the thing attacks.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 21 higher.

Ian checked luck + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 25 higher.

5 inflicted and Ian is harmed for minor damage.

Merek maneuvers as he sees the creature coming in, and he shifts upon a hip while he takes a hand to push Azolla back to whre Mikani and Olivia are, then he takes a clean hit into his side while he does that which was meant for the woman, driven back as he does so. He then shifts upon a hip to twirl his weapon before he strikes with the diamondplate into the creation.

It's not graceful, what Ian does next, but it's fast. He drops onto the roof and slides down the steep incline, scrambling a bit against the tiles. It looks for all the world like he's going to fall off the roof and break his head right until the very last moment. As he goes over the edge, he grabs the eve and swings towards the window, going through feet first with a terrific shattering of glass.

On the ground, that crazed contraption of human and cart with those long, sharp spears aims right for Tescelina, only narrowly missing the Wyrmguard Knight. The masked woman growls even as she changes directions, trying to back up and shift angles.

Damien Pierce - A Charming Assistant, 1 Redreef Warden, 1 Thrax Guards, 1 Redoubt Buccaneers, Vagari - Cinder Kitten leave, following Mikani.

As the faux-cavalier barrels toward her, Tescelina leaps out of the way with a graceful bound and a flourish of her dusky half-skirt. The silvery rapier is drawn with a lightning quickness, assessing the cart -- the victim fastened to the top -- and the ghastly crone who commands the abhorrent lance-automaton. Her eyes narrow and her expression changes, moving in to find a path to strike at the hefty masked woman at the wheels of this nightmare. With Mirella getting the Duchess to safety, the Lady Knight does her duty to keep occupied this threat. If she is frightened its unclear and perhaps only the cold air has her hand tremble slightly before she grips tight upon the handle. "Very well." She declares. "Please, stay in cover, the both of you," she calls. Then trying to get around the lance cart, she'll steal in a thrust with no hesitation. Her intent -- to kill (and distract).

Mirella checked perception + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Quintin checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 45, rolling 27 lower.

15 inflicted and Quintin is harmed for moderate damage.

Tescelina strikes in as those lances turn against her and rattles one of them from its course with the lightning of her rapier. A depth of strength hidden in the grace of that brave fencer. She swings her movements carefully, mindful of the ground beneath her feet. Producing then, a gilded dagger to accompanying the first weapon. Both aimed toward the lancer crone.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 46 higher.

Rhiannon takes aim at the lancer, focusing, breathing carefully and she slams an arrow into her shoulder, the arrow getting lodged deeply and the potion Olivia mixed going right into the lancer.

Quintin gets a crazy idea. A super crazy idea. Pacing the edge of the warehouse roof, he watches the woman with the cart. Then he starts to run, attempting to time it so he can careen off the edge of the warehouse in the hopes of... tackling the woman with the cart? Except he doesn't time it quite right, and instead goes sailing over the edge of the roof to flail through the air. He realizes this is a very bad idea as he crashes onto the person on the cart instead, the breath getting knocked out of him in a great WHUFF. And then he yelps, as the person on the cart opens her mouth wide and chomps down on the closest bit of exposed flesh she can find, which is his ear. His godsdamn EAR. It was a bad idea. A super bad idea.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) at difficulty 10, rolling 28 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(2) at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

Ian checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Tescelina watches the Ashford splat onto the cart as she squares off with the lancer, and then watches as he has his ear bitten, seemingly off. "Lord Quintin," the fencer calls helpfully, "Please get down from there!"

Olivia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 17 lower.

Merek checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 3 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked luck(2) at difficulty 10, rolling 3 higher.

Azolla checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

10 inflicted and Azolla is harmed for moderate damage.

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

It appears Olivias crouch was actually to dig through her alchemy kit. She comes up with a vial skirts around Merek. She chucks the vial at ManBearSkull and it bounces right off the strange bone face and flys right at Azolla.

Azolla is unable to dodge the vial and it hits her full force and Azolla struggles to keep her feet as the potion begins to sink into her skin. "I hope you brought the antidote," she says trying to remain calm. She can tell she has only a few scraps minus now being poisoned

There are conveniently barrels over there. After staring at the vast height of the wall, Delilah shakes her head. Some things are simply beyond somewhat human reach, and she seems to accept that. Secondary choice, barrels, all of which lend a degree of cover. The girl ghosts that way instead to dart behind them.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + stealth(4) at difficulty 20, rolling 17 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + melee(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.

Down below, on the street, the masked woman handling the cart grunts as Quintin falls onto it. She starts yanking on the cords tied to whatever Quintin landed on's arms, even as she hurried backs up, trying to get some distance before her next charge. "Get off Shiela's cart! Bad! Too heavy! Off!" The words are muffled and spoken almost in a childlike manner.

