Round: 5
Weapon Equipped = Staff
Crossbow Bolts = 10/10
Conditions = Blessed
Melee: Attack: BAB +1, Str +0 Damage: +0
Ranged: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
toppling spell: base 8 (Caster Level 4 + 4 Int)
Arcane Reservoir (su): 0/6 (+1 DC or caster level as free action)
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Special: (3/7) Force Missile
Zero (14) (3/3) Dancing Lights
Zero (14): (4) Acid Splash, Daze, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Spark
First (15): (0/5) Infernal Healing, Liberating Command, Mage Armor, Magic Missile (w/Topple Feat)*
* +1 DC, +1 Caster Level, +1 Damage
Shaky though standing, Femi is disappointed in himself for holding back. That’s no wizard, and another of those could kill more than one of us!
He debates between trying to help Kalem and downing Azvernathi and decides on offense over defense though he does 5’ step toward the downed brawler and he takes out a potion (CLW). He casts Magic Missile with Toppling Spell boosting it with his Arcane Reservoir to caster level five.
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As Kalem leans against the wall, he hears Azvernathi cry out. "Wai-" but it's all the man has time to say as he's pierced by spear and cutless. A final magic missle tosses his limp body across the room where it crashes into a desk scattering documents all over the floor.
Azvernathi is no more, and the four Asmodeans with him are definitely dead as well.
The museum is mostly quiet now, the Ravens can tell that these last two rooms seem to have been living quarters for the Asmodeans. A few of the documents they can see on the ground seem to be heavily redacted. Blocks of black ink cover sentences and passages on many of the documents. Whatever they were doing here, they were trying to hide something.
Worried about the health of his friend, Femi quickly pours his potion of cure light wounds down Kalem's throat.
When that doesn't do it, he takes out a scroll, and casts Infernal Healing (fast healing 1 for 10 rounds). He then uses another on himself.
"I have more scrolls, anyone else need further healing?"
Only once the team is more or less ready for battle does he try to sort out the documents. He doesn't try to read them here, but rather just grabs everything he can. "We'll read these elsewhere, in safety."
He searches the room.
He'll also cast detect magic and sweep the rooms for any magics.
Brask sags against the wall, breathing heavily as his fatigue sets in.
"Hope... Thats the last one." he pants. "I'm tired."
He looks around, worried. "Where's Kalem? Kalem!" he calls. "You okay?"
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"Still alive." Kalem says weakly. Though his body has recovered with Femi's help, he's going to be all kinds of sore tomorrow.
He rests, sitting against the wall and looks about the room.
Myradil will nod that we could use healing.
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Femi sees that there isn't much magically in the room. Azvernathi himself however was holding a +1 heavy mace, and a scroll of dispel magic. He also has on him a breastplate, a masterwork light mace, a golden unholy symbol (worth 100gp) and four onyx gems worth 25 gp a piece.
Kalem points out that there's also a strange tome sitting on one of the desks. It's open, but none of it's pages are redacted like everything else in the room.
It's titled The History and Future of Humanity and seems to mostly be about the dead god Aroden. It's relevance is hard to discern. More curiously there is a note on the inside cover that says Turn the eye to spell the name of the Master of Masters.
Myradil ponders and comments "The Master of Masters is Irori, seems strange to be noted in a book on Aroden though."
Femi holds up the scroll of dispel magic, "Elias, I think either of us can use this. Do you want it?" he distributes the other items thought the party, but plans to sell the bulk of them.
Smart one that Myradil. he thinks. "Anyone see any statues of Irori around here anywhere? Or a row of eyes in one of these macabre displays? Might be a clue to a secret door or something in here. If this place was used as a secret hideout."
"That said, if we do find the door, I say we come back for it. I apologize, and I feel badly about it, but I've gone and spent all my spells of note. I have a few little missiles up my sleeve, but they're just little things, no good against tougher foes as we've been facing." he shrugs and looks guilty. He does love casting...
"I'd also like some time to go through these redacted notes. It may be they missed something, or maybe we can gather some clues from what they did hide. By context. It's a long shot, but I'd like to take some time and try it."
"So I guess what I'm saying is let's search this place and see what we can find before departing, but let's not head down any secret passages just yet."
Myradil worriedly responds "If this guy doesn't report in, further reinforcements might get sent here, or at least a sentry to watch and report. This may be our only chance to safely explore down here."
Brask looks at the book.
"What's on the cover?" he asks. "Maybe there's a cypher built into the book."
Kalem wonders for a bit.
"Was that statue over there Irori?" Kalem asks.
Elias sets about bringing the party back to health before all else. First he pours three uses of the wand into Kalem, followed by two for himself, and three for Myradil.
"I would rather continue on. If a priest of Asmodeus has located this place, it will not remain secure for long. That being said, if we encounter more resistance, we should back off for the night."
Femi nods amiably with the others, "OK then, let's see what we can find." he searches with the others, focusing on Detect Magic as he's not as perceptive as some.
He grips his staff tightly every time the old building makes a noise though...
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Myradil nods in thanks, secretly glad to have been healed by curing magic rather than infernal
"Let's keep looking." Brask says stoically. "There has to be answers around here somewhere."
"Ah. I did not notice your wounds beneath your armor. Let me address those. The wand is an immanently disposable and replaceable thing. Far more so than a loyal ally. Do not hesitate to speak up if I miss healing you."
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On the zombies you find two rings bearing the crest of the Victocora family. Given the state of the bodies and the initials embedded on the rings, it becomes unfortunately clear that the zombies you put down are none other than Rexus' parents.
The Raven's decide to push on and Femi begins detecting magic to see if they can discern the secret to the message within the tome. Unfortunately, his magics do not detect anything new and fail to give any insight as to where this Master of Masters holds relevance.
Thankfully however, Kalem recalls the statue of Aroden with in one of the previous rooms, with a giant winged eye on his chest. Given how much scrutiny he'd given the statue previously, it doesn't take long for the Tiefling to notice that there are very fine runes set along the iris of the eye. Taking note of this this, it isn't long before you discover that you can rotate the eye, and once Irori is spelled, a hidden passage below the museum is revealed. The statue glides to the right, and reveals a set of circular stairs leading down.
Following the steps takes time, a lot more than any of you might have expected. However the lanterns along the wall are lit and seeing ahead of you isn't an issue. After what seems like far too long a time the wrought iron staircase lowers you into a massive library. Bookshelves, both freestanding and wall-mounted, rise up to a ceiling forty feet above. Ladders on tracks allow access to the higher shelves, yet few books and scrolls remain here. Bloodstains mar the floor here and there, and some of the shelves bear what appears to be recent battle damage. A strange rune inscribed in a circle decorates the floor.
As you enter the room, a strange rustling can be heard as an unusual figure makes itself known to you. It's humanoid body is something like folded paper and silk ribbons, and it's face is masked by what looks like an open tome.
Quietly, it addresses you all.
"I am sorry, but you may go no further. Please return the way you've come. I do not wish to fight you, or alert the forces that remained here, but if you persist I am bound to."
It's voice does sound somewhat apologetic, and it makes no immediate moves to attack, but there's a gravitas that lends weight to it's threat.
"Uhhh... Who is allowed to enter?" Brask tries to ask, momentarily confused. "Maybe the Silver Ravens?"
"But as long as we don't pass, we may ask questions yes?" Kalem asks.
Myradil waits for a response to his allies questions.
Elias gestures at the floor symbol.
"We will not trespass on a sanctum of the Master of Masters, but as my friend here implies, we would like some information. We are seeking to restore the Silver Ravens, and release our city from it's oppression. Our search for allies has led us here...just behind the followers of Asmodeus, it would seem. We would assist you in protecting this place from them, if we may. How long have they been trying to break in?"
Femi nods at the wise words of Elias, and has nothing substantive to add. He very nearly opens his mouth to speak anyway, and bits his lower lip.
Don't be that guy! he warns himself.
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The strange creature turns to Brask and tilts it's head. "Silver...Ravens? No, they are not allowed entry as far as I know."
He nods at Kalems question as Elias begins to speak. When the cleric is done, it throws it's head back and makes an odd sound, like rustling paper. Your best guess is that it's laughing at you.
"They have broken in long before your arrival. In fact they are almost done with their dirty work. Inking and blotting papers full of information!" The strange body shudders and rustles. "I am bound to assist them until the terms of my agreement is fulfilled. But questions? Yes, I can answer questions. As long as you do not try to enter, I will not tell them you are here, and I will answer your questions."
Kalem gives a nervous glance to the others.
"What are the terms of your agreement, and how many are inside?"
Myradil keeps his eyes peeled, looking around in case there's a man behind the curtain.
Femi nods at Kalem's questions, Well said. he thinks to himself.
He wonders what sort of creature they face and tries to identify it.
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Elias does not recognize this creature from any of his religious studies, but Femi manages to identify the creature, and a little extra as well.
The creature before the Ravens is a Scrivenite, a being from another plane that absorbs information and words as easily as humanoids breath air. Their time is spent absorbing as much information as possible. In fact, given what Femi knows, it seems odd that the scrivenite would be in league with a bunch of Asmodeans redacting information.
As the idea comes to Femi's head, the scrivenite answers Kalem.
"The terms are as such. In exchange for access to The Inward-Facing Circle, a most interesting tome, in fact, I am to remain here for ninety days, or until the redactors have finished their work, whichever comes first. I am, presently, on day thirty four. I do not know how much more the redactors have left to accomplish."
There's a bitterness in the explanation, and the word redactor sounds almost foul coming from the scrivenites lips.
"Hmm, how many Asmodeans are left? Nox and her hellhound are still here. The lout as well, and roughly ten redactors, all of whom took part in ridding this place of the members of the order that used to take care of these archives."
"Could we off you something in exchange for your cooperation? Such as another tome or knowledge?" Kalem asks, hoping the creature would be willing to bargain.
Oh, a bargain would be good. I'd rather not fight this guy, he seems nice.
He hopes the party doesn't feel ready to take on leadership, hellhounds, and ten more foes, but he readies his scrolls... just in case.
Hmmm the sooner we deal with the redactors the better, but it sounds like they may be here for several more months...
Myradil ponders the above while listening to Kalem's line of questioning.
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"Do you have any ancient tomes or information that I can read!?"
The scrivenite takes a half-step toward Kalem and speaks excitedly, before remmbering himself and resuming his previous position. It seems to shift almost uncomfortably for a moment.
"If I could break from my servitude, I would." It shakes it's weird book like head. "I am bound by she who summoned me. The agreement I made compels me. I would be forced to attack you and alert the Asmodeans if you attempt to enter, regardless of my own personal desire."
Elias turns to the others, "A single called guardian I would be willing to risk. The guardian, plus it's master, a spate of hellhounds, and nearly a dozen muscle? The length of the scrivenite's contract implies that we have time to rest up and prepare. I suggest we use it. Additionally, I would like to find a way past the guardian that does not involve destroying it. If my memory serves, a merely summoned creature would be banished back to it's home. This being would actually be destroyed, through no great fault of it's own."
A strange look passes over his face, then Elias turns to the scrivenite.
"Last two questions. First, what is a name we might call you? Second, hypothetically, if the one who summoned you were slain, how might that affect your agreement? Hypothetically speaking, of course."
Femi nods at Eliastraza's wise thoughts, "I agree. There is something of a time pressure here, but measured in days not minutes. Let us rest and meet this challenge fresh, and with the tools necessary to do the job."
He looks to leave, not wanting to talk strategy in front of their new friend, knowing he serves another master.
Myradil nods and will head out with Femi and the others.
"Fine. We go rest. Maybe find something nice for the paper person to read. Then we'll come visit again?" Brask says. "Can we ask that you not tell your masters we were by here?"
"Are we sure we have enough time? Every moment they work is knowledge that could be lost forever. " Kalem asks, worriedly. he directs the question at the creature. "At your guess, how long would it take them to finish their work?."
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"You may call my Yilliv." Answers the scrivenite. "I doubt you could slay the one who summoned me, and in any case she is not here. Nor can I speak her name, on that end I'm afraid I can not help you. I can, however keep quiet about your entry. I have only been commanded to tell my masters if someone tresspasses, which you have yet to do."
"I do not know what their work is exactly, they may be blotting out all information, or just some. Given the length of my contract I would assume they still have quite some time left to work."
"Thank you for your kind consideration Yilliv. Have a very pleasant day." he looks around the room, "Uh, down here." and leaves.
He walks with the group back into town. "Let's sell some things, pick up the Sepia Snake Sigil and another wand of curing while we're at it." he suggests.
Femi will help handle the shopping and retire. He'll prepare carefully the next morning. I need to keep better track of my resources. he thinks.
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True to his word, as far as the Raven's can tell anyway, Yilliv does not alert your foes to your presence. The grisly walk through the upper floor is quiet and you arrive back to the Wasp's Nest unmolested to an anxious looking Rexus.
He looks at you wide-eyed when you return, and even Laria looks expectant. "My mother? Was she there? Have you secured anything from the Order that might help us!?" His voice wavers and he keeps looking behind you.
"Did she choose to stay at the museum? I imagine she's a refugee so she'd probably like to stay hidden, that makes sense." He begins to ring his hands while he waits for an answer.
Brask looks over at the more eloquent members of the group and frowns remorsefully.
"Im sorry..." he says, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. "Thrunes men... They got to them first. We did what we could."
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Kalem suddenly realizes something and smacks hi head in frustration.
"Unless we're very lucky and none of the cultists leave the area, as soon as one stumbles over the slaughtered foes they're going to know something's up. Dammit. Maybe we should hire a lawyer to deal with the summoned book creature..."
Kalem is more in the mood for action, and while he does give Rexus his condolecenses, he feels putting these murderers and cultists in their graves would be better for Rexus than some kind words.
"Perhaps if we...temporarily join the Asmodian cult The Scrivenite will have no reason to attack us. Or....perhaps we could fill the room with some kind of poison gas and force them out.."
Kalem can think of a few ideas, but each one has so many terrible holes in its logic that it might do any good.