Fearless examines the man in amber and determines him to be the victim of a sepia snake sigil spell.
Putting the boy with kitten portrait in his bag, Cats examines the skull. He finds nothing about it that seems dangerous, but when he reaches for the parchment in the mouth a disembodied voice calls out. It arrives as if echoing up from a deep well, becoming clearer at the third reverberation.
”Don’t cat it!!” It cries, sounding a lot like Cats own voice.
A memory flashes through your mind. You stand in this same room, the skull before you. Two other men stand nearby, one middle aged with dark hair and a few days scruff of unshaven beard, the other you recognize as Count Haserton Lowls.
”I have sensed no magic, nor found evidence of any mechanical devices that could be a trap, but the legends surrounding this artifact warrant caution.”
”Use a stick. Or tweezers.” The scruffy man suggests.
”The parchment is too fragile.” Lowls replies.
”And the teeth are too quick.” You hear your own voice add with a chuckle.
”If you are as good as they say, I believe you can get it for me. And if not for me, then for the boy. Do it for his sake, Evan. Or I will ask him to do it for you.”
Other voices echo about the area, but only a couple more are clear enough to be understood.
”Burn... burn... Burn it!” An echo of Fearless demands.
”Dust... dust...” Brother Butterfly’s voice echoes into the room. ”Use the silver dust!!”
Smoke begins pouring forth from the corner of the room behind the skull’s pedestal, and a gaunt, long-limbed form suddenly emerges from it. Time seems to slow as a dozen soulless eyes sweep the room. Reality trembles, vibrating like a string suddenly pulled taught.
This is an extraplanar creature known as a Hound of Tindalos.
They are predators from beyond the bounds of known reality, usually appearing only when summoned by reckless spellcasters. Little is known about their nature outside of blood-spattered notes and deranged writings of the nearly insane survivors of their attacks. Although possessed of great cunning and cruel intellect, the hounds show no evidence of understanding or communicating with mortals. They enter the physical world on their own in pursuit of those who have trodden too much the netherways beyond time and reality—time travelers (be it physical travel or simply divinatory glimpses forward or backward in time) and creatures that teleport without regard to how this movement impacts subtle magical currents in the multiverse particularly draw their interest.
DC 22 check reveals one more useful piece of information.
DC 27 check reveals two more useful pieces of information.
Choose from defensive, offensive, or special abilities.
INITIATIVE
INITIATIVE
Cats (45/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 10 rnds
Creature
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 9 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 18 rnds
Round 1, Init 24
Will vs. DC16
Fort vs. DC18
Cats recoils at the sound of his own voice, his own fear, his own past. His face contorts with a slow panic...before recovering into thoughts of redemption and forgiveness for his past.
Haunted, Cats steps back and fires two arrows at the creature.
to hit; (+PBS,+aid,-cover)
magic cold iron damage.
to hit; (+PBS,+aid,-cover)
magic cold iron damage.
damage.
AC: 19
HP: 45/45
LoH: 2/3 used
[ dice]1d20+10 damage.
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] slashing damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: 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.
+5 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+7/+7 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
Holding tight to his sense of being, Cats jumps back and rapidly fires arrows at the monster. One strikes and seems to injure it.
Moving faster than a natural creature can, the beast pounces on Cats with long claws and a maw of razor sharp teeth.
INITIATIVE
Creature
Fearless (40/40) 1 save required
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 9 rnds, 2 saves required
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 18 rnds 2 saves required
Cats (8/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 10 rnds
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Brother Butterfly Springs into action and command.
Get to Desna's Safety!
Using Good Fortune for Willsave.
While the effects wash over him, he feels sluggish. Desna tried to intervene, but this forsaken effect was just meant to be.
Even though his limbs feel atrophied, the sharpest weapon he owns - his mouth still works quickly. The second sharpest weapon -his mind also works fast.
Get to safety. Just as travelers need to seek shelter. Desna will grant us a patch of safety amongst the storm.
A glowing ring appears on the floor --it is made of interlocking butterflies.Antennae to tail and tail to antennae it rounds in a perfect circle on the fine estate floor. A shimmering color of gold and purples rise up above the warm and welcoming ring looking like a translucent and ethereal curtain from floor to ceiling.
Someone grab that silvery dust in the vial.
A small ceramic vial contains a glittering silvery metallic dust.
If Desna's circle keeps it out, don't leave it or face losing it's protection.
Fearless feels a strange sensation coming over him. As if the world around him comes to a crawl while he moves at lightning speed. The feeling is strange to him. He gasps as shadows leap from the wall. "What did you touch!? It was the monkey skull wasn't it..." He moves behind Cats and tosses his dagger into the mist.
