I am no liar. Look elsewhere for such deception. Drovya glowers briefly, then composes himself. I am familiar with the tongues of demons though I do not know those of devils. But what is the use? This ruse will fail us eventually, and then it will come to blades and magic, and perhaps Arasmes swinging manhood if all other weapons fail us. So, by all means, let us perpetuate it with black humor for as long as we can, but know that it must end, and end it will, covered in blood, just like that Wayfinder. Let's keep our wits about us and our blades sharp, and hopefully too much of the blood won't be ours. Now, apply the protections and lets be off. Ivan has a thirst.
Arasmes nods at Petrova's words and looks at the headmaster "Headmaster, your sacrifice is deeply appreciated, and I suggest that you let the Priestess treat your wound once we are gone."
He turns to Drovya then, and nods to him as well "You are, of course, right. No deception can last forever, and this one is doomed to fail when we acquire our target if not before. But still, there is no reason to be grim about it. We embark on a grand adventure, and a true good deed. If we succeed, we shall be known in song and story, and richly rewarded, and if we die, we die heroes. Either way, we have become something greater than when we began...in the mean time, why doesn't everyone pause for a moment and let me enchant them, after which we'll proceed."
He proceeds to pull out one of the Wands given to him by the Priestess, whispers a quick prayer to Sarenrae over it for a moment and then gestures at each of the seven companions embarking on the trip in turn, concaling their natures from all who would attempt to learn the truth.
"You're a barrel of fun aren't you Drovya." Talon comments. "Arasmes is right. We have to keep the lie up as long as possible. And there's no if we succeed. There's only a when. We can't think about failure as a possibility. That's the only time you truly lose." He says speaking up more seriously while waiting for a pass over with the wand.
"Ah, I feel quite unaligned," says Kanthuun. "Add a flourish of that blade, Drovya, and we may appear to be evil yet."
"Indeed, I have some skill in prevarication and misdirection of words, and Abyssal counts among what I can speak. We shall all have to watch our words, it seems, if the whole thrice-cursed place is listening. However--if Bahjat's soul is a prize to one group of traders, namely the ones who have them, then no doubt another group--"--he gestures to himself and the circle of six--"--could easily want to...relieve the first group of their prize. And so we shall, just not for the selling. Per se, begging your pardon, Priestess Tikhade." He bows, smirking slightly.
"Thusly, we can still speak about Bahjat--but we should be careful to sound greedy and malicious when speaking of re-obtaining him." Kanthuun glances at Rogar. "Perhaps the paladin should stay mute on the subject."
Tikhade bowed her head as the headmaster picked a sack off of the ground. The gnome held it up.
"Here. This is the rest of what you need. The wayfinder and the rations in here should prevent your death by nonviolent means."
Arasmes looks at Kanthuun "I...would prefer not to take chances. Let us refer to him as 'our target' or similar euphemisms, shall we? That way even if we are overheard in more mundane ways there will still be no way to know what we speak of."
He takes the offered bag, and nods his thanks to the headmaster "Our thanks for your generous aid in this matter. Our role could be replaced with that of others, but I very much doubt yours could. At least not at all easily."
"I appreciate that, boy, but it's entirely untrue. Not many are as brave as you lot. Honestly, it's hard to let you even try this, and probably even harder for the esteemed priestess. We'll do all we can to ensure your safety, but in the end, amounts to a waiting game on our end."
The headmaster looked at the portal.
"Well, it's ready for you, so..,"
"Wait-,"Tikhade interjected. "The short prayer said a minute ago isn't sufficient for this... Let me give you a better blessing, please."
The woman moved to be in the midst of the adventurers one last time and raised her hands into the air.
"May the dawn never fail to reach you,
and the sun be at your backs,
May you be delivered unto safety, though the road be one less travelled,
Though you go into the obscure and frightful, and the believers often stay behind,
may our love reach you still,
from the blossom of the flower that grants life above all,
her power go with you."
With this prayer completed, the priestess managed to utter a farewell before growing silent.
"If you've any last minute questions, you'd best get them out of the way... because it seems your departure is nigh at hand."
"I don't know what good it will do, but thanks priestess. I got no questions."
We are replaceable, mused Kanthuun, and expendable besides. I wonder what they'd do if we fail.
"'The prize', then, or 'what we're after'. And we'll have to growl while saying it," he snorts, not betraying his thoughts at the difficulties of the mission.
Arasmes nods solemnly at the Priestess's prayer, and then cocks his head at Talon's words "Prayer often helps, and can never hurt. At least that is how it works in my experience. And I, too, have no questions."
"Fair enough. But I rely more on myself than words said to gods."
"Heh, whatever gods are on our side, or against us. I've often found that I get the most done when we ignore them for the most part. No offense to those that pray or the like."
Hanethes laughs a little, but sobers when the headmaster scowls at him.
"As for deception. I live by my skills in deception. And aside from this tingle that takes away my conscientious awareness, know that my words can be useful in this Abaddon. I have learned both abyssal and draconic in my adventures in Absalom."
"You're a barrel of fun aren't you Drovya." Talon comments.
What can I say? Drovya sneers, My cup, she is filled to the brim with wine, women and song.
The Ustalavan then turns to Tikhade and speaks with genuine sincerity. My thanks for your words and your aid. I hope we will meet again.
"I'm ready to go, though one question I would have, though it doesn't apply to me, is will our esteemed religious colleagues here be able to commune with their gods, to pray for spells, or even just to call out to them in prayer, without the plane hearing them?"
