The freaky shifting face answers with two mouths at once
I want the shards you have...simple, huh? The best thing however is that you cannot refuse to give them to me, haha!
As you look outside, Kirk, you feel like you jumped into a pool of icy water, where lanterns, streets and houses, or at least a starry sky should be is only total blackness.
"I want the shards you have...simple, huh? The best thing however is that you cannot refuse to give them to me, haha!"
"By the light of the Inheritor, I will do everything in my power to resist you at every turn! You shall never have the shards!"
Solaric slices his blade down upon the wretched fiend with all his might!
Longsword Attack
Damage
A smile flashes over the distorted face before it vanishes in the very last moment before you hit the man with your sword. The next moment all the weird magic is gone and a heavily bleeding young man with short blonde hair lies on the floor, unconscious.
The Ragman's laughter echoes through the room and only a jiffy later you hear people screaming back there where you left the other actors behind.
Solaric immediately casts Cure Light Wounds upon the unconscious actor.
"Be healed by the light!"
Cure Light Wounds
"Forgive me, young man. You were possessed and you needed to be exorcised of that wretched fiend!
Turning to his companions he utters, "Where is Johenric and where are the shards? I hope he has them safely tucked away!"
Kirk spins on his heel away from Solaric and the wounded actor and heads toward the sound of screaming. "That doesn't sound good..."
"Not good at all, let us move out and see what he has done this time, lets us take an account of what evil deed he will need further punishment for"
"Victoria! Do you know where the shards of the Amethyst Heptagon are located? It is urgent that we know. I thought Johenric had them last! Where is he? Does he still have them? Think carefully! This could be very dangerous for all of us, if we lose those!"
A smile flashes over the distorted face before it vanishes in the very last moment before you hit the man with your sword. The next moment all the weird magic is gone and a heavily bleeding young man with short blonde hair lies on the floor, unconscious.
Pitr looks aghast at Solaric, "Are you crazy? What are you attacking the actors for? That's gotta be breaking some vow... and would you mind not yelling out the location of the 'ardshays' ?" he intones in Pig Taldan.
Spinning on his heel and crashing off after the Ragman, Harl's footsteps ring with every step as his heavily armored form moves like a tidal wave of steel. "What foul arts must this thing possess to dispel Torag's favor?, the paladin shouts as he runs.
As you run out of the cloak room, leaving the tending Solaric behind, back into the open space right behind the stage, you see that the actors have formed a semi circle around a "new" Ragman. Again his face is just a distorted chaos of Alon, Jarovich and a third person, this time female.
Impressed, dwarf? I have to say that your advent was rather annoying back in the swamps. My doomguard would have killed you all easily wouldn't have the dwarf and the wizard joined your ranks.
"Not really. What will really impress me is when your life force is smashed upon Torag's anvil. You are nothing more than a play thing, Ragman."
" "Are you crazy? What are you attacking the actors for? That's gotta be breaking some vow... and would you mind not yelling out the location of the 'ardshays' ?"
"Well, when I was about to hit him, it was actually the Ragman! The villainous fiend actually left the body of this poor actor moments before my blade swung home! I am ever grateful that I did not kill him with that blow. But at least I have tried to heal him up since then. Now he looks as a good as new. Mostly. However, you are right, I need to exercise much greater caution when discussing the . . . umm. . . Ard - Shays. Well enough chat! Let's find out what all of the commotion is about!"
Once the actor is fulling healed, Solaric runs out to see what is going on next. Once again, Solaric confronts the Ragman.
"Begone, you foul fiend, and never return. Go back to the Abyss and dwell there hereafter. You have no need to haunt the innocent any longer!"
Ok thank you Mr. I will go back. Lets hope the interesting part starts soon.
Johenric moves back to his seat.
"I too tire of your petulant games, we will hound you, and then take great delight in stripping your body of its life force"
The Ragman slowly walks some paces up and down, the actors retreat fearfully whenever he comes close to them, than says
You should have looked out of the window like your friend...you're caught in a dimensional pocket now, the whole opera is...so you're entirely in my hand and I...the master of this dimension...will now receive the shards from you, otherwise I will let you and everyone else rot at this place until eternity!
"Oh yeah," Kirk remembers, "That happened. Probably should have said something..."
Several of the actors turn and look incredulously at you, while the Ragman snickers evily.
"Well, I guess we're all gonna have to rot to death in here, because if we can't get out then we can't go get the shards, and they're certainly not in here with us. I guess nobody's happy."
