Mort moves in between some pews and shoots and arrow in the creature's arm. After he's moved in closer, Jorus shoots a bullet with his sling shot. Sadly, Jorus his aim is off. The same's true for Shael bolt, which hits one of the pews instead.
Chilly forgets he's still in one of the pews when he tries to charge the creature. As a result, he doesn't move.
Race charges the creature, and cuts its throat open with a powerful swing of his scimitar. The faceless creature drops to the ground.
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Shael chuckles at Mort. "Cousin? Hardly. Ugly doesn't run in my family and if we are having a contest then you best up your game Mortimer. As it stands my count is four to one." She reloads her crossbow before shouldering it once more.
She moves to Chariko then, blatantly ignoring Mort as she hums a tune to herself. Once she reached the Cultist she checked to see if she is okay before politely saying. "Well I believe we should be heading to Dalsines Mansion. Yes?""
"I'm fine, thank you," Ionnia says as Mort comes to check on her. Her eyes briefly move from Mort to Shael.
Are they family? Or do they... like each other...?
Oric checks to see if the faceless stalker is truly dead, and concludes it is. He also notices a potion of cure light wounds and 45 gp in the stalker's pocket. Of course there's also the masterwork scimitar the creature held in its hand.
Marcian stands up and looks at Charito, who returns his look with a nod. "I will give you the directions to Chalfon's manor," Charito says, and does so.
"This is goodbye," Marcian says after Charito's done giving you instructions, "Akkuret was our leader. The real Akkuret is probably dead... We're no longer safe here. I know someone trustworthy who can get us on a ship, and will take us out of the city. Muesello told me of this man before you arrived."
The cultists decline any further help from you, stating that you have already done more than enough. They get ready to leave. Ionnia hugs Mort, confused and emotional. "Will this be farewell?" she asks him.
One of the cultists that had been around the campfire walks up to Oric and Race, while the others who'd fled also re-enter the Vault. The cultist gives Oric a potion of lesser restoration. She gives Race an illuminated Kelish manuscript of key passages from Sarenrae’s most holy text, The Birth of Light and Truth, worth 150 gp. "These are for all of you to share. We don't have anything else to give you. I hope you can use them."
"Burdon Ewal. I don't know the ship's name, but we'll probably sail to Absalom." Tears well up in Ionnia's eyes. "Please come find me when you're done here, Mort."
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Oric picks up the scimitar, potion and gold from the body. Turning to race he proffers the scimitar and potion. I think you will make better use of these than I will. I am by no means an expert but this appears to be a fine blade. Plus if I should fall that potion is the only healing we have.
As the cultists approach with their gifts Oric turns the graciously accept the potion. I am sure we will make good use of this in our rescue.
As the cultists move off Oric turns to Race. I would very much like an opportunity to read the manuscript if you wouldn't mind.
When the party's ready they set out to Chalfon Dalsine's manor. Ionnia waves Mort goodbye, tears in her eyes as her prince charming leaves for the battlefield.
Equipped with the location of Chalfon Dalsine’s home in the Senate’s Hill district, the party has no difficulty navigating Oppara’s night-shrouded streets. Dalsine Manor is a modern, two-story structure set back from the main road and surrounded by a twelve-foot brick wall. Its main gate is shut and guarded, but through it can be seen a well-kept garden surrounding the house. A carriage covered in gold filigree and inset with gems stands parked inside the gate, while another, constructed of modest wood with drawn shades, waits just outside the gate.
Next to the cariage of modest wood stand two small groups of guards, both groups in different attires. The two are having a heated discussion.
The Pathfinder overhear the conversation from a distance. Apparantly the guards next to the cariage demand access to the Dalsine manor. They work for the lady Pasha al-Jakri, an important person within the Qadiran faction of the Society. Chalfine's guards refuse to let al-Jakri and her guards enter the manor's grounds.
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"Let me see what I can do. You guys try to figure out a way in a sneaky like, while I work the guards. Maybe they'll be distracted, or maybe they'll let us in."
