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"Something is fishy here. I think we need both sisters to talk to their mother." "Else I fear a deception is afoot." Giladef whispers to Corella. "Perhaps ask the two sisters to rejoin the party and bring the helpful vikings." "Mention Damian and his concerns." "Please cue them Corella as you are much more tactful than I." Giladref continues to whisper.
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Ss'alat scoops up Aashsaa, his familiar, as they approach the beach and puts her back into the pouch in his jacket.
"She seems sincere. But with four Ulfen warriors who just to be here and now -- I doubt it!"
Ss'alat thinks to himself.
"Better not take any chances, though."
Ss'alat then casts a spell quickly: « հմայքը անձ » . .
"Please put your weapons away", says Ss'lat to the warriors; especially the one he's trying to charm,
"Just sit and listen to us. We are your friends and allies, after all."
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Corrella sighs just slightly. ”Alright here is what needs to occur right now. Both you and your sister need to go to the reception and speak with your mother. Then, Michaella, you need to speak with you husband and apologize for causing him to worry on his wedding day. I am sure had he been able to slip away unnoticed he would have come looking for you himself.”
”Now as to you strapping fellows, I charge you with the safety of both Blakros sisters. Both your four and the five of us are going to escort the sisters safely back to the reception. This will hopefully limit any problems or issues that may arise.”
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Unclear how the Ulfen men will respond to Ss'alat's casting, Khouri reaches for his crossbow, quickly asking for the blessing of Abadar if these scene turns into a fight.
Whispering to Corrella, "I have the means of coercing truth from a subject if Lord Abadar wills it should that become necessary."
Otherwise, Khouri nods along as the bard tries to steer the strange group back to the main party.
Ss'alat finishes his casting and the Ulfen obediently sits. The other Ulfen appreciative of the magical movements immediately draw their weapons "What have you done to him!?"
Khouri looks for his crossbow but finds it peace-bonded. The dwarf casts a blessing channeling the faith of his god.
The taller Ulfen, who you do understand is the boss places his grateaxe in between you and the fallen twin and declares "She's not goin' anywhere"
"I do think that's not possible" explains Michaella visibly nervous "You are right my... husband is probably angry at me missing, but appearing right now with Eleanir will cause a commotion on the wedding, and that's last thing we would like to occour" she points to the tall Ulfen and adds "Olaf will take good care of her. Just give me some time to properly fix my dress so no one notices what just happened"
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"Michaella, you are right. We should not burst into the party with this group. You can go in slightly ahead and pull your mother aside and to us." "But we are all coming to the party. This is not a request, but a precaution." "We can not let either of the Blakros sisters to leave without their mother's knowledge." "This has all the ear marks of something dastardly and at a minimum something strange." "We could not in good conscience have it otherwise."
As Giladref is talking, he is pulling out his wand of grease, but not pointing it at anyone.
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”Alright, I have had it up to here.” Corrella gestures with hand at about chest height. ”Someone or multiple someone’s here are not speaking truly and I will not tolerate it any longer. So both you and you sister are going to be escorted, by force if need be, back to the reception and we will sort out any issue or issues you may have there. If anyone wants to challenge this plan speak or act now otherwise you Ulfen men can get in the boat and row yourselves back from whence you came.”
Olaf readies his axe and speaks angry "I am taking Michaella. This is not yours to decide" he picks up the woman fallen in the deck.
The other twin sighs "Alright, alright. Listen..." she points to Olaf "There is a reason for all this. There is a prophecy Olaf has to marry Michaella or otherwise a great doom will fall over Golarion. Olaf came to me some weeks ago to explain me about the Prophecy. He explained me about the wedding. I was at shock at first my sister was to get wed and I was not being informed"
The twin negates with her head "It is not fair she gets all this and I get nothing. I want to be the wife of Damian, and if it helps safe Golarion, all the better"
"So please, can you be collaborative and just let Olaf take Michaella to marry and stop the Prophecy? I will take the place of my sister and make Damian much happier Miche would ever do him"
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"Tell me this, which sister was actually just married to Damian above in the ceremony we all saw?" Giladref pauses for answer.
