"If the Mayor is first on the list of those who were next to be murdered, he should be the first we inform of these crimes. His word may be worth more than that of the Magistrate, if we mean to keep him alive, and have some means of bearing him to the ground and transporting him to the Mayor's location without misadventure. It is also possible that, being so high on the list, that servants of these individuals are already en route to murder the Mayor, and it would be to our advantage to arrive before that happens, and not at such an inopportune time as to be framed for his grisly death..."
That, of course, would be the *perfect* frame up, for us to arrive to be found standing over a bloodily murdered Mayor, with the tied up and assaulted Grand Magistrate in our possession, who is revived by the authorities and proceeds to accuse us of everything, while we stand there red-handed, trying to convince them it was all some death-cult that lived in a clocktower or something...
Marak turns to the snake-woman, wondering what sort of magic could have so transformed her, and why it has not faded with her death.
Cast detect magic, examining the snake-lady, the hooded guy, and the shreds of the mask Roman carved from his face.
"Do you think, Roman, the mask may have affected his mind, and that he might be an innocent pawn in all of this? I can probe his thoughts, but I had assumed him to be a willing servant of murder..."
"The insights provided to me by the Lord of Magic speak nothing of this serpent-woman, which, in itself, speaks volumes. Either she is protected by some magic from divination of this sort, or she is like nothing to be found in book or tome, a unique creature, or a mortal woman transformed by magic..."
With a word and a gesture, he staunches the flow of blood from the man's wounds, then the snake-woman's. stablize cantrip
"If this man I do not recognize is truly a grand magistrate, and serves the God of Murder's agenda, it would be a word from his lips to sentence us all to hang for attacking him. If his life is to be spared, I would rather us be many miles from this town before he awakes, lest we leave on a corpse-cart."
"I will not run the clock out on his life in passive manner, by simply standing by and allowing him to die, but I will indeed without guilt or hesitation kick his body from yonder balcony if we agree that his own crimes far outweigh any need to subject ourself to a lawless and corrupt court which serves his murderous whim..."
Marak flinches a bit at Roman's boastful words, and makes a superstitious Varisian gesture to ward off evil, tucking his thumb into his fist and biting his forefinger.
"Do not challenge the Lady of Graves with such speech, Roman. She cannot lose this game, for all the pieces will be hers in the end."
Marak steps forward and touches the fallen snake-woman, and then the hooded man, attempting to use Lore Keeper to learn information regarding the creature. counts as a successful knowledge check of whatever knowledge applies for this creature, at DC 27
As he crosses to the 'slithering death,' he asks calmly, "Was anyone gravely injured, or poisoned, and require immediate treatement?"
Marak flinches at the shared damage from the snake-woman's attack on Muchorak, but it (unfortunately) cannot be blamed for his uninspired spellcasting results.
Muchorak only takes four points of damage as Marak takes the other four.
Marak casts another spell, attempting to unravel whatever magics the snake-woman has used to enhance herself.
Targeted Dispel magic on snake-lady. Three dispel checks, in case she has up to three effects, holler if you need more. DC is the 11 plus the caster level of the spell, starting with the highest caster level effect, and continuing until it dispels a spell, or fails to dispel anything she's got up. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
So many choices. Summoning a lantern archon almost guarantees that Muchorak will get hit and I'll blow my concentration check and lose the spell. Dispelling magic on the snake-lady guarantees that I'll roll crappy on the dispel check. Invisibility purge it is, just in case they have friends we can't see yet... I don't have to roll for that to work!
Marak steps forward away from the ledge, wanting to be nowhere he could get bull rushed off of it, and calls upon Nethys to strip away magics of deception.
Move to 13.07, any invisible creatures or objects within 35 ft. of Marak become visible.
Marak remains close to the wall, unwilling to surrender to the playful instincts that have swept up Romon. He attempts to move like a climber, from place where he can grip a secure handhold to place where he might be able to stand, as if unable to trust the magic to hold him aloft, and fearing that it might fail at any moment.
Knowledge (architecture) to try and locate secure looking places to hold onto or land, if necessary. Take 10, for a 16, if possible, otherwise...
"Take care not to linger directly beneath the bells. To someone who lurks high above, it would be but the work of a moment to send one toppling down to crush us..." Marak says in a low voice, seeing danger where none likely exists.
He quietly calls upon Nethys to open his eyes to the glow of magic, and keeps an eye out for magical auras.
detect magic
His architect's sensibilities are offended at the state this building has fallen into. A tower of such height may have taken years to construct, and here it stands, useless and abandoned.
