| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Tess looks around wanting to be sure that the threat was over before doing anything else. "Are they gone for good? I've never seen devils like that in person before. I hope I never do again," she whispered to the group.
Pigeons, rats, and all other manner of tiny creatures scurry about Nerosyan’s districts, compelled to deliver missives bearing updates on the battle’s progress.
The demonic threat is being contained within the Egelsee and Woundward districts and all but pushed back in the Confluence and Outer districts. Unfortunately, even more enemy reinforcements continue to pour into the city. The crusaders and their Pathfinder allies will have to fight harder to push back the invaders!
The Egelsee and Woundward districts have been reduced to yellow threat level. The Confluence and Outer districts have been reduced to green threat level. Within the Battle district the enemy is building strength. Across all districts enemy reinforcements have arrived making progress more difficult.
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
"I don't like the sound of it, but it seems the "Battle District" needs us. I wonder if anyone there would just like to talk instead of battle? I doubt it. I'm ready when you are."
I assume my Mage Armor has worn off a long time ago, so Tess will use another charge from her wand...the second of the scenario.
Tessara's words breaking her off from her hopeful daydreaming Imperia snaps right back into her antagonistic attitude. "well it has to be called the battle district for a reason yes?"
After the crisis is settled, Katrina wanders off to cope with the implications of what she's just done and the crusaders depart to further secure the streets.
Making their way to the Battle district, the party finds themselves helping defend a command bunker. A lone junior Pathfinder approaches, identifiable as one of Jorsal’s assistants from the Starrise Spire.
“Greetings! Some of the senior crusader officials are about to have a command meeting within the bunker to discuss strategy for the district. Jorsal made it clear that Pathfinder representatives should be present at these meetings. You seem experienced. Can you spare a moment to attend?”
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
"Sure, we'd like to meet the good guys that are working in this district. Maybe we could offer to help defend it."
Giving Sigrun a cocked eyebrow "and what is it that your father does I imagined all your people were warriors?" she says before being interrupted
slightly disappointed to be once again averted from the front lines Lexia lets her shoulders slump a little "From what I have seen of the lower enlisted crusaders are in this much chaos I am sure the upper echelons need all the help they can get"
"My father is a... historian, I suppose you would call it in Taldane" Sigrun explains as they head inside the bunker. "Skald is our language, and skalds are our lorekeepers and language-masters. He writes and tells sagas and songs of our people," she ends with a shrug. "Before he had a family, he would also travel around spreading news to small villages and teachin' the young ones of our history. It's an important job."
"Of course, he can still fight!" Sigrun adds with a smirk. "An Ulfen isn't an Ulfen if they can't do that."
The party is brought into the bunker. The space is cramped and stuffy but definitely feels secure. Four high ranking crusaders are seated and already discussing the districts defenses. They are quickly introduced.
Gudrun Mazrarad is the picture of a traditional female dwarven armor. She’s clad in ornate heavy armor with a sturdy hammer at her hip. She sits atop a tall stool with a dour expression on her rough features.
Aline Valerys is a young taldan woman wearing priestly vestments underneath a light mail shirt. Holy scriptures of Sarenrae are tattoed across her face and down her arms. Although young, she has an aged tired light in her eyes.
Dermont Tabecland is a regal middle aged taldan man in plate armor sporting various icons of devotion to Iomedae. He appears frustrated about the slowness of the meeting and eager to get back to the frontlines.
Salantris is an ageless male elf in bloodied robes. Despite the filth spoiling his vestments, he has the air of one who believes himself far above his peers.
"And who are you lot?" Gudrun asks in a decidedly not-feminine voice.
"I'm Sigrun Wolfrunner," the Ulfen warrior says curtly, greeting the room with a small nod. "We're from the Pathfinders. VC Jorsal said we're to sit in on district strategy meetings where we can."
Sigrun takes a seat where she can, trying to keep the noise and interruption levels down.
