Kevin stops in mid stride and pulls an alchemist fire from his belt. He holds it in front of him and grins a sadistic smile. "We could just throw these beutiful globes filled with that fire stuff we found. Easy to spot a burning figure in fire."
Assuming I'm ok to act on Andrea's suggestion, Nym will grab handfulls of whatever powder is close at hand and start throwing it in the air. Not sure what sort of roll to make for such an action...
Galadan frowns at Kevin, hoping that he is just being intimidating. He casually moves to the north, as though to have a private word with Nym. But he attempts to surreptitiously survey the space directly to the north.
Andrea gives Kevin a level look..shakes her head and sighs.."and burn down half the city when it explodes..idiot..why did I ever think..."
She stops herself before she goes any further.
Kevin cocks his head to the side and gives Andrea his most charming smile, "Why dear Andrea, I had no idea! My my, I guess we may just need to have a talk when all of this business is complete. I know just the place, a little out of the way bar I found on one of my night galavanting here in town. A little rustic, but should make you feel right at home. But please, we have work to do my dear, keep your mind focused and not on me, as hard as that might be."
The swordsman spins away and moves back to the door way to assist in containing the invisible advasary.
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The cloud of flour moves towards Hastur and tries to get past.
Actions:
Galadan and Kevin both have an AoO on the dust cloud. Nym has his hand full of powder I assume.
Hastur also has an AoO - feel free to use it as a grapple.
Vorgstag will still have 20% miss chance as if blurred. This will increase to 50%.
If Hastur doesn't grapple - or fails - then Vorhstag will end his move on the walkway next to Hastur. If Hastur succeeds then he will end up inside the room between Nym and Hastur.
AoO:
Damage:
to stagger for one round.
miss chance
Looking past Hastur, Andrea fixes the dust cloud with her evil eye.
-2 to attack rolls for 6 rounds DC15 Will save to reduce that to 1 round.
Nym will send a pair of magic darts into the flour man on his turn...
"Be careful. We don't want him exploding like the other one... Exploding bodies make for poor evidence."
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Kevin's sword connects with something solid and some drops of blood appear on the ground.
Galadan also manages to get a fleeting hit - staggering Vorgstag.
Hastur - for a moment thinks he got a save grip - only to be deceived as with last strength Vorgstag wriggles free and manages to get past.
Will save
The evil eye from Andrea hits Vorgstag but seems not to have long lasting effect.
Situation:
Kevin, Galadan, Hastur have done their AoO. Kevin has drawn first blood. Galadan manages to stagger Vorgstag.
Hastur's attempt of grappling him falls short.
Nym shoots some magic missiles at him but they seem to hit a barrier and seem not to get through. It seems Vorgstag used his time well to be prepared against an onslaught.
The Magic Missiles seem to hit a shield spell.
Vorgstag: -8HP, staggered. Past the door on the ledge outside of the room.
Nym - acted - Magic Missiles ineffective
Andrea - acted - Evil Eye - saved by Vorgstag
Everyone else can still act ahead of Vorgstag.
Wren has her eyesight back (just)
Galadan rushes forward with his hand outstretched, prepared with another gentle touch.
, should put him to sleep for one round if I hit.
miss chance.
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Galadan moves past Hastur to lay Vorgstag down to rest.
AoO Damage
A mace smashes down on Galadan and Vorgstag appears. His heavy mace seems coated in some dark black oil.
Fortitude save Galadan
A numb feeling flows from the place Galadan is hit - but it seems the hit did more concussion damage and not enough of the poison entered the bloodstream.
Moments later Vorgstag breaks down and his body appears on the ledge.
'Aldous' eagerly steps up, and smacks into the prone, unconscious, and now visible Vorkstag, pulling his actual punches, and then viciously kicking him...
Galadan, who had pulled out his manacles, cringes at the onslaught.
"Well, I suppose that's one way to do it."
Andrea heaves a sigh of relief then draws herself up to her full 5'4" and gives Vorkstag an icy glare .."We accept your surrender creature,Your cooperation will ensure that you live to see at least one more dawn, now tell us of your interest in the village of Morast and why you decided to pose as the Beast of Lepidstadt or I will let Hastur here finish what he started"
Intimidate
As she speaks she fixes her evil eye on him again..take a -2 penalty to Stat checks for 6 rounds DC 15 will save for a one round effect.