Merek checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 25, rolling 6 higher.

As Delilah scarpers off to a safe cover, Mirella turns back to cast a glance towards brave Tescelina, who is going toe-to-toe (wheel to toe?) with a scary Scary Lance-Chariot Thing. Quintin's arrival on the scene... is met with a few blinks. Her gaze swivels to MeanBearSkull soon afterwards though. Eyes wide, voice silent. Frozen on the spot.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Merek looks at the manbear when he sees the acid fly back into Azolla. He then takes a moment to consider Olivia, while he takes the vial which was given back to him from Mikani. He then nods to Tesce, "Cover me!" he exclaims, then he moves forward. He shifts up on his foot and takes the vial in one hand, while he slams his fist right into bear's mouth. He then shifts his fist to break the flask within the creature's mouth.
He then takes a moment to lift up his arm to take ahold of the creature, doing his best to make sure that it takes the flask in. To anyone looking, they would see someone that is willing to give his all in making sure it is a victory and proect others. The fact he succeeds is a bit crazy in itself, "Alright!"

Ian comes down amid a hail of broken glass and hits the ground in an acrobatic roll. He comes up on his knees and hauls himself to his feet, drawing his alaricite sword free from his cane at the same. He takes note of something behind him, just the barest glance before he whirls and drives his sword into the thing that fills the doorway.

Azolla grabs some of the snow on the ground and begins to place it on the places the acid touched her skin soothing the burning. She remains calm and tries to keep out of combat if she can.

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 22 higher.

Let it not be said that a knight need ignore advantage. Quintin's leap, dangerous as it was, appeared to catch the notice of the masked crone. Tescelina moved into action after her brief befuddlement, quick on her feet. She slides in and with a flourish and slice, opening a wound on her foe's side, causing her to shriek in pain. The Lady Knight doesn't give her a chance to charge again, staying obstructively close.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Quintin checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 10, rolling 24 higher.

Rhiannon aims her arrows again, eyes narrowing and she remains in her position up on the roof of the warehouse. She can do a lot more damage with her bow and so she lets loose arrows as fast as she can, slicing across the cart's chest, whizzing past Quintin's ear.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Olivia before departing.

Quintin pushes himself up to stare at the woman on the cart. "Sheila? Sheila Ramsey?" he asks. He flinches as the arrow whizzes past. His poor ear! "Shit!" Trying to keep away from Sheila's mighty jaws, he hacks at the cords in an attempt to disarm the cart. The woman's arms go slack.

After the shout from the woman driving the cart, there is a lumbering shuffling sound from deep within the house. "She...? SHE!"

Inside the house, Ian lets out a casual: "Well fuck." Because that thing sounded big.

Olivia checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 8 lower.

5 inflicted and Olivia is harmed for minor damage.

Olivia gives no shits. She didn't hear that flask crunch. She runs right past Merek, pulling a hair pin out. She tries to shove her hairpin in ManBearSkull's mouf to try and break the flask, just in case. But those are mighty big teeth he has. All the better to eat Ashford's with. Olivia hits her hand on a sharp tooth getting cut.

Ian checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + stealth(4) at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Olivia before departing.

Mirella checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 33 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + melee(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

A few blinks and a sharp inhale of breath pull Mirella from her frozen daze. Still staring at ManBear, the fog clears from her eyes and her brow furrows in a moment of dark consideration that suggests she really, really doesn't want to do what she's about to do. But she exhales, anyway, and launches herself forward on booted feet, quick as a flash, pulling a dagger from her sleeve as she rushes toward the monstrous creature. With a flick of her wrist as she leaps through the air, she stabs deep into its foul body, and he roars in pain. But then he's turning on Mirella, all fury and revenge.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 26 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Merek moves back with his sword, while he takes his next position. He then shifts his foot while he drives the weapon into the creature even as a hand sweeps all the flask back onto the floor. He then hears a roar while he does his best to maneuver through also.

50 inflicted and Tescelina is unharmed.

Ian slashes deep into ManBearSkull from almost directly opposite Mirella, evoking a roar that's more of a groan of pain. He's choosing angles of attack that give him at least some peripheral awareness of what's happening deeper inside the house, something he can probably only afford to do because the thing he's fighting is being so hassled and harried from the other side.

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 48 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 51 higher.

The cart comes barreling toward Tescelina and she could, if she wished, leap from its course. Yet she does not, she waits, up until that last second and the most calculated of strikes. Her rapier slashes once, causing one of the lances to strike so hard into her pauldron that sparks fly and she pivots. But the brave fencer is in utter control, shifting around in a full turn and stabbing her blade into the masked crone's side causing her to scream even louder than before in dismay. A gaping, vicious wound in her side. The knight flicks her white-gold hair from her face, watching as the crone then attempts to retreat.

