ulgulanoth |
Alright, your guide takes you up a few corridors and a bunch of spiral staircases until you reach the top of a tower. Inside is a cramped library, filled with rotting books and scrolls. Sitting on the floor reading 5 books at a the same time is an ancient looking woman, small and gray, with Tien complections.
Durgen Grimhelm |
Durgen addresses her as they enter, "Professor Ocra, I assume. I am Durgen Grimhelm, inquisitor of Torag, with me are Sunset, The Madwand, Agia, Aden of the Shield from Magnimar, and Hashar. We have stumbled upon some strange events these pasts few days and need your help."
Assuming she is willing, Durgen will tell her of the events since Sandpoint.
"Sunset" |
Sunset stands politely by the door, prolly out in the landing where the stairs arise. Since it seems a small room, even with such a small occupant.
At Durgen's introduction Sunset removes her hat and bows to the Professor. Then promptly settles her hat back into place.
"Sunset" |
Sunset holds her position...again her hand reflexively clutching at the empty pouch upon her hip. She shifts her stance and rests a fist above the hilt of the mace upon her belt...
Durgen Grimhelm |
Durgen pulls the small gold and jade box out of his backpack. He finds a place on the table and opens it revealing a finely crafted ring inside, it is made of gold and obsidian, and is embeded in a bed of blood stained velvet.
"Now the box and the ring are magical. When I touched it, I felt a tingling sensation rush through my hands. I haven't noticed anything else, but I have been holding onto it since then in case it has any side effects. I am also wearing a device to protect me from scrying."
ulgulanoth |
She snatches the ring in one hand and the box with the other with inhumanly quick speed "Oh, this is amazing, where did you find them?" she says admiring the ring and the box, "Well this is... oh my... how did you find these things?! Such power, from the depths of Abadon it self... no... these were made... here... interesting... I didn't know anything had such skill, such power to craft them here"
"Sunset" |
Sunset listens intently, but her eyes turn to look back down the stair well...and her glance passes over any windows...
Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
ulgulanoth |
Agia
"Well, I'm not really sure, only one way to find out" and with that she puts on the ring, as soon as it is on her finger her skin burns up rappidly turning into charcoal. She bearly has a chance to scream before her entire body is turned to a pile of dust
"Sunset" |
"WHAT.THA.FAQ!" (O_o)
"And people here are askin' me why I don't avail m'self of their finger wigglin'!" Sunset declares.
Hashar. |
The half-orc's eyes go wide when the women turns to ash, then a smile goes on his face as he remembers what she said may seek this ring...and thinks to himself Never fought any creatures from the abyss before this could be fun..
He speaks up when they deciede what to do with it, "Yeah right safe here, your so called expert just got turned to ash by it. Your safe place my protect it from outsiders but it seems the ones who wish to take the ring are inside these walls." He pats his greatsword's handle and states, "It will be safe with us for the time being."
The Madwand |
Toby jumps up and says, "Whoa, neat trick lady. You proved our point. You can come back now. We know the ring is dangerous. We won't put it on."
I am thinking Toby is like Ben Stiller in Tropical Thunder -- he can't believe the expert is really dead.
It has to be a magic trick. My dad played plenty on me as a kid-- all of them mean and vindictive.
Turning to the group, "The most believable part of the illusion is how the ash started at the ring and worked its way down the hand, arm and throughout the body. That was truly a good one."
Agia |
Agia crouches and pokes at the ashes. "It's a terrific illusion, that's for sure. That scream made it seem almost real." She shoots Madwand a befuddled look.
She rises and regards Hashar, dusting the ashes from her fingertips. "Are you certain we should keep this thing? It's full of souls who are not being allowed to go to their rest. Pharasma would probably have something to say about it. Perhaps we should take it to a temple of hers. Maybe they would be able to break its control on the poor prisoners."
ulgulanoth |
"Well we haven't really been seeing eye to eye with the clergy of pharsma since the... well that incident... Now there is no way I'm letting you guys take that thing without some protection, it will take a while but at least you can be sure it's evil won't hurt you... mostly" Says the guide as he starts grabbing scrolls from the tower and an old bag made from snake hide
"As for it being a trick... its not, but it was bound to happen anyway, Ocra had already lost her mind twice from reading those things" he points at the books on the floor
"Sunset" |
Sunset just tilts her head....then shakes it...
*Sigh* "And here I was, thinking this place would be of help..." She mutters (-_-).
Hashar. |
"Is that really what you intend robe! Cause if you be telling me lady here a lie you will regret it." Hashar snarls at the guide exposing his large tusks.
Intimidate:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Sense Motive:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
darn where were these rolls during our fight hehe.
Durgen Grimhelm |
Now there is no way I'm letting you guys take that thing without some protection, it will take a while but at least you can be sure it's evil won't hurt you... mostly
"What protections can you offer, and what do you mean by the evil won't hurt us mostly?"
Sense Motive 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Aden of the Shield |
Aden follows along quite caught up in it all.
What have I gotten myself into?
Umm..can't you mages magically send it into a volcano or something. Dad told me a story once about this ring that a halfing threw into one...
"Sunset" |
Sunset follows along and listens to the guide's explanation. She shakes her head.
"So....you're going to be a tad more careful with your finger wiggling and not end up a puff of smoke, then?" She asks him sounding very nonchalant as she leans against the door frame.
ulgulanoth |
Durgen read Hashar's spoiler
"By protection I mean it will stop any corrupting effects if it has any, prevent evil creatures from touching the items and prevent anyone from using them in a way that would end the person's life like Professor Ocra" He looks at Aden "Unfortunatly teleportation is not very accurate, we can't afford to have an item of this power appearing in the wrong place"
The Madwand |
"Okay, the others are being quite patient. Rather than treat us like children and tell us just enough to get us killed, tell us the full story. Bring out the head guy here and let's deal with this--this is serious badness. Roust the academics from their beds and get them hittting the books. We need answers, not just secretive mumbo jumbo."
Just like dad, these people. Geesh.
"Sunset" |
Sunset starts muttering under her breath at the fellow's response. Generally about things involving contortion, anatomy and what strangely sounds like plumbing terms.........