"What?" Sir Gavin said as he turned, having heard the clash of arms. He picked up his sword, glanced back at the bird woman suspiciously, then double moved in the direction of the fight.
"What the hell did Jean do now?"
Round of Pre-Initiative
Initiative
Mukluk saunters after Jean, not in a particular hurry.
György shakes his head sadly. "May peace find him one day. But today, it will have to be us." The cleric turns from the harpy and begins making his way toward the shouts.
Kikonu yelps in surprise again as he is stabbed yet again by Jean and even more blood trickles from the wound beneath the hand covering it. He retaliated by taking a swing at Jean, but misses due to over stretching his wound. He curses yet again and takes another step back. "Blasted rabble!" he crows as he curses Jean.
Attack with Rapier
Damage
Mukluk wanders towards where he things Jean might have gone.
Kikonu stumbles back as Jean sticks him yet again. The Tian birdman doesn't look good whatsoever but he remains alive though barely. As Mukluk, Gyorgy, and the rest of the party save Corvus, Kelda, and Treygan who remain with the harpy round the corner down the hallway towards the area where they left Kikonu ranting, they witness Jean, bloodied rapier in hand, advancing on a wounded Kikonu. The birdman raises his sword again to swing, cutting into Jean ever so slightly.
[ooc]Top of Round 3
Round 3
Mukluk double moves towards the sounds of combat, drawing his pick as he goes.
Round 3_______________
Sir Gavin continues to rumble towards the sound of fighting, shield up and sword at the ready.
Attack with Rapier
Roll to confirm
Damage
or Crit damage
With the last of the hits from Jean, Kikonu collapses - Jean's short-lived mission complete. Holes from Jean's trusty rapier pierce the birdman' body, blood trickling from each. The others round the corner just in time to see Kikonu draw his last breath.
Jean stands there, bloody rapier in hand, blood splatter across his face, a slight gash on his arm is apparent but otherwise uninjured. He turns to face the group rushing in...and waves.
Ok, the bird lady is free now....what's with all the rushing around? I had this covered, or did the bird lady have something to say about Ameiko?
Jean wipes his rapier off with the corpse's clothes and resheaths it, then wipes his own face.
Next?
Mukluk walks over to Jean, staring at the bloody rapier, then the dead. He shrugs.
"He might have been a poet...or Golarion's greatest living playwright. Or maybe he was just an a~~~$*!. No matter now," Mukluk says, casting Detect Magic. "With him being all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do...go through his clothes and look for loose change and magic."
Mukluk digs around for things of interest.
"Meh, this is a strange place. Let's find that vault."
Sir Gavin rumbles up to the scene, observes the tableaux with Jean and the birdman, then puts his sword away. He makes no comment, but the curl of his lip leaves no doubt as to his disapproval.
Zaiobe bows as you return. "Thank you," Corvus hears in her mind. "If there's anything I can do, let me know before I fly free of here."
Mukluk scratches his beard.
"Maybe we look more upstairs? The vault might be there, right?" Mukluk pushes the team up the stairs.
Corvus smiles at the harpy. "My friends may have some more questions but otherwise, go in peace. I do know that we are searching for a vault and if you could point us in the right direction, it would save us a lot of time."
Kikonu, in addition to non-magical wakizashi, wields a magical kusarigama with a Dancing Wasp engraved on its blade. Also, the oni carries a small leather pouch at his side containing several vials of ink, five shiny pearls worth 100 gp each, and a darkwood-and-silver disc decorated with an intricate etching of Brinewall under the noonday sun. This disc radiates faint transmutation magic, and nearly matches another crest you found on the body of the false-god upon your initial entrance to the castle.
Zaiobe looks to your group and to Corvus. "The vaults lie beneath the haunted donjon near the throne room. Beware though because fell spirits abide there." She steps onto the balcony and stretches her wings, taking flight. As she flies off, she nods and Corvus heard one final thought. "Thank you. Pazuzu bless you." Then she's gone.
The haunted donjon is where she says it is, but you find no spirits bothering you. You merely find stairs that descend into a
Vault. Sadly though the vault is empty - victim of years of robbers.
In the eastern wall, you note a small panel. You find you can push the rock face and the panel opens with little effort. In the face are two circular indents.
Perception
Sir Gavin glances around.
"Hmph. Empty. Perhaps there is another place it could be, this castle is large enough there could be a half dozen vaults like this."
Mukluk looks around, hoping not to be disappointed.
Perception (+2 more for stonework, unusual)
"Oh yeah, what would you expect? Of course the vault has been looted. Duh. Not sure that how helps us."
"Pazuzu? Lovely. Perhaps our sparing her will start her on the path to redemption." After examining the kusarigama he adds, "How interesting. This weapon can be used to summon a giant wasp."
Corvus reviews the vault.
Mukluk whistles the team over.
"Look at this unusual stonework...leading to this panel, right here!" Mukluk points out the panel that he totally just noticed. He opens the panel that he totally found.
"Look at these indents....do we have a thingy that might be a key?"
What about those two disk/seal thingys?
Jean will push the disks into the depressions.
Corvus was impressed with Jean. Not at his terminology which was almost comical but his insight to use the seals. The thought had not occured to her.
"Good work," she muttered under her breath.
"Yes. What now? Do you think it slides or swings open?"
Jean just shrugs.
Just as Gyorgy asks the question, the disc click and begin to spin. They turn three times in opposite directions of each other and then stop suddenly. As they do, the wall splits open, revealing a short walk (15-ft.) to a room beyond. The dust on the floor of this room swirls into the air, coalescing into an ominous shadowy form that takes on the ghostly image of an old but handsome Tian man. The spirit adopts a defensive posture, his katana held before him menacingly, but he does not attack, you note, until someone crosses the threshold into the room, backing off only when you step back across the threshold.
Perception -
You seem to recognize this man but can't quite place your finger on it. You recognize him from your long-ago attempts at trying to impress Ameiko. But who could he be? You just aren't sure, but it does seem Corvus is.
Perception -
This man... You've seen him before. Well, a picture of him in Ameiko's home. You were quite close to her and you recall the family resemblance now. Of course! How could you forget!? This is none other than...
Perception -
You seem to recognize this man but can't quite place your finger on it. You recognize him from your long-ago attempts at trying to impress Ameiko. But who could he be? You just aren't sure, but it does seem Corvus is.
"Rokuro Kaijitsu, Ameiko's grandfather!" Corvus gasps.
The spirit wavers then the wraith’s eyes bulge and he freezes motionless. He lowers his sword, then says in a mournful voice in Common: “I... know... this... naaaaaammmmmeeeeee...” A moment later, he raises his arms and cries out in anguish, then turns to face the PCs, tears of dust running down his incorporeal cheeks. He says, “Take the Seal away from here—take it to my child—it is no longer safe—and I am no longer worthy of guarding it...” The wraith points toward the wall behind him then flies apart and is destroyed, opening a hatch in the wall as he does.
The hatch slides open to reveal three chests. Inside the two chests on the left and right are various items - all bearing some sort of magical aura. A calligraphy set that can double as both an artistry set and a tattooist's kit. An ornate kimono of flowing jade. A set of o-yoroi samurai armor with the Kaijitsu clan crest on it. An eyepatch made of the same fine silk as the kimono that bears a single kanji character. A diadem of alluring majesty set with sapphire and jade. An aide to set of Tian poems and song. A book of martial training in Eastern philosophy and fighting techniques. Relics and artifacts of ancient times.
Several other magic items line the inside of the chests as well, but the real prize is in the center chest. The Amatatsu Seal, a statuette of a dragon, sealed safely away inside a warding box to keep it out of the wrong hands. This statuette, you feel, above all else, is what Ameiko will need to recover to full health. You don't know why, but you feel it in your bones.
You gather up the contents of the chests and discover a valuable item as well - a phylactery. It matches the description that Spivey gave of her phylactery. You gather this item up along with the others and make your way back to Spivey's respite.
"You found it! You've found it! Oh, absolutely wonderful! I can feel the evil escape from the castle and whatever powerful magicks were kept within its walls, I can feel are gone. You've done it! Did you find what you were looking for? A way to save your friend? Who am I kidding? Of course you did. All of you look beaming yet distressed. Let me help with that." Spivey puts her phylactery on and waves her hands, casting a spell that instantly rejuvenates you all. It feels as if you've rested a full eight hours and any wounds you may have sustained are healed. Spivey smiles and claps her hands, "Well? Go! Tend to your friend and go with my blessing! I must get to tending the keep now! Oh, I imagine the mess!
Back at camp, you present your find to your allies. Ameiko doesn't seem to have moved since her collapse those many have its earlier. She seems much more pale. It's only when you move the warding box close to her that she rouses and her body begins to buck. Okay and Sandru attempt to hold her down, but it's too much. She sits up with a start, her eyes flying open and all color returning to her pallid skin. Then she falls forward, Shalelu catching her. Ameiko?" The elf asks. Ameiko's eyes flutter open again and she looks to the each of you. "Shalelu? Corvus? Wha... What happened?" The explanation takes some time before everyone looks to your party. "What did happen in there?" Koya points to the warding box. "That seemed to affect her and heal her. What is it?"
