GM Rat Sass's Age of Worms

Game Master Governayle

Round 12, Init 9

”What did you find Mort?”

Mortimer looks upon the invisible vexer, one arm folded under the other, the hand of which is propped against his jaw, a single finger upon the side of his nose.

"Well, it's this -- sphere thing -- just floating there. Riiiight there," he says, pointing directly at it curiously, 10 feet above the Orc's still body. "It doesn't seem to be something that's really there though -- I can't pull it down or even touch it. I can see it, though. What do you suppose it is?"

"But there are so many pretty mirrors this way... [ ... ] we didn't have them growing up because they'd always break. [ ... ] I'm okay doing this alone."

"Uh --" After disengaging his emotions from Solrisa's recollection of the sad state of her childhood mirror affairs, Mortimer looks at Ascaria, then tries to imagine Ascaria and his little brother Hourpen trying to take care of the child together.

He bites his lower lip and shakes his head adamantly. We can't leave them alone with her.

He then tries to imagine his hulking albeit agile -- and in paternal matters completely useless -- frame attempting to assist. He looks at Eri and decides to regard him as his equal on the paternal front.

He frowns, and shakes his head again. And we really shouldn't split up either.

"Solrisa, I think our first obligation to toward the child we just rescued. She's not as brave as you -- more fragile and ... " he trails off pensively. "I don't know -- I don't see anyone of us but you and Tynan having any kind of skill or experience with um ... " he trails off again, struggling with language. What's the word ? -- when you responsibly take care of someone helpless ? " ... you know -- uh -- figuring out just what the child needs when she needs it..." He appears to finally come to a conclusion and nods boldly once. "Yah! We definitely need a woman's -- I mean you -- I mean -- your -- touch. Would you come help us protect her and return her to safety? Would you do that for her? The mirrors will still be here for us -- it shouldn't take too long. Telakin won't get that far ahead. We'll catch up to him, I promise."

He bites his bottom lip in the hopes that he's right about catching up with Telakin, but not too right in any super immediate way. I need to stretch, maybe eat.

"C'mon, she's this way," he cheerily implores upon Solrisa, taking a few steps after Ascaria. He turns back to look at her, his pupply dog eyes full of hope.

"I think our first obligation..."

Solrisa smiles a big easy smile at Solrisa, but it's clear that she disagrees...but she bears no ill will about it.

"Oh no, Mort, my first obligation is the Dragon," Solrisa replies somberly. "I know the child is important, but I cannot let the evil of that bad person continue...especially after the magics he threw at us...the wall of fiery burns and the ball of fiery hurt and the one that made Tynan play not nicely."

Solrisa holds up her flaming sword.

"Yes, Mort, if the child is your first obligation don't worry about me. And I'm sure you can make it safely out of here with it. But I need to finish this so the bad man does not hurt any more people...much less come after Tynan again."

Solrisa looks for Hourpen.

"Maybe Hourpen would be willing to take the child back?"

”Gee, I don’t know Sol. The wizard and his cronies nearly took us all out, and we were working mostly as a team. I think you’d fare very poorly going it alone. I think you need to understand you’re with us now, not just off doing your own thing all the time.”

”That said, there are some good arguments for going forward, but I'm with Mort, I’ll not put the child at risk. I suggest, if the group wants to root out this wizard before he regains his power, you proceed without me, but with Hourpen."

"I can still heal you, a little, at some distance, and I can use this here wand of healing whether I’m with you or not.”

Earlier, with the young girl.

" You're safe now. There are others. They all want to help you. I want to help you."

After Sol makes her suggestion.

" I would do as the lady wishes, but I have given the child my word that we would all help. But perhaps separating ourselves would be helpful?"

Eri talks but does not move, nor chew gum. But he does check out the shiny thing.

Kn. Arcana : 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"We need to stick together. We are a family. We need to protect the kid, take her back to town now."

"We are a family."

Solrisa offers a big smile at the idea of family...but her smile breaks away as she recalls what she knows of family.

