===============
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Merephel raised her left hand, holy symbol grasped tightly, and sends forth waves of healing. The holy power extends to cover her allies, and soothes their pain.
Merephel, wincing because of her own pain, smiles grimly as her wounds close, and her bruises fade.
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Shirzon barks a sharp "Ha!" as Fennec falls. Turning her attention to the fire breathing hound, she wounds it heavily. Despite its fiery attacks, it bled like anything else. So she keeps up the assault, a whirlwind of steel.
=======
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"We'll see about that," answers Calden to Egarthis, face tight with determination. He steps over the body of the other herald, ducks low against the wall to evade an attack by the hell hound and then barrels into the spellcaster, both arms forward.
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Merephel heals her allies with her positive energy, a blast of pure, calm energy filling the chamber. “Kill her, my infernal servant, for she has profaned this sacred place!” commands imperiously Egarthis. The hell hound pounces on Merephel, attacking together with his master! Incredibly, though, Merephel is able to avoid all of the strikes coming to her thanks to both her armor and her shield.
In the meantime, Calden steps over the body of the dying herald Fennec, ducks low against the wall to evade an attack from the hell hound and then barrels into Egarthis, managing to grapple him! “Take you hands off me, vile bastard! cries out Egarthis. Shirzon focuses on the hell hound and her first attack in enough to kill the creature, which fades out in a cloud of black and red smoke, leaving behind nothing at all. Calden can hear Egarthis swallowing. Korech steps in, attacking the grappled herald, and his axe strikes true, wounding the herald. But Egarthis doesn’t scream in pain. “I…I will destroy you!”
--------------------------------
---- ----
--------------------------------
• Merephel
•
• Calden
• Shirzon
• Korech
Round Count: 11
_______________________
--- ---
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Calden finds that a certain calm comes over him. Could this really be it? An end to this thieving bunch, with their intimidation and protection rackets? "No, you won't. You'll end the night in cuffs, with this 'church' torn down and your followers paying for their crimes. Now shut up." Calden presses the man to the wall and works on increasing his grip, trying to take him in an arm lock.
With a tinge of worry, he looks to his left. Would Ofelia succeed in holding off the others? Would they back down if they see we've defeated their leadership?
===============
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Merephel swings her mace down at Egarthis, trying to break his collarbone. As her mace swings down, without waiting to see if she connected, she bounces back.
"I'm out of the way, grab him!"
She wipes her brow, the battle lust fading from her face.
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As Merephel backs up, Shirzon swoops in to fill her spot. "Unless you plan to go down without most of your blood, I'd take a seat if I were you," Shirzon suggests as she blocks off the herald's exit. Thinking that he won't give up so easily, she also follows through with another swing of her blade.
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Merephel wades back into the fray and hits Egarthis with her mace, breaking one of the man’s teeth in the process. The herald growls furiously. “Just let me free from…And I’ll…” he says as he struggles to break free from Calden’s grapple. Eventually, Egarthis manages to break Calden’s grapple and falls back into a small but richly furnished room.
Calden quickly steps up, but this time he isn’t able to grapple his opponent. Shirzon tries to hit Egarthis, but the cover provided by the walls of the hall proves enough to protect the herald.
--------------------------------
---- ----
--------------------------------
• Merephel
•
• Calden
• Shirzon
• Korech
Round Count: 12
_______________________
--- ---
--- ---
========
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Shirzon ducks under Calden's arm and does a quick feint as she moves toward Egarthis. She then quickly sidesteps the other direction, trying to end up behind him to plant a dagger in his back.
==========
==========
About to leap off of the dais, Korech pauses, listening.
"Argument from below! Maybe alarm go off."
Rather than hopping from the dais, Korech leans over the edge, trying to grab Fennec's unconscious body and sling it over the dais to keep the pressure plate depressed.
=========
=========
Merephel, unsure of how to help in such confined quarters, leaps at the chance to help Korech drag Fennec's unconscious form onto the dias.
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Calden mutters a curse when the herald breaks free of his grip. Rather than trying for another grapple, Calden spins in a roundhouse kick at Egarthis, then finishes off with a fist strike. He's pretty nimble for a wizard. I thought they spend all their time reading books!
"What our back, Korech." I hope Ofelia is all right. She doesn't deserve this, even if she was with the cult before we came here...
