Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Dyrant beats his head against the table, as if remembering something important.

Dyrant finishes beating his head on the table and instead rubs his face in his palm.

"Yes, more scones please. I feel so much more vibrant when I eat Atol's scones. I'm a fan of the caramel-white chocolate ones."

Dyrant returns to the task at hand.

"What questions would you have me as of Aralynn to aid in our search?"

"Oh! That would be exciting. I've always wanted to see a powerful priest speak with the dead. I read a story once about a bard-priest of Olidammara who composed an entire musical by speaking with his dead half-brother every third day..."

Glimmil gazes at Dyrant and Atol and wonders if either of them could speak with their fallen adversaries.

"I can help come up with some questions, if that would help."

I wonder what the half-orc's favorite color was?

Or where that wizard woman gets her nails manicured? I'm sure Skie would love to know...

Oh, and of course. Who hired them? And why?

Atol barely listens to the conversation, just nods when Dyrant points at him.

First Finneas' eye and now Toffitt's, well, his whole body! What are we coming to? What are we becoming?

Atol munches on some bread and tries to think.

Maybe Coryston is right. Maybe this is a mistake.

Atol looks at his companions again, paying particular attention to Doctor Toffitt.

We're becoming monsters.

"I am not like you."

Atol walks out the door and into his garden. He prunes the lemon tree and plucks a few fresh lemons to flavor his water later. He sighs and heads over to the church, still carrying the lemons. He gets down on his knees at the later, then lies prostrate before the lord.

"What is next St. Cuthbert? What are we to do next?"

He waits quietly for an answer. When none is forthcoming he stands and putters about the church garden until dusk. Then he returns to the house and prepares dinner.

Tomorrow I shall ask some questions of my own.
Atol will add Commune and three Speak with Dead spells to his list for tomorrow.

Toffitt listens intently to his friends' descriptions of the attempted assassination, nods with appreciation as Dyrant beats his head, and only looks astonished when Glimmil finally speaks. "You what? Glim, you... You read?"

He gets up and begins looking for food, since no one has yet offered him a scone. "I'm so hungry I could eat five heroes' feasts. You know, it's been a month more or less since I've really eaten...? Hrm. Do we have any pickled jackfruit lying around?"

After getting some awfully strange flavor combinations into his mouth, Toffitt begins to ponder the assassins. "Well, there's the obvious questions. Were they sent here by the Cagewrights? Are they under the employ of Lord Vhalantru?"

He rubs his shaved pate. "Glimmil, I'd watch yourself. Strange things can happen when gnomes sleep. You never know where your spoons will end up."

He smirks as Atol declares that they are not the same person. "Tis true. We're no more alike than the Liga and Raenel. Like them, though, there is room in the heavens for both of us. Though I rather see myself in Elysium, not Arcadia. Should I ever die. If I can now...?" He smiles.

Glimmil waves off Toffitt's question.

"Of course I read! All the time! I can loan you some of my heroing books, they have all kinds of morally-things to teach you what's good and what's do-badding."

Glimmil stops mid-sentence as his mind floods with which stories he might direct Toffitt to first.

Shaking his head, he absorbs Toffitt's warning about sleeping and spoons and completely misinterprets everything.

"Oh! I wouldn't worry. Cog's a light sleeper. And I keep my spoons somewhere very safe when I sleep. I don't think anyone would ever think to look where I hide them!"

Glimmil gives Toffitt's shaved noggin a jealous look and rubs his own head, wondering if this could be a new Team Cauldron look for everyone.

Dyrant calls over Aralynn, asking her to commune with the Archons for answers to help the Cauldron 5.2

Questions:

"Were they sent here by the Cagewrights?"
"Are they under the employ of Lord Vhalantru?"
"Will whomever sent them after us do so again?"
"Is whomever sent them against us mostly headquartered within the City of Cauldron?"
"Does Finn's Smoking Eye pose a threat to Cauldron?"

