Reacting slowest of all her companions, Rain shakes the sluggishness from her head and slides her whip free from a clip on her left hip. With a loud snap-crack, she tries to wrench the rapier free from the hands of the unrecognized priest.
HP: 23/23
AC: 18 (14 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 15 (17 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +3/+7/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (3+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
shield other (Heladar): +1 deflection bonus to AC, +1 resistance bonus to saves, 1/2 damage
bless
Grobradon feels the blow on his shoulder, and grunts. Behind the mask, he bares his most feral grin, "I'm going to feed your orbs to Gorum's hall on a blood stained platter."
Talarin's smart thinking almost pays off but the priest is able to just keep hold if his sword.
Grob's second blow is as successful as his first. Krant actually flinches as he's hit, although he continues his own attack.
Rumha summons a phantasmal longsword that lashes out at Egarthis.
Rumha's conjoured sword works to great effect, with Egarthis flinching from the cut.
The priest swings and misses before Krant brings a heavy blow down on Grob. At the same time, Egarthis fires another ray of fire - this time hitting Talarin.
In return, Grum fires an arrow at the priest - and it embeds in his left thigh.
"Let's try this again, you miserable..." Rain's words trail off into a quiet mumble as she tries to snatch the rapier from the unrecognized priest once again but she's unable to get a grip on her foe's weapon. "Stront!"
HP: 21/23
AC: 18 (14 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 15 (17 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +3/+7/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (3+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
shield other (Heladar): +1 deflection bonus to AC, +1 resistance bonus to saves, 1/2 damage
bless
"Remind me to learn some halfling curses. They have a good ring to them," Rythanus said, aiming for Egarthis once more, in the hope that the fight would go out of the other two if their leader fell. Taking a wild guess, he added, "Maybe I'll tell Iramine what I think of her with them."
Talarin's effort once more fails to have the desired effect. Rythanus manages to connect with Egarthis, he loloks visibly shaken this time around and you feel one more blow might just finish him off.
With a smile, and sharing on his companions' wounds, Heledar makes sure they are in a good condition, and able to continue fighting.
Channeling the power that permeates all around them, the Oracle functions as a conduit for positive energy, healing his companions, and leaving out their foes.
All of his companions and himself are healed by the burst of power.
Grobradon feels the life energy flood into him, "Nice! Come on, Krant, let's keep trading steps in this dance."
He swings again, this time putting extra 'oomph' into it.
Once Heledar has acted, Grob takes no time in resuming his attack on Krant. He is able to score a huge hit on the huge man and you can see that he reels from the blow, although remains on his feet.
The priest swings at Grob but narrowl misses with his rapier. Egarthis steps in close on Ryanthus and delivers a flurry of blows with his bare hands. Finally Krant swings that big old club again and hits Grob squarely on the shoulder.
Heledar goes through a series of familiar gestures, trying to exact a magical spell at Krant, to have him forced into attacking one of his own allies.
Heledar's spell does not seem to have an effect on the great brute.
Growling under her breath, Rain maintains her focus on the unknown priest and lashes out with her whip one more time. "Let's try this again, shall we? Since you don't seem to be using yours all that well anyway...."
HP: 23/23
AC: 18 (14 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 15 (17 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +3/+7/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (3+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
shield other (Heladar): +1 deflection bonus to AC, +1 resistance bonus to saves, 1/2 damage
bless
Rythan grinned as the pain of Egarthis' blows was magically siphoned away. "You might as well surrender. We have you outmatched. There is no other version of this fight that ends well for you," he promised, making a series of cuts at the priest.
At the third attempt, Talarin's whip finds its mark and the priest drops his rapier.
Rythanus lifts his mighty sword and brings it down on Egarthis. It catches his neck and the fountain of blood indicates he has breathed his last.
Grum lets loose another arrow, this time hitting Krant on the leg.
Rumha guides the mystical sword over to slash at Kant.
Rumha's magical weapon is effective as it slashes at Krant. Like a prize-figher, he remains on his feet but it can only be will-power that's stopping him hitting the deck now.
Grob is grateful for the oracle's aid, because Krant's last blow as like a force of nature. He hopes to return the favor and finish this.
Perhaps it was the force of the last blow that affected him as Grob swings powerfully but wide, missing Krant by a good foot.
The priest pulls a crossbow from his back and lets loose an arrow but misses wildly - so much so that it is hard to work out who he aimed at.
Krant swings at Grob and connects once more - although his blow seemed weaker than previous efforts.
