Richard nods solemnly. "Thank you, Bisby. We have the Morrowfall, and it is... difficult to control. But we must use it to pacify the Totemrix, and put Ilnerik to rest. We had to put many of his allies to rest."
"Where do we visit next, friends?" Richard takes Kioshi's wand and applies it to Tal, twice.
"I have a wand of Restoration." Richard pulls out a magic stick. "We can use it about 11 more times, I believe."
Richard tries to think about the divine wisdom required to use the wand, but it's just out of reach. He sighs and hands it to Edric. "You can use this better than I can."
Tal thanks the party for the use of the wands. Those wands are life savers. I might need to figure out how to use them myself sometime at this rate. Shall we head over to the last room. Once that is explored I think we have cleared this place of all of information. Then we can head back and tell Areal what we discovered and make plans to find Ilnerik.
Oh and don’t let me forget about 5hat disappearing dais that we found the other day. I still want to see if there is a way we can take that with us. Edric or Kioshi, either of you have a spell that can make me stronger or carry more?
Richard nods. "I do not have either spell available. But I agree with Edric, we'll have to make a second trip down here."
He exhales and focuses carefully.
Mera twirls her glaive idly as she considers returning. Again. "A second trip? How many trips are there going to be? I feel like this is quickly becoming our favorite haunt, hmmm?"
Once at the shrine...
Bolstered by the spells Tal makes ready to manhandle the invincibility dais. Just get the shortest possible path and let’s go. I wonder if Areal will have any use for this or if we should just sell it in the way to the hideout. Whichever is closer I suspect.
The walls of this room are decorated with hundreds of mostly smashed glass display cases that seem to have once contained thousands of insects, spiders, and other arthropods. Yet more impressive are the larger, giantsized vermin that have been preserved and are on display. Dog-sized ants, man-sized spiders, and even a horse-sized scorpion are mounted in threatening postures, although in each case, the immense preserved monster is badly damaged and, in some cases, in pieces.
Perception from outside for anything of value
If there is nothing of value he suggests moving on.
If there is something that is interesting...
Tal pulls a flask of alchemist fire from his pack when he sees all of the insect pod creatures in the room. Everything looks dead in here but we have come across stranger things. Perhaps 1 of us should go in while the rest prepare for whatever will happen. If it is a single large insect like that scorpion it should be myself with my shield. Be ready though for a horde of little creatures and do not hesitate to include myself in any blast to destroy them.
Thete is nothing here of value. We have the marrowfell that Bisby talked about. Let’s get that dais and head out of here.
Tal heads off to try and carry the dais after the party buffs him and off he goes hopefully to never return to this blasted place...at least while it is in this condition.
"Quite brave, Tal. but..."
Richard casts Invisibility on himself.
"Perhaps this time, we need some tact."
Richard disappears from sight and enters the room, looking for anything of value.
Tact? Richard has tact?
As Richard disappears, Mera turns to Tal and comments "I know the same spell. I can also make you or I invisible for a time if you like."
Tal shakes his head no. If something should happen to me how are you to help if you can’t see me. This is foolishness. Invisibility is great against your enemies or before when you were able to heal me without threat to yourself. In this place Richard might get incinerated, possessed, teleported away or disintegrated and there will be nothing we can do to help.
Tal can take on flaming saber-toothed tigers but he's like a bull in a pottery shop.
Richard shakes his invisible head and keeps looking around.
DC 20 Will save:
You take points of damage from the bites and points of Charisma damage from the growing sense of nausea and shame at the implications of cannibalism. A successful save reduces the damage taken by half and negates the Charisma damage.
"Oh gods. Not in my mouth. Oh, that's terrible! And... Why did that taste so good... Oh no..."
You don't see anything, but Richard's voice grows louder as he stumbles out of the room.
"Not the bees! They're in my hair! And the maggots and the... get it off my arm!" Richard frantically tries to wipe something off his arm, revealing himself. He's covered in bite wounds and scratches, yet you don't see anything actually attacking him.
