Again, you are discussing and standing in a silent room that looks like it was not touched for ages.
Suddenly, Darzus, Abdi, Jussa and Malluma hear footsteps that are approaching fast.
You suddenly see an elven archer 5ft stepping out and looking at Malluma with a hateful smile.
He shoots an arrow but misses because he faces cover!
~
Then a human Ulfen with rage in his eyes moves forward from behind the elf and a female dwarf follows.
]
~
Initiative Round 1
Darzus
Abdi
Malluma
Jussa
Sabah
Kaliban
Male elven archer: Full HP
Male Human with greatclub: Full HP
Female Dwarf with shortsword: Full HP
Bold is up.
The brute shakes off most of the mental attack.
~
Initiative Round 1 - BUFFS: +1 to hit and damage
Darzus
Sabah
Kaliban
Abdi
Malluma
Jussa
Male elven archer: Full HP
Male Human with greatclub: -3
Female Dwarf with shortsword: Full HP
Bold is up.
The brute immediately sinks to the ground unconscious!!
The elf fires at Malluma but his arrow just hits the ground.
The dwarf touches her ally and then makes a movement which leads to a mirror image appearing.
"You will all die for your blasphemies!" the dwarf shouts.
~
Initiative Round 1 - BUFFS: +2 to hit and +1 to damage
Darzus
Sabah
Kaliban
Abdi
Malluma
Jussa
Male elven archer: Full HP
Male Human with greatclub: -17, prone, unconscious
Female Dwarf with shortsword: Full HP, 1 mirror image
Bold is up.
Who are you? We merely seek knowledge.
"Your death will erase the heresies that you spread!" she merely says.
The image still pops after the martial arts move.
|
Abdi glowers at these fools that dared to impede their missions as he strides forward with a determined look, raising his spear towards the roof of the cave and shouts. "Kneel before the might of your betters, chattel!" A wave of energy bursts forth from the tip of his spear, engulfing all their enemies, but his companions find themselves unaffected!
All three enemies are dazed!
~
Initiative Round 3 - BUFFS: +2 to hit and +1 to damage
Kaliban
Abdi
Darzus
Sabah
Malluma
Jussa
Male elven archer: -3, dazed
Male Human with greatclub: -20, prone, unconscious, dazed
Female Dwarf with shortsword: -3, 1 mirror image, dazed
~
Initiative Round 4
Kaliban
Abdi
Darzus
Sabah
Malluma
Jussa
Bold is up. All except of Abdi and Kaliban are up twice.
|
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Sabah proceeds behind the group, watching her team making quick work of the three. She maintains the songs as she goes.
As she stands behind the group she locks eyes with the elf, a bright flash emits from Sabahs eyes as she stares at the elf.
Target one living creature
Duration 1 round
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
You give the target a mental urge to kill its nearest ally, which it obeys to the best of its ability. The target attacks its nearest ally on its next turn with a melee weapon or natural weapon. If necessary, it moves to or charges to the nearest ally in order to make this attack. If it is unable to reach its closest ally on its next turn, the target uses its turn to get as close as possible to the ally.
The elf suddenly aims at the dwarf.
The dwarf is able to dodge the attack but then the bless effect catches the Nagaji and guides his arm to strike the dwarf. She is knocked out immediately.
~
Initiative Round 3 - BUFFS: +2 to hit and +1 to damage
Kaliban
Abdi
Sabah
Malluma
Jussa
Darzus
Male elven archer: -3, dazed
Male Human with greatclub: -20, prone, unconscious, dazed
Female Dwarf with shortsword: unconscious, -14
~
Initiative Round 4
Kaliban (acted)
Abdi
Darzus
Sabah
Malluma
Jussa
Bold is up.
|
Blasphemy...?
Darzus starts to think they've been confused for someone more specific that this crew is looking for. The confusion seems to disorient him a little amidst the battle, but he snaps back to the present and moves quickly.
He glides forward and joins thick of the battle, ending next to Sabah.
I just failed to invade their minds... so instead let us work with objects again.
He looks around on the floor for loose stones before flinging one forward with this mind.
He takes another step to the Southwest before repeating the same.
|
Oh. Just one left. Seeing a perfect opening, Jussa slips away from the two unconscious troublemakers and gets right in the face--er, kneecaps--of the elven archer. She flicks a glance at Kaliban and makes a face as if to say "Ooo, that's gonna hurt" right before thrusting her rapier upward toward the elf's torso, though she makes an effort to avoid any vital organs.
As she twists the blade free, she meet's the elf's eyes with a steely gaze. "Surrender's a great option."
Darsuz projectile hits the elf in the face and Jussa can really hit a vital organ.
The elf drops to the ground.
After examining the fallen you notice that they are all still alive but will surely die if they are not stabilized.
During the examination you find two symbols that all of the attackers were carrying with them.
The first symbol is the holy symbol of Norgorber. He is the only evil god amongst the Ascended. He is known as a Taldan deity of thievery and assassination, as well as a keeper of secrets. He is called the 'Reaper of Reputation' by some, but has more insidious titles among his other worshipers. He remains an enigma to most, and his true motives are unknown. Many of his own followers remain ignorant of his plans and designs.
The symbol belongs to an organization called the Harbingers, which was founded around the Book of One Thousand Whispers and that are dedicated to bringing about the promised Age of Glory by making the prophecies from the ancient Book of 1,000 Whispers come true.
The Book of 1,000 Whispers is a book of prophecy used as a guidebook by the Harbingers of Fate in Absalom. This book predicts events happening between the years of 4604 AR and 4714 AR. Unfortunately for the Harbingers, many of the remaining prophecies make no sense.
Additionally, the dwarf had a written note that unfortunately is written in a strange code.
The note details that the Harbingers want to attempt to make the recorded prophecies within The Book of 1,000 Whispers come true so as to set the world right after the death of the god Aroden. The group has come to the Shrine of the Failed in search of unattended items that fulfill more of the book’s strange conditions, but they have heard of the investigation of the Pathfinders and as their mission is in direct violation of the Harbingers’ mission they are to attack the Pathfindes and try to kill them to ensure the Pathfinders don’t interfere with the foretold omens.
|
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Darzus looks down at the expiring bodies and asks the group Do we want to question them? I could butter one of them up before we stabilize and awaken them if so.
He gravitates towards the elf in this idea for obvious reasons.
You save your attackers' lives and through Darzus you learn from the elf that they were Harbingers that wanted to kill you because some of the Harbinders' crude prophecies could have been invalidated by Eylysia’s cache. He unfortunately does not have more to contribute.
~
After surviving the ambush, you are able to leave the Shrine of the Failed after some explanations to the city guard who take the three Harbingers into custody.
The crowd gathered around the Starstone Cathedral has disbanded, and many of the locals are still horrified following Sir Reinhart’s attempt to vault the chasm on horseback, which ended with a fall into oblivion.
You deliver Eylysia’s cache to the Grand Lodge. Drandle Dreng personally thanks you for your successful investigation, indicating his interest in your future careers as Pathfinders.
He speaks with each one of you and should you not have completed your confirmation, the venture-captain promises to speak with Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine to have the process expedited.
Dreng promises that those who have already completed their Confirmation will receive further assignments soon.
In the next weeks you receive a lot of attention as the news about your discovery spreads!
Several Venture-Captains from near and far send you their regards.
* * *
The Wounded Wisp staff is still flabbergasted about your discovery and has received some funding from the society with which they intend to repair the disgrace in their cellar.
You now also enjoy Heryn's gratitude which means that the first drink is always on the house! You can take cooking lessons in the Wisp whenever you want.
And of course you can be sure that several agents in the Wounded Wisp will never forget you and the events of that night.
|
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Jussa is in total agreement with Kaliban about how to treat their attackers. She assists with stabilizing them as best she can and binding them and does an admirable job explaining things to the city guard, and then to VC Dreng, emphasizing the efforts of everyone on the team while barely giving herself a mention.
The attention she receives after all this feels...like it should belong to the others, but not to her. Whenever someone recognizes her, she ducks her head and tries to slip away from the scrutiny.
Feeling a bit of a bond with Heryn (she knows that running a business is hard and money's often tight), Jussa offers her help in designing the renovations for the cellar. She has a few ideas for how to close off the cracks from which the bats came, based on the security measures she helped her dad install in a mansion's subbasement once.
And of course, she takes full advantage of the cooking lessons, because good food can't be beat! Once she's had some good practice, she invites any of her teammates who are still in town to join her for a hearty, home-cooked meal as a way to thank them for letting her tag along on their adventure.
--------
After about a month you receive a summons to gather in the Grand Lodge as Dreng wants to give you a thorough debrief on this mission.
When you arrive in the meeting room you are all together again but Dreng is not there, yet.
* * *
A little female gnome comes in again and says with a sigh "So sorry, but Dreng is not able to join you again! But Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin will be here shortly! You guys have become popular?! Hee?" she says with a little bit of jealousy in her voice.
She leaves again slamming the door.
little female gnome comes in again and says with a sigh "So sorry, but Dreng is not able to join you again! But Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin will be here shortly! You guys have become popular?! Hee?" she says with a little bit of jealousy in her voice.
She leaves again slamming the door.
|
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Abdi has seated with everyone again, this time looking more resplendent outside his adventuring attire. "I must say, having someone so unreliable as a Venture-Captain feels very strange to me. I hope the others, this Venture-Captain Valsin, are more so reliable. How fare you all after our adventure?"