"Our world isn't part of any league, as far as I know. It's called 'Golarion.' In the area where I was born, the remains of a crashed ship that sailed between the stars are scattered across the lands... but that ship crashed many centuries ago. And while there are rumors that it might be possible to go to the other planets that light the sky at night, I think we may be the first people of our world to be come to a world beyond our sun. I have never heard of this 'Accord' or 'Hegemony' of which you speak. I fear that Lomrick plans an invasion of our world."
"Goh... lahr... Aeon? I'm afraid to say I have never heard tale of such a world... you truly are far from home. And you say the Accord nor the Hegemony have influence upon your homeworld? Then you will not have heard the tales of the endless war... how untold aeons ago, two ancient interstellar civilisations engaged in a never-ending war which raged across the multiverse. One side of this conflict — known to us as the Patrons — favoured good, whilst the other — known only as the Principalities — exulted in evil. It was these civilisations, we believe, that made and used the network of interplanetary gates to traverse the immeasurable gulfs between worlds".
"And, as the millennia unfolded, they each became progenitors to a variety of client species — whether uplifted, engineered, or secretly fostered through patient evolution — each one encouraged to take up and embrace their benefactor’s ideals. It isn't known to us what ended the war but we do know that both the Patrons and the Principalities ceased to exist and the multiverse was once more a disconnected weave of disparate cultures..."
"Untold ages have passed, and the presumed descendants of both civilizations have matured, resuming the battles their ancestors started. The Ultari Hegemony represents the dark forces of the multiverse — a powerhouse coalition steeped in the hatred and pain of the Principalities. Meanwhile, the good races of the Bellianic Accord stand opposed to the Hegemony, still clinging to the sheltered Patron worlds their enemies have yet to discover or dominate. Lomrick is, we believe, part of a hard-line cult within the Hegemony... and your fears about invasion are, in all likelihood, well-founded... whilst I, with a number of allies that I have made whilst hear on Argosa and the kidnapped Relstanna, work in the interests of the Bellianic Accord".
Kaetrix catches herself as she realises that what she has told the friends is a lot to take in, "There are two more working with me in the search for Relstanna... they were following up on a lead that we had on Lomrick's suppliers and, if the gods are with us, they will return soon. I think then we should discuss, in more detail, our mutual interest".
As if on cue, there is a knock, then three quick knocks, then one more knock on the trapdoor in the attic's floor. After a short pause, the hatch opens and two women climb into the room. The first is humanoid, but looks like a animated plant, with thin, supple bark for skin and light green leaves where her hair should be. The second is even less ordinary, with a child's upper body somehow melded with the body of a giant spider. They look with surprise around at the large group squeezed into the attic space, and both grip weapons tightly while they try to determine what is happening. The wood-skinned woman speaks first: "Kaetrix? What's happening here? Are you all right?"
Kaetrix smiles reassuringly to the new arrivals, "I'm fine... These are friends... fellow enemies of Lomrick - they believe they were kidnapped by him yet they escaped and have made their way here. That meeting at the Weave Runner I went to? It was a trap... a bunch of skinwalkers ambused me and I would have been in real trouble if these folk hadn't turned up when they did".
The wooden woman, the chlorvian (as Leticula had called herself), pauses for a moment, then shrugs and puts away the shortspear she had readied. She also slips off the wooden shield she was carrying on her left arm. Her armor is an overlapping array of thick, red-brown leaves that seem to possess an unnatural density and inflexible nature, and it rattles slightly like a wooden wind chime as she approaches you and offers one bark-covered hand. "That's a rather familiar-sounding story. Well, if you're enemies of Lomrick, you're probably friends of mine. I'm Mayenyi," she introduces herself, "from a world known as Shinshatila. Have you ever heard of it?" She is clearly hopeful for some kind of positive reply to that last question.
Drancis' face grows clouded as he remembers the other chlorvian who was looking after Andretta but he does put on a weak smile. "I am Drancis and it is good to meet you Mayenyi. Unfortunately, you are only the second of your species I have encountered in my time here. Still I am thankful you are here. As for your world," he shakes his head in reply, "I have not heard of it before, but do keep in mind until a week ago none of us have ever been off of Golarion, our home planet, before!" As he talks further his green eyes have trouble staying focused on her face, and his straggly blonde hair seems to move of its own accord.
Kasia smiles, sadly, at Drancis's expression of Golarion. "You've had quite the adventure, then! I must confess that I have only left my own home recently as well." Narrowing her eyes slightly, she looks down and to the side. 'And also not entirely of my own volition.' She mutters, seemingly to nothing.
