Legacy of Fire

Game Master Megan Robertson

"You sleep, Jengren," says Calain. "I'll take the first watch."

Silena bundles Sonya off to the sun priestess tent protecting the self-conscious dignity and casting dire expressions at the men-folk to "stay away"!

"Once Sonya is in her tent Silena will smile for her saying, "I hope...WE made a difference tonight. Anyways.. I must6 go do me midnight devotions to prepare my spells for tomorrow. Good night... sun sister."

A little hesitantly ...but taking a ...'leap of faith'... Silena embraces Sonya and lightly kisses her forehead affectionately before parting.

Silena looks around grimaces.. there really is no place private to do her evening prayers... without risking unwarrented danger within the ruins of the Gnoll infested city.

She shruggs... 'Since when was she ever so self-conscious? Demons have seen just as much of her... anyways!'

She heads for the camp fire and stokes it to a blazing pyre .. then strips of her armor and clothing... paying no attention to what males might be leering at her bare-inky black flesh.

Taking her Cold Iron Spiked Chain in hand she begins her meditative trance and dance of martial chain-mastery and disturbingly erotic intensity dancing around the fire spinning her chain slashing pirouetting never slowing never pausing to rest. It is decidedly harder tonight to focus her mind on her prayers of pain to the Midnight lord for her spells as she is weary from the days activities.

But in her cries of pain... something else is also heard! The deep throaty purr of a beast; the rumbling guttural roar of a leopard a sound.. no mortal voice should be able to make escapes her fevered lips! The sound sending an ominous shudder in the 'ape-brain' of all hearing - the primal fear of the Great Predator Cat! Then the dance reaches its climax and her body spasms in convolutions a tremble of torment wracks through her body and she cries out as if stabbed through the heart! A cry that is part human and part hunting cat splits the night!

Perform: Exotic Dancing {Take 20!} 20 + 3 = 23

Silena collapses, gasping in her exhaustion her naked womanly flesh glistening in the dying firelight.. her long shock white hair slick with sweat clinging her her lovely form like a splash of silvery blood in the even shadows.

Slowly her senses return to her and unsteadily on her feet she rises stumbling to gather her clothing, armor and weapons. Not bothering to dress in her peasants halter top and rough woolen skirt .. she staggers slowly to her tent...

Eerily... all her cuts and scratches are completely gone.. as if they were never there and her eyes are a hollow cat-like emptiness~ amber in glow in the nightly shadows...

Calain coughs, and keeps his eyes firmly focussed out into the night. You can see the rigidity in the muscles of his neck and back.

When she is done, he turns and offers her a blanket to cover her as she gathers her kit and makes her way back to the tent.

Silena smiles wryly at Calain, accepting the blanket for modesty's sake and she pats him gently & affectionately on the cheek. She turns and stalks... almost 'cat-like' back to her tent and sleep...

Jengren rests peacefully during the evening secure in the knowledge that Calain is watching over him.

Sonya wakes naturally half of an hour before the suns rise, yawning deeply as she crawls from her bedroll. Her thoughts wander to her home so far away, missing the comfort of a real bed and the carefree life she once had. She shakes the thoughts from her head finding her robes and dawning the priestly garb wishing deeply she had a mirror to see her days work. Sonya twists her body inspecting every detail of her work finally deciding it looked good. She moves to her bag and produces a comb of dark onyx with a small amber opal in its handle. There was no doubt the thing is impractical to use or carry, but far too treasured to leave. As Sonya brushed her shoulder length ebony hair, she remembers the day her father gifted this to her. Her 4th birthday he stayed up all night to finish it putting his paying customers off so his beloved daughter could have this gem. She remember how her eyes gleaned at the beauty of it, and she remembers her mothers playful chiding at how a child was to use such a heavy rock in her hair.
Smiling brightly, Sonya places the comb in her bag, draws herself up from the floor and steps into the world. She creeps through the darkness of the camp letting the others sleep, making her way to Sarenrae's statue. Sonya kneels before the figure as the first glint of sunlight peeks over the horizon landing on her tan flesh. Sonya lifts quiet prayers of protection and guidance to each in her camp. Her prayers focused intently on Selina begging for light to draw her out of the darkness she is lost in. She gives thanks for the Harpy in their path and the chance to give aid to such a creature in need. Her prayers turn to herself last. Sonya praying for patience and understanding when trying to save the souls of those who travel with her. She prays for guidance in the coming day and protection that Sonya may return this temple to its rightful goddess.
Sonya's eyes open staring forward with renewed vigor. Eyes locked in the bright sun fully raised over the horizon before her. Sonya's fingers are dancing in the sand before the statue drawing Sarenrae's sunburst holy symbol before it. Sonya rises from the ground reentering the camp stepping proudly in her new vestments. She quietly seeks which of her companions are awake.

