Round 3
Kort moves to fire at the remaining foe.
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
hp: 148/148
AC: 28/17t/23ff +3 NA more with barkskin
Saves: F9/R15/W14 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Movement: 60' typically flying 5' up off the ground in dungeons.
Aroden's Verve: 0/10 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/4 used
Extend Rods: 4/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
Boots of Speed: 0/10
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 1/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/11 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*0,LesRest*0)
3: 4/11 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/8 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0,StoneSkin*0)
5: 2/6 used (CLWM*0,FlStr*0,TruSee*1,MassStoneskin*1)
6: 0/2 used (Heal, LegendLore)
[ spoiler=Daybreak Bolts]Creatures that take penalties in bright light take these penalties for 1 round after being struck by such ammunition. Undead and creatures harmed by sunlight take an additional 1d6 points of damage from such projectiles. This extra damage and half of any other damage you deal with an affected projectile results directly from radiant energy and is not subject to damage resistance. Such a projectile sheds light as if it were a sunrod for 1 round after it is fired or thrown.[ /spoiler]
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+7+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Major Kort hits twice, and one a crit! Kamari tumbles in with style, and then sticks his blade in the floor. Edelmira sticks all three attempts severely damaging the construct. Elen dances in, and only hits once, but it’s sufficient to destroy what’s left!
Everyone within 10’ (Kamari, Edelmira, and Elen with the killing blow) is hit by the shrapnel as the thing explodes.
Reflex DC 18 for half
And with that, the danger is past as the constructs have both destructed.
Kamari pulls her blade out of the floor while dodging the shrapnel. She then looks around to see if there's anything that was worth their return to this place.
It would be a shame to have destroyed those things for no reason. Maybe someone more knowledgeable would have been able to repurposed them.
She starts at the obvious bookcases to see if anything might have been left behind out of sight from the hallway.
"They created the constructs so they explode when destroyed. In a library. That's interesting." Muri does his best to remember where those two special books were. He'll wait patiently for the Professor to pour over the collections, and secure what he can to bring away from this newly discovable place.
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The shelves high above still hold a small number of books, many of them outdated census reports or minutes from town hall meetings, but three valuable manuscripts remain.
An Account from the Army of Exploration (2,200 gp),
The Heretical Prophecies of Kalistrade (6,100 gp), and
The peace treaty signed between the Ulfen king and the Taldan grand prince in 2003 AR (10,000 gp).
The shelves also contain two heavy tomes, one bound in silver leather and locked with a clasp set with a large piece of optical calcite and the other bound in gold and locked with a ruby clasp. These are a tome of clear thought +1 and a manual of gainful exercise +1.
Elen solemnly collects some gears then heals herself.
Kort will pocket the books, and will be happy to offer them around if others have interest.
”The Prophecies of Kalistrade? How blasphemous! What a delight. This will be a capstone to our library,” Kort mutters, thinking about wasting a lot of time in there once this is all over.
He waits for others to heal and then will query.
”Are we done here? Shall we see to the safety of our rescues?”
You collect the texts worth having and leave the wreckage behind. As you head into the next room Virgil warns, ”There’s a bird waiting for you outside. I thought it best we wait.”
You pass by and head outside first.
A falcon stands in the dirt of the road, just outside the door. It stares at you patiently, as if waiting for something. It doesn’t wait long though before pointing to a small scroll tube lashed to its leg with its beak. It scratches with that talon in the dirt, reaching for you.
Presumably, you collect the scroll tube, freeing the mighty bird of its burden. The bird flies off, confused, and you open the scroll.
- - -
The scroll (image) reads,
”Something is gravely wrong with Carrius. His demeanor has changed radically, from kind boy to power-obsessed tyrant. He’s seizing the throne, arranging a quickly approaching coronation, and has blamed YOU LOT for Eutropia’s assassination. You’re possibly the most wanted figures in all of Taldor. He’s like a man possessed, with magic greater than anything even my brother or father could wield, and skill with a sword that would rival Gennaris himself!”
”I’m sheltering in the Grandbridge Vagabond Camp, on Barrier Island just outside Oppara. The crowds and running water seem to help block the most reliable of Carrius’s divinations. But the city crawls with investigators and paid informants, not to mention an angry citizenry eager to rally behind their “grieving” prince.”
