Lizzie listens attentively to Agrippa's battleplan, before asking any questions.
When he is done, she does so.
"We would be entering from another direction, i assume? So the enemy won't obviously spot us."
"Well, I could definitely hold their attention at the front gate so long as the locals won't lynch me in the process."
Filbert says quietly from the side as A grippy lays out his plan.
"I'd be a bit tired afterwards but I could basically operate a one gnome battering ram. Could one of you make my voice a bit louder?"
Whomever would be at the front gate, could not infiltrate the Fort with us...I'm afraid we would have need of your talents elsewhere Master Springbit. Agrippa says to the gnome.
"Getting in ourselves won't be much of a problem. We'll use the same trick as before. I'll climb up and lower a rope down. Could we perhaps summon something that distracts the guards?"
Nodding at Agrippa's quick nipping of his plan for a battering ram, Filbert waits to hear what they plan to do inside....
Winter allowed the others to explain what had happened, with the exception of the events in the old chapel they had a better understanding than her, so she listened intently. As Agrippa began to discuss his plan she felt some reluctance at involving the villagers and spoke in agreement with Cesadia, "I agree that involving the villagers like this isn't my preference either. Getting them riled up wouldn't likely be hard but I don't think that they'll survive what is likely to happen if they do this. These cultists wouldn't hesitate to kill them all if they were being a nuisance nor do I think would our corrupt official inside." When Luxina mentioned summoning something to cause a distraction Winter considered and said, "That has more potential but I doubt that any of us could summon anything that would truly distract them for very long..." She dropped her head slightly as she though, one hand drifting to her holy symbol, and tried to come up with something that she could summon to help them against these cultists.
"You've got a fair point. Their zeal is a risc to public safety.
The villagers are no trained soldiers after all."
So, they are to have no agency in the fight against what threatens them? You think too little of the villagers here. Agrippa argues
They have the right to fight what threatens them. Their help could be invaluable. Cesadia knows I speak the truth. We have no chance at a surreptitious entry without a sizable, and believable distraction. The Sleepless Agency would be there, and we must trust that their agents will assist the public, and advise them when retreat might be the best option.
Our odds increase if the town assists in the defense of their own lives. Agrippa finishes.
Cesadia thinks furiously before suggesting, "Maybe they don't have to get close, we could I suppose get a wagon full of pitch and wheel it close to the fort and set it on fire. I doubt that would actually do anything - the gates are far too well made - but it would look spectacular. And if we bought some of Sentilar Ruoy's fireworks and thunder stones we'd make quite the racket too..."
"That has possibilities, how much would you need for the fireworks and thunderstones?" Filbert ask Cesadia.
"I understand they're somewhat expensive. You'd have to ask Sentilar Ruoy though, he's always harping on about his civic mindedness maybe he can be encouraged to make a donation?" replies Cesadia.
"Sentilar Ruoy?? He's been causing trouble for the church since this mess began, perhaps he'd be willing to atone for his 'sins' by donating to our cause." Filbert says thoughtfully.
"Indeed." replied Cesadia.
"We need Momijii, for the next part I think and since the cultist have already primed the Stella, Agrippa can you bring her back? I'll go talk with Master Ruoy in his shop."
Filbert thanks Cesadia for her help and gets the directions to Sentilar's shop, before heading that way.
At the fireworks/alchemist shop
Filbert enters the shop with a "Good morning?" as a small bell rings when the door hits it. Spotting the alchemist at his workbench the gnome moves to talk with him. Bringing a stool over behind him.
to move the stool without scraping the floor using his mage hand ability
Climbing up on the stool "Greetings, Master Sentilar Ruoy. I understand you are a purveyor of fireworks."
Agrippa lets the others know what is needed for the ritual.
Mistress Cesadia, we must clear the roads near the Star Stelae. Keep the public away. Everyone else, we will slash our hands and then bind them together, mingling our blood and calling the powers of the Star Stelae. We must all say in unison "In the NAME OF HASTUR THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING we beseech the AID of Momijii. We knowingly and willingly accept the price.". I will lead the chant, but you must all partake.
"A celebration? I guess you could call it that, although to be honest I'm more after the eye-catching quality of your wares. Speaking of eye catching, I understand you've been catching the ear of all who would listen. Filbert lifts a beaker of fine peppery looking granules setting it down next to the alchemy set,making sure not to set it in the fire only close. Here you go that might help."
Filbert smiles a tight smile back at the old man. "OK, you've done nothing but cause trouble for months on end now for the church here, blaming them for the ills of your poor business accumen. And it's time for that bill to come due.
The Fort is overrun with undead and the priestess is missing, unfortunately it happens to be the priestess who job it is to destroy undead. And make sure the souls of the recently deceased are ushered onto their final resting place.