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Egarthis smirks confidently now that she’s free from Calden’s grapple. “Soon reinforcements will arrive! Surrender now…OR DIE!” he cries out as he unleashes his fury on Calden, targeting him with a flurry of unarmed blows. A clenched fist and a kick hit the Kassenite boy right in his face in quick succession. Thankfully, Calden manages to stay on his feet without collapsing stunned to the ground.
Calden instantly retaliates, but both his kick and fist miss their target, causing an eerie, metallic laughter to come from behind Egarthis’ mask. Shirzon doesn’t give up, however, and manages to acrobatically move behind Egarthis. The herald can’t avoid her from flanking him. “Damn, you’re nimble” he mutters through clenched teeth before being stabbed in the back from Shirzon’s dagger. The man screams in pain. “Coward! You can only cheat!”
--------------------------------
---- ----
--------------------------------
• Merephel
•
• Calden
• Shirzon
• Korech
Round Count: 13
_______________________
========
========
"Cheating? That's rich." Shirzon scoffs. She unleashes her own flurry of attacks, whipping her steel at Egarthis' head.
==================
==================
Merephel, worried about Egarthis' words, frantically looks around for his backup. Seeing none, she turns, and casts Stabilize on Fennec's unconscious form.
========
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Calden staggers under the force of Egarthis' blows, but manages to stay conscious. Barely... The talk of reinforcements has him worried, and he decides that now is not the time to let up and retreat. It's all or nothing. He takes a deep breath, thinks of all the people that they're trying to help, and releases a furious torrent of punches at the herald. "This end. Now!"
=========
=========
With the body on the dais, Korech snatches up his bow and hops down, firing off an arrow.
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Egarthis, encouraged by the outcome of his last attacks, keeps focusing on Calden and attacks him with a swirling kick and a solid punch. Fortunately, although badly wounded, Calden is able to avoid both of Egarthis’ strikes with amazing nimbleness before retaliating immediately with a flurry of unarmed blows. Both of his attack hits the herald, also thanks to Shirzon’s flanking position. Shirzon attacks a second later, stabbing Egarthis in the back once again. The herald is now badly wounded, his whole body filled with wounds and bruises. But still he stands. He staggers to stay on his feet, but he stands and he’s also able to avoid Shirzon’s final blow with her mace with the last energy he has. But Korech’s arrow puts an end to his resistance. The half-orc shoots a precise arrow that pierces through the herald’s neck. Egarthis tries to say something, but his words are suffocated by the blood filling his mouth. He falls down to the ground, unconscious.
---
But is not the time to pat yourselves on the back just yet. Turning around, you see another herald who through the stairs, followed by two lower ranking gray-robed priests. They are coming at you as fast as they can, weapons already drawn.
--------------------------------
---- ----
--------------------------------
• Merephel
• Calden
• Shirzon
• Korech
• Xanthar and Priests
Round Count: 14
_______________________
============
============
Merephel sees the new additions, and has a flash of insight. Her hands begin weaving gestures, and her grip on her holy symbol intensifies.
"Everything is resolved here, no need to panic!"
At the word panic, she releases the spell she was casting.
"Nothing to worry about here, guys" says abruptly the herald to the priest. The two nods in approval. But still they get closer, much slowlier than before, their hands raised and their weapons sheated.
========
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Shirzon beams at her friends as Egarthis falls, ready to celebrate, until she hears more priests approaching. "Quick, grab that healing potion that Fennec dropped. See if that other guy had some, too." She whispers as she cautiously approaches the door.
Shirzon jumps a little when Merephel casts her spell, but she nods to the young priest to acknowledge her quick thinking. With the situation looking a bit calmer, Shirzon racks her brain for an explanation to give the approaching herald. She sheathes her weapons too, so as not to alert their now peaceful opponents. When they get close enough to speak, she gives them a respectful nod and begins to speak. "Good, you're here. We had to take down the traitorous heretic on our own. He managed to get the alarm off, but his little group of traitors to Razmir won't be an issue, now that we've cut the head off the snake, so to speak. Even Fennec was in on it, if you can believe that." Shirzon shakes her head in mock disappointment. "Such a waste. We should get started on a report to the high priestess."
Korech's mouth gapes as he sees Merephel completely calm down the guards. His legs almost give out as he lowers his bow, looking at the slaughter in the room. Seeing Merephel and Shizron speaking quickly, he simply remains calm and stoic, knowing his strength is not communication.
