[LPF] Distant Relations

[sblock=ooc]Glad to see you back and that he rallied. Goodluck catching up at work. I might actually be on some this weekend with plans scrapped due to the prediction of ice at home. Having to take a blowtorch to your car to thaw it out sorta sucks. :p [/sblock]

Audra shifts in the quiet, weight shifting from left foot to right. Her eyes continue to move left to right and back again, her ears open and attentive.
 

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Quioan gives the all-clear to Yoshiki, and the monk begins peeking into and searching each room in turn, with the elf not far behind. Quioan's hand itches to draw his bow, but he holds back for the time being.

[sblock=OOC]We'll look into the two upper doors/rooms closest to the entrance of the parlor (T21, I assume) first (i.e. doors in the "northernmost" 2nd and 3rd squares counting "west").[/sblock][sblock=Stats]Quioan Scorchsong HP: 24/24
AC: 17 (Touch: 15, Flat-footed: 12)
CMD: 19
Fort: +3, Ref: +8, Will: +3
Perception: +9
Spells:
- 0: Light, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation
- 1: Mage Armor, Vanish, Shield
Bonded Item: Unused
Consumables: Wand of CLW (23 charges)[/sblock]
 

[sblock=Quioan and Yoshiki]The monk moves carefully into the first room. Clearly someone's quarters (likely one of the heralds, as you've never seen a black robe in your underground barracks). Fairly disheveled, the room yields little of note here. Some coins, a pair of silver dice. There's a scroll case in a small box under the bed, but it seems to be nothing but gibberish.

Quioan's sight reveals it to be magical. The scroll's faint aura has the "hue" he associates with enchantments of the compulsion school. He cannot, however, ascertain its specific function.

Whatever the scroll does, it clearly isn't any kind of useful proof, so the pair move to the next room. This one is immaculate. There isn't a hint of dust. The bed is crisply made. Personal effects are carefully stored and, it appears, stringently organized. A large map of the city hangs on the wall.

Another aura catches Quioan's attention. A small, indescript sack shines with a moderate aura of summoning magics. But even with careful study, he can't pin down the exact nature of the bag's spellcraft.

Even as he studies the bag, Yoshiki exclaims quietly as he finds a pattern in the routes drawn in on the map. It seems the map charts the temple's influence and growth within the city. There are no indicators of illicit activity to spread that influence, sadly, but the map confirms that the cult has at least half the city under its thumb, and is beginning to make inroads to the other half.

The only other papers in the room are a half finished love poem to "Owbej's fair lady," and a crumpled "Assessment list" in the trash bin beside the bed, signed by Garthia. It seems the latest recruits had done admirably well in his estimation, save Thon, about whom he had much lower hopes. "Disposal duty?" is scrawled down next to his name.

GM: I just made an assumption that Quioan would keep Detect Magic up if he didn't have to cast anything else, since it seemed simplest. I also made all the Know and Spellcraft checks for things to help keep things moving, so no need to make more.

The map re-uses a few numbers, so I added my own. Hopefully helps with continued searching.

Treasure from the rooms: 52 gp, a pair of silver dice (worth 5 gp), unidentified scroll (enchantment compulsion), unidentified bag (conjuration summoning)
[/sblock]

[sblock=Elenka and Audra]There are no signs of your male companions as of yet. The minutes continue to tick by in the echoing silence of the room as the evening wears on.[/sblock]
 

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Although happy to have found some seemingly valuable items, and more than happy to take them from the hands of the Living God's followers, Quioan reminds himself that they're not here to line his pockets.

After stowing the map from the second room, Quioan and Yoshiki move to investigate the others lining the parlor. Quioan keeps his magical sight up as a precautionary measure.

[sblock=OOC]Thanks for taking care of the rolls. In case it isn't obvious/assumed, I plan on taking all available treasure. Quioan will also take the map, even though it doesn't constitute hard evidence: better to err on the side of taking too much evidence. Given the magical alarm, we've already punched our ticket out of here in my book. Feel free to dissent, people, if you disagree.

We'll search the rooms 4-6, moving clockwise. Also, and this may be a bit meta: are we on some kind of clock here (both IC and OOC)? I understand you might not be able to show all your cards, but I thought it was worth asking whilst I take my sweet time. Not sure if we have much of a choice, in any case: never know where evidence will turn up.