"well that explains where you got your leadership skills my knight" she says coyly to her friend.
slightly surprised that the assembled generals were able to talk coherently or not at each others throats in chaos Imperia starts to speak slowly to make sure that they could understand her " I am Imperia Lexia these are my friends we are pathfinders do you understand edit beaten to the punch
"I am Talwin Bernhold, servant of Abadar and also a Pathfinder. We were asked to lend our expertise to your meeting, given that we bring recent experience from the front lines."
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Tess nods in agreement. After the group was introduced as Pathfinders, she had no reason to introduce herself individually. They would be considered a group by the collected meeting.
The elf clears his throat with purpose and is about to speak when an aid rushes into the bunker, breathless and sweating.
”Stop! Someone in this bunker is a traitor!”
”A group of cultists was just captured on the frontlines. During interrogation they mentioned waiting for orders from someone inside Nerosyan’s walls. We thought it might be a trick but they specifically mentioned this bunker and the four of you”, the messenger explains between gasps while pointing at the four crusaders.
He turns to the party. ”Pathfinders, you’re accustomed to sorting out complex puzzles. Please find out which of these senior crusaders has aligned themselves with the enemy.”
”Once you’ve figured it out, let me know. There’s a unit of soldiers waiting outside to arrest him or her.”
Giving a surprised look Lexia tries several more times before coming to a conclusion "something is blocking my ability to see there auras" the paladin says with her arms crossed making a pouting face. "it must be some kind of magic maybe you should have a look Talwin that is unless you are afraid that you will be paralyzed with fear like last time. " she says with a chuckle.
"I can try, but I am not trained in the ability to identify magic by type. Tessara, perhaps you could help us figure out what sort of interference we're dealing with."
"Magic, schmagic," Sigrun rumbles, standing up from her seat and approaching the four crusaders with a dark expression. "I'll leave that to the experts."
Sense Motive:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Glowering at each of them in turn, she determines that the traitor is an incredibly good liar with a perfect poker face.
"Alright, you lot, empty your pockets. Don't make me pick you up and turn you upside-down to make sure you didn't forget anything."
Sigrun then proceeds to thoroughly search each of the four crusaders (and will pointedly ignore any complaints.) Take 20 for 26
Imperia looks at each general as Wolfrunner rummages thru there belongings. "so I want to know where you were when this invasion first started " she says in a haughty tone to the assembled masses.
Sigrun finds assorting things on each of the crusaders – weapons, spell components, missives from other districts, etc. but nothing that stands out to her as suspicious or indicative of a traitor.
At Imperia's request, they each tell their tale.
Imperial give me a Knowledge: Local check and another Sense Motive.
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Spellcraft 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Tess takes the signal from Sigrun and tries to determine what sort of magic is afoot. First she casts Detect Magic and then sets to figuring out what was happening.
Distracted by the thought that her sight could not pierce the magical veil that was present Lexia's mind drifts to dark places as the crusaders talk.
"yes .. yes that is very interesting" she says stroking her finger length hair. I wonder if Dermont has any children she thinks to herself giving the man a raised eyebrow.
Tessara's spell fails similarly and she too struggles to understand what's stymieing her and Imperia doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary either.
The four crusaders begin to hurl accusatory glances at each other.
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Tess turns to her friends. "We are new to the area. How are we supposed to tell which one is not telling the truth? If this dwelling is blocking our magic, perhaps we can move them to another location and try again there?"
and why is the sky blue? she continues to think before being broken out of her wanderings of the world by Tessara. " well it is not likely that the crusaders defenses could get any worse" Lexia says half invested in the situation"but I am sure that our local inquisitor has some method of finding the traitor out unless that is of course Cheliax has proven to be superior in that department as well" she says giving Talwin a challenging glare.
This time Sigrun picks up on an inconsistency in the telling of Aline's day. She mentions missing the first major skirmish because she had been sleeping in when the siege began. Everyone else brushes it off but it seems off to Sigrun that a powerful priestess of the Dawnflower would skip her morning prayers.
as they remove their equipment Lexia attempts to scan there auras yet again to eliminate the possibility that it is involved with equipment and not magic.