Jengren wakes just after sunrise when he sits up and stokes the fire a moment with a nearby stick. He nods to Sonya while he adjusts his sleeves. He does a quick incantation and finger twitch, this is followed by a light breeze that takes a bit of the morning heat away. "A useful parlor trick during the goblindog days of summer."

With that he scoops coffee grounds into the pot of water. He looks over at the crew contemplating the odds.

Sonya, you get a feeling as you pray that the goddess herself watches over you and guides you.

Mechanically, you receive a +1 inherent bonus to Wisdom. This is permanent.

The rest of the party awake to the delicious smell of fresh coffee.

As Jengren looks around, he spots a head peering over the ruins of a wall. It's a human head, and the nose is twitching at the aroma...

"H... hello. I'm Felliped. I was captured by the gnolls but managed to get away. Can you help me?"

Jengren suspicious as usual takes comfort in the fact he has warriors about. He waves Felliped forward and pours a cup of coffee for the man.

"When and where were you captured. Do tell the story." He offers some trail rations to the man. "How did you escape and were there other captives, still there?"

Silena had... fitful dreams {if that's what they call them... she only ever seemed to have nightmares}.. and ended up sleeping late... not a morning person. Eventually she stirs waking to the already high sun grimacing. Setting up her travel stool to sit upon in her tent she brushes and combs her hair regarding her self in her little hand mirror, getting it tangle free from her restless tumbling sleep.

{Only two days left... then~ full moon...}

But that could not be changed so worrying over it served no purpose. She sighed.

Getting dressed she refused to wear the peasants rags of her mercenary role today. This day she put on her normal rich clothing she was use to... what did it matter she would soon be clad in her armor and few would notice. Getting armored and Armed she arrayed her weapons and gear for dire deeds of the day. Giving herself one last once over in her mirror... she leaves her tents heading over to Jengren... taking a cup of bitter dark coffee without asking.

Her eerie violet eyes regard the new human in the camp... but disregard his as he is unarmored or armed.

She sips it twice then asks, "So what's our first objective for today... personally.. I'd like to kill the Perytons at the Mill {B6}."

Sonya observes the man for any sign he is a threat. For a moment she is selfishly annoyed of another distraction to keep them from the temple. She then rebukes herself for such thoughts, offering aid to strangers is one of the most basic tenants of the Dawnflower. What good is concecrating the temple if you fail to follow the goddess's wishes.

sense motives1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

assuming I don't sense a threat,
Sonya smiles welcomingly at the stranger. "Come join us, did the creatures harm you in any way?

heal check1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Erizi, as his custom if he doesn't have to be up early sleeps in. He awakens around sunrise, and opens an eye every now an then when something new happens, but as everyone seems to be un-excited, he quickly returns to sleep, stretching and yawning himself eventually into wakefulness. He sits up, and finds some water to splash his face in. As he rubs it into his head, he realizes that the stubble is getting too long, and it is time to shave it down again.

He takes a moment to inspect his body for new vermin, and removes any such creatures, then rises and performs his normal routine of stretches and exercises, finally re-donning his armor and joining the others.

"I'm hungry". "Any leftover snake"?

He then notices the new arrival and stares at him as he approaches the fire saying nothing, but glowering.

"I was just going to roast some of those tasty vittles when Felliped poked his head over the wall. He is both hungry and an alleged escaped captive, who was just regaling Sonya and I with his great tale." Jengren unemotionally comments.

"You were saying?"

Felliped, who's an oldish chap and is carrying several wounds, climbs over the wall stiffly and comes down to the fire.

"I was one of the Lions of Senara," he says. "There were five of us originally. We are explorers from the distant nation of Cheliax seeking treasure in the faroff deserts of Katapesh... but we fell into the hands of the gnolls here in Kelmarane."

He has a beautiful melodious speaking voice. As he talks, Oxvard comes out of the tent where he'd been sleeping.

"Felliped!" he exclaims. "I never thought I'd see you alive again!"

He turns to you all. "This is the fellow I was telling you about, that escaped from the cells in the Battle Market..."