"Boss, calm down!" Sherix circles Richard, who is way too panicked to land on. "Nothing's hurting you, calm down!"
Not seeing anything affecting Richard Tal does the only thing he can think of and slam the door closed once Richard is out if the room. He looks to Mera and Edric, Can you heal him? Kioshi can you see what is affecting him? Or is it another haunt similar to those we found before?
Richard calms himself. "No one else saw those insects. No one. Just me." He stands up and realizes he was the only one. "Ugh. I'll never get that taste out of my mouth." It's clear that although he was healed of immediate injury, his charisma seems off. He's too disgusted to get his groove back.
"Let's get out of here." He grumbles.
Delvehaven for all intents and purposes is done. You are able to move the stone back to the hideout where an anxious Arael is grateful you all survived.
Ailyn Ghonstavos is particularly eager to hear everything she can from you regarding what you found in Delvehaven. She has no real interest in the treasure you may have looted from the lodge, and goes as far as to say that you’ve earned such items as surely as any Pathfinder earns treasure from exploring a dangerous ruin. Her particular interest is in learning the fates of the missing Pathfinders and finding out all she can about your adventures. Once she’s satisfied with your report, she congratulates you again and announces that she will be leaving for Absalom on the morrow to deliver the report.
Mera turns to look at Edric when he holds her hand, offering him a broad grin. A grin that quickly fades as she tears herself away to move to the doorway when Richard starts screaming.
"What insects? What are you talking about? I don't see any insects, Richard? Is something messing with your head again, dear?"
Tal looks grateful as Edric channels positive energy into Richard healing him from whatever it was that caused him such stress and damage. Lets get out of here while we can. We have what we need and Areal will want to know what we all found. Also we need to gather the remains of the people downstairs and give their families some closure.
At the hideout Tal gives the Pathfinder Ailyn the details as best he can in regards to the past pathfinders although he leaves out the possibility that Ilnerik May be a vampires. At this point he is not sure of that information being public is beneficial or not. He will tell Areal the truth though in private.
As to the invisibility dais he will place it where Areal would like for the time being until they can find a buyer or a better location to store it. After all Tal does not want someone burning themselves accidentally. Not sure what you can use it for but it could provide some finds to the cause or allow people to practice fighting invisible foes. Just make sure you are ready to heal someone when done as it creates a glut of flame that burns the user.
Richard is glad to be done. "Never mind about the bugs. Let's go home."
Richard spends his time reporting to Ailyn and flirting with her. But he doesn't feel back to his former self.
""More undead abominations slain. But we lost many innocent people. I need... I need to improve myself. I must be strong."
At least Sherix is still hanging out with him.
"Hey boss." Sherix lands on Richard's lap as he lies in bed. "You did well. Really well. We will mourn the loss of the innocent. They weren't the only ones lost, you know."
The bird tries to smile, but instead her energy glows from within. "Boss... I wanted to thank you. For everything." Most of her feathers fall off, her skin turns a pale blue, and her beak folds over her body.
"Hey Boss. Like I said, I'm a Lyrakien. I'm here to watch over you. So, you're doing great... partner."
Sherix flexes her fingers. Feels good.
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"I ... I thank you for taking me with you on your mission. Especially as this involved a former Pathfinder lodge and I am of course interested in that as I am Pathfinder myself."
Ailyn Ghonstavos is new to Kioshi but he tries his best to also provide information to her.
Kioshi is still very sad that he is responsible for sorrow ... for lives lost. You can feel that this is still hard for him to digest.
"Guys, I ... I can imagine that you regret taking me with you. I am regretting coming with you myself because of the pain I caused. I ... I just want you to know that I would understand if you do not want me to part of your group anymore." he says with sad eyes.
Richard is much more serious as he addresses Kioshi. "As I said, my friend. You did not know at the time they were under the vampire's control. Were I able to speak I would have said something."
