Ass his party files out of the room, Ernest sits and tries to bend himself into a passing likeness of the lotus position. He breathes deeply of the noxious fumes.
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Ernest exits the room, carrying Snouts and softly mumbling something about some big, black thing and not really 'getting it,' as if still slightly lucid. He looks to the group with a glossy glaze over his eyes. "So, we're... we're here to break stuff, right? I can make traps, or just disable stuff..."
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"Is there someway to let more poison into this room? Also, I recommend we bust the pipes in the 'washroom.' That will flood that room, if not this whole area. Unless somebody wants to meet the cult head-on, we do the dirty deeds then go. We will of course leave our pins behind as well. Those cults will swarm for sure. How is that for plan? "
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As if a little bee buzzed in her head, Zynep openly remarks, "We are going to keep these artifacts, correct? I can't see letting these heathens molest a dagger of import to the Savory Sting. Of course, the bigger question is to keep them for ourselves, return them to their owners, or give them to the Society."
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Luisila is quick to agree with Zynep about further sabotage and keeping the items.
“Yes, the Lissalans will think the Aspis have reneged on another agreement – which should make them even angrier.”
“I’m not sure what WE do with the items though. We don’t owe the Riddleport clergy anything, I don’t think. Maybe VC Heidmarch could use them as bargaining chips to further the Society’s aims in Riddleport in the future? But I really don’t have a strong view here.”
Luisila is torn about entering the ‘chanting’ room.
“I don’t want to confront the Lissalans. But what if some poor wretch is imprisoned in there? That surgical room was creepy. Is there a chance we can have a stealthy look inside the room without alerting the cultists? I can’t remember - were all the curtains closed in that room?”
“Look, I know I’m talking ‘ifs’, ‘buts’ and ‘maybes.’ If we go in it’s risky for everyone, so I will abide by the party’s decision.”
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Linnea nods in agreement with everything, but a stray thought nags at her. Her eyes suddenly grow wide.
"Wait, the little girls - the ones from the Fishbowl. We told them we would try to find their mother. Would it be too coincidental if she has fallen victim to the Lissalans? We can't just leave without finding out the truth!"
She gives a pleading look to her fellow Pathfinders.
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"I wouldn't mind getting in the good graces of the local lashmistress. As for the other heathens, I would be fine cashing in on their relics."
After listening to Luisila & Linnea's retorts, Zynep sighs. "You didn't actually mean that, did you Linnea? I thought those were gentle lies so that those girls could sleep at night. Very well, if it makes the two of you sleep better, I still have an invisibility spell. I will cast it on somebody to go check out the ritual. If a woman is being sacrifice, we can re-examine the situation."
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Ah, Zynep. Inspirational in oh, so many ways … ;)
Luisila will keep a mental tally of the time elapsed. 1.5 minutes out, 1.5 minutes back.
One thousand, two thousand, three thousand …
Her priorities are danger to herself (including traps), cages or cells containing prisoners and she will avoid the rear of the basilisk’s cage.
Ernest is able to discern how to sabotage both the bilge water pipe and the carbauxine gas pipe.
Luisila sneaks into the chapel. As seen before, most of the Lissalan cultists in the safe house are here, engaged in a lengthy ritual led by
the High Priestess. The noise of the ritual is deafening. The cultists chant together loudly, pound drums, and scourge themselves with barbed whips. As these cultists are deep in the throes of religious ecstasy, they are at best only dimly aware of events occurring outside of the chapel. The does not appear to be any innocents being harmed in the ritual.
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"Destroy all the rooms, check. Flood the temple, check. Unleash poisonous gases, check.
"Unless there is anything else anybody has to do here, I recommend dropping our badges in different areas and depart. Just make sure you close your eyes on the way out. Feel free to relieve yourselves on any of the beds as well. I feel a tinkle coming on myself."
Zynep then pops a squat on one of the beds then heads out of the temple, closing her eyes when she travels down the hallway that passes the basilisk.
After the party is clear of the temple, Zynep will ask the grand wizard Ernest if he is able to identify the religious items the group obtained.
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Ernest sabotages the aforementioned goods, his lucidity only starting to wear down, still avoiding presence of more-nude-than-usual ladies. "This'll take a minute. If you're going to... pee or, um, do, uh, other stuff on the beds or junk here, now, uhh, would be the time." He turns a little red as he thinks about some unexplained addition to the comment, which quickly turns into a silent panic.
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Earlier, Snouts is sad to smell the food-dropping woman turn invisible and move out of his line-of-scent. He adapts his strategy by making his way around the party, begging for snacks and getting entirely ignored by a now paranoid Ernest. Once Luisila returns, he continues to follow her in expectation of more accidents until Ernest has to pry him away at the end of the adventure.
