Cepsihir dissolves into shadow in front of your eyes. A moment later the barn door swings open, as if by the wind - yet it is a calm night. Outside, the courtyard is light by torches .
Holy Ahendile reads from a scroll, and then drops it to the ground. Raising her hands, she begins to levitate into the air, raising 15 feet up before stopping. "Any criminal who surrenders may still earn better treatment," she booms from above.
Ossok delays, waiting for his companions to commit them to action.
Diana waits for her "mistress" to act.
The Razmiri Enforcer, peering into the barn, spots a target and looses an arrow. It ricochets off of Diana's armor.
Scorpion invokes his wand's power on himself.
Krystiana rushes out of the barn door, heading straight for the Razmiri enforcer. His eyes widen in fear, but Holy Ahendile smiles in anticipation.
Before Krystiana reaches her target, though, another arrow flies from the direction of the gate. It goes wide, but reveals a second Razmiri Enforcer behind the corner of the gate.
Pavanna steps out through the doorway and unleashes a spell at the enforcer. The enforcer's face goes white, and he turns and runs in terror from Pavanna.
Diana, seeing the changing situation, moves into the clear, draws her bow and fires at Holy Ahendile. The arrow strikes the cleric, and she gasps in pain.
Ossok moves forward and attacks the frightened enforcer with his axe.
End of round 1 - new initiative order is Cepsihir, Holy Ahendile, Enforcer #1, Scorpion, Enforcer #2, Krystiana, Pavanna, Diana, Ossok.
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Cepsihir watches Holy Ahendile float upward and reassesses his plan. Seeing an Enforcer yet to be accosted, Cepsihir turns his aggression toward the individual guarding the southern entrance.
Round 2
Cepsihir becomes visible in front of Enforcer #2 by the gate.
Holy Ahendile slowly descends to near ground level, and touches the silver holy symbol around her neck. You all feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end for a second, and then there is a blinding flash of light and clap of thunder. A bolt of lightning leaps from the cleric's outstretched fingers, arcing towards the gate! Ossok takes the full brunt of the bolt and drops like a stone, his body smoking and blackened. Krystiana manages to leap sideways and avoid being grounded when the bolt hits her.
Enforcer #1 flees in terror from Pavanna, running to the Inn door and throwing it open.
Scorpion moves into the fray, closing with the Razmiri cleric.
Enforcer #2, surprised at seeing Cepsihir appear right in front of him, drops his bow and draws his morning star. His first attack goes wide, but Cepsihir can feel the force of the blow's passage near him.
Krystiana, badly wounded by the lightning bolt, looks around before continuing. Ossok lies unconscious at her feet, and the rest of the party is spread around; no one is closer than she is. Bringing her rage under control, she stoops and checks Ossok's breathing. He is alive, and she is able to stabilize him.
Pavanna[/b ]moves forward until she can see the second enforcer and casts her spell. The man stiffens for a moment, but through force of will shakes off Pavanna's infernal influence.
[b]Diana continues to fire at Holy Ahendile. With the cover from shooting through her companions, she will likely miss, so she opts to re-position herself, gaining a single clear shot. The arrow strikes home, and Holy Ahendile grunts in pain.
Ossok's blackened body lies on the ground.
Round 2 - Addendum:
Cepsihir slashes at the enforcer, calling upon his reserves of luck. - Critical threat! - confirmed! The man doesn't see Cepsihir coming, and dies on his blade as it becomes visible.
As such, Pavanna's action becomes:
Pavanna, deprived of a target, instead casts hold person at Holy Ahendile. She shakes off the effect of the spell, a cruel sneer on her lips. {ooc](using same roll, her Will save is 19+6=25)[/ooc]
Rest of round remains the same.
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Having caught the Enforcer off-guard, Cepsihir slides his scimitar from the dying man's midsection, and rushes toward the frightened one.
Round 3
Cepsihir charges across the courtyard and attacks the other enforcer. He reels backwards against the Inn wall.
Holy Ahendile steps away from Scorpion, and casts another spell. A cone of flame erupts from her hands, engulfing Cepsihir and Pavanna, as well as Ossok's unconscious form. Cepsihir manages to evade the worst of the flames, but Pavanna is unable to get out of the way in time. The cleric shouts in triumph as the flame erupts from her. "By the Living God, you will submit or I will destroy you all!"
Enforcer #1 flees in terror from Pavanna, allowing Cepsihir to take advantage of the gap in his defenses. He runs inside the doorway and slams the door behind him.
Scorpion steps to attack the cleric. The sword draws a red gash across Holy Ahendile's chest, and her eyes widen in pain and fear. She seems about to join her god, until the amulet around her neck flares to life. It gives off a pulse of blue light and crumbles to dust, and the grievous wound closes up somewhat. Ahendile shakes her head as if awakening from a deep sleep, and then turns her rage to Scorpion. "You will pay dearly for that!" she hisses.
Ignoring the pain of her wounds, Krystiana charges the Razmiri cleric. The flail catches Ahendile full in the face, breaking her nose and several teeth, and she falls to the ground.
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Nodding at Krystiana, "Ready the dwarves to return to the ship, Diana provide cover. Scorpions, please carry Ossok's body back to the ship. Cepsihir, remind the sisters that there is more profit in pleasure than in blood, and if we have to return here again looking for friends that we'll burn the place to the ground."
Pavanna hefts Ahendile's corpse over her shoulder and starts back to the boat.
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Cepsihir requests that the sisters return to their room, and the Razmiri enforcer into one of the back, windowless rooms, sans armament. Cepsihir proceeds to jam the two doors, cut the bowstring, and scatter the armor.
Rosh...
Cepsihir, after tending to his wards, checks outside and the stables for the stablehand.
The three sisters protest their innocence, stating that they were forced to aid Holy Ahendile out of fear of reprisal. You find Rosh hiding in the bathtub in the inn, terrified out of his wits. After calming him down and "speaking" with him, the mute conveys that he thought his work for the Grymble sisters was an elaborate game, and he would often sneak food to prisoners who were being deprived (a fact the envoys can attest to). Rosh seems fearful of leaving the only home he has known, but after some patient explaining, he agrees to travel with you.
Heading back to the ship, you find the Captain on watch.He calls to the crew as he sees you approach, and they jump to their posts. The ship appears ready to sail immediately.
Passad, Metella and Amahauk come up on deck as you embark. "Excellent work, my friends! Well done!" says Passad, clapping his hands together. Turning to Metella, he gives her a mirthless smile. "I guess you're completely redundant now,".
Metella bristles, and her face reddens, trying to remain silent. After a few seconds she explodes, nearly screaming at Passad in Dwarvish. After a short outburst, she turns and stalks away, crossing her arms and staring off into the darkness.
"That be our cue," says the Captain. "Cast off! Let's put some water between us and these Razmiri bastards!"
Abacus heads out into the center of the river and hoists sail. It's slow going against the current, and you likely will have a few more days of river travel before your each your destination. With the tension between Passad and Metella, it is likely to be a loooong journey.
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Cepsihir will spend his time attempting to communicate with Rosh (likely dropping him off in Mendev; Cepsihir imagines they may have need of someone with his practical skills) .
During lulls, Cepsihir will attempt (likely in vain) to smooth things over with Metella. Since Pavanna has done a fine job of alienating herself from the rest of the group, Cepsihir will make a special point to check in on her.
Well, they unfortunately won't be doing him any good... :(
I haven't heard from him, and he hasn't posted anywhere else on Paizo since the date he went missing here - I hope everything is all right. Does anyone know him outside of the forums?
I will scan the Chronicles and get them out today or tomorrow, depending on how family stuff shakes out this morning. Thanks, everyone, for a most enjoyable game - I hope the pace wasn't too slow for you. You're all welcome at my table any time!
Conclusion still to follow, I want to wrap up the lore and stuff properly.
Sailing up-river and away from the Grey Revelation Inn, you encounter no significant traffic. During the occasional stops to provisioning, you pick up rumours of some sort of trouble down south, involving terrorists who attacked a wayside inn and killed several Razmiran citizens. Apparently several masked Razmiri clerics are converging on the spot to investigate. Despite this, you encounter no trouble on your voyage.
The sole difficulty seems to be between Passad and Metella. Passad seems overjoyed that you have supported his suggestions, and obviously hopes to parley this into a more formal arrangement with the Society in the future; he continually discusses matters of trade and transportation with you (especially Cepsihir). Metella, on the other hand, spends most of her time scowling and tending to the rescued dwarves.
After several monotonous weeks aboard ship, you have left Razmir behind. To your right is the land of Numeria, and to the left is haunted Ustalav. The days grow colder as you travel north, and the evenings are uncomfortably chilly. You catch a glimpse of legendary Bastardhall, and put in at Karcau in Ustalav while Passad conducts a quick bit of business. Finally, you reach the junction of the West Sellen River with the Sarkora, which marks the western edge of the Worldwound.
As you continue, the land to your north grows darker and barren. Few trees grow, and the land is a jumble of rock outcroppings and smoking pits. In the distance you occasionally catch a glimpse of a large creature flying near the horizon, visible above the thick haze and smog that hugs the northern horizon. There is a pervasive feeling of wrongness to the land, and both Krystiana and Diana suffer from dull aching pain throughout their body.
Then, Abacus rounds a bend in the West Sellen, and ahead you spot the white towers of Nerosyan, the Diamond of the North. Its high, thick walls and parapetted towers seem impenetrable by any evil, and it lifts your mood greatly. Along the northern wall, higg above the city, is a great tower, glowing with a clear blue flame at its top.
"The Starrise Spire," intones Amauhak, one of the first phrases he's uttered since you left Razmir. "They say that the flame will never die, so long as there is one defender of Nerosyan still inside to man the walls."
Passad chimes in immediately. "And a perfect home for the Pathfinder Society's Lodge in Nerosyan it is. Once of the grandest you've been to, I'm sure. It rivals even the Grand Lodge in Absalom!" He smiles, his smug demeanor making you wonder if he'd built the place himself.
Approaching the docks, you see the city alive with activity. Supplies and troop ships are unloading in the harbour, new fortifications are being built, and some battle damage to the docks barely shows from the demonic attack of last summer. Surely, if any place is safe from the spreading taint of the Worldwound, it is here.
Your task done, you have many more adventures to look forward to in Mendev, but first a there is a duty which must be completed...
"Today, we commit the mortal remains of our brother, Ossok the Scarred One, to the earth in the certainty that his soul has gone to its final and deserving reward," intones Venture-Captain Jorsal, the Pathfinder Society's overseer in Nerosyan. "He fell valiantly defending innocents from oppression in a faraway land, while in service to the Society. His efforts will not go unnoticed, and shall not be forgotten. I have on this day, signed this missive, to be sent to Absalom with all speed, instructing that his name be inscribed on the Wall of Names in the Grand Lodge, where his memory will inspire us all."
The small urn is lowered into the niche in the Starrise Spire's inner wall, and a Pharasmin priest recites a few words before placing the stone seal in place. A small metal plaque reads thus:
OSSOK
4692-4714
PATHFINDER