All is NOT well in Mendev. The Worldwound is spewing demons out again and they are doing what they usually do: invading and eating people.
The Pathfinder's Society is committed to researching the past and uncovering long forgotten truths but when it comes to demonic invasions even Pathfinders sometimes have to take a stand...
The giant of a cleric waits for the imp to come within arm's length, hoping to slam his shield to end this fight for good. He's not planning on using his God's energy on one exaggerated bat.
Turns out Val is worse than expected in close quarters =(
Idril counterattacks the "imp" but his thrust shares his opponent's same luck. Vrothum nocks up an arrow, ready to shoot at the creature in case it tries to flee. Val advances standing under the cauldron and prepares to attack.
The culdorn is suspended by the chains even if large you can move under it without being hindered by its presence so Valentynne can actually attack after a 5ft step if he wants
The 3D elements are confusing me. Will I be able to get into adjacent position to attack? If yes, I will do that as a move and attack, if not I will ready action where I am.
"Then Sheela, we shall take it down with raw steel!"
Sheela's 2 eagles try one last desperate assault on the remaining "imp" but fail again and their mistress provess no more successful in her attempt to awaken the magic of her wand.
Valentynne smashes down on the last remaining opponent as well but the nimble creature just avoids the giant weapon and then does the same against Azrael's kukri... then it counterattacks this time targetting Azrael instead than Idril.
Male Half-elf Magus 4 | Init +4 Perc +6 | AC 18 | FORT +5 REF +4 WILL +5(+2 v ench) | CMD 15
Idril's brow furrows and his eyes grow intense with concentration. He lifts Ankar once again and brings it down in a practiced swing, attempting to cut the imp down.
Azrael breathes heavily with all his wounds, but still does not falter.
With his other hand free, the Talon constraints himself no more and attempts to bring down the Imp with weapon and bare hands! His blade proves to be deadly as it strikes across the Imp's chest.
Working together Rogar and Azrael are finally able to bring down the second "Imp". Once the threat is neutralized you are left alone in the hall with the boiling liquid hanging above you and 2 closed doors left to open...
As the wounds slowly close, he gives thanks and test his rotary motion swinging his arms around.
Shortly after the wounds are healed completely, he retrieves his shield and follows behind Rogar. "Let's go. No time to waste here, although if there is boiling liquid, we should be cautious there might be more people present here."
Maps of varying sizes drawn on paper, papyrus, and parchment of dozens of styles cover the walls of this chamber. Most of these bear sketched annotations of some form or another, and bare, rectangular spaces in the cartographic wallpaper attest to maps that have been hastily removed. An enormous parchment map of the Worldwound dominates the east wall above a solidly built wooden desk covered in a haphazard array of books and papers. Scores of charcoal symbols and indicators dot this map, pointing out sites of interest that are named less often than not. A hand-sized statue of a fiend stands on top of the desk.
Roll Knowledge (geography, history or local) and/or Knowledge (planes). Also tell me what kind of actions you take inside the room
Azrael walks in cautiously, taking no chances, and holds his shield as he investigates the room. He briefly runs through the papers (and drawers of the desk if any) to see if there is anything of interest in the midst of the perceived mess.
"Well, this is... the innermost study, I believe." Sheela begins ruffling through the pages before shrugging. "This is more planar research than natural... I don't have any expertise here, sorry!"
You recognize the 4 armed demon’s form represented by the statue to resemble that of a glabrezu.
As Azrael enters the study the demon's statue starts to move its mouth and speaks!
“Ah, Thurl, you’re back. I trust your little vacation to Jormurdun was pleasant and that my brethren did not demolish your laboratory in their conquest of Nerosyan. Now that I know where you are, I shall join you shortly. There are plans in motion that go far beyond our original compact, and I wish to make you a part of them.” it says.
Keeping his voice low as well,"Indeed, this creature may enlighten us if we are able to capture it. Pathfinders, we are expecting company, ready yourselves." Azrael remarks as he grips tightly on his weapons withdrawing towards the door.
I assume the statue spoke in common to us? If it spoke to us then I don’t think we’ll be able to trick it, seeing how it should recognize it’s a different voice.
