”That…” He almost said “hurt” but instead contented himself for painting the walls with imp.
Now that the imps were visible, they... are still seemingly immune to most of the magic Axton has at his disposal. Axton steps back and loads a bolt onto his crossbow.
Umazura takes a swipe at the imp, hoping to do a better job with her blade than she did with her javelin.
Bharak paints the walls with the Imp.
Umazura & Elena wound Red.
The Imps came from the west passage which leads to:
C9. Fighting Pit
A curving balcony wraps around the east side of the room. A stair descends ten feet to the floor below.
The two Imps had been amusing themselves by making two Nupperibos fight in the pit. You end the miserable things.
C11 has the two captured Lemures that the 'Suzerain' wanted you to return to him. They attack any no devil who opens the door and you end them.
One door to go. What are you doing now?
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After dispatching the imps, Elena affectionately strokes Marley over the scalp and behind his ears before the Wolf vanishes, pating and wagging his tail happily.
After the one-sided bloodbath that follows in the next few rooms, and thorough searches of the rooms not finding anything noteworthy, the group is outside the one remaining closed door. Realizing how quickly these fights could turn bad, for instance if the imps had succeeded their mind-affecting magics on Elthras and Bharak, she channels a wave of brightly coloured healing energyt to heal what surface injuries they had sustained.
Afterwards, she looks at her clothes and armor and sees the damage of the bloodbath that was the last two days. "Okay, that settles it! After this room, we're going to take a nice long swim to that underwater ship we saw earlier! We have to get the blood and gore out of our gear somehow ," she reasons, and stands back for the frontline to try and open the door.
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Wiping the gore from the Lemures off of his Ransuer, Elathras turns towards Elena as she speaks of swimming and cleaning the gore from his armor. He thought about explaining that 'salt water' was not what one wanted to clean armor with, especially without the time to properly dry and oil it. But he had agreed that he would go to the ship. Trying not to think about the time he would need to spend crying and cleaning his armor, he nods towards the final door. "Let's get a look at that last door." looking carefully at it for locks or traps.
As Axton retrieved his crossbow bolts (that had most likely missed their targets), he starts to think about the need to vary his available magic to be able to respond to devils and the like.
"Eugh. Don't feel so good." Bharak said, putting a hand to his head. He felt sick and sluggish . With a shake of his head, he squared his shoulders and said "Aye. One last door. Let's do this. And fook anything in there that tries to get into our heads."
"One last door it is then. Off we go." Umazura will keep in step behind the others as they venture forth through the remaining door.
The door is not locked, it opens to reveal:
C12. Lord Baz’s Room
A low table sits in the center of the room. Two low benches sit on either side of the table, and a wooden stringed instrument of archaic design leans against one of them.
Seated at the table and regarding you imperiously is the most revolting devil you've seen so far. Lord Baz
This childlike blasphemy conjoins the features of a plump human infant and a gigantic, gore-fattened fly.
About time you arrived. As lord of this domain you owe me a service! Go and kill the pest who styles himself the 'Suzerain' and I will consider you guests rather than intruders!"
He's bluffing and is really scared of you!
What are you doing now?
”Nay idea what that fookin’ thing is, but it’s scared.” Bharak said. ”Any objections to just killing it?” He asked his comrades.
"Well that is quite the hideous creature, isn't it? And it is called an Accuser Devil. And like Bharak just stated, it is afraid of us." She looks to the others before cutting her vision back to the devil. "Kill it. It is nothing more than a spy for other devils and loves to prey upon weak-willed individuals."
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Elena winces at the hideous monstrousity in front of her. She does her best to swallow away the immediate sense of revulsion and briefly closes her eyes. "Shelyn, what should I do? This place tests me so. How can I see your beauty in revolting devils who continually prey upon eachother? Having no compassion for others whatsoever makes them as vile within as their appearance without..."
"'Lord' Baz, You're the third self-proclaimed ruler over this place we've met. One other is insane, the other dead. If only you had some kindess or content with what you had, and not always preyed upon eachother's head. Now, I believe we must end you to protect the innocent ahead."
