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-Now have 3rd Level Spells, which is great. Picked up Haste and Stinking Cloud -Picked up the Great Renown Social Talent -Mystic Bolts can now deal acid damage instead of electricity, but that likely won't come up very often. -Got Rapid Shot for my 7th level feat, so more bolts are on the way Also some simple improvements to BAB and health.
I have a Computer Science project due on Sunday, so that level up might be a bit delayed from me.
"Excellent work, Gray. Though I suspect there will be more for us to face than the trials of a lock."
"I'll take any part being wrong over nothing. And if it can't be done intentionally, we can be sure any mishap in our memory wouldn't be done in order to trick us." Still, it was troubling. Even if he got his memories back, Antonio realizes, he'd have to second-guess them for the rest of his life.
Antonio sighs. "Wonderful. So there's an army with no executive force presiding over it going after these contracts?"
Antonio stays quiet. While he has doubts in other areas about Grey, the man seemed an expert in extracting information more... strongly.
Antonio nods. "Let's try to find out what else he might be hiding from us."
Seeing Ziera enter, Antonio smiles. "Looks as if we are ready to begin." "I looked into Alana, to see exactly how completing the deal with Drem will work. Her mansion is practically a fort, mixed with a border during wartime. Anyone entering the premise is checked for magic or weapons, and illusionary disguises are checked for. I believe there is also a measure of passwords to enter the grounds as well. I would like to circumvent the security, but Alana rarely leaves. It looks like the job is going to require quite a bit of effort, information, and luck." "Any better news?"
Antonio takes careful note of the information he gathered before going to the previously mentioned Adjective Noun inn to meet the others.
Antonio nods to Grey before he leaves. "I'll be investigating Alana. Anything that can make our task easier." Moving through the streets of the city, Antonio inquires for rumors of any defenses Alana has, or any physical or mental weaknesses she possesses.
Antonio nods to Gilfdore's last statements. "Indeed. I didn't expect such a shock from the animagi's death, but we should be prepared to face it next time." "The cell method should work well. Ziera, we shall work as you need us."
Antonio grins. "I doubt it will be that easy, Gray, but you have a point that we currently know where it is. Perhaps we should move to acquire it before news of a contract being stolen is spread." "While we prepare for such a juncture, I can take the time to ask around town on Alana. Perhaps someone knows more about her then we do."
Antonio nods. "We should communicate with the main group first. They may be able to help on getting information on Alana. We can work on the plan to deal with her from there."
As the memory washes over Antonio, he looks confused. "I - I wasn't in that memory. But thats..." He looks over to the spellbook. "The animagi... it seemed to be quite the collector of books, wasn't it. Perhaps these aren't our memories, only Edmund's. The animagi, possessing Edmund's memories, adopted his mannerisms as well." Antonio sighs. "Looks like we have more animagi to find them before we reach my own."
"When I first joined this group, my only enemy was Thrune. They were the my goal, the ones who had taken away the only person I truly knew. But I can say, after this time since we have awakened, that opinion have changed. It is noy Thrune, but all the Houses. They are nothing but a pack of ravenous lions, preying as much om another as the prey around them. If we destroyed Thrune alone, some other House would simply take over what they left." Antonio's eyes flash with excitement, realization. "They all need to go. Only then, can the unjust rule of Thrune truly end." Antonio lets his vigor fade, shrugging. "But that is merely my opinion, and don't believe it popular. Hell, it is foolhardy, to try to overthrow them all. But it drives my decision. I think we use it as a bargaining chip aganist Leorung, in the goal of finding more contracts. The reality is that we are weak, and having their help would be a real boon. I can say the same of Drem as well, his indvidualistic desires make him simple to manipulate."
"Indeed, Edmund. But also consider the protections put in place we had to hurdle through. Clearly, Leroung didn't want to lose the scroll, and I believe that is enough to ensure its value." "More importantly, in my mind, is how Leroung will be treated by the other Houses. After all, if they cannot keep a simple piece of paper safe, how can they be expected to handle anything of importance?"
The Azure Avenger takes the time to change back to the humble Antonio before meeting back at the inn. "I am in the end of not destroying it." Antonio answers. "And it is not simply because it would be difficult. Destroying this contract alone would simply cause a weakening in the Houses. But if we were able to acquire the other contracts and destroy them together..." Antonio smiles at this prospect. "All partnership between the Houses ceumbles in an instant. It would make our job much, much simpler." "But with that long term in mind, I am much more worried about our relationship with Drem. He may have more to offer us, but in return we have to play as his little assassins. Is it worth the risk?"
Antonio smiles. "Well, you got hit in the face by Earth Elementals a few times, but fortunately we were able to put them down. Er, 'we' being excluding me." He could explain to the others later. If Vince knew his secret, it would probably be known to everyone by the next morning.
"We need to think about what we do next. All of us are sporting a few injuries, and despite Ziera's help we certainly won't be able to heal them all. I'd rather not leave - there's no telling how this place could change if we come back. Rest wouldn't be my favorite option, but it's the best we have."