HP 40/40
AC 18 (22 w/ covering fire; 22 w/ mental barrier)
Spells: 1st 0/5 | 2nd 0/3
Inspiration 4/6
Tactician 0/1 (Rounds 2/3)
Challenge 1/1
Phrenic Pool 0/2
The Mariner is too numbed in fear for any effect to get through. The magical curtain that suddenly springs up nearly freezes his blood in surprise. Something inside tells him best to not reach through it and grab the silver vial instead.
Round 2, Init 24
Bleeding out of every scratch, bite, and tear, Cats withdraws.
"What the cat is cat!?!"
AC: 19
HP: 8/45
LoH: 2/3 used
[ dice]1d20+10 damage.
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] slashing damage.
Mini Smite: 0/1: 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.
+5 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+7/+7 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
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The Watchmen rush to the protection of Brother Butterfly’s magic circle. Fearless’s dagger flies out and cuts the creature - blue ichor drips from its injuries. The Mariner safely grabs the vial of silvery dust.
The creature’s eyes flash and it lunges forward, but is suddenly stopped by the invisible force of the magic circle. Its eyes dart left, then sharply right. The disturbing strain of its gaze is weaker to Brother Butterfly, Cats, and the Mariner, but Fearless feels the full weight of it for the first time.
”Graah ah ah ah ah ah ah...”
A staccato growl issues from the creature and it withdraws into a thick fog of smoke.
INITIATIVE
Creature -19
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 8 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 17 rnds
Cats (8/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 9 rnds
Fearless holds his head as he fights off the intrusion. "Where did it go?" He scans the fog.
”Cats - drink that potion!”, the Mariner scans the flank,”How long does this barrier last Brother? Can we fight though the curtain?”. He sheathes the magical sword and ready to switch to another weapon.
"I see you - you turd..." he murmurs at the fog as he tracks the creature.
Round 3, Init 24
Cats draws and drinks the Potion of CMW that he just picked up outside.
CMW
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To answer Cat's question, this is a hound from the planes. It's sometimes summoned by evil, it's sometimes a hunter of those that travel planes - Hunting someone like The Tatterman. But it is unequaled in it's capacity for evil. This thing seems to be unnaturally fast. Something very special. But, it's weakness has been fully exploited by Desna's protection which will last at least an hour.
To Mariner, yes, we can fight and throw flaming potions through the curtain - but I need to stress that leaving the circle and returning loses all protections it affords.
Lastly, Fearless- please check out the metallic dust. The echoes of me said to use it, and I will always have my ears open to someone wise and smart. Myself..and you..in this case.
I will predict that the dust will allow us to see it better - The flames will allow us to hurt it.
He spends his only action pulling out an alchemists fire and the cure wand. Putting a slow spell on Brother makes him Slugg-ish
Focusing his mind Fearless steels himself against the unnatural forces threatening to pull him apart. He stares into the fog, but cannot see anything within. Brother Butterfly slowly grabs for something in his pockets.
Cats drinks a potion that partially heals his injuries.
Sheathing his sword, the Mariner continues to watch the hound as it paces near the wall, but despite his keen sight the creature shimmers and fades from sight completely.
INITIATIVE
Creature -19
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 7 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 16 rnds
Cats (19/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 8 rnds
Round 4, Init 24
"Does someone have another potion catty?" Cats asks, his hands waiting and hoping. "I'm not feline fine."
The Mariner yanks the emergency potion vial hanging on the lanyard around his neck and passes it on to Cats, never taking his eyes off the threat outside the curtain.
[Cmw]
Cats laps up the potion from Mariner.
CMW
He's ready to move on after that.
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Fearless, please hurry with checking out that metallic dust.
I will try to see if I can locate the monster. We have the edge right now as it did not expect to be stopped in it's tracks.
Mariner- Can you grab this Alchemist Fire and throw it at the thing?
Brother holds out the Alchemist fire, but digs through his backpack for another to possibly hand Cats.
"I can't see it, I think it is invisible. Keep your eyes open.", the Mariner lets Brother pass the Alc Fire onto Cats, "I've got one - are you sure fire is going to affect it?" the Mariner readies the napalm.
Fearless rushes over to the strange metallic dust.
He grabs two small handfuls of the dust "What do you want me to do with it? Toss it into the fog?"
A physical examination reveals nothing about the dust to Fearless.
Still moving painfully slow, Brother Butterfly retrieves a vial of alchemist fire. The Mariner pulls free his emergency healing potion and offers it to Cats. The injured half-elf drinks it and feels about ready for action.
From somewhere in the fog comes the strange echo of the hound’s growl.
”Grah ah ah ah ah ah ahh...”
INITIATIVE
Creature -19
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 6 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 15 rnds
Cats (33/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 7 rnds
Fearless tries to detect any magic coming from the dust. Closing his eyes he tries to separate all of the magical auras surrounding them. though it is difficult.
