Willing his body to recover, some of the burns to his flesh start scabbing over. Past anger bubbles to the surface and he grabs a nasty concoction, flinging it at the creature. At the last second, he recognizes that Agazi pledged himself to Inam's service right before all the craziness happened and angles the bomb to avoid hitting him with splash damage while yelling, "Get down you fool!"
for and rounds.
Shock Bombs +7 vs. touch, 3d6+4 damage, splash is 7 damage, reflex dc 16 to halve, 20 ft range increments, pbs may apply to primary target, primary target if hit is dazzled for 1d4 rounds.
Precise bombs: Whenever the alchemist throws a bomb, he can select a number of squares equal to his Intelligence modifier (4) that are not affected by the splash damage from his bombs. If the bomb misses, this discovery has no effect.
Spontaneous Healing (Ex): The alchemist gains the ability to heal from wounds rapidly. As a free action once per round, he can heal 5 hit points as if he had the fast healing ability. He can heal 5 hit points per day in this manner for every 2 alchemist levels he possesses. If the alchemist falls unconscious because of hit point damage and he still has healing available from this ability, the ability activates automatically each round until he is conscious again or the ability is depleted for the day.
Rolling his eyes, Etrah takes in the beast. 'Yeah, that things not going to repent...Where's the smart one now...'
Flittering towards Ibinu, a small white glow builds on his beak. Softly pecking the male sylph, it mumbles "Let Volcano Guide you."
Round 1 Results
The beast breathes fire upon the Blessed.
Agazi stands up, disoriented, and fails to intimidate the beast.
Inam cautiously circles the creature, gaining the backside.
Ibinu hits the monster full on.
Kallik takes a 5 foot step to flank with Inam and swings her white blade - unfortunately, she misses.
Round 2 Begins!
Agazi, inside your head, you hear Rupert's unmistakable voice:
"This is the beginning of the Lady's fire. Bare your throat to me, so I might taste your life's blood. Your sacrifice will fuel the flames that will ignite that cursed tree, and then all of Hearth!"
But, in its current form...for some reason...the voice sounds...less compelling than usual. Less an absolute mother-authority and more an irritated sister.
Do you obey?
Still disoriented and uneasy on his feet, Agazi hesitates.
"Rupert.... Is that you? I... wait... this isn't right. You're not... What's... ? She's... I... I need to think. Don't kill them... right? Don't get yourself killed either."
"Stop this! All of you! It only wants me, so get out of here!"
He'll then fly up into the middle of the chamber again to get his bearings and try to figure out what's going on.
Roaring in anger, the crimson pogona snaps at Agazi as he floats away. Agazi feels a burning pain in his leg as the teeth bit deeply.
Still seething in rage, the beast turns to its closest target - Kallik. Its claws savage the oread - one, two swipes.
"Calm down, Rupert! This isn't what we had discussed. Are you still in there? Don't kill him, he's as much an emissary of volcano as the pretty bird."
"يلعنكم"
Ibinu will hold for a fraction of a second to see what Inam and Kallik plan to do regarding Agazi's plea.
However, he will prepare to throw a second bomb if they continue attacking the creature.
for and more rounds.
Shock Bombs: +7 vs. touch, 3d6+4 damage, splash is 7 damage, reflex dc 16 to halve, 20 ft range increments, pbs may apply to primary target, primary target if hit is dazzled for 1d4 rounds.
Dazzled: The creature is unable to see well because of overstimulation of the eyes. A dazzled creature takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks.
Precise bombs: Whenever the alchemist throws a bomb, he can select a number of squares equal to his Intelligence modifier (4) that are not affected by the splash damage from his bombs. If the bomb misses, this discovery has no effect.
Spontaneous Healing (Ex): The alchemist gains the ability to heal from wounds rapidly. As a free action once per round, he can heal 5 hit points as if he had the fast healing ability. He can heal 5 hit points per day in this manner for every 2 alchemist levels he possesses. If the alchemist falls unconscious because of hit point damage and he still has healing available from this ability, the ability activates automatically each round until he is conscious again or the ability is depleted for the day.
"So, you refuse my reasonable offer? Countering with the life of a...an elen?" confirms Inam with slow, purposeful words. "Agazi, I'm sorry but this is one of those evil acts I won't stand idly by and allow. That's what got the Temple in this mess to begin with!"
Closing her eyes for a moment, holding her sword high, it busts into a white light. Promptly, she brings it down for the foe.
Swift action: Smite Evil active. Standard Attack.
Quickly finding his way to Kallik's back, Etrah calls out "May Volcano Guide your ways!"
Upon the bright blade sinking into scaly flesh, the beast roars in pain, anger, and a hint of terror. From the wound, the thing seems to be bleeding...smoke. Copious amounts of the foul black ash spill into the room. You see the beast thrash around in the smoke, then, suddenly...it is gone.
As the smoke slowly dissipates, there is no sign of the scaled monstrosity.
Combat Over?
Edoardo, Sophia, and Lui slowly stand up - none of you had time to notice, but your guards were cowering on the floor in the presence of the monster. Eyes wide, the whites showing fear and confusion, Edoardo says, "What...was...that...thing?" His breath comes in shallow gasps.
Ibinu squints through the smoke, trying to see anything. When it clears he cranes his head looking over the table and then ducks briefly under it asking, "where did it go? Is there a body?"
He turns to Edoardo with a confused look on his face, "I honestly don't know. I think our new friend, Inquisitor Agazi might be the one to ask."
Agazi watches in helpless horror as Inam drives her blade into the heart of Volcano. "Nooooo!!! WHY? You could have just left!"
He descends down to where only smoke remains, sobbing uncontrollably. With not even a body to mourn over, he pounds the ground in grief stricken yet impotent wrath. "Why? ...why..."
His depression swings back to mania as he lets out another hideous laugh. "Of course!" He gets up and kneels down in front of Inam.
The Smiler, impervious to his tears, mocks her.
"So let it be done, mistress of destruction. As I was saying, I will serve you until everything I love shall burn. Everything!" It appears more of a grotesque grimace, yet he smiles.
"I....uh....what?" stammers Inam, looking at the bodiless smoke, then down to Agazi. Did you summon that thing just to let it eat you? I don't understand.... Was that a 'Smiler' ritual?"
His words make their way to her conscious thoughts, she frowns. "Leave? As in leave you to die? Why would....how could I have done that? Though your path appears bent, you still follow what is righteous. You still seek redemption in the eyes of Volcano, in your own way.... Please, if you know what that evil beast was, and why I should have let you perish, explain."
"I didn't summon anything, you idiot!" snaps Agazi. "My ...episode... seemed to have triggered a reaction in Rupert, the Lady's emissary. If your bird told you that you needed to die, wouldn't you at least consider it before chopping his head off? I was safe for the moment, and there was every reason to believe he would calm down or convince me to obey. It wasn't any of your business! If anyone in this room requires redemption, it's you, for killing one of Volcano's own."
Agazi takes a couple of deep breaths and lets out a sob before continuing. "Or are you too stupid and bigoted to think that just because he was different meant he wasn't holy? The Smiler chose his pawn well if you think this was anything but a tragedy. I dread what the two of you will come up with next."
Scrunching her eyes together, she says simply, "To be clear, you are saying Volcano is evil? If this is not the case, why would Volcano's emissary be evil?"
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Agazi facepalms. "Gods alive, you are that stupid! *SIGH* Time for some basic theology. Have you ever looked up at Volcano outside? What do you see? It's a mountain filled with consuming fire. It's also a heat source and protects us from the dark. Is it evil when it erupts, killing thousands? The rocks and lava out there are not the 'Volcano' we worship, they're a physical symbol.
