"Challenge accepted." says a voice, vaguely familiar. The hairs on your head stand up for a split second before a lightning bolt crackles out through the archway from behind the debris.
The bolt shears through the debris, jarring you with electricity.
Reaching out to touch the paladin and monk Tolvan says a single word and moves the three of them to the enemy so that both Oathar and Danica and adjacent to the man.
Hearing Estovion's voice struck her as solidly as the lightning bolt that followed. Her usual quick reflexes faltered as she saw a new haze of red cloud her vision.
She throws her crossbow aside and draws her sap, twirling the weighted bag in her hand as she begins to advance. Suddenly, Tolvan, Oathar and Danica disappear and reappear deep in the next chamber.
"NO! Don't kill him! Don't make it that easy!" she screams in a ragged voice, her eyes wild and full of hate.
Anna whats you alive. You should not be happy about that. Tolvan chides the caster.
[dice=Perception]1d20+11
Anna's wild swing fails to connect, but she catches a glimpse of something in her rage. "Nasty bite you got there, Warden. A gift from your friends?" she hisses through clenched teeth.
After the lightning blasts through everyone, Kimberly looks a little shocked. little arc of electricity still discharge from her frazzled hair.
She shakes off the blast effects and in response the emblem of Pharasma on her cassock glows and a wave of healing energy washes over the party.
Feeling a slight disorientation from the Dimension Door Danica focuses her mind on the task at hand. She maneuvers slightly to get flanking position.
"It appears you have a most grievous of wounds. Let me see...oh looks to be a rather large wolf took a chunk out of you. I'm betting there is someone out there that hates you more than we do."
Danica tries to sweep the man's legs from underneath him (Trip Attack)
Kimberly's healing ave washes over you, bringing Pharasma's blessings upon you.
For Estovion's part he snarls at you, waving his bloodied arm over his head. Weak from blood loss and your attacks, he cannot stop Danica's takedown. Laying on his side, he reaches up and pulls a gem from an amulet around his neck.
"They will...not...take me...you...will not...take me. Not alive...not for the Way...to come for me. Goodbye...fools..." He drops the gem at his feet. There is a sharp explosion as the gem erupts in flame.
Estovion is immolated by the blast. As his charred corpse collapses to the floor, his left hand falls open. A small green stone rolls onto the floor with a clatter...
Tolvan dodges much of the flames but his accumulated damage is catch up with him and he looks quite wounded after the blast. Walking stiffly he moves over to the body as he casts Detect Magic. No one touch that stone. I think it is what we seek.
Danica is caught off guard by the explosion resulting in taking the full force of the blast. The fire from the blast singes her robes and her exposed skin causing some 2nd degree burns.
After she settles herself she notices a green gem rolling on the floor. She cast Detect Magic on the green gem.
Anna spins and dances away from the sudden rush of flames and emerges unscathed. She then looks down at the corpse and her fury resumes.
"NO!" she screams, falling on her knees and pounding the body with her sap. She discards it and grabs Estovion in the chest and starts slamming him against the floor. "You. Have. To. Pay!" she shouts with each thump.
Then with a primal scream, she pulls out her dagger, holds it for a heartbeat over her head, and plunges it to the hilt into his chest.
The gem is indeed magical, type unknown.
The gem is indeed magical, type unknown.
[dice=Reflex]1d20+9
Anna spins and dances away from the sudden rush of flames and emerges unscathed. She then looks down at the corpse and her fury resumes.
"NO!" she screams, falling on her knees and pounding the body with her sap. She discards it and grabs Estovion in the chest and starts slamming him against the floor. "You. Have. To. Pay!" she shouts with each thump.
Then with a primal scream, she pulls out her dagger, holds it for a heartbeat over her head, and plunges it to the hilt into his chest.
Kimberly was a little ways to the back when the blast went off. luckily some of the debris blocked much of the blast, leaving Kimberly only slightly singed.
Once the smoke clears, she quickly assess the health of everyone. Anna, appears to need a little more than physical healing. but that cn be addressed later.
Please blessed Pharasma, though all come to you to be judged, our time is not yet upon us. grant us the health to journey forth and eliminate those that curse your name.
with the prayer another wave of Pharasma's energy washes over the party.
I am unable to discern this item's true magic potential, but I suspect it is the stone we seek. Can those trained in spellcraft also try to identify it?
After all have been healed, Tolvan makes his request. I can try, but I really am not as skilled as you are, but I learned alot from travelling with you guys.
Kimberly spends a moment examining the gem. She can feel the power within , the beast trying to escape...
It is the Canopic Stone - the vessel through which the vilkacis is summoned and controlled.
