Nowzai nods and smiles to Jenya. "I am pleased you are alive and well... It has been but a day, but seems like much, much longer. We will be in touch as soon as we know more." Before she heads out the door, he adds, "Be careful."
To the group, "I need to get this research underway, and not just on the cage." Nowzai insists. "But I will defer it, again, if the rest of you so decide."
"Why is confronting the Last Laugh is so urgent?"
"You are right Nowzai, we need to take care of ourselves before we venture onto this one. Get your studying in, we can hunt them down when we all take care of what we need to."
Epik will defer to Dalamus concerning the Last Laugh. "Is there anything we can do to assist you Nowzai in your research? If not, I am going to pay a visit to the bishop and spend some time restocking my gear."
"I can probably assist him, and let Dalamus do some searching on where the Last Laugh even is and where they are keeping the Striders."
*
After a long day of research and magical study, Nowzai heads to the Drunken Morkoth to meet up with the others. Along the way, he asks Sama'el. "I would like to visit my old sponsor, Vortimus Weer, at his alchemy shop. Would you like to come along?"
Analyze Dweamor -- gp/time only
Daylight -- gp/time only
Fly -- gp/time only
Acid Pit -- 1 Prestige/no time
Control Summoned Creature -- 1 Prestige/no time
Communal Stoneskin -- 1 Prestige/no time
Chains of Light -- 1 Prestige/no time
Planar Binding -- gp/time only
i am going to check on Gurzenon and my aunt. let see if any of the children of iomedae shows up at the smithy.
have we identified all of ike stuff?
Before he leaves, Epik will pose a question to the group. "Are we going to tell the authorities about the situation at the tower of Pharasma or keep it secret for now? Normally I would feel compelled to notify the city's lawful leadership, but as it stands, I'm not really sure who that is. I don't think we can trust the acting mayor - nor the bishop for that matter."
Epik will spend the day at the Temple of Iomedae. He will spend the morning in prayer and meditation. Once complete, he will approach the Bishop.
"Sir, I've spent the morning praying to Iomadae for guidance on how I may assist our stricken city. Perhaps I may assist the city by helping you in guiding and shepherding the devout followers of the Inheritor. I've noted several times that congregation is unnecessarily agitated. Clearly they have gone astray if they are harrassing the Church of Cayden Cailean, wouldn't you say?"
He looks pointedly at the bishop.
Spellcraft -
Knowledge Planes -
Knowledge Arcane -
UMD -
"I think it's best if we stick together, I would be honored to meet your sponsor"
"Epik, I think we keep things quiet for the moment, as you said yourself, we are unsure of whom we can trust now. If we were to tell the wrong person, not only would we be in danger, but also that of those we hold dear and are aiding."
"Sam, I think we are fine to go about our business during the day, with minimal risk, and we all have a lot that we need to take care of."
Dalamus will head out and hit several watering holes trying to elicit information.
Dalamus will go to the Slippery Eel and find Patch the janitor as well
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Dalamus will also visit the Tippard Tankard Tavern and the Town Guard, specifically Terseon Skellerang
Tippard Diplomacy
Town Guard
-Posted with Wayfinder
Occipitus Test
You speak with a few of your more promising fellow students and even catch the ear of one of the instructors who focuses on planar studies, the Master Binder. After hearing of your wondrous adventure and dealing with countless questions about your eye, they chew on your problem for a while, eventually clearing a table and writing out some things on parchment and pinning them in place. It's obvious they will be there a while.
The Master Binder asks you, "Do you have a list of assets available within the demi-plane that we can pull on for this study?"
Knowledge Research
: You find no reference to anything regarding the cage.
Driven by alien desires and a great understanding of necromantic magic, a cabal of spell-weaver necromancers built a tomb designed to garner ever more insight into frozen death. In their twisted minds, the forces of cold and death held some mystical connection, the understanding of which promised ever greater arcane power. Deep below the sprawling spell weaver city of old, this insidious laboratory/tomb was where they blended those forces of magic and the undead flesh of various races.
Weer's Elixirs
You find Vortimax's antiquated potions shop much as its always been and you push open the door to the cramped space and a bell rings in the distance. The curmudgeonly old man hollers his intent to come out from the back before there's a small crash and several curse words.
Vortimax appears from a back room, grumbling and stops when he sees you, "Boy ... what happened to your face?"
Magma stops by Gurzenon's and asks if any of the Iomedae followers have come by. Apparently none yet.
