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Drak gets the feeling that the spirit is speaking of the past when mentioning the bugbears. "I will take you to Revecka then."
As you enter the hallway you see a living quarters opposite the one they came from, a beautiful bedroom adorned with deep greens accentuated by a few golden decorations. The only surviving painting adorning the wall is made in typical Ustalavic style with dark colors and just a hint of light. A blood trail ends next to an open metal case containing medical gear near the bed.
They also see three creatures in the midst of looting the chamber.
A filthy amalgamations of human and bird, resembling feral humans with wings, talons, and mouths full of sharp teeth, they are harpies. Collectively they turn their attention to the surprise visitors. One of them, who had been riffling through what looks to be a medical box, says, "This treasure is ours. You can't have it. Go away now or you die."
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Aren't you the obnoxious little birds. Here's a little Song I'm sure you are not going to like.
◆ Stride forward
◇ Lingering Performance with a Performance check
◆◆ Start Dirge of Doom
↺ Just in case in comes up, Drak has Counter performance to use auditory effects. You can use my performance check or your check:
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Drak causes the harpy's wings to shake slightly as his dirge fills the room. Zabu violently rips inot one of the wings as his teeth tear out dozens of feathers.
One of the Harpys flits to the center of the room near Drak and begins a captivating song, though Drak quickly begins to counter the songs effects as his performance completely shuts the harpy down.
This enrages the Harpy claws out at Drak.
The second Harpy lets out a disorienting shriek which seems to bounce off the small walls.
Then the creature leaps up and claws at Zabu.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Drak
Zabu
Harpy F (Red)
Harpy F (Green)
➤ Durg
Harpy (Yellow)
Harpy (Pink)
Zhao Fen
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Durg raises the palm of her hand into the air as magical energy begins forming a concentrated ball of electricity that crackles and rumbles like impossibly distant thunder. "Back up a bit Zabu!"
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Drak
➤ Zabu
Harpy F (Red)
Harpy F (Green)
Durg
Harpy (Yellow)
Harpy (Pink)
➤ Zhao Fen
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◆ Cast Shield for AC 27
◆◆ Cast Phantom Pain from the Greater Mentalist's staff, heightened to Level 3, at Red, Will save DC 26
On a failed save, target is sickened 1 and takes 3d4 Persistent Mental damage
On a critical failure, they are sickened 2
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The Harpy looks sick and afraid as it takes some severe mental pain. Zabu's teeth and claws begin to pull the harpy down as it is bleeding and looks to be in pretty rough shape.
The harpy stops bleeding but still seems under great distress.
Zabu gets several claw marks as one of the harpy's talons digs into his forearm. Durgs spell completes as a ball of lightning explodes spreading through teh room to each of the Harpys.
The electricity causes the Harpys muscles to convulse as the two smaller harpys swoop past each other inot the hallway.
Once more it seems Zabu is unable to fully defend himself from the sharp and deadly talons.
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You gather magical energy into your palm, forming a concentrated ball of electricity that crackles and rumbles like impossibly distant thunder. Make a ranged spell attack roll against your target's AC. On a success, you deal 3d6 electricity damage. On a critical success, the target takes double damage and is dazzled for 1 round. The number of actions you spend when Casting this Spell determines the range and other parameters.
Two Rounds If you spend 3 actions Casting the Spell, you can avoid finishing the spell and spend another 3 actions on your next turn to empower the spell even further. If you do, after attacking the target, whether you hit or miss, the ball of lightning explodes, dealing 2d6 electricity damage to all other creatures in a 10-foot emanation around the target (basic Reflex save). Additionally, you spark with electricity for 1 minute, dealing 1 electricity damage to creatures that Grab you or that hit you with an unarmed Strike or a non-reach melee weapon.
for
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Fen sees the incorporeal form of her ancestor Zhao Li floating on the other side of the harpy, miming a katana strike. His long mustaches trailing in an unseen wind. She copies his form.
◆ Strike +1 Striking Ghost-Touch Katana (Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, Uncommon, Versatile P)
Then, unable to ignore Zabu's many wounds, she beseeches her ancestors to heal him. Zhao Li protests and she has to raise her voice to argue with him, appearing to everyone else as if she's talking to herself.
◆◆ Cast a Spell - Heal (5th level) (Healing Necromancy Positive)
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Seems a little tight here. Let me give you a little air
◆ Step
◆◆ Cast Telekinetic Projectile at Red
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Fen's strike falls flat as she turns to heal Zabu's wounds instead. They immediately close leaving behind a series of small scars. Drak tosses the contents of a small desk at the harpy and it misses. Zabu can't seem to get a tight hold on any of them, though he begins scrapping and clawing, ripping the wings off of the harpy and killing it.
The injured Harpy shrieks as it leaps onto Zabu clawing into him. "You killed her!"
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Drak
Zabu
Harpy F (Green)
➤ Durg
Harpy (Yellow)
Harpy (Pink)
Zhao Fen
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The harpy gets shoved back as Durg leans in low and pushes it away. Repositioning Durg punches the harpy in the back.
The harpies continue to claw at Zabu and Fen, drawing small wounds on both.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Drak
➤ Zabu
Harpy F (Green)
Durg
Harpy (Yellow)
Harpy (Pink)
➤ Zhao Fen
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Fen tries to keep the attention of the harpy attacking her [oo]yellow[/ooc], while the spirit of her portly ancestor Zhao Shuo looks on shaking his head.
"I told you this would end poorly for you..."
◆Demoralize (Auditory Concentrate Emotion Fear Mental)
Then taking advantage of her distraction, she brings her katana up to her shoulder as Zhao Shuo speaks the magic words through her, and fires a beam of icy moonlight.
◆◆ Cast a Spell - Ray of Frost (Attack Cantrip Cold Evocation)
Fen shrinks under the look of disapproval that her ancestor gives that only she can see as he lingers.
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Fen absolutely frightens the Harpy as her freezing blast of air nearly knocks it prone. This time the contents of the desk strike the Harpy, knocking it out as it lies bleeding on the floor.
Zabu shreds another harpy to pieces as he turns to the last remaining harpy. He leaps on the back of the bleeding and wounded harpy, killing it in an instant.
This beautiful bedroom is adorned with deep greens accentuated by a few golden decorations. The only surviving painting adorning the wall is made in typical Ustalavic style with dark colors and just a hint of light. A blood trail ends next to an open metal case containing medical gear near the bed.
The medical box contains two moderate healing potions, a set of major clockwork goggles, and a traveler’s any-tool. The box also contains a few letters thanking the Ardis Scholars for providing experimental cures, freeing a house from haunts, or creating medical devices.
"I, uh, did not expect there to be harpies," the spirit of Vilo says while wringing his hands. "They have always been something of a pest here. The protections around the windows would keep them away though. Seems they found a weak spot."
Vilo looks impatient while time ticks by. "If you're ready, I can take you to Revecka. She really needs your help."
The spirit of Vilo continues to lead you down the hallway. "Right this way, please," the spirit says, his voice continuing to be projected telepathically through the key.
He takes you down the hallway, stopping in front of a sturdy wooden door. "She's on the other side of the door."
Beyond is a study filled to the brim with notes and journals. The smell of ozone and the crackling of electricity arcs between Stasian coils. A large collection of books, most sporting elegant metal bookmarks, covers the desk. A single drawing showing a beautiful woman with differently colored eyes sits in a silver frame at the edge of the desk, her smile warm and filled with hope. A pallid woman stands at the desk, her movements slow and deliberate as she is jotting down a few notes.
You can tell that Revecka is showing all signs of a failing metabolism, from slow movements to barely perceptible breathing, resembling someone rapidly approaching death. She will pass away in about 2 hours without further assistance.
The pale woman looks up from her notes. The moment is slow, but her eyes display a clear wariness. "I'm going to need to be rude, and ask this: who are you, and what is your business here?"
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As the last harpy falls beneath his claws, Zabu clucks his tongue and lets his body shift back to its more normal form. "Shame," he comments, looking down at the bodies before turning his gaze to the rest of the room.
He approaches the remaining, unscarred picture and his fingers flex. He glances around at the rest of the group appraisingly and you can almost see the mental battle that he eventually wins which was urging him to ruin the last unruined thing.
None of the gear interests him so he's ready to move on when everyone else is.
"When are you going to be rude?" he asks the lady who needs a tan.
"I'm Zabu, these are my associates. We're Pathfinders. We came to stop people from having bad dreams and killing people. Who are you and what is your business here?"
