Pathfinder 1E [IC] Way of the Wicked

[GlassEye]

Armides Diat, human Inquisitor of Asmodeus

[section]

Armides reads over the Pact carefully. He fully believes structure of some sort is necessary, particularly as he looks over this group of misfits. The wizard seems like a wild element, unable to control himself and Armides hopes the contract will curb his excesses. Then again his own impulses landed him in the Branderscar as well. Eventually he picks up the silver knife and cuts into his wrist to get a sufficient amount of blood for his purpose. He signs 'Armides Diat', the name he chose for himself what seems so long ago before laying the quill to one side.

When it comes to matters of companionship male or female matters little to Armides. He chooses a lean-muscled male with attractive features.

Armides reluctantly hands over the composite longbow. It was a good quality weapon but it came from the prison so he understands the need. He'll find another that, while not as high quality, will be just as serviceable. He accepts the gear brought to him as his right.

Armides feels a surge of jealousy when he learns of others in the service of Cardinal Adrastus Thorn. He tamps the feeling down; of course the Cardinal would have other retainers...

​

[/section]

[sblock=Sheet]Armides Diat, Inquisitor 2
Init: +8; Perception: +7

AC 18 (14 Touch; 14 FF) Current AC: 18
HP: 15 Current HP: 15
CMB: +4 CMD: 18 Fort: +2 Ref: +4 Will: +5

In Hand: Longbow
Conditions:
Spells:

• 1st level: (DC 13) 1/3 Remaining
  Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Divine Favor
• 0-level: (DC 12) Unlimited
  Detect Magic, Guidance, Light, Read Magic, Sift

Special: Judgement 0/1 Remaining
[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

Niles picks up the silver knife, closes his eyes and mentally thanks the Great One, Asmodeus and cuts his palm, letting it pool in his palm. He then signs it with the offered quill by dipping it in the inkwell of his left hand.

 

[Shayuri]

Silhouette follows suit; jabbing her palm and letting the blood pool there so she can dip the quill into it as needed. For all the strangenesses of her appearance her blood is as red as anyone else's. She signs 'Silhouette;' the name she chose for herself, rather than the name she was given by strangers on the day she was born.

The equipment is welcome, but what floors her is the iron circlet. As she sees what it's power can do, she feels a little weak in the knees. What a waste it was that she hadn't had this before! What she could do with something like this! Always before she'd been hampered by her obvious appearance; forced to work through intermediaries and via secret drops. It had been like trying to knit complex patterns with gloves on! In theory she could have done it with magic, but her powers were willful things that she had only recently begun to start understanding. Unlike wizards, she didn't always pick and choose how they manifested...and unlike wizards she had no one to help her or guide her in learning to navigate them.

The fact that this indebted her to this cult of Asmodeus was irrelevant. She was committed now. So Silhouette put the iron circlet on and let her breath back out.

She was about to politely decline the slave 'companion,' but a thought occurred to her. It was most likely that the slave would be instructed to observe her...but it was equally likely there were contingency plans in place that would be harder for her to notice. Better to know where the wasp in the room was, no?

So Silhouette chose a pretty young woman to come with her. The slave would not be for her pleasure, but for her convenience. An attendent and handmaid rather than bedmate. And of course, a reminder to guard her tongue and actions; that she was watched.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]Cass carefully laid out his new gear on the snowy coverlet on his four-poster bed. The glint of metal stood in contrast to the white bedding and dark wood frame. Cass ran a callused finger along the length of his new favorite acquisition, a longsword whose grip was worked in plain steel, covered tightly by a leather thong. Asmodeus, you have given. I thank you. Cass's finger skimmed smoothly down the length of the blade and moved to brush against the steel ringlets of his new chainshirt. So light, so fine. It ripples like a woman in heat. The man's eyes flicked first to his unstrung shortbow, and then to the dark-skinned slave standing obediently beside a pedestal upon which a silver ewer stood. "Come here," Cass said, beckoning to the girl. "We'll test how sharp the blade is." [/section]

 

[Guest 11456]

After the three days, the PCs are once again summoned by Cardinal Thorn:

"Have you enjoyed your gifts? The iron circlets allow you to move amongst your enemies as one of them. The silver amulets will remind you of your true loyalties. And the other items – well, you need them now."

