Khellek the historian's page

Khellek nods. "Once is more than enough in any existence for a trip here. Why anyone would choose to come here voluntarily is beyond me."

He offers Numair some words of advice.

Not sure if I can aid (+2), or use inspire competence -(+3) Numair on any attempt to talk the devil down, but happy to try.

"Such as how this Yseldra came to be in possession of one of Leventi's operatives souls. I must say they seem to be a poor judge of character given how their people's souls are being bartered away beneath them."

"Just pay the gold. We don't have that much free time." mutters Khellek. And we have already had to fight one unnecessary battle to recover one of our number, I don't feel like another for a soul inadvertently traded away.

Khellek looks at his poor scholar's purse. Then with a sigh starts to count out gold. "Paying seems like the best way to use our limited time and resources at the moment." he grumbles, rubbing at his temple.

He does offer a nod to Doodle though, the gnome looks like their head hurt just as bad as his.

I think we are out of leads at the library are we not? We found the relevant people at the wall. We freed the imp at the fighting pit. That I think only leaves the market (where Zarta has been chasing down leads), and this meeting that the lovely Zarta has lined up. Or did I miss something?

"We are following some leads, maybe tell her we will meet her in three hours. That gives a couple of hours to follow up here and another hour to get to the meeting spot." suggests Khellek.

And hopefully getting our two slightly out of kilter timelines back on track.

"Well, fortune smiles on the brave, or perhaps just lucky." says the elderly scholar, a smile breaking his own stern face for perhaps the first time since his arrival in Hell.

"We located maralictor Devin Madras , arminger Aurora Tesk, and arminger Ria Dresk. We have their testimony available if required."

He examines the contracts again, checking that the soul offered in exchange for each of the unfortunate hellknights is indeed Staebius Kalmp.[/b]"

He glances around the group "We don't have the agreement of Teena though, she managed to make an earlier bargain to free herself. Though I admit to being curious about what that deal was, given her soul was already forfeit."

"Would those four souls be the three that we rescued along with their more fortunate, and perhaps more duplicitous companion?" asks Khellek. "What are the names listed, or is the contract unspecific with respect to that?"

When word of the Sending arrives he offers a small yawn. "We should follow up everything we can, while we can."

"There is always more to discover in a library." suggests the elderly scholar as he massages his temples.

"Is it just me, or does the screaming of the damned start to feel like someone driving a nail into your skull?"

Despite his age and headache, the elderly man seems suspiciously spry given how long the team has been busy.

"If we locate some documents I may be able to read them while those who need more sleep than an old man, get some shut eye." he further suggests.

Khellek continues to consider the problem of the wall. "It is as much a metaphysical problem as an engineering one..." he starts. And he has a captive audience, literally.

It is Hell after all, and thus only appropriate that the knights should be subjected to a debate about how their questionable life-choices may have resulted in their after-life dilemma. However with experimentation he is able to work out that dwelling on their more wholesome memories and deeds seems to cause the closest bit of wall to somewhat hang back from them. Not enough to help someone fully engulfed perhaps, but for those still only lightly affixed...

Happy to spend another hour or two lecturing, calculating and freeing

Khellek smiles as Devin is released. "Are you able to help free you companions?" he asks. "Or perhaps if not, you would spend some time with the Grandidierite Sage. He has some questions that you may be able to help us with..."

He gestures to Grog. "I think your muscles may be of use here as well."

Hopefully Grog, or Korvan can get someone free with a CMB check. Between Doodle and Numair we may be able to get extra information out of Devin while we are trying to free the others.

If there is one or two left attached then..

"I think it is worth trying to free the last of these knights. Together they may be more persuasive."

Happy to spend another hour or two, hopefully just one if either Grog or Korvan roll well.

khellek is certainly going to help at least the first, depending on how others go we might want to stick around to try the others. Of course we are more likely to get help from them if we help all of them. Meta gaming slightly, we likely are doing well on time with the quick travel between locations, so spending an extra hour here may be a worthwhile way to spend some of that.

