Hagnar and Ouroboreia see through the illusion in the room: behind the organ is not a dark folk, but a familiar figure, none other than the famous actress Olivina Sharnau. Next to her, also not an enemy, an even more famous person, unconscious - the venture-captain Basia Kalistoff herself.
The door to the south is open, and has a dark creature standing behind it, stabbing at Hagnar.
Hagnar strikes out at the new arrival, and slashes her across the face.
Ceobryrn and Lokie have the hardest time getting past the chained fiend's defenses in the dark, and only Loki manages to land a bite
---
Lirianne
Ouroboreia
Elindriel
Hagnar
Ceobryrn
Svetlana
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Dark Folk
Dark Folk
K1 - Red (43, blinded)
K2 - Blue (28)
Zodarna (10)
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"Beware, the two dark folk at the back are Olivina Sharnau and our Venture-Captain! It's an illusion." calls the void wizardess.
She then summons a Hound archon to help fight the chain creatures. She makes it appear behind the enemy, flanking with Ceobryrn.
"להרוג יצור כבול אלה, אך אינם פוגע בשלוש דמויי שמאחורי גבך"
Hound Archon (Augmented) (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 19)
LG Medium outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect evil, low-light vision, scent; Perception +10
Aura aura of menace (20 ft., DC 16)
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Defense
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AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +5; +4 vs. poison
DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification; SR 15
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Offense
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Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +10 (1d8+6), slam +10 (1d4+2) or mwk greatsword +11/+6 (2d6+6), bite +5 (1d8+4)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th; concentration +7)
. . Constant—detect evil, magic circle against evil
. . At will—aid, continual flame, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), message
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Statistics
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Str 19, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 20
Feats Diehard, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power Attack
Skills Acrobatics +9 (+13 to jump), Intimidate +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +13, Survival +14; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth, +4 Survival
Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; truespeech
SQ change shape (any small to large canine, beast shape II)
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Special Abilities
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Aura of Menace (20 ft., DC 16) (Su) Hostile creatures must save or take a -2 to attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours.
Change Shape (any Small to Large canine, beast shape II) (Su) You can change your form.
Damage Reduction (10/evil) You have Damage Reduction against all except Evil attacks.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Diehard You are stable and can choose how to act when at negative Hp.
Immunity to Electricity You are immune to electricity damage.
Immunity to Petrification You are immune to Petrification.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Poison Resistance +4 (Ex) You have the listed resistance to poison.
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Scent (Ex) Detect opponents within 15+ feet by sense of smell.
Spell Resistance (15) You have Spell Resistance.
Truespeech (Su) Speak with any creature that has a language.
"What dark folk, it's all dark in here," Lirianne grumbles as she carefully steps into the blackness, sword held protectively in front of her, until she hears the faint clink of chains ahead of her and swings blindly.
Ourboreia calls forth another celestial creature, which immediately understands what the arcanist is saying and starts hacking at the chained men. Though he hits chain and armor, he never manages to get through.
Lirianne swing her sword around, but the reflection of sound on the wall puts her off, and she swings where she should have swang.
The devil rips the chained man apart, leaving Svetlana to look for a new target.
---
Lirianne
Ouroboreia
Elindriel
Hagnar
Ceobryrn
Svetlana
---
Dark Folk
Dark Folk
K2 - Blue (28)
Zodarna (10)
---
Svetlana pokes past Hagnar, who now sees pointy implements stabbing in both directions. Though Svetlana is not hindered by the darkness, she is hindered by Hagnar, and still doesn't manage to hit the dark creature.
The dark creature attacks Hagnar with full force again, while her Kyton ally swings a set of chain at Ceobryrn, but only manages to rattle his armor.
---
Lirianne
Ouroboreia
Elindriel
Hagnar
Ceobryrn
Svetlana
---
K2 - Blue (28)
Zodarna (10)
---
Hagnar takes a 5' step out of Svetlana's way and downs his mutagen .He then attempts to stab his assailant.
Lirianne continues to stumble towards the sounds of combat, first banging her hip on a table before feeling her way around it to almost bump into two fighting devils. She once against swings her blade in the direction of the sound.
Elindriel keeps encouraging as Hagnar uses some chemical stimulants to stab ferociously at the dark woman. Ceobryrn and Lokie fumble helplessly in the dark, swing after swing doing wide against the kyton.
The devil, on the other hand, comes to the rescue, and rips open the layer of chains, exposing bare flesh, driving a claw deep inside to expose the dark heart of the chained abomination. With a sharp pull, it rips it right out.
Svetlana looks to be making short work of the woman, landing blow after blow, but miraculously, she is still up after the onslaught.
Lirianne slashes with her longsword, but the gurgling she hears indicated her foes is already dead.
The woman tries to weave a spell, but the menacing presence of Svetlana puts her of, and it fails
---
Lirianne
Ouroboreia
Elindriel
Hagnar
Ceobryrn
Svetlana
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Zodarna (107)
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Ouroboreia, seeing the room free of any danger, moves in and ponders the situation. Then she summons another archon behind Zodarna's back, and orders.