Vrothum will approach the maps and try to write down, to the best of his ability, what ever appears to be significant. Yes, plans have changed, I’ve discovered a traitor. I think you know what must be done now...Bluff:1d20 ⇒ 17 Vrothum will speak this in Abyssal in hopes of masking his voice.
Valentynne pokes his head into the next room, and decides his new size would a problem, again, so he dismisses the divine energies enlarging his person.
Walking into the room, he looks for a place to better shield his allies.
I'd better not talk right now, don't want to confuse Vrtohum or alienate the statue.
"Oh, this is a Magic Mouth spell. It just animates inanimate objects to give a prerecorded message. It can't hear you."
Sheela goes to grab some documents at random. "So let's say a -what did you call it Idril- Glabrezu shows up in person. What's our plan for handling it? It expects to see Thurl instead of us. Anyone has a good lie I can run with?"
What and let the likes of the creature live. I think not miss. We send it back to the depths and prevent it from harming anyone, directly or indirectly, again.
Valentynne studies the maps affixed to the walls but can make little sense of them.
It appears Thurl’s books and notes are written in a mix of Abyssal, Common, and Dwarven, and cataloging them in any meaningful way requires some effort on part of those who would undertake such task...
In other words you need to pass a DC 18 Intelligence, Linguistics, or relevant Profession check and spend at least 10 minutes reading them. You receive a cumulative +2 bonus on this check for each of the three languages you can read and understand.
Vrothum doesn't have the relevant skills for the map either, and will try to help out with Thruls notes. Intelligence Check:1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 1 = 21It appears that some of these notes are in my language Azrael let me take a look at that.
Sheela's sorting method is messy. She grabs a random document, makes a split second decision, and sets it aside. Yet as time passes a method to her madness emerges. "Um...I think I found something."
Sheela and Vrothum study of Thurl's notes reveals that the depraved dwarf seems to be keenly interested in reaching and exploring a place called Jormurdun, supposedly a lost Sky Citadel existing within the Worldwound.
But there's more! Vrothum turns up a folio entitled The Grimoire of the Beast, which contains detailed instructions regarding the worship of something or someone named Baphomet.
DC 15 Knowledge(planes or religion) check:
Baphomet is the demon lord of beasts, mazes, and minotaurs
Notes stuck in the book’s pages suggest Thurl studied this text in depth, and Vrothum notes that one section details dozens of hand signs, secret handshakes, and other body language that believers might use to signal to one another their true allegiance. The notes regularly reference someone named Karsos, whom Thurl describes as one might a
mentor.
@Everyone: check the handouts. There's something new there. Once you all do things get interesting...
"Vrothum! That folio you're holding, it bears the unholy symbol of Baphomet on the cover, Baphomet is the demon lord of beasts, mazes, and minotaurs... In case there were any doubts the VeeCee Thurl had gone rogue, this seals the deal like Asmodean advocates love saying."
There is no doubt in my mind, that Thurl is in deep. There are notes here of a plan to take place in the world wound, It mentions a lost Sky Citadel. The plans are set to start, it seems they are waiting on Thrul, but won't wait much longer. The notes also mention a mentorship with being named Karsos. I assume that Karsos is who we may be encountering shortly.
As you consider the new insight you gained about Thurl's depravity you all feel something passing between yourselves, before a low but menacing vibration seems to shake the whole structure and something whispers unintelligible words in your ears, filling you all with a sense of palpable dread.
Apparently Valais feels the same and stares open-mouthed about the room before announcing “Something is coming. We should not be here.”
The rats that have been following you since you opened the access to this section of Thurl's Lodge scatter from around you in droves...
DC18 Perception check:
You can hear the shattering of glass in the distance as something has broken out of a glass tube or something
And looking outside Thurl study you notice the larvae you met before staring toward the room with with faces contorted in rictuses of terror.
Seems like something just happened. Whatever is coming is unlikely to be friendly and with all likelihood it will be a terribly powerful creature...
Valentynne might as well have been blind or have both eyeballs stuck into his ears, since he was largely unaware of any sound, movement or presence, which only increased his confusion as his companions started bellowing commands around him.
"What are you tal... Wher.." his words caught in his tongue as he spun around looking to find the object of the Pathfinders' attention.