"Oh, we shouldn't be family, Eri. Family always leaves you. Like Mum. Like Rae. Like you guys now," Solrisa says, losing her smile completely. "I had hoped we would be better than family in that you would understand that there are some things more important than that child. No, if you want to be family, you'll leave me like Mum and Rae and Dad. If any of you are better than family, we'll come with me to kill Telakin."

Solrisa raises her sword and readies to march into the mirrors. Her smile returns, but only faintly. She has work to do.

Sure wish Tynan would post. But meh. Also, did we loot the orc yet?

We've done no looting, we're still in rounds, and still waiting on Tynan before we can proceed as we are in rounds.

"Very well Sol. You must wait however, as I am not coming with you, but I can aid you, give me a moment."

Ascaria waits his turn.

"I have to agree with Sol. We already saw the priestess get away from us, and we don't need another enemy roaming free. I'll help you track him down, Sol."

(Work is kicking my ass with the start of fall semester, so forgive me)

"Oh no, Mort, my first obligation is the Dragon,"

Right! Because he's done such a terrific job in aiding you during these last few battles! Mortimer hangs his head. EveryOne has bad days. I probably shouldn't have thought that. It's probably fine.

"I can still heal you, a little, at some distance, and I can use this here wand of healing whether I’m with you or not.”

"I would do as the lady wishes, but I have given the child my word that we would all help. But perhaps separating ourselves would be helpful?"

Well, that's not what I'd hoped for, but there's naught for it. They'll be fine together, right?

"Ah, so then? Your minds are made up! Good idea. You guys watch our backs then. We'll press ahead this way," he gestures towards Sol.

"Tynan, are you going to forge ahead doing -- what you do, or are we going to wait for Eri over there to finish a sentence? He seems a bit ... slower than usual."

Eri talks but does not move, nor chew gum.

Mortimer shrugs. "Maybe if you go the other way, we'll meet in the middle and by that time whatever's effecting you will have expired?"

"Oh, we shouldn't be family, Eri. Family always leaves you. Like Mum. Like Rae. Like you guys now. I had hoped we would be better than family in that you would understand that there are some things more important than that child."

Is it me, or is there some kind of conflict of interest there? What are we fighting for if not for people like the child? What the Hells does that Dragon of hers want, anyway?! He shakes his head wearily. I guess I'll have to go find out for myself.

"C'mon, let's go," he sighs, heading for the mirror room. He makes way for Tynan to go first.

With a slow consensus being reached, Eri's slowed state wears off, and Hourpen and Ascaria stand at the ready, in the back with the waif, awaiting Solrisa's, Tynan's, and Mortimer's push forward into the maze of mirrors. We are now currently out of initiative.

Solrisa, Mortimer, and Tynan begin their investigations. Tynan moves ahead, reasonably sure that their way is free from traps. So much so, that he with the others' help manages to secure the entirety of the maze. Every so often, a pressure plate is hit. A full 5x5 square depresses, and yet nothing occurs. Only after Tynan spots that there are adjacent pressure plates do the front folk understand that when both are pressed, simultaneously, do alternate mirrored walls swish quickly into place, altering the maze's floor pattern. It takes a couple of moments to locate the release the temporary walls, which in places serve as effective prisons until released from without.

Eventually, you stumble upon the third door that leads out of the maze, which remains open, almost inviting. It opens into a larger chamber, which shares similar blue torches, providing a decent light throughout. The ceiling vaults upwards to roughly twenty feet. Along one wall, a macabre assembly of vats and tubes connects to a table with numerous straps and a strange silver helmet. On the far side of the room, a raised dais supports a throne. Unoccupied at the moment...

Roll20 map has been updated. I've moved at least three of you to your current positions. You're of course welcome to change positions. For the time spent sussing out the details of the mirror maze, assume roughly 5 minutes has transpired.

Ascaria spends the next couple rounds linking Sol and the little girl to his healing network. He also finishes healing himself with a few more wand charges.

CLW: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 1, 8) + 5 = 19

So just shy of a minute later, he nods, "May Cayden guide your path." He turns to the girl, ”They’re going to make sure no one here can harm you ever again. Are you thirsty?”