She draws her mace. At least her declaration rhymed, which was a small tribute to her goddess. Technically, the innocents were behind them, but it was a matter of spacial orientation, she reasoned, and within her artists' creative leeway.
It was a hard balance, to always be open to accept surrender, but also be expected to protect the feeble.
Looking at the infernal combination of fly and human infant, Elathras reaffirmed his own belief that while the organization of hell was to be commended, it's occupants were too vile to work with. Listening as the others talk to the infernal thing, Elathras focused on the wise dwarfs words'Fookin kill it.' Stepping to the southern side of the room against the wall, he lifts the cold iron ranseur, and chops at the small fleshy devil.
Seeing Elathras take the initiative to start the party, Bharak quickly joined in, hammer in hand.
Not seeing the soon-to-be-dead devil as much of a threat to the group, Axton keeps his crossbow loaded and his eyes peeled for other threats that may appear.
"Oh, and just so you know, only a good and/or silver weapon can pierce it cleanly. And I would avoid using elemental magic of any form barring electricity and/or sonic. It's either immune to or highly resistant to all of the others. Poison would also be a pointless endeavor."
"Also, do not let it bite you. It will have a nasty affect upon you if it does."
There is no fight, the moment Bharak casually comments about killing him Lord Baz shrieks “Fine! Fine. You can have this damnable laboratory!”, makes a sound like a wet fart and vanishes.
Greater Teleport
With him gone and his meager loot collected:
The ancient zither is a work of art and a true treasure of Thassilon worth 500gp.
The silver coffer is worth 100gp and holds 22gp, 175sp, and 312cp.
You have cleared the Laboratory level except for the Wreck outside and the murky pool that leads deeper into the Crow.
What are you doing now?
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Swinging the cold iron ranseur through air instead of the devil, Elathras buries the edge of his weapon into the low wooden table. Cursing, "Blast I hate devils."
Working his blade loose he walks over to the instrument, "Is that a Zither?" He looks over to Umazura, unable to resist the urge to stereotype. "Umazura, you're a skald right? Do you play?"
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Once the zither and silver coffer is packed up he resigns himself to the fact they are going for a swim. Pausing for a moment, He really didn't want to submerge his plate armor in the salt water and he did have his parade armor on underneath it. Having made his decision, as they head towards he water, he announces. "Before we head into the bay, I'm going to take off my plate armor. I'll swim better without it." Smiling at Elana. "And I won't have to worry about my armor rusting."
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Before they head into the bay, Elathras drops his pack near the steps and takes the time to remove his crossbow, shield, weapons belt and plate armor; revealing the 'parade armor' of his order that he wears underneath. Keeping the spiked gauntlet and the ranseur, he smiles, "OK ready to go, where's the potion I'm supposed to drink so I don' drown?"
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"Blast I hate devils."
"You mentioned that before, I believe. Well, multiple times, in fact. I admit I don't know much of the hellknights, but I thought your organisation is strongly based on it's admiration of hell? Doesn't that sentiment get you into trouble with them?" Elena asks, curious.
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Before they head into the bay, Elathras drops his pack near the steps and takes the time to remove his crossbow, shield, weapons belt and plate armor; revealing the 'parade armor' of his order that he wears underneath. Keeping the spiked gauntlet and the ranseur, he smiles, "OK, ready to go. Where's the potion I'm supposed to drink so I don' drown?"
At this, the priestess laughs. "An armor underneath another set of armor - and not just any, but fullplate, at that! Not sure if I'm more impressed or amused. Just know that I'll be expecting a glaive inside your glaive from now on too."
She draws one of the water breathing scrolls from earlier and looks around the group. "No potions needed, really. I can just cast this and give us all two hours to breathe water as easy as it were air. Just remember Marcus' underwater course, hm? Anything not made to stab doesn't work as well submerged, even if we can just walk over the ocean floor if needed. Might want to switch to daggers if we don't have anything better... and a way to talk to eachother as we normally won't be able to."
After sorting specifics, like using light to point out where to swim, she uses the water breathing scroll, keeping her armor on, and lowers herself through the magical vial, intent on reaching the underwater ship nearby.
