Shisumo's Cult of the Ebon Destroyers (Inactive)

Game Master Shisumo

I think our best bet is to pay for a divination to find out where in the city we should be looking, and then using locate object to track down the other earring. While we're at it, we should probably buy some scrolls of locate object so we can get this done fast. Maybe ten or so? That's 3750 gp, plus the cost of the divination.

Tania simply nods at Prashant, as she recognizes and defers to the man's expertise.

Nesipho has about 900g available. I'd prefer not to put all of it toward divination/scrolls, but will do so if needed.
The divination, if done from a min level caster and assuming standard markets prices will be 280gp + 25gp for material components. Prashant could actually cast the spell if we were willing to wait a day for him to pray for new spells.

@GM, how big is the city overall? How big is each district within the city? Each block within a district? Looking more for distance acros as opposed to square footage. Or maybe another way of asking, how many locate object spells would need to be used to cover a block of the city?

"Perhaps we can ask the Raheem for a reimbursement later, but let's see what we can discover." Nesipho muses.

"Prashant, divination is not something I have a strong familiarity with. I understand we are able to inquire about some event to happen in the future. What are the limitations?"

You could consider asking Lord Raheem...

"It's a fairly powerful intercession to ask of the gods," Prashant explains. "When I have done it in the past, I have lit some incense and meditated upon the problem, opening my third eye to see the possible futures. The Master of Masters has guided my path to reveal a course of action that, more often than not, has been useful to me. It's rarely an obvious course of action, of course. The gods prefer to present challenges to mortals. I would think that asking them where this earring's twin rests would be the best question to ask - from there, it is in the hands of the gods."

"So what are we waiting for then!?" says the impulsive Tania, looking expectantly at Prashant. "Let's rest for the remainder of the night and start searching at dawn!"

Is it actually night time? I'd imagined it a little after noon at best. Though we will need to acquire some locate object scrolls if we can find some.

Sorry, I realized I didn't answer some of Nesipho's questions from before. A single locate object spell would cover most of four blocks if cast at the intersection of all four - the radius is roughly one block (520 feet at minimum caster level). The city as a whole is a little less than a mile across in both directions; it would take rough 25 castings to cover the entire city, assuming you did it from a scroll or wand. A higher-level caster would help reduce that number immensely, however. Prashant, for instance, could cover the whole town in about ten castings.

As for the time, it is mid-afternoon - it did take some time for Prashant to verify the presence of casters capable of casting the spell.

Given Prashant could cast both the divination and the locate object spells (at a higher caster level most likely) should we just wait till the following day (so he can prepare one divination and 2-3 locate objects among his daily spells) to follow up on the earring rather than spending money on it? And take care of other minor things for the rest of the day?

"If we are to wait till the morrow to continue our search I'm going to go see what I can dig up on the cult at a library, and see if I can purchase a book on Vudrani while I'm at it. Anyone care to join me?"

Given I have neither Kn Local or Kn History I'm not expecting to actually uncover anything new. Though Kn Arcana might reveal something of their association/contact with demons (though of course Kn Planes would be more appropriate for that). Kn Religion might also be useful as the cult is a religion of sorts, but again I lack skill in that. So if anyone comes along I will do what I can to aid them, otherwise pretty much untrained skill checks for me to see if I get lucky and uncover anything.

My only concern with that is that every day we delay, the closer the cultists get to their goal. I can prep some a divination spell or two tomorrow, but I'd much rather be poorer today and have extra time on our side. Besides, we really seem to be at a dead end without it.

Let's spend the money then?

If money is the plan, exactly how much are you buying and what exactly are you buying with it? Let's make the decision so we can kick this forward...

305gp for the Divination spell (plus material components) is easy enough - assuming going by standard book prices. Nesipho will happily drop that amount.

The locate object may be more tricky. 150 per scroll, but we are going to want several at least. A full charged wand for 4500gp, or if a partially used wand is available something less than that. Or 60gp per casting if we can find someone with the spells prepared (or 80gp from a spontaneous caster). Plus any costs for their traveling to the location we want to cast it at.

Assume the divination gives us sufficient information that we probably won't need more than 4 castings. So 600gp for scrolls, less if we have access to a caster.

Actually, if there is no objection, lets do this. I have the potion of invis and 3 whip feather tokens that were not sold. Combined sale price on those is 900gp. That is 5gp shy of four scroll plus a divination. I'll drop the 5gp personally.

"If we are set to move with all haste let us be about it then. How shall we phrase our divination question? In one hours time, within which intersection should we stand to cast a locate object spell to find the match of this earring?"

Acquire 4 scrolls, assuming available, then have the divination cast. Then move to the indicated area and exactly one hour from the divination use one of the scrolls.

"I defer to your experience for the wording. What you suggest seems appropriate." offers Tania.

Breccia has only 59 gold to add to the cause, unfortunately. However, since we're doing this at the request of an extremely wealthy and influential noble, perhaps we could cut some sort of deal or bargain?

That was my thought as well.

Can I get Perception checks from everyone, please?

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 +1 more if it is trap related some how

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

You seek out Lord Raheem at the palace once more. He listens carefully to your request, but he is already nodding by the time you reach the point of asking him about paying for a divination or two. "Yes, yes," he says at once. "Your investigations have already borne more fruit than the previous ones." He reaches for pen and ink, and after a few moments his personal seal adorns a basic promissory note. "Have the spellmonger you select indicate the spells and prices here, sign it yourselves and have the merchant return it to the palace. Your expenses will be covered for this matter."

