<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Status</div><div class="spoiler_body">AC 18   HP  83     Skirt &amp; outfit generally damaged, but armour intact.<br/>Spells remaining: 5 of 7 1st, 4 of 4 2nd, 1 of 1 from bonded object<br/>Ammunition remaining: 23 common arrows (+30 more in pack), 15 silvered, 19 cold iron, 3 Tangleshot, 1 Flare (for extraction)<br/></div></div><br/>At the top of the ladder, Rayne checked the lock, making sure the trap door could be opened easily from the top now that the lock was disengaged.  "I think we might have use for that magic circle, yet... I'll tell you more back in the castle."  She was still determined to get Lizzy safely back, before revealing what she had found out.<br/><br/>She started to pull out her flare arrow, but Lizzy's dancing lights did the trick - the flare had been a back-up plan if Lizzy wasn't able to cast.  Which could so easily have happened!  It was very cheering to see the two mounts flapping their way, a small figure on the leading draconian.  Rayne looked "inward" to check her XP... "Oh, so close!  I guess we can't go back down just yet to shoot a few zombies.  But I'll be back."<br/><br/>"Yay, Sabrith!  I guess you can see you missed out..."   Rayne tilted her head toward the succubus, while patting Dixon's cheek, carefully, still wary of that huge beak.  The archer nodded in support of Lizzy's statement.  "All the crafting stations located.  And yes... umm, Charlatania and, umm, something with a 69 in it?  I came across them."<br/><br/>Back at the Fort, and with Lizzy busy setting up crafting stations, Rayne revealed what she knew to her companions, Zombs, and Starstrike.  "The two players that respawned here, they had been... turned to ghasts, poor things.  But there's some interesting information about someone with designs on the city."  She handed the journal over to Starstrike.  "I don't know if he's responsible for the initial attack, or if he's just trying to come in now and take it over.  But our new prisoner might know more.  She's been sending him captured ... captured PCs, I think ..."  Rayne swallowed.  "...as 'breeders'.  But maybe others too... maybe... Lizzy's brother.  Though if I had to guess, I'd think he was a ghast, turned that way by the iron maiden."  This was something Lizzy should probably hear from Zombs, so Rayne felt proper keeping it from her so far.<br/><br/>Rayne went along as the succubus was locked away, just to be sure it had really happened.  She had great misgivings about keeping the demoness here, but there was surely something they could learn from her.  Satisfied, she left the dungeon behind - first, to swing by the infirmary.  She whispered to the make-do psychiatrist, clucking her tongue sympathetically.  "Bad luck... though you'd expect someone would notice your absence really quickly then.  So take heart... maybe we'll be out of here soon, thanks to you.   But in the meantime... can I talk to them at all?  I'd really like to know if they saw... Lizzy's brother.  Or anyone else, really."  There was more, though not as urgent... Rae-lynne wanted to know if the girls had been aware while ghast-ified, and if so, how the game had exerted control over their actions.<br/><br/>When they were ready, she walked Grogza and Sabrith, and their shiny new battle-axes, to the mount stable.  She felt strange not going into the fray herself, but there were other things she could be doing.  She wished them well and hugged them both.  Before heading back inside, she patted Dixon, and ran a comb through his mane, collecting the hair.<br/><br/>For items... Rayne looked a bit embarrassed, her hand coming around back to feel the gap in her skirt.  There was more damage now, and... nothing beneath.  She'd even forgotten about this, back in the bazaar... maybe she could wait, while more urgent things were prepared.  Still... "I wouldn't mind getting my outfit fixed, so I'm not, umm, advertizing.  But it can wait for other things for other people."   She paused, then prepared a note to give to Lizzy.  Do you have any adamantium left?  If so, I'd take 10 arrows.  And are there other special materials?  Once Dixon has shed enough, I'll ask for a cloak from his mane.  And in the meantime ... 2 Greater Hushing Arrows.  I'll want a Slaying Arrow, a Greater one, once we find out the species of this Lord that's attacking the city.  And finally... A Mind Sentinel Medallion.  Do you have the right spells to make those?"<br/><br/>"And how are you doing, Lizzy?  Busy, obviously, but..."  Rayne moved closer, debating a hug, or putting a comforting hand on a shoulder.<br/><br/>The last task, and the one she found most nerve-wracking, was a visit to the imprisoned succubus, with several powerful supporters along.  The succubus surely had useful information, but whether they'd be able to extract it was a question.<br/><br/>Rayne listened to the succubus projecting calm, but she was sure the beast didn't want to be killed, or she'd never have surrendered to face them.  So maybe she would negotiate just to avoid death a while longer.  In the meantime, the half-elf toyed ostentatiously with her bow, as if considering shooting down the helplessly-trapped demoness.  "Your freedom?  And what would you do with that?  You say you would not attack us, but you've done damage enough, without coming after this fort.  Much simpler to end your existence here and now, if you have nothing to offer."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Intimidation</div><div class="spoiler_body">Intimidate: 1d20a8 DC: 20 Result: 10 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=70217) failed by quite a lot!<br/>OOC: I've never intimidated before (I always use diplomacy), and didn't realize that I probably shouldn't be the one rolling... since the prisoner may act friendly but be deceitful with a failed check.  So I'll assume you're doing the real roll!  Then we'll see how the questioning goes....<br/></div></div>