"Yes, that is true, but they too are believers. The Queen has many warriors in many forms, even forms as repulsive as those you see standing before you. But soon these you see before you, the halfling, the human and the dwarf, shall be gifted the swords of red steel. Then they shall take on the image of the greater race. The Queen would be quite displeased if they were to come to harm."
Marskul replies in a whisper that is less quiet than before.
"Those ignorant and repulsive twits are believers?! That's impossible. The dwarf doesn't even look capable of understanding half of what the wrath of Tiamat is about. If they were given the dragonspawn blades of red steel, then why are they so vile looking? What happened to their blades? They should be suffering from withdrawal! I would be careful, gnome. I think they resisted the curse!"
After a moment of whispered conversation with Tirion, Marskul calls out loudly, "Now stop your stalling and follow me, gnome! There is much that needs done, before the Ghostlord can welcome the thieves!"
Marskul stands expectantly, waiting for Tirion to follow.
Tirion looks at the goblin: Wait, Marskul, can you come and assist me. We need to take the box that the halfling has with us up to her. That way we can show that the phylactery has been taken from the black dragon and must be reacquired.
Whisper-DC25 to overhear if he is still close.
Time to end this mockery. Bofus and Thordak, you are welcome to behead this hideous thing.
Perception
Mantooth overhears Marskul's last remarks to Tirion but says nothing. He does, however, place a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Marskul whispers something one more time to Tirion, oblivious that he is losing control of the situation and this is going to end badly for him.
"Wait, Marskul, can you come and assist me? We need to take the box that the halfling has with us up to her. That way we can show that the phylactery has been taken from the black dragon and must be reacquired."
"What are you an idiot like the rest of them! I thought you had more dragon in you than gnome! What do you think I've been trying to get you to do all along?! I already have the imitation phylactery and all I need to do is bring it to the Wyrmlord and we will be praised for our clever work! I just need you to get those three to sit tight for a few minutes. We'll have the whole the whole company here in just a minute. Now tell them to stay put and nobody will get hurt . . . yet. Heh heh heh!"
Finally, he remarks to the rest of you with little patience, "Just sit like a log for a moment and we'll be back with the Ghostlord. I am just going to announce your arrival to him. Get yourselves cleaned up and try to look presentable! If you need a bath, just jump into that pit!"
The hobgoblin begins turning the handle to the stone door and pushing it open to exit the room.
Tirion looks to the others and nods.
Whisper: Now would be a good time to quiet him down a little.
Perception
Should Bofus's arrow not make quick enough work of the goblin, Mantooth will take a step forward and take swipe at the goblin with Magnimarna.
Magnimarana Attack
Magnimarana Damage
"With pleasure, Tirion!!
"Huh?! What did you say?!"
As Marskul is about to step through the doorway, an acid arrow hits its mark right at the hobgoblin's neck. Although badly wounded, the goblinoid is not dead. In that instant the creature turns around in fury reaching for his weapon to attack, and declares in a strangled voice,"Tiamat comes to . . ." However, before the hobgoblin finishes his statement, Mantooth steps forward, and cuts the fiend down putting an end to his miserable life!
With Magnimarana still in one hand, Mantooth reaches down and grabs the hobgoblin by the collar of his robes and drags him away from the doorway, out of sight of anyone on the other side.
"What did you learn from this creature, Tirion? Should we have just let Thordak have him when we first got here or did he say anything useful?"
Tirion smiles at Mantooth.
Lets see, the Wyrmlord in charge is a woman. There is apparently a "company" somewhere hereabout. Oh, and he was terribly afraid of all their plans going awry if anyone were to happen to return the phylactery to the Ghostlord.
As he says this last part Tirion smiles. Seems that the crazed witch may have been right on this one.
It's be moi pleasure! Oi--Ah! Damn yer long legs, Mantooth, Oi wanted te do fer tha bastard! Ah well, Oi'm sure there'll be more... Thordak grumbles.
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That was gratifying. and im relieved we now have certainty that we're doing the right thing! so it looks like the Hand has infiltrated evev here, presumably to make sure the lich stays in line. So the question is, how do we maximize our fun and set it up so the ghostlord takes vengeance on the resident Hand while we watch the show??
bofus searches the miserable corpse carefully using EoD.
perception: take 20+17=37
The hobgoblin is armed with a heavy mace and wears a plain and simple black robe. Underneath the robe he wears a tunic over his banded mail armor that is emblazoned with a red hand in a yellow circle. He also carries a light shield strapped to his arm. On his belt he carries two flasks containing pink colored liquids as well as two scrolls in cases.
Tirion casts Detect Magic and attempts to discern what the magic items are.
Spellcraft(Potions):
Spellcraft(Scroll 1):
Spellcraft(Scroll 2):
Spellcraft(Mace or anything else):
Spellcraft(Armor or anything else):
Tirion is able to identify the following magic items.
2 Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds (CL6)
Scroll of Summon Monster III (CL6)
Scroll of Spiritual Weapon (CL6)
+1 Banded Mail Armor
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I can make use of the scrolls!