I'm happy to keep the previous rolls in play, but if you'd like me to roll more, just let me know. I'll refrain from giving precautionary rolls so as to not incriminate my position, just in case said rolls came out terribly. ;)[/sblock] [sblock=Stats]Quioan Scorchsong HP: 24/24
AC: 17 (Touch: 15, Flat-footed: 12)
CMD: 19
Fort: +3, Ref: +8, Will: +3
Perception: +9
Spells:
- 0: Light, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation
- 1: Mage Armor, Vanish, Shield
Bonded Item: Unused
Consumables: Wand of CLW (23 charges)[/sblock]
 

Yoshiki Akita (Human Monk 4)

OOC: I'm back! Flight was fine, snow storm in Chicago on landing made it a mess to get home from airport.


Depending on the size of the map on the wall, Yoshiki will pull the map down and roll up it. May not be a bloody axe, but all the little pieces may add up to something. Even the simple treasures he'll take and stuff in his bag if it doesn't take too much time. These are all stolen goods or purchased with stolen goods, the cult doesn't have any rights to them and they should be turned back over to the city.

Following Quioan, Yo moves on to the next room. A sense of urgency in his step.

[sblock=Ministats]Initiative: +4
AC: 23 Touch 19 Flatfooted 18
HP: 28/28
CMB: +8 CMD: 23 Fort: +4 Reflex: +8 Will: +7 (+2 vs. Enchantment)
Defensive Abilities: Evasion, Deflect Arrows
Speed: 40 ft

Conditions in Effect: Mage Armor (+4 Armor bonus to AC)
Elemental Fist: 4/4 remaining
Ki Pool: 5/5 remaining
Expenditures: 50 gp
Additional Equipment: 2 flasks alchemist's fire
[/sblock]
 

[sblock=Quioan & Yoshiki]
GM: hehe. No answers forthcoming on how much time you may or may not have. The party knows their own 'recruitment' didn't take very long. There was the short speech, everyone agreeing, then the very short meal before the drugs kicked in. If Inar's plan worked, things will take longer, but you've no way of knowing how much longer.

Any more ruins the fun. :devil:

I'll go ahead and take your current perception rolls above for searching these little rooms. On your next posts, though, if each of you could make a new Perception check for if / when you make it to something bigger, I'd appreciate it. :)


The mage-archer and monk make their way to the set of rooms on the south of the parlor, working clockwise.

The first room is a mess. Piles of dirty robes, an unmade bed, half-eaten food. Nothing gives off any kind of aura in this room (though there are certainly plenty of things giving off aromas, none of them pleasant). Yoshiki does find a large sack filled with silver holy symbols: The circles of Xarr, Laughter of Penk, Fiery wolf of Heironeous. A jumble of just about every major religion in any of the surrounding areas, and probably a few neither man has ever heard of. 23 in all. Whether these were confiscated from people, or are for some other use, neither of you can ascertain from anything else in the room.

The next room is thankfully far more pleasant, though nothing so exacting as Garthia's room was. Again, there's little in the way of evidence, though a small vial of oil glows faintly in Quioan's sight. The aura is muddy; nevertheless Quioan recognizes the properties: this is a single dose of an oil which can render the user invisible provided he or she makes no aggressive moves.

Finding nothing further, the pair move to the third of the southern rooms. This one positively bristles with aggression. The 'bed' is actually a slab with no blanket. A series of hooks and shelves on the far wall are clearly for various armaments. The only thing on them at present, however, is a mace of cold iron. It gives off the pale aura of transmutation, but this time Quioan can't pin down exactly what that aura might be in service of.

GM: Again, did the rolls to speed things up.

Treasure: 23 silver holy symbols
A single application of oil of invisibility
Cold Iron Heavy mace with unidentified enchantment.

There's 1 and 7 to go on the doors. Finish off the North wall, or move on to the double doors in the west of the room?
[/sblock]

[sblock=Elenka and Audra]It's becoming almost spooky, the lengthening time since your companions moved above. You can hear some idle chatter from down the way as Thon apparently starts to feel the boredom of guard duty, but other than that, still nothing.[/sblock]
 

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Quioan smiles at finding the oil of invisibility. This might come in handy sooner rather than later.

Keeping it in hand, he and Yoshiki move to search the remaining room adjoining the parlor, then move to enter the westernmost door.[sblock=OOC]Yeah, really, that question was just me giving you an opportunity to use the devil smiley, because I know how much you love to use it. ;)

Sorry, I had intended to include room 1 in the search - my bad. I say we search that room, then move westward. Quioan'll keep the oil of invisibility in-hand for now, just in case.

