HP 91/91 (inc. +11 from transmutation focus; base 80)
AC 23, touch 16, flat-footed 18, CMD 23
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/6
Mental Focus: 19; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [3/3]; Transmutation [4/4] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +2 Perception, low-light vision; +1 Charisma checks; +2 Con; 20% miss chance)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.:
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][]; 3rd [][][][]; 4th [x][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/20; lightning bolt 0/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/34
Effects:
"If no one's home, that would be good," Katria muses, "but that doesn't make much sense. Give me a few minutes and I'll investigate."
She sends her magic eye to see what she can find out.
Liam casts Barkskin on himself, then uses the Pearl of Power to recall it and cast it again on Amelia.
He will wait for the results of the Mind Eye before casting his shorter-duration spells.
Once the mind's eye is inside, it becomes clear that the manor's windows bear some illusion that makes it appear that the house is empty when viewed from outside. That is not the case.
Beyond the front door is a large living room is built in three tiers, ascending from the area adjoining the front door to a large, semicircular wall of windows looking out over the city to the west. Plush blue sofas line the walls, intermixed with statuary and potted plants. A short flight of stairs rises to the north, steeper stairs leading up to the south, and a hallway lies to east. An ugly, gray ring sits on a red pillow under a bell jar between the two uppermost couches.
Two human servants and a halfling butler are here, apparently chatting and exchanging stories. Other rooms on the first floor include a dining room, kitchen, servant's quarters, and an elaborate bath. The last room is dingy and dark, its walls and floor marred with dark stains. A man is bound to a simple wooden chair here, starved, beaten, and covered in shallow cuts. It appears to be the Lion Blade, Gannaius!
The second floor has four comofrtable guest rooms, as well as a master suite featuring a plush bed overflowing with pillows. Two scantily clad Qadiran dancing girls lounge on the bed.
Liam will cast True Seeing on Amelia and Seth.
He casts Good Hope and Moment of Greatness on the party.
He casts Align Weapon (Good) on Seth's rapier and Amelia's bow.
And he casts Shield on himself.
All of these last 11 minutes. Hoping for a speed run, but if we are delayed, he still has another Good Hope, Moment of Greatness and Align Weapon.
1 (6+1):
2 (6+1):
3 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D), Good Hope
4 (4+1): Spell Immunity (D), Freedom of Movement, Dismissal (DC 22), Death Ward, Air Walk
5 (3+1): Spell Resistance (D), Breath of Life,
6 (2+1): Antimagic Field (D), Greater Dispel Magic, Heal
He has the Standard of Conquest in hand and the +1 Holy Shortspear at his side.
"Shall I use the Standard to Teleport us into the room where Gannaius is?"
Amelia waits on the recon from Katria, but once she hears Liam speaking about a known location, she perks up. "It's worked before. If they've been careless we can get some information from Gannaius."
She accepts the blessing on her bow, hoping she won't have to face any of the reverse-handed fiends.
She gathers everyone up, "Hold. This should help us if there are any traps." The dandy channels some magic and weaves a small spellsong around her allies, . "You may be able to summon on it once."
"Yes, let's get him!" Katria agrees. "I wonder if the servants, or the dancing girls, are really rakshasa? I also didn't see any Sarenites, so there may be some hidden areas..."
That ring; that's not something usually kept under a bell jar. I wonder what it is, she muses, not wanting to bring up the topic when there are more immediate things to be dealt with.
Following the directions from Katria, Liam uses the Standard of Conquest to Dimension Door the party into the room where Gannaius is being held.
You appear in the small, dark room where Gannaius is tied to the chair. His only reaction to your sudden appearance is a weary sigh. "Come back to torture me some more, have you? Please, cease your cruelty! Just kill me or let me go! I can't take any more of this!" he says.
"No, that's not it," Katria says. She starts to add more but suddenly stops, wanting to make sure Amelia and Seth can confirm the man is who he appears to be, and not some rakshasa trick.
"Kathann sent us to help you," she whispers.
"She told us one of your favorite drops is a warehouse for Sunrise Spice Importers in the Adobe District, and that you have met frequently at a confection shop called Honey Kunefe," she adds, trying to establish their bona fides.