The snickering ends abruptly
What? They aren't here?! You just left them behind, unguarded? If that is true, you're even greater idiots then I thought, hah!
"One would have thought someone claiming to be so powerfull as to create thier own pocket would have the power to detect the shards on us and simply take them from us. I can only deduce that once again you are saying one thing, yet all you have is illusion and ruse, for you have been an abject failure in all other actions"
Spellcraft - Is it possible he might be telling the truth? And if he is, that means he is in here with us...?
"What you want me to do,lass? Solaric and I can't keep hackin' these actors to bits and keep in good graces."
"That bit I am trying to work out. He deals mostly in illusion and trickery, so I am just working out which of the two it is this time. I remain highly skeptical of his claims... had he that much power then he'd not trouble himself making demands, he'd dimply be seizing what he wanted. That's what I would do"
Victoria continues her deductions, detecting magic around her...
"What? They aren't here?! You just left them behind, unguarded? If that is true, you're even greater idiots then I thought, hah!"
"As I said before, you will never get the shards and your master is certain to crush you even before we crash our own swords down upon you. I now demand that you return us immediately. Perhaps then, we may consider sparing your life!"
Indeed, the possibility of creating dimensional pocket exists, but it is a work that demands the power of a deity. And while the Ragman or the Archon he works for (or maybe they are one?) might have once been so powerful, you doubt he already has regained that power, since that was what the shards were for.
But since you cannot detect magic around you and Torag's spell fizzled, you guess he has combined an illusion with an antimagic field for low level spells. Very skillful, however, not as threatening as he claimed.
Your time is running up! I'll give you three more minutes to tell me where the shards are or I will leave you and let you stay here...forever.
"Pah, you are skilled, I will give you that, however I'll also give that you are a fake and a fraud. Lets just see what you have in mind three minutes hence, for I believe you are little more than hot air, and this encounter will once again see you retreat in shame... we shall remain victorious"
She turns to her allies.
"As I said before, he rattles the sabre and blows a gale of hot air, but if he could force his will upon us he'd have done so already - he has no scruples, no morals, and no patience... he'd simply seize what he wanted. I don't intend blinking first"
"Let me know when to smash him,Vic."
For a short moment the whirling of faces stops and only Jarovich's is visible - a mask of hate and anger
You! You have spoiled my plan by running behind the curtains and now you are impertinent enough to force me to end this! We will meet again and the next time there will be no ruses, just brute force!
The next moment he is gone! An unconscious woman falls to the ground and wouldn't you know whom you just faced, you wouldn't believe it yourself.
The actors around you are as puzzled as you are, but the director soon shouts
Come on everyone! The intermission is nearly over, we have to present the opera we had planned to the honour of the countess!
"Let me know when to smash him,Vic."
Victoria looks so smug her face is drawn into a sneer.
"You already did Harl, you already did"As the spell falls apart and the fascade cumbles...
"Haha, how pathetic. The Hooded Man isa farce, parlour tricks and cheap bluff is all he has; I look forward to sending his rended soul as a gift to my mother one day soon."
"Anyhow, back to our seats to resume the show I suppose, I didn't get all dressed up for nothing" Victoria departs imperiously.
Offering Victoria his arm he bows his head and says in his best Solaric impression,"My lady, might I escort you to your seat."chuckling as he does so.
"Well, seems every fine Paladin wants a Countess these days" Victoria replies with a good natured wink as she joins Harl to return to their seats.
Back at the loge you meet a nervous Swan, a relaxed Johenric sipping some whiskey and a bored countess Livgrace, who asks
What happened behind the stage? The intermission feels like taking aeons?
"There were a few hitches your Highness, they appear to have been rectified by your ever loyal and adoring subjects" Victoria confides with a smoooth calm.
The countess smiles and looks at the stage again
Very good, Victoria, I like people who are able to solve problems quickly and without too much ado.
You can't avoid the feeling that she also meant that in regard to political matters.
"Your Highness, I believe we are all quite safe again and free to watch an uninterrupted performance. Forgive the intrusion, but we met with an old acquaintance that has little regard for culture, much less life! I believe the opera is about to resume!"
Pitr pats Swan's arm. "Nothing to worry about. Just a little sideshow backstage. Everything should be fine now."
Very soon the opera is resumed and the evening is a total blast.
The colourful costumes, the thrilling action, a perfect and imaginative stage design - there is no doubt that Karcau is Golarion's capital of music. Especiall countess Livgrace's performance is just breathtaking. Her voice is crystal-clear and combined with her beauty and the well written opera, the evening is a total success.
