The Faux Iesha had been a surprise, but one that had only confirmed the gnome's suspicions.  The reversal in demeanor and the ready blade in a form that might very well be Liseth whispered a terrifying secret knowledge.  This knowledge, however, was, or so it turned out, to be paid for in blood and pain, proving the maxim that all things come with a price.

Pisca clutched at her shoulder as darkness closed in and in and in and ...  Didn't quite close all the way.  The gnome's large violet eyes darted quickly from one way and then another, noting the two large lower human torsos on either side.  She let her slim blade drop with a clatter as though from a nerveless hand, then she went down to the floor into a growing pool of her own blood.  Still as death - hopefully still as death - Pisca lay, cut down in her prime, defending the very existence of a friend.

Drop Weapon.
Fall Prone.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15.  Bluff to Play Dead.

Active Spells:
Cat's Grace 6m; Message 60m

Conditions: Prone, Unarmed, Disabled.

AL: 13/14

Used L1 5/5; L2 2/3
This message was last edited by the player at 19:13, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

"Pisca!"

There comes a time when you just have to follow the gnome...

Kellan knew they were being tricked, with Kerr's confirmation and the sudden violence visited upon Pisca it only confirmed those suspicions.

He moved forward , through the doors on his left where he struck out at once for the woman bearing the wicked blade in her hand. But keeping Pisca's words in mind, he struck to injure, not to kill...

Bringing his weapon around he utlilized the langets supporting the blade against the shaft, it shorted his reach by a little, but still provided ample leverage with which to bring the blow home.

HP: 69
AC: 19

Move: to I10
Standard: Non-Lethal Furious Focus Power Attack
Swift: Trip Attempt

19:12, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 22 using 1d20+9.  Potential Free Trip Attempt.

19:12, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 19 using 2d4+13.  Potential Damage.

19:11, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 20 using 1d20+13.  Hasted Felling Smash/Furious Focus Power Attack vs Iesha

Where did she get that sword!?  If nothing else this showed that these two must be imposters sent to ambush them specifically.  They must not know what had happened at Foxglove Manor.

"We..."  Liseth's mind scrambled as Pisca went down to the ground after her sudden charge and Kellan rushed to the attack.  "Aldern Foxglove asked us to find something in his house."  The acolyte had to placate the city guard.  They didn't need trouble with the city too!

"He gave us his key and said the house was supposed to be empty."  The girl pointed quickly to the boarded up windows but her mind kept going to Pisca and the battle.  She found herself talking faster.

"We just left Sandpoint and Aldern could not have been here too.  These imposters were waiting for us disguised as him and his wife Iesha and there's no way Aldern or his wife could fight like that and who hides a sword on themselves in their own kitchen!?"

Action: Placate City Guard.

Effects: Haste

---

---

Kellan's blow crashed down on top of Iesha's shoulder, driving her to the ground and eliciting a pained scream.  As his larger friend dealt with the lady of the house, Kerr slipped by Cato and fired an arrow at Aldern Foxglove, if Aldern Foxglove it was.

The young paladin almost dropped his bow when--as he released the shaft--it crackled with some sort of eldritch energy.  The arrow, also crackling, sped across the entry room and buried itself in Aldern's shoulder with a sparkling electrical crack.

But apparently such arrow fire wasn't enough to shock Lord Foxglove.  The noble immediately moved through the foyer after Kellan, stealing behind the armored Sandpointer and slashing his longsword against Kellan's armor.  At the same time Iesha regained her feet--taking the haft of Kellan's polearm upside the head for her troubles--and stumbled forward to attack Alergast's finest pupil, bringing her longsword around in a wide sweep to bang it against Kellan's helm, briefly causing the guardsman to see stars.

Back in the entryway, the Magnimar city guardsman still gripped his polearm tightly.  But his face softened as Liseth talked.  "They're . . . imposters?"  He asked, skepticism bleeding out of his voice as he took in the ramshackle nature of the building's entryway.  "You saw Lord Foxglove elsewhere?"