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Yes, Revecka, it looks like you need to be rude because you don't have much time left before your metabolism fails and you die. It looks like you only have a couple of hours left, unless you get some help.
We have people who are seeing visions, so we are trying to figure out what is going on with the Ardis Scholars, a being that may be an alien and appears to be imprisoned, and why we ended up with this mysterious key?
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Revecka listens to the brief explanation from you. That, plus the presence of Vilos, helps her come to her own conclusion about the Pathfinders.
At your questions, she explains her situation. She lifts up the cloth of her shirt, showing a glowing blue sphere embedded in her chest, along with a red, uneven scar next to it. "Dr. Treju's latest prototype: a galvasphere that can replace a failing heart. Sadly, she didn’t have time to perfect the energy storage mechanism, meaning that it must rely on external power. I managed to survive thanks to the power from the laboratory, but that power has become too unstable to power something as delicate as a heart. Unless I can gather the reagents from Anaton’s laboratory on the first floor, I won’t survive much longer. With those I can make a battery that can last for a week or two, but in my condition, I can’t fight the creatures roaming around."
"If you return the reagents, I can safely remove the lockdown and let you into the laboratory. Afterward, I hope to find help in Ardis."
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Fen's jaw drops at the reveal of the artificial heart, and she's so shocked it takes her a moment to respond.
"We-" she looks around to make sure she's not dreaming "We've already collected some items from the laboratory, are these what you need?"
After she presents the items, she asks "I've never heard of anything like this, it could help so many people. Will you and Dr. Treju share this wondrous magic?"
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"Thank you," Revecka says, taking the components from Fen. She sets to the task of building a battery that will sustain her for a time. The process is brief, a sure sign of her skills. She then makes a few adjustments to the stasian coils in the chamber, and the hum of electric power changes.
While Revecka works on the artificial power source you each receive a strange vision and the sound of static.
The noise is brief, ending when a glowing image of a woman in her fifties appears ten feet away from Fen out in the hallway, She motions for you to join her away from Revecka.
"Hello. I am Lumna," the image says, though the sounds originate from within each of your minds, and not from the image itself. The image flickers for a moment, reappear with the woman's gaze focused on Fen. "I have watched you, and sense that you carry something from my home world. Do you wish to be a... friend?"
It says this last word in a way that suggests it's a foreign concept and still grappling with its meaning.
She breathes a sigh of relief. "Alright, I've redirected the power back to the laboratory itself. I'm sure you've got questions about this place. You mentioned a few things in your tale, so let me see if I can at least answer a few questions."
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Durg is visibly disturbed as the woman displays the very artificial mechanism in her chest. She steps back, putting her herbs away. Definitely not something she can help with.
"Lumna? Didn't you see something about a Lumna, Fen?"
Turning back to Revecka, she asks, frowning, "What is this place? Very unnatural."
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Revecka seems to not hear or see this image of static before you.
The image nods. "Yes, I will explain. I am Lumna, and I am from Hallas. It is one of the moons of Liavara the Dreamer, the seventh planet in our solar system. I arrived here by accident during one of my experiments, and was wounded and trapped in this place. By the Stasian coil technology, which I know now from Doctor Treju."
"In my weakened state I lashed out, hurting the good doctor. Despite my misdeeds, the scholars here were kind and understanding. I learned from Doctor Treju that they and the scholars wish to understand, to help."
"The scholars have since adjusted the Stasian coils, allowing me to communicate without causing anyone harm. And they have been working on a vessel that could safely hold me, preventing me from... dissipating. A thing I do not wish to happen."
The image flickers again briefly. "The key that you hold is from Liavara, but it did not come here with me. It is a relic from an older time, one that can amplify dreams as well as telepathic powers."
"I do know that the vessel is the scholar's laboratory, and the entrance to it is below this floor. But there is a password, which Revecka knows. I can still sense Revecka, but none of the other scholars. It's why I sent out my message. I need your help. If you can retrieve the vessel from the laboratory, perhaps it is ready for me. I am trapped here, and do not wish to stay so forever. I worry that it is not safe."
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and just because I want to judge both sides
Lumna, what would case you to dissipate? Is someone trying to hurt you?
Revecka, Lumna is asking us to retrieve a vessel from the area downstairs. Is there a reason not to do that?
