Legacy of Fire

Game Master Megan Robertson

Silena ignore Calian her attention focused upon Sonya. She sighs softly in relief at the obvious life still in Sonya.

Uttering the undercommon command word twice again she uses the wand.

Wand - Cure Light Wounds: {2 charges - used / Total 2 spent} 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (7, 1) + 2 = 10

At the obvious results Silena casts her gaze fiercely at the bisected corpse...

Settling Sonya softly down and shoving her wand into the belt, Silena rises to her feet stalking over to the half-man creature and crouches down scowling. Picking up the katar/ Punch dagger she grips in firmly in hand and uses its edge to messily remove the creatures head in a grizzly display of tightly controlled rage - careful not to damage the corpse's mouth or jaw.

Lifting the severed head she comments to the head, "...this is a nice dagger you have here.. I think I'll keep it as a memento - seeing as I have no edged weapons... but YOU, Old Man-BEAST, are going to answer me some questions tomorrow... or else I will take exquisite joy in tormenting your be-damned spirit until you comply! Death is no escape from a servant of the Midnight Lord...!"

There is the glint of a cold cruelty in her violet eyes and a sinister smile touches her lips...

With that she places the head in a sack and ties it to her weapon belt. The Katar/Punch Dagger she just places in her now empties spring loaded wrist sheath.

Her rage ...at least, temporarily assuaged, Silena returns to Sonya's side cradling her head gently in her lap ready to help her with more healing if need be...

The gaping hole in her back stitches itself back together, but Sonya still does not come to.

Silena draws her wand and again whispers the undercommon command word twice more...

Wand - Cure Light Wounds: {2 charges - used / Total: 5 spent} 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7

At the first touch of the wand Sonya finally comes too in a fit of coughing. Sonya quickly removes her veil spitting up the blood still filling her mouth.

With a rough dry voice, Sonya begs, "Wa-ter.

A second touch of the wand, helps the pain calm as Sonya begins to compose herself. Asking again, in a far calmer voice. Can I get some water please.

Sonya lifts her own wand out, touching herself with it.

Cure light wounds 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 2) + 2 = 12
Perfect, not a single wasted point.

Silena smiles slightly, "Of course Sonya... here..."

Pulling her waterskin from her side she feeds her water.

"Forgive me desert flower... I should have stayed guard at your side... I felt my darkvision would have served better on point with Amon.. to find any foe lurking that we might have encountered... I never pondered the old man could have been a threat... I only saw him briefly."

Her tone is not defensive... but contrite she is truly sorry she misjudged a potential foe so thoroughly!

Sonya uses the water to wash the blood from her mouth before slowly rising to her feet. She then swallows her second drink from the waterskin. Sonya then refills the the bag with a simple casting. Create Water

In an oddly composed voice, "What happened? All I could feel was the shooting pain in my back before I blacked out.

Silena helps her to her feet, "...the old man from outside... apparently followed us in ... and he was some sort of shape-changer, possibly a lycanthrope of some sort."

Silena gestures to the remains of his ...now headless corpse.

"When we entered this chamber he struck from behind.. using this katar...",turning her wrist over to show the sheathed Punch-Dagger, "to strike you down from behind..."

Silena seems trepidatous about what she is about to say next... but feels Sonya needs to know the truth...

"Sonya he also bit you... you... could also be infected... if his was the curse of Lycanthropy. I'm sorry."

Patting the bloody sack tied to her belt... with the severed head inside, "..I may be able to question him at some point to find out what I may of his nature and intentions... in life. But such.. magics are currently beyond my power. But I can preserve his... needed remains to question when the power is available. I fear though there is nothing I can do if he did have a curse - and has passed it to thee. Let us just hope he was just a mad desert nomad twisted by magic into a beast-like mockery of mannish form!"

Something then just occurred to Silena and she focused her attention on the Katar / Punch-Dagger.. and cast detect magic... was the weapon magical?

Opps! Didn't realize Speak w/Dead was not a 1st level spell... its 3rd. It will be a while before Silena can cast that herself!

"Destiny intervened to keep me alive." Sonya's words are spoken very stoicly, expressing as little emotion as possibly. "And Destiny would not do so just to have me turn into an abomination."

