Vetrivides's page

Atum begins scooping gold into something(?)....

Atum is mass fly on a boon sheet, because I'm not finding it in your spell books. You can certainly conjure a horse, and give it flying (via overland flight or mass fly), and then try to get it not to panic when it lifts off the ground. I'm just imagining the first horse in space at this point.

He was humaliated. But still it was rather painfull for me. As for our investigations, we found some evidences. He could not deny them, but offered us some deals. He ignores Sepia Snake Sigil in my paper! And than was feared of puppy upcoming! But our time is almost up here, so...

"Of course. You have places to go." Vetrivides says graciously. "But we will be seeing you soon enough, I'm sure."

"Your tales are adequate given your obvious limitations." the bone devil says with some regret when the tales are all finally told.

"At last! Our report. Tell me now of Leventi's final humiliation at the hands of mere mortals. We wish to savor every single minute detail for all of eternity. Begin." the bone devil says when the party emerges from the scroll, its grin apparent in its eerie voice.

"For the Lord of Law's sake, what is taking so long? Have they discorporated Leventi, or haven't they?"

"Well, slave?" the bone devil investigator asks of Vesh as he exits the wall scroll. "Has your feeble mortal master succeeded?"

Meanwhile.

**Strums bony claws over the statue base**

"What's taking them so long?"

Meanwhile Doru becomes insane but web is to sticky,

I've got no idea how Doru can bite himself, unless he fall at the floor, smashing 'face'.

He's got a tongue. ;) Technically, that last roll goes to Atum who was confused longer. He probably attempts to strangle the Doru. "BOSS! BOSS! DON'T! IT'S ME! IT'S ME!" :)

"Amusing. I enjoy watching small things hit one-another." says the ever-grinning bone devil. "But enough games. To your task, mortals."

A round or so later, Atum convinces Leona that he is in fact NOT crazy, and she dismisses the web.

We are too unprepared for such event

-whispers Atum. He is ready to run away from demonic forces. But will he?

He does because that first round he is panicked.

Vesh dives into Atum's robes and Atum himself dives screaming in a panic for the wall scroll. Make your Will saves vs the devilish scroll script (-2 to the save for panic).

Atum confused for: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6 rounds
Vesh confused for: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 rounds

"Ah, you are back." says the grinning bone devil. "Tell me, did Leventi put up much of a fight? Did he beg for his miserable existence?"

So on the next round, starting with the very next post, Atum may act normally, and Vesh babbles incoherantly (as indicated by your rolls above).

Meanwhile, in the next room over, Vetrivides looks down at the sun dial on their wrist and sighs.

"Well?" says the impatient osyluth. The bone devil's voice sounds like someone talking through a cold, echoing metal chamber.

Ok, lets pick a scroll and get started says Chandu.

She heads to the top wall, How about we start here? Unless you happen to know where in the Sanctum Leventi is hiding? she asks to Vetrivedes.

"The hound does not question the handler." says the bone devil coldly.

"Stop dawdling. One would imagine mortals acting quicker given their obvious limitations."

Then, without eye contact and almost without emotions, Atum describes last two days. Especially contrats, in-wall hellknights, ambush, and everything worth mentioning about investigations.

"Adequate."

She turns to Vetrivedes, Would you like us to expand on any of the issues? Is this sufficient to take direct action against Leventi?

"Yes. Seek Leventi out, arrest him. Slay him if he resists." says the grinning osyluth.

3 hours later.

The party arrives at the Fallen Fastness and climbs back up to the 666th floor of the seemingly infinite structure.

Map (slide 8) updated

They find the doors to the scriptorium open upon what looks like a temple. Silver flames along the walls accent the features in this statuary chamber. A marble humanoid devil with four horns stands proudly in the center, draped in robes and reaching toward the horizon. It looks a bit like a masculine version of Jalruxis. Regal statues of humans line the walls. Three large wall scrolls with writhing text adorn the north, south, and east walls.

Standing next to the large central statue is Vetrivides. He is positioning a large opaque steel hourglass upon the marble base. It settles like a loadstone brought into contact with iron, giving it a sense of permanence. The is the 10-foot-tall, androgynous bone devil, looms up from they task and says: "You're late." in a hollow tone. "Now mortals, reveal for me what you have gleaned."

Looking around the temple allows the PCs to make a knowledge (history or religion) check and open all the spoilers that apply.

Looking at the temple statuary allows the PCs to make a knowledge (history or nobility) check and open the spoiler below.

Looking at any of the three large wall scrolls allows the PCs to make a knowledge (arcana) or spellcraft check and open all the spoilers that apply.

She takes the proferred set of notes. Given that Jarluxis is here I suggest we start with her. Do you know where we can find her? This place is rather large.

.... {Fiery glare}

Seems the party will have to look/ask around on their own.

The devil smiles at Shrec's discomfort.

“You will suffice in this difficult moment. Rejoice in your adequacy.” The osyluth’s stinger settles and the devil rises to their full nine feet, claws clasped behind their back, echoing memories of a dozen venture-captain lectures.
“Phistophilus Leventi stands on the cusp of promotion, with only a final review remaining. My analysis into his work is part of that review, and I have found troubling indications of resources improperly allocated and also of clumsily executed language in his contracts. I am currently stationed here and unable to continue my work, however. You creatures will act as my agents in exchange for certain seized contraband, per my bargain with your mistress.”
The devil gestures toward an ironbound collection of parchment.
“Here are my notes, including a list of Leventi’s suspect contracts that warrant further examination. Also, his agents have made several forays to the Ghetto of Outcasts. I have recorded their route as far as my agent followed. Pick up the trail from there to learn more. Also—” They flip musingly through a maze of text before settling a claw on a name. “Yesss. Jarluxis. Seek out this other phistophilus here in the Fastness. She has lost several contracts to Leventi and has incentive to demonstrate her competence with a successful investigation of her coworker.”
Closing the book, they refocus their skeletal gaze. “Hasten in your work. When your writ expires, so does your usefulness.” They pause and glare. “Go. Now.”

The creature is well-named. Vetrivides (if indeed this is the devil) is a nine-foot-tall mostly-humanoid skeleton held together by red glistening muscles and sinew. Its eyes glow with an unnatural red fire. It is only mostly humanoid because of its multi-jointed legs and huge skeletal scorpion's tail that rises at the group's approach.

“The servants of Draleen? Where is your mistress, mortals? I should kill you where you stand for this insult.” It's mouth doesn't really move and yet its voice seems to ring in the party members' heads. Its eyes flash and it advances on the party. Its naked form is disturbingly genderless. Fear radiates from the thing like a physical force, like heat off a road.

Chandu and Shrec, I need a DC 19 will save vs fear as the thing advances.