________
@Sherman: "Aldern" breath hisses as he breaths in through clenched teeth. Spots of burned flesh appear across his body, and his form flickers, his skin town turning a swirling muddy/rusty color before reasserting itself.
@Alain: The strike misses, but you set Loth up for a great advantage. "Aldern" seems to ignore your presence.
@Zenaida: You step up, bring the sword down, cutting into flesh. But where you'd expect to hit bone, only more flesh.
@Loth: You managed to get your knife into "Aldern" this time, piercing in deep. But the taller form isn't ready to slow down yet....
______________
Tarphrex is still up, then back to the enemies. Then things get rowdy.
Tarphrex re-enters the kitchen and casts once more, sending more missiles into the fake Varisian.
"Zenaida, she not like normal person! Be careful!"
And with a trio of force torpedoes, the facsimilie of Iesha drops to the ground of the kitchen. No longer able to hold form, her flawless skin morphs, the well-tailored dress drawing into her form. Within moments, what remains is a humanoid shape, with ruddy brownish/reddish skin, the two colors whorling around each other. Faceless and otherwise undiscernable, this thing dies without a sound.
Unaware that it's partner has been dropped, Aldern moves to set up some sneak attack damage of its own, lashing out at the halfling who so grieviously injured it....
... and cuts into Loth for [bigger]6[/dice] damage. He then shouts out,
"Now! Strike at the little one!" It doesn't take long for it's understanding to register on it's face, as it realizes that it is alone....
.... but it fights on, unrelenting.
Gotcha! and Alain Swings again and whiffs again.
Correct. Initiative remains unchanged. I know I usually say, but this week.....
Con starts in 2 days and I just had to replace a GM last minute. Not me personally running their tables, luckily, but finding a GM this close to time is a nightmare.
This to say, I'm a bit distracted. But I'm tyring to keep up.
"First your body, then your mind..." Sherman's voice is now barely above whisper. He concentrates, small beads of sweat forms on his forehead. The priest opens his mind and for the briefest moment shares the nightmares the cultist's very own god has been tormenting him.
________
Aldern saves against the spell from Sherman Blake; Tarphrex, Zenaida, and Loth can take their turns.
Zenaida runs back the way she came, sword and shield in hand. Skidding around the corner, she uses her momentum to launch a powerful blow at the fake Aldern.
Tarphrex moves in behind Zenaida and tries to make sense of the fray, unsure of what he can do to help.
"Tarphrex has idea! Loth to me!"
"Alright!"
Loth tries to get a quick hit in and then retreats to Tarphrex.
As Loth slips up next to him, the kobold giggles reaches out to touch him. ”Haha! Loth is gone! Loth cannot be found!”
Able to presume that his back up is not coming, since those in the kitchen are headed his way now, "Aldern" continues to fight on regardless of being so outnumbered. With Loth out of reach and most likely invisible, he tries to take down Alain to get him out of the way...
...with a slice and a slam, Aldern connects with flesh on the holy knight, dealing damage. He then steps back, putting his back to the front door.
"No matter what happens, his will be done!"
___________________
Inititative Reminder
Alain Initiative: 9
Loth Initiative: 16
Sherman Initiative: 8
Tarphrex Initiative: 19
Zenaida Initiative: 16
Enemy Initiative: 14
Sherman and Alain are up, then back to the beginning.
Sherman assesses the situation. Aldern seems to be fighting to the bitter end... The room is too cramped for the priests fire spells, so taking the enemy down will be up to his companions. But perhaps powerful words could sway Aldern's hand, even if not his will.
"You are outnumbered, fool! We have killed one bearing that face once before, and will do so again. You stand no chance!"
Alain shrugs off the blow as well he can and strikes back
@Zenaida: Yes it did. Just added the damage on the map page.
@Sherman: I did forget that.
@Sherman & Alain: That means both attacks miss.
@Sherman: He does not seem to feel any additional fear. But he thinks about it.
@Alain: A hit regardless, but the move action detect evil does register him as evil.
I believe it also will add an increase to your damage... Yes, your Paladin level. 3 additional, for 14 damage and bypassing all DR.
The additional damage and bypassing of DR makes it just enough...
As a group, Aldern is sliced, pummeled, and threatened. Alain steps up, calling down the divine wrath of his diety, and cuts "Aldern" down.
Like some of you saw in the kitchen, the form before you begins to change. The handsome features of the noblemen seemingly melt like wax, his clothes withdrawing into his body, until a humanoid shape with skin the color of mud and clay lies on the ground. In seconds, all features are gone; no eyes, ears, mouth or nose adorne the corpse, and only the sword lying at its side remains.
_______________
Congrats everyone. You have defeated these opponents. I apologize for missing so many details there at the end. But, in my defense, I am stupid.
Also, you level up.
As Tarphrex turns Loth invisible, Loth laughs. "Ahaha! Oh, this is perfect!"
He turns to dash towards Aldern... to see him fall dead to the ground. "Oh..."
The disappointment on his face is clear to see. As soon as the invisibility wears off, at least.
He picks up the sword and examines it.
Alain sheathes his glowing divine blade, eye's close muttering a prayer, i ask forgiveness, wash the sin of murder from this mortals hands for prayers for the wicked must never be forsaken... he opens his eyes and turns to his comrades, Enemy cleared, is everyone okay?
”Not-Iesha dead in kitchen. Tarphrex is fine. She-thing put powder on food. Tarphrex afraid it be not-good for friends, make her spill. Very dangerous. Good that Loth-lounge not come here, maybe not good for them. Maybe poison? Maybe sick-making?”
He moves to the corpse and pokes it. ”What is it?”
@Loth: The sword is of fine make, a medium-sized longsword, with the crest of House Foxglove on the pommel and a silver chaised sheath.
i.e. Masterwork Longsword
@Anyone checking the powder Tarphrex mentioned with a
____________
The current/obvious threat is ended. But the house is yours to explore. Where would you like to start?
Tarphrex will scan the room, starting with the Foxglove sword, for magic.
"Well, that is different kind of 'Aldern', certainly. Was Iesha similar manner of creature?"
Truth to be told, Sherman expected some illusory magic creating the disguises, but these seem to be something else entirely. Was he wrong in suspecting the cult being behind all this. Or have these things been part of the cult, always?
Seeing that Taphrex is already snooping around, Sherman decides to join him. "It looks like our kobold friend have taken initiative in searching this house - I think we all should do the same?"
"Unless anyone was in need of healing?"
”Not-Iesha same odd-not-person. Tarphrex has not seen like before. Maybe left clues or real dead Aldern left useful things, yes? Search search search.”
Loth nods. "I'm sure there's got to be SOMETHING worthwhile in here."
Loth carefully starts moving up the steps to the second floor, somewhat alert; there might still be something hiding.
@Tarphrex: The sword is not magical, and you detect no other magical auras in the entry-way.
@Sherman/Tarphrex: The same for the dinning room.
@Loth: The 2nd floor has a pair of guest bedrooms in the northern half, a private sitting area in the south, and another set of stairs opposite the flight you came up.
Loth will take a peek into that private sitting area, see if there's anything of note.
Tarphrex will follow the halfling, scanning for eldritch auras as he goes.
@Loth: You scan through the room, noting nothing of interest. You're just about to leave to check the rest of the house, when something you noticed but didn't register clicks in your mind. Dust. There is a layer of dust on the shelves and end tables. A pat on the chair upholstery kicks up more dust. This room hasn't been used for weeks.
______________
Everyone feel free to chime in with where you'd like to search.
"I could probably use a healing spell, Sherman, if you don't mind." Now that the rush of battle is fading, Zenaida's wound is making itself known.
Once the priest heals her, she joins in the search, starting with the kitchen.
"Of course, Zenaida. Let me look at that wound."
Muttering a short prayer to Desna, Sherman places his hand over Zenaida's wound. Divine magic channels from his hand, healing the injuries.
Then he moves upstairs, and stops Loth in midst of his search. "You too, Loth. I think I saw you getting hit. Stay still for a moment and let me heal you."
After he has dealt with the wounds, Sherman moves to search the first guest bedroom.
Loth nods as a thank-you to Sherman, then grumbles. "We should keep looking, but I doubt we'll find much... I don't know how they got this place, but it doesn't seem like it's been lived in for weeks."
Then, suddenly, a realization dawns on Loth. "... If they claimed this place to keep up the Foxglove family front... who did they take it from? Are they still alive..?"
After muttering some more theories, he climbs up the stairs again, still careful, fearful of what he might find.
@Zenaida: Only a small amount of food is still fresh in the kitchen. Most of the bread is hard, the cheese moldy, and nothing but wine and water to drink. You do also find the jar of powder Tarphrex saw being sprinkled over the snacks. I know none of you know what it is, but luckily you all have several friends and contacts in the city.
@Sherman: Just a layer of dust that no respectable aristocratic family would allow to accumlate. It would be an embaressment to have guests in dusty beds.
@Loth: Up the staris once more, to the third floor. Open doorways show a large bedroom to your right, a small library straight ahead, and a private sitting room to your right.
The bedroom has a large bed and another door that is closed.
The library has but two book shelves and a comfortable reading chair.
The sitting room has a plush sofa facing a cold fireplace above which hangs a portait of Iesha.
The same dust prevails through this part of the house, even your light footsteps leaving a visible trail.
_____
@Zenaida: Also, the dead creature that posed as your cousin. She still grips the kitchen knife (which functions as a masterwork dagger), but is otherwise devoid of possessions.
Tarphrex stays near Loth, also searching and still scanning for anything magical.
In response to Loth's thinking out loud, the kobold offers, "Tarphrex think this Foxglove lair, not take from anyone else. Strange not-Foxglove people here know not-dead Foxglove man. Why they here? Why they want lounge of Loth come here? Many questions, feels not-good."
When Loth sees the portrait of Iesha, he nods to Tarphrex. "Looks like you're right. Fingers crossed we'll find some sort of clue here, then."
He proceeds to search the library.
Tarphrex follows, searching as well.
@Tarphrex: Books! Books on wooden shelves.
@Loth: A collection of the laws of Magnimar. Trade agreements, almanacs, ledgers of finance for House Foxglove, geneologies, and a small collection of books about adventures centered around hunting.
Tarphrex pulls a book and glances in it. He furtively glances over at Loth and turns the book over when he realizes it's upside down.
It doesn't help his understanding of Magnimaran legal code. Not one bit.
"Hm. No secret cultist stuff. Either it's well-hidden or he kept those shenanigans out of his private home."
He pauses as he looks at Iesha's portrait.
"Another portrait of Iesha, just like the one at the Misgivings... You think there might be something behind it?"
@Sherman: Not from the floor Tarphrex and Loth are on, but only because they're on the top floor. No indication of an attic or anything.
I didn't map this (and maybe I should have) becuase it's all just poking around.
@Loth: There is definetly nothing behind the painting. No way, at all, that there could be. Absolutely not. 100% not a hiding place. Best just to forget it and leave. Entire thing, wiped from your memory forever. Yep, best for all of us. In fact, probably want to just burn down the entire house. No, the whole city. Not to be extreme, but seems the safest idea.
Loth will, with a little effort, dismiss his intrusive thoughts of city-wide arson and remove the painting from the wall.
”Tarphrex has sudden urge to use power of dragon to melt house.”
He seems serious.
@Loth: You go to pull the painitng from the wall, only to find the frame is attached...
... As you glance around it you notice one side is hinged and the other latched. Additionally, you notice an unusual feature on the fire place. On each side, a lion's head is roaring out, mouth open and fangs bared. Inside the lion's mouth on the right side, there is a button....
Would you like to push it?
@Tarphrex: do it
"No melting the house until after we've made sure there's nothing of value!" Pause. "Nothing of value to the investigation, of course. That's what I meant."
Look, there's a reason why Zenaida is a warpriest and not a paladin.