”Do we all need to go in?” Bharak asked. ”I can’t swing a hammer underwater. I can’t punch underwater. And I barely know how to swim. I fear that I’d be dead weight in there…” He trailed off, a slight flush to his face.
Working his blade loose he walks over to the instrument, "Is that a Zither?" He looks over to Umazura, unable to resist the urge to stereotype. "Umazura, you're a skald right? Do you play?"
Shaking her head, "I do not, I'm afraid. But I now wish I did. That truly is a fantastic looking instrument. I may have to teach myself," she suggests.
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Picking up the Zither he hands it to Umazura, "It's a lovely instrument, as far as I'm concerned it's yours if you want it."
As he slowly unbuckled his armor, Elathras responds to Elena's question. "While a lot of Hellknights, do use the evil devils to advance their goals, the original idea was that 'Hellknights' admired the organizational skills and military tactics. Emulating 'the Hells' in that way." He shakes his head. "They may be organized, but they're still evil." He smiled, "Fun fact, 'Hellknight' was a derogatory term because our founder." he paused, as if sighting from memory "Ruel's public and repeated rejection of Aroden led the god's followers to dub the group "Hellknights", a denigration that Ruel defiantly adopted and which effectively made Ruel the first Hellknight." He gives a shrug, as he lowers the breastplate to the ground. "We Disciples of the Pike are considered a lesser order. We train mostly to kill monsters in the Whisperwood. That includes evil outsiders. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is all that devils are."
Chuckling along with Elena, he realized he hadn't been around the others enough for them to recognize his uniform. "Yeah, the Parade uniform, is actually light armor. I still wear it most of the time. Seems wierd being out of uniform." He paused thinking about the glaive in glaive comment. Smiling, "That's a good idea, maybe not a glaive, but maybe a stiletto in the handle."
Having stripped the heavy armor off, he nods when Elena comments about using a spell. Looking towards Bharak, he furrows his brow. "I don't mind if you stay here. I certainly wouldn't complain if someone was watching over my gear. I couldn't afford to replace it if something happened." He looked towards the others, then back to Bharak, "But if you went couldn't you just walk on the bottom?" Pausing, thinking for a moment, he holds up his 'spiked' gauntlet, "I could loan you this, it would give your punch a wallop."
"I really only have fire magic to offer, at this point. I'm not sure how effective I will be underwater, also."
Intrepid squeaks, causing Axton to turn his head slightly and nod at the rat.
"Do we have any means of getting closer to the wreck unobserved -- perhaps only one of us -- to see what potential dangers there are before we limit our power by approaching directly?"
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"Interesting. So your order is one of the more... ah, 'noble' ones next to... what was it, the Godclaw? Well, that seems to suit you from what I've seen," Elena says, seemingly pleased, yet faced away from averting her eyes during the hellknight's redressing. On her part, she simply unclasped the colourful accessory skirt and left her backpack behind. "I can't take any of the scrolls with me as the water would ruin them. Perhaps we could hide some of our things in the hidden compartment of the tower observatory, up the stairs," she suggests.
"By the way, Uma, I'm curious: what made you become a skald? Is that a common practise amongst you desert orcs?" She continues, watching her fellow female pathfinder with interest.
Finally, to Bharak, she motions towards the packs. "Anything that thrusts well could be used. A dagger, the rapier we found earlier, or something similar. If you want to guard our things, that's a appreciated, but I'm sure you;d be of good help in a fight too. What with how hard you hit anyway!" She gives the dwarf a smile.
Looking further into the bad, she nods as Axton makes his proposal. "We still have two potions of invisibility. So... one of us could technically go alone and see by themselves. I'd personally want to avoid splitting up - not after what happened to Gul. But if we insist on scouting and someone volounteers..."
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Picking up the Zither he hands it to Umazura, "It's a lovely instrument, as far as I'm concerned it's yours if you want it."
Nodding politely, "Thank you, Elathras, that is kind of you," she says, accepting the offer. Plucking a couple of strings, "Hm." She then places it within her pack and moves along with the others to the water.
