"We have all volunteered to be here and assist against a great evil. We are willing to help you as well, if this woman can be aided by us now, why not accept our help". Zoren adds from the back.
Diplomacy Aid Another
"Can you purge the evil spirit from her? If you can then by all means do so but we will be watching. Do not try to free her." replies the oldest in the group.
If you approach the woman she squirms "Don't harm the spirit! It protects my people from the waste in exchange for a host. Please have them release me! I must get back my people are in danger!" she says
"Pay no attention to her, it's the spirit talking" says the knight
Zoren casts Arcane Sight and begins to inspect the woman intently.
Shimmer studies the woman using both Detect Magic and Detect Evil. She confers with her group with her findings. She then speaks to the woman. Either this entity is evil, or you are. Or you both are. In truth it does not matter which. These knights will not release you and without sufficient additional reason we will not try to compel them to do so. And since you are a wiling host I do not think we can compel the creature to leave you. So you will remain a captive unless you can better plead your case to us. Tell us of the creature you have provided a host for and why its evil does not threaten others.
Shimmer detects necromancy magic (moderate) and evil from the woman.
"I made a deal with this being and I am willing to pay the price what does this have to do with any of you? Can you not simply let us be?"
"Our duty is to prevent any evil from escaping the waste. We cannot allow you to carry this thing into civilisation" replies the knight.
You know the location and power of all magical auras within your sight. An aura's power depends on a spell's functioning level or an item's caster level, as noted in the description of the detect magic spell. If the items or creatures bearing the auras are in line of sight, you can make Spellcraft skill checks to determine the school of magic involved in each. (Make one check per aura; DC 15 + spell level, or 15 + half caster level for a nonspell effect.)
If you concentrate on a specific creature within 120 feet of you as a standard action, you can determine whether it has any spellcasting or spell-like abilities, whether these are arcane or divine (spell-like abilities register as arcane), and the strength of the most powerful spell or spell-like ability the creature currently has available for use.
He will also sweep the Knights as well... just in case.
Necromancy (moderate) from her and The knights have magical weapons and armour and a few wondrous items.
The woman's manacles are magical as well. (abjuration strong)
Ilithial tries to get more information from the woman. You must see that these knights are doing their duty. Without more information about the being, your deal, and the danger to your home we are not inclined to dissuade them. If you could convince us that this is the greater good then we might at least plead you case.
Ahmose begins to get restless.
We do have a time sensitive mission. We should resupply and move on.
Zoren grimaces but bites on her words as he considers them, "What deal did you make and why?"
"I cannot discuss the details of the deal...Only that it keeps my people safe but only while I am with them!"
"Who are your people?"
And what does the deal keep them safe from? Ilithial looks exasperated. Try to help us help you. We will be forced to leave you with these good men if you cannot give us more to go with. What you host is evil and even if it protects your people from a greater evil these men have a mission that will not bend for that.
"My people are Varisian gypsies. Our caravan was being pursued by an undead dragon when a being came and offered us help in exchange for a host. I volunteered my body and soul as he asked in exchange for safe passage for my people. What more do you need to know? I do not know the true nature of the spirit..." she explains.
Ahmose cracks his knuckles.
And, where, might be said undead dragon?
Z'dim holds his tongue and listens to her words.
"Last I checked it was still pursuing my people! If we return to the caravan you will likely see it. I only hope we are not too late..."
Ahmose smiles...
Shimmer addresses the knights There is your solution men, and it is one fitting those who are brave and dedicated to eradicating evil. An undead dragon threatens innocents. There can be no greater call for action. We will go to deal with this blight. Are you with us?
Zoren frowns at Shimmer, "That is not our directive... perhaps the Knights can pursue the Dragon? You all seem battle hardened are you up for that task?"
Zoren, perhaps, someone among these others may be able to cure your touch from the shadows?
Zoren's body language shows that he looks less than thrilled about getting close to these warriors, "Perhaps..."
"We spent a night sharing a fire with those folks we saw no dragon. Ennis was the one who notice this woman smelt of sulfur and when he spilled holy water on her and she screamed in agony we arrested her." sasys the old knight.
Ilithial looks to the woman as if saying Explain this.
The womans eyes turn pitch black and she begins to smell of sulfur she doesn't answer anymore questions and simply snarls at you.
"See? Unless you have magic to banish the creature don't bother with anything else says the knight
"I don't believe we have the ability to rid this woman of the spirit without her cooperation," he says somberly. "But we do have a responsibility to track this cursed dragon and remove it from this world. Doing that will protect her people and countless more."
While I agree it is a side track, I am willing to track down and kill this dragon. The world will be a better place without it.
Zoren shakes his head, "I believe this is a discussion we should have amongst ourselves then make a decision as to how to proceed".
Name: Shady
She keeps looking out for any danger and listens to the conversation while remaining still in the shadows. She is used to remain still for hours waiting for the ideal moment to strike her target.
As they pull back to talk among themselves, Z'dim opines, "While I feel for her plight, I think we need to keep moving forward. Heading toward the dragon will make things safer for everybody. We can't help her, so we should let her face judgment. I understand her desperation, but dealing with fiends is foolish and dangerous."
Zoren shakes his head, "I believe this is a discussion we should have amongst ourselves then make a decision as to how to proceed".
You decide to leave the knights behind and focus on your own mission.
"Best of luck with you on your task and may the inheritor watch over you" says the eldest knight.
Name: Shady
From the shadows she smiles at seeing the group wanting to move on, I been paid to do the mission. Not being paid for spur of the moment rescue missions.
She moves ahead once more scouting from the shadows.
Ahmose nods in agreement, as he takes his position at the head of the second group.
Shimmer seems upset. Ilithia consoles her. I know, I know, Shimmer but she herself chose to host the presence. When they agree for whatever reason it make is so much harder to get rid of the possessing entity without killing the host. And we really do have our own mission.
In departing Ilithial charges the knights This woman has accepted a great sacrifice into herself for the greater good of her tribe. I understand if you cannot set her free but she does not deserve to die.
The knight nods "We will send messager to the camp and ask them to send a priest"
Zoren as well takes up his prior position in the exploration of the Darklands.
Do not be too hard on the woman. She believes she has sacrificed for the greater good. Ilithial responds in departure. And be warned that on the way back the smaller fork off the trail leads to a fortification across the path held but goblinoids.
The wizard then turns his attention to the mission at hand.
Now that this is decided, we move onward through the tunnels.
The old knights nods"The fire temple, a bunch of crazy fire lovers led by a fire giant. This lake is the only source of drinking water for miles so we sometimes come here to camp but we don't wander down here much. If you press on that way you can get deeper into the blasted lands but your gonna run into orcs of the crushed skull clan. They will likely attack on sight and are strong but if you make a good show of force then negotiating a passage should be possible if you can find someone in charge.
With that you press on.
As the old knight said it doesn't take long before you find you way blocked by orcs. Having travel only a few hours you find a large cavern with an orc camp right in the middle. Multiple fire blaze as they roast what looks like a giant slug (knowledge arcane dc 20 to identify the creature as a Behir) that they killed.
If your sneaky you might be able to get across unnoticed since they are distracted drinking and eating and no guards are posted.
He'll carefully peek at the camp, using his invisibility to prevent giving away our position. Coming back, he'll fade back into view. "Overall, we're good at sneaking. Illithial, you mentioned having invisibility. That could help the least stealthy people. Since I can be invisible and I fly fast, I can go above the camp. If it looks like people are noticing you, I can create a distraction in another direction."
Ahmose looks to the hobgoblin, as he warns the group.
We should find out if this clan is working with the cult. If so,....
The monk smiles.
This is the map of the surrounding region
You are currently at 5A you objective is to get to 5I.
There are lots of orcs here like 30-40 of them.
Name: Shady
She moves slowly forward keeping to the shadows to peer into the cavern to see how much shadows are available for her to use to get to the other side. She also counts all the visible orcs she can, plus any other pets that may detect the party or attacks.
She will return to the group to mention her discovers, There are plenty orcs in the main chamber. There could be a few extra in the chambers to the side of the cavern. Not wise to fight them.
"I can draw their attention to the east. I can play telekinetic tricks while invisible. A signal whistle will echo in this size cavern and they'll focus on the origin. That should pull them away from the west. As you circle north, I'll circle south and make them think I pulled back. Then I'll catch up." He shrugs, "And if it goes to crap, they'll be bunched up for a fireball."
Who will have trouble sneaking past this group? I can turn invisible and fly past them. And if enough of us cannot sneak past I could risk a teleport to get past them. Of course they might have valuable and usefule items among them. Perhaps we should just fight them. We have the element of surprise.
A will save and then a fort save. If you fail the will save your teleport is redirected and if you make the will save then you make a fort and if you fail that one you are sickened.