"Yes, to all. Information is paramount, but if we can cause a little controlled mayhem all the better. We shall strike at night, say four hours past sunset . This will allow Vesta a new host, as her current one would likely seek his bed, while the young man I am pretending to be will be out having fun."
"My ghostly form is quite adept at stealth and evasion. Also I can't really be destroyed, which is helpful. That might be the best form to scout around in. Also if I stay 60' or more off the ground most detect abilities won't be able to see me. ALternately I can travel through the earth. It's a bit slower as I have to pop up to see where I am, but it is more secure. We can arrange "natural disasters" that won't point back to us. a fire in the grain silo, for example. Ohh, better yet diseased rats in the grain silo. Etc. Question is, where to first?"
"That's a very good question. Do you have any ideas on how to get through this lock?
Unless the others have a better idea the first night Vesta will fly around the city invisibly (always at least 65 feet in the air) and make a basic sketch of the layout and possible points of strategic interest. She'll bring this sketch back to the others to discuss strategy.
"I have no spells that could assist with opening that lock memorized, perhaps you would like to use a more forceful approach?" I say to Ignac
"Of course."
I'll put the end of my bardiche into the shackle of the lock, and try to use leverage to break it.
Team Infiltration:
Team Curious Trapdoor:
Ignac is unable to force the lock on first attempt, though due application of force over time wins out. Opening the trap you are greeted by an iron ladder in a vertical tunnel leading roughly 10ft downwards.
"Well, onwards and downwards it would appear this mystery leads, I think you may need to switch your pole arm out for a more enclosed space friendly weapon. After you?"
"I'll go first, but stick close behind me."
Ignac proceeds to climb down the ladder.
Infiltrators
"So we found the citadel. Now what?" Vesta says
Scout around it, looking for suitable entrance points; especially any that access it, or its outbuildings, below ground level.
Team Infiltrate:
Team Intriguing Basement:
Descending the short ladder you come to a small chamber with a single unlocked door before you. There is a symbol upon it's front.
Knowledge Religion auto succeed.
"Hum, Groetus god of the end times... Perhaps I should prepare speak with dead and talk to a few of our zombies tomorrow? Well let us investigate."
Upon reaching the bottom of the ladder, Ignac will take out his shield and Bardiche.
"Very well. This is getting more and more interesting."
Ignac will open the door.
Team Cultist Corridor:
Ignac reaches out to touch the handle and a burst of electricty leaps from the workings into him. Although he is undamaged by the electric discharge, the force of the discharge blows him back a few feet from the door.
"I suppose we should've checked this thing for traps prior to trying to open it. Oh well, if that's all that protects this door, it's fine by me."
Ignac will try again.
Ignac's second attempt is met by a similar discharge of energy.
"F**k it."
Ignac will Try bashing the door open with his shield.
Team Infiltrate:
Shall we explore the underground complex? That might be the easiest way of gaining access; I am loathe to 'walk' in the front door. Hopefully, we will be able to find some sort of access point to it. Failing that, I suppose that Vesta could take-over a low-level priest, and try to get us a key... I would recommend that we keep an eye out for traps or alarms, though.
Team Infiltrate:
Shall we explore the underground complex? That might be the easiest way of gaining access; I am loathe to 'walk' in the front door. Hopefully, we will be able to find some sort of access point to it. Failing that, I suppose that Vesta could take-over a low-level priest, and try to get us a key... I would recommend that we keep an eye out for traps or alarms, though.
"Works for me. If we get into too much trouble I can teleport us out, a short distance anyway."
Team Door Attack Squad:
Ignac charges the door, thrusting his shield forward into the wooden portal. The door bursts first inwards, then outwards as the trapped spell energy is spent. Ignac is blown backwards and off his feet, though remains unhurt.
When the smoke clears you see a mostly empty room with a large symbol of Groetus upon the floor. There is a work desk on one side, with writing materials and scattered pages atop it.
Team Infiltration:
Team Door Attack Squad:
Ignac charges the door, thrusting his shield forward into the wooden portal. The door bursts first inwards, then outwards as the trapped spell energy is spent. Ignac is blown backwards and off his feet, though remains unhurt.
Team Infiltration:
Team Infilitrate
Vesta says to the two present during a planning session with my former host bound and gagged in the corner "I don't mind scouting alone and I do have the greatest chance of survival. Hells, I can even stay in the walls for the most part. Although if you want to come you may. Your unlives are your to risk as you see fit."
"Well, that's strange. Any idea what it is?"
Perception
"Hum, yes, I see it, Lets see..." I begin mumbling to myself under my breath about Arcane and Religious spells, Then I mutter some words and make a few hand gestures and cast Detect Magic and Read magic
Knowledge Arcana
Knowledge Religion
I look around the room as I mumble looking for anything else interesting, avoiding the disturbance in the air, as well as riffling thought the papers on the desk
perception
Feel free to go alone, if you wish; just keep an 'eye' out for alarms. I dare say that they will have some sort of perimeter system running.
Feel free to go alone, if you wish; just keep an 'eye' out for alarms. I dare say that they will have some sort of perimeter system running.
