Dark Sun, Pathfinder Edition (Inactive)

Game Master tribeof1

There is an overwhelming aura of necromantic magic centered on the cloned body, which also appears to be magically preserved. There is also a faint, lingering aura of abjuration in the room.

Assuming what the necromancy is and not wanting to bother with it, she focuses on the abjuration aura.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Knowledge checks are at the same bonus.

Analyzing the magical auras swirling around the room, Daina comes to an unsettling conclusion - bypassing the symbol of death triggered an alarm spell. As to whose spell... Well, best not to think about that too much.

*Sigh*, this is why you let the wizard scan the room before entering.

<<We triggered an alarm spell. Destroy the clone and let's get out of here.>>

Well if Daina had of wanted to go first... :p

Raun pulls the amulet off of the body and tosses it aside as the others come down to join her, peering into the room beyond. While the others chatter and peer around she peers into her pack, trying to decide which weapon would be most efficient for dealing with the body, finally deciding upon the handaxe.

She looks up suddenly as Daina announces they have tripped an alarm. She quickly pushes past the others and wastes no more time in hacking off the clone's head, followed by it's limbs. She looks momentarily at the halfling before burying the axe in it's chest, prying open it's rib-cage and plucking out it's heart. She hands it to Woki then pushes past the others again with blood-stained hands. "Let's go." she mutters, leading the way they had originally come.

I am currently playing a minor devil in a way of the wicked game. He likes hearts too :)

<<Looks "destroyed" to me. Lets move. >>

The clone body is strangely bloodless as Raun hacks it apart. Thick, purplish blood oozes from the cut flesh and the lifeless heart, but doesn't spurt or pool like normal blood.

Leaving the pieces of the clone scattered around the room, you turn and leave, picking your way through the catacombs to the stairwell that leads up to the bakery. True to his word, the baker has left the stone cover open. Closing the passage behind, you make your way out onto the streets of Tyr in the shadow of the arena.

There's no outward sign of a commotion within, but the streets are starting to come alive. A green and purple glow shows over the mountains to the east, the first sign of the coming sunrise.

Quickly, you make your way back to the warehouse in Iron Square where the wounded mage, Nell, waits. You also need to pay a visit to Krysta, the proprietor of the Crystal Spider, to let her know Vackus is dead and to collect the psychic reliquary and sack of silver she promised as a reward.

Then, when you've made yourselves ready, you can meet with the bard Thuffir to secure entrance into the Belly of the Noble. Somewhere below the marble streets of the Nobles Quarter lies the second - and hopefully last - of Kalak's clones.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Time to level up! Everyone is now Level 6.

Also, let me know what you did with Vackus's body, his amulet and the amulet from the other templar.

Woot! We kept the templar amulets but Raun dumped Vackus' once the warded door was open. She'd have grabbed it again (or his head at least) if anybody else thought it was worth it though (or suggested keeping it for proof to show Krysta.

<<Let us take parts of each body so that a raise dead will not work. If we leave the Templar's body here then people will know the two "crimes" are linked. But where can we secret it? it simply will take too long for our new halfling friend to consume it. Also, those badges can likely lead other templars to us. I say we hide them in the city away from us for a few days. That will let us investigate if they are worth anything and see if they are found. >>

I do not think the amulets are worth the risk. Seems they only work for Templars, so have no value to us, and might can be used to track us. Its possible the resistance will want them, but they have not mentioned it yet. So we hide them somewhere out of the way and see if we ever need them. We have plenty of loot to sell without them, don't we? I am not sure what to do with the body.

"Don't that mean they not know we sent to kill templar." Raun asks, not really sure what Grit's problem with the two being linked would be, or that the body disappearing would dissuade that idea eith. "Look like we kill him to get amulet."

"Chuck him with smushed brain monsters. I could smush him up too." she says, though she seems agitated, not eager to hang around if more people were coming. They weren't getting anything to kill anyone else.

Yeah, fine with ditching the amulets. Beyond perhaps being used as part of a disguise I don't see much use and a big risk holding onto them. So yeah, stash em, ask Nell if she's interested.