Her eyes fall to the man in pieces on the floor and she winces at the appalling sight. "I would rather you not keep such horrific trophies, especially for such dark magics."

Sonya replaces her veil, then performs mending on her clothes to fix the tears from the katar and the bite. Once her face is hidden she drops her solemn act. Destiny again takes me to the brink of death, but will not let me pass through its doors. What is it you want from me?

Not really caring (too much) that the prideful half drow completely missed the part where he clove the beast from crotch to sternum, he signals to Amon that they were ready to move off.
Renew the light on my armor please, Jengren, Amon can lead off, ahead of the light in the dark with his vision. You stick close and tell me with your Message spell if he wants me to stop while he searches or gets the drop on something. Sonya next and Silena can be rearguard with her vision in case we get attacked from behind again. Everybody happy? lets go.
He doesn't bother to clean the blood and gore that drips from his blade.
He wouldn't speak it, but hopefully Sonya was smart enough to figure out why he was bloody and Silena was not. He found he liked the Oracle and silently hoped saving her would lessen the sting of his argument with Silena to her.

The beast clearly knew his way around the lower levels. We should ensure he did not find something of value first. Although Calain is right, I'd rather not allow the altar trap to reset and my tryst with Pharasma has cost us precious time.

Sonya begins to detect magic, scanning the corpse for anything radiating magic to grab for later study.

Jengren renews the light on the Calain then resumes his position in the marching order.

The katar or punch dagger looks old - maybe even 2-300 years old - and is 15 inches in length. An embossed image of a ferocious Katapeshi leopard adorns the weapon's hilt, while strange shadowy patterns writhe across its damascened blade, even in strong light.

If you want to use it, Silena, treat it as a +1 vicious punch
dagger. As it strikes, the extra damage from the vicious property manifests as if a great cat's claws had cruelly raked the victim's flesh. If you score a critical hit, please let me know.

Haidar's stuff: 2 potions of cure light wounds, +1 chain shirt, & 450 gp. He also had a pair of battered saddlebags containing 343 gp, a set of battered ceramic idols, a torn and bloodstained silk veil, and
ragged clothing.

Sonya grabs the two potions, sliding them into her belt pouch close at hand with the wand. Then relays to the others what she has found.

[OOC: Holy Mackerel!!! Realy? That was highly unexpected! That was ...short-sighted of me to pick up an unknown weapon without knowing if it were magical or not...sheesh, guess I was lucky this time! It seemed so... innocuous. Ok, Thanks Megan! And my list of Party Loot is updated!]

Silena now thinking more calmly and the blood-red of fury not gripping her heart, she examines the Katar to notice its length and the old ornate Katapeshi embossing artwork of the blade... un-dulled with time or use. Immediately the glow of strong magic is obvious to her enchanted senses... and she is a little shocked at her discovery.

Silena, mutters to Sonya, "This.. shiv that near ended you is... strongly magical a cruel weapon that can harm the wielder almost as much as the victim of it's...'Leopard's Paw' caress. How fittingly ironic.. and perverse a weapon that inflicts pain upon the wielder even as it slays his victims... finds its way to my black hand."

She scowls and whispers seemingly to herself, 'The Midnight Lord must be howling in sadistic jest at this... cruel destiny presented to my hand. Suffering must call to suffering .. I suppose...'

Hefting the Katar in hand she gazes upon its ornate surface and length addressing it in a soft and solemn voice, 'Very well... LEOPARD'S PAW... I will bear thee.. and endure thy torments... Do. Thy. Worse... I'll not yield.'

She returns the Vicious blade to her wrist sheath and switches her wand to her other wrist sheath unloading the currently sheathed Riffle Scroll of Protection from Evil upon its plakard-like cards and stowing them away into her belt pouch.

Panning her detect magic across the slain creature she notices the magic he possessed and takes the brief moments to gather it all ... noting Sonya's claiming of the potions but making no comment.

Then as the party moves to continue their search leaving Silena and Sonya in the rear Silena comments a sour expression on her face, her tone reluctant but not in derision, "You should give thanks to Calain's martial prowess desert flower Sonya.. with one might cleave he felled the beast that beset upon and sent you to death's doorway. I've rarely seen so mighty and decisive a stroke... all the more for he was in a burning rage at the moment and yet struck with precision and power that were... most impressive.

But try not to swell that ego of his overmuch... men often times get to thinking too much of their muscles or loins and not enough with their wits above the waist and between the ears..."

As Silena walks near Sonya shes take sup a protective position... her floating orbs of light flowing ... but rapidly they begin to dim and fade in intensity until they wink suddenly out of existence plunging the rear of the party again into darkness. The daily store of magic fueling them expended from Silena's magical heritage. But the gait of her armored stride at Sonya's side lets her now.. darkness holds no uncertainty for the half-drow woman watching over her diligently.

As you walk towards this strange floating vessel, the mists swirl around you...

... and I'm going to ask you all for a fortitude save, please.

Sonya follows the others, allowing Silena behing her.

Fort Save 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 +4 to that if its hot weather, though I doubt it.

Silena is trying to see if anything is consealed in the mist or shadows in the chamber using her darkvision as she covers the rear.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Grrr, and not doing a very good job of it!

As the party Advances, as a whole, toward the Ghost-like boat, Silena tries to recall anything she can about the 'ship of the Gods'... NETHYS supposedly arrived in - to Golarion. Specifically any threats or guardians that may of legend been set to protect NETHYS' possession.

Knowledge {Religion}: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Also, not recalling anything...

Fort Save: {Reduced by Constitution damage} 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The frail sorcerer begins to fill uneasy.

The barge appears to be a splendid vessel, afloat on a sea of cloud. Various fine-robed figures move about on its deck.

Silena looks upon the boat and sees through the mist-like pseudo-reality surrounding the wreak beneath. Commenting aloud she warns the party

"An illusion.. likely a permanent or programmed variety... Be wary there may be other hazards concealed by illusory magics at work."

Silena pans her attention to the west exit from the rough-hewn cavern trying to make out if those are three more statues she sees lining the hallway to the west...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Calain gives Amon as much lead as the man likes to scout ahead. Relying on the close at hand Jengren to relay if the Archeologist wants him to close or drop back, Via thier MESSAGE spell.
Fortitude1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Calain, your head remains clear and you may read Silena's spoiler in my last post.

"Non-sense that barge is perfectly seaworthy!" The sorcerer loos suspiciously at Silena.

"Agreed, Selena be cautious I believe you are seeing some sort of illusion."

Beartrap is right. The boat is a load of crap and it is clearly empty, do not trust anything we see. Let your instinct guide you.

Silena mumbles something incoherent under her breath in undercommon {likely obscene}... and strides forward to plunge her spiked guantleted fist through the illusion into a convenient hole in the wrecked hull to show the illusion to the others for what it is.

"An illusion... nothing more, but there may be other illusions... be wary. Now let's move."

Turning she frowns slightly, "Calain your obviously adept at it.. and no one really cares what befalls me.. so you guard Sonya she needs light to target her spells... I do not. I'll take point while you guard the rear and our two spellcasters. My dark vision is best suited to seeking enemies in the dark without alerting them to our presence with bright light."

Not waiting for an answer Silena move ahead... making her way into the darkness following the west rough-hewn caverns toward the three statue-like structure lining the walls. One graceful pirouette and her spiked chain is once again clutched in her hands.

[OOC: With our loosing our scouting archaeologist with Darkvision.. this seemed a better formation considering our suddenly reduced player character roster.]

Fine. But but learn to move quieter in your armor. Anything living in this darkness could likely see as well as you can and probably has ears. If you do fall at least scream how many there are. Sonya is easier on the eyes anyway.....and keep alert.

It was as close to an apology as she was going to get.
Calain moves to the rear and waits for Sonya to pass him.
I'll not accept her gods touch, but if it pleases you, I'll give thanks to yours. That is if he is not a slaver or torturer or similar thing. A war god or sun god or even a goddess of fertility is preferred?

Everyone but Calain sees something that looks impossible, Silena thrusting her hand through the side of that sumptuous barge. However, as the mists swirl around you, you still see the barge in all its glory with people moving around on its deck!

Sonya steps ahead of Calain, speaking in a soft voice. "Goddess of the sun, honesty, healing, and redemption. Meaning I could care less if you praise her or not, for I show my faithfulness in healing all that suffer. In the same way, I'll redeem her and show her the joys of life." Sonya's gaze is locked on Silena's figure moving through the darkness.