Round 6, Init 14
Taking an additional moment to catch his breath and give others a chance to find the house, Cats draws the wand of CLW and uses it on himself.
CLW
”Oh cat, much better. Much much better.”
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Just in case it can speak common, Brother whispers the following in a low voice- right next to Mariner so he at least hears it. My plan is to protect you from fire, then grant you the same Desna protection against the Hound's touch, and have you leave the circle to draw it out.
Once it shows itself, Fearless can use the dust - if it is is useful and the rest of us can toss alchemist fire on top of you and the hound. You will be protected- it will not!
Going back to a normal voice and gauging the reaction from Mariner.
What do you think? Desna protect Mariner from the flames and the abyss and the hound.
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”What do I think of being the bait?”, the Mariner says as the spell takes effect, he shrugs at the strange fire retardant tactic, ”-you're the master.”. Gripping his shield tight and alchemy fire ready, he carefully steps over the circle to the south.
This is a bad fking idea... wait to get attacked then set yourself on fire.
On his next turn, Cats will put away the wand and ready to step out of the circle so he might fire upon the beast. He's not worried, but not excited about what is going to happen with the plan.
"If you give me a moment, I'll cat out..." Cats offers, but isn't sure it's the best idea after the mauling he just earned.
Fearless concentrates on opening his mind to detect magical auras.
Whispering a plan to his allies Brother Butterfly casts a spell to protect the Mariner from fire.
The Mariner readies alchemist fire and shield while Cats heals himself further.
All is still and quiet...
INITIATIVE
Creature -19
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 5 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 14 rnds
Cats (42/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 6 rnds
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Hold up Mariner, We need to pause just a bit longer. Fearless needs to determine what the glittery metal is. If it doesn't do what we want it too... we'll have to have a different plan.
He then gives Mariner the other side of his blessing.
This should be your very own protective bubble. .
Cast first level protection from evil on Mariner.
he then turns his head so very slowly to Cats. Please stay in the circle - Cats. you are so very effective from range. And you should use fire vs. arrows..unless you have fire arrows. You don't have to listen to me - but at least listen to Fearless.
”Burn... burn... Burn it!” An echo of Fearless demands.
Fearless continues to concentrate on the dust. The swirling cloud just outside of their reach keeps drawing his attention away as for brief moments as a bead of sweat forms on his brow.
Cats waits to see what Fearless discovers. Mindful of Brother's warning, he opts to wait within the protections of the circle for the time being.
"Catless, what do you see?" Cats asks, having no good idea what magics truly are.
Moments pass that feel like an eternity. Brother Butterfly casts another spell upon the Mariner. Eventually Fearless identifies the substance as dust of appearance.
INITIATIVE
Creature -19
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 3 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 12 rnds
Cats (42/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 4 rnds
Grasping the dust Fearless hopes for the best. "Hope this works." He tosses the dust into the fog where the creature was last seen. The metallic glitter coats a large area as it slowly falls.
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Not exactly certain what Fearless found, but he is hopeful that because
the guy that keeps calling him a Doppleganger is doing something right by flinging the metal dust in the air. BB crosses his fingers and relies of Desna's supply of luck that the dust will help function as a part of BB's Masterful plan.
He gives Mariner the cue to continue.
Alright Mariner- Your turn.
Brother has two alchemist fire ready to throw , if/when the Hound becomes visible. Feeling confident that Mariner is protected enough, and the hound is not.
Not waiting for the Mariner to step outside the circle of protection Fearless hurls the magic dust into the fog. It billows out, sparkling motes illuminating the area and revealing the hound. Lurking just behind the circle, the unnatural creature growls in surprise as the magic dust settles upon it.
”GRAHH AH AH AH AH AH!”
INITIATIVE
Creature -19 *dusted
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 3 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 12 rnds
Cats (42/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 4 rnds
Round 9, Init 24
Cats 5' steps forward to shoot the now visible jerk creature, breaking his protection from the circle. He hopes Sarenrae will help him with this action.
to hit; (+PBS,+aid)
magic cold iron damage.
to hit; (+PBS,+aid)
magic cold iron damage.
AC: 19
HP: 45/45
LoH: 2/3 used
[ dice]1d20+10 damage.
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+8[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+6+2d6[/dice] slashing damage.
Mini Smite: 1/1: 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.
+5 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid=+7/+7 to hit
+2 Str +1 magic +4 DA+1 PBS = +8 damage
The Mariner looks at the alchemy fire in his hand with a lot of doubt. When he sees Brother lob a perfect arc into the open maw, he guesses it couldn't hurt to try.
