"We should probably just keep away from the demon and just steal this horn."
"That might be something we have to just figure out.. Releasing him from an 80 year prison should give us a little leverage though.. Lets just get there and figure out how to release him first eh?"
Thorn scratches his head, "The horn is a temple, you cannot steal it. The tears is what I need, which is possessed by the daemon.Anymore questions?"
"One last detail, to guarantee our sucess and to prevent any other... misfortune. Please tell us who else was with Kael, their looks and abilities?"
"And how long ago did they departed and vanished?"
Thorn says "Let me lay it out for you in as clear a way as I can: 1. Find the Horn, break the seal and summon Vetra-Kali
into our world.
2. When Vetra-Kali is here, get the Tears of Achlys from
him and bring them to me.
3. Tiadora will introduce you to the Baron Vandermir.
Don’t trust him but he worships Asmodeus too. He may
prove useful.
4. The Horn is less than a day outside of Farholde in a
spire of stone.
5. I’ve already sent other minions to seek the Horn of
Abaddon. They failed me.
6. Don’t fail me!
Kael had a cult of dupes who served him -- mostly
barbarians recruited from a primitive fire cult. He has been missing for a few weeks."
"Ok, Ok, we're on the way."
"I understand. We haven't failed yet. It's not our style."
Thorn says, "When one becomes overconfident they make mistakes, stay pragmatic and keep your heads on a swivel."
When all questions are finished, Thorne hands you another
clay seal marked with the unholy symbol of Asmodeus
"If you recover the Tears or need to report anything to
me, break this seal. I will send Tiadora to wherever you
break it within an hour or two. Now go with the blessings
of the Prince of Hell and see this mission done!"
Lilpinny listens to all of the information with a cocked head and curious eyes, then gives a little nod. "Okie dokie, let's go get that plague!"
Vlad nods, he smiles and gives a little tongue flip at Tiadora before they depart..
Eryan nods. Perhaps Goodie got too confidant and then was found out. He would not make that mistake.
Cardinal Thorn does not linger long aboard the craft.
He is quickly gone, teleported away. The next day the
barge docks in Farholde.
As you depart the vessel, Tiadora stands on the dock wearing the finest in modern fashion of the Aristocracy.
[b]" I have already contacted Baron Vandermir and we are scheduled to dine with him in his villa one night hence. Best to find something presentable to wear,” she sneers.
Argan gets in charge of selling their stuff, and he will also search some healing wands (Infernal Healing, CLW or CMW for the party). He walks around town disguised as Gambit (detailed in the profile) doing this stuff, and will also try to gather information on what is known about the woods, and buy a map if one is available. Furthermore, he wants to hear the last gossip on what's happening around the country (since he's been on the road for quite a while now).
Later, he will bath and get presentable but he will use his Circlet to create a new disguise: Locke the knight of the Alerion.
"I could pretend to be her if I liked and no one would be able to tell the difference. I wonder where she is off to terrorize next..." he says after she has left and they are on their own again.
Eryan makes sure someone else is in charge of the buying and selling of items while he goes off to inspect the town disguised as a common traveller in poor looking clothing. Visiting taverns and the markets, he wants to find out the general view the people have about the temple and that banished eye eater. "What would you do if it was re summoned here again? That's a terrifying thought isn't it?"
Lilpinny disguises herself as a halfling girl and sets to exploring the town. She looks to she what kind of magic and alchemy shops there are and what kind of supplies they have.
Vladamir will take his normal form of a knight in shining armor.. Sir Jeffrey it will be this time..
He will take in what sights there are in this town and ask around for the best spot to buy some spiffy clothes here..
Since Argan will be out on the streets and presumes the others will also, he does not ask Lil anything. She is not trusted yet.
Kharn focuses on where those bandits might be.
I think we just need another Infernal Healing Wand (750GP) and food for about two weeks (35 trail rations - 17.5 gp), for the group. He will also acquire a MW Survival Kit (50gp) and will try to get a better price out of Donnagin's +1 Breastplate ("Hey Kharn, don't you want to use this before we sell it? Eryan?") by exchanging it for a Mithral Breastplate. If that is not available, he will instead try for a Ring of Protection +1.