Marak's eyes widen at the sight of the mummified appendage, and he pulls back a bit before gathering his wits and forcing a smile, "How perfectly ghastly. Thank you for your thoughtful generosity."
He takes the items and views it closely, any trace of his earlier surprise carefully tucked away. Who did you offend, friend elf, that someone would hack your hand off and make it into a macabre item of spellcraft?
As Roman holds up his disguise kit and waits for comers, Marak waves him off, "No cosmetics for me. I'm pretty enough the way I am. I'm just going to have a nice meal, and read until you are done scouting about."
He produces a random book from his haversack, and begins reading about the aftershocks that followed Aroden's demise.
Marak's eyes widen as Roman's comments to Muchorak go wandering into uncharted territory.
"In any event, the less scout the territory, the less chance of being spotted. I would recommend that Ali and Roman handle this task between them, and the rest of us remain out of sight until they return. If half of us end up going, we might as well just all go and assault the place, rather than call it a 'reconnaissance.'"
"The two of you should *quickly* scout the area, and return. No stopping to check the locks or sneak inside for a 'quick peek.' That never ends well."
Marak keeps an eye out for figures watching them. He knows that at least one of their foes escaped them, and is concerned about the hunters becoming the hunted...
Marak nods at Naria's suggestion, and takes a close look at Roman.
Heal check1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
"If the mask is spiritually toxic, Alisebett might have a better handle on that sort of thing than I, she seems to be able to sniff out corruption as keenly as any spell."
Relieved that Roman has already removed the mask, and that the others appear to have the situation in hand, Marak goes to each of the fallen cultists, and offers up a few words to speed their souls on their way.
He makes no effort to staunch the bleeding, if any aren't quite 'on their way' yet. Servants of the god of murder, you have reaped what must be, in your faith, an honorable death.
In the process, he'll take up any coin, magical trinket or item of visible worth, in addition to the black masks, which he loops through his belt, unwilling to place them in his haversack, lest they somehow taint his other belongings...
Take 10 Heal check to determine how hurt Inikai is, total 20. From the Profile, it looks like he's down 3 hit points?
Marak turns from leaving to find Roman, and produces his wand, passing it over the wound on Inikai's abdomen. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
As if just remembering the injuries he took from binding his life-energies to Muchorak, he turns to the Shoanti and checks him over for serious injury. Take 10 again, for a 20 on the Heal check. Profile indicates he's at full hit points.
Moving in the direction that Roman took off to, Marak begins to scan the area for any sign of what these death-cultists were up to, muttering an invocation to Nethys to guide his sight.
guidance assisted Perception check, also casts detect magic, periodically while searching. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
He does not attempt to stabilize the fallen cultists.
Sorry, week away with internet turned into week away without internet without warning!
Marak steps back a pace (to 14.10, if he can still get line-of-effect to 'throw' his morningstar from there) and sends his morningstar to attempt another blow.
bless-enhanced hand of the acolyte-powered morningstar attack1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 damage1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Marak shrugs off the surprise and shock of the sudden injury, and unweaves stored magic to form into a spell of healing. He then steps forward a pace and delivers that healing to Muchorak.
Spontaneous conversion of his second shield other spell to cure moderate wounds, then 5 ft. step to deliver it to Muchorak. He didn't want to cast it within what he assumed to be the creature's reach. 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11healing to Muchorak
He then steps back, hoping to remain clear of the creature's attacks, and force it to continue concentrating on Muchorak (and perhaps leave room for someone else to enter the fray).
Marak steps a pace to the south 14.09 and begins casting a spell.
summon monster III, full round casting, at the end of the round, if he's not interrupted, 1d3 ⇒ 3 augmented earth elementals appear adjacent to three of the smaller foes and remain for 7 rounds. Marak does not speak Terran, so they will attack foes at their own discretion, and his sole control of their targets will be via placing them next to people. He intends to place one in the 12.07/12.08 area, and the other two in the 17.08-17.11 area.
Stats
Spoiler:
Augmented Earth Elemental; Small Outsider (elemental), Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4; AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (-1 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size); hp 17 (2d10+6); Fort +6, Ref -1, Will +3; Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide; Melee slam +8 (1d6+6); Str 20, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11; Base Atk +2; CMB +6; CMD 15); Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack; Skills Appraise +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +7; SQ earth glide, earth mastery, elemental traits, outsider traits
At the reaction to the captive man to Esteriande's questioning, Marak mutters under his breath as he ponders, "These men have the fanaticism of a cult. What dark faith would require its own to hide their faces, so?"
