"I'll talk! I'll talk! Please don't make me into that! Please don't!" the thug cowers and trembles as he shrieks in utter terror.
The elf is not responding, since he's still unconscious and in a pretty rough shape.
Josiah dares not come out of his cell just yet. "Uhm, interesting, I might say. In case you are not needing my presence, I'd gladly take a hike and go see my family after how ever many days it's been I've been here..." the cleric says, eyeing at the door very anticipatingly.
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The occultist thinks for a while about Grave Words whispers from dead bodies. She sniff some barely smelling dry flower.
Rogjameda becomes bored while party busy with regaining consciousness of a stranger. She decides to play with another corpse while civilians still locked in their small room.
She continues her ritual to the point of Decompose Corpse of the second thug.
She winks at terrifying alive thug and suggests one (last) time:
So talk, my darling. About this cellar. We already found secret tunnel actually. Who can be found here? Traps? Especially I wonder how to find local boss, not this Puniven! I hope another colleague of yours was not raelly religious about his meat and bones... , - the ratfolk nods the last phrase giving a look to a second thug corpse now seems as perfectly cleaned skeleton with a bulk of decayd meat hanging. SHe than add playfully but with strong voice: So where can we find local BIg Boss? .
Chamber quickly fills up with bad stench. RogjamedA sniffs dry flower once more, now with joy.
RogjamedA not yet awake second undead, but surely will do this with a skeleton...
Josiah looks at Lolly with intrigue. What an odd bunch, he ponders to himself. "Amazingly, I was lurking around the Glass Menagerie since I had suspected the place of odd activity in the night. I decided to investigate it one night, got caught, and imprisoned. And tortured, for no apparent reason too! If I wouldn't have faith in my god, surely I would have lost my will to live and see what beautiful things the world still holds for me to see."
"And the torturer, well, she certainly was beautiful beyond belief, a sultry woman but incredibly vile. I doubt she's really a human, no sane humanoid would possess such a twisted taste for suffering."
Suussmaar's additional healing makes the elf open their eyes wide. The elf is much more terrified—even before seeing Rogjamedá—and tries to scramble towards the closest corner he can find. But he's weak and hurt, and can barely move himself. "Wha-who what are you?" he asks, panicking.
After hearing the rescuers being Pathfinders, the elf sighs heavily as a sign of relief. "I was actually meant to meet you lot in the Golden Serpent, sure, but these Crowsworn idiots learned of our meeting and arrived there, early! Pretended to be Pathfinders, so I didn't expect anything bad. But, of course, they stole my documents and knocked me unconscious! The audacity! I have no idea what they were planning to do with me, but this, uh," he pauses for a moment to look at the corpse of the sorcerer, who has a couple of heavy hitting arrows through him, "sad example of a criminal tried his darnest to make my life a living hell! What is on with these gang members using their precious free time on this plane of existence just prodding others with sharp utensils?! At least they should be drunk and having fun! And I know many brothels in the city, surely they could spend their time there instead!"
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- Crowsworn?! - Maeglin raised an eyebrow, please, tell us more about them and how your paths crossed
After hearing a story about torchurer, he steps out and make some arcane gestures. Air becomes wobbly like hot air and suddenly a tear appears. Tall humanoid figure comes through the breach between worlds.
Gorazio, we might need your help, Maeglin passes a silvered spear to a tall humanoid with a glowing rune on his forehead,We are going to face a terrible woman. Her vile is outstanding, same as her beauty. But don’t be fooled, she torchured this elf and another mate
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I see, Lolly tells Josiah. Yes, sounds like your curiosity didn't do you any favors. I think perhaps you should stick with us until we leave. There is safety in numbers. And we have real people, magic people, and dead people working together. That's a strange thought isn't it. She gives a somewhat creepy smile.
So besides Shelyn, do you have any other affiliations. The Pathfinder Society is always looking for talented people. Have you thought about joining? She asks seriously.
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So this the guy to talk around business. -
Rogjameda nods. She actually breathed more occult power into prviously prepared skeleton but it continues to lay witiout movement untill master call.
I am going to sniff around. We'll be back soon , - Rogjameda as a shadow follows zombie-thug down the corridor. And her puppet acts as natural dumb thug, who want to warn boss about issue. Slowly but surely he opens the door and proceeds. ...
"Stay here?" the men say almost in unison, Josiah continuing, "I'm going back to my temple, they must've looked for me for days, maybe weeks, even! And did you forget about the torture part, already? This place holds no dear memories to me." He begins to wonder if he has been freed from a prison cell only to be taken hostage by a seemingly random adventurer group.
"And I have no intention to join the merry band of solitary mercenaries roaming the world in pursuit of rumored items, thank you very much. I tend to like a very common living with the same daily, safe routines repeating day after day. At least, after this ordeal."
The elf, who obviously is Syrdathiel, looks at Maeglin, puzzled, "I assure you, it was not my intention to cross paths with a criminal organization," he says, [b]"they wanted my documents, my collection, and not with the appropriate process!
But since these people are living and talking, Rogjamedá finds little interest in them. The zombie thug goes to the double doors at the end of the room, and opens them. Beyond opens a larger space.
The floor of this large octagonal shaped room is separated into three descending tiers. The middle floor is ten feet below the top, and the bottom is fifteen feet lower yet. Sets of double doors face north and east on the top tier, while similar doors face west and south on the middle tier. Stairs on the west end of the room connect the top and middle tiers, as does a mounted ladder to the southwest. Nothing connects to the bottom floor, but a solitary ladder lies on the floor of the middle tier. A hinged ten-foor-by-ten-foot iron grate sits at the very bottom, from which comes the sound of running water. A comfortable chair is perched in the southeast corner of the upper tier, affording a bird's-eye view of the whole chamber.
The large room is completely unlit.
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“You might be right! Maybe it is better for you to leave!“ Suussmaar admits to the human.
He then looks at the elf.
“You on the other hand should really stay with us! You are definitely worth a lot to these people and they might chase you even if you make it to the top! We definitely can protect you so stay close but stay in the back!“ he says and hopes that he complies.
Suussmaar then walks right behind the undead that his lady-necromancy-gifted-companion created.
He looks around and detects magic.
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RogjamedA moves slowly, because her loyal thug moves in front.
WHen he moves in the large unlit room, he stands for a few seconds noding before says indistinctly: Bhuss? ... giving opportunity to his mastress to think.
ROgjamedA stops Sussmaar from approachin with gesture and hissing Tssss. Wait. I am scouting? You decide what to do with alive civilians?
Anyone alive here? Especially At this obserer chair?
Tryin to understand what path here was in use? Eastern?
Meanwhile fellow thug slowly goes to the right...
The large chamber echoes of muffled, streaming water, coming from the bottom grate. Other than that, Rogjamedá can't hear anything of interest. The thug obediently walks towards the steep stairs.
Syrdathiel looks at Suussmaar with a horrified expression. "I'm safe in here with you?! You really have the confidence you aren't going to face the same fate I did? I prefer to be as far as elvishly possible when we encounter any crowsworn goons in this despicable sewer hideout!"
Josiah, on the other hand, saw his cue and disappears faster than anyone can say 'cat'.
Josiah was anxious, just like Syrdathiel, and despite his calm demeanor was even scared of being trapped underground. He didn't exhibit any sign of being involved in the criminal activities.
The elf, on the other hand, looks like he does not wish to accompany the Pathfinders at all. Rogjamedá's performance certainly didn't help.
Syrdathiel looks at Suussmaar and shakes his head. "I believe your intentions are good, but I fail to understand why you'd think I'd be safer with you? I have absolutely no will of putting myself in harm's way! What I really want now is a huge, tasty meal at the Golden Serpent!"
"But I'm not ungrateful, I know where your Grand Lodge is. I can go there are rendezvous with you once all of this is over. That ok?"
Meanwhile Rodjamedá leads his undead horde—currently consisting of one recruit—through the corridors. The zombie opens a door to find a 15 feet long, unlit corridor ending in yet another set of double doors.
The octagon-shaped room is devoid of magic.
Panivenn, the deceased sorcerer, had some items left for looting that are detectable with magic. Two potions, one scroll, a magic dagger, and then an additional skeleton key.
The thugs had only mundane equipment consisting of studded leather armors, masterwork shortbows, and rapiers. And a handful of magic arrows, and a potion each.
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If everyone leaves the room with reamining thug an noone restricts him, than RogjamedA commands second dead thug to finally stand and act, leaving behind all the meat.
Clear white skeleton raising, clanking teeth twice loking at the alive thug with eyeless gaze. He is going to guard untill mistress call. Standing almost still...
He inspects his weapon on the floor and even target his ex-friend with crossbow. But do not shoot, just warn...
Meanwile RogjamedA sits at the spot chair but soon follows her puppet if it is safe...
Suussmaar detects the potions to consist of three potions of blur, two potions of cure moderate wounds, two scrolls of align weapon, and 30 +1 arrows. The dagger is yet to be identified. The key opens all the cell doors in the prison room.
Syrdathiel, the elf, has taken his opportunity to leave.
The zombie thug continues its solitary journey, and opens up the double doors into another room. This spacious room is bare except for a polished wooden deck at its north end. A comfortable padded chair sits behind the desk, while two less luxurious chairs flank either side of it. A banner of a flying crow hangs on the wall behind the desk. Two tables abut either wall. Each table has heavy gouges in its surface, as if blades have been embedded in it temporarily. The double doors to the south are partially ajar.
The zombie sees yet another set of double doors after the first. Mindlessly continuing its mission it goes over to them and opens them as well. At least tries to, but the doors are locked. It doesn't stop trying, though.
There's something written on the door, but a zombie can't read!
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Zombie stops scratching and knocking the locked door almost immidiately just to say indistinctly Bhuuss? . He tan stands still unless someone opens te door.
Meanwhile RogjamedA takes recieved earlier key and procceed slowly into the room while obseving everything around. Rogjameda reads the writings on the door from afar.
Even though occultist does not like Suussmaar, she feels much safer along with him. RogjamedA whispers:
Lets take a look around here. See this drawing? Maybe some papers here?
Rogjamedá's cursory observations reveal that the western doors are locked. The chamber is kept neat and tidy, and is devoid of valuables. The doors, by which the zombie thug patiently waits, have the words "Cenotaphs of the Fallen" engraved on them. Intriguingly, these are the only stone doors you've seen in the complex so far.
And those doors are locked as well.
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RogjamedA aproaches closest door, and while Maeglin usng lockpick, she tries the key, recieved from Suusmaar. Is it unlocks any of te door? If so, zombie will ask near this door -Bhuuss? ... but won't enter.
RogjamedA waits for the hole team to come and ask in gestures and whispers: -How do you think, who are Cenotaphs of the Fallen?
The ratfolk feels no hurry...
Maeglin manages to easily open the door with his skills, and the heavy stone doors open outward, revealing a high ceiling chamber. Eight large vertical standing crypts form a semicircle around the room. The covers face the exterior wall and most have a name and date engraved on the surface. The floor is polished white marble in the cnter, and black marble along an exterior circle. The area is clean and free of dust.
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Rogjameda sends her minion inside unlocked room, whispering something about scouting order.
The ratfolk mimics Maeglin and finding a lockpick inside her robe.
Not today, my Lord. - prays occultist, unlocking the door...
Meanwhile zombie thug comes at the rooms center and repeats the same Bhuss? indistinctly. And stands at place if noone and no other doors around.
As the zombie wanders to the center of the chamber, the stone doors immediately close, trapping the zombie and Suussmaar into the chamber. The zombie doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but the warpriest notices a strange smell in the air.
And Rogjamedá proves her worth by lockpicking the western door. Opening the door, the Pathfinders now see Sendeli Foxglove collecting something from a desk as the door opens. The room is dark, lacking a light source.
The door is again locked. And breaking it would require inhuman strength, which Suussmaar doesn't possess.
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Another door closes at the same time RogjamedA lockpicking another one? Coincidence or good giving me a sign?
The occultist likely try's to disbelive, because Sendeli should not be here. So Rogjameda decides to take time and nods -Just a minute, lady Foxglove . She closes the door gently, calling for second minion and talking to fellows..
Maeglin, can you open Suus back? There is Sendeli-looking someone waits us. Probably, she is local boss, or a hostage...
The skeleton thug in the prison cells finally creaks, grabs weapon and start moving closer to his mistress.
The zombie thug near trapped Sussmaar asks: -Braaains? ... zombie has unhuman strength. But zombie just dumbly walk towards the door and tries to open it usual way.
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Lolly and Sir T follow along with the group, letting the undead squad take the point. She watches as Maeglin deftly picks the lock on the stone door and watches as Suussmaar enters and doors and they slam shut. She is just about to advance on the doors, when Rogjameda suddenly opens another door and seeing Lady Foxglove, Lolly freezes. Waiting to see what happens when Rogjameda speaks to Foxglove.
Sendeli turns towards the Pathfinders, and even in the eerie darkness of the room, her wicked grin shines through. She looks down at her body with a look of admiration.
"She's a little slender for my taste, but she has a pretty face, don't you think?" she utters in an otherworldly tone, cooing seductively. She follows her sentence with a high-pitched scream, transforming into a lithe humanoid form with a scaly red skin and a viciously fanged mouth from which a long forked tongue extends. In place of arms, she has a writhing mass of three colorful vipers protruding from her silken sleeves. She appears to wear a clinging black-and-red silk robe and a flashy gold-embroidered cape.
Suusmaar can hear something going on on the other side of the door. Signs of an ensuing fight, at least.
[u]Link to combat map[/u]
Bold may act
Rogjamedá
Suussmaar
Maeglin
Sendeli
Lolly
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RogjamedA likely did not saw "Sendeli's" performance, but could hear a voice from inside.
The occultis still dicides to respect possible local boss whoever she is.
RogjamedA puff out some stinky smoke from underneath her robe just to create Mirror Images
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Then she moves towards traping door nods something about danger.
Meanwhile skeleton thug coming...
Suussmaar becomes fatigued. The poison persists are requires him to roll again next turn.
Rogjamedá has no clue what the creature is, but Maeglin has heard about these subspecies of rakshasa, known as marai. They are outsiders with the subtypes native, rakshasa, and shapechanger.
[u]Link to combat map[/u]
Bold may act
Rogjamedá
Suussmaar
Maeglin
Sendeli
Lolly