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"Linnea,
I wanted to ask if you wanted to see my travel collection of Chronicles; While I don't have any of my awesome signed variant cover first editions with me, I still have my extra copies. I mean, in case you maybe wanted to see those. Also, I can show you how to cast the soon-to-be Kalthet-patented Conjuration magics; you had that wand and thought you might be interested. If you're not, that's cool. I'm not sure if you actually can cast any conjuration spells, but I can at least show you how I do it. Also, you said something about some story about some monks in some place that one time; I'd love to hear it, as my great-great-great-great-grandfather once performed in a circus as a fire-breather for travel money while going around Taldor as a cover while he was studying the the Qadiran/Taldan border disputes for any esoteric trapsmithing techniques.
Hope to see you again, soon,
~Ernest Kalthet, of the Kalthet Family Tomb Protection Services Company
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PS Please bring those goggles.
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PPS Wait, don't; I don't think they'll work anymore.
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PPPS I mean they should still work, but not for what I need them for.
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PPPPS It's not like I don't want to look at your or something it's just... never mind.
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PPPPPS If you don't want to show up, I totally understand. No big deal. Sorry.
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In the crowd, greatly enjoying Linnea’s performance, Luisila checks the bar snacks are not made from pork, before dropping them on the floor for Snouts.
She tries to put Ernest at ease by talking about her favorite scene from a play she saw last year. She suspects Ernest has also seen a performance of this play, though quite possibly in a theatre on a different continent.
“… and then Captain Andoran said, ‘There’s only one Goddess, ma’am. And I’m pretty sure She doesn’t dress … AT ALL!’ ”
➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽➸➼➻➺➽
When Roland eventually returns to his room in Heidmarch Manor, he finds a gift of tennis gear on his bed.
When Roland turns in for the night – he finds the bed has been short-sheeted.
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Ernie,
Thank you so much for the invitation. I would love to visit and peruse your collection. As for the the conjurations, I would love to see what you are able to do. I'm not sure I'd be able to pick up anything very advanced - I have just a basic ability for magic.
Also, I want to thank you for your help with that living statue that we faced. I know that you somehow enhanced the Grease spell that I cast from my wand. I would love the opportunity to pay you back for your discretion, and for helping me look good to the rest of the group. Is there anything I could possibly do to return the favor? Please let me know what you think up.
Your Friend,
Linnea.
PS - I will be happy to bring the goggles.
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PPS - They certainly can't hurt. Though, if you'd prefer, I could bring a silk blindfold.
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Within the hour of arrival, a reply of roughly 2 pages is sent.
"Linnea,
Good to finally hear back from you, I was almost ready to send a follow-up letter and was going to make sure the courier didn't get eaten by a griffin or something. That's good to know. I'm likely stuck here at the Heidmarch Lodge, seeing as it's THE place to send new recruits nowadays; I've heard a theory that they might be moving the HQ from Absalom to here, but that doesn't make sense, seeing that the Grand Lodge's history and location are key for the organization. See, back in 4307... ... I mean, the Lodge's been there for more than 400 years!
As for any Conjuration lessons, I've finally mastered the soon-to-be Kalthet-patented Instant Hole spell. I've read that mightier sages than I have made holes that have spikes, squeeze stuff, and even ones that burn guys that fall in! I'm pretty excited, so I've been trying to figure out how Fire Hole works, but have yet to garner any results other than burning myself a little with some proto-alchemist fire.
Additionally, a silk blindfold should work for me. I think I recall something in one of Pa's secret novels about a silk blindfold. Does it help with spellcasting? It seems like it would be nicer around the eyeline, and probably blocks a lot more vision, so it could be some kind of concentration thing. I'm pretty sure I saw Mr. Heidmarch reading one of the books in the same set my Dad had, so I'm going to check the novel again; it's been years since I last read it, I must have been, like, 7. It didn't have any pictures and I only understood half the words, so I'm sure I can actually READ it now. Just come over whenever you want.
~Ernie"
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Roland finds a racket on his bed before turning in...
"Wow a butterfly net...Zhat was a nice gesture. Although it zeems a bit shallow for catching butterflies. I vunder what zhese fuzzy balls are for? Maybe zhey are for Ernest? "
When Roland tries to get into the short sheeted bed...
"What in the blazes? Oh, hah... Zhose zilly girls and zheir pranks. When will zhey learn? Well it is not as bad as scorpions or Zhat poison carbonaxite gas as least.. "