Chapter 8 : Chaos Rising : Part 4

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Bharash
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Mere steel would have already begun to corrode and decay under the alchemical assault of the greasy, fecal sludge that sweats from every pore of the monstrous abomination Bharash is pinning to the gantry but Mithril merely blackens as he twists harder, generating spurts and dribbles of fetid pus from creases and wounds in the things oily skin…

…until Julia turns up and, contrary to expectation Bharash has sense enough to jerk his head away and down as she lights up from within, only to find himself riding the outer edge of a growing sphere of boiling, oozing malignance which then flat-out explodes, coating him and everyone else – including massive amounts of the whirling Chaos Engine – in corrosive sludge which eats into metal and mechanism alike…

…while Bharash, quite independent of the force of the blast finds himself in effective freefall as the pestilent monstrosity he was wrestling with and then hanging from ceases to provide anything resembling support.

Down he plunges, into the darkness.

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Please note that that blast radius does at least half damage to the machine as well… Which may not be ideal. ^_^

18:15, Today: Bharash rolled 19 using 4d20 with rolls of 7,3,2,7.  Reflex, reflex, reflex & fortitude.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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06:27, Today: Kal rolled 19,18,18 using d20,d20,d20 ((19,18,18)). put the wrong name!  Reflex, Reflex, Will all PASSED

Kal saw his laying of hands hurt the disgusting beast even more but as Julia, the woman he was falling for flew over between him and Talin and touched the thing while casting a spell Kal was overcome with power…. power from this beautiful woman next to him that was glowing and seemed like something totally godlike.

The thing before him grew, expanding beyond its body’s capability to withstand the pressure and then suddenly it popped like a pimple.  The force behind that pop though was tremendous and knocked him back just a little.  Body liquid and parts blasted him, bruising his exposed flesh.  It was more disgusting than anything he had ever experienced.

The bright light from Julia did expose the next enemy though and just in time as they were very near.  They too seemed to catch the brunt of the explosion as well, luckily.  They had been flung to the outside of the cavern almost against the walls.

No time to revel in the victory quite yet, there was work to be done!  Kal hefted the Sword of Truth and charged one of the beasts.  “Incoming!”

Hit AC39 for 32 normal, 11 holy, 11 arcane user bane damage.  Total 54
06:53, Today: Kalerecent rolled 39,32,11,11 using d20+27,d8+24,2d6,2d6.  pwoer attack -3 for 9 dam, holy, bane.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan couldn’t see anything at the spot he was flying until a sudden bright light lit up the whole of the cavern.  Tristan saw the light emanating from Julia as she touched the thing they had been fighting.  Whatever she had done caused the ugly thing to explode just after she touched it.  The woman was marvelously gorgeous and at that moment he thought differently about her.  Then the scream echoed in his brain causing immense pain and then he was hurled back against the wall.  Keeping his wits about him he also spotted the enemies Vogh had warned them about mere seconds before.

Looking at one of these things told him it must be a devil of some sort.  Anger boiled in his veins and he meant to release that anger on the nearest one.  As he began to fly towards it he caught sight of Kalercent doing the same.  With a smile, he charged on swinging Ebony over his head to chop down on the head of the beast.  “You will die, foul devil!!”

Use Lunge
Hit AC39 for 21 damage
07:19, Today: Tristan rolled 39,21 using d20+25,d10+18.

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Vogh
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At the top of the machine, Vogh witnessed the flash of light but being inside the machine she couldn’t see the source of the light.  She couldn’t see much at all but felt the machine get rocked by something….  a moment before a scream like nothing she had felt before blasted her head leaving her head aching.  It was almost enough to stop her from continuing her music but Vogh had used her powers for a long time and it wouldn’t be that easy to stop her music.

Vogh could still sense the three thralls up here and the humanoid who had yet to reveal itself to her.  Vogh decided then to speak to it while including her friends, “Seems to me you lost someone important below us.  For that scream certainly was a death throe.  Do you still want to continue this fight or are you ready to talk more openly and truthfully before this precious machine of yours is utterly destroyed?  Call off your dogs or we will kill everything in here!”

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon experienced everything everyone else had but one thing he noticed that spurred him to action was that it seemed Josiah had lost consciousness and began to fall.  His pretty wings wouldn’t hold him aloft without him awake.  Deacon quickly converted one of his spells to allow him to cast a shimmering web down below him.  It stuck to the chamber walls and the inner catwalk.  The exterior catwalk was used as extra support.

07:33, Today: Deacon Havenhold rolled 16,8 using d20,d20. Reflex, reflex PASSED the first so second not needed.

Deacon cast webbing on the next ramp down to catch Helmut and Josiah.

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Julia Graymantle
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Time behaves in funny ways, and in this instance, it ebbed and flowed strangely for Julia.

Everything had moved so slowly as she had approached the Despoiler, reached out to it.  She had seen her hands so clearly as they took its head between them, and time almost stood still as she called the spell forth.

Then suddenly time leapt forward, a glow surrounded not only the Despoiler, but also herself, and she had the sense that it had filled the whole cavern, as if light had been everywhere all at once.  Julia felt inflamed with power, infused in a way that she had never experienced.  As if she was wholly constructed of pure, living energy.

The Despoiler bulged and exploded in an instand, flinging Julia towards the outer walkway, where she landed, somehow softly, as if lain down by a caring hand.  And then the light was gone.  It hadn’t been hers, she knew that.  That was not her spell, but what had it been?  Mysteries upon mysteries, but more and more Julia was certain…she was being called, and she needed to answer, and to get answers.

Anyone looking at Julia will notice that her eyes have turned completely white, with an ever-so-slight glow to them.  If one looked closely, they could make out an also white Iris, but from any distance, her eyes appear to be solid white.

As she stood from the walkway, time seemed to slow down again.  Julia saw the gore that covered the entire machine, as well as her friends, although somehow she was perfectly clean.  Even the mess from the vomit attack was gone.  Her allies did not seem have been as lucky, and it appeared that, although she had been saved from the blast, they had not.  And now a new group of attackers had arrived, Rhodintors.

Julia quickly called up her divine power, it was so insignificant to the power she had momentarily wielded, and channeled it outward.

53 pts healing for Kal, Tristan and Talin.  I think Bharash is too far away now.  Remember you can keep up to 12 HP over your max for 12 rounds.

17:20, Today: Julia Graymantle rolled 34 using 9d6.  Channel Energy with Enhanced Cures. +19 from Talin’s Healing Hymn – Total healing 53 points.

16:48, Today: Julia Graymantle rolled 18 using 1d20+10.  Fort Save – Success

16:53, Today: Julia Graymantle rolled 32 using 1d20+12.  Will Save – Success

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Talin
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Talin couldn’t.

He just couldn’t take anymore.  Floating there, bathed in… nope, he wasn’t even going to think about what he was SOAKED in (because it was absolutely burring into his flesh).   It was too much.  He didn’t even have it in him to try to avoid it.  Talin took the full acid blast in the chest (and everywhere else).  The only thing that kept him from violently spending the rest of his life vomiting was pure RAGE.  Not at the thing, not out of worry for Bharash who was currently falling into Hades knew what, not out of concern for his love somewhere up above…. no, it was at HER.  She held the Despoiler in her hands while it exploded and she was PERFECTLY clean.  Spotless.  HOW!!!

He needed an outlet for his rage and found it quickly.  There was a creature Tristan and Kal were attacking, and blessedly they had not yet managed to kill it.  With a silent battle cry (because he would NEVER open his mouth again), Talin launched himself at the thing.

Move to attack with SolarSong greatsword, hits AC35 for 26 damage, plus 6 if evil.

-Reflex save for 22 failed DC of 23, takes 43 Damage.  Instantly healed by Julia
-Will save for 24 succeeds against revulsion.

13:39, Today: Talin rolled 35,26,6 using 1d20+28,2d6+16,2d6 ((7,5,5,3,3)).

13:26, Today: Talin rolled 22,24,76,3 using 1d20+14,1d20+14,1d100,1d4 ((8,10,76,3)).

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Aggah-Sahn
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The combined assault of the three men laid open wound after wound on the blue devil until SolarSong ended the beasts life. It fell limp as it plunged into the unknown abyss below. All five remaining devils released their levitation spells and plummeted out of sight as well.

All of the venom shaped thralls scrambled down the walls to escape into the dark below, as did the humanoid – which no one could see – but Vogh could sense.

[Private to Kalerecent: Kalerecent could see through the magical invisibility of the humanoid scrambling down the vertical wall and he was surprised at what he saw. A strange dwarf wore peculiar goggles over his eyes, and was strapped into a harness attached to four, metallic legs! His own legs were intact but hung from the sling which held him in place. The metal legs hissed and clicked, magically attaching him to the wall much like the thralls were. The dwarf creature was retreating as fast as his mechanical spider legs could carry him.]

For a moment, the only noise in the chamber was again the whirring, spinning, clanking and hissing machine. Steam vented from each level, seemingly at random. Thankfully no one was near any of the energy releases when they happened.

Only a few moments passed then a booming voice echoed from above everyone.

“STOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!”

[Private to Vogh: Vogh sensed a human, who quickly came into her view, with a 24 intelligence!]

A richly dressed human man floated down from above all their head. Everyone could see him as he was surrounded in a pale light, lightly illuminating the chamber. He had a long, gray beard which looked perfectly oiled and groomed, which matched his silver hair, tied neatly back into a pony tail by a golden string. His hair and beard reach the middle of his chest and small of his back.

Robes, unmistakably of a wizard, were draped over his thick and muscular body. Rich red fabric of the highest quality was trimmed and embroidered with shining gold thread, gems woven into the dizzying patterns and sleeves. Several ioun stones floated around his head. A shimmering magical sphere surrounded the flying man’s person. Once they looked up to see him, he maintained his distance by hovering roughly sixty feet above the top catwalk. His voice boomed over the machine’s noise as he addressed them again.

“Stop your destruction! I implore you!”

Looking down on them, the group could see his facial expression was pained as he surveyed the scene before him.

“I know why you’re here. My machine is not what you seek. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aggah-Sahn. I already know what you’re thinking. There are things you deem evil here. Things you’ve fought elsewhere and before. Things associated with the chaos cultists. But we are NOT of the mindset of the foolish cultists. Heed my words. They mean to destroy the city and I would happily assist you in stopping them. But you must leave here ALIVE to accomplish your goals and opposing me will make that an impossibility…”

He let the final words ring throughout the chamber.

“If you give me your word you will all leave here immediately, then I will reward you with the exact location of the chaos cults. Before you ask how you can trust me, you now know the location of my machine and could return here, but my hope is you destroy the foolish Wuntad and his misguided idiocy then realize you need not trouble me any further. I am a businessman, but you do not want to count me among your already laundry list of enemies. House Vladam wishes to see you dead. The monstrous Pactlords group wants your heads. It seems the Killravens have taken an interest in your ill-being as it were. Linech Cran, the sucker he is, even seeks retribution. Do you truly want another powerful enemy desiring your demise? Collect yourselves. Leave my cavern. Kill the cultists and then you may count me among the very few who do not wish to see you harm. What do you say? Truce…?”

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Bharash
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Plummeting into darkness, right up to the point where a gantry comes out of nowhere and rises up to smash him in the muzzle (arresting his fall at the low, low price of forcing most of a quart of fetid… juices out of his armour padding and all over his immediate vicinity), Bharash issues a low grown while briefly clinging to the metal before pushing his head up and giving the descending devils a hard glare…

…but not actually choosing to do anything about it for the time being, since the bare, ooze-crusted metal is startlingly comfortable after an extended set of falls and wrestling with the hands-down-winner of the most disgusting pustule of the year contest so instead he rolls over onto his back (narrowly avoiding tumbling off again) and takes a slow, deep breath.

A few moments later, when he’s finished throwing up his toenails the big Dragonborn crashes onto his back again and wishes, deep inside what passes for his soul for a big mug of mint tea while casting around in his mind (as the shouting is going on) to see if anyone can still hear him.

‘Can anyone still hear me? And can we hold on for just one damn’ minute before starting any more trouble?’

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Narrator GM
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Bharash had fallen beyond Vogh’s telepathy range so none of his companions could hear his verbal voice, or feel any metal connection.

[Private to Bharash: But a voice did respond in his mind.

“Greetings Master Bharash. This is Aggah-Sahn. You’ve fallen a long way down my machine good sir. Will you be rejoining us?“]

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Bharash
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Bharash’s post is private.

[Private to GM: ‘Sure, sure… I’m just… y’know… Going to lie here for a minute, I think there’s a kidney I haven’t thrown up yet.’ Bharash answers as he alternates between trying to catch his breath and trying to maintain what’s left of the contents of his stomach, the big Dragonborn taking a moment in order to gather his thoughts before replying.

‘First off… Pleasure to meet you. Sort of. Allowing for the whole ‘you’re served by devils and whatever that thing was’ bit.’ he projects, apparently keeping something resembling manners in the front of his mind as he goes on ‘Second off, I’m sure you’re all kinds of big and scary with the biggest swinging pair, but let’s not pretend that a fight in here wouldn’t get stupid messy so if we can stay polite and everyone stay where they are for a hot minute while we sort this out, that’d be just lovely.’

‘Third off, as I was trying to tell Clockwork Sam, your mechanical friend there before round, slimy and disgusting got his brain juice all over everyone… Wuntad’s cultists led us down here and until we ran into your bug-guards – who used to be people, let us not forget – I was starting to think it was a wild goose chase… But at the very least, you shop at the same goon store so if you really are opposed to their efforts it sounds as though we should all compare notes.’, which he then follows up by adding ‘And as for my lot. Guys, this guy obviously needs a good smiting but if – if he’s telling the truth then you got suckered by Wuntad into chasing off after him while the cult does anything it wants. Also, right now, if he offered me the use of whatever laundry service he has up there, I might give serious consideration to switching sides.’]

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Narrator GM
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Private post.

[Private to Bharash: Bharash heard a chuckle back in his mind. “Third, they cannot hear you. It’s just you and me speaking here. But I take no offense at your words. Second, you are correct the cultists granted me their thralls, and some knowledge of technology. First, I’m assuming you mean the spider legged fellow, although his name isn’t Clockwork Sam, I appreciate the humor of your sobriquet. As to a fight in here being messy. Any damage you do to my machine can be repaired. But your deaths, here, would be quite permenant I’m afraid. As a resurrection would require at least some portion of you to remain, which I wouldn’t allow. You should tell your friends that I am indeed telling the truth, that Wuntad did indeed sucker you into fighting me to save his own hide, that I will gladly give you their exact location, and finally, I’m happy to pay for your laundry service. Perhaps a few thousand gold in Mage Coins would cover the cost and help you eradicate that megaloathe and his lackies.“ The final is clearly said with a good natured chuckle, with no mocking or sarcasm.]

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Bharash
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Private

[Private to GM:  Bharash snorts to himself and answers dryly ‘If it were that easy, we’d be fighting not talking. But since I’m happy with talking and I scare about as well as I clean up, let’s settle on agreeing that neither one of us wants this to get more disruptive than it needs to be and move on, shall we?’ then adding ‘Hang on one second.’ and picking himself up to lean over the edge of the gantry and retch some more before slumping back down.

Once he’s laying on his back again, he carries on while trying not to dwell on how bad everything smells ‘Ohhhh, I hate that guy so much. Okay. Look. Cards on the table. I’m interested in the guy we’re hunting. I like Ptolus. It’s where I keep my stuff and I want to stop Wuntad, but you’ve got to appreciate that my friends have an idea in their head and they’re… Well, they’re sort of… Uhhh, how do I put this diplomatically? …sort of focussed. They’re going to need convinced that they’ve been suckered. Is this mad machine of yours something you can show our arcanist without him getting all ‘purge the unclean’ for starters?’]

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Narrator GM
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Private

[Private to Bharash:
“I feel the exact same way Master Bharash. Ptolus has made me fabulously wealthy. You are also correct I do not wish this parlay to devolve into violence. I don’t want my machine damaged. I don’t want to waste my time. And I don’t want you dead, because I’m not certain any other group would be able and motivated enough to defeat Wuntad in his current state. Perhaps you should get up and help convince your friends of our tenuous alliance. I need not become your enemy. Nothing done here is too problematic. As to the machine, I’m not certain what I can tell you that ‘Sam’ hasn’t already shared. This machines purpose is not to harm the city or is occupants in any way. In fact, it might actually aid the city.” Again the man chuckled.]

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Bharash
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PM’s in the dark.

[Private to GM:  ‘That’s the problem, isn’t it? You’ve told us and without meaning any disrespect – Beyond, y’know the home invasion and the minion slaughtering – your word alone doesn’t carry a lot of weight because we’ve never heard of you. And also, y’know, demon bug-minions. On the other hand, you’re like, a magic nerd right? Well, we’ve got one too. If you can show him your machine and it isn’t an end-of-the-world engine then that’s a point in your corner plus you get to show off. Magic nerds love to show off.’ Bharash points out, while a quiet thread in the back of his mind is asking ‘why is it that common sense goes out of someones head at the same time they learn their first spell?’

But he goes on, as reasonably as he can ‘Failing that, laying out what you know of Wuntad’s schemes in detail might be a good way to go. We know some, and we’ve a chance of catching you out if you are being less than straight with us. Meanwhile, nothing is getting wrecked… Oh! And for the record, I’m going to pass on the bribe thanks. Either you’re in the clear or you’re not and I don’t want the issue clouded… As tempting as a lavender scrub is feeling right now.’ while pulling himself to his feet and starting to feel around in the impenetrable darkness, looking for a ladder.]

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Vogh
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Before Vogh could do anything else she sensed all the enemies leave the area out of her mindsight.  She thought to herself that perhaps the machine was going to explode or something but when she sensed another person drop down from above and introduced himself Vogh knew what had happened.  Obviously, this person called them off.

Vogh listened to the man speak as he came closer so those gathered near the top of the machine could see.  He was an imposing figure for sure and Vogh wasn’t sure if she knew who he was at that moment.  She listened to him thoroughly before answering.

“You seem to know quite a bit about us.  Of course, we haven’t done much in secret like many entities in the city.  But, if you can tell us where this Wuntad is for sure, we will listen.”

Knowledge check 26

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Aggah-Sahn
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Aggah-Sahn nodded to Vogh. “It’s important to know the important individuals in ones circles of influence. Do I have your word you will depart here immediately with the knowledge I give you?”

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Talin
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The Rhino (rh—something….Talin didn’t know and cared less what it was called) was distracted by his two companions and by the holes they had rent in its deformed body.  Talin doubted it even saw him coming and one powerful blow separated it into two pieces.  Talin had killed many things in his life, but there was a certain satisfaction in this one, as inconsequential as it was.  No thin sliver of guilt for ending a life, however it needed to happen or however much they deserved.  Nope.  This thing was going to die for what had happened to Talin…for the chunks.  And it did.

As the two halves slid out of sight below, the events of the last few seconds played through Talin’s mind, and he gave a startled oath.  And regreted it immediately as opening his mouth let…something… in.  Best not to think WHAT.

The image of Bharash, the one companion that can’t fly, getting blasted off into darkness hammered into Talin’s mind.  By all the chamber pots in the 8th circuit of Hell, here he was venting frustration while the statuesque warrior was lost in the depths.

Talin hollered out “Bharash!!! to Tristan and Kal and flew down in the direction he saw the giant fall.  Seeing the big man(?) laid out on the catwalk, Talin flew close and asked “What were you thinking, grabbing that thing?  It worked, and gave us the chance to kill it with celestial energy, but you will NEVER get that goo out of your armor.  EVER.”

“Do you need healing?  I am not sure if we should rejoin the group at the top or wait to see what comes of this.”

If Bharash indicates that he needs healing, then Talin will cast cure serious wounds on him for 46 healing.

08:06, Today: Talin rolled 46 using 3d6+31 ((5,6,4)).

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Hulgar and Jaylen were both behind the troops when the otherworldly scream threatened to break their sanity.  The pain was immense but thankfully his divine training had allowed him to take the pain in stride, but the men before him were all crunched over in pain, grasping their heads.

Barring his Lothian holy symbol out in front of him and towards his men he released a warm white glow of energy that embraced the men.  The effect was noticed immediately as the men stopped squirming on the ground and began to rise once again.  Many turned Hulgar’s way and clapped him on the shoulder as they passed.  Jaylen too thanked Hulgar once the men had given their thanks.

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Vogh
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Vogh took the advice to heart that this man had provided her.  If he would give the location where Wuntad would be then Vogh would convince the others to go…. for now..

“I agree that we will leave but since you mentioned that it’s important to know the important individuals in one’s circles of influence I would like to know more about you.  I would also like to know what the Despoiler was doing in your machine.  That thing was pure evil and reveled in pain.  I would also like to know what this machine actually does.  The last thing before we leave is I’d like to know about this Wuntad and the Night of Dissolution.  Do you know when it is supposed to happen?  And what information can you give us to help defeat Wuntad?”  It was a lot of information Vogh knew but if she could get as much as possible it would mean a lot.

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Julia Graymantle
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As the newcomer spoke, Julia listened, and waited for Vogh’s reply.  Julia was more and more certain that the cultists were not here.  She was unsure about this machine and want happy to leave it running, but the cultists were the most pressing concern.

As Vogh and the man spoke, Julia whispered to Kal and Tristan, That bile must be awful.  Let me see if I can wash some of it off.  Tilt your heads up and close your eyes for a moment  As the two comply, a shower of clear, drinkable water rains down upon them, washing their faces and some of their armor and clothing of the worst of the … remains… of the Despoiler.

Julia casts Create Water, showering about 12 gallons of water on each of the two.

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Aggah-Sahn
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[Private to Bharash: Again Bharash heard a chuckle in his head. “It’s said Miss Kath typically handles your group’s diplomacy. I dare-say Master Bharash, you’ve a silver tongue to match your scales. Granted you’re as subtle as a dragon in a laboratory, but I appreciate the lack of guile. It would be best if you joined the rest of your group on the upper levels, as Miss Vogh is asking the same questions you are, and it would be nice to answer them only once.“]

[Private to Deacon Havenhold: Deacon hears everything Aggah-Sahn is saying through a telepathic connection, just as the man is speaking out loud.]

Aggah-Sahn answered Vogh’s shout with his own booming voice, both of them overriding the machine’s whirring and clanging noises. “We should wait for Master Bharash to join us, so I don’t have to answer the same questions multiple times.”

A little bit passed until Bharash came back into Vogh’s telepathy range, having moved his way up the ladders.

(I don’t want to “move” you all, but I’m assuming you’re going to move closer to the top level by walking or flying. Just let me know. For now I’ve only moved Bharash to the 100 foot range of Vogh. You all tell me what you’re doing.)

“Ah. Now that we’re all together, I’ll do the best I can to answer your questions. Both Bharash and Vogh asked what this machine does. Currently, it actually doesn’t do anything except gather chaotic energies. The purpose of those energies is an arcane academic exercise. Just as a wizard might use special spell components to empower their spells, so do I wish to harness chaos to aid in my own endeavors. I have no way to prove to you that I have no desire to harm the city, except to reiterate that I live here. This is my home. Most of my business is conducted here. Seeing it destroyed would only hurt me. Thus, it’s impossible for me to give you any sort of presentation. The process is very slow, as is all new research, as I’m sure master Deacon can also attest. Perhaps you should have him question some of his own associates in the Inverted Pyramid. If you’re worried about me, you should be downright terrified of some of them. But I digress.

You both asked about Wuntad, and to effectuate our parlay conditions, I will gladly divulge all I know of him, his location and his plans.

First, he and his lickspittles are located beneath the Temple of the Fifty-Three gods of chance. Take no issue with the clergy there, for only one knows of the long forgotten catacombs which formerly belonged to Ghul. A halfling named Ercan Amblested pretends to be of the Temple’s clergy, but in truth he worships the chaos gods. The entrance to the secret chambers beneath the temple lies in a side room off the main entrance into the temple, behind a secret door. When you enter, turn to the left and there is a sideroom that’s open to the main hall. As you step inside, the secret door appears to be part of the wall on the right hand side. Ercan will have a key. Once inside there is a staircase which leads you down to a very tall room, home to at least one Vrock demon. I know one of their names, Gisszaggat. The rest of the complex is warded against divination magic, so I haven’t seen it as I didn’t care to spend any time learning more.

Second, he has gained the power of the Shigmaa, more than one time over. He will be quite formidable for your group. He commands all manner of undead as they revere him. He has died and been resurrected multiple times, each time gaining power and knowledge. Further, I believe most of those you fought in the temple beyond this chamber retreated to that sanctum. It will be a terrible battle, one I would enjoy watching.

Finally, regarding the Night of Dissolution. There is no set time, but rather a deadline of collecting what they need to accomplish the Final Ritual. The purpose of the ritual is to awaken the Galchutt. You simply must not let that happen. The entire city will perish, and likely most of the world. There is no power that can match them. I would survive, but it would be a grave inconvenience. A Vested of the Galchutt, which Wuntad now is, literally imbued with the dark powers, must conduct the ritual with cultists chanting some nonsense. Four rune bearers must be consumed by flame. There are four such children in the city even now. Finally some altar they have must be present and plays a part in the ritual, but I have not learned exactly what.”

The human paused, taking a long breath after speaking for so long.

“Now. You must agree I have more than honored our deal…”

He extended a hand toward the door where all the soldiers stood wide eyed and fearful.

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Helmut Itlestein High Priest (NPC)
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Helmut had channeled healing energies as well to bring Josiah back to consciosness, then the two of them struggled through Deacon’s webbing that saved them from plumeting to their deaths and finally reached the catwalks while the man was talking.

With the revelation of the Final Ritual indeed requiring rune bearing individuals the cleric shouted, “I KNEW IT!!! I TOLD ALL OF YOU! THE CHILDREN SPELL DOOM FOR PTOLUS!” He started stomping across the catwalk and up the ladder, after sheathing his battle staves, grumbling.

Looking up at Aggah-Sahn he asked, “Do you know where the children are? If in all your divination you’ve gleaned their locations, it would expedite our ability to stop the ritual. Without the children, they cannot proceed!”

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Aggah-Sahn
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Aggah-Sahn seemed unpurtubed by the shouting, but he looked less than pleased with Helmut moving closer to him. Still, the floating wizard didn’t move away. He pursed his plump lips and shook his head. “I haven’t taken the time to seek them out. I’ve been otherwise engaged.”

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Vogh
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Vogh had obviously noticed that this Aggah-sahn had left out any information about the Despoiler in his monologue.  Honestly, at this point, it didn’t matter to Vogh though for she had a TON more information than they had before coming here and killing the fat disgusting Despoiler.

Then Helmut came forward and blabbed about being right about the children bringing doom.  But this Aggah-sahn hadn’t proved him right at all.  No, the runebearers were victims in this and not responsible at all.  Vogh called loudly, “You are only partially right Helmut,” Vogh had reverted back to calling him by his name alone to prove a point to him as she stared at him.

“Aggah-sahn, you missed an answer about the Despoiler, but I will let that slide since you have given us the key to stopping this ritual and killing Wuntad once and for all.  We will leave you to your machine.”  Vogh was true to her word and began moving towards the door.  They weren’t going to be walking back though for there was a certain aberration and black dragon they would need to pass.  They would head back via dimension doors or teleports.

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Bharash
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By the point where Talin gets down to him, Bharash has carefully hauled himself to his feet and is fumbling his way along the catwalk in the dark looking (for a given value of looking) for a ladder up.

“Thinking.” he shouts back, over the deafening roar of the machine “Might be overstating matters slightly. The fat bastard was trying to make a run for it and I just moved to stop him.”

Leaving a greasy trail of stinking ooze in his wake, the big dragonborn reaches a ladder and fumbles at it for a bit before starting to climb, adding “Trust me, as disgusting as you think I feel right now, It’s worse. If tall, robed and shouty up there had offered me a bath, I might have considered switching sides.”, although he doesn’t sound terribly serious about that.

As for injuries, he does look pretty badly burned but it’s sort of hard to tell fire sure under the caked-on sheen of oily excreta clinging to every inch of him.

Meanwhile, in his head Bharash can’t help but wryly reply ‘Yeah, we mostly let her do the talking. Bards, right? They get all sulky if you don’t let them show off. And I’m coming, okay, Mr Magic Pants? For most of us poor schlubbs gravity is a harsh mistress.’

A couple of ladders later, he’s in range to join the group presentation and listens to it grimly before noting ‘So I was right. If you’re telling the truth, this Wuntad guy set us on you ass distraction. The only question I’m left with is his how you both end up using the same mutant bug minions… But if you’ve a good answer for that, I’ve got a doozy of an offer for you…’

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Aggah-Sahn
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The wizard showed no sign of annoyance at Bharash’s uncouth comments. He actually wore a wry smile. Nodding he answered Bharash. “As I shared before. The cultists gave me some things to ingratiate themselves with me. That included the thralls. You’ve killed all but a few of them. Would you feel better if I brought them up here and killed them for you?”