"And after that do be so kind as to explain just what the hell you are, and where on Golarion your skin is it...You're not contageous are you?"
Andrea wracks her brains trying to figure out what their prisoner is
Knowledge Nature
Knowledge Planes
Knowledge Arcana
With the assistance of Hastur as required, Galadan puts the manacles on their prisoner.
"It is time we leave this place, and discuss the true nature of events that have transpired with your involvement."
"I would prefer to finish searching for evidence here; anything that we can find to back up our case, above and beyond whatever this creature will testify to, would be useful..."
'Aldous' then begins to methodically search Vorgstag, before moving back to the room Vorgstag came from...
I would not want to leave him with anything that he could use against us...
Andrea uses the gold wire to fish the key out off the acid and washes it off in some water before handing it to Nym..
"I'll let you deal with it..just in case of traps though I think the key would bypass any off them you can never be too careful"
Galadan methodically searches Vorgstag's room.
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Vorgstag
Vorgstag dropped his MW heavy mace. You find traces of deathblade on it.
In one of his pockets you find a small pack with a powder that turns out as Dust of Tracelessness (2 doses). Hidden in his pockets are 5 more vials with poison - 2 doses of black adder venom, 2 doses of blue whinnis and 1 dose of deathblade.
Three empty vials contain traces of Bull's Strength, Invisibility and Spider Climb. A shield spell is still active on him. But it seems nearly every pocket is full of vials. 2 potions of Cure Light Wounds are still unused. Also a potion of Water Breathing.
Tucked in his sleeve you optain a wand - after a while you figure out it is a wand of Acid Arrow (21 charges left).
In addition you find a key-ring with several keys on it.
Investigating him closer reveals some bite marks on his shoulder. Scars that have healed but are still very visible and would fit to the bite of a blood kaiman.
You identify him as a Skin Stealer. Skin Stealers are Fey creatures. They are deceitful and and they can steal the skin of a small to large humanoid creature from a dead or helpless person.
Skin Stealers can wear these stolen skins and then they take on the likeness of the victim.
A sadistic being from the realm of the fey, a skin stealer is a terrifying sight to behold. These blood-red creatures resemble horrid, emaciated humans without skin.
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The cabinet of Skins and Faces
One of the keys opens the locked door to the north. Beyond it is a tiny room that holds only a single object - a large oak cabinet. One of the mirrors in it;s doors is broken. Some old blood seem to have been dropping out of the cabinet and you feel something horrible will be found inside.
The cabinet is locked but can be opened with one of the keys.
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"Who really cares about the people in Morast. Their dead bodies were remarkable - you wouldn't think they had been dead for so long.
You know - there are people who pay very well for body parts here in Lepidstadt. But there where not enough bodies in the cemetary. But who would miss anyone from Morast. Especially as it was 'the beast' that took them.
Still - even if I die - you won't be able to prevent him from burning. Everyone wants to see him burning and even you won't be able to prevent that."
"He is a Skin Stealer " Andrea tells Nym bleakly." They are Fey creatures wo are know for being are deceitful and can steal the skin of any human like creature from a halfling to an ogre as long as the victim is dead or helpless then they take on the likeness of the victim by wearing his or her skin.That would explain the face off the smuggler we found at Morstag."
Galadan looks distastefully over at Vorgstag.
"For your own safety, sir, I advise your complete cooperation. No more deceptions, or you will know what's coming to you. I can just as easily get cold iron manacles."
"Should have let me burn him. May have improved his looks."
"A skin stealer...I see. They are, as a people, predisposed to acts of barbarity then it would seem? I imagine the pool of folk willing to be skinned and impersonated is rather shallow."
"Mr. Vorstag, I don't expect you to feel remorse for what you've done, let alone turn over a new leaf. I don't want to hear any promises of compliety, and frankly would consider my life much improved to not hear your voice again for some time. What I do expect is belief. I want you to believe me when I tell you that if you cause problems it looks like we have plenty of evidence without your testimony, and my friends and I will end you. If you do not cause problems you'll be escorted to the local authorities and detained by them. They likely not being a group of attentive, able bodied, well armed adventuring types, no offence Galadan. You'll try and escape, as would I. Be smart about when you take your shot."