Even with his movements sluggishly slow, Brother Butterfly manages to underhand toss his vial of alchemist fire at the hound. It’s an awkward throw, from a man challenged by hand-eye coordination on a good day. But through some miracle of fate the flask arcs high and comes down just as the hound’s toothy maw comes up.
Flames burst from the creature and it screams!
It then erupts in a second wash of fire as the Mariner smashes another flask against its side.
From the circle Cats fires his bow, his arrows flying true and seeming to burn with a light of their own as Sarenrae guides their path.
The hound retreats from the onslaught. But instead of becoming trapped in the corner of the room, the corner seems to stretch behind it. The fog in the air is sucked after the creature, and then, suddenly, the room is empty.
STATUS
Fearless (40/40)
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 1 rnds
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 10 rnds
Cats (42/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 2 rnds
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The Mariner shields his face from the flames. After the shrieks, he peers out with one eye, scanning the area. "Is it gone, Fearless? I can't believe that worked..."
Mental note: Fifth time the cleric has been right.
Cats waits, not eager to leave the circle even though its protections to him are limited. He waits and listens and waits more...letting another leave the circle for the mauling that might come.
"What the cat was that thing? Anyone know? I think it ran off with my spleen."
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Fearless shrugs with a perplexed look on his face.
How the f!%$ should I know?
He looks over at the corner, not sure if it is gone or not. "Looks like it to me. Lead the way Fishy."
Fearless wants someone. Really anyone to go first to see what happens. If there is anymore metallic dust he will find a sheet of parchment in the room and make a couple packets of it.
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What was that thing
It was a Hound of Tindalos.
They are predators from beyond the bounds of known reality.Let Fearless and myself stay in the protections. Cats should join us too! It will at least fool the enemy.
If things are quiet for a short time, it appears to have been driven off. Magically escaping - as we know it is a thing of the planes and does travel that razors edge.
If things are quiet- please Mariner- open the door and peer at what is inside- but be prepared to retreat back to us.
*****
Cats pads up to the door to check for traps, listen, and offer a target for things he cannot see.
Stealth
Perception
Leaving the safety of Brother Butterfly’s circle of protection, Cats examines the door. Finding nothing dangerous the group passes through into a library.
The walls here are lined with ceiling-high bookshelves laden with bound tomes, parchment scrolls, and stacks of paper. The shelves are stuffed full and sag under the weight of their contents. Curtains have been drawn on all the windows, leaving the chamber dimly lit by amber-colored crystal lamps fixed to the walls and standing on two central tables and a desk. Stairs in the western corner of the room lead up to the second floor.
”Thank the gods, it’s you!” A woman’s voice calls from a dark corner of the room.
Stepping into the light Brother Butterfly and the Mariner recognize the missing Priestess of New Chapel, Trilliss Mavaine.
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Brother is very surprised and happy about the appearance of the Priestess /Manor prisoner. Her disappearance ...and that of another.. have been on his mind the past 24 hours.
Desna be praised! You are here and alive and well. When Lady Spring of the Knights of Ozem told us that you were gone from the temple -we feared the worse.
BB lets his words sink in. Hoping for a bit of correction from the Priestess in that the correct answers are "Lady Winter" and "Royal Accuser".
just in case it's needed for above -
No matter what her answer, BB still needs to double-check and maybe triple check her identity - as the other person that disappeared is a murdering doppleganger!
New Chapel is not the same without you. But first, we must verify you are who you say you are. There was a doppleganger that was under arrest at your Chapel and he/it escaped. Killing more people. You could be that doppleganger, we have to remain skeptical and secure. I hope you understand.
So, two easy tests. The First, is to walk into this other room and go into the circle, the room also has a vase - I'd like you to fill that vase with water. A gift granted by Pharasma. If you don't have your holy symbol of Pharasma - We have one you can use. Then, we have this incense that will allow us to share intimate thoughts and your true desires. We'll use that to verify your identity.
Mariner , Cats and Fearless - chop her in two if she starts a spell without being instructed.
Cats squints at the woman, giving her a look through his Cat's Eyes. He's feeling untrusting at the moment, probably from having his spleen stolen by a tri-dimensional dog.
"You're alive? For cat's sake, I'm sorry about what we did to your chapel. Uh...it was dark and scary and sorry," Cats apologizes immediately for something he's sure the woman has no idea about.
Mariner , Cats and Fearless - chop her in two if she starts a spell without being instructed.
LOL
”We're not gonna fall for any banana the furls trick again”, the Mariner says calling the last encounter with a body snatcher, ”Miss- go ahead and grab that water”.
"Chop?" Fearless swings the dagger down on a slicing motion. It doesn't seem very effective. But what did he know After all he had just gotten the blade a short time ago.
Fearless scans the area for signs of a magical aura.