Pathfinder 2e: Legacy of Nex (IC)

[Inspector Valin]

https://cdn.paizo.com/image/content/Blog/20190705-impossiblelands.jpg

Pathfinder: Legacy of Nex
The Oenopion Incident


5th Neth, 4719 Absalom Reckoning
Oenopion, Nex

It's proving to be a packed festival season for Oenopion. Perhaps spurred on by Master Alchemist Borume's desire to throw a spectacular set of festivals (and thus outdo those thrown by his rival Dunn Palovar and the city of Ecanus) Nex's Capitol of Alchemy has thrown open its doors wide, and admitted almost all comers. Folk from smaller outlying vales and towns are to be expected of course, but there are travellers from Geb, the Mhagwei Expanse, Absalom and still further abroad. The city streets thrum with activity no matter where you go, and the mood is joyful and content. This month is holy to those who practice magic, and for once, the festive spirit seems well and truly in the air.

That said, for six particular people, the metaphorical clock of adventure has begun to tick. Let's check in on them, shall we?


Sachni
There's a reception for the ambassadors tonight, now that everyone is officially here. Some kind of formal dance, where the leader of the city introduces everyone important to you. But that's not for a while yet: there is time to enjoy the various intriguing aspects of non-monastic life. For the moment, Sachni's quest for food has led her to Hapwel Park, a small spot of greenery in the midst of Oenopion. Young alchemists, craftsmen, bureaucrats and other sorts all take their ease here - there's benches, fountains, countless food stalls and a slow lumbering golem watching over everything.

After getting some food for herself (some sort of dust covered hot potato cubes the vendor called raqayiq harin) Sachni follows the growing crowd that have congregated around the park's public auditorium. The stone benches are already full, but the day is fine and a good dozen to two dozen people are standing around, enjoying the show. Today the stage is held by a group of armoured northerners called the Knights of Lastwall. They're performing the Acts of Iomedae; the party of warriors acting out the stories while the leader, a statuesque looking ban with a clean cropped red beard called Sir Landran, narrates the tales one by one with a band of homunculi musicians providing musical accompaniment.

Sachni is actually familiar with these tales - they're the thirteen different miraculous feats the goddess of justice is supposed to have accomplished in order to ascend to divinity. (Sach knows that mostly through her brother - Makrish isn't an Iomedaen either, but he owns a copy of their holy book and references it for some of his own work. Sachi couldn't quote from the Acts verbatim, but she knows the bits that Makrish focused on.)

The troupe of knights turned actors have reached the Eighth Act, the duel between Iomedae and the revenant knight known as the Black Prince. The knight-players are to a one locked in theatrical conflict, with the two leads in the foreground, Iomedae and the Black Prince both looking appropriately heroic and vile. After a few passes of blades, the pair separate as they give a final pair of speeches, Iomedae raising her hands imploringly.

"Good Prince, I implore you now: think back!
For once you were not one so low and base
to serve this bloodstained heartless tyranny.
The man I knew was bold, with heart and joy
No faceless rogue of whispers and dark devilry."

She beckons behind her, towards the spot where a great tree is supposed to stand.

"Join us, here, beneath this oaken bough
Let deeds of righteousness be yours once more
And know again that gentle hearth so warm
Aroden's loving house, upon the shore."

The Black Prince laughs, thumping a gauntleted hand upon his breastplate

"No more, fool wench! For Tar-Baphon I fight,
This charnel ground serves now as hearth and home
And sobs of mournful widows my delight

So ready for the felling of thy virtue's tree
I know no rest, till I have won the field
Should Lord Aroden weep ten thousand tears
and cry the earth away, I will not yield! "

The two charge, and Sachni can hear the voice of Sir Landran rising above the melee. "And thus, spurred on in defense of land and all she loved, the good Lady Iomedae took her trusty sword and ran the grave-cursed Knight of Death clean through!"

The drums hit their crechendo, the stage-blade goes through the Prince's armor. A moment's silence, as he falls to the floor and lies there, unmoving. Then the trumpets sound, and the crowd stamp their feet, and throw fists in the air in jubilation

And a bitter taste enters Sachni's mouth.

It's wrong. The Eighth Act was supposed to be about redemption. That was the whole point of it. Iomedae convinced the Black Prince to move on from his bitterness and anger and accept that his vengeance was fruitless, she didn't just kill him. There's regional variance, in some versions he falls upon Iomedae's sword in an act of suicide, in others his spirit simply leaves his body upon realization that his existence is a cursed one, but this isn't anything close to any official version of the story. Sir Landran has taken a parable about mercy and understanding and turned it into a simple call for the destruction of the undead.

And that was the point. As best as she can remember, the Eighth Act is the one story in the cycle that touches on those themes. Landran's removed compassion and mercy from the story of his goddess in order to turn the entire epic into a patriotic rallying cry against the undead. Against Geb.

It works like magic. The crowd are still cheering and whooping and applauding rapturously: the righteous end of a reanimated villain is an easy path to the heart of a Nexian crowd. But that doesn't change the facts: Landran is preaching against peace and understanding with Nex's neighbour, just a few weeks before the Seven Veils Festival is supposed to begin. He's working to undermine the unity Sachni is here to foster, and he's lying about his own faith to do it!

Sorry for not giving you the chance to make a Religion check - wanted to start things with a bit more of a bang, so I handed you the info gratis through Makrish.
Elizabeth
Ack! Arrrgh! Damn the Founder's Shiny Globes!

This thing is far too tight. It takes Ell a second to catch her breath, after the assistant finishes fastening her outfit's final clasp. The price of fashion, presumably. She glances around the room as she steps out from behind the screen. It screams age and stature: dark wooden cabinets filled with artifacts she couldn't begin to identify, surrounding a proud circular table that bears the crest of Nex. Graven pillars in each corner with arcane runes worked into them, and walls bedecked with paintings of Oeinopon's most revered ancestors. It's exactly what she thought the Guild Council room would look like.

Kinda a shame she doesn't really have a chance to walk around and examine everything. She can barely walk, dressed like this.

If Master Alchemist Borume recognizes her discomfort, he gives no sign of it. The spindly old man man glances up from his notes for just a fraction of a second to confirm that Elizabeth has indeed donned the dress as instructed. A nod is the one indication of success Eliie elicits from the lord of the city before he returns to his notebook: flipping over several pages as he speaks.

"Now, to review protocol for the reception this afternoon."

Soon enough, Borume has found the relevent pages. He glances over his spidery handwriting just once before beginning Elizabeth's review. "I will take the lead, welcoming each guest as they arrive at the Guildhall steps. You are to curtsey to each one in turn, and present them with the correct gift. Geb, Alkenstar, Jalmeray and Absalom." With each quickly fired off name, the Grand Alchemist points to one of the four relics laid out on the table - a golden pyramid sculpture, an elm wand with a spiral carved into it, a hefty looking tome bound in green leather and a harrow deck. Given the darting movement of his hand, it seems clear Borume hasn't bothered to put them down in order for her. Before she can ask for clarification, the guildmaster continues. "Then we shall board the carriage together, myself and Geb first, then the Starrite and the Jalmeray girl, and you at the close, following the Pathfinder."

Of course. Follow his lead, stick to the rear. It's not even like she gets to actually be important. She's set dressing for the ceremony. This is probably not something Ellie wants to do, she's a scientist, not a courtier! But when you're the most destructive alchemist in Oeinopon, the Guild of Chymestry has a fair amount of leverage. She could've said no, but then she'd have been thrown out of the guild, and more importantly, her lab! She might have lost access to that wonderful lab, full of aqua regia, bismuth, quicksilver, cinnabar, saltpeter... and forget about any chance to join a proper expedition to visit distant lands and harvest exotic regents.

Borume finally looks up from his notes. His eyes are narrow as he addresses his subordinate. "While we are in transit to the hall, you may make light conversation with the ambassadors, but you are prohibited from talking about your work, mentioning any current incidents within the city or asking any kind of probing questions. Is that clear, Miss Sprocket?"

Add 'Fancy Dress' to your inventory, Digo! :smallwink: I'll give you some latitude in describing it so long as it's hard to move in, it's supposed to look good and was made by a proper dressmaker, but the designer wasn't interested in any kind of practicality or comfort. Ellie might not have chosen it, but since you're her player, I don't want her to be stuck in something you'd outright hate.
Belignabo
"Lay-dies and Gen-tle-men! Gather round, and you'll see something never seen before! Something... spectacular."

There are dozens of street corner-performers and hedge wizards plying their trade in Oenopion: using flashy magical displays to lure in a crowd, then sell them 'genuinely magical' nicknacks. This stall, Master Zalenko's Curios and Conjurations, has set up on the street corner - stalls full of tiny metal dragons, music boxes and talismans piled together higgledy piggledy. But center of the display is Zalenko himself, a something covered with a sheet of red cloth, and his new assistant. A gnome by the name of Belignabo.

Zalenko takes the foreground naturally. He looks every inch the wizard - a long flowing robe, a pointed hat, a regally curled black beard and a twinkle in his eye. But what made the man is his face paint: a white coating with black spikes ringing the edges of his face, as if he were something unearthly and foreign. Between his looks and his patter, he's already attracted quite a crowd.

With a flourish, the strange wizard pulls back the red cloth, revealing what appears to be a human sized mannequin, made of some strange grey substance with an androgynous looking white facemask. It shines under the morning sun, each articulated joint visible. But beneath the shoulderblades, at the knees and near the neck, a tangle of wires can still be seen. To one side, on a small subtable, sits a faintly glowing amethyst. Zalenko's voice booms out across the crowd. "Behold! A porcelain doll, but one that could once move, talk, feel. Far more elaborate and delicate a creature than the hulking slabs of flesh golemcrafters of today content themselves with. But should we let this ancient art, this gift from our beloved Archmage, fade away?"

"No!" cries the crowd. Zalenko stamps his staff, and a shower of brilliant white sparks arise from it as he raises the implemented into the sky. "No indeed! Today ladies and gentlemen, you will witness a craft reborn! Through painstaking research and much pondering of the secrets of magic, I, the great Zalenko, have almost finished the laborious task of restoring this doll to working order! Today, that journey ends! Today, we make history!"

Zalenko knows what he's doing. The onlookers cheer, stamping their feet and crying out "History! For Nex! For the Arclords!" Zalenko smiles, watching over them all beatifically before gesturing to his side. "Now watch, as my assistant Belignabo adds the final touches to the work, repairing the last of the joint-mechanisms before installing the power gem. In just moments, we shall restore this creation of days long gone to life and glory!"

The crowd whoop and cry appreciatively, clearly excited for whatever was about to happen next. Zalenko steps back, but not before whispering in Belignabo's ear. "You're up, kid. Make this look good, and I'll take you on as my apprentice here and now. Consider this an early Abjurant Day trial."

*twiddles fingers* Now, I'm going to let you try to make it work. But I'll need an Arcane check. :smallwink:

That said, I think it's time to introduce a houserule of sorts! PF2 like most d20 games gives the GM authority to declare circumstance bonus or penalties. I give bonuses for cool descriptions. Not on every cool description, but if the moment seems meaningful, dramatic and fun, if it's got pizazz or just wowed me as a reader, I'm happy to nudge the dice a bit more in your direction.

Or to put it another way, if Belignabo can convince me he's good enough to pull this off, he's half way there. :smallsmile:
Zarrachia
Goopy is moving hesitantly through a pen, circling a disk of specially prepared basalt. The little ooze slowly works his way towards it, gently running against the fake-coin's edge to test it. Then, with an enthusiastic burble, the little ooze lunges for the rock, burbling happily as it starts to dissolve the treat.

Fitzig Scribins, a former slimehand, laughs at the sight. The old halfling gently places a gloved hand down, letting Goopy shift along and around his fingers, before rising back up and shaking his head at Zarra with a grin.

"Little fellow's fine as can be. Healthy, good appetite, fine consistency: nothing to suggest axiy or polybia. He must've just been worried about something." That leads to an uncomfortable silence, as the older halfling's smile fades away. Oenopion oozes can, according to local folklore, see the future. People put some stock in the mood of the Great Pit, but even your pet slime being worried is a bad omen - it may have seen some bad fate approaching you. Fitzig coughs. stroking his small silver beard, "Probably just these damned fireworks. I swear, kids these days. Someone set one off too close to your place and it spooked him into wanting to snuggle up with you. Bet you a silver you ain't got Two Fistfuls of Trouble headed your way just yet."

Possibly. But Zarra doesn't remember any fireworks last night. She glances around, instinctively turning to her environs. Fitz's home is outside of the halfling neighbourhood: this is Briarby, close to the heart of the city. Each house is its own unit, with grand balconies, wrought iron railings, and imposing gargoyles towering above Zarrachia and her old friend. The handful of passersby she spots all wear fine robes and gowns: not a one returns the halfling's gaze. She can make out the spires of the Guildhall rising over the rooftops, but only just. It's all too easy to worry when surrounded by those with more power than you: the magically potent families here have influence that runs across the entirety of Oenopion.

But she's being irrational, surely? She's got no enemies plotting against her, right? Right?

Adria
It's tough doing Serenae's work in a city that doesn't worship her, doesn't respect her, and doesn't even seem to know the name of the goddess of the dawn. Having almost no money and hailing from the enemy state doesn't help matters one bit. But Adria's made some progress. She's been able to work with the Church of Pharasma to offer her services as a temple healer to those in need of treatment, and the priests there have afforded her a bunk in the temple dormitory until she's able to find somewhere more permanent. It's a little morbid, living in the house of the Lady of Graves, but the acolytes are friendly at least.

Adri is on her way back to the church after a round of ministrations, walking the cobbled streets of Caibius to see if any of the workers there required healing or her counsel, when she hears the sound of giggling children. Soon enough, perhaps half a dozen youths emerge from a sidestreet, most in the embroidered tunics and leather boots that marked them as highborn.

"Run! Ru-uuun! Else she'll curse you with the wasting!" a girl calls out. Behind them, Adria can now make out a figure chasing after the group. She's clad in dark grey hemp robe, with a hood too tattered to protect against the wind. Something seems strange about her skin - it's whiter than even the bleached flesh Adria can recall from the vampires of Geb. The pallid beggar-woman raises a hand towards the youths, imploringly.

"Give that back! Please? It's mm-mine. You stole it from me."

The youths don't seem to take that too seriously, chuckling at the reprimand, though they have come to a halt across the street from their accuser. One of them, a young boy with the swagger of a leader, steps forward to shake his head. He's clutching a hefty looking tome, red with faded golden trim that looks like the Nexite coat of arms, "Nu-uh! It's only stealing when it's from people. You're not people, lady. You're just some dead thing, or a golem or sommit. Prob'ly stole it yourself. So if I can grab it..."

He holds the book aloft as a taunt, smirking at the strange woman. "I can keep it."

Raka
It's been a surprisingly good day for Raka thus far - the gate guards didn't seem at all surprised to find a goblin pulling a merchant's wagon and were only too happy to let her into Oenopion. She's set up her cart in a nice-looking part of the city, made a few sales of spark-wine and rainbow rockets. Not the sort of thing Alkenstar was really looking for when they gave her the licence, but she'll be able to buy a meal tonight. It could have been far, far worse.

And then he comes, staggering out of the alley.

The man is human, she knows that much. He doesn't look like any of the humans she's seen before though, his skin is darker yet his hair is silver-grey, pulled up into a sort of tail and there's lines around his face. Between his hefty leathers, and the blade at his belt, he looks like some kind of warrior but he's moving slowly, disoriented.

He falls to the ground just as he reaches the street, hitting his head on the side of Raka's stall. A leather strap snaps, and some strange object clatters away, beneath Raka's wears before she can get a good look at it. With the man right before her, Raka can see the bloody wound his leathers had largely managed to conceal. The stranger looks up at her, eyes going wide when he realizes what he's looking at.

"Gggg-goblin?" he mutters. He doesn't sound scared. More confused. He meets Raka's gaze, as he drifts out of consciousness, leaving the goblin with a simple two word question. "Why... monkies?"

[Syless]

For a follower of the sun goddess, Adria's spent far less time in the sun than she'd like. Being able to wander around in the daylight and wear her holy symbol of Sarenrae publicly is... still a refreshing experience. She's immensely grateful to the Church of Pharasma for taking her in, but she's hoping she can one day start her own congregation, found a proper temple... but for now, she has a much more limited plan. Do what good she can, where she can, with the blessings she has.

She sees the highborn children mock the pale woman. While classism abounds everywhere, it's the rare sight you wouldn't see in Geb- you wouldn't know if someone that pale was some manner of undead, and no parent would let their children antagonize one... She hates seeing petty cruelties like this. Children shouldn't be like this, they need to be taught to empathize with everyone... it doesn't matter who or what the woman is. She takes a deep breath, then confidently steps forward in front of the child. "Is that how things work? If something is stolen, then it's fair to be stolen? Well then... there's two ways this goes. Either you admit it's hers, and give it back, or you refuse, and I find a way to steal it. Simple as that."

Internally she's panicking. This can go wrong in so many ways. Their parents could be nearby and angry. The beggar could be a thief. What she's planning might be considered assault. But she has to try. She can't just let petty cruelties go ignored.

[Xacha]

Zarra slipped on her special alchemist gloves before scooping up Goopy. Just a precaution, really; Goopy hadn't accidentally tried to digest her in months. Still, when you're dealing with an acid-producing creature that is apparently feeling nervous, you'd best be careful.

Like many pet owners, Zarrachia was convinced that her pet had special perceptions. Why, just last week the little pudding had spat a drop of ooze at Thom Bogtoes when he'd shown up to take Zarra on a date. Given how badly that date had gone - seriously, who orders the garlic sandshrimp on a first date? - Zarra was sure the cute little ooze was trying to warn her. But what was Goopy tying to tell her now?

But she shook her head and tried to banish the worries. Her natural sunny disposition wouldn't let her stew on such matters. She tried to give her old friend some coin for services and basalt, but he waved it away with a laugh. A follow-up offer of a bag full of her homemade fig rolls went over better.

With Goopy burbling happily in the crook of her arm Zarrachia sets out for home. Nerves made her check that the government-issue shortsword was still strapped to her back. Normally it was just a part of her customs agent uniform, but right now she was grateful for its weight.

At the last second she turned off on a side street rather than take the busier main street home. If someone were stalking her she'd have a better chance of spotting them without the crowds.

[Anyr]

Sachni wandered aimlessly through the city. Aimless wandering was a rare luxury for her. She could let her feet go where they pleased. The cubical snacks she'd bought proved delectable. She devoured them as she weaved through the crowds. So many people! Sachni was almost overwhelmed by bizarre sights and sounds. No wonder, then, that she latched onto something familiar. In the park, some knights were performing a play she knew. The munching monk paused to listen.

The verses evoked pleasant memories. Makrish loved regaling her with tales from dusty tomes. He had a real talent for academic pursuits. Too bad he was supposed to be a warrior. Instructors tried so hard to train him in martial arts. But her brother was happiest among the written word. Maybe he could become a warrior thespian, like these knights. Sachni appreciated the air of authenticity in their stage fighting. They put on a most enjoyable performance...

...until the finale. Then it all came crashing down. Sachni grimaced openly. This variation went far beyond a local quirk. It was a betrayal of the play's spirit! She couldn't allow this to stand. Whenever she or her sisters fumbled a kata, they got corrected: Thus helping them become better people. The same (Sachni assumed) must surely apply to actors. Sachni waited for the crowd's applause to die down. Then her voice pierced the aftermath.

"I'm afraid that's wrong!"

She spoke in the same manner as her teachers: Politely, yet unyieldingly. She wasn't trying to humiliate the actors. She just wanted to set the record straight.

"This tale is about the miracles that Iomedae performed to earn divinity. Killing the Black Prince would have been skilful, but not miraculous. The Goddess did something far greater than that: She redeemed him! His black heart was pierced by her virtue; Not her sword. And in doing so, she proved herself worthy of rising above mere mortals."

[Estralita]

Raka

Raka supressed her irritation at the man's words. Whatever he thought of goblins, he was still clearly badly wounded and needed help. And she was guessing there was a person or persons who needed stabbing. Who might hurt even more people. One thing she was good at, and another she was... less good at.

Raka needed to fulfill her purpose, and hope others could fulfill theirs. "Hey! This man is wounded! Someone help him!"

She had to admit, she was itching to get back to her real work.

She ran to the mouth of the alley, looking for any sign of the cause of the man's injury.

So, do I roll a Perception check to look for clues? Or an Intimidate/Diplomacy to get the man help while she does this?

[Gwynfrid]

The feisty young gnome springs onto the stage, his eyes twinkling in excitement, a bright smile across his round, beaming, mustachoied face.

"Ladies! Gentlemen! All of you who have come from near and far!" Belginabo stops, and drops a deep, exaggerated curtsy, his copper-red hair nearly sweeping the floor.

"Behold! It is my immense honor to present to you - TODAY! - the incredible discovery that the Great Master of Mysteries, the Mage renowned across the whole of Golarion - ZALENKO!" A flourish of his lanky arms and a bow in his prospective master's direction underscores the name... "...brings forth into the world!"

Purposefully, he walks towards the doll. The human-sized figure towers over his three-foot-two frame. "Look at this marvel of the arcane arts! I shall now... Bring it back to LIFE!" He begins to fuss around it, touching this way and that, in all sorts of mysterious manners.

It's at this point that a golden-furred ferret bolts from the backstage area and runs straight towards the young apprentice. "NOOO! You little horror! You'll ruin everything! This is the most delicate, precise mechanism! It's FRAGIIILE..." Belginabo tries to catch the animal, who easily dodges his flailing hands, and starts to run circles around the mannequin and the gnome, who desperately goes after him. The ferret makes a mockery of any attempt to grab him, as he performs a series of impressive pirouettes and somersaults in the process, to the amazement and hilarity of the audience...

Finally, Belginabo stands, looks firmly at the crowd, and claims loudly: "ENOUGH! You pest, begone! We have had it with your interference!" He turns towards the animal, presently busy rolling on his back and scratching his belly in the most undignified manner. With a great show of hands and a few mysterious-sounding words, Belginabo points a finger, and a long ray of flame shoots forth at the animal. The crowd gasps, but the little ferret rolls to the side at the last second, and runs at top speed to the back of the stage, dropping out of sight.

This is a comedic Performance, supplemented with a Produce Flame cantrip, to impress the crowd and hopefully make them laugh. His Fascinating Performance skill feat might come into play on one of the audience's members?

[roll0]

The gnome produces a bright red hankerchief and mops his brow, sweaty from the exertion. "That's it! This is serious magic we're performing here! We can't possibly tolerate..." He pauses for a moment, muttering under his breath and comically shaking his head.

"But NOW! The time you have all been waiting for! Now, the power of the great Archmage, the work of the great ZALENKO, shall be revealed for all to see!"

Solemnly, he walks to the table, and reverently takes the amethyst between two fingers to place it in his outstretched palm. His voice lowers to a near whisper as he presents it to the audience. "This is the source of POWER that we need..." He turns to the mannequin, and has to rise up on the balls of his feet to reach a small compartment on the back of the doll's head to insert the gem inside.

Now would be a good time for a decent roll, because his talent for the arcane doesn't quite match that of his display :smallwink:

Arcana [roll1]

[Inspector Valin]

Adria
To the children's credit, most of them do seem chagrined when Adria steps forward to reprimand them. They may not know the symbol of Serenae, but they understand the weight of adult authority all too well. There's a lot of shifty glances exchanged, a fair amount of fidgeting and uncomfortable looks. The bulk of the little mob look like they'd rather melt away than continue this conversation. The girl who'd cried out earlier steps forward, putting a hand to the leader's shoulder.

"Farrah, maybe we should just let her keep it. It is hers. She might be weird, but she's still a person, right? And I think this woman's a priestess: she could probably curse us like Uncle Sabra can!"

The boy seems unfazed by this revelation about his friend's uncle. Instead he shakes his head at the girl, before turning his attention back to Adria. "Nuh uh! I'm not afraid of curses. And lady, have you seen what's in this book?"

Farra flips the book open, and starts turning through the pages rapidly. Adria's only seen them a few times, but she recognizes the combination of formulae and diagrams as arcanist-like. She can recognize the spark of excitement in Farrah's eyes as the boy expounds on the obvious. "It's magic. Real magic. This is a spellbook, like the ones Mom and Dad use! And you want me to just leave it with her? Some old lady who probably doesn't know the first thing about wizardry?"

This theme is starting to win the children back to Farrah's side. The group looks less worried, they're standing taller, echoing their leader's glare at Adria and the grey lady. The boy doesn't seem to be playing to the crowd though: his eyes haven't left the spellbook, even as he waves at the stranger with his off hand. "Magic's supposed to be used! You don't just leave it lying in the street with some beggar-woman. If I had a book like this, I could... I could..."

He trails off, fixing Adria with a wounded, wrathful look. He's let more slip there than he'd meant to.

Diplomacy Check if you want the book without just taking it. And if you can guess why Farrah wants the book so badly, and confront him with it, I'll add one degree of success - fail into success, success into a crit. :smallwink: I'll accept a Religion roll in the OOC if you're blanking on the point, it's a very relevant skill here.

Raka
Her brief search of the alleyway is perhaps mixed. There's no immediate sign of an assailant, but Raka can spot a faint meandering line of dark red specs, leading deeper into the city. She can probably follow the injured man's trail, and find whatever nasty thing'd done this to him.

However...

The crowd do not exactly seem overly eager to help Raka by tending to the wounded man. A few passers by exchange sidelong glances, but quickly hustle along. Most of them don't even seem to notice him lying on the ground. The one being that seems to register Raka's cry, she can't spot at first. A few strange clanging sounds are easy to miss in a busy street, but they soon draw closer and louder. Then Raka feels the tap of metal on her shoulder, coming from above.

Looking up, she sees some strange towering nightmare creature, almost four times her height. Its body is made of steel, a set of four long thin limbs affixed to a barrel-like chest, and there's no apparent head. A ring of glass piping runs across the torso, and into a series of tubes and vents across its arms and legs. Strange fluids cycle through the machine's veins, blue, green, yellow; it seems to change almost by the second. Each of its fingers ends in a long, near impossibly thin spike - while the fingers themselves look more like vials than any digit Raka would recognize

The strange thing stops in front of her. Raka can feel that it's looking at her, even if she can't make out any eyes on the whatever-it-is. The voice seems to just sort of emerge from the creature's torso, sounding a little like a trained bird as the words start to run together. "What-seems-to-be-the-prob-lem-ci-ti-zen?"

Zarrachia
Zarra's decision to duck down the alleyway may seem capricious, but it's rewarded when she hears a loud exclamation coming from the area right outside her front door. And with a high pitched, naisally whine that certainly doesn't sound like it came from a halfling.

"Oh, may I lay a thousand nights with Urgathoa, she was just over there! Where's she gone?"

Peaking out from her street corner, Zarrachia can spot the gathering that's seemingly congregated around her front door. About nine souls in all, with three seeming ringleaders. The first, who is the one she just heard swear on the goddess of undeath, is - Garresh? She knows the blue scaled lizardman - he's from Trismere, deals in alchemical components and high end fireworks. He's a reliable customer come festival season, generous and friendly and usually gives Zarra something for the halfling kids to use in their Evoking Day displays. Today though he's standing outside her house, flanked by two humans in dark grey robes, carrying staves. This may be the first time Zarra's seen Garresh scowling. He looks... unhappy. Maybe even scared.

The dwarf standing with him offers the poor lizardman a slap across the shoulder. "Eejit! It prolly wasn't 'er. Not all 'alflings look the same, ya' know?" It takes Zar a little thought to place this one, but then she remembered. Durgen Zalt, from Alkenstar. One of the few farmers who can make ends meet in the Mana Wastes: he'd brought a few barrels of fungal wine and frozen steak through a couple of weeks back, along with a hefty amount of gold. Flanking him are two young dwarfen ladies, with impressively braided hair and Gunworks patterned rifles. Zalt's daughters.

"And just how many of them are blond haired, carrying a pet ooze, and wearing the tunic of a gate guard?" sighs Kato. An animal dealer from Kibwe, he brings a whole heard of Mwangi animals west to Nex through the Ndele Gap every Neth. His backup appears to be... a pair of majestic looking lions, their pelts glinting in the sun. Kato allows himself to stroke the mane of one as the group continue their discussion, unaware of Zarrachia watching them for the moment.

[Xacha]

"Lizards and lions and dwarves, oh my ..." murmured Zarrachia.

For a moment she was torn. Her mother would saunter up to the assemblage and rely on brazenness and charm to get her through. On the other hand, her father had always insisted that "when trouble is brewing, a halfling's place is somewhere else."

It was the mention of Urgathoa that did it. Zarra was a little shaky on her theology, but she'd never heard of anything good coming from drawing the attention of the Mistress of Maggots. Anyone invoking that name aloud - in the streets of Nex no less - was up to nothing good.

Zarrachia slipped back down the alley as quietly as she could. With the festival shops open, perhaps she could find a nice concealing robe to go over her uniform. And then a quick stop by the alchemist/hairdresser Lorean. She was suddenly itching to be a brunette. And perhaps a new bucket for Goopy ...


Stealth (Sneak): [roll0]
Deception (Disguise, AKA Impersonate a tourist): [roll1]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, Alchemist


"Is that clear, Miss Sprocket?"

"Yes, Master Alchemist Borume," Ellie responded. "Regale the gifts, stay in the rear of the procession, only minute small talk." She attempted to curtsy and found it to be harder than a steel ingot to do such in this cursed garment (https://i2.wp.com/deepcutdiscounts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2018-Brand-New-Blue-Purple-Long-Sleeve-Lace-Civil-War-Southern-Belle-Ball-Gowns-Victorian-Dress.jpg_640x640.jpg?fit=640%2C640&ssl=1). Ah, fashion must equate to torture in upper society. She repeated the instructions in her mind; The envoys Geb, Alkenstar, Jalmeray and elm wand are to be given the gifts of a golden pyramid, cinnabar with a spiral, a hefty Absalom, and... um. Yeah, this was all serious bismuth. Heh heh.

At least she could remember to just stay in the back of the procession and remain quiet.

"I will be of no trouble today."

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
The crowd... do not react appreciatively to Sachni's correction. The festive atmosphere of a few seconds before evaporates into a stark silence, as all eyes turn towards the monk. The band have come to a halt, even the actors are glaring at her. Strangely, only Sir Landran seems to take this well. The knightly narrator laughs, smiling at the monk before shaking his head. "I think I know my own faith a little better than you, ma'am."

There's a chuckle from the audience. A little of their hostility seems to ehb. The foreign knight clears his throat, stepping forward to answer this challenge before the crowd. "Lady Iomedae was merciful. On occasion. But first and foremost she was a goddess of war! She fought to drive back the Whispering Tyrant, to save lives and defend the people that mattered to her."

Landran is clearly warming to his theme. He raises a gauntleted fist, his voice growing louder, "Can we do less than that? With the Tyrant returned to the world, and the ghost king marshalling his forces, we can't afford to fret over peace and civil interests. We must be ready for war! To defend our lands with steel and holy light, just as Lady Iomedae once did! As her goddess, Arazni, once did!"

The crowd is cheering once again, louder than ever before. This has gone from play to proselytizing, but nobody here seems interested in objecting. Even the homunculi band have kept up their backing music, flaring the trumpets to accompany the people's jubilation. Seemingly unfazed by it all, Sir Landran reaches a hand out towards Sachni.

"What do you say, ma'am? Do you disagree?"

Belignabo
The crowd are putty in Belignabo's hands. They laugh and gasp and cheer just as he wants them to. The back and forth with Hexizkakus has them in stitches with laughter. And when he inserts the amethyst...

There's a click as it slots into place. For a second, Belignabo can hear nothing: not the crowd, not Zalenko, not even the slightest rustle of the co makes it to his ears. Then with a THOOM, the gem's light intensifies, its radiance growing blinding. Belignabo can't help but shut his eyes, yet even through tightly closed lids, he can still make out the light of his work growing ever stronger. Plus Bel can hear a rushing sound, as though a wind had picked up, even though he can't quite feel it against his hand.

And then... it fades. The rushing stops. The little pateres and breaths of Oenopion come back. And when he opens his eyes the doll is sitting upright, glancing around at the onlookers with now open purple eyes.

"Where... am I? What is this place?" the doll asks, its voice strange, lilting and soft.

"It worked?" Zalenko seems... surprised. Bel notices the mage's hand resting against a wand at his belt, as if he'd been ready for... something. Now though, Zalenko is striding forward, staff raised and his painted face wreathed in a massive grin. He holds one fist up to the skies, and with his other hand clasps Bel's, bringing it up there with him. "It worked! Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever seen such a wonder? Behold, the craft of the Great Zalenko, and his worthy apprentice, Belignaboo!"

The crowd are stamping their feet and cheering "Za-len-ko!" "Za-len-ko!" "Bel-ig-na-bo!" Even the guard patrol watching over the display have gotten swept up in the spirit, and are joining in the excitement of it all. A rush of people make towards Zalenko's mercantile offerings, where his raven familiar Buckby is already in place to oversee sales. The master mage starts to follow them, clearly revelling in the moment. The doll meanwhile, still very confused by all of this, turns its attention to the closest figure to where it stands. Namely, Belignabo. "Could you please tell me what exactly is going on?"

Zarrachia
Maybe it was the scent of Gloopy. Maybe it was just chance. Maybe she hadn't prayed to Chaldira Zuzaristan recently or something. But an instant before she pulls away, one of the lions makes eye contact with Zarra, and she can swear she sees a glint of recognition in its eyes.

The beast roars, startling the merchants and their guards. Kato is first to react, on his feet and gesturing to the others. Zalt and his girls follow, the twins checking some mechanical detail of their guns before falling in. The two mages with Garresh look to the trader: the lizardman seemingly needs a minute to steel himself before sighing and giving a nod of ascent, joining his hirelings at the rear of the now advancing party.

The hunt for Zarrachia Marns seems to be on.

Athletics to try and outrun them, Acrobatics to try and make some distance through fancy footwork. I'll need one successes worth of lead before I allow you another chance to hide.

Assuming you don't want to just wait and see what they have to say? :smallamused:
Ellie
Borume looks Ellie over, sceptically considering the junior alchemist before finally nodding his head, and starting to walk towards the door. Yes! She's gone a whole conversation with the master of the city without him berating her for anything! No stupid fault or mistake for the old man to get angry at!

And... he's just turned back to Eliie, waving a hand to the table.

"Now, demonstrate the order of gifts for me, please."

Retroactive Perception check :smallwink:

[Anyr]

Landran was certainly passionate. Sachni could empathise with such fervour. For all her monastic discipline, she too felt the thrill of battle. When next she spoke, it was as a fellow student of war.

"Sir, I'm a soldier as well. I've sworn an oath to fight for my country. It's true that, some day, you and I might be forced to defend our loved ones. Perhaps we'll even end up fighting side by side."

Then her voice hardened. The teacher had returned.

"...But talking of the future won't change the past. Iomedae did not slay the Black Prince. That truth is recorded in a thousand tomes. Should anyone here visit a library and check for themselves, they will not find your stage play on the pages. They will find the truth.

I can respect your desire to fight. But please, admit that it is your desire. Iomedae chose a different path."

[DigoDragon]

Retroactive Perception check :smallwink:

Perception (retro): [roll0]

Ellie looks at the table and tries to move the objects in the right order. She points to each object. "Geb, Alkenstar, Jalmeray, and elm--I mean, Absalom."

[Estralita]

Raka
At the approach of the...thing, Raka's hand instinctively went to her sword. Every instinct was telling her to smash the thing before it went on a rampage.

But... In the whole of this crowded epicenter, it(they?) was the only one to actually react to the problem. That was worth something in Raka's book. " This man needs a healer! Do you know how to help him? OR know someone who does?"

[Xacha]

Two blonde-furred feet flew down the alleyway.

Zarrachia knew that side-streets during festival season were not the place for flat-out running. Fortunately, her father had always emphasized knowing your territory. "Run smarter, not harder," he'd said, or something like that anyway.

Dodge to the left, juke to the right, go under the loaded wagon - a halfling specialty - and then, if she could slip through the crowd around the local tavern, she could slip down into the poorer section of the quarter. Lots of nice winding streets to get lost in back there. Lots of junk to hide behind.

"Whattaya say, Gloopy? Think we can show these merchants a side of Oenopion that doesn't make it into the guidebooks?" Gloopy bubbled happily. It must be nice to be an ooze sometimes.

[Spoiler=Rolls]
Acrobatics roll
[roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
The knights stand there as Sachni continues her retort. The one playing the Black Prince is about to step off the stage, but a tap on his shoulder from Landry stops him. Instead, the Knigt Commander jumps from the platform, striding forward to meet his accusor more directly. Sachni too gets a better look at the lying potentate - from his impeccable red goatee through his twinkling blue eyes all the way to the scar that runs across his throat and the muscles just visible at the joints in his plate armor. He may not have been born to it like Sachni had, but he's still evidently a warrior - heart and soul.

Though those things seemingly have a very different meaning to a Knight of Lastwall.

"So. You're sticking with this, are you?" Landry hisses in her ear. For the first time, looking straight into his eyes, Sachni sees a furious burning wrath from the northman. He knows full well that she's right, and being exposed is frustrating beyond measure to the knight. Before she can react further however, Landry has stepped back, addressing the crowd once again with his familiar tone. "You're really going to call me a liar in front of all these fine people?"

A chorus of disapproving murmurs rise up from Sachni's fellow park guests. "Shameful!" "How rude!" "Typical monk for you." Landry spares Sachni an ever-so-brief smug look, before returning to his proselytizing ways. "Before my proud nation fell to the undead scourge..." The audience erupts in boos, as the homonculi string upon their viols in a melancholy chord. Landry waves a hand to quiet them all. "Before that fateful day, we had rules for that kind of thing. Those who would accuse a Knight of Ozem of dishonesty and perfidy would be asked to back up their words with steel, and a duel to first blood."

The knight serving as Iomedae has ventured behind the stage, and now returns with two blades. Long, hefty swords - matched, and each bearing the crest of falled Lastwall. She comes to a halt before Sachni and Landry, bowing and proffering each of the pair a blade. Landry takes one, though for the moment he does not draw it, instead running his hand across the familiar sigil in the scabbard's hilt. "Of course, this land has different laws. But I doubt either of us wants the other's head. This is a chance to show the people of Nex what the honour of a Knight means! Or... for you to prove your point, I suppose." He turns to the crowd, raising a hand, "What say you all?"

The cheers are deafening. The crowd's irritation at Sachni has been surpassed by the excitement now on offer with the idea of a dual. The people sitting by Sachni nudge her, gesturing forward, clearly thrilled at the prospect of whatever's about to happen.

Hope this is okay. If you want to try and gain control of the crowd's reaction, I'm going to need a social skill roll, unless you can come up with a plan to turn them around another way.
Ellie
The wand for Absalom, pyramid for Geb, deck for Alkenstar and tome for Jalmeray. Just as Borume had indicated. The Master Alchemist blinks, and for the first time, Ellie feels she's seen him honestly surprised by something. The old man looks at the relics a second time, then back to Ellie, then at the relics once more. He finally closes his eyes with a sigh.

"You think you're smart, don't you? Just because you were lucky enough to guess it right."

"Am I interrupting something, Borry?" a voice comes from the door. A man with pale skin and a leather jacket worn above a robe strides into the room, smiling at Borume. The old alchemist bristles visibly at the manner of address, but sighs, "Just... preparations for this afternoon." He glances to the young lady at his side, and the jacket wearing pale foreigner before him. He waves a hand as his form of introduction. "Ambassador Karja Masari, of the Kingdom of Geb. Miss Elizabeth Sprocket. Junior alchemist"

Ambassador Masari grins at Ellie, a grin that reveals a pair of sharp pointed fangs. He offers a hand. "Charmed, Miss Sprocket. Always a pleasure to see a new face in this dusty old hall." He winks, offering the girl a whisper as she shakes his hand. "Nethys knows, I've gotten tired of Borume over the years."

