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Nax gives Guzmond and Aspero a pat on the back when they're out of the hole but seems somewhat disappointed that the house is no longer as interesting as it once was. On the way over the manor her spirits brighten as she considers the fact that they've solved two issues without a single fight! The sorcerous stands in the back of the group as they introduce themselves.
First you come to a long, narrow presentation space has seating for around thirty guests, all facing a low stage at the south end of the room. At first glance the room seems empty, but a moment later, it seems as though the shadows of an audience still fill the plush seats. A chill draft sweeps through the room, and of a whispery voice echoes from the podium. “...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.
In the next room, carefully framed spellbook pages hang along this room’s walls, while eldritch relics stand in small display cases in the room’s center. 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!” You recognize this from Calisro Benarry , just hours ago...
Continuing forward, something seems clearly wrong in the museum. A gigantic reptilian beast is on display in the center 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 center 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.
Finally, you reach a staircase to the next floor. Climbing the stairs, you are greeted by droning voices that 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 bonenumbing chill seeps through the 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 center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls. A woman you take to be Tavvar appears to be trying to maintain control of the ritual along with three assistants and what appears to be fragments of shadow hang suspended in front of the acolytes.
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Nax leans into the ritual with her innate magical ability and throws all of her emotion and willpower into resisting the shadows. The effort leaves her speechless and covered in beads of cold sweat.
The effort doesn't seem to be enough but she keeps trying despite feeling dreadfully out of her depth with this ritual.
The party attempts to disrupt the ritual, with little success. As you spend more time looking at it, it appears as if there are eight knots of shadow that almost appear to form a rune. Guzmord fiddles with the shadow a bit, and one of these runes flickers out of existence! It seems almost as if the runes are drawing strength from another; the rest appear to lose some cohesiveness as one is destroyed. You also note that it appears that the assistants in the room each have three "runes" temporarily neutralized.
More concerns than just scholarly matters come to front as the shadowy ritual errupts in negative energy Tavvar and her ritualists appear to take damage as well, but maintain their concentration.
Additionally, a wisp of shadow from the ritual solifies into what appears as a malevolent being! It reaches out and attacks
The shadow attempts to hit Sparks, but misses.
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Nax I buffeted by the blast and immediately flies off the handle. She lets out a bestial draconic roar as her hands turn into dragon claws. [Focus Spell : Dragon Claws] Scales burst all over her body glowing in with an internal fire. [+1 Ac +5 Fire resistance for one round]
She rushes acoss the room [Stride] to the dark form and slashes at it violently with her now flaming claws. [Strike]
+3 Dex +3 Trained
Slashing and Fire respectively.
"Keep them alive, let us focus on destroying these foul aberrations!!" she shouts to no one in particular.
Same questions for acting as a shield?
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Aspero braces for the splash of dark energies, shaking off the worst of it. "Bah, someone lights some torches. The darkness in here is taking getting uppity!"
He takes a few moments to continue disrupting the ritual. "Oi! I know I'm mighty impressive but I'd rather to sink my axe into that... Thing. Anyone better are messing with sorcerous shenanigans?"
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Sparks recoils from the dark creature and moves back to the far wall then gives a brief, sharp whistle. Ndege, her hawk, flaps its wings and takes flight in the direction Sparks points with her bow. The bird flanks the dark creature, taking a bite as it swoops by.
for
At nearly the same time, Sparks lets loose with an arrow directed at the shadowy foe.
for
Between Threnax and Arkat's hits, the shadow mote fades away! The ritual appears to destabilize with that hit, as well as Aspero's work. There is only one shadowy flaw still visible other than the three that the assistants are maintaining.
The ritual erupts once more in a explosion of... highly unimpressive shadowy damage.
A shadowy mote also congeals to attack Arkat!
And likewise is highly unimpressive.
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Nax stands by Arkat, attacking whatever remains of the new shadowy figure that has begun attacking him! Her scales have faded but her claws remain.
Slash/Fire respectively
She also takes a moment to cast mage armor on herself after attacking, covering her body in a iridescent cloak of magic for the rest of the day.
The shadows buffet hey once again but Guz counteracts the damage with his healing magic!
The remaining mote of shadow is vanquished! Between the assistants and the party, the ritual is stabilized and ended peacefully rather than the violent explosion it was likely going to be come. Tavvar looks at you and draws up slightly, "I don't know who you are, but I thank you for your assistance. We would have gotten the ritual under control in time but... I appreciate your efforts."
You're relatively sure that underestimates how close she came to ruin, but that is neither here nor there.
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Aspero scans the room looking somewhat forelorn. "First time out and didn't even break anything... Don't suppose you've got rats in the basement or an old man looking a group of stout young adventurers?" He shrugs, "Bah, at least everything is well here." He renders any aid that he can if any of the participants are injured.
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With a huff Nax stalks over the researchers and puts her finger on Tavvar's chest. She looks them in the eye and growls slightly before addressing them.
"We were sent by Eando Kline to make sure you weren't in over yer heads with dangerous voodoo magic just like this! If we hadn't shown up when we did you and all your smart lil' friends here would be dead. What's worse these nasty shadow people would be set loose on Absalom and good innocent people might have died or worse! When we get back ta Eando I'm going to tell him to shut you down before you open a hole to ta the Abyss right here in the city!"
With that Nax stalks off to report to the faction heads right away.
Tavvar tries to hold up a strong front, but your words make her shake her head. "Maybe... maybe you're right..." She sighs and looks at her piles of notes. "I'll make sure these are kept safe."
You report back to the faction heads who all seem extremely pleased with your progress and the fact that you didn't cause significant loss of life or property damage. Having to work against a "murder hobo" rep and all.
As you are finishing your last report, you see a halfling rush towards you. 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!”