DMDM's Way of the Wicked: The Devil My Only Master (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

"You still have not told us who you are skull. My patience wears thin. How did he trick you and why should I believe you? You are in this case. What would we benefit having you released? Answer now or find yourself left alone again. This time covered by a nice sack."

"You still have not told us who you are skull. My patience wears thin. How did he trick you and why should I believe you? You are in this case. What would we benefit having you released? Answer now or find yourself left alone again. This time covered by a nice sack."

The voice grows colder (if that were possible) and more distant. You are a minion, a transient accident of watery atoms, a sack of bloody meat. Already you decay. It seems to fade, as if losing interest. We are eternal. A physical form may be trapped here, but our spirit roams the infinite planes.

The voice grows fainter still. You cannot threaten me and you cannot harm us. Name a price for our freedom, or begone, and leave me to our meditations.

With Zimu's departure, the "flatter and lie like crazy" evil face niche has been left empty. The "intimidate and threaten" role is well filled, though.

Edmin looks into the skull's gem stone eyes and lightly raps his fingers on top of the case. "Fine, wait another eternity for someone else to find you then. If you have a skull you were once a sack of bloody meat, somewhere as you traverse the infinite planes remember that you had a chance for freedom but squandered it. As I see it, you are trapped here and I am not. You speak of a price for your freedom but we do not know what you are capable of since you are here, in this cage. Other than being a curiosity you have shown me no use to bother with you anymore.

There's a silence.

Then there's some more silence.

If silence can be said to have a quality, this silence could probably be described as "obstinate".

Jax steps up, drawing Brink and laying him across one arm in a casual, fairly non-aggressive manner. "Now, now, Edmin. Who are we to look such a..peculiar object in such a way. Perhaps it could prove interesting..although to think it foolish enough that we would free it without knowing at least something. Obviously it prefers to work with idiots..that is, most likely, how it ended up imprisoned thus."

"Besides, we already have one mysterious imprisoned spirit helping us, there's no need for a second that doesn't want to answer any questions what so ever." Bluff: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

The tiefling winks at Edmin, hoping to secretly communicate a "let's see how this plays out" secret message. Bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

Edmin lightly shakes the case as he hands it out to Jax. "It would make a good sacrifice to our Dark Lord, or a place to sit my helm. Either way, I care not as it is useless to me at this point."

Edmin grins as he adds, "I think they are almost out of pineapples in Hell anyway. They may find a use for it."

Intimidate:1d20 + 30 ⇒ (20) + 30 = 50

Figured I should add one. Didn't know it would eat a crit!

Or you can give it to me...I can plane shift it to a place where nothing exists and nothing is...there nothing and eternity just are.

Bluff 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Normally, the skull would be immune to Intimidate. But for a nat 20, you should get something.

The voice becomes a hateful hiss. Havelyn found immortality by accident! He in no way deserved it! He came crawling to us to learn the secret of preserving his new existence. Oh, how he begged! And we taught him how to create a repository for his soul, to ensure his immortality, and much other wisdom as well. For he was cunning and quick and obedient, and the servants of Asmodeus keep their contracted word. I thought he might make us a useful apprentice...

Tricked us! He tricked me! "Read the fine print!" I'll show him fine print! I'll print my vengeance on his flayed skin, then read it to him as I devour his screaming soul!

The voice fades away as if into vast distance, mumbling curses.

Edmin raise an eye brow and turns the skull to look in its eyes again. "We have a common goal then. We both desire the end of Havelyn."

Having listened, the Judge walks over and stares at the skull.
Unlike my weak friends, I would enjoy having you on my mantle. Perhaps I could find a way to feed you souls of those unworthy to serve me. Havelyn, we all know that he is weak. Strong in power perhaps, but not strong enough. That he had to hide his soul in a dark and dingy easy to find place such as this only shows his fear. If he had true power, he would know where his power lay, and not need to hide his heart behind a lizard.

You speak of wishing to make a deal. Well, as I am sure you know, I spent many years with contracts and finding loopholes in them. Thus, if you have an agreement, I have all the time in the world to determine whether it is beneficial to me.

