Chance's spare frog went to guard the door as asked, and Eryn was easily able to gag the gnome. Although the frog that was holding him did resist her attempts a little bit since it didn't want to loosen its grip on its prisoner.

When Chance and Ilura gazed upon the map, they could tell it was extremely old. The writing on it was in the common tongue, but in stylized writing and in an old dialect that made deciphering it difficult. The map seemed to be mostly a blueprint of an extremely complex and maze-like structure. But up in the left-hand corner there was a small image of a coastline, indicating where the structure was located. It took Ilura a moment, but she eventually recognized it as the coastline they had sailed past on their way to Cliffport. And according to the map, the structure depicted is located in Cliffport. In the same location as the temple they were currently in. But glancing around, Ilura and Chance could tell that the stonework of the temple was much younger than the the ancient building shown on the map.

One last thing of note was that at the center of the maze-like blueprints, there was a large circular room labeled with only a symbol. It was a symbol that most any adventurer would recognize. It was the symbol of a famous slayer organization that had faded into myth several hundred years prior. A slayer organization that was said to have a secret hideout filled with priceless lore and artifacts for destroying threats to mankind. A secret hideout that had a transportation system that could deliver its members to locations of great need in almost an instant.

A secret hideout that had been lost to time.

A secret hideout that agents of Lusiny would love to preserve, and agents of Cherka would love to never see used again...

With this new knowledge, what do you do?

---

The map seems to show the way to the hideout of a legendary organization of slayers, probably beneath the very temple the adventurers are standing in. Within, there is likely a transportation system that could take you wherever you might need to go.

What is the name of this slayer organization?
What is their symbol?
What is the reason people say they disappeared about 300 years ago?

Ilura's eyes widened.  The Seal of the Silver Scourge.  She'd heard the songs of course.  A hidden community made up of the most pure of heart it was said.  They had banished demons.  Dethroned tyrants.  Bound and rendered harmless the most foul of spirits - all while keeping their identities hidden behind masks of silver.

They'd been gone now for centuries.  Killed by the Mad King Karron.  A spell that had somehow poisoned the very masks they wore.  Their secrets lost.

To come across something like this now - it had to be a sign.  And she was quite certain that giving it to the priestesses was not a great plan.

She pointed to Eryn, miming that she should make as much noise as she could, then leaned over and whispered quietly in the halfling's ear.
"We can't let the priestesses get their hands on this map.  Do you think you could get your frogs to destroy this table and make them believe that the map has been eaten?  The one has very good ears.  So you can't be loud."

Ilura got ready to scream in the direction of the hallway if the halfling decided to follow her suggestion.

A grin spread across Chance's face from ear to ear and he nodded his agreement as he picked up the map, folded it, and carefully tucked it into his pack.

"Stand back," he whispered, then walked over to the frog who had so reluctantly surrendered the gnome for Eryn to gag.

He reached up and gave it a gentle pat on its flank and quietly says, "You are being such a good helper, thank you! If I could trouble you for something else? I think it'll be a lot of fun. Would you be kind enough to destroy that desk? Just smash it up into a bunch of little pieces, please. I used to love to tear stuff up when I was younger. I don't know if you have ever tried it, but it is exhilarating!"

Chance tips over another piece of nearby furniture, making it look like it is a lot of fun to do so.

"See," he says, beaming the frog.

Breaking stuff happens to be something I am very good at, Eryn thought, and helped Chance's frog kick over some furniture.

Before continuing with on to more noisy large-scale destruction, however, the warrior-mage tapped her forehead in an effort to vaguely describe her intent to cast her telepathic spell. Next she touched Ilura's shoulder, but quickly frowned. Once again the magic was not coming to her as easily as she had hoped.

---

08:49, Today: Eryn rolled 5 using 2d6.  Cast a Spell (Telepathy with Ilura).
Edit: Note just to say I've marked XP.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:54, Fri 25 Oct 2019.

Could one of you roll a Defy Danger to make your destructive ruse convincing? (Probably with Cha) The danger being that the priestesses realize you are trying to trick them. Others can Aid too, if needed.

OOC:

06:37, Today: Chance rolled 11 using 2d6+1 ((6,4)). Defy danger with Charisma.

Chance's frog hopped onto the desk the halfling had asked it to, and the ornate piece of furniture crumpled immediately under its stony weight. The animated statue continued to hop in place, turning the wreckage slowly into splinters. Its face showed little emotion, but it seemed almost as if it were enjoying the mindless destruction.

