Appario doesn't notice anything in particular, but the weeds growing in the courtyard are tall enough that small things (or creatures) wouldn't be easily noticed.
***
Maddok's examination of the huge metal disc reveals it to be one uniform piece, except a couple of places along the edges where small chunks appear to have been chipped off. The metal is unlike any he has seen before.
As he puts his hand on top of the disc, the hand vanishes from sight, although it reappears when he pulls the hand back away from the disc.
Maddok sucks in a breath at the dais' illusionary properties.
"This is a very strange material", Maddok says. "I am going to break off some pieces. I'd like to take it back with us."
Maddok tries to extract some larger chunks of the metal.
Maddok finds it relatively easy to break a piece off with his smithing tools, but once removed from the whole the chunk loses its blue color, becoming instead the gray of ordinary iron.
"Huh, Looks like the special qualities are not an effect of the material itself. Most likely it is enchanted to have that effect."
I've never seen anything like that before...
"You might be right, little brother. I'll have to see if it can do that again after I put some heat to it", Maddok says frowning as he stows the material.
"Let's keep moving."
Crossing the rest of the courtyard, the Shoanti leads the group to the second building.
For some reason I have got a real hankering for a pint of stout, two sandwiches with bacon and melted cheese (on dark rye bread), and a cream pasty for afters.
"Do you know what is best with adventuring in an urban environment? Not having to eat dry rations!
And you are never far from a pint or five."
So how does one "invest" a magical item?
"Perhaps the whole piece can be reforged into something of considerable size, Maddok." Yahirma joins the others as they cross the courtyard.
Maddok casts the bard a glance, "Did you do much exploring before... all of this?"
"Perhaps the whole piece can be reforged into something of considerable size, Maddok."
"You may be right. I will learn what I can once I am back at the forge."
Appario tries to pick up some of the metal chipped off by Maddok.
Appraise
"Maddok, are you determined to make weapons with materials from every place we visit?"
Maddok considers the question, "As long as those places have materials that I've never worked with before."
"As a merchant, your medium is coin and trade goods. Don't you relish every opportunity to work with something, or someone, new - whether it's silks, spice, or something else?"
"Not on this level, but before I became a "big star" I had to travel where the theatre went you know. It involved a few nights sleeping under open sky and eating little but hardtack."
Derek chuckles and gives Appario a pat on the back.
"I'd say he got you there friend, your actions bear the truth of his words out eh?"
Appario laughs at Maddok's reply.
"Of course. That's why I asked." Appario says, as if the answer were evident.
Appario accepts Derek's pat with affection.
Yeah, I try. I try...and Abadar gives me the strength to make it happen.
Semenya will cast Detect magic and hold her gaze long enough to ascertain its aura. "Fascinating enchantment. Khazrae, have you any idea what making metal that behaves like fog is for? I'd assume it was a portal of some sort. Though a portal to where, I know not...nor do I know why it's not locked..."
Spellcraft
As far as Appario can tell, the piece would have about the same value as an equally-sized piece of ordinary iron.
***
Semenya determines there is an aura of strong illusion (glamer) on the disc, and that anyone on top of the disc would be affected as by a greater invisibility spell.
She also locates five other auras of moderate power near the center of the disc, although she's unable to determine their properties or school of magic.
***
Khazrae looks intrigued by the metal disc as well.
"I'm not sure, but I don't believe it's a portal. The weapons surrounding the courtyard look like they were once used for weapon training. Perhaps the Pathfinders used this metal's properties as part of their training?"
Maddok shrugs his broad shoulders, "Training against invisible targets perhaps?"
Curious to see what it's like being invisible, Maddok climbs up on top of the dais.
"Pathfinders must lead a more exciting life than some have let on," comments Yahirma as she scans the metallic platform with her own discerning gaze. She ponders what frightful obstacles would call for regular training against invisible foes.
Appario, not trusting the disc, Detects Evil in the area (cleverly avoiding any random devil's heads that might be nearby).
Appario locates five faint evil auras near the center of the disc.
***
As Maddok climbs on top, he becomes entirely invisible.
"Uh, I'm not really the most wise person here, but it strikes me that if that thing can turn people invisible...might there not already BE someone invisible on it?"
Maddok marvels at his transparent hands.
"And you're capable of being like this all the time, Livia?", the big man asks aloud of the nearby imp.
At Derek's warning, the Shoanti looks around.
"I'm certain if anything had been here it would have made itself known by now."
"...I hope you are right about that big brother, we've been through enough for one night I think."
Still, I wonder if there might not be a few more dangers in here.
Appario shouts warning.
"There is evil on that disc! What do you see while on it?! Have care!"
Appario jumps on the disc, seeking the evil he knows is there.
Acrobatics
"That's my foot Appario", Maddok grunts as the Abadaran jumps up with him.
Livia's disembodied voice comes out of the air from somewhere above the disc, close to Maddok.
"Yes! Isn't it great? You can do anything you want, and noone can see you do it!"
***
Appario too becomes invisible as he jumps onto the disc, seeing nothing and noone else on it.
Derek chuckles a little at Livias comment.
"Like spying on people in their private moments?"
Appario looks around for the evil he knows is here.