As Felliped is speaking Sonya produces her wand and softly touches the man. "Rejoice my friend, and be not afraid. You are safe here. By the will of Sarenrae be healed."

cure light wounds wand 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Megan, let me know if he still seems injured after this.

Silena looks up , "Ah. So the lost lamb is found."

"Tell us Felliped, where have you been hiding? Is there a safer locale that we could be housed from? Have you seen Kardswann use any of his Genie powers? Do you know how many regular troops are at Kardswann's command?"

"I have been hiding out in the ruins," says Felliped. "I have been too busy keeping my head down and moving to evade gnoll patrols to pay very much attention, I'm afraid."

Silena looking at Felliped shrugged, "I had hoped."

Turning her attention to Oxvard, "So... what are your plans? You and Fellipad going to get out of here? The Gnolls know he's an escapee.. we might disguise his look but I'd be hard pressed to disguise his scent..."

"This place doesn't offer what we are looking for. At least, not at the moment. So maybe we would be better moving on..." says Oxvard.

That statement strikes Sonya as odd. "Is there something specific your group searches for?"

She then turns to the rest of the group, picking up the discussion of where to go today. "My vote is to enter the temple today. We already know that it is the source of the genie's change, and with us camping so close to the entrance we need to ensure their is no threat to us remaining in there. Also of we are discovered here by the gnolls it will make it that much harder to enter the temple later as our chosen campsite hints at our intent to enter. Lastly, I have personal reasons to wish to go in there. I feel drawn to it for reasons I can place no words to."

"We were exploring and looking for mercenary work. Not banditry, like these gnolls indulge in," said Oxvard.

Jengren listens intently to conversations then states, "The perytons may eventually be a threat that we will need to deal with, but I do agree with Sonya, we should explore the temple for the myriad of reasons she expressed." With that he takes a bite our of the snake meat.

Silena sighs not in anger just acceptance, "...Ok. I had wanted to soften up the defenses of Kalmarane, learn moe about what Kardswann has arrayed in his army... before we tackled the source of the problem first! I'm sure a little more suffering inflicted upon my foes would grant me ZON-KUTHON's favor and allow me to begin calling down miracles of the 2nd Order of devotions in power! I just don't think we are ready to take on whatever corrupted a Genie.. a being of such power compared to us. But I will support the parties majority decision with all the meager power I can bring to bear."

"I too vote for action". "We had a saying in the arena...To over analyze is to paralyze".

With that Erizi grabs up his massive hammer, and heads towards the door he was so curious about last night.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Perception

Posting will probably be spotty this week, as I'm on a business trip, and my hotel internet is glacial.

Seeing Erizi head for the door Sonya chuckles lightly. "I guess we're going. Should we pack camp or leave a guard as we did last night?"

Jengren gets up and chants a few mystic words when a greenish glow engulfs him before fading away. Mage armor

"Inside it is."

DM are we leaving Calain and the the two rescued adventurers behind?

Sonya's mind focuses inwardly, drawing her own life energy out, shaping the spell and splitting the ball forming in her mind into three teathers. She draws the teather to her hand and swiftly expands the strands, laying hands upon Jengrin, Erizi, and Selina. A warm protecting sensation envelops them for a moment before settling into the back of their minds. The life link connected Sonya rises to her feet, gathers her bag and follows after Erizi.

Silena smiles at Sonya's touch. Her hands clasping briefly at her chest over her heart... as if feeling the miracle spread its benevolence... deep within not only her body.. but spirit as well.

Shyly she whispers, "Thank you... daughter of the dawnflower..."

She quickly gather's her dignity again.. straightening her shoulders and unlimbering her cold iron spiked chain from about her shapely armored waist.

Silena strides forward to take Erizi's left flank ahead of Jengren and Sonya along side the large fighter.

At the door Silena casts detect magic.. and surveys the door holding up her hand to call for a halt, briefly while she studies it for any magical alarm or potential trapping/warding spell.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Feeling the warm tether Jengren turns to Sonya and nods.

You head over to the ruined church to have a look around. (Calain does offer to stay at camp, the two rescued adventurers and Dashki stay also.)

Most of the walls of this forlorn ruin still stand, but the interior walls have been demolished and gutted. Several skeletons litter the structure's interior, including about a dozen garbed in the red-chitin livery of the Pactmaster Guard. The rest appear to have been clerics of Sarenrae or even common citizens, though the past 20 years have rotted away most of the skin and clothes worn by the corpses. Ash and fire stains the interior walls and ceiling throughout most of the structure, and signs of violent battle are everywhere.