Looking back up with a fresher smile, she continues. "Still, we're happy to have you here. I believe we'll need all the help we can get. And if you truly saved Kaetrix, we are in your debt." She moves her front legs back and bends down, making a movement that looks like something between a bow and courtesy. "I am Kasia."
Kasia doesn't ask them if they've seen others like her, before - the expression on their faces is enough to suggest that they haven't. She is growing more accustomed to the fearful expressions she receives, but still hasn't come to enjoy them. She does her best to look harmless, keeping her hands far from her gun holster and refraining from any of her normal activities, such as climbing the walls or creating a web to lounge in.
Rikkan had a weird grin on his face as he met the strange new creatures. "And I'm Rikkan. So nice to meet you. I'm with these two, and ranked pretty highly on Lomrick 's hate list with them. They've told you the basics. I think we need to take the fight to him, rather than wait for his goons to pick us off one by one."
He watches the plant creature even closer. "Does your bark shed? Such an interesting textured appearance..."
"Only when I itch too much," Mayenyi replies, chuckling. Soon enough she is serious, though. "I'm in a similar state to you folks, it sounds like. Lomrick and his klaven kidnapped me from my homeworld, and no one on Argosa seems to have ever heard of it. So my only chance to find a way home is to find Lomrick again and try to figure out how he got me here." She shakes her head, then pulls a slip of parchment out from a pouch and hands it over to Kaetrix. "Not much luck with jugglers, but we got a few names. Maybe it's a lead, but I don't trust them much."
As the group introduce themselves to each other, Kaetrix looks through the hatch into the alleyway where the captive from the fight at the Weave Runner has been secured. Slumped against the drainpipe to which he is chained, he appears to be asleep… and so, commenting that she will have to take him – some time tonight - elsewhere into the city to let him loose, Kaetrix closes the hatch. Settling down on a stool, she makes a suggestion, ”Lomrick has not been seen in Zel-Argose since Relstanna was abducted – we must assume, given that none of the coteries will admit to having granted him passage off-world, that he has holed up within his manse. His grounds are up to the north of the city, about half an hour from here… we should act – tonight, or tomorrow if you need to prepare – against the jagladine”.
She considers the group before her before continuing, ”If I may? I believe you have a greater chance of success if Kasia and Mayenyi were to travel with you… and, in return, maybe Illonna and Locke could take their place staking out the juggler's warehouse where we believe Lomrick is sourcing his supplies?”. Illonna and Locke, who had been sat quietly through the exchange, nod at the suggestion… smiling at the willingness of the pair, Kaetrix turns to Zoreck, Rikkan and Drancis, ”Lomrick will not be unprotected… he will have a klaven guard with him, of that we can be certain - and maybe other agents of the Hegemony… but he will not be expecting you, in particular, to have found him. That element of surprise could work to our advantage... Now, is there anything else you need to know?”
Drancis nods in reply to the suggestion. "We have dealt with these klaven before. I am ready to get underway when you are. Since Illonna will not be with us we could use some source of healing, whether potions or syringes." He looks to the newcomers with a questioning look, Are either of you versed in the healing arts?"
"Those klaven are creepy, alright. It might be best to rest a bit so we are all full strength before taking him on. Unless delaying an evening would give him too much time to prepare. If that's the case, then we should leave now."
"It's the primary purpose of the verdanliyin," Mayenyi answers, grinning, "and even if no one here seems to know what that means, I can still call upon the worldsoul of Argosa just as I did on Shinshatila." Looking around at several blank looks, she shakes her head, then clarifies, "Yes, I can cast healing magics."
Zoreck blinks at the utterance of a number of unfamiliar words, until Mayenyi concludes. "um... Oh, okay. That I understand!"
"If we have time, and the necessary resources, I think we might want to take stock to make sure we have the proper gear before we hit Lomrick's place. Kaetrix, do you have any intel on Lomrick's defenses? If so... that would be helpful!"
Looking over the captured gear from the skinwalkers, Zoreck feels the balance of the leader's shortsword. "Hmmm... This is a nice blade. Anyone mind if I hang onto it?"