He takes out his tiny cup, puts a little water in it, and lets the girl have a sip if she wants. He’ll add a few crumbs of moistened bread with it if it seems OK. He’s careful not to overdo it - he doesn’t want to make her sicker.

Take 10 Heal: 10 + 11 = 21 to know how much to dole out.

Group spells in effect
Message (everyone)
Water Breathing (everyone)

Sol seems pleased to have Mort and Tynan with her. There are things better than family. People who stay are better.

While Ascaria heals (and he asked her to wait), Sol spends a few moments searching through the body of the orc. She offers the axe to those who may wish it, or will add it to her belt if no one wants it.

She will de-nude the body of anything sparkly, colorful, or looking magical.

When Ascaria is done, Sol enters the mirror'd funhouse.

The waif gravitates to the gnome, her sallow eyes enlarging slightly with the cup of water and bread bits. When Ascaria makes the promise of protection, she looks up at him, with an unmistakable look of doubt. Whatever response is forthcoming is soon drown in sips of water and water-logged bread. The gnome is easily able to throttle the girl's intake, as the girl herself seems to leave the mush in her mouth, savoring its mere presence in the introductory aspect of her digestive tract.

Meanwhile, Solrisa strips the unconscious orc. Aside from the very nice axe, she finds a beautiful ring, and a wand. More interesting, perhaps, is the pair of pants the orc is wearing. It's been doubled down the legs, tied at the ankles. When untied, it becomes the top portion of a robe, which looks eerily similar to the adornments of a mage.

"What? He's still alive?" Solrisa chirps happily as she sees the orc still breathing. "Oh good! Time for the Dragon's Mercy!"

Solrisa uses her flaming blade to cauterize the orc's head from his shoulders.

2d10 + 8 + 14 ⇒ (9, 1) + 8 + 14 = 32 Coup de Jerk (smite)

Ascaria spends his time waiting, when he's not tending to the waif, identifying the magics.

He casts Detect Magic and casually identifies the items.

He takes-10 for a 21 (items up to CL 6) on each item.

As the away team quietly and cautiously makes their way through the mirror maze, Solrisa's words continue to echo in Mort's head.

"Oh, we shouldn't be family, Eri. Family always leaves you. Like Mum. Like Rae. Like you guys now. I had hoped we would be better than family in that you would understand that there are some things more important than that child. No, if you want to be family, you'll leave me like Mum and Rae and Dad. If any of you are better than family, we'll come with me to kill Telakin."

Mortimer sighs as he works alongside Sol.

"Sol, why do you always want to go off by yourself? Sometimes you sound as if you're on a suicide mission -- always wanting to go it alone -- like in the lizard folk battle at the Keep. Ever since Rae left, it's gotten worse. I remember thinking that way too -- when no one ever came looking for me. When you're like that, it's easy to want to die. Much harder to want to live. I got to thinking -- "whoever that guy was is gone now -- there is only 'Mort'. No point in dwelling on it, just live life." But it's not just only 'Mort' now. It's 'Mort', and you and Tynan and Eri -- everyone, right?" I've found new meaning in life ever since meeting all of these guys. I just want to give some of that back before I have to die.

After Tynan is reasonably certain that the doorway is not trapped, Mortimer enters and is fascinated by the macabre assembly of vats and tubes with the strappy table and the silver helmet. That doesn't look like much fun.

"Anyone else reminded of what we found in the Observatory? Is this how they make undead and then make them unkillable?"

Assuming the orc stuff happens before we tromp thought the magical, mystical mirror maze.

"...it's easy to want to die."

Solrisa looks at Mort as if he had the same confusioning that affected Tynan.

Why would he think I'm going to die? He sounds like Rae.

"Oh no, Mort! I'm not going to die. Sometimes you have to face the evil when you have to face the evil. I'm not afraid...and The Dragon will protect me." Solrisa says with a smile.

"You don't have to worry about me, Mort," Solrisa says without fear or worry, just matter of fact. "I'll do what I have to do because it is right."

