Briar debates while he waits.
Barael watches intently while Fondo reassures himself that the levers are truly inactive, harkening back to Glorio's promise to stop things about the maze.
If she has, Dandi then uses her hair to pick the lock and peek out.
Charlie learns nothing new from his detections.
Fondo goes to throw the other switch... and cannot. The lever will not budge. Nikolay comes over to help, and try as you might your combined strengths are insufficient to get that lever to shift from it's position.
You see a man with distinguished gray hair at the temples on a rack. He has apparently collapsed from the pain and is currently unconscious.
The beatific one is preparing another rack - presumably for you. One of her three heads turns slightly to see you and she calls out across the room, "Now dearie, that really is no good for you. You should keep that window closed. You'll see your fate soon enough!" She gestures, and the tiny window slams shut. A moment later it's again latched against you.
"Dangit! She startled me and I accidentally relocked the lock! I hate when I do that!" She doesn't waste time moping over it, though, but prepares herself to glare at the creature when ever either of the doors opens.
Frustrated, Fondo moves to explore the walls of the room. "Brov, Kako, Niko: we've a need to find the door to beyond. Focus!"
Barael scrambles to the farthest wall, and searches as best he can.
After a few minutes, Barael find a secret door at K5.
Nikolay is tempted to touch another sphere, but manages to restrain himself... for now.
Barael revels in finding a path that doesn't subject him to another prison cell. "Brov, here.". He opens the door, but not before listening at it.
He draws Black Tooth, and readies a swing on anything aggressive that moves at him.
Barael hears nothing as he opens the door and steps through.
A five-foot-diameter pool of murky green water nearly fills the small circular room to the south. A heavy wooden door is found on the north wall. Nikolay stays away from the water.
How's it going over there, Rat? Anything new? Should I bust out now or wait for you?
Briar pulls out a scroll.
Pressed by the circumstances, Barael heads to the northern door, examines for traps and/or triggers, before opening it.
Again, he keeps a stab ready for anything coming through the door in a violent way.
"Shall we?" Barael waits, but only for a little, for the others to advance. He then opens the door, not a bit reassured that the quiet keeps him guessing at the next attack.
A great green throne sits atop a dais in the northern end of the room. You can barely make out a lever just behind the dais. To either side stand statues of a tiger-headed man - each holds aloft a pair of chains from which manacles dangle. On the west side hangs what looks like Vencarlo Orsini… again. Dried blood spatters the walls, floor, and even the throne and statues, filling the room with its stale reek.
Barael moves cautiously to the man 'chained' to the wall. "Vencarlo? Vencarlo! Hey!! Talk to us! And speak clearly. We just dealt with something that looked like you, and we're likely to slay you in our disbelief."
Verncarlo does not respond, nor does he move. He continues to hang limply from his chains.
Fondo approaches Vencarlo and touches him lightly. "Calm yourself, Brov. We'll see soon enough whether he's friend or foe. Help me get these chains off. Signore, can you hear me?"
He takes out his wand and applies a bit of healing to this latest Vencarlo.
"Kako, what do you make of his injuries?"
Briar practices spinning his thumbs, his fingers interlaced. First, he does 100 spins towards the setting sun as the Golarion spins. Then, he cleverly reverses directions and does 100 spins as the water drains.
My thumbs grow strong. Soon, I will master this magic too.
Barael stands his ground, keeping a watchful eye on 'Vencarlo II' as Fondo tends to him. He examines the chains for authenticity, before he sets to work on them.
If Barael finds himself frustrated at the picking, he'll spend the time needed to release the man. Should that not be enough, he eyes Vencarlo's wrists.
Well now, Nevvie, I don't know. I've not had a chance to look at him. Surely you will give an old man his due and give him a little time to drain his cup and creep up to the poor soul. 'I'm just a poor old man. My legs are grey. My ears are gnarled. My eyes are old and bent.'"
"Now there, let's have a look at you shall we? Vencarlo? Vencarlo? Can you hear me?"
Briar works hard to find a third way to twiddle his thumbs, but the alternate thumb move eludes him so far.
Fondo heals Vencarlo a bit, but he does not quite regain consciousness. He seems rather badly injured.
Barael is unable to pick the locks with his first tries, but after another loooong two minutes he gets the locks undone and Vencarlo flops to the floor, bare skin slapping against the hard flagstones.
Charlies moves up and examines this new Vencarlo. He finds the same sorts of injuries as on the last. A little dexterity damage, a little constitution damage, and a lot of hit point damage. He thinks, though it's hard to be certain, that this Vencarlo is also fatigued from starvation and thirst. Maybe each Vencarlo you find will have new and interesting injuries to heal!
Charlie will stretch Vencarlo out and make him comfortable and get to work.
"So, my friend, are you feeling better? What's your favorite color? What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? When and where did we last speak?"
Barael will stay within striking distance of Vencarlo's coup-able body, and strain to see through any disguise put forth. He's good, if this is a ruse. I feel sorry for the abused aristocrat here.
Although beaten and in pain, his expression brightens immediately upon seeing the PCs, and he even manages a smile as he says, “I see you got my note...”