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xDDDDDxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  w  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--T--x--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  T  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xDDxxxx--T--x--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  D P|  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--xDDDDDxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |I x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--x--+--xxxxssx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |K x  |  |  | sx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDx--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |A |  |  |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--T--F--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |R |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--xxxwxxxDDDDDxxxwxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  | L|C |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |CG|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

w = Window
s = Stairs
F = Fireplace
H = Chair
T = Table
A = Aldern Foxglove
I = Iesha
CG = City Guard

COMBAT

Kellan Storval

Result:  Inflicts 19 nonlethal damage on Iesha Foxglove, simultaneously tripping her.  Iesha Foxglove is now prone.

Kerr Mollin

Move Action: To L12
Standard Action:  Ranged Attack on Aldern Foxglove

22:46, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 18 using 1d8+7+1d6.  Longbow Damage to Aldern Foxglove.
22:45, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Longbow attack on Aldern Foxglove (DA, PBS).

Result:  18 points of damage to Aldern Foxglove

Aldern Foxglove

Move Action:  To J11
Standard Action:  Attack Kellan Storval

23:02, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Aldern Foxglove, rolled 14 using 1d8+4+2d6.  Damage to Kellan Storval.
23:01, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Aldern Foxglove, rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Attack on Kellan Storval.

RESULT:  14 points of damage to Kellan Storval.


Iesha Foxglove

Move Action:  Stand from prone.

Kellan Storval attack of opportunity

22:56, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 14 using 2d4+7.  Damage to Iesha Foxglove.
22:55, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 29 using 1d20+13.  AoO on Iesha Foxglove (nonlethal damage).

RESULT:  14 points of nonlethal damage to Iesha Foxglove (33 total)

Free Action:  5' step to J9.

Standard Action: Attack Kellan Storval

23:05, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Iesha Foxglove, rolled 11 using 1d8+4+2d6.  Damage to Kellan Storval.
23:04, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur, for the NPC Iesha Foxglove, rolled 22 using 1d20+10.  Attack on Kellan Storval.

RESULT:  11 points of damage to Kellan Storval.

STATUS:  Pisca has taken 38 points of damage and is disabled.  Kellan has taken 25 points of damage.  Iesha Foxglove has taken 33 points of nonlethal damage.  Aldern Foxglove has taken 20 points of damage. All party members may now take combat actions.

---

---

Cato steps past Kerr, fully into the townhouse, and holds up his left hand, channeling arcane power through his bonded ring, while his right hand brandishes a small piece of iron.  "[Language unknown: Ol ie os!]” he shouts in an ancient tongue.

Move to L11
Hold Person on Aldern (Imposter) DC 17 Will Save
Haste: 5 rounds remain
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:16, Sat 21 Apr 2018.

The loud ping of Ieshas's blade ringing off of Kellans helm seemed painfully loud in the narrow space, and his head snapped to the side with the motentum and sent him a half step to his left. Although the guardsman endured the blow in relative silence, it looked like a good one.

Kellan was not deterred however. Holding the haft of his poleaxe sideways he checked Iesha hard into the hallway wall and then, unnaturally fast thanks to Cato's arcane skill, proceeded to throw a blinding series of attacks.

The right hook came in first, followed by a wild second punch that crunched through the hallway panneling before he placed both hands back on the weapon and raked it hard to his right, hoping to use the momentum and hook of the blade to drag the imposter down.

HP: 44/69
AC: 19

First Attack: 28 to hit, 17 NL Damage
Free Trip Attempt: 20
Second Attack: 4 to hit
Hasted Bonus Attack: 22 to hit 18 NL Damage
Free Trip Attempt: 25

AOO Preference: Normal NL Attack, -3 if at 5' range

"[Language unknown: Laryinlat a Shebleles llal t pelais!]"  Liseth turned for a moment from the Magnimar Guard and channeled divine, white light.  The healing aura spread to touch her injured friends and mend their injuries.

The light faded just as quickly as it had come and she turned back to the guardsman, "Mr Foxglove is our friend, he told us about evil people at work in Magnimar and sent us to get something from his house to expose them.  It was...." she frowned, "his dying request...they can only be evil imposters!"

