I'd like some easy opposition please.
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Dinner Party before the big hubbub.:
Damoc strokes his chin thoughtfully while he listens carefully. "Perhaps you're right and I am too timid. A bit more confidence is all I need. I shall essay the task tomorrow by myself. I certainly wouldn't trouble the Academae. " After the assassination news, Damoc is worried. "This news may cause more rioting. I must see to my family's safety first. I will meet you here in the morning to hear what you have learned." This may trigger a crackdown of Thrunish severity. At least one of us should stay free if Ileosa scoops them up. Though I'm not sure how I would get them out if it came to that. He hurriedly drains his glass and gathers his cloak to return home.
Damoc pushes himself out of the corner where he has been quietly drinking a little more wine than usual and a drop of wine clings his normally fastidious beard. It catches the light and helps call attention to the thin lines of grey among the black hairs. Tonight he's dressed in a navy blue robe . "I've finished the easier pieces that you've all requested." There's barely a pause as he remembers Jaessa's contributions, and the long days spent with her working over steel in the hot close confines of the room behind the forge. "Jaessa's been more than helpful. I certainly couldn't have finished Varrel's armor, nor her own quite remarkable starknife without her help. But even with her help, or the others, I am not at all sure that I can accomplish what you want with 'Dauntless Heart'. In fact I find myself quite daunted by the task." "I was hesitant to ask, but, Graxer, you're my last hope to do this without bringing in outsiders. What the blade needs is an infusion of the ability to focus divine energy in an attack."
The weeks pass quickly for Damoc Oberigo. He spends his days in his small back room at the forge of Famio Delorossa working on the commisions of his friends. Damoc finds great satisfaction in infusing magic into the weapons and armor through emulating the smith's techniques, but with a much lighter hand. His friend Famio is eager to return to other, more lucrative contracts, but, even with the deep discount Damoc offers his friends, this flow of work and cash is sufficient for Famio to clear a small profit and add another apprentice to the staff. The weaponsmith doesn't wish to lose his enchanter, and Damoc doesn't want to lose his workspace, so the two agree to churn these pieces out as quickly as possible, then to produce some high-paying work for the forge. Damoc rises early, works steadily and leaves drained, but gratified each day. One night walking home he wonders, If I had been born to a common family would I have ever learned to do this? Or would have learned it sooner? It feels like I was born for this. But would it have happened? I would have had to work. I wouldn't have to sneak here to avoid disgracing my family. But would I have been able to study magic at all? Contributing to his satisfaction is the knowledge that these weapons will be put to good use. They will help people. He has never been personally happier in his life. Thirty-five years to find a use for myself. Nethys smiles and Cayden's balm is a reward now, not a refuge.
Learning Spells in the downtime. From Vreeg's Spellbook: 2nd DC17: - darkness(Ev),
From Rolth's spellbook contains: 4th: dimension door (C),
1st DC 16:
From Varrel: 1st DC 16: True Strike(D),
2nd DC 17: Blur(I),
3rd DC 18: Aqueous Orb,
During the weeks after the adventure at the Hospice, Damoc works in the forge with his friend by day. Nights find him studying at his parent's house with Varrel and the new recruit Ebon Wings. He hosts one small dinner party for the Justicars on a night when his parents and older brother are out for another occasion. The wine is excellent ("the servants love me and always lay out our best when I ask") and there is a short keg of Janderhoff Stout for Graxer. As the plague begins to wind down, he ventures out once or twice with Varrel and Graxer. Damoc is a cheerful drinker, and the first glass is always raised to Cayden Cailean, but his consumption is modest.
Are you certain you are not in danger with Arkminos? If certain, I will head to Shakhan's Tavern in the docks to find another cleric. Graxer would like to have a few drinks I believe. Hopefully I can find someone suitable before the meeting. Damoc, would you like to go over those spellbooks tonight with me? We may find something useful in there. "I would like that very much Varrel. The library at my father's house is very comfortable and well suited to study."
Damoc, who has remained seated and silent after accepting the offered wine, finally speaks up. "If I may, do we know the Queen's religious proclivities? She wore Azmodeus' pentangle as an ingénue in Westcrown, but so did every young ambitious nobleman's daughter. I think we must face the possibility that Ileosa is in actuality a devoted Urgathoan. This entire plot may have been calculated to drive the city into worship of the Pallid Princess to forestall more sickness. Her actions here are otherwise total madness." "The Urgathoans at the Pantheon may be a good starting place. If the Queen is behind them they will remain confident. If they are fearful, perhaps they do not enjoy royal support."
