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High Priestess Saphira initially shows a little fear when demons are mentioned as being in her midst...but then the fear turns to anger. "Demons be damned! I need to get to the bottom of this," she says as she turns and looks about the Oratorium. She motions one of the guards to come hither. "Charles, go fetch Brother Dunnamast and bring him to the Shades room, please. These Pathfinders and I need to speak to him in a more private setting...
"Come, follow me to a room more suitable for such talk..."
She rises and exits through the easternmost door of the Oratorium. The jester looks fondly at Kat and gives a graceful bow as you leave the room...
The brawl is starting to wane, however the High Priestess puts the kabosh on it immediately. "ENOUGH!" Her voice carries even above the din of the brawl...the drunken revelers look her way and, seeing it's the High Priestess, they hide mugs behind their backs, uncurl their hands from fists while putting them in their pocket...and look sheepish towards her. She looks imperiously at them for a moment before continuing. "You will desist and clean up this mess...or I will put a ban on any alcohol consumption in Cayden's Hall for the next month...your choice..." She turns without looking back, the assuredness of a woman who knows she will be obeyed...and you notice she is right in that assumption...
She leads to a smaller circular room just south of the Main Hall, bids you be seated. Once seated she says, "While we await Brother Dunnamast, I'm sure you have more information about these demons. Who is your source and what else can you tell me about them?"
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Kat blows a kiss to the jester then follows the others.
Wow .... banning drinking in Cayden's Hall? she remarks. I bet they'd do anything to avoid that She grins at the High Priestess.
But yeah. We met with Osprey and a demonologist called Xersus at the Grog Pit. Xersus had a quasit that he had caught going through his stuff that was associated with a cleric, one of yours, named Baldimer. Anyway this quasit had a master demon called ... erm ... Graz’ith Ur Maurgith and his voice came from somewhere in this building. So we came here and two of your clerics tried to forbid us entry .. and well ... they're sleeping it off in the side room .. that's sort of what started the fight m'lady. But yeah .. they had some sort of magic on them, not sure what it was but I was wondering if they were under demonic influence.
She paused and looked around for some ale or cider.
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A worried look comes over the High Priestess. "Demons in Cayden's Hall...and affecting some of my clerics as well...how did this come to be? Those clerics were not under orders from me to deny anyone an audience...we will examine and question them once they awaken...
"As for Brother Dunnamast, he was the former ward under Brother Baldimar...he is currently our foremost expert on demons, hence the reason I sent for him..."
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High Priestess Saphira frowns upon the mention of the devil's name. "I have not heard of that...be it a person, a devil, or a place?"
She shakes her head when asked about Baldimar. "Not that I'm aware of...at least we found no hint of his research when he passed...and he died a pauper, like many of our clerics. He was pretty secretive about his research though; he left everything to Brother Dunnamast so perhaps he'll be able to enlighten you further when he arrives..."
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Saphira frowns as she replies. ”I apologize, sir, he should already be here...ah here comes Charles now...but where is Brother Dunnamast?”
Charles shoots the High Priestess an apologetic look before speaking. ”I’m sorry, m’Lady, but we couldn’t find Dunnamast anywhere...and I didn’t wasn’t to keep you waiting...”
She turns pale at the words. ”No...Brother Dunnamast is missing? The demons, perhaps? It can be no coincidence he’s missing at this particular time,” she says as turns back to you. ”Perhaps you Pathfinders can find him? I admit, we’re poorly equipped to face demons without our demonologist...surely you can help us?”
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Andor is now deeply concerned.
“Any innocently involved being should be protected! We wills start the search!“
He drinks an extract of heightened awareness. He also drinks his mutagen to increase his agility.
He then uses a Pathfinder chronicle to increase his ability to fight demons.
* Arcana, Nature, Planes, or Religion: When performing a studied strike, the investigator’s attack overcomes damage reduction as if it were a weapon with the following property based on the associated Knowledge check: adamantine (arcana), chaotic (planes), cold iron (nature), evil (planes), good (planes), lawful (planes), silver (religion). He also gains a +1 insight bonus on saving throws against creatures identifiable by the associated Knowledge check (for example, outsiders for Knowledge [planes]).
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High Priestess Saphira bows graciously, saying, "We are grateful for your assistance, it will not be forgotten...I'm not sure where he was last seen however..."
Charles intercedes. "M'Lady, one of the guards saw him earlier this morning in the Cask Room...but when we searched there, we did not find him there..."
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Saphira smiles gratefully at you. "Thank you and good luck with your search. Please report back to me when you find him..."
Andor leads the way to the Cask room. You approach to find two guards at the entrance to the Cask room; it's obvious they've been informed of your status as they step aside to let you enter and begin your search...
This relatively large storeroom is packed with bottles, casks, and kegs of various libations necessary to maintain the hall’s eternal festivities. Toward the back, a descending flight of stairs connects to deeper cellars filled with various types of wines and liquors. There are three cellars in all (each identical in dimension and function to the area on the map).
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Torean looks at Andor rushing out, suppressing a burp. He shrugs and nods, then bows his head at the high priestess. "Right, we'll go have a look. Demons are nasty business. If anything else seems odd, please let us know. Excellent brews, as usual."
He pulls out a metamagic rod and casts two spell using it, nodding to himself. Then he motions to the others to head after Andor.
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Andor nods appreciatively at Rudzik.
He then moves to the man and puts some smelling salts under his nose.
"Brother, brother, can you hear us? We are here to investigate some strange demonic interference and were told that you might help us. Can you tell us anything that you saw or heard?!?" he asks politely.
Suddenly, Andor turns back to Rudzik.
"You know a lot about healing! I ... I think my sister Zaarah mentioned an expert healer and archer who was able to surgically remove eggs out of fellow Pathfinders on one of her missions! The description would fit! It was on a strange ship, was that you?" Andor asks and is clearly impressed by the ranger's observation.
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"Bad bet!" Shirley replies to Rudzig's offer, with a loud guffaw. Clearly he believes Brother Dunnamast is likely just sleeping off a bender somewhere.
He quickly notices the man, when they do locate him, and chuckles. He immediately goes to test the keg of rum.. or at least the contents of said keg.
"Make sure not poisoned. Right?" He says with a grin.
As he takes a few swigs, he stares at the unconscious brother with a slight frown.
"Not just the grog floored that one." He mutters, more-or-less echoing what Rudzig said, though less eloquently.
He pauses his drinking, to see if he's going to get knocked out too... but after a moment, when it doesn't happen, he just shrugs, and takes another swig.
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”Zarah, yeah? Quick with ‘er blade, that ‘ne - ‘n’ jus’n quick t’ rush Int’ danger. Not surprised t’ ‘ear yer related.”
”Kit, Andor, clear th’ floor. Shirley, stop tryin’ t’ kill yer liver ‘n’ ‘elp me ‘old ‘im steady.” Rudzik bellows out directions as Dunnamast’s condition rapidly deteriorates. ”Anybody got some ‘ealing magic more potent than a wand?”
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Shirley scoffs, though puts down the drink.
"See this lots in Stone Spitters." He says, as Brother Dunnamast begins to convulse. "Usually after too many games of hide or get clubbed."
"We just hang 'em from tree, 'til they stop wiggling." He grins. "Then either better, or don't matter."
"Sometimes, drop in barrel, too." He adds, as he keeps the man from rolling around, surprisingly seeming to know what he's doing. "Works good."
"Unless forget to empty barrel first."
The last he says with another grin. You get the feeling he's not just joking.
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Rudzik and Shirley are able to restrain the convulsing Brother Dunnamast to keep him from hurting himself. While Kat sings to inspire, Dunnamast's convulsions lessen and then stop after about 20 seconds or so...
Once his convulsions stop, his eyes roll back in his head and he speaks the following:
"loD vIta'laHbe'chugh,
vaj jIvangtaHvIS. yo' qIj mIghwI'!
yabDaj sabmoHbogh yabDaj, tIgh yIqIl!
Dujoy'taHvIS neH, mataHvIS neH,
'ach jIHvaD ghu' vIra'taHvIS,
reH chotlhaw'! ghobe',
HoHwI'pu' rurbe' wanI'vam'e' wIpongmeH,
wanI'vam'e' tlhIHvaD tlhIv HIvje' vIQoypu'!
Qu'vamvaD 'oH Qu'vam!
'u' yotlhDaq ghoS puS!
ghotvammo' ghitlhpu' ghaH!
DaH maSop!"
“I claim this mortal as my own,
His flesh is my flesh!
His blood, his bone, his thoughts, his soul,
All of this is mine!
Be gone oh you pitiful mortals,
You weary flesh clusters,
You maggot fodder!
Look ye not unto my claims,
Or as well shall you suffer this man’s fate
And upon you I shall feast!
For mine is the damnation of a thousand nightmares!
Of the blistering flame of eternal waking!
Of the madness that gnaws!
Of timeless devouring!”
Once the recitation is complete, Dunnamast’s flesh again pales and he slips into a still, corpse-like rigor while small trickles of blood run from his nose, ears, and eyes.
One of the guards by the door looks on in awe, exclaiming, "Cayden's codpiece! You should take this brother to the High Priestess immediately; she's the best healer in Absalom!"
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Shirley eyes the man oddly as he starts spouting gibberish.
"Stone Spitters not do that." He admits, suspiciously. "Maybe broke inside of head too?"
When Andor translates, he frowns slightly.
"Tell to piss off. That what you do." Shirley suggests. "If use so many words, then usually no action."
He glances around trying to determine if there's a foe nearby.
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Torean carefully carries Brother Dunnamast back to the Shades room to High Priestess Saphira...she cries out upon seeing the cleric and runs to his side as Torean lays him down gently and you inform her of what you've found out...
"A psychic demonic attack! I cannot overcome this...you mentioned a demonologist earlier...can you summon him here immediately? Only one such as him can help Brother Dunnamast now..."
As she speaks, you recall Osprey telling you to summon them whenever you found any information...
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The High Priestess shakes her head at Kat. "Thank you for the offer...but I'm afraid this will take much more than that...I have no spell that will free him. Hopefully this demonologist you met can...if I recall correctly, you mentioned Osprey accompanied this Xersus fellow..."
Turning to Shirley, she continues. "No need to ride, Hunter...I have dealt with Osprey before...with your permission, I'll cast a sending to summon him and this demonologist..."
She stands apart from you, retrieves some copper wire, saying some words as she casts her spell...
Saphira then looks back to you. "If I know Osprey, he shan't be long..."
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In less than a minute, and with no fanfare whatsoever, Osprey and Xersus appear in the Shades room, obviously via teleport. With the curtest of bows to the High Priestess, Xersus rushes to the cleric's side and then looks up to you.
"Time is of the essence. Quickly, tell me everything you have discovered about Brother Dunnamast's condition!"
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Osprey we though that Brother is under a psychic demonic attack, when we carrying to High Priest he said something strange that cant uderstood
"loD vIta'laHbe'chugh,
vaj jIvangtaHvIS. yo' qIj mIghwI'!
yabDaj sabmoHbogh yabDaj, tIgh yIqIl!
Dujoy'taHvIS neH, mataHvIS neH,
'ach jIHvaD ghu' vIra'taHvIS,
reH chotlhaw'! ghobe',
HoHwI'pu' rurbe' wanI'vam'e' wIpongmeH,
wanI'vam'e' tlhIHvaD tlhIv HIvje' vIQoypu'!
Qu'vamvaD 'oH Qu'vam!
'u' yotlhDaq ghoS puS!
ghotvammo' ghitlhpu' ghaH!
DaH maSop!"
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It translates from the Abyssal as:
I claim this mortal as my own,
His flesh is my flesh!
His blood, his bone, his thoughts, his soul,
All of this is mine!
Be gone oh you pitiful mortals,
You weary flesh clusters,
You maggot fodder!
Look ye not unto my claims,
Or as well shall you suffer this man’s fate
And upon you I shall feast!
For mine is the damnation of a thousand nightmares!
Of the blistering flame of eternal waking!
Of the madness that gnaws!
Of timeless devouring!
She actually says this in a sing-song voice - obviously her memory aid.
Plus he was convulsing at the time
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Xersus listens intently, his face twisted with consternation. “I see,” he says. He opens a black case filled with weird brass devices, crystals, incense, and other tools, and the proceeds to inspect Dunnamast’s body. He circles it, muttering to himself as he rapidly scribbles notes into a weathered looking tome.
For the next 10 minutes or so, the gnome brushes off any attempts to communicate with him, as he studies his patient with a trance-like intensity. Once he’s finished, he wipes his brow, looks worriedly towards you, and says, “I need to perform an extraction.” He then explains the following to you.
“Extraction involves psychic projection. I shall enter a trancelike state in which I project myself into the psychic realm where Dunnamast suffers. I’m not sure what is attacking him, and thus far have only ever heard tales of the dream realm’s connection to shapeless, primordial demons. I seriously doubted their existence until this moment. In order to succeed in this task, I’ll need all of your help. The realm of dreams and nightmares is both maddening and deadly, and I cannot guarantee your life or sanity should you choose to join me. Without your help, though, Brother Dunnamast will die.”
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Xersus nods when you all agree to join him.
The high priestess offers her gratitude. "Thank you for doing this...please make sure to ask Brother Dunnamast why he’s in this state and what’s happened in Cayden’s Hall. Fare thee well."
Once the gnome demonologist has his volunteers, he arranges everyone so that all are seated around Brother Dunnamast and holding hands to complete a circle. Then he sets up his devices, incense, and assorted components and begins to weave a strange spell.
Moments later, everyone’s flesh turns cold, vision blurs, and all color washes to dull gray. The surroundings fade and soon nothing exists but a dull, twilight void. You experience the sensation of falling at first, then floating. Slowly, dark shadows solidify and you see yourselves hovering around Dunnamast’s still form. Each of you appear gray and washed out, though sparks of color ripple through them like tiny threads of lighting. Xersus is positioned at Dunnamast’s head, holding him gingerly by the temples, and Osprey is at his feet. Thick, ropey tendrils of color thread through the priest’s translucent form. Xersus begins a slow, peaceful chant. The cleric’s body seems to relax, and the tendrils within him recoil slowly from his body toward the base of his neck.
Suddenly, the cleric’s jaw drops and the alien tendrils erupt from his mouth directly into the gnome’s face. With this sudden and violent attack, Xersus slowly fades and disappears. It's then that you notice the source of the tendrils coming from a mostly formless demonic entity identifiable only as a cloudy nothingness from which protrude four smoky tendrils tipped with sharp, bone-like protrusions, floating 15' below Brother Dunnamast; a profound sense of dread and doom come over you as you fear you are overmatched...
Osprey touches his necklace and is instantly surrounded by a mysterious shimmering force that renders him invisible...you hear his voice speak urgently, "Hold off the demon as long as you can while I try to question Brother Dunnamast!"
COMBAT in the Dream World! Round 1 - The bold may post!
Andor
Shirley
Primordial Demon
Krazy Kat
Torean
Eorsten
Rudzik