He does, however, grab the potion labelled 'healing' that fell from Fennec, and quickly checks around for other valuables.
========
========
Calden sags against the door post when the herald finally drops to the ground, exhausted and his ears thick with clotted blood.
At the sight of more priests, Calden ducks into the room and keeps out of sight. Did she just calm them down? And would they believe Shirzon's tale, from a group of acolytes? He quickly pats down Egarthis' body, hoping for something useful. He notices the two healing potions, but decides on drinking a potion of his own. I know that these pack a punch.
“Betrayal? What are you talking about? I…I can’t believe it…”. Astonished, the herald pays close attention to Shirzon’s words but eventually ends up believing her. “I still cannot understand why Egarthis would have done something like that…Maybe… says the man before turning to thinking instead of speaking.
With the new wave of foes immediately stopped by Merephel’s spell and Shirzon’s bluffing, you have just the time you needed to search the heralds and the high priestess rooms.
---
You start off with the High Priestess’ chamber, right in front of you, behind the dais. Egarthis’ body holds the key to her room.
A large plush bed on the south wall, facing a carved oak desk on the north side, furnishes this large and opulently decorated chamber. In the center of the room, a large carpet, woven with the mask of the Razmir at its center, spreads across the floor.
Shirzon, Korech and Calden searches the room thoroughly. While there is nothing unusual about the bed, a small table positioned next to it bears a small whip, a pair of manacles, two bottles of Andoren brandy worth 20 gp each, and four vials of exotic perfumes worth 50 gp each.
Even though Calden and Korech are not able to find the information you’re seeking, Shirzon discovers a bookcase behind the desk containing several ledges concerning the temple’s illicit dealings hidden in the bookcases, behind a false face of other books. There are three ledgers in total. One of these tomes chronicles every copper the temple has taken in since its founding, including detailed notes concerning how it was obtained. Most of the listed transactions are illegal in Tamran, from slave trade and drug deals to blackmail and protection schemes. The second ledger covers how the money is spent, from bribing known officials and guardsmen to paying for illegal goods and services. The tome also records a number of notes of tribute, covering vast sums of money sent back to Razmir for the Living God’s tithes. The third ledger, though mostly empty, covers all of the temple’s exploits in Kassen, including detailed reports from the priests sent there to retrieve the “fragments.” This ledger ends with a short paragraph dated around 2 weeks ago. (See this handout).
The desk contains little of value to you, but the bottom drawer is locked and no key can be found. It’s a piece of cake for Shirzon to open it though. In a few seconds, the half-orc has the drawer unlocked. Inside is a small leather bag with 50 pp, a potion, and a silver raven figurine. All of these items need to be magically examined by Merephel, at a later time. For the time being, you just put them in your bag of holding.
---
When you’re done examining the high priestess’ room and you come back to where Merephel is standing along with the once angry herald and priests, you find you’ve enough time to search the heralds’ rooms as well.
You start by searching Egarthis’ room, whose door is opened.
This small chamber is immaculately clean, with the bed crisply made, the floor swept, and all of the personal effects carefully stored and organized.
While most of the belongings in this room are quite ordinary, a few things stand out. A map of Tamran with a number of routes detailed hangs upon the wall.
In addition to the map, a small desk in the corner contains a number of pieces of blank parchment and a quill and ink. A half finished love poem dedicated “To Iramine, to celebrate your great conquest” lies on top of the desk, and a crumpled up piece of parchment in the trash bin beside the desk lists the names of all you and Evlar. The list also gives notes about your performance and any problems that you have caused since your arrival.
A gold dagger, set with a wide variety of colorful gemstones, rests in the back of the desk drawer. Although quite gaudy, the dagger is worth 5,000 gp to a collector of such objects. Dark blood, blackened by the passage of time, stains the blade of the dagger.
As you explore his private chamber, you also have the chance to loot everything away from Egarthis’ unconscious body.
Just as you exit Egarthis’ room and begin making your way into the other heralds chamber, a desperate shout from below claims you attention. Maybe it’s time to go now. It’s time to flee the temple and meet with Reginar. You’ve what you needed after all!
_______________________
With the alcolytes gone, Korech lets out a whoop and grabs the others in an embrace before he hurriedly loots the joint with the others.
They were so evil, so much power... I don't understand everything that they've done. Maybe the others know better.