@GM, I did an engineering check rather than planes, but the results will be the same. I did forget to include the hell-ache penalty though, so the total should only be 36

"Let us see what we can do to free you. However, if we succeed, your aid in our own mission would be very much appreciated."

He starts to examine the wall and its advance on the unfortunate Hellknights.

engineering(T10, loremaster): 10 + 30 = 40

I know I am dominating the skill challenges here, but at least for knowledge skills, that is what Khellek is built for, and doesn't that often get to shine in. Hopefully you all enjoyed showing him up in combat. But if someone else wants to lead in one or two then I won't be offended.

"Maralictor Devin? How does a Paladin on Iomedae find himself chained to the very walls of Hell itself? Once upon a time you vowed to fight for justice and honor. Now, perhaps, is a chance to redeem yourself, and who knows, maybe even your companions as well? For if once you were dedicated to The Inheritor, then surely she might once again look kindly on your deeds - were they worthy. Would you abandon your companions to this fate? Or are you willing to chance your arm once again for what is right?"

religion(loremaster T10),headache: 10 + 27 - 4 = 33

BTW if the combination of my knowledge skills and loremaster is making this too trivial then I'm happy to step back a bit. That previous combat was pretty brutal, and I'm hoping we won't have too many of them, as it could easily have gone south very fast.

"The stories of Hell are replete with tales of souls who have come to regret their moral choices. It may be that we could find one such who would be willing to help us.." suggests Khellek. He takes out a reference books and flicks through it. "Here we have the tale of Hrogicia of house Arionne. While he relished the power that slaves gave him in his mortal life, he was less taken with the roles being reverse upon his death. Surely there will be similar petitioners."

know(planes)(loremaster T10): 10 + 30 = 40

Massaging his temple, Khellek thinks. "We have only limited time, so having two 'teams' will let us cover more ground." he finally concludes.

"So perhaps if we head to the Ghetto of Outcasts, while Ms Zarta continues to ply her charms at the market, we may have the best chance of success."

"More for comfort than any real need." sighs Khellek.

"Onward and downward we go." agrees the elderly scholar.

While obviously fascinated by the experience of the hells, the old man's vigor does seem a little drained. Or maybe it is just the hell-ache. "I don't suppose they have a tea-house for an afternoons repose?" he sighs, fatigue in his voice. "The unrelenting cries of the damned are almost enough to make one reconsider some of ones, perhaps questionable, life choices."

Khellek nods to the sage. As for the imp, he remains quiet with respect to his name. "What more can you tell us about where his soul is held and how he got close to the portal?"

"Yes, yes it is indeed required. No sense in winning you and having you vanish on us now is there." says Khellek sternly.

He too pulls out his wand, and after enjoying the energy from Two-Blades, sets to his own wounds.

CLWx3: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 8, 5) + 3 = 23

"No, I don't think so. But if you don't ask, who knows what opportunities we might have missed. We should take the imp Tholvinus."

"Apart from Two-Blades here, we want the Imp Tholvinus." says Khellek, in infernal. He points out the potential source of information.

"Though..." he pauses for a moment. "Whose soul is in that stone?" he asks pointing to the onyx gem.

"Stop toying with her!" says Khellek, with a sharp tone to his voice.

And maintains IC

He puts a hand on Two-Blades. "You have this."

Finally, drop an extended heroism on Two-blades. Might not be needed to this, but the bonuses will be helpful with all these skill challenges.

Khellek lays another gentle hand on Korvan. "Get Up!"
CSW: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 1, 8) + 9 = 23

"She is all alone... finish her." he suggests.
Maintains IC

He then gets out of the way... and concealed by the flaming skulls.

"ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬಿಲ್ಲುಗಾರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಮಯ ಕಳೆಯಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಧ್ವನಿಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು." he says, continuing to taunt the archer.

I hope none of my students understand that!