Solrisa looks at Mort, first down, then up again, trying to understand the giant.

"Mort, why do you think saving that child is more important than stopping Telakin? And why do you think that child would die if we didn't take him up right now? And would it be worse to let Telakin escape?" Solrisa asks. "We didn't come here to save the child, we came to stop them from trying to kill Tynan and now to stop the evil of these facechangers. We need to do that."

Solrisa, like Mort, takes in the room. She is now very mindful of the traps in this maze, having experienced the dark pit and the mirrored walls of movement. She moves into the room carefully to avoid traps, drawn by the weird stuff to the west...and more of the pretty blue lights.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15 Perception

As the group splits.

"May the dragon guide you as has been the case. I will not leave this youth's side until a safe place is found."

Hourpen stands beside Ascaria, looking toward the waif.

"You aren't alone. I'll do everything I can to find you safely on your way."

With the beheading comes a transformation in death. What once was orc is now doppelganger. The head of the doppelganger is very much like the others, with an exception. In the center of its forehead rests a sigil. Its pattern is not unlike that of tentacles.

Approaching the strange apparatus, Solrisa spies a small but ornate chest sitting on the small table next to the long, bed-like one. Next to the chest, a small ring of keys.

With Ascaria...

"Ascaria, look!" Solrisa points at the changing form of the orc...to dopplejerk. "It was one of them! Neat!"

"Ascaria, what does this mean? Do you know?" Solrisa points to the sigil on the forehead.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 Know (Religion)

* * *

Solrisa sheathes her sword as she approaches the chest and no one yet has jumped out to attack her.

"Tynan, look! Keys! And a chest!" Solrisa chirps happily putting the two together. Solrisa will try the keys to see if any of them open the chest.

"roll on..."

"Oh no, Mort! I'm not going to die."

"I never said that you were going to die."

"Sometimes you have to face the evil when you have to face the evil. I'm not afraid...and The Dragon will protect me."Solrisa says with a smile.

Mortimer folds his arms, cocks his head and stares intently at Solrisa.

Solrisa looks at Mort, first down, then up again, trying to understand the giant.

Mortimer grins fiendishly and bats his eye lashes innocently at Solrisa, arms still folded.

"Mort, why do you think saving that child is more important than stopping Telakin? And why do you think that child would die if we didn't take him up right now?"

"And would it be worse to let Telakin escape?"

"... Oh! You meant taking him up," Mortimer adds, gesturing towards the throne. As Solrisa eyes the keys and chest, Mort heads toward the throne for a closer look. "But if he has half the brain he should, I suspect he'd be long gone by now."

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 +2 Surprise, Inviso, Incorpo

"We didn't come here to save the child, we came to stop them from trying to kill Tynan and now to stop the evil of these facechangers. We need to do that."

Mortimer shrugs. "I hope " for your sake " that I'm wrong, but I think we've done all we can here for now, is all."

Eri will move into the corridor and be watchful.

Message:"Don't forget to fill us in if anything goes down."

[i]I don't like this. This is somehow the only way this will work, but also the worst possible solution. Family, not family. Follow, not follow. Aiiighh![i]

Tynan scans the chest for traps before telling Solrisa it is safe to unlock it... if he is sure it is not trapped.

Perception(Trapfinding): 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 3 = 21
Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

The trapper-keeper clears the maiden of any risks to opening the ornate chest. One of the keys works easily, revealing the chest's contents. In it, lie three large gems cut in the fashion of tapered baguettes. All three glow with a reddish hue, which pulses every so often in a double succession.

Closer examination of the table reveals a glass pocket, mounted in wood and connected to the tubes from the silver helmet. The pocket appears to perfectly fit the taper of the baguette gems.

Meanwhile, Mortimer's keen eye spots a slightly raised 5x5 stone square in front of the throne. Marked on the Roll20 map in green.

Ascaria holds up the items as he identifies them. ”Here’s a nice greataxe, though I think we’ll sell it. It’s +1 with frost."