If you have an offer, then make it. Otherwise, we shall place you where none shall find you. Then, every decade or so, I shall return to see if you have changed your mind. If not, then I shall leave. Eventually, eons from now. One may come who will depose me. If this shall occur, then none will come to free you or seek your aid.

Thus, you can decide as you will. Time is nothing to me. The population of this land nothing more than toys for me. Toys to be manipulated and perverted, and when I tire of them, toys to be drained and tossed aside. I figure I have several millennia before I tire of causing those with pure hearts to stray from their path, and then realize what they have done. So, I really do not care whether you want to help. You are in a position to negotiate . . . or beg. If you choose not to, I hope you enjoy the dark.

With that, the Judge crosses his arms and stares at the skull with a completely uncaring look.

Use Master of Rhetoric - Bard(Negotiator) ability, allows Take-20 as a standard action 2x/day

Take-20 --> Bluff=60, Diplomacy=51

Use Master of Rhetoric - Bard(Negotiator) ability, allows Take-20 as a standard action 2x/day

So twice/day you get to superface. Man.

There's a long silence. Then:

Free me, and I shall ally with you against Havelyn. When he is destroyed, we shall go our separate ways. I care nothing for this petty kingdom or the temptation of mortals. Do as you please with that. Only free me.

The Judge pauses and considers for a few moments:
As most here are lieges, if not followers, of Asmodeus. I do believe that if we are to free you, we need to understand what aid you will give to us. I shall confer with my companions regarding this matter. I believe that we may be able to reach a common understanding regarding this in short order. However, this understanding shall be sealed with a contract signed in blood, or whatever life essence you have which may comport with these mortal companions of mine signing in blood.

It replaces the Knowledge/Lore Master ability to take-20 on knowledge rolls of a normal bard. Useful if you are getting info from people, less useful if getting info from books. At least non-sentient books, obviously Jax's favorite book might respond very well to diplomacy or intimidate.

The Judge pauses and considers for a few moments:

As most here are lieges, if not followers, of Asmodeus. I do believe that if we are to free you, we need to understand what aid you will give to us. I shall confer with my companions regarding this matter. I believe that we may be able to reach a common understanding regarding this in short order. However, this understanding shall be sealed with a contract signed in blood, or whatever life essence you have which may comport with these mortal companions of mine signing in blood.

There's a faint hissing noise that might perhaps be laughter.

We gave up blood long, so long ago. I will swear by ourselves.

We should find out what it is before freeing it. If it is an incorporeal being we have no way to deal with it...it can flee whenever it want without fulfilling its bargain. Let the little dragon speak to his higher beings...he may be able to learn more about what it is.

" Either way, he is not going any where at the moment. We need to extract and regroup at base."

Ulp speaks, though stays invisible, not trusting that the skull beast can't get to him

That I can do! Find out what it is? How to keep it honest? What else? Perhaps some questions about the Cardinal?

Does Thorn know that we possess his...item."

So I am thinking.
What is the nature of the creature in the skull?
Is it speaking the truth about destroying the cardinal and leaving?
Will it abide to a contract?
Does Cardinal Thorn know we have his Phylactery?
What preparations has the Cardinal made for us?
Are any of his "allies" wish his destruction as well?
if yes Which ones?
If no Does our organization have any traitors within it?

sound good guys?

"Doubtful, Edmin. Although I suspect he knows we were headed here..the contract demon hinted that, at least I believe he did. Bah. He'll know we're coming for him. I don't know if we have the element of surprise. I'd have placed wards in place to know if the wyrm fell or not."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

1: Neutral Evil spirit thing that will betray us at some point and may be here as a trap.
2: Most likely not.
3: Probably yes.
4: Lots of evil things that will hurt.
5: Irin does..but she's currently dead. We also murdered off most of the important ones.
6: Irin.
7: Always.

maybe I should ask how to make the judge laugh

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 int check

flavor of drinking the extract coming shortly I will ask the questions I posted above

Ulp moves his way into a random corner of the room, still invisible, he pulls out his preserving flask that contains the extract that allows him to commune with the spirits of the great dragons long lost to the world. He drinks it down and sits silently, invisible. Almost immediately his eyes turn bright white as his core shifts closer to the realm he seeks his answers from.

