The Pallid Mask commands, "You will serve Him. Kill Mara first."
Dervak sees tendrils reaching out from the Yellow Sign, worming their way into his mind... filling the spaces where the Dark Whisper used to reside.
He lifts Teralindar's Honor and turns towards Mara.
Across his face she sees a flicker of the horror that he used to be. The distorted Dervak that emerged enraged from her Heaven's Leap to strike down Zandalus. The murderous abomination that slew Meg. The nightmarish reflection of Dervak in the Dreamlands.
All of those are there for a brief moment.
A bead of sweat rolls down the warrior's face, as he says simply, "No. Mara is my friend."
"Just an illusion? Can any of you Dispel it?"
Dervak will move forward, looking around for the real Pallid Mask.
Theophilus looks at the Pallid Mask, sticks his tongue out at him, and begins Summoning.
Erinyes
The White Rabbit suddenly appears to smack the s#$~ out of Theo!
Well, yes, the, I shall wait my turn then, well, yes, thank you....
The White Rabbit then exits stage left....
Theo begins to wonder if he will ever find himself confronting....
S$+@!
Theo shakes an angry fist at the Pallid Mask!
He then looks around, whistles, and begins summoning....
Dervak scouts ahead and doesn’t find the Pallid Mask, then he thinks to look up. More than 250ft in the air he spies a yellow figure in the night sky set in front of the strange moon of Carcosa.
The Mask hisses, ”Your bond of friendship is meaningless, why do you grasp at it so?”
A vague phantasmal shape exits from the illusory Pallid Mask and stalks towards Theophilus Carter.
Ci Ci hears the Pallid mask whisper to her,
"It doesn't matter where my power comes from. It serves me when I call upon it!" Ci Ci cries defiantly.
Ci Ci draws deep into her well of power and unleashes a fury of heat upon the figure floating above.
"He's over here, high up!"
Dervak will Rage (+6 Dex and free casting of Longarm), cast Fly, and begin ascending.
Base Fly speed is 60', increased to 90' by Haste, and halved for ascending to 45'.
Fly check is +9 normally, +7 for 1/2 CL, +3 for Dex-rage, and +1 for Heroism, making +20, so he automatically hits the DC 20 Fly check to ascend vertically.
Dervak begins to ascend while Theo begins calling Meg to his side, Ci Ci takes the direct approach and the night air explodes with fire. When the smoke clears the Pallid Mask still floats there, not even singed.
Mara recognized that the Pallid Mask was trying to dominate Dervak. He was clearly evil and needed to die! When Dervak pointed out his true location, she rose into the air, and tried to dispel her foes magic enhancements.
Mara tries to remove any magical effects that the Pallid Mask has enchanted himself with, if she does, it is not obvious. The Yellow Sign still glows bright yellow and he still hovers in the air as easily as someone stands on the ground.
The Mask whispers to Theophilus,
Even if Theo manages to resist this horrific revelation, he and Ci Ci feel reality warp and become twisted.
Ci Ci steels her resolve against the mental assault. Once it passes over her, she calls upon her power and rises to meet the Mask.
Mara tried to dispel the illusionary image of the the enemy, and continued to climb.
Theophilus blinks at the Pallid Asshat with contempt!
Fooey to you! I don't own one! And, I love muffins!
The Mad Hatter then seems to take pause....
He gives the Pallid Asshat the finger!
Semore then appears
Babau
Dripping slime, he snarls at Theo.
I hate you!
Theo just points at the Pallid Asshat image. Semore sighs.
Theo cast Nine Lives on himself. He then moves out of the Pallid Asshat's line of sight.
Dervak ascends another 45' and readies to cast Magic Missile to interrupt any spells or SLAs by the Mask.
Everyone but Theo begins to close on the Pallid Mask in the sky. The image still threatening Theo winks out of existence as Mara finally is able to cancel a spell. Semore strains to view the Yellow Sign but can’t make it out quite enough to trade one master for another. The Pallid Mask walks down the air and over so that the demon might eventually get a clearer view.
Dervak sees his opportunity as the Mask concentrates.
But he is easily able to maintain his grip on his magic.
Mara flew higher and recited a prayer, "Feel the wrath of the heavens!"
Ci Ci continues to rise towards the Pallid Mask. As she closes the distance, the draws upon her power again.
"Diasporatum!"
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Dervak double moves to ascend (now at 180' up).
Mara's chain lighting strikes the Pallid Mask with little effect but Ci Ci burns a hole straight through his expressionless mask and head. He reels a little bit and blood trickles from the hole but he still is able to fight somehow.
Theophilus' mind occasionally wonders to events that are usually not related to his current circumstances. At this particular moment in time, Theo is thinking of a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich with just a touch of avocado spread on the toasted rye.
Feeling a bit of a mental tickle interrupting his reverie, the Mad Hatter frowns at the Pallid Asshat.
I was having a moment! Thanks!
Semore looks at Theo and flips him the bird.
Theo watches CiCi form a tiny but efficient hole in the Pallid Asshat's chest. He nods in admiration.
Theo activates his Flight Hex. He rises 60' into the air. He sticks his tongue out at Semore.
And, why can't you fly?
The Mask points at Dervak and the spells he's bolstered with begin to falter and fail. Luckily he's still flying. He waves Dervak on.
"Diasporatum!" Ci Ci cries out again.
Mara flew ever upward and prayed, "Charlabu, I need you help again! Smite this jerk with the pallid mask!"