He holds up the ring to Hourpen, "It’s a ring of protection +2. I think Sol was looking for something like this."

"Oh, hey, this is well timed - a wand of cure moderate wounds, with 36 charges left. I’ll be using that while you’re in the room if combat ensues.”

He swaps out the wands in hand and stands ready with a wand of healing in each paw for the parties advance.

He examines the forehead of the newest doppleganger.
Knowledge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 (Arcana +0, Local +4, Religion +7) to ID the mark on the man’s forehead

He takes a sparkling necklace from around his neck and places it on the girl. ”Here, why don’t you wear this for a little while. At least until we’re out of here!” he pats her on the head, hoping to get it back when they’ve left…

I’ve given the girl my Aegis of Recovery for now as added protection for her.

Group spells in effect
Message (everyone)
Water Breathing (everyone)

"Hey, Tynan -- check this out. Is this one of those pressure platey things for something?"

Mortimer points to a slightly raised 5x5 stone square in front of the throne, of which he is now standing in front.

"Sure, let me check it out."

Tynan gives the area indicated by Mort a careful investigation.

Perception(Trapfinding): 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 3 = 25
Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Tynan looks over the pressure plate, and finds it balanced across a center rocker. Stepping on the same plate can accomplish four effects, which seem to connect to two 5x5 squares in front of each staircase, and two sections of wall, facing towards the center of the large chamber. Sections of possible activity marked on the Roll20 map. Each quadrant of the plate is marked with its corresponding connection.

Tynan also spies a button on the arm of the throne, just below the end scrolling.

...

The waif pulls away from the gnome, as he tries to lay something around her neck. When he pauses, she relents, allowing the adornment to pass over her head. "Thank you."

"Everyone, move back to the table near Solrisa. There's a button here that I want to examine, but I don't want any of you at risk."

When and if everyone clears the area, Tynan will approach the throne, circling wide of the pressure plate. He'll then scan the button for any traps, and if all is clear, press it.

Perception(Trapfinding): 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 3 = 17
Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"I never said you were going to die."

Solrisa looks at Mort again, trying to decide if he is lying or still under the Tynan-like confusion effect.

"You said that I was trying to commit suicide. But I'm not. I'm just doing what needs to be done."

"Do you remember being hungry, Sol? I do."

Solrisa looks at Mort again, trying to decide if he is still under the Tynan-like confusion effect and tries to parse out the man's meaning.

"Did you want my food, Mort? You know that I'll share. You can have what I have if the child needs it. Not sure what that has to do with others leaving with the child or not. If it needs food and that's important to you, go do it. I need to kill Telakin. That's what is important now."

* * *
Solrisa dons the ring of protection +2 for the time being. If anyone wants, let's talk in OOC.

"Yeah, Ascaria, that is a weird symbol. I dunno, but I bet it's important, huh?" Solrisa says. "Maybe you want to drawy draw it for later, Ascaria? You're always drawing things."

* * *
Solrisa hungrily examines the baguettes weirdly shaped gems and shiny helmet. But since they don't make sense to her, she leaves them to others for the time being.

"I'll just wait here, Tynan, as you and Mort go play with the platey things."

Solrisa waits patiently.

With no obvious trap to work upon, Tynan presses the button, and hopes for the best.

A light swishing sound draws Mortimer's, Solrisa's, and Tynan's attention to the wall behind the throne. The entire wall drops into the floor, revealing a small chamber filled with ostentatious accoutrements. There is a bed, wardrobe, desk, and a small table in this room. The walls are covered in rich red velvet curtains and a strange rug of shifting, writhing geometric patterns on the floor. A large, full-body mirror stands in one corner of the room.

Mortimer backs away as Tynan requests to stand beside Sol.

"You said that I was trying to commit suicide. But I'm not. I'm just doing what needs to be done."

In every one of his gentle responses to Solrisa, Mortimer drops his voice as though he was trying to avoid prematurely flushing quail from brush. Slowly...

"Did you want my food, Mort? You know that I'll share."

"Yes, I know. No thank you. You're very generous, but I haven't been starving since I met you and the others."