Grum lets loose an arrow at the priest and wings him again.
The mystical sword again slashes at Krant then Rumha moves in and strikes with his walking stick.
"Now, now. We don't want you hurting yourself with that. That's a big-boy's toy." Rain facetiously chides the unknown priest like a child, wagging her finger in disapproval before snapping her whip and yanking the crossbow from the man's hands.
HP: 23/23
AC: 18 (14 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 15 (17 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +3/+7/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (3+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
shield other (Heladar): +1 deflection bonus to AC, +1 resistance bonus to saves, 1/2 damage
bless
"You're not so talkative now, are you?" Rythan edged behind Krant, then darted in to cut at him.
Grobradon is bloody and battered by now, and while he's not going to make an issue of it, he's glad others are able to turn in Krant. He could use the help, Stuborn son of a #### just doesn't want to go down. Still, he can't afford to miss in a game of hammer and tongs, so he tries a little less hammer and a bit more tongs again.
Rumha makes an effort to hit the foes again but manages to miss with both attempts.
Talarin manages to remove the priests crossbow neatly hilst Rythanus delivers what must be the death blow to Krant as the great brute crashes to the ground.
Grob manages to hide his disappointment and not handing out the killer blow by switching his attack to the priest. The defenseless man takes a massive hit and looks like it won't take more blows to take him down.
"Awwww, what's the matter, masked man? You don't like it when someone wrongfully takes things from you?" Rain fake pouts at the priest as the others close in on him. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you started ruining peoples lives with this sham you call a religion!" She circles around the man until he's positioned directly between her and one of her allies before cracking her whip again, this time though it's clear she means to draw blood.
HP: 23/23
AC: 18 (14 T / 15 FF)
CMD: 15 (17 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +3/+7/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - dancing lights, daze, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (3+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
shield other (Heladar): +1 deflection bonus to AC, +1 resistance bonus to saves, 1/2 damage
bless
The mystical sword vanishes. Rumha turns his hanbo on the remaining Razmiran.
Uncomfortable with striking down an unarmed man, even if he was a Razmiran, Rythan held his attack. "Your friends are dead. It would be better for you to surrender now, rather than joining them," he said flatly, watching the priest's every move.
The priest pulls a crossbow from his back and lets loose an arrow but misses wildly - so much so that it is hard to work out who he aimed at.
Krant swings at Grob and connects once more - although his blow seemed weaker than previous efforts.
Grum lets loose an arrow at the priest and wings him again.
Again, the damage suffered by Grob is shared by Heledar.
After the lack of success from his last spell, Heledar focuses on restoring himself and his companions life energy.
Talarin's whip makes a nasty mes of the clerics robes and blood blooms from beneath the material.
Rumha is less successful as his magical sword misses the mark.
The priest draws a silver dagger and waves it at Grob, but fails to connect.
Grum fires an arrow that embeds itself in a nearby door-frame whilst Heledar casts and Rythanus looks to encourage the priest to surrender.
Looking at his fallen foes, the priest clearly considers the odds before taking the knife and plunging it into his own stomach. With his dying breath you hear him ask for forgiveness for failing the Living God.
Rythan gaped at the suicidal priest, shocked that Razmir could inspire any kind of true loyalty.
Shaking his head sharply, he searched the three Razmirans for anything useful, and took off their masks. "Let's find what we need and get out of here. I don't want this kind of fanatic to dogpile us!"
The priest pulls a crossbow from his back and lets loose an arrow but misses wildly - so much so that it is hard to work out who he aimed at.
Krant swings at Grob and connects once more - although his blow seemed weaker than previous efforts.
Grum lets loose an arrow at the priest and wings him again.
Again, the damage suffered by Grob is shared by Heledar.
After the lack of success from his last spell, Heledar focuses on restoring himself and his companions life energy.
[dice=Channel Energy to heal (leaving our foe out of it w/ Selective Channeling)]3d6
Grobradon's many wounds once more start to seal up under the glowing light of Heledar's blessings. The half orc warrior mutters a thanks...
only to see the priest of Razmir kill himself.
"Okay, THAT was actually kind of scary. I agree with Rythanus."
"Scary? If only we'd known all we had to was ask, this would have whole lot quicker." Rain shakes her head at the bodies of the priests as she coils her whip and replaces it on her hip. She regards the suicidal priest at the last and remarks, "He's in for a rude surprise when he gets through the Boneyard." She shrugs then and turns to the double doors and the chamber beyond, "You're both right though, of course. Let's see what we can find. Tamran and her people will be better off the sooner we can discredit these charlatans."
Between them you find: 4 x potion of cure moderate wounds, 1 x potion of
invisibility, 2 x potion of stabilize, masterwork rapier, masterwork light crossbow with 20 bolts, +1 studded leather, +1 light steel shield, silver dagger, 2 x sunrod, thieves’ tools, 124 gp, brooch of shielding (85 points), collar of the inferno, wand of shield (42 charges), ring of protection +1, +1 greatclub, hide armor
In an almost anti-climatic way, the doors to the final room are neither locked nor trapped. Nor do they contain any nasty surprises (at least no obvious ones).
A large plush bed is against the south wall, facing a carved oak desk on the north side. In comparison to the other rooms, this one is very large and opulently decorated. In the center of the room is a large carpet, woven with the mask of the Razmir at its centre.
You conduct a swift but thorough search. While there is nothing unusual about the bed, a small table positioned next to it bears a small whip, a pair of manacles, two bottles of Andoren brandy (worth 20 gp each), and four vials of exotic perfumes (worth 50 gp each).
The desk, and the bookcase behind it, are where you find the information you seek. The ledgers that concern the temple’s illicit dealings are hidden behind a false face of other books.
There are three ledgers in total. One of these tomes chronicles every copper the temple has taken in since its founding, including detailed notes concerning how it was obtained. Most of the listed transactions are illegal in Tamran, from slave trade and drug deals to blackmail and protection schemes.
The second ledger covers how the money is spent, from bribing known officials and guardsmen to paying for illegal goods and services. The tome also records a number of notes of tribute, covering vast sums of money sent back to Razmir for the Living God’s tithes.
The third ledger, though mostly empty, covers all of the temple’s exploits in Kassen, including detailed reports from the priests sent there to retrieve the “fragments.” This ledger ends with a short paragraph dated around 2 weeks ago.
Now that I have the completed amulet, I shall return to the City of Golden Death to finish what was started all those years ago.
At the time, I thought Kassen was a fool for insisting that we abandon
such wealth, but now I must thank him. The treasure shall enrich the
Living God, so that he will never die. Such is the price of immortality.
Now I must return to the Isle of Terror, and I cannot say that my
journey will be without terrible danger. May Razmir protect me.
The desk contains a small leather bag with 50 pp, a potion of invisibility, and a silver raven figurine of wondrous power.
Rain shivers in distaste as she sees the accoutrements by the bed. "Ugh. I'll never be free from that mental image now." Shuddering she turns her attentions to the ledgers and books. "These... these records are remarkably detailed! Ha! This is exactly what we need!"
"We gotta grab Elvar and get the hell out of here," Grob says. His voice is a bit sharp, more out of outrage at the accounts about Kassen. It reminds him of how his town was violated ,and that makes him..well, pissed.
Rythan glared down at the ledgers as he paged through them quickly, revolted by the corruption they documented. "You're both right - let's stuff this into our packs, put our masks back on and try strolling out of here nice and easy once we've got him. Maybe your trick with the robes will come in handy again, Rain." He helped to shovel what they wanted into their bags and edged over to the door, peeking out.
"I can vanish, and so can whoever uses those potions... maybe we should use them to get out, if things go bad."
Rain nods, "Not a bad thought. Keep 'em handy at least." As she replaces the mask on her face, Rain shifts the colors of her robes once more. She scoops Krant's mask up as she passes and, after the rest of the group has started down the stairs, she searches the one on display for traps before swapping it for Krant's.
Heledar shakes his head at the contents of the ledgers - "I find no shred of evidence to grant this operation and religious charade any credit... It seems everything is exactly as we predicted, nothing but petty criminals and their petty schemes"
Taking the bottles of brandy with him he adds - "This is too good for the likes of these curs" - then responds to their companions urgency - "Yes, let us move out of this place, lest I fall into the temptation of burning it down..."
Following Talarin in her disguise, you reach the top of the stairs where the golden mask is. The mask appears to be trapped quite simply, to ring and alarm. But with the current panic and running around to put out the fire that is now raging on the ground floor, you figure it won't make a difference.
You switch the mask and are aware of another layer of noise - but nothing that would draw anyone's attention to you.
In the general mayhem, you are able to make your way to the exit without challenge. Half way there you bump into Evlar.
Rythan paused, elbowing Heledar and Rain. "Maybe we can get him to come with us," he whispered to them. "I'd hate to leave him to the Razmirans, especially if they think he had something to do with us."