Having just gotten herself clean, Telka hangs back and lets the others do the dirty work for a bit.
Nothing special can be found there.
Morrigan is keeping up with the Osiriani. Whether she is second or last in line is fine with her.
[b]"Is there something of worth in there?"[/]
Telka snorts in frustration at the lack of easy ascents. She looks up the fireplace in the far room, attempting to discern whether someone of her ample proportions can fit up it without too much squeezing.
"Ha. Look here. Only the city-raised would think of something so devious as to put a ladder in a chimney." She'll start climbing up, slowly and eyes open for further dangers.
Zeltyieli chuckles, "If you think that, I hope you never meet my family.", and then heads toward the fireplace.
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There is a sudden hacking and coughing from the dusty Osirion and he rubs his eyes as if waking up. "Ho! Where'd you all go? That was odd. . . where am I? Weren't we climbing up a ladder? Who's coming with me?" Ramenhotep continues to wipe his eyes and look around the room, trying to regather his bearings after what must have been an extended blackout.
Telka stares down from a few rungs up.
"Did you Nod off? I've been climbing the ladder. Now are you coming up with me or not?"
Zeltyieli shakes his head, also confused, "Must have been some sort of strange magic to confuse us all?"
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Not everyone has what it takes to be a real Pathfinder, Morrigan and Vandilo found that out soon enough. As the party of newly-appointed Pathfinder agents decided to move upstairs to confront Natalya Vancaskerkin and her minions, the two adventurers chose to leave rather than persue their destiny. That fact was soon learnt by Sheila Heidmarch, who sent two Pathfinder who had just returned from an assignment in Varisia and helped a former agent regain a sound sleep without nightmares or sleepwalking. The two agents seem able enough, but it is only in the field that they can prove their worth. Time to confront your destiny! Let the tale of the Shattered Star begin anew!
Like elsewhere, the ceiling has collapsed into the room below, but most of the rafters have gone with it in this area, leaving large gaps of empty space over the drop. A large fireplace in the room below climbs the wall as a wide chimney into here. The crumbling, charred brick of the chimney has been chipped away to create a large hollow within, with a tangle of discarded planks and other rubbish now serving as a floor.
Hidden on the rafters, a Varisian woman bearing a bright red kapenia is sitting, awaiting in the dark. At her side, two muck goblins much like those that you encountered earlier. They lunge at you, eager to defend their life!
Initiative - round 1
1. Zeltyieli, Jordan
2. Goblins, Natalya
3. Hralyk, Telka, Ramenhotep
'Tyieli and Jordan may act!
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"Who in the sweet name of Nethys are you two? Are you the ones in charge of bringing my coffee? You better not have screwed it up like that delinquent back at the Manor." the grumpy Osirion exclaims when then new recruits are sent to join in the excursion. After asking them to repeat their names several times (and still mispronouncing them), the Garundi pats a holy symbol hanging from his neck and proclaims, "I was sent from the Sothis Lodge. I am Sahib ul-Makam al-Rafi Ramenhotep the Risen, Priest of the All-Seeing Eye."
Hralyk seems, at first glance, to be exactly what you'd expect from a half-orc. He is short compared to others of his race, but wide-shouldered, very fit, and fierce-looking. He wears tattered leather armor, wields a falchion, and is sufficiently intimidating that many would turn directly around if they came upon him in a dark alley. However, upon closer examination, he doesn't fit the mold of your average thug or brute. Rather, he is reasonably well-spoken, intelligent, and determined to make a name for himself as more than a gladiator or enforcer.
He approaches the others, Jordan at his side, and explains to Ramenhotep, "My name is Hralyk, and I have no coffee for you, old man. Perhaps you should learn to brew your own, so that you can be reasonably assured that it is to your liking." His gaze shifts to encompass the others as well. "We have been sent here to help you deal with this...Natalya?" He looks at the ramshackle building and draws his falchion. "Let's get to work, shall we?"
Zeltyieli smiles broadly at the newcomers, his eyes even brighter than his garish garb, "Well met! I am Zeltyieli, follower of the Immaculate Joy.... Always pleased to meet fellow would-be Pathfinders."
The half-elf's smile fades slightly as he sees the goblins, and he unwraps his scarf in a practiced, graceful motion, stepping to the side and spinning, saying, "I suppose it would have been too easy to have just talked things over...", then swinging the blade as soon the goblins step into his reach.
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Jordan indeed chose the path that was destined for him. Sloth can be seen by many as a good thing, and once was indeed considered as a virtue by the Thassilonians. Yawning out of disdain at the two goblins and the Varisian thief, Jordan chooses to procrastinate and not to act... yet.
'Tyieli gets ready to lash out at the first goblin who moves towards him. Unfortunately, the two greenskins draw their bows and get ready to shoot if anyone approaches.
Natalya studies you carefully before giving out a warning.
"So you have come to worhsip me as I rightfully deserve? Or have you taken to steal the shard from me? Make your intentions known, or my honor guard will bring you down. Bow before your Queen!"
Fluttering her eyelashes at Hralyk, she cajoles the warrior's ego. "You have no enemy here, only the promise of a powerful ally in me. Surely someone as handsome as you will find me to your liking. Won't you become my king?"