"By the way, Uma, I'm curious: what made you become a skald? Is that a common practice amongst you desert orcs?" She continues, watching her fellow female pathfinder with interest.
Umazura ponders that a moment and simply replies, "Because I like to kill things, Elena," she responds in a matter of fact manner before breaking into quite the pleasant laughter. "I jest, Elena. Probably wasn't a very good one, forgive me. Truly, though, I love knowledge. Not only that I love to spin a tale or two when given the opportunity. I've always enjoyed it. My...," she starts and stops, looking to be in thought before quickly continuing with, "my mother raised me upon many stories. Whether fact or fiction I do not know, nor did I care. I enjoyed them regardless. Outside of that, such a profession offers me the ability to defend myself in combat as well, more so than your typical bard. I was determined to be be able to defend myself if the need arose. I'm no Bharak or Elathras by any stretch but I feel it is necessary to be able to defend oneself, at least to a degree, as well as one can. Where magic may fail there's hope that the sword and the shield will not. And, of course, vice versa. Does that answer your question?"
'Noble?' Raising an eyebrow at the idea of monster hunters being more noble than zealots who force people to worship lawful deities, Elek stammers, "Um I guess so? I mean, I like Abadar but I don't want to force people to worship him if they don't want to."
Relieved that Elena started asking someone else uncomfortable questions, he turned as Umazura answered. 'I like to kill...' His mouth dropped open as he started to stare. But just as quickly snapped shut, breathing a silent sigh, as she laughed and said she was joking. How curious, her mother had told her stories, so she became a storyteller. Not so different from himself. His aunt was a Hellknight and due to her he became one as well. Interesting, Umazura also wanted to learn to defend herself, which she obviously had accomplished. Nodding he thought Umazura had answered Elana's question very well. He wished he was as Charismatic as the skald.
Refocusing on the task at hand, he moves towards the magic doorway on the steps. "So who is going? Invisible or not, I cannot, in good conscious, let Elena go alone. Who is coming with us?"
”I’ll watch the gear.” Bharak said, letting the banter wash over him. ”That devil fled, aye? Doesn’t mean it is gone, and there could be more imps. If we all come back wet and near naked, with our gear all gone? That wouldn’t be worth it.”
"I shall remain behind with Bharak. I think it best we do not leave any of us alone. Besides, I'm not the greatest swimmer. Not a lot of places to swim in the desert, you know," she says with a grin.
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"By the way, Uma, I'm curious: what made you become a skald? Is that a common practice amongst you desert orcs?" She continues, watching her fellow female pathfinder with interest.
When Uma shares she likes to kill things, there's a moment of astonishment followed by her wondering if her own darker side with a seeming talent for killing things had found a soulmate of sorts.
Then it turned out to be a joke, which was probably for the best. She laughs and nods along. "I see. That makes sense, yes. Versatility is extremely valuable in combat, my brother often says. It's what helped him survive a harpy ambush where they came at him with bows from mutiple directions in the air, supposedly. And... your mother sounds like a nice person," she adds, after a slight hesitation of sorts.
When the headcount is done, she pauses with her hands on the water breathing scroll. "So... not that I disagree guarding the gear is important, but is it really just Elathras and myself going? Not to make light of your offer, Elathras, it's very appreciated of course! But perhaps that's a bit light for the exploration party?" She glances at Axton. "Would it help you to rest and regain your spells? Or perhaps... return to the city and resupply before we continue? Maybe we can buy a set of spears for underwater combat, or whichever."
”Aye…we can return. With some leather and a halberd I’d be much more confident underwater. And we can stash the heavy armor and gear away so nothing needs to be watched. There isn’t a need to rush this.”
Looking from the water to the armor he had just taken off, Elathras steps out of the water. "So are we heading back to town now? Or exploring the other water passageway to the south?"
”Withdraw for now.” Bharak said, with certainty in his voice.
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Hearing Bharak's decisive voice, Elena rolls up the scroll and gives Elathras a look of apology. "Sorry. I didn't know so many of us would stay behind."
