Roshul wasted in no time coiling around the remaining assassin.  He tried to go back, but her serpentine mass blocked his escape route, and in a whiplike motion she darted forth to take a bite out of him. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78921)<br/><br/>She broke off with a sickening tear, a fair bit of skin hanging off which previously belonged to a now-freshly bleeding eunuch. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78922)<br/><br/>He would've been barely standing, but the naga's potent venom managed to do him in. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78924)  Roshul mercilessly crushed him, the sound of bones breaking in her grasp.<br/><br/>Hanifa nocked another arrow to hit the elemental, (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78923)<br/><br/>followed by another stellar shot! (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78925)<br/><br/>If the elemental had eyes, (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78927) then the arrows would hit them both.  With a sudden explosion of crackling light the elemental vanished with a faint scent of ozone.<br/><br/>Hanifa was quick to fire off a third arrow in case the last two did not kill it. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78926) It arced wide, ricocheting off the floor, only to hit a pillar, then ricochet off of that and between Menya's feet.  Fortunately it did not hit her.  Hanifa couldn't help but wince at the terrible shot, even if the other two hit the elemental.<br/><br/>Roshul examined the bodies, a finger on the neck of them to feel a pulse.  "Dead," she pronounced.<br/><br/>Even after the end of this battle the rat swarm did not dissipate, instead haphazardly moving around expecting more trouble.<br/><br/>Before Menya could say anything, Hanifa tugged her shoulder and ran off in the direction of Zelda and Alfreldi.<br/><br/>Roshul noticed, and this surprise retreat was just barely enough for the pair to gain a head start.  The naga was quite fast, faster than even Menya or Hanifa.  As the pair crossed into a room, the door slammed shut as Zelda rammed into an adjacent cabinet to form a barricade.  Roshul could be heard colliding most harshly with the door, followed by a foul-sounding swear in a guttural tongue. (http://www.pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Languages_of_the_Great_Beyond#Abyssal)<br/><br/>Alfreldi was nowhere to be seen, but Judi was shivering in the corner, feet curled up as she sat on the ground.<br/><br/>Even at the height of this chaos, Hanifa could not help but feel a twinge of sympathy and knelt down beside her.<br/><br/>"I know you're scared, but we're professionals who've dealt with this kind of stuff before.  There might be more in the Palace, including men who'll be going after your husband."<br/><br/>"But the escape-" Zelda stammered.<br/><br/>Hanifa grit her teeth.  "Dammit, I know, but...it would not be right to toss you and al-Samara to the dogs."<br/><br/>The sound of another<em>fireball</em>erupted from the other side of the door.  Fortunately it held (made of some magical sort of coral), but parts of it chipped off in burnt flakes.  It wouldn't hold long.<br/><br/><em>I figure Menya might want to say something at this time to console here.</em><br/><br/>Judi looked up at the Garundi and the catgirl.  "You...you have the look of warriors.  I know we've had our differences, but Hasan means the world to me.  If you can help save him..."<br/><br/>Hanifa nodded.  "We won't be able to do any good if that snake-bitch gets her coils around us.  Do you know of a way to help reach him?"<br/><br/>Judi nodded  as she got up.  Making her way to a couch, she reached for a piece of wall and knocked three times, the first two light knocks and the third one heavy.  A panel slid open to reveal some kind of water tunnel, streams of bubbles going upward like some kind of vertical river.<br/><br/>Roshul bashed through the door as Menya, Hanifa, and finally Zelda swam through and closed the panel behind them.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The pair remained silent for a bit as they surged through the tunnel, but eventually the ranger broke it<br/><br/>"Where's Alfreldi?" she asked.<br/><br/>"Last I saw of her she ducked into the baths when some more eunuchs came forth.  I don't think they were with the assassins, but we did not want to take any chances.  Umm, I know we have to leave, but I'd feel terrible if our Sultan died.  Maybe if we save him, he'll reward us with freedom?"<br/><br/>"I don't know about that," Hanifa answered.  "He did purchase Menya and I for a pretty copper.  I hate to say it, but al-Samara is a slaver.  Even if we're surrounded with luxury and given fine fare, he still desired to use our bodies for his pleasure.  If we resisted his advances, do you think he'd accept it and leave us be?"<br/><br/>"He's not like that!" Zelda interjected.  "He has never taken any of us by force!  He is not like those awful efreeti, or those-"<br/><br/>"It's a blight!" Hanifa interjected.  "The entire system is open to abuse, and to see my dear Menya nearly lose her memory over it..."<br/><br/>She paused.<br/><br/>"As long as people are shackled, Sarenrae weeps."<br/><br/>"You're still wrong," Zelda said.  "About him."<br/><br/>And the silence resumed.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The trio came out to the western wing of the second floor.  It was dead silent, with nary a guard nor servant in sight.  Hanifa readied her bow with an all-too-familiar glare Menya recognized when the ranger thought that something was rotten in Druma.