Sorry guys... Crazy times. I'm in the process of house hunting and packing up a house of six. We've rented out our house and now have a deadline to be out but haven't been able to look at other houses because of Christmas. Grrr.
The servants voice comes through the door, he sounds a little shaken as he replies. " I am sorry but I have been told to leave you in there for a half an hour. If you have truly found what you seek then you should have the means to open this door as well. "
Trying the unused keys in the doors locks you find that the scepter key opens the door. " Ah well done! " The servant says as you emerge from the room. He looks at each of you in turn nodding at the end as if making a mental note to himself. " You may keep the map and the wand but please return all the keys to me. "
You travel witthout mishap into the Ivy district and down the wide tree lined streets, past theatres and manor houses until you pull up outside the paracountesses three story townhouse, the gothic architecture is a little out of place here but still magnificent. Moments after ringing the prickly brass cone that serves as the door bell the ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures swing open and Zarta's servant greets you silently with a small bow and gestures for all of you to follow.
Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, the group finally arrives on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta's personal study. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door. A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen, a pale woman with long dark hair and full red lips, regards you all with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the group.
" Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks. " She then turns her attention to the group. " It's always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh-faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. I assume this isn't a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can't get that man around these parts anymore, " she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. " On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits. Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.
Now be careful not to tamper with this box, it's best left alone. It's seven seals are all but impossible to get through anyway and it has the most delicious way of sucking out your very life force as you try... Just deliver it to Valsin like good boys and girls." Here Zarta is interrupted as a cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room's west door. " Ah yes, A servant of mine is greatly misbehaving. You're going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket. " she opens a drawer and draws out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger " You might need this to get it to submit... " she offers with a sly grin.
Jezebel draws her pistol, and loads a round, "Silver... Anything we should know about your servant? If I had to guess I would say it is not a person?"
Diplomacy:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
[ HP 23/23 | AC 13/12/11 (MA:16/12/14), CMD 13, Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4 | Init +2; Perception +6 ]
Heya, Kip. You sound busy. Hope yer doin' alright. Also, Happy 2013 everyone!
Azeban coughs into his elbow, still looking somewhat pale. He smiles politely at the paracountess. "Submit and not kill?" he asks. "I'm not certain we can promise your servant undamaged."
"Anyone who has any skill at all with a blade, might I suggest you take the letter opener. I doubt she is offering us silver if we will have no use for it."
"I assume that by imp you mean devil, not just a cheeky, mischievous from this plane of existence servant?" Turning to the group and speaking in a lower tone, "Didn't we find some weapon blanch back at the warehouse? Now might be the time to use that. I would be happy to apply it to my ammunition unless one of you has a better use. We should definitely prepare and be ready when we enter the lair of the imp though..."
I will take the Silver letter opener. Just in case Hekra smiles at the thought of sending the Imp back to hell. But I am always open to diplomatic reasoning at sword point
Anders stood at the back of the group during the conversation with a scowl on his face. Anyone close enough could hear him muttering what sounded like "... devil worshiping slave trading scum ..."
When the others start to indicate they are ready to go into the next room and deal with the imp Anders draws his long sword and readies his sheild. He isn't able to open the door himself with his hands full of sword and sheild so waits for one of the others to open it.
The group heads over to the bedroom and the doors are opened.
Zarta's bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
The imp Kreuvus is enraged and totally out of control. It throws the very box you need around the room hoping to smash the thing open. Though dented, the case doesn't look like it will be opening anytime soon.
Please state where on the map you'd like to start bearing in mind that the doors have just opened.
Ok... I'm going to be without my computer for a couple of weeks so I'm posting a map but instead of moving your avatars about on the map and reposting it I'll need everyone to state the coordinates of your character when y post your actions every round. I'll still be making posts as regularly as I can while I'm in the process of moving. At the moment I have to be out of my house in the next couple of days to make way for my tenants but as yet I still don't have a house to move into. So it's stressful times at the moment.
Jezebel enters the room, and glares at the imp, "Hey, you. You know you are in trouble right? How about you cease and desist before a hot lead ball lowers your already abysmal intelligence even further.... If that is even possible." As she speaks, Jezebel levels her pistol at the evil demonic creature, hoping for an excuse to shoot the demon.
[ HP 23/23 | AC 13/12/11 (MA:16/12/14), CMD 13, Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4 | Init +2; Perception +6 ]
Sorry to hear about the stress, Kip. Hope everything turns out well for you.
Coordinate: J8. Also, if I may, I hand Hekra the silver letter opener before we enter.
Azeban enters through the door unarmed and stays to the sides. "I don't think I want to know why the imp is in her bedroom in the first place," he mutters then pauses as he peers in and sees the west wall. "Or what those are for."
F Human Barbarian 1 HP: 10/10 | AC 15 | 11 | 14 | CMD 16 | Fort +4 | Ref + 1 | Will + 1| Init +1 | Perc + 4 | Acro + 2 | Surv + 4 | Know(Nature) + 4 | Great Axe + 5/1d12+6/x3 | CMB + 5
Galia will start at J7.
Kip, I hope your moves go well and your stress levels return to healthy levels soon. My wife and I will be delivering our son tonight/tomorrow, so I, too, may be late in a post or two over the next two days. Please feel free to NPC me if I'm holding up initiative -- my general intention will be to deal subdual damage until someone cries "Uncle!"
Krevus box in hand, lands on the table (G9). Picking up what looks like an iron poker he sticks out his tongue and blows a raspberry at Jezebel and Hekra before repeatedly whacking the box.
Jezebel has had enough of demons. Yes this is her first encounter with the foul beasts. None-the-less, she is done with the nasty creatures.
"I believe the proper Chelaxian method of pacification is through brute force. . . "
To Hit:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Confirm:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Folio Reroll to Confirm:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Damage:4d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 6) + 4 = 16
Glaring at the imp, Jezebel asks, "Are you done misbehaving, or shall I reload?"
I am holding my reload until the imp answers, if he fails to answer soon, I will attempt to make a show of reloading, using a move action in place of using a cartridge as a swift action.
Hekra moves in to swing at the Imp. Just missing, his sword spills a few of the 'torture' implements onto the floor. G8 ok?
Galia moves up to the table and strikes at Krevus with the flat of her axe. The Imp dodges out of the way and The table lets out a groan as the timber cracks under the weight of the blow. Had to put you in H8 because Jezebel is in H9
Krevus swipes at Jezebel with his sting as she aims
AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
D: 1d4 ⇒ 4
It leaves a nasty gash on the halfling forearm but she fights through the pain and fires her pistol with a loud crack sending a bullet at Krevus with perfect aim. The bullet rips at the Imps magically tough skin punching through its chest. The devil squeals with pain and seems to struggle breathing. Jezebel asks if the Imp is done misbehaving and as Krevus recovers he replies with a snarl his red bulbous face screwed up in rage.
(H9)
Anders moves in trying to prevent the Imp from escaping easily. (F8)
Azeban stands back and through heavy breaths calls for his companions to use the silver letter opener. (J8)
Toshizo did you make an action?
Jezebel could you make me a Fort save please? Azeban if you want to change your action feel free.
Kreuvus stops snarling and closes his eyes shut tight. You take the opportunity to strike but somehow the lucky Imp evades your blows. A second later he winks out of view and you all hear him snigger at the group before keeping as silent as possible.
[ HP 23/23 | AC 13/12/11 (MA:16/12/14), CMD 13, Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +4 | Init +2; Perception +6 ]
Yeah, that's pretty much all I can do considering melee is too dangerous for me, I take big penalties for ranged, and I've no useful spells. Well, there is one thing I can do.