"How can you possibly hope to fool Damian? He will notice the change. You can't have all the knowledge of past conversations and times spent together. You have to see this is hopeless."
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"Your friend is unharmed. A simple trick to avoid needless blood letting" Ss'alat tells the standing Ulfen.
"So tell us; what exactly is this 'doom' that's being prophesied?"
"In any event, this little swap, even if it does fool Damien, most certainly not fool the gods!"
"Especially if Michaella is married two times in as many days."
"Bigamy is taboo with the gods!"
"I do not have the time for these politicians Elianor. This was our agreement, Michaella is mine to marry now" Olaf strains the fallen woman's body.
The other twin smiles at the group "Good questions. But look, it is my knowledge Damian and Michaella has not shared anything still, they merely know from a couple of public meetings. It will be easy to take the spot"
Olaf growls again "The prophecy. I had a dream. Golarion was destructed. Then I wake up by the knowledge marrying Michaella will stop that. She will give born to the children that will defeat the Linorms and stop the destruction of the world. I have to marry her and raise our children together. It is prophecised" the other Ulfen nod with energy at their leader's words.
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"Like Khouri here, I'm not fond of Hellknights. They're stodgy."
"But is Michaella willing to take part in this little scheme?"
Pointing to Michaella, Ss'alat says "I rather doubt it."
"I'd feel better, Elianor or Olaf, if one of you would willingly allow me to charm you, as I did this one fellow here", he says pointing to the guard he charmed earlier.
"The spell won't last long, nor will it do any harm."
"I just want to be absolutely sure that you're telling us the truth."
"If that is the case, I for one don't mind helping this little charade along to save the world."
", we ourselves also have a pay packet riding on this wedding lark."
"I'm sure you can all appreciate that. Everyone likes being paid for a job well done!"
"I certainly do!"
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"The cooperation of your bride is the key Olaf. Are you sure that Michaella was to be your world saving baby mother? That type stuff sounds more like Elianor, the sister brave and strong who adventures. Not some winey Noble used to servants and all. Are you sure? Were they wearing name tags? Prophecies can be vague or tricky. My money would be on Elianor as the woman you need. She by this deception could be 'a Michaella' of sorts. What is in a name anyway?"
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Corrella listens to the others and begins to piece to together a response.
"So this prophecy specifies Michaella Blakros? Was this written within the dream or just visualized in the dream? If it must specifically be Michealla Blakros then please accompany us back to the reception so that we can all sit down together and properly discuss what can be done to both fulfill the prophecy and the marriage. If the sisters much trade places then we won't do it by deception which could lead to an irrevocable disaster later on. It must be done in the light of day and both sisters must agree to it of their own free will."
"We will gladly sit as impartial moderators for the discussion between the sisters, Olaf, Hamaria Blakros, and Damian Blakros so that a formal agreement can be arranged among all parties. Would this be acceptable to you all?"
After nodding sympathetically at Khouri, Olaf growls and Elianor seems displeased as Ss'alat talks about charming "You witch of the South, do you want me to recount how many of your kind have I killed in my life? This is all about you and your kind" spits the Ulfen leader.
They both look at each other for a second though at Giladref proposition but Olaf spokes stubbornly "It is Michaella who I came looking for and it is her I will take. I am fed up with all this. Thanks for all Elianor" he makes a sign to his Ulfen warriors and prepares the longboat for departure.
Elianor becomes nervous as the tension raises. She nods to Corrella "You spoke wise, but Olaf will never agree on those terms. You do not have anything to fear though. I promise, no one will notice. Michaella is a disguise made easy from years of we pretending to be one another in our youth. Few know Michellia as well as I, and I spent much time secretly studying my ‘new husband’ Damian in the months leading up to the wedding" the twin looks at Corrella and the party with full determination as the longboat gets ready to depart "I will do it. No one will notice. The world will be saved" she turns to Ss'alat "You will get paid"
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Corrella shakes her head at hearing what she believes is utter nonsense. ”If this is what you all want than so be it. The consequences of your actions this day shall rest solely on your shoulders.” With that Corrella turns and walks away from the beach.