Though since Jeroth clearly knew those places, I don't know how helpful that would be. We could maybe tell him more about the Lion Blades training if he doesn't believe us.
True seeing reveals that Gannaius is actually who he appears to be. "Kathann sent you?" he says, looking at you more closely. "So you are not Jeroth's creatures in disguise? Then you have to get me out of here!"
"Well... I think Jeroth's creatures are literally fiends. They have no place in Taldor. I would prefer to eliminate them if we could. And we probably will have to fight our way out. Do you know how many there are?"
Liam will draw a dagger and cut the ropes binding Gannaius. If Gannaius is wounded, Liam will then draw his wand and heal the man's wounds a bit.
"We need to move fast. We have powerful combat blessings that will not last long."
"I don't know how many there are. They come in now and again, always wearing different faces," Gannaius says. He is grateful for the healing and stands up, wincing at his sore muscles. "I'll stay close by your side."
Liam turns to the others.
"What is our plan now? We could escape with Gannaius.
But I think we should eliminate the Rakshasas and also look for more evidence.
I also don't think it is safe to just send Gannaius out the front door - Pythareus has a powerful diviner who could re-acquire him. He'll need to stick with us.
Gannaius, can you use this spear? It should be able to harm Rakshasas.
Maybe we head out of this room using the Invisibility Sphere, find some Rakshasas, and take them down quickly?"
"We don't have time for a Sending to Kathann now, but will fill her in when we are done here."
"I think we should save the invisibility sphere. It will disappear the second we find any rakshasa. If Gannaius is able to stay with us -- even if he's not able to fight -- let's save the sphere in case we find ourselves forced to flee," Katria disagrees, thinking it over.
"But if you're up for it, I think we should stay here and see if we can deal with the others here. And find the Sarenites... If they're really here protecting something, they might move it to a place we don't know when they realize Gannaius is gone."
Amelia watches the door closely, trying to hear any footfalls that may betray that they were heard.
"We need to eliminate those vile creatures. We will never be able to look at anyone the same way until we know they are dealt with; our shoulders will become our own undoing."
The dandy helps Gannaius. "I'm ready when you are, my bow has been blessed so stand by me and if it becomes bad I will protect you directly."
As you emerge from the cell into the main hall, the halfling and humans in the foyer cry out in alarm before shifting to reveal their true forms! The halfling is a fiendish-looking creature, its face mostly mouth and fangs. The human servants are actually fiends that have six colorful vipers in place of arms, and long, forked tongue in their fanged mouths. They prepare to attack!
Liam will cast True Seeing on Amelia and Seth.
He casts Good Hope and Moment of Greatness on the party.
He casts Align Weapon (Good) on Seth's rapier and Amelia's bow.
And he casts Shield on himself.
HP 91/91 (inc. +11 from transmutation focus; base 80)
AC 23, touch 16, flat-footed 18, CMD 23
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/6
Mental Focus: 19; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [3/3]; Transmutation [3/4] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +2 Perception, low-light vision; +1 Charisma checks; +2 Con; 20% miss chance)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.:
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][]; 3rd [][][][]; 4th [x][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/20; lightning bolt 0/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/34
Effects: Good Hope, Moment of Greatness, holy Dignity's Barb 0/10
"Rakshasas!" Katria calls out a warning. "The little one is a dandasuka rakshasa -- they're assassins! The larger ones are marai, deviant spellcasters and fiendish corruptors! Their snakes cause confusion and they can fire bolts of energy from their arms! Magic won't work, use your weapons!"
Ducking behind some cover, she invests Dignity's Barb with a bit of her power .
Seth springs into action, magically propelling himself into the fray as his blade, glowing with powerful light, stabs into the fiends, focusing on the dandasuka first.
Drawing her bow back she fires a set of rapid shots into the weakened rakshasas hoping that she can catch them off guard.
However having Gannauis at her side makes her falter during her practiced aim.
Seth scores two hits on the dandasuka, while Amelia still manages to shoot it twice, despite her poor aim!
The dandasuka casts a spell defensively, then reaches out to touch Seth--but they stumble and nearly fall, missing the elf!
