Game: In the Spire's Shadow

Polp speeds back to the party, leaving a brief faint trail of dust behind him (200 ft on Run actions). As he reaches their position he comes to a skidding halt in their midst and spouts forth a confusing flurry of words, too eager to divulge his information to make sense.
After a little while, though, the young shad snaps out of it and manages to deliver his words in a comprehensible tempo:

“The Eberronians are the champions chosen to find the Prophet! But they’re not sure about whether they want to be, they still just want to get back home to their world! And the ferrumach is an agent charged with this whole Prophet-business! But he discovered us, and M’rek had to tell him about the meeting in Ooze! And now the ferrumach wants the old man in the Greek temple to be tracked down, because he might be the Prophet himself, or some spy, and in any event he’s not telling the truth!”

… Eventually Polp will recount all that has transpired, all the while impatiently hopping from one foot to another, and looking for M’rek to catch up.

"Agreed Zhegre," replies Kadar "This information changes little. We already suspected that the old man was trying to peel us somehow and there's no reason to believe any different of the ferrumach. The Rilmari can be as tricky as Loths when they want to be, and as dangerous if they think their balance is threatened."

"Perhaps," says Zhegre. "But we have insufficient data to usefully speculate." Since everyone has returned and the general consensus seems to be to head on, it's off to Bedlam once more.

Kadar nods in agreement and starts off towards Bedlam, assuming that the decision has been made and the rest will follow.

Kadar sighs and draws his dao. "Should have headed for Ironridge" he mutters under his breath.

Initative roll below

Knowledge (the Planes) (1d20+7=8)
Knowledge (Sigil & Gatetowns) (1d20+6=18)
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (1d20+2=6)

M'rek burst into action almost before his mind has registered the threat:

Init 23
K Arcan 24
K planes 18
spellcraft 29
the link:

http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1145013

Pleadings to the ancestors on his lips, Polp zips past the floating glob of eyes while drawing his rapier swiftly from its scabbard. He comes up behind it opposite of Kadar, and slashes away.

OOC:
Ooh, nice one, Az!

Declaring my dodge on the beholder. Drawing weapon as part of move (circling to flank with Kadar), and attacking.
I take it its neither flat-footed nor can be flanked, right?

EDIT: The rilmani is on to me: To counter Azriael's crits, I thought I'd roll a natural 1 to balance things out. Again.

Zhegre goes for the big middle eye, figuring it's probably an important one, and hoping this isn't a bad strategic choice.

Edit: And I have no idea whether either of those hit, but assuming the second one did and the first one didn't, third roll is damage from a sickle to the cornea. Ow.

Zhegre is sated with combat for today, and is willing to let it run. He settles his weapons back to watch it flee, biting back a taunt (don't want to provoke it to anger and make more trouble for ourselves).

If it manages to escape nearby hearing distance, he'll sheathe weapons completely, commenting to the party, "I thought eye tyrants were supposed to be tougher than that. 'twas my first one, though. Well, let us not wait around for him to return with friends, eh?"

With a wry grin, M'rek matter of factly unslings his crossbow and follows Kadar's lead...

attack 25
damage 5
(if bholder was within 30' add 5 for sneak)

http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1159957

Also, Kadar added +2 for each attack he hit, and favored enemy IS doubled on a crit...so I bet this bholder will never again forget Kadar...

Kadar reloads and takes aim.
"You believe that this fight is merely between us and that beast my friend? Such creatures exist only to spread distruction across this land and must be destroyed whenever they are encountered. I am not fighting a creature, I am purging an infection."

Kadar looses his arrow once able, pursuing to get back in range if necessary

attack (1d20+10=28) damage (1d6+2=3)

Polp peeks out at the rim of the canyon wall while switching for his crossbow, frightened at the revelation of the beast as a beholder.

“Do… do you think it’ll come back? I have heard of the eye tyrants that prowl my home world as well, my second cousin Urnet once showed me some characteristic tunnel systems they make… Poof, then they can zap you gone, he said!”

Shaking his head at the loss of its quarry the young Nathrylowers his crossbow, and licks the ooze from his spur with a long very flexible tongue:

Well I guess no trophy heart tonight...still good hunt, very good hunt, our spirit ancestors would be proud...

M´rek too is ready to leave...

PS: 3rd daughter being born tomorrow!
Might be away for a few days....
Cheers,

Lacking any more appealing alternatives Kadar heads over to speak to the woman. Not being a complete coney he keeps his eyes peeled for signs of danger and tries to assess the womans intentions.

"Greetings good lady, what can we do for each other today?" Kadar asks once close enough. He figures polite and slightly formal with implications of a deal is a good place to start.

Spot (1d20+6=14)
Diplomacy (1d20+6=14)
Sense motive (1d20+7=23)

[ooc- Congrats JOR, my sister just had her 3rd too]

Ilgya seems remarkably sane, and her offer exactly what they need at this time. Zhegre lets the negotiations proceed, keeping an eye on the surrounding crowd and listening to the occasional cry or peal of laughter from one of the less advanced victims of the wind-madness. The seal of of Bleak Cabal would be a heartening sign -- . o O (Amusing thought) -- as well.

Kadar smiles at their hostess. "Yes a drink would be welcome, thankyou."

He ambles over and flicks through the pamphlets looking for anything of interest.

“Well, Arborean ale sounds like the right thing for me!”

Being only slightly above what may be considered a Clueless, Polp eagerly flips through the pamphlets as well, savouring all the illustrations of exotic-looking planar locales. The picnic picture in particular reminds him of something.

“Miss Ilgya, you wouldn’t happen to have a garden by your home, would you? Or would there be something like what you people calls a park in this city?”