Jenya takes a moment to wipe a soot-stained brow, glancing fearfully off in the distance at the far set of volcanic mountains where you see the retreating dragon's near imperceptible form fly around the tallest peak and then disappear straight down into the throat of its crater. She shivers and states, "I hope he stays gone for another century"
Turning to you, she says, "Let's get to the Knowles estate in Hollowsky. Lady Ophelia should be able to help us if she escaped the city."
Moving forward, you find a ton of refugees hurt along the way, and Jenya stops to tend to everyone of them, moving them along and encouraging them to proceed to Hollowsky.
Other members of the various churches have set up way stations to pass out food and water as folks move by, and an exhausted Town Guard patrol up and down, squashing fights and helping stuck wagons and separated families.
Dalamus, you found where Fario was being held and eliminated Jil, but apparently they must have some other hidey holes
"He wanted the Star of Justice, this relic," she indicates the sceptre like thing she's holding, "that I use to commune with Iomedae."
She stands and progresses out to the chapel with you all, "If everyone is out safe, then let us evacuate the city as ..."
The rest of her statement is drowned out by a thundering roar that transitions to a blistering heat radiating from the top of the church ... it catches on fire!
Outside you hear masses of people begin to scream and flee.
"The Jester is the guildmaster of the Last Laugh. I did not see him, I only heard him working outside the door to break the lock, so I reinforced it with magic and set myself into a protective sphere. He laughed ... a lot. He is not ... sane."
She waves a hand and dismisses the magic holding the door and Sam unlocks/opens it, allowing the rest of the party to enter.
Jenya looks at the city aghast and then quickly to you, "I'll get the leadership out the north gate quickly and we'll rally in Hollowsky at Ophelia's manor. We'll set up an evacuation camp there. You've got to convince the citizenry to leave. See if you can get the most dangerous areas first, convince locals to help and spread the word and then move on to another area of the city once you've done what you can."
She looks to the city again, "The lakefront is probably the most urgent. I'd then proceed either clockwise or counterclockwise as needed."
With that, Jenya barks a couple orders and the nobles, priests and merchants fall in line behind her as they move quickly to the northern gate.
Jenya stares at Nowzai for a moment, trying to formulate her internal panic into words.
"The volcano! It's awakening!"
As if to accentuate her point, a tremendous crack shatters the air as the building shudders, and groans and then splits in half, cracking along the northern and southern walls and along the ceiling. The floor shifts suddenly and the party leaps to the east as the others fall back to the west. The smell of sulfur and tar bubbles out of the widening chasm in the ground. Waves of heat pour out. Jenya looks at you in terror.
"We must evacuate the city! Get out there, help whomever you can. Cauldron is about to be lost to the volcano, we have to save the people!"
Perplexed, Jenya looks around at everyone as dust falls from high parts of the Cusp and flecks of paint flutter down,
"What was ..."
The rumble is louder this time and shakes the floor and the building knocking several people to the ground. Exclamations go up as some pieces of stoneware and porcelain fall and crash.
Jenya's face is aghast as realization settles in, "It can't be ..."
Sam:
You feel the same rumbles and notice Kristoff knocked from his feet and scramble-crawl in terror to a nearby shop entrance.
Up ahead though you see a red flowing circle in the sky that swirls and swirls growing bigger and bigger.
Jenya raps a small gavel and speaks in a clear, strong voice,
"Proud leaders of Cauldron, thank you so much for making the trip today and taking time to focus on this critical juncture in trying times. The absence of our Lord Mayor and the recently uncovered machinations of the villain known as Orbius, disguised as Lord Vhalantru have left a significant chasm in ruling direction for our once prosperous city. Add to that the recent taxation scandal and subsequent skirmish with Redgorge and we have a displaced populace, broken economy and have lost our Town Guard Captain to violence and treachery."
She pauses for a moment for effect before continuing, "I have brought you all together because your represent the major portions of the city and you all have shown a vested interest in a future that includes a prosperous Cauldron."
"The agenda today will be as follows. First, we will get first hand accounts of the atrocities of Lord Vhalantru and House Rhiavadi from the Heroes of Cauldron. Next we will open the floor for discussion on nominations for Lord Mayor and Town Guard Captain. After a short break, we will discuss the form of government in town and then we will vote on all three things. Everyone should know who the voting members are based on the invitations."
She looks up and around, "So, if there are no questions, we can get started with the Heroes who will bring us up to date on what they know so far."