Vlad will ask where the best place to find some nice clothes is and where Baron Vandermir's house is.. He'll also ask if there's a cartography shop in town.. A map or 2 of the region would come in handy..
Vladimir, Argan,
knows that, but its rare to see them so far north. Still,
I’ve heard tell that one dwells not a day’s ride from this
very tavern!
Eryan
more than thugs! I hear the corrupt old baron sometimes
uses them for muscle.
Kharn
the Watch Wall without help. Someone has betrayed
us!"
Vlad
are blaming the invasion on the temple of Asmodeus.
They’re burning anyone with a black cat at the stake! It’s
madness! There hasn’t been a cult of Asmodeus in Talingarde
for twenty years. Someone’s organizing the bugbears,
surely, but Asmodeans? Ha!
Argan
and now lets all his comrades march to war why he sits
on his duff, drinking his cares away. and 2.) this particular rumor amuses you to no end "The Bugbears are marching towards Farholde!
We’ve got evacuate the city!"
Eryan
Gambit pretends to be scared by the tale of a living tree, just to know additional information about it. "A living tree? You mean one that walks and talks? Hard to believe, hun? What direction that was seen, and how in seven heavens does someone know that? Do they encountered and came back running and screaming?" He gives the man a sarcastic smile.
Based on the description he tries to figure what those trees could be.
Furthermore, he will try to learn where is this Sergeant Hallack at, so he could have a talk with the coward, aiming both to extract some info and maybe to kill the man to blame the Knights.
Last but not least, during his conversations he will try to spread two rumors with his Rumormonger ability, that are:
1) "Nonsense, this Bugbear rumor is just an excuse for the Knights of the Alerion to do whatever they want."
2) "King Markadian V has gone mad and is ordering the Knights of the Alerion to kill every one that possesses magical gifts. That's insane!!
Argan about tree rumor
Knowledge
Hallack
Argan changes his disguise to that of Lucke (Knight of the Alerion) and seeks the drunk Hallack. If he finds him, he will try to have a conversation with the man to learn what has happened to him and why he doesn't want to fight anymore. At the same time he checks the man for valuable equipment.
Later, Argan shares the Treant business with the others as well.
"I don't mean to scare you, but could they be getting ready for war? I'm not sure if these creatures are good or free..."
"Perhaps it is wayward and can be pursuaded to our cause.. If not we burn it down, simple.."
Vlad will take his info and go looking for some nice clothes to wear to dinner, nothing to crazy but maybe in the noble's outfit range.. 75 gpsish..
If he's able to find a mapmaker he'll go in and ask around about maps of the region, specifically to the north.. He'll also see if there's something pertaining more closer to the area of intrest..
Dressed as a knight.. "Good day sir! I am Sir Jeffery, knight guardsman for hire.. I have just recently made my way to the area and I heard a great story of Markadian I coming north and destroying an evil cult based in some mountain or something north of here called the Horn.. Have you heard such a tail? DO you have any maps showing that area in more detail?"
The map maker responds, "Well good sir, everyone here has heard the tale, hmmm, a map of the northern woods... it is generally uncharted and therefore, I do not have one on hand, however, I can possibly find one for you, it will take a few days."
"That will be fine sir. Ill return then and see.." Vlad leaves the shop and moves to find a nice place to stay for the evening..
Argan is ready to have dinner ^_^
The next evening, after your business in town is completed
You meet again with Tiadora near Farhold's bustling docks. She is bedecked brilliantly in all white, looking like a travelling noble on the way to a wedding. She escorts you to the nicest part of town, the gently sloping hill called Calliver's Green. This is a gated community, and she approaches the guard confidently.
"Baron Vandermir is expecting us," is all she says.
Lilpinny bounds after the taller, quicker walking party as she looks around the nicer part of town. "Ooh I suppose I should put something nicer on!" She turns the iron circlet and her clothes appear to get much more colorful, although the general feel of the outfit stays the same, resulting in her appearing to be a ringmaster for a circus. "All ready!"
Just the opposite from Triadora, Argan is all wearing black, his outfit made of some exquisite leather that is definitely nice and expensive, although that is all made with the Circlet's power, since his real clothes under it are the ones usually used in battle.
Vlad follows after, dressed in his new noble attire..
