Lyaro will scope out the temple from the outside taking stock of entrances and observation points
All the while attempting to be subtle
"My place is by your side." Erik replies to Devyhn, nodding gently.
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Devyhn takes a long, steadying breath. "Let's get on with it, then."
Devyhn approaches the front steps of the Temple, when he reaches the entrance, he repeats the same mantra as before, acknowledging Pharasma as the Goddess of Birth, Prophecy, and Death.
As he enters the foyer, he seeks out a temple attendant. "I have important news for the High Priest, Khoyar. Could you let him know that I wish to see him? My name is Devyhn Rhyker."
Meanwhile, Bleyz sneaks around looking for a back or side way in.
"I will go with you I need to confront my fathers killer" says Naila touching the hilt of her rapier.
She follows Devyhn and Erik as they enter.
The acolyte nods as Devyhn arrives "I will take you to him"
Erik notices dozens of men are hiding behind the pillars on each side of the room and up on the second floor (The central chamber is an open area so you can see look down from the second floor all around). They carry crossbows, javelins or Haldberds. Erik notices a few badges and their colours leads him to believe they are with the city guard.
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There are side entrances but they are all locked, however Bleyz sees open windows on the second floor he could enter if he can climb up there.
There are windows Achren can fly into, he can even see the balcony that leads into the high-priest office on the very top of the central tower.
This is however a grand temple. Such places are almost always magicly warded against intrusion.
Bleyz will attempt the climb...
... and obviously makes no progress.
Achren will cast grater invisibility then fly towards one of the common Windows, hoping to get near to Devhyn, Erik and Nails stealthily.
Bleyz sighs and goes back around to the front and enters behind his friends though silently and in the rear...
Erik whispers to Devyhn. "City guard here. Trap?"
Lyaro casts invisibility then fly on himself and then fly through an open window on the first floor say left side he has his sword out
"If they are here for us perhaps we should surrender?" Erik whispers in reply.
"We could break free, but I can't guarantee not killing some of the city watch. The priest might drop his guard if he thinks we have been arrested."
As Lyaro attempts to enter the windows a shimmering amber field appears and energy tentacles attempt to wrap around him.
Make a reflex save dc 21. If you fail your are held in place and paralysed for 1d4+10 days or until the spell is dispelled. Your are effectively frozen in time and cannot be harmed and you do not need food or or water while held.
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Inside Khoyar come out to meet you he is accompanied by a man in amour wearing the sigil of Sarenrae. He is a paladin of high-ranking it seems by the honour badges he wears.
"Welcome back! You have been gone for some time I was beginning to worry. How has your search been progressing? Time is growing short—as I'm sure you know better than I, Lady. The deadline for handing over the elixir is close and if you do not then your fathers souls me be lost forever, sold to a devil or worst destroyed."
Naila stiffens as if stung. She grabs the hilt of her blade tightly but stays still she looks to Devyhn and Erik letting you respond first.
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"We have the soul," Devyhn replies. "We tracked it to a Protean in Limbo, who, after some persuasion, admitted that it took the soul under contract from a mortal summoner. The Protean, however, being mercurial in its nature thought giving the summoner a false soul was rather amusing. The Inevitable traveling with us, Galabast the Thunderer, persuaded it to hand over the true soul to us. All we need now is the body. I trust it is still in good condition?"
Khoyar blanched at the mention of the protean. His hands with their perfectly manicured nails and gaudy silver ring, tightened almost imperceptibly. "You visited Limbo? In the flesh? Impressive not many mortals can make such a claim...Unbelievable." The high priest’s voice was low and tense, yet he punctuated the word with a dry crackle of laughter. "You've come halfway across the world to solve a heinous murder and an affront to our shared goddess, and the first thing you do is take the word of a protean at face value. Gods! Very well then produce the soul I will verify it's authenticity."
The paladin is still and silent he frowns and seems rather upset.
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Now that the spell is spent it is safe for Lyaro to enter.
Lyaro enters then and stays hovering just above the walkway on the upper level.. above = 5cm.. no risk of feet noises
"Yusef if you will"
The Sarenite Paladin nods without speaking, then turned to Neila and sank effortlessly down on his haunches. The paladin uses a simple spell know to all paladins.
For a moment, the priest’s eyes softened. Then he blinked hard—once, twice. He pulls back, upper lip threatening to curl. "Evil" he said, and stood. "It is as you said Khoyar. Her heart is evil."
"I tough as much." says Khoyar
He cast a smug gaze toward Neila. "Lady Neila Anvanory, I hereby accuse you of orchestrating the death of your father. May Pharasma have mercy on your soul."
The guards and several priest come out of hiding taking positions all around the group.
"What?!" Neila’s word was the scream of a wounded animal.
"Murdered," Khoyar continued, addressing the room "by one’s own child. If there’s a sadder fate a father can suffer, I know it not. And for what? For what, brothers and sisters?" He looked around, and made eye contact with several of the men gathered around. "So that she might inherit his fortune and the sun orchid elixir, and buy herself a few more years to live in luxury—a mere blink of Pharasma’s eye. What is a decade, or a century, compared to the eternity of the Beyond?"
"That’s a lie!" Neila looked like she would tear the priest’s throat out with her bare hands, but she stayed back. "You know I'm innocent! You said so yourself—your magic verified it!"