Depending on your reaction, I may require a will save. :smallwink:

Raka
The metal thing seems to have heard her. Its torso swivels in place, legs and arms bending backwards in a strange, insect like way as it turns its attention to the fallen warrior.

"He-does-app-pear-to-be-in-jured."

The metal whatever-it-is clearly knows how to state the obvious. All the same, Raka can almost hear its chest puff up as it speaks again, "I-am-equ-ipped-to-pro-vide-medi-cal-aid-in-eme-er-gen-cy-si-tu-ati-ons." There's a brief fuzz sound from somewhere within that torso, and the ichor of the giant starts to flow bright blue. It bends down above the fallen warrior, studying him more closely, bringing those pointed hands towards the wound.

"How-ev-er." It seems the monster is growing reluctant. Or perhaps simply embarrassed. It pauses before continuing to explain itself, as if trying to find the right words. "This-man-is-not-a-res-i-dent-of-Oen-o-pion. Mas-ter-Bo-rume-re-quires-a-fee-to-pro-vide-treat-ment-to-out-sid-ers."

Of course. The behemoth shifts, bringing its torso down next to Raka. With it this close, she can make out a slot in its chest just big enough to fit a coin. The creature speaks up once more. "Please-in-sert-three-sil-ver-pie-ces-or-fo-reign-eq-uivi-lent."

That's as much money as Raka earned all day! She has it still, on her cart, but if she pays up she's out of food for the night! All because this 'Borume' has ordered the iron thing to make outsiders pay for its assistance?

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
The wand for Absalom, pyramid for Geb, deck for Alkenstar and tome for Jalmeray. Just as Borume had indicated. The Master Alchemist blinks, and for the first time, Ellie feels she's seen him honestly surprised by something. The old man looks at the relics a second time, then back to Ellie, then at the relics once more. He finally closes his eyes with a sigh.

"You think you're smart, don't you? Just because you were lucky enough to guess it right."

"Am I interrupting something, Borry?" a voice comes from the door. A man with pale skin and a leather jacket worn above a robe strides into the room, smiling at Borume. The old alchemist bristles visibly at the manner of address, but sighs, "Just... preparations for this afternoon." He glances to the young lady at his side, and the jacket wearing pale foreigner before him. He waves a hand as his form of introduction. "Ambassador Karja Masari, of the Kingdom of Geb. Miss Elizabeth Sprocket. Junior alchemist"

Ambassador Masari grins at Ellie, a grin that reveals a pair of sharp pointed fangs. He offers a hand. "Charmed, Miss Sprocket. Always a pleasure to see a new face in this dusty old hall." He winks, offering the girl a whisper as she shakes his hand. "Nethys knows, I've gotten tired of Borume over the years."

Depending on your reaction, I may require a will save. :smallwink:

Ellie was a little surprised at how well she guessed right. "Well, I... did learn from the best."
Lying through her teeth. It was really just a random chance of probability with limited information gleaned from the names of the guests and the purposes of each object, but blind luck was easier to say in conversation.


Ellie blushes and offers her hand for the 'protocol'. "Likewise, ambassador." He has fangs? Why is that? Oh! perhaps a mutegen used... no wait, he is not likely an alchemist. Oh, maybe he's part creature of a sort? what's his blood type?

When he whispers his comment about the alchemist master, Ellie could not help but giggle a little. She tries to keep it quiet.

[Anyr]

Sachni stared down the approaching knight. Both he and the crowd were clearly out for blood. Well, that was fine. Sachni hadn't expected a positive reception. She was just fulfilling her duty. She waited patiently for Landry to finish ranting. He once again appealed to aesthetics, rather than reality. She couldn't help but pity him. As she replied, her expression had a hint of sadness.

"What a strange custom. 'Back up their words'? 'Prove my point'? The truth is the truth. Even if you beat me to a bloody pulp, the Heavens won't move an inch. Iomedae redeemed the Black Prince. Neither of us can change that."

This lesson had been drilled into her, early and often. She'd been quite an egotistical child. Sachni still took great pride in her skills. But these days, she'd learnt to accept things as they were. Landry had yet to do that. He accepted the ornate blade offered by his subordinate: As if it had the power to alter his fate. Sachni made no move to take a blade of her own. Instead, she carefully set aside the snacks she held. Then her stance subtly shifted.

"Still, I rarely pass up the chance to test myself. The matter of your false play is already settled. But what say we have a sparring match? If you manage to beat me, perhaps it'll help ease the pain."

Sachni wasn't an idiot. She knew she might lose this duel. She also knew that the outcome didn't matter. So why not gain some combat experience? Sachni stepped forward, into the makeshift arena.

Sachni enters Tiger Stance. I hope that it's okay to do that before the fight starts. It seems akin to Landry taking a weapon.

Initiative: [roll0]

Since the stat used for initiative can vary in 2e, I've just rolled a straight d20.

[Syless]

"Farrah, is it? Farrah. Is this what your parents would want? I know what day it is. But this isn't how it works. You can't just steal power. You're not a-" She hesitates. Does she want to convince him, or does she want to be more honest? ...maybe there's a middle ground. "If you think power is the most important thing, no matter how you get it, are you really any better than the Blood Lords? Than all their followers in Geb?"

She turns then to the beggar. "Do you know the magic in this book? There might be a compromise where everyone wins. Would you be willing to teach this child, if he returns your book? At least a little lesson? Perhaps if you prove yourself as a tutor, his family can sponsor you to help him."


Diplomacy (Farrah)- [roll0]
Diplomacy (Beggar)- [roll1]

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo's elation knows no bounds. He feels like he's ten feet tall. IT WORKED! He can't quite believe it. The cheers, the crowd going crazy, the looks on all those people faces, the thundering applause brings him back to reality. He made it! He's now an apprentice to a great arcane master!

... Then the doll speaks, in a calm, reasonable, if bemused tone. Belginabo is speechless. He was about to follow his new master and go help customers, but instead he turns to the magical contraption he just reanimated. "Er... Whaaat?" He stands there open-mouthed, the opposite of the glib crowd-pleaser he just proved himself to be a minute ago.

"Could you please tell me what exactly is going on?" The... thing says. It doesn't just speak. It's polite. This detail is what finally shakes Belginabo out of his stupor.

"Er... Hum... Well, to be honest I didn't expect you to have a mind. Heck, I didn't expect you to even work! At least, not this well! Er... Sorry. I mean no disrespect. Sir." It dawns on him that the mannequin, whatever it is that gives it a mind, might not appreciate the manner of its awakening. His first instinct, in any normal day, would be to claim having nothing whatsoever to do with the situation. But the applause still rings in his ears, and his pride at his fresh success gets the better of him.

"It was me who woke you up, Sir! Just like that! On my first day! I'm a wizard, you see!" This might be too light an explanation, so he elaborates.

"So... Er... How can I explain... It's a bit complicated. There was this doll. Mechanical, mind you. But Master Zalenko - that's him, over there, being congratulated by this half-elf in the red jacket... Master Zalenko found it. He studied it, and said it was animated. Once. Long ago. But he, er... well, he said he could revive it. I mean, you. Revive you. He gave me the magics to do it, you know. So, er... I did. I hope you like it! And, you see, all these people... They're very impressed. With the magic. And with you, for sure! I mean, it's really fantastic!"

He pauses, looks at the mannequin quizzically. "Er... And... In fact, where to you come from really? Er, I mean, originally?"

Should that be needed: Diplomacy [roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia
Gloopy's happy burbles grow rapidly faster and higher pitched. Looking to her side Zarrachia sees what her ooze has noticed, and her heart almost skips a beat.

The lion has tilted its head to the ground, its eye level with the halfling and her pet. The beast is looking right at them.

She's about to roll out the other way, when she sees two sandled feet step into view. "Going somewhere, Ms. Marns?" Kato calls with a chuckle. Zarra's utterly surrounded now. The other two merchants file into the alleyway, along with their bodyguards. The halfling who'd been tending the cart takes one look at the impromptu squad, and bolts for the safety of the inn. Zalt takes a knee before the cart, the better to address Zarrachia with. The dwarf is grinning like a cat who got the cream as he looks down into the halfling's eyes.

"Dere ain't no way oot of 'dis, lassie, sew get yer sorry behind up ere. We caught ya oht, an' naw is time fer ye ta do wroight by us."

Yeah, you have no idea what he's talking about. And it's not just because of the accent. :smalltongue: You can try a Society roll for it, but the DC to twig what's going on is 20. This may call for some fast talking. :smallwink:
Ellie
To be fair, Ellie made the roll - she was able to follow. Borume just didn't expect her to: he made his gestures hard to follow intentionally to try and catch her out as not paying attention, and he's kinda a sore loser. :smalltongue:
A worthy will is not quite enough to render Ellie's giggle inaudible. Ambassador Karja keeps a good poker face, just raising an eyebrow and letting a little spark of mirth across his eyes. Borume glares between the two suspiciously, but seemingly lets the incident pass with a snort as he returns to his notebook. "I need to go see to the rest of the arrangements for tonight. Ms. Sprocket, entertain the ambassador for now, as best you're able. Masari?

The unspoken question cuts like a chill wind. Karja sighs, "Yeah, yeah. If she has marks on her neck when you get back, you can fine me fifty gold or something. Satisfied?" Borume doesn't look exactly satisfied with that answer, but he seems to accept it: nodding after a brief pause and leaving the room.

At last.

Karja removes his jacket, hanging it up over a portrait. He takes a second to be sure that it's the current Grand Alchemist he's obscured, before taking a seat at the table. He glances up at Ellie, "So. You're the one Borume selected for this shindig tonight?" The Gebbite rests his booted feet upon the council table, leaning back in the chair with a relaxed look. He chuckles at his new companion, "Any idea why he picked you, Zabby? Kill his favorite 'monculus? Blow up his flowerbed?"

Sachni
I'll say perception for initiative, so final result of 21 for Sach!

[roll0] for Landry
Sir Landry doesn't bat an eyelid at Sachni's refusal of a blade. He takes three steps back from the Jalmeran, enough to give the two some space for this confrontation. "It may not settle anything for you, monk. And yes, it proves nothing. But it's a question of honour now. And the honour of the Knights of Lastwall..."

His blade erupts in a shower of golden sparks, to the delight of the crowd. "... can not be broken!"

Adria
The pale woman bristles at this. She steps forward, glaring at Adria "You - you can't be serious. To get back what's mine, you'd have me... this spoilt, good for nothing brat isn't fit to..."

She stops. Turning, Adria can see Farrah's face. The boy has turned his face away from the two women, and has his eyes firmly shut to try and hide the growing tears, but has stepped forward and is holding the book out towards the beggar woman. "Pp-please?" he mutters.

Everyone is silent in that instant. The beggar seems taken aback as well. Finally though, with an irritated tut, she nods. "Fine! Fine. I'm not going to put up with you for long, but I'll go over Thaumaturgical Precepts and some Applied Conjuration. Once a night until the eighth, starting at sundown, in your house. It'll be enough to help you find an apprenticeship at least."

That seems to be enough for Farrah. The boy nods repeatedly, almost pushing the book into the befuddeld woman's hands. The young man looks between her and Adria, not quite sure what to say, and not wanting to make a fool of himself. Finally he settles on a "WHOOO!" and starts running towards the Guildhall area, his friends chasing after him. The prospect of wizardry finally being within his grasp has outweighed any remaining social anxieties for Farrah today.

The pale woman sighs, pulling her hood back to reveal a bob of dark red hair. "Thank you, priestess. Really. You give good counsel. I'm sorry for snapping at you, and the boy." She takes a second to return her spellbook to a pack on her back. She lingers, looking down at it while thinking back. "I... used to be a teacher, once. I think I lost the knack somewhere along the way. I never used to let children get to me like that. Or maybe they were just better behaved back in my time."

The strange woman snickers a little at that, before offering Adria her hand with a smile. "Call me Miley."

And I said I'd up this to a crit with the info from the subroll, so here's the rider!
Before the conversation can continue however, there's a small voice coming from somewhere below them. "Excuse me? Ms. Strange Lady? And erm... Ms. Other Strange Lady?"

The girl who'd tried to talk Farrah down is there, pulling on Adria's robe. She looks younger than her friends, definitely less than ten years in all, with her hair pulled back into a braid and a pair of ivory-rimmed glasses over her eyes. She tries to curtsey, though the effect doesn't really work when you're holding on to someone else's robe. "Would you like to come have lunch with me?" She looks back towards the road her friends had run down, frowning. "Mother and father are working, so I'm all alone. Everyone else has to get ready for the reception tonight. It would be nice to have company."

Belginabo
It takes the doll a few seconds to answer. When it does, the tone of its words shifts. The musical tone of them has not been lost, but this sounds more like a sad symphony of days gone by. "Osirion, once. But that was very long ago, during the age of the Four Pharaohs, when their empire blanketed the land. They conquered the Tekritanin League, brought our empire to its apex, to the point we covered most of the land on Garund. When the Four died, things were never the same. I ventured south, to a region that was as far from Sothis as I could manage, where folk were speaking of independence. My friends used to say that a land long united must divide to remain strong. I wonder if that held true."

Pause. The doll studies the still bustling crowd, even as some of them look on at this creation, enrapt at its existence (and not registering exactly what it's saying). "This looks like Garund still. So you and your master repaired my body?" It flexes its fingers, first the right hand, then the left. It turns its wrists, exploring just how much movement remains to it. Each joint functions perfectly, the tiny clink of metal the only indication of their artificial nature. The doll, seemingly satisfied by this, turns back to the being who renewed its life. Its faceplate has shifted into a smile. "Thank you. This is fine work. You are a gifted wizard, little gnome. I am sure you will go far."

Bit of a weird stop, but I wanted to give Bel a chance to ask any followup questions before advancing the scene further. It's a Society roll if you want me to break down the context of that whole origin answer for you, DC 15. (Jalmeray is a bit removed from all that, but it's still 'local history' overall.)

[Anyr]

A familiar thrill ran through Sachni. There was a certain magic in the moments just before a duel. Unlike Iomedae's ancient match, this contest was still in doubt. Sachni felt the rush of uncertainty. Was this man an overconfident braggart, who'd soon fall? Or was he a brilliant warrior, who would mop the floor with her? Time would tell. Sachni took a single breath; And began.

The monk's body became a blur of motion. Ki energy accelerated her dramatically. Rather than charging straight forward, she traced a circle around Landry. Then she rushed him from the opposite side of the arena. Her hands struck at him, like the claws of a tiger. She aimed to overwhelm him with a relentless barrage of attacks.

Action 1: Cast Ki Rush. Sachni Strides twice around the enemy, enters melee range, and gains the Concealed condition.
Action 2: Use Flurry of Blows.
Action 3: Strike.

Flurry 1: [roll0]; Damage: [roll1]; Bleed damage (crit only): [roll2]
Flurry 2: [roll3]; Damage: [roll4]; Bleed damage (crit only): [roll5]
Strike: [roll6]; Damage: [roll7]; Bleed damage (crit only): [roll8]

All damage (except the crit bleed) is nonlethal.

[Xacha]

Society Recall Knowledge for S&G: [roll0]


Meanwhile, Zarachia tilts her head, opens her eyes wide and gives Kato her best "blonde" look.

"Actually ... I believe you're thinking of leprechauns. They're the ones who have to grant a wish if you catch them. I think catching a halfling just gets you an irritated halfling."

Zarra hops to her feet and continues her patter, "But hey, it's festival season, so why worry about who caught who and what the hell is going on. It's time to celebrate magic and wizards and, um, other things like that. I mean, just yesterday I got to see an AMAZING magic act where a wizard pulled a rabbit out of someone's left nostril ..."

... and so on.


Diplomacy- Make an Impression (Going for a "friendly and slightly dim" vibe here.): [roll1]

Zarra's working from the sound bureaucratic principle that a good line of bull**** will get you out of any problem.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
To be fair, Ellie made the roll - she was able to follow. Borume just didn't expect her to: he made his gestures hard to follow intentionally to try and catch her out as not paying attention, and he's kinda a sore loser. :smalltongue:
A worthy will is not quite enough to render Ellie's giggle inaudible. Ambassador Karja keeps a good poker face, just raising an eyebrow and letting a little spark of mirth across his eyes. Borume glares between the two suspiciously, but seemingly lets the incident pass with a snort as he returns to his notebook. "I need to go see to the rest of the arrangements for tonight. Ms. Sprocket, entertain the ambassador for now, as best you're able. Masari?

The unspoken question cuts like a chill wind. Karja sighs, "Yeah, yeah. If she has marks on her neck when you get back, you can fine me fifty gold or something. Satisfied?" Borume doesn't look exactly satisfied with that answer, but he seems to accept it: nodding after a brief pause and leaving the room.

At last.

Karja removes his jacket, hanging it up over a portrait. He takes a second to be sure that it's the current Grand Alchemist he's obscured, before taking a seat at the table. He glances up at Ellie, "So. You're the one Borume selected for this shindig tonight?" The Gebbite rests his booted feet upon the council table, leaning back in the chair with a relaxed look. He chuckles at his new companion, "Any idea why he picked you, Zabby? Kill his favorite 'monculus? Blow up his flowerbed?"

Society roll to try and be polite and well-mannered: [roll0]

Ellie tries to.. erm. She maybe could sit... ah? Ellie tugs her dress up a little in the back and gently sits down on the edge of a chair, doing her best to balance and not mess up her dress. Hmm, curious observation that the ambassador has put his coat over Grand Alchemist Borume's portrait. Perhaps he suspects the Grand Alchemist spies through his paintings?

Wait, marks on her neck? Is the ambassador...? Oh. Ah.

Ellie wibbles a little in the chair. She needs to keep the ambassador entertained, however. "Oh, dear me, nothing like that! Well, I've had a recent string of small, erm, fires in the labs. I've been researching a more efficient compound for breaking down stone. Something that would favorably be useful in mining. But I... haven't found a way to store it safely. Jostling the liquid sets it off, you see. I've been temporarily assigned to book research in the library as of late. Perhaps I was chosen because I was available. Not that book research is any less important than the labs. I just... find it a bit tedious."

[Syless]

Adria takes Miley's hand. "It wasn't an ideal outcome. But I'm hoping in the long run it's better for you- Farrah may be difficult, but I want to see you get back on your feet. No one should be suffering in the street. My other thought was getting him to buy it from you... but I imagine that book has more than just monetary value to you. And while I'm no mage... I imagine casting magic without knowing the basics could go badly."

She then turns to the younger girl and smiles. "I would be delighted to accompany you. Being alone is... being alone is never fun." She tries not to let her own emotions distract the girl. "Did you have anywhere in particular in mind?" This day is looking bright. Hopefully this tone will continue...

[Gwynfrid]

Wow. Belginabo is momentarily speechless. This goes well beyond his experience. While he tries to recall some of the names the strange mechanical... creature... referred to, he answers, reasoning that it could be beneficial to make friends, of sorts, with it: "Garund, yes, correct. Oenopion, in Nex, to be precise. Er... What do you think you'll wish to do now?"

Society [roll0] - all right. Does he at least know where Osirion is relative to Nex?

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia
The routine gets a confused look from the lions, but it goes over reasonably well with the help. One of the Zalt girls snickers, and the mages can't bring themselves to look at her, turning away conspicuously. If it'd just been the hired help after her, that might've actually worked!

But there's always a critic, isn't there?

"No! No more games!" Kato stamps his foot on the ground, and the two lions roar, drawing close enough to Zarra and Gloopy that she can feel their breath on her feet. The Mwangi trader glowers at the halfling bureaucrat. "We know you stole from us. Either it was you who did the deed, or you pointed men to our warehouses, knowing full well we couldn't go to the guard about goods that exist in your little 'grey area'. You played us for fools!"

Garresh raises a hand to silence Kato, who acceeds with a grumpy snarl. The lizardman steps forward with a tired look on his face. He really doesn't want to have to do this. "Nobody needs to suffer here, Zarrachia. Just... admit it. Either bring us to where you hid the stuff, or tell us who has it now, and give back what they paid you for it. Then we can try and put all of this behind us."

They're all being quite sincere. But yeah, Zarra has dealt with these three in the past, just to be clear, but never did anything like that. (At least, as far as I know? They were just regular traders looking to bring slightly questionable things through her gate, and paid her to help make it happen smoothly.) Would go really poorly for her if people heard this story though - nobody'd ever try and work under the table with her again. And then where would she be?

Ellie
"A mining acid, hmm? Now there's an old dream."

Karja strums his fingers on the table, as though this were a casual conversation in some dinner lounge, and not the seat of power of the industrial heart of Nex. He hums, before offering Ellie a thought, "You considered trying to simplify the brewing process? If you could break it down to the point people at the mine can make it, storage wouldn't be an issue. Ship them the components, they make it as they need it."

He doesn't seem to expect any followup from Ellie on the point - it's just a suggestion, not an attempt to take the reins from her. Instead the strange vampire leans back, looking up at the ceiling for some reason. Ellie can't make out much more than a coat of blue paint over plaster if she follows his gaze. "I'm an arcanist, not an alchemist, bot gotta admit: I always thought the best lab was the field. Trying to come up with stuff while you're exploring strange ruins, or running away from monsters makes you get creative. Heh, we could've used your acid back in Ustalav, when the Whisperin' Way had us locked up, let me tell you Zabby."

Masari chuckles, though there's a bit less humour in it than before. He seems almost melancholy as he looks back to Ellie. "S'pose I'm biased though. Ask an ex Pathfinder where he wants to be, it's pretty much always 'somewhere else'."

Even without a roll, Ellie knows who the Pathfinders basically are. *cough*


The Pathfinder Society is a globe-spanning organization based out of Absalom, the City at the Center of the World. The membership consists primarily of Pathfinders, adventurers who travel throughout Golarion—usually inconspicuously—and explore, delve, and otherwise experience the lesser-seen parts of the world. They send journals documenting their travels back to their venture-captains, who also assigns them new missions and suggests new places to explore. The most exciting and illuminating of these journals are compiled in the Pathfinder Chronicles, an ongoing series of books that collect the history and mystery of Golarion for its membership and the general public
Sachni
Yeah, that's not just three misses, that's three critical failures. :smalleek: And Landry got a crit on his first response. Don't like doing a player dirty, but this fight ended up more one sided than I expected.

Landry seems surprised at the sheer speed Sachni's assault comes at. He spins with her, the golden light of his sword meeting the ki of her impossibly swift strikes with a rapid succession of thwooms and sparks. His knights may have been slower, but Landry's faced ghouls and ghasts on the field of battle, slain zombies that stood as tall as a cottage. He meets each blow, one, two, three, before countering with a single skillful thrust.

And just like the Black Prince, Sachni is run clean through by the Iomedean's blade.

It takes the good knight a second to catch his breath. When he does, he nods to Sachni. "Well fought." Oh yes. 'First Blood'. According to the knight's knightly rules, he's already won. Landry manages a grin as he stands, raising his hands to the crowd. "But a Knight of Lastwall's honour is not something so easily tarnished. Whatever you might say, lady monk. Lady Iomedae, and her words, are with me still!"

So runs his mouth, anyway. The crowd cheer, of course. The man who was saying things they wanted to hear won. Beneath the Lastwall Knight's bravado however, Sachni can see that the northerner struck her more deeply than he meant to. He has the grace to look a touch shaken. Without a word, Landry steps forward, looking at his counterpart apologetically. He raises a hand, one that glows with the same golden light as his blade, but it feels different now. More soothing, even at a foot's distance. Landry meets Sachni's eyes, looking for her approval before finishing the healing spell.

If Sachni accepts the offered Lay On Hands, she's healed to full. Otherwise, 14 damage from that round. (I'm not 100% sure if I'm incorporating a full Fumble Deck like approach for every fight, but with multiple nega-crits from her and a crit by Landry, it seems appropriate as a one time measure)

And yes, you're welcome to 'it's not over till its OVER'. :smallwink: I wouldn't recommend that option, but it is open to you.

[Estralita]

Raka

This. This was what her tribe had warned about. Not just that outsiders were merciless to their enemies, but they wouldn't even spare basic sympathy for others. Resident or not, goblin racist or not, this man was probably dying, and whoever was in charge of the machine was holding his life hostage for money! Several goblin words for these kind of people sprang to mind, and she fought to avoid spewing all of them at once.

However...

Raka had promised herself that she would be better. Better than outsiders, better than her tribe, better than she had been. That she would do the right thing, defend those in need.

Time to pay up.

And so it was with only a twinge of regret that she tossed the coins to the machine, only stopping to make sure they were accepted, before heading back to the alley.

No time to wait. She had a job to do.

Perception check!

[roll0]

Also, if you look at Raka's sheet, her gold and feats are accounted for (now)

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
He doesn't seem to expect any followup from Ellie on the point - it's just a suggestion, not an attempt to take the reins from her. Instead the strange vampire leans back, looking up at the ceiling for some reason. Ellie can't make out much more than a coat of blue paint over plaster if she follows his gaze. "I'm an arcanist, not an alchemist, bot gotta admit: I always thought the best lab was the field. Trying to come up with stuff while you're exploring strange ruins, or running away from monsters makes you get creative. Heh, we could've used your acid back in Ustalav, when the Whisperin' Way had us locked up, let me tell you Zabby."

Masari chuckles, though there's a bit less humour in it than before. He seems almost melancholy as he looks back to Ellie. "S'pose I'm biased though. Ask an ex Pathfinder where he wants to be, it's pretty much always 'somewhere else'."

Ellie's eyes light up when she realizes what he is talking about. "Th-The Pathfinders? Y-You? I didn't real... that is..." Ellie wibbles again. Maybe the corset she's wearing has cut the blood flow to her head? She taps both index fingers against each other in her lap. She looks very pensive.

"My recent... erm, lab accidents have had me worried that I will be limited for quite some time in using them. I was thinking that... ah, perhaps if I could travel a field I could gain some experience as an alchemist. At the same time I wouldn't cause Master Alchemist Borume any trouble should something go wrong. But, I've never traveled outside this city and don't know of anyone like... like a Pathfinder who I could get help with my idea. I don't suppose... that you could tell me how one could get started to be a Pathfinder?"

She looks up at him with her big, abler eyes, intently listening to whatever he's going to say next.

[Anyr]

Each and every one of Sachni's blows were deflected. The same couldn't be said of her opponent's strike. She had just enough time to raise an eyebrow, before being impaled. The pain was incredible. She staggered back a step, as the shock rippled through her. Thankfully, relief came quickly. With her permission, the knight's holy light healed her wounds. Sachni took a moment to regain composure. She stared down the man who'd caused her such pain. Then, for the first time, her mouth curved into a grin.

"That was...brilliant! What a strike! Your defence was excellent too! Thank you for this sample of a foreign combat style. It was most educational."

She gave him a bow of acknowledgement. The moment was short-lived, though. She quickly circled back to the original cause of the duel.

"To be clear, you're still a liar. And I greatly disapprove of your methods. But even so, I'm glad we met."

With that, Sachni departed the stage. If her snacks hadn't been eaten by an opportunistic bystander, she'd pause to take them. Then she left the park behind. Oenopion was certainly a lively place. Sachni looked forward to seeing what else it would throw at her.

[Inspector Valin]

Adria
It turns out the girl just wanted the two women to come home with her. She walks them to the more fashionable streets of Briarby, opening the door to a terraces house with a long key she wears around her neck. Stepping through, the pair enter a stone room that looks central to the house - some kind of open book lies on a desk beside a pen, and above them hangs a spiral staircase that seems to slowly rotate, leading up to floors barely visible from this angle.

A perhaps foot tall humanoid with bat wings and a tiny waistcoat comes buzzing in from the landing one above. He bows, "Miss Peridora! Welcome home!" The glasses wearing Peridora returns the bow with a curtsey and a warm smile. "Thank you, Xanthus! Be so kind as to show my guests to the drawing room? We'll be taking lunch there."

The lounge Xanthus escorts you into is tastefully appointed, with leather chairs to rest in, a long table to sit at, a series of cabinets containing strange curios, and bookshelves lining the walls above them. In the other room, you can hear Peridora humming merrily away to the sound of boiling water. Miley sighs as she sinks down into a chair. "This... this is something I could get used to."

After a few minutes, the young lady and the homunculus both return. Peridora carries a tray bearing four cups, and a silver pot with the Nexite sigil on it. Xanthus bears a selection of sandwiches on a small platter. The two hosts insist on pouring for the guests, before each taking a cup of their own. Peri, now at the head of the table, coughs and attempts an adult voice. "In the name of the Great Archmage, I bid you all cordially to enjoy your very fine tea."

Belginabo
It's due north, the north east point of Garund. Katapesh, a whole other country, lies between you and it. Here. (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-taxbcU3l9eU/VBnCkb_1J5I/AAAAAAAAO04/BAAw5urvqR8/s1600/map_inner_sea_large.png) Osirion hasn't had an empire for a long time too - most people these days would call the era of this doll 'ancient Osirion', but it was a thing long ago. Most of Garund outside the Mwangi Expanse was theirs at one point, and Osiriani is still one of the most widely spoken languages in both Nex and Geb. Zalenko was at least roughly right - Nex and Geb are both very old, but the doll is just as old, if not older.
It takes the doll some time to come up with an answer for Belginabo. When it speaks, its words are once again slow and soft. "Honestly? I do not know where to begin. I knew that this may happen to me one day, but to be confronted with a new world such as this is quite overwhelming."

The doll glances once again at the crowd, then looks up, taking in Oenopion's skyline. When it speaks again, it sounds a little stronger. "This city seems peaceful, and not actively dangerous. I will remain here for now, and take some time to familiarize myself with the current state of local affairs. Mostly to ensure I am aware of any active wars or noteworthy political tensions, and make a decision based on that. Does that sound reasonable?"

Raka
Raka's irritation at the strange, money grubbing ways of Oenopion carries her down the trail swiftly. She winds through a maze of back alleys, across patches of soot and over shipping crates. The man had come a long way since he was wounded. But before she finds the end of the trail, she almost runs straight into another inhabitant of the backalleys, moving just as swiftly towards her.

A goblin. This one has ash grey skin, and is perhaps a head shorter than Raka. He carries a crooked blade, the hilt tied to his belt with rope rather than a scabbard. There's dark orange markings painted around his nose: he's a Cindersnout, one of the tribes that lives near Alkenstar, and he has the fancy jacket to prove it. Blue, with golden epaulettes. Though there's something off about that part. The blue's been covered by a hefty splash of something darker, running up the fold of the coat.

Blood. Not just that, the same blood Raka's been tracking, still wet. She can practically smell it on him.

It takes the bespattered villain a second to process who he's bumped into. He looks over Raka's face, trying to place her, assuming even a strange goblin with a different skintone might simply be some member of his tribe he'd forgotten about. As he fails to remember her, it starts to dawn on the Cindersnout why a fierce looking warrior was following the same trail in the other direction. He holds up his hands, backing away from Raka as non-threateningly as he can. "Not... not me! Not my fault! W.. I not kill mask-man!" he cries.

Ellie
"Hah! You wanna join the Society, do ya?" Karja grins, placing a hand to his chest. "Should've known. Less than five minutes with me, and you already want to follow in my footsteps, right?"

The once living wizard snorts, before actually starting to give Ellie an honest answer. "D'pends on how official you wanna be. Properly speakin, a new recruit's supposed to apply to the Grand Lodge in Absalom. Y'll get tested by the three ol' deans: Swords, Spells and Scrolls, an' about three years of training in all the various little bits of an adventurer's life. Then you get your shot at working in your field, with an assigned mission called your Confirmation. Pull it off, you're a full agent - get issued a Wayfinder, a bed at whatever lodge you venture past, and a venture captain to nag you about getting your reports in on time."

"There's ways around that. The Decemvirate can grant a field commission for exceptional results, someone they really want to join the society just gets in like that. The Lodge Masters are willing to be flexible too; bring a discovery in to one of them, they can count that as your Confirmation - if you can convince them you're as good as a trained initiate." Karja chuckles, but this discussion has left him meditative. He returns to looking at the ceiling, though he doesn't stop speaking to Ellie. "Ask me? The biggest part of it all's just having the right attitude. A good Pathfinder's curious as a bug: they want to know more about everything, and they don't stop asking questions just because it ruffles some feathers. You can't train someone to think that way, either they do or they don't. And if you do, that's more valuable than any support the Society'll ever offer you."

Sachni
Sachni's wanderings, with time, take her to the steps of the Guildhall. A relatively humble title for the seat of power of a large city, though that much was likely unintentional. It looks more like the palace of the Thakur back on Jalmeray, multiple pointed towers surrounding a great dome. Even the front door is raised above the ground, requiring anyone who saught the council of the cities government to ascend a flight of smooth cut stairs, all the while looking up at the hall the Guild of Chymestry have built for themselves.

A gathering that's formed in the square before the building however is the thing that catches the monk's eye first. A crowd of very young children, overseen by their smiling parents, stand within a forest of lights. Tiny trees have risen up around them, their boughs level with the young ones' heads, and with leaves coloured purples and blues and reds. Strange animals dart through the brush, and pass around the delighted little onlookers. Sachni can see monkeys with the ears and tails of cats, a bird with the wings of an eagle and the bill of a duck, even a flight of crows with feathers every colour of the rainbow.

There's a gentle cough from behind her. Turning, Sachni finds a woman in a red robe smiling at her, flanked by two colleagues in identical dress. She gestures to the display. "And you, ma'am? What would you like to see?"

[Xacha]

Zarra is at a bit of a loss. She's got all sorts of practice with shades of lying. She's a bit rusty with telling the truth.

With a mental shrug, she figures this crew wouldn't accept her "clueless innocent" act, so let's try "corrupt but not stupid."

"Uh-uh, Garresh, no way. You know me. You know I've got a good thing going here. I'm getting money over and under the table. Bidlug Kresh will be retiring in eight months - six if I keep spiking his tea - and I'm the next in line to be chief customs officer on duty when he leaves. You know how much I can make in bribes when I don't have to kick half of it up the chain?"

"But all of that requires that I. Don't. Rock. The Boat." She stamps a golden foot in emphasis. "All it's going to take is one ambitious investigator to follow the paper trail and realize how those stolen goods got into the city, and then I'm out on my ear. If I'm lucky and my supervisors don't decide to throw me to the wolves to save their own skins"

She looks at them imploringly. "I know you're out money. Well, my neck is on the line here. Tell me what you know, and let's work this out together ..."


Not sure what to roll for "convincing truth-telling," so let's go for a general Diplomacy check: [roll0]
As long as we're at it, she has "Underworld Lore," mostly through her father, who ...

Oh.

Oh hell.

Zarrachia suddenly has an internal conviction about who's been stealing from her "friends".

A Recall Informaiton check on Underworld Lore to try and remember what her father's been doing lateley, and where he might be found: [roll1]

[Anyr]

As Sachni walked, she replayed the duel in her mind. Each part of the brief exchange got dissected. What mistakes had she made? What could she do differently next time? Did the opponent's style have anything to teach? Each new encounter was a new chance to grow. No matter how much she learnt, she'd never consider her training 'complete'.

Eventually, Sachni's thoughts were drawn in another direction. Young laughter reached her ears. She beheld an enchanting scene. Tiny trees, with adorable creatures! And children! Sachni loved children. She'd grown up alongside a whole monastery of warrior sisters. As Sachni's generation became adults, new batches of kids kept arriving. So she'd always been near many adorable little monks. The sight of these new children brought a soft smile to her face. She watched them silently; Until a cough came from behind her. She regarded the newcomers with some confusion.

"See? Erm, what exactly is happening here? I'm very new to the city."

[Syless]

Adria can't help but hide her awe at the house she's shown into. She's never been in a house this nice. The closest thing was a night in a necromancer's manor back in Geb, and... horrific memories aside, it still wasn't this nice. This child... there are indeed parents in Nex who raise their children well. It warms her heart to hear. "This is truly lovely... thank you so much, Miss Peridora." She takes her own seat and has the tea poured in front of her, and she smiles.

The toast makes her hesitate. Is there a specific response she's missing? Is she about to out herself as a foreigner? Hopefully the kind girl won't mind a mistake, but... she needs to say something. "In the name of the Great Archmage, I thank you greatly for your hospitality, and I will savor this tea." Before she takes her first sip, she places a hand on her holy symbol and says a quick prayer of thanks to Sarenrae, then takes her first drink and smiles.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie took in the information and it was a moment for her to unpack it all. Many questions formed in her mind. "So, it's like a guild... Do they have union dues? What happens when a Pathfinder is hurt, is there a medical wing they're taken too? Or if they're far off in an exotic location is there ways to locate errant members? I have so many questions..."

She pulls herself back, because Ellie was sitting so close to the edge of her chair that she was about to fall off.

"Erm, maybe I'm being too forward with you. So, you said there are ways to get in quicker than the years it normally takes. What... What would you advise a young woman who is so curious that she... Well, you know. You can probably tell."

Ellie fidgets with her hands. Years would be a long time and she wasn't sure she could devote that kind of time for training. She could get tossed out of the alchemy guild in a month if she has another bad lab accident. Well, Grand Master never said that, but the way he looks at Ellie it just feels like she... "

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia
The three merchants are quiet, each of them absorbing Zarrachia's request differently. The first to speak is Zalt, though he seems reluctant, placing a hand on his counterpart's green robed shoulder. "We... ain't exactly got proof it's her, Kat. When ye get right down to it... 's just coincidence."

"... Coincidence. We all come to Ms. Marns for help getting what we need into the city, and it's coincidence that we're robbed afterwards?" Kato almost spits the word, glaring at the Alkenstarite. He's never been a believer in simple providence.

The idea does seem to be getting some play with Garresh, however. The lizardman has been thinking, trying to reevaluate the situation in response to Zarra's words, and now he steps in with a nod. "If it was Zarrachia who orchestrated this, the robberies would have been more calculated and more thorough. She likely has everything that passed by on her watch written down, she could've cleaned us out entirely. Durgen, weren't you bringing in currency to finance a buyout or something?" The dwarfen magnate nods, and Garresh turns back to Kato "I doubt she'd let that slip by if she turned on us. Even if they were working quickly, no thief would just leave barrels full of gold lying their without at least skimming some off the top. I believe her. She's not our thief."

Kato looks as unconvinced as he does outvoted. He glances between his business partners, looking for some slight sign of support, before turning back to Zarra with a scowl. Two clicks of his sandals are enough to make the lions back off. The trader glares down at the halfling woman, his voice deep and soft like a cave you never got out of. "Fine. I still say you're suspect number one, Ms. Marns, but if my cohort is unconvinced, there's no point continuing this conversation. If you're willing to work with us to track down who or what's been stealing from the three of us, we'll call it even. I'll throw some coin your way as an apology for my suspicion too. Assuming you can manage to prove that it wasn't you."

That seems to be all Kato wants to say for now. He takes a step back, to place him level with Zalt and the mercenaries. Garresh steps forward, offering Zarrachia a hand to help her up from beneath the cart. Leaning close, the lizardman whispers into her ear. "Don't mind Kato. He takes a loss like this very personally. I wouldn't want to be the thief when he gets his hands on them."

Sachni
"Ah!"

The woman in the robe nods, understanding now. She gestures back towards the forest display, before cupping her hands to make the sign of Nethys. "Well, there's no festival for illusion magic. The Book of Magic lists our day as the fourteenth of Neth, but Abjurant Day, Evoking Day and Transmutatum are the three holidays the Church actively promotes, and since they're intended to celebrate their own schools of magic, practitioners don't really like it when we try to help. They say we get in the way, just distract people. So a group of us thought we'd come together as illusionists this year and try and put on some displays of illusion magic in between the other festivals this Neth. We're hoping people appreciate it, and learn a bit more about what we do."

The illusionist chuckles. "Who knows? Maybe we'll get an official holiday one of these years. But yes, we can create an image of whatever you describe. A family member, a god, an animal that never really existed: right before your eyes! Would you like us to make something for you?"

Adria
"You're quite welcome!" Peridora beams at the priestess, while bustling about. She seems thrilled to have the two of you here.