The old man winces as another arrow 'pieces his magical defences'.

From his affronted expression you can tell the devils words hit. Likely the complaints about his accent more than anything else.
"ನಿನ್ನ ಗುರಿಯೂ ನಿನ್ನ ಸಹೋದರಿಯರಷ್ಟೇ ಕೆಟ್ಟದಾಗಿದೆ. ನಿನ್ನ ಪ್ರೇಯಸಿ ನಿನಗೆ ತರಬೇತಿ ನೀಡುವಾಗ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೂ ಗಟ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೊಡೆಯಬೇಕಿತ್ತು."

He steps forward, getting a skull between himself and the most immediate threat of being turned into a pin cushion. Next to Korvan, he tells his student. "Lying down on the job will just encourage them."

CSW: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (6, 6, 8) + 9 = 29

"Hurry up the rest of you. We don't have all day."

Maintains IC

"ಮೂರ್ಖರೇ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗುರಿಯೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ತಂತ್ರಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಕೆಟ್ಟದಾಗಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಮಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಗಳು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕರುಣಾಜನಕ ಬಾಣಗಳಿಗೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ನಿರೋಧಕವಾಗಿಸುತ್ತದೆ, ಆದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಗುಲಾಮರು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ತುಂಡು ತುಂಡು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ." calls out Khellek.

The elderly scholar seems to have lost it as he cackles maniacally, spouting sounds that should not come from a mortal throat.

Yeah, sorry, should have been using a CSW in this match.

Extra healing for two blades from CSW: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 7) + 4 = 12

"Go team. You have this. One down, two to go." exclaims Khellek as he steps forward toward the fallen Two-blade.

Laying a surprisingly gentle hand on the man he says "Get up my student. Your practical examination is not yet completed."

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Maintains IC

"Come on team, you have this! Stick together, one target at a time." calls out Khellek.

Stepping forward he offers Grog a helpful word of advice. "Be your Best hero."

Heroism on Grog, starts up inspire courage for +2 to hit and damage for everyone, also with saves vs fear.

Khellek starts to tell everyone about the creatures the team is about to face. "Remember, knowing your enemy is the first half of the battle.."

I'll go for immunities, resistances, special defences and special attacks.

Khellek offers a sign as he joins the students. "May as well get this over with. I've seen you all fight, you have this."

With a sigh Khellek asks "Can we win the imp as well?"

"I think tracking down that imp may be the next best option for us." agrees Khellek.

"We have nothing concrete to share with Zarta yet."

BTW, Khellek has a ring of sustenance that not only means he doesn't need to eat or drink, but only needs two hours sleep. Bought for RP reasons 'never enough time to read all the books', but looks like it may come in handy on this venture!

Khellek continues to read through the infernal contracts, looking for interesting things.

I'm here, but don't want to post while I am an hour ahead of the rest.

Sorry. It's noted in the character sheet next to Sense Motive as "Use Oratory". I have several other skills where there is a "use X" noted next to them. I found that more helpful that putting the alternative bonus in as keeping them updated ended up being problematic.

I think I am already spoken for during hour two, and not everyone else has had a turn yet. But yes, happy to spend hour three on sorting the contract. Have to remember to use my DA pin on that. So many once/adventure bonuses that I never remember to use. I'm aiming to get through all of them this time though!

Khellek has +14 from his versatile performance with oratory.

Oopse, yes, -4 to my checks above from that headache.

Khellek during hour one, Khellek helps Numair try to persuade some of the librarians to assist in the search..

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 Auto succeed

Then, once Two-blades returns with a pile of contracts, he settles into a possibly very uncomfortable chair to start to study them.

linguistics check, archivist bonus: 1d20 + 20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 20 + 4 = 32 And I speak infernal if that provides a bonus?>

"But... the library... Surely we should go there first.." coughs out Khellek.

