Even Later
You've finally prepared for the auction that Xanatos invited you to. The magical community of New York City is pretty quaint, you suppose, even though it's a little hard to navigate. As you settle in, you notice Xanatos, sitting a short distance away from you.
And someone sitting next to him.
With a duck-headed staff.
Okay, so I think this is implying Toffee killed her and took the staff.. However, as I am incurably optimistic, so I choose to deny this and substitute another, equally* plausible result. Janna doesn't really sound like herself, but circumstances are rather different, and oh boy she's mad.
*May not actually be equal.
Rising Back Up
Infiltrate Toffee's Territory (DC 90 Intrigue)
67+20+10 (Local Knowledge)=97 Success
Janna Martial Check: 88+10+12+20=130
Toffee Contest Check: 19+47+5-10(Surprise Attack)=61
Toffee Critical Failure!
The first sign Toffee gets of an intruder in his territory is when a Chimera throws him bodily into the side of a building hard enough to crater it - in the far wall. Embedded as he is, it takes him a moment to pull himself out of the wall, his regeneration already starting to repair the damage. He looks around, and sees the creature advancing forward by its master's side.
Does Toffee know who this is, or what this is about? (DC 80 Learning Check):
62+24= 86 Success
"Must we be so uncivilized? That was an impressive effort, but it won't get you anywhere against me. That being said, I'm always on the lookout for talent, and you certainly have that. I'm even willing to overlook this attack." His words flow smoothly out, unherried despite the situation. Listening to him, you wouldn't think he'd just suffered massive blunt force trauma, nor that the instigators of said attack were advancing on him with murder in their eyes even as he continued to speak. "I know we've had our differences in the past, but you know what I'm capable of. Surely that boy wouldn't want you throwing your future away."
Can Toffee Recruit Janna (DC 350 Diplomacy)
94+32+10=136 Critical Failure!
"What was his name?"
The question takes Toffee aback. He'd been prepared for a hard sell, but this was hardly where the conversation he had plotted out was going. "I'm sorry, what do you mean?"
"That boy you're talking about. My friend." Janna replies, her voice barely controlled. "The boy you killed. What was his name?"
Does Toffee know his name? (DC 80 Learning Check)
43+24=67 Failure
"Mathew?" Toffee tries, some confusion still evident in his tone.
"Wrong answer! Fireball!"
Janna Martial Check: 67+10+12+20=109
Toffee Contest Check: 50+47=97
Janna Success!
The burst of flame envelops him, Janna's anger given physical form by the knowledge and power of Lord Felldrake. The heat is intense, even from where she's standing, and Janna has to restrain herself from taking an involuntary step back. Any closer, she knows, and she'd be dealing with singed eyebrows. Toffee is at ground zero for the fire, and comes out badly burned and coughing from the soot. The veneer of affability slips off his face, leaving behind rage. As the smoke clears, he straightens, and prepares to attack
Toffee Martial check: 63+47=110
Janna Martial contest: 85+10+12+20=137
Toffee Failure!
Before he can try anything, however, he's interrupted by a massive burst of lightning that arcs into his body. His muscles seize up and he collapses to the ground, writhing. The stream of lightning lasts for several seconds, and when it ends, Toffee lies on the ground, wreathing in pain.
"His name was Marco. And I'm going to make you pay for what you did to him, and what you're still trying to do to Star now."
Toffee laughs, or at least tries to; the sound comes out barely recognizable, between the coughs and muscle spasms. Even as he struggles, however, the damage begins to right itself, injuries closing and leaving no sign of having ever existed. "It was a mistake to challenge me. Even the magical high commission wasn't a match for me, and you think a staff and some training changes things? You were better off staying gone; nothing you've done to me has done the slightest bit of real damage."
It hardly seems possible, but if anything, Janna seems even angrier than before. If looks could kill, hers would be at least on par with the spells she's throwing around. She grit's her teeth and raises the staff above her head. Pain joins the rage, as the raw anger joins with the dark magic and flows to a painful extent. Her body is wreathed in flickering shadows despite the bright summer sun, and in front of her forms a ball of ominous purple flame. "Maybe not those, but that was just the warmup."
Janna Martial Check: 100+65+10+12+20=207
Toffee Contest Check: 38+47=85
Toffee Critical Failure
The ball flies forward deceptively slowly. Toffee attempts to dodge, but the electricity still flowing through his muscles hampers him, and the attack catches him on the arm. From there, it spreads, the purple flames eating more and more of his body - and not going out, even as they burn though him more quickly than he can regenerate.
Can Toffee cancel this spell? (DC 120 Occult)
77+15=92 Failure
Toffee's other hand pulls out a pair of scissors, and a portal appears in the air. He steps through it just ahead of another burst of lightning from Janna, and it vanishes behind him. Attracted by the commotion, various monsters and supers of Toffee's arrive. She's tired out from the spellcasting, but the shadows still coating her body make that impossible to verify. Turning to look at them, she prepares to make what may be her last bluff. "Alright, which one of you is next?"
---
Later
You've finally prepared for the auction that Xanatos invited you to. The magical community of New York City is pretty quaint, you suppose, even though it's a little hard to navigate. As you settle in, you notice Xanatos, sitting a short distance away from you.
And someone sitting next to him.
With a duck-headed staff.
"Ah, Mr. Doofenshmirtz, just the man I was looking for. I understand you and Ms. Ordonia are already acquainted? We were just in the middle of discussing the future of the New Mewni economic zone."