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Revecka shakes her head. "I don't see anything. Lumna must be speaking directly to you. Maybe my condition was preventing Lumna from making contact. Their powers are stunted by electricity and electricity is the only thing keeping me alive. I know Lumna spoke to Vilo, asking him to convince me to turn off the electricity, but doing so will help neither of us. Routing the power off to the door will spell my doom and indirectly Lumna’s since no one would be able to open the passage to the underground laboratory."
The static continues to speak directly into your minds.
"I see you are confused. I am the 'alien' below, and the cage is what has ensnared me. But to ease communication I have taken the appearance of Doctor Treju. The doctor, like the other scholars outside of Revecka, are not here. I presume they have expired, which disappoints me. They were all very kind."
Lumna watches the Pathfinders study her, her expression unchanging. It's clear that, whatever they are, they do not have a perfect grasp of human emotion. The image of Lumna-as-Doctor Treju flashes briefly as static once more comes over them. "I sense you near Revecka. This is good. I think I see in you what I saw in Adelana: kindness. If I am right, please help me. Find me and free me. It is what Dr. Treju wanted. What they were working towards. Find me. I am in the laboratory."
The statis dissipates and disappears as the voice in you head ceases. Revecka breathes a sigh of relief as she finishes working on the battery. "You mentioned a few things in your tale, so let me see if I can at least answer a few questions."
"I've seen something similar to your key in my father’s notes. He described it as a communication device he first encountered on one of the moons of Liavara meant to carry telepathic signals. Each fragment can be attuned to speak to other fragments belonging to the same original crystal, a process he later replicated with his spirit-transcriber. I can walk you through the process or jot down a few notes to help you attune to the crystal later."
Revecka notices you looking arund at the destruction about the room and corroborates what you've already learned from Vilo. "Bugbear marauders came and attacked everyone here. No survivors were found, but also no bodies. It's possible that Anton and Adelana are still alive."
"As for Lumna, they were caught in an interplanetary jump and accidentally brought back here. Their powerful telepathy almost burned Dr. Treju’s brain. It was unintentional, just the act of a scared entity feeling their essence dissipate. Dr. Treju felt responsible for what we did, so she worked day and night to create a way to give Lumna the means to survive here. Her prototype in the laboratory stabilizes Lumna’s form via a Stasian coil, but I don’t think it has been tested yet."
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Under her breath, Fen repeats a part of her Paladin's code that comes to mind unbidden.
"I am the voice for those who go unheard"
She listens patiently, trying to understand the situation when confronted with so many concepts that are alien to her.
"Revecka, Lumna says she needs our help. That prototype she mentioned, we need to try it. Lumna said that there's a password, can you give it to us?"
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There's too much thinking and figuring out for Zabu's taste. He idly scratches his stomach and looks around the place while the others are working things out.
"Sooo...we're going to help the weird alien creature that can fry your brain just by thinking at you too hard?" he asks.
He hardly waits for an answer before shrugging. "All right."
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Listening to both sides of the story Drak determines that both sides seem to be telling the truth and quite sincere. Rivecka with her life hours to her death (Now weeks due to the new battery) and Lumna in her imprisonment seem to have little reason to lie.
Revecka speaks up. "Lumna's dissipation as you call it must have just been her losing the connection to your minds."
"This battery will help sustain me for a week or two. I'll need materials to build another, but I've got some time now at least."
When Fen asks about the passcode to the lab, she collects herself somewhat. "Getting into the lab required three things. The first was rerouting power to it, which I've just done. Then there's the override switch, which is in the room here and I can do for you. The last is that there's a password. It's 'Stormheart'. You want me to hit the override? I can-"
She stops, cocking her head. Moments later, you all hear what she's hearing: the sound of many voices outside the building. Revecka moves over to one of the windows, opening it to see what's out there.
A fearful mob has gathered outside the manor holding torches, pitchforks, cleavers, and anything else the frightened people of Ilev could use as a weapon. They are led by a man in his forties wearing a silver butterfly medallion with images of stars, suns, and moons made with a bright blue enamel. A man with a haunted face is close behind holding a sharp cleaver with a sinister glint in his eyes.
The Pathfinders recognize the haunted man outside as Kistur Radu, the farmer you met earlier that suffered from visions from Lumna as well.