Knowledge - religion, to see if he can think of a faith that suits these men and their behavior.1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
If Marak can move into the room, and get out of Naria and Inikai's way, he will, unleashing his morningstar as he does at the man in 12.09.
hand of the acolyte powered morningstar attack, including +1 for bless1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 damage1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
If he cannot enter the room, he unleashes his morningstar from the doorway (same target, same roll as above), and then steps back past Inikai after the morningstar floats back to his hand, allowing them to move forward, so that Naria, at least, will be able to take action on any visible foes.
Marak can't see a thing, so resorts to casting a bless spell and moving forward as soon as it is feasible to do so, attempting to get inside the mill. He unslings his morningstar, as part of that action.
+1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saves vs. fear for 5 minutes. I believe that Esteriande and Romon are out of range / line-of-effect, 'though.
Marak says, "Whatever we do, we should move in quickly, so as to avoid drawing even more attention than we surely are already."
Scent chat should probably go to OOC. We're on the docks. Ali probably can't smell anything useful out here over the full-bodied scent of dead fish seasoned with the delicate overtones of human waste. :)
Thanks for the input, Set. I hadn't even been thinking about craft wondrous til hogarth suggested it. I guess part of my question is are there enough cool things you can make at third level.
I put a list in my profile, one sec while I dig it up...
Here's the stuff that he has the spells for, on his Cleric list;
Spoiler:
Healing Belts, for those who don't already have them, perhaps? (500 gp to craft)
He'll be able to craft Belts of Giant's Strength +2 or Mighty Constitution +2, Headbands of Alluring Charisma +2 or Inspired Wisdom +2 as well (or Physical Might - Str + Con, or Mental Prowess - Wis + Cha). A +2 belt or headband is 2000 gp to craft, and one that gives +2 to Str+Con or Wis+Cha is 5000 gp to craft. (He'd need another caster present to be able to craft an item with +2 Dex or +2 Int, to cast Cat's Grace or Fox's Cunning.)
Cloaks of Resistance +1, also an option. 500 gp. to craft. Won't be able to make +2 cloaks until sixth level.
Pearls of Power (1st - 3rd level), 500 gp, 2000 gp or 4500 gp.
Others; Bottle of Air, Candle of Truth, Circlet of Persuasion, Minor Circlet of Blasting, Cube of Frost Resistance, Elixir of Truth, Gem of Brightness, Goggles of Night, Helm of Comprehending Languages and Reading Magic, Helm of Underwater Action, Horn of Fog, Horn of Goodness/Evil, Lantern of Revealing, Medallion of Thought, Periapt of Health, Phylactery of Faithfulness, Robe of Bones (naughty!), Silversheen, Sovereign Glue, Stone of Good Luck, Necklace of Prayer Beads (bless, healing), Sustaining Spoon, Unguent of Timelessness
Note that other stuff, that he lacks the prereq for, just adds +5 to the DC (and might be counterable with a second caster present to fill in blanks like Fox's Cunning or Cat's Grace).
Marak is both relieved to be on the move again, and yet peevish that the idle comforts of bathing and eating cooked meals and sleeping in actual beds have been snatched away. A taste of the city life has brought it all back to him...
Seeing the mill before them, and uncertain as to what the day may bring, he casts shield other upon Muchorak, binding their lives together again.
He then opens his eyes to the glow of magic, looking for any obvious signs of glamer on the structure, as they discuss where to enter.
Marak will bathe, but is not particularly chatty (as if he's ever chatty...), and seems to treat the experience as an exercise to be gotten over with. He devotes more time to airing out his clothes and armor, seeing little point to bathing himself, and then putting on the same smelly clothing, and spends more time cooling off in the plunge pool than in the baths.
Marak's eyes widen slightly at the fine craftsmanship of the gift, before also admiring the pearl's magical qualities. He bows his head to the 'Princess,' "A fine gift, highness, pleasing to the eye and of powerful purpose. I'm sure it will assist in resolving our shared concerns."
Take 10 on Diplomacy for a 17, to observe whatever protocols seem most appropriate.
Largesse does seem prudent, in the face of a mysterious killer targetting those who are overly avaricious, Marak thinks, upgrading his initial impression of the woman's intentions.
Marak notices that Ali seems a bit intimidated by the sheer number of people around, and says to her in a low voice, "Just remember, Alisebett, that all these people are clustered here in the city because they lack the skill necessary to live in the much larger world beyond its walls, where people like you and Muchorak walk without fear."
"Lunas is wiser in the ways of surviving in the world outside of these walls than many you see here. They do not see it as such, but this city is a cage, that they cannot easily escape."
Posts
