Shadow rondo

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+65
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=13]

Intimidation by Antenora.

Something in Antenora's voice makes the daemon pause. It laughs long and loud, but there's an undercurrent to it, of nerves. "You think you can-"

Antenora begins to look up - and that makes the daemon step back. A pause and then he turns, hurrying away.

[Ebiris]

"Idiot," Alicia mutters under her breath after he flees.

[Anastasia]

Jessica cracks a smile. 'So many vows, but none against calling an idiot an idiot?'

Antenora merely heads along and sends, 'Before he decides to come back with friends in an ill advised attempt to salvage his shattered pride.'

[Ebiris]

Honesty is a virtue, sister.

In any case they're still following Jessica's lead to track down this warlock, so wherever she wants to take them works.

[Anastasia]

Is that a license to be catty, sister? The Paladins of the Scornful Gaze and Sharp Word?

Meanwhile Jessica leads you to one particular tent. Once perhaps a bright green, it's now faded into a dull green-gray color. Quite large, the entrance tall enough so you can open without kneeling. "In here," Jessica murmurs aloud, entering without fear.

Inside is a large space - cluttered and filthy, the scent of human waste in the air. Chained to the canvas walls are several barbazu, screaming weakly - for in their open mouths you see no tongues. Just a dull noise comes from their screams. Sitting atop a mound of old, filthy books and papers is a gnarled old man, skin a dull, lifeless gray and beard the same color, long enough to reach his knees. His hands massage and knead that beard, hands swollen thick with arthritis. He wears tattered clothes - a hole ridden tunic, a dull brown skirt of all things and a heavy, almost new fur cap.

"Where is Colke?" Jessica asks without preamble, hand on the hilt of her rapier.

The old man looks up and smiles, "A realm known as Elysium."

Antenora takes 10 on Sense Motive for 64.

"No. Speak the truth," Antenora commands, "Now."

> roll 1d20+21
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=20]

Well that's unfortunate.

"Foolish little chickadee, foolish little sparrow, foolish little dog. There is no truth." The old man declares. "Only what we decide and make so, for we are all kings."

Jessica pushes back her hood and meets the old man's gaze.

> roll 1d20+64 (+15 divine insight) Jessica Intimidate
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=14]

The old man shrieks and holds his hands up, then drags dirty, long nails across his face. Blood begins to pour down from his rent cheeks as he howls, "GET AWAY! I AM KING HERE!"

Jessica hops up and repeats herself, leaning down to loom over him and yet get over his face. "Where. Is. Colke?"

"COLKE HAS TAKEN HER PRIZE TO THE WEEPING BANNER! THE FLAG! THE BANNER OF A CRYING WOMAN! THAT IS ITS SIGIL!" He howls those words out, nails next drawing blood from his chest, ripping into himself.

[Ebiris]

Any knowledge check to make sense of that?

[Anastasia]

Specify which part, but almost certainly K:P.

[Ebiris]

This part in particular: WEEPING BANNER! THE FLAG! THE BANNER OF A CRYING WOMAN! THAT IS ITS SIGIL!

[19:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61+15 divine insight
[19:02] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=2]

[Anastasia]

It rings the dimmest bell - a tent with a banner here, said to be the home of a particularly powerful fiend. It's so specialized that you don't know much except that something like that should be here.

"Good enough," Jessica says, turning away and hopping off the pile of books and papers. She heads out without another word.

[Ebiris]

Well she probably saw it just a minute ago! Alicia mutely follows Jessica out and looks to see if she can spot said banner properly.

[Anastasia]

With divine sight it's quite easy. It's a ways away, but you can see just that banner. Jessica looks up towards it while...

Then our goal is clear. Forward.

> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 34 > [d100=34]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d100=61]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d100=41]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d100=88]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d100=38]

You walk onward. Past daemons and other things. A twisted being of shadows - it glances at you. Monstrous. A gloom? A shadow killer. You see it only a moment, mouth far too large.

Ahead.

The tent is ahead. A very large one, a dulled light blue color that is stained with rusty splotches.

[Ebiris]

Alicia glances back at the gloom, recalling the one Morwel mentioned.

But this is just a normal one, right?

...right?

Any way to tell?

[Anastasia]

Give me Perception real quick.

[Ebiris]

[20:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87+15 divine insight
[20:12] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 119 > [d20=17]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 854+20/854
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 39), extended mind blank (CL 40), extended nondetection (CL 40), greater heroism (CL 37), extended ray deflection (CL 40), epic mage armour (CL 37), sensual blessing (CL 37), greater foresight (CL 39), keen edge (CL 37 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 37), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 39), freedom of movement (CL 37), greater visage of the deity (CL 37), recitation (CL 37), good hope (CL 37)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 118, spell resistance 52, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 55), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/9/6/8/5/6/7/7/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/16/4
Moments of prescience left: 4

[Anastasia]

It doesn't feel divine or look divine to you. Perhaps truly just a horror and nothing more.