Quintin checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked strength(4) + brawl(4) at difficulty 10, rolling 40 higher.

Another arrow comes sailing out of the area above the warehouse. It's going at an incredible speed. It slams into the lancer, going right through the ear and then the lancer goes limp. Rhiannon pulls another arrow from her quiver and looks to see where else she can hit, doing her best to take out the enemy from her vantage point.

Quintin balances carefully on the rocking cart. Tescelina lands her blow, and Rhiannon's arrow strikes true. Steadying himself on the edge of the cart, he thrusts his sword at the woman. The blade slides deep into her chest - her eyes bug out and she gurgles. Quintin murmurs, hoarsely, "May the Queen take you back into her arms."

Ian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 20, rolling 41 higher.

Mirella checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 10 higher.

Ian checked strength + brawl at difficulty 40, rolling 2 lower.

Olivia checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 11 higher.

There is a louder shout from inside the house and a heavy thud-thud-thud as a large barrel-shaped figure emerges from the murk and gloom of the house. "SHIELLLLLLLLLA!" With a heavy shove, a pair of arms thrust out, pushing ManBearSkull right over the railing. In a twist of divine luck, both Olivia and Azolla manage to spin to either side and evade being taken over the railing with the ManBearSkull. MBS falls and lands heavily on the ground with a sickening thud. And there, standing framed in the doorway, Ol' Sam, panic written on his face, an arm missing, the stump capped in metal, and one leg ends in a curved spike. "SHIELA!!"

It's not that Ian doesn't see it coming. He knew to expect something, and something big. He knew which way it was coming from. As it comes tearing towards the doorway with all the subtlety of a charging bull, Ian, his weight shifted in a way to give him the chance to dart out of the way, instead launches himself TOWARDS the running thing. He comes at it at an angle, trying to haul it off its balance and bring it to the floor in an exercise of technique over raw strength and momentum, but he's maybe half its size, and he's flung aside to hit the ground hard.

Olivia checked charm + empathy at difficulty 45, rolling 13 higher.

At the sudden burst of commotion, following the death of the Lancer, Tescelina flinches as the ManBearSkull crashes with that unsettling sound. She waits a few moments to see if its dead and then, if it isn't getting back up, she hastens up the stairs.

"Sam?! How.... WHY..." She approaches Sam with tears in her eyes. "Why would... How could you do this to us? Look what happened to Shiela.... No one wanted this.. Why Sam?!" She walks up to him and pushes his chest crying... Looking up with those big blue eyes. Making him feel bad. Baby Ashford Strikes again. Sam is frozen. Watching her.

With ManBearSkull dispatched, Mirella slips away from group, if at all possible. Sneaky, gotta be sneaky!

Stefano, an inconspicuous Lycene bodyguard, Carmela, a gleaming dusken-feathered crow, Alba, a small, azure-eyed white cat leave, following Mirella.

Ian checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 40 higher.

Stefano, an inconspicuous Lycene bodyguard, Carmela, a gleaming dusken-feathered crow, Alba, a small, azure-eyed white cat arrive, following Mirella.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 45 higher.

Stefano, an inconspicuous Lycene bodyguard, Carmela, a gleaming dusken-feathered crow, Alba, a small, azure-eyed white cat leave, following Mirella.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 45, rolling 11 lower.

56 inflicted and Ian is unharmed.

There is a blur of motion from the side and with a slither and scritch of sound, a gray-haired, spiderlike form spins into sight, two of her limbs, scythe-like and sharp, coming down in a fierce and ferocious swipe. Ian attempts to parry, but those bladed limbs slide right down his blade, coming into contact with his armor, which turns away the blades easily. There is a hiss from the creature before she attempts to vanish back into the gloom.

Meanwhile....

Down on the street, the ManBearSkull is laying in a growing pool of blood, his feet twitching slowly. The cart is motionless, the driver, impaled and slashes, blood running in red rivulets down pale flesh to stain the snow. The creature in the cart has an arrow sticking out of its ear, human eyes open, staring, held upright by a series of straps... and apparently missing the lowerhalf of its body.

Ian starts to pick himself up off the ground, but he doesn't make it all the way. While he's still on his knees, he suddenly twists around and brings his blade and the body of his cane both up in a controlled parry. She bears down on him, though, with leverage on her side, and while the wooden body of his cane knocks one blade aside, the other slides up his sword with a high screech of metal on metal, right past the limited hand protection of the cane sword. That probably would have meant some missing fingers if it weren't for his heavy cardian snakeskin gloves. He's still off balance, though, struggling with uncompliant legs to fight his way to his feet.

Quintin checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

Merek checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 15 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 1 lower.

Tescelina checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 22 higher.

