The light of Chronias shines down silently.
Grias flutters about, several bundles of papers carried along by his telekinesis.
Kaja laughs long and low, chuckling over something Sylvie said. The two fall into step as they leave, yet Sylvie hesitates. "I'll catch up," she says.
Cresiel and Xandra likewise leave together, only a slight nod from Xandra at his silent look of question. The benefits to future sight are many, and the two go forth with no need for words.
Jetina lingers. She produces her shield and lays it on the table as Sylvie approaches.
All of you are in your private office. A discussion about realm matters, essential if not critical. Yet under the light of Chronias it seems even more meaningful. Important. Laid deep in you is a sense of purpose.
"Healer's Aegis," Jetina offers once it's the three of you. "Have you heard the legends of other divine shields?"
"Of course," Sylvie sits next to Jetina. "It's the light, isn't it?"
"You may not see the future, but you seem almost as insightful at times." Jetina exhales softly, eyes closed. "So often for things the one factor we lack is time. Our deeds are great, our magic mighty. Yet who has time for 77,777 paladins and 77,777 years? Lord Raziel had such time, but I do not." She rests her hand on the shield, intact and flawless despite the battles it has seen. "I wish to live up to what I have been given, to forge my legends so brightly."
"And the light makes you want to do something, to give it more purpose and meaning?" Sylvie inquires, smiling slightly. Not quite a smirk, but there's a distinctly smug bit to it. After Jetina bows her head in assent, "Raziel's shield is a highly enchanted piece of shit."
The sputter from Jetina nearly chokes her, eyes widening before, "How dare you blasphemy so?"
"The point is," Sylvie ignores that, "Is for that all the legends around Holy Crusader and Majesty, his shield is just his shield. The armor you got from Io's hoard? That's an impressive legend. These things will work themselves out in time. Your shield will get where it needs to be one day, so will Raziel's. Have some trust in the higher power." A look out the window and up, "I understand that's in style here."
A pause. Jetina looks up, "You are such a...female dog." That comes out at last, exasperated.
"I'm also right. It's my fatal character flaw, so often right." Sylvie reaches over to gently pat Jetina's shoulder. "Also, it's not blasphemy when I do it. It's constructive criticism of a peer."
A chance to warm up, stretch your legs and get things going. Go ahead and set yourself up.
"It is a bit reductive to say that, Sylvie." Moore says. "But even so, there is something to be said about something - anything, just being 'magical'. Though there is a question when something stops being magical and becomes an artifact. I'm sure we could find the exact point where something stops 'just' being magical."
A smile and a shrug at that. "But we're not subordinates of Mystra, so I don't think we need to worry. Sylvie is right - as she says - that our own words, our own actions, everything we do has meaning. In ten hundred million years, perhaps the ring I wear today will have become sort of lost artifact that I decided to hide away on a prime word for someone to find and do good with. We can't worry about what the future holds, but we also can't worry about the past." He says with a gesture around and outside.
"We have today, and what we do with today is what makes tomorrow." Moore says. "Sylvie is also right that things will work out - even when I bet 21 said otherwise."
"Reductive doesn't mean wrong," Sylvie counters lightly.
Meanwhile Jetina pats her shield, "There's wisdom to that, but I fear that the coming tomorrow..." she stops, "No matter. Courage will see us forward."
As you talk? "Moore," Grias flies right back in. "A moment, please!"
"Of course, Grias. What is it?" He asks.
"A mercane's here and wants to speak with you. He has letter of introduction from Filbrez," Grias says, "It must be important if he has that, right?"
Sylvie glances over, "Or there's money it for Filbrez. It's only good business sense to leverage personal connections."
"Yes, but Filbrez is not unkind nor is he cruel," Jetina counters, "He wouldn't give that out without a good reason."
"Filbrez also knows that he has the reputation of Aurora to uphold." Moore adds. "He wouldn't do anything without a good intent, fiscal or otherwise. Show to our sitting room, Grias, we'll have some snacks and things for him. You both are welcome if you'd care to come." He adds to Sylvie and Jetina.