Vesta will invisibly and incorporeally test the perimeter and gather intel. She'll use as much solid matter to her benefit as possible and keep detect magic up perpetually. If she thinks she's noticed she'll sink into a solid surface and if needed cast DDoor to get away.
perception
Team Insubstantial Presence:
Reading through the papers on the desk, you note that they contain words and phrases that might be used to compel the spirit to manifest more fully. Also on one of the pages mostly covered with gibberish, there is a single word that repeats many times Nyarthond
Team Infiltration:
Vesta scouts out the Lambent Citadel once more, trying to gauge the subterranean aspects of its construction. You can confirm that the above ground structure is well warded against intrusion and that the spells protrude to below ground as well.
There is one 'hole' in the system that you are able to pick up. There is a refuse well that connects to the sewer via a grate. While the room above has magical wards against intrusion, you believe that you could gain access through the grate. The grate is still trapped, but you guess that once disarmed you could slip through it undetected.
By sight, the area above the sewer appears to be connected to a mostly empty room bar the stacks of copper pots.... though if you had a sense of smell, you might not like what it seems filled with.
I should be able to deal with any traps that prevent access. Still, it would probably be best if we managed this as a surgical strike, like a knife in the dark; Gathroc? How good are you at staying hidden?
Vesta reports telepathically then returns to the "shop" to discuss with the other and lead them to the grate when requested.
"Fairly well. Stealth is not my personal way to engage in combat, but I can be thus if needed." Once Vesta comes back, and reports her findings, Gathroc says "That's our way in. Its probably the least warded and guarded, and could be in a very useful position on the inside. I think we need the others however. Vesta, if you would be so kind as to gather them here, Gabriel and I can further discuss our entry tactics"
"Fairly well. Stealth is not my personal way to engage in combat, but I can be thus if needed." Once Vesta comes back, and reports her findings, Gathroc says "That's our way in. Its probably the least warded and guarded, and could be in a very useful position on the inside. I think we need the others however. Vesta, if you would be so kind as to gather them here, Gabriel and I can further discuss our entry tactics"
"Can't Gabriel contact them telepathically? I suppose I can meet them outside town in my human body and carry them in using my portable hole."
"Well, it seems that there is some sort of "spirit" bound to the rune, of what type I cannot say. There appears to be a way I can make it manifest in these papers here..." Trailing off to read it more in depth to try and get a better understanding. "Perhaps we should not have killed the priest after all he probably could have explained this "Nyarthond" to me, This would have been so much more helpful with him alive... Ah well, I can always speak with him tonight when I refresh my spells. Lets Try this!"
And with that I utter the words that, to my understanding, will make the spirit manifest.
Operation Call from Beyond:
The apparition shimmers in the air before swelling and becoming flesh. Before you within the rune's bounds is a strange creature with a star-shaped head and numerous writhing appendages arranged radially around its barrel-shaped body. It stands six feet tall, and looks like this.
A series of sounds that appear to be an attempt at communication are issued forth from the being - haunting piping sounds and shrill cries.
It holds no threat to one of your power, though is likely a herald for a larger and more wicked creature.
Ignac lowers his bardiche, pointing it at the creature.
To Daemon: "You know what that thing is? I've never seen anything remotely like it."
"Vesta, can you not just teleport to, then return with the others? If not, then I say we go and gather them and come back as soon as possible"
"Vesta, can you not just teleport to, then return with the others? If not, then I say we go and gather them and come back as soon as possible"
"I cannot teleport that far. My teleportation is short distance. Might I suggest I simply go alone in my human host to gather the others leaving you to act as the good little apprentice holding down the shop. I'll put them in my portable hole and simply walk back through the gates. I should probably feed it too." Looking at her host body unconscious and haggard in the corner.
Knowledge Planes
"It's a.. Well it looks like... Well, I can honestly say I have no idea" I say sounding a little mystified.
I quickly cast tongues on myself using my bonded object.
"What manner of creature are you and how did you become bound here?" I ask of it.
"So..... what do we do?"
Team Confusing Beast:
The spell allows you to interpret some of it's words, though most of the tongue is too alien for even magic to overcome.
"...beyond...cold dark...power...Nyarthond...release...erase the mark..." The creature seems to gesture repeatedly at the outline of the rune upon the floor, as though begging for you to score it's surface.
"It seems to want us to release it, I think, or its master perhaps, Nyarthond I believe. It seems to think this thing, Nyarthond, is very powerful, and Dark? I have not prepared Augury so I do not know if releasing this creature would be wise, What do you think we should do?"
"Let's leave it alone, and once you can prepare the proper divinations, we can decide what to do."
"Very well, this plan is sound." I turn to the creature and try my best with the magical aid that I have to explain to it, "I cannot free you now, I will return later."
With that, If I noticed a way to dismiss it back to its wispy form in the papers that I read I will. Other wise I will turn and walk from the room leaving it in the rune.
As Daemon dismisses the creature you both hear a pained keening sound out then fade away.
Most Glorious Reunion:
The evening of the day that Daemon and Ignac discovered the cultist's secret chamber, the scouting team returns from Solku with their findings.