Ian checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 11 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) at difficulty 10, rolling 18 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

Olivia checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Tescelina checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 6 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + stealth(4) at difficulty 25, rolling 28 higher.

Ian checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 2 higher.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 3 higher.

In the stillness of battle there is a quiet tremble from Tescelina. A breath, shakily taken, as though mustering reserves of her knightly courage. The grotesque and profane continue to menace them and she still must act. With the vapors of that shackled air her eyes narrow and she bobs her head to herself for encouragement. "They need you," she all but murmurs. Then, hastening up the stairs, light and grace of each step, she makes her way toward the others to offer aid, armed with rapier and dagger in each hand.

Uptop, Babba spins in weird and contorted ways, her torso twisting, angling, her spine contorting wildly as she attempts to slip back into the shadows. She is fairly successful, though the sharp eyes of Ian and Merek manage to keep track of her by following her spidery movements.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 11 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 15 higher.

Olivia checked charm + empathy at difficulty 45, rolling 11 higher.

Ian fights his way to his feet, his sharp eyes scanning the gloom of the interior of the house, marking the movement of the scarves, trying to avoid losing sight of the blade horror. His expression is calm, his electric eyes serene through all that focus. He came here for this fight, and there's something a little bit monstrous about the way that he closes in. The slightest twitch of an eyebrow could even be described as an invitation to spar. Moving in instinctive tandem with Merek, he flanks her, his blade scraping down one of her metal limbs, like he's trying to take her apart through the most efficient means possible.

Olivia makes Sam look at her. "Sam.... Why... I sent you and Shiela oranges... I wanted to help... and you lured me out here... you are trying to hurt my friends... how could you sam?" Tears are falling down her cheeks as she keeps those baby blues locked on the man

Merek watches as the whole exchange with Sam seems to be also transpring, then he notes that the bear's taken care of. He lifts up a hand while he takes his cloak to shift it away a bit. He is dressed in black leathers, while his helmet is adjusted about him. He then maneuvers forward while the black sword is taken up as he dances with the blades, striking clean into a leg.
The man shifts his weapon while he takes his stance in full, then he places a palm to the side as he takes a stance. "Fight," he offers with that husky drawl of his. While Ian is serene and has come to remath, he flanks from the other side, eyes alight with the passion of protecting those here, and avenging those that were hurt before, and protecting anyone else that it would come after also.

"What in the blazes d'you mean what am I doin' to YOU?" Sam hollers back at Olivia, tears staining his cheeks as he looks at the body of Shiela, clearly dead, slumped against the cart. "You kilt her. You *kilt* her!" His breathing is ragged, his remaining hand balling into a fist.

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 11 higher.

Azolla moves over to Shiela and is checking her pulse. "She is not dead, I think I can save her," Azolla says gently, using a gloved hand and a piece of cloth she has along with her to apply pressure to the chest wound of the woman. Before starting to see how else she can help her

Quintin checked intellect + war at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Quintin checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Olivia points over to Azolla helping Shiela, "Look Sam! Come with me! You me and my cousin can SAVE Shiela! Please sam STOP this." She pleads with the man

Reigna GM Roll checked perception(3) + survival(2) at difficulty 14, rolling 26 higher.

Rhiannon jumps down, taking the stairs and she runs toward the stairs and the house, her bow in hand. She's not trying to be stealthy this time and so is able to move faster.

Reigna GM Roll checked intellect(2) + war(1) at difficulty 25, rolling 6 lower.

Quintin looks between Shiela and the people around Sam, brow furrowed. He starts easing around, trying to take an indirect, stealthy route to the house. Of course, partway there, he steps on a bit of ice that goes CRACK, ruining any chance of sneakery. Quintin sighs.

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 13 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 35, rolling 7 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 55, rolling 8 lower.

At the top of the stairs she sees the chasm made in the front of the house, quickly dashing inside to find Merek and Ian squaring off with the Spider Woman Baba. Tescelina doesn't stop running as she enters and thrusts hard to catch at a limb on the right side. It twists in such a way her rapier briefly flexes and a gasp leaves her lips before she steels herself and slides into a position to help surround the creature. But she's studying it closely, almost academically. Her weapons held at the ready, poised against the bladed foe.

75 inflicted and Tescelina is harmed for moderate damage.

35 inflicted and Ian is unharmed.

The response from the spider-woman is like something out of a squamous nightmare. The body contorts, pulling into a fetal position, all the weight held on a single metal spike before exploding outward in a series of wild strikes in a circle. She strikes Tescelina with a slashing motion that cuts through the Wyrmguard's armor, slicing down the knight's forearm. Her blow to Ian is more of a penetrating stab that fails to pierce his armor. The flail at Merek misses by quite a bit.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 1 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 10 higher.

