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Luisila the mime rushes up the stairs and plants a kiss on Baz, before saying to him excitedly
Then she acts out drawing a bow-string, getting shot through the heart and dying melodramatically with the back of her hand on her forehead.
From the floor of the second storey she turns to Yushua and points at him. Then she pretends to pull a fob watch out of her tunic, opens it and gestures at it. She then holds up ten fingers followed by eight and does a countdown for the Sarenraeite, closing a finger down into her palm with each passing second.
Eighteen digits later, the Silence spells expire.
Still high on combat adrenalin she stands and calls out to the Bold One downstairs. The half-elf is still using her outside voice – which sounds quite loud after the silence.
“OHMYGODDESSOMRAXWHENTHEJESTERRANIHADFLASHBACKSTOTHATGILLMANESCAPINGONTHAT
FIRSTMISSIONWEDIDTOGETHERSOGLADITWORKEDOUTBETTERTHISTIME.”
Luisila *casts* Stabilize on any fallen foes, and attempts to learn the severity of their injuries.
She will also *cast* Detect Magic and try to identify the wands using a Bit of Luck.
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Varg, shocked at the sudden fall of the enemy that he worked so hard to reach, simply laughs loudly. It is a scary sound...
He motions to Omrax, and heads upstairs. When he sees the others, he listens to Lu natter on and on about something, as a smile again turns up the corners of his mouth.
Well done, Baz! Quite a shot!
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Omrax, seeing Varg and Luisila enters to see the Jester on the floor. He blinks a couple of times at Luisila's outburst.
"Gillman? I did not see any Gillman? I know he did not come this way. <lightbulb> Oh, I beg your pardon, you meant from when we started in Absalom. Yes, I thought the same thing. Did you find the missing urn?"
Status of Foes
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Upstairs, there is a small collection of items, including a large urn (read: carried with two hands.) It's silky-white bears artistic renditions of hundreds of horrors, all crammed into its face. A book rests open on a crate. Bedding for 4 sits here, with numerous other (non-magical) items hastily half-packed.
Luisila picks up what she assumes are wands...
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Desmond takes a look around the 2nd floor after sheathing the blood mace.
"Hey, is that the urn we're looking for?" He walks over and gets a close look at it. "Hmmm... guess we better get it back to Bourtze. Varg, wanna help me carry this thing?"
Desmond shifts the urn on the floor, testing the weight of it.
The mace "speaks" some more, if you're listening (read: letting it through Protection from Evil.) "The urn... the power... killed for it... earned it... all will know... all will listen..."
Additionally, for the brief times you touch the urn, you hear a low, humming noise. It ceases when you stop touching it.
Desmond pushes at the urn, finding it to be between 2 and 5 pounds; incredibly light for its size (which could be carried in both arms wrapped around it or by its handle pending one doesn't mind his arms getting tired, in theory.)
Baz detects everything at the urn! It is magic and Chaotic. Plus, it's evil enough to stun Baz for a round!
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Desmond shrugs at Varg's reticence to help carry the urn. "Hey, that's alright. It only weighs like 5 pounds, maybe. Strange, since it looks like it would be much heavier. I got this."
Desmond hefts the vase, and carries it down the stairs. He tries to shake off the strange whispering coming from the mace.
He sets it down and addresses Baz and Omrax, "C'mon guys, it can't be that bad. You know, we can just give it back to Bourtze - I'm sure he'll be happy to get this thing back and would happily reward us with whatever artifacts Aram Zey wanted us to fetch."
When everyone else is ready, Desmond carries the vase outside. "Did someone mention a necklace?"
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Luisila pipes up “Yes. I have the necklace – well to be truthful I thought it would make a trendy dog collar for Sahrek, so I slipped it round his neck a second ago …”
She waits for a reaction. “Just kidding, Des. That damn thing never left the leather satchel I found it in. I threw the satchel into my backpack without touching anything.”
Luisila sees Omrax’s concern and moves to reassure him. “Des will be fine, Omrax. I have some restorative magics that will probably cure him eventually.”
“If not he’ll probably just transform into a paladin, like the ones we have in the Church of Calistria. A lot of them must be related to High Priestess Dyriana of Avenstar – she keeps calling them Aunty Paladins – but to honest they seem quite different to paladins of Iomedae.”