"Ah, yes. We used the magic of zone of truth as your friend suggested to verify your innocence" Khoyar was nodding, his manner sage. "But even magic can be deceived. Especially by one of these."
As he’d been talking, one of the high priest’s hands had crept into his pocket. Now he held it up, revealing a strange little brooch in the shape of a lustrous black beetle.
"Look well, my friends. Use both your eyes and the goddess-granted second sight, and see just how easily evil can disguise itself—how a mere bauble can cloud even the vision of the angels."
You've hard of amulets that can block spells such as detect evil and zone of truth on a person you can only assume that this is one such amulet.
"As I grew more and more suspicious of Lady Anvanory's motives, in spite of the failure of my divinations, I made arrangements for one of her servants to covertly investigate her quarters for evidence of tools just such as this. And as soon as he brought me this corrupted, filthy item, my prayers and visions suddenly became crystal clear. I knew at once that Neila Anvanory had ordered the death of her father, and furthermore that she would attempt to pin the crime on us—the very church that sought to put things right, seeking justice even for a cowardly would-be immortal like Faldus Anvanory!"
"I'm not so good with words like some of my companions, but If Neila were indeed hiding her true nature, why wouldn't she be wearing this... thing. It seems to me that you are the one with the bauble and hiding things from this good paladin here. Perhaps you should drop it and let him detect your own evil."
"That will be quite enough. I am willing to believe that you are all innocent in all this and were simply trying to do the right thing and were tricked by her. As such you are all free to go so long as you agree not interfere with this matter any further is this agreeable with you Yusef?"
The paladin nods "I sense evil only from her if you do not press any charges against the rest they are free to go"
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"I understand," Devyhn replies to Yusef. "You are acting in the interest of justice and truth. I will not interfere with your arrest of Lady Anvanory if you do not interfere in my duty, namely the arrest of Khoyar here under suspicion of heresy and theft of the soul of Faldus Anvanory. Let the s hold them both, and reason our way to the truth."
"That is an internal church matter so I will not interfere unless you attack him unprovoked but he is your senior here you better have some proof if your making that kind of accusation." replies Yusef
"To accuse me of both murder and heresy in the same breath is no small thing. Yet since you clearly have no proof of your ridiculous claims—claims that I must point out again come at the suggestion of the one creature in all existence that can rival the Father of Lies himself in its love of capricious deception—I'm going to have to ask you to leave my church, with the added recommendation that you keep walking until you reach the shores of the Inner Sea." says Khoyar
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"I am an inquisitor, and I was charged by Ceyandan, Pharasma's Herald to investigate this matter and find the stolen soul. He holds the position of High Priest in this temple, and if I were one of his acolytes, he would be well within his power to dismiss me from the grounds," Devyhn replies to Yusef, pointing to Khoyar.
"You know that as well," he says, turning to face Khoyar. "You hold a higher rank, but that does not protect you from being interrogated by me in the execution of my duties. If the evidence shows you are innocent, my friends and I will depart forthwith and trouble you no further."
"Do you submit yourself to the Question?" Devhyn asks again, in an ice cold tone.
"I will not be treated like a criminal. If you suspect me then we can send for another inquisitor or even the grand inquisitor to come and you can submit your evidence to him as you are clearly biased having fallen victim to this deceiver" he replies pointing to Naila.
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"You are not a criminal, you are a suspect. By refusing to submit to the Question, you place further suspicion on yourself. You have had your warning."
Devyhn moves quickly forward and calls upon the power of Pharasma to restrain Khoyar, touching him with the glowing symbol on his palm.
"Erik, help me restrain him. High Priest Khoyar, I arrest you on suspicion of heresy and theft of a living soul!"
Erik shouts at the Paladin,
"Stand aside and let us do our duty."
while he attempts to grab Khoyar.
"She has bewitched them! They mean to murder me!" shouts Khoyar feigning fear and pretending to be injured.
Lets go by init. Devyhn missed but Erik managed to grapple Khoyar during the surprise round.
Your init then if your up first you can go.
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"You are are under arrest, and if you do not cease resisting, I am within my authority to use lethal force," Devyhn replies.
"He is not being harmed, but we are arresting him. Remember your pledge - do not interfere," he says to the paladin, Yusef.
He grabs for the ornate ring on Khoyar's finger and pulls it free.
If there are any other rings on any other of his fingers, he removes those as well.
Lyaro is observing and getting ready to move if needed
The guards are preparing to fire and Achren brings up the wall of Ice to provide cover from once side at least.
Despite his best effort Devyhn is unable to get the ring from the priest who fights savagely to keep it.
The priest Kohyar suddenly becomes misty and by turning into a could of gas manages to escape Erik and floats away 30 feet.
The guards who had been holding fire shoot now that Khoyar is clear crossbow bolts coming down in a shower.
"Stop this and surrender peacefully and I will see to it you have a fair trial and that the matter is investigated thoroughly" says Yuself casting a spell at Devyhn.
Burning Brand will save dc 19 negates. Devyhn takes 3d6 fire damage everytime he attacks anyone other than Yusef.
Your go.
Lyaro will still hold off at least until Yusef responds
Erik and Bleyz?
Bleyz waits to see how Yusef will respond to Devyhn's ultimatum.