"May as well," Sylvie says, "Calley's busy today anyway. Off on a play date with Gond's daughter."
"Oh, again? Those two get along, don't they?" Jetina follows, a little smile showing on her face.
"The burden of children is great." Moore says.
He will move them all to their sitting room - small couches and chairs around a table - well lit from the outside without actually allowing anyone to see in. His divine will ensures privacy in the room itself, as he will sit and wait for this visitor to be shown in.
The mercane sits. He is dressed in dark robes and sits, hands folded into his robes. On the table sits a few sheets of paper, away from the window and the light it lets in.
The mercane nods, the slightest jerkiness it.
Take 10 on K:P for 123 - who is this guy to begin with?
Also take 10 on Sense Motive for also 123 for anything he says or does that make my lie detector go off.
"Welcome to Hope's Landing." Moore greets him with a smile and a nod. "Please, tell me why you're here and what we can do for you."
Before you get to that, you notice it immediately thanks to your vigilance. He's been mentally influenced. His will is not wholly his own. A hand slips into a pocket as he turns, about to speak.
Moore merely looks directly at this mercane and opens his mouth.
"Awaken."
It's one word - filled with his own power, the power of Creation and his will to break this enchantment - to break whatever control is afflicting them.
Words of Creation are being invoked here - effectively like Break Enchantment but in Words form! Hopefully the guy can get his faculties back.
[13:34] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+17+17+15 charisma
[13:34] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+17+17+15 charisma --> [ 1d20=13 ]{62}
The mercane stares a moment, seemingly out of focus - and he slowly withdraws his hand. A vial of something green, of something that turns your stomach to see.
> roll 1d20+35 Dex check Sylvie
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+35 Dex check Sylvie --> [ 1d20=12 ]{47}
> roll 1d20+41 Jetina
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+41 Jetina --> [ 1d20=4 ]{45}
Fast.
Sylvie has it before it can be opened or fall to the ground, a gentle flick of her hands knocking it up not from contact, but from the wind and force of her movements.
Jetina manifests a thin blue sphere around it once it's knocked into the air, her focus wholly on it in an instant. The sphere flies to her and she grasps it, vanishing an instant later with the contents of it.
"Something is certainly amiss." Moore says. Especially since his attempt to restore this person did nothing...
Take 10 for Detect Magic for 118 and K:A for 123 for anything that might tell us what's going on.
"Jetina, can you see if you're able to put him back to rights? It may be something your unique healing focus can help." He says. "It doesn't seem like my words can reach them."
He has no particular magic on him besides an unremarkable nondetection spell. Not strong, a mortal could easily match it. You strongly suspect he's been influenced, and there are non magical ways to do so. A sufficiently talented speaker can, a legendary sort.
It is familiar for obvious reasons, yes.
As Jetina's currently gone with the vial, Sylvie goes to him, "I heard Zaphkiel's voice a moment before. I think you did have some impact but something's wrong. Still, we had enough of a warning."
Jetina's answer isn't to come herself, but her avatar appears in the room. "I'm busy with what's in vial," she explains, "But let me." She approaches him, "I'll quickly get to the truth of what plagues him so."
"Please." Moore says. "Something is definitely wrong, and my guess it's inside rather than out."
He will let the expert deal with it!
He nods to Sylvie. "It may be that my words simply can't reach him in the state he's in." He says. He does lean down to look at the papers and inspect them too - this guy did keep them away from the light outside for some reason...
Perception check, Moore, +4 bonus.
Take 10 for 122.
It's a forgery. You've seen Filbrez's handwriting before and while close, it's not quite right. The truth of it jumps out at you now that you examine it in the light.
"Aha." Moore murmurs. "A forgery. Once we figure out who this is and what happened, we can let Filbrez know and take things from there."
He sits back to let Jetina do what she needs to do and to offer her support if she needs it!
He may as well use Inspire Competence here for her - +16 Competence to skill checks and Inspire Excellence for +to Wisdom and +Intelligence of 18, so she'll get +27 on skill checks for right now.
Jetina takes 10 since Moore's boosting her for a total of 96.