Epik arrives at the Temple and requests an audience with the Bishop, the acolyte scampers off and then returns a bit nervously,
"Ah, Most Revered Swordbrother, his Holiness asks ... <ahem> ... he asks if you have ... ah ... 'atoned for your companions' idiocy' yet? I apologize, ser, he said that exactly," the acolyte refuses to meet your eyes.
+1 spell storing bastard sword (contains hold person), +2 light fortification full plate, +3 light steel shield, cloak of resistance +2, ring of counterspells (Dispel Magic), scroll of teleport, boots of striding and springing
Dalamus spends most of the day picking up rumors and running down false leads. He heads to the Town Guard barracks to find it pretty much shut down and although he sees a candle or two burning, he's unable to get anyone to answer the door. As he turns to leave however, a rock skitters in front of him and he hears the pitter pat of feet on the rooftops above.
There's a note tied to the rock with two words on it: Orak's Bathhouse
Dalamus will head over to Orak's Bathhouse right away.
Dalamus thinks to himself. "Finally, I might have something...might."
Epik pushes past the acolyte. "Go back to your duties. This doesn't concern you."
He then walks into the bishop's office. If he isn't there, Epik will look until he finds him.
Knowledge Research
: You find no reference to anything regarding the cage.
Portal: You gain no specific information about a permanent portal to Karran-Kural, but you do see some signs that the spell weavers may have been interested in portal magic, but your research here isn't turning anything else up. Looks like you may need another source of information to shore up that connection.
Additionally, you as a summoner are aware that permanent portals require an immense amount of magic and the gateway device itself must be an artifact of its own. You gain enough info to realize that given Epik's ability to sense the environmental effects on the other side and not be forced through the portal that it must be a 2-way and not 1-way device.
The acolyte sputters as Epik brushes by him and stomps off to the Bishop's office where the man is not to be found. A few quick inquiries and Epik finds himself standing in the doorway of the High Priest's private sanctum, having opened the door and finding the bishop kneeling in prayer.
Dalamus heads to Orak's, a squat windowless building of dark stone on Lava Avenue run by a retired one-eyed dwarf adventurer of the same name. Years ago, the man stumbled upon a decanter of endless water, and he decided to open these baths as a result.
Orak himself answers the door when you knock. Seeing you, he grunts, and then opens the door indicating you should come in.
Onyx tiles cover the floor of the bathhouse, and the vaulted ceiling rises to a height of 20 feet. A 25-foot diameter sunken basin is set into the floor against the south wall, and water fills it. A translucent crystal dome above the pool allows light to enter and creates water reflections on the walls. Several smaller areas lead off of the main room; however, bead curtains or doors block your view of these areas.
Reclining unclothed with his eyes closed in the pool is another dwarf who looks vaguely familiar to you, but you can't quite place him.
"So, who are you to be asking around about people that shouldn't concern you?" The dwarfs asks without opening his eyes or turning toward you.
Epik will respectfully close the door and will not disturb the bishop, but he will wait outside of the door. When he eventually emerges, Epik will challenge him on how he has been running the church.
Dalamus will look towards the naked dwarf "My name is Dalamus and who are you you?"
After the dwarf answers, Dalamus will continue
"I have long roamed these streets and have made many friends along the way, and I am now aware that one of them may be in some trouble. I am simply trying to understand why he is in trouble and if there is a means to help him out. What do you know of the matter?"
Nowzai smiles wryly, sketching a small bow. "I seem to have merged my essence with an outer plane, and visa-versa. That's simplifying it grossly, but its the briefest explanation. I will regale you the full story over a drink sometime, but matters are presently pressing."
"My companions and I have just returned to Cauldron. It is in a trying state, to put it mildly. Friends are scarce or scattered, and foes in every corner. We have had trouble getting any straight answers. I fear there are few I can readily trust, and you are among that small number."
"To ask bluntly -- what happened to the city while we were away?"
"Bah, this place has always been a kettle ready to boil over. Add a few taxes, this ridiculous siege in Redgorge because of that fool paladin's challenge, and a missing mayer and chaos took over quickly. We went from comfortable frontier town to refugee camp in a couple weeks!"
He fusses around the shop a bit, moving papers and vials around to make space, but then just filling up other space. He eventually puts some books on the ground and brings out three chairs for you all.
"The real question is, what are you going to do about it? You seem to have risen above the politics of the city and the inefficacy of the churches and have solved some major problems in the past. Are you still in it for the good of Cauldron, or are you moving on and letting this place shrivel up into its own corruption?"
He says this last without judgement or animosity as if either option would be fine by him.
Epik waits for over an hour while acolytes flutter about and people gather inside and out, apparently for another sermon.