After Shirzon finds the secret documents, his eyes widen as he slowly puzzles out the words. This is only exacerbated as they search Egarthis' room and discover the map showing the incredible growth of the cult.
"Why anybody join this? Just go live in forest. Better."
After everything is looted and stowed, he looks to the others.
"We go now. Mission done. We do good."
With that, Korech grabs his bow and hauls off towards the nearest way out!
As the party leaves, Merephel gives a friendly hug to the confused acolytes.
"Good job everyone, and quick thinking Shirzon! You've all been such a pleasure to work with. And as we exit, remember, walk casually."
Calden gives Shirzon an incredulous look, when he's sure that the priests can't see him. Thank you Shirzon, and thanks Desna that luck be on our side this time. He takes the opportunity to drink one of Egarthis' healing potions. He quickly rifles through Egarthis' robes for the keys, then starts his search.
--
In the High Priestess' room, Calden snatches the exotic perfumes. Ofelia would probably like these, and she's earned them for stalling so long-If she's all right. Why wouldn't she have come up with the others? He gets angry at reading of the cult's sheer audacity in their illegal pursuits. They're thugs, all of them! His anger turns to confusing at reading the last paragraph of the ledger. "What's this? It is written as if they knew Kassen personally. That can't be right, can it?" He insists to Shirzon that the ledger be stored in their Pathfinder pouch, so that they can sneak those out if worse comes to worst. At the desk, Calden quickly opens his bag of holding for the assorted valuables and magical items to be stuffed inside. Better that we take it, then that it'll be looted by these priests when they decide to bolt and run.
--
In Egarthis room, Calden doesn't find a lot of interest except for the dagger, which he'll point out to Shirzon. "Take it." He grabs the list from the trash bin himself, pocketing it in his backpack. "We'll destroy this when we get back to the tavern. Not something I'm proud of, the things we've had to do here."
After a quick riffle through the rest of his possessions, Calden straightens out and nods to Korech and Merephel. "We're done here," he agrees. In a low voice, he adds "Back through the tunnel?"
--
- Potions from Egarhis' body. Used one healing potion.
- Keys from Egarthis.
- Ledgers, gives to shirzon for safekeeping in the Pathfinder pouch
- 50 pp, potion and silver rave figurine, from High Priestess' desk.
- Dagger from Egarthis' room, given to Shirzon
- List of 'accomplishments' from Egarthis' room
- Other items of interest from Egarthis?
Shirzon stands stock still as the herald contemplates her bluff, willing beads of sweat on her forehead not to give her away. When it's clear that they believe her, she suppresses the urge to sigh with relief and begins to loot the chambers. Upon discovering the ledgers, she lets out a low whistle of astonishment. She shoves the ledgers into her Pathfinder pouch at Calden's instruction, as well as the fine brandy. [smaller]"Whoever took the amulets knew about Kassen and Asar somehow. They must be super old by now, though."
Happy to have the time to rifle through Egarthis' things, Shirzon gladly accepts the ornate dagger.
She can't tell how much this sort of thing would go for, but the gems alone should be more than enough to fetch a nice price. She hangs it on her belt before finishing up in the rest of the room.
"Not everyone's got your chops for forest living," Shirzon answers Korech as she takes the map from the wall and rolls it up for carrying. "I'd take a year sleeping on dirt rather than stay here another night, though. Let's go, we got what we came for. That'll show these cultists to mess with Kassen."
At the shout from outside, Shirzon nods at the others and makes her way back out, weapons drawn. I hope our cover isn't blown. Well, any more than usual. Let's get to the basement and back to the inn.
As you start making your way out of the temple, leaving the second floor, Merephel holds her concentration as long as she can before releasing both the herald and the priest from her mind control of their emotions. You hurry down the stairs, but as soon as you reach the Worship Hall, you find Krant along with 6 acolytes, waiting for you, weapon drawn and a grim expression on his ugly, unmasked face. “You didn’t think you could escape so easily, don’t you? I will crush you all, misbelievers!” cries out the hulking man. “Acolytes with me! Earn your glory! For the Living God” he cries out as he leads the attack. The acolytes behind him are shaken and hesitant, but eventually draw their weapons and join the fight.
Before the fight can even begin, you spot something. A white-robed acolyte lies dead in a pool of her own blood. It does not take much time for you to realize that she’s Ofelia, her head grotesquely smashed in by powerful hands.
