The Mad Poet nods, a finger absently tapping the large book in his weathered hands.
”This contains secrets to your desires.”
He looks to Cats and the Mariner.
”If you fear a hidden price, let me allay those fears. You have already paid for it, and I suspect you will need the secrets to prevail against the Old Ones.”
The Twin looks over. ”Not that it matters. We are all doomed anyway.”
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Cats waits to see how Brother is before replying. It's not that he doesn't trust the totally evil looking dude with seemingly nefarious intents, but he really doesn't trust him.
"Catterfly? You okay? You feel different? You o-cat?"
”You must open and read from its secrets, Sir Kast.” The Mad Poet says, ”With it one might piece together dissociated knowledge, open up vistas of reality, and either go mad from the revelation, or flee from the deadly light into peace and safety. Fear not madness, for you are not strangers to it. Now is the time to look forward.”
He holds the book towards Brother Butterfly. ”Will you show your companions?”
”What about you, Catless? You doing this?” Cats looks at Fearless, assuming the paranoid little imp will justly decline any gift that the doppleshaver eagerly takes.
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Jasper flips to a section that's a third of the way into the book. It has a title indicating chapter 13.
He reads the words at the start of the first paragraph.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a man of wealth and taste. I've been around for a long, long years. Stole a million man's soul an faith.
Jasper's previous words of courage against this book quickly evaporate. He just went cliff diving in untested waters. The smile on BB's face evaporates and sweat appears on his shaved brows.
Accepting the Mad Poet’s arcane tome, Brother Butterfly opens it and begins flipping pages. Within are strange occult texts and images that at first glance seem indecipherable, but then he finds one word that stands out…
Brother Butterfly closes the book less than a minute after he opened it. With the way he flipped through pages it’s obvious he was too lazy to read it.
Cats waits to see if there are any ill effects from Brother’s reading. He doesn’t want to be worse…and certainly doesn’t want Brother to be worse.
”You okay, Catterfly? Should I do this?” Cats asks with concern.
Cats doesn’t say anything just yet.
Fearless grabs the book, "I haven't seen you read a book in your life. Not even sure you can read at this point." Fearless flips through the book and looks back at the Poet. "Alright, enough being cryptic. What is going on here and with us!"
Fearless opens the book, a retort aimed at Brother Butterfly on his lips. The words die as his eyes stare into the pages before him.
OOC question: Fearless asked for understanding, but the description seemed more like he was looking for information. So, is he collecting vast information, or trying to understand and gain insight into what he already knows?
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To the Mad Poet's question of 'What is best in after life?' The Mariner stoicly answers "To crush your enemies! See them driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their women."
"What with that damn book? What's in the smut rag? Are there pictures?" He doesn't peer into the tomb just yet, but rather keeps an eye on the grim host.
Fearless' eyes dart left to right and up to down all over the pages as he begins to drool a bit.
Cats, seeing Fearless drool and taking that as a good sign, will accept a book as well.
"I need to be quicker and catter than my enemies. Can you help with cat?" Cats asks.
"I can do nothing." The Mad Poet replies, pointing to the book in Fearless' tiny hands. "The tome contains that power."
Cats reads the tome, mostly looking for nudie pictures, but also other things of interest.
The Mariner takes the book once everyone has had a read. "This better not be a trick Madman-", he opens the book, "- don't want to see any **** pics. If there's something about warding off disease and fatigue, could be useful."
"Lowls doesn't know what he is after, still doesnt. He is obsessed with the King in Yellow, and the living city of Carcosa, his research uncovered something else that dwelled in the dark places beneath the city. Referred to as the Inmost Blot or the Star Seed." Fearless rattles off as he drops the book. Heis head feels like it is going to explode from the pressure as his nose immediately begins to bleed.
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Seeing how quickly everyone read the book, especially compared to how insanely long he spent with it. BB really doesn't believe they read it.
You guys kinda skimmed through that rather fast didn't you. It had a lot of good information in it.
but when Fearless finishes and talks about Lowls, he begins to think that maybe his long reading might have had a bending of time involved.