Wren rubs her eyes as her sight returns.
"That seemed like forever...a horrid blindness that lasted for days. Thankfully now I can see my good friends." Wren shares a toothy yellow smile at everyone, as if sensing their relief for her condition.
Wren looks at the creature as Andrea shares what she knows of skin stealers.
"Such a ugly thing...not beautiful like me and Plumie." Wren gives Plumie a quick belly rub.
"Oh I thinlk you'll find that now you have been found out your..associates will take great pains to distance themselves from you..someone open that wardrobe please" Andrea says as she thumbs through the alchemy texts..
Perception
Galadan steels himself for the horrors that inevitably lie within, and opens the cabinet. He speaks over his shoulder at Vorgstag.
"Nevertheless, your cooperation would be much appreciated, and I might even be convinced to speak to the court on your behalf should you prove trustworthy."
Noting the blood dripping out of the cabinet, 'Aldous' raises an eyebrow, and addresses Vorgstag.
"If what is seeping out of that cabinet is any indication of your regular practices, I dare say that the influence of your allies will be more than outweighed by that of the rest of the city."
He then shrugs.
"Failing that, I have no intention of staying here long-term, so riling-up a segment of the local population does not bother me."
'Aldous' then moves forward to carefully examine the cabinet.
Wren will wander around, taking time to explore and examine things in the workshop. Alchemy was never her area of specialty as it lacked the pure beauty of feathercraft, but does admire the science of it all.
She will spend some time idly staring at the ceiling where she heard the noises, wondering if she can hear them again.
Perception
Kevin strolls through the rooms following th others taking no real intrest unless gold or master work weapons or better yet more fine booze are found.
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The interior of the cabinet is a grisly sight. The cabinet contains the skins Vorkstag has stolen over decades of crime. Nearly a score of f layed skins hang like coats in the cabinet. Some might hold the answers to several of Lepidstadt's unsolved crimes
Knowledge local checks please for more details
Most importantly for your case, hanging at the front is Vorkstag's Shambling Man disguise—the grotesque, deformed skin of a 8-foot-tall mongrelman, made up of f lesh, fur, and scales and covered with fungal boils and hideous puss-filled eruptions. A disguise that would fit very well into impersonating the Beast of Lepidstadt.
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Hastur investigates the cabinet in more detail - unperturbed by the grisly skins. Still - he nearly gives up when he notices the cabinet has a false back, which slides out to reveal Vorkstag's treasure—500 gp in assorted coins, a silver drinking cup inlaid with obsidian worth 400 gp, and a syringe of six vials of necromantic alchemical elixir.
In addition, the secret compartment also contains a ledger detailing customers who have purchased stolen cadavers and anatomical parts from Vorkstag and Grine. Many of the names are local doctors and scholars, but two names stand out: a Doctor Brada and someone named Auren Vrood.
You quickly remember where you heard the name Dr. Brada. The Beast is accused of the arson attack 4 months ago at the Sanctuary on Karb Isle, which resulted in the deaths of Doctor Brada and his patients and the blinding of the doctor's assistant, Karl.
This crime will be investigated on the third day of the trial.
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Nym
You are opening the box of Grine with the key. Suddenly you find yourself in a cloud of a fungi smelling dust and you know at once that this seems to have been some form of protection.
Fortitude Save
The box is open now but you are unsure if you dare to investigate further.
The poison is Ungol Dust and it seems Nym avoided being poisoned. The contents of the box can be handled safely as long as you avoid inhaling remaining dust.
Galadan wrinkles his nose at the gruesome display of flesh, but attempts to identify the skin-corpses anyway.
Wren wrinkles her nose at the gruesome display of flesh, before taking in the entire scene more deeply.
"Interesting, indeed Galadan. These costumes answer many questions, some of which have yet to be asked."
Know (local)
Wren relates whatever bits of information she recalls her birdies telling her.
"We should take all his with us. All of it might be useful evidence."