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Bharash
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“Depends on whether there’s anything left of the person they used to be inside them. If there is, it’d probably be a good gesture. If not, then you’d just have to replace them, right?” Bharash answers – still using his particular brand of blunt honesty and displaying no fear of the hoovering wizard, but also very pointedly not being rude for the sake of it, either.

Gramma Shadow and Gramma Icinglass didn’t agree on much, but they were in dead lockstep about being polite to someone in their own home, even – or perhaps especially – if you were there to kill them.

“But alright, it’s a good answer so here’s my offer: You want to see the fight but the place is warded. I’ll carry a magic doohickey or spell in there for you so you get a front row seat, you help out in some fashion, maybe with a couple of fancy long-lasting spells or something. I don’t know, I’m not a magic nerd and me trying to tell you about what magic to use would be like Belie trying to tell me how to season a broth.”

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Vogh
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Vogh didn’t like the idea of having something from this Aggah-sahn, but then she got an idea and said agreed with Bharash, “Yes if you give us something that will allow you to observe the battle we will bring it with us.”

Then to the others, she said, “Let us take our leave and recharge our powers before we attack the temple.”

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Aggah-Sahn
———————————————————–
The wizard shook his head at Bharash’s question about the thralls. “Once the poison has taken full hold, there is no reversing it that I’m aware of. If the cacoon is broken during the transformation, powerful spells can reverse the effects. But no. Once it reaches the level those are at, it’s irreversible.”

He furrowed his brows at Bharah and Vogh’s suggestion. “I’m not certain that will work, depending on the nature of the wards, but it’s worth an attempt at least.” Aggah-Sahn thought for a moment, covered his mouth as to cough, though he didn’t, and opened his other hand to reveal a small object which glinted in the light emenating from him. “Hold out your hand Miss Vogh.” Again he covered his mouth, and the item instantly appeared in Vogh’s outstretched and flat hand. She held a blue, star sapphire with dozens of facets that caused any light to dance across the surface of the polished stone. It was just smaller than the palm of her hand and had to be worth hundreds of gold. [Private to GM: 1200gp]

“You may keep that. As both a focus for me to attempt a scrying, and as a token of good will.”

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Vogh
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Vogh reached out her hand and as the blue sapphire appeared in her hand she tucked it away in her pack.  She made a mental note not to have the gem anywhere that she didn’t want him spying on them.  She also knew that she also had a way to attempt scrying on him if she needed to.  “We take our leave now.  Please don’t give us a reason to return.”

When everyone was ready to go, Vogh would be the last to leave the cavern.  She knew that they should probably walk a ways back and once they got close to the area where the dragon was they would use their portal spells.

[Private to GM: Can you give me an estimate on the distance to the main areas we hit since the temple we destroyed on the Rhodinator’s?]

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Talin
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Talin knows his scaled friend well enough to know that he would suffer a few hurts out of pride and laid a quick hand on his plate-covered shoulder as he climbed… the cleanest looking spot he could find.  He didn’t know if the healing would take away all his injuries, but he assumed it would be enough.
Casts Cure spell from last post

Talin trusted this wizard less than one trusts a teenage Kender in a jewelry shop.
The big, gooey bard kept silent with his thoughts as Vogh and Bharash parleyed with the wizard.  He felt Bharash needed this: one battle talked out instead of fought out, but Talin was convinced this was a fight delayed, not avoided.  He said has much to the group once they out of the cavern and back in the passageway.  Before any teleporting.

“Anyone that uses the Despoiler as a lackey… anyone that it would be a lackey to…. well, maybe they are out of our weight class but I believe it will be worth the attempt.  One day we will find ourselves here again, and Big Boss would be more forewarned.  He seemed scared now… maybe concerned is better, and terribly ready to give us a different lead to follow.  He wanted us gone.  Nobody like that gives info freely to possible enemies,  and if he was truly worried about the cult, he would be actively working to stop it.  Probably in the same manner as Master Helmut here.   Child murder suits the lord of the Despoiler.  A good company you keep, sir.  Like minds and all.

My concern is two-fold in leaving here.  One, if we do end up needing to return, he will be ready with better obstacles to stop us.  SOMETHING has been stopping us from following this path.  If we leave and this was the right way, it will be 10-fold harder next time.

Two – I do not trust the good friar here not to take the more expedient path and kill the rune-bearers if we return to where he can get his hands on them.”

With that, he gave each of them a solid look in the eyes, but made a point to give the cleric a longer, flatter look than the rest, and looked at Vogh last.

“Thoughts?” 

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Helmut Itlestein High Priest (NPC)
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Helmut’s brow climbed and his face redenned in barely controlled rage. His hands gripped the battle staves sheathed on his legs until his phlanges were white. “We’ve all heard the final ritual’s description! From my own portends, from Mara and now from this obviously powerful and well informed arcanist! You doubt that the children will be used in this “Final Ritual” in a way that will literally raise up dark, foul and evil gods that will lay waste to the city?! I told you days ago the children should be gotten out of the city immediately! What did you do with that information?! NOTHING!”

His voice echoed down the halls. All of the soldiers were tense and stood, staring wide eyed back down the hallway, jostling to get a look in the narrow corridor. Kalerecent tightened his grip on his own sword, wanting to be ready. Josiah, having been fully healed by the High Priest patted the air in an attempt to calm the situation.

“Now we have confirmation a madman is out there, seeking these children to use in a dreadful procedure which could kill everyone we know and love! And you want to insult ME?! I am a High Priest you peasant sword slinger for hire! It was my prophesy and knowledge which led you to find the dark elf Shilukar and gain the respect of Castle Shard. It’s my deductions which brought the knowledge of the rune bearers being dangerous. I walked down into this stars forsaken place WITH YOU to prevent any evil befalling my city. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I would align myself with Raguel if it meant saving this city! And that means YOU too, you mangey gasser!”

Helmut took a breath, looking around at others with wide eyed fury, seeing if he could find support.

“I don’t have to stand here and entertain some milksop mollcoddler. I’ve done more for this city than you can possibly imagine. I was here, defending these people before you had finished sucking your mother’s mamilla! Now… When I walk out of here I have one mission, find every one of these children and make sure they cannot be reached by the cultists. If you can summon the stomach to aid me, all the better, but don’t you DARE impugn my honor or lump me in with those self serving whoresons. They are not my company.”

Taking another deep and shuttering breath Helmut smoothed his over-cloak and twitched in anger as he glared into Talin’s eyes.

“While I don’t doubt the wizard we just left is evil, I also don’t doubt his sincerity in desiring the cultists stopped. And if you think he was afraid, or even concerned, then we must have been observing different people. Did you not recognize the sphere around him? It was an arcanist spell which would have completely nullified all but our most powerful spells without him having to lift a finger. Likely the only reason we aren’t all smoking husks right now is because we were standing near his machine. If you want to come back and try to kill him, blow up the machine, whatever. For now, everything he said lines up with what we already knew and we have a location for where the brute is likely stationed. Are we going to stand here all day or are we going to go do something about it?”

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Talin
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Talin stood, dripping substances he could not and would not name, while the gas bag raved on.  Priests… pride and platitudes but little action or accountability.  Julia had done all the heavy lifting when the need came for divine power.  What had this pompous mammary-lover actually done during this mission?  Julia defeated a demi-god while he strode around fruitlessly with his stick(s) in his hands.  Was he truly here to help?  Or just here to make sure his own plans weren’t interfered with?

The only response he gave to the priest’s rant was a slight smile, one slightly raised eyebrow, and a pointed look to Julia. He then turned to Vogh.

Talin caught the beautiful and endlessly deep eyes of his bardic partner and gave a small gesture toward his head (away from the side where Helmut stood), indicating a private counsel was needed.

Assuming she opened a telepathic communication with him, probably started with some subtle comment on his lack of couth, he will say to her mind:

“Did I hear correctly amidst all that self-righteousness and personal horn sounding that he intends to immediately DEAL with the rune bearers as soon as we hit the surface?  He did not sound like he would be waiting for us to deal with Wuntad.  He intends to end this his own way, regardless of our efforts.

You read that the same?… and if so, what shall we do about it?  He will do ANYTHING to save the city.  The young, the not yet born, us, whatever.  He has no morals, no qualms, only his own self-obsession. ”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
When Talin had spoken to Helmut the way he did, Vogh wasn’t the least bit surprised when Helmut bit back.  What she did catch was that he wasn’t going to be helping with Wuntad and was going after the children.  I guess he is about action now….?

Vogh caught the brief movement Talin did and spoke to The Calling, directly, “Talin brought up a good point about Helmut.  I think that even if we deal with Wuntad he won’t have to deal with the children, born or unborn.  I am not sure what he will do, but he did say he wouldn’t harm them.  Though, he obviously won’t take the chance that something else happens.  He needs to be dealt with but we currently have a bigger fish to fry and I am hungry!  I think we should definitely trim the group down and if he is heading in a different direction that makes it easier on us.  Besides our group, we should see if Tristan, Kalerecent, and his cohort Hulgar will join us.  I am sure that Tristan will.  He got a taste of demon blood and wants more!  Just look at him….”

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Bharash
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‘Fair enough then I suppose. No sense asking you to reverse something you never had any cause to reverse…’ Bharash replies, climbing up another level of ladders and then another ladder once he’s circled around to find it, eventually re-joining the group just in time to see Vogh be handed the scrying focus that he offered to carry, generating a disgruntled look from the big Dragonborn (because if anyone should be getting in danger because of his bright idea, it should be him) that’s out of sight behind his helmet.

Reeking horribly, and with greasy sludge oozing out of the gaps between his armour he takes a deep breath, instantly regrets and then, as the group starts to move out pauses to turn and address their host in order to offer the floating mage a wave of his hand, “All things being equal, that could have been worse… And since you strike me as the sort to arrange things so that you’re always at the bottom of the ‘dreadful things to worry about right now’ list we probably won’t see each other again before I get my stupid ass killed so, y’know good luck. And sorry about the damage to your machine.”

Manners cost nothing, after all.

From there, he rejoins the group – sticking to the back after rumbling to the soldiers “Good news, bad news… No fight today, but probably a fight tomorrow. Also, you want to stand the hell away from me, I reek worse than a mercenaries codpiece after a six-week forced march. Also, thanks for having our backs. That could have gone a lot worse.”

And of course, the group being the group it’s only a matter of minutes before there’s squabbling again, leading to Bharash sighing heavily and stating “For the record, my read on the guy was that he doesn’t support Wuntad, but he views Wuntad’s success as an inconvenience and nothing more. He doesn’t give a damn’ about us or our morals or our survival and siccing us on Wuntad is just poetic justice for Wuntad siccing us on him and cost him nothing. Less than nothing, in fact… Also, seriously… Talin! I know you don’t like Helmut, but can we maybe hold off picking a fight with him until after the city isn’t under active threat of utter destruction? Time and place, man!”

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Vogh
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With the argument put aside, for now, Vogh gather 4 of the soldiers and told them to grab hands.  They knew the routine having done it once before to get on the other side of the dragon and when they came out of the port they took it much better this time.  “We will wait for the Talin to get the last group,” which included Helmut, his shield guardian, and Julia.

Once they were all together again, Vogh led the group back out and up to the apartment once more.  The smell from the apartment was nothing compared to how Bharash and the others who hadn’t benefitted from Julia’s create water spell to give them a temporary bath.

Vogh turned to Kal and Tristan and asked, “I would welcome the both of you to join us in the assault of the Temple of the Fifty-Three gods of chance.  If Hulgar can join us as well I believe it would be beneficial to our mission.”  Vogh turned then to Thorrim and Josiah, “if the both of you want to join us we welcome you, if not then I hope you can find some other way to help.  Perhaps you can find out if there was any luck finding the runebearers.  That would go a long way to easing some tension.”

To Helmut, Vogh said, “High Priest Helmut, I do appreciate you coming with us for this.  It is unfortunate that we didn’t finish what we came for.  If you do want to come along to take care of Wuntad it would certainly mean a better chance of defeating our foe.  If not then please take care of the runebearers if you find them.  Anyone that wants to meet for dinner we will be at the Minstrel.”

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Talin
———————————————————–
Talin apologized for nothing that was said.  Not due to the content of his statements, but due to the state of his being.  Being covered in the afterbirth of a literal God(ling) of Gross exploding gives a man a certain immunity to whatever trouble his tongue might find…  and right now his tongue kept finding bits of IT around his teeth and on the roof of his mouth.  If Vogh kept talking about eating, he would empty his stomach on her shoes.  Her SPOTLESS shoes.  There are no beneficent gods in this Underdark…

He was too much of a reader of people and situations though to leave the air thick with tension as he gathered with Helmut, Julia, and the golem.

“this filth does lend to even tempers and clear minds.  Actions and words can grow amiss in the fetid stink of the cesspool. It was through divine will and power that ended this conflict and got us the information we need to finish the threat to the city.  “. He spoke to priest and oracle equally, but he hoped Julia knew it was for her alone that he directed his thanks.

As he reached out his hands for them to join in the traveling spell, Talin reassured them ” rest assured I will deliver you safely to the other side, just as we were delivered from this abomination.” 

It was not an apology, just a means to keep the peace until Talin was certain if Helmut could be trusted or if he needed to be dealt with quietly.  And every word was true, just not for them both.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Everyone found themselves on the far side of the dragon’s lair. The troops moved without speaking all the way back to the temple, which was as deserted as they left it. Deciding not to explore the rest of the rooms for expediency, and due to exhaustion after what they just faced, the group retraced their steps back through the upper levels. Moving through the room with Bharash’s depiction with the ratmen, everyone once again exited into the sewers. Ironically, they didn’t smell as bad to everyone for some reason.

A group had to assist in lifting Thorrim, and Helmut’s Shield Guardian up into the apartment once more. Kalerecent, Hulgar and their troops moved outside to make room for everyone else. Finally the group walked out into Ptolus’ evening. Once they walked outside the apartment something felt off, wrong.

Down the alley they could see people rushing around. Not in the traditional bustle of Ptolus foot traffic, but people seeming almost in a panic.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kalerecent looked at the friends once everyone was outside with pursed lips, showing his concern. “I sent two of my men to figure out what’s going on. It seems the barbarian army is just north of us and closing fast. They could be here by as early as tomorrow morning. The Commissar has required the North Gate sealed and reinforced. People are panicking. It seems the City Watch and nearly every man-at-arms is being called up to prepare for an assault on the city. I must return to the church at once to see what orders await us. Please send word to me of your intentions and I’ll do everything I can to aid you.”

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Josiah Crand (NPC)
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Josiah shook his head in concern. “I’m going to head to the Pale Tower to check in with the Malkuth and see what our role will be. Sorry I was not more help down there. Stay safe my friends.”

If no one objected, the celestial spread his wings and for the second time in their lives, the Calling watched an angelic being fly away from them into Ptolus’ sky.

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Thorrim Kolvir (NPC)
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Thorrim likewise bid the group parting words, but everyone could tell he was deeply troubled. He had scarcely said a word on their return trip. “I’m going to check in with the Knights of the Pale and see what their role in the city’s defense will be. It leaves a terrible taste in my mouth to have left any of those demons alive. While that wizard might have killed us, at least we would have died vanquishing evil. Send word to Narred if you have need of me.”

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Helmut Itlestein High Priest (NPC)
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Not surprising to anyone Helmut was anxious to be off as well. “I’m going to check in with Mand to see if he and that halfling located and warned any of the children already. I’m also going to put Phon in my carriage and send her south immediately before that gate is closed as well. You may leave word for me at my temple but I fear our paths diverge here. Best of luck to you all.” He didn’t meet Talin’s eye as he said the last bit.

The cleric spun on his heel and strode into the bustle of people, his shield guardian tromping behind him which everyone walking gave a wide berth.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan shook his head at Helmut’s back. “I do not like that man. I’ll return with you to the Minstrel. I’m anxious to track down this Wuntad and his demonic allies. You’ve got my sword and staff. Hopefully we can bring down that balor.” He wore a half smile and a light fire burned in his eyes.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Kalerecent and his hustled off at a double time down the street and to collect their companions which had been sent back earlier in the evening. The Calling and Tristan were left in the alleyway so they made their way out to the main street in the fading sunlight. Clouds lazily floating overhead looked like rain, but when didn’t they in Ptolus?

Making it out onto Tower road the group could see just how freaked out people seemed to be. Several individuals stood atop nearby buildings gazing off to the north. Thinking to hail carriages the group made their way out to Emperor’s Road, passing Jodan Templehall on their way.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single available carriage! Many carriages went by, but were already occupied or simply didn’t stop at hails from the group. Bellringers were running all over, hollering about the barbarians coming. Another crier stood atop a box extolling the reasons for the Empire.

“People! This is a time for us to remember we need the Empire’s support! Even now they send troops to aid us! What are the Republicans doing?! All hail Emperor Fellisti!”

Ironically, just down the street from this cryer was someone saying the exact opposite. “Where is the empire when danger approaches us?! Nowhere! We stand alone! And so should Ptolus! Support the Republican Movement!”

The group had to walk all the way to the bath house, and it took longer than usual with so many people rushing about, heedless of those around them and bent on their own destinations. People gave the group a wide berth though, between the smell, the ichor on them, and the general look of such powerful people, few got in their way.

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Bharash
———————————————————–
“I’m not a big fan myself, but I’m not about to chase off an ally when the stakes are this high.” Bharash comments, having been fairly quiet during the match to the surface – well, showing for the fact that he emits a truly horrible squelching noise each time he takes a new step…

… The fundamental unpleasantness of which is exceeded only by the stench he simultaneously exudes, refreshed (if that is even the word) by each movement he makes.

The thought can’t help but pass his mind (as he marinates in misery) that at this rate maybe he should just find a nice troglodyte girl to settle down with, which in turn prompts him (as they’re leaving the underground lair for the sewers) to look around for Jayden and Jaylen.

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Deacon Havenhold
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When they left the apartment, Deacon could sense that something was wrong.  Though he couldn’t hear the people talking about the barbarians he saw something different in the sky.  Something about it seemed a tad bit off.  Deacon acknowledged those that left with a bow of his head and a thanks.  “I hope you all find a way.”

When Vogh had told him that the barbarians were almost at the gate he knew why people were freaking out.  War had some to Ptolus and they didn’t know how to act.  Some seemed very interested to catch a view of the barbarian horde while others were just plain worried.

He wondered if he would be summoned to the wall even now, for that was the job of those in the Pyramid.  But, perhaps he wouldn’t need to since he was so new and actually had a cause already.  Deacon wondered even now if there was a link between the two happenings.

“Guys, I am going to check in with my superiors as well but I will meet you for dinner for sure.”  Deacon said so they knew his course of action.

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Vogh
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When Vogh exited the apartment she could see the chaos in the city easily enough.  As everyone had said what they needed to do and left Vogh turned to those remaining.  “Okay Deacon, if you garner any information please try and get word to us as soon as you can.”

Vogh was a bit disappointed that Kal had taken his men and left but knew that if he could have stayed he would have.  She was glad that Tristan had remained.  He played a critical role in what they had accomplished below.  “Now, perhaps the first thing we should do is get you all to the bathing house.  I can’t believe that our spells weren’t able to clear that putrid smell from you and your armor.  We can also see about garnering more information about what is happening.”

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Narrator GM
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The row bathhouse was right off Center Street on Tavern Row, so directly on their way back to the Minstrel. Everyone could see Delver’s Square was absolutely buzzing with activity, even with darkness fully fallen. The magical lights along center street illuminated people rushing around, and clusters of individuals speaking in hushed tones near buildings to avoid being run into by traffic.

Inside the bathhouse, it was the calmest the group had ever seen it. Eltan and Derron, the owners, were usually bustling about, but instead they were both at the windows looking out onto the street. Eltan was chewing on his fingernails, obviously nervous. The husband and wife looked up at the group walking in with a bit of excitement, but then the smell washed over them and both crinkled their noses before pushing hands beneath their nostrils to block the stench.

“By the spire sweeties! Did you swim in the sewers all afternoon!?” Derron asked them in a sweet, and nasal tone, with her nose plugged.

“We better take off your armor out back and wash it there before we get you all in the baths.” Eltan exclaimed, pausing them from walking deeper inside and getting anything on their floor.

“My my dears. I believe you’re the most filthy group that’s come in. Maybe ever. By the looks of you, I hope you can afford this cleaning!” Derron said again, but in a sweet tone. There was no doubt in the woman’s mind this group had the coin. Plus, most of them had visited the bathhouse multiple times during their time in Ptolus.

Eltan took the men around back, after having shoved paper in his nostrils, and proceeded to help them out of their soiled armor. “Can you believe all this going on? In all my life no force has ever come again the city. Do you think we’ll be alright? Rumors say there might be a hundred thousand men and monsters in the barbarians group!”

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Talin
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As Talin sunk into the, he let out a long, loud moan.  He had spent the better part of an hour with a scrape and a brush getting most of the chunky stuff off of him, and then had used the first full bath to get the rest off.  This was by far going to be the most expensive bath he had ever had…  he might have been able to buy a good horse in a smaller town for what he spent there that day.

He looked over at Bharash, looking hilarious with his sharp beak balancing a big white soap bubble and his eyes half-closed in pleasure.    “ooooooooooohhhhhh….by all the maidens in the seven houses of Sunlit Delight… I might ACTUALLY feel clean again.
  He paused to spit out a phantom bit of something from his mouth
maybe.”

“Was there something that seemed off about this whole thing?  Clearly, there is some hand of fate throwing us from the path we are trying to walk.  Each obstacle growing larger, pushing us away from that machine and the cult.  Now this army, just as we supposedly learned the way to Wuntad.  I am a free man, mostly, and I dislike it when I feel fate pushing me from a path.  A wise man courts fate, but a fool believes her sugared words of fame and fortune.

Hmmmmm….  like any good dance, a quick step of the feet and the follower becomes the leader.  This army may clear our path.  With every eye and spear pointed outward, the cult may feel bolder and drop some of their guards. This might give us the opening to strike through their defense, but we will need to act quickly.  I know you like to think things through, my wise giant.  We will need to think carefully, with all due haste.

Talin laughed too long at his own joke, the joy of being clean acting like 2 strong glasses of wine.

He let himself marinate in the good spirits longer than he should, given the dual impending dooms of the ritual and the barbarian army.  there would be time for both, soon enough.  But first, BUBBLES!!!

After a long while, he gathered his mostly cleaned possessions, tipped the couple on top of the insane bill, and accompanied the remaining companions to the Minstrel.

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Bharash
———————————————————–

With the search for the two big Littorian brothers running into the difficulty that they’ve both already left the area, Bharash more than gratefully joins the procession to the bathhouse, holding up both hands in a warding gesture as the married owners approach, “Just a nasty tussle with a filth demon. Look, I’m going to need to burn the passing under my armour… Do you think someone can run and snag me a replacement set while we’re getting disinfected?”, Then heading around the back to gratefully and shamelessly start stripping off (it’s not as if he’s not spent half his life around gymnasia, training halls and other centers of physical excellence), separating the hopelessly contaminated underarmour from the mithral plates of the armour proper, rumbling as he does so “Probably not enough then. To take a defended fortification by storm usually requires a ten to one advantage. Siege won’t work either, unless they have a way to interdict shipping.”

But the bath?

Ohhhh, the bath. After several buckets of cold water and a hasty scrub-down with rough brushes in the courtyard he steps through to plunge into the soapy depths, generating a major wake with a flick of his tail and then surfacing with a bubble on his snout (much to Talins amusement) to set to scrubbing industriously.

Scrubbing and listening.

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Vogh
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While the men went to the back and had their armor and gear deep cleaned, Vogh went with Julia to their part of the bathhouse with Derron.  Vogh undressed and sank into the hot water.  The morning had been trying and the march through the tunnels had been trying.  Now, while Vogh hadn’t seen what happened below, she asked Julia now what had transpired below.  “I know you all killed something powerful down there, but how are you so clean compared to the men?  I’d like for you to tell me what happened.”

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Julia Graymantle
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The entire way back to the bathhouse, Julia had kept her head down, deep in contemplation.  So much had happened over one day, it felt almost like she had crossed under a great mountain pass and come out in a strange mirror version of the world she once knew.  Julia said as much in answer to Vogh’s question.  Julia opened her eyes and looked at Vogh directly.

It was the first time she had made direct eye contact with anyone since she had seen, by coincidence, her reflection as they had departed the depths.  Her eyes had always held a could cast to them, but this was…different.  Her now pure, softly glowing white eyes made contact with Vogh’s.  Vogh’s eyes appeared so full of life, full of fire, where Julia felt her own were somehow other.

I have so many questions.  What had happened with Bharash and the rat men?  That they had been so moved as to draw a Mural of him.  And, I was so strangely moved for them in a moment.  I mean, I used to hunt for their tails, as well.  Why was it suddenly so important to defend them?  Why did I suddenly see their existence as so much more?  And then Talin suddenly summons Lionel…I have many questions.  And, well, Vogh, I do have much I wish to share about what happened with the Despoiler.. Julia glanced away for a moment, and then forced herself to turn her white eyes back to Vogh’s.  . Honestly, I have more questions than answers right now. And I am happy to share with you what I think, but I would rather speak with the whole group once we convene at the minstrel.  And, if we have time before we depart tomorrow, I need urgently to speak with Kaira Swanwing.  You recall she made mention of Deacon, Bharash and myself having been touched by an elder god, Parnaith.  I believe that that has something to do with what happened in the depths, but I would like to find out if Kaira has more to share. .    The words came out in a flood from Julia.  Then, as she finished, she lowered her eyes, once again acutely aware of the change they had undergone.

A moment later she stood, dried and dressed herself and began to make preparations to depart for the minstrel.  She needed to see the others, to meet them outside of that deep hole and enjoy their company and their support for a few moments before the delved into another dark, deep cavern.

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Vogh
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Vogh had noticed Julia’s eyes had changed ever so slightly.  The light glow to them was hard to discern unless looking right at them as Vogh had just done when Julia looked at her directly, something she hadn’t done since leaving the machine.

“I must admit, the mural of Bharash took me by surprise too, and while we teased him for it, it really is a wonder in and of itself.  The ratmen had seen over and over again how he treated them with much more respect than ourselves.”

When she spoke of Talin and the lion that appeared Vogh was shaking her head.  “I think that had something to do with the work Talin did on the blade when he helped reform it.  The artisan must have added something special to it when he made it?”

“I would like to hear your thoughts on it all once we are able to speak with everyone else.  I am not sure if we will be able to speak with Kaira before we head to stop the ritual.  I don’t want to hold up any longer.  I think this barbarian army might give us the distraction needed.”

Once they had finished Vogh too had gotten dressed again and waited with Julia for the men to finish up.

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Bharash
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After people have said their peace Bharash pushes off the bottom of his tub with his feet and floats on his back, the floating wooden tray with his wine on it serving as protection for peoples modesty as he remarks “Well, the first and most obvious thing about that whole expedition was that I was right all along: You got suckered. Wuntad left those three undertrained, unprotected cultists for us to capture and interrogate so we’d do exactly what we did. We can’t afford to get fooled like that again.”

Curiously he doesn’t seem to be accusing active so much as setting it what happened in clear terms as a learning experience – very much, in fact the way he teaches swordsmanship, for those who have worked with him.

Julias comment makes him sigh though, remarking “I don’t… I don’t think the ratfolk are relevant. Important maybe, but not relevant. At least not today. The army though… Normally I’d write it off as a coincidence but I just realized that I have no idea what the ‘Night of Dissolution’ actually entails, ritually speaking. And The most obvious two reasons I can think of for dragging a hundred thousand warm bodies up to the gates of the city is to distract the defenders… And to double the potential size of any mass sacrifice your rite might entail.”, in the process missing the part where some folks start to get out of the tubs and leave him, eventually, expressing his thoughts to an empty room.

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia is one of the first of the group to arrive at the Minstrel, and little by little, the others arrive and join the table.  Eventually Julia, Vogh, Talin, Bharash, Deacon and Tristan are all seated and enjoying a variety of foods and beverages.  The conversation is easy, they are all so close or have become so close, and it is refreshing to be together in a familiar and safe place.  To have a little respite from the events that have come before, and those that await them in the dawn.

During a lull in the conversation, Julia clears her throat and the company looks towards her.  My dear friends, companions, we have experienced a great deal together in the last day, and I think there are some things that require explanation.  Not that I can provide it, but I have some thoughts I want to share with you.  Maybe it is all for naught, depending on how we fare tomorrow.

Julia is then silent a moment and looks at each of the company in turn, allowing each of them to see the change in her eyes, though she imagines they have already noticed it.  I don’t know what happened with the Despoiler, with the light.  I moved to him to cast a powerful healing spell, but what occurred… that was not me.  I cannot say what happened, but I believe it has something to do with what Kaira mentioned before we left.  You all recall that she said Bharash, Deacon and I have been touched by an elder god, Parnaith.   And, I think, somehow, what occurred had to do with that touch.  Since Kaira told us of it, I can feel…something.  Like a connection.  It is hard to describe. Julia looks uncomfortable, but then seems to steel herself for what she spoke next.