Mary will walk up to the guards in a slightly seductive manner, but nothing totally unbecoming someone of her position. "Good evening fellow soldiers." Mary suddenly trips over her own feet, falling down. Mary gets back up. "I think I tripped over horse crap. Great. Anyways, is that Lady Pashe El-jakarah? Oh my. I mean, Lady Pasha al-jakri? Hard name. You know, as a paladin of Abadar, I've always wanted to meet someone of such renown in the Qadiran faction. I like their way of doing business. Can you introduce me?"
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Race accepts the scimitar, wrapping his own up in the stalker's coat or shirt and tucking it into his pack. He also carefully tucks the potion away.
Seeing Mary's display, Race rolls his eyes. "I'll cover Mary. The rest of you find a way inside."
Race waits to see how the guards respond to Mary before proceeding, however.
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Oric will walk along the wall to look for another way in. As he goes he prepares his rope, attaching a grappling hook and adding knots at appropriate intervals. If he makes it opposite the main gate without finding a side entrance he will stop and listen for patrols on the other side before finishing the circuit. Once the rope is prepared he will put it back away until it is needed.
Shael and Oric both notice the walls don't have spikes or anything else that could hurt them on top. They don't see any patrols, and there's no other entrance than the front gate. The walls are 12 feet high and look like they can be climbed, although it appears quite some effort is required.
As Mary walks up to the guards they initially don't even notice her. It is only when she trips that a few guards notice the attractive young paladin, which is when she's cussing about horse crap. "No, you can't," one of the guards rudely replies when Mary asks if she can see Jasha al-Jakri.
Another guard whispers something about that being al-Rakri's own decision. While most guards continue to discuss, the friendlier guard walks up to the cariage. "Lady, there's a paladin who'd like to meet you."
Some time passes, but there's no reaction from the lady. With hesitation the guard that tried to introduce Mary to al-Jakri opens the cariage's door. The cariage is empty, and the guard stares at the empty interior with a horrified expresion. "She slipped out..."
"Huh, what?" one of the other Qadiran guards asks, and walks over to check the cariage. His conclusion after looking into the cariage is simple ans short. "Crap..."
By now the Taldon house guards have noticed something's going on, and one points at the cariage. The house guards can't see into the cariage from their current position.
"She is the one who does the punishing!" one of the Qadiran guards hisses to Mary, "Now keep quiet, they don't need to know!"
Jorus doesn't find any hidden entrances.
The Qadiran guard that just spoke to Mary watches her with annoyance. "Girl... we're the ones trying to get inside, if you hadn't noticed."
"If you also want to enter the manor, that's fine with me," the same guard replies to Mort, "but Dalsine's guards won't let us in either."
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Shael sighs having enough of this and walks upto the wall they were having a hard time getting around. "Someone give me a rope and a hook. I'll get us in. Or I can distract the guards take your pick." She was very impatient. She makes sure she is in a spot, if possible, where the guards can't see her...
A quick headcount reveals there are 8 house guards, and 4 Qadiran guards.
Shael moves around a corner so she's out of the guards' view. She tries to determine how thick the wall is, but isn't able to determine this while standing in front of the wall.
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Shael gives the corner of the wall a good look to ensure it isn't ten feet wide at the base before laying her hand on the broad wall. "Here goes..." She unleashes her will, peeling back the layers of reality as she attempts to press through dimensions. The wall starts to waver like ripples on a pond before her palm...
The grounds within the manor’s walls are well tended and decorated with small statues, topiaries, and the occasional bench. Everburning torches burn inside colorful lanterns from many of the grounds’ trees.
While the guards are distracted by what's going on at the gate, the Dalsine guard dogs are not. As you appear on the other side of the wall, a small pack of four territorial hounds come from all sides, attempting to put themselves between you and the manor house.
"So what's your plan, if we were to distract the house guards?" one of the Qadiran guards asks Mort and Race, "The lady has business with Dalsine. I expect she went to find another way in, and we have to go after her to protect her."
The guard shakes his head. "Doesn't sound like a sound plan. With the horses running into the gate and all that."