Fearless, if you are serious about The Inmost Blot, or even something like a Star Seed - we NEED to stop Lowls. I'm a master of religion and things happening in the planes and I don't know a spotted snow leopard about this Star Seed. Sounds terribly bad that Lowls is looking *beyond* The King in Yellow and the powerful city of Carcosa for *EVEN SOMETHING MORE*?
He leaves the unasked question, what can we learn to get to Lowls and stop him. Plus the other question - Are the 4 or possibly 5 (with The Twin) have the heart and soul to continue this quest?
Cats takes the tome and looks inside. At first the book seems empty to him, then images fade into view like blood soaking a bandage.
Drawn in by the hypnotic motion of whirling across pages, you find it impossible to tear your gaze away. Time blurs.. has it been minutes, days, years?
Eventually the images slow and come to a stop, the figure sitting calmly on the last page for a moment before bleeding away.
(Gain +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity!)
Cats blinks as he closes the book, and the Mariner takes it from his limp hands to take a peek for himself. Within the pages he finds a black spot. Turning the page, he finds another.
Eventually you reach the end of the book, closing it on the last page, now completely solid in color. The veins on your arms stand out, the blood pumping to muscles strained past normal limits.
(Gain +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity!)
The Mariner looks up, sweat beading on his face from exertion. His eyes focuses on a blur approaching that sharpens into the shape of the Twin, who takes the heavy burden from his hands and turns to examine the contents himself...
A moment later he closes the book, his good eye clear and piercing, a rare smile on his lips.
"Excellent." The Mad Poet says as he steps up to take back the tome. "The advantage will now be yours." He gestures to the pool of water in the center of the oasis.
"If you seek your lost memories, gaze into the depths and reflect upon the past. But beware, for We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and what has risen may sink, and what has sunk may rise."
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Cats, with his raised and bristling shackles, makes it very very clear that he does *NOT* want his former memories. He knows it’s bad and will work for the rest of his life to prove he is worthy of redemption, as Catrenrae has asked of him.
”Nope. Nope. Catting nope.”
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I certainly want and need to know my full self. I can't walk away from here and constantly have in the back of my mind -- what did I miss? For good or bad. I accept the need for who I am and was.
Interesting, how I have a totally different take than Kast. Very interesting.
He looks down into the waters, the shimmering waters. It's symbolic that in the middle of a desert, water is the hub of activity. Hub of life. Hub of community that attracts people and creatures far and wide.
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”Well you should get back your memories, Catterfly. You need to know who else you’ve married and where they might be. You have vows to uphold and amends to make to all your wives, I should think,” Cats acknowledges the differences between the two men, willing to stand by Brother no matter what.
"-or husbands even." the Mariner adds without much irony.
Lowls doesn't know what he is after, still doesn't, Fearless had said. Neither do I.
The Mariner edges to the rim of the water... and recalls the story of a boy jumping into the mouth of a whale to save his father. To look into the darkest place to see all the horror and truth. The Mariner gazes into the pool.
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"F%~% it, let's do this." Fearless doesn't even think twice and completely submerges his face into the inky depths. Water splashes from the small pool all over Brother Butterfly.
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Brother tries to skip away from the slosh of splashing water. Even letting out a small girlish "eeeiik", which he stops half way out of his mouth.
Mud/oasis water is not cleanly.
But his movements are too late as the sand/water/mud gets on the hemlines of his clothes. BB instantly thinks about how many bristle scrubs (47) will be needed to get all that out.
Cats studiously avoids the water like, uh, a cat…who also avoids water.
Cats hangs back as the rest of the Watchmen, along with the Twin, step into the waters of the oasis. Looking down they see their reflections in the rippling surface. But the reflection staring back are different…
A figure looks up at you with way too much hair. Bushy eyebrows, a beard, and a shaggy mop on his head. It takes you a moment to recognize the man as yourself, mostly through the haunted eyes that stare back into yours.
A stern version of yourself looks back. Well-dressed and we’ll-groomed, but with a cold and calculating look in his eyes.
The reflection you see isn’t much different than the one you see every day in the water over the railing of the Sellen Starling, but there is a hard murderous edge his eyes. Fresh blood drips from one arm.