To worsen things even more, Merephel knows that soon the herald and the priests upstairs will regain their original aggressiveness again and likely join the fight. You must hurry!
--------------------------------
---- ----
--------------------------------
• Shirzon
• Korech
• Merephel
•
•
• Calden
Round Count: 1
______________________________
--- ---
69/6 = 11,5 ⇒ 11
=======
=======
A great anger boils up in Calden as he spots Ofelia's body. The normally soft-spoken and calm lad turns red in the face. It doesn't take him long to decide who is responsible for her fate. Using his bare hands for this fight doesn't seem appropriate, somehow. This isn't about sparring and proving himself against and opponent, it's about taking revenge! Calden whips out his quarterstaff, whirls it around and brings it crashing down at the priest's skull.
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=========
Merephel, worried that they may be too late, doesn't bother checking Ofelia to see if she is alive. She immediately raises her holy symbol aloft, trying to save the valiant young woman.
"Blessed be this valiant lass, protect and save her, if it be Your Will!"
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Shirzon scowls at the sight of Krant, barking, "Krant, we know you're the traitor here! Acolytes, let us deal with his punishment!"
Without waiting to see if her bluff works, she hops down the stairs with Calden and rushes to try to lodge her dagger in Krant's stomach.
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Korech looks on in horror as he spies Krant and Ofelia's body. His eyes narrow.
"YOU EVIL MAN! YOU DIE NOW!"
With practiced ease, furthered by his own pure hatred for the man, Korech fires his bow with lethal intent.
--- ---
You blow off your steam on Krant. Shirzon charges the brute and stabs him in his belly with her dagger. The man’s mouth gapes in surprise: he was clearly not ready to such a quick attack. Korech’s arrow lodges right in the man’s gaping mouth: Krant widens his eyes, the arrow deep in his throat, as another arrow fired by Korech hits him in the heart. The acolytes stand astonished and frightened, unable to act. And Krant, unable to speak due to the arrow in his mouth, tries to hit Shirzon with his greatclub. The brute strikes with unbelievable strength, almost smashing her head. The second strike would have killed the half-orc, but fortunately she manages to avoid the greatclub.
Fueled by desperation, Calden charges forward and strikes with his quarterstaff. His strike is so violent and strong that almost tears Krant’s head off. The brute collapses to the ground in a pool of blood, dead.
---
The acolytes, frightened, instantly surrender. “Go! Go! We won’t stop you!” they whine at once. You only take a few seconds to grab Krant’s belongings and check Ofelia’s conditions. The girl is dead. Nothing you can do about her. She has sacrificed herself to buy you precious time. She has a letter on her. Calden quickly tucks the letter beneath his clothes and the group flees. Finally, you’re leaving this temple.
---
You flee. Desperate and in a hurry, you don’t even have the time to turn back to say goodbye to the temple. You rush through Tamran’s city streets in the heart of the night, and eventually reach The Forest Bounty. Reginar is there, waiting for you. It’s late in the night, so he’s alone there.
As soon as he sees you, Reginar’s eyes widens and his mouth gapes. “Look at you! You don’t look so good…What happened at the temple? Did you get the information we were looking for? Speak, please! he asks with a concerned expression.
______________________________
--- ---
Out of breath, Merephel managaes to gasp out a few words.
"Krant...*wheeze*...temple...*gasp*...all dead...evidence!"
She finally manages to catch her breath.
"We've found more evidence than we could have hoped for! We also disabled the leadership of the temple. It's in complete disarray; now is the time to strike!"
Calden had some time to think on the night's events during their escape, but he's still breathing hard by the time that they meet with Reginar. "It was horrible. Carnage! We found the evidence, in the end." His voice takes on a pleading tone, as if apologizing for what they had to do. "We tried to sneak in, but the place was guarded worse than a castle. We had to fight our way in, and out! So many of the acolytes and priests turned on us. Some even fought for us, but they were slaughtered without mercy." Thinking of the pool of blood next to Ofelia's body has him nearly in tears.
"We reached the herald's chambers. There's so much evidence of the cult's foul ways; it seems like they owned half of the city! We found fake guard's uniforms, all kinds of holy symbols, ledgers accounting for all of their income and expenses - Shirzon has those - and we also took a whole load of gold and platinum. That has to go back to the city, I think, for all those people they robbed."