The last question Dyrant asks in Aquan:

"Let's find some food Doctor. Not poisoned this time."

Finneas gathers his gear and heads out with the Doctor.

Atol is sullen and quiet all through breakfast before departing quickly into the city. He goes to the high church of St. Cuthbert and finds a free priests cell. He takes out his holy water, and incense (500gp worth) and beings to pray in private. He considers all the good that the Cauldron Five have done, and hopes the answer to his questions allows the group to continue to exist.

Eventually, almost as if he doesn't want to, and with a heavy heart, Atol casts his first Commune.

1) "Is the Cualdron Five still a force for good?"
2) "Should I fear what Finneas has become?"
3) "Was Doctor Toffitt's change planned by others (i.e. not Dr. Toffitt)?"
4) "Is Finneas still in charge of his own destiny?"
5) "Can Dr. Toffitt be trusted?"
6) "Can Finneas be trusted?"
7) "Can Glimmil be trusted?"
8) "Can … Dyrant be trusted?"
9) "Should I attempt to cure Finneas?"
10) "Should I attempt to cure Dr. Toffitt?"
11) "Am I going to change into something... unnatural?"

Did I ask the right questions? Did I just waste my lords time with my own drivel? I hope not... Atol sighs heavily and awaits answers. He hopes for the best.

Atol will buy 1,000gp worth of holy incense for the Commune spell. He uses half of it on this casting and will save the other half for a later casting.

Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for the next 12 hours.

"Were they sent here by the Cagewrights?" Yes

"Are they under the employ of Lord Vhalantru?" No
"Will whomever sent them after us do so again?" Yes
"Is whomever sent them against us mostly headquartered within the City of Cauldron?" Yes
"Does Finn's Smoking Eye pose a threat to Cauldron?" No

The last question Dyrant asks in Aquan: No

1) "Is the Cualdron Five still a force for good?" Yes
2) "Should I fear what Finneas has become?"No
3) "Was Doctor Toffitt's change planned by others (i.e. not Dr. Toffitt)?" No
4) "Is Finneas still in charge of his own destiny?" Yes
5) "Can Dr. Toffitt be trusted?" Yes
6) "Can Finneas be trusted?" Yes
7) "Can Glimmil be trusted?" Yes
8) "Can … Dyrant be trusted?" Yes
9) "Should I attempt to cure Finneas?" No
10)"Am I going to change into something... unnatural?" No

Dyrant looks around after the answers come back from the Archons.

"You have heard the Servants of St. Cuthbert. Ah...The Cagewrights seems to need our attention. They now make bold moves against us...even threatening the peace in the city and risking innocents."

Dyrant ponders and would hear the thoughts of others.

Glimmil peddles his feet impatiently while waiting for Atol to question the recently deceased assassins about who sent them.

He passes the time by drawing plans for various business ideas in New Jzadirune.

Should I be worried that I asked 11 questions and got only 10 responses?

Atol weeps openly, tears of joy at the first and last questions. I'm going to remain as I am! The middle questions were more for form sake - confirming what Atol already knew in his heart. He felt a little shame at even asking the questions, but now at least he knows who he can trust.

- - -

He returns to the party after a few quick prayers but still that morning.

"So, I have prepared several Speak with Dead spells that we might question those who attacked us. It seems likely they will resist so we may have no luck at all, but if we do succeed, what should I ask? I'll only have five questions."

"I can think of only four things to ask. Surely there must be something else we want to know from them."

1) "Who hired you to attack us?"
2) "How did you administer the sleeping poison?"
3) "What are the names of others who wish to attack us?"
4) "Where can we find our enemies?"

Should I be worried that I asked 11 questions and got only 10 responses?

No. The "reply" function only copied through question 9 and then I only added 11 by mistake. It's another No.

Toffitt spends the day wandering the city, checking in with his former clients and seeing how people react to his new appearance. He breaths a bit more easily, if less often, happy in the realization that the beast does indeed seem fully in check. He goes without his usual treatments to keep it at bay, and sees some hope for once.