"There is evil here, I know it...." Appario's words trail off. "...unless my vision is still affected. I...I...I thought it had been cured."
If people could see Appario, they would see his shoulders slump.
After finding out where Maddok is, Appario will begin to make sweeping movements with his shield, seeking to knock or touch the source of the evil.
"I don't know what you're talking about Appario. I don't see-", Maddok stops himself when he realizes what he's about to say.
In an effort to find the invisible evil the Abadaran is after, the big man begins systematically pathing around the dais with his arms outstretched.
Although tempted to start sweeping her staff along the surface of the disc, Yahirma thinks better of it upon realizing she would probably just trip the armored men invisibly tromping atop it.
***
As Maddok and Appario each nears the center of the dais, they each bump into something small and soft near their feet virtually simultaneously, and two shrill voices scream out. A girl's voice shouts "The big'uns found me!", while a man's voice shouts "Time to play!" Another voice, sounding strangely animal-like, answers "Oh no.."
***
Current Initiative order:
33 - Dolls
21 - Appario and Yahirma
16 - Maddok
5 - Derek
4 - Semenya
***
Something tiny attempts to stab each man's foot, before the patter of several sets of tiny feet, more than just two, can be heard running quickly away from them.
Appario takes 1 damage from something that feels like a tiny spike or nail, while whatever tried to hit Maddok misses.
***
"D'oh!"
I could say "What did I tell you?" but I rather say this...
"Sometimes I hate being right..."
What the heck?
"Something pinpricked me!
Appario takes a moment to sheath Extortion.
And, using his gloved hand, reach around for whatever pricked him.
Grapple
Miss chance: (1-50: miss, 51-100: hit)
"Ou autous blepow," mutters Yahirma as she hears increased activity. She glances worriedly at Derek and Semenya in the hope that they can do something to amend the issue.
Appario's groping yields no results; whatever was there is apparently no longer within reach.
***
Huh, they have got to come out somewhere.
Maddok growls at the invisible attackers.
Leaping off the dais , Maddok stamps his feet on the earth and chants in Shoanti ending with a snort.
A powerfully built bull aurochs appears briefly and vanishes a moment later on top of the dais. Sensing the enemies nearby, the beast immediately begins stamping his hooves and thrashing his horns aiming to trample whatever is on the dais with him into dust.
"Appario, get off the platform! The spirit can't tell you from our enemies", Maddok shouts from the ground.
***
Semenya pulls out a scroll and casts from it.
***
Appario feels something large run over him, although he manages to avoid its hooves, while something else screams out in pain nearby.
"Appario, watch out for his horns!"
***
As her spell takes effect, Semenya sees the translucent shapes of Appario and a large aurochs, as well as of five tiny creatures that can best be described as children's toys. There's a pull-toy wooden dragon, a stuffed bear, a porcelain-faced girl's doll with a hairpin in one hand, a ragdoll scarecrow wielding a pitchfork, and a half-trampled Mwangi fetish clutching a dagger.
***
Through the Message cantrip, Semenya says to Appario..."There's one directly between you and Yahirma."
The half-trampled Mwangi fetish rises from its prone position, yelling "Owww! That hurt! Lots! Retreat! Hide! It's no fun fighting these ones!"
Semenya sees that one run at breakneck speed off the dais, and everyone else sees it as it jumps off, becomes visible, and continues running through and disappearing among the tall weeds to the north-west.
The ragdoll scarecrow and the porcelain-faced girl's doll similarly jump off the dais and run away, to the west and south-west respectively, all the while yelling in voices both scared and excited.
The toy dragon belches out a plume of fire against Yahirma, almost as a parting gift, before it jumps off and runs away to the east.
The stuffed bear jumps off, runs between Derek's legs, swiping a claw against one foot as it passes, and continues running north along the stone path for about 40 ft before veering into the weeds to the north-east.
All of the dolls are moving far faster than humans. Those voices that can still be heard sound like they're about 60-80 ft away.
Yahirma takes 8 fire damage from the plume of fire, while Derek takes 1 damage from the claw swiping his leg. His wound continues to bleed.
***
Maddok stares in disbelief, "Those were, toys?"
"Perhaps a bit of persuasion is in order?"
Semenya will look at the toy dragon, and raise her arms - the brass scale tattoos on her arms glinting in the sun. "Little one, we are here on a mission of mercy for two fallen Pathfinders..."
She will, if there's time, recount the deeds of the pathfinders we're looking to lay to rest. "It looks as though this courtyard was left to you to watch over and guard. May we proceed with your blessing?"
She watches Appario's reaction - using his general inability to keep a poker-face going - especially when he thinks he's invisible - as a guide to just how evil these things might actually be. She sees no real gain in destroying them if they aren't harming anyone here...
And besides, the stuffed dragon reminds her of a gift from her mother's husband when she was little...
Appario laughs as he sees the evil little thing that poked him (or one of them).
These might be worth money to the right collector...but sadly, they are evil and must be destroyed.
Appario will move to K23 while drawing Extortion.
He will ready to strike at any of them that come within range of his sword.
to hit;
damage.
Edit: Potential crit:
to hit;
damage.
Maddok follows Semenya's lead and urges the rampaging bull to calm himself.