For now, Carrius seems untouchable. The Ulfen Guard have welcomed the heir into the Imperial Palace, and so he now commands an army of Ulfen warriors and the royal guard, along with the building’s unmatched magical protections. Much of my support network has been wiped out, and even now he targets your own supporters. You must be swift if you hope to act, or else flee Taldor and do not look back! If you return to the city, do so with utmost caution, or else do what you can to operate from a distance. I will try to arrange whatever I can on your behalf; you have only but to ask.”
”Yours in spirit and blade, Martella”
Barrier Island is four days by magically fast horses, maybe a little less - assuming you don’t take the sickly. Virgil, if asked, can probably take them to a nearby village and make his own way back readily enough however. Though you’ll need to do something to vouch for this Virgil with your people. Or they’ll be really confused and won’t know who to believe. (Remember someone is impersonating Virgil back at your coach, which by now is probably back in Stachys.)
Know (Arcana)
Kort snorts stiffly at something.
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A falcon stands in the dirt of the road
”Oh!” Elen gasps, ”How beautiful! What is that you have there?” She collects the tube from the bird. She watches the confused avian fly off.
Poor guy. He’s wondering why he’s here.
”Something is gravely wrong with Carrius.”
”How do you excise a forged soul from it’s host?” asks Elen, still not quite sure how things work. ”Is there truly nothing left of Carrius?”
”I’m sheltering in the Grandbridge Vagabond Camp, on Barrier Island just outside Oppara.”
”If there is now some bounty on our heads, maybe it is best not to head to Barrier Island lest we draw attention to Martella.”
She looks at Virgil. ”Is it best to head toward Stachys. Maybe Virgil’s apparent doppelganger is something we can use as leverage... If nothing else we should consider outing Vigil’s impostor, and getting the rest of the prisoners to shelter. Then focus on resurrecting the Princess."
Nope! I made a suggestion, though the plan certainly has holes which Elen is trying to fix.
Lots for the party to discuss and decide what to do...
Kort re-reads the Raven's missive.
"How could this have happened? I guess we were too late," Kort nods at Elen's suggestion for the prisoners.
"Seems like we're not done yet. I had hoped...I had hoped for some rest, but apparently not. We need a place to regroup and think for the night, and then to plot."
He looks to see what Muri and Kamari think about all this.
Kamari's first instinct to head to Martella is put in check by Elen's words.
"I'm not sure what to do, but let's simplify the problem and decide how to care for Virgil and the others. If he can get them to the next village then make his way back to Betony to check on things it would be helpful. He might have to sneak in but perhaps the Domovoi would know him and assist with keeping him hidden."
"As for ourselves, Elen's question seems key. Is Carrius Carrius? is he in there? Has he ever been there or has he just been a flesh and blood automaton until he could be taken over? Would killing him just bring rest to his soul and end all this madness?"
Kamari pulls out a bag of toffee covered almonds and crunches on them while she ponders.
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Sounds like two possible plans - so far.
- Head to Stachys, try and question the doppelgänger, and resurrect the princess. It’s about two days, maybe slightly more, to reach Stachys with doubling up on the horses. You are wanted criminals, but you doubt that’ll hold much sway in Meratt County. So you should be fairly safe from arrest and can plan your next steps.
- Leave the prisoners to Virgil and rely on the domovoi to identify the true Virgil. You know the domovoi can cast Augury (link), so putting together the right questions is key. You can do something around who to imprison, or some such I suspect - we don’t need to get bogged down in the details. However, what do you do then? It’s a little less than three days, without the prisoners, to Oppara from here if that’s what you were thinking.
Oh, and Stachys to Oppara, with your current steeds, is about a day. It’ll be slightly out of your way to go to Stachys then Oppara, but only like a half day’s travel or less. You lot are fast with these horseshoes! But, as Elen mentioned, you'll need to keep your heads down in Oppara to avoid being locked up as murderers of the Princess!
And of course, everyone wants to know about Prince Carrius. They are good questions, and you do not now know the answer. You know the Prince was cobbled together from old Emperors. You don’t know if anything of the boy came too.
Using the ring (link) should enable you to enter his mind, and do battle only with the emperors within. But there might not be enough of Carrius leftover to survive the process. It’s possible you can figure it out once you’re within him, but you might not be sure even then. You're also not sure what the range is on the ring, and whether it can penetrate the magical shields around the emperor's home.