Ian's bladework beautiful the way that something sleek and stripped of ornamentation can be beautiful, elegant and efficient in the way that he moves his sword around the incoming strikes to find his target. His footwork on the other hand -- there is none, not with him so uncertain on his feet, and what with him basically being a stationary target, he should have been impaled by that attack. The blade instead hits something in his pocket that gives off a metallic 'tink'. The star iron portrait case containing Zoey's portrait, saving his butt again.

Merek leaps back as a strike comes his way, then he weaves back into the fight with a swing of his sword into the spider creature. He speaks to it while he does, "I see that the metal has bonded with you, whatever you are. Reach out to me, show me, tell me, your story!" he exclaims. The blade might have hit, but it does not seem too effective whatever it does.

Olivia checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Olivia takes Sam's hand and starts to pull him over to Shiela with her so she can assist Azolla in saving Shiela's life. Olivia doesn't want to see either of them dead... maybe they can call off SpiderWoman. "Sam please... WE can save her! Come on!" She is good at tugging people

It takes a moment for Sam to look away from Shiela's body, his brows furrowing as it slowly dawns on him that Shiela isn't dead. "She... she's still alive?" Sam's eyes widen and he starts to try to take the stairs quickly. his gait is uneven, step-thunk step-thunk step-thunk. "HANG ON SHIELA! I'M COMIN' DOLL!"

Rhiannon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 1 higher.

Rhiannon darts up the steps of the house as fast as she can, though she's not very fast with her bow in one hand. She's sprinting as fast as she can without falling on her butt.

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 35, rolling 15 higher.

Quintin watches Rhiannon run up into the house; and Olivia and Sam head toward Azolla and Shiela. Quintin's brow furrows. He surreptitiously wipes his blade clean on the snow - cleaner, anyway - and follows.

Tescelina checked intellect + occult at difficulty 25, rolling 33 higher.

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 28 higher.

Turtle, 2 Culler Brutes, 3 Culler Hoodlums arrive, following Orathy.

There's a sharp breath and a hiss as her forearm is sliced through the vambrace of gauntlet. Tescelina's blood runs warm down into the grip on her rapier, but she lashes back with a potent thrust and rakes blood across a wound. Proving that the fiend can indeed be harmed. Her jaw flexes, weapons at the ready, moving with a remarkable grace and speed. The brave fencer's fighting technique is the essence of something flourishing stripped down to the necessity of the moment. Fast, pointed, and deadly in its precision.

Azolla is able to stop the bleeding of the chest wound and gets to work on the slices. Sheila is still knocked out, which is helpful. "She definitely is going to live," Azolla says gently as she continues to work on the woman and her injuries.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 49 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 35, rolling 17 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 55, rolling 16 lower.

100 inflicted and Ian is harmed for serious damage.

All that noise... draws down some curious company. The Cullers, well, at least one Culler with his little cluster of thugs. Orathy holds back the crew with a lifted arm as he looks upon the scene.

50 inflicted and Merek is unharmed.

Pinned as she is, the spider-like creature with the metal legs hisses again, the mouth opening is human-like, though there is a lack of teeth, the sound a dry, rasping sound as her limbs flail in a pirouette of destruction. Merek's strike hits, but there is no catch, sliding off his armor. Ian though... Ian gets pierced by one of the legs, the point goes right into his torso, the spike penetrating the armor and twisting. This sticking offbalances the creature and the strike at Tescelina goes wide.

Meanwhile...

On the street, the cart is still motionless, and Shiela's body has been lowered to the ground where Azolla works on her. The other "person" in the cart is still very dead, the arrow penetrating the skull at the ear.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 10 higher.

Orathy takes the lead as they come across a pool of blood and a skull... a weird looking skull. Orathy kneels by this skull and his face turns toward the noise of the fighting. Because fighting is damn loud. He rises up from where he was kneeling to inspect the dead, walking up toward Azolla, gruffly asking, "What be goin on?" He looks to this 'Shiela' person and then to Azolla again.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 21 higher.

"I am trying to save her life, either you want to help or you can go see if the others need help with whatever combat they are in the middle of. I am a bit busy to be exchanging presentries," Azolla says gently even if her words are a bit firm. She turns her attention back on to Sheila

Merek lifts up his sword while he maneuvers through the strike that slides up his armors. He then swings his weapon to do a clean slash into the creature. He shifts with his stance while he fights, not looking to be be backing down at all either also.

Olivia checked charm + empathy at difficulty 25, rolling 67 higher.

Ian is beginning to get a feel for how this thing moves, the shifts of its balance, the movement of its center of gravity. He knocks a flailing strike aside with the wooden body of his cane, which he's currently using as a parrying dagger, opening the way for him to step in and strike at the center of mass. But stepping in that way means that he's close, and this time when a strike comes at him, that star iron portrait case doesn't save him. He grunts as the bladed limb cuts into his chest, but shows no indication that he's severely injured. There's almost certainly blood, but all the black he's wearing hides it.