He looks a little confused by the questions, but does his best to answer. He speaks slowly and clearly painfully, but thoroughly. "Blue. Er, uh. 24 miles per hour I think."
He takes a moment to think as he sits up against the pillar for strength, "We last spoke at my place with Trinia on Toilday, Sarenith 12, 4707." He's very specific...
Charlie believes he's telling the truth. Barael detects no disguises.
"Sorry, my man. We've experienced some troubles on our way to you. Including Notyou."
"Vencarlo, I see that you are in no condition to fight, even if I do heal you all the way. I'm going to give you some walking around healing and conserve our resources. You stay by me. I'm not discussing this with you. I'm telling you how it is."
AC 14 mithral shirt
CMD 14
HP = 54/57
Harrow Points: 5
Elemental HP 68/68
Holy Water Vials: 10
If anyone is poisoned or diseased Charlie will attempt a heal check (14)
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:15 (Create Water, Guidance, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:16 (7/8 per day) (Bless, Bless Water, Doom, Ray of enfeeblement, Remove Fear, Cure Light, Protection from Evil)
Second Level: DC:17 (7/8 per day) (Eagle's Splendor, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Sound Burst, Cure Moderate)
Third Level: DC:18 (5/7 per day) (Prayer, Remove Disease, Searing Light, Cure Serious, Dispel Magic)
Fourth Level: DC:19 (5/5 per day)(Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Holy Smite, Neutralize Poison, Cure Critical Wounds)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt 3/9 times per day. 1d8+5 dam
summon elemental: once per day 6/6 rounds per day + ring: 6/6 rnds
Sociable Trait5/5 rounds per day
wand CSW 36/37
wand CLW 2/50
wand blessings of fervor 38/50
Rod of Reach 3/3 per day
Weapon equipped = Biting wit (and a MW dagger)
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
Barael leans in closer, sheathing his blade. "What flavor of captor you been subjected to? Sphinx, rakshasa... beautiful one? We've bested at least one of the first two, but the third still seems to be waiting for us, and not here it saddens me to say." Barael studies the lever.
"Briar and Dandi are somewhere else. Briar has told us as much that he's locked up somewhere, with that multi-armed creature just outside his door. You wouldn't happen to know how to get there, would ya?"
Fondo gives Vencarlo and a big hug. "Signore, you're a sight for sore eyes. Of course, the rakshasa that bore your mien was also a sight for sore eyes... Er, this means I must apologize a second time. In searching you out, we found these while seeking clues about your captors. Tis a double honor to call you friend." He holds out the bag of holding and offers the rapier hilt first.
Vencarlo turns to Charlie, "Stay with you? As you wish. I'm in no condition to do much else. Do you have any food? Water? I'm quite parched. I don't know when I've last had food or water, but it has been some days."
"I've seen no rakshasa but I've seen the sphinx and the beatific one - she's handy with the hammer."
He winces a bit as he grabs his sack, then turns to Fondo taking his blade and other things in hand. "Ah yes. So you know the truth. At least I'll have my gear. We must get to Neolandus and flee the city!"
He dresses slowly, still in some pain and fatigued. As he dons the mask, his features change a little and he becomes more swarthy, and younger. He reaches over and throws the switch on the wall moving the lever into the 'up' position. There is no discernible effect.
"Come, there is an illusory wall - all we need to is walk through it and head to the torture chamber. I bet that's where your friends are locked up."
He leads (from the rear, telling you where to go as he stays by Charlie's side) you back to the hall with the tiger heads. He seems oblivious to the traps (good thing they've been unset) as he moves through the spaces you so recently occupied. Then he comes up short against the wall created by Briar.
"What is this?! This was not here any of the times I was brought through."
She throws open the door and gives you the initiative to do what you will (though she does block the door preventing your egress). She has her weapons out.
"Uh, yeah. Briar threw that together on our way in. We were trying to avoid attacks from both sides while we tried to get our strength back, once we popped on of those symbols. Painful, that." Barael looks the wall up and down.
"Charlie, can you work stone like Briar did? Or can you break it down with one of your rock buddies?" Barael backs away from the wall, in case things start to happen. Huh. We're on the same side of the wall like those Queen's Physicians left to rot beneath the Blessed Maiden. That must have been a nasty way to die.
Charlie give VC some water and whatever rations we have on hand.
I need to get some better munchies from Saul's for the road. This is not the first time for this to come up.
"Sorry about the food, but I have some good water here. Once you are more put together we need to share proper drinks."
Briar works hard to find a third way to twiddle his thumbs, but the alternate thumb move eludes him.
Briar, determined to master what cannot be mastered, re-starts his thumb work from scratch, working through the motions again.
I will conquer this magic.
Fondo sees the stone wall still standing there and laughs heartily.
Brother Rose, it seems your stone wall stands between us and you. Mayhap you can sculpt the stone around your door to let yourself out, so that you might come let us out of this cell.
** spoiler omitted **
Briar stops his important thumb work to answer the Varisian.
Ah, Varisian, there you are. Glad to know that the effects of my magics linger. Such is the power of Nethys. And me. I could easily sculpt myself out of this cell, but only if you all would enjoin me in fighting this captor. I do think I can face her alone. Maybe...but the spheres await.
