I'd prefer not to have a bald spot. I understand the necessity for a disguise though, I'd just rather not stalk about in it when I don't have to.
"You just do the combover, like." Zargo is briefly distracted enough to forget his terror. He points to his own head. "They call it that because you comb some hair over, but you don't really need a comb. See?" Zargo clears his throat, hawks on his fingers, and then smears several lank strands of greying, greasy hair across his scarred, filthy scalp. He leers up at Jax through cracked grey and yellow teeth. "Works great!"
Edmin glances at the others then down at Zargo, displeasure evident on the knights face. "Can we drop this illusion as we will, or do we need to remove the collar?"
You have to remove the collar. With a little practice you can do this as a move action.
So, where has the Master sent you for your first mission? It sounds as though you are being sent to the north. From my years in Farholde, I know that north of the mountains, the rule of good and law is much weaker than down here in the south.
"As my ex the exotic dancer used to say, sometimes it's better to show than to tell." Trik turns away from you and murmurs for a few moments. Then he turns back. His appearance has been transformed. He looks a dozen years older, and is wearing the blue and white of a senior cleric of Mitra. He raises his hand, and golden light pours from it. "Back, evildoer! BACK, I say! You cannot stand against His holy light! Back to the pit that spawned you!"
You actually find yourself almost flinching. He is uncannily convincing.
Trik's features melt and flow and he is himself again. He grins. "Each according to their capabilities, dear Judge. Our training has specialized in infiltration and in... what follows from that.
"It's going to be fun. Meanwhile, though, I should run along with preparations for tomorrow's journey. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Judge, and I look forward to next time." He tips you a jaunty salute and strolls away.
M DEAD!! KILLED BY EVIL EVIL DMDM!! Rogue1/Barb (Feral)1 temp hp 14/17 and 9 con (HP 24/25+4 when Raging; AC21/17/15(-2 Raging) ; CMD 16 (18 Rage) Fort +4(6); Ref +8; Will +1( 3); Init +6; Perception +5/6 for Traps; Darkvision
DMDM:
Will1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 Bref very much wants to deaden his pain. Buuuuuuut on the other hand what if he keeps the drug? Perhaps he can mix that drug with the other drug. Just think what it would do to his enemy's then. Yes he will wait for now.
He closely examines his other gift.
Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 +1 for traps
He puts it aside for now as well. He will get Bloodlick to make sure it does something good. No tell him who gave it him. He say he find hidden in his room.
M DEAD!! KILLED BY EVIL EVIL DMDM!! Rogue1/Barb (Feral)1 temp hp 14/17 and 9 con (HP 24/25+4 when Raging; AC21/17/15(-2 Raging) ; CMD 16 (18 Rage) Fort +4(6); Ref +8; Will +1( 3); Init +6; Perception +5/6 for Traps; Darkvision
Day 9, 10, 11/b] Bref waits for Morsum to come play in his fort. While he waits he begins work on a series of simple traps. Boards that swing out with cutlery attached. Tripwires that cause buckets of old gruel to spill on someone. He loosens a couple of boards in the floor to cause people to trip.
[b] Day 12 Bref sneaks out and removes a lock from a door, and installs it onto the trunk in his room. He keeps his treasures there.
The tiefling will stalk off, back to the library, to try hunting for information on the book again (two for the day, correct?)
1d20+12
1d20+12
It is intelligent. The binding, covers and spine are a fiendish entity called a Lore Warden. Wait a moment, thinks Jax, isn't that what those annoying Pathfinders are called, over on the mainland? Indeed it is; just a paragraph later, the text notes that apparently the first Lore Warden was created by binding the spirit of a dying Lore Warden (a Lawful Evil one, of course) into the physical apparatus.
There are excited-looking notes, with lots of exclamation points, in small, elegant handwriting over much of the text. A Lore Warden, it seems, is the latest and best thing in magic book protection. No more messing about with silly snake sigils, Alarm spells, glyphs of warding and the like. No -- just rebind your text into a Lore Warden, and relax. Each Lore Warden has a number of powerful magical defenses.
There are drawbacks. You need a human sacrifice to create one, obviously. (The note writer has put 'not a problem' here.) They're expensive. They have a will of their own, and are pretty much always malicious. So far the secret of creating them is known only to followers of Asmodeus and those idiot Pathfinders, but it's only a matter of time before other alignments find out about it and create a hateful Neutral Evil version and a Chaotic Evil version that eats the text it's supposed to be guarding and then turns into a blood-sucking night table or something.
As Jax finishes reading the text, he feels the hair on the back of his neck rising. He looks up. The black book is still lying open on its stand. He has the distinct impression it is grinning at him.
The Eighth leaves tomorrow. There will be a small departure ceremony. You're not invited, but you're not not-invited either; anyone who wants to come, can.