Sylvie also takes 10 for 101.
After a little focus and effort, "What? Why?" Jetina speaks aloud. "His brain has been altered. Parts have been removed. Let me show you. There's a spell Syala and I worked out to allow us to study the brain safely. Since otherwise you can only examine it on death."
A spell and divine will. The mercane's head opens up like a series of blocks, moving aside of their own will. His skull does the same, revealing his brain within. Indeed, chunks throughout are gone. Rather like someone scooped out helpings of gray matter, leaving it like holey cheese. Despite this the mercane does not show any signs of harm or discomfort.
You can see it. Strange, swirl-like symbols of tiny size are carved into the brain that remains, often within the recesses where gray matter has been removed. In other places tiny filaments of glass and steel have been installed, often with a tiny, near invisible metal thread that connects to another such. Often visible lightning runs along these threads.
"Lobotomy?" Sylvie comes forward, unfazed by it all.
"It has to be," Jetina comments, "Rare, but it seems that it was used here. It's not magical."
"It's not," Sylvie agrees, "Specialist work. I'd bet it's all non magical for the stealth. The threads are generating electricity somehow, possibly a metal or material related to storm elementals or their home plane."
"To make the poor soul do what's commanded, even maimed like this," Jetina agrees.
"No wonder my words couldn't reach them." Moore says with a frown. "This is awful. Would a spell like Regenerate work to restore them?" He asks. "Before we even think about who or what was done, we should make sure they're treated. We have all sorts of spells that can help us figure out where this person came from... but... well, I'm certain we'll find some clues here."
He will inform Erathaol and Zaphkiel of what they've witnessed regardless - they should both be made aware of this as soon as possible.
"I can heal it," Jetina sounds confident, "Sylvie?"
"I'd like to extract some of the threads," Sylvie announces, "I-"
Jetina stops with a deep frown, enough to get Sylvie to roll her eyes, "It's practical, Jetina. If I can study them and figure out what it is, it might give us another clue to who did this."
"Not that," Jetina explains, "Syala just contacted me with the same problem. Sylica had someone try and do this, too. They caught him but his brain has identical work done on it."
Moore frowns even further than he thought possible.
"Well, I think we can assume where they came from, then." Moore says. "Since we can heal the damage done, please proceed, Sylvie. We need to do as much as we can to ascertain where this came from. Maybe the poison itself will help with that." He adds. "I'll bolster you so both can do what you need to do."
Sylvie nods as if it's obvious.
Jetina smiles, "Thank you, Moore. Where do you think it came from, then?" she asks as she goes in to study them a little bit.
"If they attacked both us and Alicia, it feels like it has to be Shar." Moore says. "There's few others that would treat both of us as enemies... but perhaps that's what they'd like us to think."
A shake of his head. "Regardless, once we have figured out who it is we can decide how to proceed."
> roll 1d20+86 Jetina
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+86 Jetina --> [ 1d20=1 ]{87}
It's a good thing Jetina's a deity of healing and life.
Roughly an hour passes before Jetina emerges from the clean, well lit room she commandeered for this. She tosses Sylvie a small wrapped bundle, who catches it easily. "I harvested the threads so you can study them. He's healed in body and mind."
"Thanks," Sylvie says automatically. "He's good to awaken?"
"Whenever you want to get to the truth of it," Jetina confirms.
"Let's talk to him." Moore says. "We have a variety of ways of getting some good information."
Moore will prepare a Bredanalundalum's Wit in the meantime, but go in to see this poor soul! He's curious to see what he'll remember.
Here the mercane rests. He looks up at the three of you, quietly curious.
"Are you feeling better?" Is the question Jetina asks.
"Yes," He bows his head, "I...I never imagined I'd get a second chance like this."
"I'm sorry for what you've been through." Moore says. "I have several spells we're going to use, so I would ask you not try and prevent them." He explains quietly and a little slowly.
"For now, let's start with some basics and I can ask my questions after we have that." He begins, "Your name and the last thing you remember... I realize that may be difficult, but you are safe here and we will help ease any pain you have." He says.
