Eye of Profane Truth

[Rkhet]

"But she has threatened us, and insulted us..." Rhakzan eyes the blind woman with distaste.

"Do you really think that an Oracle would be defenseless in her own temple? Try anything foolish, and you will regret it."

The oracle turns to Lessa.

"Your greed does not become you, my child. I have said that you will be well-rewarded and so you will, but do not pester me for details. Know that your services are not indispensible. If you would refuse, then do so and be done with it. I have other matters that require my attention."

 

[Albedo]

I suppose Cann will put on the medalion. Lets see what it does.

 

[silentspace]

Not to mention extremely rude... and arrogant... Rhakzan would rather assassinate the Oracle than deal with her, but he knows his siblings still have questions for her, and might want to deal with her.

His face, though betrays none of his thoughts [bluff +46]. Instead, he says "Wait, wait, why the rush? I thought assassinating king and agreeing to peripheral damage to the populace would be rather high on your list of things that 'require attention'. Really, this impatience is quite unbecoming of an Oracle, don't you think? How do you expect to hire assassins and overthrow your government if all you have for your potential hires are threats and insults? I'm sure your used to dealing with fawning supplicants, as I can tell by your manner. If you think about it for a moment though you'll see the questions we're asking are extremely reasonable. It's clearly not the questions you object to, but us. Yet if you want to perform assassinations and take down an ally of the empire, you'll have to deal with us or others like us. It's been clear from the start that even if we agree to work with you, you'll never be inviting us home to meet the family. But still, if you want to work with us, the least you can do is treat us less as 'leeches' and more as business associates, and answer our questions, no?" [diplomacy +52]

 

[Nephtys]

Turning to his siblings, he says "This oracle has told us little we could not find out from a local barkeep. Is there a reason to let her live?"

"No. It is clear we can never be more than expendable servants to her. And her personal arrogance is, I suspect, nothing compared to the haughty self-righteousness of the angels of the Legion. Any long term business-relationship between us is doomed from the start, but perhaps a short-term agreement could be useful..." The headache starts to build again. "But I believe that is a matter we need to discuss in private."
"Shall we?" Moreth traces a symbol for planar travel in the air.

Whenever Rkhazan and Lessa indicates that they want to leave Moreth will cast Planeshift and take the three of them to a random location on the (mostly empty) Plane of Air.
Once there he will use 1 9th level Pearl of power and 1 8th level pearl to regain his cast Shapechange and Mindblank spells. Assuming Lessa allows him he will then cast Mindblank on her, regain the spell with another 8th lvl pearl and cast it again on Rkhazan. With the group then safe from scrying he will say, "The Church can never be our ally, it is an obstacle that must be removed and the sooner it is done the better. Let us prepare and then let's kill that arrogant ." He grins madly.

ooc:
Pearls used:
8x2
9x1

Spell slots used:
arcane 8x1, Mindblank.
divine 5x1, Planeshift

Spells active:
Mindblank
Shapechange

 

[Rkhet]

Cann: you put on the medallion and find your way back to the market where you were separated from your siblings. Order has been more-or-less restored here, though there are less people than before.

A patrolling guardsman salutes you smartly as you walk past. When you ask him where the others went, he tells you that they were last-seen leaving with a priest and, judging by the direction, probably went to the Church of the High Lord. He gives you detailed directions. You notice that he addresses you as if you are a superior officer.


Rhakzan:

[bluff: failed]
[diplomacy: 52+17-10 circumstantial penalty =59, failed]

/ooc: you should realize by now that she is using epic sense motive to read your thoughts; that's what she meant when she said Moreth's thoughts are betrayed by his pulse and the way he moves.

The oracle frowns at you. "It is true that the church wishes your services. You have been given the task, and you have been promised riches and magic at its completion. But the church has other means to achieve the same goals, if needs be. Do not think that you are irreplaceable."

"I will take my leave now. It is time for the daily prayers. Discuss the offer amongst yourselves, but have an answer ready when I am back."

With this, the oracle leaves you to your own devices.

/ooc: let's speed things up a little. get to the action faster. do not feel pressured into accepting the oracle's offer, though.

 

[Rkhet]

Moreth: your planeshift fizzles. The temple is likely warded by a dimensional anchor effect.

/ooc: you expend a planeshift but no other resources.

 

[Pyrex]

"Let us move outside to discuss. Many will overhear our discussion here."

OOC: And besides, if we move outside first we can meet up with Cann and include him in our discussions.

 

[silentspace]

Assuming the four meet up and planeshift somewhere discreet...

"It's clear there can be no deal with the Church. If they don't try to kill or cheat us right away, they will later. The Oracle clearly has no honor. There is greater honor, as they say, among thieves..."

"But this kingdom is significant, Father would not have placed us here if that were not so. The Church wants to seize the kingdom, and the king wants to seize the Empire. And what does Naramyr Wyrmslayer want? To seize the Empire also? Or destroy the world? We have been dropped into a web of intrigue, and are relatively powerless here. I am for siding with the king for now, and go against the Church."

Maybe the king will be weakened in the process and we can destroy the king, and seize the kingdom. Then turn our attention to Naramyr, or the Empire.

OOC: I just realized Rhakzan can communicate with his siblings telepathically. Some of the things he said out loud should have been said telepathically, but I'm sure the Oracle would have read his thoughts anyway I'm not sure if his siblings can communicate back or if its one-way though...

 

[Nephtys]

Whenever Rkhazan, Lessa and Cann indicates that they want to leave Moreth will cast Planeshift and take the three of them to a random location on the (mostly empty) Plane of Air.
Once there he will use 1 9th level Pearl of power and 1 8th level pearl to regain his cast Shapechange and Mindblank spells. Assuming Lessa allows him he will then cast Mindblank on her, regain the spell with another 8th lvl pearl and cast it again on Rkhazan and repeat the trick on Cann. With the group then safe from scrying;
"The Church can never be our ally, it is an obstacle that must be removed and the sooner it is done the better. Let us prepare and then let's kill that arrogant bitch." He grins madly. "But is the King a worthy ally? He is surely far weaker than than either the Empire or Naramyr, but also likely easier to replace. Either way, cooperating with him against the church and the Empire doesn't exclude the possibility of betraying him later. Naramyr... He is our creator nearly as much as the Perfect, perhaps he's the only one who can truly accept us and the only one worthy of us. Or should we punish him?"


ooc:
Pearls used:
8x3
9x1
5x1

Spell slots used:
arcane 8x1, Mindblank.
divine 5x1, Planeshift

Spells active:
Mindblank
Shapechange

 

[Nephtys]

OOC: I just realized Rhakzan can communicate with his siblings telepathically...

ooc: But not if we're Mindblanked, I think...