As I think it was pointed out in the discussion thread, we might need the more powerful one to gain access to the second clone.

Woki pokes the dismembered body of a sorcerer-king and sniffs the odd blood oozing from the form. The halfling's nose wrinkles and agrees with Grit. <<If one wishes to live well in this world one learns not to turn down a meal but something smells off with this man. The spirits agree that the flesh is fouled with unnatural things. To partake of it might do more harm than good.>>

Regardless, Woki starts to wrap the offered heart up and put it into the satchel. The halfling nods a thanks to Raun, "This one share black covered one with tall-tall one. Other not good for eat."

Once they are out of the catacombs and back into the fresh air, Woki takes a deep breath and raises arms to the sky, "This one almost glad for stinky tall one smell to feel spirit's breath on this one's face again." The halfling glances around at the city and falls in behind the others as they seem to know where they are going. Once they reach the warehouse, Woki looks at the rescuers and clutches the little blackened wood hanging from around the halfling's neck. <<You have freed me from a most unfortunate fate and we have shared a good hunt with vengeance and trophies a plenty meted out. For this you have my gratitude. In most circumstances, this is where I would part ways with you and continue with my important work in this tall one settlement but I think the spirits have sent you to intersect with my path for a reason. Fates intertwine as the spirits will and nothing is ever truly by complete chance. If agreeable, I would journey with you for a while longer so that we may uncover the spirits' plans for us together.>>

After some discussion, you decide to bring Vackus's body to the surface with you, along with the clone's heart and the two templar amulets.

Ranging away from the main group, Gorkhan finds a pair of secluded spots to hide the amulets - one goes under a loose flagstone in an alley near the Elven Bridge, the other in an old lizard nest halfway up the back wall of a boarding house.

Vackus's body proves even easier to dispose of. Woki and Nnn'tkklik'l both had heard of a an inn in the Bard's Quarter called the Hungry, Hungry Halfling that caters to halflings, thri-kreen and others with a taste for sentient flesh. The place is easy enough to find. Keeping the head, the group discards the remainder of the dwarf's corpse with no questions asked.

Now what? I've added the undivided loot to the campaign tab. Do you want to try to split it up now, possibly working with the mul weaponsmith, Grik, to sell some of the pricier items? Do you want to visit Krysta at the Crystal Spider (she promised you the psychic reliquary as well as 1,000 silver pieces)? Ready to go meet Thuffir the bard at the Poison Sting to gain access to the Belly of the Noble?

Nnn wants to get the reliquary, was there a certain proof he had to bring?

Grit wants to help Nnn do that.

I suspect Vacku's head and amulet would be sufficient :p

The other question is are we resting up before going after the second one, or pushing on today. Raun's used up about half her rounds of rage.

I'd prefer a rest unless the sudden *ding!* restores all my PP, I used quite a bit. I generally have to augment all my powers to max ML to get the best action economy. Speaking of which, GM, please add to my wishlist anything that gives more PP. Even if it's like 20 cognizance crystals that I need to charge for several days ahead of trips that are expected to be terrible.

I assumed you would rest at least long enough to regain spells and PP. Also, Nnn, cognizance crystals are readily available from the School of the Mind whenever you want to buy some. But remember you can't combine multiple crystals to cast one power-the crystal has to provide the full PP cost.

right, and they are rather prohibitively expensive, so anything as an alternate would be best, and I doubt I'll be getting them via purchases. 5 PP crystals cost 9000gp and 7 PP crystals cost 16000gp *yikes*

Cool. I wasn't quite sure about the rest :) Well, Raun's good for whatever then, she'll tag along anywhere she's needed.

Oh, she did have 2 strength damage too, so she'd have needed a heal check to get both points back, or a poke from the restoration wand.

heal: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

You return briefly to the warehouse after disposing of Vackus's body.

Nell, who is on her feet when you return but still hobbling due to the cursed wound in her side, agrees that time is of the essence, especially after she learns of the magical alarm triggered when the first clone was destroyed.

