They probably work for my mother...she disproves of my magic. In my land, Magic is life, and death and those born with power often are persecuted. The Ice Queen favors those who study magic in the old tradition...
Ice Queens are the ruling royalty in the icy north lands known as Irissen. It's contact with other nations is scarce and not always friendly. As such, not many stories (as well as people) leave the lands.
Following the above
From the few tales, Irissen queens have all been gifted in the arcane.
"Your mother's an Ice Queen?"
That would explain some things.
"Can't say I'm familiar with that area.", pouts Burdock. "Think they'll start causing more trouble in Kharum to try and get you, Elsa?"
My mother is the Jadwiga Eriona Harcatha, scion of the Jadwiga Harcatha. She is a Baroness in the Hoarwood. You could say that the Queen and I are related...albeit very distantly. I caused quiet a stir with my family before I fled into the Grungir forest. My sister...was scarred badly and I fear my family seeks retribution against me. I do not know what plans the White Witches have for Varisia beyond that...now you know my secret. Elsa says, eyeing her erstwhile allies.
"I see. Hence the potions of resist cold."
Lyssa sighs. "So how do we deal with this new threat? I'm currently the only one who can fight like I always do..."
Sabel explains what's in the passage.
"The Imaginaerum describes the fickles, both positive and negative, of the humanoid mind."
She reads a bit further and continues.
"This passage describes the imagination, both controlled or subconscious, can combine shapes or objects into others. Provided the person in question has seen or heard of the new shape or object."
She starts reading again but is interrupted by Elsa's story.
"That explains an awful lot! Why didn't you tell us earlier?!"
Perception rolls please.
You notice there's some sort of shape within the right part of the "Heartbeat" Painting, which was hard to distinguish with it's black background. It seems as if something oval could be placed there.
Lyssa gives Sabel a sceptic look. "Aha... Shape stuff. Nice, that'll be very... useful to us..."
I guess...?
Lyssa will notice the same as Father Burdock's spoiler
Also she hears a faint scraping of metal, though its pace is slower and still distant.
"Huh, see this indention here?", Burdock pointing to the painting. [b]"Think something could be put there, oval, egg-shaped.
The dwarf scans the room to see if there's anything suitable in here that would fit.
Guess what Sabel's holding....half of it.
Bah, I see the clues now. Still recovering from nearly 24 straight hours of Pathfinder over the weekend!
An 'aha' moment clicks in Burdock's head. "Miss Sabel, can you head here with that half-disc thing you found on one of the books?", pointing to the imprint on the painting with a thick, gauntleted finger.
Sabel looks round at the painting and doesn't really know what to do with the disc. She moves over to Burdock and asks him what is the matter.
"Yes? What do you want with it?"
At Father Burdock's directions, Sabel pushes the emblem into the outlined part of the painting. A clear *click* can be heard by all and as Sabel lets go the painting turns counter clockwise, now showing
this.
Part of the wall next to the painting is sliding open.
It's dark inside, but Father Burdock sees there's a spiral staircase leading both up and down.
"Heh, think we found our exit from that lout! Got stairs here heading up and down."
"The symbol? It looked weird....it was erm...erm.... a circle of total darkness with what seemed a gate of sorts and a path heading to it in the shape of an S."
It looks very familiar...
"Guys, I hear the scraping of metal draw closer... I think our 'friend' is heading over here..."
Lyssa walks over to the painting, from where she looks back at the others. "I'd rather not face him again... Shall we move forward? I've a feeling this is where we'll find the Aklo patient."
Before she descends, Lyssa turns to the kitty in the room. "Come, kitty. Follow me."
"Whoah... That was unexpected."
Sabel says as she stares at the painting. She follows Lyssa into the darkness.
Grint looks at the dark passageway and then listens for the scraping sounds approaching. He shrugs and says.
"Ah well, what could possibly go wrong from here on out? It can't possibly get worse can it?"
Then he goes after the others as well, letting Elsa go first.
Ah well, what could possibly go wrong from here on out? It can't possibly get worse can it?"
The kitten follows the group.
With the wall/door closing behind them, not a moment too soon, the group hears the door to the laboratory open and a scraping sound enter.
Now let's hope he doesn't know how to follow us here...
As she proceeds down the stairs, Lyssa carefully listens for any signs the man/thing could be following the party.
The man is oblivious to where you are, as you hear the awful scraping leave.
At the bottom of the stairs a warm breeze is felt. An air vent brings echoes from cells on this floor. Both whimpering, screams and moans.
"By Irori, how much time do i even have left?"
The sound of a celldoor opening is heard, and the voice is screaming in despair.
Voice #2:"Time for rehabilitation, The Father is kind to his followers."
The door seemingly slams shut and only the moans and whimpering of the deranged are heard.
2 other doors are present.
One has a small label that says hallway, the other says "Salvation".
"I doubt the patients will find true salvation here..."
Lyssa tenses up as she hears something. "Those pieces of... Do they claim to do all this in Irori's name...?"
If they do, there's no way I can ever forgive them.
"Let's check out this salvation... and see what it's really about."
Father burdock opens the door, which leads to a 5ft small corridor, another airvent ends here too.
After about 55ft there is a door.
You enter, alarming 4 individuals, 2 thugs and 2 robed individuals.
Some large altar bowls contain some weapons.
Above Father Burdock lies a club.
Below Grint lies a shortbow and a quiver with 16 arrows and a dagger.
ABove Sabel lies a sling with 16 bullets and a club.
Round 1
Grint's turn
Lyssa
Sabel
Thugs
Father Burdock
Robed ones
Elsa
Grint will quickly pick up the shortbow and arrows and fire a single shot if possible at one of the robed individuals.
Round 1
Grint hits the lower robed one for 3 dmg.
Lyssa's turn
Sabel
Thugs
#1
#2
Father Burdock
Robed ones
#1 (-3)
#2
Elsa
Sabel touches Lyssa and casts Shield of Faith on her. She nods to her as a sign to attack.
Lyssa returns Sabel's nod, and moves over to the southern thug. She lifts her foot, and tries to kick him.
As Lyssa lifts up her foot, she momentarily loses her balance. Lyssa kicks nothing but air.
Round 1
Grint hits the lower robed one for 4 dmg.
Sabel casts a protective spell.
Lyssa heads for a thug, but her wild kick hits air instead.
Thugs
#1 (bottom) attacks Lyssa, but he fails too.
#2 (right) heads for Father Burdock and fails too.
Father Burdock's turn
Robed ones
#1 (-4, left)
#2 (right)
Elsa
Burdock will shrugs off the poor blow. "Looks like we're here to bring the 'salvation'!", Burdock shouts, picking up the club and backing towards Grint. He then calls out, "Torag! Lend us your skill at arms so we can smite these foes for they are naughty!"
Round 1
Grint hits the lower robed one for 4 dmg.
Sabel casts a protective spell.
Lyssa heads for a thug, but her wild kick hits air instead.
Thugs
#1 (bottom) attacks Lyssa, but he fails too.
#2 (right) heads for Father Burdock and fails too.
Father Burdock picks up the club, the thug reacts with a failed AoO
Robed ones
#1 (-4, left) Points at Grint. "Archerboy, why don't you go hit on that friend of yours."
She wants you to attack Sabel.
#2 (right) Points at Lyssa "You want to punch someone else."
She wants you to attack
Elsa's turn.
Elsa's eyes flash murderously at the robed men and she hurls a pebble of ice at them, flash freezing the ground underneath them!
Sadly, both cultists hold their footing.
Grint hits the lower robed one for 4 dmg.
Sabel casts a protective spell.
Lyssa heads for a thug, but her wild kick hits air instead.
Thugs
#1 (bottom) attacks Lyssa, but he fails too.
#2 (right) heads for Father Burdock and fails too.
Father Burdock picks up the club, the thug reacts with a failed AoO
Robed ones
#1 (-4, left) Points at Grint. "Archerboy, why don't you go hit on that friend of yours."
Grint, DC14 will or content of the spoiler.
#2 (right) Points at Lyssa "You want to punch someone else."
Lyssa, Will DC14 or content of the spoiler.
Elsa makes the floor underneath the robed ones icy, but they remain standing.
Round 2
Grint's turn.
Sabel
Lyssa
Thugs
#1
#2
Father Burdock
Robed ones
#1 (-4)
#2
Elsa
"Not a chance in the nine layers of hell I'm going to shoot my own friends. Eat shafts!"
Grint fires two arrows at the right robed one.
Round 2
Grint resists the spell, and shoots twice a the right robed one, he hits once for 4 dmg.
Sabel's turn.
Lyssa Willsave DC14, see spoiler round 1.
Thugs
#1
#2
Father Burdock
Robed ones
#1 (-4)
#2 (-4)
Elsa
Don't forget bless for +1!
Lyssa moves five feet north, and throws two punches at Father Burdock. "No! No no no!"
Luckily, both of Lyssa's attacks miss her ally.