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Cats looks at Brother without mercy.
”I catting warned you. I did.”
The Mariner had waded unconsciously into the warm oasis water, silently following a vision until completely submerged. Then long moments later walking out of the water, drenched and dripping against the reddish sky like fresh blood.
Fearless swishes his hand through the water causing it to ripple slightly. "Looks like I have the wrong link." He glares over at the Mad Poet. "What's the meaning of this?"
Cats continues to very carefully avoid the water while also giving looks to Fearless and Brother that suggest "I-CATTING-TOLD-YOU-SO."
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Brother Butterfly stumbles back from the reflection, wading back towards dry land as he exchanges "I told you so's" with Cats. The Mariner is right behind him, leaving only Fearless and the Twin out in the water.
Fearless splashes the water and turns to demand answers from the Mad Poet, but the strange man is nowhere to be seen. He notices a ripple in the water behind the Mariner and Brother Butterfly, then sees two forms rise from the pool. With their backs to him he can't quite make them out from where he stands, but Cats sees them clearly - similar copies of both BB and the Mariner, but different, as though seen through dark mirrors. The one resembling Brother Butterfly grinning through stringy hair and full beard, the Mariner's double dripping blood from one arm that clutches a curved cutlass.
Glancing back at his own reflection Fearless sees it smile, then suddenly bursts from the surface, reaching towards him with fingernails blackened by ink and coal!
INITIATIVE
The dark double of Fearless utters a spell and magic missiles spray the real Fearless from point blank range!
Nearby, the Twin splashes backwards a couple steps, gestures at his eidolon, and it quickly moves to strike!
The snakelike creature manages to bite the dark double once, drawing some blood.
The evil twin reaches out and drains life from the eidolon and looks stronger for it!
INITIATIVE
Mr Overhill
The Twin
Evil Twin
Cats
Brother Butterfly
Fearless
The Mariner
Captain Bloodyarm
Jasper
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BB actually looks a bit relieved as his adroit mind takes in the situation and problems.
WHEW! Evil Opposites! Double Whew! I actually thought I had grown actual hair *ALL OVER*. I just have to keep my Evil opposite from killing me. That's a much better situation to deal with.... then to look like... to look like... THAT!
He sputters out the last part. In obvious disgust over how hairy his counterpart is. It's so repulsive it makes BB stutter.
Oh Desna, Show them Passion, Ardor, Zeal!
With this blessing, you call your allies to move forth and empower them to conquer and become victorious. Each round for the duration of this spell, each of your allies can choose one of the following bonuses for that round at the beginning of its turn (their choice).
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
These effects are not cumulative with similar effects, such as those provided by haste or a speed weapon, nor do they actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round. Blessing of fervor does not stack with haste.
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Fearless shares missiles with the madman before him. Though his missiles wanted to veer towards Jasper they were staying on target as Fearless' life was in danger once more. Not only was everyone actually out to kill him, but it seems his own self was as well.
HP 60/60
AC 21 (25 w/ Mental Barrier)
Spells: 1st 6/6 | 2nd 5/5 | 3rd 3/3
Inspiration 7/7
Tactician 1/1 (Rounds 3/3)
Challenge 1/1
Phrenic Pool 2/3
Wand of Magic Missile (3rd) 14 charges remaining
Wand of Unnatural Lust (49/50)
Ring of Tactical Precision (Cats)
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Round 1
"I CATTING TOLD YOU, CATTERFLY!" Cats already had bow in hand and quickly begins to knock and shoot arrows. He glares daggers at Brother Butterfly, while happily shooting his 'evil' butterfly while pretending it's the real Brother.
"That's for not listening to me!" *twang*
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
damage.
"And that's for being a bald cattopath!" *twang*
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
"And this is for your wives!" *twang*
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
"And this is from Catrenrae with love!" *twang*
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] damage.
AC: 24
HP: 66/66
LoH: 0/4 used (2d6)
0/1 used Hero's Defiance
[ dice]1d20+12+1 damage.
[ dice]1d20+12+1 damage.
