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![]() "A Thrush is an excellent idea!" Haroldson agrees. "And far less likely to be attacked as vermin. I will, however, be unable to talk or cast spells once in the form. I can perhaps give a few signals; four peeps for come, three peeps for no, two peeps for yes, one peep for flee. For that reason I think that while I could reconnoitre, I will need to enter the sewers with you in a more conventional form. There I will keep an eye out for traps etc, but this will mean I will actually be even less use should it come to a melee."
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![]() The Don shook his head slowly "Been a while since I've been referred to as a 'Lad', but I suspect you are correct. I have some spells that can help with layout, the detection of hidden dangers, and the detection of spells. I can probably even help with toxic gasses. I'm useless in a fight though, so if we run into rats..." he trails off and snaps his fingers.
"My lord Viscount, can you see a flaw in my logic? Is there some well known spell that might see through such machinations?" ![]()
![]() Thanks Kazador, I was stumped for something to say.
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![]() "A cunning thought" Hal concurs "True duplication is likely impossible without significant time and resources, but a lookalike might be doable. Indeed, I think I recall a court case where a magical thief stole a gentleman's signet ring while replacing it with a duplicate. While I do not know such a spell myself, of course, I may be able to deduce the basics. If I recall the case correctly, however, the issue was that the spell wore off too soon."
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![]() With considerably more effort than it took to go down the Don - or at least the soot, blood and silver covered husk of the Don - reappears at the top of the ladder.
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![]() It turns out that it is a good thing that 'Don Haroldson' looked like a beggar who had slipped over in a trash fire and cut himself badly, because when he enters the aura and the manifold magics he surrounds himself with wither away the difference is not immediately obvious.
Spoiler: working mean disarm traps if needed! Otherwise this is to open the lock disable device: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 15 + 2 = 30 ![]()
![]() "I can see it." the Don calls out, and nods to Kazador, Turion, and the prisoner.
perceptions:
perception with magic: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 +5 more for see invisible. Looking for traps, clues to how the trap works, how the antimagic works, and who the person in the cage is. Feel free to roll again if these need multiple rolls. craft:smithing: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 looking for weakness and wuality of the cage know:engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 looking for weakness and wuality of the cage As he walks he calls out to the others - and the prisoner "Has anyone spotted any traps or mechanisms? Enchantments other than the suppress?" ![]()
![]() The Don - dishevelled and worn - looks troubled. After a pause he continues.
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![]() The Don stumbles onwards, barely visible as the distinguished academic of an hour ago. Smears of quicksilver, charcoal, and blood remain from the ritual, and his clothes somehow seem to have aged decades in minutes. Tear-tracks cut down through angular features into a now-black beard. Still, despite that, behind his spectacles his eyes seem bright enough. "No lock is unpickable." he observes in a rough voice "But if the Baron has the key it may not matter. We should send someone down who doesn't rely on magic, my lord, and soon."
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![]() as soon as we decide
at the wall, still as the Don.
"Here goes then." With a grimace he takes the first flask, and throws down his cloak to reveal a very skinny body clad only in pants and charcoal runes. Immediately he starts using the quicksilver in the flask as paint to trace the runes - indicating for the others to help. "Make sure you wipe your fingers after. This is an old shaman's trick from a boggart tribe, but most of their shamans go mad after they try it due to the poison. Nothing beats the arcane conductivity of quicksilver, however."
"Right." he says, in a voice that rasps from the power he has channeled through it. The Don's accent slips as he talks. "Prep done. T' the wall. S'do'this."
From somewhere he then pulls a signature of pages hastily glued together to form a single massive sheet, scribed with spells in a multitude of coloured inks - predominantly brown - and two different hands. The sheet is held against the wall, and yet another spell causes the magenta runes on the Don's skin to flare as he forces the intricate writing from the pages to the wall using a spell only supposed to make copying old tomes easier. The paper - now blank - is discarded.
