The vampire rips his pouch off of his belt, tossing it at Ignac. Grigore takes a deep breath and puts his hand on his head, lounging back and visibly calming down.
"This bag will open a rift to a plane that we do not wish to enter, should it enter Miss Vesta's Portable Hole. If you are determined in that we travel in this way, I will have to leave it here. I'd rather not be caught without coin, but we will not be gone for long."
He sighs and floats back down to the ground next to Ignac, holding out his hand expectantly.
the person who transports can just hold your bag separately from the hole. No need to be a diva about it. Vesta adds in that "duh" tone. ;-)
"What is the point of taking the sack, if you are just going to hand it back?" he says mockingly, taking the bag in hand and heading towards the exit of the room.
"I'll return in a moment." Grigore calls behind his shoulder before wisping off towards his room.
"What is the point of taking the sack, if you are just going to hand it back?" he says mockingly, taking the bag in hand and heading towards the exit of the room.
"I'll return in a moment." Grigore calls behind his shoulder before wisping off towards his room.
After he leaves vesta rolls her eyes and says to the others Vampiers. as if that's a full explanation.
"Right. So now that we've learned a bit more about our new companions oddness, I am guessing our next move is to try and follow that fiend? Educated guess here, but I am doubtful he'll still be around by the time we get there, especially with this delay."
"Right. So now that we've learned a bit more about our new companions oddness, I am guessing our next move is to try and follow that fiend? Educated guess here, but I am doubtful he'll still be around by the time we get there, especially with this delay."
[b]"True, but you never know what we may find. "[\b]
The group organises itself between those within the hole and the one who carries it and activate the soul gem. With a tearing sound and feeling as though being yanked aside with violent force. When your senses return you stand in an empty ruined building outside, with a faint ringing in your ears slowly fading.
The ruins appear to be empty at this point in time, though the ground has been disturbed by passing feet which makes you think that some creatures have been here recently.
Survival / Perception DC 25:
At one side of the ruined chamber you notice some scuff marks that lead you to believe a small skiff was until recently sitting upon the ruins floor.
"They have been here, but left. Perhaps they left a sentry..."
Grigore flips his cloak, the bright gold and crimson giving way to a shadowy grey. Immediately after, he skulks off into the darkness and searches around the building.
Switched Cloak of Flash and Shadow to the +2 Stealth side.
Stealth 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
Daemon gets the musty scent of planar magic upon the air, as though a portal was recently opened then closed.
Grigore scouts nearby though is only able to discern that this location must have been chosen purely for it's isolation... there is nothing within a good few hundred yards from the ruined building you are now ensconced in.
After returning back to camp:
"Tsk, there's nothing here but dust."
He flips his cloak back over, pressing it with his hands and cleaning it of wrinkles.
If Daemon reveals the info about the planar magic:
"They came from Abaddon, it is likely that they returned. It would not be wise to follow...I'm sure they'll get greedy and fail at another assault." he chuckles and leans against a wall, awaiting the party's decision in further action
Gathroc too gazes around, trying to spot anything that might be helpful 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39 Perception
"Definitely don't plan to follow, I think we need to go back and alert the Shadow Claw. There must have been a reason for their attack. Gabriel, have you contacted your master? I am unsure if others have or not yet. Daemon, any idea what that crown might have been that was mentioned in the book?"
Male Human(Lich) Cleric 3, Wizard 3, Mystic Theurge 4
"It probably has something to do with the Hands of the Crown would be my educated guess from the attack. Vesta, there appears to be nothing here to find, would you care to take us back via your shadow walk?"
"It probably has something to do with the Hands of the Crown would be my educated guess from the attack. Vesta, there appears to be nothing here to find, would you care to take us back via your shadow walk?"
"Of course. she holds out her hand demurely for you to take.
anyone who wants to go needs to be touching
Edit: she then holds her other hand demurely for Gathroc to take and she grins at him.
The group is able to return through ways of shadow to the ziggurat. You check in with the wraith that holds the lacridaemon to find that the miserable creature knows nothing. It was called upon to come and die, and was not entrusted with any details.
The Shadow Claw himself is still away and is not due to return for some time.
Going back to the chamber in which the portal was located you poke around...
Perception DC 30:
Small and inconspicuous in one corner of the chamber is a small white stone. It is out of place as it is the only rock of that colour in the entire room...
Once found, Knowledge Arcana DC 25:
The stone is a teleportation locus that would allow for someone who knew of it's existence to burrow through wards and barriers to seek it out specifically and use it as a means of channeling their magic to penetrate the wards against translocation.
But how did it inside?
Seeing Ignac pick up the stone draws Grigore's close attention. Looking over the Graveknight's shoulder, Grigore is able to identify it.
"It is a locus, it allows one to pierce through wards to its location. Someone had to have planted it here, this was obviously an inside hob."
A flash of excitement in his eye, Grigore starts pacing, thoughts flying.
The Lord was gone and his minions had brought an army of Daemons to his door.
The morbid quintet was supposed to be busy out of the city taking care of these opposing groups.
Someone knew this and was taking this opportunity to attack...Clever!
"If they burrowed once, they can do it again. Allow me to destroy the stone. he says, holding out his hand to Ignac.
Psst...How the hell do I destroy this besides blowing it up? I can Kn. Arcana or Spellcraft if needed.
Ignac gathers the mindless servitors of the house and imposes his will upon them. However he finds no hidden subterfuge or deceit within them. However there are also powerful undead with mind and will of their own that may object to such imposition upon them...
Specifically you've cleared the skeletons and minor shadows / wraiths et al... but there are closer and more powerful subjects of the Shadow Claw that you wouldn't just be able to go straight up to and dominate. These are creatures like the dread wraith general, and other undead such as yourselves who work autonomously for the Shadow Claw.
You can still question them... but might want to work with a bit more decorum...
Male Human(Lich) Cleric 3, Wizard 3, Mystic Theurge 4
"Its is possible that whoever brought in the stone is already dead with the first wave of defenders who fell to the enemy as well, there is no guarantee that we will find anything, I have no spells that will assist with discovering who did this."
If there was one... perhaps... more?
You can request an audience with the intelligent undead to interrogate / sift them for clues?
Ignore it and move on?
We could always simply let it be generally known that we are aware that there is a mole, and watch to see who squirms the most... Pointing out to the assembled horde that the best way to ensure that they are not all destroyed in the name of security is to submit incontrovertible proof as to who the traitor is...
