The chambers spins with each pull of the silver lever. After the final turn, the door is able to be opened and empties into a broad, windowless hall. Half columns of marble flank the walls, and a carpeted path stretches towards the single exit: a curved stairwell carved of slick, gray basalt. In the center of the hall, atop a marble dais, sits perched a great copper-clad sphinx.
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"Oh my..." Strang exclaims, at the sight of the metallic sphinx.
"It is, of course, a gynosphinx, quite well known in Osirion." He starts, seemingly pleased to see a creature from his native land.
"But, the coppery skin, the beautiful shaping of the wings along the lion torso." He looks back at the others, and smiles. "My friends, we stand before Andrexiel, the Copper Sphinx, herself!"
He immediately turns back to the sphinx, stepping forward and bowing slightly at the waist, holding his palms together in front of him. He then says what sounds like a greeting in Osiriani.
"I had forgotten that she was up here. Standing watch over the Decemvirate's halls for the past two hundred years." He adds, in a quiet aside to those behind him. "It does not look like the invaders have reached this far yet, at least."
He turns back to the sphinx, dropping into Osirion once more.
The Sphinx acknowledges Dr Strang with a nod, she slowly stands and begins to do a feline like stretch. She yawns and then answers her in common, "No need to speak in the tongue of my home land. I have long departed the deserts."
Andrexiel looks around at the rest of the party and smiles, "The only invaders I see in the tower are you at the moment. You are not members of the Decemvirate nor are you Venture Captains. I have not talked to strangers in a while, so entertain me. What is your reasoning for the intrusion? "
"A Venture Captain trying to stage a coup against the Decemvirate? Now that is interesting." She flexes her claws into the pedestal while thinking it over. "Again, No one has been through here. How do I know you are not one of his agents. I usually kill those who enter this vault if I have not had warning of them."
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"Read my thoughts and see the truth revealed. I am not a diplomatic man... more a physically impressive specimen of the human race, and most people know that I do not need to lie to get my way. I do not wish to intimidate you, but surely you can hear my stern voice and see how impressive I must sound to my fellow humans. I do not lie or feel the need to. Adril is corrupt. We're here to take him out. Help us!"
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Boswick respectfully bows to the Sphinx,
Boswick Bumbleberry at your service, Theodric speaks truly, we have been sent by Venture Captain Petulengro, who along with Osprey, uncovered the dastardly plans of Adril. We've chased him from Galt to Cheliax to the Mwagani Expanse, all the way to another planet, and back, and we have reason to believe he's here now. I'm a sworn servant of Iomedae, would the Inheritor allow for any type of treachery on my part. Please let us pass to stop Adril before it is too late! Boswick implores.
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... Adril has gone corrupt...
I don't know that he has "gone" corrupt. That implies that he was loyal to begin with. I think this is long laid and careful plan. He killed members of the Decemvirate to make an opening for himself. Then as soon as he was made a member he has begun to eliminate the rest. I think it is pretty clear he wants to replace the Decemvirate with only himself in charge.
.Are you absolutely sure there is no way that anyone has passed you recently? Is there any magical way he could have gotten past you? He has been known to use magical disguises. The pass stones say he has been through. All of our information says he intends to kill any members of the Decemvirate or their loyal servants that he can find as well as stealing any relics of power he can locate and remove.
Andrexiel's eyes cut over to Lavode, "I have never once failed in my duties."
The sphinx turns back to Theodric and Boswick, "You make a very compelling argument. If what you say is true. Then go." She sits back on her haunches. "I can not follow you further. I am not allowed to leave this post."
The PC's move past the sphix and up the stairs.
Atop the stairs, the unnatural shadow disperses, emptying like a river of gray swirling fog into a tremendous, circular atrium. The fog collects along the perimeter of the room, hovering no more than a foot above the ground. The remainder of the floor is exposed. Its surface appears slick and glasslike. Light from below penetrates the translucent surface, giving off a faint, eerie glow. The walls too appear made of the same, glassy substance. They climb almost twenty feet, then curve inward into a shadowy metal dome. Pinholes of light twinkle on the surface of the dome ceiling, giving it the appearances of the night sky. A shifting array of scenes twist and dance across the surface of the murky windows, depicting scores of people and places in dozens of realms throughout Golarion.
The smoky gray floor is almost transparent, but no amount of looking through it provides any insight into what forms may be below. The walls, however, clearly display scenes of Pathfinders throughout olarion, completing missions in Irrisen and the Mwangi Expanse, resting in Lodges from Magnimar to Goka, and some sitting amid stacks of books in the great libraries of the world.
A lone figure—the Decemvirate member named Shemis—stands in the center of the floor staring into the walls. Her face is covered with an ivory mask, featureless except for pale, pupil-less white orbs lined with jade where her eyes should be. Its surface is inlaid with complex patterns of runes and upon its left cheek rest three, blood-red, crystalline tears. Dozens of silver rings pierce the perimeter of the mask, and it is hooded with a bristling mane of peacock feathers. Beneath the mask, Shemis wears a gown of peacock feathers, porcupine quills and shimmering plates of scintillating opalescent abalone.
As Theodric approaches Shemis, she turns around and holds a hand up to keep him at a distance.
“Well Adril, you have found me at last. I see you have once again manipulated the members of the Society into performing your dirty work. I congratulate you on your ingenuity. Well played. Now that you’re here, you may as well reveal yourself to your pawns."
After speaking, Shemis falls silent. Seconds later, all the eraminho stones about the PCs’ heads fade to a dull gray color and fall to the floor. Ether spills from the stones and within moments, materializes in the form of Adril Hestram and the death squad of doppelgangers that serve as his personal squad of assassins. Complicating the matter, the doppelgangers materialize in Adril’s form.
Upon materializing, one of the burly warriors grins a toothy grin and replies. “And so it begins, Shemis… Endgame.”
Hestram draws a large earthbreaker and charges Shemis. He whiffs as the earthbreaker goes over her head.
Two of the Hestrams move over in front of Theo. Both swing at but fails to land a blow.
Bold May Act
Red Hestram
Yellow Hestram
Green Hestram
Boswick
Voros
Dr Strang
Theodric
Lavode
Blue Hestram
Purple Hestram
The Adril manages to avoid the chains of light.
Bold May Act
Red Hestram
Yellow Hestram
Green Hestram
Boswick
Voros
Dr Strang
Theodric
Lavode
Blue Hestram
Purple Hestram
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As the stones fall to the floor, disgorging Adril and his henchmen, the Osirion man almost curses.
"I should have realized..." He mutters, knowing full well there were more than enough signs to have made the conclusion that those spirits inside the stones were not who they claimed.
He holds up a long slender rod, made of three interwoven metallic strands, and quickly utters a spell, reaching one hand towards the remaining Decemvirate member.
"Beware Shemis. Get yourself clear!" He calls, as the spell takes hold.
Dr Strang cast a spell and Shemis vanishes.
Bold May Act
Red Hestram
Yellow Hestram
Green Hestram
Boswick
Voros
Dr Strang
Theodric
Lavode
Blue Hestram
Purple Hestram
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Boswick looks on in horror as he realizes what has happened!
Tricked again! By Iomedae! He sort of mumbles, realizing he's a pawn once more. But then he jumps to action.
He taps his Plate and it glows with a holy aura, he then taps his feet and darts over to the red Adril threatening Shemis. He takes a swing with the Pale Maiden.
Swift - activate Crusading, free - activate Boots of Speed, move - move move avoiding AAOs although if the Earthbreaker has reach then it would get one, standard - Improved Vital Strike w/ Power Attack
Theodric manages to cut through one of the Andril copies in front of him. It collapses and reverts back to a mottled grey humanoid.
Voros lunches a good powered arrow at Adril. It connects and causes damage.
Boswick charges forward and slices into the Red Adril. Blood begins to flow from the open wound.
Blue Adril approaches Theodric and lunges forward. Theodric dodges out of the way.
Purple move to attack Boswick. His armor deflects the earthbreaker.
The red Adril grunts in frustration before turning around and confronting Boswick. The paladin is able to fight off every blow.
Green takes a step to the side and attacks Boswick, flanking with the Red Adril. Boswick's armor holds up to the assault.
The red Adril takes additional damage from Voros' previous attack.
Bold May Act
Red Hestram-92 damage
Green Hestram
Boswick
Voros
Dr Strang
Theodric
Lavode
Blue Hestram
Purple Hestram
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"Doppelgangers!" He warns, at the sight of the first to fall, shifting form. "Not Adril. Not even human!"
"Hopefully we're not dealing with another Simulacrum situation like on Akiton. This one does seem a little inept." He adds, with a slight frown.
Concerned about Shemis, and the possibility of other dangers, he says a quick prayer, and casts a spell.
Theodric takes care of the one behind Boswick with two swipes and spins to shelid bash blue. He send him flying 20ft back.
Boswick strikes out at Adril. Connecting with two of his swings. The VC is on the ropes.
Dr Strang cast a spell and can see that Shemis is out of the way of immediate danger and is now blurry.
Bold May Act
Red Hestram-214 damage
Boswick
Voros
Dr Strang
Theodric
Lavode
Blue Hestram- 19 damage
Purple Hestram
All of the Adrils smirk as Boswick offers them a chance to surrender. [ooc ]Moral...fight to the death[/ooc]
Voros chucks 3 bombs in rapid succession. The first bomb drops red.
The other two bombs engulf the purple Adril in fire.
Shemis reappears, from behind her mask she speaks in a silent tone, "Adril. What a shame. I tried to tell the rest, but they refused to listen to reason. Now, lives have been lost and The Decemvirate is in shambles"
Pathfinders. I thank you for coming to my aide. I request that you accompany me. We must reach out to the other leaders of the society and convene. We must restore order and determine the best course of action. These plans will most likely include you." With that she leads you out of the tower.
Eliza Petulengro and several other high-ranking venture-captains, including Ambrus Valsin, Drandle Dreng, and Aram Zey, arrive to help restore order.
Shemis speaks in a even tone."Due to Adril's treachery our numbers have dwindled. Thanks to the actions of these agents, the damage has been minimized as much as possible."
Eliza steps forward, "What will we do to fill the vacancies in these positions of power."
Shemis sweeps her hand towards the PC's, "I was thinking of these as the new candidates to fill those positions. What say you?"
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Theodric bows his head slightly. "It would be an honor to continue our work with the Pathfinder Society in any capacity. If you so choose to honor us with positions of power, you can rest assured that this group here would not sully that honor and would in fact work continuously to improve the organisation with their excellent service. In the recent weeks that I have come to know these agents, I can attest at they are of the highest caliber in both skill and moral fortitude."
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Voros grunts.
"Rewarding opportunities, yes. Crippling responsibilities, too. Hum." he says, nodding his head, weighting the pros and cons quickly in his mind.
"This humble servant will accept if honored with the proposition." he agrees.
Never had and never will have the Bellflower Network such an opportunity. Now is the time.