A quick search of Estovion's body turns up the following:
Potion of cat’s grace, potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of dimension door, wand of acid arrow (38 charges); +1 light crossbow with 10 bolts, masterwork longsword, amulet of natural armor +1, ring of protection +1, master keys to every room in Ascanor Lodge, spell component pouch, spellbook (all prepared spells plus all 0-level pells, acid arrow, dimension door, and four additional spells of levels 1–4), 130 gp
With Kimberly's confirmation Tolvan removes a seldom used club from his belt and smashed Canopic Stone like it was some distasteful insect. He looks up at Anna, with some hope that this simple act can help her get over what has happened. The vilkacis has lost its way into our world Anna. It can never possess you again.
Panting, Anna stands up slowly from Estovion's corpse. She spits, her face a mask of murderous hate.
"It's not enough. He needed to suffer. He killed with that thing. It went inside me, and changed me. Made me feel--" she shuts her eyes and clenches her fists.
"Now he's escaped! It's not fair!" she shouts.
"He will suffer in eternal damnation Anna in the bowels of the Abyss."
"Not good enough," she shakes her head. "I don't want some demon doing my job for me."
She turns to look at the oracle. "Kimberly, you're tight with Pharasma? Can you do something? Make sure she tears him apart for me? Or saves him for when it's my time?"
Kimberly gives pause, wanting to give the best answer. she kind of knows what Anna is asking for. unfortunately it may not be in her power to ask such a thing.
I'll do my best Anna. But I want to warn you, be careful what you are asking. don't let your desire for revenge cloud your judgement. I remember what Doctor Petros once told me when I wanted revenge on another girl that was picking on me. He sat me down and said, "Kimberly, when that girl does something bad to you, she has given you three choices. first: you can let it define you, Second: You can let it destroy you. Or third: You can let it strengthen you." I chose number three.
Kimberly does mean to lecture Anna, but she does try to offer her advice as peaceably as she can.
He made me attack my lover! Anna screams. "I bit him! I may have infected him! How am I supposed to let that go!?
She spins around at the faces surrounding her. She sobs, then turns and runs out of the chamber, moving into the other room across the hallway. She finds a corner and sinks into it, burying her face in her hands and crying.
Search this room. Tolvan says quietly and then he goes after Anna.
The young wizard goes and sits down by Anna, not saying anything for a moment, only letting her feel his presence. Finally he says. Anna, this is not over, and there is still a chance. no a need for vengeance. His voice hardens. The vilkacis was Estovion's tool, but I think he did not forge it, or master it alone. Those we seek are the Whispering Way. Like too many threats to us lately I believe it will be proven that they are ultimately to blame for all of this. I want to make them pay. And when they are defeated I want you at my side. I need you with me. There are foes yet to fight in this very building. And I pray that they will show us the next step to our ultimate enemy. He reaches out and offers his hand. Will you help me bring the fight to them?
Kimberly was about to respond, but Anna had run off. not that Kimberly could offer much help.
after she was gone, and after Tolvan left, Great, I really messed that one up.
following Tolvan's advice, Kimberly continues her search of the room (in case something was missed)
Anna's knees are drawn up to her chest as she rocks back and forth. She listens to Tolvan wordlessly, hiding her face from him. When he finishes, she looks up at him with red-rimmed eyes. "I couldn't stop myself. I would've thought nothing could make me hurt you, but I'm wrong, aren't I? I'm not strong enough. I'm so sorry. You deserve better." She drops her head back to her knees.
Tolvan never lowers his hand. It was powerful magic Anna, and it could have controlled any one of us, even me. Even our Paladin. He pauses for a moment before adding There are ways to increase your resistance to such though. I can show you. He removes his +2 cloak of resistance and drapes it across Anna's shoulders, using a silver broach to hold it in place. And I can help you with this. I should have thought of it earlier. Will you forgive me for that?
To one side, rows of shelves lined with bottles and beakers filled with strange fluids and jars containing powdered reagents and herbs surround a long stone surgical table. Another shelf holds a selection of tarnished surgical tools. On the other side, a 10-foot-deep pit sits in the floor of a crudely chiseled cave. Rusted manacles lie scattered about the floor near the edge of the pit.
There are dust-covered skeletal remains at the bottom of the pit, the wrists locked in the manacles. The surgical tools are all made solid silver, and the entire collection is worth 3,000 gp. Kimberly also finds a locked iron strongbox.
-------------------------------------------
Across the hall, there is silence, Tolvan and Anna locked in their thoughts. A sharp howl from outside the Stairs of the Moon is a bitter reminder that events have not stopped to await the outcome of their drama. The werewolves of the Shudderwood are on the move...
Anna slips out of the cloak and hands it back to Tolvan. "It's yours. And there's nothing for you to forgive," she says, sniffling. "I'll try to be stronger next time."
She gets up and retrieves her weapons from the other room. She glances at the lock box. "You want me to try to open that?"