When it comes time for the toast however, Miley looks as confused as her new friend, if not more so. "To the... great archmage?" she offers, looking between Peridora and Adria for some kind of idea just what to say. "May he never... eat a slice of apple he didn't like."

"I don't think any of us got it quite right." Peridora looks dispirited at that. After a second however, the young girl ralleys, waving the question away with a shake of her head. "Oh well! The archmage isn't a real god, he won't mind. He's probably just glad that we remember him."

Tea is, needless to say, delightful. The drink is freshly brewed, warm and filling, while the sandwiches are light and chewy, each holding a generous portion of meat. After a few gulps of the dark brown liquid, Peridora turns to her houseguest, "Ms. Adria. Can you tell me about that symbol you wear? What does it mean?"

Ellie
"Aroden's arse, you're impatient, girl!"

Karja laughs, a booming belly laugh that fills the room. It takes the vampire a few seconds to recover, and once he does, he shakes his head. "It ain't like the alchemist's guild. Say what you will about Borry, he runs a tight ship. Being a Pathfinder means less rules; you get to go wherever you want, investigate whatever you want, provided you write back to your venture captain with a full report, and there's no real dues owed. But it also means less support. Pay comes when you submit a report, not before. Lodges will give you a bed and some warm meals, but any gear they offer you have to buy. Most of us back in my day practiced a second trade to make sure we could get by on the road, or we sold whatever treasure we ran across to keep going."

"If you really want in that bad, it's like I say, your best bet is through the Lodge Masters. The Society set up places for its members to bunk and prepare to explore all over the map. It's where reports get filed too. You want to get in, you're gonna have to spread your wings first. Go find some mystery or secret that the Pathfinders haven't been able to get to, and bring a report in. The Lodge Master'll interview you, and if they buy you're capable, you'll be offered a field agent role."

"It's not guaranteed. But it's the best chance you've got. The Decies won't beveret you in unless you make the find of the century, bunch of self important old sods. I'm pretty sure there's a lodge in Quantium if you can find it up." The ambassador takes a second, gathering his thoughts before shaking his head. "The big thing you need's the first step. You won't make a discovery worthy of the Chronicles just sticking with Borry and the Guild. You want to be the sorta person they hand a wayfinder to, you've gotta be able to go out there on your own first. Spread your wings, then they'll have your back."

Karja pauses for a second. For the first time Ellie can recall since Borume left, the ambassador isn't smiling. After a second though, the vampire's grin returns, and he waves a hand across the table. "Here! First assignment from me. What can you tell me about the four pieces of tat Borry dredged out as 'Gifts from the City' this year?"

No roll will help you here. :smallwink: Karja's more interested in how she'd try and work out more about them than her being right.

[Anyr]

Sachni nodded along with the explanation. It made sense. Everyone had their own place in the cosmic order: Whether they be warrior, scholar, or simple labourer. It was only fair that each contribution be acknowledged. She could imagine the frustration of your efforts being ignored. So Sachni was happy to let these illusionists demonstrate their craft. At the mention of deities, one particular name sprang to mind.

"Are you familiar with the goddess Suyuddha? I'd enjoy seeing her depicted as more than simple ink on a page."

If necessary, Sachni would provide a description.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, Alchemist

Ellie blushed at ambassador Karja's laugh. He was right; Ellie was being rather brash with her questions. She only heard of the Pathfinders and everything presented is being taken for a fairy tale's fantasy. She quieted down as the ambassador continued to speak, listening to his instruction on the reality of the group. She felt a bit foolish for being so eager to do something. Not the first time Ellie would run into the unknown without thinking it through.

Not the hundredth time either.

The first assignment catches Ellie off guard. She blinks and pulls back a little, turning to look at the gifts. "What can I, tell...? Well, let's see..." She reaches for her goggles, but then realizes she's wearing a fancy dress and not her lab coat. Another blush, but one more subtle. Ellie wrings her hands together and then studies the objects while talking out loud about her thoughts of each of them."

"Well, the pyramid is a very sturdy structure. Triangles are an advantageous form in architecture. They make excellent tombs because such monuments last against time. The wand is crafted from elm, so I theorize it is meant to be used in a demanding situation, such as combat. Elm is a very fine wood prized for its interlocking grain. Because it seldom splits it is preferred in heavy duty applications like wagon wheels."

"A large tome like this would indicate very in-depth knowledge in a particular subject. The recipient is likely an avid reader, or an expert who would benefit from having knowledge of their profession collected in one large volume where it could be indexed for research. The harrow deck would benefit the hands of a skilled diviner in reading fortunes, though, I'm not much into the fancy of fate and predestination. Still, cards could be enchanted with magic..."

[Xacha]

Zarra worried at her lower lip. This was all very not good. Even if she got out of of this unharmed, her reputation as an effective smuggler's ally would suffer. That would mean her income would suffer.

No, her only chance would be to help find the thief and bring them to justice. Well, judging by the looks of this crew, "injustice with a big stick" but close enough for government work.

"Problem is, Garresh, you're right. I don't know a single thief in the city who could pass by a barrel of gold without sticking a hand in. Someone must be targeting you for something specific. Can you tell me anything about what was taken?"

[Syless]

"This?" She places her hand on her pendant. "This is the symbol of Sarenrae, the Everlight. She's not as common here in Nex as some of the other gods- I have yet to find a temple to Her- but I still find myself happy here. She preaches compassion and understanding, and redemption for those who would stray... but if a being is born of evil, like the fiends of the lower planes or..." She clenches her fist tight around her symbol. "...undead... then Her followers are to purge them, to restore the balance of the world. Like most gods, She makes no claims at supremacy, but her place fits in among the other benevolent deities. Pharasma would suffer if souls refused to leave the material realm, Her compassion reflects Nethys' duality- His destructive side does not define him, if He creates in turn."

She suddenly pulls back and places a hand over her mouth. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to start preaching... Her light drives me, and I slipped into that without intention. My apologies."

[Estralita]

Raka

Once Raka saw and smelled her quarry, she forced herself to slow down. Don't rush, make sure the innocent don't suffer. She heard her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she reached for her sword.

The sword strapped to Raka's back was special to her. Since her tribe had limited access to metal, her tribes weapons were taken from their fallen enemies. This sword once belonged to a half-orc, who laughed at her challenging him, when his sword was bigger than she was. It was her prize that day, and she fought hard to master it.

She drew it slowly and deliberately, bringing its tip down to the goblin's nose.

She used it to protect the innocent. And punish the guilty.

""Explain. Now."

I'm thinking an Intimidation check is in order.

[roll0]

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo's bafflement gives way to excitement. Here's something entirely new to his experience!

This guy - without even noticing it, he starts thinking of it as a person - must know a great deal about ancient history, and therefore, about magic! He's magical himself! (Wait, is it a he or a she?)

He begins to view the whole situation under new light, that of opportunity: A chance to learn from the ancient being, to discover great things... His heart racing, his mind pictures the fantastic new avenues he could explore... Forgetting all about Zalenko, about the enthusiastic crowd around them, about his freshly embraced career, he asks excitedly, his speech building speed until he works himself nearly out of breath: "Oh, oh! Maybe I could help you with that! Yes yes the city is quite peaceful well there's always the possibility of war with Geb you know but maybe it won't happen it hasn't happened in a really long time. But anyway it's safe here well if you don't count the occasional explosion here or there stray spells maybe or overeager apprentice alchemists? You know how many different things can happen in a city filled with magic oh especially today did you know it's Abjurant Day in three days from now no no I guess you wouldn't know that sorry anyway I'd love to help you discover the city I just hope you won't mind me asking a few questions? Just a few like how is your kind born or made I hope it's not a rude question? What was it like in Osirion in the days of the Four Pharaohs and Sothis I've heard of it a great city they say I wonder if it was even greater back then? "

He suddenly stops, remembering.

"Oh. Sorry. I should ask, mind if I ask what is your name? Mine is Belginabo." He punctuates this with a bow.

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
Your GM would like a description :smalltongue: AFAICT we're getting into obscure lore here. I'll improvise, tell me if you want a different take.
The request does produce a bemused look from the lead illusionist, but after a few seconds whispered conversation with her counterparts, she nods. The three mages form a triangle, raising their hands and chanting arcane words as one.

A puff of smoke. A long held pull of veena strings, and a rising tabla beat. Then from the shroud emerges a wreath of glossy feathers, blue and green, each taller than Sachni herself. Rising up before them is the goddess herself, standing twice the height any of the human observers. An athletic woman, wearing silks of red and blue, with her hair fastened behind her in a braid. She does not fit the Inner Sea's definition of godliness, but she matches Vudra's metric better. The Queen of War is clad not in shining armor, for her acolytes are her protection, and bears no burning blade of wrath, for those who serve her are her sword. Instead she simply is what she is - a wise tactician and masterful general, who the padaprajna would follow into the heart of the abyss itself. Even through the reproduction, that feeling, that sensation remains.

Suyuddha looks down at her disciple. Sachni can see a faint smile behind her veil.

Ellie
"Not bad. Thinking things through, using the information you've got, trying to avoid slipping up. You're pretty careful when you want to be" Karja chuckles appreciatively, giving the young alchemist the most reassuring smile a man with incisors that sharp could manage. "Bit too careful though. You played that as safe as you could. A little more context and you can say a lot more. As is, I can tell you who all these gifts are for just by looking at them, and I can say why Borry made that call."

Finally getting up, Karja moves across the room to sit by the four gifts. He picks each one up in turn, running his hands across it and turning it this way and that as he gives his own conclusions to Ellie. "The pyramid's a personal note. Borry knows about my past, so he hands me an Osirion relic as a reminder of my better days, when I'd explore tombs like that. Ruddy thing's a puzzle box, so he knows I'll take a while to solve it, damn his eyes. Alkenstar have this whole thing about making their own destiny and their own luck, so an item that 'commands luck' is a thoughtful gift for the duchy - shows some understanding of how they think. When it comes to the book, even without knowing what's in there, I can tell you the binding's old and strange: never seen its like before. In context, I'll bank that it's Vudran, probably dating back to the time when the Arclords ruled Jalmeray. Give him credit, must've taken some effort to dig that up."

"Now, the wand..."

Adria
Peridora is quiet, but Miley nods sagely

"You should try going north some time. Nex has no grudge with your church, but the faith never quite found a place here when Pharasma and Nethys are so long established. Both of their high priests have a seat on the Three and Nine. But Sarenrae is popular in Katapesh: I've seen them celebrate the Sunwrought Festival with music ringing throughout the city, complete with a full reenactment of the battle between her and a painted, snarling Rovagug-puppet. And the Dawnflower is the state goddess of Qadira, and Kelesh, if you feel like venturing into Casmaron. I believe they're the ones who spread her worship across the Inner Sea to begin with."

The pale woman looks nostalgic. She goes quiet briefly, before returning her attention to Adria. "The temples there are magnificent - they've stained glass domes and mirrors designed to spread sunlight to every corner of the building. The walls are painted with scenes throughout history of both Serenae and her most worthy saints fighting evil and promoting peace. They're quite a wonder."

Belginabo
It is starting to dawn on the doll that answering all of Belginabo's questions might take another thousand years. Yet it can't bring itself to truly hate the energetic little would-be-wizard. It smiles at the patter, though one name strikes a chord within its clouded memories.

"Geb?"

Likely a coincidence. After a moments thought, the doll shakes its head, dismissing the idea. Once its gnomish friend has come to a stop, the construct takes a second to examine this most recent question before finally settling on an answer. It echoes Bel's bow, "Okoro was my name, once. It will still serve. It is a pleasure to meet you, Belginabo."

"Bel!" Zalenko's cry cuts above the crowd. The wizard's head just about pokes out from the throng of excited townsfolk he's selling his constructs to, waving back towards his tent. "Customer wants the larger globe-drone! Can you go grab it for her? Should be somewhere near the back."

Zarrachia
The three merchants look between each other. Nobody has any objection to sharing information at this point, but with the understanding that Zarrachia is not the thief, the fact that they now have no leads is starting to dawn upon the trio as well. They look dispirited, maybe a touch tired now that the target of their wrath has slipped them by.

It's Zalt who speaks up, gesturing behind the group. "Okay, fine. But we're taking this inside the tavern. Reckon we could all use a drink. I'll buy a round."

Raka
The Cindersnout does not nod with the sword an inch from his nose. The unfortunate goblin gulps, trying to calm down as he starts to explain. "Mask Man find us. We hiding out, getting ready for later, when he run in and starts yelling, waving sword around everywhere."

Even recounting the story has the goblin shaking. Though that might be Raka. He just about manages to continue. "Thought he was going to fight us. Everyone scared. But he had... accident. Real accident. Didn't look behind him. We all thought he dead. So someone had to go get rid of body, 'case it get eaten, since it almost time to start. That Zib's job. I do errands while others plan. Went to find somewhere dark to leave mask man, carrying him over shoulder, but he wake back up, kick me in chest, grab mask and run away!"

He can't help but glance down at the curved sword tied to his belt. "So.. had to try and find mask man. In case he still not dead."

The last words almost hurt Zib to say. He can tell how Raka's going to take them. The Cindersnout raises his hands, starting to panic again. "Inotwanttokill! Honest! But... had to. He knew about The Plan."

[Inspector Valin]

Why, hello there. It's time for things to begin in earnest. Let's see, how does this all start again?
https://i0.wp.com/adoptionlawsml.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/fancy-line-2.pngIn a darkened alleyway, down a factory bystreet in the depths of Caibius, Zib of the Cindersnout tribe has finally managed to take a closer look at his captor. He shares his realization with her, speaking slowly, not wanting to anger the woman with the sword. "You... not wear tribe colours. You not with any tribe. Outcast? From far away?"

Zib flinches just at the look Raka gives to that question. Before she can interject, the blue coated goblin quickly starts explaining why he asked. "Things not good in wastes this year. Very not good. Food almost all gone; nothing to hunt, nothing growing. Not even thornroot! Tribes all think someone hoarding beatle heards, or drive birds away and hide them in cave, but everyone raid everyone else to try and find something to eat. Nothing. It got so bad, chiefs call big moot, bring everyone together to try and find way to feed all goblins. Everyone show up, Cindersnouts, Inkhands, Bonegnashers, Stinky Toads, Whitehorns..."

He lists off every tribe Raka's ever heard of, and some she hasn't. Zib has to take a deep breath when he's done, almost spiking his nose on the sword before he can continue, having now reached the climax of his story. "Then, these two longshanks show up too, with wagons of food! Meat, bread, wine. Tribes feast, while longshanks talk to elders. They say they give goblins enough food to last whole year through, if we get them some magicy thing. From When-oh-pon."

Zib taps the wall behind him. It's still a little amazing to the goblin that he's managed to come this far. "Chiefs say no way! Not trust longshanks, think they ones who steal animals. Plus When-oh-pon has big walls, metal men, wizards, guards, bombs! No way even all the tribes together can take city. We lose that fight bad. Zib pretty sure Chiefs right on that."

The Cindersnout shudders, before shaking his head. "But Chief Hunter Koma not agree. Can't let goblins starve no matter what. This could end all tribes. Even if just a chance, got to take longshanks deal. To save goblins." It's clear from the tear in Zib's eyes that he's with the Chief Hunter on this, even with a hostile sword in his face. The Cindersnout sniffles, trying to get back to his explanation. "Koma brought Zib and friends north to try and steal the thingimie, get it without a fight so no one dies. It not easy. When-oh-pon got lots of guards, and magicy tricks to spot thieves. But we sneak around. We watch gold-hall, where best loot is kept, listen to longshanks talk about festival, arm-bassa-doors an' other stuff. And Koma come up with The Plan."


"They took food from me." Zalt explains, after a hefty drought of ale. He and his daughters are the only comfortable members of the merchants' group, Garresh and Kato look far from pleased at having to squeeze into a halfling tavern. But they kneel upon the floor in silence, resigned to the only chance of immediate alcohol to hand, with an audience not inclined to care about the grey market nature of their work, what Durgen continues to explain. "A dozen bottles of fungal wine, an' two ice-barrels full of prime cut stake. I were gonna sell 'em fer Evokin' Day! Everyone wants somethin' tasty to eat while watchin fireworks an' duels, right?"

"Right." Garresh looks set to nurse his drink. The lizard raps a blue scaled hand on the table. "From me, they took fireworks of course. Always my stock in trade this time of year. I'm not sure my staff were able to account for all the losses, the thieves just took a few items out of each of the higher end boxes, which is why we didn't realize we were robbed at first. Currently, I'd put the estimate at somewhere between a dozen and two dozen high yield rockets, all enchanted with evocation runes. Plus one specialty work, the Harlequin, that was supposed to be the highlight of some Riddler's personal show in Quantium."

Zalt winces at that. The Riddlers, some cult in the capitol, were notorious spenders. This likely cost his friend badly. That said, the two of them look to the final member of their group. The Mwangi trader seems to have almost deflated, just sitting slumped against the tavern's beam. Eventually, Zalt breaks the silence. "Kat? Yer gonna have to tell her."

With a sigh, Kato finally speaks, not wanting to look up from his mug. "Half a dozen Great Apes, fresh from the Expanse. Trained as show beasts, for performance riding on Transmutatum. I had the deal signed, brought them across the gap, secure in their pens then..."

He waves his hands. A grimacing Zalt slams his drink on the table. "Monkies! Who steals a monkey, I ask ya? What's the world coming to?" The halfling bar patrons, abandoning all pretense of not listening in, nod sagely at the dwarf's words. Zalt meanwhile seems to have become distracted. The old dwarf cups his hand over his ear, "Wait... did you lot hear that?"


THWOOM!

The roar of the explosion is beyond loud. The force of it alone is almost enough to make Belginabo drop the hefty hunk of metal and glass he's trying to lug out front for some unseen customer. The energized crowd have grown suddenly silent, and still, glancing around to try and see just what had happened, and if it was about to happen again but right on top of them. (and if so, which way they should be running to get away.)

Zalenko is the one who finally breaks the silence, the wizard laughing nervously as he looks across his assembled patrons. "Oh, come on friends! This is Oenopion, City of Alchemists! Are you seriously telling me you're all scared of a... a tiny explosion like that?"

But that was rather the problem. Even Belginabo has been in Oenopion long enough to tell the difference between the distant faint sound of a poorly made bomb going off in some padded lab room, and whatever in Nethys' name that was. The two guards who'd joined the audience for Zalenko's demonstration exchange a look, before running in the direction the sound had come from. Okoro simply stands in place for now, eyes darting about. If the doll has counsel, it's keeping a firm hold of it for now.


Adria and Miley have bolted out of Peridora's house at the sound of the explosion. It was loud, and sounded close: up and down the street, other residents of Briarby are doing much the same. Running out right after them, and turning her head up, Peridora can't help but gasp. The highest tower of the Guildhall is billowing smoke - enough so that it's rising up over the city like some enormous chimney. Peridora straightens her glasses, trying to make sure she's seeing this correctly, before turning to Adria.

"That's the Council Chamber. Where the High Council and Grand Alchemist meet. No one ever does experiments in there. What's going on?"


Suyuddha gazes upwards, towards the red and white flame lingering in the sky, before her image finally fades away. Sachni can make out smoke, sparks, perhaps some kind of spiral in the fire, as if it were some bizzare performance. It certainly doesn't seem mortal in origin - the flame lingers above them, burning without seeming fuel. A grey smog is emanating from it, covering the lower expanses of the Guildhall. It could reach the square, and Sachni, is just a minute or so

That was when the laughter started. The same laugh, repeating over and over, echoing out across the square, coming from the heart of the fire. It sounds strangely false - oddly deep, and with a slight reverberation no mortal mouth could match. The lead illusionist glances from the flames to Sachni, clearly confused by first the explosion, now the flame and macabre chortling. "What even is this? Are we being attacked? By... clowns?"

As if in response, a throaty, bellowing WRRRAH! comes from the direction of the Guildhall. Jumping at the sound, the red robe turns to her friends. "Get the children away from here! Quickly now! Anyone with combat magic ready, form up with me!" As she starts taking command of her small group, and the mighty golem defenders of Oenopion start to clank forward into Guildhall square, only Sachni is looking upward to notice something strange. A procession of large figures, hidden in the smoke, climbing up towards the heart of the fire.


Everything for Ellie is gray: her world is this thick, cloying, choking smog she can barely see through. The only light in the room comes from a handful of red and white sparks, drifting lazily over the scene. The revered Council Table is lying in splinters all around her, trophy cabinets and portraits have been knocked to the floor, and the smell of burning fills her nostrils. The laughter makes it worse: it's like someone ordered a homunculus to laugh, and it just keeps doing it, again and again until it boroughs through your head with its incessant boneshaking drone.

The goblins almost seem imaginary to Ellie at first. Their grey skin and dark red face-paint blends into the smoke, and little figures in blue coats scampering every which way seems too surreal to be reality. By the time she's sure they aren't some hallucination, they've already done most of their work. Half the valuables in the Council Chamber have been quickly grabbed, and loaded into a selection of hefty sacks. Even Ellie's own experimenting gear, laid to one side as she changed! One goblin, with more elaborate designs painted across his face and gold trim upon his coat has made for the wreckage of the table. It takes him a few seconds, but Ellie sees him pick up tome, wand, pyramid and cards alike: throwing the complete set into his pack with a triumphant look.

"Oh no, you little buggers! Not on my watch. Venator Ixi Canj - aaarrrgh!"

Karja Masari's spell fizzles on his lips, as sunlight finally breaks through the smog. Ellie can see the ambassador's pallid skin smoking as he howls in pain, almost bent over double in an instant. With an effort, the old vampire starts dragging himself towards the safety of the doorway, not able to even glance to either side.

Koma takes a second to flash a shark like smile at his retreating foe, a full set of pointed teeth on display, before tipping Ellie a lazy salute. The little rogue darts backward to join his retreating fellows, jumping up to grab the shoulders of his chosen mount, as the rest of the Cindersnout commandos do the same. With the smoke starting to clear, Ellie can make out the six enormous monkeys with shaggy gray fur coats standing where the wall had been a few moments before. As the goblins clamber up towards the apes' mighty shoulders, the six beasts start to turn, one by one jumping down from their perch and sprinting off into the city, away from the fire, smoke and noise. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WcyVvWZJU4)

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, Alchemist

"No! No! no! NO! The Master Alchemist is gonna be so cross if I lose those gifts!"

Ellie doesn't even think before acting. Her instinct is to charge forward and try to stop the goblins from getting away with the treasures. She stumbles when she hits the edge of the room; she's an alchemist, not a gymnast. However, her chaotic nature to do what's right overrode the other part of her nature that really hates heights.

Athletics (to get down and pursuit): [roll0]

"Somebody stop those monkeys, that's my circus!!" she called out as she descended.

[Anyr]

Sachni got treated to a wonderful performance. Dramatic smoke gave way to the image of Suyuddha herself. The likeness was uncanny! She could almost have stepped out from a painting. The movements were excellent too. Though of course, Sachni had never seen the real Suyuddha move. These illusionists truly had demonstrated their craft. The monk raised her hands to applaud-

THWOOM!

"Gah!"

For a few moments, she thought that this was another performance. The pyrotechnics and laughter were really theatrical. Plus, she could see figures hiding within the chaos. Had some entertainers grown overzealous? That possibility vanished when Sachni noticed the explosion's source. The Guildhall?! Panic gripped her. This was an attack! The building might be full of important people: Like her comrades from Jalmeray! Her duty was clear. She paused only to check that the children would be safe. If the Mages had a handle on things, Sachni would charge at the Guildhall. The smoky figures above were clearer now. They seemed to be...monkeys? Without warning, they suddenly leapt from their lofty position. Sachni changed course to intercept them.

[Xacha]

About the only good thing coming out of this conversation was that Zarrachia no longer believed her father was behind this. Money, sure, fireworks, yeah he'd probably try that, fungal wine, you betcha. But monkies?! Or apes or whatever? Nope, no sir, this was way to weird to be her old man.

Mom, maybe, but last Zarra checked she was still dancing on tables in Absalom.

"... did you lot hear that?"

Zarra blinks. Her ears have long been trained to cancel out the normal city noise. What she was hearing now was something ... unusual. Something ... BIG.

A sick sort of certainty settled in Zarra's gut. She suddenly wished this was just her father's light fingers.

"That sounded like an explosion. Hey, Garresh, how many rockets did you say they took? Nevermind ...

Taking one last swig of her ale, Zarra bolted out into the street. "Catch up with you later ... Bet my next paycheck we'll find our thief behind this ..."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo huffs and puffs, this load clearly too much for his diminutive frame. He notices how Zalenko doesn't appear to care too much about that, and sighs. He's been an apprentice before, in multiple trades. Deep down, masters aren't that different from each other.

Then, the massive explosion!!! He instantly forgets any gripes. He forgets what he was supposed to do, too. He unceremoniously, but softly, lowers the globe-drone to rest on the stage floor. "What was THAT!?!?" he exclaims. He's astonished. He's beaming, too! Three wholly unexpected, incredible, unforgettable events in just one day, scratch that, in in just five minutes! An apprenticeship won, a mysterious man-machine from ancient times awaken, and now the... Is that the Guildhall? The whole city shaken by the noise! So much excitement nearly overwhelms him with delight. Of course, this demands an investigation, now!

"Master Zalenko with your permission I'm going to go and check this out!" The urge for action is so powerful, the gnome doesn't have anywhere enough self-awareness to notice how perfunctory his request for permission sounds, or is. But he doesn't forget his new friend - well, recent acquaintance, but hopefully, a friend soon enough.

"Okoro! I apologize I truly believed this city was much much safer than this I assure you this is really rare in fact unheard of I hope the sound wave didn't unsettle your mechanical parts I guess I was wrong I had never heard an explosion like this here actually not anywhere else either. Do you want to come with me please please we should go and look what this is about maybe we will learn something useful? And I have so many questions for you maybe time for some on the way?"

The urge to go explore can't be denied, but the would-be gnome wizard is also very reluctant to leave this fascinating new friend behind.

[Syless]

Adria stares in shock at the smoke billowing from the tower- but realizes she has to act. If anyone's hurt, all healers on hand are needed. She turns to the other to. "Miley, can you look after Peridora? I need to... if I can help people, I need to be there." She takes off at a sprint, not waiting for a response- Peridora should be safe inside, and Miley can take care of herself.

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni is on the apes in perhaps a second, sprinting across the square towards them. But the goblins riding the great beasts seem entirely uninterested in engaging her. The apes charge forward, heedless of the monk, making for the wall of a large old white stone building, and climbing up it as swiftly as Sachni might climb a knotted rope. The first of the beasts is out of sight before she's made it to the group's path.


Okoro listens to Bel intently. The Doll glances one final time at the perspiring Zalenko, before turning back to Bel. "Very well. Let us investigate together."


Miley nods, placing a hand to Peridora's shoulder. The little wizardess barely seems to notice, watching the skies intently. Just as the faithful cleric of the Dawnflower was about to leave, she points upward, towards the rooftops.

"Ms. Adria, look! They're coming this way! And... and they have a hostage!"


It wasn't exactly Ellie's plan to do this. But she'd been dropping towards towards the ground, eyes closed, and then she'd felt something in arms reach. So of course she'd grabbed onto it, trying desperately to stop her fall of several stories. And to be fair, it'd done so. But now she's clinging to the back of one of the goblins' great apes as it bounds over the tiles of some roof or another, while people scream and golems clank through the streets below, trying to keep up.

Koma glares at his unexpected new companion. This wasn't in The Plan. The goblin leader plants his foot in Ellie's shoulder, kicking straight down. "Hey Longshanks, gerroff! This my monkey! Get your own!"

Okay! Here's how this is gonna run.

Koma's plan is just to escape the city. Oenopion's guards are more than enough to take the goblins down if they get cornered, but having fast moving mounts who can climb easily gives the goblins a pretty good speed advantage, especially over the slow lumbering golems that make up the bulk of Oenopion's defensive force. He's not stopping to fight no matter what, and that's fairly sharp. Without intervention, the goblins would get away clear.

But that's where you guys come in. :smallwink:

This will be a Skill Challenge between the party and the Cindersnout Commandos, run over.... let's say four rounds. Each 'round', I'll ask each of you to describe what your PC is doing to end the chase. Don't feel bound by the three action limit - we're keeping this in Exploration Mode for now, so anything you want to try is valid. I'll roll to oppose your efforts for the Cindersnouts - succeed, and a member of the group is captured by the Oenopion Guard, fail and they're still going strong. Six successes will end the chase outright, three will force Koma to take more drastic measures to try and get away clear.

First round, the PCs in range are Ellie, Sachni and Adria. Second round, Bel and Zarra will have caught up. Raka is the furthest from the action: she can attempt a DC15 Athletics check to reach the scene for round two, otherwise she arrives round three.

Good luck, team! Time to show what you can do.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, monkey wrangler

"You pull this monkey over right now, mister!" Ellie feels that sole dig into her. She has no idea how long she can hold on to this massive mount, but for certain she had to stop this goblin from escaping with the treasures. Ellie grabs onto the goblin's leg with both hands and yanks him off balance with her weight. Her effort to try and pull the goblin off the mount and force the others to stop for him.


Ellie is going to attempt to pull the goblin leader off his mount.

[Inspector Valin]

"Ack!"

Koma suddenly finds himself in an impromptu wrestling match with his passenger. Ellie's grip on his leg is tight, but the goblin's determination is strong. With a grimase, he shifts his weight up further, redoubling his hold on the ape's shoulders while bringing his other foot down to loosen the grip. "You! Not! Get! Me!" With his last blow, Ellie's hands finally slip away from the planted leg, as she slides down the ape's back. At this point she's having to cling on for dear life, or else risk falling multiple stories from this fast moving monkey.

Aaaand Critical Failure. And since this is pretty much a Grapple roll, i'm gonna rule it as such: Ellie's considered Grabbed until next turn. She's flat footed, has to take a DC5 flat check for any action with the manipulate trait, and Immobilized, she's not getting off this crazy ride just yet.

[Syless]

Adria stops and realizes. There's a few different approaches she has here. In one spell. How does she prioritize all of this, where can she do the most... alright. Alright. She knows what to do. She looks directly at the ape that has the 'hostage'. She utters a prayer in the name of Sarenrae, then finishes with two simple words. "Come here." She looks over her shoulder. "Please, get indoors."

Casting Command on Koma/Ellie's ape, telling them to approach Adria. Will DC 17.

[Gwynfrid]

Since Belginabo isn't in the action for another round, he'll take it as an opportunity for questions :smallbiggrin:

(I'm taking a little bit of leeway with how much information he knows, hopefully that's not going too far.)

The gnome is delighted at Okoro's cooperative mindset, and as the pair run towards the source of the commotion, he somehow finds enough air in his lungs to pepper the doll with a mix of information and questions.

"Look! This fire is at the top of the Guildhall the place where all bigwigs gather I heard there were some ambassadors meeting there today or something there are a lot of visitors because of the festival season like Abjurant Day oh I told you that already. By the way did you have special days like Abjurant Days in Empire Osirion what were they like? What are these big monkeys they have people on their backs goblins I think they are goblins look they carry some bags seems like a heist to me don't you think? Is that something that would happen often in Osirion in your day? Hey they're getting away we should stop them they have a lot to explain I wonder why they would do such a big robbery in broad daylight with all the golems guarding the city and all. Oh I think I have an idea! Can you do something that looks maybe scary? "

[Inspector Valin]

It takes Okoro some time to process Belginabo's rapid fire series of explanations and questions. It perhaps says something about the gnome that he interrupts himself so frequently. At some later point they should try to talk through his inquiries as a whole, in order for him to learn more of the past, and Okoro to learn more of this strange future.

But for now they have a theft to deal with. Okoro is surprised by Belginabo's question, and takes a few seconds to ponder it before answering. "I can try." As they continue, the doll ponders further, before requesting a qualifier. "Looks scary? Or sounds scary?"


The spell... almost works. Sarenrae's light fills the creature's mind, it starts to slow and turn towards Adria. But then Koma realizes what's happening. The goblin grabs the ape's head, twisting it to the side. "Forward that way! Go! Go!" The physical contact and sound combined are enough to drive the remnants of the enchantment away: the ape ploughs forward, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as it makes its way out of the district.

"Ms. Adria..."

Peridora heard the reprimand. She knows it's the smart thing to do. But Ms. Adria's spell was not enough, and whatever these goblins are doing, they need to be stopped. They just blew up the Council Chamber! She has to do something. She's got to try and help.

She's a wizard. That's what wizards are supposed to do.

Before Miley can move to stop her, Peridora bolts for the centre of the street. She gestures upward at the apes, runes of power starting to shimmer into existence around her. "Tolox Lutus Adras Mond!"

Three orbs of white light fly from Peridora's hands, all impacting against one of the apes. The creature is staggered for a second by the blast, but just for a second. It jumps from its rooftop to street level with a roar, charging towards a petrified Peridora, hefting the girl upward and continuing to run along the cobbled street. It winds its arm back, ready to cast the little mage aside.

When it feels a stick impact against its head, repeatedly and frantically. "No!" The goblin rider screeches in the creature's ear. "Bad monkey! No throw tiny human!"

Kato trained the beasts to respond to a rider's orders. With a growl, the great ape instead shoves Peridora towards the goblin on its back, before starting to climb again. The Cindersnout takes the young girl's hand, helping her find a grip on the creature's back as some means of apology. "Sorry human. Guess you hostage now. Too fast to jump. We let you go later, okay?"

[Xacha]

Zarra flew down the street as fast as her bare halfing feet would carry her. With a start, she realized that something was clinging to her leg.

"Sorry, Goopy, mama didn't forget about you. I just ... well ... come on, let's find out what's happening down at the Guildhall."

Snagging her slime and tucking it under her arm, Zarrachia made haste to the scene of the crime.

Just a placeholder for round 1.

[Anyr]

The enemy was in full retreat. Had they already accomplished their mission? Sachni would have to ask anyone that she captured. She continued to sprint after the closest ape. They weren't the only ones skilled at navigating terrain. Any obstacles in Sachni's path would get climbed, vaulted over, or slid beneath. She'd do whatever it took to get within striking distance of an enemy. Even a strong punch might not be enough to fell these creatures. But it might get them to throw off their riders.

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni sets a fearsome pace, one that's proven her the victor of many a race amidst her padaprajna fellows. She vaults fences, ducks through crowds, twists across corners in seconds. But she's never run against a primate before, and the apes are showing all the skills of the jungle in how they jump, swing and sprint above the city grounds. Their every step is twice the reach of Sachni's, and they can scale a wall in seconds. Each time she's almost ready to strike, the damned things leap skyward once again.

She can stay close, especially following on the ground. And the buildings in this city aren't tightly packed enough to allow the beasts to stay on the rooftops indefinitely. But getting close enough to bring one of the apes down is going to be a challenge.


The strange chase continues, now into Oenopion's market square. The folk here were already on edge following the explosion - the sight of the great apes jumping down and roaring is enough to send the people running for cover. The guardsmen present look to each other, no one willing to confront the beasts alone. Koma grins, and with a wave to his band, they charge across the square, sending stalls and canopies flying in their wake. The Cindersnouts are happy to take advantage of this opportunity, most of the goblins have withdrawn long pikes and attempt to spear foodstuffs as the apes ride past. One lucky goblin cries with glee as he nails a pie, another is already tucking into freshly cooked fish as their beasts plough onwards

Only Koma is focused enough to refrain from looting, and as such he pulls ahead of the group, taking back his original position in the lead. As the sole golem in the area ambles forward, arms raised, the Cindersnout leader has already brought his ape up to the roof of the temple of Abadar, ready for the next leg of their escape. The veteran raider laughs, looking down at the metal-limbed creature. "So far, so good!" It's at that moment he remembers his companion. He calls down to Ellie. "Hey, longshanks! You think my plan good too?"

Round 2! Everyone's here but Raka, and she gets here with a DC15 Athletics check. Bel, you've got Okoro in your corner, Xarra, you've got Goopy (Wasn't it Gloopy before? Did I mix that up) You guys are welcome to bring your friends in on this - they'll use Prepare to Help and then Aid on your actions

[Syless]

Adria screams as Peridora is grabbed. "You get her back here this instant!" She doesn't have any magic that can safely bring them back, she doesn't know what to do... will a hostage exchange work? She looks to the nearest ape and rider. "Light of Sarenrae, blind my foes..." A searing cone of light comes out of Adria's holy symbol, forcing its way into the eyes of ape and rider both.

Casting Dazzling Flash, Fort Save DC 17.
On Success: One round Dazzled
On Failure: One round Blinded, one minute Dazzled
On Crit Fail: One round Blinded, one hour Dazzled

[Anyr]

Sachni felt the boundary of her own limitations. She knew for a fact that it was possible for a human to outrun apes: Because she'd seen veteran monks move that fast. A master could have effortlessly won this race. But Sachni wasn't a master. Her own ki could only accelerate her for a few seconds.

So she'd have to make those few seconds count. The monk forced herself to be patient. She kept pace as best she could with the apes above. At some point, one of them would have to descend. That's the moment when she'd strike. A single burst of speed, properly timed, might just let her reach the enemy; However briefly.

Sachni will wait for an ape to leave the rooftops. Then she'll cast Ki Rush to let herself catch up, and (hopefully) unseat the goblin.

[Inspector Valin]

The goblin with the pie sees the spell coming - thinking quickly, he holds up his ill gotten food to shield his eyes from Sarenrae's light. It works for him but not his mount: the ape screams, throwing the little Cindersnout from its back and charing off in another direction. The goblin lands on his feet, glancing between Adria and the pursuing guardsmen with a terrified expression. Thinking fast, he throws the pack of stolen goods at the priestess' feet, before turning and sprinting off into the crowd.

Haven't captured him, I know, but you'll be able to track him down later if you want and you've gotten a bunch of stolen valuables back. I'm counting this as a win! :smallbiggrin: One down, 5 to go.

[DigoDragon]

"Good? This plan is very evil!" Ellie replies. She tries to grab a few things she tucked into her dress earlier when she donned it; a vial, a tool, a powder. She quickly pops a seal and shakes the vial.

"Let's see your monkey work under fire!

I don't have my character sheet or rulebook for a few hours, so do correct/add whatever I missed.

The plan: Ellie is using quick alchemy to put together an alchemist fire bomb and hit the monkey with it. The ongoing fire damage might distract it from continuing its run. And I am aware the bomb does splash damage. So that means Ellie and the goblin probably will take a point... honestly this sounds so much like an alchemist idea.


Flat foot check: [roll0]
Throw bomb [roll]1d20[roll] +whatever Ellie's modifier is. I don't remember what the character sheet says.

[Gwynfrid]

"You can do both? Fantastic!" Belginabo's appreciation and respect for the doll grows even further. He lowers his voice to a stage whisper. "I'll give them a speech, then I'll cue you..."

The gnome climbs on top of a nearby barrel and surveys his target audience. It's chaos in the market square right now, people fleeing left and right, only one golem trying to arrest the trespassers, apes in full flight, goblins pillaging food. He notes that someone had enough sense to step in, and actually managed to unseat one of them. Nicely done. Then there's the leader, already on top of the temple roof, with hostages even. He makes a face. Too far. At least try with those still on the ground.

"BEHOLD!" His voice booms over the din, surprisingly strong for such a small person. "I am the Bel the Mighty, Wizard of the Thunder Mountain! Your actions this day have DISPLEASED me! Just this morning I awoke, by a great deed of my arcane power, this ancient living machine you can see here with me! Quaver before it, for it is an ORROK of the OSIRION of OLD, it traversed the millenia, it carries the power of eons past when the world was young and magic was strong! It obeys only me, and if you don't back down this instant, it will CRUSH you all! Surrender now to the authorities, give back these pies and these fish to their rightful owners, and you will be spared the Orrok's WRATH!"

From the corner of this mouth, without taking his eyes off the crowd as he glares at the nearest goblin, he whispers in Okoro's direction: "Now would be a good time!"