"להביא שלמטה, אבל לא לפגוע באלה שמאחורי הגב ש"
Both Hound archons close in on the darkfolk, and smite her with all their might.
The hounds hunt down the darkfolk, their blades hacking and trashing, until finally the new arrival manages to connect, bringing down his blade on the dark folk. She goes down, bleeding out rapidly.
The venture-captain is unconscious, bound and gagged, while both Olivia and the tattooed man and merely gagged.
Hagnar uses his wand of cure light wounds to heal himself...
Have you come to kill me this time?[b] Sharnau says to Ouroboreia with much sense of drama, [b]then behold how an actress dies! She raises her chin, as if waiting for the stab to the heart.
The tattooed man introduces himself as Liand Erumont, and says we have been held here, and tortured. Your venture-captain pointing at the unconscious woman[/b] was responsible for most of it, though my suspicion is that she was possessed by the dark creature. I can vouch for your good intentions here, but you may need further evidence to clear your name.[/b]
His tattoo indicated membership of the Palatine Eye
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Ouroboreia blinks, unused to such a dramatic display. "Err... No, Miss Sharnau. We've just saved you. That dark folk over there..." She points at the unconscious Zodarna. "... has abducted you and was about to kill you when we intervened. The Society only wishes your well-being."
What is wrong with that actress? I sure hope she does not plan to have us feature in her next play... Now that would be real murder... to the audience's eyes and ears!
Her attention is somewhat caught by the tattoo as well. When she has the chance, she will try to discuss things privately with the magistrate.
"Actually, there's something more. I can sense a glimmer of interest and sympathy to our goals, it seems. Why not join the Order? Your profound sense of justice could help us greatly in assessing courses of action. We would welcome you with open arms, your Honor."
Zodarna? No, not a finger raised against me. But she! she theatrically points at Basia The harpy! The indescribable evils she inflicted! But for the sanity of your brain I shall not speak of them!
The man responds The Eye is vigilant and respects those who are likewise, that they might stand against evil together. Yo have shown your mettle against these dark creatures, so I can grant you this: have your superior contact High Ptesokrasalus to arrange a meeting, for I do not have the authority to decide on such matters.
Join your order? This will be hard to reconcile with my duties with the order, very hard indeed. Tempting though your offer is, I must decline.
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Diplomacy
"Forget the term Pathfinder, you know what I am, a Hellknight, and as such we are the dispensers of justice, maintainers of law and order, and the finders of heretics, demonologists, the corrupted and the unclean. This captive of ours, she is the one who used vile and profane dark magics to warp and control what we saw - why she even tried to cover you with an illusion to trick us into thinking your radiance was indeed one of those Dark Creatures! No, we were not easily tricked because we have a nose for such heresy and deception, and we have bested the true evil. I can leave her with you to grind the truth out of her - or you can accept my word as an agent of Chelish law, and friend of Ustalav - the pathfinders are innocent, this creature has the truth of the matter, and when it wakes from its beating it will sing us quite a song"
"Surely a master of the performing arts, such as yourself, can appreciate misdirection and plot twists!" Haganr offers to help Svetlana.
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Ouroboreia studies Olivina Sharnau thoroughly before chiming in.
"Miss Sharnau, I would like to ask you a couple questions about your part in this story. You have been abducted from the Closoi theater as you were rehearsing, surely you remember that. Where were you brought, and by whom? I assume you will say that Basia Kalistoff here was the one you hold responsible for that dark deed, but don't you think it's strange that she revealed her identity to you that easily? Don't you think that magic might have been used to deceive your eyes? After all these darkfolks, who hold a deep grudge to the Society and would like nothing more than its destruction or removal from Ustalavian lands, are known for their mastery of illusory magic. What's more, how do you explain that the real Basia Kalistoff nearly died alongside you, right here, right now?"
"These darkfolks planned everything perfectly. They gave you, an artist... no, The Artist of talent in Ustalav, the most prominent rising star on the theater scene, the part of her life. As you know very well the best way to act is to become the part, to forget who you were and be what the playwright wants you to be. You were deceived, Miss Sharnau, by a talented playwright - this darkfolk woman here - and drawn to unknowingly play another brilliant part, the victim. Who better could they have chosen indeed? I'll give them that."
"How about asking a neutral opinion, such as the Honorable Judge Erumont here? He may yet shed a different light on the truth of what happened."
"Now, you must ask yourself earnestly whether you are completely certain of what happened, or if there's the slightest doubt in your mind. Your words and opinion carry great weight in this country, so please consider this now that the fate of the Society lies in your hands. If you are sure, then we'll respect what you say, but if there's but the shade of a doubt, do not be the vain slanderer where you could be the heroine of the day."
What vile mind has conceived this plan? Zodarna? Was she the one? That is the most unkindest cut of all! Yet those that are betray'd do feel the treason sharply, the traitor stands in worse case of woe. Olivina says, not dropping her theatrical stance Lead us now from this dark place, pathfinders, so so that a light may break through yonder window. Finish, good lady; the dark day is done, and we are for the bright.