"How about we start with Jaws of Darkness?" Vesta suggests
Fine by me.
Gathroc and Ignac seek audience with the Shadow Claw, but are met upon their way by one of the small bone golems. Their request for audience is not fulfilled, but when they speak of surveying the forces under his command they are led to a low chamber within the ziggurat. Once there a burst of sickly green light suffuses the chamber and you lurch under the throes of a teleportation spell.
As you regather your senses, you note you are deep underground in a large hewn stone chamber. Seeping out of the wall is a dread wraith, clothed in shifting and insubstantial black. It speaks in a rasping leathery voice "I am Ssssarvith, commander of the Ssshhadow Claws armies. Who are you and why have you come?"
_________________________
Circle of Truth
The Depths
Fields of Proving
Flaying Thicket
Jaw's Hinge
Elsewhere in Axan Wood
"Lets start in The depths and work our way out from there." Vesta suggests. "Whenever you're ready Gabriel, we will depart. Travel will be fast, but not instant. "
When Gabe is ready Vesta claws at the air and rips a hole into a realm of shadow and darkness. In the same motion she casually steps through and the hole seems to repair itself behind her as if a wound heals over the course of years in only a few seconds. The then traverses "the way" to their destination, emerging in a similar fashion.
Vesta's Magical Mystery Bus:
Vesta steps through her portal and it closes raggedly behind her. Guided by the firm idea of a destination in mind you float through the depth of shadow with terrible speed. Those denizens that notice you are cowed by their perception of power and leave you alone.... for now.
Arriving at your best perception of the target location you emerge within a wood. It takes a few moments for you to re-acclimatize to the material plane, though when you do you are alone within a dense thicket of underbrush. Roughly fifty feet ahead of you the trees clear somewhat and you can see a natural cave opening into a slight hillock. The wood is quiet and you sense no life around you.
Vesta searches the immediate area and looks into the cave for clues or signs of life/unlife.
She'll use Detect magic as needed. If notning presents itself outside she'll proceed into the cave.
stealth (invisibly)
Perception
We are the Shadow Claw's Strike Force, you could say. For a mission we've been given, we need use of some of his minions. Unless you would like to explain to him why we were stopped here instead of given access, I suggest you let us through to pick who we may to come with us.
Vesta's Magical Mystery Bus:
Vesta surveys the area and sees no signs of immediate threat or life. Moving forward to the mouth of the cave you are able to spot well worn tracks of both person and cart leading into the cave mouth. At the threshold of the mine you discern that it tracks downwards in a wide spiral into the earth.
Surveying the Troops:
The dread wraith hisses "Watch your tongue child lessst I take it from you... The Claw informed me that I wasss to provide for you, and I shall obey." the wraith ushers you towards the single exit from the chamber you arrived in "Of what do you need, and for what shall you use them"
VMMB
Follow the path.
Surveying the Troops:
At Ignac's interest in the less substantial undead under the claw's dominion Sarvith takes a left turn off the main tunnel and leads you into a large crypt. There are rows of tombs laid out, each with a sedentary incorporeal undead within. You see shadows, wraiths, witchfires and a few other types of undead not so recognizeable. Almost all are at rest, though some are moving about the chamber slowly.
VMMB:
Moving into the tunnel you make it a good couple of turns before any change in the setting is seen. Deeper down the descent you hear the faint sounds of hammer on metal, while there is also a silent side passage to the right.
The rest of the team and I have been tasked with weakening opposing factions for the Shadow Claw. I intend to use these tactically to help us diminish their combat effectiveness, and likely numbers as well. They shouldn't be easily damaged, as they are all incorporeal. Once they've done what I ask of them, I'll have them retreat until the rest of the team and I have finished what we're going to do.
VMBB
Vesta invisibly floats down the side passage.
Stealth
Percep
VMMB:
Moving through the side passage, Vesta notices that it appears to be a series of storerooms. Open rooms with no doors house collections of rock and ore crushed to various sizes. The floor is level, though the passage continues on with more siderooms before you. You cannot sense any living things near.
VMBB
Telepathic to Gabriel "Well this is dull. Lets go toward the hammering and see what that's about."
Vesta goes through the wall directly to about where she heard the hammering coming from earlier.
VMMB:
Vesta passes through the stone with Gabriel in tow and after a minute of travel you drop through the roof into a large chamber. The hammering rings out loudly as you hover in the air above. The cavern is huge - roughly 100ft across with a high roof. On one side is a magically lit forge, and on the other is a row of anvils, where the hammering originates.