Activites here are limited to discovery (passive skills: pick an individual and a passive skill (Sense Motive, Knowledge, Perception etc) for your action this round. Additionally, someone needs to tell "What you know"
"You can walk in under magical influence, sure. But being caught casting during the event is likely to gain the ire of the other attendees and may have the bouncers at the Cusp escort you involuntarily to the door. It's a breach of trust and etiquette."
"I have invited a representative from each of the remaining noble families, the Vanderborens, the Aslaxins, the Taskerhills and the Knowlerns, a representative from each of the 3 churches. I will represent my church. The major merchants in town: Skie, Tygot, and the Lathenmires. Gurzenon has made it clear he isn't interested in attending. Finally I invited Meerthen and the Foreman to represent their organizations since they have so much sway in the community right now."
"As for contenders, I think Lord Aslaxin seems a genuine candidate.
He is certainly interested, but I believe any of the other nobles could be options as well. Each noble house will get one vote, each church one vote, each merchant one vote and the Striders and Chisel will get a vote each. You all will be special guests, but you won't vote per se. However, I'm certain if you spend enough time there, you can gauge the room and figure out how to ensure the best candidates are considered. Anyone can be nominated of course."
---------------------
Dalamus is actively trying to get the attention of the Last Laugh on his own? You did just kill their second and third in command and have just identified their leader as a Cagewright, just to be sure we are on the same page. How exactly do you wish to get their attention ... just by conducting B&Es and thievery?
Need to know when Sam, Nowzai and Ma'puande wish to show up to the event
Jenya catches up with you all after s couple weeks. While hale and happy, she looks exhausted and is obviously burning the candle at both ends supporting the church's charitable efforts, rebuilding the internal hierarchy while negotiating the damage done by Shebeleth, and preparing for the upcoming "Future of Cauldron" meeting as she calls it.
It's this latter effort she brings to your attention catching you at a regular dinner at the Drunken Morkoth.
"I have it set for this weekend at noon at the Cusp of Sunrise. It was the only place I could get the nobles, merchants, clergy and the externals from Redgorge and Hollowsky to attend. The Cusps security and discretion are well known and we have been able to secure the entire facility for the afternoon."
She sighs and sits down, stabbing a leg of mutton that Gryphon has just placed on the table. "I would like you all to attend and give a first hand accounting of the conspiracy and troubles you have uncovered. Many have heard but this will give them an opportunity to hear truth and ask questions. But beware, they each have their own designs. Each of the invitees likely has a favorite candidate in mind for Cauldron for their own motives. Some are selfishness, some are altruistic, but many are probably a bit of both. You all could influence the vote with your presentation and perhaps your engagement with the others. Some of the attendees you have pre_exisiting relationships with. Both good and bad, I believe but either way, everyone is aware.of the influence you have with the people of Cauldron. Quite simply, they love you. From the flood to the fires, to the hulk, to recusing children.from.magical disaster to stopping mobs every story is a positive one. Your support will.make all the difference to whomever the winning candidate is."
She takes a.mouthful of meat that she was waving around and chews through several more with a vicious hunger before she continues. "The earlier you show up, the more time you have to work the room before we start formally once everyone else has arrived. But there is a danger of our past relationship. I am expected to be unbiased in the proceedings and if you are there too early, they may believe we are colluding. It is up to you. This is the Cusp, however, so the only weapons you will have in this conflict will be your words. No actual.weapons are.allowed.on the premises and overt displays of magic will get you thrown out. Any questions or will I see you there?"
Over to you all. Note I will be using the Ultimate Intrigue Social Conflict rules for this encounter. You might wish to read up on discovery and influence checks (lots of skill checks). You all need to choose when you are going to show up. It can be whenever you wish before, at, or after noon. The earlier you show, the more phases you will have to act, when you show may have influence penalties or bonuses with some of the guests. This will be a mix of skill checks and role playing. Role.playing can trump or add bonuses to skill checks depending on how well you do it. Bad role playing is unlikely to add a penalty. Questions for me out of game or for Jenya in game?
Jenya looks aghast and starts touching her face and then stares at Dalamus, "What evil mark are you talking about, blessed serpent? I don't see anything."
Next to join is the always faithful high priestess of Iomedae, looking exhausted as always having spent the past few hours trying to undo more of the damage that Shebeleth did do the Temple.
"That should work! Let's get through before this door closes and we can't go this way at all. We need to move fast, maybe we'll get lucky and it will think we teleported out!"
Jenya, in a rare moment of taking charge, starts ushering everyone through the western door and waves at Nowzai with her fingers, "Cast the floaty spell. Let's go!"
Nowzai, the check is enough, you still have to pay for learning the spell unless you're spending prestige
Epik finds Jenya exhausted from the past day's work ... it's obvious she didn't sleep the past couple nights since the mob. She's currently poring over ledgers looking at what remains of the Temple's coffers and fretting about how she's going to help the city and make amends for the damage the "Swordbrother Mob" did.
She looks blearily at the paladin, "Lord Vhalantru, you are certain it is him? You saw him doing something ... you have proof? With proof, we could get some of the town nobles behind us. But Epik, if it's just allegations and supposition or worse, if the information you have is gained from breaking in to a nobleman's palace, they only won't help, they might actively interfere," she sighs. "It's never easy."
"If you desire my personal participation, I'll need at least three days to get the Temple running again without my personal involvement ... seven would be better."
Meeting up with Jenya, you find her tired and slightly frazzled, but as always, she is pleased to see you and pauses from what she's doing to assist you.
"Yes, that capability is within my power. I'll need to rest and pray tomorrow for it. In the meantime, I'll have the acolytes prepare the body. You will be able to ask five questions, so I suggest you come up with that list. It will be a week or more before I'm able to question her again if you don't like the answers."
I apologize for the delay ... I thought I was waiting for something, apparently not
Epik and Jenya move in to intercept the mob having gotten ahead of them by cycling along the inside circle path. As the paladin steps onto the street and sees the wall of people coming towards him, yelling and making a cacophony of noise, he realizes he can barely hear Jenya yelling at him from a few inches away.
"There's no way they're gonna hear us ... we need some way to get their attention!"
The others move and cast spells as annotated. Magma is kicking it at the Drunken Morkoth Inn with Gryphon Marek.
Just now noticed Dalamus' suggestion to go to the Slippery Eel, but since no one jumped on it, am assuming Drunken Morkoth and the Vault per earlier suggestions
Breakfast
A ragged Jenya burns her daily allotment of spells on healing everyone up. Over your morning meal, she picks at her food before letting on what's troubling her.
"I know you all have your companion to hunt out and other leads to pursue, but also consider that Embril Aloustinai is still the high priestess of Pharasma ... or Norgorber, who knows, but she could return at any moment. No one knows where she is off to. Not sure how long you'll be able to keep the actions at the Temple under wraps, but every week that goes by will increase risk of her return or if the Town Guard finish the Siege at Redgorge, they may start instilling order in the city again and they will turn to the Temples to help."
"I'll be out and about gathering resources, but send a runner if you need me sooner rather than later ... and ah, don't let on to the Bishop that I'm back. I'd like to reveal that in my own time," she states as she gets up to leave the inn.
She pauses in the doorway, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done. I owe you my second chance at life, and if this city's state is any indication, I need to be here."
"The Bishop wouldn't raise me, but Asfelkir did? I'm not certain I want to go see him again ... something feels wrong," Jenya shakes her head.
"Ike, Last Laugh, that monster we fought, and whatever hit me from behind. I need to get caught up, it sounds. But I'm exhausted, rest would do me right. Don't take me to the Temple, I should stay with you for now."
"I don't know much about him, Epik. The Temple in Sargava sent a missive in response to my notice that Sarcem had been murdered. It said from that Bishop Shebeleth for this region of Avistan was coming to bring purity back to the church in Cauldron. Then he arrived and brought change to the clergy. Focus on cleanliness and doctrine and severe punishments for all breaches of holy scripture."
In response to Nowzai's queries, Jenya sighs, "I am OK ... I spent most of that time unconcious and barely aware that I was being hauled around. Other than a massive headache, I'm pretty much fine." She smiles weakly, sighing and brushing a lock of air from her face. "But I'm concerned about these church reports and I'd like to investigate them and meet up with you afterwards ... where are you intending to stay? Back at the Drunken Morkoth?
Before you grab Alek's body, Jenya spends a few moments praying over him and conducting Iomedean last rites, completing with a small blessing.
She looks up, face glistening, at something you can't see. She nods and slowly removes the paladin's breastplate.
Following that she nods to you to continue with your efforts.
She puts the breastplate on, strapping it around her much smaller frame over her chainmail, but finding it fits perfectly ... and then she straps on greaves... and gauntlets ... and boots ... and a closed helm. None of them were she or Alek wearing earlier, but each piece is marked with the flaming sword of Iomedae. The entire suit has changed from the gray-blue of steel to the silvery white of mithral.
