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After a safe journey back to Absalom, Lore cooks a fantastic feast using techniques, spices, and ingredients gifted from Thakur Kharswan and Lord Raheem.
I'll take a look at my modules, see if any work... sad Pelkin's done The Harrowing, though :P Otherwise, I'm sure we can find a 7-11 or two to run :)
"Thank you for your kind words.", the trio ready to head out with the group. Although your original guide was lost to the cult, Samar and Haljit can eventually lead the way once you return to some familiar territory. Upon arrival at the Thakur's palace, you realize that another assassination attempt had been thwarted: two guards tried to attack the ruler in his sleep, but luckily Raheem had prepared for such an attempt after his own kidnapping and silent mercenaries dispatched the traitorous guard. Both Lord Raheem and Thakur Kharswan greet you warmly, and with the bevy of intel you found, Raheem immediately sends trusted agents to make use of this information and begin hammering the final nail in the Ebon Destroyers' coffin. Meanwhile, Kharswan, even as ruler, bows to the party. "You do not know how great a justice you have done to this country. My people will tell grand tales of your heroics and I will make sure that the people Inner Sea hears of the majestic glory you have rightfully earned. You and your Pathfinder Society shall always have a warm home here in Jalmeray." Kharswan then 'orders' the party to relax as several attendants begin serving dates, wine, and cheese while a grand feast is prepared. The next several days are filled with rejoicing, celebration, and gifts of good, honors, and luxuries. Amarthecthel and Twigg are offered membership into their choice of one of the monasteries in the fabled House of Perfection. Velidor is offered a personal safari mission led by the Thakur's best guides while Lorelendral and Pelkin become religious figures for their deities, now figureheads and honorary leaders of the small churches of Sarenrae and Desna that exist in the island nation. Furthermore, the Apananda Silk Mill has been seized by the government and is gifted to the Society as use for their new lodge. Other offerings to the party include a consort of choice, pet tigers or hunting eagles, and personalized sets of silk garments. In all, the Thakur's thanks is nearly overwhelming, such is his generosity to the newest heroes of Jalmeray!
Alright, the game is reported and chronicles are sent! If you don't see it in your email, please message/PM me! Again, thank you all for playing. It started off slow, but then the awesome game. This really was a well rounded group so I hope after the PbP Gameday we can get everyone up for another module or scenario :)
"Yes, I was told that I was to be sacrificed in particular due to my vow of non-violence; taunted as my colleagues were slaughtered all around me. I have had time to reflect, and your arrival is proof from my goddess that my actions are not to blame for what has happened."
"Thank the gods!", the two men shout with glee. Jalissa looks down somewhat disappointingly, but nods. "It is understandable; these people were unlike anyone I have met before. Please, have this.", the woman pulling her hair back and revealing a flowered jewel embroidered to a hair clip. "My thanks for saving me.", she explains. DC 21 Spellcraft w/ detect magic:
This is a padma flower, a perfect lotus formed from pink jade that calms when worn or grasped. While held, the blossom grants a +3 competence bonus to concentration checks and suppresses the following: morale bonuses, fear effects, and the confused, dazed, or stunned conditions. Also, twice per day, the bearer can use calm emotions (CL 3).
Downstairs, the party continues the exploration, making sure that no cultists are left around. Instead, though, the party finds a trio of bound men and women in sacrificial garb! The two men, Samar and Haljit, are Jalmeran caravan guards captured when their convoy was hit three weeks ago. The third prisoner, an aasimar woman named Jalissa, is a pilgrim sworn to non-violence. "Thanks!", greet Samar and Haljit, happy to see non-cultist faces. Likewise, Jalissa bows respectfully. "You have my gratitude, although I hope the bloodshed needed to free us was minimal.", she comments.
The horde the Ebon Destroyers have collected in their time! Both the thought of what the riches would do for establishing the Jalmeran Lodge as well as the innocent people that this wealth came from strike you. Nonetheleses, the sight is impressive. After some time counting, the haul includes: Loots:
Furthermore, another chest in the vault is filled with papers. They detail the accounts and finances of the various cult activities within Jalmeray. Included are plans on ambushing various trade caravans, an 'inventory' of sacrifices, and records of contacts within Jalmeray and elsewhere of people who fence goods and information to the cult. This information should be enough for the Thakur to thoroughly stamp out the cult's influence within the island nation.
Bah! One more thing; Velidor, I need your email address to send you your chronicle. You can send it via PM if you wish to keep it private.
Yeah, I'll blame that on a busy day yesterday!
Pelkin finds that the doors to the north are locked... but Lore finds a key on Zaafira as well as: Loots:
[list] Beyond the door is the personal quarters of the masters as well as the treasury with all of the cult's ill-gotten gains. Each of the rooms bears the style of its now former master: Zaafira's chamber has a dressing table with a large mirror, with dresses and saris in neat rows along two wooden wardrobes. Deepti, the dark and mysterious woman who threw the disks, has an equally dark, mysterious room with a well used bullseye target board and no visible signs of lighting. Meanwhile, Ikrimah's room is lined with dust with the only furniture being an empty bookshelf conveying that the master of the web spent little time here. However, Velidor spots a key on the bookshelf, which happens to fit neatly into the vault door of the Ebon Destoyers' treasury...
You are welcome! Oddly, this module proves that base monk sucks... but monk + things = awesome! Even if Ikrimah is a CR 11 encounter as is and honestly CR 12 when fully buffed :P Also, you guys did well by not letting any of them escape; the outcome of handling 2 or 3 of them at once would have been... tragic :) But I did have a blast running this for you; wish I kept up some themes better, but once we got a stable party going, it went by much more smoothly. Oh yeah, Day Job checks if you have 'em!
Velidor looks around, and at least on the upper floor, there's a pair of double doors that provide the only other exit besides down. Also, there was a door from the bottom floor of the training area.
With Zaafira distracting Lore, Pelkin finds this is the time to strike, his blade digging into her chest. She collapses on the ground, the only sounds coming from her is the bubbling of blood as her life fluids stain the floor.
Lore, in a bad pickle, turtles up, hoping that the others can end Zaafira before it's too late! Velidor fires at Zaafira twice, this time using her palm to gently push the bullet away; almost rage firing, the second shot goes wide. Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 95 damage)
Bloodied herself, Zaafira gives the party a bit of respite from her blades of death and instead tries to heal herself!
But her injuries are too much and blood spills out of her mouth, ruining a key word in what would have been a well-timed cure critical wounds!
Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 95 damage)
Pelkin grabs his weapon, but luckily Zaafira cannot react quickly enough to strike him!
Pelkin slices into Zaafira once, the blade cutting deeply into her leg as she ran. In a curious gambit, she tries to use her blade to disarm Pelkin, realizing how deadly his cuts can be!
With unholy strength she strikes Pelkin's blade with her own, causing the inquisitor to be disarmed!
Meanwhile, Glosrafel tries to give the cult leader the cold touch, but she easily avoids the strike. "Sending pets to do your dirty work?" Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 95 damage)
I'll take Day Job's now since you guys are wearing the last boss down!
Twigg pelts Zaafira with the magic missiles, the woman turning to glare at Twigg. "Like rats, all of you!", she yells, darting unnaturally to the others at the end of the hall.
She almost hurriedly dashes towards towards the rest of the party, Pelkin seeing an opportunity to strike!
She swings first at Twigg, hoping to render him helpless as she did to Amarthcthel!
Twigg feels his entire body go numb as she cuts into his gnomey solar plexus. "And now for the the foolish healer...", her first swing aimed at Lore's feet!
The other gnome is knocked to the ground and she then brings her blade down upon Lore's chest!
Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 73 damage)
Lore moves up and heals some of Pelkin's wounds while the inquisitor summons more magical support, the weapon cutting into Zaafira. Once again, Velidor fires twice, the first bullet being deflected while she nimbly dodges the second. Zaafira (???, 57 damage)
Zaafira laughs at such paltry magic! She turns her attention to Amarthecthel hoping to make an opening!
The first hit strikes Amarthecthel in the back along his sacrum, his body temporarily going numb as his scimitar. Seeing the opening, she cuts him twice more, elven blood dripping down to the floor. She then surprisingly moves to the other side of Amarthecthel, narrowly avoiding Pelkin's retaliation! "This is all you can muster?", Zaafira goads as she begins evening out the odds. Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 52 damage)
Working together, the elf-blooded warriors cut into Zaafira twice! Velidor fires a pair of rounds, but she deflects the first with her blade while the second one goes wide! Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 52 damage)
While Lore aims for a high spot along the wall, the bead nicks the platform, causing the fiery explosion to not only hit Zaafira, but Pelkin as well!
Zaafira instinctively uses the bench for cover as does Pelkin, but her reflexes are quick enough to avoid any of the searing pain. Meanwhile, Twigg aims to get himself and Mexel into the battle sooner with magic! "Let's perform Dhalavei's sacrificial dance, half-elf!", Zaafira taunts as she swings her blade rapidly at Pelkin!
Despite his best efforts, one of the slices hits Pelkin across the shoulder, the injury much more painful than Zaafira's gracefulness would have him believe. Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 17 damage)
Only through the prayer to Desna does Amarthecthel land one of the fiery rays, causing a blistering wound upon Zaafira. Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???, 17 damage)
Pelkin says a prayer, Desna's will aiding his allies while putting some pressure on the last remaining cult leader.
Zaafira's fervor prevents Pelkin from slowing down her reflexes. Meanwhile, Velidor hustles up the stairs, gun in hand ready to unleash his storm of fire soon... Init Order (bold = up)
Zaafira (???)
Twigg and Mexel bravely run through the flames and heads the other direction on the stairs.
Zaafira stands behind an audience bench, casting another spell!
DC 19 Spellcraft:
It was divine favor. "Come at me, 'heroes', and face your deaths honorably!", Zaafira taunts! Init Order (bold = up)
Velidor runs through the fire and flames!
The fires burn Amarthecthel, but he reaches up and, spotting Zaafira, glares evilly, willing bad luck upon her.
However, her will in Dhalavei is stronger than Amarthecthel's malice.
Pelkin provides Desna's blessings to the party.
Init Order (bold = up)
Yup, Lore's turn is done. Typically it would be a move action from Pelkin to get the potion from you, but if you're willing to use your standard, I'm ok with you're 'prepping it' for him. More so, his hands are usually full between shield and weapon :)[/ooc]
[ooc]Amarthecthel may have a dispel magic under his sleeve, but that would be your last bet. Otherwise, going to get a fly speed or pray for some buffs?
"The only judgment you will face is the wrath of Dhalavei!", Zaafira shouts, ignoring Twigg's status as a pro-wrestler.
Inits:
Zaafira narrowly gets the upperhand, starting off with summoning a large wall of flame around the party, searing heat cooking them inside the circle! She disappears from view as she steps back away from the ledge.
Init Order (bold = up)
"Then I will strike you all down where you stand if you refuse honorable combat. And let's say that you do defeat me; I would entirely be at your mercy. It should be myself that should worry about trusting the other side. And if I happen to best your chosen champion, then it would be in your interest if only one of you is possibly slain instead of the entire lot of you."
GM Dice:
The woman tenses up when Pelkin tries to magically pick apart her words, but she then relaxes. "Do not trust me, half-elf? Then you cannot be the champion to duel against. My last offer: do we duel honorably or not?" @Pelkin: She honestly seems sincere in her offer: you do not sense anything that would make you feel like she is lying, magically or with your own training.
The woman nods, figuring the answer. "Very well, then how about this arrangement. We settle things with a single duel between myself and one of you. The combatants will fight here, on the dueling platforms above. Neither duelist will receive aid or outside interference during the battle, nor can either combatant willingly leave the platforms. No spells may be cast at this point; only the fighter's current strength shall be deemed worthy. The duel will begin as soon as both combatants are on the platforms and will end when one person is rendered unconscious, willingly takes a step off the platform, or falls to the floor below. If I win, you will leave the Ebon Destroyers alone and I shall not attack you again. If you win, I will leave my post as the spiritual guide of Dhalavei here in Jalmeray. Do you agree to this?"
The woman takes off her veil, showing a surprisingly youthful, elegant-looking human. "Likewise, for the havoc you have caused to my subordinates and fellow masters in Jalmeray, I should wish you ended as well. But isn't there a better solution? Join my mistress Dhalavei and becomes the new masters of the Ebon Destroyers here on this island nation. You have proven yourself resourceful in finding our hideout and skilled to have bested the Ikrimah and Deepti I presume since you have some of their equipment on you and despite Ikrimah's alarm, he is not here to report. Would you like to live a life of luxury and power as we destabilize and control this nation from within?"
Cold white light pours down from the ceiling, illuminating a raised platform in the center of the area. The room is two stories high, with a series of balconies running around the upper level, overlooking the platform. Two narrow walkways cross above the center of the platform on the second story. Stone pillars positioned around the lower level support the balcony and walkways. To each side at the rear of the chamber, steep steps ascend to the upper level. A woman with dark veils stands on the upper floor, looking down upon the party. Unlike the others, she greets them with more interest and warmth than any of the other cultists thusfar. "Welcome to the glorious fighting arena of the Master of Black Destruction! You are the ones causing much ruckus for my mistress above; what is it that you seek that you would come so far in a strange and foreign land?"
Amarthecthel goes in for the kill, swinging quickly and aiming at the woman's heart. Her body almost separates as icy forms from the blood splatter, the woman falling to the floor with a lifeless thud.
Amarthecthel scoops up the woman's body as the party examines it for clues and useful items. Loots:
[list] Also, another magical item is embedded into the brow of the woman; a black gemstone. DC 24 Spellcraft:
It's a third eye of midnight, which affixes to the forehead of a person and functions as goggles of the night Unfortunately, there is no other telling information on the woman unlike the much more vocal Ikrimah battled earlier.
Pelkin fires a bow for the first time in a while, and his elf blood almost boils at his foiled accuracy. Velidor blasts twice, and although the woman is able to deflect one of the volleys, the second one still strikes her! Init Order bold = up!
Twigg becomes invisible as he blasts the foe with missiles of force!
She is pelted by the bolts unerringly as the woman slowly regains her senses! Init Order bold = up!
The first shot lands true, the dazed foe unable to react and deflect the shot, although the following bullet knicks the pillar. Amarthecthel flies over to engage the woman in melee. Init Order bold = up!
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