Standard: Channel Energy to Cure; Exclude 'Foxgloves' (Cure Party for 5)

15:14, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 5 using 3d6+1.  Channel Energy to Heal.

"LYSA!"  If a cry of joy can be conveyed in a whisper, then that is just what Pisca did from her place in mock-crumple on the floor.  With a quick turn, the gnome turned over onto her back, finding no False Foxgloves above her with their cruel stabbing blades.  With a flourish of hands and a few words of power, she drew more healing energies to her body before leaping to her feet.

"I'm back," Pisca informed the others, and her eyes darted about the room to regain her bearings.

Cast CLW
Stand

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 6 using 1d8+5.  CLW.

Active Spells:
Haste 5 remaining, Cat's Grace 6m; Message 60m

HP: 10
AC22/Touch17/CMD17
Conditions: Unarmed.

AL: 13/14
Used L1 4/5; L2 2/3

---

---

Kellan was in a rhythm now.  Shortening up on his shaft, he whirled his poleaxe into a symphony of violence against Iesha Foxglove.  Already slightly stunned, the woman had no chance against Kellan's onslaught; she slumped to the floor unconscious.

Meanwhile, Kerr put his Sir Klerris-inspired training and Cato's magical assistance to good use.  He quickly pulled three arrows out of his quiver, one after the other, and sent them speeding towards Aldern Foxglove as the man brought his longsword around for another strike against Kellan.  Two shafts buried themselves in the noble's torso; one clattered harmlessly against the wall.

"NO!"  The guardsman entered the room, reaching out his hand as if he could stop Kerr from killing one of his city's upper-class denizens.  The man dashed across the room, intent on seeing if he could provide aid.

But as Foxglove slumped to the ground, his skin seemed to ripple and shift, turning the well-coiffed, uniformed noble into a hairless, leathery biped with a face dominated by grotesque and unsettling whorls and slits instead of actual features.

"What . . . what is THAT?!?"  The Magnimarian blanched as he crouched over the creature, unsure of what he was seeing.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xDDDDDxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  w  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--T--x--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  T  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xDDxxxx--T--x--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  D P|  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--xDDDDDxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |-Ix  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--x--+--xxxxssx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |K x  |  |  | sx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxDDx--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |-A|  |C |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--T--F--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  D  |CG|  |R |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--xxxwxxxDDDDDxxxwxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  | L|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

w = Window
s = Stairs
F = Fireplace
H = Chair
T = Table
A = Aldern Foxglove
I = Iesha
CG = City Guard

COMBAT

Kellan Storval

Result:  Iesha Foxglove takes 35 points of nonlethal damage and is tripped to the floor.
 She is now unconscious.

Kerr Mollin

Move Action: None.
Standard Action:  Full-attack on Aldern Foxglove.

15:49, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 29 using 2d8+14+2d6.  Ranged Damage to Aldern Foxglove.
15:48, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  Shot No. 3 at Aldern Foxglove (PBS, DA, RF).
15:47, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Shot No. 2 at Aldern Foxglove (PBS, DA, RF).
15:47, Today: Secret Roll: Kerr Mollin rolled 24 using 1d20+8.  Shot No. 1 at Aldern Foxglove (PBS, DA, RF).

Result:  Kerr inflicts 29 points of damage on Aldern Foxglove.  He is prone, unconscious, and dying.


STATUS:  Pisca has taken 27 points of damage.  Kellan has taken 20 points of damage.  Iesha Foxglove has taken 68 points of nonlethal damage, and is prone and unconscious.  Aldern Foxglove has taken 49 points of damage and is prone, unconscious, and dying. Combat is over, resume normal posting.

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:16, Tue 24 Apr 2018.

"Well.  That's something you don't see everyday," commented the gnome as she poked her head around the corner to see just what the guard was referring to.  "I don't think even I was expecting that."

"This one ... " Pisca, after retrieving her weapon from the floor, wandered across the threshold and stood over the other Faux Foxglove.  With the flat of the blade she patted the woman on the cheek.  "This one still looks like Lysa.  Or, Iesha, I suppose."