The real god we worship has taken this as His symbol. Volcanoes, both the physical and divine, have many properties and attributes. In His wisdom, He has ordered His worship into aspects that are understandable in the Elen mind. The Warrior, the Lady, and the Bringer.
In your zeal for the attributes contained by the Warrior, you've turned your back on those of the Lady. You're so narrow minded to the point that your parlor trick even identifies the Lady as 'evil'. So yeah, Rupert was 'evil', but he was no less a part of Volcano than Etrah, and I certainly loved him no less. Ask the bird, he'll confirm it. You basically just murdered his brother.
To think that you can grasp how a god acts, works, and thinks, then pass judgement on it is beyond hubris! To fight it for not conforming to your ideas is blasphemy."
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"Be this all the truth, why did Volcano smite your 'emissary'? That power does not come from me. I request it when I feel it's the right move, but I have no power to force the gods to obey my whims. Volcano smote your evil creature."
"Fear not though. I shall learn for this error in judgement and stand by watching you murdered next time. Unless you ask for my help, I shall assume the random elen stabbing you repeatedly is for your Lady."
Turning her back on the ifrit, she starts to stride out of the room.
Taking flight to follow Inam, Etrah remarks "I'm not sure what that was, but it was not my brother. If you believe evil deeds are necessary to follow the Cauldron Lady, you need to re-read your books."
"Her choices may be questionable at times through the Warriors eyes, but her deeds are not callous for the sake of it. The sacrifices she requires are for the betterment of us all."
"It wouldn't be the first time the Warrior and the Lady opposed one another. Above my pay grade. All I know is you callously killed my only friend. That was you, not Volcano.
Weren't you paying attention, birdie? I thought you'd be more in tune with Volcano. Rupert certainly was. You only see the Warrior, don't you? Rupert was calling for a sacrifice, and I muffed it. He didn't do any 'evil deeds' here.
I can only hope this has helped prepare you for what you must do, pawn. Then, his sacrifice will have meant something.
Send for me if you require my assistance."
Stopping at the door, Inam turns back. "I swung the blade. Volcano granted the magic."
"I do apologize if that was in fact your familiar. I do not pretend to know everything about the will of Volcano and all his aspects. I am an ele...i make mistakes too. Perhaps this could have been avoided."
'Since we met you, you have insulted each of us. You have stated the High Inquisitors murdering and desecrating elen at their whim was glorious and noble. You have tried to have us thrown out. You have gone out of your way to be abstinent."
"This very meeting where we met under seemingly neutral, mundane purposes, you and that thing...'Rupert'? attacked us."
"Perhaps if you had tried to educate and inform us, we could have stayed our hands here. You instead tried to hold your information at ransom to get your way, as a child."
Pausing to consider the situation, she concludes. "I will accept my responsibility in this. But you must accept yours as well. Your actions lead to this outcome just as much as ours."
Silently looking back and forth between the two servant of the fire god. Merciful Forest is this to be my fate? To stand and watch these to bicker about their shared faith. Trapped between the naive and the insane? Quietly wiping the blade of her axe off on her pant leg while the two bicker.
Staring at Agazi and tilting her head, seeming to be appraising him before speaking, "Do you worship the fire god or this smiler? Because it seems you are using the Lady aspect of your firiey god as a shield to your devotion to the smiler." The lack of respect to the divine is clear in her voice in the way she practically spits out the names. The only verbal respect given is to the Lady.
Glancing back at Inam, "You should not have pledged yourself to Inam."
Turing back to Agazi and offering him a cruel smile, "That was dumb. And while she thinks you can be redeemed I doubt that. The only devotees to this smiling creature I have meet slaughtered elen who did not deserve it. And you defended them. I fail to understand why you are not in chains."
Ibinu has nothing to add to this conversation. He is still looking for a body and then makes sure Edoardo, Sophia, and Lui are uninjured.