When I focus on my divine energy, I see in my mind a ball of light, like the sun, glowing and warm.  And I know that is my power, or at least the power granted me by Lothian.  It is comforting, like home.  While we were down there, I saw something, first like a mirage on the horizon, that I could make out just behind my own ball of light.  That light in the distance made my own look like a guttering candle in comparison.  I could not reach it, nor even come close to it.  But somehow I knew that it has to do with this Parnaith’s touch.  And now that I have seen it there, I cannot unsee it.  She has reached out to me for I know not what, but I know I must answer her call. Julia’s glance now focuses on Deacon and then sharply on Bharash.

And Bharash, I cannot be sure, but I believe the mural from the rat people is a similar sign to you, a calling to her.  I don’t know why she would use the rat people, but I think maybe she makes use of the things in our lives to signal us.  Perhaps that is the only method she has.  But I am confident she is calling to you, as well.  And Deacon, perhaps she is reaching to you in a similar way, calling your attention. Julia stops then for a moment and seems to be contemplating her next words.

My friends, nothing is more important to me now, probably to all of us, than stopping the Night of Dissolution.  I am committed to it, and I will travel with you tomorrow and as long as it takes.  And as soon as we are done, I must seek out this Parnaith, where ever that may lead me.  I know that we cannot say at this moment what the day after tomorrow will look like.  But, if any of you wish, I would greatly welcome you to walk that next path with me.  For my long time companions, Bharash and Deacon, I think for you it is necessary… Here Julia trails off, not sure how to continue, but feeling relieved to have the words out of her.

There is a moment of awkward silence that she then breaks with a stern look at Talin, And you, Talin, still owe me an answer about Sir Lionel. But the stern look is quickly replaced with a smile and a laugh, before Julia awkwardly turns her eyes back down to the cup in front of her.

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon watched Julia talk about what she had felt down deep in the cavern below.  If it were indeed this touch from Parnaith then how could he not want to go with Julia?  “I will follow whatever road you take Julia.  I felt the touch as well and know it to be something… different.”

Deacon looked to Bharash then as if questioning what he would do…

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Vogh
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After having gone to the shop to buy the lead box for the gem she had been given by Aggah-Sahn, Vogh entered the Ghostly Minstrel.  It really was like a home away from home for her.  She caught sight of Julia sitting at one of the tables they usually ate at and moved over to join her and the others gathered.

Vogh listened to what had happened to Julia and found the experience exhilarating.  Vogh had never really felt the touch of a God or Goddess before and listening to Julia she thought she was really missing out on something special.

“That must have really felt awesome to have happened to you and this wasn’t the first time either.  I would gladly join you and the others as you try to explore what this means once we are finished with the business at hand which includes the barbarians.”

Vogh turned to Talin then and commented, “Yea I’d like to know where he came from as well!”

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Talin
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Sitting neck deep in bubbles, Talin contemplated his draconic ally and chose his words carefully.  He did not regret his words to Helmut, and did not trust him not to “do what he thought was right, that no one else had the stomach for”, but he knew there was a time and place for sparking enmity.  And these bubbles were too glorious for that.

Sweeping a foam dripping gesture that took in both Bharash and the sword propped in the corner, Talin jibed “. Ah my good friend, sometimes you remind me of a well-stuck blow from SolarSong here.  Once a swing is started, it simply picks up speed and power…  pointed unstoppably at a single target.   Good if you have the right target, bad if it is aimed at the wrong place.

From the moment we put boots in that sewer, you were certain we were all heading in the wrong direction on a wild cockrell chase. Each step we took reinforced that belief until you believed that we were simple marks getting fooled by a game of three cup by Wuntad.

Well, I have seen a street con take money for a young, homeless teen in front of Vogh.  She saw his trick only once from across the packed street and was still able to point to directly where he was hiding the little glass bead.  The stupid gnome tried to go for his hand crossbow.  I doubt if the thing would have even fired, with being that rusty and held taught for so long under his table, but it didn’t matter.  He is lucky she only took his ear, instead of his balls.

My point is, we could have been given a false trail, heading us directly to a foe large enough to take us out.  But everyone along that path seemed most fervently interested in getting us to turn around, not necessarily killing us.  If we were sent there to die…. well, they picked enemies that were more than happy to see us safely out.  A very strange target indeed.  But still, I do concede it is possible we were given a false lead.

But it is also likely that it was not.  Something did not want us to go further into that cavern, and much was thrown at us to get us to turn around.  I give it at least even odds that there is something down there that would help us stop the cultist, if not a path directly to them.  Nothing about that encounter convinced me we were on the wrong path.  What Bubble Boy gave us was an alternate path, one that kept us from stomping across his crops. He wanted us gone, and so gave us intel he knew would get us out… a direct path to Wuntad.  Again, if someone was trying to get us to go the wrong way, they sent us to someone who would tell us right where we needed to go.  Poor planning on the part of that con-man, I think.

That is the beauty of a well-delivered story or song.  Two people can see the same performance and hear the same words, but because of the different paths that brought each to the room, they can hear two totally different epics.  The great wonder of being a bard is that there are as many unique tales as there are potential audience members in the world.  Infinite.  For each person, the same story is different and unique.  Truly, wonderous.

But, at the end of the day, it comes down to one thing.  Do you believe someone, ANYONE, could truly make Vogh a patsy?  That is a bet I won’t take…. perhaps you feel your luck at dice is so great that you will take those odds.  Not I.

Sighing in the deep reluctance he had at leaving the bath, but knowing the ladies would be waiting for them, Talin rose from the bath.  Finally having regained enough of his mood to put on the right tone to reassure the master of the bathhouse, Talin clapped Eltan on the shoulder.  Keep heart, my good master.  The walls of Ptolus are high and thick, and the host that will man them are the greatest in any realm.  The Knights of the Chord are surely gathering as we speak, as are all the great hosts from the City.  Have you seen that metal giant that the High Priest Helmut commands?  Why that thing could wade into any army of stick-throwing barbarians and toss the lot back to wilds by itself.”

“No good Master, I would not worry about the savages ransacking this good city.  I would worry more about how you are going to handle the hordes of triumphant heroes that will descend on your good bathhouse to clean to grime of battle away before the victory celebrations begin. ”

With a laugh and a good-natured clap on the back, Talin dried and dressed.  Between the efforts of the bathhouse master, innate magics, and a little spell-infused sleight of hand, the big bard looked nearly as fresh and clean as he had before entering the sewer that very morning.  Now he was ready for dinner… well, to talk as others ate.  He still did not trust his stomach to hold anything down… even mead.

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Bharash
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While he’s still sitting in the tub, Bharash takes his dressing down readily enough, listening with an aggrieved sense of ‘I an absolutely not bringing up a particularly cogent point here, because if I do it’s only going to complicate matters further’ about him, one that spikes mysteriously when the accomplished bard opposite him (the pointy stick swinging thug) starts talking about the wonders of storytelling.

But he does wait, again until there’s a chance to offer his counterpoint which comes in a fairly simple format: “Yes. Yes, Muntab made Vogh a patsy. And you. And Julie. And me too, for not being more forceful when I protested.”

Rising up out of the suds, he extends a finger (not that one) “Firstly, The undead were uncontrolled. Operating on instinct. Then there were traps. Then a dragon who didn’t much care, then guards on a secret chaos engine who took offense to our entry. None of those scream ‘right track’ to me’. That everywhere expedition was based on a lead from three suspiciously cooperative, unskilled cultists we kidnapped from an unsupported room ins base we’d already attacked multiple times. If I’d been in charge of the cult, letting a few disposable schlubbs overhear a false plan and staking them out for capture would have been a no brainer. They wouldn’t even have needed to be able to lie to Vogh because they wouldn’t have known that they were lying.”

With that, he settles back down to soak.

He’s late leaving the pool of course, because he had his hopelessly spoiled undergarments burned and it’s waiting for replacements – but he certainly doesn’t stop anyone else going for food.

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Talin
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The sounds and smells of the Minstrel washed over him.  Home.  Talin took a moment to wonder at that.  There were times in his life when the idea of a HOME was like a dream of distant land ruled by angles.  He gave up the idea of safety and reassurance from a home a long time ago.  It died with a Cardinal and his consort on a rainy day in a grimy city.  It died by the steady hand of a scared teenager, who knew what had to be done to protect the young and defenseless.

He stood there, taking in the sounds of the hall and the sight of Vogh.  He had found a place where at least one angel lived, and tomorrow he would follow that angel into hell to protect this place she had made into his home.

Shaking off the deep well of emotion that overtook him, Talin made his rounds ’round the tavern before heading to the table.  He reassured those who needed it that the city would be fine, the defenders were strong, that the “army” would fade away after they bloodied their noses on the walls.  He carefully dodged around questions about their expedition that morning, a jest about the smells of the sewer and joke about all they got for it was a giant bill from the bathhouse to wash all the stink they’d found along the way.

Talin had been too close to the exploding demon, too directly engaged in the melee between the four of them and the bloated, slimy midden heap to really take in what had happened with Julia.  Listening over the table to her explain what had happened, he was rewatching the events in his mind and really seeing the whole thing play out.  Unconsciously he started organizing it into verse…   this would make for an epic story.  Hmmm…  song?  or poem?  No… this needed to be story performed in High.   He looked around for a lute to start capturing how the accompanying music should flow.  The questions about the lion brought him sharply back to the present.

Looking back and forth between Vogh at his side and Julia across the table, Talin ruefully shook his head.  Pinned between two women, and no respectable means of escape.

“The full story of this blade is too long for this setting and would take more time than we have.  It is a fantastical tale, all true, and worth the listen when we have the time.   It is one for which I plan to put ink on paper someday soon.  It is a tale that must be told here, especially as the new takes too firm a hold…  Some in this city need to be reminded that things have not always been the way they are, and some old things should be rekindled.  “

“To the short of it, this sword was a gift by the god Castian, worshipped by the Litorians.  SolarSong was gifted to the litorian hero Eliose Ashlade Brightbeard and broken during their defeat of the Dread One. It is imbued with holy energy directly gifted by Castian, and it is linked to his realm and his power.  It was reforged for me by some of the greatest litorian weapon smiths in all the worlds, but a weapon such as this does not gift its blessings to anyone.  We have worked together, bonded as we fought for justice.  The hand and the blade learning to trust each other, and to share more than just blood.  As that trust grows, I am able to access more of the power imbued within it.  I can channel magics to smite evil and to even aid in my songs.”

Talin looked down at the blade propped between Vogh and himself.  “Today was different.  These relics from Castian, those that he has made with pieces of his own power… he watches over them.  Or, perhaps it is best to say that he ensures they are watched over.  Today we walked a dangerous path toward a truly noble quest.  We threw ourselves at ancient evils and those that watch over this blade could sense that.   When I pulled SolarSong out and ran with him into the teeth of evil, its guardian could not stand aside and so chose to run with us.  The Great Lion, Lionel GoldenMane, who stalks the heavenly Savannahs of Castian’s realm, lept to join us in the hunt.”

“I have a bond with him through the blade, and I believe he will answer my call to fight with us when the need is there.  I am still learning the deep secrets that this relic contains, still unwrapping its legends and lore.  I believe Lionel is connected in some way to the litorian’s ancestry or history.  The sword and the lion have the power to help reawaken the spirit of Castian in the people of the City… if their story can be told properly.  But that is not the task we have before us this day.

In short Julia… Vogh, to answer your question in the immediate, what I am sure of is that we will see him again.  As long as we walk this path, he will be ready to join the hunt at our side.  The King of the Savanah does not hide from evil… evil runs before his roar.”

Talin puts a large, wolfish grin on his face.

“I suspect we will see him at some point tomorrow when things start to go sideways. ”

Talin switches to his best performing voice and gestures to each member of the Calling in turn, pausing with a rueful shake of his head at the empty spot where Bharash should be ” Dedicated Demon Hunter Tristan, Gentle Mistress Vogh, Holy Envoy Julia, and Mysterious Wanderer Deacon, what is our plan for the morrow?

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan had not been vomited on like the others had, but he certainly had been covered in gore after Julia detonated the gas bag. The strange kayal had remained silent, as was typically his way regardless, on their return trip and during his bathing. Bharash and Talin noticed the man’s dark skin was covered in scars and burns from countless battles as he stepped into a tub to cleanse himself. Tristan’s dark staff stood without support beside him, during his ablutions. Once at the Minstrel with the others, he listened to what they all had to say without offering any comments of his own.

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Narrator GM
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Bharash was the last to leave as a new set of padding was brought to him by a runner. [Private to Bharash: Deduct however much that costs from your treasury. I’m not sure the price. I assume you’ll pay the kid. haha]

Each of the men who were so heavily soiled owed ten gold. Normally a simple bath was less than a silver, but the Polon couple couldn’t help the price due to all the labor required to clean their armor, the multiple water changes, soaps and more. The ladies only owed a pair of gold coins.

As they were leaving Derron said in her soft, sweet and sorrowful voice, “Watch over us dears. We know who you are.” She looked at her husband. “We would like to still be in business tomorrow.” Derron said with a weak smile and moisture in her eyes.

—

Inside the Minstrel the group noticed that none of the typical “delver” types were present, but rather it was the young and old, likely come to learn more about what was going on, gossip, and catch glimpses of heroes. But it seemed all the famous heroes were out, preparing.

Telleth was still there, a constant in the constnatly changing environment, and waited on them herself. She looked nervous, but agreed with them and commented with a weak smile. “No city is better protected then ours. Heroes like yourselves abound. Those who spend time in these walls will not let our city’s walls fall.”

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Bharash
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“Here’s hoping by this time tomorrow, our worst problem will be that barbarian army.” Bharash rumbles reassuringly to the older couple, before chuckling “And if the prospect of a warm bath captivates then as much as it did me, your biggest problem will be keeping them in towels, even if they do breach the wall.”

The necessity of acquiring undergarments for his armour (and not having anything else to wear) means that Bharash is by far and away the last of the group to arrive at the Minstrel, having left the others to chat and poke at their starters rather than actually get to tuck into their meals but he’s appropriately apologetic as he pulls out a seat and drops down into it, listening first to Julie’s speech and then snorting wryly as he ladles bacon-bit-cooked-sprouts onto his plate next to the thin-sliced lamb and remarking “My attitude about Gods is that mostly, I don’t trouble them, they don’t trouble me. I mean, I dedicate my bladework to Unnah but that’s just good manners… I also don’t feel the need to ascribe to a divine plan what I can be more than sufficiently ashamed by with just mortals involved.”, eyeing the priestess for a few moments and then actively rolling his eyes before affectionately rumbling “Oh lay off the drama, the bards are over there. Of course I’ll have your back if you’re going off on some mad crusade. Just understand that I want some time off to relax in my new place first.”

With that said, he sniffs two of the gravy boats, selects one and adds a few roasted tubers  to his plate before starting to tuck in with obvious hunger but fastidious good taste, demolishing his helping as Talin starts to spin his tall tail, grinning mid-way through but letting him get to the end before he cheerfully – and in a fashion more friendly than accusing remarks “You lying bugger… Bloody good story mind you, except that I happen to know Littorians don’t do gods. They just don’t get the point of them. At all. They barely understand why people bother with rituals, beyond ‘it’s tradition’.”, grinning as if he’s pleased to have caught the silver-tongued bard out.

[Private to GM:  I tipped them an extra two gold and spent 5gp on a set of padded armour, which is basically the garment you wear under plate.]

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Julia Graymantle
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As the night in the Minstrel progresses, Julia finds a moment to speak with Tristan alone.  Tris, you didn’t really answer when I asked the group who would join after.  I understand that you have your own purposes for being here, and that certainly you will want to find a way to get back to your own plane of existence. Anyway, you are also welcome to join us, if it suits you.  Julia pauses for a moment and then continues Maybe it is just me, but, ever since….whatever it was happened down below, with the Despoiler… well, you’ve looked at me differently.  That is, to say, you’ve looked at me at all.  Do you know something about what happened?

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon had a secret that he needed to tell everyone but it would wait until he knew they couldn’t be heard.  What he needed to say could have dire consequences for all that is happening.  He even said as much to the others.  “I need to tell you about a dream I had.  I haven’t had anything since but I was reminded of it at the party.  I would rather that we are in a place where NO ONE could hear us.”

[Private to GM: Chapter 5: The Quaan and Beyond post 559 is the start]

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan shook his head at Julia’s final question. “Apologies. Your eyes look different, but other than that all is well. My purpose was to destroy demons. Vogh knows that’s my driving purpose. I will be happy to accompany you to this next battle. Even if the demons aren’t present, it seems I have a vested interest in stopping these madmen else Ptolus will be destroyed. I hold no dillusions that I might return to my plane. No one has figured it out in all the millenia. In the meantime, I’m happy to vanquish what devils and demons I can find.” He said with a half smile and a gleam in his eye.

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Talin
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Talin let out a loud, full throated laugh in response to Bharash.  Burn him, but he finally felt almost right again.  Here, surround by the familiar and comforting hum of the Minstrel, Vogh at his side, and his dragon kin companion trying to catch one of his “hastier” friends out with his slow wisdom.  He forgot himself for a moment and almost took a bite of bread from the platter in front of Vogh.  He remembered with the bread halfway to his mouth and hastily dropped it when the smell hit his nose.  His stomach was not yet ready for that.  A good mood was one thing, but his stomach was fully traumatized.

Talin gestured good naturally at the giant and let the mirth on his face take away any seriousness from his words “But don’t you see good knight, you have proven my point better than ever I could alone.  Back when this sword was forged by Castian’s own hand and gifted to Eloise in aid of defeating the Dread One themself, he was revered by the at least some of the Littorians.  And now he is all but forgotten and, as you stated from that deep well of Littorian lore obtained from your recent romantic dalliances, perhaps they almost shun the idea of religion.”

He reached to the sword by his side and hefted it up to eye level, clearly on display for the table. . “When Master Rastor saw the broken haft of this blade….  well, the reverence in his eyes was more than I have seen on the face of any priest or cleric of any gods above or below the realms.  This is a weapon wielded by one of the Littorian’s greatest heroes, whose deeds brought honor to all who bear that name and line.” 

. “There are some beliefs, and believers, in this city that are too insecure to allow any perceived alternatives to their power.  They must be the highest, the only, and for people to believe in other powers often simply cannot be allowed.  Old beliefs, different beliefs, must be scrubbed away, vilified, or assimilated.  I don’t  point any fingers here, just speak of how some feel they must operate.

Putting the sword down slowly, and sadly, Talin continued . “Back to your point Bharash, you are right.  Littorians of Ptolus have no truck with Castian today.  Having been vilified at the coming of Lothorian’s good message, and transformed into a demon in disguise by their teachings… well, that might make any people reject religion all together.”

“I can tell you this, there is at least one Littorian that remembers the heroes and gods of old, and with his aid this sword was reforged.  It was remade with the hope that it could be a beacon, to remind those of the incredible deeds of our collective ancestors, and to shine its light on the whatever evil is currently living in this city.”

Talin took a long pull from his wine glass after a quick a toast to the hopes for future and in remembrance of those that came before. He eyed Vogh for a moment, wondering if there was any chance she could forget the image of him covered in entrails long enough to….

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Vogh
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Vogh sent over a mental question to Deacon, “Tell me what you know and I can share with the others here.”  It took a long time for Deacon to retell what had happened to him which had Vogh paying more attention to him than any of the others speaking.  She wanted to know about Talin’s experience again.  She loved how he told the tale of his forging of the blade but Deacon’s information was something she hadn’t heard before.

Once Deacon was done, Vogh was shaking her head in wonder.  “Why didn’t you say anything about this earlier?” she asked Deacon who could only say, “all this other stuff got in the way, I am sorry!”

When there was finally a second where she could talk to the others she stopped, took in a deep breath, and began, “Deacon has just told me about a dream or nightmare however you take it.  It started while he was awake.  He grabbed a grimoire Called Cesio’s Grimoire.  The book was made of dried flesh, dragon flesh.  Deacon said that a coldness swept over him. When he fought against a white void that appeared before him, shapes began to form in the colorless aether cloud. Whatever Deacon focused on, took shape out of the nothingness until he was standing inside the great library inside the Inverted Pyramid. He then heard a woman speaking. He said her voice was beyond compare in beauty as if tinkling wind chimes and birds chirping in harmony.

Deacon said a voice stated, “You’re close.” Deacon had whirled around as he felt breath on his ear as the woman whispered over his very shoulder.  He didn’t see her and only saw the void once more.  He focused once more and books floated into view again.

He saw laying across a table a tuning fork he had seen before, but it vanished when he reached to touch it. Books kept floating toward him, then they began flying his way! Deacon ducked and dodged as the books sped up, like arrows loosed from taught strings they streaked by him. None struck the wizard though, but then the books began to morph into faces. Face after face, person after person streaked by him. He caught mere glimpses but Deacon could tell that each child was from the far distant past, and as they were streaking by, he could tell they came from nearer and nearer the present time based on their clothing. He noticed on every child a mark, on their face, arm, hand, bareback, somewhere, a rune marred their otherwise youthfully perfect skin.  Obviously, he was seeing previous runebearers here.

The parade of faces slowed and he realized that each of the children aged as they passed, then lay down in death as they passed behind him. Centuries of lives must have streaked past him, hundreds of lives. One young woman, the last of the line, did not. Instead, she flew toward him and slowed, floating by him slowly on an unseen wind. She aged only slightly, to that of a young woman, yet did not die as the others had. A wind Deacon did not feel blew up her short, dark hair, to reveal a large birthmark across the back of her neck. She looked lost and afraid. Then she too faded from his view.

As she faded, the void returned to him. From the white appeared another device he had seen once before with Julia and Bharash, an orrery. A center globe was orbited by seven jewels. Each spun on wires depicting the jewels ascending and descending in arcs around the central sphere.

Again a woman’s voice tickled his ear, “So close…”

An impossibly beautiful man floated and walked toward Deacon. In one hand he wielded a golden sword which resembled a dragon in flight, and from its mouth proceeded a golden blade that glowed like fire. In his other, a black chain glowing with power drug behind him. His specter walked straight through Deacon. The elf whirled about to see the man watching him over his shoulder, then disappeared into the gem nearest the center orb.

Deacon told me the other night at the Kath party, that Lord Kirstol Dallimothan, carried the same golden blade.

“Night approaches…”

Again Deacon whirled to catch the speaker. No one was near, but a woman stood with several others about her. All wore black scaled cloaks, and all were focused on the lady speaking. He could not hear what was said, but they looked captivated by her every word and gesture. All of them avoided looking off to the side where an impossibly bright light emanated from a pearl. Some would steal a glance, only to squint their eyes and cast their gaze away. The lady looked over occasionally but seemed unfazed.

As they talked, the light dimmed and all assembled looked afraid. One by one the shapes of the listeners evaporated into the black fog until only one man, and the lady remained with Deacon watching. Blackness replaced light. Twinkles of silver-streaked down the woman’s face as she regarded the shining light, now turned black hole of evil. Into her hand, her tears fell until they coalesced into a mirror. With closed eyes, she cast the mirror down, into the swirling blackness at her feet where it fell forever, out of his sight.

Then she met Deacon’s gaze and all breath left his body. The darkness could not touch her as she spoke to him. It assailed her like an angry cloud of smoke with purpose, slamming against an invisible shield.

“This is the last. They come. Chains will bind them, but you must set them free.”

Smoke amalgamated into tentacles of black. As they could not touch the woman, they roared toward Deacon. In fear, he began spell casting, but the woman waved her hand and he felt himself fly away, falling, falling.

He jerked his head up, long hair tossed around him as Deacon toppled his chair over backward where it clattered against the library floor. An unseen servant picked it up moments later while the elf, lathered in sweat gasped for breath. Never had he felt such power, both good and evil, in his life.

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia listened as Vogh retold Dealcon’s story into her mind.  With each passing word, Julia’s eyes grew larger and larger.  At the final sentence, as Vogh stated that there was a presence of the strongest good and evil power that Deacon had ever felt, Julia almost fell off of her stool.

Vogh, that story… well, there is something I left out of my own, only because I wasn’t sure if it had been part of the same dream or not…But, when I first saw that great divine power shining in the distance…as I stared at it, I eventually saw something else, even further off, behind that glowing sun.  It was dark, so dark, and it was filled with nightmares.  Where that divine power was a sun, this was like an anti-sun, devoid of light, or eating all light.  But in it was a male figure…I felt that that power was trying to swallow me inside… and then the dream suddenly ended.  I should have mentioned it before but, well, I thought maybe it wasn’t real, but it resembles Deacon’s experience so closely…it must have been real..

After sending the thought to Vogh, Julia made a circular motion towards the group, indicating that Vogh should share her thought with everyone.

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Talin
———————————————————–
Talin was just about to launch into the tale of how the blade was made, and his small but certainly to be embellished role in reforging it,  when he saw the troubled look Vogh gave Deacon.  Her telepathic sending that followed stopped him short.

He listened to the retelling of the dream, and then Julia’s follow-up relayed through Vogh.   He looked around the table and then back to Vogh with a puzzled expression. He thought to his love ” Truely an intriguing dream, and the similarities between their vision certainly brings validation to its import, but I must have consumed too much wine” He looked down at his first cup of wine, barely half drunk.

  ” I don’t see how it relates to us, now. To the task at hand tomorrow.  Is drink addling my wits, because the dreams certainly seem to mean something to you ”

He eyed her, then the group gathered around the table.  Looking for the connection he missed.

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Bharash
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It’s a perennial favourite for the group – one of the quick-witted, well-educated and magically skilled sorts getting a little ahead of themselves and having Bharash ploddingly pull them back down to earth with some well-reasoned or just plain persuasive piece of mundanity. Doubling up a piece of unleavened bread to use as a scoop, the big dragonborn eats heartily while Talin responds before protesting “Still not a knight.” and then moving on to roll his eyes “I knew this was coming.”

“Look, it was an accident alright?” he states, gesturing with his half-slab of bread and defensively explaining “A ‘rat king’ is a thing that happens sometimes when rats get their tails tangled together. So when Jaylen and Jayden tried to tease me for it, I just teased them back… How was I supposed to know that I actually did know their sister?”, adding after a moment of rueful amusement, with a certain amount of backhanded warmth in his tone “Well, a bit more than know, but that’s none of their business. Or yours. She’s a mercenary guard, works some of the caravan routes in and out of the city… And yes, she’s how I know that Littorians don’t get religion. They’ll respect a god, but they just don’t understand the point of worshipping one.”

Grinning, he takes a sip of his dry mead and then another scoop of his meal, packing away a decent buffer against the rigours of tomorrow.

—

OOC: Ohhh no. You want to tell me about a dream, you tell me about it. I don’t know what you think is important enough to include and what gets left out, and I don’t get to know what you make up or interpolate in translation. Especially when it’s gone through two heads to get to mine! ^_^

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh had eaten a bit more of the platter before her and her friends and then as if a lightbulb went off she said aloud, “I got it!”

Vogh was almost shocked by how loud she had said it and then in the minds of the others, I know who the woman was.  She was Parnaith herself.  She had made the orrery and the seven ethereal islands are the globes in Deacon’s dream and that machine you all saw.  If you all remember Saagarinthys had spoken of her and the Dread one.  As for the chains.  You said the islands were part of a contraption.  Perhaps the globes or islands were bound by chains.  I then remembered Callin say something about the seven chains.  Something like ‘By the seven chains’…  So, how are we supposed to break those chains?  That is the question and perhaps Callin can help answer that?

Vogh would let that stew while she partook of hers.  Vogh thought about Saagarinthys then, wondering how he was doing since they last saw each other.

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Talin
———————————————————–
Vogh’s mind was a beautiful thing to witness, and the way her face it up when she was in the midst of some revelation, left him mesmerized for minute.

Pausing to swallow, and blush, hoping nobody noticed his fish impersonation, Talin mused to the group.  Like Vogh, he forgot that some things might be better left to communication channels harder to eavesdrop.

   ” Parnaith….  it all keeps coming back to her.  Julai’s performance at the machine, Deacon’s vision from the grimoire.  I feel our path is being laid for us, at least in part, and the architect is Parnaith.  A wonderous tale that journey will make….  if the protagonists live through tomorrow and can follow it.” 

Talin’s expression hardened from thoughtful to focused as he spoke.  As interesting, and perhaps fate changing, as these visions might be, the task at hand was clear as an axe to the face.

“This will be the third time we have attempted to tackle this foe, and we need to do all we can to make sure the dice fall in our favor this time.  With all eyes and resources in the city looking outward toward the enemy at the gate, we will need all our wits to gather what we need to kill the worm festering in its heart.  I ask each of you: what do we need, and where can we get it?  There are short hours left before we assault the complex in the morning.  We need to each look to gather what we can.” 

Eyeing Bharash sideways, Talin added with a grin “That is, if each of us has enough spare coin for the task and haven’t sunk all their available capital in real-estate speculation.” 

===========================================================
Vogh
———————————————————–
“Yes, exactly Talin.  That is why I will definitely go with Julia and anyone else who wants to see this thing through once we are done with the business at hand.”  Vogh stated aloud.