The golden hound archon appeared next to the Pallid Mask and attacked with his scimitar!
Now lacking Haste Dervak can still ascend another 60', putting him at 240' up.
The Pallid Mask completely disintegrates into dust as Ci Ci's ray strikes him for a 2nd time. Still you hear him whisper in your ear, "Do not think you have won."
"Bring friends next time, if you have any, you sycophantic lap dog," Ci Ci replies to the empty air occupied by the Pallid Mask only moments ago.
As Cassilda returns to your side she gives Semore a sidelong glance and the demon’s head explodes. Without missing a step she explains, ”The proximity to the Pallid Mask has allowed me to divine which nexuses you need to visit. Each contains a Star Stelae connected to your world, you must sever these connections. They are Aevan-Vhor, Bohlvarai, and Paris.”
She provides you with directions on how to reach each of the nexuses, their proximity is in the order she listed them, Seven-Vhor is closest, then Bohlvarai, and finally Paris.
She adds, ”When you visit Aevan-Vhor, seek out the Musician. He is a traveler known to visit other worlds who has enjoyed some success sidestepping some of Carcosa’s many threats. My visions have revealed that he was recently a guest of a Lord Eldarius. “
Mara replied to Cassilda, "Thank-you, that's very helpful. Before we travel to these locations we will need to rest. I'm going to create a safe extra-dimensional location for us to do so."
She sat down with her ancestor dolls and meditated for a few minutes. When she finished, she asked their guide for the best place to make an extra-dimensional space.
Cassilda offers, "I will guard the portal entrance in case anyone should try to force their way in."
Theophilus watches in absolute awe inspiring giggles and laughter, as CiCi just ruins the Pallid Asshat!
Well, that was such fun! Who is next!
He floats in the air looking about eagerly.
When Mara offers a safe haven to run a poker game, the Mad Hatter claps and sets to it!
The White Rabbit is seen setting up a few tables.
Dervak winces slightly as Cassilda explodes Semore's head.
He's not going to be happy about that the next time he is summoned.
The warrior descends from the air and follows Mara into the Fairy Ring Retreat.
"Your magic is quite powerful, Cerise," he says. "That was very impressive."
He will play a few hands of cards with Theophilus before calling it a night.
Mara's extraplanar sanctuary hopefully feels less despairing than Carcosa...
"It has its moments," Ci Ci replies to Dervak in acknowledgement. "My first blast rolled off him like water off a duck. I either got lucky, or just really angry on that last one."
She accepts Theo's offer to play a few hands of cards. Making sure to do her best to bluff a few wins with nothing in her hand.
Theo mops his sweating brow, as he studies his hand. His crazy blue eyes dart back to CiCi before tossing his hand in.
I really need to learn how to Sense Motive better!
1st lvl (7): Ant Haul, Liberating Command, Protection from Evil, Unbreakable Heart x2, open slot x2, Color Spray (spirit)
2nd lvl (6): Barkskin x3, Calm Emotions, Delay Poison, Resist Energy, Hypnotic Pattern (spirit)
3rd lvl (6): Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Fly, Protection from Energy, Sleet Storm, open slot, Daylight (spirit)
4th lvl (6): Blessing of Fervor x2, Freedom of Movement, Restoration, Spiritual Ally, open Slot, Rainbow Pattern (spirit)
5th lvl (6): Ancestral Memory, Baleful Polymorph, Breath of Life x2, Mass Cure Light Wounds, open slot, Overland Flight (spirit)
6th lvl (4): Greater Dispel Magic x2, Wall of Stone, open slot, Chain Lightning (spirit)
7th lvl (3): Heal x2, open slot, Prismatic Spray (spirit).
8th lvl (2): Fire Storm, Stormbolts, Sunburst (spirit)
After playing cards for a while (being careful to keep her bets small), Mara excused herself and relaxed before going to bed. She had a restful night: a good break before setting out to save the world from Lowls' foolish scheme.
"Let us get going to this Aevan-Vhor place. Who is Lord Eldarius?"
Dervak will add another question for Cassilda.
"If there are more minions of the King in Yellow around here, I would be willing to face them - especially if that prevents them from coming to aid Lowls later. What do you advise? Should we head straight for Aevan-Vhor or explore here first?"
"Lord Eldarius' is a ghost of a man. His estate lies in ruin and his family is lost to the curse of Aevan-Vhor. Nearly all those who inhabit this nexus are undead but they are deluded into thinking they still live. Follow the path until you come to the shore of lake Hali, follow the shoreline and you will find Aevan-Vhor. Do not venture out onto the lake and do not breathe in the mist that sometimes forms on its surface. Make haste. Good luck, I will watch out for you, and provide assistance if I am able." She then disappears, teleporting to parts unknown.
Mara enjoyed a good breakfast featuring plenty of fruits and nuts. When she finished she prepared her equipment for the day ahead, and recited a couple of preparatory prayers. Although the meadow was idyllic and peaceful, she knew that they couldn't linger here, "I'm ready to move out."
"Let's do this," she says, nodding in agreement.
Dervak will cast False Life before setting out.
"Ready to go."
In the morning, Theophilus is seen wearing only his Top Hat and boxers; complete with his black socks. He looks a bit embarrassed.
The White Rabbit is seen wearing Theo's clothes, along with sitting on Theo's haversack, counting coins.
I may have fallen on hard times. He cheats!
The White Rabbit is seen smiling.
Dervak will chose to take the +4 bonus vs curses, diseases, and poison.