"Thank you, Varrel. I bow to your experience and will accept it gratefully." "I don't think so cousin Damoc. The Queen will want to distance herself as FAR as possible from this! And I know Field Marshal Kroft won't enforce any attempt to take it from us. She knows the Queen is as guilty as we do." "A portion of found riches has been the right of the crown in many lands and times. But far be it from me to dissuade you, if you wish to defy common law."
While waiting for Graxer and Ashe to dismember the statue, Damoc sits in a chair in the first guardroom and examines the slimy man's spellbook. When the party is ready to leave, he snaps the book shut and quickly follows them to the lift, leaving the Physician's Mask with the other confiscated items. He does replace the heavy kerchief that he had worn over his nose and mouth before in the main ward. Rising in the lift he observes, "We won't be able to keep that much gold a secret. The crown will surely want a cut."
7th level (6th wizard) hit point roll :
Damoc helps out as needed. He's interested in the glass daemon holding tubes and would like to help Ashe sussing them out in the long term. Also interested in deciphering Slimy's spellbook. SHort term, cast detect magic, spellcraft and perception checks as needed:
Damoc's hand slides into his bag, searching for a scroll, his other hand dips toward his component pouch.
Damoc watches as Graxer and Ashe cut into the rising monstrosity and as Varrel finishes it off. It only takes a second after the monster lies still for him to realize what the sound of crashing glass signifies. He dashes down the hall to confront the latest threat to Korvosa. Crossing the threshold into the room of leukodaemons, he checks that the glass holding the last one is indeed broken before conjuring his own attack.
Reflex Save DC 18 for half Beating Spell resistance
Damoc is nearing the end of his spell when he hears the crackling and smells the sickeningly fresh fluids bursting from Andaisin's body. He turns to see her rise in the air. Ashe was right. We should have dragged her out of here and then killed he. Initiative:
Did Damoc finish the see invisibility? The group's haste had a six round duration, cast before we entered Andaisin's chamber. Is it still up? Damoc had cast shield before entering the leukodaemon room, duration 10 rounds. Is it still up? Damoc cast protection from evil in the last round of combat against Andaisin, duration 6 minutes. Is this still up?
Damoc drags himself to a kneeling position, then, after placing his hand on his knee he pushes himself upright. "I suspect you are right, Ashe. Malevolent does not even begin to describe what I felt after her death." Damoc looks around quickly. "The next threat may be magical in nature. If one of you would search for auras, I will try to see the unseen." The mage casts a pinch of talc and silver powder into the air and begins casting see invisibility.
Damoc strains to raise himself, but some malign inertia prevents him from raising himself. I can still think, and I can move somewhat. Perhaps ... The mage begins the movements and speech to conjure a ward protecting him from evil.
Initiative" Will Save
Even with the Physician's Mask, Damoc's head swims from the fumes of the seven humors. A veritable bit of hell transposed to our world. As the party surges forward he feels confident of victory, but Andaisin's prayer saps his will. Hating himself for his weakness, he darts forward and throws himself prone at the blackclad woman's feet.
If Damoc can get a moment alone with Deriven before the final push: "My friend, I hope it was an excess of zeal and not your true feelings that condemn my kinsman Ashe. I can assure you that he has been a beacon to Korvosa in this diseased night, and that many more malefactors would remain at large without his efforts. "Consider that he has accomplished more in half my years with faith and a sword than I with all my knowledge; that young man has power. I shudder to think what might happen if he plunged along blindly as I did when I was young. I tell you that it is Iomedae's blessing that Ashe questions and debates. It is no dereliction of his duty."
Damoc sheds the Physician's Mask to speak. The wrinkles in his brow deepen beneath his grey sprinkled hair. "Ashe, we are going to face a high priestess of Urgathoa in her inner sanctum. If you want to strike her with the flat of your blade that is your perogative. But I think this undertaking dangerous enough without half measures. "Your devotion to law is admirable, but I think you are letting it obscure the good that Korvosa needs. Remove this priestess in the fastest, most efficacious manner, and let things fall out as they may. "I stand ready to bolster any of you should you wish before we go on." :
First Level:
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Third Level :
When everything is ready he'll put the mask back on. He's still afraid of Blood Veil.
Init Damoc follows the others into the room. He assumes the two priests are dead men and takes his cue from Varrel. He casts detect magic and begins scanning the room for threats. Perception (aid another?)