"Prayer should be done quietly, but for this, you gods will not abandon you. No deity of purity would. I understand why you would ask, but they will allow their power to follow you.
A few casters won't call as much attention as their outsiders, even if you are invoking their gifts."
Tikhade turned to Drovya, and then to the paladin, who'd been quiet much of this time.
"Be well, Drovya. And you too, Drogar."
The headmaster cleared his throat and pointed to the portal.
"All that one needs to do is walk through it like a door, you know. You can go as soon as you're done good-byeing."
Hanethes looks at the door, then winks at the headmaster and walks through. "No time like the pres-"
Arasmes seems mildly surprised by this and steps up after him, drawing his blade as he does so "Indeed, I suppose we can make plans on the other si-"
Petrova curses something horrid, then remembers the company she's in, turns to the priestess and headmaster, offers up a weak, "Just getting into the character of a soul trader," and follows her friends through to Abbadon.
"If I may, Headmaster," says Kanthuun, taking the proffered Wayfinder. He smiles at the gnome."I've always wanted to do this, you know--"--and strolls through the portal.
"See you when we get ba--" Talon says as he draws Stark while walking through the portal.
Drovya reaches into his pouch and throws two small, crystalline stones into orbit around his head. One sheds a pale, eldritch light. He then strings his shortbow and places it once more on his back, then draws Black Ivan and attaches a weapon cord from his wrist to the blade.
Farewell priestess. Farewell headmaster.
Without further ado, he walks through the shimmering gate.
The other side of the door was both frigid and humid compared to the ampitheatre, but the smell of mustiness persisted.
Branches from gnarled trees the height of cathedrals bent over the archway, and thorned plants sprawled across the ground that deep fog didn't obscure.
From what the adventurers could tell, they were in a forested area. The sound of birds wasn't absent, but it lacked the pleasantness of Golarion, as every bird seemed to jeer, mock, or cry out in pain, respectively.
The sky was almost black, crossed with small veins of red light which was only sometimes visible through the canopy.
There is a rustling sound in some nearby brush.
Perception:
Petrova instinctively heads into the nearest shadow as soon as she's through, her attention focused on the skes. Her body and black clothes blend into the dim light so completely she seems to disappear.
Instinctively, Kanthuun checks the bearings on the Wayfinder.
Talon looks around for where the sound could be coming from.
Drovya's ears perk up with the distant sounds. Otherwise, he stands seemingly aloof, sword at his side.
Well, this is different. He takes in his surroundings, the strange birdsong putting him slightly on edge.
Any sign of our prize?
Hanethes steps out from behind a nearby tree, a little ways ahead of where they walked through the portal.
"Not much going on. Just a forest. A river nearby. Bells."
Arasmes whispers a few word and calls on the light of his Goddess to infuse his shield, then speaks calmly "Yes, nobody and nothing around. We appear to have arrived in a relatively 'safe' location." all the while subtly gesturing with his sword towards a group of nearby bushes and moving casually in that direction.
Stealth:
Petrova whirls once and vanishes into the shadows, only the faintest glint of light off her freshly-drawn scimitar gives any hint to her presence. She makes her way towards the indicated bushes.
Kanthuun stows the Wayfinder and quickly produces a rod from his quiver. He looks at Hanethes and waggles his head toward the bush, arching his eyebrow.
Drovya studiously avoids looking at the bush, but moves into a position where he can reach the bush without difficulty.
Hanethes draws his saber as silently as possible, as he moves around the bushes in a large circle, providing plenty of berth.
When the adventurers got closer, the sounds of chewing and tearing of flesh became more pronounced, as did the smell of decay.
Nothing really stirred or reacted to the presence of the nearby adventurers, and whatever was causing it was obscured by curled leaves.
Kanthuun mutters a spell, holding the rod in one hand.
Talon grips his weapon with both hands as he subtly walks towards the noise.
Rogar stands quietly by as his new companions discuss the upcoming adventure, lost in his own thoughts. When the topic of lying comes up you can almost see his beard bristling at the thought of telling a lie, 'I'd rather ha' my tongue bit o' by a swamp rat!' he says in indignation, 'I'll leave tha falsehoods ta those of a more colourfull background'.
Needing no second invite he bows deeply to the Priestess and marches through the portal, Shield in front, Waraxe firmly clenched in hand and holy symbol tucked underneath his plate.
Seeing and hearing nothing out of the ordinary, Rogar seems suprised as Arasmas seems to indicate something in the bush. Keeping his wits about him he nods and falls casually into step besides him.
When the bush is surrounded , Rogar calls out to the bushes, 'If you be friend, show your face!'
Two high-pitched, raven-caw voices responded as the chewing stopped. The words were precise and rhythmic, but the volume increased as the oration went on.
"Stupid meatfellow wish to interrupt the feasting!?"
"Interrupt the feasting, the meatfellows wish! Foolish meatfellow!
"But just one, yes? Child begets."
"Eat! Eat! KISS!
Two beings that resembled blackened, sinister heads with scarred batwings protruding from where the ears should be. Tentacles covered in gore dangled from their chins and scalp. They proceeded towards Rogar with all haste.
Monster's Initiative(Shared)
"Subtlety's overrated anyhow."
On his turn, Talon will walk up and try to trip the creature with his weapon.
versus its CMD
Hanethes waits until the creature(s) charge Rogar, than he moves swiftly to the closest one (will charge if cannot reach with normal move), attacking from the flank.
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