Yes, not enough money to buy a ring of fire resistance, sadly. My dark archive supplies will be a scroll of knock, a scroll of resist energy and two potions of cure moderate wounds

"Devil loving... or at least admiring. Demons are another thing entirely." corrects Khellek.

"Speaking of which, devils are demons have different types of vulnerabilities, which may be important for preparing ourselves. Weapons of silver are often found to be the most effective against them, where as cold iron is more effective against demons."

Khellek nods at Zarta. "Yes, the ahh, reinterpretation, of history by the winners of any given battle does tend to complicate the search for truth in the past. But that.." and here he turns to Doodle and Two blades "Is why this is such an important mission! First hand accounts are almost always the best. Think of the articles that could be written. Yes, yes, I know that Gellius will tell the story from his point of view, but everyone does. Thus one of the skills of the historian is to interpret such accounts."

Khellek sighs. "Oh I am sure there were a few honorable people in the house. But even Thrune likely had a one or two. Those times though, the strong and let us be fair, cruel, tended to rise to the top of the famlies. More often than not by standing on the heads of the peasants. We live in a more enlightened time... well, location. "

"And before you dispute that, recall how the crown changes hands. Not many queens die in bed. - Matricide, poison, vanishing! How does a queen just vanish? and then a spate of drownings." he shakes his head. "But maybe you argue that is just Thrune?"

He looks at Zarta. He had known her a long time and she had changed during that time. "On the plus side. House Davian were opposed to Thrune. I just think the evidence shows that was more for their own benefit than for the benefit of Cheliax as a whole."

"Ub, ahh, umm. err"

The thin air seems to have finally robbed the Old Man of words. Really, it must be the air. And the red face? Obviously windchill.

Nice catch. You have been waiting a while to say that!

The Pathfinder version is the Periapt of health. Does the same thing.

"Ahh, ancient Cheliaxian history. The tale of one family stabbing another in the back, and being backstabbed in turn. But the details, the stories, the why..." he begins to wax on one of his favorite subjects.

"Many of you know that the first Queen Abrogail of house Thrune the first struck a bargain with The Devil himself, trading her nations soul to the king of hell. House Davian, little better to be honest, challenged the Thrune at the Battle of One Hundred Kings, and lost. More than her life in all likelihood."

He pauses. "Both are ancient families, interestingly during the civil war, Thrune did well because of the skills of Alivia Thrune. Her brother was, I presume, the Gellius Thrune whose soul we are seeking. From what has made it to the current day he sounds like a wasterel. But perhaps I am too harsh. He apparently also had a fine legal mind when he could be bothered using it. He has a particular interest in contracts. I would be extremely wary of any deal he offers us."

His favorite topic expired he adds "Normal food and water may be hard to find in Dis, and the time taken for doing so may be precious. I suggest you make sure you are well fed and watered, and take some supplies with you. There are at least two other major powers in the city - aside from the ruler whom the city is named after. His wife, and the queen of the Erinyes also reside there. I imagine there are a host of other factions as well."

Feel free to open the spoilers above for me. Khellek will go on at length about absolutely everything he knows.

"Ancient Thrune?" echoes Khellek, his interest instantly aroused. "Now that would be interesting to know about. So little of pre civil war history is really known about Cheliax.."

He thinks for a bit more. "What more do we know of this Gellilus Thrune? And about Dis for that matter"
T10 spoilers for knowledge in my title bar.

A slight shudder goes down his spine. "To be honest I had hoped to avoid a trip to Hell at this stage in my life, but the knowledge that could be gained about the past... is considerable."

He pauses thinking a bit further, a shiver going down his spine. "And it will make for a warmer setting than my previous mission. Do we know anything more about Leventi or Vetrivides? Lastly - how are we to return, and what happens if we are still in Dis in 48 hours time?"

dayjob reroll, T10,stars: 10 + 14 + 4 = 28

Thanks very much for the game.

"Oh, a nice cup of tea would be very much appreciated." agrees Khellek.

"Then a quick trip down the mountain and back into air thick enough to enjoy giving a speech in."