"You flatter me with this name, Varisian. I could only hope to be the paragon of my people that you think me to be. We have accomplished so much as a folk, but for myself only a great deal. But, yes. The portal. Tell me, do you think Brov could open the doors to these cells? Mayhap sending him first'll plant the seed for an invasion force."
Fondo turns to Barael, Charlie, Nikolay and Vencarlo. "We're to go through the sphere. Brov, your tools'll make for a strong first wave. Signore, I suggest you stay behind a minute or two while we clear the way." He begins walking back to the room with the spheres.
Per OOC with Euan an earth elemental can use the earth glide thing to carry folks through and 6 rounds would be enough to bring everyone. So that's what happens.
"Hold on tight everyone. I'm going to have a giant rock carry us through the door/wall over there. You'll be fine, but I expect it is going to get weird."
Charlie picks up two rocks and summons a large earth elemental. When he shows up, Charlie bangs the rocks together and points frantically at everyone and the door/wall. Suddenly we are all whisked to the other side covered in dirt.
AC 14 mithral shirt
CMD 14
HP = 54/57
Harrow Points: 5
Elemental HP 68/68
Holy Water Vials: 10
If anyone is poisoned or diseased Charlie will attempt a heal check (14)
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:15 (Create Water, Guidance, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:16 (7/8 per day) (Bless, Bless Water, Doom, Ray of enfeeblement, Remove Fear, Cure Light, Protection from Evil)
Second Level: DC:17 (5/8 per day) (Eagle's Splendor, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Sound Burst, Cure Moderate)
Third Level: DC:18 (5/7 per day) (Prayer, Remove Disease, Searing Light, Cure Serious, Dispel Magic)
Fourth Level: DC:19 (5/5 per day)(Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Holy Smite, Neutralize Poison, Cure Critical Wounds)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt 3/9 times per day. 1d8+5 dam
summon elemental: once per day 6/6 rounds per day + ring: 0/6 rnds
Sociable Trait5/5 rounds per day
wand CSW 36/37
wand CLW 2/50
wand blessings of fervor 38/50
Rod of Reach 3/3 per day
Weapon equipped = Biting wit (and a MW dagger)
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
Dandi looses the spell she's been saving, bestow curse, (DC16)
The Rat? He definitely could open it. Maybe. He's quite good. Either his talents or my magics will earn freedom."
Briar stands in his cell, scroll in hand, and waits.
Barael hyperventilates for a brief spell while the others are excreted through the wall. "I... would... rather gone... through the spheres..." He shakes himself off, and readies to return to the wall.
"Can we talk with that creature, Vencarlo? Or is it like the rest, just waiting to be slain? Can we bully it away?"
"I don't know," Vencarlo replies, "I don't know it's psychology. It is quite mean though... I would see it slain if we can manage it." He draws his sword, but holds it gingerly and without strength as he moves back to the entrance of the maze.
She dances a little as she attacks, the lightning fast blows coming on as she spins in a circle. It is clear she means to subdue you and place you on the rack for further enjoyment. "This is such a waste. Do you yield?"
Perception
Uhm...is that your sounds of combat? Something is happening outside...where are you guys?
Did you hear that? Sounded like trouble, didn't it?
"Signore, quickly. Point the way. We must hurry. I fear jell'inedra is under attack!"
Fondo begins to run in whatever direction Vencarlo indicates.
Vencarlo gestures to the wall the party investigated briefly at the beginning. He walks up to it and passes his hand through it showing you it is now a false wall made up of mere illusion. You're fairly sure it was solid before.
Does the group have a light source? All is darkness beyond the wall.
Barael passes through the wall, when Vencarlo's hand demonstrates the illusion. He peers ahead with his Darkvision, and calls back with his observations through the telepathy. If magical darkness meets him, he opens the pendant given to him by Fondo, before advancing.
Barael cannot see until he brings the light of Deyanira into the hall. It's a short hall, with steep stairs leading down a flight and ending in a pair of double doors - firmly closed to you.
Hrm. Barael looks the door over.
Should the door reveal something his picks can woo, he works them over as best he can.
Fondo opens up his locket and lets Deyanira's light flood the passageway.
It'll be a moment, Brother Rose. Some noise on your part might give us a valuable distraction.
Hmm...there are sounds of combat outside, not sure if it's the Waif or not. I'll see if the sounds continue, then break free. Hopefully, you are close.
Nikolay waits impatiently for Barael to open the door.
"If it looks safe, let us move quickly."
Nikolay holds his sword in his hand and casts vanish.
"Yield? I'm still standing, so no... not quite yet." Dandi tries again to touch her/him/it.
"So, Charlie, how are you this fine morning? Well, Charlie, nice of you to inquire, I'm doing as well as could be expected. And how does this musty air great *you* on this fine day? I'm just fine, too, Charlie. Just fine. I sure do like talking to you, Charlie. I like to exchange ideas and talk about current events. It sure does set my mind at ease. Well, the feeling is mutual Charlie. I wonder what's going to happen next, don't you, Charlie? Yes, I sure do Charlie."