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni's grace and skill are beyond anything the goblins had accounted for - with a twist of ki, she pushes herself forward and upward, right atop the gorilla's shoulders and beside the extremely surprised goblin rider. who'd been more focused on his fish. A swift claw strike is enough to send the unfortunate Cindersnout reeling, but he manages to catch onto the scruff of his ape's neck before falling. Righting himself with gritted teeth, the goblin bats limply at Sachni with the remains of his half eaten fish. "Shoo! Shoo!"

Order Animal check passed, Shove attempt failed. Sachni got up here of her own volition, so I'll allow her to jump to safety at no penalty, or to stick around without a roll and keep going for this guy next time. Her choice.

Amazingly, even while danging from the back of a giant monkey, Ellie's alchemy skill comes through! As she has done a thousand before, she mixes, seals and shakes. In seconds, she has a fizzing, sparking vial that'll detonate at the slightest impact! Exactly what she wanted!

Unfortunately, she also has an enemy within arms reach. One she just made extremely angry.

Koma almost falls from his perch, digging his feet into the ape's fur to leave a hand free to wrestle with Ellie. The goblin screams at her as he grabs for the flask, white hot fury in his eyes as his hands reach over Ellie's, trying to swat her with the alchemical fire. "I not evil! I save tribes! All the tribes! I hero! Biggest bestest goblin hero ever Koma!"

Finally, the vial slips. A few drops of orange liquid spill against the ape's leg, causing the beast to howl, but the bomb proper falls through a glass skylight on the roof below them. After a second, Ellie can hear a distant muted thwoom as the vial ignites. This seems to have shaken Koma out of his rage: the hunter waves back at the hole, giving Ellie the wounded look of a being suddenly very interested in dodging blame. "You done it now. This church of Abadar. God of Wealth curse you for blowing up shiny things."


Zarrachia's linguistic skill is impressive, she rattles off commands in tongue after tongue, each projected clearly across the square. However, unfortunately for her, it's been a while since she has to practice her Vudrani, and the command for stop is just a syllable different from the command for gallop. A native speaker would never muddle the two, but a city official from a nation where that isn't the native tongue? Her slight Nexite accent turns the word she wanted into the last word she'd want. She can see the beasts still in the square start to speed up, the goblins (and luckless Peridora) struggling to hold on.

Well, I think it's become obvious by now that I enjoy critical failures. I won't add them into a roll that doesn't have one, but Command an Animal does. The animals receive another command, determined by the GM. And I'm saying Zarra told them all to speed up. :smallwink:

This won't change anything mechanically this round, but... well, if you'll permit me to get Telltale for a sec, Band of Apes will remember this.

Okoro strides forward at Bel's cue, the metal doll clanking into the square in a delightfully menacing fashion. Its mouth is slitted, making it look positively malevolent. Dutifully, Okoro closed its eyes, focusing on some internal mechanism.

And a horrid, agonizing squeal of noise rings out across the market square. Passersby clutch their heads. Children cry. Somewhere a glass shatters in sheer protest at this crime against sound itself. It might be the single worst sound anyone in Oenopion has ever heard.

It's certainly not what Bel had counted on. It's more agonizing and annoying than scary. But it seems to have worked. One of the goblins all but fell from its ape, charging towards the gnome and kneeling on the ground. "No more! No more, please, master wizard bell man! Skemus... sorry! So sorry! Will give back everything, just don't make terrible Oh-rock make more singing anymore, or cast curse spells or..." He's already retrieved the bag, and is shoving it at Bel's feet, not even daring to look upward, just listing off all the things he very much doesn't want the powerful wizard to do to him.


Koma grimaces, looking back at the market square. They've lost two of their number already, the beasts are panicking and the strange pursuers don't show any signs of letting up. In the distance, he hears the wail of a horn. Oenopion's defenders are mobilizing. The goblin hunter growls, "That it! This too risky! Taking too long! We just lose more goblins this way."

With an effort, he clambers back to his ape's shoulders, using Ellie's shoulder as a convenient foothold. After a deep breath, the hunter calls out at the top of his voice to the other goblins, whose mounts are even now pulling level with his own. "Cindersnouts! South! Go south! We gonna cross the pit!"

This is still technically round 2, 'cause I offered Raka a chance to get here and Estrellia hasn't had a chance to post/roll yet. But yeah, whatever Raka does, you guys have persuaded Koma to take the more risky, dangerous option. Hope you enjoy what comes next! :smallbiggrin:

[Anyr]

Success! Sachni closed the distance between herself and the enemy. The goblin's first strike was unimpressive. He flailed at Sachni with a piece of fish. Nonetheless, she dodged as if it were a blade. These clothes were finest silk! Vudrani monks didn't settle for itchy burlap. Sachni attempted to unseat the goblin, before his smelly weapon could strike again.

Actions 1 and 2: Try to Shove the goblin.
Action 3: If the above fails, Flurry. If it instead succeeds, try to safely dismount the ape.

Shove 1: [roll0]
Shove 2: [roll1]

Flurry 1: [roll2]; Damage: [roll3]; Bleed (crit only): [roll4]
Flurry 2: [roll5]; Damage: [roll6]; Bleed (crit only): [roll7]

[Estralita]

Raka

This was what the tribes were stooping to? Serving as thieves and attack dogs for outsiders in order to receive their scraps?!

Even an exile, Raka still wanted to protect her people, even if it meant protecting them from themselves.

"You're lucky I don't have time to deal with you. Run, and hope we don't cross paths again"


Sorry I'm late, everyone! Athletics check to catch up.

[roll0]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

How dare this little cretin blame Elli for that fire! "Grrr, I will ring that scrawny neck of yours!!" Ellie shouted. She wanted to climb up and do just that to Koma, but this gorilla was moving too fast. This chase needed to stop. Holding on was just not going to go on forever and Ellie was all too familiar with gravity.

Wait. Familiar?

Ellie just remembered, her familiar is in her bag! She lets out a loud whistle. "Widget! Make smoke-smoke!" She then looks down at the ape she hung off of. She moved to free a leg for swinging and took aim at a tender spot on the Monkey.

"Stop this monkey right now!!"

Now that I read up on the Familiar rules!

Ellie's tiny-sized opossum-like familiar, Widget, has the abilities Lab Assistant and Manual Dexterity. Ellie uses one action to command Widget--the familiar's two actions are to use the Quick Alchemy ability to make a Smoke Stick, then activate the Smoke Stick. Let's see if a 5-foot burst of concealing smoke does anything for Koma's sight.

Ellie's second action is to kick the monkey where it hurts (if the dice cooperate): [roll0] (since unarmed is a finesse attack, using DEX).

Damage is just [roll1] B

[Inspector Valin]

Hookay, we've got two off-round posts here. I said I wouldn't resolve posts after my OOC warning since by that point it was clear, but we did have Xacha delete one... so I will tackle these two
Sachni's wariness of the oily fish slows her blows down, letting the goblin bat the first away. The second strike however hits home, and the Vudran monk is happy to press her case. The bony carcass of the fish is sent flying to the side as the Cindersnout is lifted off of the ape, Sachni jumping with him and slamming the unfortunate goblin against the ground while his ride ploughs onward down the street. The little creature is squirming, trying to break free and run, but he's got no odds of slipping away from this hold. Although unfortunately the guard seem distracted - Sachni can see them trying to restrain one of the rampaging apes in the distance. It's going to take them a while to reach her, and bring this little wretch into custody. And the rest of the goblins are still withdrawing.

He's down, but Sachni's got a choice to make. Let this guy go, or stick with him until the guard take him away. The latter will leave her unable to act next round. (Since hey, you basically took those actions a little early)

"Smoke-smoke?" Koma looks confused at Ellie's call, until a cloud of noxious grey gas starts to arise from the goblin on his far right. "Aaarrgh! Smoke!" the Cindersnout cries out, batting at the bag. It's taking him some effort to keep his ape from charging off course. Glowering, Koma turns back to Ellie - only to have to grab on for dear life as the ape roars in pain, speeding up all the more, leaping forward and barrelling along the rooftop even faster than before.

With a long, difficult effort, Koma finally draws a breath. He looks down at Ellie as the two of them struggle to not fall off this even faster moving monkey. "You... you crazy, longshanks! You really crazy!"

Yeah, sorry, but Koma wasn't the one who grabbed Ellie's bag, he just went for the four gifts, and the monkeys are too big for the smokestick to get more than one. You landed the hit on Koma's Ape though, dealt a pretty good blow! Usually Koma and the other goblin would have to make a Command an Animal check to keep things moving, buuut... technically Zarrachia's handled that for them, with an order that's pretty much what they needed! "WHOOO! Nice going, lady! Cindersnouts thank you!"

Now, no one post till Estralita gets hers up! :smalltongue:

[Estralita]

As Raka ran, she became more aware of the situation. The "Plan" was in motion, the monkeys (that man was right, why monkeys?) were charging out of the city, the goblins..

The goblin...

What. Did. That. Goblin. Say.

HE'S the hero of the goblins?

"DIIIIEEE!!!!!!!"

Raka launches herself at the monkey, trying to slow/stop it. Athletics check, to play to Raka's strengths.

[roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

"EEEK!"

Koma can't help an undignified squeal as a new figure joins the chase, leaping up with a single bound to join him and Ellie on the ape's shoulder. The goblin leader can't help trembling at the fierce warrior closing on him, but a glance to his side and his companions reminds Koma of just what he's doing here. With a grimase, the Cindersnout leader draws his blade, glaring across at Raka. "Whoever you are, you - you not stop Koma! Koma save tribes no matter what!"

Congratulations, you are now riding the monkey! It's not enough to force it down this round, but it will enable Raka to engage Koma himself without penalty. Further, since she's got a footing on its shoulder (rather than Ellie, who is grabbing its back) Raka can jump from its back without penalty.

This may be important shortly, depending on your priority list. :smallwink:

[Inspector Valin]

The Great Ooze Pits of Oenopion are famous across Nex and beyond, a great hive of study and cultivation of some of Golarion's most unusual creatures. Yet the area has never been open to the public. Part of this is out of fear of large ooze cultures consuming tourists, but it is more down to the structure of the site. A former mineshaft, it has been dug out and cultivated over years of careful study by dedicated ooze hands looking to cultivate the creatures. The pit shaft has only grown bigger, with countless indentations set into the wall, where the oozehands tend the creatures as they grow. The deeper levels are dark and mazelike, the home of adult oozes who wander them freely, and the few skilled professionals who know how to harvest chemicals from them. The whole enterprise is connected by a maze of scaffolding boards, cranes and lift-shafts: the bridges erected and torn down as the workers need to access parts of the site shifts every day.

With such an environment, it's perhaps unsurprising that tourists are kept away. Those interested in doing business with the Pit are encouraged to stop by the attached shop, where they can purchase a small 'pet' ooze of their own, along with a handful of commemorative items, as well as whatever alchemical products they might be in the market for. Beyond that lies a wrought iron gate that leads to the Pit itself, with a helpful sign directing any curious travellers to a scenic overview point to the northeast, and a large rusty old golem donated by the City Guard standing there to deter drunken idiots from trying to leap the fence.


krakaTHOOM! Three crackling thunderbolt rockets explode around the poor golem in a shower of blue and green flames before it can realize what is happening. As the unfortunate falls to the ground, smouldering and sparking, Koma and the Cindersnouts charge over its remains. The iron gate is no issue to the great apes, who wrench it away without even breaking their frantic stride. The helpful sign falls dejectedly to the earth as the goblins plough down the dirt trail towards the pit, and their path out of the city.

In the distance, the group can make out Oenopion's outer wall. There's no gatehouse here, but subsequently no guard presence. If the apes reach base, they can simply scale the rock and descend the other side. The only thing standing between the Cindersnout Commandos and freedom...

Is an enormous rough-hewn gaping chasm full of predatory animals, bridged only by a precarious assembly of wooden boards and rusted iron bars.

The Pit has come fully into view now, the group having crested the slight hill that lies above it. Most of the workers are behind them, taking a lunch break in their quarters by the shop, leaving the whole scene abandoned. The scaffolding is already creaking in the midday wind, and a square of board attached to a crane is swaying ominously. The breeze whistles through the birthing chambers, and a mournful glooping sound rises up from somewhere deep below. The goblin with Peridora looks more than a little unsure at this prospect. With a sigh, she brings her ape close to the leader's mount, calling across to the distracted Koma. "This terrible plan, boss!"

Koma looks like he wants to agree. The little goblin's nose-design bobs dejectedly as he glances across the great expanse of probable death they're racing towards. But with his foes before him, and troops behind him, he can't show cowardice. Instead the hunter forces a grin, shaking his head. "No, this perfect! Classic hero stuff! Bold, daring, all that!" This has gotten the lead Cindersnout warmed to his theme. He cackles at the enemy goblin before him and the human below "You sure you want this, blue-bomber-girl? Patchy? This last chance to stop!"

The second Goblin grimaces at her leader's bravado. Typical Koma. She glances at the wall, trying to weigh the odds of circumventing the Pit as opposed to crossing it as an alternative. After a few seconds, she shakes her head sadly. It'll take too long. They might not like this, but they can't take another path, and can't surrender. They have to get out of the city, to get the thingimie back to the Longshanks and save the tribes. This stupid risky idea is their best chance at that. Pulling away from Koma's side, she places a hand to Peridora's shoulder, trying to give the poor girl a comforting smile. "Hold tight, human. Don't worry. Nihnin keep you safe."

The apes' feet hit the first board with a hearty thump as the Cindersnouts begin their attempt to cross, running across planks, leaping from board to board. Pipes creak and groan as the goblin riders press onward. And the sound of the burbling from the darkness below grows stronger.

Aand so begins the much coveted Round Three. And before we begin, I've a question for everyone.

Are you still pursuing the Cindersnouts?

Let me rephrase. Are you still pursuing the Cindersnouts, over a dead drop on rickety wooden platforms that were not designed for the weight of hefty monkeys?

... even though they've dragged Ellie, Peridora and Raka along for the ride? :smallwink:

If so, great! :smallbiggrin: Feel free to roll some skill checks! Digo, Ellie can jump now if she wants without fear of injury, but she'll be jumping to a downhill slant, right by the pit. Even though mechanically it's safe, I'm gonna ask for a Will Save (DC15) to jump due to Ellie's fear of heights. Otherwise she's gotta cling onto the Ape. Esta, yeah, Raka can jump off fine if she wants to leave Koma to this idiocy. :smalltongue:

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, Alchemist


Ellie sees the great ooze pits and suddenly in her mind she realizes things are about to get interesting. And by that she means, 'oh god oh god we're all going to die!'

She scrambles up the ape's back. With the goblin distracted in a fight with some, uh, other goblin (okay what is going on with that?) she makes a play to try and rescue an artifact or two before they all plummet into the ooze-infested pits of despair and ooze.


Ellie will attempt a Thievery (Disable Device) check to undo the backpack's fastened buckle(s).

Check: [roll0]

[Syless]

Adria doesn't hesitate.

Or so she would like to say. She definitely hesitates. But what happened to Peridora... it's her fault. She can't give up now, she can't let them escape. And she can't take action against them if there's a risk of the girl falling... there... so there's not much she can do but hope she can make the escape, safety be damned.

Acrobatics, I guess?- [roll0]

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo winces at the atrocious sound produced by Okoro, but his grinding of teeth soon gives way to a beaming smile after this much greater than expected success. Giddy with energy both mental and physical, is he going to claim the spoils of victory and go home? Of course not!

"You, Skemus! You go surrender yourself to these guards over here! And you'd better not try to pull a fast one, because Orrok has the power to track you if you do, and then... So, you behave!" Picking up the bag of stolen goods - just to be sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, he reasons - he turns towards the mannequin and says: "Come on! The others are escaping, with hostages! Go, go, go!" Not waiting for a reply, he runs after the flying ape-and-goblin team.

The pair soon catch up with the thugs, facing the truly scary ooze pits. Scary, that is, except for a gnome who, being normally the exceedingly enthusiastic sort, is now drunk on success and overconfidence. "All right, we need to catch them and free this poor little girl here! Can you throw me? Yes I'm sure you can, see, I'm very light! Do it! Right at this one!" He points towards the one who carries the unfortunate Peridora. "NOW!"

Here I'm working under the assumption that Okoro doesn't reject this crackpot plan out of hand. In case of need, here's a Diplomacy roll: [roll0]

The yelling gnome lands on the back of the ape, grabs the beast's fur as best he can, and climbs to face the rider. Right in her face, he yells: "YOU! Turn your monkey back, this instant! I am the Mighty Wizard of the Thunder Mountain! I have tamed monsters a hundred times your size with one-tenth your brains! You shall turn back, or my ally, Orrok of the Osirion of Old, will make you MELT in your BOOTS!" He glares at Nihnin with the most ferocious look he can muster, pointing a fingertip where a wisp of smoke is beginning to form.

Acrobatics: [roll1], and, assuming he doesn't land in a pool of ooze, Intimidation: [roll2]

[Inspector Valin]

Okay, I'm gonna do some resolution on one side of this. I'd like a post from Estra before updating the Koma situation, but I think I can move Nihnin and Peridora forward, at least enough to start making some new rolls.

Adria's cause is noble, her heart is true, and she fancies she can feel the Dawnflower's light guide her footsteps as she sprints across the gap. The nimble priestess is as swift as a sunbeam, jumping from board to board with a grace even the powerful apes can't hope to match. She can see Peridora looking at her, as she starts to draw ahead of the ape baring Nihnin and her 'hostage'. The little mage girl clearly looks scared, but at seeing Ms. Adria her eyes widen. She glances ahead, to the flat ground between the pits and the wall, and understands the priestess' intention. She tries to smile as she nods to the servant of Sarenrae.

When that time comes, she means to be ready.


Okoro has given up questioning Belginabo for the moment, content to observe and give his new friend the authority to set the pace and make decisions. Even so, this plan causes the doll to pause. Bel could swear the thing raises a non existent eyebrow. This plan is... not something the doll's logic could've anticipated. But nonetheless, faithful Okoro nods, bending down and readying to throw his friend across the gap.

Readying. Readying.

And then, the throw! For a moment, Belginabo can imagine himself truly the Mighty Wizard of the Thunder Mountain, sailing down on a stormcloud to confront some errant intruder. Oroko's position had given the doll the high ground, and its arm is strong - he can hear the wind whistling about him as he goes. This was a powerful throw.

Perhaps a bit too powerful. Okay, definitely much, much too powerful. The force of the throw isn't abating as he draws closer to the great ape! Desperately, Belginabo tries to think back to his ship days, thinking of what the old sailors had told him about jumping over the rigging but he can't recall useful in time. He pushes to the side, trying to guide his descent just a little...

"WAAAGH!" the gorilla cries, Belginabo impacting with its back just as it leaps into the air. Even for so mighty an ape, a gnome between the shoulderblades with that much force is nothing to trifle with. Belginabo lands safely on the scaffolding the ape has just jumped from, with only a slight creak to note his arrival, but the platform the monkey now lands upon has been almost knocked away. The board sails through the air, ropes of the crane holding it in place creaking as the great ape tries to steady itself, Nihnin and Peridora clinging on to its back and exchanging a fearful look.

Ohkay, so... good news! Bel isn't falling to his death!

Bad news, Bel just triggered a couple of rolls. The gorilla has to roll to keep its balance after being hit by a projectile gnome. Even if it succeeds at that, Nihnin has to make a Command an Animal check to keep the thing from tossing her and Peridora off its back.

[roll0] Acrobatics. DC25
[roll1] Nature. DC17

[Estralita]

If Raka had been calmer she might have considered her surroundings more carefully. Noticed they were heading to a drop, decided to cut her losses, and jump off. Leave the goblin to his fate, and be certain of living another day. But well...

"DIE, YOU BASTARD!"

All she saw was her enemy, and all she though of was her attack.

Attempting to shove Koma off onto a more stable platform. Once he's gone, I believe Raka will think more clearly.

Athletics once more

[roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie knows how to take advantage of a diversion. Her nimble fingers dart over the latch of Koma's travelling bag, slipping it open as the goblin crosses blades with his enraged counterpart. A few swift seconds of artful rummaging have allowed her to retrieve the ebony wand, the gift intended for the Absalomite ambassador

"NO!"

Koma's face is a perfect storm of fear and rage as he grapples with Ellie, all thought of the goblin with the sword, or even his own survival now forgotten. His feet are barely rooted at all on the gorilla now, all his weight is pushing downward, trying to force Ellie back. The Cindersnout grabs desperately for the wand, thrashing his head against Ellie's grip, kicking her, shaking her with all the strength he has!

So focused is Koma on this goal, he forgets the enraged berzerker charging straight towards him, elbow first. With a hearty thump, the two wrestling figures are thrown from the gorilla's back, tumbling out above the great expanse of the ooze pit with nothing but the wand between them.

Congratulations, you shoved off Koma and Ellie! I added 5 to the higher difficulty for the two of them being there, you got enough to hit them both! Really imporessive strength on Raka's part

It's late, I'll resolve this in the morning. Bunch of mechanics on my end to tackle here. Need to see if the gorilla falls, if Koma/Ellie get a recovery roll, roll for Nihnin and Peridora's ability to reach the other side, and the most important question

What's happened to Widgit?! :smalleek:

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, Freefallin' Alchemist

Ellie flailed and screamed as she was thrown into the great waste of space above the pits. She reached out to grab the wand, the only thing of solidness she really *could* grab on to (well, maybe the goblin too, but she weren't touching HIM with a 10-foot pole). "Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away!" Ellie shouted at the goblin; she fumbled through the air to grab the wand.

I guess this is a contest of grapples? Or Dexterity?

d20 roll: [roll0]
Add whatever modifier you deem correct.

[Inspector Valin]

"Arrrgh!"

Koma's screaming as much as Ellie. The little goblin isn't exactly happy with this situation, and his eyes dart to a nearby platform. hoping to reach out to grasp it. But he too is unwilling to yield the wand, and Ellie's tight grasp upon it yanks Koma back away from safety, the two beings wrestling with the artifact and plummeting straight past scaffolding and handholds. As much as she may dislike it, Ellie is once again face to face with the grey skinned Cindersnout. The little goblin looks her right in the eyes; sad, scared, but not giving up

"You... You no take that from me!"

Then -


Ah, forgive me, I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll come back to those two in just a minute.

Okay. Resolution time.

I'm going to allow recovery rolls from being knocked from the monkey, or a monkey falling into the pit. That said, Koma and Ellie are both focusing more on the wand than survival right now. :smallwink: They aren't out of this yet, but they aren't exactly in the best position.

Now, on to our other lucky participants!

Shoving Koma and Ellie off its back has done wonders for the ape's mood. It glances up at Raka with an appreciative (if mildly intimidating) smile, before returning its attention to the surrounding environs. The ape frowns, weighing its options before deciding that it's not worth continuing to the other side. Instead it turns to the side, starting to slowly jump down platform by platform towards the closest exterior wall, looking to use that to climb out of the pit.

[roll0] Athletics, DC 20. Raka can assist if she wants/can think of a way

Across the way, Ody the Bold, self proclaimed smartest sneak of the Cindersnouts, is having a thoroughly lousy time. Nothing he does can stem the tide of smoke spewing from his backpack, and it's making it more than difficult to see just where his ape is going. "This the worst." Ody mutters to himself. Still, they're not getting out of this by just waiting around for the humans to catch them. With a grimace, the smoke covered Cindersnout urges his poor half-blinded ape onward, across the gap of the Pit.

But a smoke stick only lasts one round. It's being constrained by the bag, Widget never got an order to stop, and we've been handling these in a semi freeform manner anyway. :smallwink:

[roll1] Athletics, DC 25

Nihnin glowers at the gnome behind her as the ape returns to its forward course. That was far too close. She looks to Peridora, checking the girl's grip is still secure before returning her attention to the path ahead of them. They still need to make a few more jumps before they've cleared the pit, and their ride is growing more and more recalcitrent. One more false move and they might still end up falling a long way down all the same.

[roll2] Athletics. DC 20
[roll3] Command an Animal. DC 15

[Inspector Valin]

The action around the pit has everyone distracted. Only Belginabo the gnome has the vantage point to see what transpires between the figures he'd later know as Elisabeth Sprocket and Koma of the Cindersnouts. As the woman in the blue dress and goblin wrestle for the wand, the woman gains control for just a second. She holds the wand above her head, keeping it out of the goblin's reach, and then...

A second. Just for a second, an aetheric blue light envelops the two. And then, in the blink of an eye, the pair just - disappear! Though what comes next may force even Belginabo to turn his mind elsewhere.


It's as if the Rough Beast is stirring fitfully in its slumber beneath the earth. The ground quivvers, and a great gust of wind shakes the pit, a momentary tempestuous gale that makes iron shudder and ropes splinter. It could not have come at a worse time. The apes are thrown across the air, platforms they'd intended to reach splintering and falling around them. Ody's ape tries to cling to the wall, but loses its grip, falling down into the darkness below. Ody himself just manages to cling to the edge of one of the incubation holes, but the little Cindersnout is hanging on by its fingertips. Raka's ape lands poorly on a platform a good ten feet out from the wall, slamming a foot through the wooden planks, trapping it above the pit and making the ape scream in pain as it tries to free itself. Belginabo's platform starts to sway, not collapsing yet, but suddenly becoming far harder to stand upright upon.

Yeah, an assist won't be enough to course correct that roll. I'm gonna need an Athletics roll from Raka to jump to safety, DC15, or she can try and help the ape at DC20 (still athletics) and a DC10 Acrobatics roll for Belginabo to keep his footing.
Nihnin and Peridora's ape doesn't fare much better. Finally infuriated beyond reason, the great beast shakes the two gnats loose from its back, even as it starts to plummet downwards. Both goblin and girl scream as they grasp each other, looking around for handholds, lower platforms, anything to grasp onto. Any way out of this.

Now.... Nihnin and Peridora aren't plot critical NPCs. Nothing happens storywise if both die here. And I should really start enforcing stakes to terrible decisions.

But we did see a Nat20 purely to ensure Adria was ahead of the apes. As such... the Dawnflower shall smile upon you. :smallsmile:
There! Adria's hand clasps around Peridora's, the priestess just where she needed to be. Blessings of Sarenrae, love and light, it'd worked! She'd managed it!

But in an instant, her joy is replaced by fear. There's too much weight. More than she can heft. Almost too much for her to hold. She can't pull Peridora up. What'd...

Looking down, Adria can see the goblin Peridora had been riding with beneath her, clinging to the wizardess' legs. Even from five feet, and against a growing wind, she can see tears in the goblin woman's eyes. She doesn't want this. Doesn't want to put someone else's life at risk for the sake of her own. Doing so is excruciating for her. But... her only other choice right now is to accept her own demise. To let go and fall, knowing that she'll die, but her sacrifice will save two other lives. And Nihnin doesn't have the strength of will to do something like that. The only way would be if Peridora...

If Peridora just kicked...

Peridora looks up at her. Adria can see her face is bloodless-pale, and she's breathing quickly. But as she glances down at Nihnin, it's clear the young mage is able to measure her situation. She turns back to the priestess above her, her lifeline, with the bright symbol around her neck.

"Ms. Adria. Can you... say a prayer to Ms. Sarenrae, please?" The little mage laughs nervously, aware that her suggestion sounds ridiculous. But it'd been made with utter sincerity. "I think we could use her help right now."

Syless? The floor is yours. Use it wisely and well.

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
The market square has been hit badly by the Cindersnouts' charge. In the goblins' defense, much of the damage was accidental - had they truly set their minds to devestation, the scene could've been a far grislier sight, but there are still stalls upturned, goods broken and a large number of angry merchants who are yelling at the guard for failing to prevent what'd just happened.

"I mean, honestly, what're you good for if you idiots are afraid of a few little monkeys?" An old lady scoffs at a dispirited looking young watchman.

Sachni's been trying to repair one of the blocked pathways across the square: a spot where two stalls had fallen atop each other, and the resulting mess of broken wood and canvas has made it difficult to know where to begin in clearing it all. Her first efforts to lift a segment of the wreckage are strained, the hefty oak weighed down by the rest of the debris, but then Sachni feels a pair of additional hands beside her, helping support the weight. "You helped catch one of the thieves?" Turning, Sachni recognizes Sir Landry standing beside her, helping heft the broken beam. The knight smiles at his former opponent, nodding to her. "Congratulations. You're a credit to your order."

[Gwynfrid]

He had the speech prepared in his head, so well he could still hear it as he landed flat on his belly, all air knocked from his lungs. He was going to threaten this goblin woman into submission... Alas, that was not to be. He still has a tuft of ape hair in his grasping fingers, but that's all he gets for his trouble.

Is Belginabo the great wizard going to be daunted by this temporary setback? No way! He picks himself up from the ground, such as it is, and takes check of his surroundings. Wow, look at that girl wrestling the goblin for this... is that a wand? Fascinating! And just like that, poof, gone! Magic is so cooool.

Any chance to figure out what just happened? Arcana [roll0]

But his attention is yanked away from that part of the ongoing drama in a rather brutal manner when the platform, or rather the whole rickety construction above the pit shakes mightily, and he struggles to keep his balance.

Acrobatics [roll1]

[Gwynfrid]

As his Acrobatics roll was successful, I'm going to try and do something now. A cool thing about doing this in exploration mode is that the rules are more loose. Still, let me know if I'm cramming too many actions in this.

Belginabo barely manages to stay standing, and as the platform sways and bobs, he sees the ape he'd been chasing moments earlier fall to its doom, followed by the little girl and her goblin kidnapper... "Noooo!" He gasps in dismay... But miraculously, an extended hand seizes the girl's at the last second! Somebody... A half-elf woman by the look of things... Came out of nowhere to save the day! But the goblin hangs on... All three are going down for sure! Do something!

The gnome runs up to the edge to jump on to the next platform, landing next to the woman who currently holds two lives in her hands, grabs her belt, and desperately tries to stop her from sliding off the edge. "Hold on, brave lady!"

Jump to the next platform, Athletics 1d20=4 and then, assuming he didn't fall to his death, he'll try to Aid Adria. I guess it's going to be another Athletics [roll0], but if Adria attempts something else, he'll try to help with whatever that is.

[Anyr]

Sachni was satisfied with her performance. She managed to catch one of the culprits. Expecting more would have been arrogant. Some day (hopefully), she'd be able to outrace six gorillas. But for now, one would suffice. The town had many defenders. No doubt they had the situation in hand. Sachni could focus on helping in a different way.

Her muscles strained to lift the debris. Even for someone with her physique, clearing this alone wouldn't be easy. Thank goodness she wasn't alone. A familiar face soon appeared. Sachni's opinion of Sir Landry rose a notch. He was certainly a flawed figure. Still, his talk of duty hadn't all been for show. She gratefully accepted his aid.

"Thank you. Your help is welcome, Sir Landry. Let's get this festival back on track!"

[Syless]

Time seems to stop for Adria. Peridora's life is vital... the girl wouldn't be in danger if it wasn't for her. But she can't just... Sarenrae wouldn't forgive her if she just left the goblin, clinging for their life, to fall. Without survival, there can be no chance for repentance. But she's... she's not strong enough to do this, is she? She's a frail priestess, not... she closes her eyes solemnly before she speaks.

"Sarenrae... please grant me the strength to save them. Save them both. And if you can't... please grant the transgressor the strength to do what needs to be done." Her volume picks up, and she speaks where the goblin can hear her. "I'm going to try and get us all out of her alive! But... if I can't... you need to know, there's nothing you can do to save yourself here. If I can't save us, you have to. If you do-" Goblins don't worship any god in particular, do they? "-whatever afterlife you believe in, whatever reward is waiting for you, is in your grasp. Dying for your greed or dying to save a life you didn't want to endanger. If I can't save you... those are your options. Please. Choose well. Choose right."

Okay, so... making an athletics check to see if those noodly cleric arms can save everyone. If not... diplomacy check. I imagine at a high DC.

Athletics- [roll0]
Diplomacy- [roll1]

[Estralita]

"What the-"

Raka wasn't ignorant of magic, but she didn't see it every day. Seeing her opponent disappear into thin air along with some human woman (odd, the other goblin hadn't mentioned humans in the plan) surprised Raka enough to break her out of her single-minded rage. Enough to become aware of the pit, the rickety bridge, the monkey with the stuck foot...

Looks like I'm not done seeing if I can get Raka killed yet. Athletics to free the Monkey Mount.

[roll]d20+7[roll]

[Inspector Valin]

"About that."

Landry doesn't stop his work at Sachni's words, but she's clearly reminded the knight of something. He slows just enough to continue talking, his voice moderated to not carry far across the market square. "This is obviously Geb's work. The goblins wouldn't range this far into Nex's territory without some kind of hefty kickback. And Alkenstar wouldn't profit from this." With a frown, the knight gestures back towards the Guildhall. "Do you really think it's still a good idea to hold a festival preaching peace and unity when one side just attacked the other by proxy? They tried to blow up the Alchemical Council! And you're just... going to pretend that nothing happened?"


Raka is quick, strong and forceful. A few sharp kicks are enough to free the extremely grateful ape, who makes the final jump to the side of the pit with her on his back. Soon enough, the goblin warrior is being carried out of the pit to firmer ground above, able to set down above the scene and watch events play out to the last.


Ohhh... I'm in a bind. And what a bind it is.

The DC on the Athletics roll was 20. I set this based on proficiency rather than by checking Adria's skill ranks - Hefting the two up like that would've required real strength and strong training. It was an Expert task - out of your league, in retrospect.

And yet you came this frecking close all the same! Bel's aid would have given you a +2! That would have been enough. And I said I was willing to adjust the DC on the aid check based on how you went about this. So the resolution here comes down to my fiat on the aid check.

*parses fingers*

I will be stern here, in the interests of later kindness. So I will stick with my original intent. I did not intend to lower the DC on an Athletics assist. Belginabo is not that strong, and he's not playing to his strengths with this, so I don't feel the need to give mercy. If you focused on using the time to try something else, I would have lowered the DC to 15. And you sooomewhat did? So I will grant both paths of resolution, and apply Bel's aid twice.

On the Athletics check. Belginabo fails. That means the lift check fails. You came so close I will permit you to hold on firmly this round. But just this round.

Which leaves your diplomacy check. Which was a good roll, and got Belginabo's aid... but you should've maybe rolled Religion to see what Adria knew of Goblin faith before trying that angle.
The little goblin laughs bitterly up at the priestess. Her fate in the Boneyard is not something comforting to her right now. "If Nihnin cared about Mother of Monsters, she pull you all off on purpose, sun lady! Then Lady Lamashtu make Nihnin mighty barghest and let her come back as big scary wolf monster!"

The thought does seem to make Nihnin wistful. But after a second spent pondering, she shakes her head. "Probably just be food for Hero-Gods in Basalfeyst. Gods not like Cindersnouts. Cindersnouts not like them either." Like four old, stupid chiefs who just got mean about everything. The gods of goblinkind leave a lot to be desired. But she shouldn't be thinking of them, or their wants right now. The goblin woman's eyes turn to Peridora. "Should probably still do it. My fault you here. This... make it right."

Peridora's eyes go wide as she finally grasps the implications of what the two are talking about. The little mage shakes her head emphatically. "No! You saved me! I... you can't!" Grimacing, Peridora reaches down with her remaining hand, holding onto Nihnin by the scruff of the neck, even as the goblin woman starts to struggle. She won't let this happen! She should... She could...

Something strikes a chord with the young wizard in that moment. She glances down at her neck. Beneath her tunic, Adria can make out the faint indentation of some kind of amulet. A protective charm? Something useful? Peridora doesn't seem exactly enthused by the concept though. She looks back up to the priestess.

"Ms. Adria. Do the gods care about us? Does Sarenrae?" She glances over Adria's shoulder, in the rough direction of the sun she can't quite make out from here. "Is she up there, looking down on us right now? If I fall..." Peridora gulps at the thought of the drop below, but keeps her grip, looking to Adria again. "... will she watch over me?"

The burble of the oozes across the pit has faded into a low adagio gloop, as if the creatures are offering some final chorus for the lives about to be lost.

Can I tell you a secret?

Ohh... I'll wait a little longer. :smallwink: I'd like a Religion check from Adria to answer this. Peridora is not asking for literal divine intervention here, it's more the 'are you there god' question? She'd like to believe in Sarenrae, in the idea of a goddess looking out for her, who is with her in spirit. That would give her hope right now. And hope is the gift of Sarenrae, right? (Bel, feel free to assist, DC15 (hope and good feeling seem utterly Bel's thing!) but the question and primary roll go to Adria.)

Regardless, the pair drops after this roll. Make it cooount. :xykon:

[Syless]

Adria is fighting back tears as she nods down at the young girl. "Yes... the gods care. I worship Sarenrae above all, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care for everyone. Everyone who does good... she smiles fondly on them. And you, Peridora, are amazing."

And now for the faith behind Adria's words.

Religion- [roll0]

[Anyr]

Sachni weighed the offered words. She paused for quite a while before replying.

"...Perhaps you'll be proven right. Perhaps Geb did attack today. However, I only saw six goblins. Anyone with enough wealth can hire six goblins: A cult; An arms merchant; An enemy of someone in the council. There are many possibilities.

Sir Landry, you and I have only just met. So if what I'm about to say is wrong, I apologise. But does your desire to fight Geb really stem from strategy? It feels like you're trying to justify something that your heart already wants."

[Xacha]

Zarra eyed The Pit.

She'd been here several times before. It was still the best place to pick up ooze litter in bulk.

She was a halfling, balance and agility came naturally to her kind. She could easily scamper across the make-shift bridges ...

She eyed The Pit. She's still staring when the gust of wind shook the whole place.

Then again, as her father always taught her, "Girl, don't be a bigger idiot than you have to be." Words to live by.

Zarra manages to catch the motion of one Ody the Bold as he barely hangs on to the wall. Now this is something she can work with. A prisoner is always useful, and a life in generally worth saving.

Gripping the shaky ground around the outside of The Pit with her bare toes, Zarra picks her way towards the goblin. As she goes, she starts pulling her linen rope from her pack. Generally they just use it at the custom's office to tie loads down, but here it could be a lifeline.


This seems like a good loose thread to pick up.

Zarra will try to get as close to Ody as possible. Guessing Acrobatics for balance as she runs around the putside of the pit: [roll0]
Not sure where you're envisioning Ody to be. Zarra will get as close as possible before looping one end of the rope around a rock and throwing the other end to Ody. If she can't get that close, we can try the old "tie a rope to an arrow" trick and hope that Zarra doesn't hit Ody.

[Inspector Valin]

"I'm not a native of Nex or Geb. You're right, I may be jumping to conclusions." Landry admits with a reluctant nod. Sachni's second question gets a solemn look from the knight, but he nods, taking a second before starting to explain.

"The Whispering Tyrant still bedevils Avistan. He came within an inch of taking Absalom itself. Every day in the north, his legions march onward. We've reached the point that the Orcs of Belkzhan are one of the main forces defending half the continent. And that doesn't count the land already fallen before the Way." There's a grim look on Landry's face. It's easy to tell he's no novice, but a knight who fought and bled in this war. With a sigh, the former sentry gestures across the marketplace "The people of Nex have known a similar threat for as long as their nation has stood. Folk here hated the Ghost King and his legions with no help from me. My men and I came here hoping to find support for Lastwall's cause. Young blood that chafes against the bindings of peace, that want to cry "enough!" and venture out with us, to smite the undead in a way they can't down here, in this farcical place where vampires hold the farmland in a stranglehold."

The last causes Sir Landry to spit into a gutter, in a manner most unbecoming of a Knight. Still, now he's warmed to his theme, a glint in his eyes starting to betray excitement at his prospects here. "The bloodless sods finally overreaching is helpful. The Three and Nine will never agree to war, their interests are too entwined with peace and trade, but the people are starting to demand it. If the citizens of Nex can't fight Geb, Iomedae willing, they'll join us and take the fight to the other great bastion of necromancy that befouls the land. A new Shining Crusade, backed by the Arclords and with all the magic of Quantium at its back!"

The Knight clenches a gauntleted fist at the mere thought of such an event. He's silent for a few seconds, lost in the image, before returning to reality and their work with a bitter chuckle. "That much is just a far off dream, I'm afraid. Practically, we need whatever help we can get. Any new recruits are invaluable. If the... occasional deception brings us one more blade to defend the lands, it's worth the price. Iomedae should expect no less of us than our best when it comes to keeping the people safe."


