@ Vendrick
In one of the wall you find a lingering conjuration aura. Teleportation to be more precise. The magic seems to be there somewhat, but it's frozen and non-reactive.
Desmond sits down next to Lilly, and nods approvingly at her work. "I hear it's difficult to draw things that are moving, but you've done a pretty good job!"
He watches the boys play for a minute before speaking again.
"Say, Lilly, do you know if there are any homeless people who hang out around a lot?"
@ Desmond
Lilly: Sometimes tommy go there when he don't want us to see him cry, but I've not seen him in a couple of days...Hey Kiddu, have you seen Tommy lately?
Kiddu:We invited him to play, but He didn't want to come
"Where did you see him last?"
@ Desmond
Lilly acompanies you to Tommy's shelter, a fancy name to some tables and an old blanket that protect him from direct sun and the rain.
Tommy's there. It is a small little boy, very skinny. His head seems almost too big for the scrawny body.
Any mention of <location of the alley with the hidden room> makes tommy tremble.
"Interesting, the wall here seems to be keyed to a teleportation effect but it has currently been sealed. Perhaps there is a way to tell what it does exactly if it were to be unsealed..."
Vendrick studies the effect longer.
Having expected something like this, Desmond bought a loaf of bread on the way to Tommy's place. He gives half of it to Tommy, and the other half to Lilly as thanks for her help.
While Tommy is eating, Desmond sits on his haunches a few feet away, and speaks in a calm reassuring tone.
"Tommy, listen. I'm trying to stop some...bad people from causing trouble in the city. But I can't do that alone - that's why I'm working with other adventurers to try and figure out what the bad people are doing. And right now, I need your help too. I know you're scared, but if you can help me, you'll also be helping make Aidwall safer for everyone. And I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you, same as I've been doing for Lilly and Kiddu."
"So...have you seen anyone unfamiliar go down that alley in the last few days?"
"I think we should put out a public statement in Aldwall that we are seeking information on the cults. Whoever killed this Norgorberite may have more information and be willing to cooperate."
Sven snorts. Being part boar, he's pretty good at that.
"If you want to get stabbed in the night, go for it. But leave me out of that plan."
Sven does take a good look (and sniff) around the shrine, however.
"I don't care much for being stabbed although if actual Norgorberites come for us, capturing them and interrogating them is just as useful. Are you afraid of blades in the dark Sven? I thought you were tougher than that. My time in...the Mistpines has been...enlightening. About myself and the realities of the world." Vendrick snarks back at the boarman.
"That is an exquisite scarf you have there." Vendrick says after a moment, looking sideways from the magic.
@ Vendrick
You need to dispel the Dimensional anchor-like effect. A good roll of Dispel magic could end it. Other, more powerful magic, lie greater dispel of mage's disjunction (or anything like that of 4th+level) would open the portal automatically.
@ Sven
You add the demon stealth bonus to the reverse of the cloak. You need a standard action to change from the bonus provided by the winter wolf and the bonus provided by the demon. They don't work at the same time. When the demon side is activated, the cloak radiate evil.
@ Desmond
The little, malnourished boy hesitates. His eyes wander around as looking for a hidden attacker, but he starts speaking.
The kids were making jokes about me, and I run to hide in the alley. And I saw him, he was looking there looking for something, I don't know what, but he couldn't find it. When he finally abandoned the search, the turn around to leave.
He passed right next to me, I don't think he saw me, but...I don't know what it is, he didn't threaten me but there was something in him, something very scary. I haven't felt so much fear in my life. I remained there, paralyzed by fear.
As you are going to ask for a description:5,11 in height, athletic, black skin, Mid 20s.
"It appears the effect is a portal of some kind. I don't think it would be a good idea to try to open it unless we are all here. And the séance from before has expended much of my more powerful magic. But I'm sure you two can handle some thugs."
Desmond smiles. "Thanks, Tommy. I'll get to the bottom of this, I promise."
As he starts to leave, he stops and turns toward Lilly with a serious look. "Lilly, I have a favor to ask...don't tell Kiddu about what I'm doing. If he knew what was going on, he might put himself in danger to help me. These people...they aren't like the leprechauns he met in the forest. They are much more dangerous, and they won't leave him alone just because he's a child. I can handle the danger, but I want you kids to stay safe. Okay?"
Lilly:ok, mr Desmond, I'll keep my mouth shut
The malnourished, neglected, pauper orphans say goodbye to the swordman.
=========================
The party gathers.
"If I don't get this on the first try, we may need to come back tomorrow." Vendrick coughs and then straightens his collar.
He raises his hand and draws an elven rune of annulment in the air.
Vendrick stands there for a second before turning around to regard Sven & Desmond.
"It's been a long day, what say we go get some drinks? I owe you both for our trip down into the Mistpines."
Sven snorts again.
"Pfft. So much for that great Elven high magic."
"Well, while you two were struggling with an empty room, I got a description of the guy who was snooping around in there!" He relays the man's physical characteristics.
"Also...apparently he has an evil, disturbing aura about him. Dunno if that means anything, but sometimes kids pick up on things that adults don't notice."
Sven snorts again.
"Pfft. So much for that great Elven high magic."
"Magic is not an exact science. And you have not seen anything remotely close to High Magic yet. Perhaps I'll be able to show you sometime." Vendrick shrugs.
"Good work Desmond. A palpable evil aura sounds inconspicuous. If these kids are as sensitive to such things as you say, perhaps it would be a good idea to move them somewhere to a safer location to ensure that nothing undue happens to them because of their assistance to us."