He asks about for any word about a priestess of Vecna, but doesn't ask the right people (or the right people are put off by his changed appearance).

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

He offers a final question to Atol. "What do you know of the Cagewrights?"

The party heads for the city watch and finds the bodies kept in a cell.

"We didn't want them rising up in the middle of the night or anything like that?"

Atol casts his spell and asks his questions, plus the one from Toffitt. Guessing the spellcasters have the highest will saves, Atol starts with the half-orc.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

1) "Who hired you to attack us?"
- "A priest."
2) "How did you administer the sleeping poison?"
- "I didn't."
3) "What are the names of others who wish to attack us?"
- "I don't know."
4) "Where can we find our enemies?"
- "In Cauldron."
5) ""What do you know of the Cagewrights?"
- "Nothing."

Finneas frowns at the half-orc as he fails to answer the questions.

"Maybe more specific, Atol."

I could interrogate them.
Female: What are you going to do, threaten to kill them again?

Glimmil makes several "almost" gestures as each question provides a vague answer of little use.

"Argh! What's the name of the person who was hired to attack us? Where in Cauldron is he?"

Hopping up onto the table when the spell is complete, Glimmil looks down at the half-orc under him and continues to ask questions.

"Where do we find the do-badders? Where?!"

Dyrant follows along trying to aid, but mostly staying quiet lest too many chefs ruin the stew, wherein stew=asking questions of the dead.

Does Atol want to try the priestess of Vecna or the sorcerer?

As Glimmil leaps from the table, he tugs on Atol's vestements.

"Let's try the wizardy-guy. They're usually the clever ones behind plans, right?"

Glimmil gives Dyrant a nod to affirm his belief that arcanists can be the shadiest of sorts.

"I have two more castings, and we have more dead. Shall we try again?"

1) "What's the name of the person who was hired to attack us?"
2) "How did your party administer the sleeping poison?"
3) "Where in Cauldron can we find our enemies?"
4) "What do you know of the Cagewrights?"
5) "If the group against us has a name, what is it?"

Atol wiill try the Sorcerer next as Glimmil suggests.

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

1) "What's the name of the person who was hired to attack us?"
- "Ike Iverson."

"Ike Iverson? Church? He's no Kordite!"

Is he?

K. Local: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

"Ike Iverson, eh? Let me go ask around."

Assuming no one else has heard of him, Toffitt goes about town, asking his contacts.

Gather Info: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Ike Iverson?

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27 Know (Local)

"Ike Iverson!? IKE FREAKIN' IVERSON!? OF WEE JAS!? THAT LITTLE PISSANT!" Dyrant stands in a rage, grasping his AngelRelic tightly. "Of Wee Jas!? Does the God of Magic seek to test his might against the Cudgel!? I'll burn his temple to cinders! The God of Magic is NOTHING!" Dyrant slams the butt of the AngelRelic into the ground, ready for war.

"No church challenges the Cudgel here in Cauldron! We shall raise an army of Cuthbertines and purge every Wee Jas follower from our City. There will be war! And the Temple to Wee Jas will be rubble and regret!"

Dyrant continues his rant for several moments, preparing spells to decimate and destroy the entire Wee Jas faithful in Cauldron.

Toffitt looks placidly at Dyrant as he goes on and on (almost as though his blood is now made of Xanax). He waits for the storm to ebb a bit before interjecting, "Tis certain, we must go to the temple in force. But let's not jump to conclusions. Every faith has its heretics. Also, is this not a priestess of Vecna? It would be small surprise to find that worm in Wee Jas' magic apple."

Glimmil leaps up and down, sharing the enthusiasm of the others, without clearly understanding where they will head to next.

"Yes! We have a lead! A lead, a lead, a lead!"

He slows his jumping and begins to give Dyrant a worried look throughout his tirade.

