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Cypher makes a small twitch of annoyance as Dasline is brought up.
Give me just a few minutes with him... and some rope.
They give a wicked grin.
Of course, he'd die thinking he was about to have the best night of his life...
They cough into their hand as if expelling the violent thought from their body.
Excuse me, that was most unbecoming. But still, if we can figure out where he stays, there is a very strong chance I can get us inside and open some doors.
Akuret shifts uncomfortably, as the other Seranites discuss their evacuation. "I would actually prefer if we all stay put for a few days. You never know how much effort is being madeby the Militia to find us. That includes you, Pathfinders.", he looks at the party.
Other Blossoms seem to object, with Piria raising an argument: "They found us once already. How do you know they won't do so again? For all we know, they might be on the way here now!"
A heated debate arises. Most of the Seranites wish to skip town as soon as possible, but Akkuret seems adamant on not letting anyone go.
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"I kind of agree, guys..." Eadric says apologetically, looking around at the rest of his party, "Well, not about us staying put, but like, the Blossoms should totally lay low for a bit. I mean, like, if I were in charge of the militia right now, I'd totally have the port filled with militia who are way too curious for their own good. Every boat would be checked before being allowed to leave."
Eadric turns back to Akkuret, "But Bro, we need to find Dalsine tonight, it's most urgent! Do you know where he-" He catches something out the corner of his eye and turns to face Charito, one of the female cult members, "Hey, Sis..." His eyes narrow, and he regards her suspiciously, "Why do you look most nervous all of a sudden? Do you, like, know something that we should totally know?"
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Cypher frowns a little and concentrates. It's a odd look not to see the normally perky pathfinder with something other than a smile on their face.
Hearing Eadric point out the young blossom's nervousness, Cypher smiles and turns their charm on full blast at the woman.
Darling, sweetheart, there is no need to be afraid. Does not the dawnflower teach forgiveness and redemption in all things? No matter the deed, it can be forgiven, but not if it's kept bottled up inside...
Cypher moves in, very close, very intimately, nearly a hair away from the blossom's face as their hand rests gently on her shoulder. To everyone else, the display looks more like a cat about to pounce than anything else.
Please love, darling, tell us what you know... tell us, and let the redemption begin... good things come to those who bath in the healing light of truth...
Their voice is practically a purr.
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Tenibri catches the same furtiveness that Eadric notices, staying quiet and listening with interest as the totally radical brawler works his own interrogation.
"I have no problem staying down here for security reasons, but I also agree with Oma; we need eyes and ears above to know what's going on in the city. Certainly, some of us are well-trained--or naturally skilled--enough in stealth that we could safely reconnoiter at the same time the Blossoms and other Pathfinders are holed up down here. If I study a couple of different spells in the morning, I could be quite effective, myself, and sneaking isn't even my specialty. Perhaps if we seek out a few more exits from these tunnels, we can find one or another that's safely obscured."
When Eadric speaks to Charito, she just shakes her head, and her eyes wet. "I didn't know about the attack, I swear!" Upon hearind these words, some Blossoms stand up and look at her sharply. She makes notice of this development, and gradually ends up in full blown tears. She runs to Eadric and gets on her knees, holding Eadric's thigh for dear life asthe Seranites approach with clubs in their hands: "Mercy!", she cries out. Her words form rapidly as she tries to explain the situation before any harm comes to her:
"I know Chalfon Dalsine; I didn't mention anything until now because I was scared of losing your trust! Please! I swear on my sister's life!", her grip tightens as the Blossoms move in. Eadric's thigh could tell.
"Why didn't you WARN us?!", one of the Blossoms shouts at her, moving closer and grabbing her hair. She wails of fear as the man pulls at it, with tears rolling down her now red cheeks.
"Please! Agggh! IwasachambermaidforawomanhehadanaffairwithPLEA-", the man pulls again. Someone else from the crowd shouts at her to say what she knows. Another voice joins in: "Most of our brothers and sisters are DEAD! If you knew about this..."
"I don't - I swear! You have to trust me. I know where he lives. I know he was traveling for a few years and then came back when he lost all his money gambling! I'll tell you everything I know, but I give you my word that I didn't know about yesterday's attack! You have to trust me..."
"Please...", she mutters under her breath, still crying. "please" - she sobs again, and the man lets go of her hair. Her own grip on Eadric's leg loosens as she slowly turns her head around. "I'll explain..."
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Tenibri notices something and turns to the group. "Listen, let's all agree to share what we know, and not hang anyone for it, okay? At least not tonight, anyway?"
He shakes his head. "I'm sure that everyone here is equally well-intentioned. But there are more secrets, and we'd best know them all before we make any decisions. Nobody will feel free to share if they're worried about a lynch mob from their fellow Blossoms."
"Thanks for telling us what you know, Charito." He turns to Akkuret then, addressing him instead. "Akkuret, do you have something that you want to say too? You have that same kind of look about you."
