While the thug decides whether or not he wants to surrender, Dienaar walks over to Julian: CLW:1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10.
I have no idea if Julian's current HP counter has taken into account the two Life Link healings that he has received. If it does NOT, then he's fully healed. If it DOES, then he gets another 5 from Life Link. I kinda need to know so I can adjust MY hit points appropriately. Thank you.
Since thuggie is retreating, are we out of combat? If so, Dienaar will say: "Please surrender."Diplomacy:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21(Ugh!)
If he surrenders:
"Great! Could you please tell us about the rest of the place? I see that Drollis had a magic trap hidden in this table. Are there any other shenanigans around here?"
If he does not surrender:
Dienaar will simply let the rest of the party do their thing.
Thug red drops his weapon and makes a full withdraw.
Withdraws to where?
- Non Action: Life Link heals Julian for 5 HP.
- Move Action: Open door
- Free Action: Looking at Red Thug: "Is that it?" The oracle shakes his head with disappointment. "And you guys call yourselves Lissalans."
- Standard Action: Wand of CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
- Non Action: 5-foot-step
- Non Action: Dienaar's Life Link kicks in. Julian heals 5 HP and the Oracle takes 5 HP.
- Free Action: "YESSSSSS!" the oracle says rapturously as new wounds appear, seemingly out of nowhere, all over his body. "More. I need more. Please. Do it again." he sighs.
- Move Action: Draw wand of Cure Light Wounds
- Standard Action: (CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2) Some of the fresh cuts in Dienaar's flesh partially close.
I know that Mari's job has been very busy lately. But, just for fun, while we're waiting for thugs red and yellow to act...
- Free Action: (Speaking through the door.)"Drollis! I remember your name now! You're on a list of people that the ladies at the Blushing Rose won't work with. I think the poster said something about a 'raging case of Red Ache' on your junk? Dude, it's gotta be bad when even they won't touch you! Yikes! Hey, maybe you can find some comfort with the Augurs? I hear trolls can regenerate; maybe they won't mind your, um, special condition."
All participants feel a bit drained (everyone but Dienaar), due to the magic of the ritual.
May I please ask for more information about this? Thanks to Status, I'm aware of any conditions. When you say drained, are they impaired in any way? Fatigued? Something else?
Feeling somewhat put off by the painting of blood and offering of the same for consumption, Dienaar will try to politely excuse himself from the room.
"Excuse me. I'm going to be ill, and I don't want to profane your ceremony."
Diplomacy:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
If allowed to leave, he will then heave his guts in the next room. Conveniently leaving the door open. Again, if possible.
Status and Life Link are both up for the whole party. Because of Status, I'll know immediately if any party members are in pain or under the effect a condition--wounded, disabled, staggered, dying, nauseated, panicked, stunned, poisoned, diseased, confused, or the like.
So, how many pople in the Lethe house look like they're Drollis' "muscle"? I'd like to try to assess them after we're done with Drollis--unless the fit hits the shan, first.
I would like to try Diplomacy, Perception, and Sense Motive checks on Drollis and his crew to get more info about their setup, capabilities, defenses, etc.
"Don't mind Julian. He's not a people person. But I don't suppose most of your customers are," Dienaar says looking at the house full of addicts.
"I wasn't there, but these guys just spent some time with Lissalans near the Falcon River," the oracle nods his head to indicate his traveling companions. He knows a little about what happened (even though the party never shared any details with Dienaar in character) because it would have been part of the party's report to the Venture Captain and/or submission to the Pathfinder Chronicles.
"I need some Lethe after what I heard about their rituals!"
@Dienaar you can tell they have all seem drugged, and they all appear to have something they are ashamed of, or want to forget.
Do any of them look like they'd be amenable to chatting? Can we get some info from them? If so, I'll use that Sense Motive check to pick a likely candidate or two.
Diplomacy:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
"Hey, brother(s) (sister(s)?). It's hard out here, ain't it?"
As someone with an obvious, chronic problem (cutting/self mutilation) Dienaar is trying to relate to the Lethe addict's sense of subjective distress. The oracle aslo takes on the mannerisms of a troubled soul: shifting restlessly while he talks, glancing around frequently, etc.
"The Lethe helping?"
Dienaar will listen to whatever response the addict has, and he will respond appropriately. Once he thinks he has made a connection, the Oracle will start with some "innocuous" questions that an addict might ask.
"I hear you; I hear you. It's really hard in this part of Kaer Maga. Hey, are they cool in the Lethe House? I mean, they're not all judgmental and preachy, right? And do they charge a fair price; they don't expect too much in return, do they?"
Again, the oracle will listen to whatever response the addict has, and he will respond appropriately. Then Dienaar will move onto more pointed questions.
"So, how many guys are there in the boss' crew? Are they cool? Do they use Lethe, too? Do they take it out on you guys if they get angry? What kind of things do they talk about? What do they look like? Are they badass? What kinds of weapons do they have?"
Any other information that the party would like to know? I think with a 33 Diplomacy, we can get as much information as these folks have. :-)
"Maybe... It might be... We could... Um... Start with subtle and escalate to overt as needed? I mean... if you think that might be a good idea... That is... I *" And the Oracle stops speaking abruptly.
Unfortunately, Dienaar looks into the window just as one of Miss Feather's... um... associates concludes a... well... a transaction... with a potential... er... customer. The window is far too fogged up for Dienaar to see anything.
"I really should have cast status on the party before leaving them behind," the Oracle says aloud to nobody in particular. "At least that way I'd know how many healing spells I might have to cast..."
At the thought of conducting a "transaction" with Miss Feathers, Dienaar grows very pale. He runs out the front door to get some fresh air and allow himself to calm down.
"Sure. We'll stop by after our mission is over. I'll do my best to heal your ills. Though, it might help if you found a, um, healthier line of work. Uh, that is..." The oracle stops speaking when he can't find a better way to word his suggestion.
Actually, I'd like to buy 4 potions of invisibility, please.
If there's time/opportunity (while the party makes purchases, for example) Dienaar will use Diplomacy to Gather Information about Kaer Maga, Miss Feathers, and/or the Cult of Lisaala.
Diplomacy to Gather Information:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35 Time taken (in hours) to gather info:1d4 ⇒ 3
One of my friends from Absalom just sent me this basket of apple biscuits. He got them from a baker in Eastgate. He said this basket is magicked to keep them as hot and buttery fresh as the morning they were baked. The hesitant human opens one side of the basket, and the room is immediately filled with the warm, rich steam of fresh baked bread. The steam acts as a conveyance for the gentle spice of the cinnamon sugar lovingly sprinkled on each and every biscuit.
My other friend from Kassen sent along these pies. They were made by a group of local townsfolk. Dienaar hefts a chest emblazoned with the Glyph of the Open Road onto a nearby table. He mutters a command word and opens it. Pies of every kind--sweet and savory--fill the chest to an impossible depth. (Clearly, someone has appropriated one of Ambrus Valsin's recent experiments.)
Yet another friend from Tamran sent this. In yet another extra-dimensional space is an impossibly large, rich, thick lasagna. Generously stuffed with ground beef, sausage, onion, and garlic--and seasoned with salt, pepper, parsley, oregano, basil, chopped tomatoes with juice, and tomato (stirred until well mixed)--the look and smell of the dish is delightful!
Ha! :-) Not sure how the use of the term "ma'am" is "kissing her feet".
Dienaar wrote:
"Oh, the pain I could feel healing wounds wrought by her foes!" he thinks to himself.
That's where the tears come from. She's a 10th level Paladin of more renown than a typical Pathfinder of equivalent level. She's got enemies; she's a target.
The elf remains in his seat, ignoring the fan far the others are showing for the Paladin.
It would seem that infiltrating cuts of Lissala has become somewhat of a specialty for us. We will locate this Cult and find out what we can before we eliminating it entirely. What can you tell us of the cults members?
ROFL! I didn't realize that li'l ol' me counted as "the others." ;-P LOL!
She is my faction leader after all. Would you have Awveyen Thillvahna (as a member of the Grand Lodge faction) ignore Ambrus Valsin if he sat in on another VC's mission briefing? LMAO! :-)
Dienaar having already saluted, takes a step forward. Addressing Ollysta Zadrian, he asks: "Please, ma'am. Do you know where the cultists are? Will you join us to put an end to their nefarious plans?"
The Oracle's eyes glow with hope at the thought of adventuring alongside the famous Paladin. "Oh, the pain I could feel healing wounds wrought by her foes!" he thinks to himself.
Immediately, as he realizes that he had such a disdainful thought, he lowers his head with shame. Taking a quick breath, he raises his head and asks: "Your orders, ma'am?"
Upon noticing the presence of his faction leader, Dienaar puts away his dagger and covers his arms in shame. His cheeks glisten with reflected light as tears well in his eyes.
Looking straight at the paladin of Sarenrae, the oracle stands and salutes. "Ma'am, what is that you wish me do?" he says in a surprisingly strong and normal-sounding voice.
It's a jarring change of demeanor. If you hadn't seen his previous behavior, you would think this man was only capable of resolute, decisive action.
The oracle shrugs, almost imperceptibly. "I'm a Pathfinder," he says, as though that was a sufficient explanation of his behavior. "Even field agents are part of the greater circle... of... life... *" His words slow down and then stop altogether when he realizes that others are looking at him.
He lowers his head and lets his hood fall over his eyes as though it will hide his presence from the world--the way a very young child (or an ostrich) thinks that closing their eyes (or hiding their head in the sand) will keep them from being observed.
An obviously distracted human walks into the room while the party awaits their briefing. Despite having a clear force of personality, he seems very unsure of himself. He looks down a lot and prefers not to meet the gaze of others while speaking. "Hi," he says meekly. His voice is barely as loud as a whisper. "My name's Dienaar. They said you need a healer."
(Pronounced: dee-AE-nahr. "dee" like the letter "D". "AE" like the "ay" in "hay". and "nahr" like "narwhal".)
He takes a seat in a corner of the room as far from the others as possible. He wears long clothes to cover the many, many scars all over his body. Whenever he thinks nobody is looking, he either picks at his scars or creates a new one with his dagger.
This Pharasmin Oracle of Life is a "cutter". He uses his Life Link revelation (max range 190 feet) because he likes to feel pain. If allowed, he will cast Shield Other on an obvious melee type at the start of the adventuring workday--for a bigger "rush" of pain. If allowed, he will also cast status on the party so that he's aware of who needs healing and what conditions they might suffer. He has the tongues curse. So, unless you speak Celestial, we won't be able to communicate verbally during combat.
I've run this scenario before, so I'm going to abstain from party decisions unless you specifically ask something of me.
Mari, I'm still sorting out my character's stuff from previous sessions, and I need to decide whether I'm giving him GM credit from recent games. I've posted preliminary stats; I will update his stats (if they change) by Monday, if that's OK?