You know the Duke (stab, stab, stab) was able to manipulate the emperors, in part with the ring, but it could take months, or maybe years, to figure it out. Or you could heal him up and ask, though you suspect that wouldn't go well.
Lastly, let's go ahead and sort out the negative levels before I forget. At this time tomorrow, please make Fort DC 19 checks for your negative levels to see if they go away, or become permanent (healing aside - and there are two scrolls of Restoration (1k) available if you fail).
”Personally, I think we should get this traitor false Virgil and interrogate him. He may be able to provide information on what sorts of conspirators we will find back in Oppara as well. I doubt the Duke would be helpful even if we did risk bringing him back enough to interrogate, and I worry he will slip out of our fingers.”
”Personally, I think we should get this traitor false Virgil and interrogate him. He may be able to provide information on what sorts of conspirators we will find back in Oppara as well. I doubt the Duke would be helpful even if we did risk bringing him back enough to interrogate, and I worry he will slip out of our fingers.”
Kort nods, not entirely certain that's the best plan, but yet unable to formulate something better.
"That's a good idea. Much better than my idea to go back bake cookies and redo the bathrooms," he suggests sternly. "I can't believe that's what I would want to do, but also, it's really the wrong time for that."
Kort looks around to see if others have better ideas.
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With so many options available, the suggestion of scooping up the Virgil doppelganger sounds at least feasible compared to some of the others.
"In the meantime, we should at least communicate to Martella what has occurred. She might have some ideas."
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"So she's warning us about..." Muri pulls out a single arrow, holds it like a director's baton, and starts drawing in the air in front of him.
"Investigators. So, folks like Martella? Then she mentions paid informants, so folks who like mentioning things to Investigators? So we're gonna need to be careful looking like ourselves and speaking anywhere near folks like that." Muri puts a dot on the last part of his thought before moving on. "Do folk really know what we look like? It has been awhile, and I don't remember sitting for any portraits..."
Muri moves to the third warning. "The people. At least the people who like Carrius. And we can't trust our own folk back at Betony with the false Virgil. That's a rough game, not trusting."
"The Ulfens, and the Guard. We have no allies there." Muri shakes his head.
"Feels like we swat one wasp, we anger more. So we can't just run into the Palace and call out Carrius. I mean, we could, but that feels like death or imprisonment."
Muri stops writing in the air. "If we strike at the sham and miss, we've alerted his web. If the sham already played his cards looking like Virgil, and now looks like someone else, we're not going to know until we get there." The halfling turns to Virgil.
"I don't mean any disrespect, but if someone were in your shoes right now, how much power do they really have in Betony? Do you think Myrna has already sorted out the fake? She might have been replaced too." Muri frowns as he thinks of all the bad things taking place, all the things that are currently out of their hands.
"We could return, use the Gem of Seeing to sort out face-stealers, but that feels like a trap. Everyone interested in us will be interested in Betony and Birdsong."
"We need the freedom to speak freely with each other, and we need powerful magic to conceal our true identities. Oh, and constant vigilance. There's no way we're not being hunted right now. It's only a matter of time before someone tries to ambush us, if we look like we do right now. We should ask Martella for more magics."
"Wait, what about the Princess? We're going to use that Crucible, right? Martella should learn about the Crucible. Maybe she can help us get the Princess's body back, so we can do that first."
Lots more to chew on from Muri...
You all seem to be headed to Stachys and Betony (at least), and maybe to do a little grave robbing at the Palace of Birdsong. Though Muri is concerned even there.
If Martella had to flee the Palace and go into hiding, you doubt you'd be welcome there - especially if you're trying to take the body of the Princess, who you are accused of murdering. But Stachys is your home, and they'll not rise up against you.
Seems though like there's maybe more to discuss. Please have at and I'll move us on when there's a little more clarity.
Oh, and don't worry too much about the non-Virgil prisoners. You can drop them off at a nearby village on your way home or on your way to Oppara. Easy either way.
”Do you think Myrna has already sorted out the fake? She might have been replaced too."
”Hrm, I think whoever swapped out Virgil did so to keep track of our movements, and to spy. If they would have taken Myrma also, we would have found her in the prison with Virgil. I guessing if we take Virgil there to Betony where where I believe the impostor Virgil is also supposed to be with our carriage – she’ll be able to sort this out in a few minutes.”
”I’m fine with getting a new disguise, but I am hoping anyone interested in us is going to be focusing on Birdsong and Oppara for now. Just until we get the prisoners and Virgil sorted out. Then we can head to Birdsong and perform some mausoleum raiding. But in Stachys – I do think we should be ourselves for the brief time that we will be there.”
Hits: 116/118
Current AC: 34
Current Saves: Fort: +15; Ref +17; Will: +10, +12 if Enchant (Elf) (+5 Wingz)
AC: 25; 26 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge, +1 Dodge (Sacred))
flat: 18 (ring +3, nat armor +2, mage armor +4) (+1 See above^)
touch: 28 (ring +3, Dex +6, Cha +7, Dodge +1) (Ditto)
Crits on 19-20
CMD = 35
WandofMageArmorCharges = 9/50
Wand of CLW: 31/50
Resolve = 7/8
Challenge = 4/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
"Elen's logic about no one we know aside from Virgil is hopeful--unless of course they just killed other people. And, we are beloved in Betony, so there's some room for optimism there, too. If fake Virgil is there, I'm sure we could keep him from escaping."
"Because your track record is so good in that area."
"If you have a better idea, speak up. Otherwise, shut up."
"I'm not hopeful," Muri grimaces at Virgil, "the Immaculate Circle was very good about concealing itself this whole time. The sham Virgil, which part of our dangers is he? Is he an informant? Is he one of those investigators? I'm alright with us trying to figure out who he's helping to keep track of us."
"I'm more interested in bringing the Princess back. It argues for us if she's seen alive, so we can't be blamed for her murder then." Muri is ready to return to one of their rabbit runs, but he's gonna keep his dull eyes peeled for snare traps.
Kort ponders stiffly and thinks about what would work best. He listens to the points people are making but does not have any input of his own.
He does agree with Muri that bringing back the Princess should have the highest priority.
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So it sounds to me like you're doing the following, more or less in order.
- Ride to the nearest village, and release the prisoners (except Virgil who's coming with you). You can supply them with some cash readily enough so they can make their own ways home, or wherever they please.
- Ride about two days to Stachys and confront 'Virgil' at Betony. Try and learn something from the doppelganger.
- Do a little grave robbing, by stealing the Princess's body from her crypt at the Palace of Birdsong.
- Ride two days back to the Soul Crucible and raise the Princess.
I'll proceed on this plan - unless someone says not to - later today.
[dice=Fort save]1d20+13-4
[dice=Fort save]1d20+13-4
[dice=Fort save]1d20+13-4
[dice=Fort save]1d20+13-4
I meant to comment on this earlier, but you made all the saves. You applied a -4 to each roll. However, when you made the first one, you lost that negative level so the next roll should have been -3, etc. So you just made the two middle saves, and of course made the fourth no problem.
While they ride, Kamari thinks about their eventual need for stealth. Do they need to acquire any invisibility scrolls, dimension door scrolls, etc? Or, considering there are probably magics in place to deal with that like their last attempt to storm a castle, do they stick to mundane disguises and actual stealth or distractions?
It's a long ride to let her work out her thoughts and share them with the party.
Having come to a consensus on at least where to go, if not exactly what to do when you get there, you make camp. It is, after all, around 6pm, and there’s no sense in rushing off at night.
Early the next day, Lamashan 13, you mount up. The prisoners ride with you for a short while before you drop them at a nearby village to find their own ways hom. I presume you provide each with some stipend so they're not destitute. Then you dash the two days back to Meratt County.
Though your path takes you past the Palace of Birdsong, you take the back ways so you can remain undiscovered, at least as far as Stachys.
The ride is uneventful, though the recovery of Prince Callius and the death of his sister is on everyone’s lips. Out here, far from the cities, you’re not mentioned much, but there are many who repeat that a ’”gang of nobles” did it. Damn nobles…
You reach Stachys in good time and you ride the short way up the hill to the Betony Estate, resplendent with deep fall colors splashing in the many gardens.
As you approach the stables, ‘Virgil’ comes out to take your horses, and he sees Virgil! ‘Virgil’ immediately turns and runs, but as a few of you fly, and your steeds are all hastened by magical shoes, it really is no contest.
The doppelgänger, for that’s what it is, is very much at your mercy. Sneaky though they are, they have little actual combat ability. Eventually manacled, and brought into your spacious living room, even the domovoi visit to see what the fuss is (though they remain as cats for now - rubbing up against you and purring).
What do you ask this creature of great mimicry, but only four hit dice?
Elen starts with "Spill the tea! What exactly are you playing at here and with who to what end? Tell us everything."
She activates The Mask for fun.
You are able to identify ‘Virgil’ as a doppelgänger. He remains in his ‘Virgil’ form for the time being. You know that doppelgangers are strange beings that can take on the shapes of those they encounter. In their natural form, the creature looks more or less humanoid, but slender and frail, with gangly limbs and half-formed facial features. Their flesh is pale and hairless, and their eyes are vacant and white.
Doppelgangers prefer infiltrating societies where they can gather wealth and influence, and see little point in forming cities of their own kind. Younger doppelgangers practice their skills by taking over small orc or goblin tribes, then move to more complicated societies like dwarven, elven, and human communities. Rather than making themselves targets by taking positions of leadership, they prefer to be the power behind the throne, or use multiple identities to manipulate influential citizens or entire guilds.
- - -
You know it does cast arcane spells, or at least a spell. In fact, please make a will save DC 15 (hah!) to defend your mind against my detect thoughts ability, which he managed to cast without somatic components.
He’s not lying, and I’ll let you know if he starts.
You see his true form as described above. This one has a few scars, and it is clear he’s more sophisticated than most of his kin. He’s been around and is more experienced.
- - -
Elen starts with "Spill the tea! What exactly are you playing at here and with who to what end? Tell us everything."
I’d ask you the same - murderers! You gave me the slip at the Tomb of Taldaris, came back here and killed the Princess, and are no doubt going to try to do the same to Prince Carrius! I could have saved her…” The creature’s anger prevents any tears, but it’s very emotional.
Elen's left brow arches slightly as she gazes at the doppelganger. She shrugs at her companions. You know from previous experience that Elen is telling you that so far the creature is being truthful.
”No, no – you are mistaken. The Prince is being manipulated by an evil thus far unprecedented. We are fighting those who are against her, and if you fight us – you’ll be going against what her will would be were she here to express it herself.”
Hits: 118/118
Current AC: 34
Current Saves: Fort: +15; Ref +17; Will: +10, +12 if Enchant (Elf) (+5 Wingz)
AC: 25; 26 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge, +1 Dodge (Sacred))
flat: 18 (ring +3, nat armor +2, mage armor +4) (+1 See above^)
touch: 28 (ring +3, Dex +6, Cha +7, Dodge +1) (Ditto)
Crits on 19-20
CMD = 35
WandofMageArmorCharges = 9/50
Wand of CLW: 31/50
Resolve = 7/8
Challenge = 4/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
Kamari looks around to see what plane of existence they have slipped into where the doppelgängers are like this. She tries to understand the creature.
"Explain yourself. You claim to care about the Princess, but would send a good man like Virgil to his doom."
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Muri's mouth remains agape for most of the initial confrontation of the doppel. He was fully prepared for spit and bark, but he hears... affection for Eutropia instead. For as little as he needs to understand most evil things in the world, especially on the violent path they've hewed, he asks Chaldira for understanding.
"You know my name, and the names of my friends, right? What is yours? It's hard to speak to you when you're wearing Virgil's face."
Know (Nature)
"Riddle me this," Kort listens to the doppelganger and will answer any questions from the party about the creature.
"You best listen, for you have been duped. We speak the truth," Kort offers stiffly, wondering how this creature may be allowed to live, if at all.
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Edelmira glares at the doppelganger. ”I sincerely hope that we were not infiltrated by someone so inept as to think all of us actually wished to kill the Princess. So either cease this bizarre farce of playing dumb and have the decency to own up to being caught, or use the rest of your clearly deficient powers of observation to listen as we explain to you just how much you have been duped.”
”No, no – you are mistaken. The Prince is being manipulated by an evil thus far unprecedented. We are fighting those who are against her, and if you fight us – you’ll be going against what her will would be were she here to express it herself.”
”So you say! You’ll use any sad excuse for your mayhem!”
"Explain yourself. You claim to care about the Princess, but would send a good man like Virgil to his doom."
”I’ve seen the places where political prisoners are kept! I should be so lucky.” he goes on to describe some prison or other he’d clearly been taken through at some point in his indoctrination, but certainly not where Virgil actually was.
"You know my name, and the names of my friends, right? What is yours? It's hard to speak to you when you're wearing Virgil's face."
Though he doesn’t change, he does reply honestly, ”My name is Phrepeniph and I am an agent of Taldor, against all who would oppose her.”
Edelmira glares at the doppelganger. ”I sincerely hope that we were not infiltrated by someone so inept as to think all of us actually wished to kill the Princess. So either cease this bizarre farce of playing dumb and have the decency to own up to being caught, or use the rest of your clearly deficient powers of observation to listen as we explain to you just how much you have been duped.”
”Oh! You wormed your way in readily enough! All the while plotting against her and to your own benefit!”
- - -
You continue to question him and confront his beliefs, but you don’t get too far. He firmly believes, and was clearly indoctrinated, that he’s working for a sect for the greater glory of Taldor. He has been told by superiors he trusts, that you are usurpers and, recently, murderers. It’s extremely hard to shake him of these beliefs, since you are not trusted sources - to say the least. Well, in his mind anyway.
However, some deft questions, and with the mind reading that’s going on - you do learn a few things.
He posts letters when he can, in code, to a mailbox in Oppara. He was hired out of Oppara some twenty years ago, and has been working as a spy on one thing or another all those years - though of course he was only put onto you several weeks ago (maybe a touch longer? I’d have to search). He’s gotten pretty good at spying, but of course his natural mimicry ability likely makes it fairly easy to begin with.
You might even get names and descriptions of his ‘superiors’, but you’d guess that the Duke likely received those letters in the end. He always knew where you were and what you were doing. Anyway, tracking down those names and descriptions in Oppara could take a while, and is likely a dead end.
Do you have further questions for Phrepeniph?
Kort is quick to see that they will not change his mind, but admires that they tried.
"He's dangerous to leave alone. And I'm not happy about taking a prisoner. It's not who I want to be," Kort ponders what to do with the shapeshifter.
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We've learned little, wasted time, and are now burdened with a useless pawn of our opponent, Kamari bemoans to herself, especially since she thought this a good course of action.
"I suppose we'll need to kill him then before going to grab the princess' body to resurrect her." Kamari says where Phrepniph can definitely hear her.
”I assure you Phrepniph, Virgil was imprisoned in a place nothing as civilized as what you describe along with several other innocents. Yet, you may get your wish to be that lucky. I think you owe for what happened to Virgil. I am loathe to kill a supporter of the Princess. Perhaps you should be indentured to Virgil and Myrma, and they can decide what punishment you should endure.”
”Exposing this creature was worth it. In the very least it means Virgil is vouched for, and can go back to his business without any challenges.”
”So, shall we head out now to rescue the Princess? How shall we disguise ourselves? Should we – dare I say – split up and meet in the mausoleum? Should we just drift in as birds or something?”
"He's dangerous to leave alone. And I'm not happy about taking a prisoner. It's not who I want to be," Kort ponders what to do with the shapeshifter.
The town of Stachys has a reasonable jail. In fact, I believe you built it, along with the other government buildings.
"I suppose we'll need to kill him then before going to grab the princess' body to resurrect her." Kamari says where Phrepniph can definitely hear her.
”I shall gladly die for Prince Carrius! That’s what makes us different!”
It’s been a couple days, and I expect you’ve ministered to him as best you can. He’s fine.
”So, shall we head out now to rescue the Princess? How shall we disguise ourselves? Should we – dare I say – split up and meet in the mausoleum? Should we just drift in as birds or something?”
The graveyard within which is the mausoleum is some distance from the main manor. It’s not unreasonable that you could come at it without being seen from the house, presuming you did it at night, invisibly, as birds, or had some other cover.
”Well, shall we find some scrolls and wind walk it? ” Elen asks. ”This will help us evade being seen from the manor.”
Kamari is happy to dump the brain-washed doppleganger in the jail--although killing him would be much simpler she muses.
"Wind walk sounds like a good option. Perhaps they are so confident that she cannot be resurrected that her remains are not well guarded."