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+12+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+7+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
Catrenrae’s Gift: 0/2 used.
Mini Smite: 0/1 used: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+8 Bab +7 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid= +13/+13 to hit
+3 Str +1 magic +4 DA +1 PBS = +9 damage
The hair on the Mariner's neck stands up, perhaps sixth sense kicking in. He draws and swings a rearward arc without looking. Seeing the image come alive, "What the hell are you?"
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Cats serves the bearded Butterfly with a barrage of divorce papers deadly arrows. The dark reflection stumbles back, bleeding badly.
The real Butterfly prays for a blessing and Desna's grace fills his companions with a power so great it makes wizards wonder if their job has become redundant in the modern medieval world.
Fearless, meanwhile, uses the best wizard trick in the book to throw his double back with magic missiles. As each one impacts, Fearless feels sharp pins in his mind...
Other memories begin to surface as well, but they are still murky... a room full of books in Lowls Esatate.. the Twin sitting nearby, absorbed in a book on obscure planes of existence, sharing a glance that speaks to a not so friendly rivalry in the occult... Lowls introducing a smiling, confident, and much thinner Jasper...
Then you find yourself again at the Mad Poet's oasis... you stand in the water with Lowls nearby. "I am sorry Mr. Underhill, but a toll must be paid for my journey forward."
You look down and find him pulling a long dagger from your chest. The light of the sky fades as you fall beneath the water's surface...
The Mariner turns and slashes with his broadsword, cutting through some chain links giving an injury to his double. Captain Bloodyarm just laughs as if he hardly feels the pain.
"Did you get it?" he asks.
You raise your hand, a tome clutched in your fist. Lowls laughs with almost childlike joy. "Excellent! You will get your just rewards my ruthless friend!"
Other memories begin to surface as well... a childhood spent in a crate below decks on a ship owned by slavers... the look on Kast's face when you stabbed him through the heart...
Then you find yourself again at the Mad Poet's oasis... you stand in the water with Lowls nearby, looking up at a flock of dark birds in the trees. Lowls turns to you and points, and the birds take to the air, swarming down to attack you! Beaks and claws tear at you, ripping skin, and plucking out your eyes!
Captain Bloodyhand takes up his cutlass and hurls himself at the Mariner!
"Desna, forgive these heathens and heal us!" Jasper calls upon holy powers to heal himself and his dark watchmen.
To Cats, Jasper calls out, "I saved you, my friend! I pulled you back from death! I gave you a second chance! Not this FAT lazy blob!" He points at Brother Butterfly.
Fearless' dark copy sneers at the magic attack and casts a spell.
[spoiler=Rolls]
The Twin's eidolon wraps up his dark double and begins to constrict him. The Twin himself watches from a safe distance.
INITIATIVE
Cats
Brother Butterfly
Fearless
The Mariner
Captain Bloodyarm
Jasper
Mr Overhill
The Twin
Evil Twin
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The Mariner square of with the Sub-Mariner, wading through the water like two flamingos sizing up each other. Still keeping reserved, Dunsel lunges at Dumsel.
Round 2
”I don’t remember you saving me. The only one that saved me was the bald one,” Cats continues to shoot at ‘evil’ Jasper. Either way, he will 5’ step away from evil Mariner.
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
damage.
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
to hit; (+PBS, deadly aim)
damage.
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] damage.
AC: 24
HP: 66/66
LoH: 0/4 used (2d6)
0/1 used Hero's Defiance
[ dice]1d20+12+1 damage.
[ dice]1d20+12+1 damage.
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+12+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+7+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
Catrenrae’s Gift: 0/2 used.
Mini Smite: 0/1 used: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+8 Bab +7 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid= +13/+13 to hit
+3 Str +1 magic +4 DA +1 PBS = +9 damage
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"Did you get it?" he asks.
You raise your hand, a tome clutched in your fist. Lowls laughs with almost childlike joy. "Excellent! You will get your just rewards my ruthless friend!"
Other memories begin to surface as well... a childhood spent in a crate below decks on a ship owned by slavers... the look on Kast's face when you stabbed him through the heart...