"Hey! Quit moving around so much, knife-ears!" the little raskshasa curses.
The two marais attack Seth, their many snakes biting at the elf!
Liam begins INSPIRE COURAGE +3 as a move action.
As a reminder, Good Hope, Moment of Greatness, and Align Weapon are up.
So total is +5 to hit and damage from Liam's buffs.
Assuming Seth is not Confused, Liam heals Seth's wounds.
If Seth is Confused, Liam will cast Heal instead.
"Gannaius, use the spear! Strike back at your tormentors!"
HP 91/91 (inc. +11 from transmutation focus; base 80)
AC 23, touch 16, flat-footed 18, CMD 23
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/6
Mental Focus: 19; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [3/3]; Transmutation [3/4] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +2 Perception, low-light vision; +1 Charisma checks; +2 Con; 20% miss chance)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 8
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][]; 3rd [][][][]; 4th [x][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/20; lightning bolt 0/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/34
Effects: Good Hope, Moment of Greatness, inspired (total +5/+5), holy Dignity's Barb 1/10
Katria fires at the smaller of the rakshasa, hoping her holy bolts can finish it off.
Seeing Seth stagger, Amelia shifts to a better angle.
Seth manages to easily fight off the confusion, but he is still brought overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of the attacks before he finds his footing and fights back, his blade flashing in time with his magic.
Katria finishes off the dandasuka with a few precise bolts! Amelia shoots one of the marais several times, then Seth finishes it off with his first strike before turning on the last of the rakshasas, badly wounding that one.
It strikes back with its many snake arms, scoring a few hits.
HP 91/91 (inc. +11 from transmutation focus; base 80)
AC 23, touch 16, flat-footed 18, CMD 23
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/6
Mental Focus: 19; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [3/3]; Transmutation [3/4] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +2 Perception, low-light vision; +1 Charisma checks; +2 Con; 20% miss chance)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 8
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][]; 3rd [][][][]; 4th [x][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/20; lightning bolt 0/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/34
Effects: Good Hope, Moment of Greatness, inspired (total +5/+5), holy Dignity's Barb 2/10
Katria switches targets, hoping Seth can withstand the creature's magic, and fires two bolts into the marai rakshasa, Dignity's Barb's magic again swerving the missile so it slams home into the fiend.
Liam's actions will depend on whether or not Seth makes his save...
If Seth is Confused then Liam will cast Heal on him.
While disoriented by the rakshasa's magic, Liam's spell purges Seth's mind from the foreign influence, allowing him to set into the last of the fiends with renewed vigor.
Drawing her bowstring back, she opts for easier shots on the creature's anatomy as Seth's whirling blade was making it difficult.
The last rakshasa quickly falls to your furious assault!
Studying the ring inside the bell jar, Katria recognizes it as another relic of Taldan history: the Band of the Crusader's Alliance. his impressive ring was designed by the dwarves of Kraggodan and used as part of a wedding to secure an alliance between their Sky Citadel and Taldor’s own forces in the Shining Crusade, with mechanical bits for the notoriously anxious General Shae Varitan to fiddle with while she worked. The ring saved the bride’s life twice on the day of the wedding: once when it caught on and tore a would‑be enchanter’s scroll, and again when the General’s fidgeting accidentally knocked over a poisoned wineglass. Both the ring and General Varitan gained a reputation for fortuitous accidents that day that followed both ever after.
Each of these three elements can be activated once per day to use a certain spell: the Taldan flag for hold person (DC = 13 + 1 per additional triumph attained), the eye of Aroden for prayer, and the onyx for stone shape.
Encircling the ring is a second metal band that rotates in place and is studded with a single diamond. If the diamond is aligned with one of the symbols, the wearer gains a +2 luck bonus on certain saving throws: saves against enchantment spells and spell-like abilities if aligned with the Taldan flag, against evil effects if aligned with the eye of Aroden, or against earth and poison effects if aligned with the onyx. Aligning the ring with a symbol is a full-round action.