When Eryn reached out to touch Ilura for her spell, the ranger must have still had some of the gnome's nightmare magic lingering around her head. As their two minds connected, Eryn felt her mind being stuck by a bolt of fear and disorientation. When her vision cleared, Eryn could hear Ilura's thoughts but had a terrible headache at the same time.

What do you do?

---

Ilura and Eryn are connected telepathically, and there is convincing cover noise of a battle going on. What is the next step in the adventurers' plans?

Eryn
Your spell worked, but you took some recoil from lingering nightmare magic in the air. You lose the spell and gain the Confused debility (-1 to wis rolls) until the current casting of this spell ends. The debility is manifesting in the form of a wicked headache.

"That thing!  It's destroying the map!!"  Ilura shouted, trying to be heard above the din.  She glanced quizzically at Erin, not exactly sure what she was up to.  She needed to figure out how best to hide the map - and she wasn't entirely sure the halfling would trust her to do so.  (And she wasn't sure she trusted the halfling to run of with it)

She threw a chair against the wall, then started rummaging through the gnome's pockets while she thought.

A sting of pain shot through Eryn's temple while she tried to focus on what she was doing. Cripes, even your thoughts are loud, she thought to Ilura. I cast a spell so we can think-talk, but got some backlash from the gnome's magic when I did.

Eryn kept finding new opportunities to demonstrate that magic was really not as fantastic as it seemed at first. This new headache was another consequence of the aspiring mage casting spells without having true experience or natural talent for it. A hint of concern: Had the nightmare spell passed completely, or was it now lurking in her head, waiting to erupt?

She gritted her teeth against the faint thumping in her brain. No time to worry. They had to take advantage of the moment.

I've got ink for writing in my spell book, she told Ilura via Telepathy. Let's make a similar but false map and tear it to pieces, while you hide the real map in your quiver. They will be too busy putting the false map back together to notice.

Without speaking a word she reached into her pack and retrieved a roll of parchment from it. Next she found the inkwell. I've got what we need, if you agree.

---

Condition noted. I'll expend another use of Adventuring Gear to draw forth a piece of letter/scroll paper.

With the contents of the room well on their way to being destroyed Chance reckoned that it was time to find a way out. He wasn't sure exactly who these priestesses were, but if they were after the map they were best avoided. So, while his new friends busied themselves smashing the place for good effect, Chance surveyed the now exposed surfaces of the room looking for another way out; A hidden way, perhaps?

OOC:

09:23, Today: Chance rolled 8 using 2d6-1.  Discern Realities.

What here is not what it appears to be?

Ilura's face took on a panicked expression.  YOU CAN HEAR WHAT I THINK!?!  Oh crap.  What if she can even hear this?  DON'T YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POLITE TO ASK FIRST?!  HOW DO I TURN THIS OFF?

She gestured at the halfling.  GO THINK-SPEAK HIM.  HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS THE MAP, AND I DON'T THINK HE's about to give it to me. Her thoughts calmed somewhat as they shifted from the unexpected mental intrusion to their current problem.

She glanced over at Thomas.  [Help me find a place we can hide this map]  The ranger looked around as the stone toad continued to happily stomp.  "TRY TO SAVE THE MAP!"

quote:

13:42, Today: Ilura rolled 11 using 2d6+5.  Discern realities w/ Thomas.

What here is useful or valuable to me?
What here is not what it appears to be?
What should I be on the lookout for?

No armor could protect Eryn from someone yelling inside her head. Ow ow ow.

I would ask him, but I trust you more. I can't hear anything you haven't decided to say, so I don't think the priestesses can either; but I'll get out of your head anyway. Don't think about embarrassing stuff ok byeeee

Eryn let the spell end, but was dismayed to find that her headache was not abating. She considered casting Telepathy again on Chance, but found herself unable to focus on it. It was probably a bad idea anyway, given the lingering magic in the room. Instead the warrior approached Chance and tapped him on the shoulder too, showing him the ink and parchment in the process. "Let's make a decoy map and destroy it for effect," she whispered to him.

---

Telepathy spell dismissed.

The sounds of battle continued to fill the room even as the adventurers tried to figure out what to do. Chance's search of the room didn't reveal anything as useful as a secret exit, but he did spot a grate underneath the wreckage of the demolished desk. It looked to be a drainage area for whatever foul experiments or rituals the gnome might have used this room for in the past. It likely emptied outside along the cliff face somewhere, and appeared big enough for Chance at least to fit in. Assuming they could get the cover off, of course.

Similarly, Ilura spotted a hole in the corner of the ceiling. It was difficult to spot and she probably wouldn't have seen it without her night-vision eyes. The hole was the perfect size for a rat's nest. She definitely wouldn't be able to fit inside as a human, but perhaps a crow, fairy, or tiny gargoyle could. And/or a map...

