Cori manages to land a solid blow on the paladin
Vinnick seizing the moment cast his spell and the weapon becomes covered in grease and slips out of the grasp of the paladin.
R'yzzntyg finishes her spell and a Stirge appears behind Balin and quickly attaches itself to his back driving it's stinger into his neck to suck his blood.
Hits so it auto grapples
Deals him 1 con damage.
Sir Balin quickly grabs a dagger he considers the creature on his back but instead decides to focus his paladin powers and uses smite evil on Cori going at her with the dagger going at her full force like a madman.
R'yzzntyg quickly goes to cori using a cure light wounds
Your go.
Cori feels the world fade out, then snap back into focus as the healing magic hits her.
She takes a step back from the paladin, all too aware that she cannot stand toe-to-toe with him and survive .
Finding herself next to Slid, she reaches down and touches him with the gift of dark fire of Calistria.
Vinnick pulls out a tanglefoot bag from his pack, having seen it when he went for the scroll. He readies a throw and waits for an opening to throw it at the Paladin.
A tanglefoot bag is a small sack filled with tar, resin, and other sticky substances. When you throw a tanglefoot bag at a creature (as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet), the bag comes apart and goo bursts out, entangling the target and then becoming tough and resilient upon exposure to air. An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity and must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be glued to the floor, unable to move. Even on a successful save, it can move only at half speed. Huge or larger creatures are unaffected by a tanglefoot bag. A flying creature is not stuck to the floor, but it must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be unable to fly (assuming it uses its wings to fly) and fall to the ground. A tanglefoot bag does not function underwater.
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move (including flying) at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell’s level or be unable to cast the spell. The goo becomes brittle and fragile after 2d4 rounds, cracking apart and losing its effectiveness. An application of universal solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately.
Stanislav steps again to flak with Cori and attacks.
It did hit so his ac is -2 and Stannis hit as well.
The stirge drain him another con and Balin winces from the pain he, decides to take a stab at it.
Badly injuring it but the stirge lives.
Your go again.
Cori taps herself with the healing wand.
Still flanking, stanislav stabs at his foe.
Vinnick again draws forth a scroll before uttering the trigger word. And lobs a slick, greasy substance towards the dagger.
The stirge drains more of his blood lowering his con once more.
The tanglefoot bag hits then Stannis hits him and then slid hits him twice and the old paladin goes down.
Vinnick brushes himself off, placing the scroll away. Well, that was troublesome indeed... He looks to the pile of smoking bones that was once his skeleton.
At least he will serve a good replacement, a Reginald 2.0... Perhaps someone can use that sword?
Vinnick will cast detect magic and look over the old paladin.
Once the old man falls, she goes to the young lad, and searches the body for weapons to toss aside, then ensures he is lying face down, before sitting on his back. To Ajikisshochraos she speak in draconic, Come here and also sit on this troublesome young human too.
Looking at the old man and at the amulet, Wonder what is so special about the amulet? Seeing he did not want to hand it over to us without dying first.
She also does a magic detect of the area, while sitting on the young human.
Remembering there was more than one secret entrance, There are additional secret doors to investigate.
While sitting on the young human, she places her sharp sickle between his legs with the point at his groin area, Just in case he gets any funny ideas, I will gut him, starting here.
The paladin equipment is a +1 full plate a +1 longsword, a masterwork dagger and a cloak of resistance +1, as well as a Silver holy symbol thought not of any religion you recognise. (knowledge history to identify)
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As the paladin falls, Slid kicks him as strong as he can in anger. His muscles ache and he hates the fact that sir Balin was as tough an opponent as he was. He quickly recomposes himself, tidies his hair and says to the others "Excuse me."
He watches as the others unceremoniously strip him but interrupts them as the masterwork dagger comes up. "I think I'll keep this if no one objects!" He lets the others make sense of which god he followed and what he was doing here. For now, Slid just savors the victory.
Indeed a tough opponent. It was our teamwork that ended him. There is a lesson for all of us in that. I cannot wear such binding armor. Cori, there is somewhat of an irony that such armor should go to you. I would enjoy seeing you wear it. I will take the sword if no one objects. I prefer my glaive but as this fight has shown, sometimes it will be denied to me.
Stanislav, a scholar of sorts, studies the holy symbol.
Cori looks at the suit of armor with a light of avarice in her eyes. ”Yessss, I love it. I think I will enjoy keeping this particular trophy.”
As she begins stripping the armor from the paladin’s corpse, she examines the symbol and markings on the armor, attempting to determine whose ire she’s about to earn.
Hearing Stanislav looking at the holy item, I can take a look at it if I picked up something resembling it from my study.
She will take the holy symbol from Stanislav to examine it too.
Oh, what are we going to do with this one I am sitting on?
Vinnick lets the others remove the armor. He picks up the cape.
Hmmm... yes. This will look marvelous after a redyeing of its colors.
he pauses for a moment.
Ah, also, the sword and armor both have minor magical enhancements. Just to keep the armor sturdier, and the blade sharper. Do we wish to search the rest of this place? Or, do we return with immediately with our prize?
Vinnick goes to collect the gear his late skeleton had been using.
@cori The armor has a few holy etchings here and there that seems to reference the dead godesse Arazni but the most obvious is the large blazing sword on the chest, symbol of Iomedae.
Also, do we intend to keep the boy? I've been working on a spell that could put him to some use for us. Assuming someone else here doesn't want to use him for other purposes.
"Ransoming him, for money or favors, would be profitable," Cori replies. "That is, if his family is as influential as he claims."
That is true, however, I doubt an influential family would so willingly part with wealth. Even for a family member. It is more likely they would try to hunt us down. Even bringing more and stronger paladins against us. It would certainly be a risk. Vinnick taps his chin in thought.
After the group's training regiment and a short period of rest Stanislav shows up to a group gathering. Perhaps it's a old injury, or perhaps he has not been sleeping well, but rather than rested Stanislav looks somewhat haggard and pale. He says nothing about his condition and if asked tries to direct attention away from himself.
That is true, however, I doubt an influential family would so willingly part with wealth. Even for a family member. It is more likely they would try to hunt us down. Even bringing more and stronger paladins against us. It would certainly be a risk. Vinnick taps his chin in thought.
"What did you have in mind for him?" Cori asks.
Well, assuming he is of no other practical use, as a last resort I could make him, well, a shield of sorts for us. Of course, that is all he would be then. And some physical labor perhaps. It would be something if we decide any usefulness he has is... gone.
Later, Vinnick will perform the necromantic rite to turn the corpse of the old paladin into a more useful and obedient servant.
Once you return Andrastus holds up the silver amulet and lets it shine in the light "A pretty enough thing isn't it. A symbol to remember a dead goddess, one commonly worn by paladins of a certain order. The knights of Ozem. Perhaps you have heard of them? Remember the name because they are our true enemy, they were the ones who imprisoned our lord and who guard his prison, they also seek to eliminated all traces of the undead and those who practice the art of necromancy from the world. In defeating him you have proven yourselves worthy of my attention. I was also impressed with the knowledge you acquired from the young squire, I assumed him irrelevant and I had him overhear about the secret passage, had I known he held secrets of the Balentyne I never would have risked him in the trial. You will leave him in the tender care of Tiadora she will find out everything he knows in short order. As for you all I will personally over see the final phase of you training."
The training Andrastus takes around two weeks and is quite intense but effective.
At the of it he gives each of you an iron brooch that looks like a ring of thorns. The brooch allows you to use the ability disguise self (caster level 12th) 3 times a day and also gives you a permanent Undetectable alignment.
After he has given them to you and explained their purpose the continues
"I have a task for you this is a command from master Tar-Baphon himself. You are to travel to the capital city of Vigil and you need to steal all but one of the shards of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant and replace the ones you take with fakes. I have arranged for Tiadora to scout ahead and she has come in contact with a group of thieves calling themselves the white ravens, they will aid you in completing this mission. How you decide to go about this is up to you but it is preferable if the theft goes unnoticed for as long as possible. I will provide you with some gold and the fake shards before you leave."
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Slid hears the talk about the knights of Ozem and keeps them in his mind. He thinks they would probably not like him, being a dhampir. He agrees that they are an enemy.
Slid takes the training very seriously. It is the first time he receives formal teaching. It's hard for him to follow instructions, but he understands why he must.
Finally, he takes the new assignment with much enthusiasm. "This will be a fun endeavor.", he says, already considering many ways to accomplish the deed. "The white ravens?", he wonders...
Cori requests that her breastplate and bastard sword be sold, and that a masterwork bastard sword be purchased with the funds.
During the period of training under annoying Andrastus, as she shouted at him that she is doing what she is being told, unexpected flames came bellowing out of her mouth, giving him a slight scorch. At first she just stood there dumb struck, staring at him, as he put out the flames, before bolting to the barn, unsure what he would do to her.
After the scorching incident, Ajikisshochraos, feeling a bit strange with her guts, gagging at times. This went on for a few days, until on day she gagged, releasing a gooey glob that splattered against a wall, only to start bubbling releasing strong acid smell, as the gooey liquid began etching the wall. After a while the bubbling stops, leaving behind etched surface of strong acid corrosion.
She was delighted to see Ajikisshochraos also finally achieve to produce breath weapon of acid. She picked up Ajikisshochraos, checking first for any acid dripping, before giving a hug of joy.
Before you leave Andrastus gives you some gold (10 000 gp) "Half of this has been promised to the thieves for their part in this endeavor but feel free to re-negotiate, their ultimate fate is also up to you. Decide if they are loose ends or useful tools worth keeping during your time with them. You will meet them in the undercity, Tiadora will teleport you as close as she can to the city and then you must make your way into the sewers and find them at the redoubt of the black crusaders. Remember when you are in Vigil that this is the heart of enemy territory attracting to much attention there could be fatal." says Andratus
"Well then, no time like the present to overthrow the establishment," Cori says. "Shall we?"
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Slid pockets most of his share of the money, having Tiadora buy new armor for him. He checks his possessions while he waits for the others to get ready to go to Vigil. He is sure he'll be able to mingle easily and is anxious to contact this group white ravens. He has never had a group to back him. Now, despite not having a guild per se, he does have a powerful patron. He turns to Cori and says "We shall!"
We need a cover while we are there. Different names, a purpose, merchants perhaps? Some forged papers may be enough to keep too much suspicion off us if need be for a time.
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Slid turns to Vinnick and says "I didn't think of that, I usually hide myself and it's easier. Well, we don't really have an excuse to be in Vigil, it's a large city and people don't usually ask about our business. We might need a cover for whatever plan we concoct. I think it's too early for that. Also, Cori has new armor which is an excellent disguise."
He winks at Cori who very much looks like a paladin in that armor.
Perhaps, but her unearthly beauty will attract attention all the same. We can discuss plans at a later time. However the sooner we have contingency plans, the better off we will be. Often times, it is easier to hide in plain sight, as one who belongs. Than to stick to shadows that are often warily watched. Often times, people see and believe what they think they should.
"We could pose as a traveling troupe of performers," Cori suggests. "I received training in dance at the Calistrian Temple, and my routines are every bit as entertaining as you might hope. What about the rest of you, any skills that might pass for a circus act, juggling, knife-throwing, eating fire?"
Not entirely persay, however, I am rather adept with numbers. Perhaps I manage the accounts? And provide light and minor magical illusions if we decide to go with that?
"Put on a jester's costume, walk around on your hands, and do a couple of backflips, and you'll do just fine," Cori says to Slid.
"Small illusions, bursts of fire, puffs of smoke, or the like would be fine for for a traveling show," she says to Vinnick.
"What about you two?" she asks Stan and R'yzz.
I fear I have two left feet when it comes to dancing Cori, but I would certainly watching you dance. I can also tumble a bit and am good with animals. My only professional training was to be a soldier I fear. If i fit in no where else I can be a hired guard and tend to any horses.
Once you are ready Tiadora Teleports you near a river and she points you to a nearby drainage pipe.
"I can go no further because of the wards around the city against my kind. Go into the sewers and find the undercity, look for a tavern called the rapiers point and you will find the thieves waiting for you there. You might also encounter some knights in black armor who call themselves the seal breakers, they are not our enemies but neither are they our allies they are just another group that seek to free Tar-Baphon for their own reasons."
Cori nods in acknowledgment. "It looks like it's time to get our hands dirty," she says.
The drain pipe is 15 feet wide and about 10 feet high with water/ filth running down the middle with 5 feet on each side walkable. Smell us not great either but you can see prints that indicate that you are far from the first group of people to come this way.