Fools! Damn fools. The lot of them. There will be fallout from this. Of that we can be sure. I only hope that I am lucky enough to avoid it.
As the Ulfen leave the beach, Eleanir nods to you "Thanks for your complicity in this. I am well indebted to you and hope I can give you back the favor in years to come" she then produces an ancient and exotic jewelry and hands it to you "Until then, please, take this. It is a hierloom piece of the Blakros family from throughout the Inner Sea region"
Soon enough the group is back to the party. Eleanir is received as the bride with all kind of pleasantries. She goes straight to Damian and takes him from the arm they do approach together to you and the groom smiles wide at you "You, see, she was at the summer house eh. Thank you for giving me back my lovely wife"
The party proceeds with normality, without anyone noticing the twins exchange, until a mercenary you have seen before in the pier enters the pavilion and approaches the stage.
Commander Rubaani Shafar looks worried at the man and moves to talk with him, but he somehow determines something is amiss and shouts at him "Alistair Fourchek. Come here now"
But the man ignores Shafar and takes the stage proclaiming himself “I am Arastrax of the Onyx Alliance” the confusion runs through the crowd and Hamaria gasps in shock "You are surrounded and we will soon feast on your souls. None shall live to escape Pariol Island."
Before the sentence is finished, the sound of yelling, screaming, and combat erupts outside the pavilion! The crowd begins to panic, and the frightened guests stampede to the exits of the pavilion.
Demons pour into the pavilion, dretches, quasits, and babaus. Some among the crowd stand trying to defend from the demons, while Arastrax looks through the guests trying to decide whom to kill the first.
Shafar readies his sword, while Bedard and Jeon take silver knifes from the eating tables. Hamaria call the guards around her while Nigel Aldain casts a protective spell and then fire grows into his hands. Meanwhile Damian takes a chair and Elianor builds an improvised barricade with a table.
Arastrax looks at you directly from the stage "Are you not running like the others?" he then starts casting a spell and a demon dretch is suddenly summoned in front of the group!
The spell is shadow conjuration, the dretch is only 20% real!
The dretch automatically attacks the group beginning with Khouri.
Unprovided of his dwarven armor, the claws cut through Khouri's expensive outfit opening a couple of bleeding cuts that spoil his suit.
Dretches are chaotic evil outsiders with DR 5/good or iron, immune to electricity and poison, and resistant (10) to acid, cold and fire. The have also a few spells.
Arastrax does not seem to get the joke. He looks at Ss'alat despised "You want to play with Arastrax? Come little lizard..." and points with his halberd at him.
Meanwhile Corrella raises a flag and brings words of reassurance to everybody around. The crowd looks at the demons and get a harder grip on the improvised weapons they have found, shouting back at the incoming death without fear.
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With his allies pressed in close behind, Khouri has no good place to step back to in order to cast something. Instead he takes total defense, trying the best he can to be a bulwark and shield for his friends as they get into the swing of the fight.
"Behind me, Pathfinders. This spawn of Hell has little chance of defeating me. Take it apart as I hold it in place!"
Khouri attempts to defend the group from the dretch in front that keeps attacking him.
You do realize the dretch is made of shadow and just partially real. All damage and his hp is just 20%.
"None of you will leave Pariot Island alive!" laughs Arastrax while he points to the group with a hand and steps to the side. A ball of energy forms in his hand then projects a lighting bolt that rams the party with crackling energy, fully impacting the dretch without the demon suffering an inch because of the electricity, then continuing to harm Khouri, Corrella and Ss'alat before finally leaving through the door.
As the lighting bolt hits you, you do realize it is just a shadow of what you would had expected.
You do realize the spell is a Shadow evocation and thus only 20% real!
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Giladref says, "He is using shadow magic. It is partially figment and shadow and not real."
Giladref then begins a series of hand movements while chanting softly. The area around him is charged with magic energy..a beast of flames can be seen starting to step through a rift in space/time.
Giladref tries to recognize the thing in front of Khouri.
Corrella and Giladref recognize the spell for being a shadow and the woman expertly dodges the bolt!
The bard answers back with a casting that fulls the stage with colorful particle dust.
Araxtrax resists the particles but the dretch seems confused by its eyes becoming covered.
Khouri removes the peace bond from his axe and prepares for battle!
As Giladref completes his spell, the rift becomes larger and larger, and flames start to leap into the material plane.
Ss'alat does something heroic.
The blind dretch attempts to attack Khouri while the dwarf draws his axe.
The creature is unable to find Khouri with his bite, but one of the claws tears a patch of skin from the dwarf's right arm.
Arastrax rages when he sees the Pathfinders survive the lighting bolt. With astonishingly speed he conjures another dretch at the back of the party that attacks Corrella!
The new dretch opens a big gash with his claw on the bard's back, then bites her in the neck tearing a part the aorta artery.
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Thankfully her inspiring tale continues to linger on as the newly summoned Dretch tears at her flesh. She screams in pain.
Corrella begins to speak words of love to the Dretch directly in front of her and points at the Dretch that is in front of her dwarf companion.
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Ss'alat makes an amazing jump out of the way of Araxtrax's lightning bolt.
But realizes that it lacked the power it should have had.
"Giladref is right; his magic isn't entirely real!"
He then steps back and casts a spell at Araxtrax:
« կախարդական հրթիռ » . .
Ss'alat moves along the wall to get closer to the stage, and casts the same spell again:
« جادو ميزايل » . .
With great skill Ss'alat avoids the worst of the lighting bolt! Then casts a magic missile that strikes true on Arastrax!
As Giladref completes his spell, a small fire elemental emerges from the rift! The elf creates then a couple of missiles made of force that strike true on Arastrax! The mercenary shouts in pain!
The fire elemental strikes true in the mercenary's head creating a horrible burn, increased damage by Corrella's inspiration, that makes him fall to the ground unconscious.
With a word of power Corrella gets into the brain of the second dretch who gets into a sudden lust desire for his companion!
The dretch moves towards his companion with little repair for the menacing pathfinders in between.
The dretch takes his companion and embraces him in a horrible ritual of demonic sexual partnership.
The other dretch seems to despise his companions' lust, and instead attacks Khouri just in front.
The second claw tears the dwarf!
From the fallen mercenary body it suddenly emerges an incorporeal shape. Only the shadowy bat-winged creature's teeth and claws have any sense of physicality to them—the rest is lost in darkness "Uuuuaaaaahhgrh! You cannot defeat me!"
The remaining guests that try to face the host of demons look scared at the new appeared creature.
Ss'alat brings more magic missiles on the just appeared dark creature!
Corrella keeps her inspiring words while swinging the flag in the middle of the pavilion, becoming a morale stand point for the few guests that try to defend against the demon host.
Ss'alat magic missiles impact infallibly on Arastrax causing a strong force that damages the shadow demon.
It can become invisible in shadows (only 3rd+ level spells can negate), but they are weak to sun light.
They have some spells you do not fully remember, and most importantly they are incorporeal, as you all can clearly see.
Giladref acid ray is fully absorbed by the the shadow demon without causing any apparent harm.
The fire elemental attacks Arastrax but its slams seem to go through the demon's incorporeal nature without any harm.
Khouri swings his axe with valor but neither of the attacks find the dretch! The dretch attack back the dwarf.
Confused by its lost of sight one of the dretches misses all its attacks.
One of the claws and the bite of the lustful dretch scratches the unarmored dwarf skin, but Khouri knows it is just a shadow as the first dretch!
Arastrax touches the mercenary halberd and all of a sudden the pavilion becomes completely shrouded in darkness.
It would be possible though to move its area of effect by taking the halberd out of the pavilion if someone was able to find it.
The carnage in the pavilion continues, but perhaps now it is even more horrible as only the shouts of pain and desperation are heard.
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Giladref in darkness casts light on a coin from his pocket an drops it on the table in front of him.
"The thing is incorporial and resistant to most attack types but sonic. Try holy or cold iron weapons. It also resists magic. It becomes invisible in shadows. Daylight is effective against it."
"As I feared the darkness is stronger then mine. I cannot penetrate it. The halberd could be moved away."