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Eadric puffs out his chest and glares angrily at the man who grabbed Charito's hair, placing one of his large arms protectively around the crying woman and holding the other out in front of him. He doesn't say a word, but the intention is clear: touch her again and you will be eating your food through a straw for the rest of your miserable little life. He extends the same glare around to all the assembled blossoms, just in case they feel the same need to attack an unarmed woman. He leaves the actual talk to the more diplomatic members of the group, but he does make sure that Charito can have her say in peace.
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"Peace! Cease this, please!" Soraya places lithe form in the path of the acolytes-turned-mob. "This is unbecoming of Sarenrites."
She looks over her shoulder at the sobbing Charito. "We will need to know what you know."
The Shelynite turns her attention to Akuret but addresses her companions as well, "We cannot wait here. We need to retrieve the parcels before they are searched and the militia's ire comes down on the Lodge. If you feel that you're better off hiding here than dispersing into the populace above, fine, but we cannot stay down here."
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Cypher looks... very, very angry as the woman is accosted.
No one lays a hand on the girl... Am I understood?
Cypher runs a hand through their hair, muttering in a language filled with hissing and sharp rasps.
Curses on the master of pain and all his servants, he finds new ways to hound me! May the light heal his wounds!
Your... not entirely sure what they just said, but "Upset and angry" seems to be a pretty good assessment of the general feel behind it.
They kneel down next to Charito and give a soft smile again.
It's okay sweety... everyone is scared... their making rash decisions...
They take a deep breath and look at Akkuret.
You might want to consider speaking now. You all didn't see me fighting much, but that is because my specialty is in other matters. So don't lie... Speak the truth, Like Charito did.
Akkuret stands up from the pew he was sitting on, and slowly - with an unnatural calm - walks towards the east. He stands between you and the tunnel from which you arrived. "I believe I said all that was necessary. In any case, you are not leaving until tomorrow. None of you.", he eyes both the Blossoms and the Pathfinders. "The plans set in motion months ago shall not be stopped by some upstarts, that happened to be between missions at an opportune time."
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Eadric frowns, his eyes following Akkuret across the room, "I don't think you understand, Bro!" He says, still angry from before, and now growing more confused by the second, "We have a most excellent habit of stopping the plans of bad guys." Motioning for the Blossoms to retreat towards the back of the room, Eadric smoothly unslings his shield and attaches it to an arm, "Now drop your weapon and let us pass."
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"Oh, Akkuret. You're starting to behave like an evil villain. If you don't back off from that, you know what we're going to have to do! We're Pathfinders; you know we don't have a choice!"
He slowly draws a wand from his belt, which glows briefly as he activates it, tapping his own leg gently as he tries to talk the Sarenite out of whatever path he's started down.
"Listen, none of us--NONE of us--want this to come to blows. I don't know who are you working for--is it this Dalsine fellow? But you still have time to back off. Abandon this evil course, you don't have to follow him! Let us help you find a better path today!"
Convince an NPC who serves an oppressive or tyrannical leader to abandon that leader of their own free will by succeeding at a Diplomacy or Perform (oratory) check with a DC equal to 15 + your character level.
An invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject of a mage armor spell, providing a +4 armor bonus to AC.
Unlike mundane armor, mage armor entails no armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, or speed reduction. Since mage armor is made of force, incorporeal creatures can't bypass it the way they do normal armor.
"And where will I go? What will I do, little shadow man?", he looks at Tenibri. Realising the jig is up, he reveals the weapon from under his clothes and holds it firmly in front of himself.
Piria observes Akkuret with a perplexed look on her face. After a short moment, she calmly states "A few years at least. This doesn't seem normal.", still looking at the lay priest.
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Cypher whispers to Eadric.
If this doesn't work, lay him flat.
They stand and smile.
Won't you... just listen for a moment?
With that, they gently lift their hands and a wave of magic rushes out over him.
You would go with us... Their voice is like silk.
All can be forgiven... it is the goddess way isn't it? That predatory look is in Cypher's eye again as they try to impress their magic on his mind.
"Everyone is a hero of their own story, are they not? Or at least I think that's how that saying of yours goes. I don't wish to fight you. I just want you to stay the night. You must be tired after all.", he smiles. If it wasn't for the blade in his hands, you would say he is being a good, friendly host.
You most certainly are convincing, but what can you give me if I denounce my current duties here?, he moves the scimitar left and right, as if measuring something. "What price do you put on loyalty, Pathfinders?"
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Cypher growls and steps back a few paces. They whisper again to Eadric.
Gonna try one more thing... after this, knock him out, fast, he's delaying for something, and I think it's that he's got friends on the way!
They turn back and look at the man, and begin repeating the same silky motions and words... though those who know the arcane arts can tell they're doing something different.
Come on... don't you want to listen to me?
"Hmm this was something else than before. Are you trying to put a spell on me? Without my approval? That's not very nice.", he shakes his head and waves an index finger at Cypher.
Some of the Sarenites retreat further back. Clearly, Akkuret is giving them the creeps. Piria tilts her head and looks at the priest. "You've gone mad recently, Akkuret?"
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Cypher sigh a bit and puts a hand on their hip.
How very sad... Eadric? If you don't mind? Try to grab him alive, but we can't waste anymore time. But let's see if I can't even things up at least.
