The party has a "go team" moment and begins to form a human pyramid. Tarek, Caoilte and Havelock form the base while Eloriand and Isador form the second rank. Kat nimbly climbs into position, Caoilte feels an extra crunch when she plants her foot on him though he is unsure if it was accidental or purposeful. Kat gets to the top of the man pyramid only to discover she is a few inches short of the mark. Gritting her teeth, she jumps to grab the key and is able to grab deftly in one hand. As she descends, the rope gives just enough resistance to cause her fall to hesitate. She hangs there for a minute dangling by the key until it gives way. The key breaks free of its tether sending Kat back into the pyramid. She careens off Eloriand and manages to collapse the entire pyramid, the fine heroes of Aroden's Hope collapsed in a heap on the floor of the chamber.
From the pile, Kat jets up her hand holding the small golden key.
With a bit of a smirk, Kat gives Havelockk a dramatic hand wave, indicating "be my guest" as she motions to the metal chest. Havelock gives her a shrug and proceeds to open the metal box with the key Kat so deftly retrieved from the ceiling. The party hears a click then a "whoomf" as Havelock is engulfed in a blue cloud. After it clears the party sees Havelock standing pretty much unharmed though his face and upper body are now coated with a blue dye.
Inside the metal box, the party discovers the map of the burial grounds and a wand which Havelock is able to identify as a wand of knock. Eloriand discovers that the jeweled scepter key fits the vault door lock and is able to unlock the door freeing the party.
Emerging from the chamber, the party is greeted by the servant who led them to the chamber. He gives the blued Havelock a disappointing glance but bows to the other members of the party. You have done well, it certainly did not take you long to decipher the secrets of the vault. I have been instructed to tell you that you may keep the map you have discovered as well as the wand. Also, please give your venture-captain my masters warmest well wishes.[b] He bows once again and ushers the party out of the complex.
The party makes its way towards the Ivy District to call on the leader of the Cheliax faction of the Pathfinders, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen. Arriving at the Paracountess' home, they are amazed by the gothic masterpiece three stories in height. The ebon lacquered doors are wrought with gleaming silver features with a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. With some trepidation, Havelock pulls the chime and moments later a servant in loose casual attire greets them as if they are expected. The party is led though well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms and a grand stairway granting view of an elaborate study. Eventually, the party finds themselves on the thrid floor of the house at the door of Zarta's personal study. The servant knocks on the door and announces his presence then opens the darkly stained wood door.
A large carpet dominates the marble floor of this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table. Sitting in the chair behind the desk is darkly beautiful Chelaxian woman, the Paracoutness Zarta Dralneen. She regards the party with a wry smile. She puts a few papers away and stands to address the group.
[b]ALdor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to other tasks. She then turns her attention to the group. It's always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh-faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you. Zarta points. I assume this isn't a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Vaslin has been nagging me about. Seems I can't get that man around these parts anymore, she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits.
Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.
Zarta goes on to explain that the trinket she referred to is in fact a magical seven-locked iron case. As she explains how she was trying to bypass the locks, the party hears a cacophony of booms and crashes sounding as if they are coming from beyond the room's west door. Zarta pauses as the noise becomes too loud to allow her words to be heard. She then shakes her head but maintains that wry smile. A servant is greatly misbehaving. You are going to have to with it in order to get the trinket. Zarta then goes over to the desk of her study and opens a drawer. From the drawer, she produces an exquisite letter opener shaped like a dagger. You might need this to get it to submit. She offers the dagger to the party with a sly grin.
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Ahh, well why thank you for the blade paracountress, I shall keep it here tucked into my belt for safe keeping. Might I inquire what else is behind that door, besides a obvious undisciplined servant? While we all like a good challenge, as I am sure you do, it would be rather a shame if we went busting in through those doors, arcane and other magics flying...along with various weapons, that might might mar the beautiful decor of your home, let alone anyone or anything else needlessly...don't you think?