"Lets see if they have anything on them that might help us figure out what's going on.  Maybe a card with a number eight," said the gnome as she began going over the fallen woman's clothing.  "Or nine.  Or ten."

Perception 38 Taking 20 to search the bodies for evidence.

Cato watched the transformation take over the downed imposter-nobles, his mind already starting to whirl. “Natural shapeshifters. That would explain the lack of an arcane signature!  Many such things revert to their true form when unconscious.”

Know: Arcana to id?

"That doesn't even look like a person anymore!  Let alone Aldern Foxglove."  To be fair, Liseth had had no idea what to expect ever since they opened the door to see Aldern Foxglove standing there.  "They're shapeshifters," she asked Cato, "They can look like anyone?"

"Sarenrae, if it is your will, preserve this life that we might learn its purpose."  The acolyte said a prayer of mending to stop the creature bleeding to death.  If nothing else, they might learn from it.  She frowned as she cautiously peeked through the door at the one mimicking Iesha, "Is she one of these too?  Why does she still look...human?"

"Pisca, you're still hurt, hold still."  Liseth skirted around the fallen forms to approach Pisca, calling the healing power of the divine to herself, "Gods grant me your healing light."  Then she did the same to cure Kellan of the injuries he had received during the short battle.

The young blonde turned to the flabbergasted city guard, "I'm sorry, even we didn't expect this.  There is something terrible going on in Magnimar, and even reaching out to Sandpoint and possibly the rest of Varisia too.  We're...trying to stop it."

"Oh, be careful."  Liseth suddenly had a thought, "They were trying to get us to eat something when they were pretending to be Mr Foxglove and his wife.  They might have poison hidden around here."  The small acolyte thought a moment and then said a prayer, "Sarenrae, reveal to me the location of foul toxins and hidden poison."

OOC: Cast Stabilize on 'Foxglove' - Should stop dying
Cast CLW on Pisca (Heal 7) and Kellan (Heal 10)
Cast Detect Poison

00:23, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 10 using 1d8+6.  CLW Kellan.
00:23, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 7 using 1d8+6.  CLW Pisca.

Kellan recoiled as he saw the change begin to take place, perhaps expecting some fresh horror...and he was not disappointed.

At that point in his life with all that he had seen and done, he had been feeling fairly "seasoned". They had tackled demons after all... assaulted Thistletop. But the realization that things existed in the world like "natural shape shifters" changed his world view once again.

"A what?" He exclaimed a he squatted over "Iesha's" unconscious body and quickly applied the manacles that Alergast had given him upon joining the guard. "I've never even heard of anything like that. Where does it come from?" He asked as he stares warily at the gray thing.

He glanced to the guardsman with a dip of his head. "I'm sorry sir, just give us a moment"

"Errr ...  Stomper," Pisca commented softly even as her hands continued to work through the Lysa Look Alike's clothing.  "If these are *shape* *shifters*", she went on, emphasizing the relevant words, "then I don't think those are going to hold them."

Cato examined the faces of the unconscious imposters as he muttered to himself.  "Dopplegangers?  No...not gray enough.  Kitsune wouldn't make sense, and it would turn into a fox-humanoid.  A mimic would only turn into an object...."

Suddenly, Cato snaps his fingers.  "A Faceless stalker!  I think that's what it is.  And restraints might work, if I'm remembering my lore right, as long as we observe them.  It takes them 10 minutes to shift forms, and they prefer privacy.  I'm not even sure if they could shapeshift away a hand or something, but I suppose it's best not to test that boundary."

Nodding to Kellan, he continues: "As to where they come from, they were created as spies by the Aboleths long ago, though they were cast aside."

---

---

Kerr nodded along as if he knew what Cato was talking about.  “I guess they only change back to their original shape if they actually die?”  He prodded not-Aldern-Foxglove with a doubtful boot.  “So Iesha wouldn’t have shifted back if she was just knocked out.”