"All those who do good..."

Peridora echoes the simple words, blushing at Adria calling her amazing. That much isn't true. But she can see the truth in the priestess' eyes, the light, and it helps her remember. She glances down one final time to the symbol around her neck, before turning back to Adria with a determined nod. "Okay."

Closing her eyes, Peridora tries to concentrate. She hasn't managed to perform this spell before. She hadn't dared try it up to now. But there's a first time for everything, and if she can't manage this, she's got no safe path left. She starts to chant, "Xian Tass Mergolt..."

"AAARRGH!" A violet bolt of magic shoots from Peridora's hand, impacting against the rockface and sending splinters tumbling down. The little mage almost hangs her head. She can't do this. She's not good enough. She needs to...

No! Sarenrae! Sarenrae is watching over her! Ms. Adria said so! She can do this, save them both, without using the talisman!

Once again, Peridora closes her eyes, gritting her teeth before trying the chant again, focusing with all her heart on the incantation and magic behind it. "Xian Tass Mergolt Vann Ebithir!"

A spark. There's a faint blue fizzing spark, rising and circling Peridora's head. The young wizardess starts to glow, the tint of her spell's light enveloping her, as the spell began to take effect. Faint. Weak. The work of a novice mage, but there, holding true and stable.

And then, a sound comes from the wall of the ooze pit.

"Xian Tass""Mergolt Vann""Eb-it-thir""Xian Tass""Mergolt Vann""Eb-it-thir""Xian Tass""Mergolt Vann""Eb-it-thir"

The holes cut into the cliff face light up one by one, glowing a clear sky blue. It's the ooze-forms. They're echoing Peridora's words, and pouring their own magic into the spell. The faint aura that surrounded Peridora becomes a brilliant azure glow. In a second, the same light surrounds Adria, Belginabo, Raka and her gorilla. Back a ways, Zarrachia can hear Goopy warble "Vann Ebithir!" "Vann Ebithir!" as the mystical energies of the spell spread to them as well

Off to the side, Ody the Bold finally looses his grip, starting to fall just before Zarrachia's rope reaches him... only for his descent to slow as the blue aura envelops the unlucky goblin. He still continues downward into the pit, scratching frantically at the walls until he becomes a faint twinkle of sky blue that finally fades away, but it was likely much better than the poor Cindersnout had been expecting.

Peridora looks up at Adria and Bel. The little mage is crying, tears streaming down beneath her glasses, but she's smiling all the same. She tightens her grip on Adria's hand for one final moment, whispering up to priestess and gnome.

"Thank you."

And with that, the little wizard lets go, and starts to drift downwards, into the darkness of the ooze pit below. Clasping her hand, Nihnin glances around, eyeing the shadows warily as they go, blade in hand. Whatever happens, she will keep this one safe.

The oozes chant starts to fade as the pair descend, and the tramp of guardsmen's boots on rough ground rings out behind them. Soon enough, the miracle will be over. And the Pit Staff will have the unenviable task of trying to repair the devastated mishmash of scaffolding and hoists that allowed them to navigate the Ooze Pit. Even before the official estimate, it's clear at a glance it will be some time until anyone is able to descend to the base safely again.

Or anyone is able to rise, short of finding another way out through the twisting passages of the Ooze Caves.


"Uuuugh..."

Ellie comes to in a dimly lit room, lying on a hard cold surface. She glances around her. The rocky walls seem hewn, not crafted, a rough stone face hastily made from rock. Affixed at regular intervals around the room, with two beside the cast iron door, are blue glowing orbs that cast the only faint light here. The one remaining feature appears to be the area she's lying in - a circular platform has been errected upon the chamber floor, with three wire mesh pylons around it and a series of arcane looking runes at its base.

"Bomber girl?" Koma rises slowly to his feet beside Ellie, dusting off his coat before joining Ellie in looking across the room. He seems just as confused as her, staring up at the faint blue orbs. "What happened?"
Party, take 200XP. You've earned it. You'll be hitting second level before too long at this rate.

Now, a choice to those of you in the Ooze Pit. :smallwink: I'll allow one dialogue post per player while the Echo Event is going on. After that, you have to choose. Join Nihnin and Peridora in the Pit, and try to get them out safely? Or rendezvous with the Oenopion authorities, and see if you can get some rest/assistance before going down there? Sachni being up above and Ellie... elsewhere ensures that I'm dealing with a split party no matter what, so vote purely on what your character would want to do.

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo finds himself fighting back tears too, but he can't tell whether it's from hearing the heart-wrenching conversation between the goblin, the girl and the half-elf, or from his own, increasingly desperate - and failing - exertion. Must be the exertion.

A call for Okoro to rush in to help is burning on his lips, but he realizes he has no right to risk this extraordinary being's safety in such a way. What a loss it would be for magic and lore! Besides, a doll of that size, made of porcelain, has to be heavy, the platform looks ready to collapse as it is, the extra weight could finish it. So that's out... What else? I got no magic for this. Strength... forget it. He listens to the Sarenrite's plea. Prayer... Never been my thing. Guess if there's a time to start, would be now. Gnawing at the back of his mind is the ugly imp of doubt: If he hadn't taken such a risk, if he had stayed at the edge of the pit, maybe nobody would have died?

"Lady of the Everlight! Truth is, I don't know much of your faith. Never cared much, if I'm honest. But I swear, I swear to all the gods! If the three of you live to see morning, I'll learn all of your church's teachings, and I'll pray, and seek forgiveness as much as it takes - I hear Sarenrae is big on that, right? You have the word of Belginabo, honest wizard... apprentice." The last word, coming with the last of his breath, is barely audible.

I'm not sure if that encouragement is Religion or Diplomacy or something else (it's not Deception, that's for sure). Anyway, here's a roll to Aid, I'll let you judge what skill makes sense. [roll0]

EDIT below, to reconcile the order of the narrative after I got ninja'd by the GM :smalltongue:

... And then... The little gnome sees the blue light, hears the eerie chants from below that he had failed to notice, enthralled as he was in the fervor in his own speech. His eyes go as wide as saucers when he peeks down the pit. The girl, the goblins, all going down light as so many feathers! "WOW. I mean... Wow." He turns to face the half-elf woman who just called forth this unbelievable miracle.

"You are... She is for real." His face is pale with shock, but his eyes are sparkling as if they had their own light in them. "Sarenrae, I mean," he clarifies, in case that was needed. His whole body shaking, he falls to his knees. "I was serious, my lady, I promise you I was. I'm even more so, now. I hope you will guide me."

[DigoDragon]

Ellie comes to in a dimly lit room, lying on a hard cold surface. She glances around her. The rocky walls seem hewn, not crafted, a rough stone face hastily made from rock. Affixed at regular intervals around the room, with two beside the cast iron door, are blue glowing orbs that cast the only faint light here. The one remaining feature appears to be the area she's lying in - a circular platform has been errected upon the chamber floor, with three wire mesh pylons around it and a series of arcane looking runes at its base.

"Bomber girl?" Koma rises slowly to his feet beside Ellie, dusting off his coat before joining Ellie in looking across the room. He seems just as confused as her, staring up at the faint blue orbs. "What happened?"

"Uhhh..." Ellie gets up, slowly, and checks that she didn't hurt herself. She see the goblin and narrows her eyes. "What happened? What happened was that we were falling and fighting over the wand when you...! Um..."

She looks around again. This is not anyplace she had been to before.

"Huh. Alright, Gobo, let's call a momentary truce until we figure out where we are." The itch of curiosity is the only thing keeping her calm right now. "We got knocked off the gorilla by one of your crazy assoicates, fell through the air trying to grab onto the wand... did we activate the wand?"

Ellie paces around the room. She first notes the platform she awoke on. Could this be a summoning point for a teleport spell? Did they teleport somewhere? She then studies the trio of wire mesh pylons, and the arcane runes at the base. She attempts to decipher if these runes might reveal something to this platform's function (Arcana check [roll0]).

"Where's the wand, did it land with us down here?"




Now, a choice to those of you in the Ooze Pit. :smallwink: I'll allow one dialogue post per player while the Echo Event is going on. After that, you have to choose. Join Nihnin and Peridora in the Pit, and try to get them out safely? Or rendezvous with the Oenopion authorities, and see if you can get some rest/assistance before going down there? Sachni being up above and Ellie... elsewhere ensures that I'm dealing with a split party no matter what, so vote purely on what your character would want to do.

I vote explore this strange room that in no way will harm my character through her curiosity. :smalltongue:

[Xacha]

"Alright, goblin, you've got two options. Grab the rope and come quietly, or become an ooze snack ..."

It turns out that there was a hidden third option. It involved chanting slimes.

She stared at Goopy. He's never talked before. She was pretty sure that if he'd ever talked before, she would have had to pay a LOT more money for him.

As the miracle faded, Zarra was left with a limp rope and a lot of questions. She idly stroked her ooze and considered her options. Bureaucratic instinct told her to report what she'd just seen to the higher-ups. Let them deal with it. But, honestly, she just didn't know enough to write that report. What she had just seen made no sense. She needed to know more.

"Alright, Goopy, let's go visit your family."


Curiosity conquers caution, at least this once. Zarra wants to help the folks trapped in the pit, maybe poke the oozes a bit and do some general snooping before she reports back.
She's got the usual 50' of rope already tied to a rock. What can she reach?

[Anyr]

The knight's story struck a chord. Sachni wanted to reject its crusading fervour. The Sachni of today wasn't a crusader. She didn't 'chafe against the bindings of peace'. She was content to await the appointed day of battle (should one ever come at all). But she also had a wonderful home and family. What if the Whispering Tyrant had destroyed Jalmeray, instead of Lastwall? What if everything Sachni loved had been lost? She might well have ended up like Landry.

As she set down another piece of debris, the monk sighed.

"I have no right to criticise your vengeance. I've never experienced a loss like yours. Lands have fallen. Armies march. And here we stand, far from both. In the end, I just want this island of peace..."

She gestured to the decorations, stalls, and smiling people.

"...to continue. Let's at least try to make this festival a success. If trouble really is on the horizon, people will need some happy memories to get them through it."

[Inspector Valin]

"True enough. True enough."

Landry sighs, that's an argument he can appreciate. It's his job to rally people to Lastwall's banner, but that doesn't mean he should deny them happy memories in the process. Let them join from valor and bravery, not out of hatred or fear. He nods to Sachni, smiling at the monk before returning to his share of the work in contented silence.

It's not long however until they are interrupted. A quiet voice coughs from somewhere behind them. "Lady Sachni? Sir Landry?" Turning, Sachni sees a strangely pale skinned gnome, with white hair and a pair of horn rimmed classes. The stranger bows. "The Grand Alchemist wants to see you both. Come with me, please."


Koma looks annoyed at Ellie's suggestion, crossing his hands as he shakes his head in denial. "Patchy not my friend! She throw me off too! She want kill us both, you not hear her yell 'DIIIIE' all scary like?"

The goblin peers around the cave. His eyes are a little better adapted to the dark than Ellie's, but there isn't much to see in the shadows of this room. It seems bare. Utilitarian. He glances up. then points towards the ceiling. "We no fall here. No hole."

He's right. There's solid rock above you. As to the circle and pylons, Ellie has seen something a little similar before. The Guildhall has its own teleportation circle, connecting it to the Bandeshar, Nex's capitol building in Quantium. Only senior alchemists and registered local wizards are allowed to use it, but she can recognize some of the runes from it here. It looks like it could be the same thing. But teleportation circles like that are supposed to be linked: you step through one to arrive at the other, and the two of them weren't standing on a circle. Could that be what the pylons are for? But if so, what do they do?

Koma looks at her, wide eyed. "Wand do this?!" The Cindersnout whistles at the thought of the item having that much power. The goblin checks his pack, then his pockets, before turning back to Ellie. "I not have it. You not have pack, so you not have it. Where it gone?"

He starts checking the pylons, turning his head about to see if it'd fallen through the wire mesh. Koma's assumptions aside, Ellie's pretty sure she didn't use the wand. She's tried using wands before. It didn't go well, and there's more to it than just how you hold it. That said, she's not seeing the wand anywhere in this room. Something must have happened to it.

[DigoDragon]

"No, we didn't fall," Ellie agreed after she glanced up. "It has to be magic; this platform is similar to one I've seen that can teleport you from one place to another... but you have to stand on one to make it work and we weren't on a platform to begin with... hmm, the wand probably didn't do this. Might be why it didn't come with us. The question then, is what DID bring us here?"

Ellie walks over to the big door and inspects it. "Well we can debate how we got here, or... we could see if someone is around to answer our questions for us."

She checks to see if the door can be opened?

[Inspector Valin]

The door creaks ajar. Ellie sees another blue orb on the other side flicker into life. There's no sound coming from outside though.

The goblin nods to her, "I go first. I got sword. You stay behind Koma." Unless Ellie has some objection, Koma hefts the door back, and takes the first step outside

:smallwink: C'mon. Like I'd trap the first door

As they walk on, more of the magical lamps flicker into life, and Ellie can see a fair bit further now. She's in a hallway, at the far end of it in fact. Across from her, she sees two open doors, one leading into a large but mostly open room, something akin to an indoor courtyard, and the other opening into rows of dusty bunkbeds - perhaps a barracks of some kind? Looking around, there's a selection of closed doors here too; one on the other side of the hall, just past the bunkhouse, one level with them on the side they just came in from, and one right at the opposite end of the hallway.

The last door is different. It looks big, towering over Ellie and Koma, wrought from strange black metal. Even from a distance and with the faint blue light, Ellie can make out a lot of fine detailing on it, with angels and dragons worked into the design. And -

Rohlin [roll0]

What seems at first to be the Crest of Nex? Ellie's familiar enough with that symbol: it's the three circles the country displays on its flag, two red to either side of a central white. It's the mark associated with the archmage, and his views on magic. But something's odd about it. The central circle is raised above the other two, tongues of fire rise up from the set, and between each pair of circles there's a rune. And the whole sigil isn't carved into the metal exactly, there's no dent or furrow, it's just... there.

It takes Ellie a few seconds to work out what about the mark was bugging her. She's seen it drawn that way before, somewhere. And then finally she has it. It's not the symbol on the flag, it's the sigil that flag is a simplified version of. It's the arcane mark of Nex himself, the founder of the nation and one of the most legendarily powerful mages in the history of Golarion!

He was here. Personally. The mark is a simple spell, cast by him, that's endured down the millenia since he vanished.

[DigoDragon]

Perhaps Ellie was just a wee bit paranoid about that first door. After all, her luck was on full display now, wasn't it? All the bad in full view, and oh look at that! Gobo has a sword.

Ugh, Ellie hoped her situation improved soon.


When the pair reach the hallways end, Ellie tapped her chin. "This must be some kind of bunker. But... What ever for?" It was when she turned and saw the ornate door that Ellie forgot about everything else.

"Gobo, do you know what this is?! T-This is the mark of Nex! *HE* was actually here! And we're here. We... are here..."

Ellie continues to study the door, glancing around the rooms. "But how did we get here? It couldn't be by chance; surely someone else would have stumbled into this place well before we did. What key did we have that opened this place...?"

Her eyebrows raised up on her face. "Gobo, do you still have the other three treasures? Maybe one of those is the key that brought us here!"

[Inspector Valin]

'Gobbo' looks irritable. And does not seem to care about Ellie's revelation. "Name Koma, bomber-lady. If this truce, we need to use names, right?"

The request for the remaining treasures makes the Cindersnout leader raise an eyebrow, expecting some trick. But he nods, "Koma still got other things, yes. They supposed to be magic?" He holds up each in sequence in front of the door. "Cards? Book? Gold triangle thing?"

Just to make it clear, you haven't tried any of the three doors yet, and there's more to the two open rooms. Feel free to examine stuff, make rolls, and go wherever.

Also [roll0]

[Syless]

Adria doesn't hesitate at the miracle. Sarenrae has touched this pit, and there's a chance for her to save her- Peridora and others. Before jumping, she turns to the gnome, the sudden convert- "If you truly mean what you've said... I won't ask you to join me below. But do everything you can to arrange for a rescue. Work with the city, look for mages who might be able to cast spells to get us out. And... the girl's name is Peridora. Find her parents. Tell them she's in safe hands." With that, she leaps from the ledge she's on, and the glow of the oozes' miracle leads her to drift down into the dark.

[DigoDragon]

'Gobbo' looks irritable. And does not seem to care about Ellie's revelation. "Name Koma, bomber-lady. If this truce, we need to use names, right?"

Ellie is slightly annoyed, by this, but she just folds her arms together and gives a matter of fact expression. "Very well. I'll call you Koma, you call me Ellie."

Not that Bomber Lady was really a bad description of her. She... had a few incidents with explosives so it kinda fit. Ehh, don't tell the Grand Master about this nickname.



The request for the remaining treasures makes the Cindersnout leader raise an eyebrow, expecting some trick. But he nods, "Koma still got other things, yes. They supposed to be magic?" He holds up each in sequence in front of the door. "Cards? Book? Gold triangle thing?"

Just to make it clear, you haven't tried any of the three doors yet, and there's more to the two open rooms. Feel free to examine stuff, make rolls, and go wherever.

Also [roll0]

Ellie watched each item, then pondered the lack of any reaction by the door. "Hmm, maybe the item is only meant to bring us here to this place? Hold on to them for now. We should look around and make sure no one has been here recently, or still is. We might find clues on what this place was used for while we're at it."

She looks at the area around and walks towards the barracks looking room. She will poke around beds and such to see if it has signs of recent habitation.

"So, Koma, why are you trying to steal these items? You seemed to have grandiose plans for them earlier."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo feels his chest swelling with pride. She trusts me! That's got to be a great start with Sarenrae!

"At your service, my lady! I'll get to it immediately!" He feels a pang of regret that there's a whole new world of mysteries to explore below. But he's been given another task. Besides... It means he'll be able to have more conversations with Okoro, so it's not like he's going to run short of exciting things to discover!

Before he hops off the platform to get back to more stable grounds, he watches the half-elf priest go down in a fascinating, slow fall. Magic! Sooo impressive, and it came from the girl, but then it was the oozes chanting... Amazing... The calls from the guards trying to restore some semblance of order shake him off his reverie. But... Oh.

"Er... My lady... Mind telling me your name?"

[Xacha]

Zarrachia checked to make sure the rope was secure around a stone, then tossed the free end into the Pit.

"As mama used to say, if you're gonna get in trouble, go in feet first. Let's go, Goopy!"


Zarra rappels down to a large-ish incubation chamber to check on a slime.
Acrobatics, just in case: [roll0]

She'll generally poke around to see if any of the ooze is still feeling talkative.

[Anyr]

Sachni was content in her work. Of course, she hadn't originally been brought here to fix stalls. The universe soon reminded her of this fact. Sachni returned the gnome's bow, with a precision born of practice. This kind of thing got its own class in school.

"Of course. Please lead the way."

Time to be a diplomat again. Sachni grew a bit nervous. This festival hadn't exactly gone to plan. The protocols she'd been taught might not be enough any more.

[Syless]

As she slowly descends into the murky pit, Adria shouts back up at the gnome. "Adria Mullheim! I'll be back!"

[Inspector Valin]

The barracks is... strangely untouched. Not only does it not show signs of recent habitation, Ellie is willing to wager the place has never been fully inhabited. Most of the beds still lie undisturbed, the lockboxes rest open and empty. Only a few of the sheets being crumpled show that this room has ever been in use. At the back of the hall lies a reasonably comprehensive armory, with various outfits and weapons that all appear to be in good condition. There are even some hefty looking crossbows that seem remarkably well preserved, resting beneath a large Nexan flag still hung proudly upon the wall

I'm fine with you picking up any mundane armor or weapon you want. Consider this an apology for your gear being taken (don't worry, you'll get it back. :smallwink:)

Ellie does make out something strange about one of the disturbed bedsheets. She can't quite put her finger on what at first, until she goes over to examine it more closely. Pulling the sheet back, she finds one of the wall mounted orb-lamps, but with a handle to make it carryable. Beside it rests an amulet, wrought of silver of some kind, and a scrap of paper with a brief note written upon it.

Add 'Everburning Torch', and 'Old Nex Amulet (20gp)' to your inventory. Languages wise, I... don't think I ever went over the regular Golarion languages with you Digo. Ellie's assortment are okay, there's nothing on there she shouldn't have but there's other options I should've drawn to your attention. She's nowhere near elven heartlands for example, but Necril is a common tongue in Geb, Osiriani and Kelesh are more widely spoken than Common in Nex, and Osiriani has an Ancient variant. Hell, amongst Nexite mages the planar tongues are more widely spoken than Elven or Draconic, so I'd accept those if you wanted one.Would you like to swap out Ellie's language choices?

And no, I'm not telling you what language the note is in until you make up your mind on that. :smallwink:

Koma follows Ellie. He tenses a little at her question, still suspicious, but the tone is enough to ease the Cindersnout's fears for now. "Not need all the thingies. Took others just because... they there, we taking stuff anyway, trophies fun..."

He doesn't sound so enthusiastic about it now that he has to describe his logic to Ellie. He starts joining in the investigation, looking under the bunks, as he continues explaining. "Goblins starving right now. Not just my tribe, Cindersnouts, all tribes. No food in Wastes anywhere. Two Longshanks with bright hair come and offer us enough food to last all year if we get black wand from vaults in Oenopion."

Koma takes a break at that. It's starting to dawn on him that he doesn't have the wand anymore, and that all of this might have been for nothing. And that he's talking to a person he tried to steal from, and then shove off of a giant monkey. The little rogue hangs his head dejectedly as he comes towards the second part of the story. "Chiefs say no. Not trust Longshanks. But they not got better plan for food. Don't want goblins to starve. So Koma got friends together, and came here. Thought... would try make deal for chiefs. Was going to be sneaky, but found out Bore-rummy person gonna give wand away. So had to make quick plan, grab and get out of city fast."

[DigoDragon]

I'm fine with you picking up any mundane armor or weapon you want. Consider this an apology for your gear being taken (don't worry, you'll get it back. :smallwink:)

Ellie picks up a light crossbow and checks it over. She will then load a bolt into it and ensure it'll hold together.

She will also not point it at Koma's direction. Don't need to start a fight yet. Maybe not at all, but Ellie could not predict what else might be down here. She'll grab a half dozen bolts if available, tucking them in the waist belt of her dress.



Add 'Everburning Torch', and 'Old Nex Amulet (20gp)' to your inventory. Languages wise, I... don't think I ever went over the regular Golarion languages with you Digo. Ellie's assortment are okay, there's nothing on there she shouldn't have but there's other options I should've drawn to your attention. She's nowhere near elven heartlands for example, but Necril is a common tongue in Geb, Osiriani and Kelesh are more widely spoken than Common in Nex, and Osiriani has an Ancient variant. Hell, amongst Nexite mages the planar tongues are more widely spoken than Elven or Draconic, so I'd accept those if you wanted one.Would you like to swap out Ellie's language choices?

And no, I'm not telling you what language the note is in until you make up your mind on that. :smallwink:

Uh... Since I don't know anything about the setting other than the context you have given, the language choices don't feel any different in my mind. In the interest of not bogging down the thread, go ahead and randomly pick 1-2 that Ellie would conceivably know to replace Elven and Draconic?




"Goblins starving right now. Not just my tribe, Cindersnouts, all tribes. No food in Wastes anywhere. Two Longshanks with bright hair come and offer us enough food to last all year if we get black wand from vaults in Oenopion."

Koma takes a break at that. It's starting to dawn on him that he doesn't have the wand anymore, and that all of this might have been for nothing. And that he's talking to a person he tried to steal from, and then shove off of a giant monkey. The little rogue hangs his head dejectedly as he comes towards the second part of the story. "Chiefs say no. Not trust Longshanks. But they not got better plan for food. Don't want goblins to starve. So Koma got friends together, and came here. Thought... would try make deal for chiefs. Was going to be sneaky, but found out Bore-rummy person gonna give wand away. So had to make quick plan, grab and get out of city fast."

Ellie considers his answer and shows some pity. "I see, so this plan of yours is to feed your family. Well... I suppose I can understand the desperation, though the methods are rather... chaotic."

She picks up the amulet and looks it over. She absentmindedly pockets it and looks over the orb. "Well, there are still other places to search through. Maybe the wand, despite the odds, is down here somewhere. Let's go look."

Ellie will lead the way to the other open area.

[Estralita]

Raka's confusion abounds as she sees the events play out in front of her. Then before she had a chance to offer help, they were all gone. Jumped down the hole.

"Now what?"

The theft appears to have been stopped. That goblin is gone to parts unknown. She has no real incentive to follow the others beyond her general desire to protect those around her. And was it really her job to protect them from their own actions? She had left her goods completely unguarded. She should probably get back there before her entire stock is stolen.

But she doesn't move.

Raka sighs. "How about you? Are you okay?" She says to the monkey, checking to see how he is after that mess, and trying to offer comfort.

Just like Raka says, going for a Nature check. Sorry if I'm being presumptuous here.

[roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

The next chamber is a seemingly empty courtyard. It's nothing too spectacular or magical looking, really: a set of smooth grey stone slabs, giving some space to move, and brick walls with four pillars reaching up to yet another rough hewn ceiling. Only two features set it apart from anything else - a black stone pulpit set above the entrance, and a suit of hefty looking plate armor, still standing in the far right corner from their position. It's posed with an old Osirian khopesh, and seems to be facing the doorway the explorers just stepped through.

[roll0]
Koma follows Ellie in, silent for now, apparently thinking about something. After a few seconds, he speaks up. "Bomb... Ellie. You work for Bore-rummy, right? You... want things back. "

It's not a question - Koda's pretty sure about that. Hesitantly, he takes off his pack and offers it to Ellie. "You make trade? Koma give you all three things. Cards, book, shiny thing. You get them back, save them for city, win! But... let Koma keep wand, if we find it. To save tribes. So we both heroes."


The ooze is burbling happily in its pit, in a healthy seeming manner. It's still faintly echoing the spell, but Zarra doesn't see anything to suggest this event was staged or compelled upon the creatures. However, it looks like an alchemist was working directly in this cave before going on break - Zarra can see a set of three vials afixed with stoppers, in an open box ready to be brought back upstairs. And... well, she's an official of the city, off to investigate and save people, right? Surely that justifies a brief 'requisition'.

Wanna give in to those ol' 'halfling' instincts? :smallwink:
It doesn't take long after the echo fades for the area around the pit to be swamped by onlookers. The Oenopion Guard do their best to keep some order, but with the gate destroyed, it's hard to stop people wanting to come and see the terminus of today's events. It feels like half the city has come out to spectate the aftermath of a show.

The gorilla is fine, as far as Raka can tell, its fur having prevented much damage from splintering boards. It seems to be looking at someone behind her though. Turning, Raka can make out a man in a green tunic approaching her, his eyes fixed on the monkey. After a few seconds however, he does indeed notice Raka."Thank you, good lady. You are clearly more competent than Marns at recovering our items." He bows. "I am Kato of Kibwe. That is my gorilla. Those... thieves stole him and his brothers from me. Kindly step away so I may retrieve him"

No clear reaction from the gorilla either way. It seems to recognize him, and isn't visibly angered, but isn't chomping at the bit to return to its master.
Meanwhile, Grand Alchemist Borume is gazing down upon the wreckage that had once been the scaffolding network spanning the Ooze Pits, now torn asunder by stampeding apes and the apparent earthquake. The old man's gaze is thorough, you can't help shake the feeling he observes each and every part of the pit, before turning his attention to the figures standing before him. Sachni and Belginabo.

"What happened?"

Update on the bottom of the pit ASAP!

[Anyr]

Sachni presented herself to the Grand Alchemist. She wasn't the only one who'd been summoned. Beside her stood an elegantly dressed gnome. Another diplomat, perhaps? Erring on the side of caution, Sachni gave him a respectful bow. Then Borume turned around, and captured her full attention. His question was answered with an exceedingly formal report.

"An explosion occurred in the Guildhall. It produced multicoloured flames, smoke, and echoing laughter. I believe it to be a theatrical effect of some sort. From the smoke, six goblins emerged. They rode on the backs of giant apes. These culprits proceeded to flee through the city. I gave chase. Due to their speed, I was only able to capture one goblin. After turning him over to the authorities, I helped to repair the damage he and his allies had done. That's as much as I know of the incident, sir."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo notes the impressive build and pleasantly colorful garb of the dark-skinned, dark-haired woman. Trying to show an equally good education, he returns her polite bow with one that's just a tad lower.

He listens to her matter-of-fact report to the old man - evidently an important person in the city, to judge by the Oenopion Guards' deference - and waits until she's done before he pitches in, in an excited voice, straining a little to keep his pace of speech under control: "Yes Sir, that's exactly right! A huge explosion! Huge monkeys! Goblins stealing, er, I don't know exactly what they wanted to steal. I recovered this..." He shows the bag he picked up from the surrendering goblin. "...But I didn't have time to look inside. They attacked the market! I was able to put one of them under arrest his name is Skemus I don't think he went very far. Then I ran after them until this place, I saw the goblin leader fighting with a woman in a blue dress over a wand they had stolen, must be a great big powerful magical artifact! There was this big blue light all over them and then, poof both of them were gone! Then I tried to save this little girl the goblins had taken her name is Peridora, I think she's a wizard! She fell off the ape but there was a great lady, a follower of Sarenrae, she grabbed her hand but couldn't lift her, even with my help but I'm not very strong you see. So the lady her name is Adria Mulheim she made this great prayer to Sarenrae! Then Peridora cast a spell and the oozes cast it for her, well honestly I'm not sure it happened in that order. Anyway I know this was a powerful spell because everyone fell down to the bottom of the pit but very slowly so they must all have survived, but I don't think they can climb back up to here so we need to organize a search party! I volunteer, Sir! Well, I need to speak to Peridora's parents first, that's what Lady Adria requested. But after that I would very much like to explore the city underground and rescue the people who went down there, Sir!"

It occurs to him that he hasn't mentioned Okoro's role in the scuffle, but he decides that is for the best. It's quite possible a being from Really Ancient Times would prefer to avoid complicated interrogation by the authorities, after all.

[Inspector Valin]

Adria & Zarrachia
The journey down into the blackness of the Pit is long. The magic is enough to slow descent, but that leaves you with more time to contemplate the darkness, as the glowing light of the oozes slowly fades away. When your feet finally touch the ground, they reveal an unfortunate truth. The base of the pit, rather than a flat surface is actually sloped, and slick with the trail of oozes that have gone before. It's a struggle to maintain your balance as the tilt carries you yet further down into the bleak abyss beneath Nex's industrial heart.

Adria lands close by two faintly visible figures. The light is worse than oft it was back in Geb, yet she's just got enough to make out two familiar looking figures in front of her, both short, huddled together. A brief prayer to Sarenrae brings her light into the shadows, revealing Peridora and Nihnin both standing before her, looking relieved. There's another round of sliding rock, and a small figure in the uniform of Oenopion's city officials emerges out of the blackness to join the assembled gang.

Okay! Sorry for the assumption Adri cast light, just wanted to speed things along a little. You're all really far beneath the ground! No sign of life! Probably creepy giant ooze monsters about! Whadaya do?

And while you're doing whatever that is, both of you please give me a Perception check.

Sachni & Belginabo
Borume nods at first, following Sachni's simple recounting of events easily enough. When Belginabo turns to his explanation, the Grand Alchemist... looks like he's fast developing a headache. The old man is silent, holding a hand to his temple as he goes over the gnome's account a second time. "Blue dress... Ms. Sprocket?"

Whatever that name means, it seems to be enough to satisfy the master of Oenopion. He glances upward, to where a group of haemonculi are starting to fly above the pit, before returning his attention to the emissary and eyewitness. "And the wand..." He pauses, studying Belginabo closely, "You're saying she used the wand to teleport away?"

[roll0] DC... I'll say 18

[Xacha]

Zarrachia drew the flap of her pack down over the vials as she approached the group. "Evidence," she murmured to Goopy. Never know what might be important to solving this mystery.

"Glad to see you folks are okay. Zarrachia Marns, customs officer first class. Oh, and this is Goopy."

"Bloop!"

I'm ... um, investigating the criminals who stole a group of trained apes. I tailed them - wait, apes don't have tails - I followed them to this pit when things got ... weird. Anybody know what happened back there?


[roll0]

[Syless]

Adria's holy symbol is glowing when the light catches Peridora- at which point she runs forward to give the girl a protective hug. "You're safe... I'm so glad, I didn't know what to think when you started to drop... I'm not sure what magic you spun, or what Sarenrae dead, but whatever happened up there was amazing. Stay close to me, okay?" She looks to the goblin next. "I'm not sure what you were hoping to happen... but I'm willing to forgive you, as long as we work together to make our way out of here alive. Alright? I won't go out of my way to turn you over to authorities if you work with us, but..." She looks at the fourth person here. "It looks like that may be out of my hands? My name is Adria Mullehim, I was trying to save Peridora here from... someone, when the mystery with the oozes happened. I came down to make sure that she's safe. And... you said customs officer? I'd hope guard, but... the more the merrier. We need to find a way out of here. I've got some food, but I'm not sure if waiting is our best option..."

[DigoDragon]

Hesitantly, he takes off his pack and offers it to Ellie. "You make trade? Koma give you all three things. Cards, book, shiny thing. You get them back, save them for city, win! But... let Koma keep wand, if we find it. To save tribes. So we both heroes."

Ellie is taken by surprise by this offer to negotiate. She considers the trade--One item for three--and logically it would make sense. On the other hand, who were the two people that wanted the wand? What is their intention with the object? Perhaps she could tell Grand Alchemist Borume and he could send a group to find out? protect Koma almost... haha, no that would be silly.

...but, Koma did have good intentions to help his people, even if they paved the way to the Abyss.

She knees down to get eye-level with Koma and holds out her hand. "Alright, the three treasures in your bag for the wand. We both can be the hero." She hesitates, then adds, "I don't have any power to stop the city constables from arresting you, just so you know, but I will not turn you in and will do what I can to help you get outside here and the city if I can."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
It takes Koma a second. Ellie can tell he's uncertain about this whole affair, still unused to trusting those outside his tribe. But if his choice is between someone who understood his worries, and someone who was praying off of them, he knows which makes more sense. After a pause, finally the little goblin nods. "That fine. Deal." He takes Ellie's hand, giving it a firm shake, before passing her his pack outright. The only things in there are indeed the three treasures she'd seen earlier.

Add all three items to your inventory, Digo. Good job! :smallwink: And now Ellie has a pack to store loot in! Just needs a way out of here

Adria & Zarrachia
Peridora returns the hug, squeezing Adria tight and sniffling. She tries to explain, but she's still a little breathless "It was... my spell. But I never cast it before. I'm still learning magic. That was the first time I've ever managed to get it right. The Oozes just copied me, reinforcing it... don't know why."

Meanwhile, Nihnin huffs at the customs' officer's inquisition, puffing herself up to meet the halfling eye to eye. "We not steal apes! We borrow apes. We always gonna let them loose once outta city. Just needed quick getaway."

Seeming to feel this explanation enough, Nihnin turns to Peridora. "You safe now. People here protect you. Nihnin gotta find Koma, go tell..." The Cindersnout pauses mid sentence, holding up a hand. "You hear that?"

You do. They're a little distant, but somehow, deep beneath the earth of Oenopion, in this abandoned cavern full of darkness, ooze, fungus and decay...

There are footsteps. Crisp and clear, leather hitting the rock repeatedly. Zarrachia can even tell the type of shoe - hard, well made, but smaller and lighter than some hefty soldier's boot. That's a nobleman's walk. The sound continues for a few seconds after Nihnin hushes the group, drawing slowly further away before simply stopping. As if whoever it was has simply come to a halt. A faint breeze blows through the cavern at that moment, rustling fungi and shrubbery that likely mark the edge of this chamber's wall.

[Xacha]

Zarra makes a "hush" gesture towards the group and tries to move silently towards the last location of the footsteps.


Stealth: [roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia
Her pursuit is slow and careful, by necessity since it's carried her beyond the reach of Adria's light. But soon enough, Zarrachia is in the spot where the footsteps had ended. It's carried her just beyond the cavern the group occupies, into a side tunnel.

And... there is nothing. Not even no person: no print on the floor, no dropped item or smell. All that remains is a faint chill in the air. Goopy is shuddering slightly. Zarra can't help but feel colder than she did a few seconds ago.

[Syless]

Adria heard the footsteps, and let the official approach it, holding Peridora's hand to ensure she stayed safe. Who else is down here...?

[Xacha]

Zarra comes back to the group looking concerned.

"Nothing. No one. This has gone up the scale from "weird" to "downright creepy". I say we need to get out of here as quickly as possible. Right now the oozes still seem dormant, so there's no point in waiting. Everyone okay with sticking together until we're on the surface again?"

[Syless]

Adrian nods, then slips a sheathed scimitar from the back of her robes. "...just to be safe. We don't know what's here. Ms. Marns, would you like to lead?"

[Xacha]

"I'd be honored. Everyone keep their eyes peeled for easy slopes or side tunnels."

Zarachia drapes Goopy across her shoulders and loosens her shortsword in its sheath. Then she heads back down the tunnel where she heard the footsteps. Seems as good a route as any to start exploring.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
It takes Koma a second. Ellie can tell he's uncertain about this whole affair, still unused to trusting those outside his tribe. But if his choice is between someone who understood his worries, and someone who was praying off of them, he knows which makes more sense. After a pause, finally the little goblin nods. "That fine. Deal." He takes Ellie's hand, giving it a firm shake, before passing her his pack outright. The only things in there are indeed the three treasures she'd seen earlier.

Add all three items to your inventory, Digo. Good job! :smallwink: And now Ellie has a pack to store loot in! Just needs a way out of here

"Alright, now to find our way out. This place looks like it was never used, or maybe once if that judging by the beds." Ellie ponders their predicament. She looks around at the armor and kopesh sword, but nothing comes to mind. "Not sure what this black pulpet is supposed to mean. Maybe this was just a place to hold meetings? I don't know..."

She goes to the armor and takes a closer look to see if it's just a suit or if there's something more to it.

Perception [roll0]

[Gwynfrid]

The little gnome is visibly elated. A Big Important Person is listening to him! His professional opinion as a wizard makes him a key witness!

"Well, I think I remember this very clearly, Sir. She did hold the wand, not for long but she did the goblin was trying to grab it from her hand but she lifted it high out of his reach! I regret I cannot say for sure if she commanded it to call magic power forth but it sure looked like it. Then, the arcane blue light, and both of them, gone. And there is something else, Sir! The power of the wand resonated in the pit, I know that because immediately after there was a huge blow of wind all over and all the platforms and everything started to shake! Definitely, these phenomena were related to the wand action Sir, I can swear to it on all I know about wizardry!"

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The armor is very well preserved. Osirian, beyond a doubt, dating to the kingdom's declining period. Which would fit with it being contemporary with the founding of Nex as a nation. A brief knock to the torso confirms this isn't a golem - it lacks the heft and weight of the city's construct defenders. Ellie bends closer to study the armor - some kind of preparation has been applied to the steel, holding it stable and preventing rust. This is an absolutely fascinating find, and she should probably make some notes on this preservative.

Which makes it rather a shock when the armor starts to move.

With a kreek of aching joints, the armor swings its blade towards the likely startled alchemical explorer. Two blue flames spark up behind the eyes of its helmet, and a discordant golem voice sounds out."In-in-intru-ders."

Remember kids, if a wizard just Fantasia'd it, it doesn't need all the internals!

Roll initiative! Which is Perception still!
[roll0] Sentinel
[roll1] Koma

Belginabo & Sachni
"Really."

The silver haired gnome in black who'd escorted Sachni to the meeting eyes Belginabo with something almost beyond skepticism. He snorts, "The wand not only teleported two beings just by being held aloft, but shook the earth as it did so? What next, thunderbolts?" He turns to Borume, shaking his head, "Sir, pay no mind to this idiocy. The boy's proven himself unreliable, and his testimony untrustworthy."