I give the dark beauty, who must look like the famed Catherine Zeta Jones Douglas or Eva Green my best smile, happy that I still have all my teeth which still have a pearly white shine to them.
Zarta fixes Havelock with a devlish grin, holding on to the dagger for just a moment before she lets it go. Oh aren't you the curious one. You will just have to find out for yourself, little teacake. What good is it to be curious without discovering things for yourself, hm?
As the party files into the room ready for bear, Kat spies what she believes to be a secret door to the north.
Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
The servant referred to by Zarta can be seen in the northern corner of the room. The thing is s small devilish looking creature and is screaming loudly, carrying on while absolutely beating on s small sealed metal box.
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Zarta, you naughty minx. It seems your bedroom is used for all sorts of interesting activities.
Tarek's eyes quickly scan across the room and his gaze settles upon the demonic creature assaulting the box.
It appears her play thing for the evening has escaped from it's bonds. Does she wish us to dispatch the creature or just retrieve the box?
Tarek grips his hammer firmly and prepares to call upon the power of his god and hurtle the weapon at the creatures head
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Paracountress..I had no ideas you night time activities were of this nature...I had no idea that your tastes ran along the same lines as those that follow Callistra...now lets see...
I move a bit more into the room and look at the Creature....
oh...does this little guy have a name? I wait for a response before taking my next action which is to have the slightly smaller dagger held up in my hand, while my right hands rests in a reverse grip on the grip of my blade...prepared to draw it from where is rests on the right side of my hip
Oh why hello there ..I see you are having great fun and tearing this room of sleep and pleasure apart
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Havelockk, what does she expect you to do with that pig sticker? Is it really more threatening than the weapons we carry or does it serve some other purpose?
Hmmm....I wonder.....
Tarek quickly examines the nearby tables and floor for any unusual parchments while Havelockk attempts to communicate with servant
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Isador watches the groups reaction with slight amusement. He slowly takes in the surroundings while Havelockk flirts with the Countess.
Seeing the slight motion from Kat, he slowly moves alongside her before whispering.
After hearing Sylorin's prayer, he quickly pulls his bow and takes aim at the creature. He will not take a shot until he is sure the spell can damage the creature.
Havelockk, you might want to get that pin prick ready... I am sure it is not as comforting as your normal boxwood handle but according to the Countess, you will need to master it if you wish to use it against the creature.
Anything on the Countess?
Anything on the Countess?
Does the creature seem aggressive or just agitated?
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Eloriand readies his weapon, but thinks attacking the creature is unwise and holds his action to observe the situation.
Eloriand also makes a mental note to restrain Tarek when devilish things are around unless they need a beating. For someone who usually assesses the situation and discusses action before acting, he seems a little too anxious compared to his normal approach.
Not knowing how to handle the strangely enraged devilkind they have discovered in Zartas bedroom, Tarek and Sylorin attack the rampaging devil. Tarek throws his mighty hammer at the little beast. His hammer flies toward it's target, at first, then suddenly veers into the western wall, knocking a few of Zarta's toys form their perch and on top of the little devil. The devil screams louder than before and throws the items off the box frantically, effectively showering the party with random toys. Tarek's hammer bounces off the wall, careens off the ceiling and lands with a thud beside the berserking fiend, handle sticking straight up in the air.
Seeing as the commotion barely phased the fiend, Sylorin launches an arc of lighting at the servant. Lighting arcs about the little devil, playing over both it and the locked box. The creature shakes its head once, seeming to shrug off the lightning. The creature looks about and once again spies the box. It balls its tiny fists and begins to attack the box with even more vigor, ignoring the party despite the recent attack.
When Tarek did a look about the room before loosing his hammer, he did spy what appeared to be a silver tipped riding crop on one of the desks.
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Tarek extends his hand but his hammer does not return to him. He pauses for a moment in disbelief.
He lowers his hand and looks back to his surroundings and his companions.