A scroll of wind walk is only 1,650gp. You’d need two to cover the party - assuming someone can cast it. You’d then be able to wind walk the princess’s body to the Soul Forge in a day (or overnight if it’s a night raid), rather than having to take two days by horseback.
If you unshoe’d your horses and brought the horseshoes with you, you could then buy some local steeds fairly readily, speed them up, and make your way to Oppara in a little less than two days. Or buy another pair of wind walk scrolls and make it in a day with time to spare - zippy fast!
Though it’s a bit of a stretch, you can buy four wind walk scrolls from the Abadarian church in Lotheedar - though you might want a disguise for that since you're wanted by the law. A visiting noble perhaps.
Phrepeniph is hustled to the jail where he will be held until you say otherwise.
Muri listens quietly as the doppel is prodded to understand. Instead of freeing the agent like a newborn chick from a shell confining its movements, the doppel just turtles up, refusing to understand Kamari's true intent to restore Eutropia to life. Instead of piling on, the halfling helps escort Frep to jail, hoping the jailors understand fully what they've imprisoned.
"I'm alright with the wind walking, too. Do you think Anselm would be up to purchasing the scrolls for us? He was very convincing with his words."
Kort suggests getting two scrolls of Wind Walk (four if they are available, no one knows what will happen next), and is sure that he has the necessary provisions to use the Soul Forge. It would be a shame to do all this only to forget the Eye of Newt at home.
"I can make myself or Elen invisible, to scout, as needed," Kort offers. "It might be good to know the layout of the place before entering."
If given time, Kort will cast Greater Invisibility on himself (or Elen), and with True Sight, will scout the Mausoleum.
Perception
Stealth
"You are more perceptive, but I may have the edge on being stealthy if you would rather."
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”Acquiring the scrolls will be no trouble at all. I am quite skilled at disguise, and can do without being detected by magic sensors.” She heads off to throw together a disguise.
The party rides to Lotheedar, where you ply a trusty outer village blacksmith to unshod your horses. You now are carrying horseshoes of speed (except Muri of course). The party hangs back, loitering out of the way as Edelmira acts as a visiting noble and visits the church of Abadar.
She’s quickly moved up the ranks when it becomes clear she has money to spend, and freely. Eventually the assistant to the high priest, a man you’ve met before under different circumstances, meets with ‘Edelmira’.
He asks a few polite questions, nothing heavy - certainly no interrogation. The four scrolls are produced, and Edelmira hands over gems and gold to seal the transaction. She departs, readily and without suspicion - for she is very, very good at this, and the priests only have eyes for her gold.
You wait until dusk, which is not far off after traveling here from Stachys (even with the horseshoes). Someone needs to read the first two scrolls, and you can close in on the crypt as clouds in the dark.
Let me know what preparations you make.
If they are within a minute of air walking to the tomb, she'll cast shield from the wand. She also has obscuring mist ready if it seems it would be of assistance. She'll save her invisibility and other personal spells for now.
Hero Points 3/3
#/# daily uses remaining
Panache 6/6
Arcane Pool 3/3
Pearl of Power level 1: 2/2
Pearl of Power level 2: 2/2
Corset of the vishkanya 10/10
Determination from Armor 1/1
Swordmaster's Flair blue scarf 1/1
Winged boots - 3/3 minutes
Current CLW Wand #3 - 22/50 remaining
Wand of shield - 40/50
Princess's tear brooch - 18/18 HP available
Koriana's blade gemstones
White - Magic missiles 1/1
Pink - Mind-affecting spells 1/1
Black - Negative energy 1/1
Green - Poison 1/1
Prepared Spells
Level 0 (4 per day)
Dancing Lights
Daze
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation
Level 1 (5 per day)
Blurred Movement
Frostbite
Obscuring Mist
Shield
Vanish
Level 2 (3 per day)
Bladed Dash
Invisibility
Mirror Image
While out and about Elen procures an additional wand of Mage Armor and has it cast upon her before entering the mausoleum.
Muri plays with his Ring, prior to infiltrating the surrounds of the Mausoleum. The facet comes to rest on the Taldan Flag, and the halfling mutters a quick phrase. He thinks on Martella while he does so.
"We will remove Princess from mausoleum. What dangers will we face there? Guards? Sensors? What protects her body from grave robbers? Will tell more tomorrow."