He finally stops rambling, exhales deeply and stares ahead. "... and we didn't even find the amulets. There's a note about them, something about the City of Golden Death. Shirzon could show it to you."
While the others are talking, Calden takes the bloody note from his pocket and carefully unfolds it to read.
Shirzon feels something crack when the club hits her head, and her vision swims as Krant's blood leaks onto her hand. She regains enough sense to register when Calden topples the brute and the frightened acolytes surrender and allow them to escape. Her head pounding, she still has the good sense (or at least the vindictive sense) to claim Krant's mask as a trophy, as well as his weapon.
---
The light of the street lamps still dance in her eyes as Shirzon enters The Forest Bounty with the others. She lets Merephel and Calden take the lead on speaking as she winces and the pounding pain in her skull. She takes a seat and absentmindedly wipes the blood from her hand on her skirt. She nods as Calden mentions the ledgers, and fishes them out of her Pathfinder pouch (careful not to get any blood on them if she can help it) and lays them on the table with a heavy finality. "They're crooked from top to bottom. Some of the acolytes are probably in over their heads, just looking for a place to live. But the priests and heralds know what they're really about. We've got their records, and there's no way they can defend this."
Shirzon winces again at the pain, screwing her eyes shut tight. "I'm just glad it's over with - they're ruined, and they'll get out of Tamran if they have any sense."
Korech drops the bow, seeing his arrow fly perfectly, and then Shirzon's final blow take out the one man he's hated more than any other in his life. No small feat, considering Korech had only known him for a few days.
He doesn't bother with the looting, and just stares numbly, trying to determine if what he feels is satisfaction or loss. He doesn't have much time for introversion however, and finds himself grabbed as the group rushes out of the temple, through the city, and to the Forest Bounty. Once inside the tavern, he looks at the blood, his depleted quiver, and thinks briefly of the men and women he's slaughtered.
What am I?
--------
Ale makes it a little better though. Korech listens as Shirzon explains the situation rapidly. He finally speaks up.
"They very evil. Good proof. And bad priests now dead. But this bad city. People who live here - no food, no place to live, so they go for Razmir. Razmir promise them things, but hurt them instead. If people have food and place for live, then they no want Razmir."
He takes a long draught of his ale.
"This no should happen. Not at all. So many kill. So many hurt. I no want mission like this next time."
Merephel lays a reassuring hand on Korech's shoulder.
"I agree with Korech. The cult needed to be stopped...but this mission....it took a lot out of all of us. My friends and I...We had to do things we never thought we would.
She takes a deep breath to steady herself, obviously emotional.
"This city needs to fix the underlying problems. Criminals like the Cult are just the symptom."
The sound of depression had crept into her voice as she spoke. Merephel abruptly shakes her head.
"No! We aren't friends, not anymore."
After glancing at her companions, she turns to Reginar.
"These people are my family."
I hope you’ll read this letter. As I'm writing it, I still don’t know what’s gonna happen in the next few hours. I read your mind, a few days ago, and I learned about your true purposes. I’m sorry, my adorable peasant, but I had to. While this place has been my home for the last few years, I can’t say I'll be missing it. These cultists are a bunch of slavers, rapists and robbers. Their “living god” lives far away in another country, and even the heralds are not persuaded about his true nature as a god. I hope to see them get their deserved punishment, and I will help you and your companions to succeed. I still need to figure out how precisely, but I will help.
The true reason why I’m writing you this letter, however, is a tad more…personal. And no, it’s not about your attractive tushy. It’s about you, me and our families. My father thought that your family had some direct connection to Ekat Kassen. He studied the topic for almost two decades, and he was completely sure about it. He believed that your grandpa’s mother was the only daughter of Kassen, and that through mixed marriage that heritage got diluted in the bloodlines. But he was completely sure that you and your family had some sort of direct link to Kassen. This is the reason why he commanded my brother to seduce your sister Ada. He thinks that in your blood lies the secret of a great power, a power that of course he wants for himself. Beware Calden, I wouldn’t stand you being kidnapped by my father. When we’ll be both out of here, we’ll return to Kassen together and I’ll show evidences of what I’m saying. For the time being, though, good luck with that foolhardy plan you’ve got.
Unfortunately not yours,
Ofelia.
Reginar is clearly saddened by your tale. "I'm...I'm so sorry about that guys...I shouldn't have been giving this mission to you. I'm sorry."