Sigrun paces in front of the four just a little before coming to a pause in front of Aline. She then looks the woman in the eye with a scowl.
"Now, I've known a few Sarenite Pathfinders in my time, and they would always get up obnoxiously early to pray with the dawn. I think it's a bit weird that someone so apparently dedicated to the Dawnflower," she eyes up the tattooed holy scriptures of Sarenrae with an arched brow, "would be happy with 'sleeping in' through that."
"So, Aline. Why did you sleep in?"
Sigrun then turns around to her Pathfinder buddies. "Can someone that knows a bit more about religion than I do check to see if the stuff on her arms are actually the real deal and not twisted to suit some other god?"
Talwin, looking rather annoyed to this point, brightens as Sigrun gives him something to do. His eyes take on an almost gleeful glow when he senses a chance to root out an imposter.
"Why yes, Sigrun. I know a little of these matters.
Talwin recognizes the tattoos as traditional Sarenrae holy scripture. He knows that only the most devoted of priests and priestesses would go as far as to tattoo themselves in such a way.
Aline furrows her brow and backs up a pace. "It was a coincidence! Surely you don't believe this woman, you don't even know her."
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Aid Another Know. Religion (untrained) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
"Just to be safe, are we sure the messenger is above board? He could have been making the whole thing up for all we know." Tess turns to check outside to see if indeed there is a collection of crusaders waiting out there.
"A coincidence? Riiight. I'm not buying it," Sigrun growls in return. "You're some kinda priestess, and dedicated too - else you wouldn't be so crazy to get that many tattoos. You're not gonna sleep through your holy time just because of 'a coincidence'."
"So. Aline. I'll ask you again. Why did you 'sleep in'? Give me a reason to believe you." Sigrun looms over the woman and glares at her.
At the increased scrutiny, the young woman's voice becomes a demonic growl. "Damn you mortals! I'll devour your souls!"
The room suddenly explodes into action. Gudrun and Dermont tackle 'Aline' while the elf flips through a spellbook. "Hurray Salantris! She's possessed!"
Finding the right page, the elf chants a powerful spell and walks a circle around the struggling priestess. "Release her demonic filth!"
Spellcraft 18:
Magic Circle vs Evil
The entire bunker shudders and an amorphous shapes with burning brands of light for eyes drifts from Aline's frame. It pauses long enough to glare at the party and disappears through the ceiling. After a long tense pause, everyone begins breathing again.
I can not imagine the trouble I would have been in if I slept thru one of the rights of Iomedae... the punishment would have been painful." she says giving the general a threatening stair.
| Witch 12 | AC 15 (19 w/Mage Armor) T 14 FF 12 | HP 86/86 ( 12 temp HP)| F+12,R+11,W+13 | Evasion | Init +3 | Perc +18 | Lowlight Vision | +2 to recover from continuous effects such as such as ongoing poison damage, daily saving throws against disease, a hold person spell, or lingering damage from an attack |
Spellcraft 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
"I'm not 100% what happened there, but that was some powerful magic," Tess ways with a gentle smile toward the elf. "Very impressive display."
"well that is one way to expel a Daemon" she says disappointingly putting away her sword. "so most esteemed generals where would we serve you and this city best"
"Scary," Sigrun mutters, staring at the place where the demonic visage had disappeared through the ceiling. She shakes her head sadly. "Poor woman. She'll be alright after this, right?"
The dwarven woman, in what you'd guess is a rare show of compassion, nods. "Aye. The lass'll be fine but the meeting's on hold for now. Thanks Pathfinders."
The elf raises a brow and nods just slightly. "Yes, you performed... admirably."
giving Tessara a envious look how does she do that the little minx. "well I will leave you love birds alone for awhile please return her in one peace" she says with a giggle as she leaves the bunker.
"Alright, let's head on out, all," Sigrun says, heading outside and glancing around. "Hmm. Woundward district's just over there. Guess it couldn't hurt to have another look back there, maybe there are some more demon flies to kill..."