So I need you to supply the means, through your fireworks, for us to gain entrance to the fort and put these undead back in the grave where they belong. When it's all said and done I'll be happy to tell them at the tavern how generous you were to help us." as Filbert speaks it almost appears as if a static charge is growing around him, the wisp of his hair standing nearly straight out as the energies surrounding him are obvious to all but the most blind of individuals.
Filbert conciously subdued the aether circling his head, not overly worried about the powder, but aware that the alchemist was moving in the right direction and he wanted nothing to distract him.
As the alchemist warms to the idea and begins describing the Mark V Dragon "Master Rouy, I do believe you understand the gravity of the situation before us. And we are truly grateful, while I don't plan on being anywhere close to it when this thing goes off, I do need to know how long a fuse it has."
Filbert takes a moment to look at the size of the rocket and compare it to any wagons they have available.
"30seconds? Mmmm that should work, let's see...." looking around a bit longer Filbert spots the handcart, and collecting it he returns.
"Master Rouy, I'm going to borrow this cart for a bit, but I promise you it won't be under that thing when it goes off. Stand back, your powder is safe but it wouldn't do to accidentally set that down on you instead of the cart. Power comes in small packages." he finishes with a wink.
Filbert finds a clear area in the yard and begins pulling power into himself, once again his hair whips with the gathered power, reaching out with the power he picks up the large explosive and sets it gently on the cart. Quickly he ties it down on the cart and throws a blanket across it before picking the handcart back up to a travel position.
"I would stay far away from the fort today." Filbert, beads of sweat on his brow, nods his thanks and wheels his package out and back to the others.
Element aether; Type utility (Sp); Level 2; Burn 0
Prerequisite basic telekinesis
When using basic telekinesis, you can move an object that weighs up to 100 pounds per kineticist level you possess. When using your telekinetic blast, you can throw an object weighing up to 100 pounds per kineticist level you possess, but this doesn't increase the damage. If you accept 1 point of burn, the maximum weight increases to 1,000 pounds per kineticist level you possess and the duration increases to 1 minute per kineticist level you possess.
After maybe an hour's wait the rest of you see a rather peculiar sight, a rather small gnome pulling what for him is a sizable hand cart upon which is the positively largest firework you've ever seen. The size of several kegs of ale and painted with a fanciful dragon's maw. Surely if anything can make some noise, that will!
"Well that certainly is something you don't see every day. Filbert, how did you manage to get that amount of fireworks?"
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Filbert set the cart down gently, however it apparent that he's strested a bit from the walk. Wiping his forehead with a handkerchief he grins at Luxina.
"Well there was talk of harassment of the church, undead walking in the fort, a missing priestess, oh yeah, and volitile items began floating around his workshop" he concludes with a wink.
"Keep that torch of yours away from this thing or we'll have a one way ticket to see Momijii"
Covering the cart for the moment, Filbert ask Aggripa "You were saying something about the number of people needed as I left...."
Winter had no luck thinking of a solution and ultimately let those who seemed better suited to it come up with a plan. She wasn't too pleased with the plan of trespassing on Pharasma's domain but she also knew that Momijii didn't deserve the death that befell her, at least not anymore. "I won't help you in this right to raise her, the method is a violation of what I believe in." She sighed then as she continued in a nearly defeated stance, "nor will I stop you. If you can bring her back I won't ask how you did it I will simply accept it as Phasasma's will."
Filbert listens to Winters explanation, knowing full well that if they hadn't already done so without his presence they would be had pressed to complete the ritual without someone else.
Agrippa frowns at Winter Indeed. Master Filbert, it seems we are down to but four. We need a fifth.
Agrippa leads the participants to the nearby Star Stelae, and has Cesadia's agents assist in clearing the area of onlookers. Then he takes Red Destiny and slashes a shallow wound in the five's palms.
Hold Hands. he tells them and he binds their hands together with strips of white cloth.
Now, we begin moving in a circle. and the group begins moving in a ritualistic fashion, Agrippa's eyes light up with an unholy thirst for knowledge.
You will repeat with me now! Agrippa calls out to the five.
In the NAME OF HASTUR THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING we beseech the AID of Momijii. We knowingly and willingly accept the price.
Agrippa is sweating profusely and grinning wildly, the fervor of forbidden knowledge has overtaken him.
the man calls out, his voice shrieking
In the NAME OF HASTUR THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING we beseech the AID of Momijii. We knowingly and willingly accept the price. now Agrippa leads the group in a wild cavortation around the Star Stelae
he screams
When Heinrich explained his plan, Cesadia was a little taken aback, "Uh you want me to do what?! I know we all want to see Momijii back, but are you sure you know what you're doing? What's all this about knowingly and willing accepting the price?"
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Agrippa lays out basics. Mistress Cesadia, time is short. The Stelae are part of an ancient ritual powered by souls of the sacrificed. We can do nothing for those poor souls already consumed, but we might use that power to return Momijii...instead of whatever the Cult of Hastur has planned for this town. Completing the ritual will allow us two victories. First, we return our ally Momijii. Second, we deprive the Stelae of power needed for returning whatever the Cult wants to return.
Agrippa sighs and continues I will admit. I do not know what else will come over with Momijii, so it is advised to be prepared. But, if we steel our souls, and stare defiantly into the Abyss. We might yet gain ground against the forces that plague this town.
"Stare into the abyss..." she whistled softly for emphasis, "Heavy stuff for this hour of the morning. I don't know, I'm not particularly sure about this, but on the other hand we really do need all the help we can get." She chews her lip and starts pacing up and down the drawing room. "On the one hand this might do nothing other than making us look foolish. Then it might fail and kill us, or summon something unwanted. But if it did work surely this would set the cult's plans back a good way."
She paces some more before spinning on her heal and stalking over to a side cabinet. She pulls out a large decanter of what appears to be brandy and pours out what has to be at least a triple measure and knocks it back in one. "Ah hell, what else am I going be doing to day other than fretting? Lets take the fight to them! Stating now... There's one of those standing stone just out back up the hill, it'll only take us a couple of minutes to try this."
So it was decided, the ritual was to be attempted.
Of course it's raining as you march single file up the low unnamed hill behind the sleepless building. From on top you get a good view of Thrushmoor or at least you would if visibility was better. Mercifully the wind was low so it felt warmer than it might have otherwise. The only sounds where the soft patter of rain on the grass, and the squelching of the muddy ground underneath your feet.
Feeling more than a little foolish the five of you start the ritual by lightly slashing the palms of your hands with a razor before linking them to form a chain around the 12 feet tall Star Stele. The dark rune encrusted stones seem to brood forbodingly but to begin with nothing much happens. Heinrich starts chanting the ritual words at first it's all rather proforma but then he wakes up to his subject and that mad glee you saw in the old chapel basement grabs him. Screaming the words like he really means it causes you all to flinch and then suddenly an electric charge seems to build up all around you. Unbidden you start dancing in a primal frenzy and with a degree of horror you realize you can't let go!
Faster and faster you move and then the tugging sensations start... It's as if a lampray had bitten down onto your hand and started sucking your blood! An awful horrid feeling of dread builds up as the stones start to shine a sickly yellow and you sense the faint outline of vast and alien through them as if they'd become somehow insubstantial.
Faster and faster you danced, and the ritual words dissolved into a cacophony of screams and pain lanced through you.
A thin yellow mist started leaking from your hands, billowing in your wake but settling unnaturally into a pool around your ankles in a most unnatural way. Slowly at first but then suddenly it grew thicker and taller and it pulsated horridly as if it was moving to the beat of some awful alien heartbeat.
As the blood loss grew worse a bone deep chill started to worm it's way into you. Your limbs becoming leaded and your lungs on fire yet still faster the ritual compelled you to dance round the Star Stela.
The writhing cloud grew steadily thicker and more defined until it took on a the shape of a powerfully built human female. Suddenly as if in an extacy, Heinrich leans back and screams, "HASTUR!" A distant rumble of thunder answers, followed by another closer one, and another and another! Suddenly every hair stands up on end, swaying wildly and weird eldritch lights form all over the stone. Then the lighting bolt hits, and none of you remembers what happened next although later you were told fishermen out in the lake saw a yellow bolt of lightning descend from the clouds arcing from one standing stone to the other followed by a tremendous crash of thunder which broke dozens of windows in town.
You all awaken some time later to find yourself inside the sleepless building feeling battered and bruised like you'd been in a terrible fight. Yet none of that mattered for a dark miracle had happened, Momijii was there with you seemingly unharmed. In fact she was better than unharmed, she had a radiant healthy glow as if she was years younger. The only thing you couldn't get her to do however was wake up, at least at first.
Filbert groggily looks around at those surrounding him, eventually determining they were no longer at the Stellae but back in the Sleepless Agency. Rubbing his eyes trying to get them to focus, he checks to see if everyone is there "Momijii!" he calls out as he finds her still form lying there with them as well.
Getting to his feet he moves over to shake her shoulder "Come on wake up, Momijii!....Agrippa we have a problem."
Lizzie, waking up from the ordeal, shakes off her drownsiness, as far as she could. Wiping a few hairs out of her eyes, she stands up to look around herself.
"Guys! Hey, wake up!
Momiji's back, she's back!"