However, as the group begins to withdraw to the city, she smiles and there is a spring to her step. "But on the bright side, dinner is on me today! Let's celebrate our success thusfar, hm? I'm sure Sheila would know a good place, or we could ask some of the locals in a better part of town...
Your return to Heidmarch manor is quick and easy. Sheila is delighted to see you. The sketch of the former Runelord Thybidos is admired and gets you the promised 1000gp.
There is also a bonus of another 2000gp for the party as the scholars and archeologists that have been exploring the areas of the Crow that you have cleared are overjoyed with what they are finding. Funding for the Magnimar branch of the Pathfinder society is being increased and Sheila makes sure you receive some of it.
Natalya is still somewhat depressed and haggard from her experiences, but recovering. Sheila has been offering her work as a Pathfinder agent to give her something to focus on and she is considering this.
Are you doing any shopping aside from the gloves?
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Standing at the water’s edge, Bharak looked at it with dread. He didn’t want to go in there, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He was still equipped with his breastplate, only now he had bought a buckler and trident. Taking a deep breath he reached into his pack and pulled out a potion.
”This cost me near all of the gold I had left.” He said, somewhat bitterly. ”But this potion, the alchemist swore, would let me breathe underwater for one minute. If it was a lie and I drown, then avenge me death. Bought it from the little store on 5th, from that gnome, aye? Also…” He pulled out some ointment from his pack and began to rub it over his breastplate. ”The fooker swore that this would make the armor weightless underwater. He’d really best nay be lying…”
having waited at the Pathfinder Lodge while some of the others went shopping, Elathras borrowed a large bag from the supply room. Placing his plate armor in the bag, he decided he'd carry the armor and put it on once they were one with the swimming about.
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Setting his armor-filled bag down away from the water's edge, Elathras stood at ease in his parade armor with Ransuer in hand. Chuckling at Bharak's request to deal with the gnome, he turns to Elena as Bharak applies the ointment. "I guess I'm ready as well."
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During their visit to the lodge, Elena attemps to cheer Natalya up a bit. "You should do it! Being asked to join the society was a great offer. Many attempt to join for trial membership at the Absalom Lodge each year and just don't make it through the selection or training. Sheila must have great fatifth in you! Plus, you get to travel all around, see lots of amazing places, meet lots of interesting people, help broaden knowledge of the world, and get paid quite a bit for it, too! Sure, it's dangerous at times, but it's a very fullfilling calling, I'd say"! she says, and smiles encouragingly at the girl before they leave.
When they complete the shopping, rest and make it back to the water 'valve', she slips off her boots and, with some difficulty, dons a pair of swmming fins. She smiles over Bharak's endearing grumpiness as he talks and looks up at Elathras and the others when she finishes. "Tada! Look what I found on the markets!" she says, pointing at the finned 'shoes' with pride. "I bought one pair for everyone, should anyone want to. I had to guess a few shoe sizes but they're pretty stretchy! Should help a lot with swimming - allegedly." She waddles over to near the magical hatch and pouts. "Well, I do sure feel like a fish on land with these on, that's for sure..."
Umazura will gladly accept the swim fins and place her boots and most of the contents originally in her pack within her waterproof bag. "I am ready as well. Let us proceed."
Trident in hand and with flippers on his feet, Bharak hesitantly entered the water. Grumbling, he began to swim…and did a fairly decent job of it. Knowing his role in looking for traps, he went first.
Umazura, not use to swimming by any stretch, works to keep up with the others.
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Elena doesn't fare that much better; whether it was the cold, underwater current or the strange sensation of breathing in salted (and probably highly polluted) water, she struggles to keep up. However, not wanting to be outdone as she was the prime advocate for this underwater venture, she implores Shelyn for aid!
Now able to glide through the water with minimal effort, she smiles as she makes some circling motions around the group, watching for any nearing threats if there were any.
Accepting the 'flippers' from Elena, Elathras smiled. "Aw, I didn't get you anything." Quickly taking his boots off and skipping the flippers on he followed Bharak into the water, staying near Elena.