<br/><br/><em>Roll a DC 18 Perception check.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">Menya sees the outline of a shadow.  It is rather familiar...Bakr, he's hiding around the corner!</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body">Out of nowhere, Hanifa drew her bow and aimed it at the next intersection.<br/><br/>"Don't shoot!"<br/><br/>It is the voice of Bakr.<br/><br/>"How do we know you're not with them?!" the Garundi shouted.</div></div><br/>He walked out, hands raised, but one held a vial, with the same colorful hue as the memory serum given to Menya.<br/><br/>"This is a memory serum for Arensha.  I was working on it when I heard shouts, and then the eunuchs began fighting as an elemental was summoned, and I ran."<br/><br/>"Are you okay?" Zelda asked.<br/><br/>Bakr nodded.  "I'm afraid that al-Samara is holed up in the observatory.  Even barring guards, we won't be able to make it past the wards set up.  But..."<br/><br/>"But what?" Hanifa asked.<br/><br/>"But although they're some of the best in the planes, if there are traitors within there are folk who can exploit this.  A sturdy lock and a<em>dimensional anchor</em>seal does no good if your most trusted bodyguard aims his weapon at you in the room you're sharing."<br/><br/>Hanifa shrugged her shoulders.  "Sounds like there's not much we can do.  Do you know where Alfreldi is at least?"<br/><br/>"I saw Garetz take her by the arm to his infirmary.  Poor girl, I hope she's not hurt..."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If asked for the serum</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Alright, I can give it to you.  Maybe it might be a good idea to hold off on drinking it for now.  Don't want to fall unconscious in the middle of a siege on the Palace and all."</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Garetz' Office</span></span></div><br/>The doors were reinforced by an invisible barrier that Zelda thumped into unceremoniously.<br/><br/>"Ow, what in Abaddon is this?!"<br/><br/><em>"Wall of force,"</em>Bakr answered.  "But I can still hear through it..."<br/><br/>Listening at the door, they could hear the doctor and Alfreldi.  It wasn't hard, as the two were quite loud.<br/><br/>"No, I won't do it, I can't support this!" the catgirl shouted.<br/><br/>"Think rationally on this," Garetz responded.  "When push comes to shove the al-Samara dynasty will plunge this City into a never-ending cycle of death and war.  We need time to rebuild; your Sultan will have the sahuagin swarming the Palace in a manner of years, if not months, if he continues his campaign."<br/><br/>"Big words from a man who's siding with those in power!  You disgust me, you swore an oath that you'd use your knowledge for healing and succor, and know you betrayed the very people who-"<br/><br/>A strong slap could be heard, followed by a yelp of pain from Alfreldi.<br/><br/>"Don't you question my honor, bitch!  Al-Samara must die so that more may live!"<br/><br/>"Treacherous bastard," Bakr swore under his breath.  He gently reached for his pouch to open the flap.  Undernearth were several flasks of some gray powdery substance which he began pouring around the walls not covered by the<em>wall of force.</em><br/><br/>"Arensha, once the explosion occurs you rush past the ruined wall and take out that son of a bitch.  Hanifa, grab Alfreldi.  Zelda, there's a vial of Lumos Eel tongues on his shelf; they glow a bright orange, can't miss it.  Grab the jar as soon as the opportunity presents itself."<br/><br/>The Garundi and merfolk nod as Bakr pours out of the last traces of powder and lights a tindertwig.  A sizzling crackle makes it way through the trail and up to the endpoints, and in a thundering crash sections of the wall blow to pieces.<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">Stunts</span></span></strong></div><br/><em>Garetz is considered flat-footed, and his AC/CMD is 15.  Feel free to describe Menya doing something suitably dramatic and kickass as she heroically saves Alfreldi.  You don't even need to follow Bakr's orders if you don't want to, nothing wrong with getting creative! ;D</em><br/><br/><strong>Witty One-Liner:</strong>With a successful DC 20 Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or suitable social-based roll, Menya says something really cool to knock Garetz off his edge.  Menya's next attack or Combat Maneuver will have a +4 to hit and deal a bonus 2d6 damage due to the coolness.<br/><br/><strong>Aerial Leap:</strong>With a successful DC 20 Acrobatics or Climb check, Menya jumps on a pile of rubble to dig her claws into the wall, swinging her legs forth to knock Garetz square in the chin.  This knocks him off his feet and in a prone position, in addition to dealing unarmed strike damage (if using Piranha Strike, impose its penalty to the skill check).<br/><br/><strong>My Hero!</strong>If Menya beats Garetz' 15 CMD, she can grab Alfreldi and roll/swing/jump with her to safety.  This will earn Menya a kiss on the cheek from the grateful catgirl, granting 10 temporary hit points and a +4 morale bonus on her next attack roll or skill check vs. Garetz.<br/><br/><strong>How do you like it now?</strong>Menya can do what he did to Alfreldi as a form of karmic punishment.  This is resolved as an unarmed strike (not a claw attack) but Cayden Cailean and Iomedae smile upon this act of righteousness (the former for its bravery, the latter for its justice).  Menya deals an additional 4d6 holy damage with this attack vs. Garetz, as she receives a vision from the celestial planes of the gods smiling down upon her.