Olivia makes Sam look at her again. "Make. This. Stop." She sounds stern but her eyes are as big and doe like as EVER. Shimmering like she is going to cry again. "Azolla saved Shiela for now. No one needs to die. Make. This. Stop. Please Sam... We need this to stop so we can get Shiela to the hospital."

Rhiannon checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 15 higher.

Orathy looks toward the distant or faint sound of combat and considers Azolla, "Supposin I can be helpin 'ere iffin ya need it." He sniffs once, looking down at the wounded and hearing then Olivia's words, "Reckon we can be carryin 'er to the hospital iffin ya need to move 'er quick. I got me lads with me." He nods to the cluster of men standing by.

Sam takes a minute to respond, he is worriedly staring at Azolla. His metal leg clanking against the stone, his gait a rolling, uneven thing. Olivia's words have him staring at her, "What are you *talking* about, girl?" He is irritated, distracted, trying to get to Shiela's side.

Quintin stands by Azolla, Shiela, Sam, and Olivia, his sword drawn. He glances back to the house from time to time, frowning. "They're fighting a weird woman with blade legs in the house," he tells Orathy. "I've seen you fight. They might need you more in there."

Quintin adds, "If you're staying with them, I'm going into the house."

Rhiannon leaps into the fray, her bow sliding back into her quiver as she runs and then out comes her sword. She jumps right into the fray of those stabbing at teh spider woman.

Orathy considers Quintin with a raised brow, "Aight. If ya know where they be figthin at."

Orathy adds in, "I be goin with ya iffin ya think who ever be in there needs help."

Tescelina checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 48 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + melee(4) at difficulty 45, rolling 24 higher.

60 inflicted and Merek is harmed for moderate damage.

45 inflicted and Tescelina is unharmed.

There's a kineticism to this conflict. Four against one, yet the one is many -- limbed. Four blades on each, whirling in a dervish. Safeguarded by some form of steel beneath the skin. Tescelina bobs and weaves not only against the Spider Crone but the arms of her comrades. Her golden dagger flashes and manages to rebuke, at just the right moment, one of those swinging legs. It knocks it aside, leaving her rapier a chance to puncture through the -- thigh? Perhaps. But regardless that limb goes limp and she draws blood loose with a squirt as the blade is reclaimed.

Quintin looks from Orathy to Ol' Sam, who looks... quite worse for the wear. He's missing an arm, the stump of which is capped with metal, and one of his legs ends in a curved spike. It's not tidy work at all. He looks back to Orathy. "I don't want to leave them alone with him," he says quietly, "But what's in the house is worse."

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 0 higher.

There is a high pitched scream, thin and reedy and full of rage. She pauses, taking her version of a knee, and as she does, as she's still for more than a second, it is clear, at last, that this is, in fact, a human. Old, hair long, disheveled and matted. Her face has a surreal quality to it, and it takes a moment to realize that it is a mask that she wears. But it is faded, damaged and scarred. Her toothless mouth gapes and she hisses, "Go away! Go away! Leave me to my work!" The sound of her voice is creaky, hoarse with disuse. She snarls, head moving back and forth in an odd, syncopated pattern with the rest of her movements. For as old as she is, she is freakishly limber, twisting, bending and arching in ways that are deeply disturbing. Each of her limbs have been encased in those sheathing spikes with their scythe-like blades. "Leave me alllone!"

Orathy gives a look at Ol' Sam, brows lift, the glazed sort of look that questions what the f is going on around here. But, with Quintin's directed note of the house in which the combat is happening in, he starts heading for it. The muffled sounds of a skirmish grow louder as he nears the building, pausing outside it long enough to barrel through the door and try to nagivate toward the sounds of figthing. His nostrils flare at the smells coming from the fight... It takes him time to get there, time to find the right set of stairs, time to get up to where the close quarter combat is happening...

Merek checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 25, rolling 8 higher.

25 inflicted and Merek is harmed for moderate damage.

Orathy checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 20 higher.

Merek listens as the creature is speaking, then he makes a face. He walks up to the creature and amidst the many blades that slash all about. He then reaches to wrap his arms about the spider, also the legs, while he shifts to a knee. The blades shred up into his leathers slashing his skin with ease, but even as he winces, he uses all his willpower to hold it in place.
"Queen, we ask that you look in mercy upon this soul, and return it to the wheel. We ask all the gods to forgive us, I ask you also, lady, to forgive us, but we'll make it fast and peaceful. What they did to you... I apologize," he then looks up to Tesce, Ian, and to Rhiannon, as he fights to keep the creature in place, askance of them to finish the fight, clean and fast.

