While Herodotus and Balazar are not quite sure if the man is telling the truth. Kudor is more certain that Lesiege is telling the truth about not being involved in the kidnapping. Although overall, Kudor is sure Lesiege is not nearly so innocent in general, as he'd want you to believe.
Kudor thinks back to the statues, looks at the man and whispers to his companions "I get the impression his hands are clean of the kidnapping, too busy being dirty elsewhere."
Male Human Sorcerer 10 | AC 24/T 14| FORT +6 REF +7 WILL +12 | Init +2 | Perception + 1 | Sense Motive +13
Heccan watches the exchange between Lesiege and his fellow pathfinders. Quirking his brow, he grits his teeth as his dark power wells within himself. He sighs annoyed.
"We have no time for this..."
Heccan eyes flash as he unleashes his arcane energy at Lesiege. His voice takes on an otherworldly tone as the power works on the man.
"Now, my dear friend, tell us what you we need to know."
Heccan will cast Charm Person on Lesiege, DC 19 WILL to negate.
Responding to Queth, The problem is you have no business being here, you have no right, and you should leave.
Heccan casts his spell.
DC19 Will Save:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Lesiege suddenly begins sharing what he knows.
My employees saw some strange figures dressed as mourners moving in the sewers near here, but this was not there destination . They carried a body shaped bundle wrapped in gray linen. My people chase them off and one of them dropped his rucksack—it’s yours if you want it.
He moves to a nearby cabinet and produces a bag, handing it over. The bag contains a sheathed short sword and an unstopped vial with a black residue.
My agents followed the body snatchers back to their lair. Go back to your lodge, Pathfinders, and ask your venture-captain who might have cause to snatch up Karcau’s citizens. As that is exactly were they went.
Herodotus' eyes narrow, but he is familliar with Heccan Abraxis' abilities. This man may have the ability to lie, but at this point, he neither has the will or desire to do so. "Very well then. We thank you for your patience my lord. We shall take leave." and with a stern bow he turns back towards where they came from and walks off, clearly agitated. If we have been complicit in a scheme, Iomedae be my judge, there will be a reckoning.
Male Human Sorcerer 10 | AC 24/T 14| FORT +6 REF +7 WILL +12 | Init +2 | Perception + 1 | Sense Motive +13
Heccan smirks as the man pours forth the once tightly held information. His smile dissipates at the mention of the kidnappers destination. He glances at Herdotus and bows his head in kind.
"Yes, my lord, you have been most helpful. I am pleased. Oh, but do be a good fellow and not mention this conversation, hm? That's a good lad."
Heccan steps toward Queth and Herodotus.
"The plot thickens, eh? Seems we have a fox in our henhouse gentlemen. I am open to suggestions, but I think we should return to the lodge and have a look around."
Brother Theo watched the proceedings and kept his mouth shut until they left. "Make sure to properly document that in the notes for the Lodge." he said to Heccan.
Miregrold Manor is perched on a hillside estate that overlooks Karcau proper. An unruly garden and a copse of trees, through which a cobblestone path runs, isolates the manor from the general public. The manor is designed in a classic Ustalavic style, with a steep roof, arched window frames, and a pair of slender turrets flanking the front door. Miregrold Manor’s iron front door is adorned with bronze
filigree and a lion’s-head knocker. All the manor’s curtains have been pulled closed.
On the way to the manor, Balazar examines the short sword and vial. The sword seems mundane. The vial contains the residue of a black substance that also not magical.
Craft (alchemy) or Knowledge (dungeoneering or local) check can identify the residue.
Was holding off to see if there was any discussion as which door to enter and whether anyone else would make the knowledge check. Since it's been 36 hours or so, I'll assume Front door is the choice.
Kudor is unsure about the black residue; as Balazar leads the group into the front door. Queth finds no traps on the door. Inside the front door, a compass-rose inlay decorates the wooden floor. A massive stuffed elk head hangs on the wall opposite the door. A pair of hallways exits the foyer on either side of a curio-covered mantle. A large scrap of paper sits beneath a squat granite statuette of a reclining person with a dog face. A pair of coat racks stands to either side of the door. One rack holds several fur coats that match the current fashion trends in Karcau. However, the other rack features several odd costumes: a full suit of threadbare burlap, the heavy canvas coat of a city guardsman, and the breezy silk jacket of a visiting merchant.
DC 22 Perception to look at scrap of paper:
The scrap of paper is rolled up and when opened reveals the message:
"To whom did this belong before it wound up in your vault?"
Within a few seconds the message begins to fade away, and is soon completely gone. It seems to have been written in disappearing ink.
Halfling Oracle 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 23 | T 15 | FF 20 | CMD 17 (18 vs. dirty trick) | F +8 | R +10 | W +9 | +2 vs. spells/SLAs/SU, +2 vs. Fear | Init +4 | Perc +20 (+22 vs. haunts, +24 vs traps, Darkvision 60 ft., 60 ft. sight range) | Sense Motive +0 | Spells: Spells: Level 1: 8/8, Level 2: 8/8, Level 3: 7/7, Level 4: 5/5 | Reroll 1/1 | Active Spells:None
Perception:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30
"It says 'To whom did this belong before it wound up in your vault?' That's what it said before the ink disappeared. Think we got someone with a vendetta against us."
Queth continues to check for traps as the party moves forward, taking 10.
Male Human Sorcerer 10 | AC 24/T 14| FORT +6 REF +7 WILL +12 | Init +2 | Perception + 1 | Sense Motive +13
Heccan gives Brother Theo a disarmingly charming smile and bows his head slightly to the man. "Oh fear not brother Theo, I shall ensure everything is properly documented. Without proper records, chaos ensues, no?" He laughs briefly and continues with the group into the manner.
Brother Theo looked over the clothing. "Looks like they might be used as disguises while they are doing things that they do not want others to know. I do not see any reason that a merchant or soldier would rub elbows with a beggar. The number of fur coats does make it a bit concerning given the number of nobles or people of high station that can afford them," he said. Left or right? he added
As Brother Theo calls them to you attention you realized these are likely the missing costumes from the prop room of the Cloisoi Theater. Moving around to your right you find the lounge features a trio of velvet-upholstered settees, each with an accompanying wooden end table. A long mantle displays several artifacts from across Garund and Casmaron, including a collection of antique blades. A nearby wet bar holds dozens of bottles from across Golarion. A decanter of expensive brandy sits open on the bar, slowly evaporating; a scrap of paper lies next to the bottle. An elaborate Keleshite rug stained with muddy footprints sprawls across the floor.
DC 22 Perception to read this note:
"He spoke to us of alliance. He promised us his best intentions. Explorers, scholars, traders—these are pursuits we value, too."
"The insane have too often been the unwitting doors through which unbridled evil manifests; another stain upon the likes of demons, daemons and devils alike."
"Or go into politics. Brother Theo quipped. " However, I don't think that there is a problem with their sanity if they took precautions to not leave evidence in their communications.
Male Human Sorcerer 10 | AC 24/T 14| FORT +6 REF +7 WILL +12 | Init +2 | Perception + 1 | Sense Motive +13
Heccan quiets as the others discuss the meaning of the note. His brow furrows ever so slightly when Herdotus mentions evil outsiders. He jerks his head up then concentrates on the task at hand.
Survival check if you want to examine the foot prints.
Herodotus looks into the room to the left, to find a cozy sun porch, which harbors several pieces of light rattan furniture. On the low central table are half-finished drinks of some kind of liquor.
Assuming you continue to go to the right.
To the right, a solid oak dining table sits in the center of the room, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Two cabinets display full sets of delicate Tian porcelain.
Kudor determines the footprints were made by several Medium humanoids whose feet were wrapped in cloth, as if to muffle the sound of their footsteps. They moved first toward the sun porch and then back to the dinning room.
In the dining room, Queth notices dried wine stains and several chunks of dried food on the rug beneath the table. He also notices the legs of both the table and the chairs were recently dented, and several pieces of porcelain are missing from the cabinet. In place of one of the missing dishes is yet another scrap of rolled up paper.
Almost on queue with Herodotus's words, the dimly lit manor is suddenly supernaturally dark, even those with Darkvision can't seem to cut through this darkness. The baying of hounds can be heard from above.
i sit possible to hear where our opponents are? As in, within a 5 by 5 foot area?
"in the darkness they hid, but naught could conceal them. In darkness they scehemed, but their plans undid them. By the Last of the First and in the name of the Inheritor, this day shall be your last" snarls Herodotus solemnly as energy courses through his bow.
Gonna use my divine bond to give Seeking and Flaming to my bow.
The first arrow catches the sorcerer, while the second whizzes by. Heccan feels a strange burning from where the arrow hit.
@Heccan - Will give benefit of the doubt and figure you would have cast/refreshed mage armor and shield before entering the house. @Heccan need a DC16 Fort Save v. Poison
Balazar retrieves his oil of daylight applying to his staff, suddenly counteracts the darkness, restoring the light to it's former level.
When light is restored Heccan can see the bowman near the front door. A tall humanoid with a pale brow and black, soulless eyes are all that can be seen above a black scarf wrapped around its face.
Going go ahead and move forward I'll put Heccan on delay.
Kudor rushes forward to engage the dark folk. As Queth provides healing to the injuries Heccan, who seems shocked by the sudden attack.
The baying becomes louder and unnerving as two large ugly hounds sprint down the stairs, as they run forward they seem to weave in and out of the shadows.
Need two DC16 will save from everyone. This is a sonic, mind-affecting fear effect. Fail = panicked for 1d4 rounds
Reaching Balazar they attempt to tear the gnome apart.
Herodotus
Dark Folk Red
Kudor
Balazar 25 dmg - need fort save
Queth
Heccan 2 dmg - need fort save DELAY
Shadow Dog Purple
Shadow Dog BLue
Dark Folk Green
Brother Theo
Round 2
Herodotus
Heccan may come off delay, also Brother Theo and Herodotus may go.
LG Medium outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful) | AC 19 (DR 10/Evil) | T 10 | FF 19 | HP: (62) 51/51 | CMD 20 | Fort +8 | Ref +5 | Will +5 | Init +4 | Perception +10 | menace (DC 16), circle vs evil
Gnome Unchained Summoner 7 | AC 17 | T 13 | FF 16 | HP: (80) 71/72 | CMD 15 | Fort +7 | Ref +5 | Will +7 | Init +5 | Perception +2 | Summon Monster IV 7/8 per da
Will save #1:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Will save #2:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Fort save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
I jumped the gun a bit to save time. But if they went before me then they easily tripped me before I could even get the oil out. And since Balazar is now Panicked he would be trying to get away in the dark.
Male Human Sorcerer 10 | AC 24/T 14| FORT +6 REF +7 WILL +12 | Init +2 | Perception + 1 | Sense Motive +13
FORT:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Heccan growls as the arrows fly. Muttering in a guttural alien tongue, he looks about to assess the scene. He growls and says a few sharp word in infernal, his eyes flashing red before he suddenly fades from sight.