He turned to the guardsman.  “Yes, sir,” he agreed with Liseth.  “This is all something terrible.  We came down to investigate it because Lord Foxglove was killed and,” he prodded the shapeshifter again, “this is what we found.  As you can see.”  He shook his head, and then his eyes widened.  “How many of these things could be out there?  Impersonating Magnimarian nobility?”

The guardsman seemed very taken aback by the possibility.  “This is,” he looked several shades paler than he had when he first approached the group, “I really don’t know what to do about this.”  He took off his helmet and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a glove.  “Don’t move too much around.  I’m going to have to report this and get some investigators here to check this out.”

---

---

"Just these," said the gnome, tossing the two sharply shiny swords to the floor with a clatter.

"Though I'd think twice before assuming that Aboleths are replacing Magnimarian nobles with shape shifters," she warned.  "Consider the state of this house," she continued on to explain.  "Boards nailed over windows.  It definitely looks as though it's seen better days.  If you were replacing nobles, would you let your cover slip so badly?"

Pisca's cheeks dimpled as she pressed her lips together in a thoughtful frown and her hands went to her hips as though in confrontation of a thing she of which she very much disapproved.  "I'm tempted to say that they were here very specifically for us.  They knew things about us.  And they didn't seem very ... surprised when we showed up, did they now?"

"Could you wait a moment," the gnome requested of the Magnimarian guardsman.  "As Lysa's already told you, we're here because Aldern - the *REAL* Aldern - asked us to come and find something in the house.  I'd like to search it now, and it would be nice to have an impartial witness to testify that we haven't done anything ... well, lets just say, that we haven't done anything that we shouldn't."

Kellan glanced down to his manacles, then back to Pisca and Cato. "Well...I suppose they can't hurt, as long as it doesn't try to run off..."

The entire situation had set him on edge, it was quite surreal to be in another place, the big city, where he only knew his close friends and had to contend with such fantastic circumstances. Who had ever heard of such a thing? Aboleths? Shape Changers? It was madness.

But it was all too real.

Kellan approached the fellow guardsman and offered a hand. "Thanks for not stepping in back there, not even sure what I would have done myself in your shoes, but it worked out. You are with the City Watch here in Magnimar?" He asked.

"There's no poison here..."  Liseth said, mostly to herself.  "At least, none I can detect."  Was that good or did that just mean she was using the invocation improperly?

"Cato, what do these...shapeshifters eat?  He had said that they had just set the dinner table."  The girl looked down at the  now-horrid figure of what had appeared to be Aldern Foxglove.  "I mean, can it actually eat the same food as us?"  Liseth thought a moment, "I think I should check the kitchen and the dining room.  If they have a supply of food, it could tell us how long they've been waiting here."

"They didn't seem to know what had already happened at Foxglove Manor, but they did seem to be waiting for us to show up.  I wonder if we might be a step ahead of these evil conspirators.  That would be...a nice change."

With that the young chef entered the dining room to investigate just what it was these creatures had been trying to get them to eat.

Cato looked up at Pisca's comment.  "Well, I don't think Aboleths are attacking Magnimar.  Although they made these shapeshifters originally, they discarded them as useful servants long ago.  Now the faceless stalkers are...free agents?   I suppose that might be the best description.  They could just be masquerading as the Foxgloves, maybe taking advantage of their wealth and position to live in the lap of luxury until the Foxgloves return to Magnimar.  Or they could have been hired to set a trap for us."

He looked over at the table and shuddered.  "Uh, Liseth, from what I know about their eating habits, they can eat only liquids, usually blood, even if they take a form that involves teeth and would normally be capable of eating solids.  In their natural form, they have a kind of hollow tongue that they use to suck blood.  So, steel yourself for anything you might find in that kitchen, if they truly have made their home here.  And Kellan, maybe be careful of being too close to the faces?"

---

---

“As long as you don’t disturb anything too much.”  The guardsman gave the gnome a curt nod, recovering his bearings but still seeming a bit out of his element.  “The investigators are going to want to see it.  But given that these things might have been here specifically to kill you,” his eyes went inexorably to the changed shapeshifter, “seems only fair you get to find out if that’s true, and if so why.”