The guards are shaken, but uninjured. There is no sign of a body, just some ashy smudges where the smoke/blood was particularly thick.
1) Show the armor to Inam and explain what he believes it is made of. See if she has a clue what it's value might be.
2) Sit down with Kallik privately to chat about that issue (likely while Inam looks over the armor).
3) Oracles.
Agazi's eyes dart over to Kallik. He had forgotten there were other people in the room. "The Lady has engaged the services of the Smiler. How can I not honor Volcano's wishes? I have no particular affection for Him, merely respect. He will destroy his prey, and He'll be using us as His means. To deny this is to deny reality. To oppose it is to defy two gods. By no means am I excited about any of this, but I would be negligent to avoid it."
He turns back to Inam and smiles. "I'm very glad that you accept responsibility! Justice must then be served! I demand Etrah's life as compensation."
The three guards immediately stand in front of Inam, shielding Inam and Etrah.
Agazi will kiss the smudge on the ground lovingly, one last time, then take the moment to go pick up his knife. He has a feeling it might become necessary soon.
The sylph's pale features bleach out at the thought. 'Surely you wouldn't call for this...surely...not when I just got him back!'
Narrowing her gaze, she looks to the ifrit, pity in her eyes. "I would like to try something, before we murder another." Without waiting for an answer, she steps forward, kneeling in the midst of the ashes.
"Etrah has died once before. Perhaps your 'Rupert' had to die as well." Before any can react, she slices a gash in her hand and clenches her fist, allowing the blood to drip into the ashes. She then traces the symbol of The Cauldron Lady as best she can, leaving a full handprint in the center.
Stepping back, she looks to Agazi. "Call to your herald. Call to your Lady now. Perhaps the blood from a blessed will be enough to return your guide to you."
Agazi nods as he returns to the remains. "I'm not certain, but I think your 'blessed' blood may be somehow linked to the Smiler. It would make sense, given the interest that So Khong, Ky La, and the Smiler have invested into you."
Agazi looks dubiously at the ritual. "Uh... That's really not how... well, why the Volc not? C'mere Ruppert! C'mere boy! Who's a good emissary? You are!"
Inam, your hand blisters and blackens, as if burned by an unseen flame. When the agony subsides, nothing has changed in the room.
"Volc'ing fret! Not like this!" Agazi reaches out and touches her.
Moving to stand in-front of Etrah and not moving when Inam begins her foolish ritual. "He is not worth it."
Reaching out and grabbing Agazi. Pulling him upright and stepping into his personal space. Snarling at him with her face an inch from Agazi, "I have had enough of you and your insane rambling."
One hand drops back down to her axe, "If Inam is dead you are too!"
Looking down, Agazi's healing has been effective - the hand is still damaged, but there is some new skin showing beneath the blistering now.
Agazi steps toe to toe with Kallik. There's been too much uncertainty in his life lately, and it's nice to have a good old fashioned shouting match to settle the nerves. "What, you'll murder me for not keeping her from doing what she wants? Has anyone been able to do that? Will you do it with your dark claws like you did that merchant? People know what you are Kallik, and no amount of alchemy will change that. Go ahead, strike me down! I'm sure one more on your pile of bodies won't keep you up at night! Maybe you can teach that little girl to kill like you do. With no compassion or remorse!"
Tilting her head to the side and staring at Agazi, fury dancing in her green eyes. Letting go of him and holding up her hand, "No claws inquisitor but you are making me miss them."
Stepping back and straighten her neck, "I'm sorry your god took your Rupert."
Lifting her axe and pointing it at Agazi, "Bring the child into this and you will get to bring that up with the fire god. Though I am curious how you learned about that. Did you stand by while I ripped his chest open?"
Using her free hand to undo the clasps at her side and tugging her armor and clothing out of the way to show a new round scar. "That ifrit shot me and left me to die over a few coins. Coins that I would have given freely had he asked. That combined with a taint my blood had due to the actions of the inquisitors."
