#4–13: Fortress of the Nail - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

Malaz drops the massive ax as he snaps his wrist. A wand drops into his hand. The gold-skinned aphorite activates the healing magic and taps the fallen magus.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Torku steps over to the fallen dwarf, one hand grabbing the wand from his tail. ”If he’s still alive, this’ll keep him from dying right away,” he mutters irritably.

UMD, Hell vs DC 20: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 4 = 26

Using wand of infernal healing on Rhykevance.

Rhykevance coughs a few times as his eyelids flutter and his flesh begins to knit back together.

"Who?" A weak voice calls from the cage. The paracountess looks down on the scene through dirty unkempt hair.

"Pathfinders? How... Rhykevance? Is that you down there? Freed from bondage by Paxal? Well this is interesting... and a bit... ironic..." she says and there is some elegance even in her misery.

The brief conversation seems almost more than she has the energy for.

Paxal slings his bow over his back.
Good fighting, boys. That was over pretty quick.
He says as he moves towards the fallen dwarf while at the same time Malaz and Torku administer their magical healing.
Thank the gods you were able to save Rhykevance.
He offers a hand to pull the dwarf up from the floor.
How ya feeling, mate? Better?

The weak voice of Zarta calling out can barely be heard over the bubbling of lava and hot wind rushing through the chamber. After helping the dwarf get to his feet, he makes sure Rhykevance can stand on his own. Paxal looks up at the cage and moves almost underneath to get a better view of the Paracountess.
Miss Dralneen.
He addresses the Paracountess.
Yes, it is us. How do we get you down?

After a while, Rhykevance's eyes open and ponderously he gets up from the floor as his wounds keep healing. "Good job killing it." He looks at the horse-sized hound and at Malaz's bloody axe, and nods. He would probably look pale, were his face not blackened with soot. "I feel like hell. Better than dead."

He peers up at Zarta. "We are here, Mistress Dralneen. We will get you out."

"Is there a way to lower the cage or does someone have to go up there? I can grant flight."

Torku and Mythryndyr both have very high Disable Device, one of them should go up if there's no lever to lower the cage to the ground.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Myth will go forward and check out the cage holding Zarta Dralneen...

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

...and try to figure a way to free her...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

You see that to the right of the chamber a mechanism, allows the cages to be lowered to the ground with a startling clamor.

You bring the paracountess down safely, right into the waiting arms of Rhykevance.

"Oh my.

Aren't you a short but handsome piece of warrior."

She purrs, draping herself over the Magus, despite the wounds and fatigue, and stomach distress he might still suffer from.

Zarta is not wounded but very weak.

"Charming." Torku motions impatiently towards the portal back to the Material Plane. "Can we save the theatrics for later, or shall we all stand around until another war hound wanders by?"

Rhykevance looks at the others. "Delirium," he diagnoses. "We should make haste."

He takes a moment to refresh his shielding spell from the wand and expends another charge on the Paracountess, and begins to limp towards the gate, supporting her with one arm.

Do we have enough time to get Rhyk back to full-ish in case something - or for that matter, angry Hellknights - await us on the other side of the gate?

I have your cloak, Miss Dralneen.
Paxal reaches into is pack and removes the cloak. He unfolds it and offers to help the Paracountess to put it on.

Well, if we have the time, I wouldn't mind Malaz spanking Rhykevance with the happystick for a few rounds. Just rolling these here and Nowruz can sign off or not and then we can move on.

CLW the 1st: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW the 2nd: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW the 3rd: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW the 4th: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW the 5th: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Under your care, the Paracountess is able to walk out on her own.

As soon as you enter back into your own realm, the gate to hell closes behind you.

The bound Maralictor is still where he was and based on your knowledge of his bargain with hell, you know that his death is sealed.

* *

When you return topside, you are able to leave with Dralneen without further incident.

Upon informing the Lictor of Heriphis's abuse of his position, the severe Hellknight general seems concerned but remains calm, ensuring the Pathfinders that "the Order of the Nail will deal with its own."

He then offers you a ride back to Korvosa with a contingent of Hellknights heading that way. On the way out, it's uncertain if what you hear are screams of agony coming from somewhere in the citadel. After Zarta hears these noises it seems as if she is even weaker as before ... almost as if the shock of her treatment suddenly came back and overwhelmed her.

Either way, you meet Venture-Captain Heidmarch at Shoreline Drinkhall the next day. He hastily instructs medics to whisk Dralneen away and thanks you for a job well done. At the end of the conversation, the venture-captain mentions that, according to the Society's most recent intelligence, Chelish Queen Abrogail II has placed a bounty on the head of Tancred Desimire. It's unclear whether his crime prompted this or if he angered the queen in another way.

Paxal gnaws on the stub of his cigar.
Job well done, boys. I'm pleased Zarta is safe now. It was great adventurin' with you all.
He shakes hands with everyone.
Take care, boys. I hope we get to adventure again soon. I have a feeling this story with this Desimire chap isn't over. Well, I'm off to the tavern to celebrate a job well done. Who's with me?
*Puff, puff*

Torku doesn't bother extending a hand to Paxal as he irritably fans away the smoke from the other tiefling's cigar.

"Well, I'm off to the tavern to celebrate a job well done."

"Good," he replies curtly. "Then I'll be able to get back to my reading without loud obnoxious disturbances."

Rhykevance relaxes somewhat once Paracountess Dralneen is someone else's problem. He is still somewhat pale and moves his weight gingerly.
"Bath first! Then, this calls for ale. And whisky! Just the cures I need. Think I will spend a week in Korvosa before shipping back to the Heidmarch Manor."

Myth nods to Rhykevance. ”Aye, a bath and then ale sounds good...see you at the nearest pub...”

according to the Society's most recent intelligence, Chelish Queen Abrogail II has placed a bounty on the head of Tancred Desimire.

Tsuan grins.

---

Tsuan disappears for an hour or so before joining the crew (minus Torku) at the bar. She's changed into her peasant's outfit.

"I dropped off my dress at the cleaners ... I can't go back to Absalom like that," she explains.

"So, who wants to collect that bounty on Desimire?"

Within a week, each of you receive a personalized letter from the paracountess mentioning details of your character that the paracountess wouldn’t be expected to know.

In addition to her profuse thanks and traditional innuendo, the letters also offers you a reward in thanks for your efforts, paid out of the paracountess’s personal wealth rather than the Cheliax faction’s assets. This reward takes the form of a single item of your choice, granted at no cost.

I, unfortunately, do no know enough about your characters. It's imagination time for you guys on that letter. In Subtier 5–6, this item must have a regular market price of 1,500 gp or less. This item is not restricted by the normal limits of Fame, and can be selected from any legal source.

That is a very generous reward. I sure could use an Aegis of Recovery. Thank you.

Rhykevance is eventually very happy to receive a kyton ring. Or as happy as he is able. It's not much, but it's there.

I too was thinking Kyton Ring. It is on my list. Decisions, decisions. This is a cool boon though.

Myth is blown away by Zarta’s generosity; he writes a thank you letter in return to show his appreciation for the Ring of Resistance she gifted him. In addition, he offers his services to her again whenever she has need...

Malaz closely inspects the ring sent to him. Hmm...sent from Zarta huh? What are the odds there's some kind of scrying enchantment attached? Certainly wouldn't put it past her.

I will accept the Ring of Resistance. It just came down to wanting to keep my cloak slot open.

Darling, I instantly remembered you and that dress from Michellia Blakros's wedding. Perhaps this will help you next time you want to carry concealed weapons into an upscale social affair without any unsightly, suspicious bulges.

Tsuan slips her favorite wakizashi into her brand new Concealing Pocket and grins as it disappears.

Torku grunts as he watches his book shift from Forbidden Practices of Nexian Oozecrafters to On the Precedents, Technicalities, and Consequences of Maxam vs Absalom City Council Regarding Permitted Subspecies of Rosa Rubiginosa as he places the Bookmark of Deception inside the pages. "It'll do," he says simply, though his tail betrays his excitement.