You've rebelled against your master, Cardinal Adrastus Thorn. Can you kill him before he kills you? Who will lead the forces of Asmodeus in their final assault on the noble kingdom of Talingarde?
The Judge calls down.
Starting to really like this dragon, we could have been friends. He coated the walls in green slime. Will have to use this around my home, makes for a great party trick.
Hey all, watch as the good Lord Pain-in-the-Butt is dissolved.
Any other probing or poking you want to do here? I will note that once treasure moves off the front page, people tend to forget about it until it's time to cash in.
I will also note that Talingarde's economy is the tiniest bit disrupted at the moment, what with the ongoing monster invasion, the plague that killed a third of the population in the last two years, and oh yes the recent murder of the King. So converting magic items to cash may not be easy for a little while. Presumably things will stabilize once the reins of power, now flopping around rather slackly, are once again held in firm hands.
Why is it that the lizard boy never asks me for any of my blood?
Oh, and you all do realize that I could REALLY use some blood after the past few days of repast. So, constantly cutting yourselves may not be the wisest choice.
The Judge glares back at Dren:
Mundane. That is like gruel for you warm blooded types. No, I need something with sustenance, something I can corrupt and then make realize the err in her way as I take enough to enjoy. And then I shall send her one her way to spend the rest of her days with remorse and nightmares of what she did.
Edmin smiles at Ulp and nods his head. " It seems to have worked dragonborne. Good job. Now let's gab as mach ad we can take and get the hells out of here.
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
Jax will shake his head at Ulp.
"No..I think I'll hold on to my own blood for now. Well, now we have the phylactery. Let's return to civilization and start hunting for the Cardinal."
Jax waves to Zoren and the two of them start loading up bags with the richest magic items. After that, they'll gather the party into a circle and teleport...somewhere. What city has the group been using as a base of operations, if any?
Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
Assuming we have moved to this stage we would have some type of hideout or stronghold that we have protected against him with Private Sanctum. Otherwise he would just move against as he wished.
Assuming we have moved to this stage we would have some type of hideout or stronghold that we have protected against him with Private Sanctum. Otherwise he would just move against as he wished.
You've taken over the (late) copper dragon Eiramanthus's island, and his inner stronghold is underground. You haven't had time to properly redecorate yet, though.
I assume teleporting away is the last thing that happens, after everyone has stuffed as much treasure as possible in their bags of holding and whatnot.
The obelisk is indeed discharged, for some unknowable period of time if not forever.
If anyone has a line to Kate, give it a try. I sent her an e-mail a while back but never got a response.
Edmin gathers as much as he can and then recovers the skull in its in closure.
Options:
1) Take the crystal vessel (containing the floating skull) and also the stone pedestal it stands on. The pedestal has a bronze-inlaid top with hours marked around it, like a sundial, although it has no pointer. Ancient spidery lettering around the edge of it says "SON OBSERVE THE TIME AND FLY FROM EVIL". The pedestal weighs 200 lbs and might be worth 200 gp to an antiquarian, or a bit more if it really is a sundial and you can find or make a pointer. It does not radiate magic.
2) Take only the crystal vessel and the skull. The crystal vessel itself would be worth at least 500 gp intact, just for the craftsmanship. It weighs about 100 lbs. As noted, it radiates powerful abjuration magic.
3) Open the vessel (it's not clear how, but you could try just lifting the top off) and just take the skull. The skull looks like it should weigh about 5 lbs. The gems on the skull -- if they're real -- would be worth tens of thousands of gold pieces. The eye gems, in particular, are crown jewel type things, so huge it might be hard to find a buyer.
agreed it takes a few trips but there are vampire thralls and nights who can do the leg work. Probably takes a few days but who cares. Ulp has the phylactery
As soon as you lift the crystal vessel to move it, you begin to hear something.
It's singing. It doesn't seem to come from a magic mouth spell that you can see... it doesn't seem to come from anywhere at all. It's faint and distant, as if far away, but you can understand the words clearly enough.
It's children singing. Their voices are ragged and halting, as if they're hurt or frightened. There's a chorus of boys, and a chorus of girls. They're singing a sort of singsong chant, like a nursery rhyme.
You are the town and we are the clock.
We are the guardians of the gate in the rock.
The Two.
On your left and on your right
In the day and in the night,
We are watching you.
Girl's voices
Wiser not to ask just what has occurred
To them who disobeyed our word;
To those
We were the whirlpool, we were the reef,
We were the formal nightmare, grief
And the unlucky rose.
Both together
This might happen any day
So be careful what you say
Or do.
Be clean, be tidy, oil the lock,
Trim the garden, wind the clock,
Remember the Two.
Hey Judge? You recognized a few bits of that song. A couple of verses, greatly distorted, were still being sung as nursery rhymes back when you were a kid yourself. (Hard to imagine, I know, but the Judge was a child once. A pale, sullen, lonely one.)
just think if the other boys had only let judge play in their games...he could be a devout mitran now, and not an undead monstrosity, I do hope that one of his thralls is someone that was a bully to him as a child
The Judge looks to the others:
Haven't heard that song in many years. Part of a nursery rhyme from my youth. May those who sung it's souls rot in Hell. This version seems much older though.
Always thought the "Two" were the sun and the moon, who watch over us like a clock. Unsure about the other parts.
A twistling? In my time we bred your kind for servants. Not as strong as orcs, but more amusing. The faint voice grows thoughtful. So you have it then. If you did not, you would be clamoring to know where it is. But do you know what comes next?
"Tell us then. What do you think we should do next? You seem to think you know what we intend, tell us who you were and how you became trapped in this place."
There's silence for a time. Then the voice comes faintly again.
Havelyn tricked and imprisoned us. We wish to be free again. Free me, and we shall help you against him. I will ally with you, and tell you what you need to know. Once he is destroyed, we will go our separate ways.
