The Godsmouth Heresy - Team Omega (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

The one person in the party with a positive charisma score (who, as it happens, is also the only person trained in Diplomacy) may want to speak up at some point, though ;-)

Not being that person, he still speaks up and says, "Why not just ask for permission to do this work where the family members permit you to perform your experiments on the recently deceased, rather on ones that you haven't gotten permission from? That's probably the biggest issue."

The hunchback snorts.

"No-one outside the Church Hierarchy ever knows what *actually* happens to the bodies once the internment fee is paid; outsiders are usually not allowed within the Ossuary. The only people that I would be distressing are those hide-bound Orthodox-Pharasmins upstairs, more worried about their reputation than anything else... and that thought pleases me, given what they did..."

A cloud crosses his face.

"Besides which, until I perfect the process, the results more often than not are... unpleasant. The reasoning, however, is sound. Did you know that this part of the complex was once the retreat of the Chymists of Life in Death, a Pharasmin Sect dedicated to using alchemy to achieve what they were forbidden to do with Necromancy? I am merely trying to rediscover their work..."

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"Tell us what those above have done to you, and maybe it will give us cause to believe that you are anything less than a foul body-snatcher."

Hmm, bummer of a roll.

Knowledge (Religion), need to know Pharasma Dogma1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Sense Motive, is he telling the truth? 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Perception, is he making or signaling the undead ones to attack?1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Diplomacy, Really....I can try. 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"I confess not knowing that. I would ask if you could care to tell us more and share with us exactly what's happening here?" A rather undecided Faerin asks.

Lysassa tries to determine if the man is about to snap and attack us....or can be reasoned with

Sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Did I miss anything or are we waiting for something?

Probably just taking the weekend off. I know I wasn't able too. Oof!

Okay, now to work through responses...

Faerin is aware that commonly-accepted Pharasmin doctrime holds that the undead are a perversion, and Clerics of Pharasma are not allowed to use Necromancy spells to animate the dead. She has never heard anything about the use of alchemy before, though.

She is, however, fairly certain that this man is telling the truth, at least as far as he is aware - that said, he is also a little unhinged/obsessed.

Faerin does not notice anything unusual with her Perception check ;-)

The man frowns, before his expression relaxes slightly.

With his -1 Charisma modifier, 19 is the DC to improve his attitude from 'unfriendly' to 'indifferent' ;-)

"Perhaps you aren't stooges of the ones upstairs; surely if you were they would have told you more... As to what I am doing, I have already told you - I am attempting to perfect a process to restore mind and motion to dead flesh; unfortunately, the chemicals involved are unstable, and the correct production conditions are difficult to replicate, especially in these primitive facilities - consequently, most of my attempts result in failure, or the mind does not survive the transition, much to my annoyance."

He essentially ignores Kelian's question.

Accusing someone of being a grave robber is probably not the best way of opening diplomatic negotiations, but given what you rolled, it makes perfect sense ;-)

Lysassa, like Faerin, is convinced that the man is more than a little unhinged, and very definitely extremely obsessed... if Faerin had not managed to curb his irritation, he might indeed have attacked. At present, however, he is indifferent to you.

Although to be fair, he did ask you politely several times to leave...

Going to wait to see if one of the others manages to either get him to like us or tick him off enough to not like us anymore..otherwise Lysassa will ask the others to follow her out so we can discuss what we are going to do next without him hearing it.

Well, to be fair, you were asked to clear out the complex/prevent whatever was stealing the bodies from continuing. Convincing him to leave *would* be one possibility... as would simply attacking. At present, however, both are still options; the ball is in your court :-)

Thorack has a plan! But we should discuss it in private.

Well let's politely do what the crazy man asked of us then and leave this room (at least for now) ;)

(unless someone makes a good diplomacy check to get him to like us.....)

"Sorry for disturbing you. We'll leave you alone for now."

Lysassa motions for the rest of the party to leave through the door we entered through as she moves out of the room.

(Time for some planning)

Thorack follows out of the room and out of easy hearing from anyone inside the room. "Well, I've got a plan! We should pretend to want to help him perform his experiments, and try to get the chemicals and bubbly stuff away from the crazy fool. Once he's far enough away from the chemical stuff, we can attack him and tie him up. He may trust us after we start helping him , and with his trust it should be easier to grab him and bind him. Then we can take him back to the priests upstairs. Might have to fight off that corpse of his, maybe throw some of that bubbly stuff he has on the tables at it."

"So the key is to pretend to help, and the moment we see him out of range of his bubbly contraptions, we attack. I don't want that crazy fool throwing those things at us, or worse, allowing him to drink some kind of crazy brew he created."

Faerin looks aghast at that suggestion.
"But....but....he's looks harmless and he wants to be undistrubed. What if we just told him to go away? I dinnae want ta have ta lie to him! It goes against Torag and all it stands for...."

In the absence of Knowledge(Local) in this party, I will take Knowledge(Religion) checks at this point...

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Lysassa is aware that the 'Orthodox' Pharasmins upstairs are likely to take a *very* dim view about what this gentleman is doing. If they got their hands on him, he probably would not be doing much of anything, ever again... apart from being judged in the Boneyard.

The Ankar Te district of Kaer Maga is the one part of the city where the undead are routinely tolerated, and actually have some rights (or at least, the intelligent ones do; unintelligent undead are viewed more as legal property). If there was one place that this gentleman would be safe to pursue his studies (and find willing assistants!), it would be there.

Lysassa shares what she knows about local undead customs with the rest of the party Insert information from above post here

"We could tell him that we think it would be better for everyone involved if he were to move to the Ankar Te district."

"Hmph. He didn't seem to even listen to me, but I can try and talk him into it, if you like.

"I think it's either that..or beat him and force him to stop stealing corpses. It seems worth a try...we can always fall back to our beat him up plan"

Well, let me know what you want to do, and I will react accordingly ;-)

"Well, I'm not very persuasive. I just wish we could somehow get him away from all the bubbly stuff before things go bad."

"Well let's just try by Kelian to ask him if he's willing to relocate....if not..we'll remove him forcefully, away from this bubbling stuff..and the area...maybe even this plane of existence if need be"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"You want to do this, you should go to Ankar-Te. Not here. We need you to leave."

Sorry, I'm on the road the next couple days. Enjoy!

Some assists might be a good idea - Kelian's heart is clearly not in it ;-)

"I agree, Ankar-Te is where you can make as many experiments as you want. I think they might even fund your research."

Diplomacy Aid Another: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Could be worse...well, not really.

Aid on diplomacy..just because I can: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

"It would be good for all involved if you moved your stuff elsewhere"

A trace of annoyance crosses the hunchback's face when he sees you again, but he at least listens to your request without interruption.

When you are done, he pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs.

"Relocating would have its advantages, but I don't want to leave all of my notes and equipment here; however, if you can find me an exit to the surface that does not involve passing through the upper levels of the Ossuary, I would consider it. I might even reward you..."

So basically, it is an excuse to continue to search the complex ;-)

Good enough....at least we have another option to just fighting/killing him. Although we still have that option...all we have to do is stop the corpses from being taken I think

Lysassa looks around at her party members "Seems fair"

We ask that you enter that level, and put an end to the thefts. If you do so, I am authorised to give you a payment of 500gp. If you also clear-out the entire level of any dangers, making it suitable as another level for, shall we say, 'new deposits', we will give you another 250gp.

So, correct, you *don't* have to kill him to fulfill the contract...

Faerin shrugs.
"Let's get started then..." turning to the rest of her companions, the greater part of the conversation occuring lost to her.

"It occurs to me that with my extra gold, I could just ask that shrine in the room for directions, could I not?"

"That's....actually not a bad idea. Does anyone remember how to get back there?"

I think that Lysassa should know..I just can't remember it right now as a player

"That's....actually not a bad idea. Does anyone remember how to get back there?"

I think that Lysassa should know..I just can't remember it right now as a player

Room 17

Thorack says, "I will go ask the magic shrine how we might get out of here without going through the upper levels of the Ossuary. I shall return in a a bit."

Thorack will leave the area and make his way back to the room with the magical talking shrine.

If nothing happens along the way, then--> Thorack will place 1gp onto the shrine and ask "Give me the exact directions on how to exit the catacombs without going through the upper levels of the Ossuary."

Lowering my gp by 1

"The Great Pit would take you to the Still Place; the Rune Carved Door would take you the Prison Levels, but I sense neither is what you were looking for... There were no other exits when this place was first created, but there are some creatures in the SW corner of this complex, that did not enter via any of the known entrances. Go speak with them."

So basically, go back to the room with all of the seals, and open the western one to go take a look...

Assuming Thorack comes back to tell us, Lysassa will join him to take a look there

So, Thorack runs back to the group and informs him of the "message" he received by the mystery magic voice.

Fair enough.

The party heads back to the original room with the three great seals, facing the western-facing door...

Let me know what you want to do :-)

Faerin stares up at the doors.
She detects evil as she asks her dwarven god to show her if evil exists here.

The door does not detect as evil.

Thorack looks for traps on the door/wall around it.

I'd like to take 10 on perception, giving me 18 total or 20 for unusual stonework. If I don't find any, I'll ask the rest of the party to stand back while I try to open the door that didn't detect as evil.

Just to clarify - this door is essentially a carbon-copy of the one that you used the chime to open, earlier...

Thorack does not discover any traps.

Before Thorack does that Lysassa wishes him luck (and casts virtue +1 temp hp on him..and the rest of the party as well). Also if Kelian's status bar is up to date..he still has some damage. I just remembered we got a potion of cure light wounds each when we entered this complex..so going to offer mine to him to drink

Lysassa nods at Thorack. "Go ahead..we're ready"

Thorack uses the chime to open the door. That's its second use.

At the sound of the chime, the crumbles and falls from the door, which silently opens.

Beyond...

A strange statue of a half-snake, half-human creature stands in a wide alcove to the south of two large stone doors. Comprising the lower body of a coiling serpent and the upper torso of a human woman, the statue has six wings and a disk containing a seven-pointed star in place of its head. Its crossed arms hold a quill and whip, and the entire statue is covered in verdigris. The faint outline of strange runes can be made out beneath the patina coating the statue.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"Nice statue. Check those other doors and see if they open?"

Same procedure as before?

You may want to search the room first. Just saying ;-)