"If you do wish to worship her, though, your faithfullness makes it easier for my magic to heal you."

I have yet to pick a god. Tell me about her around the fire sometime and I will listen. Let's get out of here first though

Jengren laughs at Sanya's comment about healing being tied to faithfulness, "Suppose my magic works better for those who worship Nethys. Shaking his head, "Best we figure this cavern out before we preach."

Startled a bit, Silena how did you thrust your hand through the side of that spectacular barge?" his eyes grow larger, "LOOK!!!! PEOPLE ON THE BARGE!"

It's a bloody old wreck, or someone's eyes aren't working. Keep aware. There is magic afoot.

Those of you who can see the people realise that they are making notes of everything that they can see. You also feel a little woozy.

Those of you who see a battered boat also feel a little light-headed.

Silena walking toward the westerly exit from the chamber pauses frowning as everyone continues monkeying with the illusory barge, "Are you coming? Don't be distracted by the illusion... there is more to search so stay near!"

Her tone is petulant and expectant, she turns to proceed on alone westward in the cavernous chamber {10} if necessary.

Searching the darkness before her with her darkvision she makes her way to the rough hewn passage of statues perhaps pillars...

Perception: Take 10! 10 + 4 = 14

Jengren reaches out to brace himself on something, if there is nothing like a wall around, then he uses Calain for his brace. "Ahggg, a bit light headed."

Just checking in to move this game forward.

Jengren places his left hand on Calain's back as he braces himself from his head rush.

The mists continue to swirl about you.

Sonya presses forward after the others, dazed and confused as to whats going on.

Jengren continues to hold onto the Calain and nudge him forward, "Get out of this stuff!"

Calain grabs his allies and drags them off in the direction of Silena, Hey, Silena, wait. Let's get this lot away from the figment. It's addling thier brains.

The big man has little trouble pulling his puny comrades along.

Jengren willing moves along with Calain.

Where are you going?

Silena walking toward the westerly exit from the chamber pauses frowning as everyone continues monkeying with the illusory barge, "Are you coming? Don't be distracted by the illusion... there is more to search so stay near!"

Her tone is petulant and expectant, she turns to proceed on alone westward in the cavernous chamber {10} if necessary.

Searching the darkness before her with her darkvision she makes her way to the rough hewn passage of statues perhaps pillars...

Perception: Take 10! 10 + 4

Same direction from the last two posts...

Yep

A winding corridor stretches ahead, clouded with phosphorescent gray mist. Statues stand rigidly along the meandering hallway, each clad in the trappings of a powerful mage or priest. Thick tendrils of pearlescent vapor hiss forth from their open mouths, weaving through the air like translucent alien vines before reluctantly dispersing. A susurrus of whispers can faintly be heard from the statues, the sounds of forgotten tongues trapped in time.

As you head west the mist dissipates and your heads clear.

Silena grouses, "eh... drugged vapors... annoying. My mother's people use such tools for torture pleasure. I'd rather face torture and humiliation with a clear mind at the least..."

Silena lead the way casting detect magic watching above and bellow not wanting another ambush. She is also looking at any doorway or corridor eves for magical runes that might indicate another glyph spell warding a portal.

Silena is moving cautiously at only a rate of 20'ft no her full 40'ft she could move. Being very cautious as their numbers are not what they were...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

{Wow. the dice roller does not seem to like this character! I can't do anything with these constant abysmal rolls!}

Can you post an map update?

Once free of the mist Jengren takes a minute to compose himself. "That was quite interesting. I'm not exactly certain what just happen in there. We were attacked by the priest, which I suppose was predictable, but what about that strange barge and people then the mist. Does anyone have any clue what is happening in this temple?"

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Calain is quick to respond,
No f#$king idea. I'm still not sure WHY we are pressing on. We are being paid to kill Gnolls. By the pelt I think. This isn't earning us sh!+, so why did we come down here? All It's done so far is get Beartrap zapped and Sonya nearly killed.

He remains in the middle, his light making it possible for Jengren and Sonya to see, while Silena scouts up front.

Holding her head as the fog in her mind slowly clears.

It is too late to turn back now. I'll not walk through that fog again. If we press on we may, with some luck, find an easier way out.

Map? Certainly - here you go :)

Does anyone here speak Draconic or Osirian?