Initiative - round 1, 2
1. Zeltyieli (R), Jordan
2. Goblins, Natalya
3. Hralyk, Telka, Ramenhotep
Everyone may act!
Hralyk's eyes glaze over briefly, as if he can't remember where he is, or what he was doing. When they refocus, however, he smiles broadly. "I would find that most...enjoyable, my Queen." With that, he sheathes his falchion and turns to the others. "This woman is not our foe, but our rightful ruler and liege. Please, put your weapons away and acknowledge her...our...rule over you." He spreads his hands benevolently, inviting the others to de-escalate the situation.
"Your honor guard? What honor does a slut tramp like you have. A double agent and a thief! I was annoyed with this ridiculous collection of bootlickers before, now I am just amused."
Zeltyieli says, "Maybe we can start by not having her pet goblins killing Pathfinder agents? Still, I'm impressed that she managed to get a plant in the Lodge...and have him assigned to this investigation.". He then steps forward carefully, whispering a prayer to the Immaculate Joy and placing a hand on Ramenhotep.
You remember with a smile the first time the pudgy, arcane elf entered. Dressed in a plain tunic with a set of expensive riding boots, he was not at all impressive. His guard dog seemed more alert and ready for excitement than the listless elf. Searching through his pack, he checked to see his spell book was still there, as if we wanted to make sure it wasn't stolen or forgotten. After complaining about his heavy burden, but finding the burly barbarian couldn't be bothered to carry his pack, he shrugged and said a few words.
"I like magic, and I'm good at it. Let's go."
Round 2 Jordan
As he finds himself confronted with the goblins and their leader, he seemed to just be biding his time, waiting for an invitation or sufficient level of desperation to warrant is attention. As the barbarian gets affected by magic, he snaps out of his reverie into action.
He moves with sigh just enough to affect the female with his magic and grabs rips a piece of wool of a small patch off an old sheep's carcass.
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 0, sorcerer/wizard 0
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a pinch of wool or similar substance)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one humanoid creature of 4 HD or less
Duration 1 round
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
This spell clouds the mind of a humanoid creature with 4 or fewer Hit Dice so that it takes no actions. Humanoids of 5 or more HD are not affected. A dazed subject is not stunned, so attackers get no special advantage against it. After a creature has been dazed by this spell, it is immune to the effects of this spell for 1 minute
Too lazy to hold the leash of his guard dog, Jordan had looped the leash around his belt. As the moves forward, the dog reluctantly followed. Not wanting to do more than protect his master, he stood in front of Jordan ready to bite anyone approaching.
Jordan sees the unsure footing and changes his mind about walking. He grabs a stick of butter as he stays in place and chants. A patch of grease appears on the ground as soon as the villain begins to act.
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (butter)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Save see text; SR no
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
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The goblins shoot their arrows at Zeltyieli.
Natalya starts casting a spell, when Jordan tries to interrupt her by making her fall!
Miraculously for the budding empire and its queen, both remain on their feet, managing to keep their balance!
Natalya casts in turn, the same spell as Jordan, greasing the beams between the Pathfinders and her.
Once she's done, she moves out of Jordan's grease area.
Initiative - round 2, 3
1. Zeltyieli, Jordan
2. Goblins, Natalya
3. Hralyk, Telka, Ramenhotep
Everyone may act!
Telka spits the muck out of her mouth... again... moves towards the other ladder, hoping to find a more reliable way of reaching the treacherous witch. She sheathes her blade and contemplates the coming climb up the ladder.
She does continure her bard song
Round 3 Jordan
Extremely disappointed his spell had no effect, he casts a spell opening a portal to the celestial plane. He seems to take a while to select who he wants to come through.
Hralyk continues to plead with his comrades. "Stop this madness! Put away your weapons and stop incanting your spells! Accept us as your rightful rulers, and we will be benevolent!"
Zeltyieli thinks, It would have been far too hard to slip a plant in, and be sure that the plant would be with us. Maybe the barbarian has been enchanted?
With that thought, he draws upon the power granted to him by the Walker of Worlds, and touches the Barbarian, whispering reverently, "May your feet and mind both be freed."
Hralyk moves, leaping across the void and drawing his falchion, then swinging at the nearest goblin.
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The hulking half-orc jumps across the gap in the beams and lands right in front of the goblin, felling it in one blow!
The other goblin glances at her mistress, but doesn't break ranks yet. It attempts to shoot at Hralyk but misses, clearly too afraid of him to do anything that would incur his true wrath.
Natalya's eyes narrow to become arrow slits. "I see you've chosen your side. So be it. Die!" she says in an icy tone. She shoots at the greenskin menace with her crossbow, and gets terribly lucky as she shoots straight into Hralyk's neck!
Initiative - round 3, 4
1. Zeltyieli, Jordan
2. Goblins, Natalya
3. Hralyk, Telka, Ramenhotep
Everyone may act!
Telka begins chanting from the bottom of the ladder, calling upon the blood magic of the Mammoth Lords.
Zeltyieli smiles as the half-orc turns towards the goblins with menace, One corrupt Pathfinder Agent was more than enough.. . He drops his scarf and slides the bow from his shoulder, quickly snapping off a shot at the sorceress, saying, "Natalya! Catch."
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