Standing ovations for several minutes follow the climactic end and dozens of flowers are thrown on to the stage while the countess blows and blows kisses to her subjects.
After the opera had ended and the countess and the other singers went behind the curtain again, the people slowly stream into the antechamber and eiter stay for a drink or leave and enter one of the many nearby taverns.
Solaric rushes to find the Countess Livgrace immediately following the performance. He is absolutely thrilled with her performance and wishes to sincerely express his appreciation.
"Your highness, you were absolutely marvelous! The experience gave me chills of delight as your music uplifted and inspired my soul! You are truly a wonderful talent and a blessing to all of your people! Thank you ever so much!"
Solaric is bursting to give the Countess a warm embrace, but remembering his etiquette, he politely waits until she offers it first.
Victoria joins the minglers, the true courtesan, she takes the chance to meet as many influential people as possible.
As the evening continues on and the rest of the Chosen go about their business, Harl speaks with Kirk about securing the exit route and looking for any further signs of trouble.
"'ey boy, come with me. I know this stiff collar crowd ain't to yer likin' anyhow. I think it wise we continue to keep an eye out for any trouble makers not connected to that puppet. As far as we know there may be independent operators here lookin' to score big. You up for a little lookin' round?"
After the Shew, Pitr finds a quiet corner to share a drink with his Lady.
After the shew, Pitr finds a quiet corner to share a drink with his Lady.
Solaric spends as much time as possibly with the Countess Livgrace. He discusses a wide variety of topics ranging from family, music, arts, and religion and even a little politics. Some of his questions include the following.
"Your highness, did you receive your musical training here in Karcau? This city has always felt like such a cultural center for music and the arts!"
"Your highness, do you ever attend temple and listen to the stories of Iomedae? Before the Test of the Starstone, she was mortal such as ourselves and led the Knights of Ozem in the Shining Crusade against the forces of the Whispering Tyrant. Many of these stories came from this great land we live in!"
"Your highness, how do you stay so innocent and cheerful among the power struggles of politics? There is such maneuvering and positioning for power among all of the counties, yet you appear so relaxed and immune to all of those influences. You truly appear to be the expression of grace under pressure."
Just at the moment the Countess was about to answer you, Solaric, a broad shouldered knight steps between you and says
Stop pestering the countess, will you, ink-knight? then he gives her a kiss on the hand and turns around to you with a malevolent grin.
The countess seems rather startled by his turning up and stammers
Sir Zekkaran, this is Aramis de Voisseur, once a squire of my father.
But now back as a hero! boasts the stranger and pulls the countess away to some other nobles.
@ Harl and Kirk:
You meanwhile check all exits and find that everthing seems safe now.
@ Victoria:
You also notice Solaric's short...defeat...
@ Pitr:
You only have eyes for Swan and she for you and you two forget the world around you...how romantic.
Victoria notes the new entrant to the game, but her eyes and expression reveal nothing...other than her mind is probably working overtime; though her smile is benign, her close friends know she is probably calculating every gesture as a transaction, every interaction merely a debit and credit upon her mental ledger.
After the impressive show Johenric checks the bar for an other whiskey. With a smile on his face he starts a small talk with the people around the bar. Mostlikely he is happy to have a break from work and lets his mind flowing like a free spirit.
Diplomacy
Hey man, you know I have a friend who swears he can figure out a person’s...
Once the evenings pleasantries conclude, Victoria will retire for the evening.
"But now back as a hero!"
Solaric does his absolute best to keep his cool despite the unexpected surprise."Is that so. Now tell me, my good knight. What have you done that that is so heroic?"
Aramis stops and turns around. Arching an eyebrow he asks mockingly
What? You ask me, Aramis de Voisseur, what heroic deeds I have done? Your question should rather be, where I did not do a heroic deed...pff. Just for your information:
I killed the Chief of the Skull-Clan Ogres.
Stole a black dragon's egg and made an omelette of it.
Wrestled a minotaur...after I found him in the centre of his labyrinth and drew a map for him.
Impaled a whole family of vampires with a match.
Won a howling contest versus a werewolf clan.
Climbed the highest mountains of Ustalav to catch the unique Gold Eagle only to find out I found the even rarer platinum eagle.
Won a rum drinking contest on The Shackles against a whole pirate ship crew.
Won a courtcase against a bearded Devil in Egorian.
Sailed all seas.
Found the ruined city of Qutshkapashpa in the Mwangi Expanse and reconstructed all the buildings.
Sold Bandages to the ambassador of Geb...
I could go on like this for all day, you...gimp.