"Umm. Dyrant? Wee Jas.. she's not necessarily a do-badder goddess. She's kind of cute, actually. But that doesn't matter, we shouldn't judge every Wee Jas'ser guilty, it might just be Mister Ike that's bad?"

Glimmil nods sagely.

Toffitt puts his deathless hand on Glimmil's shoulder and nods his agreement. "I don't blame you for mistrusting gods of magic like Wee Jas. My uncle worshipped such, and he was a dreadful prig. But that's elves for you."

"No church, huh? Hey...didn't you guys tell me a story about meeting another priest of Vecna while I was dead the first time?"

Vecnastuff

"C'mon, Cog!"

Glimmil speaks in an upbeat voice to try to cheer up his canine companion.

"You've moped long enough! It's time to find some more do-badders!"

New trend started? All posts today must include a link somewhere?

ROFLMAO @ Glimmil

Atol can't believe his luck and the leads continue to come in.

"Shall we try the priest? Maybe our luck will run just a little further and we'll get some more leads."

Atol casts his final Speak with Dead. The DC is still 18.

1) "Who is Ike Iverson?"
2) "In which church in Cauldron can we find our enemies?"
3) "Is the whole church of Wee Jas in Cauldron opposed to us?"
4) "Who does Ike Iverson work for?"
5) "Who works for Ike Iverson?"

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Finally!

The priestess has nothing to say.

Dyrant paces angrily as Atol's latest questions fail to confirm the necessary war against the WeeJasians.

"Confound it! Another spate of answers might be just what we need to rally the Cauldron Cuthbertines to war! No matter, surely Jenya knows how dire it is that the Cudgel's holy servants were attacked in broad barlight on orders of WeeJas." Dyrant waves his AngelRelic menacingly. "We must strike back and strike back strongly!"

Dyrant ponders for a moment.

"That's it, Atol! Come, we must go see Jenya and her staff. Surely when the same answers come from the Archons she will see the need for war! No one attacks the servants of the Cudgel...for an attack upon us is an attack upon the Church itself."

Dyrant continues to rail.

"Let us go talk to Jenya," Dyrant insists. "Or we can also go raze the Wee Jas temple directly. Either one would be a good step towards retribution."

Toffitt does his best to mimic a spell to calm emotions. "Rest yourself, Dyrant. We will go to the temple of Wee Jas, and surely do Ike Iverson bodily harm. Besides him, though, we have no reason to suspect any denizen of the temple, or members of Wee Jas' flock." Toffitt gathers his extracts and tinctures together and straps on his newly improved dueling sword. He hands Finneas two elixirs (Shield, Barkskin +4) and Atol one (Ablative Barrier, 50HP). "Do use them. I'd hate to see you die before your time. Again."

At the talk of holy war Finneas casually leans against the closed door and watches Dyrant, confident the failed cleric won't be able to climb out the windows.

"Let us go talk to Jenya," Dyrant insists. "Or we can also go raze the Wee Jas temple directly. Either one would be a good step towards retribution."

"I think, before we undergo a crusade, we should talk to Jenya. So far we only have proof that one priest is in fact involved. It would be a shame to raze their altar over one bad priest."

Atol is excited to have so solid a lead, but uncomfortable going where Dyrant wants to go with it. He gets up and invites the others to come along to the church.

Dyrant is ready to go see Jenya and begin drawing up war plans to obliterate the Church of Wee Jerks after Jenya uses her staff to back up what they've learned.

"Let's go, let's go."

"I trust you both to act wisely, without sparking an unnecessary holy war. Jenya has taught you both well. Have faith in what you've learned."

"I trust you both to act wisely, without sparking an unnecessary holy war. Jenya has taught you both well. Have faith in what you've learned."

Dyrant gives Doctor Toffitt the stink eye.

"You are remarkably unversed in the Cudgel, Doctor Toffitt. If you would learn more, I would gladly teach you."

I have learned little from Jenya. My scripture is the holy book. And we shall see what the Archons suggest. Tis written: 'Those who fail at living up to the Saint's virtues are advised to turn to their communities for advice and support, and to pray to Saint Cuthbert to clear up their confusion.' So shall we.

