Darin groans inwardly.
Tarin and Darin. Thanks much, boss.
Tarinhil it is. And you're right, I'm sorry. Crazed cultists, or mind-controlled victims or whatever, tend to be pretty lacking in social etiquette.
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
So, not to sound too clueless and pretentious at the same time, but I have no idea what's going on since I spent the last few weeks coming from Nirmathas. Why are there cultists in a sawmill?
Fernus follows the others meekly down the stairs again and looks around at the bodies when Bear, Unalaq and Tarin seem to have things under control.
"Mind-controlled huh? Any idea about what kind of creature did this Unalaq? I seem to recall a lot of different kind of mind-affecting creatures in lore and stories."
"How do we know there was magic at work? Is there a way to firmly tell it?" She is naturally suspicious and this makes her even further concerned.
Rolling rolling
Who wants to wake him up. Also no one has seen or heard from Phooka
"I have no way of knowing the type of creature. I have heard of several that can do it and there are more of which I know nothing. I was able to observe him in battle Val. It was clear. I hope we can learn more once he is awake again."
Tarinhil suugests, "We should probably bind him.. and then wake him up to ask him. Just in case he's still affected by whatever Unalaq saw."
Once I have him tied up, I will use a use of lay on hands to awaken him.
The elf wakes up with a start
Justice IronBriar a locl justice who lives in the Alabaster District
He has an unholy symbol of Norgorber
As soon as he comes to he says That witch! I was controlled. Let us deal! I have no desire to die here!
Darin uses his morningstar to pick up the chain on the holy symbol.
This is the symbol of Norgorber. Somehow you don't inspire the greatest of faith in me.
Darin's glower is surprisingly effective for such a young cleric.
Totally Evil.
Xanesha! She runs the cult, and is responsible for murders here and in tons of little towns all over! Most recently some place called Sandpoint
Oh, she's responsible? Tell me, what do you call Norgorber? Blackfingers? The Grey Master?
He pushes the flat head of his morning star into the chest of the elf.
Tell me why I should believe you?
Because you will confirm the information and if i am lying hubt me down and kill me slowly. Besides I want her to be punished for controlling me!
Something tells me hunting you down won't be too difficult, since I'm going to make sure you're handed over to the relevant civil authorities. I doubt they'll be keen about this cult or its activities.
Tarinhil turns his strange eyes on the elf, "Why would she control you if you're already part of the dark cult? And, the more important question, where do we find your... Xanesha?"
no one going to make that local check?
Do you promise not to kill me if I tell you where to find her? And are you promising to kill her? Cause if you don't she will be killing me for sure.
Tarinhil says, "I think we can make sure she doesn't kill you if you tell us."
Taking a deep breath. She listens quietly, hoping to get a gauge of the man's words.
seems honest enough Val
If she's spreading murder around Varisia I doubt she'll respond kindly to requests to stop. So if she doesn't surrender I think we can guarantee she'll be dead.
Darin grunts.
Of course, if you want protection, how about a nice room with four solid walls and very solid lock.
If you are planning on eliminating her then I am happy to go to our solid room with four walls and lock.
You believe that statement
Fernus stands close to the others, not wanting to talk or discuss, but grabing his quill and paper and writing everything down.
Xanesha... a powerful witch with the ability to mind-control people. The cultist we enocuntered in the sawmill is also a follower of Norgorber. What shall we do with such a man?
He seems honest, that he is perfectly willing to sell her out as revenge for mind controlling him, he also seems content to go to prison, assuming you are all after her. His statement about her killing him if she knows what he is about to tell you is true as well. He also is pretty sure that she would get him in the prison if she lives
The old clocktower. That is where you need to go to find Xanesha. As you can tell she has powerful magics, and is perhaps the most beautiful women in the world.
leather armor, hand crossbow with 10 bo lts, masterwork
war razor, skinsaw mask, 2 0 gp
All the above x10
Wand of Stinking Cloud DC 15 5 charges
Wand of Fireball DC 15 3 charges
wand of cure moderate wounds (1 2 cha rg es);
Other Gear mithral c h a i n s h i rt, + 1 buckler, + 1 short sword,
m aste rwork h a n d crossbow with 1 0 poisoned bolts (drow
poison), reaper's mask,
and a key to a locked room in the lowest levels
"And was there anything she gave you while you were controlled that we might use to take her down?" Val was genuinely curious. If this was one of this Xanesha's chief lieutenants, then he might have some magic that she was trying to hide. "And her beauty will mean nothing at the point of my knife...," Val finishes as she slides her blade back into it's sheath.
Only gave me instructions and hope of more intimacy. The witch.
"And what of that," she nods to the holy symbol. "I believe you were asked about it and you have failed to answer it. In fact, by not answering it...and by answering me the way you just did...you have admitted that you are a worshiper of Norgorber...is that legal here?"
The church saved me and I have never hid that and if you are familiar with the local statutes you would know that... what follows is an in depth explanation of legalize which sounds like he has a legal loophole to worship as he pleases, and of course being mind controlled will give him some leniency as well
Hard to say without knowing if he was charmed or dominated but on either event it doesn't sound like it was a variant on the spell
So, sounds like we have a plan. Prison, whip up the local guard and storm the clocktower, defeat what our mind-controlled friend here calls "the most beautiful woman in the world,"
Darin pauses to look at the elf skeptically.
And by the way, if she'd control your actions what makes you think she's not really a hideous crone covered in warts who's using an illusion to appear beautiful?
He continues.
Save Varisia and call it a day. Hideous poison clouds notwithstanding this could be worse.
She very well may be
Tarinhil says, "Problem is, she's likely to have cronies in the constabulary. Especially if she can enchant 'em. Sadly, I think the storming may have to come from us.... and we may have to rush to it the moment this one shows up under arrest."
Darin sighs and runs a hand through his hair. You get the feeling he does that alot.
I wish you hadn't said that.
If this Xanesha is real and has control of the constabulary, or even people who can get to a prisoner, I don't feel comfortable letting our little living zombie here rot in a cell to get murdered. Do you have anyone you can trust to keep an eye on him?
Valeria is friends with a young pathfinder named Quar, he owes her a favor from a few years back, perhaps she could get in touch with him and get the society to hold him...though there would probably be a price of some sort
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Witch gonna get the sharp end o' my claws. Need to make sure we have some protections up against er' magical charms then we should be good.
@ Darin, Bear's the name BTW, they call me that because I can turn into a Bear...and maybe that I smell like one. He give the newcomer a big grin.
Pleased to meet you, nice to find someone with social graces.
He sniffs in response to Bear's comment about smelling like a wild animal.
Ever held a dwarf's beard while he threw up because he was coming off a four day bender? Ain't nothing offensive after that.
"Where is the little healer? We could likely use more of our wounds tended to..." Val says as she looks about, hoping that she can see any signs of the little creature.
Tarinhil stops, realizing what Val is saying with a start. "Someone keep an eye on this one... Unalaq, maybe since I'd think an evil Skinsaw-lover would rightly fear an angry paladin who, I'll note, never said he accepted your surrender. Let's go find Phooka. "
With that, Tarinhil reaches for his extract of see invisible , then says, "I'll search once without it."
Roll me two nat 20's in a row Tarin to find the invisible and unmoving phooka
Tarinhil sighs and drinks the extract, Hopefully it's not too late..
Tarin finds him unmoving and scorched by the stairs
Tarinhil rushes to the little guy, drawing the wand of CLW as he does, ready to use it the moment he closes if there's any life left in his body.