Esmereza picks up the staff and stows it away. She then looks to Tully and says, "You can use the healing scrolls, right? If so, perhaps you can take them. If not, I can. It seems to me that danger abounds for us, and yet Iomedae provides."
To the group she adds, "I expect that we will be performing a ritual or two before long. Perhaps even calling the spirit of Ileosa."
Crowley's eyes grow wide. "You think we will have to call for her? If we are caught we could be blamed for all of this." He points to the carnage and demons.
Crowley and Nakapan move to the double doors in the south wall. Nak will lean in for a quick listen, while in his Wolf Stance. Mr Crowley has his big sword out ready to behead something.
They make sure everyone else is ready and the monk will open the door.
Nakapan gives the all clear.
Four displays stand along the southern alcove of this wide, windowless hall, each featuring an engraved silver plaque. The first plaque sits below a heavy-looking tome, its cover bound in platinum. The next plaque is mounted on the wall above a waist-high column, atop which sits a glass case displaying a human skull. The third plaque adorns a glass case that holds a length of worn linen, while the final plaque sits below a weapon display upon which rests a dagger. An ornate double door stands in the northern wall.
(DV)
(M)
(E)
(E)
Nakapan waves in the smarter members of the group to address the strange items.
Meanwhile the monk moves over to guard the double doors.
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I can also use the scrolls, Black Dhougal says helpfully, though I admit this is more difficult when one is unconscious, as I was much of our fight against the...what were those things, anyway?
Sadlark moves into the room, and begins to investigate the displays. He moves cautiously, depending on his natural mastery of perception to key him in to any hidden danger.
This reliquary enshrines several items sacred to the local congregation. Sadlark's examination of the relics provides clues that something strange is happening in the cathedral. The first display is labeled “The Bones Land in a Spiral.” This religious text was brought here hundreds of years ago from a Pharasmin church in Cheliax that has long since burned down.
The second display is labeled “Skull of Saint Ilsynor, First Pharasmin of Korvosa.” Sadlark's neck hair stands on end. There's something... off. The skull looks far too fresh to be that old.
The third plaque reads “Swaddling Cloth of Gaius Lirsiiv.”
The final plaque identifies the dagger in the case as the “Dagger of the Faithful Defense.” Sadlark has heard of this thing, a blade said to be able to strike devastating blows against undead. Strange, the dagger isn't magical though.
We should requisition all this treasure in the name of his Majesty. Surely he would not want it falling into the hands of fiend-worshipers.
"Indeed, let's take it out of the enemies hands for now." Crowley helps gather the equipment as he aligns himself with the next set of doors. "Seems the rest of the Cathedral is quiet."
Who is taking the relics? (Nothing untoward happens when you do.)
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The third plaque reads “Swaddling Cloth of Gaius Lirsiiv.”
Yet for Nakapan, ignorance is bliss
Who is taking the relics? (Nothing untoward happens when you do.)
If nobody wants to take physical possession of the items, Nakapan has no problem storing them in his magical backpack of holding. While they are not items of his religion. He does give them a measure of reverence as he carefully wraps them in a blanket and puts them away.
After this, the monk is all smiles and ready to search the next room. He again is happy to be the doorman while Crowley stands by with a very great and comforting large sword.
Nakapan clears the door, and the party enters the area beyond, which is more like a bridge to a loft than anything else. It ends in a double door.
Onward.
"Let's keep moving." Crowley pushes onward, opening the doors.
Only a stone railing separates this loft from the worship hall it overlooks. The mahogany pipes of a modest organ span the eastern wall. Along the south wall, hooks hold dozens of matching gray robes, while the center of the area contains a trio of wooden operating tables. A double door stands in the western wall, and a discreet, narrow staircase leads to the main floor, while to the southeast sits a small pile of refuse.
Crowley grabs ahold of one of the robes and tosses it over himself. "Might give us a few moments at least."
Clever! Black Dhougal says with a smile, claiming a robe of his own.
More out of habit than anything else, he casts detect magic and scans the room.
Only a stone railing separates this loft from the worship hall it overlooks. The mahogany pipes of a modest organ span the eastern wall. Along the south wall, hooks hold dozens of matching gray robes, while the center of the area contains a trio of wooden operating tables. A double door stands in the western wall, and a discreet, narrow staircase leads to the main floor, while to the southeast sits a small pile of refuse.
** spoiler omitted **
Operating tables? Medical gear? Or is this where they prepare bodies for the grave?
Nakapan pokes thru the refuse a bit with his blade.
Sadlark uses his Greater Hat of Disguise to appear as an acolyte.
He stands near the table, Esmereza? What sorts of operations were performed here? Embalmings?
The tables in the middle of the room allowed priests to prepare bodies for burial while surrounded by hymns to the Lady of Graves.
"The tables in the middle of the room allowed priests to prepare bodies for burial while surrounded by hymns to the Lady of Graves."
[dice=Religion]1d20+24
"The tables in the middle of the room allowed priests to prepare bodies for burial while surrounded by hymns to the Lady of Graves."
Are these PROPER embalming tools? Or are there tools here to make the dead become undead?
"The devil doesn't work in the open. They likely hid behind their disguises from the shadows." Crowley says, waving the group onward.
Proper tools.
Let us proceed.
Crowley follows along, keeping his sword ready for more devil-worshipping parishioners that are out to kill him.
The door seems silent. It seems like you're the only living things in the cathedral.
(DV)
(M)
(E)
(E)
With a quick glance, the monk makes sure the others are ready. His small sword in his off-hand, he opens the door.
A carved spiral adorns the floor of this antechamber, its tail touching a spiral staircase leading down through the stone floor. A mound of cloth lies heaped against the northern wall.
The cloth to the north are burial shrouds traditionally used to transport bodies from their place of death to the cathedral.
"See that cloth to the north? Those are burial shrouds. They're used to transport the dead from where they perished to the cathedral."
Saving the spiral staircase for later, the party heads back to the other side of the church to finish clearing this level.
They party stacks on the door. Nak opens it...
As Nakapan approaches the stairs something seems off. Something's wrong... There's a presence here somewhere.
Round 1:
Sadlark: Go
Dhougal: Go
Esme: Go
????: ???
Crowley: TBD
Nakapan: TBD
Tully: TBD
Initiative assumes xxx is Scouting
(Search)
(Investigate, Trapspotter (M))
Lingers 3 rounds
Sadlark recites some verse. Then he Seeks.
If he sees something he will Point it Out. If he sees nothing he Seeks again.
Sadlark's verse gets the party ready, but for what? He spends precious time looking, but can't see anything!
Round 1:
Sadlark: Bard-fu
Dhougal: Go
Esme: Go
????: ???
Crowley: TBD
Nakapan: TBD
Tully: TBD
With nothing visibly threatening them, Esme watches and waits.
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Black Dhougal casts see invisibility and looks about.
You see a large translucent shape, much bigger than a man blocking the stairs. Two more shapes flank it, each the size of men.
Esme holds while Black Dhougal casts a spell, and clearly that changes things for the half-orc who immediately bends his knees and readies himself for combat.
A split second later a giant figure materializes before everyone's eyes. This muscular giant has two ferocious lion heads, each with a long, black, lashing tongue.
Each of its heads turns and looks directly into the eyes of a hero:
Then it leans forward and bites at Black Dhougal:
for
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[ooc]Terrain: Stairs difficult terrain. Closed doors are opened with an Interact Action
Battlemap
Round 1:
Sadlark: Bard-fu
Dhougal : Magic
WTF?: ATK
Esme: Go
Crowley: Go
Nakapan: Go
Tully: Go
????: ???
"What in the hells is that? Another devil?" Crowley is shocked at its appearance as he leaps in sweeping his blade across the creatures body.
HP 191/191
AC 31 (30 w/ Rage)| Resist Fire 5; Slashing 3
(Rage - +15 Temp HP, +6 Damage, and -1 AC, Darkvision, +10 Speed)
Battle Medicine: Crowley
Hero Point 1/3
Crowley feels the creature trying to burrow into hi mind, but he fends off the mental attack. He immediately attacks the creature, but his attack is handily parried.
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Battlemap
Round 1:
Sadlark: Bard-fu
Dhougal : Magic
WTF?: ATK
Esme: Go
Crowley: Miss
Nakapan: Go
Tully: Go
????: ???
Round 1
Nakapan felt something was off but he couldn't sense it till the massive cat headed giant popped into view and started killing the party's half-orc. The monk drops into a Wolf stance and takes a step to move into Flanking position with Sadlark. Then strikes with a flurry of punches and elbows.
* Wolf Stance
* Step
* Flurry
FoB 1
wolf strike
FoB 2
wolf elbow
Nakapan opens with an easily blocked strike, but then he sees an opening and drives his elbow deep into a nerve bundle. He keeps his wits, but the damage is obvious, even if it's minor.
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Battlemap
Round 1:
Sadlark: Bard-fu
Dhougal : Magic
WTF?: ATK
Esme: Go
Crowley: Miss
Nakapan: Crit
Tully: Go
????: ???
Tully looks intently at this creature, trying to figure out what it is so that he might bring the correct magicks to bear...
<--primarily want to know defenses
This is an asura! These lawful fiends are physical manifestations of divine accidents. Asuras typically have darkvision, immunity to curses, and a weakness to good. This one is called a Nikaramsa, smart and evil. Once they find a likely victim or set of victims, they use their vast knowledge of religion to impart contradictory wisdom, leading to the eventual implosion of the faith from heresies of the clergy and congregation themselves.
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Battlemap
Round 1:
Sadlark: Bard-fu
Dhougal : Magic
WTF?: ATK
Esme: Go
Crowley: Miss
Nakapan: Crit
Tully: 2 Actions remaining
????: ???
ROUND 1, REMAINING ACTIONS
Tully shouts out An asura--a lawful manifestation of a divine accident!
He then calls upon his inner reserves and casts CAll of the Grave
<--well, that's lackluster, innit?
Esme reacts reflexively when Black Dhougal is attacked, swinging her blade
With the appearance of a demon, Esmereza fills with holy fervor. She gestures toward it, hold her holy symbol aloft. "Lady of Valor, bring down your wrath upon this vile interloper!"
She follows this prayer up with a swing of her sword.
"Fight me, Demon! Or pay the price!"
ROUND 1 THIS TIME WITH HERO POINT
Tully's spell is thwarted by his own aim. Esme takes a weak quick attack while protecting her shieldmate, followed by a spell . It withstands the worst of the spell, but the damage is clear. Her follow up swing connects with the flanked fiend.
Hollow, raspy, laughter erupts from the hall behind the investigators. A pair of undead appear from invisibility as they levitate down towards the field of battle.
for
GRAB
for
GRAB
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Battlemap
Sadlark: Go
Dhougal : Go
Asura: TBD
Esme : TBD
Crowley: TBD
Nakapan: TBD
Tully : TBD
Undead: TBD