Clone One shatters after the second shot!
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 1
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin Clone 2
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
Varret's two arrows thunk into the last clone in rapid succession. It doesn't look good, but it's still up!
★★★★★★
Clone 2 takes a Guarded step and stabs at Keats!
But doesn't do a very good job.
★★★★★★
Lelzeshin approaches Pip, smiling. (He seems to have a special fury for the gnome, who was instrumental in bypassing his plans to use you to break into the vault.)
He's saying something in Mwangi. You can still save Bhopan, Pip…
…as a corpse!
The steward quickly jukes one way while stabbing at Pip from the other side! Lelzeshin's gambit succeeds so well that Pip's severely thrown off balance. Compounding this, she feels the kukri rip painfully into her side.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 2
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin Clone 2
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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Forgetting in the moment that Lelzeshin is deafened, Gurmire tells him “Slow down, you move too fast!” as he prepares another alchemical treat.
He then throws a sticky glob of something at him.
30’
Lesser Tanglefoot –10-foot penalty, and the Escape DC is 17.
He then moves up to a position where Packet should easily be able to flank the guy. “So any chance we able take this one alive?”
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Keats takes a 5 foot step to the north and engages clone #2.
“Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the bailiffs of law.”
Otherwise, Keats advances another 15 feet to make himself another target for Lelzeshin. "Cowards die many times before their deaths."
“The valiant goblins, gnomes and halflings never taste of death but once.”
Lelzeshin uses a reaction to nimbly dodge the tanglefoot bag. He suffers a cut from Packet.
The last clone shatters under the weight of the upstart crow's famous words and then Keats moves in.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 2-3
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
Zarindlara misses twice. Varret has words but only one arrow to back them up; but it packs a punch.
★★★★★★
Lelzeshin growls in frustration; he knows what square Pip is in but doesn't want to risk wasting an attack at the moment. He lashes out at Keats, feinting left then slashing right!
This will hit even with Reactive Shield.
The feints in the mirrored room are confusing to Keats, and he's left befuddled by the villain's moves for an extended time. As with Pip, he feels the bite of the kukri.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: End of Round 3!
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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Keats's sword slashes down at Leelzeshin's neck. The steward looks up in surprise… his face seems frozen in time; an image burned in your retina.
In fact, the steward stays frozen for longer than normal. It's very strange and it all happens in a split-second. As the sword connects, the steward explodes!
Shards of mirror slice into everyone nearby — luckily, just Gurmire and Keats and not the already-injured Pip.
Further, the shards at your feet are rather large and make the terrain treacherous.
Lelzeshin steps calmly out from a mirror on the opposite side of the room, unharmed by Keats's attack. He's dusting off his robe and smiling. I'm sorry to say, you have all staked your life on a rather… straightforward gambit that's doomed to fail.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: End of Round 3!
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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“Liar! Not sorry.” Gurmire shouts in anger.
He then moves towards the tricky steward and draws out another icky gob of goo. “Catch!” he yells as he tosses it. Unfortunately Gurmire is much to quick to throw it this time. Even if he wanted to, it is doubtful that Lelzeshin could catch that throw.
30’
“Dog breath!” he says in goblin. Those who do not know the language can still guess that was an expletive. In common he admits “Running out of tricks, rest lethal.”
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"So these tricks you have... Impressive. Do they come from you, or from this room?" Pip inspires courage and casts heightened Soothe on Keats! "How did you learn them? Is this something that only Bhopanese can do?"
Pip engages Lelzeshin's ego, hoping to get him to monologue. Also, she's curious if the party can make use of the room's tricks.
◈ Inspire Courage
◈◈ Soothe
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“Milady, I am indebted to you for the soothing.”
“Running out of tricks, rest lethal.”
“Dear me, Gurmie. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we were forced to put this donkey down?”
Keats runs out of movement before he can put himself between the alchemist and Lelzeshin. “I can do this all night, Nick Bottom.”
“But I fear you are running out of mirrors.”
<pause> “‘Running out of mirrors!’ Did you smoke that one, Gurmie? My goodness, sometimes I kill me!”
Gurmire avoids the worst of the explosion but still takes some damage. Keats takes the full force of it but, also thankfully manages not to shove his face into the explosion's deadly epicenter. Even though it is very shiny.
Gurmire's so furious that he can't aim straight. His sticky bomb ends up smeared across the mirror, leaving a gross-looking stain.
Pip heals her friend, who desperately needs it at this point.
Keats then implies the steward an ass, but in a somewhat obtuse fashion (if only he'd saved this wit for the court!). However, the warrior doesn't have the quickness to follow through with an actual punchline. Maybe next round.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: End of Round 3 and top of Round 4!
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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"So these tricks you have... Impressive. Do they come from you, or from this room?" Pip inspires courage and casts heightened Soothe on Keats! "How did you learn them? Is this something that only Bhopanese can do?"
My tricks come from years of studying the bhopanese history!
"You've trapped yourself in here with us. Surrender, and you may live to see a new day in Bhopan."
Lelzeshin watches five arrows clatter onto the ground and smirks. Trapped with you? Oh no. Whatever shall I do?
"The clues were so obvious, but I still don't understand is why. What do you hope to gain from all this?"
I wish to liberate my people, Packet. And I will be their hero!
Lelzeshin grunts as packet's short sword cut him, but not as deep as the halfling hoped.
★★★★★★
The steward feigns that Packet cut him deeper. While Packet revels in his supposed critical hit Lelzeshin slips his kukri towards a vital spot on his fellow rogue — but Packet's instincts protect him.
The steward then scuttles over to the lingering smoke cloud, giving himself concealment against the inevitable onslaught.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 4-5!
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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"You've trapped yourself in here with us. Surrender, and you may live to see a new day in Bhopan."Lelzeshin watches five arrows clatter onto the ground and smirks. Trapped with you? Oh no. Whatever shall I do?
Varret sighs as he shifts position. "Continue this needless fight on to your doom, apparently. I had hoped to avoid any more death today."
With that, he takes aim and fires another volley into the smoke.
Varret sends one arrow through the smoke on-target. Lelzeshin grunts; when the bottled lightning hits, he screams in frustration! Pip spends more time helping Keats recover.
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 4-5!
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
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“The quality of mercy remains unstrained in your hands, counsellor. For that you have my gratitude.”
With a nod to Pip, Keats moves back towards the battlefield fog.
“Lord Lelzeshin, your motivations at this point make little sense.”
Keats raises his blade. “Though I confess that has never stopped me before either.”
Keats holds his ground and raises his golden shield.
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Zarindlara hits the steward once — Keats does as well.
Lelzeshin sways on his feet, woozy now… he gasps: My motivations? — to help my people — lead us out into the world again — breaking free of this isolationist monarchy! To be a hero. Do you not wonder that you never heard of the Bhopanese before? Did you not see the fickle indolence of the nobility?
★★★★★★
A Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal: Round 4-5!
All allies Inspired. Square marked near the center of the room is difficult terrain. Lelzeshin is concealed; DC 5 flat check to hit. I will roll these if you forget, to keep things moving.
Zarindlara
Varret
Lelzeshin
Pip
Packet
Gurmire
Keats
Lelzeshin clutches his throat and tears himself away from Packet and Keats. Gasping and choking for a reason his mind refuses to understand, he gurgles: divination … blood … you'd follow Selmius … the crown … a hero … new age … glory! — He collapses at Packet's feet.
Pip's performance falls silent. The vault is preternaturally still. Your skin tingles… the earth itself seems to be taking a deep breath.
Suddenly, a massive tremor cracks the ceiling open. You're thrown down onto the piles of gold as all the mirrors around shatter. Perhaps Bhopan itself is a little like those mirrors, an illusion or impression you had that's broken now…
The sound deafens you, and as you look up through the clouds of glass several tons of granite drop onto the vault's exit, trapping you inside.
Stones batter your heads and everything goes black.
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A barely-audible voice, that of an old woman whispers in your mind. Is it a dream? You seem to be floating above a forest that contains all the seasons at once.
Wh-who are you?
You are not of Bhopan… yet you are here with me. A-and that presence. Such rage… such bloodthirst. It sounds like the old woman is weeping now. Please. Tell me it is not so… Please. Tell me that Qxal has not discovered the isle of Bhopan. Tell me that they have not discovered my people. Tell me they have not found the crown!
The voice is resigned now. She seems to know that all the things she has said are so. I must help you; rest a while — time and place move differently here. I will heal your wounds and let you dream a real dream…
You dream of working the fields, or practicing medicine or performing or other work. You dream of polishing your armor and sharpening your weapons in preparation for a struggle to come.
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Pip stands up in this forest of all seasons. Somewhere in her mind's eye she sees the glitter of mirror dust, and she is still wearing her Bhopanese ball gown.
Ma'am? I think I am of Bhopan. Partially. My grandmother, Mahana, hailed from here. I do appreciate the chance for a rest, and to heal my wounds. Would you like us to introduce ourselves? Also... have you seen my dog, Bailiff? He's a sweet dog. The last time I saw him, he was patiently waiting for us outside the vault.
Pip happily helps with what needs to be done in the dream world, whether it is planting or medicine. Can you just let me know if he's okay? If someone out there is taking care of him?
Also... May I ask some questions? Who is Qxal? Who are you? I am Pip.
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Gurmire shifts uneasily, remembering the falling stone and shattered glass.
At the strange voice, he realizes he isn’t awake any more. Bloodthirst? Rage? He pauses a moment to make sure it isn’t from him. He was frustrated, but certainly not bloodthirsty nor raging.
I wonder why they have such a fascination with blood magic? That Lelzeshin person said he used it for divination and then was surprised when things didn’t go the way he expected. I should probably have asked more about the magic before participating.
Then the scene shifts to one of his better dreams. He is watching a bonfire as creatures of fire play in it. He feeds a couple of them that look like wolf pups some combustible materials and watches them play, making sure the fire doesn’t go out of control.
Someday he would get a pet like that. Something as wild as flames, but controllable if you knew what you were doing.
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Bailiff comes gamboling through the spring forest, chasing butterflies and barking happily!
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Wooof! Bailiff wags his tail, licks Pip's face, and then goes off to sniff the butts of Gurmire's fire dogs, before deciding not to come too close.
I'm such a good dog!
Keats fades off into the summertime forest, harvesting a crop… Antonella Schiavo sees images flash before her, catching her up on the masquerade and the party's adventure so far.
You dream eight days of your lives, then wake up laying on the vault floor. The ground trembles. A smattering of dirt and debris trickles from the ceiling of King Webhekiz’s vaults. On the ground, blood oozes from Lelzeshin's still-warm body; his aardvark snout is twisted into an agonized snarl.
It seems that mere seconds have passed in the corporeal world, although your dream has healed you and allowed you to fully rest — Packet even has a gleaming new shortsword at his side.
In the center of the vault is a pedestal covered in greenery, upon which rests a wooden circlet. The circlet sprouts flowers and leaves that flourish, wither, and die in an endless cycle. As the tremors end, a telepathic voice reaches out from within the circlet — the same old woman you heard in your dream.
Who are you?
Pip… it is good to be near a fellow Bhopanese. When I was alive, I was known as Audho of Bhopan. My people — your people — settled in the Mwangi long ago but were ultimately slain by Qxal. I, with my band of friends, stole Qxal’s perennial crown and helped the remnants of our people escape. I was lucky enough to survive, and I swore to protect the crown until my people were safe from their influence.
As you can see, I am still here, fulfilling my duty until such a day as the Bhopanese people are free. And now I hope that you, Pip, and your friends Gurmire, Packet, Zarindlara, Varret, and Antonella can help the crown escape the clutches of Qxal.
You feel a sense of duty emanate from Audho, who sacrificed herself to stay here in the vault here for hundreds of years (or perhaps longer) without any recognition or glory from her people… indeed, she seems to be forgotten. You look again at Lelzeshin's corpse and remember his megalomaniac speech about being a hero.
Who is Qxal?
Yes. It is hard to accept, but you do not know Qxal. We knew Qxal by many names: "The Death that Strides Among Leaves", the "Burrower Through the Barrows", and the "Thorned Monarch". Whatever the name, they are a malevolent fey who was imprisoned upon Golarion long ago—an entity older than most civilizations, utterly consumed by spite. My people were able to learn little else before we were almost entirely destroyed.
They seek to control everything they see, and built a demiplane within which to magnify their control and magic. But when my friends and I stole this crown that I now inhabit — the key to controlling the plane’s power — Qxal was left with a shadow of their former abilities. Even so weakened, they were able to lay waste in retribution to those of my people who could not flee to this island fast enough, though I suspect revenge was merely a whim compared to their ongoing schemes to get the crown back.
Bloodthirst? Rage?
Do you not feel it? Something has CHANGED outside the vault. Can you taste the blood in the air? I sense my people driven insane with madness and rage. As the voice speaks, you can almost taste iron on your tongue; it feels like there's a malevolent presence saturating the air, one that seems to leave a vile film on your skin. Everyone but Zarindlara feels a pulse of anger in their veins.
Qxal is tricky, and institutes a subtle influence in our people — rituals of spilling blood, little things that seem innocent but grant them a foothold of power and a little control… they use this to corrupt good souls with good intentions… you feel the presence in the crown looking sadly at Lelzeshin … or worse. I fear that with the vault cracked open, Qxal's power over the local fey and my people is manifesting in terrible ways!
I can feel them tormenting my people on a whim — they have twisted the Masquerade of Seasons — a celebration of life and rejuvenation — into one of death and madness.
Outside the vault, you can now hear the faint cries of people screaming.
But ruining a civilization is a mere a sideshow to Qxal. They seek me. The crown. And now that the vault is cracked open, nothing is stopping them fro taking what they want… please, help me escape this place, to get as far away from my people as you may bring me. When I am away, Qxal may leave my people alone, turn their attention to hunting me instead.
WIll you do this for the Bhopanese people? You notice there's a crack in th back wall — just big enough to squeeze through. A path of escape!
The screams are getting louder — getting closer. But you may have time for a few more questions…
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Gurmire pulls himself up and looks around. He winces slightly at the sounds of screaming.
“So those rituals with the plants are twisted? Do we need to worry, did we do something wrong by taking part?”
Then he looks at the corpse of Lelzeshin. “At the end, he seemed insane. Is there anything we can do for him or his spirit?”
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“Private investigator, prefers action over words.” Gurmire replies as he moves through the gap.
I wonder if the tiara didn’t hear me? Since it only uses mind-speech, maybe I have to figure out how to do that too? I would prefer to just talk, since that provides a filter on all the ideas that float through my head.