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Eladrian and Rolando both attack successfully the zombie but it still stands despite the massive blows he received. The witch curses the cleric who doesn't manage to shake the hex off. Thanks to Rolando's sudden performance, Gunnar's hammer hits the cleric. The woman comes towards the dwarven warrior and kisses him on the cheek, leaving a black print of lipstick.
"Feel death's embrace, my dearie."
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The Zyphus Question - Round 2 - Fight!
Rolando [32/36], She Who Waits [35/44], Torean [39/45], Vordrek [delay, will save], Eladrian [will save], Gunnar [20/43] [will save]
Bad guys
BZ: 14
CZ: 13
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Instantly recognizing the unholy burst for what it is, Vordrek throws up a mental wall to absorb some of the damage. Still, the wave hurts. She's tenacious, even with weakened defenses. Vordrek touches his holy symbol and a wave of holy energy bursts forth to counteract that of the evil priestess, though his studies with arcane magic has substantially reduced his clerical abilities.
(unfortunately baddie gets this as well)
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In what seems a coordinated maneuver, Rolando and Eladrian cut down the Bugbear zombie, while Torean with a grunt slices with his axe the cleric's head, cutting half of it.
For the moment, the chaos is calmed and the theater is now empty. In a corner of the now open room, you see one of the cowering opera aficionados that was cornered before you arrived. He is a tall, frighteningly thin man of advanced age. His short, gray hair sticks to his head as if it were bathed in cooking oil and his thick, white beard, meticulously trimmed and braided, positively glistens with wax. He wears the finery of his office, a blue silk shoulder sash over long white robes, and his fingers are encrusted with bejeweled rings. The noble man tries to regain a bit of composure, clears his throat, but his voice sounds like the one of a terrified little girl.
"I outrank everyone in the room, your Emperor requires you to save me!"
Blinking at your lack of reaction, he admonishes you "By the Order of the Grand Prince I demand that you become my private body guards and guide me to safety. I am Emperor Stavian III’s consul, Magistros Sebastus Hustavan!"
As he say so, he comes very close to Rolando, shaking and looking with disgust and fear at the cadavers of the cleric and zombies you just slayed but also at the pile of corpses made of nobles.
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"Well, sir, we are not subjects of your emperor, but we did just save your skin.. So how about a trade. Perhaps we can get you to somewhere safe, but we would need the right incentive. We are actually here looking for friends, and the words of a prince can unlock a lot of doors, if you catch my drift."
Eladrian is gruff and tired after the rough fight, and minces no words.
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You may not be, Eladrian, but I am a loyal vassal of Emperor Stavian, Rolando says, bowing to the man.
Lord Rolando Pascal, at your service. Please, allow me. As Rolando approaches the cowering noble, his clothes change into noble's garb.
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The noble man starts to ignore Eladrian but follows reluctantly Rolando, looking everywhere. After a quick talk, the two men return to the group and you notice that the noble man seems to follow Rolando as if he were the skald's shadow, almost tripping in his cloak.
The man doesn't seem to understand what Rolando really asks him but he gives up.
"Lady... Gloriana? She sent you and this... barabarian horde?" he says, pointing at the rest of the group, particularly at Eladrian and Torean.
"Well... FINE! Of course. Anything you want. But... You shall protect me against threats, now! Stay close to me!" he says.
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Vordrek grunts. "All nobles ever do is give orders to those who have to obey them, and negotiate with those who don't. If we keep moving we might find out who was behind all this, because I doubt she was working alone." He gestures to the dead priestess. While talking, he reaches out a hand to Gunnar, and after he finishes he mutters the healing words.
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Vordrek grunts. "All nobles ever do is give orders to those who have to obey them, and negotiate with those who don't. If we keep moving we might find out who was behind all this, because I doubt she was working alone." He gestures to the dead priestess. While talking, he reaches out a hand to Gunnar, and after he finishes he mutters the healing words.
Rolando raises an eyebrow. Really? Is that all we do? Because I recall that I was in the fray against those monstrosities, same as you. The singer flicks zombie gore off his sword before sheathing it to emphasize his point.
Magistros Hustavan is an important man to the Taldan people, and if he falls here many innocents will suffer. And if he leaves here without our help, he could present significant...challenges to our own mission here and jeopardize our efforts. I'm resolved to safeguard him to the exit--if you all wish to help me, that would be appreciated.
Rolando, considering the matter settled, looks for anything useful on the cleric, detecting for magical auras to aid his search.
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"Well, if he is such an important man," She Who Waits interjects, "he should be able to find some equally important underlings to help him out. You are his underling, I take it then? If so, then I am his underling too, as much as I hate to say it, so I will help you out. Though I do wonder what noble eyeballs taste like? Are they more flavorful than regular ones?"
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Searching the body and the area, Rolando, aided by She Who Waits and Torean, finds a couple of interesting bits. The woman wears a rather unusual unholy symbol , a pair of light blue potions of CLW, and a rather interesting note:
Loyalists of the Grim Harvestman, our time
has come! My plan to recover the stone, blessed by our beloved Harbinger of Unexpected Tragedy Himself, has succeeded beyond my wildest hopes. The fool Pathfinder I convinced to journey here has fed the strength of our Lord by encountering an unexpected tragedy of his own. His hard work for Grim was not in vain! Come to me at once, at the appointed hour and place, and we shall lay out a bounty before mighty Zyphus that He won’t soon forget. When Pharasma, hated cretin, lies slain in the bowels of hell and our mighty harbinger rules the afterlife, He will reward His faithful few with everlasting life and power of unspeakable might! Come to me, brothers and sisters, come to me! --Fel
Once Rolando shares the content of it, someone outside the party clears their throat. You turn to see the Magistrate, very unsure of himself, waving at the main room of the opera. "Hmm, the commoners left. I mean... I sent them away! I shall accept your protection! I shall not leave your side. No, I have no weapon, but with you fine folks, particularly my dear Lord Rolando, protecting me with your lives, it shouldn't be an issue."
The magistrate waffles back and forth between extremely pompous, and scared. He isn't kidding though, he sticks with you no matter what.
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Eladrian shivers as Rolando reads the missive. He is not very devout himself, but the very ..Wrongness.. of the message grates against his skin. Shivering, he addresses the group. "Well, we have searched the bodies, and we know that our missing friend was here. I vote that we continue to search this place, top to bottom." he says. Turning to the nobleman, he says "Sir, it looks like we are in this together for a while. Would you perhaps be skilled with any weapons? Perhaps we can find you one just in case?" Eladrian, although still not liking the pompous man, tries to make up for his rough words as the man literally quakes in his boots.
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Here, use my blade--I have other weapons, Rolando says, offering the sword to the magistrate.
I can also offer you some magical protection as well.
Cast Mage Armor from a wand--1 hour duration on the magistrate. I will also cast Unseen Servant from a wand--1 hour duration.
Follow me, and open all doors for us when I command, Rolando decrees into the ether.
Lead on, Eladrian.
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Really? Is that all we do? Because I recall that I was in the fray against those monstrosities, same as you.
Vordrek pauses. "I... Well... You weren't really acting like... You're going to equate yourself with this person who thanks us for saving his neck by ordering us around?"
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Torean grunts, as he reads the note. "Looks like our friend was fooled by this 'Fel.' He may be in greater danger than even we thought, if he's even still alive. We need to find out the rest of this madman's plot before he claims anymore for his undead army."
The dwarf looks up at the nobleman taking Rolando's sword. "Just let us handle the heavy lifting, Magistrate, though I appreciate the bravery. If necromancy is involved here, we all need to be careful."
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The door She Who Waits points leads to the empty entrance.
As you all get there, you hear a low moan in the main room of the opera and just have the time to draw your weapons.
On the marble floor lie the entwined bodies of multiple combatants. The hands of noble corpses grip daggers, makeshift clubs, and even a gem-encrusted rapier. Mixed in are the twice-dead bodies of zombies, their gray skin fetid and rotting.
However, it's on the other side that comes the sound of a heavy pick being drawn. "By Zyphus, meet your death!" says a female voice and you turn just in time to see a woman that attacks Rolando.
Intermission - Round 1 - Fight!
Eladrian
DQ
Gunnar, Rolando, Vordrek, Torean, She Who Waits.
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Due to the extra care Eladrian has to take to avoid his friends, both arrows miss the woman. Grinding her teeth, she yells "Boys, time to bring death upon these ones!"
As she finishes her sentence, two fighters appear on the other side and strike the grumpy dwarf in front of them. One of the warriors hit the dwarf right in the head.
The man shouts boldly "Death is near, my friend. Just embrace it!"
The female warrior strikes twice Rolando but only hit once.
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Intermission - Round 2 - Party's up!
Eladrian, Gunnar, Rolando, Vordrek, Torean, She Who Waits
DQ and cultists
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Superstition: +3 morale bonus to saves vs spells, SLAs, SUs (but you must try to resist all spells, including helpful ones).
Weapon Song: I will enchant all weapons that are already magical to gain the flaming and frost properties. Any weapons that are not magical yet will become +1 flaming weapons.
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Eladrian fires two arrows at the fighters but the one on his left reacts by trying to hit him but fails. The second one does nothing. Only the elf's first arrow hits as a Spirit harass the cultist, leaving him in pretty bad shape.
The same man seems to struggle to resist the witch's misfortune hex.
Rolando grants his performance to the group and all your weapons are enhanced. Rolando's spirit can't hit the warrior, though. Torean hits the woman but his spirit doesn't seem to hit her.
Vordrek eventually mutters arcane words to the fighter in front of him who flees with a terrified face!
His friend, seeing the dwarf retreating from battle, steps to take the other cultist's place and strikes the man that wounded him so bad. .
The warrior shakes his head profusely at the dwarf before her and shouts "Harder!" and hits only once
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Intermission - Round 3 - Party's up!
Eladrian [43/48], Gunnar (full defense) [11/43], Rolando, Vordrek, Torean [33/45], She Who Waits [39/44]
DQ and cultists
w 30
b 3
r 23
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Strike true, Torean, and I'll sing songs of your valor over a pint when we're through here!
Rolando then steps up and swings his flaming flag at the cultist while the spirits swirl malevolently.
Flagbearer: +1 morale to attacks, weapon damage, saves vs fear or charm
Weapon song: +1 flaming weapons for all mundane weapons, or flaming and frost for all weapons that are already magical
Spirit Totem: Negative energy attack once during your turn if adjacent to living enemy. Attack = BAB + 3, damage = 1d4 + 3
Superstition: +3 morale bonus vs spells, SLAs, SUs
Moment of Greatness (except Rolando): You can one time, as a non action, double a morale bonus before rolling. This works on flagbearer, superstition, or any other morales. Duration running low, smoke 'em if you got 'em.
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Vordrek chants into his hands, and one of them glows with a golden light. He steps toward Gunnar and presses this healing energy into his dwarven ally.
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