Eryan 'wears' a long dark robe with the inside a bright flaming red. Expensive looking silk attire covers the rest of his body and he appears human still. "Let us not keep him waiting then I suppose."
There are only six manors in this neighborhood and Tiadora leads you to what is, arguable, the most impressive and definitely the most opulent of them all. The front door is secured by two guards wearing armor and livery. The guards are polite, but firmly insistent that weapons must be collected.
The one on the left says to anyone wearing a weapon, "No stranger may go before the Baron so armed."
However they do not search you - only confiscating your primary armaments.
knowledge nobility DC15:
It is a symbol of status to wear a sword at your belt, if you adhere to a certain dress code. If you manage this roll, you can adjust your disguise accordingly and carry a sword, however an axe or warhammer is not considered an appropriate armament for polite company
At the door, you are greeted by a very formal butler and attended by a small squadron of servants who offer you brandy and hors d'oeuvres. The brandy is sublime, and the appetizers are a selection of tasty little beef skewers and crunchy, spicy crayfish puffs. Finally, after a fashionable delay, the baron makes his appearance.
Vlad wears his sword on his belt, looking like the noble he is.. "If you guys can wear a blade, but at your waist only and no big ass swords or axes Kharn.. Take one of the spare longswords.."
Once inside he assumes Tiadora will talk first..
Lilpinny pouts as she is forced to hand over her bone quarterstaff, although she gets some glee out of the look on the guard's face when he grips it and realizes it's real bone. She oohs and ahhs as she spins around looking at the building, taking a handful of the seafood appetizers and munching on them.
When the baron walks in she waves at him enthusiastically. "Hello!"
Argan leaves his composite shortbow, a throwing axe, two javelins, one dagger that was stored at the right hand wrist sheath and his left sabre, that were hidden under the illusion, but still he handled them over, keeping only one Saber as the style Vladamir mentioned and a hidden dagger on his left arm.
When the Baron walks in he's tired of waiting already, and he also has in mind that they don't need him for anything, so he just waits.
Kharn shrugs handing over his greatsword.
"I don't care. If I needed to kill someone I would use my bare hands anyways."
Kharn not willing to waste any chance for booze will be slugging down brandy glass after brandy glass. He will ignore the baron besides a polite nod before going back to drinking.
"That's one side of you we never saw, Kharn."
A majordomo comes in from a side door just as the Baron is making his grand entrance. "My ladies and gentlemen - I present to you: the son of Baron Zaedor Vandermir, cousin to the king Jaraad of Barca, last in the line of Mir. My lord, and tonight, your host - sir Baron. Arkov. Vandermir."
Tiadora just barely waits for the baron's introduction - had she spoken a hair earlier it would've been rude, but she has mastered impatience to perfection.
She introduces you all with your endeavors to this point and stops at Lil, not knowing much about her and says, "Dahrlinguh, please enlighten the Baron to your personage."
Lil rocks back on her heels. "I was at Brandscar too, but wasn't part of their group. I escaped when they did and got captured against later, but a Thorn got me out!"
Baron Arkov Vandermir
is a handsome halfelf
dressed in burgundy and
white. He looks quite young, even
boyish, but he is more than a century
old. His eyes betray a calculating, wicked soul.
He smiles with a crooked veneer and says, "Splendid, Tiadora, you look divine as always. Isn't she a special one. Hmm a survivor too... "
The majordomo leads you all into the lush dining room.
Armored guards stand at each corner of the room, obviously ready to face opposition - but they subtly blend in nicely with the decor, almost appearing like displayed suits of armor.
Hunting trophies are hung on the walls, which have stylish, intricate patterns in gold on red or black. In the fireplace, a quietly rumbling fire explains why the room is so comfortably warm.
As you take your prearranged seats at the huge wooden table with its unique, almost blood-red hue, an attractive servant approaches and quietly and very politely introduces him-or herself to you, asking you politely if you'd prefer someone else to serve you that evening before taking your order for drinks.
When the baron enters the dining room after your drinks are served, he opens a hidden panel on the fireplace, revealing a pentagram in the chimney that beautifully catches the light from below. Then, he invites those of you who are not yet seated to do so:
"Please, why don't you sit down."
sense motive DC12: