As they proceed to the far end of this floor the first corridor they pass looks to contain offices.
Immediately following is what looks to be an empty lecture hall, yet they hear a whispery voice, “...and rather than engage in a responsible, controlled study of the codebook, Yargos Gill decided—imprudently—to simply execute the signals listed therein...” The voice trails off into a looming silence.
As they proceed they begin to pass a large square room in the centre of the building. What is most startling is not so much the room itself but what they witness ...
Carefully framed spellbook pages hang along this room’s walls, while eldritch relics stand in small display cases in the room’s centre. In the far corner, shadows hang thicker than the rest of the room, and it seems a boisterous half-orc woman stands there, surrounded by vague figures, as she welcomes newcomers. Her voice is thin and reedy, but eerily familiar. “Congratulations! Let me spice up that punch a bit for you—to celebrate, of course!”
Next up, a room they must pass through directly to reach the stairs, This room is labelled Hall of Legendary Beasts.
A gigantic reptilian beast is on display in the centre of this expansive gallery, ferociously leering over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters. Shadows flit between the displays, meandering and shuffling shapes reminiscent of museum patrons. Then a distant shriek echoes off the walls, as the shadow of a stuffed owlbear lashes out at one of the shadow-visitors with its talons. The shadow of the tyrannosaur in the room’s centre departs from its source and snaps at the misty image of another patron, tossing its head back and seeming to swallow its meal nearly whole. Other shadows snarl and hiss, scuffling amongst themselves as shadow-guests panic and run toward the exit.
The team finally make it to the stairs and proceed cautiously up them.
Droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of this luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bone-numbing chill seeps through this space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the centre of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.
Tavvar stands at the head of the circle, her face twisted in a determined grimace, while her assistants each frantically continue their gestures and chants. The ritual is obviously wearing them down and they are too occupied with the ritual to engage with others in any way.
Kloink
Krizz
Loohi
Pooka
Sage
Sneak
How can we determine what other skills to use for the 6 remaining?
Krizz looks at the ink used for the runes and thinks there is something off about it.
Loohi tries to bolster Tavvar's confidence but the young woman does not seem to even hear him.
|
Loohi adds to his unsuccessful ego padding, "But, of course, if you weres to screw this up, everything wills be done for. Cut, I sures you were aware that you could kill everyone for miles when you started. A person likes you would take that into account when you started such a dangerous ritual. Let's hope you don't mess this up."
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Pooka comes stumbling up the steps in order to get a better look at what's going on. She gazes around, eyes wide.
"Oh mans, this is bads! Come ons guys, we gotta help!"
Noting that the three assistants seem to - for the moment - have a small portion of things under control, Pooka focuses her attention on the words being said and trying to figure out if they're being said correctly.
"No, no, nos, it's Klaatu barada nikto!"
Loohi changes the tone of his address and now has Tavvar's attention even though she continues frantically to control the ritual. The look in her eyes speaks volumes.
Pooka arrives and makes a quick assessment, she is listening and knows something isn't right but can't quite isolate what.
Krizz joins Loohi in speaking to Tavvar though his words do not quite penetrate past the increased fear now apparent on her face.
Sage tentatively moves into the room and tries to figure out what is happening.
Sage also examins the runes and discovers that Tavvar used the wrong mushrooms when making the ink.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Pooka realises that it is easier to reach out to the ritual with her occult skills but is distracted by this discovery and lets the flaw she was examining escape her mental grasp.
Kloink runs in and hears Sage muttering about mushrooms and ink and immediately starts mixing a solution to help remedy the situation.
Kloink moves further into the room, Sneak follows up the stairs and quickly manages to reduce one of the flaws, recognizing immediately what is wrong with the ink.
The team almost has the ritual under control when a surge of shadowy energy washes over everyone in the room.
The only one who seems unaffected is Bitey.
A tiny shadowy wisp of a creature also appears and immediately moves toward the wolf and reaches out with a tendril.
Bitey howls as a critically sensitive spot is hit.
x2=4 damage.
The creature moves into Bitey's space and attempts to attach itself to Bitey's shadow.
Tavvar and her assistants continue with their struggle to control and complete the ritual.
|
|
Loohi keeps at it with Tavvar switching between stroking her ego and lying to her to cover the obvious flaws. "This is really goings well. You shoulds be so proud of all the works you've put into this and the success you is obviously bringings. Keeps it up, Tavvar. The Pathfinder Society is so proud of you and we wants you to be a star in our ranks."
As the doughty team of Pathfinders continue to correct or shut down aspects of the ritual, Krizz calls on Sarenrae to share her healing light. Loohi speaks directly with Tavvar and as the goblins exert the final control needed the shadow wisp winks out of existence (at least on this plane) and the assistants sink down gratefully; the ritual has been dissipated and they are all alive.
Tavvar staggers slightly then turns to Loohi, "Really? The Pathfinders want me to join them?"
The team easily convince Tavvar to accompany them to meet Fola Barun with the intent of joining the Pathfinder Society. She is very grateful for their assistance and for the opportunity and hands them the lesser mistform elixir she had been using as a focus.
When they report in and make introductions, Fola expresses her pleasure at the work they did and her gratitude that they diverted what could have been a tragic disaster. They leave Tavvar with the faction leader and as they depart Fola's offices ...
Janira Gavix races down the hall, her blond hair flying in her excitement. “I just heard you made it back—congratulations! It sounds like everything went, well, about as well as anyone could expect. Come with me, I have something for each of you.”
The halfling woman leads the way into a small office and distributes finely crafted wooden boxes. Within each, a gleaming compass lid emblazoned with the Glyph of the Open Road and an engraved name lies upon a cushion of silk. “I’m not sure if you’ve picked up your own wayfinders yet, but when you do, you should have ones that prove that you belong. Now it’s official,” she beams. “Welcome to the Pathfinder Society!”