Bofus puzzles over the red hand emblem. i think we might consider a change of tactics, boys. i hadnt realized the Hand was physically here--but it makes sense that they're keeoing an eye on their lich prisoner. i'm now certain that we wont see the ghostlord without further hand minions first, and as soon as they realize why were here they;ll try to kill us.
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i suggest we simply state we must see the ghostlord with an important missive--which is true. we disclose nothing about the bauble without the lich in earshot. minimizes our chances to bleed, savvy?
Tirion looks to the others.
How good are you with disguises Bofus? We could always try to disguise ourselves as Horde members and find the Wyrmlord. Then, we eliminate her. My guess is that the Ghostlord is not the lich, but rather this woman whoever she is. With the accursed black draconic blood in my veins, I should be able to talk my way through many roadblocks. The problem is that a paladin of Iomedae and a dwarf are not two who most, even the stupid, goblins will believe support the horde.
Wot'd'ye mean tha Ghostlord isn't tha lich? Ye think there's that other wyrmlord here? Or er...wrymlady?
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I agree with everything you just said, except the part about the ghostlord not being the lich. You not getting enough air, or did that lion beastie hit you in the head or something?? where did you come up with that?
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As far as disguises,, yes--among my skills is disguise. we could do the classic "captured" gambit where i disguise you and i as bad guys and we've captured Thordak and Mantooth...
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Har! You two? Capture us? Hahaha! Tha goblins are pretty stupid but they're not completely daft!
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oh, hang on hang on---this is too good!! Warn me if someone comes, this might take a minute.
Bofus pulls out his disguise kit and a wand, and props Marskul up sitting against a wall. He uses the dead guy's clothes,, and studies his face intently, to disguise himself as Marskul!!
<--+8 skill/kit, +10 disguise self wand, -2 different race[/dice]
Har! You two? Capture us? Hahaha! Tha goblins are pretty stupid but they're not completely daft!
oh come now Thordak. Simple really--you were both softened up by the lions, making you easy prey...besides, i probably *could* capture you, you know!! ;-)
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You might be able te capture moi boot in yer arse!
Tirion looks at Bofus as he finishes.
Do you speak goblin or draconic?
Thordak approaches Bofus and begins smearing filth on him. Better make it look believable, right? Hehe!
Aid another:
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Knowledge, Religion
After Bofus takes the robes off the goblin, Mantooth takes a look at the tattoo on the goblin's arm. After staring at it intently for a few moments and scratching his head, Mantooth is barely able to resolve the name of his own deity.
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gee, thanks, Thordak. Downright goblin of ya!
Heres what im thinking. we simply head deeper into this tomb, find the lich, andexpose his current henchmen fr what they are. i dont expect this disguise to buy us more than a few seconds; we'll need to be ready to fight no matter what, i think.
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Sssssoooo--wherever Marskul was taking us, lets NOT go that way!!
Bofus heads to the other door, that marskul was not heading towards.
Bofus opens the southern of the two doors along the eastern wall. This leads into a curved hallway with rough stone walls. From the sunrod, Bofus can see that it leads to another door to the south.
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oh yeah, loose ends...*eh-HEM bofus clears his throat and tries to imotate Marskul's raspy tones. Dwarf!! since you were deprived of stabbing the goblin, maybe you'll glean some satisfaction from flinging him into yon pit--WITH VIGOR!!
once the corpse is gone, bofus leads the way to the door at S26. he's thinking traps should be fewer here, but no reason to be foolhardy--he checks the corridor AND the door carefully for traps.
Ah, that Oi can do! Thordak says, dragging the goblin's corpse over and kicking it off the edge.
Bofus moves carefully down the hallways and at the end he reaches a stone doorway engraved with carvings of lions. Bofus does not see any traps along the way.
Meanwhile at the back of the line, Thordak dumps the coprse of Marksul down into the pit. He waits several seconds until he hears a splat as the dead goblinoid hits the bottom a good ways down.
Tirion follows quietly behind the rest. When he sees Bofus at the door, he casts Detect Magic to determine whether there ar any magical traps about.
Um...de ye want me te come do it or sh'we have a vote? ...Daft halflin'... Thordak grumbles, apparently still affected by the ghostlion's attacks.
Thordak tromps up to the door and promtly kicks it in.
Kick:
Thordak kicks the heavy stone door and it slowly swings open. Beyond the stone door is a narrow hallway. There is an immediate door to the east and the hallway appears to continue west and then turns south ending at another stone door.
Tirion comes up behind Thordak. First he casts Message again to maintain communication incase the party gets separated. He then casts Detect Magic and scans the area.
With all the pit traps, I fully expect more traps of some sort. I shall attempt to find the magic ones. Bofus, keep using your skills to find the mechanical ones.
Aye, an' Oi can tell right well if there's any trick stonework, so Oi'll keep moi eyes out.
A sickly yellow light comes up from the crack at the bottom of the door, but no sounds can be heard from beyond the eastern portal.
Mantooth concentrates in an attempt to detect evil beyond the door, but either the aura is blocked by the stone portal or there is no evil within. Either way, he is unable to detect the presence of evil.