"Not sure... how long... I can hold it." he says through gritted teeth. Blood drips from his nose, flickering with magenta light and sizzling when it hits the ground. "Hope they don't **** around." mechanics: If no time, will leave out tears to wine as well 1. Memorise Aram Zay's focus (2nd level spell, use blank 5th slot) and Bit of Luck (4th level spell). Should be 15 minutes. 2. Cast full's pouch to pull out shaman's paint (CL11) 3. Wear shaman's paint. Clock is then ticking as it is 1 wis damage per minute, and this is not exactly his best stat. Gives +2 alchemical bonus to CL 4. Cast Bit of Luck with focussed spell for +4 CL (14) Paint adds +2 CL (17). On alchemist list for +1 CL. This lets him cast above CL 16, and can burn the whole effect for +3d8 Luck. 5. Cast Aram Zey's Focus, which gives the trapfind of a level 5 rogue, which is +2 Untyped to DD. Caster level is irrelevant, but will be 14. 6. Use SS to burn Glitterdust and Tears to Wine and cast Bestow Insight on self. Base is Cl 12. +2 insight + 1 per 4 CL +5 insight, and a roll twice, take the best. 7. Cast Black Tentacles (as a trap) CL 12 with Stylized Spontaneity to make them hard to see. caster level check DC 18: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18 8. Make the roll to disable device => assume +2 aid from Turion. disable device: 1d20 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 3d8 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + (1, 7, 5) = 68 Suppress Audible or Visible Effects: A stylized spell’s effects can be suppressed to the point where they are difficult to spot or hear. Such a spell’s audible and visual effects are largely transparent, quieter, smaller, or otherwise less obtrusive. A creature notices the suppressed effects only if it succeeds at a Perception check (DC = 10 + your number of ranks in Bluff or Spellcraft + the highest of your Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma modifiers). If, at the GM’s discretion, a spell’s effects are intrinsically bound to its visual or auditory signature (such as sunburst, sound burst, and most spells with the language-dependent, light, or sonic descriptors), reduce the DC of the Perception by 10. ![]()
![]() "Hypothetically..." Hal starts carefully in his 'Don' persona "I was reading recently that the trouble with most 'commercial' anti-teleport wards is that the person who casts it has to leave it configurable by a third party - ie the owner. This means that certain components normally fixed into the vitus personae are left vulnerable. In theory with a few carefully placed glyphs one might be able to change the passwords and redirect the target destination to somewhere else. Given that Cust almost certainly has access to teleport, given he has thought to put up warding, that might be the best way to ensure he does not simply vanish and appear at his country estates." He looks thoughtful "Yes. I believe the research was done by the wizard Tina of Lles. I could probably put my hands on the paper fairly quickly." ![]()
![]() Hal can memorise clairvoyance, though he'd have to burn a lvl 4 slot. Insect swarm might be better. @Brookside GM: how does this interact with sensing the scrying sensor?
stylized spell wrote:
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![]() The Don pulls out a battered pencil, a ragged scrap of paper, and starts to take notes. "So how is this? Question 1 is 'what exactly did Cust have you build'?" "Question 2: what do you think it was used for?" "Question 3: what security measures do you believe exist to stop or detect entry?" "Question 4: if you know of any evidence Cust has comitted a crime, where is it?" "Question 5: what, if aything, do you wish you had told your wife before you died." ![]()
![]() "Hmmm. Good questions. I expect his identity would become obvious through the questions though. The secret room is, perhaps, the first question. Good thought on asking for details. Given evidence of a murder might help us catch Cust if we can independently verify, but I doubt the man left traces..." the Don pauses walking for a moment, then shakes his head and continues. ![]()
![]() The old man sighs "In which case, if they can retrieve the... target.: he pauses, then continues "can they take it somewhere nearby? This is not a fast ritual, and if the body is not intact we'll need to do some repairs, so somewhere with a little more privacy would be good. Additionally it does not last long. I'll only be able to ask - at most - somewhere around five or six questions. I suggest we work out the questions beforehaand, as I have heard of groups performing this ritual arguing about what follow up questions to ask for so long that the ritual expires before they ask a second." ![]()
![]() "So." the dapper Don says quietly, still in disguise, and after looking around "While identifying the plot would be sensible, I need to know how far we should proceed. I see four issues."
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![]() "That is an excellent suggestion my lord. Might I possibly suggest an additional password we can use if we believe we have been compromised - as an 'ask for help' thing. If all my companions have been controlled to reveal the password and I have not I would be prepared to play along and attempt to warn you if I could do so smoothly and without automatically becoming 'burned'."
"Further..." the Don realises that no-one is really interested and switches topic "We should complete out business and be away. Our esteemed Mrs Mason has agreed to stay with you for now, and I ask that you or your agents see if she can shed any more light on the topics at hand before we spirit her away to safety."
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![]() The Don starts to answer, then pauses. A moment later he raises a finger and opens his mouth, then stops again.
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![]() "Succinctly put, but I feel the nuance is important." the academic grudgingly agrees.
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![]() Don Haroldson coughs. "Pardon me if I was over-enthusiastic. I do indeed have a few suggestions. The first of which is to tell no-one, including me, what precautions have already been taken. I expect this will be a one way transmission of information."
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![]() perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
"Good morning my lord." he choruses with the others, from the back, and waits for someone else to take the lead. ![]()
![]() "Really Captain?" "I can assure you that I for one am using magic to disguise myself, and have done so every time you have seen me, and in fact my entire time in this city where I understandably do not wish to be recognised. I rely on an effect that alters the mind directly. You are welcome to use magical detection to look for such a spell, but I have also taken the precaution of using an illusion specifically designed to counter exactly that. This is because while I may be a patriot rather than a professional 'secret agent', I understand enough to know that the key word there is secret. I have a wife, Captain, and a family - my anonymity is their shield, and while I will risk my life, I will not risk theirs." "I'm not sure if you've been informed, but I am in fact a scholar of the arcane of some repute, and my area of speciality is in the field of divination. As such I can assure you that your methodology is insufficient. While I grant that it is true that some simpler spells will fail when subjected to such tactile intrusion, anyone intending to bypass you and your men would absolutely be able to use spells that can bypass such tests. At that point the tests will only serve to give a false positive. Further..." The Don catches himself, trails off, and sighs "My apologies Captain. The issue with being a teacher is one acquires a tendency to lecture on the rare occasion one's specialty becomes relevant." He raises a single hand, slowly "I promise to refrain from further pontificating, though if you can find some time to humour an old man I would be happy to make some suggestions, and possibly lend you my translation of 'Wapiganaji Watatu Hekima ya Jatembe' - the Three Warriors Wisdom, by Jatembe." "I can assure you are that we are the people His Lordship has been working with, none of us are exactly who we appear to be, and we will not begrudge you the time to properly verify our bona fides." bluff: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31
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![]() The don strokes his fine white beard back into place. "Indeed. Indeed. Extremely suspicious. Blackmail, and a dead secret-keeper. The probability that the man has a secret in his house approaches a certainty." The old man stares off for a moment "Indeed, I am reminded of a scandalous old story about a man who made a deal with a Devil to acquire wealth, and hid a secret temple in his house. A great pity we cannot question the man." His face breaks into a grin as he straightens "Still, what are notes if not a way to ask of to the dead what we did not ask in life? Remind me after this meeting, and it may be that I have a way to dig up the answers we need. I won't trouble his lordship with all the dry details." "Though - forgive me, my lord, but you did mean that the widow of the architect moved? We will need some basic information, like names, current residence of the wife - and the architect for that matter." A smile and a knowing nod "Just as the cobbler's children have no shoes, many architects spend a great deal of thought on their final resting place, but never actually get round to building it. I wonder if that is so here. A man's widow might allow access to a man's notes, should it be necessary to honor an artist with the final construction of his vision." "As for the builders - a good thought, and worth chasing at need, but it would not take many builders dead to hide a well designed secret room. Indeed a competent architect might well know enough to install an already made door him or herself." ![]()
![]() Edit: Ninja'd, sorry
He sighs, dragging himself back on topic. "To Lord Cust then. I suspect my lord's agents have kept a wary eye on an elevated merchant who makes suspiciously prosperous investments. Undoubtedly most such investigations have led to little more than large ledgers filled with small writing, but such ledgers might give us a clue as to where to go next." ![]()
![]() The Don looks to Turion
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![]() a couple of points of damage from the hero point is all
"Can I suggest..." he adds, at Melia's offer "That we separate and blindfold the men first. Additionally, if there is any chance of letting one free - something I think only possible for the mercenary - please call upon me so I can remove certain troublesome memories. They seem the types to seek revenge on those who wronged them, regardless of how long they must play along first." once Mel has finished
int: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 ![]()
![]() Hal sudders a little despite his best efforts as Fennith exits through her door. "Well... guess I could 'port 'em out now, then hit 'em with the tracker. Get their gear though. Don't want..." he cuts off "Anyone grabbin' it first."
He sighs "If nothin' else, I want his shoes. Can't believe boots that expensive are bein' used for actual walking." He fingers the shirt "Oooh, silk. Not too much blood either. Get a pretty penny for that - in a different city. Worth takin' though. Strip 'im down, we might even make a profit on this!" ![]()
![]() 'Don' Hal gives Túrion an appraising look as the Madame leaves and they walk back into the room. "So. She's a friend of yours?" Within the room Hal reaches into his pouch, roots around for a while and pulls out a squished cookie. Carefully he divides it into parts, then sighs and slips out of his role's accent. "D'we have fifteen so's I c'n knock up a tracker? Or do I need ta' take 'em A S A F P?" ![]()
![]() "Gi'me a minute!" Hal asks Mel. "I'll 'port 'em, but first we need ta check 'em for loot 'n' spells. Plus, I think it'd be a good idea to put some trackin' on 'em." As the Madame turns up he sighs, spends a few rounds mixing some ingredients with a strangely shaped rod, scowls, then walks back to the corridor. Spell Study, Burn 2 3rd level slots to cast hallucinatory decor with the threefold rod. DC 21, but roll 3 times take the middle. 10 10ft cubes for 10 hours. "I do apologise, madame." he says in his cultured 'don' accent, stopping to pick up his dropped cane. "Rest assured that repairs are totally possible, but this should mask the damage for now..." Behind him the scorched and soaked walls start to shift. Wallpaper tears into strips that are sucked into walls that grow thorny branches that sculpt themselves into intricately carved wooden panels. Carpet turns verdant green. A damaged sconce shifts into the upper torso of a woman with cupped palms. Some exposed studs grow into a pair of carved wooden pillars - caryatid and telamon staring lustfully at each other. "Hmm. That should be enough. Don't want to go too far. Perhaps tell people the area has been hired?" ![]()
![]() In the hall:
Round the corner the old man gasps as he fights off the compulsion. He draws another carved rod out of a much-too-small pouch as his brave companion heads back into the fray. 'Have to find out what's gone wrong. Frytor can back up Mel.' With a muttered word he ducks through a door that isn't there. draw thriceborn rod, dimension door - may change action if we're under active surveillance to tell everyone to flee; he will claim they are under attack by Reaps - muddying the assassin claim and hopefully getting people to flee to safety. In the room: Quietly the drunk old man from outside slips into the room via a door in the south west of the room - a door that lead to a coridoor not in this dimension - and almost stumbles to his knees as he arrests his movement. Desperately he uses a rod in his hand to arrest his movement and, behind the folding screen he'd noted earlier, peers through the cracks at the rest of the room. Water and lightning clash in the doorway. 'We're going to have to buy a replacement brothel at this rate.' he groans to himself. ![]()
![]() will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 I just remembered which Buff I *didn't* cast. Ah well. I assume this was cast on everyone in the hallway?
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![]() mechanics
A well dressed but somewhat tipsy old man grunts as the girl he's drunkenly 'courting' subtly drifts him out of Tyron's path. he half stumbles, clutching at his cane to stay balanced, then dropping it anyway. "Can you get that, love? I seem to have..." his conversation drifts off into a giggle, mumbling some vague single-entendre about a rod. ![]()
![]() Mechanics:
"Well, Madame, that is to some extent up to you. We will require a room with reasonable sound proofing, and where a number of us can remain hidden. As well as a door that can be secured, ideally from both sides. If we can rely on you to deal with any additional people brought with the scoundrel, I believe all of us should remain there."
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![]() not sure which alias Hal should be using. Given the setting and that we came here straight from Turick, I suspect the Don? The don shivers slightly. "This skirts the very edge of my morality. I can easily see this going very, very wrong." 'Spent too much time around the Fae to like the idea of feeding someone to them - even someone like this' "But I accept that your understanding of Serena far surpasses mine." "While I am sure it goes unsaid, I feel I should insist on one additional step - we have someone, disguised or illusioned to look like Alabaster - be seen after this event. Should it be necessary I will undertake the mission myself." He straightens "I was considered quite the actor in my younger days. I admit impersonating a young girl would be a stretch, but sadly a degenerate old scumbag is right in the middle of my repertoire." "As for the actual acquisition - my new spell blocks sound, allowing me to sleep tight while the students carouse next door. It seems... overkill. On the other hand blocking his ability to flee seems well worth doing. I suggest my role be to try to block any single-use items he might employ." ![]()
![]() The Don stands quietly, mouth open, as Melia talks.
It takes every ounce of his self control not to break character in front of the Viscount, and he takes the opportunity to pour himself a drink with shaking hands. "Indeed." he finally agrees "I concur. Alabaster first, while the scoundrel still leaves himself open to interception. Then Cust. Then Harcourt. However, I would caution you on another possibility, Lord Turick. That the fight is brought to us."
The Don smiles hesitantly, and shrugs "Forgive an old man for harping on about an issue my lord Viscount has undoubtedly already considered." ![]()
![]() Put plainly;
I guess he could also do the cellar - presumably he spent a lot of time looking out of the mirror? And there is an areas outside the city that could work. He could try for other areas, but I think with more risk. Up to Mel whether she would want to come with or stay here. In theory Dream should work to get a message there, but if I was the Bishop I'd sleep in a magic circle (given all altars create them) and may actually take longer depending on his sleep cycle.
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![]() Inflitrators: that said, I get that Hal has presented no proof to Mel. He also claimed to be here following up on the Reaps.
"Hmmm. If time is of the essence... I could take a message - sealed of course - for you, and you could apply for the known vacant position of tutor. You can then 'discover' that a new valet is needed and put me forward - as a brother or husband - as a candidate. I can wait until a response is ready, as it makes no difference where I do my preparations, and then return to apply as valet. Perhaps your 'friend' would be willing to trade the book and some of the other rarer goods for the resources we need." 'Don Haroldson' shrugs lightly "Up to you." The don looks thoughtful "That said... the spell only works for trvelling to well known areas. Given time and magical defences I can only think of three locations I would risk travelling to... and the one I know best was where I was held incommunicado. While that should help with secrecy I would very much appreciate a second letter addressed to the gentlemen who held me previously to promptly take a letter to your friend." ![]()
![]() Infiltrators: Sounds reasonable. Hal scatches his hair for a moment before catching himself. "The book we found does have a spell that allows for some impressive distance travel. If we can spare a little time it should be possible for you to report to the... friend yourself. Might also be a safer place to sell some of the rarer goods we've found. I've never cast such a spell before, but it looks reasonably doable." Maisha Milele has not participated in any online campaigns. |