"You have done well to escape from Branderscar and to accept my offer. However, you are still not ready for my service. Tiadora will lead you to the basement of this domicile. There you will find nine chambers each more dangerous than the last. Somewhere hidden within these chambers is a pendant of silver and sapphire. Recover the pendant and bring it to me. Let nothing and no one stand in your way."

He stands up and looks out of the manor house window across the grey moor. "It’s almost dusk. You have until dusk tomorrow to bring me my prize. Do not fail me."

Cardinal Thorn takes a seat at his desk. Tiadora arrives right on cue. "This way," is all she says.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Lord Nelleon nods at the request. He was expecting some physical training and lessons, but this was coming out more as a test. Still, he doubted they would go through all this trouble to simply kill him, though he doubted the trials would be easy. The last three days were spent reconditioning himself outside with athletics and practiced swordplay. The nearly mindless Valk was much better at helping him set up practice dummies, but just useless as a sparring partner. Still, she worked hard and helped him set up the many props. Now he was glad he had taken the effort to return a bit more into form, and really glad he decided to take the previous night in relaxation to let his body recover. "As you will, Lady Tiadora. Lead on. I'm eager to get this done."

 

[Scott DeWar]

Niles rummages around finding bits and pieces of different kits, odds and ends, vials of various powders liquids and things, a sponge and a smile. well he finds it on his face as he takes the things to his quarters. he memorizes new spells and awaits new orders.

When he and the others are summoned by Cardinal Thorn he sighs with relief. His living puppet just stood there, never saying anything - intelligent or otherwise. He stands with polite attentiveness, wondering if the Lady Tiadora will try to be one of those in the way or not. He remains on guard for anything - the words holding a slight ominence to him.

[sblock=a few papers on his desk (for the dm)] it aappears he has been doing some planning as for plausible tactics.
I. Infiltrate the peoples
A. make peaceful commerce
B. keep it low key
1. trade with them
2. set up a business in town and use it as a base of operations and observation post.
C. non peaceful commerce
D. Keep it small time
1. steal from the Homes
2. steal from the businesses
3. steal from the caravans
II. use their own ways to defeat them
A. use the coin gathered to finance our work.
B. use our business as tools to be distractions such as stealing from our own business ventures to draw away their resources to do damage
elsewhere.[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

Silhouette appeared and listened attentively. The news was not unexpected, but still a knot of fear coiled in her stomach. Their encounter with the frog had reminded her of just how dangerous combat was for her. She'd devoted herself to subtler matters, but a giant amphibian couldn't be reasoned with or swayed...and there were many monsters like it.

The weight of the crossbow, and the vials in her pouches, were a comfort though. She was not an unarmed fugitive from a prison now. And she was sure that as her magic continued to grow and evolve, it would give her the tools to unleash her fury on those who stood against her. She just needed time.

Without comment or complaint, she nodded to Tiadora; ready to follow.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]Cass drew his longsword and drew close to Silhouette's right side. "Dear Silhouette..."Cass seemed not to give any regard to the probability that Silhouette might prefer 'Silhouette' or even 'Sil' over 'Dear Silhouette.' "...want to team together? I'll watch your back, you watch mine?" A bit of a brick, Cass offered Silhouette the curl of an unctuous smile.[/section]

 

[Shayuri]

Silhouette looked back over one shoulder sidelong at Cass and smiled at him. It was a carefully crafted smile; it carried warmth and gratitude, and just enough flirtatiousness to imply the possibility of more, but without being definite enough to feel like a promise.

"I expect we will all be a team if we are to get through this test," she purred, "but if you'd like to make a special effort to watch out for me, I would be more than happy to make a similar effort to watch you."

Her liquid honey eyes dipped to take Cass in, then returned to his face just long enough for her smile to widen. Did she like what she saw? Then she looked back at Tiadora expectantly, leaving Cass with only hints and clues to obsess over.