Within the gnome's pockets she found a wide variety of odds and ends. They seemed magical in nature, but not particularly useful. Claws, feathers, bags of crushed leaves, etc. However, a vial baring a skull and crossbones did catch her attention.

Meanwhile, Eryn had all of the materials prepared for creating a decoy map when the priestess's voices rang out over the ruckus. "WE SUMMONED AID AND ARE SENDING IT YOUR WAY TO SECURE THE MAP!" Lenora said. Slow heavy footsteps could be heard, along with a dragging sound against the walls.

Then Urella spoke. She didn't yell, but her voice somehow carried just as easily. "The winged one is with us. He will help complete your task in our stead. As the gnome's contract forbids our direct presence." It was plainly evident that Urella did not like being kept away due to something as mundane as contractual obligations.

What do you do?

---

If you guys make a decoy map, go ahead and give me a roll to see how convincing it is. Someone can Aid too, if they help.

Chance
What here is not what it appears to be?
You spotted a hidden grate underneath the gnome's desk. It is filthy, but you could probably fit if you needed to.

Ilura
What here is useful or valuable to me?
A vial of some type of poison found within the gnome's pocket.

What here is not what it appears to be?
There is a well-hidden hole in the corner of the ceiling where something small could fit.

What should I be on the lookout for?
The priestess' summoned minion they are sending over to "assist."

Eryn
The spell has ended, and with it, your debility. Your headache is lessened, but still present.

Ilura pocketed the poison.  She'd figure out what it was later.

She gestured to get the halfling's attention then pointed at the real map, then at the hidey-hole she'd discovered and gave a questioning look.

Leaning in close, she whispered directly in his ear.  "They're almost certain to search us.  Best to hide it and come back. Also, you ok if we move the gnome to the door.  If their 'helper' is of a mind to harm us, best to find out with him first."

While waiting for a response, she looked up at Thomas, who had perched himself on top of the head of one of the stone toads.  [Would you be able to carry this map up and stick it in the hole if we rolled it for you?]  The pair had never tried anything like that before and she figured it would be best to check for willingness before committing the bird to a plan he might not agree with.

"I'd rather test my luck against the priestesses than the rats. The map stays with me," Chance says as he holds it out for Eryn to copy. He offers suggestions of minor changes, things that aren't likely to be noticed but that would render it ineffective if someone tried to use it to navigate. While they work, he instructs the frogs not to let anything come into the room.

OOC:

14:55, Today: Chance rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,2.  Aid Eryn.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Wed 06 Nov 2019.

Ilura shrugged.  The map was his she supposed.  At least for now.

"Best if they don't have all the pieces?"  She looked around for agreement before tearing off a good-sized chunk off the area of the paper where they hadn't yet done much drawing.  Less space to have to fake in the limited time remaining, and less for the priestesses to work with and discover was wrong once they put the pieces back together.

She crumpled the paper up as quietly as she could, then popped it into her mouth to swallow as she moved towards the door to help intercept/delay whatever was coming down the hallway.

"Agreed," Eryn whispered, scribbling lines as best she could to make the copied look roughly the same in terrain, but wrong regarding what it was actually pointing to. She knew little of the city they were in, but Eryn figured if she could make it look detailed yet vague it would make the priestesses devote their time to searching for a red herring.

A vague reference to a hidden tunnel near a building in town, leading to a secret hideout or seaside cavern, plus some form of important relic... the symbol of the organization was the hardest to copy. That, if nothing else, had to be accurate.

She wrote a few letters next to the torn-off edge. Ilura removing a piece would help sell the illusion that there used to be a complete text there.

...

Unfortunately the hasty work led to occasional lines looking like a toddler's scribbles. Certain parts displayed a disproportionate amount of effort put into them, looking extravagant next to the lackluster design of the rest of the piece. Eryn swiftly corked the bottle and put her gloves back on to hide the ink stains on her fingers.

"Don't roll it up too quick," she intently told Chance. "Ink's not dry yet."

---

09:36, Today: Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Defy Danger (INT + 1 from Aid) Forge a fake map.
Marked XP.

My impression of the map is that it's a decent enough copy, but not every detail was transcribed convincingly and the ink lines don't look old enough. Instead of the actual location it points to a similar place somewhere outside of town. The geography may be off.

Edit: Typos.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Thu 07 Nov 2019.

"My name is Chance, by the way. My quiet friend over there is called Aguri. That P.O.S," he gestures to the gnome, "hired us to retrieve that map from the recesses of his mind, of all places. That's where I made friends with these two," he gestures toward the frogs.