György is visibly relieved to see Ameiko's health return. "Praise Desna you're back Ameiko." He turns to Koya, "Much time has passed and an evil had taken root within those walls. I think we've purged it all and at the last, we found a hidden vault. Inside we were met by the shade of Ameiko's grandfather, Rokuro Kaijitsu. Before he faded forever, he commanded us to bring the Seal to Ameiko, that it was no longer safe under his guardianship. We came as quickly as we could."
Mukluk eye's glaze a bit at the chests and wealth therein, momentarily letting his dwarven greed take over. He shakes his head and clears his mind, seeing the treasure for what it really is: a reminder of the roads he has just trod, the experiences he has shared with others, and a respite before finding the next journey.
Mukluk, as practice and delight, casts Detect Magic and Identify, taking his sweet time to ID the items for things that might be helpful or dangerous.
Take 10 Spellcraft with Identify: 32 on the stuffs.
* * *
"C'mon back to us, lass. We need you back," Mukluk urges, wanting to get back on the road again.
Sir Gavin laid his hand on his sword when the spectre did, but hesitated.
When Corvus gave his name he looked back amazed.
"Her Grandfather? Here? But how..." He trailed off as Rokuro dissapated. "She is so going to be disappointed at missing this..."
Looking at the treasure, he is again astonished. And all this is Ameikos... She is going to explode. He thought, amused.
When Ameiko awoke, he listened to Gyorgy's explanation. He shook his head.
"I wish you could have been there with us, that was an adventure sure! And all this other stuff in the chests here. It's all yours too!"
Corvus is in two minds.
One one she is delighted that her friend has regained consciousness and the smile on her lips is real enough.
But for those that know her - and that includes Ameiko - her eyes betray real concern. Whatever put her friend into the coma hasn't been resolved by finding the seal. And the fact that her grandfather's spirit seemed so distressed suggests their challenge isn't over but only just beginning.
To avoid sharing these thoughts with anyone - for Ameiko would be able to read her like a book - she goes out walking with her hawk, allowing it to hunt and stretch its wings.
Jean looks at his hands. Jean looks at his blood soaked hands. I hope this was all worth it. All the death and blood. He starts wiping his hands clean and looks around at the others and sees their hands so clean and dry...he looks back at his hands and sees the stains soaked in. This is why they look down on me, let me do all their killing, risk my neck looking ahead for them. He looks over at Gavin So clean and spotless, did he even draw his sword to help? He looks at Ameiko [sadly]I helped.
Ameiko looks to the warding box. "I know what these are. This is the Seal of Amatatsu. I thought it a legend myself, old tales from Father. Never true. If everything you've told me is true then that means I was being guarded by Kami friendly to my family, Fuardians most like. It must have been trying to tell us the Seal was here." Ameiko's quiet for a moment. "It means I'm meant to be royalty." she finishes. "It means I have to return home to Minkai."
At being presented the treasures, she shakes her head. "If I'm meant to return to Minkai, I'll have no use for such treasures. They are yours if you want them." She runs her hand over some of the ones with Kanji on them. "This kanji speaks of more guardian Kami. Guardians of my family. My ancestors likely. Some of the stories Father used to tell tale of were of how our ancestors guarded our family by weaving their essence to these items. I believe that's what some of these may be. Please keep what treasure you will. Those with my family I suppose must go to Minkai with me."
She turns to Sandru and the others. "I do not expect us to continue travel together. You do not have to go with me. Any of you. You have each done admirably in my eyes. You are more than welcome to continue the journey with me, but here at this lost keep, we must all make a choice. I continue on." Shalelu, Sandru, and Koya nod. "As do I." they agree.
Kelda smiles and bows. "I bow to you, my grace, but I must return to my homeland and inform my people of the loss of our brothers. They must be given proper funerary rites lest they become spirits themselves." Kelda turns to the each of you. "You saved me from a dire fate at the hands of that beastie. For that, you will always have a warm fire waiting in the Land of the Linnorm Kings. All you need do is ask. Farewell, brave warriors." She says goodbye to the each of you individually and then takes her leave.
Treygan sighs himself. "This journey has been most rewarding but I fear I must return to Sandpoint to inform them of all that has transpired. I am no hero. I serve where my God leads and though I feel I could do good traveling with you, Sandpoint still needs guardians as well. It is there I shall return." He looks to the party. "That which I've taken possession of during our journey I now return to my allies to better help them on whatever journey they decide.". With that, he strips his prizes and returns them to the party.
Ameiko nods. "It is good to know I leave Sandpoint in good hands." She hugs Treygan and shakes Kelda's hand. "Your honor and bravery shall be heralded across the Dragon Empires when I return home." Treygan and Kelda then bid you farewell and leave. Ameiko turns to the each of you.