"Sherix is right- they weren't the only victims of the vampires' foul deeds. We will mourn all of their losses. And we will mourn the vampires themselves- they used to be alive. Maybe they were hunters themselves. We will bury their ashes and grant them rest."
"At any rate, Kioshi. You may choose to leave if you wish, but know I was against it. We are allies, through and through. I am honored to have you as a member of my group."
Indeed, Tal chimes in. Please do not take my actions originally as how I feel now. We were forced into uncertain circumstances and had to make he most of it. Let us learn from it, make right with the families, and move on. We have to focus on finding Ilnerik and make him pay for these atrocities.
Once the report to Ailyn is finished and Tal expresses his wish for Kioshi to make 2 items for him he takes his leave to go spend time with his wife and keep working on the ash house. He does tell Areal where he can be found but for now he is taking a much needed break. On the way home though he does stop by his shop to see how Ermolos is doing learning the trade. Examining a few of the pieces critically he nods his approval. Your skills are improving Ermolos. I wish I was this adept when I was your age.
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Kioshi is quite moved.
"Tha ... thank you for your trust Richard and Tal and I will not disappoint you! Really thank you! I want to help and I believe your guidance will also help me to be of more use to this city!" Kioshi says with hope in his eyes.
He starts working on the items that the group needs and puts his magic to good use.
One thing that we may need to look into though is. You have an affinity to fire based spells do you have a way of protecting us from them. Could you keep me from taking fire damage so that in a fight I get surrounded you drop a ball of fire on a of us but I remain unsigned?
Tal found himself in a nice rhythm now that he was not fulfilling any duties for Areal or watching Mera’s back. Edric was doing a good enough job with Mera that his body guard requirements were not as pressing. The routine was simple enough yet he enjoyed it. He would wake up at 7 and spend an hour with his wife. From there he would go to the shop and take care of or promote his business till about noon. Taking his leave from Mainz Street Smithy he grabs a bite to eat on the way to the Orphanage where Lily was already at work. She would use the morning to continue cleaning the basement and work on a list of chores that she could not complete by herself. Before it was cutting out windows to let in the natural light. Then it was opening up some of the interior walls to create more space for a play area. Now she had him working on creating holes in the floor to vent heat down from the furnace. There was so much work to do but Tal was happy to do it. The orphanage gave Lily purpose and it was only a matter of time before they would start taking children in.
An hour before sunset they would take off for home and do their shopping as they needed to. They didn’t require much themselves outside of Tal’s provisions with helping Areal so they only purchased what they needed for the next day.
"Tal, hi. I have a request." The blue skinned woman flies up to Tal, preferably near his smithery.
"Well, a few. I need some weapons and armor. I can't just pick up a longsword off the rack." She giggles. "I'm a bit too tiny for that. Would you be able to forge a masterwork longbow for me? And a masterwork chain shirt? That would be great. I'm willing to pay full price, of course." She nods.
"Uh. And the other request. I know Richard won't talk about it. He's... upset with himself about what happened in Delvehaven. He isn't sure he was able to contribute as well as he could. I remind him everyone is doing all they can, but. If he hears it from someone else, like you, it would cheer him up. Thanks."
Sherix finally drops her sack of gold pieces in front of Tal. "Say hi to Lily for me!"
It's been a hard week for Richard. He gave his goodbyes to Tal and Areal, wished Mera and Edric the best in their relationship, and left as soon as he could.
He couldn't hear the screams of the victims when Kioshi's fireball roasted them to a crisp. He couldn't save them. He couldn't save anyone.
Learning of the plight of the vampires made it worse. They were people, some of them were even heroes. A corrupting essence took hold of them. How can Richard save the world if he can't save 4 villagers and former vampire hunters?
The Holysmith family was glad to see him back, and they were pleased to see Sherix had finally restored her form. It was good to see his brothers and sisters, and his mother's cryptic wisdom was always a treat. He put on his best smile.