He takes a deep sip of his ale before gathring his force of will. "But at least, in the end, you all managed to get out of that temple safe and sound. This is the most important thing. For you have a big role to play in the future of our country, even though you do not realize it yet" Reginar smiles to you, his face still sorry.
"Anyway, you did well. You've unmasked the cult's evil schemes. With these documents, I'm sure they're soon going to be banished from Tamran for centuries to come. I know Forest Marshall Gavirk personally, and I'll go and speak to him as soon as we finish our conversation here. I'll make sure the cultists are punished for the atrocities they perpetrated. You're not only the heroes of Kassen, but the Heroes of Tamran as well...Now, you'll need to become the Heroes of Lake Encarthan though. But I'll explain myself better in a few days. I need to talk with some people, see if I can avoid sending you in another mission. I guess you already know what I'm talking about...Those medallions. The High Priestess has left in order to seek something. And we cannot let her obtain it, otherwise the entire Lake Encarthan region will be doomed. Meet me in two days at the docks. We'll talk more about it there. Now get your deserved rest, you've earned it. The Pathfinder Society is proud of you."
---
You spend the next day healing up your wounds and resting. You also devote some time to sell the loot you've gathered in the Temple of Razmir and make some additional purchases. In the meantine, rumors abound of the Temple of Razmir being closed by Nirmathi government, the cultists slain or imprisoned. The whole temple was burnt down in the night. The people of Tamran are happy to see the Razmiri driven away from their homeland. At least most of them. As it turns out, nobody liked the cultists. The streets are filled with posters enshrining the cult of Razmir ban from Tamran and Nirmathas.
Calden stares in confusion as he reads Ofelia's letter, hardly hearing the conversation around him. But the end, tears rolls along his cheeks to fall on the blood-soaked paper.
He blinks and swallows hard, then wipes his tears away with a sleeve of his shirt and refolds the letter to carefully store it in his coat. "That's really kind of you to offer, Reginar," he says with a leaden voice, "but you know that it has to be us." Then, as an afterthought to himself, he mutters "It's enough to make a man start believing in fate and worshipping Pharasma, isn't it?"
He blinks once more, then addresses Reginar again. "Sir, there's one of the cultist in the temple. She's already dead, but she fought for us. She doesn't deserve to be carted off by the guards. Young woman, short hair, slender. Will you let them know that?" With that, Calden stands up, pushing himself away from the table. "I need some rest, we've been fighting all through the night." He slouches off to his cot in the back of the tavern.
I'll tell them in the morning...
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— Moonday, Neth the 29th, 4609 AR
— Morning
— Tamran
— Cloudy
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After Razmiri’s faith banishment from Nirmathas and the Temple of Razmir’s stake, the Heroes of Kassen and Tamran are the most heated topic of the capital city of Nirmathas. Their deeds are the most talked-about, and their growing reputation has been constantly increasing over the last few hours.
The morning after the temple’s fire and the imprisonment of the Razmiri cultist found within, the Heroes of Kassen awaken early in the morning. The days of horror they’ve left behind have tormented their dreams in the night, preventing them to enjoy their well deserved rest. Before embarking into their next mission, though, the Kassenites need to sell the loot from the Temple of Razmir in order to prepare themselves for their new endeavor. Every shop they visit welcomes them as honorable guests, and merchants are glad to trade with them. Some of the items they’ve picked up are not easy to sell, however, since their cost is very high, even for the capital of Nirmathas.
Rumors abound that a new magic shop has opened recently, and rumor has it, the shop’s owner is so eager to have the Heroes of Kassen among his first customers that he’s willing to offer great discounts to them if they visit him. Following this rumor, the group of Kassenites has decided to visit this new shop.
The day in Tamran is cold and rainy as usual, although today the rain is thin and precipitations are sporadic. The group has already sold part of what they’ve gathered over the course of the last adventure. The route leading to the new magic shop passes through the notoriously narrow and stinking alleys of Old Tamran.
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This narrow alley is flanked by single-storied buildings with closed shutters. The stench of garbage fills the air of this unusually silent back-alley.
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The alley is so narrow that you’re forced to move in single file. Garbage litters the floor, and the stench of decay and worse fills the air. When you’re almost in the middle of the alley, you see someone approaching. A tall and lean man draws closer, backed by two masked goons. Right after, you hear something behind you, and as soon as you turn around, you realize that your escape route has been blocked by a duo of masked goons wearing the same clothes as those behind the tall, brown haired man.