Stink eye save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"It is true I am not versed in Cuthbert's teachings. Nor do I claim to follow his council, nor bluster about starting holy wars in his name. I'm therefore ready to go now to the Temple of Wee Jas and see what I find there." His voice maintains Xanax calm, even though the content of them signals impatience. "But we are an eclectic lot. If you're uncertain of your faith's dictates, by all means seek council with Jenya. I wish you to be resolute in our work together."

"Let's go then. I won't ask the temple of Kord for help, they'll expect me to do this myself like a true Kordite. I wouldn't worry too much about a holy war Doctor, usually you have to be a high priest to declare that."

And Dyrant isn't even a regular priest. They wouldn't let him in the church, right?
Female: Cuthbert did forgive him and provide the service of an angel.
Fifth: Being a loyal follower and an ordained priest are two different things, as you three well know.

"Did I hear you right? A holy war? Here in Cauldron? That might not be exactly what you said, but I hear the beating drums behind your words."

Jenya looks at Dyrant, then Atol and the rest of the party.

"I trust you. I trust your faith. I trust the archon. I don't trust that we have the whole truth. Promise me you'll go in with weapons sheathed. I have heard nothing to support what you've learned, but I believe you. The worst about the followers of Wee Jas I've heard is that they keep adding onto the height of their cathederal. The Pelorites are upset because it will soon block the sun's morning rays from reaching the Shrine of Pelor."

LOL

Toffitt waits in the narthex of the Cathedral of St. Cuthbert, smiling placidly and wishing he was a fly on the wall as Dyrant and Atol consult with Jenya. He practices not breathing for a while.

Atol chuckles at the complaint of the Pelorites. "All we have so far is evidence that the high priest is crooked, not the whole church. It is our intent, I think," Atol looks at Dyrant, "to bring him to justice."

"I do not want to take on the whole church." he looks at Dyrant again.

Dyrant gives Jenya stinkface.

She is a terrible Cuthbertine at times. Retribution! She should know it better how important protecting one's flock is. She is obviously the reason so many here in the City are not devout.

"Naturally, I should have expected that weak counsel. Of course, it was not your back that felt the assassin's greatsword. It was only me and Atol who almost died." Dyrant harrumphs.

"Luckily, we did not come here for your 'wisdom', but that of your staff. Or have you forgotten about it? A matter like this is worthy of guidance of angels. Why don't we see what they council before making any plans...for peace or war. It's logical."

Dyrant tries to recover some of his temper.

"Do you know Ike Iverson? What is his position within the Church of Wee Jas? Is he highly placed?"

If Jenya consents to logic and will commune via her staff, Dyrant will suggest the following questions:

I think Jenya gets 7...so other questions are welcome.

1: "Did Ike Iverson hire the assassins that attacked us?"
2: "Did Ike Iverson act with the permission of the hierarchy of his Church?"
3: "Is Ike Iverson a member of the Cagewrights?"

After telling off the high priest of your faith you demand to use the holy relic? Nope, I have no further questions, doubt we'll need the 3 you listed. :P

Finneas waits outside with the Doctor.

Atol looks on uncomfortably as Dyrant speaks rather overmuch to Jenya. He hopes Jenya finds wisdom and waits for Dyrant to burn out rather than meet him head on...

"Dyrant, please. Give Jenya some space to think on what's best for the whole church, not just us. Lives are on the line, but have some patience."

"Jenya, our leads are thin and another Commune would help us greatly if you'd be so inclined. Thank you for your consideration. Would you like us to wait outside while you think it over?"

If Jenya does consent, Atol still wants the answer to this question, which is a little different from Dyrant's.

"Is the whole church of Wee Jas in Cauldron opposed to us?"

Dyrant huffs then relents to Atol.

"Very well, Atol. You handle this."

Dyrant stands down and quietly, rather than overtly, seethes.