"It could have been set by Kalak, Dote Mal Payne or one of the other necromancers involved in the clones' creation. Whoever was responsible, they're aware someone has tampered with one of the clones," she says.

After a brief discussion, you split up some of the more obviously useful treasure but will wait until later to sell the bulk of it. Nnn'tkklik'l takes the nikaal psionicist's crystal mask, Daina and Gorkhan each take one of Vackus's enchanted rings and Grit takes the dwarf's curative wands.

With High Sun approaching, you make your way to the Crystal Spider, which even this early - or late - is filled with the rich, the drunk and the desperate. A pair of half-elven guards immediately usher you upstairs to a private room. You hear the door lock as they exit the room. A minute later, a panel behind the over-sized bed slides away and Krysta enters with a pair of female bodyguards. Each of the women carries a porcelain amphora that clinks promisingly.

"Judging from the commotion at the arena this morning, I assume I'll find Vackus's head in that sack you carry," Krysta says, raising a scarred but still delicate eyebrow. "You did well to defeat the templar and his entourage and I will honor the deal we struck."

She motions for the guards to remove the caps on the amphora. Each is filled to the brim with silver coins.

"And there is this," the raven-haired half-elf says, somehow drawing a small, ebony box from the folds of her diaphanous gown. She opens the box - lead-lined, you notice - to reveal a crystal about as big around as Raun's thumb. Compared to the pale blue stone on Nnn'tkklik'l's brow, this one glows the ruddy orange of a campfire's embers.

Closing the box again, Krysta hands it over in exchange for Vackus's head. Weighing it thoughtfully, she turns to leave but stops.

"This concludes our business for now, but I may call on you again sometime. You can call upon me, as well, although not too often - and not too soon. You are involved in some bloody business, if I'm not mistaken. I hope it ends well for you ... and for Tyr. But I'm sure you will understand that I must hedge my bets. However the cards fall, the house must endure."

Grit, appreciating the deal concluded fairly nods. You are true to your word Krysta. I will be pleased to do business with you again in the future, if you need us. We will leave you be for a time though, unless our need becomes great. he bows to the lady and helps remove the coin.

Nnn'tkklik'l takes the small box with the crystal with a happy chirp. Holding his staff in his off hand, he transfers the box from his main hand to his second set of arms under his cloak, holding the ebony box tightly against his body. This is the closest thing to greed anyone had seen from the kreen. Perhaps a testament to his new city life?

Shifting the staff back to his main hand, he uses his off hand to slip the second amphora into a slung sack under his cloak and holds the cloak closed with the now-free hand.

"To hunt two prrey to enssurre one meal is wissse. We trrusst ourr meat iss not to yourr tasste." the kreen says, forcing the proverb into common speech.

Krysta raises an arched eyebrow before bowing to Nnn'tkklik'l and crossing her arms in an approximation of the traditional thri-kreen farewell. With only two arms, the gesture lacks grace, but it's close enough.

"May your prey be bountiful," she says before leaving.

The spoiler is for Nnn'tkklik'l but could be broadcast to the rest of the collective if he chooses.

The kreen remains silent on the matter. unless questioned

Upon returning to the warehouse, Nnn'tkklik'l sets the amphora he was carrying down next to wherever Grit sets the other, and then the kreen begins to meditate with the ebony box.

On the way back to the warehouse Grit looks to Nnn and thinks <<Well? Is it what you believed it to be?>>

<<The Warden senses it to be so. I shall meditate on it to find out.>>

<< Surely you shall become a tribe of one.>>

Could not resist. :)

You return to the warehouse with Krysta's silver and decide to rest until dark.

Clutching the ebony box, Nnn'tkklik'l retreats to one corner to meditate. Opening the box, he draws forth the glowing orange stone and holds it gently as the light reflects in his eyes.

The kreen, silent in the corner save the occasional click, slowly stands with the aid of his staff, keeping the ebony box open in one clawed hand.

<<Clutchmates. Come over here.>> Nnn'tkklik'l's voice resonates in their minds, more demanding than usual.

When the group gathers, the kreen continues.