Also, welcome back deisenhut! Quit scaring me with hair-raising stories of Chicago weather - I'm going to be flying up there next month from NOLA, and I'm a bit concerned about getting besieged by snow. :)[/sblock][sblock=Stats]Quioan Scorchsong HP: 24/24
AC: 17 (Touch: 15, Flat-footed: 12)
CMD: 19
Fort: +3, Ref: +8, Will: +3
Perception: +9
Spells:
- 0: Light, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation
- 1: Mage Armor, Vanish, Shield
Bonded Item: Unused
Consumables: Wand of CLW (23 charges)[/sblock]
 

Yoshiki Akita (Human Monk 4)

Yo backs up Quioan as he investigates the last remaining side-room.

When finally advancing on the double-doors, Yo takes up one side and waits until Quioan signals ready before opening his side.

[sblock=OOC]The weather in Chicago wasn't that bad, just the traffic was slow as molasses. It was a 3.5 hour bus ride up to Milwaukee, a trip that is normally just over an hour. And I live another hour drive (normally) northwest of Milwaukee.[/sblock]
[sblock=Ministats]Initiative: +4
AC: 23 Touch 19 Flatfooted 18
HP: 28/28
CMB: +8 CMD: 23 Fort: +4 Reflex: +8 Will: +7 (+2 vs. Enchantment)
Defensive Abilities: Evasion, Deflect Arrows
Speed: 40 ft

Conditions in Effect: Mage Armor (+4 Armor bonus to AC)
Elemental Fist: 4/4 remaining
Ki Pool: 5/5 remaining
Expenditures: 50 gp
Additional Equipment: 2 flasks alchemist's fire
[/sblock]
 
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Audra tries not to get nervous about the amount of time these strangers have been gone. The sound of voices from the other side of the stairs make her blink a moment, but when her companion doesn't act concerned, she doesn't either. Finally she looks to the summoner, her expression hidden by her mask, talking softly.

Should we worry about those two? it's been a long time. I could walk over to the base of the steps just to see what is going on and come back.
 

[sblock=Yoshiki and Quioan]The small room on the north wall is much like the others. A transmutation aura in a vial in the bedside desk gives off a transmutation aura. Quioan can't quite parse the information his magical sight gives him, but using a more mundane trick from his earlier days of training, he takes the smallest taste, and his memory is properly jogged: Anyone imbibing the full flask would temporarily take on the form of a sentient mist.

Having looted the heralds' rooms of their valuables, however, the pair still haven't found much in the way of proof. The map is instructive, but not damning in and of itself. They turn to the set of double doors on the western end of the parlor, opening them slowly. A large plush bed on the south wall, facing a carved oak desk and bookshelves on the north side, furnishes this large and opulently decorated chamber. In the center of the room, a large carpet, woven with the mask of Owbej at its center, spreads across the floor. The wide windows you remember from the courtyard--where one of the heralds watched your assessment--have the curtains thankfully drawn at the moment.

The pair set to work searching the room. Quioan finds nothing damning on the desktop itself. His eyes are drawn, though, to the bottom drawer of the desk, from which he detects two faint magical auras, of illusion and enchantment. When he tries the drawer, however, he finds it locked. No key presents itself, although the wood doesn't appear to be particularly strong.

Meanwhile, Yoshiki's perusal of the bookshelf uncovers a set of false book fronts. Pulling this down, the monk discovers a trio of ledgers hidden there.

GM: treasure: potion of gaseous form.


[/sblock]

[sblock=Audra and Elenka]Even as Audra ponders moving position, the situation quickly changes. After so much silence and waiting, the activity, when it comes, is sudden and close.

"Sir?" you hear Thon ask as the creak of doors and a pair of heavy footsteps moves into the front hallway.

"Thrice-cursed, backwoods troublemaker!" you hear by way of response. It's clear from the rising sound of the voice and the footsteps, though (both the heavy single stride and the additional scrambling of other footsteps trying to catch up), that Garthia isn't stopping to explain to Thon or his guard partner, but going on himself. "I hope Tarkan and his goons tear that bloody man's throat out for all his meddling!"

GM: I made perception rolls for you. The end result being, the pair of you can get one standard action apiece to react before Garthia comes through the doors.


[/sblock]
 

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