The Cardinal, Tiadora and Pilkington are there. The Eighth are in traveling clother. They mostly ignore anyone else who is there, but Trik will give a sidelong half-wink to Zimu and the Judge.
The ceremony is simple. The four members of the Eighth kneel, and the Cardinal intones a blessing in Infernal. Then he lifts and embraces each of them. He speaks to each one for a few moments, smiling, and then he gives each one something. Trik gets a silver knife, and Dostan what looks like a small notebook; the other two get small boxes or packages.
The Eighth Knot goes out the door, to do whatever they are going to do.
"We have an interesting situation," he says. "A team of searchers is combing the neighborhood, looking for a group of escapees from Branderscar Prison. They were delayed for a day when they lost the trail in Toadmarsh -- a combination of bad weather and unexpected attacks by monsters -- " the Cardinal smiles " -- but soon they will arrive here at Horn Manor.
"This is no ordinary group of soldiers. The team is led by Father Matthias Harkon, an Inquisitor of the Mitran Church. It includes Sir Balin the famous Witch-Hunter... ah, I see that some of you know the name. And there are several Alerion Knights as well."
Sir Balin was involved in the capture of at least two of you. As for the Alerion Knights... at the mention of their name, Sir Edmin's fists clench. They're the elite of the kingdom, drawn largely from the aristocracy. It was an Alerion Knight who gave the order that sent Edmin's company into a bloody ambush. Edmin would die happy if all the Alerion Knights had a single throat and he could get his hands on it for just a single minute...
"Sir Balin will not be paying us a visit tonight, but Father Matthias will, along with his newest disciple. They will be at our door within the hour. There are various ways we could deal with this. I choose simple deceit. I would like one of you to answer the door and give this Hound of Heaven such sweet answers as will turn their attention away."
The Cardinal raises his hand. In it is a small vial full of bright orange liquid. "This will enhance one person's ability to lie. It will also make those lies almost undetectable by the more common sorts of magic. In addition, I can strengthen your will to resist enemy spells, while raising your ability to lie still further."
"Which of you wishes to try this?"
The prerequisite here is a +5 Bluff skill, which I think means only the Judge or Zimu. If you two can't agree amongst yourselves, tie vote goes to Sir Edmin.
Female Aasimar Wizard 6 (HP 53/53; AC 18/18/15; CMD 16 Fort +5; Ref +7 Will +8; Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision 60 ft)
I posted on the discussion thread a day ago that although she did not begin her career as such, I want Cуровую to one day be the greatest liar in the world (mind you this is a player idea and not the characters). But the judge may have an interest in this as well, there is no possibility of us sharing the assignment?
I do want to run a brief thread between the 'friendly brunch' and the VIII's departure.
The Judge looks at Jax: If you wish she is welcome to take the lead. Just remember, I have spent the past hundred years lying about what I am and hearing every lie in the book, good and bad, by those seeking to gain their freedom. . . . Very few did. Also, without the help of magic, I was the one to sent the two guards away from the tower while the crazy cleric planned a frontal assault against the whole prison.
Female Aasimar Wizard 6 (HP 53/53; AC 18/18/15; CMD 16 Fort +5; Ref +7 Will +8; Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision 60 ft)
You also have the higher bluff Judge, let's see if DM can allow for both of us to do it. Otherwise let me get it this time and you get next dibs in role playing.
Knowledge Local 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 What resources do this land provide?
Knowledge Nobility 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 Which nobles had title and ancestral holdings in this land? Who is the local dispenser of the King's Justice?
Knowledge Local 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 What local problems (examples, grain shortages, bandits, high taxation) are prevalent in this area?
If time permits I would like to have Jax and any others in the library help me with some quick research regarding the above topics, its time to cram for the exams.
If it is pure stats, I am +11 Bluff, +10 Diplomacy, and +6 Sense Motive. I also have Profession(Judiciary) if applicable. Cy has me smoked in the Knowledge skills.
My thought is I am the butler and am preparing the mansion for the arrival of the master in another week or so. I have been here for about two weeks and have not heard or seen anything suspicious. I could the help them search some of the outbuildings where escaped prisoners might hide.
Cy, if you know that whisper spell you used on Toothpick, you could be in the library with Jax trying to get any relevant information should they pose strange questions.
Male Human Oracle (FC) 15 Init: +8 Perc: +0 AC:24/14/20 F:+13 R:+14 W:+15 HP:124/124 Freedom of movement, Resist Cold/30, Air Walk 30'
I am +5 bluff just because of my high CHA...I can assist when it becomes needed, this is not one of those times.
Having two servants answer the door seems a little odd...we should just have one person. I don't care who...you guys have a better sense as a group who would do a better job.