It must have taken nerves of steel for Ian to have stayed as close as he did after the hit that he took, but he came here to finish this, and so he didn't back away. As Merek wrestles the spider hag to the floor, Ian locks eyes with him for a moment. He's calm, the peaceful calm of someone who's genuinely serene, and that makes what he does next all the more horrible. He steps in and grabs a handful of her hair, jerking her head back, and draws the blade of his sword across her throat. The finishing strike is as bloody as it is precise, and Ian as cold as a machine when he carries it out. As spray of life blood mixes with his own on his chest, some of it making a lurid red pattern on his cheek.

Tescelina checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Orathy's caught on these steep icy flight of stairs, staggering and having to work to decidedly use alternate means of a route up, nearly spilling all the way back down and off the stilted house. He scowls as he can hear the fight inside, the high pitched scream too. Nevertheless he continues to manage his way up, using any hand holds as he can to mount up those stairs. His hand grabs hold of the door frame, catching the movement faintly to catch a sense of the shape between all those hanging scarves. Wait... is that thing got eight legs? There's so much blood around his nostrils are definitely flaring wide. The gloom of the entire place doesn't seem to phase him, but what does as he lurches ahead is the sight of Merek holding some weird ass creature thing.. and Ian's coup de gras in a good old fashioned throat cut of the creature as Merek asks for forgiveness for it?! Orathy's expression is basically: DA FUCK.

"Ok I think I have her stabilized to move but we should keep a close eye on her to see she recovers fully. I think I might have to aid others Livie," Azolla says gently, she casts a worried look back at the house and the noises.

Merek checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Olivia just scratches her head and looks at Sam. "The hell is going on Sam?"

Olivia smiles at Azolla, "Let's let them finish what they are doing. They usually are not bashful about when they need medics."

The commotion upstairs has Sam's hackles up and he makes a face, looking worried, "Are your friends... you should tell them to get out of there! Mother'll get 'em for sure!" He rubs a sweaty palm over his remaining leg and looks to Shiela. There is a frown as he looks at her, and now that the rush is past, it is clear that Shiela has been a victim of the same modifications as the others. She mostly has scars, scars Azolla and Olivia can identify as old surgical scars. Sam fidgets, his metal leg tapping, before he looks to Olivia. "They ain't safe up there. *SHE* is up there."

Tescelina stands to the side as she brings the Spider Crone to heel and then Merek tackles her, leaving her at their mercy. She looks down at her wound, her eyes blinking a bit and then back up toward Ian just as the Kennex Lord slices the throat. Her jaw trembles a bit but she doesn't drop her weapons, she just shakily sheathes them instead. There's a long, vast silence that follows, as if the air had been sucked from the room. Hushed she says, "This was my second -- engagement." This is to no one in particular, but the ethereal knight looks to turn away from the grisly scene with a remarkable measure of composure. Really. She removes her horned diadem and tucks it beneath her arm. "We should secure the house, see to the wounded. But the research involved in all -- this, could still be present." Including herself. "Lord Ian, please sit. I'll fetch the physicians."

Merek takes in a small breath, then exhales. Unlike Ian, while he has a serenity to the manner he keeps on task, he does show his emotions. His golden eyes are wet as he is also covered in the blood. He lowers the creature to the floor, while h offers a supplication to the gods. His hair frames his face, and he seems to be regaining his composure. He then stands up, while he nods a bit to Tesce as well as to Ian, then he finds something to cover the creature with also.

Rhiannon watches the execution with cold eyes and then turns to look at Merek and checks if he's horribly wounded. "YOu guys need to see Olivia for some healing." She's an old battle horse and doesn't seem to be as disturbed by the blood and death as she could be. Then again, there's one creature outside with an arrow through the ear that she killed. "We'll need to check the house, look for clues," she agrees with Tes.

Ian takes a step back. He uses one of the hanging scarves in the room to clean the blade of his alaricite sword, and slides it back into the body of his cane again. "You know how to jump into the deep end," he says to Tescelina with a twist of wry humor in his flat voice. One handed, with one hand on his cane, he unbuttons his coat and then his vest. There's a great deal of blood spreading on his off white linen shirt. "I'll go out. There's no reason for them to see this." Presumably 'this' is the thing they just killed.

Olivia hears that the fighting has stopped. She looks at Sam, "Sounds like She is dead." She starts heading back to the stairs, "If she is well enough for now Azolla, come, Sam can watch her."

Azolla sighs lightly before slowly rising to her feet. "She will be ok," she tells Sam, giving him a sympathetic look as she follwoe Olivia to where they can tend to the wounded as needed

"Dead?" There is disbelief on Sam's face and he limps back to Sheila, taking quite a while to figure out how to kneel next to her. "Oh my Sheila.... I only just found you again. You have to stay with me. You have to." He caresses her cheek and stays there by her side.