"Care to fill me in on who you all are and who is waiting out there before we come face to face with them?"

"Certainly. We caught wind of foul people at work around the Sunset Isles and sailed from Markhain on a mission to stop them - something which I may fill you in on in private later. Unfortunately our ship got into a battle with pirates, which forced us to land here for repairs. We sought aid from the priestesses and were urged to help them retrieve the map you carry. They then pointed us in your direction. That is their people arriving -- I do not know them."

The warrior brushed her unkempt hair out of the way look slightly more presentable for a first meeting, then touched her fist gently to the chest-piece of her scale armor in an attempt to formally greet Chance.

"I am Eryn, trained sword-for-hire and apprentice caster. This is Ilura, light on her feet and quite skilled in many ways. Her bird is Thomas in case you were wondering. With us we also have Marcus, a paladin of Lusiny, plus some help we hired. They are keeping watch in the priestesses' chamber. You'll find that they have their quirks, but don't mind the gang."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Thu 07 Nov 2019.

[Of course I could carry a map,] Thomas replied to Ilura, a bit sarcastically. [If I felt like it...] But regardless if Thomas would actually do such a favor for his friend, the point was moot. Chance had decided to keep the map rather than hide it away.

The halfling's stony dream-frogs moved near the doorway as instructed, bringing their old gnome prisoner with them. Marcus was busy tending to Aguri in her fragile mental state as the others prepared everything else. The group had just barely finished their map preparations when the priestess' minion came into view.

It was a tall humanoid creature. Tall enough that it needed to crouch forward to peer under the top of the doorway. It's face was generally human-like, but with gray skin, empty eye sockets, and two horns protruding upward from its skull in a demon-like fashion. But between the two horns, a halo of light hovered. From its back sprouted two enormous wings that sported gray feathers. But the feathers were falling out in clumps here and there, like a dog shedding its winter fur. Its body was muscular, but not bulky. It wore robes of gold and black, and carried a morningstar in one clawed hand.

The creature smacked one of the stone frogs with its weapon, causing the frog to burst into a shower of pebbles as it sprayed against the back wall. The morningstar glowed with a faint light, not unlike that of a morning star. The creature pushed into the room through the opening it had created.

A moment later, the angel-demon's empty eye sockets were no longer empty. One socket had an eye in it that looked to be a normal humanoid eye. The other had an eye the exact same red as the vampiric woman Urella's. "Sorry about that," Lenora's voice said through her minion's mouth. It then promptly switched to Urella's. "We thought it was one of the gnome's minions. I see you have captured him though." The angel-demon pointed its weapon at the other stone frog still holding Mr. Wazowitz.

"May we see the map?" Lenora's voice asked, holding out the creature's empty hand. "It would be nice to finally have access to that vault beneath our temple," Urella commented.

What do you do?

---

Chance
One of your stone frogs got utterly obliterated. How is your other frog reacting, if at all?

Eryn
It turns out the priestesses already know that the vault is beneath their temple, but your forgery will show it being somewhere else nearby.

Ilura moved casually to block the creature's view of Chance as best she could.  "What would you have us do with this one?"  She gestured at the gnome.  As she did so, she examined the creature, and the room around her, trying to figure out what it was and, if push came to shove, what the best way might be to kill/disable it.  Or at lest disarm it...

What happened to the gnome when the frog that was holding half of its body was suddenly pulverized?

quote:

19:38, Today: Ilura rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  Spout Lore about critter.
19:38, Today: Ilura rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Discern realities.

If anyone wants to help on the 'spout lore', they're welcome to.

What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?
What here is not what it appears to be?

The remaining frog tenses visibly with the destruction of his companion, but is unable to act of its volition.

Chance takes advantage of the cloud of dust from the demolished frog statue and Illura's attempt to further conceal him and attempts to hide amid the wreckage of the room's furnishings.

OOC:
Lore isn't Chance's strong suit. Hiding, on the other hand...

23:04, Today: Chance rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,4.  Defy danger with dexterity.

It crushed stone without breaking a sweat, Eryn mentally noted. She wished she hadn't ended the Telepathy spell early. Right now would be a good time to discuss a plan with Ilura. Her weapons could likely hurt such a powerful creature, but without a coordinated ambush on all its weak points it wasn't worth the risk.

"I have the map you seek, I think," Eryn told the priestesses, trying to sound unaffected by the sight of their demonic form. She kept the parchment unfolded and facing herself for a few seconds longer, with furrowed brow as if truly interested in reading it. That short delay - hopefully not so long as to arouse suspicion - would help ensure that the ink had time to fully dry.