I do not know what evil has befallen me and I am unsure if I will be much help. It is unphased by magic as well.
Tarek's mind clears slightly and he thinks about the item Zarta gave Havelockk and he notices the riding crop may be of similar use.
Tarek then shouts to the party. It is destroying the box and we need to get it under control. Perhaps it is only injured by silver items. Caoilte, I saw a riding crop, on the desk, and it had a silver tip. You may be the best one to deal out the pain to this creature. Perhaps there are more items around that can be of use. Tarek motions Caoilte to the desk
Caoilte seizes the silver tipped riding crop as Tarek tries to collect himself after seeing his hammer laying on the ground. Caoilte tries to lay a good smacking with the crop, but misses the fidgety and crazed imp. The little creature turns to Caoilte and fixes him with a suprisingly scary evil grimace. In a moment, the devil disappears from view. The party can still hear the creature curse and rave, but are certain the thing is flying above them. After a few moments, Tarek's hammer rises from the floor and stops hovering in mid flight. Tarek's eyes go wide as he tries to command the hammer to return to him. The hammer begins to swing in a circle in mid air when the party hears a disembodied voice near the hammer.
Having trouble with your tool fleshling. Here! Take it and your thralls and away. I have no time nor inclination to deal with the likes of you...not now...
The imp re-appears briefly and tosses the hammer at Tarek, but just generally throws it in this direction causing Tarek to duck, but the hammer bounces off him harmlessly and lands in front of him. The now visible imp flying just above the party out of reach.
Havelock fires a magic missile at the flying devil and taunts it with the silver dagger. The missile slams into the creature, knocking it back some and clearly causing damage. The earlier lighting strike also takes effect, causing more damage to the little cretin. It hisses at Havelock and once again disappears.
The party can hear the the imp frantically scream and screech as it flies above the party. You are fairly certain you have gotten the creature's attention.
Initiative Order
- Caoilte
- Imp
- Kat
- Elorian
- Havelock
- Sylorin
- Isador
- Tarek
The imp taunts the party as it remains invisible. Though the party can tell the imp is hovering somewhere above the lock box located on the floor in the northwest corner of the bed chamber. Caoilte attempts to swat the fiend but badly misses as he is randomly striking air. Both Tarek and Havelock attempt to target the little bugger with a spell but are unable to target the imp due to it being invisible. The imp yells at the party.
Be gone! Leave me to my task mortals or I shall sunder thee!
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With the given dagger in one hand and my longer blade in the other, I stride over to the lock box with purpose, not exactly sure what I will do.
My mind races to see if there is any arcane solution to the problem.
I am pissed and determined and my patience in dealing with the creature hits a all time low.
What exactly is your task Creature....or whatever your name is...I care not what you really do to the physical contents of this room..as long as we get what we want.
I pull energies from my arcane pool and as I speak, I point the dagger that the paracountress gave at the Imp.
Stand Down now and be seen!!
The imp screams at Havelock's question. I MUST HAVE IT!!!!
Tarek attempts to throw a sheet over the imp, but his attempt is woefully short. For just a moment, it seems as if Tarek's attempt succeeds as small shapes form and writhe underneath the blanket, but just for a moment and the sheet falls to the floor and flattens empty.
The party hears the screams of the imp as it darts toward the box. Once again the box lifts from the ground, assumed held by the invisible fiend, and its rammed into the ground with surprisingly significant force.
Havelock wildly swings at the air near the imp but does not connect. Suddenly, the imp appears and attempts to sting Havelock. Being unsure of the precise location of the imp leaves the veteran soldier vulnerable, the imp strikes deep on into Havelock's neck!
Meanwhile, Kat explores the secret door.
Kat creeps into the hidden chamber. After a brief survey, Kat determines this is Zarta's private library. A view of the tome spines reveals some interesting personal and magical reads, but nothing that would aid the current situation. Kat also gets the feeling that Zarta would be none to pleased if she discovered anyone invading this private sanctum.