You wouldn't want to hear the Judge laugh. Among other things, it probably has a similar effect to a dragon's Frightful Presence. In addition, it is likely only to occur when he is about to feast after a particularly devious and painful corruption of some white souled person.

It would probably be safer, and easier, to make the skull-entity laugh.

I assume these are questions you're going to research?

judge or me? I am contacting another plane. I had an extract of it prepared in my preserving flask

Okay. It's still a 10 minute casting time, though. Presumably this represents the time it takes the extract to start working.

You didn't specify which line on the table you were aiming for. You're supposed to do that before you roll. I don't see Ulp accepting more than a 20% chance of losing all his powers for several weeks. So I'd say this is on the Lesser Deity table. If you disagree and want to try for a higher line, that's fine, but then I'll have to ask you to roll again.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 int check

I was thinking one level above that. Ulp is REALLY smart

Does Jax, or anyone with a better sense motive, think the skull is lying?

"Assuming we free you, how do we do so?"

Not sure what you consider a good Sense Motive. The Judge is usually convinced that everyone is lying, so he has gotten pretty good at reading non-verbal cues and picking up on changes in people's tone of voice.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (19) + 33 = 52 <-- in case anything was missed about the lies that everyone else thinks the skull was telling

Pretty sure +33 counts..

When you are as distrusting as the Judge, Sense Motive is a necessity.

And, rolling a 19 does not hurt either.

1d20+7 int check

I was thinking one level above that. Ulp is REALLY smart

Mm. The penalties for failing this are pretty brutal. Going forward, announce the line in a post, and then roll the die in the very next post -- the stakes are high enough that we should be formal about this.

that is fair, I had not thought about it, since the odds of failing were small.

Does Jax, or anyone with a better sense motive, think the skull is lying?

"Assuming we free you, how do we do so?"

Simply smash the vessel. Physically, it is not strong.

Jax shrugs and reclines in a pile of treasure, looking to Ulp. "Let me know when you want me to smash the skull."

how are you looking at ulp? He is invisible, undetectable, and silent off somewhere

Okay. As noted, it's going to take the normal casting time (ten minutes) for the spell to take effect. So during this time, Ulp sits invisible in a corner, mumbling to himself, as his spirit reaches ever further into the Great Beyond.

I forgot he was still invisible!

Several minutes pass while Ulp concentrates. Presumably the rest of you wander about sorting through treasure, poking into odd corners and continuing your conversation with the (not terribly talkative) skull. And then...

SCHWOOOMPH

Tiadora and nine other devils appear in a blast of flame.

Tiadora has shed her human guise -- she now appears in her true form, a Gyllou Devil. (Which is to say, beautiful but terrible human female above; writhing nest of tentacles below.)

On a chain she holds two immense hounds. They appear to be Nessian Hell Hounds, except that they have immense bat wings. As soon as she appears, she will drop the chains and point at the Judge: "Hai!" The Hounds will immediately charge the Judge.

With her are nine erinyes devils -- the Sisters. The Sisters all immediately hurl their ropes at Edmin, Dren and Jax, seeking to entangle you.

This is a surprise round. Tiadora cannot act except to release the hounds (swift action), because she already acted to teleport the others in. The other can all act, though, and will do so. You guys cannot act, unless you have something that lets you go on a surprise round. Ranged touch attacks to entangle: three each on Dren, Edmin and Jax.

Dren

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Edmin

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

Jax

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Must away -- more in a few hours. Feel free to discuss, but again, surprise round... no actions yet.

Due to Freedom of movement (extended) the ropes seem to slip right off Dren...

300 minute duration so should still be in effect.

The Judge yawns:
What took you so long. Still playing the Cardinals pet I see.

The Judge has Combat Reflexes, so he can make AoO if any are possible.