He can give him a Mind's Ease at a moment's notice, at least.
Plan will be to hear what he says then invoke Wit to find out what's the next best question to ask.
"Danar," He answers, "I remember...that....he tore my brain open and...but..."
A pause to gather himself. "In short, my caravan was ambushed on the Astral by yugoloths. We were taken, presumably sold to someone on the Lower Planes, who used us as instruments for whatever this mad plot was," he answers. "Demons I believe. There was a chamber they took me to when they worked on me, when they maimed my mind. Demonic iconography was there."
The question Wit proposes to you is, "What did the demonic iconography look like?"
"What did that iconography look like?" Moore asks. "If you can't recall it well we can help you." He adds, his divine aura filling the room with that touch of hope that Danar needs right now. "You are safe from them, and we're going to make them pay for this."
He will wait until he's finished to invoke the spell again for another question.
"A demon's face and a fat demon. Orcus I think," He answers, "Never came across the Old Goat's servants before, but he's distinctive."
"Oh really?" Sylvie murmurs.
That makes sense, we did cross Orcus before. But I wonder if that's all?
We don't know enough as of now, but it's a good place to start. Keep going, Moore.
"We may have to see this from your eyes to find some answers." Moore says. "But this could also just be a diversion somehow."
He will invoke the spell to ask another question!
"What did you overhear them talk about?"
"What did you hear?" Moore asks. "If you couldn't understand them, that is all right - we can simply look into your thoughts and sort it out, so do not fret if you've no knowledge of their language."
"I heard them talk," he says, "But I don't know the words."
"That is fine. Please relax." Moore says, hope filling the room.
Wish to emulate Probe Thoughts. Weird!
We're going to go through his memories from start to finish - the attack itself, the imprisonment, the torture and the aftermath. I'd like to see where he got the forgeries from in all of that and how he ended up here.
Take 10 on Perception for 118, K:A for 123, K:P for 123 and Spellcraft for 118 during this.
I am looking through the memories for the following:
-Anything that seems out of ordinary for yugoloths
-Anything that seems out of the ordinary about his capture
-Identify anyone he got to see
-How he ended up at Hope's Landing and if anyone of note gave him the forgeries.
-I'm also looking for anything magical that might've happened that I could identify during the memories.
After all of this I'll invoke Wit again for another question based on what I find.
Do you have any ranks in Heal?
I do!
I can Take 10 for 96.
The yugoloths strike on the Astral and in an ambush. You aren't sure how - he was in a wagon when it happened and missed that part. But the tactics seemed pretty simple and routine. A sneak attack, an ambush and overwhelming force before the mercane could rally. Good use of their natural magic abilities too, the Astral helping both sides but the 'loths more since they had an ambush.
Nothing out of the ordinary there. He was knocked out and that was that. Hardly unusual for a yugoloth who wants to take captives to sell.
None of the 'loths seem remotely interesting and once in captivity, he only sees masked men in thick clothes or heavy robes. There's not much to work with, but based on the general pattern on the robes and masks, you're dealing with a death cult and probably Orcus. Not 100%, they're restrained, but it fits the Old Goat.
He was sent to the Astral and to a nearby natural portal, which he took to get here.
Yes. He was taken to that room, that chamber. The altar where he was cut open, his mind operated on.
The creature that operated on him is seen. Tall, lanky. Filthy blonde hair that's too long. Human-like on a glance but its eyes are black. It wears a bloodied smock and goes from rapt interest to fury to a dozen other emotions. A dead thing, a rotting body given form.
You know this thing. Pardol, a servant of Orcus. Obscure if known, one said to have long ago been some sort of mortal doctor. It's said he mostly keeps a low profile and works on his insane experiments. Notably unstable and uncontrolled, but that's not really a drawback in Thanatos unless you irritate Orcus or a rival strong enough to kill you.
With all the information he has, he hums once.
He invokes the spell again - with the knowledge he's gleaned, he's curious if there's something he might've missed in all of this. He explains the matter to the others through telepathy in case they wish to ask any questions about Pardol or the nature of all of this.
Did you or yours do anything to provoke Orcus?