Working the anvils is skeletal labor, heavily built sets of bones that are lacking a head, though pound away and shape iron. Judging by the stacks of finished pieces it is mainly equipment to be used in house fabrication and the like. There is one living creature within the chamber, a halfling trudges up and down the line - seemingly keeping an eye on the skeletal smiths as they work.
"Should have brought that damned mask." Vesta chides herself mentally (gabe can hear)
If Vesta can't posess the halfling for the reasons she wanted or even before even if she can:
Vesta looks around for anything resembling an office or dormatory that the halfling may use.
Perrcep
Also, Spellcraft to determine how the halfling is controlling the undead
Vesta can spy no dormitory or office to speak of, and it does not appear as though the halfling is controlling the undead... just watching them.
Vesta will look for one of the undead that''s not always in the halflings line of sight.
The plan:
Step 1: never get seen by the halfling.
2) cast control undead on the skeleton (thus breaking invisibility). No save, since I presume it's mindless. Stealth (not invisible, but still trying to remain out of sight from the halfling)
3) Command it to attack the halfling. Opposed Cha check Quietly, so the skeleton can hear, but not the halfling or other skeletons. Stealth if needed
3) 5 foot step into a solid object, like a wall (thus conserving action economy to remain unseen). Go invisible again. Emerge from the wall invisibly and watch how the halfling reacts. Stealth
School: necromancy
Level: sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S, M (a shred of raw meat and a splinter of bone)
Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets: one undead creature
Duration: 1 day/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: yes
This spell allows you a degree of control over an undead creature. If the subject is intelligent, it perceives your words and actions favorably (treat its attitude as friendly). It will not attack you while the spell lasts. You can give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn't ordinarily do. Retries are not allowed. An intelligent commanded undead never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing.
A nonintelligent undead creature gets no saving throw against this spell. When you control a mindless being, you can communicate only basic commands, such as "come here," "go there," "fight," "stand still," and so on. Nonintelligent undead won't resist suicidal or obviously harmful orders.
Any act by you or your apparent allies that threatens the commanded undead (regardless of its Intelligence) breaks the spell.
Your commands are not telepathic. The undead creature must be able to hear you.
I'll pause to allow Gabriel a chance to add his thoughts and comments (if any).
Vesta maneuvers to one side of the chamber, waiting for the halfling to move away before attempting to press her will unto one of the skeletal smiths. Despite a slight resistance, you are able to twist it's necromantic will to your design. It continues to hammer at the metal before it. The halfling has turned at the far end of the chamber and is starting to walk back towards you.
Going invisible again Vesta gets up to the skeleton's ear hole and wispers very quietly "Kill the halfling."
invisible stealth check
After she gives the order Vesta moves up to a better vantage point to see what happens.
VMMB:
heavily built sets of bones that are lacking a head
Vesta gives her instruction before withdrawing to watch. The skeleton jerkily moves from it's position at the anvil and towards the halfling, hammer raised in one hand. The halfling notices it coming from a fair distance and it's brow furrows in slight confusion. Picking up a length of worked iron as though it was straw the halfling weaves out of the way of the skeleton's clumsy blow and delivers a one handed overhead blow that shatters the skeletal smith's ribcage - sending it back to the deck. The halfling looks about warily with narrowed eyes, and starts sniffing the air.
Daemon's Book Club:
Daemon moves out from the Shadow Claw's pyramid and makes his way out of the upper district of Mechitar. Moving to the sprawling Temple of Urgathoa in the main city district you pay no mind to the swell of mindless undead and living applicants that swarm it's surroundings. Moving with confidence you approach from the Cleric's quarters. You are met by a lowly priest who has not yet cast off his life into the great beyond. At your request to visit the library, he acquieses having remembered you from your tenure previously. After showing you to the library he moves off to leave you alone.
Inspecting the Troops:
The dread wraith stands silent for a number of moments regarding you and processing your request. He eventually speaks "Thisss will be given... but be wary with them, our ssstockss cannot be depleted before the Confluentum" he reaches within his robes and retrieves a bone whistle before passing it to Ignac "Blow it twice here to draw them in. Then one long blassst when you have need of them."
"VMBB"
"Well, that was dull." Vesta thinks to Gabriel "Lets see what else we can find."
Vesta looks for a way to travel further into the complex (door, hallway, etc).
Stealth to travel that direction.
