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You enter a very plain looking building with a grey interior. There is no decoration of any kind in this building. It is a very sharp contrast to the extravagance of the Sanguine Cathedrals surrounding the building. Just as you are thinking you are in the wrong place...
No, you are in the right place. I accessed your mind to easily, remember your training.Just wait a moment and I will send my assistant to speak with you. Pay no attention to what she says, it is merely a means of distracting any unwanted ears. I will continue to tell you what you need to hear.A male voice in your head calls out.
A door opens and in walks a female Gevet who begins to give you directions to the nearest merchant and she apologizes for being out of various items you are supposedly here for.
You have shown potential in our program and we wish to give you a mission. You have no doubt heard of the trouble in the south regarding the Cult of the Emissary and her Phoenix Guard. Recently they have claimed to have come up with a cure for the quickslaver disease. I need you to investigate this claim. You will not receive any more help from this office until you return back with information on the issue. Specifically we need to know if this cure works, what is the cure, and is there any merit to these rumors that this cure is really a means of slavery for the cult. Once you feel you can adequately answer these questions return here at once for further instructions. You have already been given your stipend for the task, but if there is something you need to buy just ask my assistant where to find it. Dismissedand the mental connection ceases as quickly as it came about.
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Yes, travel to southern Sametia. Use what ever cover you wish in your investigation, a refugee in search of a cure could work, but it could also be dangerous. Beware of the Janus horde, they extremely aggressive now.
Knowledge: Local
Knowledge: Local Best/fastest/safest way to reach Macawi.
Knowledge: History Information about Macawi
Knowledge: History Information about Saidah
Ki-Maj nods at the female Gevet and says, "Silly of me. Down the street and to the right. Good day and my thanks." He turns and heads back out on the street.
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As you are leaving the building.. One last thing, The Dominion has agreed to assist us with this matter. Please meet their representative in the Cathedral of the venerate Dhazvok. He is an Ifriti so he should be easy to find.
You come to a large cathedral to the sanguine covenant. This cathedral is not the most extravagant, but the members of the church seem very serious, and stand-offish. Some in strange masks seem to be watching you.
Being unfamiliar with the ways and traditions of the Sanguine Covenant, Ki-Maj tries his best to observe and imitate any non-clergy worshiper behavior he can see while looking for the Ifriti.
Knowledge (religion):
Perception:
You see one of the parishoners, dressed as a traveller in a wide brimmed hat, standing a little apart from the rest. He seems to be smoking while looking up at the stained glass windows.
An observer, if paying attention, could see the sleeve of his robe fall away from his arm as he reached up to grasp his pipe to reveal... the Lazarus Brand.
Ki-Maj moves near the traveller, but keeps a proper social distance. He looks up at the stained glass window, enjoying the craftsmanship. "You have travelled far sir. Would you allow me the honor of welcoming you to Aremyhk? There is a cafe nearby that has simply the freshest juices, something to set your mind at ease after your journey." Bowing forward slightly, Ki-Maj's right hand opens the top of his robe enough to reveal his own Brand on his breastbone.
Parisos turns, considers Ki-Maj's words slowly, then nods.
"Mm, yes. It would be wise, I think, to accept your kind offer. I would prefer not to disturb the Venerate with our presence."
Up close, you can see only the faint reddish tinge to his skin to distinguish the Ifrit from the rest of humanity; that is until he lifts the brim of his hat and you see the literal fire in his eyes.
"Shall we go then?" He asked, motioning towards the open cathedral doors.
As though interrupted from deep in though, Ki-Maj suddenly looks directly into the man's eyes. "Of course, please follow me. I am Ki-Maj." With a slight bow he turns and walks out into the street.
After walking a few minutes he stops at a cafe taking seat at a free table outdoors but back from the street proper. "What can you tell me about Morolt?"
"Hm. Morolt."
Parisos sits at the table, leans his worn iron-shod staff against the table and considers the question for a long moment.
You notice that he never seems to put anything in his pipe, but smokes steadily in spite of it.
"Little, I'm afraid. A town in the southwest of Sametia, near the border of the Protectorate. Under the unfortunate governance, so to speak, of the Janus Horde."
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As you are walking you smell smoke and the nasty aroma of burned flesh. You turn the corner and see a pile of burned bodies surrounded by armed men shouting Stay away from the plague victims! a sentence that seems not be said as no one seems interested in examining them. The following roads and alleyways are uncommonly clear for this time of day.
Master Parisos frowns as he considers the pile of burning bodies.
"Has the Plague reached so far now?"
"I can only assume since you also carry the Brand that you also have seen the end of things. The Emissary and her followers seem to be a catalyst in these events. Will you accompany me to Morolt to see if we can learn more?"
Parisos nods sagely.
"Of course. That is why I was sent."