Luisila pulls a rope from her backpack and ties up the jester. She channels to cure him, before saying ...
“Right, you’re coming with us to see Tribune Bourtze, Sabas. And you can tell me what you did with Khenankantra and the other slaves. I still have a gift for him. Be careful or Cleaver might have a gift for you.”
“Time to go before the Blackfist’s men arrive, I say!”
The jester is awoken to a set of inquiries, reeling a little as he comes to. ”Ah! Did I make it to the heavens? I knew running interference on the accursed Taldans would get me my pass back!” He looks to Luisila with an empty, placid gaze, ”Those men are in the basement. For safety! Oh, what would come of them if that mean, old Blackfist were to keep them in his ebon grasp?” There is truth Sabas’ words, as all the men and women traded for the mace are trapped safely hidden away in the inescapable basement (as the stairs have collapsed, leaving no way out.)
Exiting the building with listed cursed items in tow (though not looking at the book upstairs I guess?), the group can see the centauress’ party still firing from the battlements upon the Blackfists (whom have decided that retreat and leaving their hunted has become the best option.)
Sabas looks to Desmond with delight as he carries the urn. ”Ah! Abby is not grumpy with you yet! Moving her was such a chore once she heard I planned on selling her. After that, everything went to… pot! Ahhh ha ha ha!”
The Lionbane leader gallops to Desmond at her first opportunity. ”So, that’s the urn? Well done. What do you plan to do with it now?” She watches the answer, judgingly.
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Baz goes to retrieve the journal, but stops when he sees Yushua go to get it. Shaking his head, he digs out two pairs of masterwork manacles from his pack and two good locks. He holds them up and says sheepishly. "I sometimes forget I have these. He seems to bound well enough now, but I do have these at our disposal."
"I have reservations about returning it, but it should go to the rightful owner. Up till now, the family has seemed to keep it under guard and not use it for ill intent."
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I agree, I would rather not see these cursed items gettin' into the wrong hands. We need to keep 'em away from the good folks of Taldan. The Bourtze family cannot be trusted to safeguard the items anymore.
Desmond shrugs his shoulders. "Alright, let's bring this back to the Society. Let the almighty Decemvirate decide what should be done. Give 'em this, the mace, and the necklace."
"Ahhhhh ha ha haa, I know I'm hot stuff, baby, but I'd prefer incarceration over incineration!" The jester jokes.
The centaur ends her sensing of motives and nods. "Fine. If I hear this urn causing trouble again, then I know who to blame." Barring any further questions, she strides north with Blackfist goons in tow.
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Luisila will offer food from her trail rations and water using Create Water to any of the released captives that want some.
She will also ask "Are any of you the respected scholar, Khenankantra?"
Assuming he is present and identifies himself, Luisila will say out of earshot of the others "Learned One, in the name of the Ten I bring greetings. I am so sorry that your time spent amongst the Taldans to date has been so unsatisfactory. There is much good work an agent of the Dawnflower could accomplish here."
"The Decemvirate's chamberlain, Ambrus Valsin is keen to speak to you about your work. As a token of his good will he offers you this small gift. I hope it meets your satisfaction."
With her red hood in place, Luisila holds up the basket for the man. If he accepts with a smile she says "Why Khenankantra, what big teeth you have!"
The aged Kelish man from the cage incident makes himself known as Luisila's search. Despite missing a few more teeth than he should, he's quite ecstatic to see his now-technicolor serpent returned to him. The snake lights up as it coils around his arm and disappears. He readily agrees to travel to Absalom, having little where else to go.
The trip to Zimar proves to be a hassle, not only because of Blackfist's unruly demeanor, but the Alabaster Urn "decides" that it will include Desmond in its "weigh an inordinate amount of weight" dictation. The Jester speaks up (if able), "Abby Urn did that to me too. Must have been jealous when she overheard that she was for auction. Hee haa… women, am I right?" The last line of dialogue directed at a raving or unconscious Blackfist.