"Lomrick won't be expecting you in particular but he will be well protected... it's not a large building, I guess he's trying to avoid undue interest... and, on the face of it, nothing looks particularly out of place but in the evenings there are klaven posted on the balcony - a tell-tale sign that Lomrick is expecting that he will need to defend the place", Kaetrix considers Zoreck's question a little further, "It's a fair bet that Lomrick will have been incubating new klaven but he won't just rely on his mindless drones - there will be other hegemony representatives there. You may want to think about how you approach the building... once you're in then it won't be long before things degrade to a running battle, of that I am sure. But to actually gain access... well you might need to be shrewd about that".
Drancis runs his hand through his hair trying to comb out the tangles in it as he considers Kaetrix's words. "If we could get access to the floor plan or some blueprints of the building, we could see if there are any access points that would not be closely guarded."
Kaetrix whistles, an unlikely feat given her feline features, "It's a good idea Drancis and one I already checked out... Lomrick seems to have kept any kind of information about the property far removed from the official records - the advantage of building to the north, and of having money. All I have been able to determine by talking to people who have lived in the area for a while is that there are probably extensive cellars below the building - there was a lot of excavation during the early days of building the property, far more than you would expect if they were simply laying foundations".
"I've never seen the place," Mayenyi comments. "What are the grounds around it like? I don't suppose Lomrick found the only decent forest on this planet to build his mansion in, did he?"
Rikkan scratched his chin absentmindedly. "I have an idea. Let me mix a couple reagents and I think I can make the light refract off of myself so that I can become practically invisibile for a few moments. That could let me sneak in...unfortunately I can't do that for any of the rest of you."
"Invisibility is out of my reach, but Kasia has some magic..." points out Mayenyi. "Maybe if we found her some scrolls?"
Kasia shakes her head. "Afraid not. We can see through such things, but can't cast them." Her expression a mixture of pride and regret, she explains, "My people's approach tends to be more... openly diplomatic."
"We do know a few healing tricks, but certainly not as many as Mayenyi here. Ours are more for emergency uses." She slightly lifts the gun out of her holster, with a grin. "Once we get inside, we can make quite the ruckus, though."
"I tried talking to them," Mayenyi replies, suddenly very bitter. "I shouted, I pleaded, I begged. It didn't stop them. Gave them no pause whatsoever. They say they worship Darkorian, but I believe Lurn Shadowhand has already claimed their souls, if not their bodies. My spear is the only negotiation I am willing to offer them, and death the only mercy." The sudden change in the chlorvian's demeanor is rather stunning, and several moments pass before she shakes her head to clear it. "Well, no sneaking up then. Should we just plan to run at the front doors?"
"Kastrix, do you think you could create a distraction on one side of the compound, draw some of the guards, and let us sneak up on the other side and make our move?"
Drancis gives Rikkan a dubious look. "I dunno, I still say we should try finding a way to sneak in through the cellars. We could still use the distraction to draw the guards away, giving us time to search. THAT won't be a problem!" He nods to Mayenyi, his jaw set in determination. "I agree, no quarter should be asked for, or given. These Klaven are an abomination and need to be exterminated!"
"I'm with Drancis in that a covert infiltration is a better idea than a frontal assalut. I say we try to sneak in the back door, and then do as much damage as we can before they know we're there!"
Eyeing the ratfolk with curiosity, "Can Rikkan use his invisibility to scout around to see if there even is a back door?" asks Mayenyi.
Come the morning, Illonna and Locke bid farewell to their friends and, accompanied by Kaetrix, head out into the city in search of Lomrick's suppliers... before she goes though, Kaetrix hugs each of the group preparing to infiltrate the jagladine stronghold, "May the eyes of Rarmezan follow you... and his will guide your hands".
"Bring Relstanna back to us... and end Lomrick".
The trek to the north takes over an hour, the heat of the sun an unwelcome friend on a day devoid of wind... following the map sketched out by Kaetrix, the group find themselves upon a small hill overlooking five large properties... each walled and secluded from the more heavily populated valleys of northern Zel-Argose.
From their high point on the hillock overlooking the building that the map identifies as Lomrick's, the group can see beyond the high walls of the grounds... and determine that there are indeed two entrances at ground level - a main entrance at the front and a rear entrance within a small ornamental garden. There are two small barred windows at ground level - neither of which are viable entry points... but there are two balconies on the first floor of the building - both accessible with a small climb.
...and, for the half hour that the group watch, there is no sign of life.
"A garden," Mayenyi smiles. "That's a good omen. The back door is definitely the right place to start."
Kasia smiles politely at Kaetrix's prayer for them, uncertain of the specifics, but understanding the gist. In response she places a hand on the side of Kaetrix's face, and says softly, "The World's Web will lead us back to you, sister."