He continued to act. Theater plays were fun. In one play he was a bloodthirsty general. Another he was a doomed but unshakable freedom fighter. He got to play an imp and an angel, damning and blessing heroes and villains. Sherix mostly stayed in his coat pocket, but she demonstrated herself as a mascot and good luck charm for the troupe. Some actors did miss Richard's lucky bird, though.
Richard spent his nights at the bar or in other bedrooms. He wanted to get away from his guilt and he took any pleasure he could find, even when Sherix would try to distract him.
Alas, the week came to an end and he got a summons. "It's time for me to return. Maybe we can make a difference."
Tal is surprised to see Sherix come up to him one morning while at the shop. Taken aback at first by her appearance he remembered that she metamorphed into her current form after they left Delvehaven. Listening intently to her request Tal has mixed reviews. I can gladly have Ermolos and the Master work on the armor. It would be an excellent way for Ermolos to improve his skills. Unfortunately I can not make the bow. We are able to make the arrow head tips but I have never worked on bows.
Tal gets silent on the other matter though that she brings up before answering in a slow exhale. We all have our own dark thoughts about what happened down there. Each of us need to cope with them in our own way. However you know him best and I will talk to him and try to make him understand that we all contributed to what happened down there. None of us need to shoulder more or less of the blame than the other.
Whether it is the harrowing experiences of Delvehaven, their collective weeks together as a whole or perhaps through the influence of the ever-present glaive, Mera began to chance.
At first the signs were slight and hidden, whispering to herself when no one was around, disappearing in the night.
No longer would she lounge in the common room with a glass of wine in her head, instead she would be found training and sparring with all that would take her company. Each and every day she would put in hours of work with the glaive, slowly gaining a better appreciation for how it worked and how she could employ tactics with it more effectively.
Finally however, everyone began to pick up the notable absence of sound. Mera had not opted to since even once during the week off, and when the requests were given to her she shrugged them off as a waste of time. No, she had more important things to do now. She had been chosen for a different path.
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Kioshi is still grieving for those that died. But he keeps his silence ... they have talked about the situation and agreed on a path.
But he needs to focus! To create the magical items that the team requires and to invest his time to increase his own knowledge of arcane theory!
Seeing that everybody in the group has a life beyond the battle that they fight to liberate the city makes Kioshi wonder who the people are that spend their life with his companions?!
He also has family that is far away and most certainly on a mission somewhere. He was the first to choose the path that their stepfather had at some point in time walked on as a Pathfinder and his brothers and sisters followed! He just hopes that they are well!
Sometimes he just sits in a chair with his horned lizard familiar in his arms and thinks about what he actually wants to achieve in life! What is it that brings him joy in life?
Sometime during the next two weeks, Arael will gather you all together.
I was trying to discreetly sell your 'invisibility stone' and I was contacted by a member of the Red Mantis.
For payment of the stone, they are willing to pay in raise dead scrolls provided and performed by a cleric of Asmodeus. Enogh to raise everyone killed in the encounter with the vampires.
Apparently, the Red Mantis want the stone to practice their vile craft. I was going to tell them no, as a servent of The Inheritor I find them and that cleric of Asmodeus distasteful!
At this Arael's face twists into one of disgust.
But then I realized, it was not my call. If you want to proceed, I will give you the name of the Red Mantis who reached out. All I can say is watch your backs. Literally!
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Kioshi is totally flabbergasted.
”The Red Mantis are one of the most feared organizations in all of Golarion. This order of professional assassins can be distinguished by their trademark bright red and black, light armor, serrated blades (such as the sawtooth sabre), and frightful mantis masks which grant them both an enhanced sense of sight and a terrifying visage. The red dye is a reference to the colour of their god's carapace!“ he says with some fear in his voice.
”I think you know Asmodeus well enough!“ he says shaking his head.