Antonio quickly kneels down next to Vince. "Vince, are you alright?"
"Sorry, Payk!" Antonio shouts. But the accident does not deter his next volley on EE3.
Antonio takes a step back for firing another volley at EE2.
Stepping Back, Antonio continues to fire, taking advantage of his arcane powers once more to inflict harsher blows. Bolts echo to hit EE2.
Antonio steps back. The situation was dire now - not the simple fights that had gotten them this far. I suppose, in my lost memory, something like this occurred as well. Bah, knowing half of this group, it likely happened multiple times. Still, eventually, I would have to come clean. Antonio thinks. Extending his finger in a shape akin to a pistol, Antonio commands his arcane potential to burst . Electricity crackles around his hand, before accumulating at the nail, and subsequently firing off two shots at the earth elemental in front of Vince .
Antonio continues to defend Vince, cursing. "Vince, be careful! Move back if you need to!"
Antonio shifts around the corner, moving to EE5. Hoping to deter the elemental from attacking Vince, Antonio gets in the way of each of its blows.
Antonio moves behind Gray, amused with the inquisitor's eagerness.
I'm going to bet on traps. Definitely traps." Antonio notes. "Or something invisible. Gray, could you sweep the room?"
"Whew. Still, we can never be too careful. On to the next, then?" Antonio asks. "That's a fine idea, Edmund. Of course, we'll have to rely on if the fakes we've been picking up are even similar to the real thing - they could be very different."
Antonio steps up to the salamander, moving to interfere with it's attacks against Gray.
Antonio runs into the room, placing himself next to Ziera. "Are you alright?"
"Excellent. We should find the real one soon enough then. Shall we head to the next room?"
The last thing Antonio wanted was an Earth Elemental following them. "Vince, let's bring this thing down."
Antonio moves to distract the elemental, hoping to draw it's attention to give Vince an opening.
Antonio moves with uncharacteristic grace, diving past the elemental (EE2).
While no combatant, he moves to assist Vince in taking down the earth elemental.
Antonio dashes down the hallway into the room, standing behind Ziera.
"It is strange we haven't seen any animagi... whatever they look like. If this is the real contract, where would the animagi be?" Antonio muses. "And what would be the point of all the other doors?"
Antonio moves the image closer to the Hell Hounds, hoping to draw their attention away from Vince.
"Come on, Edmund. It would be a shame to lose your life just after we got here." Antonio manages to heave the elderly man back onto the bridge. "So... does anyone have any idea which door leads back the way we came? I'd hate to get so lost."
Antonio takes the back of the crew, taking glances behind him from time to time.
"Maybe, but what would be the point? Just to lead us on this one path first?"
As Antonio enters, he notes the feel of the place. "Hm. A bit dark, but I suppose they don't expect many people to come through here." He notes his belongings, making sure they're all still there since walking through the portal. As he spots his mask, he turns to the group. "I don't suppose I could stay behind you all? I don't know much of combat, but you still need me to open the portal."
I'm kind of inclined to bring Vince - because of his contract, he may be forced to come along anyway. While he's not as sneaky as Payk, he'll be helpful in combat.
"Somehow that doesn't inject a good amount of confidence." murmurs Antonio.
Well, while we cannot destroy them, we may still be able to take them. It'll likely be more dangerous, with scrying magic and such targeting us, but it will have around the same effect: since the Houses cannot know whether the contracts are safe or not, it will be just as chaotic. Of course, the better solution would to be just to destroy them. While we can't do that, we might be able to find someone who can. I can get Greater Dispel Magic at 16th level, and Edmund can get it at 12th. Regardless, its going to be a while before any of us can cast it.
It occurs to me I never gave Tarken back his weapon... but I suppose with the suspicion cast on him, maybe I should keep it a while longer?
Antonio mulls over the room, wary of the confusion and aggression that echo about. Ziera is right. Each of us have our own opinions: I have to shuffle through them and find an agreeable solution. "Torturing Drem... could be a bad idea. I don't approach that from a moral perspective, but a tactical one. While he may not be the face of it, he still belongs to Leroung. No sense in making more enemies than we have, and remove the chance of turning the houses against one another. And I highly doubt he will hold back much about Alana anyway - if he truly wants us to kill her, there would be no point. " Antonio sighs. "But trusting Drem is not much better. He strikes me as someone with quite a bit of pride, enough he would readily drop anyone for his own benefit. But -" Antonio holds up his finger. "- He is clever, and confident in that trait. He will try to play us further, most likely. He will act as the snake charmer, his strange tunes enchanting us. Or so he believes. For this snake will bite its master." Antonio finishes, smiling. "Our relationship with Drem is that of a partnership. If he attempts to betray us, we will return it to him twofold. This is a gamble - one we will have to take. Without this chance, we may never find out the true nature of the contracts and the animagi." |