0 (4): Light, Stabilize, Create Water, Guidance
1 (6+1):
2 (6+1):
3 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D),
4 (4+1): Spell Immunity (D), Freedom of Movement, Dismissal (DC 22), Death Ward, Air Walk
5 (3+1): Spell Resistance (D), Breath of Life,
6 (2+1): Antimagic Field (D), Greater Dispel Magic,
Liam looks at the Band of the Crusader's Alliance with awe. Before Katria tells him anything about it, he sees the Eye of Aroden and thinks of Milani's fallen patron. Even if the ring does not carry the divine power of the God of Humanity, it is still a reminder of what once was.
There are many who harp on His failures, but so much has gone wrong in His absence. Cheliax... Galt... now Taldor... It is incumbent upon us to, from this chaos, forge a future that surpasses even the Golden Age of Taldor in greatness and in justice.
If Gannaius is not interested in using the +1 Holy Shortspear in combat, then Liam will ask for it back. "I don't mind. I am not as lethal as my peers, but I can use this spear in a fight."
"This is a powerful item" Katria breathes. "It was essential in the Shining Crusade. Thank goodness Tar-Baphon's locked away and won't ever get free again, but it still has a lot of power now. Beyond just its symbolism, especially if we run into any dwarves."
She looks around at the wreckage around them.
"Let's hope that's the last of them," Katria says, "but we should make sure."
Counting her silvered arrows, Amelia pockets whatever she can salvage.
"That blessing seems to drop them quickly. We need to make haste though they won't last long." She tilts her head toward the next door, [b]"I still have the sight active, give me a moment to see what else lays in lurk.
Gannaius hands the spear back. "I'm not much of a warrior myself. You keep it."
You quickly head upstairs to the master suite where Katria's arcane eye spied the only other people in the house--the two Qadiran dancing girls. Amelia tries to quietly open the door an peer inside, but the girls notice her. "At last! Salvation!" one of them says. "We are captives here. Please, you must escort us to safety!"
With her true seeing, Amelia can see that the two girls are rakshasas as well--one with the head of a hyena and the other with the head of a crocodile.
"We've killed the other rakshasa here," Katria calls through the door. "Tell us what you're doing here, and perhaps we can let you go."
Amelia glances before seeing the shapes morph into what they truly were, "Captives. Right, how long have you been here? We have a safe place to bring you, it's actually a tea shop."
Liam does not agree with Katria's approach - Rakshasa are fiends, after all - but he waits for their response and will not thwart his friend's plan.
I hope she knows what she is doing...
The rakshasas snarl as they drop their human guises, reverting to their true forms as they prepare to attack!
Seth springs into action, striking at the closer of the fiends.
Seth dashes between the rakshasas and slices one up pretty badly! In response, the creatures step back and target him with acid arrows!
"Begone from Taldor, fiends!"
Liam begins INSPIRE COURAGE +3 and activates his Aura of Protection. (Protection domain ability; 30' radius, allies get Resist 5 to all elements).
HP 91/91 (inc. +11 from transmutation focus; base 80)
AC 23, touch 16, flat-footed 18, CMD 23
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +11
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/6
Mental Focus: 19; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [3/3]; Transmutation [2/4] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +2 Perception, low-light vision; +1 Charisma checks; +2 Con; 20% miss chance)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 8
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][]; 3rd [][][][]; 4th [x][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/20; lightning bolt 0/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/34
Effects: Good Hope, Moment of Greatness, inspired (total +5/+5), holy Dignity's Barb 2/10
Katria again uses her strange magic to imbue Dignity's Barb with holy power, readying the crossbow as quickly as she can.
Amelia sighs at Katria's diplomacy, "May I remind you, these fiends kill, murder and torture?"
Seeing the opening that was left when they shot their acid arrows, Amelia pulls out silver arrows. The bow still enchanted with the power of good, she launches a volley.
Seth casts a spell and steps forward, undaunted as his blade hums an eerie tune with his redoubled speed and power.
With a bit of luck, Amelia lands her many shot, but all of her other arrows miss, as do Seth's attacks.
The acid arrows continue to burn the magus as the rakshasas attack him! One lands a lucky hit!
Liam draws the +1 Holy Shortspear while moving into a flank with Seth. He calls on Moment of Greatness.