After a bit, the bishop opens the door and then pauses looking down at Epik with undisguised derision, "You're back. Did you follow my direction? Has Iomedae graced you with some better understanding of your folly?"
The dwarf opens his eyes, "Friends? I believe I know all of Fellian's friends. I do not recognize you. Who are you?"
"We are here to stay, providing whatever we can to keep Cauldron from sinking further into chaos. My companions and I share little in our backgrounds, but we all wish to see our foster home safe." He shakes his head, frustrated. "For some time, I have felt that the dire events befalling Cauldron have not been random circumstance, but rather the orchestrations of some power intent on... well, I do not know what their intent is, but the city has become further destabilized and unbalanced. It will take but a nudge to push it over the brink."
"We have been away from the city for so long, and things have deteriorated so quickly, that I struggle to perceive the bigger picture. With that wisdom, I might be able to identify the nascent threat and confront it before it is too late."
Epik shakes his head. "After I prayed to the Inheritor I realized that I must stand by my principles and follow my heart. With all due respect, I do not agree with the direction you have taken this church. You have unnecessarily agitated your congregation into reckless mobs. Arming boys and sending them out to seek trouble is irresponsible. Ordering them to harass the Church of Cayden Cailean, righteous followers of an allied good deity, is unconscionable."
Epik will point a finger at the bishop. "You sir, have betrayed the principles of Iomedae. I command you to relinquish your leadership of this church!"
"My name is Dalamus. I had met Fellian some time ago, he was traveling with Fario. We had found them in the old Gnomish city at the bottom of a pit trap, badly injured. We saved them and nursed them back to health, or at least enough to get them out of that city. They were looking for their friend Elethor Ashstaff."
"Anyways, that is enough about how I know them. I still do not have your name, nor any reason to discuss this any further. For all I know at this point, the more I say, the more trouble he may end up in."
"True chaos might be a bit much even for me. Bah, maybe you're right and right-minded folks should do something about it. Anyway a doddering old geezer can aid you?"
The dwarf's attention fully focuses on you now, "Dalamus? What kind of trick ..." his eyes narrow and pupils become pin points. You feel a slight pressure in your mind as if something is probing.
The bishop's mask cracks for just a moment and Epik gets a glimpse of something ... fear? doubt? ... his subconscious mind tries to place it. The man opens his mouth for a retort and then his shoulders slump and he turns away from Epik walking back into the meditation room. With his back still to the paladin, he removes the mitre from his head and pulls his cassock off and kneels back down on the stairs.
Dalamus will allow the probe
He lowers his head and begins
"We have all paid great prices for what we are doing. Mine...was unfortunately......a physical change"
-Posted with Wayfinder
The dwarf look stunned for a moment and then straightens up, changing slightly before your eyes and removes hs beard. A medium height man stands now where the dwarf once was, pulling on a pair of breeches.
"You are Dalamus, friend to Nemoris, ally of mine. You have goes through more than a physical change, but since you allowed me into your mind, I will keep your secret."
You place the man/dwarf now. He is the regular drunk at the Drunken Morkoth. Normally passed out at the table, you've seen this man as an unconcious dwarf nearly every day you've spent in Cauldron.
"My name is Meerthan, and I lead a group called the Striders of Erastil. We dedicate ourselves to freedom and community and I count Fario, Fellian, Nemoris, and Shensen among my members. I keep an active mindlink with my team (Nemoris excepted) and Fellian had uncovered some vital evidence on one of the noble families. He was on his way to us when he was picked up by the Last Laugh. They've been torturing him for several days now, but just today, my link to him was cut off. I am concerned from him but more importantly I need that evidence before the Last Laugh destroys it. I asked Nemoris and now I implore you. Find him, and find that evidence and I will share it with you."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Epik senses the Bishop is giving in, his once indomitable shell cracking under the pressure.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Epik nods grimly at the bishop. "You have 24 hours to clear the premises. As of right now I am taking interim control of the church until a proper replacement can be found."
Before departing the inner sanctum, he gives the bishop one last chance to come clean. "What happened to you? Did someone force you into these actions? If you tell me the truth, we may be able to correct the problem."
The bishop shakes as Epik speaks and then the paladin realizes he is laughing. The man turns, tall and strong again and with a wave of his hand the door to the sanctum clams shut and locks. "Fool paladin, your church was doomed when Sarcem was murdered. You just didn't know it yet. And as for the truth ... I doubt your fragile spirit could handle that!"
The man laughs maniacally and Epik notes a red diamond embedded in his forehead and a black iron symbol of the Carcerian Eye around his neck, both previously hidden by the formal regalia of the bishop's office.
"I am Shebeleth Regidin and my time here is complete. Prepare for an embarrassing and ignoble death, Epik."
The man begins to cast an intricate spell.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Epik draws his weapon as part of his move action, smites evil as a swift action and then power attacks. "I suspected it may come to this. It is now time for you to atone for you sins, Shebeleth."
Dalamus is a little taken back at the change"Ah, yes now I recognize you.."
Dalamus stands up tall and looks the man in the eyes "Ok then. let's get right to buisness, time is not a luxury that we have"
"Meerthan, if you keep an active link with your members, than do you also have an idea of where they are located? How about the Last Laugh, what can you tell me about them? Who is their leader? Are there specific buildings that they own? I need as much information as you can give me, if we are to find Fario and the evidence that he has. This evidence you are referring to, will it be obvious or do I need to look for a parchment of something?"
Meerthen sighs, "I don't know, the torture made him a bit incomprehensible so I couldn't get anything out of him about what kind of evidence he had ... might only be in his head, or it could be something he was carrying. Before we got cut off, however, he told me they were at the Brass Trumpet, an abandoned tavern on Ash Street ... right across the street. Fellian and I have been watching it."
On cue, the other half-elf steps out of the shadows and tips his hand to you.
"Hello, Dalamus. Looks like you could use some sun," the normally amicable half-elf looks a bit worse for the wear, with rumpled clothing and dark circles under his eyes. He's obviously taking the strain of his cousin's kidnapping hard.
Epik rushes forward, his sword blazing as it cuts through the false bishop's robe and carves a burning line through his shoulder and chest.
The man grunts but never stops grinning as he casts his spell, "The damage is already done ... just one quick push on my way out the door. The churches will never recover in time before the Cagewrights' terror is unleashed upon Cauldron. You have been little more than gullible pawn I’m afraid."
You feel like you're slowing down, when in actuality you realize that the man speeds up so fast you can't even track him. Within a split second he's gone, the door slamming shut in his wake and appearing out of nowhere is a monstrously tall and thin demonic creature, covered in a black substance with tattered bat wings.
Both Epik and Nemoris were both heal at the temple of Cayden Cailean
Epik will smite evil on the creature and then will power attack it.
; If this hits, first strike smite damage = 2/level for evil dragons and outsiders
;
;
Dalamus looks a little shocked to see the half-elf. Then starts over to Fellian to give him a hearty hug. "How are you doing my friend? I may be pale, but you look like you were dragged by a herd of horses!
Settling back down, and looking more serious, Dalamus once again starts to talk to Feliian "Fellian, are you interested and able to help us find Fario? Have either of you seen anyone coming or going from the Brass Trumpet, and who is the person leading this group, why is he some tough to identify?"
"If you are interested in helping us Fellian, get your things together and we will meet up with the rest of the guys and see what we can do to get him out."
The creature blocks Epik's blows with armored forearms and sticky goo, causing Epik to rip his weapon back from the creature lest it get stuck, but the blade fails to penetrate.
It chortles an unearthly laugh and then throws its hands in the air and brings a double fist to the ground.
A wave of chaotic energy slams into Epik sending his mind into jumbles,
Epik hears cries of pain and agony outside the door.
Fellian is taken aback but warmly returns Dalamus' hug, "I am well, friend. As long as we have been watching this place, we have seen no sign of activity. They must have another entrance or they haven't left. As far as the Jester goes, he's always been a ghost. Some aren't certain he is real, and that perhaps the Last Laugh runs a collective," Fellian shrugs.
"I am ready .. let us find the rest of your party."
Dalamus looks at Meerthen "Can you continue to keep an eye on the Brass Trumpet while we are preparing, and let us know if anything changes? You do still have a means to communicate with Fellian with the mindlink?"
"We are meeting up with the others at the Drunken Morkoth, a place you know very well. Right now they are scattered around the city handling various duties, so there will be a delay before we can get to the Brass Trumpet."
"True chaos might be a bit much even for me. Bah, maybe you're right and right-minded folks should do something about it. Anyway a doddering old geezer can aid you?"
Nowzai thinks for a moment, then nods, "At this point, we are just trying to get information -- trying to understand what is actually going on here."
"I fear the city is on the brink of open conflict. The enemy is thriving amid the chaos they sow, and it seems any would-be leadership -- the temples, the city guard, the mayor -- has been removed or replaced. It may be wise to quietly organize our friends, so that we are strong when the time times."
"Do you have anyone you trust that we could reach out to?"
AoO
; first strike smite damage = 2/level for evil dragons and outsiders. If this misses - apply the extra 11 points to first successful attack.
Full round attack:
;
;