Lowering the axe and it bumps against her leg, "That taint is gone along with my ability to sleep. I stare at the wall while everyone sleeps. I can still feel his blood on my hands. Never assume what I am or how I feel."
Turning to Ibinu and the guards, "I am happy to be in chains if that is needed but I insist Agazi is with me. He is actively working to and has admitted to wanting this city to fall. Put him in chains or I will kill him."
Agazi steps back at the mention of sleep. "Wow. Thats... wow, I'm so sorry. Good to know you're still capable of sorrow. If you want to throw me in the klink, you'll need to throw Inam and the Lady in too. All I've said is I'm obeying the Lady and following Inam. Glad you're okay, by the way. I suppose you could arrest me for blasphemy, but as the ranking inquisitor, I would have the authority to pardon myself. That is, unless you're starting a new inquisition?"
All three guards look to Inam for guidance, though they keep their attention on Agazi.
Ibinu sets a sealed wooden box onto the table. "Good Luck."
With that he walks out of the room with a sad look on his face.
The inquisitor's grip is white-knuckled. His sharp grin is echoed in the blade. Shuffling, hunched, almost reluctant, he lurches toward the glittering phoenix. Instantly, the three guards are upon him, swords beating an ancient rhythm into red flesh.
The smile does not falter. He does not cry out. Another step. One more. On his knees now, he crawls, pushed by an unseen need. Finally, his movement stops. Defiant, his body is tense and rigid until the end, like a muscle cramped beyond use.
Slow as sorrow, the tortured face relaxes. All that remains is a blank, open-mouthed stare, full of regrets from words unsaid, and loves unshared.
"Pardon me." The small, timid voice sounds loud in the ensuing silence. You all look up to see a young sylph ele coming through the door. Her layered hair, a rich brown, vaguely resembles owl feathers. "Aggie wasn't always this way. Something...got a hold of him in the past few weeks. I don't ask you to forgive him, but could you at least do him the service of allowing him a decent burning? To be with Volcano?" Her eyes, pools of black surrounded by yellow, plead with you. She makes brief eye contact, then looks at the floor.
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As the blackness engulfs her hand, she opens her mouth to cry out, but no words come. Swaying back and forth, Inam stumbles away from the pile. Feeling the distant touch of the vile inquisitor...the one that'd attack her companions...wanted... A strange, unexpected coolness travels up her burning arm.
'Perhaps there's hope...'
Her eyes beginning to refocus, she spies Ibinu making his way to the exit, a distinct longing fills her heart. "My friend...after all we've....please wait." she begins as the Inquisitor again shows it's true colors and launches for her companion. "NO! I already lost him once! I...don't kill the be..." she pleds feebly for both Etrah and Agazi's lives, though secretly if she'd been forced to choose between them....
Shaking her head, with a frown. She looks back up to the retreating sylph. "Ibinu, please don't. We've lost so much already and there is so much required of us. I need your wise intellect. Your logical view of things...I need you to help balance my impulses."
"Each of us have our own strengths, and I've come to lean on both yours and Kalliks. I...I don't think I can do this without you both...."
Taking a ragged breath as tears begin to form in her eyes, she continues. "As with all elen, you will not be forced to stay if you are set on your path. The choice is always up to you, as it has been all along. If you leave and find your life lacking, you would be welcome with open arms. But, if you can see it in yourself to stay, you would do...."
Her voice cracking as the tears start falling. "For--forget the gods. Forget the temple. FORGET HEARTH! You....you would being doing ME a great service if you sta--ayed. W---with my fa-amily gone? Busy? Dead? I don't know....you, my brother and Kallik, my sister are all the family I have left."
"....Oh, and of course Etrah..." she adds quickly, receiving a grunt from the phoenix in return. With a deep breath, she wipes the tears from her cheeks. "You must decide this for yourself. I will honor whatever you choose."