<<This crystal is like mine. A knight-champion dwells within, desires to oppose the king of defilers. If you bond with him, your vitality and will can be bolstered, mind strengthened against attack. I cannot bond with two spirits, so another must take this gift.>>

<<Nnn. I am willing to do this thing, but might not be the best choice. I do not know what will make me a good host. You much make the choice of who will best fit the knight champion. I trust your judgement. >>

<<There is one spirit left, i think. The Seeker. The Warden resides in the gem in my head. The Knight-Champion should be mighty, and the mightiest among us is Raun.>>

more HP, resistance to mental attack, things you want the half-giant brute to have. plus someone to talk to! :D

Woki watches as the kreen meditates over the strange stone. The halfling leans in close, sniffing at the crystal and then moves away with a shake of the head. Later, when Nnn comes out of his trance and calls everyone over, Woki draws closer with the others. After Nnn's mental explaination, the halfling points at the crystal. <<If there is a powerful spirit trapped within the stone, would it not prefer to be freed and not bound to another? At least, the spirits of sky and the ground, the waters and the heat would beat against such bounds. Enslavement is not something one generally seeks out.>>

<<There is one spirit left, i think. The Seeker. The Warden resides in the gem in my head. The Knight-Champion should be mighty, and the mightiest among us is Raun.>>

more HP, resistance to mental attack, things you want the half-giant brute to have. plus someone to talk to! :D

The issue is that its an enhancement bonus so it will not stack with other enhancement bonuses. I am not sure who currently has enhancement items. I think the Chr boost would help her intimidate. :)

Raun doesn't seem to have any enhancement bonuses to ability scores. I'm not sure if anyone does (aside from Nnn). Extra Strength = moar damage (and even numbers [she'd have +6] are better with two-handers) and the Charisma, less useful, but could help her intimidate a tad. She does have the highest HPs and the lowest Will saves (unless it's Psionics then it's pretty big), meaning she'd probably be the one to most likely use the "take damage and ignore mind-spell each round" thing.

<<Perhaps this Knight-Champion, the Warden, and perhaps even this Seeker, have a purpose that requires their spirit be bound to these crystals. Raun seems the best choice, assuming both she and the Knight-Champion would agree to such a thing.>>

<<their ancient purpose required reliquaries for their spirits, their responsibilities outlast their physical bodies if not.>>

What are Raun's thoughts on the matter?

Once Grit and Nnn leave to deliver the Templar's head Raun takes advantage of the chance to rest, eating from their supplies and bedding down to recuperate and sleep. Their return wakens her momentarily but she drifts back off until the collective discussion of the others rouses her once more.

Sitting up with a yawn and a wide stretch she lumbers over to see what's going on, shying back as she spies the item Nnn carries. She frowns down at the others discussing the matter, and her eyes narrow as they suggest she should use it. "Mind-trap magic use crystal..." she growls, adding a muttered "Raun's mind is her own."

<<I'd not force on a clutchmate. Crystal in my head hasn't stolen Nnn'tkklik'l's mind, had it for awhile. Seeker, Warden, Knight-Champion chose to be in crystal to defy defilers as long as it takes. Now Warden sees through my eyes, learning of world of today. Gives advice.>>

<Perhaps we should let him "talk" to each of us and choose. >> Grit proposes.

Nnn will bring him into the collective to talk to us all if he can.

The smell of blood fills your nose as the new entity is brought into the collective. You see brief vision of an endless plain strewn with the corpses of thousands of warriors. Pale spirits, barely wisps of shapes, battle each other, over and over. Then your mind's eye snaps to a lone figure standing on the battlefield, an ivory war-mask obscuring his features. Silver scales cover his body and long black hair snaps in the wind.

As he turns, you can hear a faint mental chanting:

… Arrogance is a trap that binds. The chain adapts.Fear is the shadow of a cloud, without substance. The chain is real. Devotion is a bottomless mine. The chain expands ...

The figure seems to see you for the first time.