The phial contains a Glibness spell, cast at 7th level. The Cardinal can also cast Eagle's Splendor and another spell that will give one person +6 to Bluff and Intimidate. So you could split the difference -- give one person +20 and another +8, and have the primary person do most of the talking.
M DEAD!! KILLED BY EVIL EVIL DMDM!! Rogue1/Barb (Feral)1 temp hp 14/17 and 9 con (HP 24/25+4 when Raging; AC21/17/15(-2 Raging) ; CMD 16 (18 Rage) Fort +4(6); Ref +8; Will +1( 3); Init +6; Perception +5/6 for Traps; Darkvision
Goblin lie like dog! Bref flops on the floor.
+2 Bluff
And at another time
Bref leaps onto the statue of Zargo and with Mosrums teeth fly and utterly destroy it.
tee hee tee hee hee hee. What think of fort Shadow Beastie?
With Glibness+Eagle Splendor, I would be +33 on Bluff. Cy would be +31.
You guys make the call and lets talk to these guys.
To the Cardinal: Master, regarding the outbuildings. Is there anything contained therein that should not be seen? I was thinking of simply telling the knights that we have been here preparing for our master's arrival in a week or so and have not seen anyone enter the house. As I and all the servants of the house have been working cleaning the place, it is unlikely anyone would have been able to sneak inside. However, there are a number of outbuildings which would make for a good hiding place. Perhaps we could stage one of them to look like it was used and then the prisoner's headed back out into the swamp.
Mr. Thorn is a merchant from the capital who made enough money to retire to the countryside. This is a common enough thing; many wealthy merchants seek to ape the aristocracy. He purchased the ruined Horn House and its surrounding lands and had it rebuilt. However, soon afterwards his health took a turn for the worse and he became a recluse.
Limitations:
They can't see Tiadora or Pilkington. They can't search the house. They can't talk to any of the servants -- the servants have seen things. The Cardinal would prefer not to have to meet them.
They can search the grounds and the outside of the house. A couple of servants can be detailed to quietly bustle around in the background.
Be aware that an Inquisitor will have a high Sense Motive and will probably also have magical lie detection and various sorts of divination. So, ideally you want to minimize contact; the longer he's around, the higher the risk that he'll pick up on something.
Legally, he can't search the house or grounds without a warrant unless he's in hot pursuit. However, an Inquisitor has high enough status that he can override this, if his suspicions are sufficiently aroused; if he's right then he's vindicated, and if he's wrong the Church pays damages.
I think that this will be fun and would like to do it. You all can make a call on whether you want the Judge or Cy to take this role. As I said, Cy can stay in contact with me through a message spell if needed and can feed me any necessary answers. It is DC25 to pick up on this, so we will want to keep it minimal if necessary.
My plan would be as follows.
Open the door and greet the knights and inquisitor and ask whether they would like some tea. - I assume they will decline, but the polite nature should throw them off wanting to search the house as well. I will tell them that the master has taken ill and cannot join them, but that the servants have not reported anything broken or missing in the past few days, so I doubt that anyone has broken in. However, we do not use the outbuildings much this time of the year as the cold weather causes the master's bones to ache. As such, these would be prime places for one or more people to hide. I will then take them on a short tour of the grounds where nothing will be found.
This would be done IC, but just setting it forth OOC should eliminate several rounds of discussion and planning.
M DEAD!! KILLED BY EVIL EVIL DMDM!! Rogue1/Barb (Feral)1 temp hp 14/17 and 9 con (HP 24/25+4 when Raging; AC21/17/15(-2 Raging) ; CMD 16 (18 Rage) Fort +4(6); Ref +8; Will +1( 3); Init +6; Perception +5/6 for Traps; Darkvision
HP 169/169; AC:37/21/29; Saves: +22/+23/+20; Init +10; Per +28(See Invisibility), CMD 42
Misc:
Effects: Resist Cold 30, Fly 30', Telepathic Bond
The only problem with that plan is if they do accept. We need to limit contact with servants. Perhaps have Dren or Jax act as the servant who brings tea to them so as to limit contact with the actual servants.
Agreed - I assume there is a sitting room somewhere near the front of the house where they could be served tea. Of course with the master of the house ill, this would leave only the butler and Cy (head housekeeper? friend visiting from out of town?) to talk with them. Or Cy could be the one doing the serving - keep everyone out except for the two high bluff characters.
One reason to limit it to one or two people is that the fewer there are, the fewer conflicting lies are created. You do not want to know how many people the Judge condemned because their stories did not pan out or conflicted with their witnesses. Not that the Judge really cared, after all, if there was a way to condemn someone to punishment, the truth was rather irrelevant, as long as the proposed punishment was "legal".
Here comes the Inquisitor -- his carriage is just pulling up in front. So, Judge is a seneschal or senior assistant to Mr. Thorn, and Zimu is a senior servant or housekeeper?
M DEAD!! KILLED BY EVIL EVIL DMDM!! Rogue1/Barb (Feral)1 temp hp 14/17 and 9 con (HP 24/25+4 when Raging; AC21/17/15(-2 Raging) ; CMD 16 (18 Rage) Fort +4(6); Ref +8; Will +1( 3); Init +6; Perception +5/6 for Traps; Darkvision
hope you are prepped to explain the noise from Bref's room!
hope you are prepped to explain the noise from Bref's room!
We have a rat problem, currently being "Corrected".
Waiting on starting to give everyone else one more chance for input before I jump into this. We had an hour to discuss this. I will post my opening once I am home in another 2-3 hours.
Cy, you can take it, but remember, this is going to be Diplomacy, not just Bluff. You can lie all day, but if they do not like you, they will probably search just be be jerks.
I was hoping for a vote by the group.
Tohram - +11 Bluff, +10 Diplomacy, +6 Sense Motive, +6 Knowledge(nobility & local), +5 Profession(barrister/judge)
Cy - +9 Bluff, +5 Diplomacy, +3 Sense Motive, +8/9 all Knowledge
We had one or two vote this morning before they knew our skills were.
I am putting my kids to bed, but will be back in about 30 minutes to get caught up. Will be on from 9:00-12:00 Central Time for the whole time.
Female Aasimar Wizard 6 (HP 53/53; AC 18/18/15; CMD 16 Fort +5; Ref +7 Will +8; Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision 60 ft)
I thought the group DID vote, and Edmin had the tiebreaker - but I PMed you, as I said you can take it, and if your read the discussion thread I made other offers to you how to handle this. Also I was not going to be a jerk, I was going to kill them with kindness.
Just because I was role playing a monster with Elise does not mean that's the only flavor I know, its all part of the Game.
Female Aasimar Wizard 6 (HP 53/53; AC 18/18/15; CMD 16 Fort +5; Ref +7 Will +8; Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision 60 ft)
On the discussion thread I posted two days ago that I wanted Cуровую to one day be the greatest liar in the world, it had occurred to me because I was trying to further define my character, that's why I expressed a keen interest when you were kind enough to offer this bit of role playing. But...
As Robert the Bruce said, 'the Art of Confined Compromise is the Most Noble of Virtues.
Let the Judge have his day, I'll take the next one.
Not sure what the last spell is, but I assume that I have Glibness (+20 Bluff) and Eagle Splendor (+4 Cha - +2 Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate). If there is something else, please let me know.
I did not intend to steal this from someone else. I know that Cy intends to be the greatest lier in the world, but this is what Tohram is build for - social skills. He leaves the bloodletting to his shadow.
______________
Being now dressed in the proper attire for the head of the household, Tohram walks to the door and answers it after the appropriate amount of time has passes - not too long, but not immediately.
As he opens the door, he looks surprised to see the knights and clergy before the door.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Tohram knows why these men are here, but is trying to gauge how to respond to them. Unfortunately he is a little unsure.
Good afternoon, is there something that I can do for you servants of the sun?
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 8 = 32 <-- +2 Eagle Splendor, +6 some other spell per DMDM
Not sure what the last spell is, but I assume that I have Glibness (+20 Bluff) and Eagle Splendor (+4 Cha - +2 Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate). If there is something else, please let me know.
Asmodeus' portfolio includes Trickery, so it's not surprising he's got some spells that aren't common knowledge.
"Good morning. We need to speak with your master, Mister Thorn." Inquisitor Matthias is speaking. He looks the role. Though not tall, he has a force of personality that makes him seem much larger. He is a man in early middle age, hair just beginning to grey at the temples. An old scar -- not from a sword; it looks like the mark of some ripping claw -- cuts across his face. His eyes are pale and very, very intense; it is strangely hard to break away from them. "The matter is urgent."
The potion is making the Judge slightly giddy. You feel like you could say anything, no matter how ridiculous, and be believed. Like reality itself will warp to your commentary. It's intoxicating, and you have to clamp down a bit to keep yourself from blurting out some outrageous lie.
The Inquistor's eyes bore deeply into you. 1d20 ⇒ 15
"I am sure you already know why we are here. Two days ago, a group of dangerous criminals escaped from Branderscar Prison. We tracked them to a point less than a mile from here, and our divinations show that they are likely still in the area."
DC 22 Sense Motive:
There's the faintest hint of irritation in the Inquisitor's voice. Whatever divinations they're using, he is surprised and annoyed that they have not given clearer results.
"It's possible that these monsters may be hiding on your property, or even inside your house. For your safety, we will conduct a thorough search of the premises."
The younger priest behind him pipes up. "It won't take an hour, sir, and there won't be any unnecessary disturbance. You'll rest better knowing that they're not here."