When the group arrives at the hillock, Kasia crouches herself down, and proceeds not to move a muscle for the entire time that they do reconnaissance, looking unsettlingly statue-esque. Finally, as Mayenyi announces the door, Kasia frowns slightly. "We were thinking of climbing up by the balcony and lowering rope down. Even the back entrance may have guards."
Drancis nods in reply to the umbra's observation. "I think you are right. Even if the back entrance is not heavily guarded, I have no doubt the door is trapped in some way, even if only to trigger the alarm." He glances over to Rikkan, "What do you think? Balcony or back door?"
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As Kaetrix takes her leave, Zoreck turns to Rikkan and says, "Blessings of Razmir? How can they worship the Living God on another planet...?"
Rikkan had been silent. "If you give me a second to do some potion making, I can prepare a draught that lets me climb like a monkey. I'll not need the rope lowered after all. It might allow us to not have to battle several of his guards, if we skip up that level to the balcony...that might be our best shot."
If the group decides on the balcony, Rikkan takes a few moments and bred an extract of Monkey Fish to fill his open slot.
Assessing the estate, Zoreck nods at Rikkan's suggestion. "Sounds like a plan!"
Clambering over the walls of the grounds, Rikkan looks around for any sign that his arrival has been noticed... and as everything remains peaceful, he quickly rushes over the coarsely manicured lawns and up to the gardens at the rear of the building... The garden is backed by a tall, stone wall set with a wrought iron gate - ignoring the gate and climbing over the wall, Rikkan sees that the garden includes well-tended walking paths between the gate and an open archway that actually leads into the building itself. A solitary stone door enters the side of the building to the east (this is the door that was visible from his earlier vantage point), and a first-floor balcony overlooks the garden.
The garden is heavily planted with roses and other floral decoration... the extent of the planting suggests that someone here truly appreciates horticulture...
Mayenyi begins her approach by murmuring a quick prayer to Lianthus, causing her barklike skin to harden and thicken noticeably. Once that's done she scrambles over the wall in Rikkan's wake, instinctively moving toward the flower beds as she tries to be stealthy.
Perception
Rikkan sees the rose bushes sway, and tries to signal to his crew to avoid them, by waving them away from that area. He shakes his head quickly back and forth in a no gesture as well.
As Mayenyi joins Rikkan on top of the fence into Lomrick's gardens, the ratfolk points down at the roses and warns her of the threat below...
Once Mayenyi has moved into position Drancis quickly follows suit, staying out of sight as best he can.
The longer that Mayenyi watches the roses as they move beneath the wall, the more she thinks of the Vampire Rose - a vampire rose stands motionless until its prey moves within range, when it strikes with a thorny stalk. Opponents are grabbed and drained of blood - such that when they are fully sated with blood, a vampire rose’s petals flush red.
"Vampire roses," Mayneyi murmurs to Rikkan. "Get too close and they can drain your veins dry."
Drancis gives Mayenyi a small smile. "Don't worry about the plants. If we need to clear some space I can easily take care of that!
"Weird plants? Huh. They don't look like anything special to me, but I'm not from around here. I'll give 'em a wide berth if you say so."
The Kellid then climbs over the wall.
The roses, two distinct plants, are both slowly moving directly beneath the fencing... with long stalks and branches they are likely to have quite an extended reach - but, in common with many plants, it likely has quite limited mobility.
"I think that's our answer," says Mayenyi, indicating the slowly-approaching roses. "Drancis?"
Drancis sees the plants moving and, holding his hand up, sends an aether bubble to encapsulate the nearest one...
Rikkna stnads back and watches Drancis do his bubbly thing. Hes gotten much better at that, the alchemist thinks, impressed with the young lad.
Imagining the aether squeezing around the stems of the plants slowly moving on the far side of the fence, Drancis grips one the hidden sentries… and, ripping its roots clear from the soil, moves it to the far corner of the decorative garden. Scraping loose soil across the manicured lawn, the telekineticist holds the flailing branches at bay… allowing, one by one, his friends to jump over the fence and approach Lomrick’s manse without fear of being assailed by the thorned plant. A quick check of the door heading to the east confirms that it is locked… whilst, to the south of the garden, an open archway leads directly into the building – and into a large central hall with doors leading in various directions and a large staircase heading upwards to the top storey of the building. So far, there is no sign of movement within the manse…
Mayenyi points toward the open archway with her shortspear, raising a questioning eyebrow toward her companions.