Initiative Results<br/>Filomena 19<br/>House Cannith Personnel 17<br/>Kleris 15 (+6)<br/>Horishkad 15 (+4)<br/>Quori Dragonforged 6 (+3)<br/>Redhurst Student Bystanders 6 (+1)<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Final Round</span></span></div><br/>The schoolgirls rushed down the tunnel as Horishkad protectively hovered over them. He opted to stay behind in case the construct decided to pursue, but that was not to be. The metal monstrosity gazed hard at its creator, but Merrix stood unbowed even as his mind was assaulted. The artificer merely reached out a hand to touch the dragonforged, and with the slightest touch caused its form to rust, flake, and dissolve.<br/><br/>Kleris could not witness its demise, but its cries of pain emanated throughout the tunnel.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Filomena, Elmira, and bystander students full withdraw.<br/>Horishkad moves near the tunnel and readies an action to attack the dragonforged if it pursues.<br/>Quori Dragonford uses Mind Thrust IV on Merrix d’Cannith.<br/>Saves at 26 for half damage. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=147416)<br/>11 damage. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?u=30044)<br/>Inflict Critical Damage 28 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=147418)</div></div><br/>The girls didn’t stop running, even as the tunnel forked and doors popped up on the sides; Elmira was the fastest and whatever route she chose the others followed. Eventually a figure appeared through an opened door off to the side, causing Elmira to jump back in fright.<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/pFCmOgh.jpg?1)<br/><br/>“Everyone, through here!”<br/><br/>“Aieee, who are you?!” Elmira exclaimed.<br/><br/>“A friend, Kleris can vouch for me. Follow me if you want to get out of here safely.”<br/><br/>Horishkad finally caught up with the group, and while Derrick seemed a bit uneasy it soon became clear he would not unduly harm him.<br/><br/>The room beyond was a veritable maze of cargo crates labelled via a series of numbers and letters; Kleris recognized these as product labels for quantities of specific magical items.<br/><br/>“Okay, which ones have the bags of holding?” Sella asked.<br/><br/>Derrick shook his head as he opened a nearby crate with a glimmering silver key. It had an adamantine arcane lock, indicating valuable contents. The box’s interior would be roomy, were it not occupied by a half-dozen people lined up in sitting positions. It was only due to their utter, unbreathing stillness that betrayed their artificial nature.<br/><br/>“Those will be too obvious,” he answered Sella as he tried with great difficulty to pick up one of the mannequins. “Take their positions, it’s lead-lined.”<br/><br/><em>He is being honest in his desire to aid us,</em>Horishkad informed Kleris.<br/><br/>And with that, the quori dissipated as Kleris’ ring sucked him back inside.<br/><br/>Filomena stared at the crate. “Are those...golems?”<br/><br/>“Blueprints for humanoid-passing models,” Derrick explained. “People will assume you to be complete models if opened.”<br/><br/>“I...don’t like it,” Elmira said as she lifted two golems out, “but it’s our best shot of getting out of here.”<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Relationships &amp; Experience</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>+1 Relationship Level with the following NPCs: Elmira, Filomena, Horishkad, Suthrak &amp; Adalene. Escaped from Quori Dragonforged! Gain 3,200 XP (Combat) + 1,200 (Relationship) for 4,300 XP total!</strong></div></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Back in Firelight</span></span><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/rZMPXTn.jpg?1)</div><br/>It was hard to tell how long they remained within the box. Ari opted to stay outside with Derrick, and they could hear conversations between him and other House Cannith employees. Suthrak was about to cast a<em>light</em>cantrip, but Filomena interrupted her incantations.<br/><br/>“Shhh, golems aren’t supposed to know spells!”<br/><br/>Adalene’s slimy form shivered repeatedly. “I can sense a bit outside this box. We’re moving through corridors...we’re outside now. There’s a lot of people, standing still, forming into patterns. Soldiers? Ugh, I don’t like this at all!”<br/><br/>Suthrak hugged her friend as she sobbed. “There there, Kleris’ boyfriend seems like a good guy, he knows what he’s doing.”<br/><br/>“Is he your boyfriend?” Elmira asked.<br/><br/>Elmira’s Sense Motive is low enough (15) that Kleris can easily pass it. Up to you how much to stretch the truth vs telling it. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=147419)<br/><br/>“Boyfriend or no, we can’t trust his plan fully,” Sella said. “He’s just a magewright, I doubt he can evade Merrix for long if he really wanted to find us.”<br/><br/>“His attention was focused on the dragon,” Filomena added. “Still, this must be reported to Headmaster Andarlin at once. Economic ties or no, House Cannith put us in great danger today, and Redhurst will surely be wondering where we are!”<br/><br/>“That is if he doesn’t catch us and alter our memories!” Adalene wailed.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/Q8eK0Og.jpg?1)</div>Eventually the crate stopped moving, and Kleris could make out the voice of someone familiar…<br/><br/>“Ah, an extra-early delivery! The kind I like outside of the bedroom!”<br/><br/>Derrick nervously laughed. “Well yeah, for being such a good customer and all we got this one out fast just for you.”<br/><br/>“You know, you’re not the usual type who comes around here...save as a client, teehee.”<br/><br/>The lock was undone, and a dim shaft of red light (which was eye-watering in comparison to the crate’s utter darkness) greeted the girls. An even redder shade of hair popped up over the horizon as Rachel’s smiling face looked down on them.<br/><br/>“Oh my, and complete models too!” she chirped. “I’ll be sure to pay you extra!”<br/><br/>“Errr...Rachel?” Elmira asked. “Are we back in Redhurst?”<br/><br/>The environs were a plain brick room with a trash bin and mop, and a heavy sliding door and magitech-driven carriage upon which the crate was taken off. Derrick was at a loss for words, slightly blushing, while Ari sat by his side ever the part of a faithful hound.<br/><br/>“Wait, where exactly are we?” Filomena exclaimed as she got to her feet.<br/><br/>Adalene and Suthrak shared uncomfortable stares as they looked over at Kleris.