Cypher suddenly flicks the wand they had from the fight with the spider, coating the man's sword in grease! They turn to the blossoms and call out.
Quickly! Grab your things! We may not be safe here! if Akkuret is a traitor, than they may have told Dalsine where to find the vault! Everyone get ready to move out, we'll handle him!
Cypher pulls out a wand and uses its arcane magic. Akkuret's hilt gets covered in oily material soon after, but he manages to keep a hold of it.
Round 1 - all can go
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Eadric
Oma
Helme
Soraya
Cypher
Tenibri
Akkuret
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"Right, Bro! We're totally getting out of here now..." Eadric says as he rushes the man, fists clenched, "And when you wake up, we're going to have, like, a most excellent talk about what's going on." Aiming for the lay-priest's chin, Eadric puts all his weight behind the right hook, perhaps a little recklessly.
object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect
While Akkuret successfully evades the attacks made by Eadric, Oma, and Tenibri, his weapon slips out of his hand, the hilt glistening in the light of the candles around as it falls to the floor.
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Tenibri moves onto one of the nearby pews to get a better view; he draws arcane power to himself to fuel a spell. A large ball of snow and ice forms in his hands, and he hurls it towards the priest.
You conjure a ball of packed ice and snow that you can throw at a single target as a ranged touch attack. The snowball deals 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level (maximum 5d6) on a successful hit, and the target must make a successful Fortitude saving throw or be staggered for 1 round.
Staggered: A staggered creature may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can he take full-round actions). A staggered creature can still take free, swift and immediate actions. A creature with nonlethal damage exactly equal to its current hit points gains the staggered condition.
Soraya and Helme on the other hand, manage to land their attacks. While Soraya's glaive impales the cleric, Helme's stone bounces off as if hitting hardened jello. Immediately afterwards, Akkuret's body proportions change and shift, and within a span of a second, his clothing, armor and skin disappear to reveal a hairless, leathery biped. The creature's face shows no distinct features - and instead is dominated by grotesque, ever changing, slits and whorls.
"What the ...", the blossoms collectively gasp in surprise and fear, contemplating the implications of such an impostor within their ranks.
For every 5 by which you beat the DC, you may ask a question about it.
The creature makes a guttural noise as it raises its upper appendages to strike Eadric...
But the armour enthusiast quickly shifts to the side, thought it might not have even been necessary. The creature's swing is off-target by a large margin anyway.
Round 2 - all can go
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Eadric
Oma
Helme
Soraya
Cypher
Tenibri
Akkuret
Cypher uses the wand again and the creature falls flat on the ground a second afterwards. apparently, marble is slippery when wet and/or greased. Who would have thought?
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"Woah!" Is all Eadric is able to say to the sudden revelation. Before he has time to react, the creature slides over on the greasy floor, "We still knocking it out?" He asks as he leans over the prone thing, a little unsure now that it appears some evil creature has taken Akkuret's place. Not waiting for an answer, he starts punching at it's face once again, two jabs in quick succession.
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Tenibri takes a moment to focus his arcane magicks to open a small portal to the celestial plane. Sparkling with rainbow iridescence, a small hole opens behind the false priest, through which an eagle flies!
Conjurer's Focus (Sp): An occultist can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to cast summon monster I. She can cast this spell as a standard action, and the summoned creatures remain for 1 minute per level (instead of 1 round per level). At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, the power of this ability increases by one spell level, allowing her to summon more powerful creatures (to a maximum of summon monster IX at 17th level), at the cost of an additional point from her arcane reservoir per spell level. An occultist cannot have more than one summon monster spell active in this way at one time. If this ability is used again, any existing summon monster effect immediately ends. This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.
This spell summons an extraplanar creature (typically an outsider, elemental, or magical beast native to another plane). It appears where you designate and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions. The spell conjures one of the creatures from the 1st Level list on Table 10–1. You choose which kind of creature to summon, and you can choose a different one each time you cast the spell.
A summoned monster cannot summon or otherwise conjure another creature, nor can it use any teleportation or planar travel abilities. Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them. Creatures summoned using this spell cannot use spells or spell-like abilities that duplicate spells with expensive material components (such as wish).
When you use a summoning spell to summon a creature with an alignment or elemental subtype, it is a spell of that type. Creatures on Table 10–1 marked with an "*" are summoned with the celestial template, if you are good, and the fiendish template, if you are evil. If you are neutral, you may choose which template to apply to the creature. Creatures marked with an "*" always have an alignment that matches yours, regardless of their usual alignment. Summoning these creatures makes the summoning spell's type match your alignment.
The eagle, shimmering with a rainbow iridescence of its own, immediately swoops down at the faceless stalker, slashing at it with beak and both talons.
Once the creature falls to the ground, the pathfinders and their associated companions gang up on it. After a short fussilade of blows, swipes, arrows, and bites, the creature makes a raspind sound and stops resisting, it's form now on the floor, still breathing.
The Blossoms, some still confused by the recent development with their lay priest, start poking their heads out from beyond the pews.
"Is it dead?", someone asks, with mixed feelings of relief and sadness.
Akkuret -36