As she finishes, she nods to the young sylph, holding a finger up in a one second, adults are talking sign. She then kneels before Ibinu, bowing low, awaiting his response.
Ibinu continues out of the room, his mind still set at this point. The words and pleading of Inam echo after him.
He walks slowly to their room, his mind racing, At least she didn't order me to stay... ugh, why does she have to be good all the time. Yet, for all the times she stayed her hand she just hacked that intelligent beast into two. Agazi did not deserve to live either, yet so many other beings haven't and she wouldn't even raise her sword to them. Always seeking another way... but not this time. Why is it so hard to continue following this path? Two days after fighting to end all the old ways it feels like we just fell right back into it.
He starts packing up his gear... a little bit slower than if he was trying to leave quickly, maybe I should stay? I just don't know.
Forgetting Agazi and staring at Ibinu retreating form while feeling her throat closing up. But Inam is speaking, Inam is alive.. I'm not completely alone.. But she refuses to move while Agazi is still a threat to Etrah.
Closing her eyes while listening to noise of blades sinking into flesh that almost drowns out Inam's pleading. Staring at the blood pooling on the ground before turning back to stare at Inam kneeling before Ibinu.
Impulse pushes her to run the short distance and wrap her arms around Ibinu. Tucking her head into his neck, Please don't go!"
Sniffling before letting him go and stepping back to stand next to Inam. A few tears make their way down her cheeks as she draws in a shaky breath, "I don't want you to go but it is your decision."
Back in his quarters, Ibinu finishes packing. He sits on the side of the made bed and sighs, thinking everything over. Point of no return. My allies... no... My Friends don't want me to go. They didn't say much, but made the emotional plea to stay. I've never had much for that kind of thing and I'll be honest, it has swayed me some. Maybe it's my duty to be the one to push things to right themselves.
He prays earnestly, for the second time in his life. Once done it appears he has a plan. Opening the door he sends a guard to give a message for Inam and Kallik to join him for a private meeting.
_______________________________________________________________
If they come...
"Have a seat friends. I have reconsidered some things... but to put it simply, I'm disheartened as to what is happening to us. We set off to change how things work in this world. To stop terrible things from happening. To stand fast against those things even if it costs us our lives. We do this, we break the cycle, we have a chance to turn things around and then two days later we are executing a fool in the vulk'n council chambers. Was there another way? I honestly don't know, but it should have never come to that point. I know now I was lax in my actions.
He looks at Kallik, "you can't play this out anymore. Go to the Captain of the Guard and turn yourself in for the murder of that Ifrit. We will stand by you, but it must be done."
Pausing, he takes a deep breath and considers his next words carefully, "and you have to make another choice. This will be hard, but you have to chose either Egret or the mission."
He quickly follows it up with his argument/explanation, "this is for Egret's sake. If you stay with us, you obviously can't take her into danger and if you leave her here, you can't spend the time with her that she NEEDS from a mother."
He turns to Inam and just simply says, "stop relying on your 'sight' to determine right and wrong. We can't afford it to be wrong and we can't afford you to blindly make decisions based upon one aspect of one god's vision for the world, assuming that's where you get your powers anyway. You KNOW the right things to do, don't let that get lost."
A deep breath, "okay, that's my say. What say you all? I'm willing to do this to the end, but we need to be in it together."
Glancing down at Inam before returning to the room. Staring at the bloody body and the guards with their gory weapons. I hate this place.
Sitting down on the ground and simply staring at the body until someone disturbers her.
---- Of course Kallik goes to Ibinu's room when the letter shows up---
Staring at the bags but focusing on Ibinu when he starts to talk, "Did you somehow miss the part were I did that? And I am trying to figure out what to do with Egret. I know I could leave her at the temple if need be. I will talk with Bian and Egret before I turn myself in."
Turning towards the door and glancing back, "Inam he is is right, you know the right thing to do. And if I am going to be in chains then you two will need to go to the Dims. There is something there letting those things out there."