Then as Talin made his comment on preparing Vogh added, “as soon as we wake up we can go find anything that may help us with potions.”

If no one had anything else, once they were done, Vogh would ask the others to head up to their rooms for the night.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Morning dawned to the sound of trumpets and alarm bells ringing out all over the city. It seemd the army had arrived. The entire city seemed divided into two camps the curious and the cautious. The Minstrel’s first floor was bursting at the seems with people all talking over the din it could be heard up the stairs to the second floor as the friends descended, even in the early morning hours. Again many seemed to be atypical patrons of the Minstrel. Merchants, older and younger people than normal, residents of Ptolus instead of Delvers armed and armored. Thankfully there were a few tables open and enough serving staff to care for everyone.

There was much less traffic on the streets and in Delver’s Square as the sun bathed Ptolus in it’s morning light. Half of people seemed excited by the coming events. Many stood on rooftops, craning to get a glimpse of the mass to the north. Others had shuttered their windows and refused to come outside.

All the shops had very few people in them and the Undercity was unaturally quiet. Several stalls in the Undercity were empty that morning, and there were fewer street vendors around the Square and along Center Street.

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Bharash
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“So, this vision then…” Bharash asks, refilling his plate as he chews it over, before applying the same deep-seated well of common sense that warned him against putting too much stock in the last expedition hours before anyone else was flat-out told what was going on and thoughtfully asks “Was it before or after he got hit by multiple doses of poison? Because I have had some fairly wild dreams in my time, usually in association with having eaten, drunk or in a few cases, being bitten by something I shouldn’t… And no disrespect, but Deacon’s frankly a bit of a lightweight. A half of shandy and he’s rocking in a corner, convinced he’s seen the black dog*.”

* This is of course wildly unfair, but since Bharash himself has the constitution of a concrete elephant and, after the last time the group was drugged was seen to be licking the darts that he was shot with and giggling, his perspective on the matter should probably be taken with a pinch of salt.

When Talin teases him about his investments though, he breaks off to roll his eyes and start to counter “Just because I have aspirations…”, only to hold up a hand as people look to be heading off and stating pointedly “Hang on, hang on… I was pretty damn’ patient all day but we need to get something clear: I thought todays expedition was suspect from about five minutes in, and at one time or another, most of you ignored my concerns or tried to tell me it was all fine and I should trust you. Well, we were conned. Taken for fools. Scammed. Pick your descriptor of choice. Can we agree we’d rather not have that happen again?”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Backtracking once again……

Vogh paused as Bharash had wanted but she didn’t sit.  She listened to his banter about him thinking they were taken on a wild goose chase.  She had heard it already from him.  “You are allowed to have an opinion Bharash and I do value your insights, but that was the right way to go and though we didn’t complete the mission there we or at least I will be returning to destroy that machine.  Now, if that is all, we have a short night’s rest before we tackle the next obstacle.  Or is that one to throw us off what we just did?”  The sarcasm was clearly apparent in her tone as she spoke before turning on her heels and heading up the stairs.

The next morning came earlier than usual, the sun wasn’t even up over the horizon let alone touching it to light the sky a little. Vogh moved down into the lobby and saw the place already a buzz.  It didn’t matter.  No breakfast this morning.  She meant to go purchase the potions she thought would aid them this morning.

Heading outside she found a similar thing to the night prior with people on houses to see the barbarian army.  Vogh wanted to see as well but had other things on her mind.  So, she went into the undercity first to see if she could purchase potions.

She will be looking for as many Bear’s Endurance, Owl’s Wisdom, Cat’s Grace, Barkskin, and Fly that she can get.

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Bharash
———————————————————–
Several people in the group have heard it… Nice of them seem to have listened, or at least that’s Bharash’s opinion, because he lets Vogh speak and then groans audibly and tried again “That’s what I’m talking about: It was not the right way. It was the opposite of the right way. It was, in fact the wrong way.”

“Look.” he tries again, setting out the events of the day “We went in that direction because of one suspect clue that our enemies deliberately fed us to try and waste our time – and possibly our lives – fighting a creature not actively involved in this ritual of theirs. We burned time, resources and social credit on a wild goose chase that only ended well because we stopped and talked to the obvious villain at the end of the trail. Who yes, was a villain and yes, likely needs stabbing… But we’re trying to save the city here, and we’re racing against the candle flame. If we hadn’t listened to me at the very end and negotiated our best result would have been a dead engineer,a pile of ruined parts and no leads. We can’t afford to screw up again just because someone shouts ‘squirrel’.”

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
I’m worried about us having a conversation from the night before and shopping. Perhaps we should finish the night before conversation and then do shopping? I can copy/paste/edit the posts. I’m going to go ahead and post the shopping for potions but please don’t take that as a signal the conversation is “cut off” or has to end.

Vogh descended the stairs into the magically and mundanely lit Undercity. Torches burned on the walls amidst some magicaly lights on tables. The entire cavern was visible from end to end. To the right of the stairs lay the Delver’s Guild Office, then to the left was Potions & Elixers. The potions shop was one of the few actual rooms in the Undercity Market, rather than open air tables and stalls that comprised the majority of the vendors.

Normally there were two guards wearing full plate inside the shop to protect the valuable stock, today there were four. One human, one elf, and two stout dwarves who looked rather similar. The taller humanoids each had swords, while the dwarves wore heavy maces strapped to their belts. All four regarded the woman with very little worry, keeping their positions.

Only three other people were inside the shop. A rather handsom male who appeared to have quite a bit of elven blood, but was missing his right ear. He wore a shining breastplate which showed no wear. Not too far from him stood an older looking gnome who also wore fine armor. Despite the gnomes graying hair, he had a bit of a spring in his step, shifting from foot to foot even while browsing the shelves.

The only other patron was a very striking female elf. Her hair was cut quite short and dyed a deep red. Her skin shined like it was glossed with silver and made the high cheekbones on her cute, square face shimmer. But she stood under five feet tall, wearing no armor or weapons in favor of a loose fitting tunic and breeches held together by a wide, leather belt.

Tyonaeth, the female elf and her aged human husband, Quivor, were both behind the counter. Both looked up to greet Vogh wordlessly with their eyes, but returned to the work they were doing. A raven sat near the attractive elf upon a wooden stand clearly made for this purpose. A ferret skittered across the countertop, looking at each person and nibbling on a piece of cheese.

When Vogh asked about the four potions, she was told the prices and how many they had of each. “Are you wanting to purchase all of these miss?” Quivor asked her in a doubting tone. Tyonaeth looked up from the ingredients she was sorting into small containers to hear Vogh’s answer.

“And do you have the coin on you?”

Fly 750 gp 2x available
Bear’s endurance 300 gp 4x available
Owl’s wisdom 300 gp 2x available
Barkskin 300 gp 5x available

[Private to GM: Erodh Lantaththar is a 23 year old male half-elf knight.
He has long, wavy, gray hair and blue eyes.
He has rough red skin.
He stands 187cm (6’1″) tall and has a regular build.
He has a soft, very common face.
He is missing his right ear.

He openly worships Akadi, Goddess of air, movement and speed. (True Neutral)
He is very selfish.
He takes everything at face-value.
He spends every morning training.
He loves discovering new mysteries and solving them.

Oruver Rasji Sayur Wilbis is a 69 year old male forest gnome knight.
He has short, straight, dyed teal hair and green eyes.
He has silky gray skin.
He stands 109cm (3’6″) tall and has a massive build.
He has an oblong, slightly bland face.
He cannot whistle.

He loudly worships Kossuth, God of fire, purification through fire. (True Neutral)
He acts on impulse.
He judges people by their actions, not their words.
He keeps a very precise journal.
He used to be bullied as a child and learned to fight so that it wouldn’t happen again.
He only dresses in very expensive clothes.
He sets up local dance clubs.

Nelalwe Galarina is a 244 year old female high elf monk.
She has short, straight, dyed red hair and brown eyes.
She has smooth silver skin.
She stands 149cm (4’10”) tall and has a muscular build.
She has a square, cute face.

She is deaf from both ear.
She quietly worships Corellon Larethian, God of elves, magic, music, arts, crafts, war, poetry, bards, warriors. (Chaotic Good)
She shows very little empathy towards others.
She is very generous.
She will never say no to a duel.
She doesn’t like change.]

===========================================================
Vogh
———————————————————–
When she got to the undercity and saw that Potions and Elixers was guarded more than usual Vogh gave a smile to them as she entered.  Seeing Tyonaeth and her husband behind the counter she moved over once she had a moment.  After telling the two what she needed and being asked if she had the cash on her, Vogh shook her head.  “Not the best of times to be carrying around a lot of gold don’t you think?  My name is Vogh Kath.  I’m sorry I haven’t formally introduced myself before.  I am part of the Delver’s Guild.  I would like to purchase 6 each of the potions that I requested except for the fly potions but have our gold secure in Hammersong Vaults.  I am in a bit of a rush.  Or I can sign a writ and you can send it to the Kath Estate.  I also have ummm”  Vogh rummaged in a few pockets and pouches and produced some platinum.  9 thrones.    spelling right???

16:33, Today: Vogh rolled 33 using 1d20+21.  diplomacy check.

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Quivor
———————————————————–
Quivor pursed his old lips, causing them to smash into a very thin line. “Miss Vogh, your family name is well known, but I cannot allow several thousand gold in potions to walk out the door with little to show for it. These are uncertain times and we’ve already nearly sold out of all those items. Others are likely to walk in here with gold in hand today…”

His wife came over with a smile on her face and whispered into the much older man’s ear. He frowned but nodded.

“Ok Miss Kath. I’ll take the 9 thrones and a writ of credit to be sent to your House. As to the additional potions you can visit our son at our second location that’s in Midtown.”

He took out a piece of paper and a quill, nearly writing out the credit amount and pouring a small spot of wax for his own signet ring and hers. When Vogh asked about the extra note he seemed a bit put out but added the p.s. at the bottom of the note.

“Take this writ to him. He should have the stock to accommodate you.”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh was about to lose not only the sale but time when Tyonaeth came over and whispered in her husband’s ear.

When Quivor turned back to Vogh and pulled out some paper and began to write out the writ Vogh smiled, “Thank you for this.  I will make certain to tell others that aren’t delvers about your wonderful business here.  Can you also add a not to my mother Selina that I will return and pay off the writ myself.  I would appreciate that.”

Once the hot wax had been added, Vogh pulled out her signet ring and placed it next to Quivor’s.  With the deal done, Vogh placed the potions in her pack and headed over to see Neridoc.  Deacon had asked the night prior if she could get a scroll for him.  It could be handy in the coming battle. Once finished Vogh went back up top ready to head to midtown to get the rest.

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Vogh walked out into the morning sun as it was ascending into the cloudy sky. Looking down over the descending city Vogh could see even more people up on roofs, looking to the north. There was little traffic on the main streets. She passed the thickly foliaged Mane, then the open and lush Narrad. Potions and Elixers was nearly to the Warrens on Iron Street.

A huge, hulking orc – halfway to seven feet – was standing inside speaking with a young and handsom man with more than a little elven heritage. Vogh had met him once before, Buele. She didn’t know until now he was the couple’s son who ran the Undercity location.

On the opposite end of the height spectrum at just under 3 feet was an attractive female halfling. She wore leather armor with a rapier at her hip and nodded with a smile to the woman as she entered. Vogh noticed two golden rings piercing the halfling’s bottom lip.

Once the orc concluded his business with Buele he turned and walked away, looking down at Vogh appreciatively. His tusks were gleaming white and had silver caps on each.

“Hello Miss. Something I can help you find?”

Vogh showed him the writ with his father’s sigil in the wax which he read and nodded in understanding.

“Miss Vogh. It’s a pleasure to have you in our shop today. I have what you need in stock. Let me gather everything up for you.”

Buele moved with grace around the counter and to several spots in the shop, putting vials into a wooden box with holes in the top to carry up to two dozen potion containers.

[Private to GM: Xuk Tuskwolf is a 62 year old male orc sailor.
He has long, straight, brown hair and brown eyes.
He stands 199cm (6’6″) tall and has a regular build.
He has an oval, typical face.

Fira Twofoot is a 29 year old female lightfoot halfling ranger.
She has short, wavy, brown hair and green eyes.
She has smooth, sunburned, pink skin.
She stands 89cm (2’11”) tall and has a lean build.
She has a sharp, unremarkable face.
She has 2 piercings on her lip.]

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Vogh
———————————————————–
When Vogh exited the undercity she knew time was running when she saw the sun begin to break the horizon.  She had to head all the way across midtown almost to the Warrens to get to the son’s shop. It was a trek but with the streets as empty as they were, Vogh made quick time of it.  After about 10 mins she arrived at the shop.

Entering the shop she wasn’t surprised to see it not that busy much like the other one.  Everyone seemed to be fixed on what was happening outside the gates.  The rather large orc inside the shop was at the counter with Buele so Vogh waited her turn while looking around at the items inside.  She wondered if there was anything else that would aid their mission but with so many options at hand, she was overloaded.  What she had planned would have to do.  The main thing was to bolster everyone’s defense versus spells.

Once it was her turn she moved up to the counter while giving the orc a polite nod of her head and a smile.  “Hello, Buele, nice to see you again.  This is from your father.  He wasn’t able to fulfill my needs back at his shop.  So, I am here to collect the rest of the potions.”

When Buele handed over the wooden box to carry all the potions Vogh was thankful for she had just purchased quite a bit.  It held almost all of the potions she had purchased.  The last few went into her pack once the box was inside.  “Thank you Buele, these potions are going to aid us in our mission to save the city.  I can’t talk about it much but I will return when I can to tell you the tale.”  With the purchases made, Vogh made haste back to the Minstrel.  She knew she was running a bit later than she wanted but it would be worth it.

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia woke early, but apparently not as early as Vogh!, and headed into the city to begin her preparations.  She stopped first at the church to give thanks to Lothian and to speak with Sister Mara.

Julia entered the church, which was packed with worshippers.  Despite the mass of people, the great hall was even quieter than usual; silent except for the occasional shuffle of feet and softly whispered prayer.  The wooden benches gave rest to many worried-faced members, driven there out of fear of the barbarian horde bearing down on Ptolus.  Julia squeezed into a row and took a seat next to an ancient woman wearing very poor clothing, whose face sagged with the weight of the worry she carried..

Julia bowed her head and focused herself on Lothian.  Lothian, thank you for being with me on the path yesterday, for it was challenging, and I would not have survived it without your aid.  Much happened, as you must know, and it seems I am being called by another to serve.  I have had visions, and I believe it of the utmost importance.  I pray that you will be with me as I follow that path as well.  I know not if it was you, who caused the… evisceration of the Despoiler, but I feel certain your hand was there, for how else could I have brought forth such power?

Julia sat in silent contemplation awhile, dreaming of Lothian, and wondering about Parnaith.  After sometime, Julia shoved the thoughts aside That is for another day.  Lothian, the road today will be even more challenging than yesterday.  Please, give me the strength to be there for my friends, to support them, and together to ensure that Ptolus will survive.

Julia stood and, looking at the woman cowering on the bench said, My dear Baba, I see that fear has brought you here.  But we have no need to fear, for Lothian walks with us.  I saw the majesty of his power only yesterday, as strong and holy as it must have been when he first ascended.  He will see us through this, as he always has.  Hold your head up, and let the sun shine. As Julia started to walk away, she stops and turns back to the woman, and presses a gold coin in her hand.  If you have family, dear Baba, I believe today would be a day to visit them. It is a good day for the closeness of family.

Julia then squeezed back out of the row and went in search of Sister Mara.  Spotting one of the junior members of the clergy nearby, Julia approached him and asked if Sister Mara was about.

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Talin
———————————————————–
Talin mused about the past night as he strode through the eerily empty streets of the city.  Vogh had woken him when she left, a gleam in her eye and the hunt in her step.  She would return with the potions they needed, and woe to any that stood in her path.  Preparing for an expedition was one of her many incredible talents, and he left her to it.  He was out looking for Julia and weapons.

Julia had mentioned the night before that she wanted some special quarls for her crossbow, and the best place for that was Rastor’s store.  The Litorian had a soft spot for Talin ever since he brought the remnants of SolarSong to his shop, and even more so since he had started to wield it.  Somehow the man felt Talin honored the blade and its history with his endeavors. It really was more the other way round, but Talin couldn’t argue with the fervor in the Litoran’s words. It was like he saw Eloise in Talin.  The big bard just hoped he used it a tenth as well as that legendary warrior.

Although, if he was to wield SolarSong in battle against Wuntad to save to world, he might be worthy of a mention alongside the slayer of the Dread One.  Maybe.

Julia was gone by the time Talin finished a hasty breakfast.  His stomach had finally settled enough to eat, and he knew he would need the strength for the day.  Talin wasn’t too worried, he assumed he knew he could find the clerics at her church.

He made a quick step on his way there, and his mind was left to muse again about last night.

….Bharash had certainly seemed to be put out that they weren’t discussing more their plan to assault the temple.  Talin thought it was more an attempt to get them all to agree he was right and they were all duped.  He certainly seemed to put great stock in showing how much wiser he thought he was than the rest of the Calling.  Hmmmm… there might just be a little insecurity going on there… perhaps since Bharash was the only one incapable of casting a spell.  After what he saw at the bathhouse, Talin didn’t think he had much to feel inferior about.

That thought had reminded him of something he had seen amidst the bubbles, and Talin brought it up to Bharash as they left the table last night.

  “I think you are trying to feed us the same cake twice there, good friend.  And trust me the second eating is generally not well received… not once it has made it’s way out the stomach the first go-round  We have all heard your thoughts on the day’s events.  You have made it very clear what you think of our wits in this matter and how much your wisdom is the only thing that carried the day.  I already gave you my thoughts on the matter at the bathhouse and have no desire to dance in circles with you on this…  my preferred dancing partners are dangerous, lithe maidens after all, and I see one stepping up the stairs right now”

“If you truly feel we should not take this lead presented to us in the shadow of the Chaos Engine, then let’s hear it now.  Otherwise, speaking of the bathhouse, I have a question for you from our visit there today.  You seemed to have added a large red marking on your back since last we visited Eltan and Derron. Is there a story there?  I haven’t seen it before, and I didn’t think your scales could be bruised like that? ”

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon had risen when the sun came up.  One thing about being deaf was that unless someone moved to wake you, you slept like a baby.  Rolling out of his bed he looked around and saw only Tristan left in the room.  The warrior was pouring over a spellbook.  A spellbook???

Deacon moved over to Tristan and sat next to him and pulled open his own book.  He of course opened it so that Tristan couldn’t see his.  No free sharing…  Deacon began to think of which spells would best suit the day that Vogh had planned for them in the battle against Wuntad.  Certainly, defensive spells could be useful.  If he wanted an offensive spell he knew Yaeshla would be able to handle that task.  Once this was all over he would have to figure out how to speak with her.  There had to be a way…

Back to his spellbook, he thought about the others as well.  He could enlarge Bharash, that certainly would scare a lot of people.  Deacon thought about a huge raging Dragonborn of a warrior crashing through the temple and smiled.  “Yes, that would do.  Matter of fact two of them would work well.  A few defensive protection spells, oh, and energy protection for sure.  That witch and Balor certainly put a hurting on last time.”  Deacon then rummaged through his pack and found his diamond dust.  Tossing the back up and down to get the heft of it he smiled.  “Yes, yes, perfect, perfect!”  After about 15 minutes he had finished and just in time too for Tristan had as well.

“I think I have things under control Tristan.  Would you like to be enlarged today to fight?  I have a spell for you if you do!”  Tristan thought about it a moment then a wicked smile came across his plain face and he nodded.  “By the way, I couldn’t help but notice your spellbook.  Perhaps after this we can exchange spells?”

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Bharash
———————————————————–
How a group of people so much more boundlessly capable of social manoeuvring than he is can so consistently misread the situation is a mystery to Bharash, but with everyone except Talin walking off, he’s left to slam his head three times into the table in utter frustration before looking up at the other man and sighing, shaking his head.

“And you don’t get it either. No, I’m not the smart-clever-super one. I went with you all and I didn’t ask enough questions. I didn’t stop us from getting duped and I didn’t save the day… This isn’t about me Talin.” he passionately expresses, trying one more time to express his misgivings: “We were conned. And everyone in the group – everyone except me seems to either deny it or not care, as if none of you think you could ever possibly be wrong.”

“What I want us to do is accept that we can be and we were, and then take everything we’ve learned, point by point and pile it up on the table. Names, motives, where and when we found it out. I want us to take an hour or two to make damn’ sure Agadoo the wizard didn’t con us either by comparing his statement with the things we’ve learned ourselves. I want us to stop chasing after the last thing we were told and take five minutes to think before we waste another day doing what our enemies want us to do.” – coming to the end of his rant, the big Dragonborn sighs and leans back, slouching tiredly in his chair – “The stakes are too gods-damn’ high now Talin.”

At the end there though, he looks puzzled more than anything and asks, frowning “Red mark? What red mark. I don’t have any red marawwwwwh. You know you’ve got one too, don’t you? Looks kind of angular and runic?”

[Private to GM: However that conversation goes, Bharash spends a good half the night sitting at the table with a couple of good, white beeswax candles, a stack of paper and an inkpen scribbling furiously, sometimes getting up to stalk around the room, talking to nothing and no-one in hushed tones as though experimenting with turns of phrase and statements of intent then hustling back to write further, eventually taking the time to write up a second copy of his work in a rather shockingly (for his colleagues, who rarely see him do anything more than scribble hastily in his notebook) fair hand that he then steps out under one of his disguises to put into the hands of a couple of folks he knows for further copying and dissemination to certain pro-active individuals in the performing arts community along with the observation that Barbarian Hordes do not, on the whole go in for theatrical performances and that keeping morale up might well contribute to keeping their audiences alive, happy and paying for seats.
He only gets a few hours sleep that night, but it’ll hopefully be enough.

13:37, Today: Secret Roll: Bharash rolled 32 using 1d20+16.  Artistry.]

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan was busy studying his spellbook when Deacon came over to study as well.  When they both finished and Deacon had asked him about exchanging spells, Tristan nodded.  “I can do that, but I am certain there are many spells I have that you won’t be able to scribe into your spellbook.  I hope you prepared well for these demons.  They can pack quite the punch with their spells.”

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Julia Graymantle
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The young cleric informed Julia that Sister Mara had been in earlier that morning but was back out and was not expected back in until later that evening.  Please, let her know that Julia stopped by when you see her.  Lothian willing, I will be back in a day or two to speak with her.

Julia made a quick pass around the Rotunda, greeting a few acquaintances, but generally leaving after a few short words and will wishes for the members and the city.  As she was turning to depart one of the members, Julia bumped into a wall;  a wall with long, silver hair and those piercing, entrancing eyes. Kal, I suppose I should have expected to find you here.  Come with me, we need to speak, in private

Julia grabbed Kal’s hand and pulled him through the throng of Lothianites like a determined mule pulling a cart through deep mud.  She towed him out of the main Rotunda, down an offshooting corridor, and finally to a quiet alcove in a lesser used part of the church.

Kal, Kalerecent, I need to apologize to you for the outburst yesterday, about the rat folk.  You remember, of course you do. Julia started to lose her composure and then, pulling her hair, also pulled herself together.  Kal, I don’t know what is happening with me, with this connection to Parnaith, and I certainly don’t know what will come tomorrow.  I hope that you will be joining us, for we need you with us.  Anyway, I just meant to say that, I’m feeling very confused, and in that moment, those emotions overwhelmed me and I took it out on you.  I hope that you can forgive me.  And, I hope that you can give me some time to come to terms with Julia waved her hands in front of her face, indicating her eerily white eyes, all of this.

Kal was silent and Julia rocked on her toes, nervously awaiting his response when suddenly she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her.  With an unspoken prayer she thought to herself, Talin, thank you for your marvelous bardic timing. before turning to greet the bard as he strode toward the pair.

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Talin
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As Talin walked the nearly empty streets, headed to find Julia, his thoughts brought him up short.  It was a good thing the normal throng of people was absent, as he certainly would been knocked over as he stopped dead in the middle of the street.  He had been musing on the marking he had seen on Bharash in the bathhouse, and later that night on Vogh’s back.   It had tickled his mind all morning and knowing a similar mark rode on his own back made him itch between his shoulder blades.

The realization of what it was, and how he could possibly have not seen it right way, is what poleaxed him in mid stride.   A rune.  The mark one found on a Rune Bearer.  Until the children they had recently found in the city, nobody had been born with one in an Age, at least.  Maybe longer.  And here they were, marked as Rune Bearers, but clearly NOT born with it.

That was once common, according to legend.  The runes would appear to mark out the great or the accomplished.   A physical manifestation of the unique power or skill possessed by the bearer.   Whether the abilities brough the rune, or the rune brought abilities, Talin didn’t remember if the legends made certain.   But why three of them, with the mark just showing now.   He had seen Bharash’s unclothed but still armored back before, and Vogh would have noticed a mark on Talin’s own back as recently as the morning before the trek to the Machine.   But they only showed now… what had happened to cause it… and had it happened to more than the three of them?

Had Vogh mentioned seeing one on Julia?  He had his mind on other things last night when they went to bed, and she left too early to talk much this morning.  Talin abruptly sprang back into motion, moving twice as fast as before.   His long legs ate ground with every stride as he rushed to find Julia.

He found her in conversation with Kal, and tried to put on a casual air as he greeted the paladin with fist thumping to his own breast plate.  Julia received a flourishing bow and quick pardon for interrupting their conversation.  Julia did not seem to mind the excuse to turn away from Kal.  Talin wondered if the conversation about Ratmen down in the sewers had planted some tension in the blooming romance between the two.

  ” It is a pleasure to see you this morning Kal, despite the dangers that loom like shadows across the city.  I hope I did not interupt.  I came to escort Julia to see Master Rastor.  We will need the best of arms to weather the current confluence of storms, and there can be no finer place to find them then where Rastor hangs his sign. ”

He then turned to Julia with a bow,
“Good morning, Destroyer of the Despoiler.  Would you mind if I accompanied you to visitor Master Rastor’s shop?  The old litorian seems to have a soft spot for me, and my introduction might bring a discount to your purchases.  Given the cost of the items I know are on your shopping list, along with the bill Vogh is certainly being presented with for her potions , I think we can use any savings we are offered.”

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kalerecent stood there, resplendent in his gleaming armor with the greatsword, the legendary Sword of Truth’s pommel peeking over his shoulder at Julia from it’s sheath on his back. Handsome elven features sharpened as the attractive warrior smiled without parting his lips, warmth reflected in his eyes. Kal declined his head in a small bow then met Julia’s eyes.

“No fogiveness is necessary, but as you asked, your apology is heartfully accepted.”

Seeming undetered by her opal eyes the paladin’s piercing orbs held her gaze as Talin walked up. Kal seemed less than enthusiastic at the interruption but he nodded and turned to ragard the bard.

“Greetings sir.”

Kal paused and listened to Talin discuss with Julia about visiting Rastor’s shop, arms clasped behind his back and beneath his blue cloak.

“If it’s alright, I would like to accompany you there, that we might gather the others and proceed to the Temple of the 53 gods of chance. Frighteningly, it’s only two blocks from this Cathedral.”

Extending a plate gloved hand he pointed to the West wall.

“Finding a carriage for hire to take us might be impossible, so I can arrange transportation if you’re both ammicable?”

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Talin
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  “I greatly appreciate the offer good sir, and I can understand your concern for… our… safety in the chaos that will be the city as all awaken to prepare for the oncoming horde.  I give my pledge to all the gods I keep holy that no trouble will bother us on our way to the shops.  Rastor is a good friend, and I look forward to introducing him to our divine savior here.”  .  Talin gestured at Julia and quicked his lips.  It was hard to tell if he meant it mockingly or honestly.  Probably both.

“Today will be a terrible conflict, and we are quite glad for your aid.  I would suggest that while we gather a few quick supplies, you prepare yourself as much as possible for the horrors we will face.  Every trick or blessing you can gather before meeting us at the Minstral will be most welcome later.’ 

Talin did not give Kal much of a chance to continue the discussion as he turned to Julia and waved toward the markets.  “If it pleases you, milady, shall we depart?”  That was certainly a shade mocking, but low-key so as not to ruffle Kal’s feathers.  he had the look of one that would defend a lady’s honor, asked for or not.

As they walked through the streets, unable to even catch a glimpse of a free carriage, Talin explained to Julia ”  My apologies if you wished to accept Kal’s offer.  I desired a few moments to speak to you as we walked regarding a topic I would like to leave within the Calling for now.  I hope that is ok.”

Smiling in gratitude at her approval, and thinking that she was a little grateful for some space from Kal for at least the moment, Talin did not pry into whatever had occurred before he met them at the church.  He had more pressing concerns.

  “A few of us have noticed a mark now decorates our backS. It is red and runic.  Vogh, Bharash, and myself.  All different, but the same. If that makes sense.  Different runes, but of the same origin I would say.  Did you notice a similar mark on your back?”

Upon receiving her acknowledgment, he left the careful wording behind and plowed ahead in a rush.    ‘I believe they are the marks of a rune bearer.  Different in origin perhaps from the ones on the children, but essentially the same.  Clearly, ours did not come from birth like theirs, but in ages past, they could be earned as well as inherited.  It is an old thing, before written works and even the memories of dragons. It is beyond coincidence that some would be born with runes after this long and then we would be marked as we seek to protect them.  This gives me grave concerns… nothing certain, but long shadows of dread rest on my mind that I can not quite give words to…. yet.”

“I think this should be kept from Helmut for now, and Kal.  But we do need to know if he or anyone else was marked during the trip.  Can you find a way to ask him about it without giving away the game?  Just for now.  I know you may not like keeping this from him, but I feel strongly there is a good reason.”

Talin took a deep breath, then let out the unfinished thought along with his air.  ”  If the cult needs rune bearers to complete this ritual… well, are we about to bring four right into their inner sanctum?”

He let the thought, and the implications, hang like a cloud as they walked, casting a shadow as they reached the market.

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia listened as Talin spoke of the marks that they all wore now.  In fact she had seen the mark on herself in a mirror, but thought it just a leftover welt from their adventure the day before.  The news was a bit surprising, but Julia took it in rather easily as it was just another eddy swirling in the ether around them all.

So many movements, Talin.  The world is unsettled and I am afraid many things are coming together.  It is concerning that we suddenly bear the runes, the day before we are to attempt to stop this ceremony… Julia pauses for a moment, considering the meaning As you mention, there is a great risk in our storming the cultists hideout tomorrow, now that we, ourselves, are runebearers.  I believe we must speak with the group together before we head off.  For my own part, I believe we are too far along, and the task too important, to stop now.  And if not we, then who could go in our stead?  Let us speak with the others when we gather back at the Minstrel.

They walked in silence the rest of the way to Rastor’s shop, each dwelling on the various events of the past day or the events to come.  There was much fodder for rumination these days.

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Narrator GM
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Kalerecent gracefully bowed, one hand behind his back, the other across his armored stomach and told the duo he would see them soon at the Minstrel. “It will only be me this time. My second and the troops are being deployed to defend the city. But my superiors released me to aid you as this threat seems potentialy more dangerous than the barbrians.”

—

Outside Talin and Julia did find it impossible to find a carriage, so they wound up walking. Sunrise Street was getting busier as the morning progressed. Many people were coming into the Temple District to pray and offer sacrifies to gods in defense of the city. The Street of a Million Gods was also getting busier with people coming from Midtown. At one point both the friends had to move to the side of the street and halt, as did everyone else, when a four man wide line of at least fourty City Watchmen clanked down the street heading toward the North. All of them were heavily armed and armored, marching in lockstep like well trained troops. Once the procession passed, people hustled about once more.

Passing over the Blessed Bridge and back into Midtown the group made the quick trek back to Delver’s Square and across into Rastor’s shop.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Inside Rastor’s shop Talin recognized a woman he hadn’t seen for quite a while. Fira Mournhell, a fellow bard, but not a Knight of the Chord. Fair was closer to fifty than fourty, standing just over five feet tall. Her short cropped brown hair bounced with curls, accentuating her smooth, brown skin and bright blue eyes. Talin remembered her to be a hopeless romantic and was best known for weaving her tales of valorious knights rescuing women in distress. When they entered Fira recognized Talin and smiled, then eyed Julia up and down, her gaze catching at Julia’s eyes. Fira tried to cover her faux pas by faking a cough then smiling back at the duo.

[Private to Talin: This is the first this NPC has been introduced, so there is no history but what we make up, so do as you wish.

Talin had also heard her name several months ago mentioning Fira found a powerful magical longbow, but no one knew from where.]

Also inside the shop was a burly young woman with rough, black skin. She was halfway between five and six feet but she likely weighed more than Talin, most of it solid muscle.

A tall man, but shorter than Talin by a inch or so, with more than a little gray hair looked over Talin. He was on the heavier side, but wore fine armor with a pristine looking battleaxe hanging from his hip. That same battleaxe as partially completed in a tattoo on his face. Pockmarked skin had seen a great deal of sun in his days.

Rastor wasn’t busy, except watching over the merchandise, so he raised a hand in greeting with a wide smile.

[Private to GM: Fira Mournhell is a 47 year old female human bard.
She has cropped, curled, brown hair and blue eyes.
She has smooth brown skin.
She stands 157cm (5’1″) tall and has a round build.
She has a round, stunning face.
She is very clumsy.

She sporadically squints.
She quietly worships Kelemvor, God of death and the dead. (Lawful Neutral)
She is an hopeless romantic.
She is incredibly lazy.
She doesn’t like parting with her money or possessions.
She has a pet cat companion named Peanut.

She has recently come into possession of a powerful magical longbow, and nobody knows how.

Laila Writingham is a 20 year old female human barbarian.

She has long, straight, gray hair and cyan eyes.
She has rough black skin.
She stands 167cm (5’5″) tall and has a beefy build.
She has a round, average face.

She openly worships the demon prince Eltab, Demon lord of hatred, retribution. (Chaotic Evil)
She is very benevolent.
She is non-materialistic.
She uses very foul language.
She always obeys her superiors.
She has a constant wanderlust and is unable to live at the same place for more than a few months.

Geoffrey Hillless is a 50 year old male human soldier.

He has long, curled, gray hair and blue eyes.
He has smooth, pockmarked, white skin.
He stands 187cm (6’1″) tall and has a round build.
He has an oval, unremarkable face.
He has an unfinished tattoo of a battleaxe on his right hand.
He can’t feel pain.

He quietly worships Selune, Goddess of the moon, stars, navigation, prophecy, questers, lycanthropes. (Neutral Good)
He is very cynical.
He constantly looks for the loophole.
He lies poorly on purpose.

He is spying the players on behalf of the local traders’ guild.]

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Rastor (NPC)
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(Man there are a lot of people with Gold text. haha. Kal. Rastor. Julia. 😉 )

“Hello! Talin, Julia. Good to see you. Although it’s a bit tense today. Will you two be joining the City’s forces on the walls to face the barbarians? If no one comes in after a while, I might close early to go see for myself. I’ve heard more rumors than you could shoot a bow at, most false I’m certain.”

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Vogh
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Vogh left Potions and Elizers and went directly back to the Minstrel.  The sun was still touching the horizon so she knew it was still early and hoped the others would be downstairs for breakfast.

As Vogh walked she paid close attention to the crowd and how they were acting.  The worry of the barbarians outside the gates had people pretty frantic.  Vogh wished she didn’t have her own thing to do or she might steal a look at what the army that gathered looked like.  They would still be there once the mission was done and then she would see for herself.

Vogh entered the Minstrel shortly after and looked over the tables looking for the others.

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Talin
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  “I don’t put much stock in rumors, my friend.  I put my faith in the good steel I got from you!” 

Talin had a huge grin on his face as he returned the litorian’s greeting.  It didn’t hurt to flatter him as well, especially where potential shoppers could hear.

“I am afraid the walls will need to manned by the good men of the watch and the rest of the Knights of the Chord.  Vogh and I, along with Julia here, have a task even more vital than the one they will perform against the barbarian horde.  I do not tell tall tales, what we are about today is just that dire.  That is why Julia and I are here.  If we face death today, then we must face it with the best weapons that can be found in the city.  And those, my good friend, can only be found here.” 

Talin gave a sharp booming laugh and then gestured for Julia to take over.  ” I believe the good cleric here has her eye on some very special bolts for her crossbow.” 

Talin wandered away as Julia described what she needed to the shopkeeper.  He wanted to ask Rastor what special treasures he might have come across that could help them today, but he let Julai go first as she knew what she wanted.  He also wanted to follow up on a rumor, whatever he had told Rastor.

He gave a gesture of greeting as he approached Fira.  “Why if it isn’t Fira Mournhall.  It has been too long.  Dire days make for good times to meet worthy friends, after all.”

Talin casually wandered closer as he accepted her return greeting and a good jest about what he had been up to the last time she had seen him.  That was one pickle he was glad Vogh had been there to get him out of… embarrassing or no.  Leaning against the counter where she was eying some gleaming silver daggers, he pitch his voice lower for just her ears.

“I heard a rumor a little while back that involved you.  I know the old parable about the man who trusted too much to rumors, but this smacked of authenticity. They said you were in possession of a longbow of some legendary magic.  It stood out as anyone who knows you knows that a well-thrown dagger is more your style.  I happen to be a passable archer, and always interested in a weapon with a good story behind it.”  The handsome bard arched one eyerbow in question.

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Bharash
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Having been left alone at the table, Bharash sits up some time into the night – likely staring into his mug or doing whatever it is broody Dragonborn do when they’re not sleeping the sleep of the just and confident – but he does eventually turn in – late, but doing his best to avoid disturbing his room-mates (it’s not all that good, given that he has to remove his armour) – to snatch a few short hours of sleep and is, therefore somewhat sluggish to rise come the morning, eventually dragging himself down to a late breakfast while he tries to cudgel his brain into something resembling an action plan.

He doesn’t have much free coin to throw around and he doesn’t come close to having the sort of arcane knowledge the others possess in order to spend what he does have wisely. He knows of potions but not about potions, and the same consideration appends to scrolls, wands and other ephemera. He’s on slightly more steady ground in the matter of magic arms and armour, but for the purpose they’re engaged upon, those are expensive in ways even his hoped-for town-house is not and he doesn’t have the contacts he’d need to acquire the more esoteric sorts of toys that might be able to protect him from demonic assault of any kind other than flat-out trying to stab, rend and tear him.

Helping to plan is of course, right out. It’s been made exquisitely clear by this point that his opinions are neither welcome nor wanted and with that he’s essentially left to focus upon what he’s actually good at: soaking up attention from the enemy so that the others can get into position to use their powers and, when the opportunity arises hacking things into tiny, twitching chunks. It’s with a slow, heavy sigh that he pulls himself up from the table and heads out into the yard to exercise, adding another infinitesimal slice of improvement to his already formidable skills while watching the ebb and flow of trade in the square.

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Vogh
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Just as Bharash exits the Minstrel, Vogh is moving towards the entrance and sees him move to the area next to the Minstrel. It was a place Bharash liked to practice his deadly art of blade magic he was so good at.

Vogh followed him into the yard and called to him, “Bharash, up for a partner to practice with?”

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Bharash
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With Vogh having completed most of her errands before Bharash was even up and moving (unusual in itself, he’s normally a crack-of-dawn sort) the big Dragonborn has no reason to do other than rumble “It never hurts. I was going to go over what I remembered of those demons fighting stances.” before motioning her to join him as he paces around the minimal space the minstrel has for deliveries and horses to loosen up, “Get everything you need?”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh joined Bharash pulling both her blades as he did with his falcata’s.  Those falcata’s of his were dangerous in his hands more so than her purple crystal blades in her hands now.  Vogh wanted to speak openly with Bharash so slipped into his mind to speak while they began their practice moves alongside Bharash.  “Bharash, I wanted to speak with you alone about the events that happened yesterday.  I heard your arguments last night and took them to bed to think about.  You are quite right, it is very possible that we were played as dummies and should have searched for more evidence or clarification on our intelligence.  Perhaps if we would have cleared out the rest of the temple we may have gotten a different picture of what to do.  I value your opinion and your strategic insights.  Sometimes I get ahead of myself.”  Vogh hoped the apology was well taken and would wait to see his response before continuing on with what they were planning for the morning and this Temple of the 53 Gods.

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Bharash
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Bharash is, in fact frighteningly good with his heavy-bladed weapons, on a level well beyond merely being strong and fast enough to use them the way someone with lighter weapons would and rather weaponising those characteristics, using their momentum and shape as part of his technique in ways both subtle and brutal….

…but he’s also sparring with a friend and automatically steps down the speed and force he’s applying to concentrate on technique – honing his edge that little further while helping Vogh work on hers, commenting upon angle and stance as they clash and part, pausing to demonstrate better grips or shifts for certain movements and, generally seeming to enjoy that side of things with a sort of pure delight untouched by the threats to the city from beyond and below.

The conversation however?

That earns her a grimace and a simple, leaden ‘It’s alright. I’m not the smart one in our merry little band and I’m not the wise one either. I’m certainly not the likeable one, come to that. I tried to say my piece, I got my response and I’ll stay in my lane from here on in. You point, I’ll punch. We’re getting into something big now and ultimately, I’m just going to have to trust your instincts over my own.’

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Fira Mournhall
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Fira smiled at Talin and raised her eyebrows at his query about the bow. “Well… it seems bards are not good at keeping secrets.” She winked and shrugged. “It’s quite an extrodinary find. The limbs are made of adamantium, but the grip is of a bone I cannot identify. It’s said the bow was formed by a tiefling king using volcanic heat, but despite his abysal heritage he was a paragon of virtue. If you were interested in purchasing it you’ll have to get in line, and I’m not certain I want to part with such a treasure.” Fira winked again.

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Talin
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Talin laughed and gave Fira an amused look between long stands of brown hair hanging in front of his handsome face.  ”  Bards’ love of telling a good story can certainly make keeping secrets difficult.  But what we do excel at is driving up interest and you clearly are teaching a master’s course on that.”

Talin held up  two fingers as he listed off counter points to her ” One, if you didn’t have some interest in selling this volcanic-born bow, I wouldn’t have heard of it”    Perhaps that wasn’t completely true, as bards do love to tell a good tale, but it probably was.

“Two, if the right person had offered you the right price, you would have already parted with it.  But such a legendary weapon cannot be sold to sit in a collection.  You are looking for someone who will put it use, to add to its legend.”

Talin dropped the casual, amused air and leaned in a little as his words took a serious turn.  “We are here to gather arms before assaulting a cult that has made its nest under the Temple of the 53 Gods.  This threat is so dire that the horde currently camped outside the walls pales in comparison.  Why do you think I am here and not with the rest of the Knights planning the city’s defense?  If this is something that can aid us… well, you know Vogh is good for the coin at least.”

Talin leaned away and shrugged, letting the causal tone fall back over his words. ” And if my shot as badly missed its target and you have no interest in selling it today, then at least spin me a tale of how you came across this Tiefling’s treasure?”

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Julia Graymantle
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Talin stepped away and began a conversation with the short, middle-aged woman who he apparently was acquainted with.  Bards, they seemed to have acquaintances in every corner of every street in the city.

Julia silenced all of the emotions that had been welling inside of her since Talin brought the news of the runes and forced herself to smile at the kindly Litorian.  Dear Rastor, we are very appreciative that you have held your shop open, even on such a day as this.  As Talin mentioned, we are on a journey of vital importance.  I am hoping you have a couple of small items that I am searching for to assist us.  Two quarrels of bolts for a crossbow.  One quarrel enchanted for battling demons, and another imbued to prevent dimensional travel like teleporting.  Would you have something of that nature available?

Julia is seeking one quarrel of Bolts of Bane (Demon) and one quarrel of Bolts of Phase Locking.

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Vogh
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In reply to Bharash (msg # 611):

Vogh had sparred a few times with Bharash in the past and it never seemed to amaze just how well he was able to move with both the larger blades in his hands.  For her part, she was fine working with both her longer blades but nothing in comparison to the weave of blades that Bharash was capable of doing.  Even as they sparred Vogh could see Bharash hold back so she could keep up.  It seemed to her that he was really working on the flow of his blades and the control of them to form better angles to attack his enemy.  Even though they had been practicing for a mere 5 mins Vogh already had a lather of sweat forming under her armor and could be seen on her brow as well.  “Thank you Bharash that means a lot as does this practice.  I am afraid we will need all the practice we can get.  Honestly, the Balor is my biggest worry.  While the other demons are more than capable of taking our heads on at a time, the Balor can do it all at once.  Let’s talk strategy while we play here.”

A few more blurred seconds went by and Vogh continued, “though we have no idea what the battlefield will look like we can make basic plans.  I was thinking that once we see either Wuntad or the Balor we dimension door close to either and try to lay them low before they can act.  It has worked well for us in the past.  The others can deal with any minions around.  Perhaps, you and Tristan can be dimension door’d by Talin.  Then Julia, Deacon, Kal, and I can deal with the rest or even dimension door ourselves if need be.”

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Rastor (NPC)
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Rastor nodded and retrieved two bolts, laying them on the counter in front of Julia. One was bright red, like it had been dipped in blood. The other was a pale green dotted with black flecks.

“Fifty gold and a hundred sixty gold, but for a friend of Talin’s I’ll do an even two hundred. The red is the demon bane. You only want one of each? I’ve got some more…”

[Private to GM: 18 , 9]

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia looks at the bolts that Rastor has laid out before her.  She picked up and examined the red tipped bolt.  Demonsbane, for sure.  A great help, for sure, if they encounter more demons, which seemed likely.  Julia then took the bolt tipped in green with black flecks.  She had a spell which could anchor a demon in place, but only one at a time.  These bolts should give her the chance to limit the mobility of more of the creatures, did the need arise.

Julia listened as Rastor gave the prices.  She looked around the store to call for Talin, but he seemed completely engaged with the short woman.  Probably regaling her with stories of his epic songs in battle, or of how much liquor he consumed at this fest or that tournament.  I guess he won’t be much use to me here.  I’ll just have to haggle without him.  Bards.

My dear honorable Rastor, you have the greatest wares in the city, and it is always a pleasure to visit your immaculate shop.  Such weapons as these Julia indicated the bolts laid out before her, are not easy to find, even in a city such as Ptolus.  I would have 50 of the Demonsbane bolts, and I am willing to pay 2000 gold for them.  And of the green with black flecks, I would take 30 and I am willing to part with 4500 gold pieces.  It does pain me so to pay such a dear price.  However, the fate of the entire city rests upon our shoulders and we must be prepared, don’t you agree?

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Bharash
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In some respects it’s a humbling reminder that skill has no ultimate peak and that there’s always something new to learn.

In others, it’s a cheering reminder that Bharash works to achieve the same level of skill as his companions, only rather than learning to channel the will of the divine, perform music that can change the weave of fate or re-write the very laws of nature around him, he dedicates all of his efforts into what can basically be described as a very sophisticated form of thwacky-stick.

And it serves to keep his mind clear as he moves with the grace of a dancer, pushing Vogh steadily harder as she flags, not to ‘win’ (you can’t ‘win’ when you’re training someone) but rather to get her to focus on the little movements and stances that grow harder to maintain precisely when strength flags – since deflecting one of his blows demands that she achieve control of the angle and momentum of contact, while avoiding one of his lunges requires that she maintain her balance.

It carries him through her apology-not-an-apology and her easy acceptance of his telling her that he knows the group can’t accept him doing the thinking without a ripple disturbing his calm (he’s always at his easiest when he’s moving with steel in his hands) ‘If the Balor is the big threat, then putting it down hard’s the way to go. Problem is, if it’s a big demon-thing, I doubt my swords’ll do much to it. Well, not reliably. And if it can get in my head, you’re all screwed. Other than that, I’ll hold off acting until Talin jumps with me then get swinging.’

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Rastor (NPC)
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In reply to Julia Graymantle (msg # 618):

Rastor nodded but pursed his big lips and shook his maned head. “My apologies Miss Julia, but I don’t have that many. I have a total of 18 demons bane and 9 of the phase locking ones. If you want to buy out all my stock I’ll take an even two thousand. That’s a 250 gold discount.” The litorian whispered the last sentence to her.

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Julia Graymantle
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Then I will take them and consider it an excellent deal.  Your kindness will be remembered, my dear Rastor. . Julia gives the Litorian a warm smile, the first honest smile that has crossed her lips since the events of the previous day.    Rastor then moves off to gather the rest of the bolts Julia has purchased.

Talin, are you finished with your flattery and fables?  I think we must be on our way to the Minstrel.

Rastor returns a moment later.  Julia takes the bolts and packs them into her quiver, neatly stored in her Handy Haversack when she isn’t adventuring, and squeezes the paw of the bright-eyed Litorian.  Rastor, have you ever heard of a lion who goes by the name of Lionel Goldenmane, the anointed Sun Risen Kind of the Savannahs?.

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Fira Mournhall
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Fira raised her eyebrows and listened through Talin’s speech. She had turned fully toward him and stood with one hand on her hip her opposite arm across her midsection, holding her own hands. “I had not actually considered selling it, but I’m not so young as I once was, and find the adventuring life far more difficult than it was when I was your age.” Fira cracked her neck as she pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“Were I to sell, I believe the item should fetch enough to let me retire in relative comfort. The figure I have in mind is rather large and I would need good gold, platinum or mage coins to the sum of 30,000 gold.”

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Vogh
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In reply to Bharash (msg # 619):

To an outsider watching the swordplay between Bharash and Vogh, it would be dizzying.  Four blades whirling, stabbing, and blocking each other at all sorts of angles.  The two worked together for 20 minutes now and Vogh was showing signs of being tired.  A missed parry where she would normally make one, a wrong defense on a lunge, lastly her hands were numb from the powerful strikes that Bharash made.  “I think that is enough for me,”  Vogh said as she put her blades back in their sheaths.

Vogh pulled out some potions and handed them to Bharash once they were sitting.  “These three potions will not only increase your endurance, dexterity, and will.  They will also make you more resistant to any spells the Balor might toss at you.”  Vogh also pulled out a scroll and said, “Deacon asked me to pick up a spell scroll for him and I had thought about the resistance of the demons against our weapons.  With this spell scroll, I can alter the make-up of a few weapons.  I can make them cold iron to defeat their natural resistance.  I think that will help immensely.”

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Talin
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Talin let his jaw drop at the offered price tag for the weapon.  Either it was truly a work of legend, or Fira was worse than a dwarven money lender with her price gouging.

He raised an eye brow at Julia’s dismissive tone as she joined them, then turned to make introductions.  “it isn’t flattery to speak the truth, Fira Mournhall is a great adventurer with deeds worthy of tales.  Lothain only know why she isn’t one of the Knights of the Chord yet.  Too independent I guess, which says something coming from another bard. “

“Fira, it was fortune that brought us back together today.  Please, do me one favor.  Before you decide what to do with the artifact, bring it by the Minstrel for Vogh and I to examine. ”
–
Talin allowed himself to be pulled away back to the bolt covered counter.  He was still giving considering looks over his shoulder to Fira, wondering if he should have pressed harder regarding the weapon, and if he had said too much in his effort to learn more about it.

The startled look on Rastor’s face brought him sharply back into the conversation.  Julia had just asked him about Lionel, and from Rastor’s face, he knew something about the creature.

“Your face speaks plainly that you have heard of this creature, or at least know of the name.  Please, tell us what you know and I will tell you why we ask.  It is a tale I promise you will want to hear.”

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Rastor (NPC)
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Rastor nodded and narrowed his feline eyes. “You keep surprising me sir… Lionel Goldenman was a companion of Eliose Asglade Brightbeard. He was an awakened lion, that is to say, he was intelligent, not just an animal. It was said he departed the city after Eliose helped fell the Dread One and never seen again. How… How can you possibly know that name?”

[Private to GM: Knights of the Pale watching over the Temple of 53 Gods of Chance intercept and talk to the PCs

Remember the consumable bell magic items.

Remember the towers of lightning.

Have someone able to cast disintegrate to destroy walls of force. Rods of Cancellation.

What about chaotic energies doing strange stuff to their attacks? Something always in the air? Oh! What about a constantly clanging bell that does stuff?!

Remember ratmen which will NOT attack Bharash.

Black orcs instead of the others.

Albino ratman and shaman

Rolling ball of fire and ice down the vrock’s chamber to overrun the pcs

Cataryid Columns

Maybe a strong wind blowing away from Wuntad and toward the PCs making ranged attacks difficult

https://aonprd.com/SpellDispla…ame=Maw%20of%20Chaos

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic…rod-of-cancellation/]

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Talin
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Talin leaned in, placing both arms on the counter and pitched his voice a little lower giving a short low whistle “Well that helps explains one thing, but opens a whole box of other questions.   How do we know the name? Well, we met him… I think.  We didn’t really talk, per se, but the name came into my mind as soon as I as wondered what he was called.  You see, a great Celestial Lion leaped out of nothing to aid us in a charge against the minions of a truly evil foe.  This lion, who I am sure is called Lionel GoldenMane, helped us fight these foes, then escorted us for a while as we hunted this evil into the depths of the city.  He is a truly noble creature, and eager to throw himself into battle against hell’s army.

Talin gestured at Julia, leaning sideways on one elbow to sweep a hand in her direction ” My friend here has developed something of a fondness for him, which certainly I did as well,  and she has a great many questions about him that I am not able to answer.  Perhaps you can slate her curiosity?  What else can you share with us about him?  ?

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Rastor (NPC)
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In reply to Talin (msg # 626):

Rastor again shook his maned head and in an almost whisper said, “Fascinating…”

He eyed SolarSong’s hilt over Talin’s shoulder. “Tell me true… Did SolarSong summon him?”

Upon Talin’s confirmation the litorian straitened his back and grinned ear to ear. “Fascinating… Truly a marvelous blade. Their connection in life must have been so strong it’s followed after death. I can’t share much more of his story with you beyond their companionship. It’s wonderful to discover he found rest and yet is still able to aid the cause of good.”

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Bharash
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Bharash, by contrast doesn’t even seem to be particularly out of breath – but then, he’s long joked that he’s as devoid of feeling as he is sense, at least when it comes to physical hardship. He snorts wryly at her declining further exercise, noting “When you’re shaking with exhaustion is the time to really train. Making each move right uses less energy than half-assing it, balance conserves your resources… And you can feel the difference more when you’re on the ragged edge…” before allowing, in a moderate and amused tone “On the other hand, I could just be a masochist. Either-or.”

He does however relent enough to let her step back, instead returning to his strike-defend-strike-move routine that he’s working through, one which looks to be designed to engage someone taller than him and armed with a sword-and-whip combination (funnily enough), “How long’ll they last?” he asks, nodding for her to set the potions down to the side, “I’ve got that wand for putting up a shield but I rarely get a chance to use the thing before a fight starts and it only lasts a minute or so.”

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Vogh
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Bharash’s words made sense.  It was when you were your weakest when you are your most vulnerable so training through it made the most sense.  So, Vogh pushed through the pain and exhaustion.

“I was told they will all last 10 minutes, including the one to make your blades cold-iron.  Oh, I also picked up some potions of barkskin.  I remember you mentioning that before to better increase your natural armor.  Now, before it gets too late I think we should wrap this up and see if the others are ready to go.”

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia listened with piqued curiosity to Rastor and Talin as they spoke about Lionel, or rather Sir Lionel as she thought of him.  Oh Rastor, you should have seen him, he was such a noble and sweet creature.  I have no doubt that he would have belonged as companion to Eliose.  He did not speak at all.  I am sure it is only a shard of his spirit that was bonded to the blade, so likely none of the intelligence was retained.  But I can tell you truly that all of his noble courage was on display.  Sir Lionel Goldenmane is a blessing to us, and a faithful Avatar for the Litorian people.  You should be proud of him.  Maybe next time we visit, Talin will have manners enough to invite Sir Lionel along to see his distant kin..

Julia looks around to ensure she has gathered all of her things and then, with a nod of her head, indicates to Talin that they should make for the door.  My dear Rastor, thank you once more for your faithful service to us.  I do hope we will see you again.  If not, do not lose hope, the guardians of Ptolus are many and powerful.  I am sure that the city will survive whatever is to come.  With that, Julia strode out of the door in the direction of the undercity.  They had another brief stop to make before returning to the Minstrel.

Once they had descended down into the cavernous undercity, Julia looked for the stall selling scrolls.  She made her way to the vendor and asked for one scroll to delay poison for a group, and two scrolls to alter a alignment of a weapon for a group.  She looked briefly around the mostly empty cavern.  Despite a strange lack of customers, there was a noticeable increase in security along every row of stalls. She looked at Talin, who was, for once, not engaged in conversation with one of his countless acquaintances, It is so strange to see the market so quiet.  The church was filled beyond capacity.  I would think that the people of Ptolus would be focused on arming themselves, but instead they turn to Lothian.  Maybe there is more hope for them there.  Or maybe they have given up hope, and so there is no need for weapons. Just then the shop vendor came over to speak with them.

OOC: Julia will attempt to buy one scroll of Delay Poison, Communal and two scrolls of Align Weapon, Communal.  She will take whatever the merchant has on hand and pay the price asked.  Just let me know what was possible

Once their business in the undercity is concluded, Julia and Talin made their way quickly back to the Minstrel.  The others would certainly already be anxious to depart.  As they arrived back at the Minstrel, they saw Vogh and Bharash just finishing up what appeared, based on the condition of Vogh’s usually perfectly styled hair, to have been a vigorous workout.  With Bharash you could never tell, as he only ever showed as much exhaustion as a castle wall.  A few moments after Julia and Talin walked into the courtyard, Kal entered as well, looking as statuesque as ever.  Had Julia really been considering breaking off her romantic entanglement with him?  Well, there was a time and place for everything, and she simply didn’t have the emotional capacity for it.  But she would do her best not to close the door with him.  She only hoped the Paladin could understand.

There was no sign of Deacon or Tristan, another creature of astounding beauty, which seemed to be par for the course for the Calling and Calling-adjacent members.  Curious.  Maybe they should seek out a troll or a gnoll to add to the mix.  Since Deacon and Tristan had not yet appeared, they must be studying their spell books back in their quarters.

Julia greeted each of her friends as she saw them and then made her way to one of tables large enough to accommodate them all.  She did not know about the others, but she had left before breakfast was ready, and she was in need of a little comfort of the cuisine-variety.  As she made her way, she called to the others to join her.

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Bharash
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When it comes to physical training Bharash usually has a point and he shifts focus accordingly, aiming to make use of Vogh’s tired state to add accuracy to her motions, rather than speed or force. Someone with a wide range of knowledge might consider the new tack to be more akin to yoga than sparring, but he has her move through positions, echoing his stances as he works his blades and then guiding her to achieve precision despite the sweat and the aching – speed, he explains will come afterwards.

Needless to say, it’s no less punishing, just differently punishing – holding out an arm extended with a blade in it for an extended period of time or moving precisely through a stance without the benefit of inertia rather than letting the weapons do their share of the work for you.

Adding ‘sadist’ to his earlier claim of masochism probably isn’t all that unfair at this point.

“Ten minutes is good. You give the signal, I’ll knock them back.” he replies, before snorting and giving her the evil eye and asking – with amusement – “It’s barely gone nine, you sure you’re not just trying to get out of another ten stretches into high guard from low lunge?”

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Vogh
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Vogh appreciated the change in speed.  The movements weren’t any less strenuous though as VOgh held out both blades waist high for what she thought was forever as her arms began to shake ever so slightly.  She was thankful for another position change as one blade went high and held while the other moved low to block an incoming strike that wasn’t there.  The ‘cool down’ was no such thing though but Bharash knew what he was doing and he led her well.  He would count down the stretches and Vogh was yearning for the 10 count.  She thought he hadn’t noticed her dip her one blade lower than instructed but it was like he saw everything when it came to a fight.  Inside Vogh was glad for it all.

“This was very helpful Bharash, thank you for another masterful instruction.  I hope to one day be as masterful with my blades as you are with yours.”  When Bharash had instructed they were complete together they went inside.

It wasn’t long after while sitting at ‘their’ table, that Kal entered and came over, explaining he was in for the mission.  A short minute after Julia and Talin came in as well.  Then about 15 minutes after that Deacon and Tristan came down the stairs.  It seemed they were all together now and would eat and see what fate had in store for them.  While they ate Vogh handed out the potions she had gathered.  If she had known Kal was coming she would have gotten 1 of each for him as well but it wasn’t to be.  Vogh explained what each of them did and how long they would last once drank.  Each person now had 4 potions before them.  Cat’s Grace, Bear’s Endurance, Owl’s Wisdom, and lastly the Barkskin potion.

“Now we don’t know what we will find when we get there but if at all possible we will cast as many defensive spells as possible before seeing Wuntad or the other demons.  Remember there is a medusa and one look from her will turn you to stone.  It has a limited range though so if we can drop her before getting too close we won’t have to worry.  We will try and use our dimension doors to move around to get the biggest advantage while increasing our chances to mass our forces on a single target.  Does anyone have anything to add that they can help with?”

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Narrator GM
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People looked the group up and down. For maybe the first time in their tenure in Ptolus, their group was the only armed and armored people in the Minstrel. All the typical clientele seemed to be off in defense of the city, or perhaps pursuing other ends.

Bharash got quite a few lingering looks. But when Kalerecent walked in, his full plate gleaming, and Lothian holy symbol on full display a fair number of people smiled. It seemed the very embodiment of goodness from the most popular religion brought a sense of calm to the worried people.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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“The army is within sight of the walls. All hands are deployed and ready. The wizards of the pyramid are even flying on magical barges near the walls to rain down death from above. Almost all our warriors and clerics are near the wall as well. The Commisar himself is acting as General over all the forces. I ask Lothian that the North Men not even approach our walls. Nothing will ever grow in those fields again after they have been soaked in blood.”

The paladin wore an expression of concern for the barbarians it seemed.

“I am ready to stop the evil within our walls with you my friends. We’ve been through much together. I pray this might be the end of excitement for our lifetimes.” Kal finished with a weak smile, suggesting he desired peace and boredom over adventure.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan smiled out the side of his mouth at Kal’s statement, almost mocking him. “When evil walks the earth, there will never be peace.” The kayal said softly, like a war hardened veteran.

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon was all ready to go, he had studied and rested plenty.  He hoped that Vogh was able to get the spell he requested.  Though there would be no time to copy it in his spellbook today.  He also needed to tell them that Jevicca contacted him this morning as well.

When he and Tristan made the main room and saw their companions already sitting at a table Deacon and Tristan moved over and took a seat.  He listened to Vogh speak in his head while they ate and then added his own words to the mix.  “First, I need to say that Jevicca contacted me shortly after I finished my studies.  She at first requested my presence but after I told her what we were doing this morning she gave me leave to be with you all.  I can confirm what Kal said because Jevicca said the same.  So, I have made preparations for the battle to come.  Changing my spells up quite a bit to benefit more of us at once.  The potions will be helpful for sure.  I’d be willing to give up my barkskin to Kal since he may need it more than I.”

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Bharash
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The truth is of course, that there’s nearly as much science to the art of building an exceptional athlete as there is to fundamentally re-ordering the structure of the universe but you need to have a certain level of attainment to see that (which also parallels with magic, in that you can’t begin to appreciate how much actual art lies behind the seemingly effortless casting of a Power Word until you’re half-way to being able to do it yourself).

The literary criticism he throws in for free by teasing “Masterful masterful is it? Remind be to get you a big book of synonyms and antonyms sometime, oh mistress of the bardic ways.” while he’s working her down from her exertions – keeping her moving through her trembling tiredness not to exercise as such, but to let her body cool off without crashing and getting her to replicate some stretches while she’s still warmed up and supple.

After that, he snags the potions, stores them securely and rinses himself down before arming up and settling at the table with a full platter, snacking through the opening comments and dryly remarking – philosophically – “Blood and bone aren’t bad fertiliser actually. Makes something of a mock of all our glories and our hatreds that from the point of view of a plant, we’re just putting on a buffet.”

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Talin
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Arriving back at the Minstrel with Julia, Talin greeted Vogh first with a kiss, then a joke about “who had she been working up that sweat with exactly..?”    He didn’t mind, even soaked through after a hard-fought battle or sprint through a ruin fleeing a rampaging troll (come to think though, it had been a long time since they ran from ANY troll), Vogh never seemed to smell bad.  Women are wonders.

He said quietly to her ”  I have quite a few little tales to share from our trip to see Rastor.  I hope you didn’t spend all your gold, there might be quite the little find for us to spend it on…. later.  I bumped into Fira and those rumors about an ancient bow she found were true.  And Rastor has heard of Lionel!  You should have seen his face when Julia asked him about the lion.

Clapping Bharash on the plated shoulder, he boomed “The plants may one day make meals of us all, but I need a proper person meal before we set out to face this day.    With that Talin sat down and grab a roll and some butter.

Through quickly devoured mouth fulls that he washed down with water, he needed his head with him after all, he continued” “The Knights, those of the Pyramid, and all the rest of the city’s might will have to hold the walls.  Our focus today is within.  Does anyone have any last concerns or thoughts before we gather up our gear and depart?”  .

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia ate heartily while the others spoke in turn.  She enjoyed a slice of bread with a thick crust of seeds, but a soft, white interior, spread with a bit of butter.  She followed that with some of the fruit laid out before her, and washed everything down with cool water poured from the crock in the middle of the table.

In truth, she wanted to keep her mind empty, to maintain her focus on what would come.  In reality, her whole world seemed to be shifting before her.  Was the church of Lothian all she had believed it to be for so much of her life?  Were there other paths she needed to travel, to tread new grass under her heels?  A time or two in the last day she felt dissociated from herself, and at other times, everything seemed aligned.

Talin’s question pulled her back from her thoughts.  I have something to say.  Julia looked around the table, taking in each of her companions for a moment. The city needs us.  Ptolus stands on a precipice, and the danger threatens from within as much as from without.  The defenders on the wall are preparing even now to lay down their lives to hold back the barbarian horde.  But, all of their skill and courage and dedication doesn’t mean anything if we fail, just as ours means nothing if the defenders fail. Julia sat up straighter and placed her hands on the scarred wooden tabletop. The next words she spoke, she meant for everyone, but maybe even more for herself. It doesn’t matter now what you believe in, or what reason you have for coming with us to day.  If you believe in the most holy Lothian or not, or any other of the great and powerful beings in the pantheon; whether you disavow religion completely and worship only the blade, or the song, or the book.  We owe it to the city, to the people of the city more than the walls, to sacrifice ourselves, if that is what is needed.  So, whatever it is that you worship, whatever it is that you hold most dear in your hearts, we must each of us realize that this is what is at stake.  Julia stood from the table and clasped her hands before her.  And, for me, the group arrayed before me gives me hope, and reason to lay down my own life if needed.  You have each in your own way become exceptionally dear to me, and I fear to lose any of you.  But I believe the sun of Lothian shines on us today, and I believe, really believe, that we will come away victorious. As she finished her words, she took the cup of water before her and raised it.  We are not unknown in the city of Ptolus, and we have managed to make a number of powerful friends as well as a few enemies among its residents.  But after today, let every being in the city know of the deeds of The Calling.  Let those who would destroy the city fear us, and those who wish to save it rejoice.  To the Calling!   Julia reached her glass forward to toast with her companions.

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Vogh
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“To the Calling!”  Vogh toasted.  She was ready to go and it seemed to her the others were as well

“Let’s make our way over then and follow the direction given to us.”

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Talin
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“To the Calling!”

Talin took a long moment, with his pewter tankard raised, to look at each of his companions.  He had fought beside them all, bled with them, and had them bleed for him, some shared a mug with him, one shared his bed… all were worth dying for today.  Talin believed each of them would die for the rest, if necessary.  The bard’s mind became laser focused as he sat the drink down and gathered his gear.

There was a single thought running through his head as he pulled on his plate-backed gauntlets.  He made sure the potions Vogh had brought were easy to access in the left section of his haversack.  He ran a finger of the belled chain, the small silver flute, and all the other spell components he kept in the same pouch.  He should have been thinking about how and when he would use each spell they helped focus.  He wasn’t though.  He was just making sure everything was there as his mind was fixated on that one thought.

Haversack, quiver, bow, key ring, belt.  Each got a quick touch to reassure Talin they were all there.  SolarSong didn’t really need it.  The weight of the heavy blade hung easily but ever-present across his back.  He stroked the hilt for a second anyway, knowing how much he would rely on it today.  Castian and Eliose would need to help guide his hands today.

All of that was accomplished by the lesser portion of Talin’s mind.  The greater was still focused on that one thought.

We all come home.  We kill Wuntad, end the ritual’s threat, and we all come home.

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Bharash
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Bharash, whose taste for rhetoric runs to the less flowery and more kick-’em-in-the-fork dutifully raises his mug when the toast is called for, although limits himself to responding to Talin with a seemingly unironic “Bharash no think, Bharash punch.” and then, a moment later when Julia finishes her own speech with a long, thoughtful look cast her way.

“Can’t say I needed much encouragement. Wuntad’s going to kill a lot of people, ruin a place I’m sort of fond of. We’re going to go and stop them, hard. If Lothian and the others want to lend a hand, they’re welcome. If not, hell with them. What we’re doing is worthy and – some modest qualms aside – I can’t think of people better suited to do it. Oh, and I packed sandwiches again, let’s try not to have them slimed by an eldritch horror today, yeah?” – here, he indicates a set of wax-paper-wrapped packages off to one side (which do indeed, contain really quite exceptionally well-made sandwiches for their later adventuring needs).

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia glanced towards the packages that contained Bharash’s sandwiches.  For her part, Julia could never eat while they were “adventuring.”  Something about the smells and the general dark, dank quality of most of their ventures put her stomach off.  But Bharash’s sandwiches were legendary among the burly fighters, who never seemed the slightest bit bothered to unwrap one of the heaping sandwiches in the middle of a muddy pit.  To each their own.

Julia stood again and began making the same checks of her equipment as Talin had already begun.  Placing each of the items just so in her Haversack, adjusting the buckles and straps, among a dozen other small preparatory adjustments.

We are a much smaller group this time.  We will make good time, and hopefully be halfway to Wuntad before anyone notices.  If we have nothing further to discuss, and we are all present and prepared, let us make haste.

Julia took a last drink from the mug and placed it back on the table, leaving a small tip for the staff that will clean after them.  She then moved toward the door, stepping out into the still early morning light.

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Bharash
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Maybe it’s the meat rubs, maybe it’s the spices… It could be the careful attention he pays to baking the bread or the way he takes twenty minutes to choose a butter from the market but Bharash’s sandwiches are fully able – it is said – to give the spirit of the cow no cause for regret.

—

  This is where I should remind you that he’s making snack food at the level of ‘he could acquire a noble patron’. Bharash can make a mid-dungeon picnic that rivals a sit down dinner at the Minstrel. ^_^

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Narrator GM
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It was mid-morning by the time the group made it out of the Minstrel. Vogh, Talin, Julia, Bharash, Deacon, Kalerecent and Tristan walked out into the rising sun illumnating roiling clouds overhead. Mirroring their own feelings, and that of the city, the sky seemed to be in as much tumult. It might rain, it might not, but the clouds were crashing into one another, blending, separating and moving around like a raging sea. Thankfully it wasn’t super windy down on the city streets.

The group exited the mostly deserted Delver’s Square and moved out onto Center Street. North they turned on Lower God Row which led them toward the Blessed Bridge. An animalistic roar caught their attention and the group hustled forward to see a familiar druid and his intelligent bear backed against a building with a crowd of people shouting at them!

“You’re one of them!”
“You’re a spy for the barbarians, aren’t you?! Admit it!”
“Why would a beast be in the city?!”

Vogh recognized the man from one she met some time ago in the city, and she even spoke with his bear companion. It seemed his resemblance to the North Men by dressing in furs, having an animal companion and wearing both his hair and bear lond had brought already frightened people to the edge of violence.

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Talin
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“Ho there! Such fever to smite one’s enemies should be found at the city walls.  They need every able bodied person willing to raise weapon in the city’s defense.” 

Talin kept his tone light and his voice booming as he spread his arms wide before the developing mob.  He treated this like a performance, but one with high stakes and potentially deadly consequences.  For the mob, that is. For the Calling, it might be an unwanted delayed, no more.  He knew this druid, and his noble bear, and he doubted that he was a spy.  Bears are rather conspicuous, after all.  In a city at least, even one as bizarre as Ptolus.

“You think you have found an enemy spy?  Truly?  Walking the streets in broad daylight with a bear?  A poor spy indeed, if it were so.”

Talin kept his voice loud and measured but did not give pause for them to reply.  He had no desire to get into a shouting match with some fool full of wine and fear.

  Come now good people, this is not how the brave men and women of Ptolus behave.  The ravaging horde is outside the city.  Here in the city are honest and good people.  We cannot allow this threat to cause us to turn on each other, to do their work for them.  Please, all of you, leave this man to us.  I assure you, if he was any threat, we are more than capable of dealing with him.  As a fact, we have met him before, and his bear, and know him for a true friend of the city.

With that, Talin touched the hilt of the great sword on his back and gestured to the giant hulk of metal and bottled ferocity that was Bharash.  This was designed to emphasis his words about their capabilities, but also to subtly let the crowd know that they were not to be trifled with.

  Come know, do you not all have better tasks to be about this morn?  Supplies to gather, loved ones to find, preparations to make?  Please, leave this good man to us and let the peace of the gods carry you on your way.”

With that, Talin bowed them a good bye, clearly expecting them to depart.

Diplomacy check of 25
15:34, Today: Talin rolled 25 using 1d20+19 ((6)).

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Narrator GM
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Talin’s speech, plus the obviously powerful people surrounding him, made quite an impact on the assembled group. They dispersed, grumbling and talking amongst themselves as they went.

“Well met again sir. I am in your debt. Forgive me, but I’ve forgotten both your names. It’s been a bit since last we crossed paths.”

The bear smiled at Vogh then spoke. “Greetings again Miss.”

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Bharash
———————————————————–

Bharash, meanwhile – who can generally be relied upon to take action of some sort when something happens – doesn’t even have a chance to open his jaws before everything is happily resolved, leaving him to shrug and remark “Wouldn’t want to be a nonhuman in some parts of town today.” without particular heat or irritation, but simply as a matter of acknowledgement about just how twitchy the townfolk are.

He does however frown and look around the square as if looking to see something that’s not immediately obvious or that’s missing but that’s Bharash for you, always off in his own little world.

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Vogh
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Talin handled the rough crowd easily enough with his forceful words to the crowd.  Vogh smiled even as the people spoke amongst themselves.  Once Hybrarch and Akinonantant were alone with the Calling, Vogh smiled wide as Akinonantant and then Hybrarch spoke.  “Well met to the both of you, Akinonantant and Hybrarch!  I wish it would have been under better circumstances but it still is nice to see you again.”

When he had said he forgot their names Vogh continued, “I am Vogh and this is Talin, Julia, Bharash, Deacon, Tristan, and Kalerecent.  I certainly wish we had some time to catch up but we have some important business to attend to.  How about we meet tomorrow evening at the Ghostly Minstrel as long as the city still stands.”  That last part was said as a joke, though not a good one.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Akinonantant smiled, as did Hybrarch which was actually rather frightening, but the druid agreed to meet them if possible.

Then the group was moving again. The blessed bridge was clogged with worshipers praying and leaving sacrifices to the plethora of gods with effigies present.

Once in the Temple district proper and on Million Gods Road the crowds thinned but many were going to, or coming from, temples and places of worship.

They passed the street which lead to the massive St Valien’s Cathedral and arrived outside the temple of the fifty three gods of chance. It was a one story structure with a myriad of colors and flying banners.

Quickly a man in a heavy cloak, obviously covering armor, approached them with a raised hand. He had come from the opposite side of the street from the temple, and the perceptive adventurers noticed another man similarly attired still watching the building after glancing their way.

“Greetings. You are the group who met with Mistress Dierna right?”

The group recognized the symbol of the Knights of the Pale, a sword stabbing into a vortex, as his Holy Symbol draped around his neck.

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Talin
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Talin stepped forward to take the lead, allowing Bharash to keep an eye out for threats and Vogh to use all her gifts to assess the situation.  He assumed Deacon and Julia would be preparing to defend them from magical threats.  Tristan was likely just trying to figure out if the knight was a demon he could kill.

“Well met, good sir.  I believe you have us at a disadvantage.  You seem to be expecting us, or someone you have mistaken us for.  Before I answer your query,  I would know something of who asks it, and why it is being asked” 

Talin gives a quick smile and tilt of the head, keeping his reply light.  No need to initiate anything, yet.    “A song for a song, after all.” 

With that, Talin gives the knight his full attention, weighing his words and movements.  He trusts his companions to identify the rest of the knight’s force and Vogh to relay the information.

  Sense Motive roll of 21.
14:24, Today: Talin rolled 21 using 1d20+19 ((2)).

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The knight nodded his head and tapped the holy symbol prominently showing. “My name’s Joseph. Joseph Truegust. I’m a member of the Knights of the Pale. Diera sent myself and my companion, Danore, to watch over this place. Her informants got wind of something happening here and just wanted us to observe and be on alert.”

Joseph had long braided red hair and shockingly blue eyes in his pockmarked and pale skin. He stood between five and six feet with a beefy build.

“She told us you all were chasing down some evil forces inside the city and to keep an eye out for you.” The man turned up the side of his face in a half smile looking over the group. “Forgive my boldness sir, but there’s little chance mistaking you all for anyone else.”

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Talin
———————————————————–
“We do stand out”   Talin replied to Joseph with a rueful grin.

“What are your intentions here?  With the city in dire peril form the barbarian army camped outside the walls, you two knights wait here in hopes we appear.   Whatever purpose you have with us must be of truly grave import.  I would know what it is.”

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The knight pursed his mouth in uncertainty. “No. We weren’t waiting for you. We were just told to observe and report. I will certainly be running to inform the Knights. With so many of our Knights deployed to deal with the army at our gates, we lacked the man power to go in and investigate ourselves.”

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Julia Graymantle
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Once it was clear that the soldier who had approached them was a member of the Knights of the Pale, and knew Dierna, Julia relaxed her breath.  She stepped forward next to Talin.    Sir Truegust, did Dierna provide you any details of the events her informants warned of?  We are indeed chasing down some evil forces, and would welcome any informations about what awaits us inside this temple.  Also, when your men return to report to Dierna, could you please deliver a message from Julia Graymantle.  I need to speak with Dierna and Kaira Swanwing as soon as possible.  Please tell them that it has to do with the information they gave us two days ago.  There has been movement on that front.  They will understand.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
———————————————————–
Kalerecent looked over the man named Joseph and stuck out his gauntleted hand to give the soldier a proper greeting.  “Well met Joseph.  I am Kalerecent.  Yes, we’d all like to know what information was received and since being here was there anything else suspicious?”

[Private to GM: Kal would also use his true seeing to see if this man was what he was.]

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Vogh
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Short post for now from me.  Will make another tonight if people respond to this.

Vogh had really been in her head as they made their way to the Temple.  She was glad that Talin had stepped up and questioned the Knight.  Vogh wondered when Dierna got the information for it could have been very beneficial before they traipsed all over the dungeons below and almost died… a few times…  Vogh too wanted to know what was found if the Knight could say.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
As the group conversed, a street crier was moving about, hollering at the top of his lungs.

“Ptolus stands my friends! For centuries we have lived over the dungeons and demon pits below! These bastards think they’ll run us off like those Tarsians? BAH! What the heroes of the city don’t kill and the guard don’t maim won’t make it to the end of the first street where there’s good men and women with bows, knives and an ounce of spirit! Every one of them that make it back to their stinking tents’ll live in fear the rest of their days of every shuttered window and dark alley! Stand tall Ptolus! Do not fear!” The man waved a Ptolus standard over his head as he walked, encouraging people.

[Private to Kalerecent: Kal saw no illusion or visual deception on the Knight.]

“Sir.” The Knight made and fist and touched his chest in a formal greeting to Kalerecent, whom he obviously respected. “The only information I was given was something strange was happening with this place. The Temple of the Fifty Three gods. That’s fifty two too many for me sir.” Joseph said with a smile. He coughed, a bit embarassed then continued.

“Apologies. Mistress Dierna simply said we should keep an eye on the place for anything strange and report it. Someone told of a strange flurry of activity going into and around the temple. You fine folks being here seems to have confirmed something. I’m sorry I don’t know more. Will you be going in to investiage? What would you have me report to the Knights?”

Joseph nodded to Julia, “Of course I will convey your message ma’am. Anything else?”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
The town crier spouting off his rhetoric was fun to hear.  She only hoped that it drove people’s spirits up more than they seemed to be.  The knight though wasn’t getting the answer right or perhaps he just didn’t know the whole of the truth of it all.  It could have given them some insight into what was heard or found but if the Knight didn’t know then he didn’t know.

“Yes, we are heading inside to see what is happening inside.  We haven’t heard any rumors or anything but we just are wanting to follow all leads we have and close them if they are false ones.  So, please do tell Dierna that we will be entering to make sure things are safe for all.”

If there was nothing more from the Knight and he took his leave, Vogh cast an easy spell to detect magic before they entered the church.  Vogh would keep her eyes and mind sharp and ready for what was to come.

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia thanked Sir Truegust and indicated that there was nothing additional to add to the message.  She only bid him impart to Dierna and Kaira that it would be of utmost importance that they speak as soon as possible.

As they begin to move to the church, Julia casts a spell to help her locate Wuntad or his demons.

Julia casts Detect Evil, and will be searching for Auras that might indicate where Wuntad or his companions are.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Joseph rushed to converse with his companion, then trotted away to deliver the messages.

The crier moved down the street, repeating his litany to bolster people’s spritings. Being in the Temple district was a good audience, since most were to to be boosted anyway. Walking through the unlocked doors the group entered a temple smaller than many, but larger than most. After being in Saint Valien’s Cathedral, little else was nearly as impressive.

Several clergy stood about the chapel. All wore extemely colorful robes. An older woman looked up at the group and cocked her head in confusion, but she greeted them with a warm note in her voice.

“Welcome! I pray the gods of chance smile on you today. We don’t have any healing potions or the like for sale here I’m afraid…”

[Private to Vogh: Vogh sensed three humanoids of average intelligence which she couldn’t see immediately upon entering, but once she walked inside the ones in the rooms to the left and right were visible.]

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Bharash
———————————————————–

As usual, asides from a modest aversion to the State Religion (Julia being a rather better advertisement for her faith than most of its priests have been through history) Bharash doesn’t have much to do with the various shrines, temples and offerings en route (once he pulls himself away from his distraction) although he does spare the odd respectful nod here and there for appropriately martial shrines since, all things being equal today isn’t the day to be making enemies.

He can’t help but grin at the street crier mind you – since those are more or less his feelings right down to the ground – and otherwise, keeps to the back of the group in the vague hope that someone will try and ambush them by seeking to take him out first, which is the sort of thing which can cause an otherwise serviceable plan to go very south, very quickly.

True to his word, he keeps his mouth shut while they’re moving along, although that’s a relatively easy endeavour at this point in time since their destination is one he agrees with and their purpose fairly straightforward today.

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Vogh
———————————————————–
As the group walked into the chapel, like they owned it, Vogh could sense 3 humanoids inside but couldn’t see them until they advanced further inside.  She spotted them on the left and right sides of the interior.  Vogh gave the older woman a smile of her own as she advanced.  Most likely the priestesses weren’t part of the chaos cultists and instead were being used as a coverup for their dastardly deeds below.

“Greetings Priestess… that is okay.  I am Vogh Kath and we aren’t looking for healing potions or prayers.  We are looking for a way into the catacombs below your temple.  We aren’t here to cause any problems for you either.”

Vogh then slides into the mind of the woman.  “Please don’t be afraid, there is an enemy amongst your clergy.  Ercan Amblested is a spy for the chaos cults.  Without looking around can you tell me where he is?”  Vogh stops to let the woman digest what she has just been told and continues to her companions, “Fan out and if you see the halfling try and subdue him.”

[Private to Vogh: The entrance to the secret chambers beneath the temple lies in a side room off the main entrance into the temple, behind a secret door. When you enter, turn to the left and there is a sideroom that’s open to the main hall. As you step inside, the secret door appears to be part of the wall on the right hand side. Ercan will have a key. Once inside there is a staircase which leads you down to a very tall room, home to at least one Vrock demon. I know one of their names, Gisszaggat. The rest of the complex is warded against divination magic, so I haven’t seen it as I didn’t care to spend any time learning more.

Second, he has gained the power of the Shigmaa, more than one time over. He will be quite formidable for your group. He commands all manner of undead as they revere him. He has died and been resurrected multiple times, each time gaining power and knowledge. Further, I believe most of those you fought in the temple beyond this chamber retreated to that sanctum. It will be a terrible battle, one I would enjoy watching.

Finally, regarding the Night of Dissolution. There is no set time, but rather a deadline of collecting what they need to accomplish the Final Ritual. The purpose of the ritual is to awaken the Galchutt. You simply must not let that happen. The entire city will perish, and likely most of the world. There is no power that can match them. I would survive, but it would be a grave inconvenience. A Vested of the Galchutt, which Wuntad now is, literally imbued with the dark powers, must conduct the ritual with cultists chanting some nonsense. Four rune bearers must be consumed by flame. There are four such children in the city even now. Finally some altar they have must be present and plays a part in the ritual, but I have not learned exactly what.”]

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Talin
———————————————————–
Talin gave Vogh a sidelong glance when she greeted the cleric.  Well, he guessed subtly was never really an option today, with them looking like a warband planning to take a fort.  They weren’t going to sneak up on Wuntad.  Better to be direct and aggressive.

Following Vogh’s prompt, he began to move into the temple, looking for a halfling.  He reached into the left pocket of his haversack, where the bard kept his ready-to-use kit, and pulled out the fluted silver rod.  It would be overkill, and a little wasteful of one of his most powerful spells, but they needed to take the halfling quickly and couldn’t afford to lose him… or kill it by accident.

Talin walked with his usual casual grace, not giving the game away with his manner.  His eyes were constantly moving though, looking for his quarry as much as for ambush.  He used a quick gesture and a few whispered words to aid him in his search.

. Talin casts detect magic.
Perception check of 35.  He is actively scanning the rooms for the halfling and anything out of the ordinary

08:12, Today: Talin rolled 35 using 1d20+16 ((19)).

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The woman scrunched up her face in confusion, causing the existing wrinkles to deepen and multiply. Then her eyes and mouth shot open in alarm, but she did not cry out. It took the woman several moments to catch her breath and regain her composure. With a force of will she shut her mouth, smoothing her robe to focus. Finally she gathered her wits and spoke.

“Forgive me. But there are no… catacombs… beneath our temple. What you see here is all there is.”