Borume smiles, but shakes his head. "He didn't quite say that it was the wand, Valash. He implied it, as any witness might. But he left himself an out. He was paying attention."

Valash harrumphs at that, taking a step back as the Grand Alchemist turns his attention to Bel. The two figures look somewhat alike, both grey haired and in sedate clothes, but Borume's tone is warm as he starts to explain the matter to Bel. "Using a wand requires training, training that the woman you saw does not possess. But there's a further issue here. The wand you're talking about has no inherent magic to speak of." He gestures to the irritable gnome at his side "Valash authenticated it, as did the Archive Bureau. Old, extremely well preserved, but it did not contain a single spell. It was still an interesting trinket, intended to act as a formal gift to Absalom in advance of the Seven Veils, but its actual value is... minimal."

Borume sighs, looking back down into the pit. "So either half of my city's greatest experts on the arcane made a mistake - " Valash rolls his eyes at the mere idea of that. "Or whatever teleported Ms. Sprocket and the Goblin away was not the wand. But was enough to make the ground shake, winds blow, and agitate the oozeforms to the point of triggering a recursive thaumaturgical..."

He trails off, muttering to himself, still not sure what to make of this testimony. An irritated Valash adds, sotto voce. "Or the clown here saw two beings fall to their deaths, couldn't process it, and made up a fairytale to make himself feel better."

Sooo yeah, meet Valash. Or as I hereby dub him, Nega Belginabo! Right down to the drab colour scheme, the irritable manner, and actually being a wizard. :smalltongue: IDR if PF2 core brings up the Bleaching or the Bleachlings, Gwyn, if you don't know that stuff ask in the OOC. Bel would know.

Sorry for the weird stopping point - the NPC conversation can and may evolve on its own from here, this just felt like a significant revelation that may lead to further questions before we get much further.

Zarrachia & Adria
Nihnin and Peridora nod, both happy to concur with this plan. Soon enough, the little thrown-together group are walking deeper into the caves, now walking past the fungus that they'd heard rustle in the wind before. They're rather pretty in the light - a collection of greens, blues and purples becomes apparent as the group pass the entryway into the tunnel Zarra'd followed the shadow into. The floor grows rougher, with more moss and lichen further from the base of the slope. From somewhere above, the party can hear the faint glooping sound of an ooze ambling along in the other direction.

Ohkay, you're on the move! Which means we're in Exploration mode. I'm gonna need a Survival roll from Zarrachia since she's leading to Sense Direction - this is an easy environment to get lost in. AFAICT this doesn't require an action though, so both feel free to take one, as per the Exploration Mode rules (Or not! Your call, as always :smallwink:)

[Anyr]

Sachni stood silently. This conversation was far beyond her. She just awaited further instructions.

[DigoDragon]

Roll initiative! Which is Perception still!

Ellie Sprocket, Alchemiss'd her perception
Initiative: [roll0]


"Eep!" Ellie blurted out, stumbling with the armor telegraphing a swing at her. "No no no! Not intruders! We're just visiting!"

[Gwynfrid]

It takes a moment for Belginabo to digest Borume's information. So, the wand itself wasn't magical. Well, unless his experts are as incompetent as they are pompous, always a possibility. The wand is of great importance, anyway.

When he opens his mouth again, it's with an indignant glare at Valash. "They did not fall to their deaths, they evidently were under the influence of a falling feather spell or similar. As she went down I had time to call out for Lady Adria to tell me her name and she had plenty of time to answer and I am not a clown I am an apprentice wizard. Sir."

"And Sir I must insist", he pleads with Borume. "I most respectfully request the authorization to mount a search party and find those who are down there now." He turns to the Vuldrani woman. "You helped with the arresting of the goblins Madam will you help me with the search for the victims?"

[Xacha]

Zarra pauses to kick the mossy muck off her boots while making a face of displeasure. "Just to be clear, this is not my natural habitat."


Not her strong suit: [roll0]

If we're in Exploration mode, Zarrachia will be Searching for hidden passages or signs of humanoid activity. Or more ghosts, whichever.
Perception, if necessary: [roll1]

[Syless]

Adria can't help but crack a wry grin. "I'm almost surprised to hear that, given your friend on your shoulder."

Perception- [roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The armour does not seem to care about Ellie's distinction. The khopesh darts towards her a second time, before being caught by Koma's curved blade. The little Cindersnout snarles up at the monster. "No. Hurt. Ellie!" before yanking his sword away and hammering down upon the hilt. With a flash of light, the edge of the blade gave way to rows of sharp metal teeth, spinning along the line of the chopper before folding down the defensive end. With a "YAAA!", the goblin commando presses the attack, lunging and swiping at the automaton while trying to buy his friend time to back away.

Koma first, then Ellie, then the Sentinel. Trying to draw a balance between threatening encounters and not just killing Ellie, hence handing the gobbo a pretty fancy weapon - but not buffing his actual fighting skills. :smallwink: Let's see if it's enough.

Attack - [roll]1d6+1d12+3
Attack - [roll]1d6+1d12+3

Zarrachia & Adria
The group sets a good pace at the start - they're deep, but Zarrachia's sense of direction serves her well, and the main hold up is simply navigation by the comparably low light of Adria's spell. The chill is the notable thing - it'd been a cheery midday up above, but down here, it feels as chill as a Gebbite nighttime. Peridora can't help but shivering, and even Nihnin is rubbing her hands together before too long. Further, a strange cloying fog is starting to become apparent the further the group proceeds, limiting their light still further.

[roll2]
[roll3]

They almost slip by in the darkness. But fortuitously, both Zarrachia and Adria turn their heads towards the ceiling at just the right moment. What'd sounded like the skittering tread of an insect on the rock face above then turns out to be something much larger, and much closer. Two somethings. with taunt grey skin, and four clawed limbs, a thin head, two slanted eyes, and a mouth full of razor sharp fangs.

"SKREEE!"

Before there is any time to react, the two claw-beasts jump, lunging right at the group with outstretched talons and gaping mouths. They look hungry.

Initiative! Roll here, I'll have to roll in the OOC, cause this is an edit. :smalltongue: It's still Perception. And I think you guys were Scouting, so take a +1 to your rolls. You were ready for... not this, but something

[Xacha]

Zarra swears sulfurously in halfling as her training kicks in. Customs agents aren't guards, but they have to be able to defend themselves in a pinch.

"Peri, Nihnin, to the rear. Adria, blades out!"


Perception + bonus: [roll0]

[Syless]

Adria readies her blade and magic. "Nihnin, if you're going to stay back, then protect Peridora above everything."

Perception- [roll0]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie scrambles back from the armor. "Be careful, Koma!"

This was her first time in a real fight. Like, for her life! She took some training classes, sure, but against combat dummies that didn't swing swords at her.

Ellie raised the crossbow she had acquired earlier. She steadied her aim, fear swallowed back, and fired at the suit of armor ([roll0]). Once fired, she picked up another bolt in her dress belt and loaded it quickly.

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Ellie's panicked bolt is wide by a mile. Koma may be more experienced in fighting, but he's not doing too well against the strange room's protector. Swipe after swipe leave the little goblin with nothing but sparks to show for his efforts. "Not good. Nothing to hit! All metal!"

Meanwhile, the sentinel is in no way so limited, slashing almost freely at the Cindersnout to try and force him back, and find the one who disturbed its rest. Koma tries to parry as many of its blows as he can, calling out to Ellie behind him. "Got a plan?"

Sentinel's pretty straightforward. Koma's in melee, so three attacks
[roll0] Athletics check to shove Koma out of the way. DC 19
[roll1] Attack [roll2] Damage
[roll3] Attack [roll4] Damage

Koma's delaying to better coordinate with Ellie, meaning he now acts after her in the initiative cycle.

Zarrachia & Adria
Nihnin readies a hefty looking polearm, positioning herself between Peridora and the monsters, but still close enough to back up the two main fighters. Peridora herself sticks to the back for now, her eyes wide at the creatures menacing them.

The first beast is on Zarra in seconds, first lunging with its wide, gaping jaw, then batting at the unfortunate customs' officer with its claws, the screech of which playing across Zarra's blade is ungodly. They might be bone, but they're strong as any steel.

Claw Beast #1 is going for Zarra
[roll5] Attack, Damage [roll6]
[roll7] Attack, Damage [roll8]

Now it's Zarrachia's action. As to the question on the OOC... no. And that fact is strange. Zarrachia's hung out with Fitzig and a bunch of former slimehands, and heard a ton of creepy tales about things hidden in the pit. Even allowing for exaggeration, (like the brain eating brain monster) there's nothing that matches up with these creatures. And with how long the pits have been open, and the extant losses and risks to the slimehands, Zarra's pretty sure she'd have heard something about these things. Even if just a rumour.

However for Adria... :smallwink: [roll9] Religion

[Xacha]

Zarra winces as one the claws tears through her the uniform on her shoulder and draws blood. This day kept getting worse.

She cuts towards the creature's face - only to pull back ...


Feint. [roll0] She's a Scoundrel, so a success leaves the opponent flat-footed against her for two rounds.


... the drives a blade towards center mass.


Strike. [roll1]
Possible damage: [roll2]
If feint is successful, additional [roll3]


With a pivot, she back-heels a rock to the side tunnel, creating a clatter.


Final action, Create a Distraction/Diversion: [roll4]
If successful, she is Hidden to every creature whose Perception is exceeded by the roll.

[DigoDragon]

"Got a plan?"

"Plan? I guess? We could?" Ellie shoots again ([roll0]), very nervous to fight for her life. Not to mention Koma actually looking to her for direction. That's a first from anyone she didn't make herself.

She backs away further and gets a little bit of inspiration when she reaches for another crossbow bolt. "Koma, lure it to the weapons. We'll trip it."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Koma nods... and in nodding is almost knocked off his feet by the surprisingly swift sentinel. The little goblin follows Ellie out the door swiftly, the two of them turning back into the barracks. The armor clanks after them, rounding one door, then the other. Soon enough it's in the barracks, clanking slowly towards the back of the room, where the hefty weapons shelves are located.

I'm gonna say luring it in like that will take a few rounds, but it's a round from each of you, then a round from it - I'll handwave it to let you get into position with the sentinel advancing. Roll an Athletics check to shove the weapon racks over! (Koma will go if you can't, but the delay gives Ellie first shot)
Zarrachia & Adria
Peridora stifles a scream as the slash to Zarra's shoulder draws blood. Nihnin grits her teeth. The ghoul grins, but before it can snap at the forward rushing hand, Zarra twists, landing a near textbook blow towards its torso. The creature squeals as the agile official steps back, bringing down a small rockslide. As fast as these monsters are, it looks like Zarrachia is faster still. The second ghoul glances briefly towards the rocks, but diverts its attention swiftly back to Adria, lunging right at the priestess of the sun with fangs bared.

All those rolls hit! NICE! Zarra got the damage in, the feint off, and is now concealed from her mark

Ghoul 2! You're up! Show these humies what you learned back in Ghoul School.
[roll0] Attack - Damage [roll1]
[roll2] Attack - Damage [roll3]

Next round, Beast 1 will delay to put it in line with 2, so we're at alternating initiative as of this post- you guys go, then the NPCs go, then vis versa.

Also, entering battle next round
[roll4] Nihnin
[roll5] Peridora

Belginabo & Sachni
"Oh, master of magic's name, really?"

Valash steps between Belginabo and Borume, shaking his head firmly. He has gone from proud, to proud and exasperated. "You want to launch an expedition into the ooze pits to find people who 'vanished', with the only evidence of their survival being your testimony. Your testimony that instead of a deadly fall, they are simply stuck in a high risk environment, surrounded by wild oozeforms and other lethal creatures. And you'd drag a guest of the city with you along for the ride."

He waves behind him at Sachni before turning back to Belginabo, adjusting his glasses to best affix the younger gnome with a withering glare. "If you seek to be called a wizard, you should learn a little rational thinking, the ability to weigh risk and make considered judgement." The insults have seemingly put Valash in a better mood. He chuckles. "Further, if you're a officially sanctioned wizard, even as an apprentice, that makes you an official of Nex. And subject to my orders, as Castellan of Oenopion. Who is your 'master' supposed to be?"

"I'm unsure I could permit this regardless, Ms. Mittacharikh." As his official engages in withering condescension, the Grand Alchemist takes Sachni to one side, speaking with her more quietly. "I know the pajibata have some responsibilities, and you may wish to show your valor saving lives. But you are here as my guest. Would it not be inhospitable of me to allow you to put yourself in harms way so?"

[DigoDragon]

I'm gonna say luring it in like that will take a few rounds, but it's a round from each of you, then a round from it - I'll handwave it to let you get into position with the sentinel advancing. Roll an Athletics check to shove the weapon racks over! (Koma will go if you can't, but the delay gives Ellie first shot)

Ellie Sprocket

Ellie runs up to the weapon racks and grabs the end of one of them. "Let's knock this thing over, Koma!" She pulls as hard as she can (she kept herself fit, but was certainly not built for labor) to knock over the rack and create a hazard for this creature.

Athletics: [roll0]

[Anyr]

Sachni was quick to assuage the alchemist's concerns. She'd been born to serve others. Her own desires were a distant second to those of her superiors. She wasn't exactly eager to jump into a slime pit. But if doing so would aid the grand design, then she'd immerse herself up to the eyeballs.

"Sir, I was sent here to affirm the bond between Nex and Jalmeray. That role is more than just words in a ceremony. Feel free to use me as you wish."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo is taken aback by this rather brutal reminder that he's a newcomer to this city, and not an important one by any means. Facing the disdain of the Castellan - what the heck is a Castellan? - and not finding any support or even acknowledgement by the Grand Alchemist or the visitor from Jalmeray - I'm from Jalmeray too, but that one is a bigwig apparently - he keeps to himself the witty retort that was forming in his mind. There's no point in angering this old fool any further, it's clear who would have the upper hand.

"Master Zalenko agreed to take me as his apprentice today, Sir", he replies with as much dignity as he can muster.

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The shelves are hefty, and at first Ellie isn't sure if she can shift it. But by pushing against the wall, putting her weight against the back, the proud set of old arms finally gives way, scattering on the ground before her. With a cry of triumph from Koma, a second set of weapons are likewise strewn, making the pile all the larger. The jumbled mess is too much for the unfortunate sentry - a few more steps and it crashes to the ground with a clatter of steel bouncing off of steel..
The sentinel is prone! It can get up again next round, but you've got a free round to go to town on the thing!
Belginabo
This revelation seems to completely puzzle Valash. The old gnome peers over his spectacles at Belginabo, seemingly taken aback at the name the little traveller has produced. "Who?"

"That'd be me, Val."

The voice carries above the low background murmur of the crowd. Zalenko strides forward out of the crowd, staff in hand, still in makeup with his robes flowing behind him. Valash's eyes go wide at the sight, before the official placed a hand to his forehead, groaning. "Oh. You. Because today just couldn't get better. I should've figured that some no talent leger..."

"Hey!" Zalenko is intimidatingly close to the monochrome gnome, glaring down at his fellow wizard. He kneels to speak softly to the Castellan, with only Belginabo close enough to hear. "Say what you want about me. But the kid's the real deal. He's got magic, and a flare for showing it. Repaired an old show-golem I was lugging around and had it working better than new. He ain't a fraud or a liar. If he says people floated, they soddin' floated."

It's rather a heartfelt moment. Even Valash can't bring himself to deny it, as Zalenko steps up and back. And this does seem to alter his calculations of the situation somewhat. The old wizard coughs, taking a second to collect himself. "Very well." Trying to collect himself, he turns back to Bel. The condescension is still evident on his face, but scorn has been replaced by mock exhaustion. "Well, Apprentice Charlatan Belginabo. By the authorities and laws of Nex I must ask you one final time, in the presence of your master. Are you sure you wish to proceed with this stupid fools errand that will probably get you and everyone around you killed?"

"Ahm sorry. You said it wrong. Let me help" Zalenko takes a step back, stamping his staff upon the ground. A thunderclap rings out across the pit, drawing every eye towards him. With a smile, the street mage turns to Belginabo, his voice raised enough to carry across the now attentive onlookers. "Apprentice! Are you ready to embark on this quest to save the poor lost souls trapped at the bottom of the Ooze pit?"

Aaand earlier successes come through to help you out! Gimme a Diplomacy to sell it for the crowd. And rub it right in Valash's smug stupid face. :smallwink:
Sachni
"What I wish..."

Borume is silent briefly, pondering. His gaze turns back down to the pit. "What I wish is to understand. We know too little about this situation. I have sages and scholars enough to investigate given time... but my instincts tell me that time is not on our side. Events are already moving swiftly - if we do not keep up, they may overtake us soon enough. We need someone willing to venture into danger and give the city the answers it needs."

He waves a hand towards the spot nearby, where two gnomes and one large human are now apparently arguing. "Accompany the gnome, Blingabo or whatever his name is. He has some skill with the arcane, he can likely answer any technical questions you have. But your mission is to find out whatever information you can about today's events. Why the goblins tried to steal from us, what happened to Ms. Sprocket, and what caused the earth to shake."

The old man chuckles softly, "Not the traditional role of the pajibata, I know. I send a soldier to make deductions. But you seem insightful, and I doubt you will be able to answer these questions without a little fighting. If you are able to return to me with a better understanding of today's events, I will personally reward you with an item from the city's vaults. One considerably more valuable than the wand. A service to Oenopion such as this should be repaid in turn. Does that sound fair?"

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

"Now, Koma! Before it gets up!" Ellie swing the crossbow up into her hands again and takes a shot, then reloads the weapon.

So if I understand how combat actions work:

1 action: interact with crossbow to ready it.
1 action: fire the crossbow ([roll0])
1 action: reload the crossbow.

Edit--
The consistency of my low combat rolls is getting uncomfortably uncanny.

[Anyr]

Sachni listened intently to Borume's words; While doing her best to ignore the arguing wizards. Monk arguments tended to be more polite. When the alchemist was done speaking, Sachni gave him an obedient bow. He needn't have offered a reward. She'd have heeded the call regardless. But if he wanted to show kindness, she would accept it.

"More than fair, sir. I shall accompany the..."

Uncertainty crept into her voice.

"Sage? Ahem. I shall accompany him into the depths; And investigate to the best of my ability. You need only point me in the right direction."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The little goblin doesn't need to be told twice, batting away at the mystical guardian and trying to pry away joints of its armor. With no room to move, the guardian isn't able to fully defend itself. Eventually, with a cry of triumph, Koma has half of its chestpiece away, revealing a glowing red light within the centre. Ellie's bolt flies right through the hole, clattering against the strange thing inside there, making it flicker.

TCCAAAAAH

The guardian's roar is harsh, cutting rather than echoing. Moving more quickly now, the thing is on its feet, and its blade swings round in a wide arc, looking to catch both of these intruders out.

Standing. Then two attacks.
[roll0] Attack Ellie - Damage [roll1]
[roll2] Attack Koma - Damage [roll3]

[Xacha]

Hopping back from the distracted Ghoul #1, Zarra side steps around to strike at Ghoul #2's flank as it bites at Adria.


Action #1: Stride (If I'm reading the description correctly, she can do that without coming out of Hidden.)

Action #2: Strike Ghoul #2: [roll0]

I'll let you put in the -2 AC penalty for flanking if you think this is workable. Theater of the Mind and all that.

Damage: [roll1]
Precision bonus: [roll2]


Zarra glares down at the grey-green "blood" on her blade, and contemptuously flicks it at Ghoul #2.


Demoralize: [roll3]
Can ghouls be demoralized? Seems odd, but there's nothing to say they can't. Guess these ghouls are more like Lovecraft's meeping ghouls than the old "fast zombie" ghouls.

[Syless]

Adria feels a burn as she takes the strike... remembering what ghouls can do to people... her eyes open in panic. It's curable, it's treatable, if she gets out of here in time, she just can't die... worst comes to worse, she has her vial of holy water... but she'll speak with Zarrachia once the fight is over. For now... she puts a hand to her holy symbol and starts to channel a spell, a wave of divine light pouring out of her to heal herself and wound the ghouls.

Casting the three-action Heal, healing myself and injuring the undead for:

[roll0]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

It was a sharp touch like a thin wire across her skin. Then a burning painful sensation. And blood. Ellie's face went white from the stab wound she took. Her heart raced in her little chest. She was going to die, wasn't she? Her and Koma, never to be found and just forgotten... Ellie stepped back from the guardian's reach. Her legs were shaky. She fired again at the guardian. 'Divines help me. I don't want to die here.'.

Then grabbed another bolt from her dwindling supply. She had three shots left.

1 action: Taking a 5-foot "Step" back.
1 action: Firing the crossbow [roll0]
1 action: reloading.

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The bolt clatters around inside the armor's power source once again. It falters, the breaking of its power flow disrupting its concentration. And that's when Koma springs. "Just DIE ALREADY!" the Cindersnout calls, ducking under the khopesh and ramming his sword right into the creature's chest cavity, again and again until the ancient automaton finally, blessedly stops moving.

Koma looks up towards his new friend. Ellie can see he's bleeding too, a patch of red starting to stain his blue dyed coat. The goblin barely seems to notice, his focus on his companion. "Ellie? You hurt too?" He moves to the bed, taking one of the sheets and starting to cut it to provide some material for binding wounds.

Ardia & Zarrachia
Adria's pulse of holy light is enough to reduce the ghoul Zarrachia had been sparring with to ash. The second monster screams, its skin burning a charcoal black against the power of Sarenrae. And that's when the remaining members of the party join the fray. With a quick chant and a gesture, Peridora sends a bolt of silver lightning cascading across the tunnel. The ghoul is fast, dodging backwards from the surge of power, but not fast enough to escape a sing to its leg and a searing pain. Nihnin presses the advantage, stabbing and slashing with her spear until the undead monster finally hits the ground.

WHOO! It's over!

Party gets 140XP from the two fights. I ain't tracking individual totals. That should bring us to 740 XP overall, right?

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

As soon as the last creature crumbles, Zarra is rummaging in her pack for medical supplies.


Now would be a good time to examine the vials she ... liberated from the incubation cave. Anything interesting?


She comes out with bandages and a wine skin and starts looking at the bite marks on Ardia.

"I guess we have to assume this is infected. The good news is that we've got a couple of days until it gets serious. It just means we've really got to get out of here."

Zarrachia looks around, "... which raises the question of where 'here' is. I've spoken with alot of the old pit-hands, and none have mentioned fog like this. And no one has even hinted about undead humanoids down here. My best guess is that we've wandered into some old chambers that were just unsealed." She gestures towards the moldering ghoul corpses, "Maybe something from the last Geddian war."

[Gwynfrid]

When Zalenko unexpectedly shows up and intervenes, Belginabo takes a step back. After all, he only met this guy today... What's going to be his reaction?

But then, his newfound master steps to the plate beautifully, not only vouching for him, but putting him in the bright spot! The place he likes best. He refrains from smirking in Valash's direction: He's recognized the signs of the Bleaching, and his resentment is dampened by a bit of pity for the old geezer. But this isn't about Valash, it's about saving innocents, it's about adventure!

"Yes, Master, I am ready! With your guidance, I have accomplished my first step today, but I realize there is much, much more for me to learn before I can call myself a wizard like yourself, and the esteemed Castellan. I will accept this mission as another test of my abilities." Here, a waist-deep bow, carefully avoiding any trace of mockery, in Valash's direction. He then turns to the crowd.

"Today we saw a brazen assault on the peace and lawful authorities of Oenopion. A greater disaster was averted, thanks to the brave efforts of the city guards, and a few citizens, assisted in no small way by some of our honored guests." A respectful nod in the direction of the cautious Jalmeray representative here... "I am proud that I helped a little. But several people fell into the great Ooze Pit here! Are we going to forget about them? NO! As Sarenrae and all the gods are my witnesses, and with your permission, Master ZALENKO, with the blessing of our rightful leaders" - another bow towards Borume, another to Valash - "I am ready, I am volunteering to come to the rescue, with all that are willing to join me!"

Diplomacy [roll0]

[DigoDragon]

The bolt clatters around inside the armor's power source once again. It falters, the breaking of its power flow disrupting its concentration. And that's when Koma springs. "Just DIE ALREADY!" the Cindersnout calls, ducking under the khopesh and ramming his sword right into the creature's chest cavity, again and again until the ancient automaton finally, blessedly stops moving.

Koma looks up towards his new friend. Ellie can see he's bleeding too, a patch of red starting to stain his blue dyed coat. The goblin barely seems to notice, his focus on his companion. "Ellie? You hurt too?" He moves to the bed, taking one of the sheets and starting to cut it to provide some material for binding wounds.

My exp total is at 740 right now with the addition from this fight, so my math supports your assessment.

Ellie did not respond immediately. She leaned against the wall and caught her breath, hand pressed against her own wound to staunch the bleeding. The adrenaline in her veins drowned out mot of the fear, but it was still there. It was her first real fight-or-die battle. Just her and the goblin Koma against... some kind of magical construct. Her head swam with thoughts and emotions. Did this get easier with experience? By the divines she hoped so.

"I... I got stabbed, Koma." Ellie finally responded. "Is this what it's like to fight for your life?"

She found strength to push herself from the wall and walk over to the goblin. He was wounded too that she could see, but he seemed to fare better mentally. Ellie felt a bit small--the goblin was experienced in a fight. She was not. At least Ellie understood enough medicine to recognize what Koma was doing with the sheets.

"Here, I... I can help cut strips." She picks up a blade from the floor to assist. "Thank you, for saving my life."


Ellie has Medicine trained. Might be helpful for bandaging, or at least as an assist roll if Koma knows it better? [roll0]

[Syless]

Adria relaxes a bit as the ghouls crumble. It wasn't the first time she'd been attacked by undead, but it was the first time she had allies to stand and fight with. She looks at her bite mark, then at Zarrachia. "You're right. We have to hurry now, we don't have the luxury of waiting around. I might be able to staunch things, there were some folk remedies back in Geb for the unfortunate... Nihnin, let me see if we can find anything to help with it." While that's going, she whispers in Zarrachia's ear. "If something happens to me, if I die... hide my body somewhere Peridora won't see it, then cut off my head so I don't come back. And... I have a book of Sarenrae's scripture. Please, find it, open it up to the dog-eared page, and say a prayer for me. Whether or not you believe it."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Koma shakes his head. "We save each other. That how team works. You not here, Koma probably not win that. Not without Cindersnouts. Even then, probably lose some friends."

The little goblin looks up from his work with concern. Koma knows the tone of Ellie's words well enough, though with their differences he's not sure what to say to her. He takes a second before getting back to work, tying a bandage across each of their wounds, but before he finishes tightening Ellie's the little rogue wets his finger briefly in her blood. Before the alchemist can object, Koma's fingers dart across her face, painting a design in dark red. A design much like the one the goblin himself wears.

"Here. You fight with Koma. You help save Koma. You Cindersnout for today, Ellie!" He hands her a piece of the destroyed armor, letting Ellie see her reflection. He's done his best with it, swirls and curves bedeck her face. He's practiced at doing this with disobedient young goblins, those inclined to squirm. Koma grins nervously. "You like?"

Feel free to get back to exploring. This is just Koma's attempt to cheer Ellie up. :smallwink: And I'll have Koma make some rolls - [roll0] for himself, [roll1] for Ellie. Note, this is supposed to need a healer's kit, I'm handwaving that in the interests of short term mercy, but that's a one time thing

Belginabo
It's not Bel's best delivered speech, but Zalenko has set the crowd up for it and they were already in a receptive mood. Bel gets his share of cheers, some whoops of appreciation. No more volunteers, but at least everyone seems with him in spirit. With one sole exception.

Valash groans. "Showboater and showboater. You two deserve each other." He gives Belginabo a lengthy look, before turning away and walking back to Borume's side, the conversation over as far as he's concerned.

"Eh, let the old grump be. Here." Zalenko bends down by Bel's side, placing a hand to the hilt of the gnome's rapier. Bel can feel the clink of a rock against the surface. There's a bzzt, and Belginabo can feel something shift in the blade by his side. Glancing down, a small green rune is now glowing on the hilt. Zalenko stands, grinning down. "Can't have my apprentice gettin' himself killed now, can I? I've got to mind the stall, but you come back, you hear kid?"

Belginabo's rapier just gained a rune of +1 weapon potency. :smallwink:

Belginabo, Sachni & Raka
I'd like to hold off a bit to give Estra a chance to have Raka catch up, and bring you a touch more into sync with the other groups. Anyr and Gwyn - if you've got anything more you'd like to do topside before descending, feel free. Borume won't push you down the pit - you go when you're ready.

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
Koma shakes his head. "We save each other. That how team works. You not here, Koma probably not win that. Not without Cindersnouts. Even then, probably lose some friends."

The little goblin looks up from his work with concern. Koma knows the tone of Ellie's words well enough, though with their differences he's not sure what to say to her. He takes a second before getting back to work, tying a bandage across each of their wounds, but before he finishes tightening Ellie's the little rogue wets his finger briefly in her blood. Before the alchemist can object, Koma's fingers dart across her face, painting a design in dark red. A design much like the one the goblin himself wears.

"Here. You fight with Koma. You help save Koma. You Cindersnout for today, Ellie!" He hands her a piece of the destroyed armor, letting Ellie see her reflection. He's done his best with it, swirls and curves bedeck her face. He's practiced at doing this with disobedient young goblins, those inclined to squirm. Koma grins nervously. "You like?"

Feel free to get back to exploring. This is just Koma's attempt to cheer Ellie up. :smallwink: And I'll have Koma make some rolls - [roll0] for himself, [roll1] for Ellie. Note, this is supposed to need a healer's kit, I'm handwaving that in the interests of short term mercy, but that's a one time thing

Ellie Sprocket, Cindersnout?

Ellie looks at her face in the reflection. She couldn't stop it. She can't. She cracked a little smile. "Yeah, I like it, Koma. Thanks."

It worked; she cheered up.

Ellie stands and rummages around for some more crossbow bolts. The pain in her wound still stung, but she tried to just deal with it and move on. "I guess we should... check the doors now? Hopefully we don't find any more suits of armor, but at least if we see one, we know not to get close." She gives Koma time to collect himself too, and when he\s ready, Ellie will go approach a door and see if it can be opened.

I assumed the medicine check wouldn't do anything mechanically for me since no, we don't have a medicine kit, but I rolled just to have something to do there.

As for doors, I guess pick one at random and inspect it for anything unusual?
Perception [roll0]

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

"Hush now, none of that defeatist talk," whispers Zarrachia, patting Ardia on the shoulder. "We'll have you out of here in no time. Then it's just a trip to the temple of Pharasma and a stern lecture about hygiene and you'll be right as rain."

Zarra produces chalk from her bag and makes a large "X" on the cave wall. "I'm guessing that we don't want to go deeper into this tunnel without back up. No telling what else is lurking here. I say we head back the way we came and look for another path upwards."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Koma nods, following Ellie's lead. It doesn't take the pair long to perform a cursory inspection of the hallway. None of the doors are trapped. Only the fancy one at the end of the hallway is locked, leaving two: one next to the barracks and by Nex's Door. And the one next to the teleport room.

Stepping ahead, Koma pulls each one just slightly ajar, enough for Ellie to peep inside. The one on the barracks side of the hallway looks to be some kind of guard-post, with desks, a table and writing supplies. It seems to extend a little past Nex's door, but she's not seeing another exit. The other room, next to the teleportation circle... is pitch black. Koma squints, trying to make out whatever might lie within, but eventually shrugs. It seems this room is too dark for even a goblin.

Ardia & Zarrachia
Nihnin spits at the ashes of the creatures after she claims the unlife of her mark. "Nihnin know this one. Goblins get same fever - live near Geb. Saw some kravetz back there, that help." Before anyone can object, the Cindersnout is off, polearm at the ready. Her eyes are apparently pretty good in the darkness. Peridora meanwhile is just clinging to Adria's leg. She doesn't have the words for this situation, but that fight was a bit much for the young wizardess.

Zarrachia's examination of the bottles produces a somewhat positive result. The alchemist didn't have time to finish printing the fancy labels that'd be put on them for sale, but he had scribbled brief notes to tell the three apart. And they're even in Halfling!

Oh carp. The notes are in Halfling.

'Nolly Knocker' - Smokey bottle, dark liquid. Looks unappetizing. More like something you'd use to scour a sewer than something you'd drink.
'Wilderman's Way' - If you didn't know better, you'd swear it was apple cider. Right colour, right consistency, everything. Zarra knows the oozehands have a few weird brews they like to try, though the alchemists don't generally do that. As far as she knows, anyway.
'The Good Stuff' - Definitely a magic potion, the liquid seems to shift colour between various bright shades just as you look at it. Goopy seems to react to this one, shifting back and forth against Xarra as she looks at it and making a happy burbling sound. It's rare to see him react this way to something consumable - usually if he wants it, he just darts for it.

Okay, you don't want to go in the direction you found the creepy ghouls in, fair enough.

Two Survival checks. One to find your way back to where you started, another to find a good alternate path. :smallwink: Zarra's getting turned around here, she's not doing the easy option.

Actually, I'll call for the first check before you leave. You'd know if you weren't sure what way you'd come in, right? :smallwink:

[DigoDragon]

Stepping ahead, Koma pulls each one just slightly ajar, enough for Ellie to peep inside. The one on the barracks side of the hallway looks to be some kind of guard-post, with desks, a table and writing supplies. It seems to extend a little past Nex's door, but she's not seeing another exit. The other room, next to the teleportation circle... is pitch black. Koma squints, trying to make out whatever might lie within, but eventually shrugs. It seems this room is too dark for even a goblin.

"Maybe there's a key left behind with the guard post?" Ellie suggests. She pushes the door all the way open and carefully steps inside, weapon in hand. She checks the desk for drawers. Specifically looking for keys or maybe a map? Something that might hint at the other rooms or the layout?

[Gwynfrid]

"Yes, Master Zalenko. I promise I will do my best to not get killed", Belginabo smiles. "And... Thank you. I was wondering if I was in over my head with these great bigwigs who didn't seem to like me much. Also... Thanks for this." He eyes the light of the green rune. He's got no real idea of its power, but he surely appreciates the gift!

After he bids goodbye to Zalenko, he goes to talk to the woman from Jalmeray. She looks very respectable, but she hasn't seemed impressed by him so far. No matter, she accepted to join him, and he's going to need all the help he can get.

"My lady, I thank you for accepting to join me on this quest. I shall endeavor to do my best, so together we can rescue these unfortunate people. Before we go, however, I need to make a few preparations, gather equipment, and above all, inform the poor girl's parents of what happened to their daughter. With your leave, I'll come back to see you... Er... In fact, what would be a convenient point to meet?"

Belginabo needs a couple of hours, I think. First, he needs to locate Peridora's home. Then, pick up his gear. And on the way, he wants to talk to Okoro, and maybe entice the mannequin to join the team, or, at the very least, make sure he can find it again when he's back.

[Syless]

Adria nods at Zarra. "I'm not being defeatist. We'll make it out of here. Just... when dealing with undead, you always have to plan for the worst. I know this from... from experience. But lead on... I don't have the best sense of direction, so I'm trusting you here."

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra sighs. "We may be in trouble then. I'm a city halfling. I'm afraid all these caves look alike to me."


Survival: [roll0]
Survival: [roll1]

[Inspector Valin]

Adria & Zarrachia
Turning around, Zarrachia starts to get an uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty. The path they'd taken here was as direct as she could manage, but looking back she couldn't tell exactly where the tunnel back'd split. She can take a guess, but if she's wrong, they might end up heading deeper yet.

Ellie
There's nothing obviously revelatory in the guard chamber, no key or anything too apparently helpful. There's a set of large cabinets set against the walls, though those appear to be empty. At least there's a comfortable chair, and a desk, set before what appears to be a window? It takes Ellie a second to realize that's what the black patch that takes up most of the wall is, but yes, it seems to show the room on the other side of the Nex door. Squinting, it seems to be a small rectangular chamber that runs level with the guardroom, with a second door directly across from the one in the hallway they'd seen. It must rest right against the edge of the guardroom - presumably this marks the area's external wall?

Some kind of apparatus rests beside the desk on a pedestal, bolted firmly to the stone. It looks like an orrery - a series of globes, held together with silver, set to rotate around a central point. It sparkles in the light of the blue lamps on the wall

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

"A halfling is never lost, because she always knows where she stands. The path, however, tends to wander," Zarrachia sighs.

"Right. I'm turned around," Zarra turns towards Nihnin and Peridora. "Did either of you catch which tunnel mouth we came out of?"

[DigoDragon]

There's nothing obviously revelatory in the guard chamber, no key or anything too apparently helpful. There's a set of large cabinets set against the walls, though those appear to be empty. At least there's a comfortable chair, and a desk, set before what appears to be a window? It takes Ellie a second to realize that's what the black patch that takes up most of the wall is, but yes, it seems to show the room on the other side of the Nex door. Squinting, it seems to be a small rectangular chamber that runs level with the guardroom, with a second door directly across from the one in the hallway they'd seen. It must rest right against the edge of the guardroom - presumably this marks the area's external wall?

Some kind of apparatus rests beside the desk on a pedestal, bolted firmly to the stone. It looks like an orrery - a series of globes, held together with silver, set to rotate around a central point. It sparkles in the light of the blue lamps on the wall

Ellie taps the 'window' to get an idea of how sturdy it is. "Seems to be another door in there... maybe the exit? We have to figure out how to open up the door on our side though..." She plays with the orrery a bit, pondering if this object represents something? Usually they do; the multi-planes, stars, stuff like that... but this one is bolts to the desk. That is what has her curious. It isn't just decoration.

'Mess with this object' roll: [roll0]

"Hey Koma, do you know anything about the history of Nex and Geb? Since Next or his followers must have built this place, I wonder if something in their history would help us figure out what this place was for. I remember Nex and Geb had fought each other in a long war many many years back. Hmm, could this be like... a war bunker?"

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia & Peridora
"That one." "There!"

The two point - to opposite tunnels. They glance at each other. Nihnin sighs, while Peridora blushes. "Sorry. Not sure." "The ghouls were really scary..."

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra blew out her cheeks. "Nothing for it."

She made another mark on the wall with an arrow pointing towards a random tunnel. "We go this way, and we take better notes this time."

[Syless]

Adria nods. "Sorry I can't be of more use... does anyone know any uplifting stories? We don't want to let our spirits drop."

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni & Belginabo
The Grand Alchemist nods to Sachni with a smile, before turning his attention to the pit. Workers are starting to begin reconstruction on the scaffolding, looking to bring the Pit back into operation. Oenopion can not afford to leave it idle for long.

Just to confirm, you guys are free to interact if you want. I'll throw out an update for Bel going on his visit later, I don't see RP between you guys affecting that..
Zarrachia & Adria
The goblin takes a second to consider the matter, before sighing. "Nihnin raider. Not storyteller."

Peridora furrows her brow, considering the question. "I know a few stories. But most of them don't have happy endings. They're more about what not to do - all the things people do wrong so they wind up in situations like this." The girl snorts, their current situation would make a fine cautionary tale. After the silence continues however, she speaks again. "I've got one though."

She doesn't seem enthusiastic, but with the only alternative being silence, Peridora continues talking in a low voice as the group proceed onward.

"Far to the north, in Avistan, there's a city called Korvosa. And a few years back, the city was in trouble. The old king died, and the queen who took the throne, Illona, was everything you can think of in a tyrant. She spread a plague called Blood Veil amongst her own people to justify taking greater control of the city, quarenteening her opponents in the diseased old quarter. She had these cruel lady knights called the Grey Maidens work for her, killing anyone who tried to argue. And she tried to sacrifice most of the city in a magical ritual to grant herself immortality."

There's silence. Peridora is starting to realize that this doesn't qualify as a 'happy story' by most definitions of the term. She breaks the quiet nervously. "But it worked out! A group of adventurers slew the queen, and saved the city. So... even when things look really, really bad, they can still have a happy ending?"