Outside the door Damoc pauses to consider his choices for an encounter with a high priestess of Urgathoa. Remembering Arkminos' description, he reasons that Andaisin herself is probably not directly behind this door, the deamons and their keepers are what he should fear. He casts shield from a scroll and is considering a second spell when Ashe pushes open the door. He follows the others in, watching to see how Graxer's and Ashe's atacks fair and looking for other foes in the room while a hand digs in his handy haversack for a scroll.
"A wizard fascinated by what a swordsman can accomplish?" Deriven pats Damoc on the shoulder, "You cannot fight wars without men who can wield arms. That any good general knows. Yet no matter how great a man is with a weapon, he will not match what you can do with a spell. You will be more feared if you can master the arcane arts. There is little in the world more fearsome to an opponent than a skilled sorcerer. They can do much good in the world...," he surveys the zombies, "...and evil." Damoc colors slightly. He considers mentioning his fondness for romances, but that might be too revealing. Instead he replies, " When I was a boy, I wanted nothing more than to be a great champion leading a band of warriors. I dreamed my sword would be the terror of cruelty and oppression everywhere." His hand waves at his first strands of greying hair concealed by the doctor's mask. "I was never able to realize that ambition. My talents lay more in magic, but I am still fascinated by the fighting man. He can inspire people in a way that divines or arcanists can not. People can empathize with a warrior. Men will follow him where they would not follow a spellcaster." *** In the new room, Damoc obliges Ashe by casting detect magic.
Know(planes)
Listening from outside,
The magus leans in to Damoc, You wish to learn to fight. Watch fighters. As Damoc's eyes lock on the pair as they dissect the zombies, he agrees. "You are right, of course. And these two are outstanding examples. The gladiators of Westcrown couldn't match them."
Out in the brewing hall, Damoc listens to ther conversation. How easily he straddles the divide between Cheliaxians and the lower classes. Ashe could certainly be a force to be reckoned with if he ever turned his hand to politics. After shaking his head to clear it, Damoc considers his options for keeping tabs on Ramoska while they explore the remainder of the temple.
Damoc frowns, but nods his head curtly. Then he steps outside. They say you never win bargains with devils. I hope we prove that wrong.
"And he must not create any vampires in Korvosa. That must be a condition also."
"Sweet gods of good! A vampire must feed and by feeding he breeds more of his ilk. If let him live we condemn uncounted others to his fate. There's more at stake here than the plague."
Vampire? Second only to lich as the most foul and dangerous of undead. To challenge him could result in worse than death. Still, how can Ashe and Deriven treat with this creature? A memory rises unbidden of the Acadamae's aptitude testing for necromancy. The lipless grin, empty eyesockets burning with hate, the bony skeletal hand reaching for him while fear and sickness washed over him and the spells of command, protection, or damage fled his mind. The mage shakes himself back to the present. I am not well prepared for this threat. Not wanting to disturb the delicate balance in the room by casting, but determined to have something ready in case the seemingly inevitable fight begins, Damoc reaches into his pack for a scroll of protection from evil .
From the rear of the pack Damoc stares at this Ramoska Arkminos. Magic resistant, intelligent .... The teeth -- some kind of wererat? He racks his brain trying to figure out what Arkminos is. Knowledge check Please choose the appropriate modifier from below.
"Very well. On to the next room then?"
Damoc readily agrees to cast [i Prestidigation [/i]. He accepts the additional potion from Ashe. "Deriven, your sentiment is noble, but I believe it still makes sense for you to accept at least one vial in order to spread the resources. You may find yourself in a situation where someone needs healing, but you have insufficient time to cast a spell."
Still watching the trapped priests, Damoc sidles down the catwalk. He watches as Graxer charges toward them, full of menace; as Ashe begins his now habitual call for surrender; and as Varrel puts one to sleep in the most practical manner. For the first time, Damoc feels like he may have been useful. Half the enemies immobilized! These three were not able to help their comrades, nor were they able to summon more aid or flee. He almost begins to smile, but quickly composes his face. It would not be seemly to gloat over vanquished foes.
Damoc continues his slow approach with the scroll of fireball ready.
Damoc readies his scroll of fireball as he watches the three webbed clerics.
"I've got the far ones." Damoc eschews his scrolls and shifting the scrolls to one hand and arm, prepares to cast web to blanket the eastern doors.
Web, Reflex Save DC 18: School conjuration (creation); Level sorcerer/wizard 2 Casting Time 1 standard action Components V, S, M (spider web) Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Effect webs in a 20-ft.-radius spread Duration 10 min./level (D) Saving Throw Reflex negates; see text; Spell Resistance no Web creates a many-layered mass of strong, sticky strands. These strands trap those caught in them. The strands are similar to spiderwebs but far larger and tougher. These masses must be anchored to two or more solid and diametrically opposed points or else the web collapses upon itself and disappears. Creatures caught within a web become grappled by the sticky fibers. Attacking a creature in a web doesn't cause you to become grappled. Anyone in the effect's area when the spell is cast must make a Reflex save. If this save succeeds, the creature is inside the web but is otherwise unaffected. If the save fails, the creature gains the grappled condition, but can break free by making a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check as a standard action against the DC of this spell. The entire area of the web is considered difficult terrain. Anyone moving through the webs must make a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check as part of their move action, with a DC equal to the spell's DC. Creatures that fail lose their movement and become grappled in the first square of webbing that they enter. If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover. The strands of a web spell are flammable. A flaming weapon can slash them away as easily as a hand brushes away cobwebs. Any fire can set the webs alight and burn away one 5-foot square in 1 round. All creatures within flaming webs take 2d4 points of fire damage from the flames. Web can be made permanent with a permanency spell. A permanent web that is damaged (but not destroyed) regrows in 10 minutes.
No innocents here. I wonder if the fumes are explosive?
Damoc stands ready with four scrolls in hand. Scrolls in hand: Magic missile, fireball, sleet storm , web
Ahh. Incorporeal undead! I hadn't thought of that, but Deriven is right. Should the Urgathoans send some circling to take us from behind they would reek terrible havoc among these poor folk. Faced with this argument Damoc agrees to Deriven's plan. He goes to wait with Graxer and examines the double doors.
Damoc detects magic on the doors.
Varrel and Ashe: "And perhaps as importantly, if we send them up the lift, we lose control of the key to the lift."
Damoc says quietly to Ashe, "We should make sure that all the keys come with us." Otherwise he is in agreement with Graxer. The party should keep moving. Let the Varisians arm and armour themselves .
Damoc looks past the others at the rows of cells. "This is convenient."
Damoc takes the items and ponders the spellbook. It could be trapped. My own is warded. An evil man could place a very nasty surprise indeed for anyone who pried into his secrets. But examining it might provide intelligence of any magical traps he has placed here. He reaches to stroke his beard, but is foiled by the Physician's mask. This is not his place. The priests hold sway. I think it unlikely they would want him to place traps, at least in areas they inhabit or use.
Discomfited by inadvertently revealing his trepidation, Damoc briefly considers hotly denying it, but Ashe's sincerity and good intention are so clear that such a response would be churlish indeed. "I thank you for your words, cousin. I will confess that I am -- uncomfortable in the presence of this scourge. The brave example of all our party are a revelation and inspiration to me." Logic, revelation and inspiration aside, Damoc still can not bring himself to approach the beds and his eyes are drawn back again and again to the bloodstain on the wall. He tries to force his face into the unflappable demeanor expected of the CHeliaxian gentleman.
When Graxer laughs, Damoc looks over at the dwarf and elf comfortably jesting in dwarven. So relaxed. So at ease. Not a trace of fear. These are true heroes. I, meanwhile, can barely stand in this room surrounded by Bloodveil. I want to run screaming back to the elevator. No wonder I just don't fit with them. Nethys and Cayden see me through this please. I won't leave the safety of my home and Famio's forge again.
I hope everything's OK. Werepox, thanks for the heads up on the attack roll. I'll fix his sheet right now so that I don't forget again.
Init: Reasoning that his invisibility is likely to end soon, Damoc decides to attack. The patients make using an area spell unpalatable. Magic missile is not strong enough. They might harm a patient. He rushes in with his rapier. Rapier .... damage Bane: A bane weapon excels against certain foes. Against a designated foe, the weapon's enhancement bonus is +2 better than its actual bonus. It also deals an extra 2d6 points of damage against the foe. To randomly determine a weapon's designated foe, roll on the following table. Invisible: Invisible creatures are visually undetectable. An invisible creature gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls against sighted opponents, and ignores its opponents' Dexterity bonuses to AC (if any). See Invisibility, under Special Abilities.
"I have many scrolls for spells which may help you, but none which directly harm a foe. You may take any of them. "
Damoc watches the others clean up the battlefield in their own way. He suppresses a grimace at Varrel's brutal, but very effective, method and listens carefully to Deriven's reply. None of the romances really cover this messy question of prisoners. The hero's opponents all die cleanly. The mage will also take one of the cure potions. Damoc does not have long left of his Invisibility. We best hurry on. "True. Should I scout ahead while it remains in effect?"
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