He puffs a little more vigourously on his pipe, trying to swamp the stench of the burning bodies as he thought.
"I wonder... there have been incidents on the border in that area with people calling themselves "The Phoenix Guard". There may be a connection, as the proximity to Morolt seems a bit much to be a coincidence."
"And their offer of a cure can only bring more converts to the enemy cause."
He glances at Ki-Maj.
"Did you have an approach in mind?"
Ki-Maj shakes his head, " Unfortunately I do not. The best idea I have at present is to pretend to be a willing convert, and see what we can learn before they discover us."
"Hm. Yes. I would agree that is the best option available to us at the moment. Perhaps we could also invest in some manner of makeup, so as to show the early stages of Plague at some opportune time."
As you are both talking, a Black Robed priest suddenly growls and starts to attack the others pushing the wagon full of corpses. He fells all of them before you can react.
Plague Victim
21-Plague Victim
6-Master Parisos
The Plague Victim lumbers forward spilling the wagon of corpses on the road, and closes to melee with Ki Maj.
Initiative:
Move action: Use Nomad Step to teleport 20' away, since we were attacked at a sidewalk cafe I assume there is something I can see within 20'.
Standard action: Manifest Ectoplasmic Sheen between the Plague Victim and myself.
Parisos' eyes blazed as his head turned quickly, taking in the priests bodies still hitting the pavement as the creature's sudden attack encounters Ki-Maj's exotic defenses.
Swift action: Spend one Arcane Pool and one Mythic power to Arcane Strike (Mythic) to enhance his staff to +3 and flaming.
Move Action: Quickly Move to contact the plague victim.
Standard Action: Attack
for a possible crush damage and fire damage.
The Plague Victim slowly dodges the attack that Master Parisos made a minor blunder on delivering. The Plague Victim attacks Master Parisos
Damage if hits
Damage if hits
Damage if hits roll fort save
Parisos stumbles back a step, having been hit twice despite his force armor.
Ki-Maj's eyes glow with a dull green as he floods the Plague Victim's mind with punishing, stabbing energy!
.
Ki-Maj then draws and his shortspear.
Initiative 6
Master Parisos crouches suddenly and spins, his staff sweeping out at ankle height.
Initative
Plague Victim 21(Currently in Melee with Ki Maj
Ki-Maj 8 - Is up
Master Parisos 6
Master Parisos feels slightly ill from the bite, but is able to over come it.
Ki-Maj meets some unexpected mental resistance from the diseased creature.
AoO for trip from Master Parisos to confirm doesn't confirm damage
Master Parisos trip is successful and the beast falls to the ground. He quickly stands back up And attacks Ki-Maj with increased fury if hits.
Knowledge (Psionics)
Ki-Maj readies himself against the creature, thrusting the spear at it releasing a scream of psionic rage!
Attack: with a Mythic Surge adding .
Damage: and an additional for Psionic Weapon if hit.
He then yells a few words strange words, and out of the nearby chaos of people running away a male Sasori rushes forward to grapple the Plague Victim vs. CMD.
Initiative 6
Grimacing as he is hit yet again, Parisos quickly twists his fingers and mutters a word to cast Shield while again swinging his flaming staff at the creatures head.
for a possible crush damage and fire damage.
The Plagued corpse falls. A small silver ooze flows from its ears and onto the road.
During your conflict peasants and travelers, the little that were there, leave. You see a patrol of Imperials coming your way.
Looking down at the body, Master Parisos states flatly; "Quickslaver". Then examines his arm where he got bit.
Glancing at the oncoming soldiers, Master Parisos plucks the pipe from his mouth and asks; "Well Master Ki-Maj, shall we attempt to avoid any Imperial entanglements? Or stay and fill out the inevitable incident reports?"
Ki-Maj nods to Master Parisos' inquiry. He says something to the Sasori, who quickly bows his head and runs off into the crowds. "I believe it would be prudent to make our preparations elsewhere. I believe the proper authorities can handle the rest from here." He gestures to the corpse.
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You both make it to a relatively crowded market. There is all manner of items here, and some merchants even claiming to have a cure for the plague.
You hear that there was other disturbances around town today, many are blaming the refugees from Reis and have been attacking them openly on the streets. Imperials seem to have a heightened presence in the market place.
Ki-Maj approaches one of the merchants claiming to have a cure for the plague, "How much would it cost me to be cured?"
Master Parisos stands a ways away, observing surreptitiously what Ki-Maj was doing without looking to be in company with him.
Ki-Maj nods knowingly at the Sasori merchant, addressing him in his native tongue, "That is excellent information. I will be sure to return should I become infected."
[ooc]Probably not really. Really we just need to figure out how we are going to get to Morolt. Hire on some kind of caravan?[/occ]