He pauses for a second, watching Tynan muck about the throne. When the wall drops, he continues, "What will happen if we don't find Telakin here, Solrisa? Are you going to do the Family thing and leave us?"

He moves forward again to examine the room more closely. When he gets close enough to see the ostentatiousness of it all, he ends up supressing a gag reflex or two.

What a Fop! Can I trash it? Ooooh! Please let me trash it all!

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 +2 ...

"When you always try to go do battle by yourself. Are you going to do the Family thing and leave us?"

He sounds like Rae. She never understood.

Solrisa smiles, her face changing to a bit of contemplation.

"Yes, if I must. If there is Bad, then I will face the Bad. If you choose to take the child up and the Bad could escape, then, yes, I will be alone in my chase," Solrisa states sadly. "But that is you leaving, Mort. Not me leaving. That's why we are here, Mort. We should all do what is important to us and what is right for us. I believe the Dragon wants me to face this Bad now so he can't hurt others. If you think you need to save the child instead, you should do that, Mort. I'm more afraid of letting the Bad escape than I am of death, or failure."

Solrisa pauses, then continues. She sees the problem clearly.

"Mort, you need to stop seeing everything so extremely. Because I am going after Telakin doesn't mean that we're not friends, it just means that you need to understand that I have things that I must do. And you should know that if you feel you must save the child, you should do that. I trust you to make the right decision for you. Being friends means you get to understand that people can be different and have different things to do."

Solrisa nods to herself, then smiles, thinking that she explained that very well.

"It's like when Rae used to take my...blahblah...cutting her hair, then mine...blahblah...Mum used to get so mad...blahblah...told us to wait in the kettle...blahblah...lead to eyes of newt all over the place...blahblah...forgot where we were...blahblah...Rae said 'Mum! It my body and I can do what I want with it.' And that's why I avoid licking toads."

Solrisa carefully walks over to the room that Tynan discovered, drawing her sword.

"Yes, if I must. If there is Bad, then I will face the Bad. If you choose to take the child up and the Bad could escape, then, yes, I will be alone in my chase. [ ... ] Mort, you need to stop seeing everything so extremely. [ ... ] It's like when Rae used to take my...blahblah... And that's why I avoid licking toads."

Mortimer sidles over to Solrisa as she speaks. Damn the consequences! Once she has finished, he reaches around her perfect waist and kisses her gently but firmly on the lips, then promptly lets her go and resumes looking for Baddies in Eligos's boudoir.

That was nice. I hope I don't qualify as a toad.

Solrisa stops speaking as her lips are encompassed by another's...her words and thoughts trailing off. The kiss however sparks a different line of thought.

He kisses differently than Uncle Charlie.

Solrisa's eyes flare open and she gently pulls away from Mort, looking at him, something in her eyes.

"Mort! Do you know what this means?!" Solrisa cries at a sudden relevation. Solrisa grabs Mort's hand, pulling him back to someplace quieter...more private.

She pulls Mort back to the aranae/webbed room, the one with the orc. Finally letting go of Mort's hand, Solrisa beckons Mort closer...to the dopple orc.

"Mort, remember? Remember the mage, Eligos? Wasn't he wearing this?" Solrisa holds up the pantings/robe of the orc, which once draped the shoulders of the fireballing and firewalling mage. "I think this is the mage. I think this shifter just shifted forms. I think...I think this is Eligos."

Solrisa looks deeply into Mort's eyes to see if he remembers the same.

"Mort! Do you know what this means?!"

"What?!" he exclaims in surprise as Solrisa grabs his hand and starts pulling. He suppresses a joyful chuckle. "Where are we going?!" He motions to Tynan to follow.

He allows himself to be drawn back to the webbing room.

"I think this is the mage. I think this shifter just shifted forms. I think...I think this is Eligos."

I wondered why he'd care so much about shapeshifters! Was our 'Eligos' the shapeshifting LEADER of the Shapeshifter Gang?!