Pardol? I've heard of the name in my lore readings. A vile creature, thoroughly mad.
Thanks. Run the spell out first, I have some but I strongly suspect he won't know. Not without more magical aid.
I've got 3 more, just for reference.
"Did you or yours do anything to provoke Orcus?" Moore asks.
"Nothing that I know of," Is his answer, "For all I know it was luck of the draw who bought us."
I'm sure he's being honest but Sense Motive is going for anything.
"I understand." He says, as he invokes the spell yet again. If it seems to go off the subject then he'll let Sylvie take her turn.
He is indeed being honest near as you can tell.
"Do you mind if we have some privacy?" Sylvie asks, but it doesn't really sound like a question at all.
I'm not expecting this to produce much, so you won't miss anything. If I'm wrong I'll tell you what I got.
"By all means." Moore says, taking Jetina off with him.
When they're alone, "Jetina, what was even in that vial?" He asks.
"A plague that turns the living to the undead," Jetina's expression is stony. "Capable of even infecting spirits and celestials."
"It should be magical then, yes?" Moore asks. "Let's go check it out while Sylvie is investigating."
Plan will be to see if I can get any magic off it to identify who made it.
Spellcraft then real quick, make sure to note the DC you're shooting for.
You should know by now I can always hit it!
Take 10 on Spellcraft for 118.
trying for Discover Caster (DC 85) and anything beyond that
The creator is Pardol.
Moore, is all well in Hope's Landing? How goes your own efforts?
We're well. Sylvie is questioning the poor soul who got sent here. As far as I can tell this was all orchestrated by Pardol - the plague that got sent was created by him.
If it's a ruse then it's a very good one.
The only run-in I've had with Orcus was several months ago when he and Lixer got into a spat outside of Foggard and he cursed me. That wasn't a terribly pleasant experience, as I'm sure you can guess... but I've not had any further issues with him.
We've found out it's Pardol as well and can confirm that. Do you have any insight on why our two realms were attacked in particular? Our thinking is that it may ultimately be a distraction from more important matters and that the originator of this isn't Orcus, but someone who influenced him or called in a favor.
None of us have been involved in anything related to that to my knowledge, but I'll have my information specialist get with yours to collaborate. Let me see if Sylvie's come up with anything.
He'll wait to hear from Sylvie, but in the meantime send a message to Melia about the situation and asks her to work with Jessica to uncover anything.
Keep us informed, we'll do the same if events provide us more insight.
Soon enough Sylvie comes out. "Nothing," she shakes her head. "Talked to Antenora myself and she's probably right that this is a feint of some kind. A distraction in her own words. The connection to Sylica is there but it feels far too much like a red herring. That or we both agree it's plausible it's merely a madman's focus on us and our bad luck, but for practical purposes there's not a huge difference there."
Moore nods. "Well, we'll let the spymasters handle the rest." He says. "I'm not sure there's a lot else for us to do."
From there...
d100 real quick and I'll move both of you on.
[14:51] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[14:51] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=66 ]{66}
Melia soon returns, "I bring knowledge," she announces, "We've found fairly reliable word where Pardol is: And it's not Thanatos."
"Let me guess, Shadow?" Moore asks.
"Better," Meila says, "Some hidden little bolthole of a laboratory deep in Magma. Technically an attached demiplane."
"Magma??" Moore blurts out. "That's... something. Does Sylica want to deal with him at all there?" He asks. "As much as I'd love to ignore the matter, letting someone awful like that go isn't what we're about."
"Not sure yet," Melia answers and sits to relax after her trip out, "Above my wisdom, as the lanterns say. Also, if it's all the same, send me out with her again if there's the chance. I'm good but she's better. I can learn a lot watching."
"Certainly. You have my permission to coordinate with her as you please." He says with a smile. "I didn't make you my proxy for nothing, after all. I fear I underutilize your talents."
A nod from Melia and...
Did you want any more details from her?
No, just have her coordinate with Sylica if they plan to do anything about Pardol. If not Moore can send Cresiel and Kaja to go make a crater out of him.
Okay, one sec on that.