She started to look around then stopped herself and widened her eyes in pleading to Vogh. It was clear she didn’t know how to proceed.

The group saw to the left and right were two halflings, one male and one female. Both were reading tomes and were dressed similarly in many colored robes. The halflings were already looking at the adventurers with confusion and curiosity.

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia stepped further into the room, putting on her warmest, kindest smile, the one that always fit so naturally on her beautiful face.  Taking in both of the halflings she spoke, doing her best to look at both equally. Ercan Amblested, is that you?  Oh my goodness, it has been ages!  I almost didn’t recognize you!  My dear Ercan, could I have a word with you for just a moment? Julia smiled and indicated the side room to the left of the chamber as a place they could step aside to speak.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The other clerics moved about, a bit alarmed. As Talin looked over the two seated in the alcove rooms they stood and looked at him with concern. Julia spoke to the one male halfling who cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “Forgive me ma’am. My name is not Ercan. And I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Including her companions, Vogh stepped forward and continued to speak with the older woman, “As I said, we aren’t here to hurt you or bring harm to your priests.  If you tell me where Ercan is that will suffice.  There is a secret door that leads to the catacombs below in the room to my left.  Once again don’t look around.”

Vogh looked at Julia as she spoke.  She had given away the fact that they knew Ercan and needed to work quickly now.  Vogh then saw another halfling male to her right that was looking away from them all which was curious because everyone else was looking at them.

“Is that Ercan?  He may go by a different name”  Vogh continued.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The woman nodded to Vogh. Unsure what else to do.

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Vogh
———————————————————–
When Vogh was told it was Ercan, she immediately called Bharash over, “Bharash Ercan is here in this room.  Can you come over and subdue him, please?  The rest of you block the exit and the way to the secret door.”

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia squinted her eyes and looked more closely at the male halfling.  Then, after a moment of careful study , she put her hands in front of her mouth in a gesture of embarrassment and said Oh heavens, I am SO sorry, my good Sir.  You see, I have very poor eyesight so anything beyond arm‘s reach is just a blur.  I had heard from a friend of a friend that he was here, so I was expecting to find him and, well, I mistakenly took the blur in front of me to be him.  Please accept my apologies.

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Bharash
———————————————————–

Having maintained his position as Officially Nominated Blunt Object Of Choice to the party sometimes known as The Calling, Bharash peels himself off the back wall where he was standing while the others were looking for someone and moves around to approach the indicated halfling, looking to get just about as close as he reasonably can to the conversation and then looking for a hint from Vogh as to whom he’s supposed to be Happening To.

That provided, he will open with an attempt to place a large, ‘friendly’ hand on the targets shoulder to keep them in place (friendly of course, only by comparison to what he might be doing if he weren’t being friendly) while rumbling “Excuse me sir, but my associate would like a word.”

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Bharash looked down, over the halflings shoulder, and noted he was holding an empty piece of parchment. The small man, diminutive by comparison to the dragon born, didn’t tense at Bharash’s touch. He slowly stood and turned to regard the warrior. Practically craning his neck to a ninety degree angle to look at Bharash, the halfling nodded, looking unconcerned.

“Hello… I don’t believe we’ve met… What can I do for you?”

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Bharash
———————————————————–

“Mostly sir, please remain where you are and don’t attempt to resist. While my associate explains matters.” Bharash answers with a deep, tectonic rumble in his voice that could set fine china to rattling at ten pieces. Imposing as that is however, he undercuts whatever intimidation quality he does achieve a moment later by lightening up a little (without letting go of his exquisitely controlled, measured grip) to add “Also, good morning. Reading anything good?”

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Vogh
———————————————————–
With Bharash’s hand on the halfling, Vogh steps next to Bharash facing the little halfling, and says, “I believe you know who we are and why we are here so you can drop the surprise Ercan.  Give us the key to the secret door that will take us below the temple.”

Vogh gives another mental thought to the elderly woman, “Priestess, can you head outside with the other priests.  I am not sure what Ercan is capable of and I don’t want anyone hurt.”

Then to Talin Vogh asks, “Can you see if there are any of the Knight of the Pale left outside?  If not if there are any City Watch or other authorities?  We need to secure this one.”

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Vogh walked into the side room and spoke to Ercan, who regarded her with annoyance on his face. But things took a drastic turn for the worse after she spoke into the mind of the head Priestess.

“Now you listen to me young lady! I don’t care what your last name is. You have barged into my temple, accused one of my clergy, and now you’re telling us to leave our own sanctuary?!”

Her bluster was undercut somewhat as her wide eyes scanned over the powerful group of people who stood before her, fear evident, but her outrage overrode any trepidation.

“We will summon the City Watch to help sort this out. You have no right to barge in here and start making demands. Now, unhand my acolyte or I’ll see to it that you’re ALL brought up on charges!”

Ercan smiled up at Vogh with a smugness that would make anyone want to react violently.

===========================================================
Tristan (NPC)
———————————————————–
Tristan who was standing by the front door they had come through said, “I will go find the city watch.  We haven’t time for this.”

===========================================================
Kalerecent (NPC)
———————————————————–
When the older priestess rose her voice, Kalerecent patted the air with his gauntleted hands.  Kal’s holy symbol of Lothian was embossed on his platemail’s breastplate.  “Okay now everyone, let us all take a moment to calm ourselves.  If Vogh asked you to leave, she only did it to protect you and your other priests and priestesses.

As for the one she is speaking to, that is Ercan and he has been working with the chaos cultists.  He has a key that will give us entrance to below the temple.  The secret door is in the room there.  I can even let you hold the Sword of Truth which will give you true seeing and you will see for yourself.”

===========================================================
Talin
———————————————————–
Talon was concerned at how alarmed the priestess was becoming, and didn’t think being accused of desecrating a temple would be seen well given the current temper in the city.  On the other hand, there would be followers of Lothian that might be ok with it.  Not a sort that Talin would ever want to rely on though, for integrity purposes.

Tristan seemed to have Vogh’s request in hand, and Bharash quite literally appeared to have the halfling in hand.  Talin felt his efforts would be better focused on finding that door.  The sooner they could leave the temple proper, the easier it would make this encounter.

He abandoned subtly and started giving the room a deeper scan, both with his natural senses and his detect magical sight.

He gave the two halflings in the room with him an apologetic smile and some reassuring words.   “I do apologize for interrupting your prayers.  I promise we mean no disrespect to you or your most revered gods.  We will be out of your way shortly.”    Talin gave them both his best smile and leg.  They tended to work on men almost as well as women.

Perception check of 24, searching for the secret door.

10:49, Today: Talin rolled 24 using 1d20+16 ((8)).

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Deacon Havenhold
———————————————————–
Deacon had been watching the whole interaction between the priestess and the others. He couldn’t follow all of the conversations so relied on what he saw.  That was when he noticed that Talin had found something in the other room.  Knowing they needed to get inside the secret door Deacon moved over next to Talin.  “So you found something?”  As long as Talin nods or says he had, Deacon will cast a spell to open the secret door.

“Knock Knock!”  Deacon says as his spell takes hold.

Deacon will cast knock to open the secret door with a 35 on the roll.
07:33, Today: Deacon Havenhold rolled 25 using 1d20+12. CL check +10

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Tristan (NPC)
———————————————————–
Tristan went out and returned moments later with the other Knight of the Pale following and looking rather uncomfortable. “There are no city watch members anywhere nearby.”
He explained. The knight looked at the obviously upset priests and tightened his grip on his swords hilt with his face held tight.

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Kal seemed to calm everyone down a bit. Then Talin and Deacon cracked the case when they found the door and the elf’s spell unlocked it.

The priestess came over and inspected the very thick door and the tunnel which disappeared into blackness beyond.

“By all 53 gods…” She breathed, dumbfounded by the discovery. Moving over to the halfling rooted in placed by an armored mountain she glared down at him.

“Is this true?! Do you have this key? Produce it if you do or I’ll allow them to search you… Are you a cultist?! Why… You’ve served here with us. Why would you help those psychotics?”

Ercan narrowed his eyes in contempt then began to mouth a spell…

===========================================================
Vogh
———————————————————–
Finally, the old woman was getting what Vogh and the others were telling her.  When she confronted him to have him answer for his actions, Vogh saw him narrow his eyes and try to begin to mouth a spell.

In an instant, Vogh had Serenity in her hands and bashed at the halfling’s head with her hilt hoping it would be enough to stop him from completing the spell, if not the pain alone should be enough to stop him from casting.  “Oh no you don’t!”

20:43, Today: Vogh rolled 27,23 using d20+24,d8+17.

The blade hit Ercan with enough force to knock the little man unconscious as he fell limp in Bharash’s hands.

“I am sorry about this Priestess.  I tried to warn you but at least you all are safe for now.  We need to tie him up and gag him so he can’t do anyone any more harm.  Do you have something we can use?” As long as she did Vogh would begin to bind the halfling and then gag him.  She searched him then to see what else he might have on his person.

20:54, Today: Vogh rolled 26 using 1d20+17.  perception check.

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Talin
———————————————————–
Talin assumed Vogh and Bharsh, with his miraculous wonder tool, were too busy with the situation swirling around the halfling to help open the door.  Given the escalation that was occurring over there, the shaggy haired bard thought it would be good to get this door open and prove there was a secret catacomb below.  The priestess was far more likely to assist them once she saw they spoke the truth.  And it would likely wipe that damn smirk off Ercan’s oh-so-punchable face.

He looked to get Deacon’s attention, preparing a cantrip for magical help if his deaf companion wasn’t looking his way, and was pleased when he saw Deacon already bending over his shoulder to look at the secret door.  Talin stepped back to give him room, and freed SolarSong when the elf made short work of the lock.  The gaping black maw that laid behind the door made it clear that the time had come for bared blades.

When the priestess came over to stare open-mouthed into the tunnel that had just unexpectedly appeared in her temple,  Talin told her kindly “as you can see high priestess, we spoke only the truth.  There are lies and deception trying to desecrate this most holy temple, but it does not come from us.  We seek only to cleanse it so you can return to your worship.”

Talin kept his back to the rest of the room, certain that Vogh and Bharash, and the priestess, would handle Ercan.  He was focused on what might crawl out from the darkness now that the catacomb had been opened.

The big bard laid his off hand on Deacon’s thin shoulder to get his attention. ” I think it is time for some magical assistance in piercing this darkness, my learned friend. ” 

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The priestess and the Knight of the Pale both blanched at the speed with which Vogh knocked out the halfling. The knight even chuckled a bit, “He went down like a rat-sack didn’t he?”

Far less than smused the priestess pursed her lips in frustration but didn’t react further. “Yes. We can tie him up.” She gestured to one of the other priests who scuttled off.

Vogh opened the unconscious halfling’s colorful cloke to reveal a faintly magical breastplate. He also had a very fine, but non-magical, mace clipped onto a narrow belt. She unfurled a sling which was surprisingly magical, with a pouch of metal balls for ammunition. Then she also noticed the blank piece of parchment he had been holding. It was actually a heavy sheet of fine quality paper, and was curled up on either end indicating it was rolled up for some time.

===========================================================
Bharash
———————————————————–
Quite what Bharsh (whoever that is) is up to is a mystery but Bharash is right where Vogh asked him to be, holding the suspect firmly in place with one hand on his shoulder to keep him from relocating himself. He’s also vaguely waiting on a reply from said suspect to the question he asked, but he’s long become inured to the fact that distressingly few of the inhabitants of Ptolus are as willing as he is to engage in a little friendly, mid-adventure banter and asked his question largely out of hope rather than expectation.

The attempt by the small fellow to put a spell together generates it’s own response however, with the big dragonborn simply wrapping the fingers of his free hand around the entirety of the front of the prisoners head, making it functionally impossible to complete the spell even before Vogh raps him across the knuckles with Serenity (causing him to swear and shake his hand, giving her a clean target for the second shot).

He then hands the fellow over for searching, commenting “Well, that could have gone less smoothly.”

===========================================================
Deacon Havenhold
———————————————————–
When Deacon saw the dark tunnel and the fact that he couldn’t see an end he knew that the others would need his magical aid to see.  Thankfully, it was only a couple of them so the spell would last a lot longer that they probably needed.

“Yes, as soon as we begin moving down I will give those that need it the ability to see through the darkness.  For now just be ready in case something comes up from the bowls below the temple.”  Deacon then began to look over the door with the priestess before she went over to Ercan.  Deacon had missed what Vogh and Bharash had done so didn’t know he was knocked out cold.

===========================================================
Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh gave the old priestess a warm smile and thanked her.  “Once again I am sorry that we came in here the way we did.  There was no other way to do it without bringing attention to Ercan and letting him possibly get away.”

While the other priests left to get something to tie Ercan up, Vogh looked up to Bharash.  “Sorry about that.  I wanted to make sure he was taken care of before he cast his spell.”

When Vogh rummaged through his person and found the magical armor and sling she turned back to the priestess.  “Is this armor and weapons the churches? If so please take it, if not we will ensure it finds a good home.”  Vogh then picked up the parchment and looked it over.  Vogh was adept at making scrolls and wondered if there might have been a spell on it.

===========================================================
Bharash
———————————————————–

Sticking his gauntleted hand under one arm, Bharash rumbles “Weird how that hurts more than getting stabbed does.” while moving over to the doorway and stepping through it, adding “I’ll stand watch. You hear screaming and shouting, come running.” before moving a dozen or so paces down it out of sight and drawing steel to wait, patiently for the others to conclude their business.

===========================================================
Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
In the moments after Julia spoke to the halfling, everything occurred very quickly.  After a mere few moments, Ercad was apprehended, the old priestess was assuaged and the secret door had been found and opened.   As Vogh and the priestess literally tied up the situation with Ercad, Julia made her way into the alcove and prepared to enter the door with the rest of the group.

Although she had known what to expect when they arrived, it unnerved her still to be staring into that blackness behind the door.  She continued to focus on the detect evil spell she had cast before they entered the temple, looking for any sign that might appear in that darkness.

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The priest returned with a length of ceremonial cord, which worked to secure the unconscious halfling. The Knight stood watch over the accused cultist, hand on sword, not really certain of his place in the situation. They had been ordered to watch the Temple, he was quite uncomfortable having been dragged inside and hoped he wasn’t over stepping his bounds.

The priestess shook her head at Vogh’s question. “No. We all supply our own equipment. Not that any of the rest of us own armor. Especially not magical items. He wasn’t paid enough to afford such finery…” She said with pursed lips.

[Private to Bharash: Bharash heard echoing barking echoing up the stone corridor beyond his sight, as the tunnel took a left turn. Moments later four three-headed hounds came bounding into his vision. Every strip of hide looked like it had been peeled away, leaving only wet sinew and bulging tendons exposed. They were yipping and charging straight at Bharash!

OOC: You beat them in initiative, so I left them basically 30 feet in front of you. Let me know what you’re going to do.]

[Private to Vogh: Vogh’s mind sensed something as it reached the limit of her telepathy. Four outsiders of low intelligence entered her senses (int 6).]

[Private to GM: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti…gs/outsiders/cerberi]

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Talin
———————————————————–
Bharash, and his alter ego Bhrash, had the tunnel covered.  Talin wasn’t really needed to help defend from ambush… nothing could physically get past the dragonborn’s bulk, even if it could survive whatever hellish whirlwind he would unleash on them.

Talin walked back over to where Vogh was giving the cultist possessions a thorough review.  He noticed the knight’s discomfort and rested a hand on his plate-covered shoulder.

“Clearly, your supervisors foresaw something like this occurring, or they wouldn’t have sent two of you here to observe.  It is a good thing you are here, this cultist trades in all manner of evil magic and demonic rituals.  There is no one better to take him in hand than the Knights of the Pale.”

Talin gave the halfling another quick search, looking for the key, and then went to inspect the paper over Vogh’s shoulder.

. “A key perhaps?  Not that we need it for that door, but it might be handy to unlock its secrets for later.”

. Knowledge acrana for 34 on the scroll

14:50, Today: Talin rolled 34 using 1d20+21 ((13)).

The learned bard racked his brain while studying the paper to see if he could figure out what it was hiding.

===========================================================
Narrator GM
———————————————————–
After a few moments, Talin and Vogh discovered a hidden compartment in the halfling’s robe and produced a strange key which looked like a large letter T with a circle on bottom end of the T. It didn’t matter since the door was already open now, but at least they had it.

Unfortunately it was impossible to determine what was on the page. There were no press marks from where a quill would have written, but all the spell users had seen scrolls many times and knew whenever a spell was cast the writing disappeared from whatever it was scribed upon.

===========================================================
Bharash
———————————————————–

While the learned bard hypothesises, Bharash – currently in the presence of A Clue – tilts his head to one side and then makes a sound that can best be described as ‘Huh.’

Taking up a defensive stance, he raises his voice and calls a measured “So, I’m about to be ass-deep in cerberuses… Cerberises… Cerberi… Dogs. Big, three-headed dogs here.” back to his companions, “So I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that we lost the element of surprise already.” before gritting his teeth and biting his lower lip because he is not going to start doing that less than a day after promising that he’d stop thinking about what they’re doing and just stand around hitting things instead.

—

OOC: Always outside of that 5′ step, aren’t they? Bharash will delay his initiative until one tick after theirs and then, assuming that they haven’t ganked him, he’ll go ginsu on their creepy, skinned asses.

===========================================================
Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh had sensed the intelligent creatures just before Bharash gave an alert from deep in the hallway.

With haste Vogh grabbed the mace and sling from the unconscious halfling and stood up ready to move.

She looked to the Knight of the Pale and said, “Yes, thankfully you all were there.  Take him as a prisoner back to your superiors.  We have pressing matters below.”

Vogh gave a frown to the older woman and said, “we have been learning the hard way that not all things are as they seem.  Sorry this happened.  We are heading below perhaps you can close the door behind us and lock it so nothing but us can come back this way.”

Vogh then went to the hallway ready to get on with it.

===========================================================
Deacon Havenhold
———————————————————–
When Vogh and Talin finally made their way over to the others at the secret door.  Deacon touched each of them and cast his spell to give them the ability to see in the dark.

“That should do it for you guys. I will wait a bit longer before casting any of the other protections.”

Cast communal darkvision on Talin and Vogh which will last 6 hours each.

===========================================================
Talin
———————————————————–
Faint trickles of ice climbed up Talin’s spine as he looked at the blank parchment… no, the used spell scroll.  the smug look on the halfling’s face earlier screamed that he had used this scroll to do something nasty… but what? Talin didn’t think he would like the answer to that and figured he would find out all too soon.

And as if on cue, the call from Bharash rang out that the whatever-the-hell-the-plural-of-Cerberus-is were coming done the tunnel.   So it begins.  They would learn that coming at the Mountain of Plate and Steel at a natural choke point was….unwise.

Talin gave a small chuckle that even when facing an imminent attack, Vogh still had time to loot the body.  Priorities, after all.

There wouldn’t be much room in there to help Bharash with the blade or the bow, so Talin moved with Vogh to the tunnel and prepared to Perform a song to take a little bite out of their three drooling mouths.

Initiative – 17
08:24, Today: Talin rolled 17 using 1d20+7 ((10)).

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia‘s initiative 8

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The cerberi closed with Bharash. The first slammed into him, all three mouths of teeth chomping at the dragonborn. (One bite for 10 dmg) The three other dogs didn’t stop to attack Bharash. They actually lept off the wall to pass Bharash and keep running toward the open door where Talin stood.

(Bharash, you get 3x attacks of opportunity if you can take that many. They passed their checks to jumped off the walls, but they failed their acrobatics checks to pass through your space without AOO.)

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh really wanted to head down the dark passage and aid Bharash but knew that Kal and Tristan would want the first crack at the Cerebri. So instead of moving she began her music in the heads of her companions and stepped out of the way so the halfling could get out of the room safely.

Start Inspire Courage for +6 to hit and +6 to damage.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
———————————————————–
Kal had the Sword of Truth out already and when Bharash called that there were cerebri coming to attack he knew he needed to get down there and help.  He moved past Deacon and Talin and then down the stairs.  His heritage gave him the ability to see in the dark he had his blade high and just as he got to the 3 headed dogs he struck with his blade on the first one.

The blade cut deep into the shoulder of the one before his as it made a weird sounding there headed yelp.  “Take that you devil dog!”

Hit AC38 for 48 damage
20:46, Today: Kalerecent rolled 38,26,11,11 using d20+27,d8+24,2d6,2d6.  power attack -3 for 9 dam, holy, bane.

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Tristan (NPC)
———————————————————–
Tristan was still at the door when Bharash made the call from down the hallway from the open secret door.  He cursed his luck as Kal jumped into the room and down the stairs before he did.  Well, he would follow all the same and so he did.  As he moved he cast his spell to meld his staff into his sword.  “Save me some Kal!”  Tristan called out seeing Kal cut into the one on front of him.

Tristan Cast Aroden’s Spellsword and then moved into the hallway behind Kal.

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Talin
———————————————————–
For a second, Talin had been staring directly at 6 gaping maws as they ricocheted past the gleaming bulk of Bharash, then Kal and Tristan rushed past him.   From the look in the Demon Hunter’s eyes, Talin did not want to be in between him and his sport.

The tunnel was too narrow to help the other fight the dogs directly, so Talin leaned on the two things a bard does well: music and magic.  He heard Vogh doing the same from beside him.  She would be helping the swords strike surely and swiftly, so Talin was going to make sure the group didn’t take too much hurt in those dangerously tight confines.

First, pulling the small playing piece of a knight from his pouch, he cast a spell to help the group avoid being hit, especially from unseen strikes from the rear.

Talin casts Perfect Placement on the entire group. +1 insight to AC and reflex.  +3 AC against AOO.

Then a song to weaken the fighting spirit of the multi-headed demon dogs.

Talin Performs Satire.  -3 to ATK, -3 to Damage, -3 to Saves against Fear/Charm
+1d6 Sonic damage to attacks for everyone within 30ft 

” What are you planning to do?  Drown us in drool?  Slobber us to death? Pathetic!”

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Julia Graymantle
———————————————————–
Julia watched the two impressive, shining figures fly past and down the stairs.  Standing next to Talin and peering down the stairs as three of the beasts somehow leapt past Bharash and towards Kal and Tris, Julia was finally overcome.  Their party were met at every step by the foulest of beasts. Their way constantly plagued by them.  A rage boiled up in her at the sight of the beasts.  And something about Talin’s song unleashed it.  Set your hellhounds on us, will you!?  Let’s see how you like it!   Julia focuses her snow-white eyes on the third Cerberus that had leapt past Bharash and was now behind it’s two companions that were bearing down on Kal and Tris.  Beast, hear me, know your true master!  Attack! The words carried a spell to turn the hound against its own companions.

Julia casts Murderous Command at the indicated Cerberus.  Will save negates, spell DC 17.

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Bharash
———————————————————–
Howling and slathering like the damned souls they guard in the nether hells – or hunt in the abyssal fields or chase balls for in the fathomless void, Bharash never did pay much attention to theology – the hounds of a very literal hell swarm down the corridor, all corrosive drool spattering, unnatural muscle flexing and flayed hide glistening unpleasantly in the shrouded darkness…

…only to run more or less straight into seven feet of utterly immovable Dragonborn who flat-out body-checks the first beast onto its hindquarters, the uncanny baying from all three of its heads cutting out to be replaced by a slightly puzzled, resentful whine. The second piles up into the back of the first, snarling in thwarted hunger as its heads snap hatefully at the one before it.

The third bounds up onto the back of the second, hurls itself forwards into Bharash’s sword -which drives deep into its body, holy fire erupting along its length – and in doing so renders the massively built Dragonborn unable to keep the last from hurdling the pile in a single bound, its hind legs slapping off the back of his breastplate as it leaps into the temple proper, eliciting a cry of “One got past me!” from Bharash.

And, possessed of what can only be described as a ‘target rich environment’, the Dragonborn goes to work, first driving his main-hand blade deeper into the third beast, the radiant fire emanating from the blessed steel illuminating the luckless monster from the inside Bharash twists and probes, looking for a vital organ and – should he find one – then flicking his weapon to discard the hounds corpse before whirling both blades and driving them down either side of the spine of the first, stalled-out hellhound, aiming to kill the damn’ thing dead just as hard and as fast as he can manage to free him up to deal with its sibling.

—

(Assuming an AC under 30).
To-Hit  Damage   Holy
38      17        8
27      18
37      60       10
29      16
23      21        4
24      15
23       5

17:51, Today: Bharash rolled 23,5 using 1d20+14,1d4+3.  Headbutt.
17:50, Today: Bharash rolled 27,5,29,3,24,2 using 1d20+24,1d8,1d20+19,1d8,1d20+14,1d8.  Off hand.
17:49, Today: Bharash rolled 36 using 1d20+19.  Critical threat.
17:49, Today: Bharash rolled 38,4,8,37,7,10,23,8,4 using 1d20+24,1d8,2d6,1d20+19,1d8,2d6,1d20+14,1d8,2d6.  Main hand.
17:03, Today: Bharash rolled 33,18,6 using 1d20+24,1d8+13,2d6.  AoO.
17:03, Today: Bharash rolled 29 using 1d20+13.  Fortitude save.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
Bharash smashed back two of the cerberi, allowing one to pass, knowing his companions could easily handle one of them. His blades were a blurr against the creature in front of him. He cut and slashed the next one in line, nearly ending its life in seconds. Then to his surprise, the last in line started attacking the one he just attacked! It whirled on the other, but it was clear Bharash hurt it too much for the duo’s fight to last long.

Kalerecent carved disgusting muscle and sinew from the dog-beast’s hide. All three of its mouth snapped back at him. Thankfully his powerfully enchanted armor blocked their teeth. But the sound of tooth against metal set everyone’s ears on edge, except Deacon.

[Private to Vogh: Vogh can sense 4 more outsiders with int 6]

Baying and barking, with the smell of burning hair preceeding them, four hellhounds came rushing around the corner. The beasts were barking and baying, fire smoldering in their jaws as they came forward hungrily.

Hell Hounds will attack in Round 3 when they close the distance.

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Vogh
———————————————————–
Vogh called out to the others when she sensed the new enemy coming at them from down the hallway.  “Looks like there are 4 more coming our way!  See if you can push further down so we can all get inside the hallway at least.”

Vogh didn’t do anything else besides grabbing her blades out of their sheaths and getting ready to move.

===========================================================
Kalerecent (NPC)
———————————————————–
Kal’s face grew a wide grin as the Cerberus tried to bite him with futility.  He had purchased the armor after they had gone down into the Banewarrens to help protect him better and it was certainly doing the job.

The Sword of Truth slashed again, twice this time at the three-headed terror before him.  The first strike cut more sinew and Kal even heard bone cracking as his blade cut through.  The outsiders’ blood flowed freely onto the floor as The Sword of truth made easy cuts in the flesh.  “You will die here devil dog!”  Kal said to it with his last strike.

Hit AC47 with crit check 40 for 67 points of damage.
Hit AC25 for 43 damage.

09:32, Today: Kalerecent rolled 47,29,5,7,25,29,10,4 using d20+27,d8+24,2d6,2d6,d20+22,d8+24,2d6,2d6.  power attack -3 for 9 dam, holy, bane.
09:33, Today: Kalerecent rolled 40,26 using d20+27,d8+24.  crit check.

===========================================================
Tristan (NPC)
———————————————————–
Tristan was still cursing his luck at being behind Kal as he watched the Paladin cut down the Cerberus before him.  He wanted to be the one killing these things.  But then he heard Vogh’s words and knew more were coming and sure enough he saw further down the hall 4 more dogs come into view.

“Make way Kalerecent.  It is my turn now!”  Tristan squeezed past Kal and the dead Cerberus and made his way behind Bharash.  In this position, Tristan would be able to strike at foes on the other side of Bharash with his lunge.  His black blade would taste demon flesh today.

Tristan will ready an action when there is an enemy to attack on the other side of Bharash.

Hit AC37 with crit check of 31 for 50 damage.

09:49, Today: Tristan rolled 37,25 using d20+20,d10+16.  readied attack and damage.
09:50, Today: Tristan rolled 31,25 using d20+20,d10+16.  crit check.

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Bharash
———————————————————–

With the denizens of the hells mostly occupied with each other, Bharash moves to fall back so that the rest of the group can have a free shot at the things, only to run into Tristan as the other man moves up – earning the nondescript fellow a grunt of “Well, so much for that idea!” as he instead pushes forwards, into the squabbling beasts, holy fire flaring as he drops his blades and lunges, aiming to spear the first dog and drive it into the second, pinning it under its siblings weight so that he can draw back and stab down – carefully avoiding the spine – in order to nail it to the ground, building an impromptu barricade of corpses before him.

—

The intention here is to kill both dogs and then leave all three bodies in front of Bharash, creating ‘difficult terrain’ (I’m not sure this does anything in-game but IRL it’s vicious). Bharash will 5′ step forwards into the first space to achieve this.

To-Hit  Damage   Sonic/Holy
44      27       10
37      20        4
29      26        9
39      26        5
30      24       11
26      25        1
37      10        3

02:05, Today: Bharash rolled 37,10,3 using 1d20+20,1d4+9,1d6.  Headbutt (Bardic & Sonic added).
02:04, Today: Bharash rolled 37,20,4,39,26,5,26,25,1 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,1d6,1d20+25,1d8+19,1d6,1d20+19,1d8+19,1d6.  Off hand (Bardic & sonic added).
02:03, Today: Bharash rolled 44,27,10,29,26,9,30,24,11 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,3d6,1d20+25,1d8+19,3d6,1d20+19,1d8+19,3d6.  Main hand (Bardic & sonic added).

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon really wanted to help but knew that his spells would be better served once they found the stronger demons.  So, he just moved up so he could see into the hall but stayed out of the in the case that Julia or Talin wanted to fire their bows into the coming onslaught.

“I won’t be casting another spell quite yet.”  Deacon did manage to say aloud.

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Talin
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It was difficult to see what was going on in the tunnel.  All Talin could really see was the giant plate-covered back of the Bharash, with the occasional flash of teeth and steel, as presumably, Bharash was turning the dogs into chunky stew.  One Cerberus lept off the giant’s back as he stooped to relieve a beast of its bowels.  An impressive feat that was rewarded with the Sword of truth slicing into its flesh repeatedly.

With the giant armored boulder blocking the tunnel, and Tristan frothing at the mouth to add to the carnage, Talin thought he would help them best by keeping close enough that his song would affect as many friends and foes as possible.

He wasn’t sure that he could even shoot past Bharash if he wanted to, but clearly, SolarSong would need to wait to taste blood today.  It, and Lionel, would need to wait until there was sufficient room to roam.  Sheath the great sword’s gleaning blade in the sheath across his broad back, Talin drew his shortbow and notched an arrow as he advanced to flank Kal… still chanting a mocking song at the oncoming horrors.

  Talin advances to the spot behind Kal, keeping everyone in the 40ft radius for the sonic bonus.  He continues to perform Satire debuff, drawing his bow.

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Julia Graymantle
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From the top of the stairs, Julia could not make out much beyond Bharash who slowly clogged the hallway with Cerberus corpses.  Vogh informed them that four more were coming, but from her vantage point, Julia could not make them out and wasn’t sure what was headed their way.  Julia focused herself for a moment, and tried to let her usually heightened sense of hearing give her some kind of indication of what might be further down that hallway, of what spell could best protect her companions, though Bharash really did not require protection, both Kal and Tristan were right behind him, and her heart went out to the both of them.

As she was focused, attuning her senses, she suddenly could make out 4 distinct shapes in her mind.  She knew that the were down the hallway, and could make out about where they were positioned.  It must have been the detect evil spell she had cast outside.  She had stopped focusing on it when she cast her last spell at the group.

Julia moved down the steps to get a better view of the action and see if she could support her companions.  As she moved down the stairs, she left some room between herself and Talin, in case the group needed to drop back quickly.

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Narrator GM
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The group anticipated blood and ichor to be left behind, but instead, as soon as the monster died it’s body and fluids all evaporated into ether. All had seen one of Deacon’s summoned monsters disappear after being vanquished which let them know these were also summoned creatures.

Four hellhounds closed on the group. The first breathed a cone of fire. 10 foot cone, Bharash and who is behind him, Tristan I think. 6 dmg is fail a Reflex DC 14. Half if pass.

Behind the first, the other three beasts attempted to rush past and around the dragonborn, but none could pass the wall of scales and steel.

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Narrator GM
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Out of the tunnel the group heard an explosion and screaming coming from outside the temple. They felt a tremor inside the church. All of the temple’s clergy rushed to the door and out into the morning dim light.

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Vogh
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While Bharash, Tristan, Kal, and Talin went to fight the enemy, Vogh turned to Julia and said, “can you check that out?  I am going to make sure Ercan is secure.when she heard the explosion.

Even as the other priests went to check out what happened Vogh made sure that Ercan was secure.

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
The Knight still stood with Ercan, looking at Vogh as she approached. He nodded and said the halfling hadn’t moved. He also craned his head to see what was happening outside.

OOC: Remember we’re still on round based combat. Middle of round 2 currently.

[Private to Julia Graymantle: Julia walked to the door and looked out into the street which was chaos and pandemonium. A section of the street had a large hole in it. Bodies lay all over the coble stone road, amid sections of the street which were scattered in a large radius. People were still running away, while others streamed out of the nearby temples and buildings. Clerics immediately went to work on the injured who could be aided. Unfortunately the situation devolved further as rabid looking ratmen streamed out of the whole in the street and began hacking into the pedestrians and anyone nearby with their rusty and damaged weapons!]

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Bharash
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The way that the abyssal dogs vaporise in the moments after they die leaves little question in Bharash’s mind that he’s carving his way through a distraction rather than a true threat but he growls nonetheless “Hey, didn’t Deacon say that our world’s like, a prison once?” while advancing into the throaty wash of literal hellfire that follows the death of the last cerberus, head dipping and shoulders hunching in order to deny the flame access to his flesh before he lunges, breaking the incoming charge and once again going low in an attempt to spear the first hellhound with a stop-thrust and its own momentum – which is great enough to briefly bind his sword and keep him from striking a second blow with it until he can clear the blade and strike again, then again – each motion flowing into the next as he advances, step by step.

—

To-Hit  Damage   Sonic/Holy
37      23       11             AoO
31        –       –             Miss
32      23        1
29      25        8
35      21        1
27      22       15
22      25        1

17 on the save, I get an AoO when the first one fails to get past me (34 damage), then I get to smack it until it stops moving and 5′-step to do the same to the next one, assigning blows until I run out of them or run out of hellhounds. Unless the first one dies in one hit, then I can get all three in one go. ^_^

21:37, Today: Bharash rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Reflex save.
21:35, Today: Bharash rolled 32,23,1,35,21,1,22,25,1 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,1d6,1d20+25,1d8+19,1d6,1d20+19,1d8+19,1d6.  Off hand.
21:35, Today: Bharash rolled 31,26,9,29,25,8,27,22,15 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,3d6,1d20+25,1d8+19,3d6,1d20+19,1d8+19,3d6.  Main hand.
21:42, Today: Bharash rolled 37,23,11 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,3d6.  AoO.

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Julia Graymantle
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At Vogh’s request, Julia moves quickly to the temple entrance.  She knew she would not find anything good there, but what she saw surprised her nevertheless.  People were fleeing in every direction in a state of pure panic.  Dust filled the street and was blown around by the wind.  Through the dust, she could see a large hole in the street that was most definitely not present a few minutes ago.  At first she thought it must have been caused by some kind of attack from above, or maybe a trebuchet.  Then a group of rabid Ratmen streamed out of the opening and attacked the panicking pedestrians.  They must have blown the hole open from underneath!

Julia relayed this verbally to Vogh who was not far away, describing in a rush everything that she was seeing.  Vogh, I think this is a distraction, and we need to push forward.  But we need to get word to someone.  The city is under attack from inside and all the defenders are on the wall! Julia glanced over her shoulder and took in the Knight who was standing near Vogh.  Good Sir, we need to get word quickly either to the Watch or to your own order.  Can you carry this message for us?   As she spoke, Julia turned her attention back to the street, wary of any attackers who might approach the temple.

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Vogh
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When Julia described what was happening outside Vogh blanched.  It couldn’t possibly be a coincidence that these ratmen came from below.  It had to be either a distraction to slow us down or just divert us into something else.  “We need to push forward down below and fast.  I think we are getting close and so is Wuntad.  Why else would he send them out in such a show of action?  Let’s get below Julia and end this!”

To Bharash and the others, Vogh added, “we need to get below and fast.  Kill those things and then push forward!  We need to begin our spell prep as well for I don’t think we have much time.”

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Talin
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Things appeared to be escalating quickly. Cleary they should not have given the little turncoat halfling a chance to sound the alarm.  Too late now, and Vogh was probably right… the only option now was to plow forward with all due haste.  This tunnel was a nasty place for Wuntad to keep them bottled up but could also serve as a choke point to keep their flank defended.

To Vogh “Agreed.  Hold the line there until we clear these hell hounds, then follow us into the tunnel.  No point in packing us in here tighter until we have a path forward.   We could use a little magical support down here though.  A little incantation to speed us up so we can send these female dogs back to hell that birthed them.”

Talin let his chant die, allowing the magical echo from SolarSong’s attunement to his songs to continue to the effect for another minute.  Enough to end these horrors.  He raised his bow, concerned that shooting in these confines would be danger, but also that extending this fight would likely have far worse consequences.  These hellish vermin needed to be put down now, but worse things showed up.

And in a whirl of gore-coated falcatas, the passage emptied of mutated canines.  For the best, really.  Talin has pretty sure he was about to put an arrow in the back of both Julai’s boy toys.  She would not have been pleased.

Talin lowered his bow as he jogged up to Bharash. “As always, you are the bulwark that protects this team from armies of hell.  Did you take any hurt?” 

Two fingers dipped into his pouch to retrieve a little licorice shavings as he called out to Vogh ”  The path is clear for now , let us make haste.  If there is some way temporarily block this passage behind you, we should do it.

Talin gestured with the licorice at his teammates and spoke the words for his spell.  Speed, they needed speed now.

  Talin cast Haste on the Calling.  12 round duration. 

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Tristan (NPC)
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His first strike had killed the hell hound even as it sprayed fire over him and Bharash.  It dissipated quickly.  The fire wasn’t much of a thing as Bharash blocked most of the direct hit.

Tristan waited to get in a skill thrust as Bharash skillfully used his twin falcatas.  He watched as the next hell hound in line tried to get past Bharash only to be stopped WAY short, it too dissipated into nothingness like the first.  Two more slashes by Bharash and the third one died.  The last one in line died just as fast before Tristan could get in an attack but that meant he could press on in front of Bharash.

“Enough fun for you Bharash, it is my turn!”  Tristan says as he squeezed past Bharash and continued down to the left turn.  He peered down the passage to see what was there.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kal followed past Bharash, “Nice work big guy.  Save your strength for the main demons will you?  Oh and I do believe Deacon had said that but seems to me these were just summoned so they are semi real not like the demons, devils or the good outsiders that get called.  They get stuck whereas the summons don’t. “  Kal moved down and behind Tristan

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon wanted to begin casting his spells on the others but at the moment they were too far spread out for him to be able to do so.  He needed to be able to get everyone close so he could do the job he needed to.

When Vogh came over to the stairs, Deacon had been watching and waiting for her and Julia.  He said to her quickly, “if we are to hurry I need to get everyone together so I can cast my protections on them all.”

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Narrator GM
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Bharash-the-meat-grinder slashed through fires, flesh and more. Again the vanquised beasts disappeared into the eather. Kalarecent and Tristan somehow squeezed past the towering, walking death machine and rounded the corner. to find another flight of stairs going down further.

Tristan was greeted by the sight of eight, hunched-over wretches with long, pliable arms like tentacles capped with five wide, spiny claws moving toward him.

Bharash, you’re first. These are Chokers. AC 17. HP 16. Write accordingly but remember what you can and can’t see. Just b/c YOU can see it on roll20 doesn’t mean your character can. 😉

The Knight acknowledged Julia’s request, drew his long sword and moved into the street. A ratman neared him, but the valiant warrior hewed the beast down where it stood. Foaming at the mouth, the rat creature fell, twitching in death. Off the knight ran, attacking another ratman who was trying to assault a pedestrian, then he continued down the street.

Julia saw even more of the beasts coming up from below. They looked derranged, not like the ones she had faced in the path. They had a wild air about them, especially their eyes which were wide and crazy. All were covered in filth, more so than a typical ratman. Many of them looked like they were rabid, foaming at the mouth. No order guided the attacks. Chaos was the word for their movements. Up from the sewers they climbed, rushing to attack, bite, claw anything in front of them, then running off down alleys and streets.

All the clerics from the 53 gods temple were forced to drop back to the door with Julia. “We need to get weapons!” The priestess told Julia. Ratmen were biting at lifeless bodies, and taking notice of the fleeing priests began to move toward them and Julia blocking the door!

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia waved to the priests to hurry as they fled back to the temple.  She pulled the door shut.  If you have a way to bar this door, then bar it shut.  I am not sure how long it will hold.  Or… Julia paused and looked pointedly towards the secret door in the alcove. I am not sure what dangers are in the tunnel, but likely near the door you would be safe.  At least we could lock the door behind us and keep the ratmen out.  I don’t have time to dally, my dears, as my companions do battle beneath us. Julia looked to the priestess for answer, expecting she would decide for the group.

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Bharash
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“Not so’s you’d notice. I got burned worse the last time I got clumsy with a skillet.” Bharash states as Talin rolls up, casts a spell and then opens his jaw to repeat his question when Kalcarent rolls past and explains that summoning creatures doesn’t count as bringing them here – which makes no damn’ sense at all to Bharash, but he isn’t exactly a fireball mage or anything so he just shrugs and starts to move forwards, having proven completely unable to hear the sounds of battle outside through the thick stone of the passage.

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Vogh
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Vogh was ready to go below with the others when suddenly the priestess and others came running back into the church and then Julia subsequently slammed the doors closed.  Vogh heard what Julia said and knew that whatever was outside was going to be coming inside.  This was getting out of hand and fast.  She looked around for something to help bar the doorway and began to give orders to the priestess and others.  “Get the heaviest stuff you can find and bar the doors.”

Vogh opened her haversack and called forth a scroll she knew she had inside.  In the blink of an eye, the scroll was in her hand and she opened it.  Vogh steadied herself and read the scroll carefully while concentrating on the door.  Once the spell was completely read she put the scroll back into the sack and said, “That should help bar the door for a little while at least.  I just cast hold portal on it.  Now Julia, we must get below.”

Cast hold portal from scroll for full action.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kal moved down the hallway towards the small black tentacled creatures and stopped 5ft before the first one and lunged forward with his attack striking the creature in a vital spot for as he hit it the creature fell dead to the ground... or didn’t if it was summoned.  “Get the others down here!”  Kal called.

Hit AC20 for 20 damage killing the first one.
10:03, Today: Kal rolled 20,20 using d20+16,d10+16 ((4,4)).

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Talin
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Talin shook his head in amusement.  Only Bharash, who often liked to make a game of saying how simple he is, would stop in the middle of a monstrous melee to philosophize about the natures of summoned horrors.

Talin looked back past Deacon to where Vogh and Julia were facing some unknown danger. “I am more worried about this tunnel turning into our prison, my wise friend.  Let us see what sport Tristan has found for us.”.  When he turned back, he found Bharash already vanishing around the corner.  ” huh, so that’s how it feels…”

Racing down the tunnel after him, his magically quickened feet closed the distance to his shouting companions.  As he rounded the corner, he got his first look at the tentacled masses.  Man, these monsters just kept getting uglier!

Talin flattened his back to the tunnel wall, smoothly drawing an arrow to his cheek and firing down the side of the tunnel into the abominations of claws and wriggly appendages that lay beyond the warriors.  His arrow screamed past Kal’s shining shoulder armor to bury itself in the throat of one of the chokers.

Bow shot at closest Choke hits AC25 (includes -4 for shooting through melee)  for 19 plus 2 sonic damage, killing it. 

As the dying demon was swarmed over by its onrushing brothers, Talin called out a parting pun “Choke on that!”

09:13, Today: Talin rolled 29,19,2 using 1d20+23,1d8+14,1d6 ((6,5,2)).

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Narrator GM
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Round 4
Bharash x
Vogh x
Kalerecent x
Deacon x
Chokers x
Tristan x
Talin
Julia

The ambling creatures moved forward on four appendages as often on two. Four of the beasts went up on the walls and ceiling, moving around Kalerecent. (Only 2 passed him with rolls of 7 & 18 which I’m sure fails against Kal’s CMD, so likely 2x AOO’s) One creature squared up to Kal and swiped at him with a clawed tentacle, but the paladin easily stepped away from the phalanges even while stabbing at those trying to pass him.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan moved up behind Kal and slashed his blade at one of the creatures trying to get past him.

The cut was clean and killed the beast before it could cause any trouble.

Hit AC22 for 23 damage.
09:53, Today: Tristan rolled 22,23 using D20+16,d10+16. Attack and damage

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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When one of the beasts tried to get past him Kal took the opportunity to try and kill it.  He snapped The Sword of Truth to the left side cutting only but the wall as his blade missed the target.

Missed AC 28 for 27 dam.
09:59, Today: Kalerecent rolled 28,27 using d20+27,d8+24. AoO

[Private to GM: Kal could feel as Tristan came up from behind and killed one of the clokers that tried to bypass him to get to his friends. He knew that his friends had his back so Kal continued to strike out at the clokers in front of him.  He slashed The Sword of Truth left, right, and then left again, dropping three more of the remaining clokers leaving just one the one before him.

killed 3 more
18:11, Today: Kalerecent rolled 44,27,43,30,35,32 using D20+27,d8+24,d20+27,d8+24,d20+22,d8+24
]

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Bharash
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It’s fair to say that Bharash – despite his limitations when set against his companions – has the oddest thought processes and his attitude towards peril is downright idiosyncratic, which is why he goes from a charge to a saunter as the other warriors race on ahead for their share of ‘glory’, while he instead winces visibly and informs Talin “We have got to get you a speechwriter.”

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Deacon Havenhold
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Deacon moved further down the hallway and got behind Bharash about 10ft back to give the dragonborn room to do whatever he wanted.

Move down corridor.

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Narrator GM
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Round 5
Elementals
Bharash
Vogh
Kalerecent
Deacon
Tristan
Talin
Julia

The chokers didn’t have a chance against the force before them.  Just as Tristan dispatched the last of them, 4 things suddenly appeared in front of The Calling.  The first looked of living flame, the second crackled with lightning, the third looked like a frozen elemental as steam began to come off of it, and the last was definitely a water elemental.  The fire elemental moves a step forward and punches Kal in the check but it didn’t have much effect on the highly protected Paladin of Lothian.

Each of them materialized and walked “out” of the same square in a line down the corridor.

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Bharash
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“Ooooh, themed monsters!” Bharash remarks, perking up slightly as he watches the stream of elemental beings start to walk out of a patch of otherwise unremarkable air, each after the last manifesting and going on the attack, the big Dragonborn cheerfully adding “Hurry it along Kal, we’ve got places to be!”

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kal was a bit surprised by the appearance of elementals in the hallway.  Whatever was summoning these things was undoubtedly using a bunch of spell power, though, which was a good thing.  Fighting all of these simultaneously would have been a tad more difficult.  Kal recovered after his complete miss and swing his blade two times.  The first cut right through the semi-solid body of the fire elemental.  The fire elemental disappeared as the other creatures they fought had.

Taking a step forward Kal swung his blade a second time and as before The Sword of Truth cut right through the crackling lightning body and it too disappeared as the other had. “Bharash want to take out the others?”

Hit AC46 for 31 on the first and AC39 for 33 on the next.
22:21, Today: Kalerecent rolled 46,26,5,39,29,4,39,32,2 using D20+27,d8+24,d6,d20+27,d8+24,d6,d20+22,d8+24,d6 ((19,2,5,12,5,4,17,8,2)).

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Vogh
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Vogh would wait for Julia to head down with her to the others.  Once Julia was ready she moved as far as she could.  “Julia and I are coming everyone.  We need to get together so we can cast some more of our spells to protect each other.”

Double move if needed.

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Julia Graymantle
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Once the door was barred and the hold portal spell cast, Julia looked to the group of priests, but focused on the high priestess.  Hopefully you will be safe here.  If you have any weapons in the temple, I would suggest you get them now.  If you think you are in danger, if something seems like it will break through the door, you can hide in the tunnel in the alcove.  Close the door behind you.  It is well hidden, as you have seen, and gives you the best chance to survive.  What lies ahead down the tunnel is extremely dangerous, so I suggest you do not go that way.  Stay until you think it is safe.  If I am able, I will come back to check on you.  If not… Julia trailed off.  If she wasn’t around to come back, probably none of them were, which really meant there wouldn’t be anyone or anything to come back to, anyway.

Julia turned and ran as fast as she could to catch up with her companions.

Julia will make a double move down the hallway

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Bharash
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“Not particularly, but if you’re starting to feel tired…” Bharash states, mumbling an ‘Excuse me’ as he attempts to slip past Tristan without getting tangled in his bowstring or interfering with his draw, then presses himself to the wall so that he can clumsily manoeuvre his seven-foot-and-change frame in full plate armour past the fully plate armoured paladin in the extremely limited space provided by the passageway, more or less stumbling into the gap in front of the other warrior while muttering “I hate tunnel-fighting. No way to make it look graceful.”

—

02:09, Today: Bharash rolled 43,22,3 using 1d20+30,1d8+19,1d6.  Stabbity.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan was getting frustrated too with the pile-up and constant jamming of the companions.  He couldn’t do anything at the moment as Kal and Bharash barred his way to the elemental that Bharash just hit with his Falcata.  “Talin can you take care of those two elementals so I can move further down the hall?”

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Talin
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“With Pleasure”

Talin raised his bow once again at Tristan’s request and took a deep breath as he prepared to clear the way for his brothers-in-arms.  He took a moment to feel great warmth for his companions, knowing the trust they must have in him that he could rain arrows inches from their backs and they didn’t even blink.

That being said, he was glad he had the height to shoot down over their heads.   Talin didn’t like taking shots like this so near them, but they had to end this quickly.  They were too bottled up in here and couldn’t afford to take these things one at a time.

Talin called   “Watch your head Bharash! “ as he took aim and fired three arrows in rapid succession past his gigantic helmet and into the elementals beyond.

  Bow shots hit (w/-4 for shooting into melee):
AC29 for 21 damage
AC22 for 20 Damage
AC34 for 17 damage

11:04, Today: Talin rolled <orange>33,26,38,21,20,17 using 1d20+24,1d20+24,1d20+19,1d8+14,1d8+14,1d8+14 ((9,2,19,7,6,3)). </orange>

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Tristan (NPC)
———————————————————–
Tristan readied himself to move once he heard the twang of Talin’s bow.  He could hear them fly by and he followed closely behind them.  Tristan moved past Kal and then Bharash continuing down the hall.

Double move 80ft

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Deacon Havenhold
———————————————————–
Deacon moved close behind Kal and looked over the area where the elementals came out.  It seemed to him that it was probably some sort of teleportation spell and if more were coming they would appear right in their midst.  “Seems like it’s some sort of teleportation.  More might appear any second.  We need to figure out where it is originating and stop anything else from coming through!”

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Narrator GM
———————————————————–
When Deacon looks over the spot where the summons are appearing he can tell that it is either a teleportation circle or some sort of device that is allowing it to happen.  Just as you all are about to move a new threat emerges from the spot.  It is a large Rhino followed by 3 more of them behind the first.  The large creatures must squeeze to be in the passage and the first one moves to attack Bharash with its large horn.  Bharash easily deflects the clumsy attack.

19:06, Yesterday: Narrator rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  attack

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Bharash
———————————————————–
Pausing in mid-motion, Bharash just stares at the abruptly be-Rhino’ed space in front of him for the better part of a second or two, then states flatly, in utter disbelief “You have got to be fucking kidding me…” before being cured of his temporary case of incredulity by the arrival of around six thousand pounds of angry rhino looking to express its disfavour with the cramped confines by rolling over Bharash and jumping up and down on him until he’s an approximately inch-thick layer of pre-tinned meat paste.

There’s a dual clatter as both his swords hit the flagstones and he growls a muted “Someone get those?” while both his hands grab the incoming Rhino by the jaw and the horn and then, with an audible grunt of effort, he starts to push the confused and no-doubt struggling beast backwards, pace by pace – into the rhino behind it, grumbling as he does so “I did not sign up for wrangling murlch-addict Gods-damn’ unicorns in a tunnel!”, by which one can safely assume that he’s never seen a Rhino before.

Or a unicorn.

—

Bull Rush, as a standard action.
Note that when making a CMB check, you Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects.
Because it matters for this, I actually looked up a standard Rhino’s CMD, and it’s 20.

So Bharash pushes the first Rhino back 15′ with a 30.
But there’s a Rhino in the way, so he makes a second test at -4, getting 36.
But there’s a third Rhino in the way, so he makes a third test at -8, getting 20.
But there’s a fourth and final Rhino in the way, so he makes a fourth test at -12, getting 31.

All the Rhinos are slowly driven back 15′, probably protesting vehemently. And nothing can use the teleport circle because it’s full of Rhinos. ^_^

02:10, Today: Bharash rolled 43 using 1d20+25.  Bull Rush.
02:10, Today: Bharash rolled 28 using 1d20+25.  Bull Rush.
02:09, Today: Bharash rolled 40 using 1d20+25.  Bull Rush.
02:08, Today: Bharash rolled 30 using 1d20+25.  Bull Rush.

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Vogh
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Vogh had stopped her singing in their heads a few seconds ago but with Serenity and Clamour in her hand the sound continued though not in their heads it was now open so all could hear… except Deacon of course.

Vogh moved around the corner and found something she had never seen before in real life.  They looked tough and the armored plates looked strong.  These things had to have been summoned and if the came through a gate of some sort there was no stopping them from adding more.

“Bharash pushing them into the place they appeared won’t stop them from teleporting more.  Just like my dimension door, if there isn’t space at the exact spot they will appear somewhere else close.  So, kill them so we can find the source.  We must be getting close and so must they.”

Vogh moves down and behind Deacon.

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Kalerecent (NPC)
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Kalerecent shook his head as more creatures appeared.  These were much different then all the others being some sort of animal.

Since he couldn’t do anything at the moment he waited for an opening should one present itself.

Kal did reach down to grab Bharash’s falcata’s before pushing forward.  Then handing Bharash his blades when he could.

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Deacon Havenhold
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With Vogh behind him Deacon hadn’t heard what Vogh had said, he began to explain the principles of teleportation to everyone around him.

“Teleportation moves the particles in body from one location to another reforming them as they appear.  If something is locations in the same space to include a wall or another person the one teleporting will be shunted to the next available location.  So in the case here, if something else was to be teleported in here again it would go on either the back side of the other beasts on behind me.  We must continue to kill them while pushing forward.
Bharash if we can kill these it might be smart for you to be the back person to defend our rear once we all get by.

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Tristan (NPC)
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Tristan could see that the hall turned right up ahead so he moved to the corner to look around.  When he saw it did a 180 he looked down the hall and then went back to hit one of the beasts that appeared.

Staying 10ft back use lunge to hit AC20 for 19 damage.
13:22, Today: Tristan rolled 20,19 using D20+16,d10+16.

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Talin
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Talin winced as the sound of several tons of armored quadruped slamming into solid, unmoving plate metal rang through the tunnel.  His ears were ringing with the noise and the bard was starting to worry that between this and yesterday his hearing might be permanently impacted.  A bad thing for a bard. Hmmmm…  maybe he could pick up performative dancing…

Talin snapped back into the moment.  Tristan had moved in behind the beasts, although Talin could no longer see him around the massive pile Bharash had made of the creatures.  That meant only the two of them really had the ability to attack them as long as Bharash was holding them at bay.

” Julia, can you find room to bring that crossbow to bear from up here?  We need to end these things before more creatures for hell’s menagerie show up.”

He pressed himself along the sidewall, leaving him room to work the bow but hopefully giving Julia enough room to shoot past him.  Despite the narrow confines and Bharash’s big body, the giant mound of confused-looking rhino made for an easy target to aim at.  If he shot a few arrows into the struggling mass, they would likely find a good home in one of the things.

Hasted full attack with bow (-4 for shooting into melee)
Hit AC 40 for 21 damage (Crit, 32 to confirm crit, 63 Damage if confirmed)
Hit AC 39 for 19 damage
Hit AC 31 for 19 damage

10:21, Today: Talin rolled 36 using 1d20+24 with rolls of 12.  Confirm crit. – [roll=1652800900.97475.286214(missing)]

10:20, Today: Talin rolled 35,44,43,19,21,19 using 1d20+19,1d20+24,1d20+24,1d8+14,1d8+14,1d8+14 with rolls of 16,20,19,5,7,5. – [roll=1652800853.94988.286214(missing)]

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Julia Graymantle
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Julia rounded the corner and descended another set of stairs.  She came upon Talin as he nocked and fired an arrow.  Julia followed the path of the arrow down the corridor and was met by a scene that, despite everything else going on around them, caused her to laugh out loud.  Bharash was shoving a pack of wild, gray, wriggling boulders down a corridor that was about 2 sizes to small for any of them.  The poor beasts seemed more confused than anyone about their current state, being squeezed through the hallway much like a baker’s dough being pressed through a tin form.

Every time I turn my back, I find you boys playing with animals.  Can we hurry this along, please. At this rate, by the time we reach Wuntad he is going to scold us like the priestesses of my youth any time I was late for the dinner bell. Talin, do not move or risk injury to your moneymaker.

As Julia spoke, she took aim with her crossbow, easily threading the group, for she was well versed in close quarters.  Her arrow struck the wriggling boulder furthest back in the pack.

Julia rolled 29 using 1d20+18.  Damage 19 regular  + 5 holy

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