Once he finds his thoughts reaching his tongue, Orathy steps into the room, nearly out of breath to get up those damn stairs and the stilted house, but he asks with a raspy voice, "What in the abyss is that?!" He looks at the blades for the legs, but everyone is clearly already springing into the action to search the place. He steps back to let those who are wanting ot leave, do so.

Ian nods to Orathy as he passes the other man. "Master Culler." Leaving the explanations to people equally as unequipped to give them, no doubt. He's a bloody specter as he emerges from the house. There's blood spreading on his chest. There's blood on his face. There's probably blood on the rest of him, but his black armor hides it. He doesn't so much walk down the slick steps as climb down them, and putting that kind of strain on his arms and chest muscles can't possibly be making things any better.

Merek checked perception + medicine at difficulty 25, rolling 23 higher.

Tescelina checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 9 higher.

Rhiannon checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 7 higher.

Olivia checked perception + medicine at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Orathy checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 12 lower.

Tescelina offers a tentative if sad smile to Ian before she spies Orathy and offers him a -- curtsy? "Goodman Culler." She then goes about her business, investigating.

Olivia Makes her way to go in but gets stopped by Ian. He won't let her in. But she sees he is wounded and loses all interest in going in. Instead she tends to his wounds. He gets what he wants. She gets what she wants this time. Win win.

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 3 higher.

There is a sharp gasp from an alcove as Tescelina investigates. Her eyes searching through what appear to be beautiful paintings, portraits of a dancer with the subtle obstruction of her face. She raises a hand, set against her heart, and moves through the area with a mournful regard. "Gods above," she murmurs in some far off realization.

Merek checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 14 lower.

Merek checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 5 lower.

Rhiannon finds a desk, looking for anything that she can find. The masks are obviously made here and she lifts up one of the tools. "The masks are definitely made," she calls out.

Orathy checked strength + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 30 higher.

It takes Ian a couple of minutes to divest himself of the various bits of armor that protect his upper body so he can pull his shirt off. The wound in his chest probably looks worse than it is; there's no indication of a punctured lung, and if it'd hit his heart, he'd already be dead. All of this, he probably knows, because he doesn't seem worried. He sits down on the cart and waits while Azolla and Olivia look him over.

Merek looks over to Orathy, and makes a light motion with two fingers, to a pattern. "Human experiments, dark magic." He then checks the body, then he blinks a bit as he finds a trap door, after the examination, which he steps to once the body is moved a bit. Eventually, he comes back up, with his gaze looking haunted, "It...There's a door where more experiments were. We'll... Need to contact the Faith and some healers," he says.

Seems no one is answering Orathy or paying him any mind and while they go searching, his initial take of the place leads him to one thing. The Spider Crone. His axe comes out. With little regard or hesitation, he hacks at one of those eight legs. Seems reasonable for him to just butcher someone or something up?! HACK. Squelch. THUD. The axe chops away and Orathy's clearly not phased by the blood splattering all over himself to do it. With a sickening sound of flesh and bone being hacked and then further ripped, Orathy's hands are suddenly full of high quality steel, a scythe. "No one at the tavern gunna believe this elsewise-" as if to explain why he has it.

Merek answers him and Orathy looks profoundly... confused. "Eh? Dark magic eh? This be why people ain't should be doin that shit. We outta go back to what we all were befer all these walkin dead things 'n spider women come crawlin bout..." Orathy hedges to the body of the creature, nudging it with the tip of his boot. As Merek goes to find a trap door, Orathy brings his axe comes out. With little regard or hesitation, he hacks at one of those eight legs. Seems reasonable for him to just butcher someone or something up?! HACK. Squelch. THUD. The axe chops away and Orathy's clearly not phased by the blood splattering all over himself to do it. With a sickening sound of flesh and bone being hacked and then further ripped, Orathy's hands are suddenly full of high quality steel, a scythe. "No one at the tavern gunna believe this elsewise-" as if to explain why he has it. ( AMENDED POSE)

Azolla checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Olivia look Ian over and points at the huge Bruise on his chest. "At least you have good armor Lord Ian."

Ian looks down at the hole in his chest. "Not good enough, apparently." The sound of hacking coming from the house catches his attention, but he seems to trust that the people left inside can handle whatever it is. He returns his attention to Olivia. "Don't worry Zoey with this, alright?"

Rhiannon grabs an unfinished mask off the desk and then she walks back to the others, "They were definitely made here. Uncanny as they were, they were still created right here. There's a desk with tools up in that room."

Olivia points, "Azolla pack the wound with this. Then Bandage it tight. Lord Ian. Just come by the hospital once a day, we will get it repacked and bandaged till it heals. It can be our secret as long as you come get it cleaned and looked at ok?"