??? Stealth check: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18
??? Attack roll against Tania: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (6) + 35 = 41, damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The noble politely dismisses you after a few more words of courtesy. As you leave the palace, though, an arrow suddenly streaks through the air, burying itself in Tania's shoulder. Turning to look, everyone except Markis spies a flash of color on a distant rooftop down amongst the buildings toward the base of the hill. The colorful figure - it is impossible to tell more than that at this distance - immediately drops off the roof and disappears out of sight.

Hesitating only a moment Nesipho searches for anything nearby to climb, a building, a tree, anything to give him some greater vantage point on the off chance he can spot where the would be assassin is moving. No doubt they will simply blend in with the colors on the street.

Assuming there is a structure, tree, whatever.
Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Tania falters and goes pale as she takes heed of the shaft protruding from her shoulder. The pain is bearable, but the feeling of having something embedded inside her is sickening. She tightens her grip on her companion's pelt, and he senses her distress, his hair raising.

Quickly, pain and fear lead to anger, and she mutters a short incantation: "Deslizar!" and Ashaka and her blink out of sight, only to reappear on the roof where the archer was.

Dimension Door me and Ashaka (counts as two medium).

Unable to call out a warning in time, Breccia's hematite eyes go wide when he sees the arrow strike Tania. Swiftly, he draws the vicious adamantine katar from where they are sheathed at his hips and widens his stance. "Stand behind m--" is all Breccia is able to rumble before Tania disappears in a flash, reappearing on the distant rooftop with her tiger. The oread gapes for a moment, then points to the roof while turning to Nesipho.

"Mage," Breccia states flatly, "Bring me thirty feet beyond Tania at ground level." Suddenly the oread speaks, and most of it is harshly barked orders for things he isn't even sure Nesipho can accomplish.

_____
Move Action: Draw katars
Standard; Ready Action: Charge attack at nearest opponent. If Nesipho can also dimension door Breccia's hoping to wind up behind the building to bum-rush the assassin.

Markis looks around, confused. What just happened?

He instinctively conjures his armor, though still unaware of the nature or location of the danger.

Prashant can do little but watch as he sees the assassin dive off the building away from them. A flash of light, an audible pop, and suddenly he sees Tania and her tiger on the roof in front of them. He inhales sharply at seeing her up there. "No!", he cries, suddenly moving forward. "What's she doing? They could be drawing her into a trap!"

It takes Nesipho a moment to realize what Breccia is asking, "Ngingehambe." he calls back in polyglot, then switches to common. "That is not within my ability."

Prashant rushes down the hillside, although he is still only perhaps a third of the way to the building at the end of the round. Nesipho climbs a handy tree, but by the time he reaches a suitable height, there is no sign of the archer. Markis hardens his skin while Breccia readies weapons, but neither are any closer to the center of the action than they were before the arrow was fired.

Any other actions occur out of the purview of any of the PCs, so you can all take another round's worth of actions.

Finding his efforts fruitless Nesipho drops down out of the tree, "Come Markis. A would be assassin seeking to hide on the crowded streets." He then gives chase after Prashant.

Unless something else interrupts us Nesipho will spend the next several rounds sprinting to catch up with Tania.

Tania grabs her companion's pelt. Channeling eldritch energy through their connection, she mutters: "Volantis!" and the companion takes to the air, going in a straight line above the rooftops to get to the alleyway, while Tania scans the area to find the archer.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Fly speed is 60 feet. Double move.

Prashant curses as he sees Tania and her tiger take to the sky, and continues pushing past people to follow her from the ground. You're making yourself a target, Tania! There could be more assassins waiting to fire!

Exhaling a breathy snarl, Breccia offers a look to Nesipho that is both demanding and apologetic, as if he somehow realized the tone of his prior request, much belatedly. Seeing the magi take off running, Breccia begins plodding after them, moving like a stone rolling downhill and very quickly being outpaced.

___
Give chase, following Nesipho.

As everyone takes chase in an obvious direction, Markis frowns and looks after them. His failed observation had put him at a disadvantage, though he could ascertain that they had been attacked. Glancing about at the crowd, he sighed and conjured his wings. With a few powerful beats, he was aloft and soaring.

Disguise check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

You guys are up.

Tania uses Ashaka's increased speed to close in on the man, but before doing so, she utters an incantation: Labiella Occultis..." and Ashaka disolves in the air.

That should keep the crowd from going too wild...

Keep moving, closing within 30 feet, and 20 feet above it if possible.

Meanwhile, she tries to see what's different about this man, the way he moves, his... style?

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Tania is unable to determine exactly what it is about him that seems off, only that something does.

I'm assuming I'm still some distance behind, so still trying to catch up with Tania and Prashant.

You guys still moving?

Markis soars in the direction everyone seems to be moving, staying high and aloft. He'll try to look for anything out of the ordinary.
Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Edit: Yeah, not so much.

Until I catch up to Tania, yes.

I can post a general strategy if you prefer, instead of going round by round.

Yes, Breccia is moving (slowly :|)until he catches up to Tania at the very least.

I'm also following Tania from the ground. My speed's probably somewhere between hers and Breccia's.

No, round by round is probably about to become pretty important.

You guys again. Note at this point that pretty much everyone is falling behind Tania and Ashaka because of her fly speed.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Kn (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Shoving anyone in his way out of his bull-like path, Breccia rushes across the street and is quickly losing ground on the others. Skidding to a halt he looks for a sign of where Tania and the assassin went, but with the cover of the buildings all he can hope to do is arrive in time to clean up whatever mess Tania starts. Breaking into a run again, Breccia's heavy footfalls slam across the ground.

____
Still moving as fast as he can depending on terrain/cwods/etc.

Tania, can I get a Bluff check please?

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34