VMMB:
The mine descends further into the depths where veins of rock are worked for minerals and there is also a smelter. All are worked by the same headless skeletal workers, though you do not see any other handlers.
"VMBB"
"Well this is getting us nowhere. I'm going to posess that halfling and see what he knows. You'll need to get out of my pocket a moment. I'm not sure how you're preseence will effect the process. Also be ready to incapicate or kill him in case I fail."
Presumably Gabe gets out somewhere discrete.
Vesta floats invisibly behind the halfling
Stealth
and attempts to jump into him. (will save DC 24)
Very well. I thank you for your cooperation.
Wasted ones, knowledge arcana any hint of experiments on how the manna wastes may change a living being.
High Coven, knowledge history knowledge of old grudges or possible weaknesses.
Hands of the crown, knowledge history information on who the demilitch was prior to becoming the ruler of this group, ancient grudges.
Knowledge arcana weaknesses of a demilich.
Jaws of darkness, knowledge nature weaknesses of werewolves
Knowledge religion anything that seems applicable.
Be careful. He is not a standard halfling. Consider how easily he hefted that iron bar...
VMMB:
By the time Vesta completes scouting the lower tunnels, the halfling that was watching the smiths has moved on - leaving the smiths to work on alone.
Daemon's Book Club:
Wasted Ones: there are no record of experiments, though it is widely known that existing close to the Mana Wastes can change a person. A loose affiliation of these touched beings has recently become more organized and powerful. As with the Jaws, they have a higher number of living members... of a fashion...
High Coven: the Coven play the Game of Thrones well, and have no long term political enemies. However they do scout for fresh talent occasionally, to take newbloods into the coven.
Hands of the Crown: the previous life of the Demilich is unable to be tracked down. It predates your own unlife significantly, and he has lived on the isle for as long as you are able to reckon.
Jaws of Darkness: You know the generic weaknesses of werewolves. The Jaws do not seem to have attempted to bypass these - instead accepting their weaknesses as the curse that accompanies their gift.
Religion: All bar the Wasted Ones are devotees of Urgathoa - though they worship privately and not openly. The Wasted Ones follow the gods beyond the stars.
Inspecting the Troops:
Sarvith nods, and awaits to see if you blow the whistle to draw in your subjects or depart.
vmbb
"true,... Vesta agrees " ... But the strong ones usually are the weakest of mind. Do you know where the halfling went?"
I will indeed blow the whistle to draw them in.
"Hum," I mumble to myself after finishing my reading, "about what I expected to find in the books. The only way to get good information will be to "interview" one of our foes friends..."
with that I put away the books I used, thank the scribes and librarians that assisted me and make my way to the black market to attempt to barter away the crown.
Gathroc stayed quiet the whole time Ignac spoke about the undead they required. While he knew much about leading soldiers, he could not control his undead kin. Besides, Ignac seemed to have this well in hand, so the warrior allowed his companion to do all the talking.
He has left the mine. His tracks lead over that way..., Gabriel says, pointing.
Daemon's Book Club:
Daemon takes his leave from the Temple and moves out to the Black Market. It is a sprawling dark place in lower Mechitar where a veritable cornucopia of items of foul intent can be found. Daemons peddle in souls both vile and virtuous; weapons, armor, gems, knick-knacks and curiosities also line the withdrawn stalls.
Inspecting the Troops:
As Ignac blows on the whistle no sound can be heard, though you see it's effects wrought upon the undead before you. The warriors requested by you turn their heads and begin to float inexorably towards you. Their insubstantial faces are stricken with a visage of longing as they steadily approach. Just as they reach before you they are sucked into the whistle as though it were a portal to the void - shrinking and disappearing from view. In a matter of two hands in seconds the undead vested unto your control have been stored within the whistle and it feels deathly cold to your touch.
Perception,
Seeing the eyes, I am cautious on my way to the black market, checking to see if I am being followed along the way.
Daemon's Book Club:
The fleeting glance of eyes isn't enough for you to get a sense of who was watching you from the Temple. To the best of your knowledge you are not followed to the market.
After a few tens of minutes wandering the market you find a stall that may suit your purpose. A withered night hag has an enclosed shoplot with shelves full of components both mundane and... otherwise. What catches your eyes initially is a tiny dessicated body of a quickling and a jar of brine that seems to contain the coiled muscle of a giant. Knowing the worth of the helm, you look around to see if anything else might also be of interest....
Well then, Gathroc, where do you think we should wait for the rest? Ignac puts the whistle around his neck (assuming it has a lanyard).