In the riverside Inn
Liro, the proprietress: To tell the truth, I thought you weren't going to come back from the mistpines. Only Zyp bet for your return
You see Zyp the goblin, ex-guard form tuskkeep very happy serving drinks to the patrons.
You eat and drink well, when a shaking little Lilly approaches Desmond
Lilly:I saw him, mr Desmond - She whispers. -I was trying to sell a draw, when I felt scared without a reason, and when I turned I saw him, just as Tommy described him. He was walking toward the castle.
To Liro, between gulps of mead: "You wound me! After all this time, you still doubt the great Desmond Alfonio? Well, I hope you've learned not to bet against me next time!"
=============================================================
After Lilly tells him what she saw, he calmly tells her to stay far away from the castle area, and to spread the word to her friends. Then he pulls Sven and Vendrick aside, not wanting to alarm the other patrons.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid we'll have to cut our festivities short. My sources tell me our scary friend is on his way to the castle right now!"
"Ah, good. I was beginning to worry for my gold pouch. Let's be away at once."
In the riverside Inn
Liro, the proprietress: To tell the truth, I thought you weren't going to come back from the mistpines. Only Zyp bet for your return
You see Zyp the goblin, ex-guard form tuskkeep very happy serving drinks to the patrons.
"We almost didn't. Damn uppity tree hugging..." Sven says, trailing off into incoherent grumbling.
-----------------
"Once I've got his scent there's no way he'll be getting away this time."
Sven pauses.
"Unless he teleports again. Or uses that spell I learned that gets rid of your scent. But other than that, no way!"
I guess you hurry to the castle.
At the gate
Guard1:No, sir, we haven't seen anything suspcious
Guard2:No stranger has passed this door
"Any non-strangers?"
Looking surprised by the question - Ah, well, yes. Other guards, the people that do the laundry, Lord Mithakilis' personal chef...All people with permission to enter.
"We should check on Mithakilis, who else would be important enough to assassinate?"
What is their plan anyways?
"Taking bets on whether this guy can impersonate other people? it's probably the chef, if it's anyone n that line up."
"I fear for the man who dares to abduct a Halfling's chef."
"Maybe he got in some other way. If he has an aura of fear, maybe he has some other supernatural abilities, like climbing sheer walls."
You (Ven, Des, Sven and Maya*) hurries to Mithakilis room, followed by some guards that seems preocupied by the situation.
The doors are open and you find inside a...surprised halfling eating his half-finished meal.
What's this?- says the halfling, half surprised, half concerned.
"Someone might be trying to kill you. We came to make sure you were all right."
Sven immediately casts Detect Poison on the food.
"Mithakils, I have an odd question for you: Have you noticed anything...off about any of your staff? Like, say, a mysterious sense of dread when you stood close to them?"
The halfling pales at Sven words
Mithakilis:Kill me!, me!?, why!?.
There is no poison on the food.
Mithakilis:Something off with the staff?, what? no!. Everything is...
Your conversation is abruptly interrupted by a thunderous explosion.
Maya, at the door:I think... I think it came from the room at the of the hallway!
Mithakilis:That's Friederich's workplace!... - He looks around and adds -Friederich is Aldwall commercial advisor.
'Huh. looks like we were wrong. Come with us, whoever it is may still double back for you. We can protect you if you're nearby." he tells Mithakilis, and dashes off toward the sound of the explosion.
Desmond follows right behind Sven, sword in hand.
Ah, NOW it's getting interesting.
You run the distance to the Advisor room and break open the door just when the Advisor is using a staff to cast a lightning bolt over a young black man.
The young man evades the lightning with feline reflexes, jumps toward the advisor and make two deep slashes into the man's chest, bringing him down.
But the attacker is not unscathed, the advisor damaged him somehow.
The lightly armored, darkly clothed assailant Look at you and then at the man at his mercy. He wants to finish his job, but intuits you are going to cause him problems.
He focuses on you, and somehow seems to be more scary than any other regular dude.
Make a Will save DC 18 or be shaken, DC 10 or stunned with fear. This is a fear effect, and you have a -4 in your save unless you have that paladin inmunity to fear.
Your turn.
Vendrick throws his hand up and a sparkling burst of light ushers forth.
"Try to capture him alive!"
- God fricking dammit. Blinded.
Make a Will save DC 18 or be shaken, DC 10 or stunned with fear. This is a fear effect, and you have a -4 in your save unless you have that paladin inmunity to fear class feature.
"Heh...y-you don't scare me!"
Desmond charges at the spooky dude.
And parries if he attacks.
The guy goes total defense.
- Onine Dices hates me.
The advisor takes advantage of the situation and crawl away.
- Stuned in fear
Your turn. Sven is shaken but able to act.
Desmond circles around the guy so that Sven can flank him, then attacks again.
He can take AoO While in total defense. (I'm surprised you can take aoO while blinded). In any case, our ABP might be a little too much for AC, because that's a miss.
He can't take AoO While in total defense.
Sven flanks with Desmond, studies his prey, and throws out a testing attack.
Vendrick points his finger at the man and a barrage of magic missiles fire at him.
Maya helps the ambassador to get out of there. Mithakilis cast haste on each of you and then move to a safer spot.
==========
Evil guy turn
- 18 hp healed by negative energy
- Miss? in case you got hit, you are sicken one round.
-no.
- Miss
- Not blinded anymore.
==============
Last round of the shaken effect.
"Oh, so you CAN fight!"
Desmond full-attacks.
And prepares to parry: