Andrea you find that you can hear voices again five feet away, next to Gerard. (L,0)
RD 1 update:
Initiative Order
Foe - tosses some barbs
Andrea - moved only, double moved
Orsin - sings his inspire courage and casts heroism on himself.
Aurelio - moved only
Euphemia - false life
Gerard
RD 2: Foe
You see the shadow off the building enlarge, shifting as it gobbles up the blurred image of huge chained creature. It appears to have disappeared from your vision.
Orsin, Euphemia, Andrea and Gerard hear voices and heavy footfalls coming from down the street that you entered from. A quick glance by Orsin and Euphemia can see the familiar uniforms of a dottari squad. As they get closer, they can make out a friendly face.
"Greetings Orsin. We are investigating a disturbance have you seen anything unsual."
Andrea waves back Maurice. Get back! There is a creature over there that is very hostile.
"The bastard wants to devour my hedgehog." Euphemia says by way of introduction, all desire to impress lost because of the well-chosen berserk-button pressing.
Sergeant Greenhelm motions for his squad to move into formation, weapons drawn they proceed forward. At the mouth of the alley, "What's the situation." His eyes wide as he notices Gerard by the flawed shopkeeper. "Who's that," he nods towards Aurelio who is at the other end of the alley.
"He wants to devour your hedge-a-what?" the Sergeant asks shaking his head.
----
Another guard chuckles, "Haven't 'eard it called THAT b'fore,..." This brings about another laugh from a second officer.
"I ate me a 'edgehog, last night at the brothel. She was mmm guud." a third officer pipes up, before the Sergeant bone chilling stare brings everyone back to reality.
"Sorry Misses." the two comedians mumble simultaneously.
Frank elaborates on his fear expertly to Euphemia, but only she hears it as anything other than chittering.
"The practice is as barbaric as it is impractical!" She shouts.
"Why are we even having this conversation at the moment?! There is a monster waiting!"
This is Gerard, he is a friend of the Grulios family who aided us against the Shadowbeasts. This is Aureilo Gruilos, a member of their family who is helping us with the troubles going on.
We noticed some dead bodies in this area and when we investigated, this..creature said that it killed them and was about to attack. I have no idea if it is still in the area.
Marice cautiously begins to move down the alley toward Aurelio, his squad follows spread out, they walk around Gerard to the end. They see Aurelio staring...searching...for the creature. Maurice peeks around the corner, he whispers something to Aurelio but his voice is silent.
Aurelio motions towards where he last saw the devil, he can't figure out a way to signal that it's blended into shadow.
Andrea notices that she can't hear anything still and her hands begin to bleed (2 points bleed to Caster checks) she then casts Dispel Magic at the spot where she noticed the silence take effect
The ground is littered with barbs.
Andrea manages to dispel the silence in the area.
"Where is it?"Maurice lift his head in appreciation after Andrea dispels the spell.
The ground is littered with barbs.
The path between the dead bodies and where you observed the creature is riddled with barbs.
Here is view of the entire alley but the beast is not present. Maurice and his squad will investigate the scene but other than the gruesome remains, they can not locate this creature.
Andrea stops the blood flow and moves to I-4. There is no telling if that creature is still here, It might be invisible and thus I can try to reveal it.
Andrea will cast Detect Evil and start concentrating in the direction Aurelio pointed, perhaps it's presence will be detected.(60' cone)
Andrea there are remnants of a moderately evil aura in the area running from the dead bodies northward. You do not detect the actual creature.
I say we keep watch over Maurice and the others while they gather the remains and help them. We don't want to leave and have it jump out.
The pink circles on the map is blood from the bodies.
The creature was occupying: A 5-7, -A 5-7, and -B 5-7.
North is at the top of the map.
Andrea will keep watch on the area as Maurice and the other guards gather the bodies, unless the others are set on heading to the hellknights asap.
Aurelio, can you describe what you saw?
Aurelio can describe the creature in the post. Anyone with knowledge planes can make roll with minus 5 for the second hand information.
In any event, let us get going to the Hellknights as we intended, we need to be on our guard since we heard that creature is hostile to us.
Gerard, nearly un-nerved... watches on.
It looked like a long worm that was supporting itself one multiple, misshapen limbs, complete with chains attached to itself - it also had multiple circular mouths ringed with teeth.
Aurelio shuddered as he remembered the thing - he'd seen nasty creatures before but at least they were fairly normal compared to a walking, talking worm.
Andrea you think it's some derivative of a chain devil. You've encountered a kyton before in the mayor's attack this sound's like it could be kyton rather than an actual devil. Though you are not certain, without seeing the thing or doing research, what type has been called or summoned to fulfill an contract. Clearly this one either was spell caster or had spell like abilities. He was able to cast silence, and from what you gathered from Aurelio, the ability to shadow walk.
Despite being often categorized by mortals as shadow-dwelling devils, kytons calmly refute such claims, seeing themselves as above the principles of Hell's denizens. Instead, kytons seek ecstasy through pain in the form of deliberate and violent self-transformation, adhering to the belief that by altering the physical and spiritual matter that makes up their form, they can reach a state of perfect being. Removing aspects of themselves and replacing them with more desirable or powerful pieces one at a time, kytons believe that experiences of heightened emotion and sensation (typically in the forms of terror and pain) lead to greater states of awareness and existence. The dedication with which they practice this belief places them on the level of zealots, their fanatical commitment made all the more disturbing by their eerie composedness and unnaturally cool disposition.
This sounded like a type of chain devil called a Kyton. They are often called shadow devils but they seem to deny such claims. They indulge in painful self-transformation in order to evolve into a more perfect state. They believe experiencing extreme terror and pain is part of this. I do not know what kind appeared before Aurelio but it was able to silence sound and walk within the shadow world.
If such a being has been called to kill us, we must be even more on guard. No sleeping alone at night, I can pray for magical glyphs to protect our rooms and Hallow an area for protection and perhaps there are scrolls we have left that can help ward us.
[ooc]Everyone ok with being shepherded away to the Hellknights? :)
It is after dark once the dottari finish their investigation and clean up. "thanks for watching our backs. So you're heading to Taranick House? Rumor is the Citadel Rivad has issued some unusual orders to the local Paralictor Chard." He claps each of your forearms and moves his men out.
Andrea looks up at the moon, rather surprised that the threat of Shadowbeasts no longer exists. My pleasure. I wonder if they will see us now that it is dark, but we are under pressure to get this settled before Vourne arrives. So perhaps we will be able to bunk there if our letter of introduction is accepted.
Andrea holds her hand out and a glowing ball of light forms as she and the others move through the streets towards Taranick House.[/b]
While heading toward Taranick House you see two additional squads of dotarri forming up keeping the peace, it's a quite frantic in the area. As you push forth and you manage to get an officer's attention, he'll tell you. "Iltus Mhartis, our leader was assassinated about 2 hours ago...damn hellknights."
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Andrea's brain goes utterly offline that she mentally connects with Bob.
*Oh! Honey Bunny!*
*Fnord*
"The hellknights did what?!?!"[/b] the witch asks, clenching her tired fists into a ball.
"I know you have a friend in there, Andrea, but I am inclined to think poorly of a crackdown. This, quite obviously, is one of those things."
Andrea shakes herself back to awareness. He said 'Damn Hellknights', that doesn't mean they did it and I wouldn't be surprised if the Drovanges had their fingers in this. We should keep with our original goal of getting an audiance with the Paralictor. This is where orsin will shine as well with his gift of gab and ferreting out truth and lies.
Andrea does turn to the dottari. What happened? Can you tell me of the event?
DMPC Knowledge local
Orsin says, "The Mayor's nephew if I'm not mistaken. A political appointment."
--------
Gerard knows much more:
Yes...he was the Mayor's nephew. A corrupt bastard. The Duxotar is the commander of the City guard. A drunkard who let the city guard be apportioned into four nearly independent forces. Two of those Captains have the interest of citizens at heart: Durtas Saria Roccin and Durtas Arik Turnas. Two others are quick to look the other way: Durtas Scasi Bolvona and Durtas Lhiana Strikis. That's the streets news at least.
Why would the Hellknights assassinate anyone? Aren't they the law, can't they just arrest someone?
Exactly, they can pretty much stride up and haul people away for 'questioning'. We have seen them raid houses before and a Dottari commander is probably high up enough that a 'house arrest' is likely until the various palms are greased. We can no doubt ask the Paralictor about this.
"Mistress, if I may venture a suggestion? Please refrain from speaking to the paralictor. Your temper has been on a flanderized fuse as of late."
Frank peeps from the confines of his specialized carrier.
Anddrea will lead the party off when they are ready.
You make your way to to Taranik House which is located in Parego Spera, close to thejunction of Rego Scripa, Rego Pena, and Rego Sacero.
It is a single-story stone building, Taranik House is nonetheless
intimidating in its squat and imposing presence—part castle, part bunker, part icon of the Order of the Rack. It is apparent that while the Hellknights are not actively patrolling the streets currently, their reputation has not vanished, and the mayhem and anarchy you've encountered elsewhere in Westcrown are not present within two blocks of Taranik House. A pair of Hellknights stands guard before the building’s front gates, you see them informing a merchant at the gate that Taranik House is closed while the paralictor and his aides plan for the city’s defense.
DMPC Gerard: Before you get to the taranik house.
Gerard would add this to the assassination information he knew. Yes...he was the Mayor's nephew. A corrupt bastard. The Duxotar is the commander of the City guard. A drunkard who let the city guard be apportioned into four nearly independent forces. Two of those Captains have the interest of citizens at heart: Durtas Saria Roccin and Durtas Arik Turnas. Two others are quick to look the other way: Durtas Scasi Bolvona and Durtas Lhiana Strikis. That's the streets news at least.
Andrea approaches the guards. Good day, I am Andrea and have come at the request of Lady Sascar Tilneros to speak with the Paralictor about aiding with solving the troubles the currently plague Westcrown.
Andrea presents the letter to the guards.
The two Hellknight guards look at each other from under their visors. One shifts, "Follow me." They lead you through the compound and into the house. "Wait here."
Andrea waits with the others and has a paranoid thought.
Should we have read the letter beforehand? It might of said 'Kill the bearers of this letter.'