"The gnome tried to destroy it when we took it from him... but it's mostly intact," she continued. Would the deception work? Eryn wasn't sure. Best to throw some additional doubt on the case, and take the attention off Chance in the process. She carefully rolled the map up and handed it to the creature. "I'm not sure if it's the original; but he tried to keep us from getting it anyway. It certainly points to a chamber somewhere nearby, as you said."

---

08:02, Today: Eryn rolled 14 using 2d6+2.  Defy Danger (CHA). Tell a convincing lie to the priestesses.

Chance had ample time to hide himself as the dust cleared, and he soon found himself out of sight of the angel-demon. The creature would certainly notice he had disappeared eventually, but for the moment it seemed to think Chance was merely outside of its line of sight, behind the others.

As Ilura studied the creature, several things occurred to her almost at once. First of all, the creature that was summoned should not exist. It was clearly a combination of a summoned demon and a summoned angel. The ranger did not know a lot about summoning rituals, but she knew enough that to merge two summonings like this would take expert skill or unique circumstances. Likely the later in this case, considering the nature of the twin priestesses...

Secondly, the priestesses were clearly extending their senses through their summoned minion. Which meant their actual body, wherever it might be, was likely more vulnerable right now. Even if not completely helpless, they would at least be severely distracted.

Thirdly, that weapon that the angel-demon carried packed some seriously potent power. It was a large and clumsy morningstar, but could potentially be used against the creature itself if it could be disarmed. If not, she should definitely do everything she can to avoid being on the receiving end.

She kept all this in mind as the priestesses responded to herself and Eryn's questions.

"What should you do with the gnome?" Lenora responded as their minion reached for the map. "We promised our temple would not interfere so long as he upheld our bargain. We did not, however, promise to protect against interfering third parties." The implication was that Lenora did not care what the party did with the gnome.

But Urella added, "I would like it if he survived though. His aura glows so bright with Cherka's red glow. He could do so many great things."

Then the angel-demon turned its eyes to the map, allowing the priestesses to examine it. "This map... It is not what we seek. It is not what we agreed upon!"

"An obvious forgery!" The angel-demon glared at the party with the fury of both heaven and hell. The rage was nearly palpable!

But then the critter's gaze turned toward the gnome. "How dare he try and betray us!"

"Wake him, sister. We need answers. I will pull them from him." The angel-demon moved toward the unconscious gnome, ready to rip him from the frog if need be.

What do you do?

---

The one that was pulverized had only been holding onto one of his feet, so the gnome received no notable injuries during the frog's destruction.

Chance
The angel-demon does not know where you are right now. Are you going to take advantage of being hidden?

Ilura
19:38, Today: Ilura rolled 9 using 2d6+3.  Spout Lore about critter.
The critter is a result of a merged-summoning. It is both angel and demon simultaneously. Which should be next to impossible.

What should I be on the lookout for?
The huge morningstar. Being hit by it would hurt. A LOT.

What here is useful or valuable to me?
The huge morningstar. It could likely do some real damage if a fight were to break out.

What here is not what it appears to be?
The priestesses are currently very distracted while channeling their senses through their minion.

Take +1 forward when acting on the results.

Eryn
The priestesses believed your lies, but were not fooled by the map. They assume the gnome was the one trying to fool them, and are going to do their best to get answers from him.

Ilura's impulse was to kill the gnome, but was unsure whether it was something her Goddess would approve of.  It most likely wasn't something Marcus would approve of.  On the other hand, based on his magic and his actions, the short man was clearly evil and was putting the true map - and the ability to deal with Nicolai - at serious risk.

She shook her head.  Luciny had chosen her for a reason, and known who Ilura was when she did so.  The ranger could debate morality later...

The ranger glanced at Thomas who was perched atop the head of the remaining stone frog.  [Give me cover]

She moved up to the gnome and took hold of his torso and waited until the demon/angel had hold of the little man's legs and had started to pull.  She waited for just the right moment, making use of the summoned creature's leverage as she stumbled slightly and twisted the gnome's shoulders, doing her best to snap the vile creature's neck.

quote:

06:38, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 2d6.  Kill the gnome w/ dex.

Provided that I can use dex, that's a 7.  If I can't, I'm assuming either strength or charisma, in which case I can use my +1 to make it a 6 and someone else could help make it into a 7...

I don't know if I need to roll damage or not given that the gnome can't actually resist, though I am trying to make it look like an accident.  Also not sure whether Thomas distracting lets me add his damage or not.  So here's the base roll:

quote:

06:40, Today: Ilura rolled 4 using 1d8.  Damage.