Near the centre of the church stands a forlorn stairwell that leads down to a heavily barred door. A strange metal plate with a glowing series of irregularly etched lines mars the surface of the door, casting the stairs in a dull red illumination.

Yep, there's magic at work here!

Jengren stops within ruins casts a spell and focuses his attention.

Dectect magic

spell craft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

He points to the etching on the strange metal plate door. "Magic."
He then spends times examining the glow.

Silena will step closer to try to determine if the "irregularly etched lines" are any language that can be read... and deciphered...

Linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Sonya quivers lightly at the destruction, before her mind starts to work a spell. Sonya remains behind Erizi as she casts detect undead she slowly scans the room for any other undead that may remain in this temple. As she searches she looks throughout the temple to learn the layout and any other clues she may be able to find in this temple. she intently pauses on the door trying to identify any religious markins on it to identify what it holds.

knowledge religion 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

You all examine the strange plate on the door. As you study it, you realise that it is a seal of interdiction... extremely powerful magic that prevents passage through the portal so sealed without the appropriate key. Mechanically it works like an arcane lock except you cannot dispel it or use a knock spell to get through. You'd need something more powerful - break enchantment, perhaps.

Silena's linguistic skills reveal that it was placed by the Pactmaster Guard to contain 'a great evil'.

Sonya let's free a sound of relief. "No undead, we should be safe to enter."

Silena frowns, "Well, we and nothing else for that matter - won't be entering THAT door .. unless we find the warding key to bypass that Seal of Interdiction on the door! That's BIG magic... placed by the Pactmaster Guard themselves.. if I'm translating that script correctly. There must be something of Great Evil confined behind that door!"

Silena retraces their path into the Temple scanning the ground.. until she finds the corpse remains of the dozen or more slain Pactmaster Guard. She collects one of the masks if one is still there and intact... then searches the corpse for anything that might serve as a key to the 'Seal'.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Erizi stands still scratching, and peering outside every now and then to make sure nothings surprises the group here.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Perception

Erizi spots a few lizards, nothing more.

Silena can retrieve some battered and faded bits of Pactmaster Guard uniform, but there is nothing that looks to be a key.

Silena collect the battered bit of Pactmaster Guard uniform.. and comes back.

"I'm sorry Sonya.. everyone.. I have no idea how to open this door. I was not able to find anything useful. We could serch for another entrance?"

"If there is nothing else, lets go dispense with those perytons that Silena mentioned."

"Before the sun sets. I wish to burn the clerics bodies. The building is flame touched already so it shall not be desecrated and it's frame should hide the smoke so long as were careful to control it."

Sonya's disappointment is hard to hide as a silent prayer is lifted. "Was I truely only brought here to see to a few clerics? I cannot believe you would take my arms from me for this. Please Sarenrae, show me what I am missing."

Silena steps up to the door and tries a simple push/pull to open the door... just to make sure they did not look foolish later for not trying to even see if the door was secure.

It does not move, but the strange markings glow brighter until Silena moves away.

Silena shrugs, and smirks, "Had to try.. we'd feel really stupid if we later found out it was unlocked!"

Turning back to the arty, "So... where to next?"

Jengren chuckles and nods with Silena. "True."

[OOC: I don't like forcing an issue.. but no one is stepping up I'm acting. If someone has a a different idea..SPEAK UP!]

Silena shrugs, "Fine Perytons it is!"

Silena leads the way to building B6.. the ruins of the Mill across the river just down the street from from Umdrella's home...

Silena is making no attempt at stealth, she unlimbers her cold iron spiked chain in hand ... she is going to pick a fight!

This game's pace is slow and it's difficult to get into a groove with my character and dialogue. Overall, I'm fine heading to the perytons.

Jengren quickens his step pushing his sleeves up his forearms to reveal the swirling tattoo patterns.

The wheel of this roofless mill still turns with the flow of the river, but it clearly has not been used for its intended purpose in decades. As soon as you enter this rushes out at you, clearly annoyed at having been disturbed!

Peryton's initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

You'd better roll yours! (And add your first round actions and rolls, please.)

RD 1: Jengren

Init: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Cracking wise Jengren reminds Erizi and Silena, "This is a perfect example of what I mentioned yesterday. The two of you need to be between THAT and me." He continues to let energy build within his body, then he releases a vibrant array of colors.

DC15 Will save

If the others go before Jengren and will be caught in the color spray, then he will alternatively cast magic missile.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6