<<War is an ugly thing, but there is beauty in its dance. I have studied it a long time>> the figure says. <<You can call me the Champion. After so many ages, that is the only name that feels true. Like the Warden, I made an oath that did not end in death. We both opposed the defilers in life; we will help you do so now, if you will accept our aid.>>

<<I was and remain a warrior, though I lack hands to wield a sword. Still, I know the Codex of War word for word, and would pass that knowledge on. Who among you has a strong arm to smite your foes, a strong mind to guide your blade, and a strong heart to choose your enemies?>>

The figure seems to study you as it waits for a response. But you can hear the chant, as well, echoing faintly.

... Pain is the fire that tempers the iron. The chain grows stronger. Death is a sacrifice like any other. The chain endures. ...

nice, a war mind

Raun's glare softens slowly as the strange voice speaks in her head, the half giant clearly concentrating on what is being said... and struggling a little to follow it.

With clear distaste she responds in a too-forceful mind voice, though she no longer shouts at least. <<Friends say you be most helpful. I am warrior, fight people, kill them, take their stuff. But I not like this mind-bendy magic-talk in people's heads...>> she bares her teeth unconciously as she talks, staring at the gem in it's box. <<People try mess with Raun's head she smash, kill, murder them. Defilers not mess with Raun's head, why she care about defilers?>>

<<The defiler's destroy the land and enslave the people, do they not?>> the masked figure says. Raun can feel the presence sizing her up mentally, like the trainers did in Urik when she was learning to protect her former master, Tachyk.

<<The defilers created your kind, giant-kin, made you slaves for their armies. You don't like being a slave, I can tell. You fight those who try to make you a slave. You defend your friends. When enemies strike at you with blades, you strike back. Mind-benders strike at you with blades of a different sort, but I can show you how to defend against those, as well. You have strength. Do you want to learn how to use it?>>

Raun's lips curl back in a snarl as she feel the Champion's mental probing, but she holds onto her temper for the moment, and it fades somewhat as she considers his words. <<Raun is free now, so are Grit, Nnn, Gorkhan, why... why...>> she trails off, losing her train of thought. Such self-reflection is clearly not something she is accustomed to.

<<If Raun help fight defilers, then Champion teach me to fight mind-benders better?>> her mental tone is... hesitant. "Can champion hear when I talk normal? Don't like mind talk..." she mutters. If her companions didn't know better they might think her tone was sulky.

<<Yes, I can hear you when you speak. But I can speak only in your mind. But I can do so softly, if you prefer>> the Champion says, seeming to recognize Raun's aversion to mental contact. <<And I will teach you how to defend against the attacks of other mind-benders.>>

<<The kreen can help create the necessary bond, if you are willing to let me ride with you>> the champion says. <<It will take some time, however, so your companions may wish to see to other tasks.>>

Taking the hint, the rest of the group heads to the House of Fingers in the Bard's Quarter to make contact with Thuffir, the crimson-haired rumor-monger who has promised to provide access to the Belly of the Noble.

The tomb-like tavern remains as it was before, with foul-smelling candles casting macabre shadows from the gnarled limbs mounted on the wall.

The sallow half-elf proprietor leads you to a table. She scowls when you ask after Thuffir, but agrees to send someone to fetch the bard.

"You'll be drinking wine while you wait." she says. It's clearly not a question.

The ceramic pitcher remains mostly untouched - you've had vinegar that was more palatable - when Thuffir arrives, his shock of crimson hair elaborately arranged but a little off-kilter. You suspect he was roused out of bed - or had not yet been one in one since the previous day.

"My friends! You have returned. With fists full of gold, I hope, so you may pay for the key to unlocking further riches!"

The man sits down heavily at the table, swaying slightly.

"I hope your night was half as entertaining as mine! A lesser man might have bristled at being summoned away from such lovely company, but I am in a magnanimous mood. So, to business! I assume you would not have called if you did not have the required deposit. What was it we agreed upon? 30 gold pieces?"

__________________________
|Meanwhile, in the warehouse...|
|_________________________|

Nnn'tkklik'l sits, cross-legged, with the crystal staff next to him. He faces Raun, four arms spread wide, claws marking symbols for concentration. <<Hold the crystal to head or heart when you are ready>> he projects, ready to start the ceremony.