As Cato spoke with Pisca, the man turned to Kellan.  “Yep, I’m a City Guard.” He gestured at his blue-tinted scale mail.  “Pride of Magnimar.”  He rapped on the chestplate with his free hand.  “What about you?  You have a guardsman’s look about you—I’d know it anywhere.”

As the two guardsmen talked, Liseth wandered into the kitchen.  While it was an impressive facility, with marble countertops, oak cabinetry, and a tiled floor, it seemed as if the talk of dinner was slightly overblown.  The only thing that even suggested eating were a few scattered plates on the table and a sloppily-opened bag of what looked like flour on one of the countertops.  Nothing was cooking or prepared in any way.

Kerr wandered further into the entry room.  “Hey,” he said, motioning to the group, "there’s a stairway over here.  Heading up.”

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
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2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  T  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  D P|  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |-Ix  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--x--+--xxxxssx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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11|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |-A|  |C |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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12|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  D  |CG|  |  |  H  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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13|  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  | L|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

w = Window
s = Stairs
F = Fireplace
H = Chair
T = Table
A = Aldern Foxglove
I = Iesha
CG = City Guard

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Sat 28 Apr 2018.

"Aboleths," Pisca said, turning from the guard to Cato.  The gnome goggled her eyes wide, and her mouth bloop-blooped in a pair of lethargic goldfish gapes.  She put one hand up to each side of her face and waved them as though lazy fins in the sluggish deepwater currents.  Then she dropped the fishy-face and shrugged.  "Who can figure them?"

"By the by," Pisca tossed a question over her shoulder to the guard as she then diverted herself in the direction of the stairs that Lysa's boyfriend had mentioned, "you don't happen to known anything about a group that goes by the name of the Gang of Seven or the Brotherhood of the Unleavened, the Brotherhood of Seven, something like that?" she asked as she began meandering up the stairs, poking and prodding into corners as she went.

Perception 38 Taking 20 to search for traps and hidden compartments.

Kellan remained with their prisoner, but heeded Cato's advice about staying away from their faces. The thought of these things jabbing into something like a tick or a mosquito was enough to make him shake his head again in disgust.

Opening up to the Guardsman was a calculated risk, but he had not attacked them despite the chaotic nature of their introduction, and he had heard all their names, even heard Pisca asking about the Seven. It seemed that they were playing their hand more openly, which fitted his earnest nature just fine.

"I am, just made Sergeant down in Sandpoint actually. I don't know if you know our Sheriff, Hemlock...or Lieutenant Barett...they have both been up this way to train with your men...we've learned a lot from the Magnimar Guard honestly." He admitted, giving credit where it was due.

Cato followed Liseth into the kitchen, once again casting Detect Magic and scanning the area for signs of anything magical.

"I wonder how long they've been here.  Do you think it just happened?  And who sent them?  Word must have come from Sandpoint, right?  But there must be some larger organization in Magnimar that is involved with the Foxgloves.  Didn't Aldern say something about that, where his..." Cato lowered his voice, whispering to Liseth, "where his undead condition came from?"

"Just flour."  There was a note of disappointment at the lack of any foodstuffs.  Liseth grimaced, "At least they don't have any blood in here.  Monsters probably only want fresh..."

"I don't think they've had word from Sandpoint yet; we must have beaten the news here."  The acolyte discussed with Cato, "Otherwise they wouldn't have tried to trick us by looking like the Foxgloves.  But they've probably had people...or things...keeping watch on this house for a long time, in case we did travel here to Magnimar."

The girl frowned at mention of the condition Aldern Foxglove had forced on him, "He said they forced him to...eat the moss under his manor.  That's what changed him...I don't know if the cult might have more here in the city."

Liseth left the kitchen, going back to find Kerr at the entry room.  "There was just flour in the kithcen, enough for her to put on her arms to make us think she was cooking."  Referring to the look-alike of Iesha.  "Let's see if we can find what Aldern told us about.  It must be well hidden if they haven't found it themselves."  She looked up the stairs.

Her oldest nemesis.