[PFS 1e Menagerie] Day of the Demon (Inactive)

Game Master Lady Ladile

Djahan shakes his head.

"Boring? You have to appreciate knowledge! The master of masters gained divinity by understanding everything within as well as outside of his sphere of influence! Learn phantom, learn!!" he preaches although the phantom does not even seem to listen.

Djahan moves in and detects magic.

He then also starts to look at the books to get a feeling about the topics that they are about.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Data looks around as well…

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"Well, Djahan-in-Flesh, finally we find something we can agree upon. The Goddess of Magic approves of your love of knowledge."

Aurora sifts through the paperwork on the desk - perhaps there is something incriminating there?

Perception, guidance: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

She also scans the room with Detect Magic

spellcraft, guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26

Onye holds his glaive out to one side and rifles through the old documents. "Maybe a clue about the secrets below can be found," he ponders even if he is not likely to be the one to find them.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Why am the fleshies always am babbling? So exhausting.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Hoping to find something of interest, most of you begin fanning out into the library and looking around. Both Aurora and Djahan scan around for magical auras and note that several books in one section give off a glow; upon further inspection they seem to constitute a collection called The Gates Ajar that focuses on information related to daemons, demons, and devils.

Meanwhile, Onye flips through the documents on the desk and discovers something rather shocking. Several of the documents reveal a plan to amass an army of demons and serial killers and then hide them on the estate grounds! The first step of this plan seems to involve a transfer of several inmates to a prison named Sinner's End. Some of the receipts on the desk name one Tancred Desimire as the man behind funding the construction of Sinner's End; what's more, the insignias on the seals and symbols of office match the etching on the silver pommel that you found out in the stables.

"Well, Djahan-in-Flesh, finally we find something we can agree upon. The Goddess of Magic approves of your love of knowledge."

Djahan thinks a little bit.

"And who Aurora is the goddess of magic supposed to be?"

He then takes the collection called The Gates Ajar.

When he reads through the documents he is clearly disgusted.

kn local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"This is horrible!! I recall hearing that Sinner's End recently burned to the ground, claiming the damned souls within."

Djahan has a hard time collecting the Gates Ajar as Aurora bags the books as quickly as he does. 50/50 split? ;)

"Why, Djahan-in-Flesh, where do you suppose my magical powers come from? The Goddess of Magic and the Divine Princess are one and the same: Urgathoa. May she bless our endeavours and fill our stomachs."

"These tomes will be safest in the Archive, and we may need them to unravel the works of this Desimire character. If Sinner's End already burned down then his plan has already advanced, and we may encounter the persons on his list here within the manor, transformed into demons."

kn religion: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

Djahan gives Aurora the books and he shakes his head.

"Last time I checked, The Pallid Princess is the goddess of physical excess, disease, and the undead?!? But it really seems as if we two are living in different realities Aurora!"

Aurora laughs her musical, beautiful laugh. "Feed your pain, Djahan-in-Flesh. Feed your pain."

"Your path to self-perfection involves the gathering of wealth and knowledge. The Pallid Princess is the font of knowledge. She guides my steps, and will lead me as she led my master to a transformation that will eradicate the weakness of my flesh and the realisation of the life unending." The merfolk smiles at the paladin, a warm and genuine smile. "Self perfection."

"I would be pleased to fill the gaps in your education. In the interests of aiding your own quest for perfection."

"I wonder if they were trying to make murderer demons," Onye muses cryptically. "Shall we move on?"

As Djahan picks up one of the books and attempts to flip through it, it suddenly feels unbearably hot in his hands!

Unholy Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6

He instinctively drops the book, but not before suffering a painful burn for his trouble. Even more strangely, he finds that he's unable to even attempt to pick up the dropped book or any of the other books that comprise The Gates Ajar collection. It's almost as though the books are thoroughly rejecting something about his very character.

Anyone that is non-evil and lacks an evil aura needs to attempt a DC 20 Will when trying to open one of the books else they suffer unholy fire damage.

Hostile books and cryptic clues aside, there doesn't seem to be anything else of note within the walls of the library. Pondering just what Desimire had intended to do with his smuggled killers, you opt to finish your investigations of the ground floor.

Heading back out to the sitting room, Djahan sends his phantom to check what lies beyond the western door. The impish creature is gone all of about five seconds before popping back out.

"Aw, stairs that go down. I wanted to see everyone take the kitchen bucket down," the phantom reports with some disappointment. As the phantom then turns and moves to see what's beyond the eastern door, it suddenly stops and cocks its head to one side as though listening for something. You all grown quiet and then everyone but Felix finally hears it too. It's a quiet snuffling and sniffling sound, coming from the other side of the door...

Ostergarde Manor - 1st Floor

"Oh my poor Djahan-in-Flesh! It seems that knowledge doesn't agree with you. Better let me look after those books. If you'd like to know more about the contents seek me out after the mission is concluded.

You should really see to that burn. Looks nasty. Would you like some help?"

Aurora collects The Gates Ajar and then listens to the sniffling. "Is that a person or an animal?"

"Arghhh ... that hurt!" Djahan says.

Resistance 5 to fire means 1 hp damage.

He looks at Book and is clearly surprised.

"It seems to have been a trap. No, I do not need any help. It is only a minor wound." he says.

"Let us find out which. It is bound to have heard us," Onye says.

Thanks to Aurora's balanced nature she has little trouble scooping up the books for safekeeping and luckily Djahan's outsider blood confers an innate protection from the majority of the unholy fire. Still, it was a rather nasty and unpleasant surprise!

Out in the sitting room, you all quietly look at each other and then nod to give Djahan's YFM the go-ahead to peek at whatever lurks on the other side of the door. The phantom sticks his head through the door (literally) and-

"AIEEEEEEE!"

"AHHH!"

A bloodcurdling shriek is heard from the other side of the door which in turn startles the phantom enough that he emits a yelp of his own and quickly pulls his head back from the door.

"A girl! There's a little girl in the closet!"

The snuffling and sniffling from within said closet grows more frantic but also muffled, as though someone is crying and doing a poor job of trying to be quiet about it.

His circuitry lighting up, Data checks the door…

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

…finding nothing hinkie, he opens it…

"Someone survived?" Onye asks with surprise.

"She might not be alive."

Pfft! Another human too dumb to die. Why am it always humans?

Data opens the door to reveal a small coat closet and huddled within, a little girl, her arms wrapped around her knees which are drawn up tightly against her chest. The light spilling into the closet illuminates a tear-streaked face, though her eyes are squeezed tightly shut as though hoping that if she can't see you then you won't be able to see her.

Djahan looks at the girl and smiles. He directes the phantom to move next to the closet so the girl cannot see it.

"Hello, I am Djahan. We will not hurt you. Tell us who you are. Can we help you?" he asks with a kind voice although his monstrous teeth and legs could tell another story.

Diplomacy, -2 ear clear: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 2 = 21

"What's your name, little girl?" Aurora adds.

"Oooh, let me guess! I like guessing games! Is it Dalton? Or is that a boy's name? Surface-dweller names are hard. Or how about Salter?"

"Did I get it right? Would you like to guess my name?"

Onye glances around the assembled adventurers. "Hopefully, she does not find us too monstrous to let us help her," he comments. "She must belong to the family whose journal we found."

An exasperated sigh loudly erupts from the kobold. "It am clear she am not 'little fleshie'! No food in kitchen, terrible monsters all about that am hard to kill, and now you am think she just am here in closet? She am sneaky, evil, devil thing!" He waits a moment for the others to take the obvious course of action. "Why am you no attack her?

"I thought the same as you, Demm" Aurora whispers to the reptilian mage. "But if Onye's right she's only been here a couple of days."

"Tilly? Or Turcey?" Aurora says to the girl.

As Djahan begins to speak (and shoos his phantom out of sight), the girl finally opens her eyes. They go wide with renewed fear at the sight of so many 'monstrous' creatures looming over her and she shrinks away.

"No, g-go away! Mama! Papaaaaa!"

But in spite of her crying, Djahan continues his gentle entreaty and somehow, in spite of his intimidating appearance, his words finally seem like they're having some effect. Aurora's too, especially when she mentions playing a guessing game. The girl's tears slow, though she continues to watch you all with wide, wary eyes.

"Um...I'm T-Tilly, miss," she snuffles. "Tilly from Kintargo. Papa says I'll be Tilly from Egorian soon. How did you know? Can you read minds? Are you a w-witch? Are you going to feed me to your dragon?" Her eyes dart from Aurora and Djahan over to Demm and then back again.

Shaking his head and wagging his finger at the human-presenting entity, "Flattery am get you nowhere little demon. Besides, Demm tad-draguni no am ever going to be hungry enough to eat a demon!"

Mmmmm.... demon...

Aurora licks her lips without thinking.

"I'm not exactly a witch, Tilly. But I do have magic powers. My name is Aurora, and these are my friends. If you're a good girl then I won't feed you to my dragon and I might show you my magic. You are a good girl, aren't you?" Aurora asks with a serious expression. "Have you been playing Hide and Seek, Tilly? Who have you been hiding from?"

"Y-yes, yes ma'am, I am!" Tilly nods with wide-eyed sincerity. "I was hiding from the thin men. They’re really skinny and really mean. Their skin looks like mud. They grin real big but they never talk, except they maybe talk without words. I dunno."

She wipes at her eyes. "Papa and Mama and Tarcey and me, we hit the road. Papa said we'll walk and walk till we're in Egorian, and that's where he'll find work. We walked so long, and I got real tired, and it got real dark and windy, and the rain made Tarcey cry. And Mama said, “Let’s wait inside,” but Papa said, “No way” - he said he heard there’s bad things live in Osty-garde. And then I dunno. Maybe there's big, prickly cats. Maybe they scared me and so I hid from the thin men. I dunno. I want Mama and Papa..."

Oh my Goddess. This human child is orphaned and doesn't realise it. You must have sent her to me for a reason. Aurora licks her lips. No. I can do better. I shall need an apprentice.

"Mama and Papa have gone, Tilly" Aurora tells the child in her soft, lyrical voice. "Tarcey too. You're all on your own. But don't fret now. The Goddess of Magic has sent you to me, so it's all going to be alright. Would you like to have a mermaid as your new Mama? I'm a mermaid, Tilly. I'm wearing legs but really I have a tail, just like in the stories. Would you like to learn magic, Tilly? If you're very good then I will teach you."

"We should rescue this child," Onye says. "The evil here will wait for us to return."

Shock leaves Demm's jaw agape. "YOU ALL AM BELIEVE HER?!?! Poor little orphan fleshie am like second best disguise behind sad, broken-clothed fleshie woman!" He meets the others child-consoling gazes with disbelief. The wizard slowly shakes his head, as he steps away from the pack resigned to his fate. "Oh we am so gonna die! I hope succubus spawn am save Demm tag-draguni for last. That way Demm tad-draguni can tell them all Demm tad-draguni am tried to warn them. His shoulders slump, "This am such a dumb way to die."

"If you die last, you will have no one to talk to," Onye points out to the muttering kobold.

"At least then everyone hearing Demm tag-draguni am have common sense."

His circuitry lighting up and then going dark, Data shrugs at the kobold. ”You look more like a demon than she does…”

sense motive : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

The little phantom is listening and peeking to sense more of the girl!

sense motive Djahan : 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

“Ahhh, you poor girl! Don’t listen to my friend Demm tag-draguni! I am a knight of Coins and will ensure that you receive all possibilities to prosper! And with my companion’s help I’ll keep you safe!! And then I will find a school and foster home for you! And I’ll pay for that because you need the chance to walk the path to perfection!! “ the Tiefling says.

"That's very kind of you, Djahan-in-Flesh. I will accept a stipend of 100 gold coins per month to cover Miss Tilly's education and upkeep. I shall invoice you for any extra-curricular activities, study trips and the like, and the stipend will need to go up as Miss Tilly's needs increase."

Djahan rolls his eyes.

"As if I would entrust her to you!?!? You wish. We are companions but walking on your path is just dangerous and you are only steps away from falling Aurora! We protect her here and then the girl comes with me I hope but of course she has to decide!" he says with determination and then smiles at the girl.

"Come on, stay between us so you are protected."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 2 = 23

"That's right Tilly. You should choose between Djahan-in-Flesh here, the half-fiend with the horns and the hooves; or me, the mermaid."

"N-no, they've not gone! The th-thin men drug them through the mud. In here, in Osty-garde! And T-Tarcey was crying and they didn't even care..." Tilly stammers, tears welling up in her eyes once more. "They said I'm supposed to never go off without them. I'm s'posed to wait. But I'm so tired and h-hungry but I'm s'posed to w-wait, they always s-say to never g-go anywhere by m-myself..."

She looks to all of you but primarily Djahan and Aurora. "C-can you help me find them? Please?? I hid in here when the sc-scary statue chased me but I heard P-Papa shouting from upstairs and I wanted to go up but I was too scared because the scary statue was still out here. But I'm NOT a bad person, I'm not!"

Fresh tears begin to roll down her cheeks no matter how many times she wipes them away. "I j-just want Mama and P-Papa and Tarcey. I t-tried being b-brave but I h-hate it...I H-HATE being b-brave, it stinks! I just wanna g-go home..."

Suddenly the phantom comes out of hiding.

The phantom is bluish and appears much as Djahan must have looked like in his early life! But somehow twists in the phantom’s visage, mannerisms, and even personality show that it is comically broken.

The phantom’s emotion aura manifests for you all to see, even those without the benefit of spells or abilities notice that it is getting a little red.

Djahan's fractured mind starts to laugh with a scary look on its face!

"Boooooo!!!! You immediately will tell me what you are hiding from us or you will face my wreath!" the incorporeal creature says!

intimidate to coerce: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Tilly's eyes grow wide as saucers and she shrinks away from the scary ghost.

"I'm n-not hiding anything, I promise! Go AWAY, you mean, spooky gh-"

The girl's words are suddenly cut short as her face contorts and she begins choking and spluttering. She claws desperately at her throat and begins to violently shake and convulse, rising into the air as she does! Her eyes roll back in her head as she begins to speak in a voice not her own.

"نباید دخالت میکردی دختر مال من است!"

Upon hearing the language coming out of the child’s mouth, Data’s eyes go big as his circuitry lights up all over. Looking back at Demm tad-draguni, he murmurs, ”On second thought…my apologies…”

”Heartless. She is not a demon, she is being attacked!” Onye looks around for the source of the girl’s plight.

Data looks at Onye curiously. ”Why do you look around? She is obviously possessed…does anyone know how to purge whatever is within her?”

Kn planes : 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 5 = 14

Djahan seems shocked and starts thinking.

"A not-killy way? Mmmmm..."

know.religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Re: thwarting possession, or exorcism or any other useful hints

Having very much been here the entire time, the fighter unfortunately isn't well-versed in exorcism techniques. He does stand nearby with weapon at the ready in case whatever devilish monstrosity that is possessing the girl can be driven out, at which time will greet it as painfully as possible!