The man, who appears to be the leader of these goons, steps forward and smiles grimly. Then, with an ostentatiously friendly voice he says: “So here they’re the Heroes of Kassen and Tamran, Destroyers of the Temple of Razmir and blah, blah, blah…I see you’re in a pretty good shape for a bunch of humble villagers. And you’re well dressed, too.”
The man smiles nastily again and continues: “A little birdie told me that you’ve stolen several interesting trinkets from the temple. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to report your theft to the authorities. I’m a gentleman. Name’s Lorric, so you can’t say you haven’t been treated well. I’m offering you a simple deal instead: you give me the magic items you’ve looted from the temple and I assure you safe passage through this lonely alley. After all, how can you hope to be able to sell those stolen goods? I and my guys are used to this kind of…trade. Just lay the magic items there, and nobody will get hurt”
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Shirzon shrinks as they pass through the narrow alley. The tight passage brings back flashes of the tunnel under the Razmiri temple and the cage she was locked in for a day. At least she could see the sky, even if it was overcast and the smell of rain mixed with garbage. Distracted, she looks up at the voice and finds her group surrounded. Dammit. I should have been paying more attention.
She receives Lorric's "offer" with a bored and annoyed expression, trying to hide her tension from being boxed in. "That's a generous offer, Lorric. I've got a nifty magic trinket right here," she says, patting the mace head at her belt. "The thing is, I guess my muscles are sore from all that fighting we did in the temple. Yeah, we really did a number on those cultists - we beat and murdered just about anyone dumb enough to get in our way. Basically anyone who wore a mask or talked down to us... Anyway, it sure makes a body tired. So why don't you come take it?" Shirzon dares, scowling. Her hand rests on her mace's handle, ready for a fight if needed.
When they meet the next morning, Calden looks like he hasn't gotten much sleep. Now is not really a good time. I'll tell them about the letter tonight.
As they walk through the city, it hits Calden that they're suddenly famous. He doesn't look comfortable, at all. "It almost makes you wish we were back in Kassen doesn't it? Maybe we should have worn masks during all of it, so we wouldn't be recognized." There's a thin smile around his lips, but it's not quite clear whether he's joking.
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Whe they're confronted by the band of masked thugs, Calden's first reaction is apprehension. The he hears Shirzon and he realizes that they've probably dealt with worse. "Don't I say it? Much better in Kassen, with those flat rooftops..."
Happy takes a cue from the half-orc and positions himself next to the wall, to give the men a good look at her. Did she have to be so grizzly? Probably yes, to scare them off.
"You're not fooling anyone. People seem pretty happy to be rid of the temple. I doubt we'll have trouble. Shirzon's right, though. You'd better listen to her, if I were you.
Merephel adapts to the new-found fame with ease. It isn't really that different than the treatment she got back home anyway. She is generous, and trys to lead by example. She donates money to the poor, and spends the few days of rest leading attempting to lead the citizens by example. She uses all her healing magic every day, free of charge to any who need it.
When the companions are going to visit the new shop owner, they are stopped by people Merephel at first takes for fans. It isn't until Shirzon speaks that she realizes the true intent of the men around her.
'Apparently we have a little more cleanup to do!'
Merephel takes a cue from her companions, and pats her new mace as well. She tries to adopt a fierce look on her face, something she has never quite mastered.
Korech is overwhelmed by the positive attention and praise he's begun receiving. Being called a hero is one thing in Kassen, which was all Korech had known for years, but being celebrated in a city like Tamran is another matter entirely. He remains quiet and awed as the group goes about selling their gear.
Once in the alleyway, Korech's eyes flit from side to side as he spots additional goons. His eyes narrow as he stares at Lorric.
"I see your extra men. Not enough. Need twelve. Twenty maybe. You want fight, I shoot you before you finish draw weapon."
Korech also makes no move for his bow, and just stares at Lorrec.
Lorric seems a tad intimidated by Shirzon’s bold display of confidence, but he does not throw in the towel. “So you prefer the hard way…Well, get ‘em guys!” The man smirks, trying to transmit confidence to his men, but a slithering trace of fear is clear on his face.
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• Shirzon
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• Korech
• Calden
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• Merephel
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