Mortimer looks closely at the body.
"Whoa! Wow, Solrisa! I think you might be on to something! It looks similar to the robe Eligos was wearing!"
Sass, is this the robe Eligos was wearing?

"Hey, did any of the other shapeshifters have this -- what did you guys call it? -- sign thingy on their foreheads?"

Nodding at Ascaria, "A sound addition to Solaria's accessories."

Ascaria is surprised to see Sol and Mort return, but of course they would return. Why wouldn't they?

When they examine the orc, something occurs to him. "The sigil is certainly unusual, and I don't know it's true meaning, but its placement in the center of the forehead is indicative of ownership."

He considers, "So if this is Eligos, someone is pulling his strings."

"... and if Eligos is a shapeshifter, it might not be the real Eligos! Eligos might be imprisoned in his house somewhere, or be completely innocent in fact. Damn dopplegangers!" Ascaria frowns at the enemy they face and its duplicitous nature.

"So, did you find anything? And where's Tynan?"

"And where's Tynan?"

"Tynan?" Solrisa's face scrunches as she tries to remember Tynan. "Oh, Tynan!! Yes!" Solrisa's face goes to a bright remembering smile. "He's over there, I think."

Solrisa goes back to Tynan and the mysterious room of the unknown.

Once back in the room, she looks about, no longer looking for Eligos...but looking for Telakin.

Tynan continues to search the opulent chamber, hoping to find something of value, or more importantly useful in figuring out who is behind the nest of shapeshifters.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Cursory glance of the desktop leads you to a piece of paper, hastily written, in glyph words the likes you've never seen. There does appear to be a sigil at its bottom, in a thin layer of wax, which mirrors the sigil on the head of the doppelganger.

Mortimer's and Tynan's keen eyes spot a difference in dimension in the desk on its left side set of drawers. With a little jimmying, they manage to pull a very thin undertop, just below the tabletop, revealing three thin leather ledgers. A brief look through its pages yields very little, as the written language is unrecognizable.

The rest of the personal chambers has its own charms. The rather sizeable wardrobe contains an array of various costumes, from peasant to prince, professor to prostitute. All very well-made. Several outfits come with their own sets of jewelry, as well. A chest along the side of the desk contains various documents, some Egorian contracts, others merchant dealings, yet others religious decrees. Below the papers, a coin sack, containing 4000gp. Two scrolls, as well. The full-length mirror is a work of art, as is the rug, which continues to swirl into different patterns.

As most of the party convenes over the headless body of the doppelganger, it becomes apparent that the odd outfit it sports is both the mage robe of Eligos, and the pants-without-shirt of the axe-wielding orc. It seems the creature was able to wield magic as easily as it could wield the axe.

Tynan examines the ledgers closely, trying to make out the language.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

The party finds Tynan intent on parsing through the leather ledgers at the desk.

"Ascaria! Take a look at these ledgers. I can't quite make out the language."

Tynan holds out the first of the three ledgers to the gnome, hoping he can make some sense of it.

Glad that there's evidence that 'Eligos' is dead, Ascaria relaxes a little and puts away his wands.

When Tynan brings the documents, he casts Detect Magic and studies them carefully.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

(languages: Abyssal, Aklo, Auran, Celestial, Common, Dragon, Dwarven, Elvan, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Ignaz, Infernal, Orc, Sylvan, Terran, Undercommon)

Solrisa, now feeling more comfortable that there is no danger nearby, stows her shield on her back. She looks at the notes and ledgers, but tries to help unlock any mysteries that she can.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 Know (Religion)

"Ascaria, do you think it's possible that Eligos *was* Telakin? Tynan? What do you think?" Solrisa asks, her brow furrowing with thought. "He was the one that mentioned payment and negotiating of terms. If he was in charge, it might be him."

Solrisa continues to very slowly put things together.

"Ascaria, do you think it's possible that Eligos *was* Telakin?"

Mortimer recalls Eligos's Mansion and the swirling rug of the boudoir.

"We know at least one other place where he lived."

Looking back and forth between Ascaria and Tynan.

"What have you found? What does it mean?"