Other than the above events, the trip is uneventful (beyond Desmond possibly growing a goatee.) From Zimar, a quick aquatic caravan trip down the Jalrune River gets the Pathfinders back to Absalom. An unimpressed Aram Zey assumes the party "Spend the whole loan on wine and women," but is astounded to hear the opposite. He immediately gets top men on studying the cursed items, but the party is cut short by a very ornery Grand Prince. Not desiring a political environment akin to Cheliax's, the Ten order the return of the cursed items to the Bourtze family. The trespasses of the theft are largely ignored, however, as twin officers in the Disaren family vouch for the Pathfinder's good deeds of valor while in the area.
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After leaving the mace, urn and necklace with Aram Zey, Desmond promptly prepares to head back to his farm. However, he makes a point to have a word with Omrax, Baz and Luisila all together.
"Hey guys...I, well... Thanks for seeing me. I... I've been having a tough time since our little excursion in the River Kingdoms. When I saw Sahrek fall, well... I guess I snapped just a bit."
Desmond plops down in a chair and tilts his head back in thought. "Thank Gozreh he was brought back. I just couldn't get any old wolf to replace him! But still - I've just felt so guilty for putting him into harm's way like that." He shakes his head softly.
"So yeah - maybe I've been hitting the bottle a little harder than maybe I should be. Haven't had much time to think about things since we got sent on this wild goose chase for that stupid urn."
"And that mace... Oh man is that mace bad news. And that's the reason I wanted to talk with you. Ever since I used that thing I've been feeling a little... off. Normally, I don't mind bashing in a few heads of some evil little so-n-so, but I really have been feeling like I want to hurt things for no better reason. I thought maybe it was just some kind of pent up guilt over Sahrek, but I don't think that's it."
Desmond looks the paladin square in the eye. "Omrax, you said the thing was evil, and maybe you did too, Baz. I shouldn't have touched it. I think that maybe, I'm cursed. You three are all in touch with your gods - what can be done? How do I shake this?"
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"There is no shaking it Sir Desmond. You are cursed for all eternity, even in the afterlife! I am sorry Sir, it has been an honor to know you."
Baz pauses for a moment, for effect, watching Des intently. Then the tiefling crack a rare smile. "Kidding of course Sir Desmond. A trip to the temple of Sarenrae and we can get you back to normal. While there, though, I suggest you spend some time speaking with one of the spiritual advisers. They may be able to ease what seems to me to be an agitated mindset." Baz finishes, putting a hand on Des' shoulder.
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Luisila smiles and moves a chair to sit beside Des and put an arm around him.
“Desmond, I think you might be experiencing what we in the Religion trade call … life!”
She looks him in the eye. “I wish I had an answer for you, Des. I really do. But I’m sorry, even an ordained priestess of an ancient, all-knowing Deity hasn’t got a clue what it’s all about.”
Luisila reflects solemnly. “What I do know is that when I die, my body will turn to dust and my soul will be released to the Boneyard to be judged by the Lady of Graves. Afterwards if I am deemed worthy, it will move on to a much Higher Court where I will be called to account in front of REAL Power – Proxies of the Savored Sting!”
Now she smiles. “In the meantime, life for me personally is about spending time with friends and family. My adopted parents are with Calistria, which means my fellow Pathfinders comprise my family. For you, Des it could be about something else entirely different and as a card-carrying cleric of the goddess of Good Times, I heartily endorse Cleaver’s course of action.” She *winks*
“But to be honest Des, I’ve got no doubt you are going to be fine. Do you know why?”
“Because Hard men (and women) last. Hard times DON’T!”
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"Alright guys, I think I better seek an atonement. There's a Gozran temple in Absalom that I'll stop in at."
Desmond arrives in Absalom, probably with the rest of the party. He strikes out on his own to hit up the temple.
"I'm here to atone for my evil nature." He plunks down his 950 gp into the collection tub. This is why I can't have nice things.
Desmond focuses on the Savored Sting's most favourable aspect in his decision for Atonement, though he forgets (or perhaps didn't know about) the other aspects of Her portfolio. Needless to say, his primary goal is achieved by the end of the night, but every coin has two sides...
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The Gozran leads Desmond to a room containing only a singular mat in the back and a lot of incense. As he lights it, he gestures Desmond to sit, "I can only put you on the path; you must find yourself, as only you know your true self." The world wavers around him after a dozen minutes and Desmond is directly confronted with all his current issues, all represented as himself in various states of mental stability, age, and other factors.
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