You all will pick her spells before we start (I through in a bunch as placeholders in case you dont bother)
She also gains +2 full plate
Jenya Stat Block:
Jenya Urikas CR 8
XP 4,800
Female human cleric of Iomedae 9
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Perception +8
Aura aura of protection (30 ft., +1 deflection, energy resistance 5, 9 rounds/day)
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Defense
--------------------
AC 23, touch 10, flat-footed 23 (+11 armor, +1 deflection, -1 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 66 (9d8+13)
Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +13
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee +1 holy heavy mace +4/-1 (1d8+1 plus 2d6 vs. evil)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 5/day (DC 16, 5d6), staff of order (4 rounds, 1/day)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +14)
8/day—resistant touch (+2), touch of law
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 9th; concentration +14)
5th—dispel evil, planeslayer's call[ACG], spell resistance[D]
4th—blessing of fervor[APG] (2, DC 19), order's wrath[D] (DC 19), communal protection from energy[UC]
3rd—chain of perdition[UC], protection from energy[D], remove blindness/deafness, remove curse, symbol of healing[UM]
2nd—augury, calm emotions (DC 17), grace[APG], hold person (DC 17), life pact[ACG], shield other[D]
1st—ant haul[APG] (DC 16), bless, command (DC 16), compel hostility[UC], remove fear, sanctuary[D] (DC 16), shield of faith
0 (at will)—guidance, resistance, stabilize, virtue
D Domain spell; Domains Law, Protection
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 20, Cha 14
Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 16
Feats Brew Potion, Channeled Shield Wall[UM], Scribe Scroll, Selective Channeling, Skill Focus (Heal), Warrior Priest[UM]
Skills Acrobatics -6 (-10 to jump), Climb -4, Craft (alchemy) +6, Diplomacy +13, Heal +19, Knowledge (history) +6, Knowledge (religion) +10, Perception +8, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +12
Languages Common, Dwarven
Combat Gear scroll of cure serious wounds, cure serious wounds (2), holy water (2); Other Gear +2 mithral full plate, heavy steel shield, +1 holy heavy mace, ring of protection +1, keys to temple of st. cuthbert, silver holy symbol of St Cuthbert
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Special Abilities
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Aura of Protection (9 rounds/day) (Su) 30 ft aura grants Energy Resistance 5 and a +1 deflection bonus to AC.
Channeled Shield Wall Enhance your shield and the shields of allies adjacent to you
Cleric Channel Positive Energy 5d6 (5/day, DC 16) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Cleric Domain (Law) Granted Powers: You follow a strict and ordered code of laws, and in so doing, achieve enlightenment.
Cleric Domain (Protection) Granted Powers: Your faith is your greatest source of protection, and you can use that faith to defend others. In addition, you receive a +1 resistance bonus on saving throws. This bonus increases by 1 for every 5 levels you possess.
Resistant Touch +2 (8/day) (Sp) As a standard action, touch ally to grant Protection domain's resist bon for 1 min, but lose own bonus.
Scroll of cure serious wounds, cure serious wounds Add this item to create a scroll with spells on it.
Selective Channeling Exclude targets from the area of your Channel Energy.
Staff of Order (4 rounds, 1/day) (Su) Touched weapon temporarily becomes axiomatic.
Touch of Law (8/day) (Sp) Treat all d20 rolls as 11 for 1 rd.
Warrior Priest +2 on concentration checks when casting defensively or grappling.
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Sam ... masterwork equipment and a cloak of resistance +1. Note he sword belongs to the church, not his personally. As Nowzai can attest, the Tercival family was financially ruined.
Post below didn't take yesterday
Jenya watches Alek in agonizing anguish and when he collapses, she screams aloud and rushes forward to grab him and cradle his mangled form.
Given the intensity of the discussion, I won't post until everyone has had their chance to make their final vote. Based on the above, I'm only counting 2 votes since the apparent close of discussion, Nowzai and Dalamus. Once all votes are in, I'll proceed. This isn't the Catholic church ... no abstinence.
Jenya sighs as the party bickers about rest, "Look, you all have good points. Sure , we've only been here for a few minutes even though it feels like months. I'm a bit tired , myself, from just all the hiking. It's dark and we are in demon-infested lands in some sort of strange complex that was inhabited by a species that by all rights should've been living in the jungle nearby. I feel.my connection to Iomedae weakening. Her power is strong but even she is challenged here. Those things scare me and make me want to leave or at least rest for a bit. "
She pauses and then continues, choking up slightly, "But then I think about poor Alek. He came here by himself. I doubt these demon worshipping simians welcomed him with open arms. Where is he? What did they do with him? This land can't be safe for a single paladin travelling alone. Why was he even here? I think that scares me even more."
She moves to the pile of treasure and picks out the key that hung around the priest's neck, holding it up for everyone to see, "It says "Humility." Things like this make me wonder what is really going on around here. I follow your lead but whatever we decide, we need to do it together"
Not entirely certain if this is solved or not and while I enjoy the discussion, myself, (Party interaction is healthy) when it devolves into the discussion boards I feel I need to intervene.
First, we are all adults and conflict resolution should be something we are all comfortable with by now.
I see several traps above that Id like to caution you all against in the future given they unravel the thread vs spooling it up. None of these are specific to an individual because honestly I can see both sides as an unbiased observer.
1. Avoid personal attacks. Keep it on topic and in the game.
2. Don't be dismissive of another's point of view. It's not wrong, it's different.
3. Be willing to compromise. Attempt to see the other side and see where you can find common ground.
4. Leave your arrogance and sarcasm at the door. They are destructive
5. Consider that as a party, you all have been involved in violent conflict together, a lot. There is a level of bond and camaraderie that comes from that mutual survival that is unparalleled. None of you would willingly abandon another to their fate in the midst of hostile territory. Sentient beings just don't work that way and given that none of you are inherently evil, I think we can agree on that.
6. Recommend you solve this stuff in character not out of character. Its less personal that way and easier to change your mind ... your pride doesn't get wrapped up in it.
I would have moved out with Nemoris and been with him I am confused, are we now somewhere else? Is the tunnel we came in to this area now leading us to a different world or did some bad stuff happen in the last 12 hours to make it look like this?
No, this is what it's always been. You took a pipe from the jungle for a few miles so you dumped into the rift without looking out. I described the Demonskar and its history a while back. Not sure if it was spoiler or not ... it's been a while.
Climbing to the top of the rift and peering over, Nemoris' breath catches in his chest. The jungle is quite a ways back and the land around you is a blasted rocky wasteland leading up to the smoking crater that is the Demonskar. The air is filled with noxious gases and large flying creatures, some batwinged and horned, others shaped like massive misshapen flies flit through the clouds of fumes. The earth isn't much better. Signs of the fleeing monkey tribe are evident, but a multitude of horrific demonic beasts can be seen in every direction. Several are picking up discarded items from the charau-ka. Some of the larger ones seen to be chewing on the still wriggling forms of the slower monkey people.
The Demonskar is what the Worldwound (in Pathfinder wiki) would be if the portal was closed and the demons on the Golarion side were cut off from the Abyss. That's essentially what Surobar Spellmason did years ago when he defeated their armies and shut the portal
Any time a player takes an action, I adjudicate it. I don't get involved in the philosophy. Just change the scenario based on your collective or individual decisions.
You are limited by raw time. Resting now will help you heal, but spell preparation is a daily affair. If it hasn't been long enough since your last rest, you can't prepare more spells.
Id have to go back and see when your last rest was and how many hours it has been, but generally I've been considering at least 12 hours since you woke before you sit down to rest again for arcane casters.
Jenya and Epik actually have to pray at the same time of day to get theirs. Dawn for Iomedae.
Leaving the dead monkey cleric, Dalamus sneaks up to flank the demon monkey ducking under a wide swing from the dangerous demon and slashes it once in the side deeply, the Lawful energy of his weapon blasting into the beast as yet another bleeding wound appears.
Sam takes advantage of the demon's distraction to hammer him with a frost-lined blow causing ice to form up as rime around the beast's midsection and causing it to move with seemingly drunken slowness. @Nemoris
He did get the AoO on you, not sure why you thought he didn't. I count a mirror image hit as losing an image as well, thus down to 3. Also why I write "lose an image" in the dice block.
Magma, priest is nowhere near you. Again, with a reach weapon you have to move away to attack. Please let me know how you wish to move.
Nemoris, only spells requiring concentration end upon caster death. The wind wall will be up for the duration, until it's dismissed, or until it's dispelled.
BTW, not sure if the priest is still standing after Nowzais sound lance. He's either down or very close. Will clarify in the next post. If you need to know for your action, give me an either or.