Okay, you're back into exploration mode. Still using searching as your action?
Ellie
The theory draws a hum from the goblin leader. "Maybe. This place old enough. But Koma think this too small. That look like door out. Beds just enough for ten guards. Only five rooms. If you build fancy magic place to keep safe, why not make bigger? Hide more soldiers, supplies, so you can jump out and attack later."

Perhaps Koma's thinking has her distracted. But Ellie aligns the orrery into a configuration that seems to register. The device clicks, as if she's figured something out.

And the floor gives out below her, as though she'd been standing on a tablecloth that someone pulled away, leaving the unfortunate alchemist plummeting downwards towards a now revealed pit. She just has time to grab a small hold in the wall, right beneath the trapdoor, planting her feet against the wall for stability. It seems to be there to hold pipes - four small open valves ring this little portion of the subchamber. Looking down, Ellie can see a hard stone floor beneath quite a distance beneath her. That would have been quite the fall.

"Ellie!" Koma cries, trying to reach down to help her up. Before he can do so however, the trapdoor slides back into place with a grim thud, cutting her off from both Koma and the light. In the darkness, Ellie hears a hiss of water starts to pour from the four pipes, down towards the bottom of the pit.

This is Encounter Mode now! You can clog/shut off the water spouts with a DC 18 Thievery check for each, get the trapdoor open at a DC22, and you've got 3 actions as per usual. Every round the water spouts will continue pouring until they fill the pit. It's 5ft of water per spout per turn, and the pit's about 40ft deep. When it fills, the drowning rules kick in

Since this is a bit harsh, I'll forgo initiative and let you go first. Good luck! :smallwink:

[DigoDragon]

"Ellie!" Koma cries, trying to reach down to help her up. Before he can do so however, the trapdoor slides back into place with a grim thud, cutting her off from both Koma and the light. In the darkness, Ellie hears a hiss of water starts to pour from the four pipes, down towards the bottom of the pit.

This is Encounter Mode now! You can clog/shut off the water spouts with a DC 18 Thievery check for each, get the trapdoor open at a DC22, and you've got 3 actions as per usual. Every round the water spouts will continue pouring until they fill the pit. It's 5ft of water per spout per turn, and the pit's about 40ft deep. When it fills, the drowning rules kick in

Since this is a bit harsh, I'll forgo initiative and let you go first. Good luck! :smallwink:

"I HATE THIS PLACE!!" Ellie shouts. Okay, calm down girl. You gotta figure out this thing. Try to get that door open before you drown. Ugh, whoever built this place is Evil!

Two Interact (Thievery) attempts on the door. If they fail, one attempt on a water spout.

Door: [roll0]
Door: [roll1]
Spout: [roll2]

[Inspector Valin]

It takes Belginabo some time to find the house he's looking for. The name Peridora doesn't elicit much of a reaction from most of the folk he passes by. Following the trail of the escaping apes however finally leads him to one inhabitant who recognizes the description of the girl, and gestures Bel towards an upscale town house

A swift rap on the door produces an inhabitant in short order. A man wearing green robes and a featureless white mask stands before him. "Hel-lo?" The masked man stares down at Belginabo confused. "Who're you?"

Ellie
The young alchemist is quick and bold. Before the water's made it even half way up the pit, she's taken the bolt from her belt and used it to wear away at the metal prongs holding the slab upright. It's harsh work, first one bolt giving out, then the second, but she manages it! The trapdoor falls into the growing pool with a sploosh as light returns to the subchamber.

"Ellie!" Koma helps her up, before glancing at the fate she'd almost encountered. He frowns. "That sneaky. Koma start to think Goblins help build this place."

Yeah, I'm not gonna trigger a second trap on the thing and you do kinda need it to get out of here. So a little more advancement.
The sphere array still standing there. A little more experimentation is able to produce more positive results - Ellie can control the doors by bringing the spheres into alignment. One pattern opens Nex's door, another opens the exterior. This is it! This is their way out!

Except, as soon as she changes the orrery alignment, the opened door closes. This was designed to be used by guardsmen, with the small bunker still inhabited. The only way to get someone out this way would be for... one of them to wait behind. Unless she's missed something.

[Anyr]

Sachni looked down (and down) at the enthusiastic gnome. So he would be her partner? He was rather different from her usual companions. Sachni decided to be optimistic. This could prove an educational, enriching experience. She replied with a disciplined, but friendly tone. Let's start this relationship off the right foot.

"I look forward to working with you. As for a meeting place, we can reunite here. It seems like this is where we'll need to be."

She then left to retrieve her equipment. She also wanted to check on the Jalmeray delegation. From the sounds of it, they were probably fine. The goblins were apparently just thieves. But Sachni wanted to be sure. Besides, her comrades deserved to be kept in the loop.

[DigoDragon]

"You know, Koma, with as sneaky as this trap is, I'd put my money on goblins too." She shakes a bit of water off her. She's not soaked, but the spray of the trap's piping system did give her a good spritz. Great. All that's left is to get zapped buy some other trap.

...okay, no one better have heard that thought.

"Hmm, this could let us out, but... someone has to hold it in place like this or the door closes." Ellie ponders the situation. Koma or Ellie? Well given recent events, the goblin might stand a better chance. "Koma? You have to go find your goblin group out there. I'll let you out and then you come back with help? I doubt anyone knows this place is here, but if you get up there, at least then I know there's a chance."

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
A Jalmeray delegation, huh? I'd been envisioning Sachni as essentially here alone. I'll try and get a post up with her checking in with someone ASAP, but I'll need some time to improvise and to check up on the Vudrani a bit. Apologies.

Ellie
Koma shakes his head, waving a hand towards the shrouded exterior door. "Dunno how safe outside is. Go alone, die, you stuck here and no one know. No way."

Frowning, the little goblin turns back towards the orrery. "This open one door. What about if other room have another one? We open both doors, go together!"

Yeah, it's not that someone needs to hold the thing, it's that it can't do 'open door one' and 'open door two' at once. If you can find a second orrery you can indeed get out together.

[DigoDragon]

Yeah, it's not that someone needs to hold the thing, it's that it can't do 'open door one' and 'open door two' at once. If you can find a second orrery you can indeed get out together.

Ooooh.

Ellie accepted Koma's argument. It was logical--the city guards could capture Koma and they may not believe him. Ellie had no way to write him a note as proof of this place.

"Alright then, let's check that dark room. This portable light will hopefully help in there." Ellie leads to the dark room behind the other door and opens it further. She holds the light out ahead of her.

[Xacha]

Zarrachia


Yes, keep Searching. FWIW, remember that Zarra has low-light vision, trap sense (+1 to find traps) and keen eyes (+2 to spot hidden creatures)


Zarra cleared her throat. Well, if it's stories you want ... my mother is a bard. I'm afraid I can't carry a tune in a haversack, but I can remember most of the ballads... of course, they all have to do with halflings ...

Deep breath. "Once upon a time, before the Rain of Stars split the world asunder, the hin - as halfling referred to themselves - all lived together in one country ...

... some indeterminate amount of time later ...

"... and so Shuri Coppertoes thrust her hand into the crucible of Black Flame and everyone in the hall screamed, expecting to see the hin die in frozen agony. Instead, Shuri pulled out her arm, completely unharmed, and thurst her fist into the air, "This is the strength of the hin! This will be what defeats the dwarves!" And all the witnesses cheered and rallied around the banner of Coberham Shadowglint ..."

... still later ...

" ... and so, with the aid of the elves, the dwarvish king Loktal Ironshield was forced back from the river Narr, and back, and back until his armies stood in the mountains of Highforge. And there they remained until the Rain of Stars. Shuri Coppertoes lived on, and married the brave hin Brot Stoutshield who had nearly lost his life to the dwarven throwing hammers when defending her. They took the family name from the battlefield where they met, and started the Narr family, which made their grandson Nob Narr, but *cough* that's another story. And a tragedy, so not today I'm thinking.


Performance, just because: [roll0]

[Syless]

Adria smiles as the storytelling takes hold. She manages to let herself get distracted by the stories, away from the looming danger. She's not sure how best to help in these tunnels- she lacks much in the way of practical tools. She keeps her elven eyes effective, looming in the limited light granted by the goddess' glamour.

Perception- [roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Adria & Zarrachia
Peridora listens to Zarrachia enraptured. Nihnin is clearly paying far less attention, her focus on the caverns surrounding them, but Adria catches the goblin woman smile at the description of Coppertoes surviving the fire. Even the Cindersnout rogue isn't just a defender of her tribe. The group's mood overall has perked up markably by the time they reach their next obstacle.

A portcullis.

Far more mundane than ghouls. It's old, rusted dull orange with the thin moisture of the pits, but a shove reveals it as still surprisingly sturdy. There's a thin gap to either side of it - barely enough for most of the smaller members of the party to get through, and perhaps too much for Adria outright. On the other side though, there appears to be a winch to lower the old gate. This passage seems passable yet.

That said, something seems odd about this.

Ellie
In the end, the lantern seems to have been unnecessary. After a few hesitant steps the room flickers to light

An almost blinding light.

When Ellie opens her eyes, she can't help shake the impression she's stepped into some kind of wonderland. The room is crammed full of devices of various kinds, some similar to the orrery she'd used to control the exterior doors, others stranger still, all set upon a cluster of desks around a central point. Astrolabes set into the walls, gears that spin of their own accord as she walks past them. Runes flare to life, freestanding in the air, but using tongues Ellie can't recognize at a glance. Angelic, demonic, something stranger yet perhaps. This is evidently the heart of this little building. Just standing here, Ellie can feel the thrum of magic washing over her. The devices and enchantments here are far, far beyond anything she's ever seen used. Only an experienced, well trained mage would be able to make sense of most of this. Once upon a time, it would've taken a team of highly talented arcanists to operate.

Koma whistles. The little goblin's attention is swiftly drawn to the centre of the room, which houses a hefty looking crystal device - a slab of shining stone, with some kind of light display projected above it. Before Ellie can move to join him however, she spots something out of the corner of her eye that Koma missed.

It's the wand. The same one she'd used, black wood, simple design. Just lying there, inconspicuously, in a wall mounted rack off to the side. Multiple notches suggest that it once held duplicates of the device, but now only the one they'd used remains.

:smallwink: The gods are watching, Ellie. What do you do?

[Xacha]

"Who puts a portcullis in a cave?


The rogue is checking for traps: [roll0]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie took a few steps toward the wand. "Koma, I found it! The wand! It's right here on the..."

She had reached out, but her hand stopped short. There was something in the back of her mind that told her this felt wrong. It was too easy to just grab the wand. That made it wrong.

"Wait, this seems to easy. We were fighting for this wand when we both ended up in that room there on the dias, but the wand... the wand was put back where it belongs. We don't belong here. The guardian, the trap, this place was made to prevent looters."

Ellie stepped away from the wand. She looked around and set her eyes on that central stone with the light projection over it.

"Maybe, this is the room's controls? Let's see if we can interact with it." Ellie reaches up to touch the light and see if it reacts to her?

[Syless]

"Eerie..." Adria, for her part, casts Detect Magic, in case there's something hidden here.

[Gwynfrid]

Sachni looked down (and down) at the enthusiastic gnome. So he would be her partner? He was rather different from her usual companions. Sachni decided to be optimistic. This could prove an educational, enriching experience. She replied with a disciplined, but friendly tone. Let's start this relationship off the right foot.

"I look forward to working with you. As for a meeting place, we can reunite here. It seems like this is where we'll need to be."

She then left to retrieve her equipment.

"All right, it's agreed! Looking forward to adventuring with you too!" The gnome runs away, in a hurry to get his errands done. Belginabo doubts the Vuldrani woman is anything more than lukewarm about teaming up with him, but she's polite about it at least, so he figures he might as well return the favor.

First things, first: He goes to find the big porcelain man, hopefully still here among the onlookers.

"Okoro! Did you hear? I got tasked with retrieving those people who fell!" He pauses, looks at his strange friend from ceramic head to earthenware toe. "Listen, I'll be honest - I'd love you to come with me. I think you can help a lot and I worry about what's going to happen to you in this big city. But the truth is this expedition in the depths of the earth is going to be dangerous. Exciting, but risky! I don't want anything to happen to you so it's really your decision. Do you want to join me? I won't be offended if you don't I promise. Instead you can go stay with Master Zalenko I think he is a decent man and he knows about magical things like you. What do you say?"

Unless Okoro has other ideas, Belginabo will take it to Zalenko's shop first. Belginabo will retrieve his equipment for the exploration (adventurer's pack and especially, rope). If Okoro wishes to stay, Belginabo will leave it with Zalenko, otherwise they'll go on together.


It takes Belginabo some time to find the house he's looking for. The name Peridora doesn't elicit much of a reaction from most of the folk he passes by. Following the trail of the escaping apes however finally leads him to one inhabitant who recognizes the description of the girl, and gestures Bel towards an upscale town house

A swift rap on the door produces an inhabitant in short order. A man wearing green robes and a featureless white mask stands before him. "Hel-lo?" The masked man stares down at Belginabo confused. "Who're you?"

"Good afternoon... Sir?" Belginabo is briefly taken aback by the man's strange appearance, but he quickly recovers. "I have a message for Peridora's parents. Are you her father?"

[Inspector Valin]

Adria & Zarrachia
The gate does not seem trapped. Frankly with how rusted it looks, even if there had been traps set here, Zarra wouldn't be surprised to find they'd rusted into uselessness too. No, it seems to all intents and purposes to be an ordinary, solid gate, although...

That's odd. That's very odd. Looking closely at the gate, Zarrachia spots a slight abnormality. The rust has pealed away around the centre of the gate, strips of corrosion pulled slightly from the grate in a rough circular pattern. It could've simply been the wind, she's seen markings like this above ground after a strong storm... but there's no similar pattern on the rest of the portcullis. And those sorts of conditions shouldn't exist this far below ground.

Still, Adria can't feel any magic emanating from the vicinity so it's as safe as you could want. Zarra's just had time to take stock of this information, when the party hears something. A sound, faint at first, but growing louder until it all but reverberates through the cavern, as dust and debris start to fall from the ceiling.

"WAAAAAAAAAGGH!!"

Roll initiative please. We are... not quite in Encounter Mode, but close enough that I feel obligated to track actions carefully. Your dungeon master cordially advises withdrawal as a tactically preferable option at this time. :smallwink: Getting past the portcullis without lifting it will be a DC15 Acrobatics check to squeeze, and will take a minute to perform. There are only two exits from this cavern - one blocked by the portcullis, the other is in the direction of the scream.
[roll0] Nihnin
[roll1] Peridora
[roll2] ???
Belginabo
It takes Belginabo a while to find Okoro. The doll has wandered back towards the guildhall, studying the rubble and wreckage as it goes.

"I.." For the first time, Belginabo feels he has truly stumped his mechanical friend. It takes Okoro a few seconds to finally formulate an answer, and when it does, the doll's head looks down towards the street. "It has been many years since I fought in battle. I believe I would be more hindrance than help to you at this point."

Despite Okoro's ever neutral voice, Bel can tell this statement is made reluctantly. Despite having been offered every opportunity to sit out the battle, having to do so rankles with the old construct. There's a hiss as the doll vents gasses in what sounds like a sigh. "One day, Belginabo, I hope we can stand together and I can truly repay you for helping repair this old frame. But I do not think today is that day." All the same, the doll places a hand on Belginabo's shoulder, fixing him with an oddly kind if unblinking gaze. "Stay safe. Fight well. And if you fall, may the Lady of Graves look kindly on your soul."


"I don't have to tell you that!"

The masked stranger occupying Peridora's house snaps at Belginabo's question, seemingly almost instinctively. A second later however, Bel can see the figure's shoulders slump a little. It at least seems to recognize the name. His new friend runs a hand across the design on the large leather bound tome it carries, before turning to study Bel with its head tilted. Belginabo can't shake the feeling that this person is fully capable of seeing him, even through a mask lacking eyeholes. "Is she dead?"

Sachni
Ikshwaku Suresh of the atanaprattas is perhaps not the greatest credit to his ancestors. He looks the part - young, strong, with an excited twinkle in his eye, but there's something lacking about his enthusiasm for the job. The Thakur must surely have had his reasons for sending him here to Oenopion, and making him the kingdom's representative within the city, but he's yet to provide much useful advice or order to his new subordinate. He's mostly been focused on meetings of his own with various local officials, leaving Sachni free to represent the isles as she chooses.

He's in the middle of such a session when Sachni arrives to see him, the bushy bearded ambassador reclining on a couch in the guildhall with a somberly dressed man in black she doesn't know. Suresh looks up as she entered, smiling heartily. "Ah. Sachni! Someone told me you... that you were responsible for the explosion in the Guild Hall." She can smell the Mahua on his breath at a dozen paces, even if the bottles weren't lying right there on the table between the two men. The ambassador takes no notice, focusing on trying to recall the story. "Said the goddess Suyuddha herself appeared before you, to take you into her realm, an... that made the Guild Hall explode somehow? I guess that didn't happen?"

Perhaps the Thakur gave Suresh this assignment as a way to get rid of the drunken sot in as polite a manner as possible. Gods, it's only barely past midday. The pale man sitting across from her looks disdainfully at the Vudrani ambassador, but sighs, not seeming to have the will to reprimand him. He looks longingly at the bottles on the table, but does not pour a glass for himself, simply sitting back and studying this new arrival.

Ellie
Koma looks at the wand longingly, "Place is dangerous. But... but need wand." Eventually he turns to join Ellie, muttering. "Find way out first. Then Koma take wand. This place jerk: Koma not care we steal from from you, jerk place!"

Placing her hand to the crystal table was exactly what was needed. At that simple gesture, the strange flickering lights resolve themselves into a crystal clear image of... erm... something. Ellie squints, trying to work out what the table is trying to show her. It looks almost like a tree, but one with roots growing far beyond the base of the trunk, rising up above where the earth would be. And it's more the outline of a tree - within the image, small markings flash and glow. Most of them depict runes that are strange to her, not even the Ancient Osiriani of the note. But there's a few that ring a bell.

Then Ellie gets it. Terran! The glyphs she knows here are Terran. The image's notations are written in all four of the classical elemental tongues, under the assumption that anyone operating this thing who didn't speak the language of every elemental court probably wasn't qualified to do so. That would rule Ellie out, but... well, needs must.

Studying the image, Ellie starts to make some real headway. There's markers of ground level for a start. That probably means this thing is some kind of map - starting below surface level, and going deeper down yet if she's reading this right. She glances around - most of the remaining glyphs she knows seem to denote stable and unstable tunnels, useful information to a miner but not so much for her. One sigil is glowing - it's in Auran, but she remembers 'here' in the wind tongue, that must mark their location!

There's one more that she can make out. Towards the bottom of the map, close to their current location, is a single large Terran glyph, perhaps the focal point of this whole display.

Sanctuary

And beneath it, in bright red bolded Ancient Osiriani

COMPROMISED

[Xacha]

Zarra, falling back on those halfling instincts, tries to put some bars between her and the noise.


Perception/Init.: [roll0]
Acrobatics: [roll1]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie
Koma looks at the wand longingly, "Place is dangerous. But... but need wand." Eventually he turns to join Ellie, muttering. "Find way out first. Then Koma take wand. This place jerk: Koma not care we steal from from you, jerk place!"

Placing her hand to the crystal table was exactly what was needed. At that simple gesture, the strange flickering lights resolve themselves into a crystal clear image of... erm... something. Ellie squints, trying to work out what the table is trying to show her. It looks almost like a tree, but one with roots growing far beyond the base of the trunk, rising up above where the earth would be. And it's more the outline of a tree - within the image, small markings flash and glow. Most of them depict runes that are strange to her, not even the Ancient Osiriani of the note. But there's a few that ring a bell.

Then Ellie gets it. Terran! The glyphs she knows here are Terran. The image's notations are written in all four of the classical elemental tongues, under the assumption that anyone operating this thing who didn't speak the language of every elemental court probably wasn't qualified to do so. That would rule Ellie out, but... well, needs must.

Studying the image, Ellie starts to make some real headway. There's markers of ground level for a start. That probably means this thing is some kind of map - starting below surface level, and going deeper down yet if she's reading this right. She glances around - most of the remaining glyphs she knows seem to denote stable and unstable tunnels, useful information to a miner but not so much for her. One sigil is glowing - it's in Auran, but she remembers 'here' in the wind tongue, that must mark their location!

There's one more that she can make out. Towards the bottom of the map, close to their current location, is a single large Terran glyph, perhaps the focal point of this whole display.

Sanctuary

And beneath it, in bright red bolded Ancient Osiriani

COMPROMISED

"Jerk place indeed," Ellie whispers in agreement. Now, as she understands what she is looking at, her eyes get wider and for the second time down here she cracks a little smile.

"This is a map, Koma. A map of... all the tunnels down here. Dozens and dozens of tunnels." Ellie points out parts she can make out. "See, we are here. Near us is something called Sanctuary. This says it has been compromised, but I don't know if it means us since we've triggered the guardian trap or if there's something else down here that broke in there. Seems important though, let's see if I can find a path there." Ellie tries to interact with the large Terran glyph that is being focused on.

[Estralita]

It took Raka, still soothing the gorilla, a few seconds to realize she was being addressed, and a few more to comprehend what he was saying. "Oh, Of course. Does he have a name?" Of course he had an owner. It wasn't like gorillas were native to the cities. And the gorilla was certainly better off with someone who could care for him than someone with less than two gold pieces to her name. Still...

"Do you rent gorillas? Or let people ride them?" Raka felt increasingly ridiculous. She only barely knew how to ride a normal animal, much less a gorilla. But however short their time was, Raka couldn't help but feel a connection to this beast. "This one was pretty steady though the flight, from what I could see. Really nice."

[Anyr]

Times like this tested Sachni's faith. She believed in the wisdom of her superiors. Suresh was the duly appointed ambassador. Therefore, he deserved her respect...somehow. She tried not to breathe in the fumes from Suresh's 'lunch'. There was a style of martial arts that relied on being intoxicated. Maybe Suresh knew the diplomatic equivalent of that?

"Um, that's not exactly right, sir. The image of Suyuddha was just a festival attraction. The explosion was caused by goblin thieves. They raided the guildhall using fireworks, and trained apes. I managed to apprehend one of the culprits. Now the Grand Alchemist has requested my aid. With your permission, I shall help him to investigate the aftermath of this raid."

Her eyes occasionally strayed to the darkly clad guest. But protocol demanded that she restrain her curiosity.

[Gwynfrid]

"I understand." Belginabo looks into Okoro's eyes. "Well really I don't but you know what I mean hopefully maybe one day I will."

"Anyway I'm sure I hope we'll meet again. There's so much I want to ask you no time that's really sad but I have to go rescue Lady Adria and Peridora. Please stay safe!"

He begins to back away and take his leave, but stops suddenly. "Oh I really have to ask you at least this one. What are you I mean are you a he a she or something else?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This masked person is really strange, not quite scary, but definitely not pleasant either. Belginabo decides he owes it to Adria to insist.

"Sir or Madam no you don't have to tell me but if you are her parent I believe you need to know. She's NOT dead." This sounds just a little bit strident, as if it's something he wants to be, rather than something he knows. "But she's in danger. She's in the Pit of Oozes. Not alone she's with Lady Adria a great nice and capable person. But still a very dangerous place."

He takes as tall a pose as he can, trying to convey a confidence he doesn't feel that strongly.

"I have accepted an official mission to go rescue them. And I will. That's what I wanted you to know."

Diplomacy, in case it helps [roll0] - EDIT - corrected to a 13 thanks to the use of a Hero Point.

[Inspector Valin]

Raka
The goblin's inquiry makes Kato purse his lips. It's obvious before he speaks the answer will be no, but he's at least trying to be polite about it. "Unfortunately, no on both counts. The apes have an extant buyer who will name them, and after today I wouldn't for a second risk..."

"Are you truly so intent on dismissing one who helped you, Kato?"

The voice is familiar. Looking up, Raka sees.... a man in an eagle mask? It takes her a second to work it out, but the leathers, the blade, the build - it's the old man from the alleyway!

Kato bows low to the stranger as soon as he sees him, shuddering at the sight of this man. "Forgive me, sir! I... it was..." A wave of Eagle's hand is enough to dismiss this. The old man steps forward, kneeling down to meet Raka's eye level. "So little one. You have my thanks." He chuckles, gesturing behind the goblin warrior. "Why do you wish to buy this ape from Kato? You enjoyed your ride upon it that much?"

Sachni
"I told ya that. I saw the whole thing. But does 'e believe me? Naaah..." The stranger mutters. Suresh either doesn't hear, or pays no mind to the breach of etiquette, instead staring up at the monk in fascination.

"Well, it sounds like you've had... quite a day. And now you're going off to do... more work?" He looks wide eyed at this prospect. There's a strange tone to his voice, something between admiration and, perhaps Sachni likes to hope, a touch of personal guilt. He takes a third glass from the table, starting to pour a drink for "You should join us. Have a drink before you go. Take the edge off. You're outside the monastery now, I won't tell if you won't."

He chuckles. Sighing, the pale man in black turns to Sachni, his focus thankfully not on her superior's obvious misconduct. "Was there any sign of a gal in a blue dress with the goblins? Short green hair? About yer age?"

Anyr, he's describing Ellie. Your call if Sachni spotted her or not.
Ellie
Her touch is enough to manipulate the display, given a little experimentation it's easy enough for Ellie to refocus the display on Sanctuary. Small runes flit into existence beneath the designation
Exterior - SECURE
Substructure - SECURE
Seal - SECURE
Gate - SECURE

The rest of the sub options are listed in the other elemental languages. Only a few of them are lit in that same red shade, and they're written in Aquan. Whatever is wrong is linked to water? At least in the way that a gate is linked to earth.

Still, at least Sanctuary itself seems to be intact. She's not seeing any little signs that suggest danger, like a skull or anything. It's...

Intact. A massive important ruin from the founding of the kingdom, undiscovered under Oenopion is largely intact.

[DigoDragon]

"Well, I'm not seeing any obvious dangers like another group down here. Might just be us, my friend."

This is going to be the find of the year! Ellie refocuses. She moves the map to the room they are in. She wants to see if there is another door control orrery or something so that the two can get out of here. With the wand of course.

"Alright, trying to make sense of the language here. Looking for an exit and if we can take the wand with us when we do."

[Anyr]

Suresh seemed genuinely shocked by the concept of hard work. He wouldn't have lasted a month in the monastery. But that was...fine. Different castes had different methods. No sooner had Sachni rationalised this flaw in her superior, when Suresh sent another at her. He wanted her to drink alcohol?! Sachni recoiled from the offered glass, as if from a snake. This had to be a test. Suresh was making sure that her discipline was strong.

"Sir, my body is a temple! I'm strictly forbidden to defile it."

It wasn't as if monks were joyless. They knew how to have fun. Sachni had shared many a laugh with her warrior sisters. She could be devout and happy at the same time. The darkly clad guest was gracious enough to ignore Suresh's antics. He asked a question which furrowed Sachni's brow. She cast her mind back.

"A blue...Yes! I did catch a glimpse of someone in blue. They were riding one of the apes. I'm not sure of any other details, though. It was a frantic chase."

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
The map isn't that precise, as a few quick attempts to focus on 'here' indicates. Ellie finds a jumble of additional statuses, with far more red than Sanctuary held, and few in Terran. Strange that 'here' isn't considered compromised, when it looks like several things here are not working right.

"Think we gotta just work out which thing in room is door thing." Koma sighs - the lights would've made it so much easeri. Still, they've a job to do. He walks over to the entryway. "Koma watch door. You try find door control. Koma call when door come down."

I'll let you pick this check. :smallwink: What skill justifies Ellie being able to figure out where Door Control is?
Sachni
"It's not like one lousy glass will kill you, or the gods'll strike you down for it. Just trying to help you, Sash." Suresh does not look pleased at Sachni's refusal. Rising slowly to his feet, the ambassador plods slowly out of the room with a scowl on his face. "Hopeless! Monks are always hopeless."

The strange man in black sighs at Suresh's withdrawal, but he doesn't seem angered by it. Instead he gives the monk a grateful smile. "Thanks, kid. Good luck with whatever yer doing fer the Grand Alchemist." The smile reveals some rather sharply pointed teeth. Still, the whatever-he-was seems friendly, rising to his feet. "You need anything 'fore ya go? Might not be the right ambassader, but I'm happy to help. 'd be nice to feel like I was doin something to chip in other than just wait here fer my carriage."

Belginabo
"A mission? Into the darkness? To save the girl?"

The figure seems... intensely excited at Belginabo's explanation. It hadn't considered this possibility. It starts muttering to itself, "You need a blessing for something like that. Knowledge of magic, secrets and power, yes yes yes. To know what secrets are, you must first learn of secrets. Secrets to find secrets. To find that which others would forget. A Riddler's job is to bless those like you, Belginabo of Jalmeray: questioners, the explorers, the curious and the mad..."

It chants something low, in a tongue Bel doesn't recognize. The book reacts to it however. The sigil on the front cover glows green, and portions of it seem to writhe as Belginabo looks at them. The magician holds it out, studying the likely mystified gnome closely. "Will you accept this gift?"

Refusing politely will require a pretty good Diplomacy check. :smallwink: As will changing the subject.:smalltongue:

[Gwynfrid]

Magic! Right before his eyes, a spell of power! A magical book! Certainly packed with incredible knowledge... The gift comes in a really strange fashion, and from a stranger benefactor, though.

"I most gratefully will Sir or Madam. If you could please first explain to me what it is for how I should use it any precautions I should take to keep it in good condition?"

In case of need, Diplomacy [roll0]
Alos, what's a Riddler? Let's see if he remembers something on that - Recall Knowledge, I guess Society? [roll1]

[DigoDragon]

"Alright, Koma. I'll try not to take too long." Ellie steps down and wanders the room in search of something that should manipulate the doors. Would it be another orrery? Maybe something else more befitting this room's status? Well, at least this isn't some hall of a gnome king and she has three guesses, shouting 'Oz' on a random object.

She considers looking for something that would be bolted down to it's shelf or table. That would make sense. You couldn't just walk out with a door knob after turning it...

(would Engineering lore work? As in, maybe Ellie recognizing the architecture design of the doors and where the controls would physically be if they're not magic controls? [roll0])

[Anyr]

Oh dear. Sachni had angered her superior. And yet, she didn't feel as if she'd strayed. The faintest trace of indignation bubbled within her. Monks weren't 'hopeless'! Perhaps she should report Suresh to his own superiors. He might be in need of remedial lessons.

The other ambassador was much more pleasant. Sachni returned his smile. Why couldn't she have a boss like this?

"Your offer is appreciated, sir. I think I have everything I need. While scouting, I'll watch for the woman you mentioned."

After the meeting, Sachni would go to her room. She'd stashed a variety of supplies there. Because unlike a certain someone, she took her job seriously!

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni
"Thanks kid. If you see Zabby, tell her... tell her Karja Masari sends his best."

The pale man turns, leaving the room with Sachni. He offers her his hand before she turns away. "Stay safe down there, alright?"

I don't have more planned, I'm afraid. But Belginabo's scene shouldn't run much longer. If you've got any more interractions you'd like to see, feel free to note them!

Belginabo
The Riddler chuckles, with the indulgent air of a parent. "No price. No expectation. No need to explain. Take it. Then you'll know the gift of knowledge."

Belginabo's heard the name 'The Riddlers' before since he came to Nex, but he doesn't know much. They're a society of wizards who are influential within the kingdom, and apparently quite powerful. He's never met one before though. The one common thing he's heard is that Riddlers have a paradoxical relationship with questions - liking to pose them and encouraging curiosity in those around them, but disliking having to share or give information. They believe that knowledge should be uncovered, but guard their personal secrets well. The idea of becoming one's apprentice was laughed at when he brought it up - they don't take students, preferring to spread their creed across fellow experienced mages. The only time you'd find a 'young Riddler' is with the child of an older one.

(:smallwink: Good roll, but I put some limits here since Bel's from Jalmeray, and these guys are Nex specific.)

Ellie
These devices might be magical in origin, but Ellie's logical mind pares that down to usability. If there is a door control in here, it likely would be so that the area could be evacuated if need be. Thus it should be accessible. The orreries here may look the same as the other device, but they're separated by the arrangement of desks, and are hard to reach. Ellie would bet they control functions of this room - likely related to the table. If she wants to release the door, it needs to be one of the astrolabes mounted on the walls - simpler, easier to reach and manipulate quickly. While a different device, she can match the pattern she used in the guardhouse on the flat circles of the simpler machine, and this leaves her just a few options to check.

"Got it!" Koma calls on the third try. The goblin gives Ellie a wide grin as he saunters back into the room, before turning his eyes back to the wand, expression more serious. They now have a choice to make.

[Syless]

Adria's first priority is Peridora- she ensures the girl can make her way through before following herself, since Zarrachia is safe on the other side.

Initiative- [roll0]
Aid Another- [roll1]
Acrobatics- [roll2]

[DigoDragon]

"Alright, Koma, here's the plan. We have both doors open, you grab the wand, and we run together for the exit. Just in case, we should also hold hand so that if the wand teleports again, we should at least end up in the same place again."

Ellie hoped the platform had info on what taking stuff out of this room might do, but was there anything like that? She wasn't sure.

She goes to the orrery in the other room and opens that door. Then she returns to Koma. Yes, she is very nervous. Also a bit sad that there's so many wonderful things here to take, but... No, can't get greedy. She secures the items she does have so they don't get dropped in the run.

"Ready?" She holds out her hand.

[Anyr]

Sachni nodded as she shook the ambassador's hand. What a nice man.

"I'll try, sir. 'Death by slime pit' would be an embarrassing end. I'm hoping for something more dignified...and distant."

Gathering her equipment didn't take long. It was all neatly organised. She'd soon be on her way back to the meeting place.

[Inspector Valin]

Belginabo - Flashback
Okoro takes a second to answer. When they do, Belginabo senses a tone of amusement. "Before I had this form, I was a woman of war in the court of Pharaoh Xaracort. When my essence was placed into this doll, the question of if my gender was retained became academic, since I am incarnate in a body without gender. My soul shifts to fit the doll, so does my gender persist? I do not believe the wizards of my age ever made up their minds about the matter. I find she, or they, are both reasonable."

Adria & Zarrachia
Zarrachia, with quick reflexes and nimble gait, is through to the other side of the gateway in no time. Peridora and Nihnin are both close behind her, the latter starting to squirm through with Adria's help while Nihnin is struggling to fit through the tiny gap Zarrachia managed so easily. She looks like she could use a hand.

Even without that issue, there's another problem. Neither gap looks remotely big enough for Adria. Either she's going to have to pull off a near impossible feat of contortion in short order, or Zarrachia's going to have to heft the portcullis up with the winch to let her through. And preferably slam it shut in short order. The pounding sound of a regular drumbeat is growing louder. And faster.

Athletics to raise the portcullis. Yes, even with the winch - it's hefty and rusty. I'm not setting a DC, your roll will determine how high you can get it and how quickly
Ellie
Koma nods, taking one final gulp of air. On Ellie's count, goblin and human reach out, grabbing the wand together and pulling it free.

Before the pair can turn and sprint away however, a voice emerges from above the rack, speaking in Ancient Osiriani.

"Thank you. Have a nice day!"

It sounds... cheerful. No alarms or red lights seem to trigger. The room seems completely fine with the wand being taken.

Congrats! You're done with this place, and can leave whenever you want to. :smallwink: Nice job!

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, gobsmacked


Ellie blinked and glanced at the rack a second time. She then looked to Koma. "It-it just told us to have a nice day," she explained. "You know what? Gift horse. Let's just leave this place before it changes its mind."

She almost yanked the goblin along when she started a brisk power walk to the exit. Ellie slowed down so Koma could move with her at the same pace. She kept close to him too. It was almost funny--the day started with Koma stealing these items and Ellie stumbling behind Koma to fight for them back. Now they're... well, would friend be too strong? Certainly on good terms whatever the case may be. Course once they were out Ellie thought that maybe helping Koma get out the city gates first would be the smart plan. Then she could return to the Grand Alchemist and present him with three recovered items and the find of the year--a sanctuary built by Nex's followers. Still intact!

Well, minus that guardian statue. So 99... point 9 percent intact...

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

"Peridora! Nihnin! As soon as you're through, give me a hand with this!"

Zarra doesn't so much pull the winch as throw her whole body on top of the handle in an attempt to force it into motion.


Athletics: [roll0]

[Gwynfrid]

Okoro takes a second to answer. When they do, Belginabo senses a tone of amusement. "Before I had this form, I was a woman of war in the court of Pharaoh Xaracort. When my essence was placed into this doll, the question of if my gender was retained became academic, since I am incarnate in a body without gender. My soul shifts to fit the doll, so does my gender persist? I do not believe the wizards of my age ever made up their minds about the matter. I find she, or they, are both reasonable."

Belginabo smiles. "Thank you for telling me this, my friend. It makes it easier to address you as a person." He turns to leave, but stops again.

"You know what, calling you by a plural, that makes it sound like you're a bigwig. You'll be a she to me, if you don't mind!"

He makes to move out, but stops once more, nearly bumping into an obstacle - a small furry animal, golden in color. "Ha! Fancy you here, you little scoundrel!" He picks the ferret up in his hands. "Okoro, meet my little friend Hexizkakus. Hexizkakus, meet my large friend Lady Okoro. Remember her... We'll meet again, hopefully soon! And now, time to go. Stay safe!"


The Riddler chuckles, with the indulgent air of a parent. "No price. No expectation. No need to explain. Take it. Then you'll know the gift of knowledge."

The gnome's eyes sparkle in excitement. "Then, gladly I will take it! Thanks! We'll bring Peridora back as soon as we can!"

And with that, assuming the Riddler has told him all they were about to say, he walks back to the Pit, his backpack now noticeably heavier, Hexizkakus on his heels, to rejoin with Sachni.

[Inspector Valin]

Belginabo
The nature of this gift becomes clear as soon as Belginabo places his hand upon it. His vision goes dim for just a moment, as the enchantment starts to resonate with the gnomeish apprentice. He can hear chanting in a language he doesn't know, see arcane runes in his mind's eye, feel a little more of Golarion's magic at his fingertips. The knowledge of this book isn't contained in its pages - it's spiritual. This whole thing was spiritual and metaphorical really. By accepting the book, he's accepted the power within it, and the knowledge it represents.

In a way. He can't understand the words, or what the runes mean exactly. He can't lay out the theory behind it all. But he can use it. He knows instinctively how to cast these spells, and just what they'll do.

"May you never tire of the thirst, till the Final Incantation echoes in your ears." The Riddler bows, their duty done. Before they turn however, the masked figure adds a few words more. "And... bring the girl back safely." Hexizkakus meeps as the two of you start to walk away. Something about this encounter has left Belginabo's friend looking concerned.

Add 'Riddler's Tome' to your inventory. Bulk 1. Also please select 2 cantrips and 2 first level spells from the Arcane spell list. These unlock for Belginabo as innate spells, as long as he bears the tome on his person. (The cantrips at will, level 1s 1/day each.)

Ellie
Koma beams up at Ellie, the little goblin seemingly elated with how their little misadventure has concluded. The wand is tied to his belt now, on the opposite side to the sword, as the two beings start their brisk walk out of the compound into the darkness. Right outside the doors, the area is paved, but soon enough the pair are forced to start walking across rough hewn caverns in search of a way out.

Even with the torch to help light their way, the duo face slow going at first. Past the insulation of 'Here', the cavern is chill and wet - what Ellie most likely would've expected from the Ooze Pits, truth be told. There's no sound, unfortunately, not even the gloop gloop gloop of one of the resident slimes passing by. It's more than a little earie, walking through shadowy rock formations with the knowledge no one else is there but you. Koma starts whistling, trying to break the silence with a discordant but cheerful tune. It may be difficult for Ellie to decide which is worse, intimidating silence or Koma's dissonant pitch

Finally, something interrupts the Cindersnout. A gargle. A low, quiet sound from up ahead. It sounds human-ish, like someone's been hurt and is gasping for air. Koma glances to Ellie, placing his hand to his sword hilt. If they do check this out, they'll need to be ready for trouble.

Adria and Zarrachia
Peridora is through fairly swiftly, the little girl jumping to help Ms. Zarrachia. Between the two of them, the rusty old gate begins to rise - not to its full height, but the pair are able to hold it just high enough to allow a kneeling Adria passage through. Nihnin still is struggling to catch up, pulling furiously on the wall. The pounding is getting all the louder - it'll be in the room with them in a matter of seconds.

Yeah, Adria's still due a post this round, and since we're on Encounter Time I'll allow three actions. :smallwink:

Meanwhile, Hero Point distribution!

Adria and Zarrachia get one each for coming down here before preparation, Ellie gets one for agreeing to give Koma the wand rather than fighting him over it. So yeah, the Pit Party get one more each, but with the fact that they're at the heart of the danger right now, that's not too surprising. :smallwink: Good luck gang! Use 'em well!

[DigoDragon]

Ellie's hand delicately wrapped around the stock of her crossbow. "I want to find out what is making that sound. Let's move, but carefully. Step light."

She took slow, deliberate steps towards the gurgling sounds in the cavern. She tried to hide the sounds of her steps best she could, though she couldn't hide the light without blinding herself.

Stealth [roll0]

[Xacha]

Zarrachia:

"Adria! Help Nihnin! Peridora, reverse course, let's bring this back down!"

Zarra plants her shoulder under the winch handle and heaves.


Athletics: [roll0]
Athletics: [roll1]
If they manage to get the gate down, Zarra readies her shortbow.

[Syless]

Adria crawls under the barely-lifted portcullis before it's dropped, then tries to extricate Nihnin from the gap she's trying to squeeze through. For whatever's coming, her holy symbol starts to glow, in case she needs to repel it...

I guess Athletics to pull Nihnin through safely?
Athletics- [roll0]

[Estralita]

Raka

"Buy them? I- well..." Things had slowed down, but her head was still spinning. And there were still things to be done. "Perhaps we can discuss this later? A bunch of people just jumped down into the pit. Someone needs to look out for them. If I get back alive, you can find me by my stall."

I've been told I need to hurry, so hopefully I can put this on the backburner and Raka can head down to the dungeon crawl. still very interested in picking up with this later.
I hope I 'm not deeply offending either of them in the process. :smallbiggrin:

[Gwynfrid]

Hexizkakus' unease registers with his master, but Belginabo is too busy imagining the incredible discoveries he's going to make with this well of arcane knowledge to truly worry about anything else for the moment. A question to ask Zalenko when he returns, certainly.

The gnome hurries back to the Ooze Pit for his appointment with the Vuldrani woman and adventure.

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Koma nods, content with Ellie taking the lead. He places a hand over the lantern orb - dimming it just a touch to help keep their approach quiet without leaving his friend blind.

Perhaps they needn't have bothered. After perhaps a minute of walking, and the slowly growing sound of water, they find the source of the noise. The cavern they emerge into is massive, akin to an underground hall, and actually lit. A cascade of bright blue glowing liquid falls majestically from some far higher point, running down the centre of this room, forming a loose channel perhaps thirty foot wide, with a handful of large rocks allowing for a makeshift bridge. The blue water shifts to purple in spots as it goes, finally flowing away into the darkness of the pits. It's quite an impressive sight for something so far beneath the ground.

The noise is coming from the same side of the blue river Koma and Ellie entered the room on. There's a figure, huddled in a darkened corner, still seemingly twitching and groaning. Some poor fellow traveller perhaps? Undone by a monster lurking in the pits? Koma and Ellie exchange a glance, wondering if this is the truth, or if their mark is some deceptive trap.

Suddenly, something jumps up from the quivering wreck, jumping and bounding with a patter of tiny paws across the cavern towards Ellie and Koma! Instinctively Ellie raises her crossbow, trying to adjust her aim to account for the creature's indescribably fast movement.

Only... then she recognizes her assailant. And her heart can't help but sing at the sight of the little pest.

Widgit leaps up into Ellie's arms, scampering onto her shoulder and nuzzling her cheek with a contented pur, happy to see his mistress again. Koma meanwhile has darted ahead towards the groaning form. Drawing closer, Ellie can make it out too. One of the other Cindersnouts, their blue coat covered in blood. Something had hurt them pretty bad. Koma's cutting strips away from his coat, looking for wounds to bind. "Ody?! Ody! You not die! Here now!"

Well... at least you've got your familiar back? And your gear too, all of that's in the pack on Ody's back, still perfectly intact. Also it's not strictly engineering but given Ellie's alchemy background I'll note without a roll that the water's non-magical: just bioluminescence.

Adria & Zarrachia
A lifetime escaping notice in Geb makes sure you're fast when you have something to outrun. Adria is under the gate in half a second, helping Nihnin through as Zarrachia readies her crossbow. Even Peridora has formed a shield spell. All eyes are on the other side of the cavern

It's hard to make out just what it is in this light, Ardia's spell doesn't give the group much to work with. You catch a glimpse of mottled fur, and bulging muscle, its legs make the ground shake with each step. It looks humanoid in rough silhouette, but it towers more than three times the height of its would be quarry. You hear a faint sniffing, and then a low growl as it starts to move forward, picking up speed as it charges towards the light of Adria's spell.

Enter 'Thumper'. You may thank Xacha for the name. :smallwink:

He's on the other side of the cavern from you. I'm gonna call it... 45 feet. :smallwink: Actions, my friends? *goes to look up Hardness/HP of rusty iron.*
Raka
Uuuugh... I asked you to discuss it with me, not to hurry. I said specifically I didn't want to hustle you, to try and avoid this situation! *sigh* Que sirrah sirrah. Let's just try and get the two teams set up at least.
"Quite all right." the man in the mask bows politely. "The good of the people is ever paramount. I know your stall now. We can find you when you return."

After that... well, the man who'd been planning the rescue is fairly obvious, and he's standing right over there. It doesn't take much to convince him to let a clearly well equipped warrior tag along

Raka, Sachni & Belginabo
Soon enough, having completed any remaining preparations you wished to see to, the three apparent members of this rescue party stand ready before the mouth of the pit. Borume has made ready for them - a hefty looking rotordrone hovers above, a platform with wooden rails suspended below it via hefty looking cable. The crowd has dispersed by now, in belated compliance with proper safety ordenances, and the pit workers are busy with reconstruction of their scaffolding. It's just the three of you and the Grand Alchemist to see this off.

Borume coughs, not quite sure what to say. It takes the old man a second to collect himself. He bows to the three of you. "Good luck. May Nethys illuminate your path, and show you mercy as is fitting. And should you fall, may Pharasma's judgement treat you kindly."

Final chance to ask for goodies, rewards, kudos or the like. As soon as the three of you step on the platform, you're en route to the bottom of the pit.

[DigoDragon]

Widgit leaps up into Ellie's arms, scampering onto her shoulder and nuzzling her cheek with a contented pur, happy to see his mistress again. Koma meanwhile has darted ahead towards the groaning form. Drawing closer, Ellie can make it out too. One of the other Cindersnouts, their blue coat covered in blood. Something had hurt them pretty bad. Koma's cutting strips away from his coat, looking for wounds to bind. "Ody?! Ody! You not die! Here now!"

Well... at least you've got your familiar back? And your gear too, all of that's in the pack on Ody's back, still perfectly intact. Also it's not strictly engineering but given Ellie's alchemy background I'll note without a roll that the water's non-magical: just bioluminescence.

Ellie Sprocket

"Widget!! Oh I am so glad to see you!" Ellie does a twirl with her little construct critter and hugs him. She walks over to Koma and assesses the situation.

"If Widget is here, is my bag here too? Oh, I think that's it on his back." Ellie points to her bag. "Koma, I might have some medicine that could help your friend. Let me see if my reagents survived." Ellie puts Widget on her shoulder and crouches bends turns kneels plops. Ellie just plots onto the ground with no grace and probably adding another stain to the already ruined dress, but whatever. She looks through her bag's contents to see if either of her two elixirs survived.

If Ellie's two Elixirs of life survived, then she will use one on Ody. Heals for 3d6+6 points. [roll0]

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

"We can't count of those bars holding him. We need to get out of here," whispers Zarra sharply.

Zarra tugs on Adria and Nihnin, trying to guide them farther down the tunnel.


She's running.

[Anyr]

Sachni returned, laden with supplies. There were weapons, torches, climbing tools, and more. Preparation paid off; Unfortunately. So much for a peaceful trip. She hadn't even gotten the chance to buy souvenirs. Her best friend Maita would be so disappointed! Even monks weren't immune to the siren song of tourism. Sachni hoped things would calm down after this goblin incident. Maybe she could still enjoy the festival later.

She reported promptly to the Grand Alchemist. Beside her stood the gnome from before, and a...goblin? Sachni tried to hide her surprise. This woman would apparently be her team-mate. Best not to be rude. Sachni accepted Borume's religious blessings. The deities he mentioned weren't her own. But Sachni came from a place with over 10,000 gods. Accepting new ones came naturally to her. She bowed her head.

"Thank you, sir. I am ready to proceed."

Her new comrades also received a respectful bow.

"I am Sachni Mittacharikh. I look forward to working with both of you. May we be united in purpose and spirit."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo respectfully accepts his mission from Borume, with a bow that includes just a little bit of flourish, before he greets his new comrades.

"My name is Belginabo, at your service." He's already met his compatriot, Sachni, but the goblin is new. No, actually, he's seen her before. "Hey, you're the one who bumped the leader off his ape! And the woman, too. That was impressive! I am most honored to be on this mission with both of you."

[Syless]

Adria's eyes go wide at the sight of the monstrosity. Zarrachia has the right idea- fleeing is smart here. Adria scoops up Peridora and starts carrying her- longer legs matter at this point- and darts ahead, possibly even leaving her two shorter companions behind.

Making a Geb Lore roll in case these things exist there:

Geb Lore- [roll0]

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie
Ellie's memory serves her well. In a second, she's retrieved the Elixir and she's administered to her new patient. Koma's eyes widen as his fellow Cindersnout's wounds begin to clear, grinning wide at his human friend, and patting her on the shoulder. "Ody! Thank you, Ellie! You best Longshanks ever!"

The little 'Ody' looks up at her too. He doesn't say anything just yet, his eyes still a touch misty, half open. Frowning, Koma glances around the room. Once again, the ceiling is still intact. "Ody, what happened? You no fall here. Something hurt you. What?"

"It... it..." Ody shivers, having trouble getting his words out. Something has spooked the little goblin badly

Adria & Zarrachia
The group are on their heels in an instant, sprinting deeper into the caves as the nameless monster charges towards the portcullis. Behind you, you hear an ear splitting screech of metal as the old gate holds as firm as it can against the onslaught of furious anger. Clang after clang rings out as the monster wails upon the door, with fists as strong as sledgehammers, until finally you hear the defeated portcullis clatter to the floor in a shower of clinking splinters, as the creature's cry of triumph roars out behind you.

At least you've gained some ground, as you run swiftly through tunnel after tunnel, scrambling up and down as you go. Peridora is shivering in Adria's arms. Nihnin is praying. "Mother of monsters, make stupid big thing go away, pretty pretty pretty please..." None of you stop. The pounding of the creature's steps has resumed, and you'd all rather be pretty much any place but here right now

You've seen a ton of monstrosities in Geb, mostly on holidays when the Blood Lords felt like hosting a military parade, but nothing quite like this. The legs bend back, the arms and torso are missized, it's nuts. Geb has issues making towering undead monstrosities these days - that sort of thing takes talent and skill that can be invested making Yet More Zombies to till the fields and haul goods. If a necromancer made this thing, they would probably need a laboratory. Or to have found an already existing hellbeast and just reanimated it.
Zarrachia, Adria & Ellie
As Ody is stammering, four new figures charge into the cavern, entering on the other side of the river. This new quartet stop, finally catching their breaths after an excruciatingly long run. At least your paniced flight from danger has brought you to a jarringly beautiful part of the caves? A faint blue light plays across the cave, courtesy of the waterfall and river that cut it in two.

"Ody? Boss?" Nihnin can't quite help her incredulity as she gazes to the figures standing opposite her group, calling out to them. "How you two still alive?!" Koma seems about as surprised, not able to come up with an answer swiftly. Glancing about, Nihnin notes Ellie's facepaint, and grins, waving a hand at the alchemist "She save your butts, huh?"

Meanwhile Peridora has descended from Adria's arms, distracted from their recent encounter by the placid scene before them. "Where are we?" The question was mostly metaphorical. The little wizardess walks over to the rockface by the waterfall, placing her hand upon it as she looks up at the glowing rapids. "This is beautiful. You really do make the best discoveries when you don't plan on looking for them. Oh, I wish I wish I had my scrapbook."

Strangely, you can't hear the sound of Thumper's footsteps any more. Maybe you've managed to outrun the beast? Or maybe the sound of rushing water's made him harder to hear.

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Getting her breath partially back, Zarra waves to get the attention of the folks in the room. "Hi! Not to be a pest, but we're here because we were running away from something really big and angry and I'm not entirely sure we lost it so if maybe everybody wants to just keep moving that might be the best options all right thanks *pantgasp*"


Zarra's looking for an exit. Any chance she could swim from here?

[DigoDragon]

Ellie studies the new group in the cavern. She waves back to the third goblin.

"We saved each other and came to an understanding," she answers. "So... I can follow who here is with Koma, but who are the rest of you doing here... err, why are the rest of you doing... you know what I mean."

[Syless]

"Saving a lost little girl, running from monsters, the usual." She sets Peridora down for a second, hoping the monster has slowed down, then casts a spell, firing a lance of light at the ceiling a good distance away to try and block the path.

Casting Divine Lance on the ceiling 30 feet back.

Spell Attack- [roll0]
Damage- [roll1] Good damage

[Estralita]

Despite the potential danger of the expedition, Raka couldn't surpress a grin on her face. This was what she was meant to do, not selling things out of a stall. Protecting innocents, slaying evil, and everything. And maybe if she proved her worth here, she could spin this off into more of the same! Show them what a goblin warrior could do, no matter her size!

"So we're going to go down there? How? I'm Raka, by the way."

[Inspector Valin]

Adria, Ellie & Zarrachia
Koma nods, grateful for the backup. "We partners, Nihnin! Escape tricky dungeon and fought big scary metal man together!" Nihnin's eyes widen. She looks skeptically at Ellie, with a 'really?' evident on her eyes if not her lips, but doesn't press the matter further. She bobs her head to Zarrachia and Adria, muttering to her companions. "Koma idiot, but good fighter. Ody too. We should stick together. Safer that way."

Meanwhile, Peridora waves to Ellie, taking it upon herself to help answer the question. "It's my fault. And kinda a long story." She's about to go back to the wall, a trace of magical energy flicking by her fingers when the little wizardess realizes something. She turns back to Ellie on the other side of the river. "Weren't you the lady on the gorilla? What happened to your face, with the paint?"

Meanwhile, Adria's spell is cast with a little haste, her hands trembling slightly, but it's enough for what she needs. The rock crumbles, light debris starting to fall before heavier rocks come down, sealing the passage the four just entered from. Zarrachia, casting her eyes about the room, is able to reach some conclusions swiftly. The river is wide, but the current isn't too fast and there's stone outcroppings across its run. They can either ford it, or try to make a few simple jumps across if they're worried about getting wet.

Unfortunately, their options for exit points are not looking promising. She sees three additional tunnel mouths on the ground level with them, one on their side and two with the goblins and lady in the dress, but each of the three seem to slant downwards. She's fairly sure all of them will take them further away from the surface still. And they're deep now. Glancing up, she can make out a small opening in the wall on their side, close to the top of the cave, just to the right of the waterfall. That would lead them upwards, and fairly quickly too since it looks steep, but it's going to be a challenge to get this rag tag group to climb high enough to get in there. It's got to be more than fifty foot up there, although thankfully the face is rough and has a good amount of moss for hand holds

The immediate options all seem... less than ideal. At least she's fairly sure the monster won't be able to reach them with the tunnel blocked. Hopefully. The hole in the ceiling seems too small for the brute to make it through.

To avoid second guessing, Xacha, this is me putting on my DM hat to say 'this information is accurate'. You had a bad survival roll prior to your encounter with Thumper, this is the result. I won't ask you to roll survival again after leaving this room, but getting back on the right path may prove a challenge.

Well, unless you're willing to consider leaving a few of the less nimble folks behind. :smallwink:
Raka, Belginabo & Sachni
Borume bows to the three adventurers as they return. At Raka's question, the old man's eyes twinkle. "Fairly easily. All the three of you have to do is stand upon this platform. And hold on tightly to the railing."

Assuming the three of you do so, the Grand Alchemist claps his hands. With this simple movement, the drone starts to slowly fly out, away from the side of the pit. Mercifully, its motion is slow and steady, and the cables hold your footing in place, but holding onto the handrail is frankly a wise move. Borume tips the little group a salute as they are slowly lowered into the darkness

The oozes have lost their glow now. Soon enough, you are past the point of natural light, as the rotordrone slowly shifts its approach, looking for a flat area to dock with. A light attacked to its top half slowly flickers into life, providing you with not quite enough illumination to make out the chambers you are passing through. Finally the platform comes to a halt by an old rickety scaffolding tower, bringing you level with its top section. Iron tracks leading off onto the moist ground before you suggest that you're in a part of the Ooze Pits that was never converted back from its origins as a mine.

Hoookay, you three are now at the bottom of the pit, at the entry point of where the group likely fell! You guys are in Exploration Mode. How do you go about trying to track the group down? You've a lot of ground to cover, no clear starting point. Borume provided a map, so if you take it slow you won't get lost, but the tunnels are sprawling and odds are pretty good if they tried to get out, they got lost. :smallwink: The rotordrone will remain and can disengage if hostile monsters approach, so don't worry about protecting it. You've got an escape route covered

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

"So ... it looks like we're safe enough here for a moment - thanks, Adria. Seems like a good time to ask ... where exactly are we? Anybody have a guess?"

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket


"Weren't you the lady on the gorilla? What happened to your face, with the paint?"

"Yes, and I'm an honorary Cindersnout. For the day."



"So ... it looks like we're safe enough here for a moment - thanks, Adria. Seems like a good time to ask ... where exactly are we? Anybody have a guess?"

"Not to be rude, but... nah, I'll be rude. Who are you people?" Ellie asks. The short, young woman with the long green hair puts her hands on her hips and leans a bit to the left side. "Hmm, I'll start then, to be fair. I'm Elizabeth Marie Sprocket, or just Ellie for short. I'm one of the alchemist students over at the guild. This little scamp on my shoulder is my lab assistant, Widget." She scratches Widget affectionately under the chin.

"As to where we are, somewhere under the slime pits is all I know. Back this way leads to part of some kind of buried complex, and I think some of these other tunnels might take us to other parts of it It's quite the find." Ellie stops and awaits their introductions.

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia, Adria & Ellie
Koma nods, seized of the need for introductions. The little goblin steps forward, so he's just on the edge of the riverbank on their side of the cavern. He's a short, grey skinned creature - with red swirls painted on his face, long ears that end in points, and wearing a fancy looking blue coat with golden trim. "Koma, hero of goblins, Chief Hunter of Cindersnouts!" Behind him, Koma hears a groan. "Uuuugh." Trying to force a smile, Koma waves at the still groggy looking goblin on the ground beneath him. "This Ody the Bold. Also Cindersnout!"

Nihnin sighs. She wears the same blue coat as her counterparts, but hers has been coated in a thin layer of grime, designed to help it blend into the darkness of Oenopion's backstreets a little better, and her version of the face paint seems less elaborate. "Nihnin. Also Cindersnout."

The little girl on the right hand side of the cavern chimes in. She's almost as well dressed as Ellie for this occasion, wearing a black tunic with silver trim. Her hair is also a humble black, running to her shoulders, and she wears a pair of circular horn rimmed glasses. She bows politely to first Ellie's group, then to her own friends. "Peridora Komachi Naraba. At your service."

[Anyr]

Sachni stepped cautiously onto the platform. She could admit to some trepidation here. Her hands tightly gripped the guardrail. Soon, the suspect device descended into darkness. Sachni prepared herself for whatever lay below. Once the platform stopped, she disembarked quickly. Solid ground was better than floating magitech. She glanced back at her companions.

"Well, here we are. Let's be careful. There's no telling what could be down here."

The monk extracted and lit a torch from her backpack. Then she advanced, step by step.

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra waves tiredly, "Zarrachia Marns, Customs Officer First Class, hot on the trail of some ... borrowed apes. We tangled with some ghouls back there, and then something even bigger and deader chased us here."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo's excitation is obvious to all as the drone takes him and his new comrades down the unfathomable depths of darkness!

Even more exciting, this is an opportunity to try his newfound power from the Riddler's book! He instinctively puts a hand in his backpack, but realizes this is not necessary - the heft of the tome is enough to confirm that it is indeed here, supporting his confidence in his abilities. He clears his throat, and utters a few words of arcane magic:

"C'est dans les profondeurs
Que lumière nous guide
Elle disperse la noirceur
Pour nous, les intrépides!"

A globe of light appears from the tip of his fingers, and starts to float around, following the platform in its descent.

Casting Dancing Lights.

[Inspector Valin]

Ellie, Zarrachia & Adria
Zarrachia's introduction makes all three goblins squirm. None of them have a poker face worth a damn, especially after everything they've gone through today. Eventually, Koma coughs. "Well, you find monkeys, you keep monkeys. Not steal them, just borrow so we get out of city okay! Then we'd let them go."

Ody shifts uncomfortably - the subject of the gorillas reminds her of the one that'd thrown her and Peridora from its back. Though Koma's brought up a good point. "How we get out of city now anyway, boss?"

The Cindersnout Leader hums, glancing at the cavernous cavern they've found themselves in. "Tunnels pretty big. Like Wastes-Warren. Way bigger than Ooze Pit. Find different way up, then blend into crowd. Get out past gate with old tricksy..."

It's at that point Koma remembers Zarrachia's uniform and profession. He raises his hands, starting to sputter quickly. "Pass! Pass! Gate pass! Because we very legal, very cool goblins with nothing to do with crime, or stealing or blowing things up!" Damn it, a few seconds longer and he'd have actually said the whole plan in front of a custom's officer! Nihnin holds a hand to her head, not quite able to believe what she'd just heard.

Meanwhile, Peridora's inspecting the waterfall wall, following Zarrachia's earlier line of reasoning. She huffs, looking up at the height of their most promising exit. "If I'd memorized the spell, I could've confured a spirit to fly up there with a rope for us. They could pull us out." Apparently unwilling to give up she kneels down beside the waterfall and starts to chant. Goopy meanwhile is clinging closely to Zarrachia. The little ooze is shifting about in her grip, trying to keep Zarra between him and... Peridora?

Just a reminder, there's still the glowing blue river and waterfall between Ellie, Koma and Ody and Adri/Peri/Zarra/Nihn/Goop. There's been lots of talking, which I'm fine with, it's not that high so the sound of water is quite quiet, but if it matters you're gonna have to cross (either by jumping on larger stepping stones that span the river, or just... you know, swimming.)

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

"Oh, and that reminds me, I have given Koma a wand as part of our agreement working together, since he helped me recover some other items," Ellie explains with not much context. "I do want to help them leave the city peacefully, but first we do need to find our way out of these pits. Anyone have ideas?"

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra waves dismissively towards the Goblins, "Custom's agent, not guard. I just needed to know what happened to the bog monkies. Making arrests is out of my range."

"Speaking of range ... " She cranes her neck at looks at the opening high on the wall, "... our best way out of here may up there, but I've only got the one rope. Anybody got an extra rope handy?"

[Syless]

Adria realizes she hasn't introduced herself. "I'm Adria Mullheim. And getting up there does seem nice, if we have a way..." She reaches into her satchel and pulls out her own length of rope. "Will this do?"

[Estralita]

Raka gripped the railing hard, until she was completely certain the thing had stopped. Slow or not, this was not the kind of travel she was used to.

Once they were halted, Raka checked her weapons, making sure she could pull either her sword or flail at a moment's. Then she headed off with the others, moving towards the front in case something jumped out.

For the moment though, things seemed safe. Safe enough to start making conversation, and getting to know her ally's capabilities. "Magic, huh? Are you a wizard of some sort?"

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

"Well, it is good to see all of you. Seriously, that complex down there is a death trap." Ellie motions to the large blood stain on her dress. "I guess we'll have to cross this bio-luminescent river to get to your side if we're doing the rope escape."

Ellie studies the water a bit to ensure it isn't liker, actually acid or full of... like, slaughter fish or something.
What roll would that be? Nature? Society (scum)?

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra ties Adria's rope to her own, then loops one end around her belt.

"This could take a minute. I'm out of practice."

Zarra digs her toes into the mossy wall and starts to climb.


Let's see how hilarious this is going to be.
Athletics: [roll0]
Athletics: [roll1]
Athletics: [roll2]
If she rolls a critical failure, I'm invoking "halfling luck"
Athletics: [roll3]

[Inspector Valin]

Belginabo, Sachni & Raka
With Belginabo's bright light to guide their way, the trio sets off deeper into the mine, planning to circle the upper levels to try and find some sign of the souls who've fallen down here. It's strange, you don't see or hear anyone around, but can make out the faint gloop of the oozes meandering about above you. There's a few areas where tracks of slime suggest larger plasm-formes have wandered down here, but none of them are apparent.

It takes you about a third of the circuit to find something unusual. You've reached what was once the base station of the mine's primary shaft - a nexus of crossing tracks and dismantled pulleys, with old rusted carts lying forgotten beside an abandoned lift. A slime has made a nest in one, and burbles softly as you pass, watching you. There are a few old buildings carved into the side of the wall, and rising across the side of the rockface: a supply depot, an old mess hall, and above them what'd once been the foreman's office, a building overlooking the rest of the station at the base of the shaft, ensuring that the official could keep a close eye on the coming and going of ore.

At a glance, the whole enterprise looks long deserted, doors swinging in the breeze, but drawing closer, you can just make out a faint light in the window of the foreman's office. A solitary candle flame. If the survivors of the fall had wanted a spot to hold up and wait for you in, they couldn't have found a better one. You hear a faint sound, someone tapping metal against wood, the rustle of cloth.

What do you do?

Feel free to roll whatever checks you like! And Bel, feel free to provide Raka with an answer - I'm keeping this moving, but don't want to shut down conversation.
Adria, Ellie & Zarrachia
Thankfully, the water is as safe as it'd looked at a glance. Koma nods, and is about to follow Ellie across the water... when he remembers his charge. He glances down at the treasure tied to his belt, frowning. "Prooobably shouldn't get wand wet. It might go off or something. Ody, we take rock bridge!"

Ody groans a little, but nods, moving to follow the more enthusiastic Koma. The two goblins are soon at the handful of rock placements that span the river, and begin to cross together, Koma taking the first jump each time then waiting for his subordinate to join him. They make the first jump. And then the second. Koma however has some difficulty with the third, slipping as his feet come down, and bending to his knees to retain his balance. With a triumphant cry, the Cindersnout Leader rises to his feet... only to be knocked back into the water by Ody landing nearly atop him gracelessly.

And in that instant, the room itself changes.

The water pulses, the faint blue light growing rapidly brighter. Then in an instant it vanishes, leaving Ellie's lantern and Adria's spell the sole remaining light left in the room. The sound of rushing water fades away, the current itself starting to recede as the rock itself begins to rumble (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xftz4GLKQGY). You hear the clang of metal shifting, strange horns echoing in the distance behind the wall you stand next to. Ellie can make out the familiar hiss of vents and the clack of gears, as if some great mechanism has been started.Before your started eyes, over a hundred tons of rock wall starts to retract - like two curtains being pulled aside to greet the morning sun. Zarrachia just barely has time to jump away from her suddenly unstable perch once she realizes what's begun - from the ground, she can only watch as the hole she'd been banking on as a path back to the surface rumbles and trundles away into the rock.

Now the outer layer is gone, the group can see that this cavern is significantly larger than they'd realized. It equals Oenopion's town square in size quite easily, with a smooth plain of rock set out before you. In the walls lie the collection of gears and enchanted vents that control the now withdrawn facade. But dominating this greater chamber stands a massive gate that glints like copper in the light of lantern and spell. It looms above you, a mighty fifty feet tall with the three Rings of Nex emblazoned proudly upon its centre, and a chorus angels, demons, dragons and shadows encircling it all. As the seven of you watch, the rings light up blue, and then the Sanctuary Gate too begins to slowly rumble open, its elaborate carvings splitting in twain as it divides into its two component doors. A great chill gust rushes over your group, as long sealed air bursts forth into the confines of the Ooze Pit of Oenopion.

And then, with a final rumble of machinery, the true gate stops. A vast expanse of blackness lies before you. Peridora blinks. All three Cindersnouts just stand there, mouths agape. None of the four have the nerve to break the silence.

Perception checks, and reactions, if you please. :smallwink: And hey Xacha - that 20 was useful! If you hadn't rolled that, I'd have called for a tumble roll to avoid damage. :smallamused:

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Silence. Zarra drops back to the floor and blinks at the door. And blinks again. Yup, the door is still there. The silence stretches on ...

"Blorp!"

She sighs. "Well, Goopy, that's it. You know there's no way I can NOT explore that, don't you? Cayden Cailean would never answer a prayer for me again if I just walked away."


Perception: [roll0]

If nothing else happens, Zarra is going to pull out her bullseye lantern and light it up, then examine the open door. She's got Nexian History, so maybe the symbols and iconography might give her a hint as to who made it and why.
Lore: [roll1]

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket, gobsmacked, part II


"I did't touch anything," Ellie suddenly says. She looks around and her eyes set on the symbol of Nex. The face Ellie makes is the kind of face you make when you see a friend you haven't talked too in weeks. and they owe you money. Then the door opens and her face changes to one of worry. Then-- "Oh yeah... the light-map I had found said that sanctuary was compromised by something in the element of water. Of course! This river was leaking inside the place. Remember when I said that there was a labyrinth down here to Nex and some of these tunnels may lead to other sections? Well my hypothesis seems proven correct and if I'm not mistaken, this may be the entrance to the main Nex complex. The Nexplex, if you will." Ellie is proud of her terrible name for this place.

Perception [roll0]


She looks specifically at Zarrachia. "I advise against going inside on account that this complex likely holds many more dangerous traps meant to keep out explorers like us. And by explorers, I mean intruders. And by us... no that part is literal. On the other hand, any of these tunnels could just lead us to other parts of the complex anyway, so might as well stick together through this. Sigh. At least together our chances of survival are much higher.."

[Gwynfrid]

For the moment though, things seemed safe. Safe enough to start making conversation, and getting to know her ally's capabilities. "Magic, huh? Are you a wizard of some sort?"

The gnome's pleasure is visible at this question. "Well yes I dabble in magic... I am actually only an apprentice at this time, although I already have a few accomplishments to my name..." He lowers his eyes in a rather unconvincing attempt at humility. It doesn't take great psychology skill to see that he's dying to be asked for details of what those accomplishments might be.


At a glance, the whole enterprise looks long deserted, doors swinging in the breeze, but drawing closer, you can just make out a faint light in the window of the foreman's office. A solitary candle flame. If the survivors of the fall had wanted a spot to hold up and wait for you in, they couldn't have found a better one. You hear a faint sound, someone tapping metal against wood, the rustle of cloth.

Belginabo's instinct would be to call out to whoever is in here, but something in the scene strikes him as odd. He softly asks his companions, "do you think it could be those we're looking for?"

[Anyr]

Sachni advanced through the mine. It was eerily deserted. She imagined the place in its heyday: A bustling hive of activity. Now the only people here were Sachni's trio, and the lost souls they'd come to rescue. At least, that's what Sachni hoped. These shadowy caverns could conceal a whole smuggling ring; Or worse.

The monk kept a watchful eye for signs of life. She eventually found it. A single flame stood out from the darkness. Encouraging. Slimes didn't light candles. And it was in the right place, too. Belginabo asked the natural question. Sachni gave the natural answer.

"I suppose it must be. Who else would be down here?"

[Syless]

Adria stares in awe as the mysterious chamber opens up, and looks between the split opinions of her group. "I'm... staying with Peridora." She looks to the young girl. "Elizabeth has the right idea, it's probably not safe in there... but it's up to you. You have the right to make your own decisions."

[Estralita]

Raka raised an eyebrow at the gnome's answer. but did not question his claims. "So, what kind of spells do you know, then?"

In the present, Raka frowned. "I don't know, but we need to find out. Should I knock?"

[Inspector Valin]

Zarrachia, Adria & Ellie
Goopy burbles happily in Zarrachia's arms, content with his mistress' line of logic. Peridora takes a second to respond to Adria's question, taking her time to consider it before finally answering. "We should at least go a bit deeper in. If it's dangerous, we can come back here now that the door's open. And if there's really a chamber this big, there might be a second door inside, one that comes out closer to the surface. It could be our best path out of here." And an old ruin with magic? It was a gamble, but they might have medical supplies that could help Ms. Adria

Koma's eyes sparkle a little at Peridora's words. "Tiny girl and fancy lady right. Best path forward!" The other two Cindersnouts nod, though they lack Koma's enthusiasm. The trio move forward, accompanying Zarrachia with Koma starting to whistle once again.

Which was not enough to drown the buzzing that swiftly started.

Before the party are aware of quite what's going on, four strange spheres flit out from somewhere up high, descending from the ceiling just behind the group in the former waterfall chamber rather than from beyond the gate. They don't have wings, but they move almost more smoothly for that, drifting through the air as if it were water. As they draw into reach of the adventurers' light, it's hard to suppress a shudder. These things look hideous, pink-purple fleshy blobs with sharp circular blades almost covering their 'body' entirely. The only organs you can make out are four solitary emerald green eyes, one on each orb. They form up into a ring above the group, orbiting you and staring balefully down at this rag tag assembly.

Before diving towards the would be escape party like some bizzare flock of vultures, eager for fresh pray.

Aaand battle is joined!

[roll0] Ody
[roll1] Nihnin
[roll2] Koma

[roll3] Peridora

[roll4] Augurs. They will act with group initiative.

[Anyr]

I’ll assume that Sachni’s Perception attempt failed.

Sachni nodded. Nothing would be gained by just standing around. They had to investigate.

“Let’s go together. Be careful. Some of the gob...*ahem*...the thieves are missing too. They might not welcome rescue.

Having a goblin ally was a new experience. Sachni would have to be more racially sensitive. She hoped that the thieves (if any even dwelt here) would come quietly. The monk started walking again. She cautiously approached the candlelit shelter.

[Xacha]

Zarrachia

Zarra keeps her lantern in the left hand as she flips her shortsword into her right.

As augur #1 (as I'll call it) dives towards her, she drops into the standard swordfighter crouch and swings ...


Feint: [roll0]


... only to roll her shoulders and bring up her sword in an upwards slash.


Strike: [roll1]

Potential damage: [roll2]
If feint is successful: [roll3]


Zarrachia draws up her bullseye lantern and shines the bright light directly into the single green eye. "Let's see you blink, freak!


Demoralize: [roll4]

[Inspector Valin]

Sachni, Belginabo & Raka
Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary as the group climb the gently curved stairs towards the door to the foreman's office. There's no change to the taping of metal, or candlelight, but a strange smell starts to reach the three of you. Sachni, ever alert, moves slightly ahead of the group: positioning herself to get a look at the room's interior before they enter.

The odor is stronger now, bitter yet familiar from harsher days of training. Blood. Faded, not shed recently, but within a matter of hours rather than days. Right in the centre of the room, a circle has been drawn in dark red, branching into arcane looking glyphs. The weighty candle lies upon what'd once been the foreman's desk, beside some hefty looking leatherbound tomes, one of which lies open. Strangely, a small mahogany music box is placed in the centre of the desk. It doesn't seem to be working, no sound emanates from the contraption, but the gentle tap the group'd made out is the attached doll, still slowly spinning and dancing to that unheard rhythm from its stage atop the box.

There's no sign of survivors, but above the scene beside the window overlooking the pit stands a lone sentinel. Sachni's never seen its like before - roughly humanoid, but a good ten feet tall, with withered skin atop bulging muscle and armored gauntlets, breastplate and grieves burned into its skin. Most harrowing of all however is the face - nose lost, eyelids sunken, lower jaw removed. What remains lacks even the pretence of humanity. It's just a weapon made from a man's remains.

It doesn't seem to have noticed her. Slowly Sachni steps away, returning to the others.

Belated use of the perception check, since there isn't much going on in the rest of the chamber. I'm even throwing in a free successful Stealth check! :smallbiggrin: Sorry for the puppet job but wanted to give you a result on that and couldn't justify it without you getting a little closer.

[Syless]

Adria reacts to the dangerous situation quickly, stepping in front of Peridora and hurling a lance of pure light at one of the mysterious creatures.

Spell Attack Roll- [roll0]
Damage- [roll1] Good damage

[Gwynfrid]

Raka raised an eyebrow at the gnome's answer. but did not question his claims. "So, what kind of spells do you know, then?"

"Well, let's say I'm not worried about falling off the platform", Belginabo answers with a mysterious air.


“Let’s go together. Be careful. Some of the gob...*ahem*...the thieves are missing too. They might not welcome rescue.

"Right you are, my lady. I'll be right with you." He heeds the warning, and approaches right next to Sachni, but sends his globe of light further away, leaving himself in a less-lit area.

Ideally this would count as Avoid Notice, but he already has an exploration activity he needs to keep up: Repeating his cantrip to make light. So I don't think he can benefit from Stealth at the same time.

When Sachni returns to report her findings, Belginabo's face whitens. "What? A bloody ritual? A... An unliving thing? Oh man, are we in over our heads?"

Then, a realization overcomes his fear for himself. "If this is going on here then Lady Adria and the girl are in a worse danger than we thought! We need to do something. But I don't know how."

[DigoDragon]

Ellie Sprocket

Ugh, Ellie hated the color purble. She backed away from the fight and pulled out a glass flask. Bits of light seemed to bounce around inside it. "The other traps I found were mechanical. Why are these organic? Seems inefficient on a long-term design plan."

She throws the bottle at one of the ugly critters, then reaches for her crossbow.

1a = Move back from the creatures horrible melee reach.
1a = Quick Bomber (1 action to draw & throw bomb). Throwing a bottle of Lightning
-->Attack [roll0], damage [roll1] electricity (plus 1 splash electricity). If hit, target is flatfooted until start of Ellie's next turn.
1a = ready her crossbow.

[Estralita]

"Well, let's say I'm not worried about falling off the platform", Belginabo answers with a mysterious air.

At that, Raka just rolled her eyes. If that was the best of his boasts...



When Sachni returns to report her findings, Belginabo's face whitens. "What? A bloody ritual? A... An unliving thing? Oh man, are we in over our heads?"

Then, a realization overcomes his fear for himself. "If this is going on here then Lady Adria and the girl are in a worse danger than we thought! We need to do something. But I don't know how."
'
As he spoke, Raka simply draws her sword. Inside her heart's pounding with fear, but she can't let that control her. "We confront. Or at least I will. You know how to fight, wizard?"

[Anyr]

Sachni returned shaken. She'd been unprepared for such a grisly sight. Her speech only resumed when she'd gained plenty of distance. Both of her teammates were similarly affected. But where Belginabo hesitated, Raka threatened. Sachni held out a hand to forestall the goblin.

"Wait. There's no need to fight. To my eyes, the creature seemed mindless. I think it's just guarding the ritual space. If we don't intrude, it won't attack.

Remember, our mission is to rescue people. There were no living souls in that place. We should search elsewhere."

[Gwynfrid]

Belginabo looks at Raka. Her sword is taller than its owner. When she takes it out, he instinctively takes a step back to be out of the range of any possible wrong move of this impressive weapon. But... He finds her determination comforting.

He's about to draw his own weapon, but Sachni's intervention stops him. "True... But... That ritual, surely it is dangerous, right? You said there was blood all over? If someone summons crazy monsters or something, surely it's a danger to us as well as to those in need of help out there?"