Act 7 - No Shortage of Peril

The Age of Magic is ended, Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, has succumbed to the whispers of Agares and fallen into Hell. Her worshipers and creations driven mad, and fire, which has been a powerful ally to man, has turned against him. Each good god was charged with the opposition of an evil god. Bhall was responsible for balancing Mulcarn, the God of Winter. Finding himself unopposed Mulcarn has broken The Compact and moved into Creation.

Creation was on the verge of another open war between the gods, that which they had outlawed with The Compact. To keep that from happening a deal was struck and the gods agreed that one god would enter Creation to challenge Mulcarn. That was Sucellus, the God of Nature. The two gods battled across the face of Creation, entire civilizations still recovering from the Burning Skies that marked the fall of Bhall were destroyed by their power. In the end Sucellus was killed and Mulcarn remained.

The Eternal Winter has begun...
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Victory in the Secret Lab

Post by Vardaen » Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:27 pm

Torias fills the room over and over with healing energy, it is enough for most of you to be fully refreshed, but Drak still is in pain. You wonder how the common man survives his day without a cleric around.
Channel +14, +8, +16 (3 Uses)

Everyone Full (took 3 uses to get most up to full)
Except: Drak @ 47/55
Then the search begins. The chamber clearly is one of foul arcane and divine magic mixed together. The Thrull Golem proof enough of the Baron's connection to the Calabim, and the Crepitus as well. The pentagram on the floor is dotted with demonic symbols, and the pile of corpses, locals sacrificed to power the golem would put anyone man away in jail for several life times. The bookcases have some rather interesting books, some are simple magical primers, others are histories of Olfden, a few more have titles like: "Fellden's Guide to Summoning Planar Creatures", "Occult Rituals for Witches", "History of Necromancy in Icatia", "The Fallacy of Lietbur's Crusade", "Golems Vol. I", and many others. On the lab tables, next to the Baron's spellbook, are various potions and alchemical devices, beakers, and vials, tinctures, and a tray with some sort acidic goo in that can't seem to burn away glass. Working with some detection spells, and some good eyes you collect many scrolls and potions from the shelves and tables.

Yet this is still one more thing other than the loot that grabs your eyes, laying on a table is a folded map, and tucked into the map is a letter. The map itself depicts some of Calabim, Icatia, and Olfden as well. It also shows the southeastern coastline of Icatia and Malakim with a red circle around a location called Chimera Cove. A notation in the baron’s handwriting next to the circled area reads “Poltur’s Expedition.” The letter reads:

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The Five Rare Named Tomes (each worth 100gps)

The Baron's Spellbook is also present.
Continual Flame, Dimension Door, Lightning Bolt, Protection from Arrows, Scare, Scorching Ray, Enlarge Person, Mage Armor, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Message, Ray of Frost

The collection of scrolls stored here include:

deep slumber (2)
gentle repose (3)
hold person (2)
summon monster I, summon monster II, summon monster III
touch of idiocy (2)
vampiric touch

Looking through the parchment scraps on the tables turns up a few arcane formulae for finishing the process of creating a flesh golem, but without the complete formula, they are worthless.

On Alchemist Work Bench (usable work bench but not portable)

Essence of Night
Alchemical Glue
Alchemical Preserves
Alchemical Solvent (2)
Alkali Salt (3)
Black Fester (2)
Embalming Fluid (4)
Ooze, grease
Powder, foaming
Powder, sneezing
Unguent, fiendgore

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods ... ubstances/
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Victory in the Secret Lab

Post by Muskrat » Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:25 am

Dreams finds the map and letter and shows the others. "It looks like our trip isn't over. We need to stop this. The question is whether the Baron has already sent the reinforcements requested or not. Captain Blacklock might know--or the Baron might have realized he was an honorable man and shielded him from the information. But when the others go back to Falcon's Hollow, we'll need to go to Chimera Cove--and hope we're not too late."

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Victory in the Secret Lab

Post by Trogdor » Wed Apr 04, 2018 1:18 pm

"That's not good," Celevan agrees. "But what about our duty to Falcon's Hollow and the the merchant's we're escorting? Can we just abandon them?"
I know this is likely the next adventure, so I won't push back too much. But we ought to at least consider the people we're pledged to protect.

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Victory in the Secret Lab

Post by AdamDaBomb11 » Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:18 am

Drak reads the letter and scratches at his beard. "Just an idea, but if we showed this letter to the Icatian Army and offered to handle it, maybe they would be nice enough to have an escort accompany our merchant caravan back to Falcon's Hollow? Because I agree with Celevan. We can't just leave them behind and It would be safer, for both them and us, if they didn't come along. It is difficult to guess what we would be walking into."
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To End a War

Post by Vardaen » Thu Apr 05, 2018 1:21 pm

The letter and the map are the two most interesting pieces found, while the other stuff is gathered up, conversation turns to the caravan and the Baron's plans. After a while you have everything handled here, and head down to the chamber where the captain is. He's already moved on however, but a mental warning from Suli alerted Celevan to Blacklocks desire to get himself presentable, and so you don't worry.

After about forty minutes you find yourselves once more in the keep's audience chamber. Captain Blacklock is there, he's cleaned himself up, and with him are half a dozen of the tower guards, a few you faced before in combat, the others are new to you from other places in the tower. The wounded have been tended too, and Torias even has lent a hand with them. The broken front doors are picked up and propped over the opening there. They will need some real repair eventually, as the freezing cold air of winter blows through the main hall from the courtyard. You've told the Captain all that happened in the secret lab, and he mourns for the decline of the Baron, "He once was a good man that only had his people's well being at heart." He's ready now to march out the front gates of the city and surrender to General Dakovya.
I found this image after the fact!

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Just because here is the map of the tower revealed if you were curious.
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FWIW I think asking the General for aid is a good idea. We are nearing the end of the chapter, once we resolve this scene, unless you plan to do something about the Temple.
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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To End a War

Post by Eilandor » Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:13 pm

Happy that his blindness was temporary, due to the blood running into his eyes, Braedon immediately makes his way to the estate entrance. He helps prop the broken doors against the wall and is pleased to find Aela still standing guard. Roughing up her fur, "We sure could have used you in here. A bit to cramped however." Smiling, "Time for a diet I suppose." Taking his leave, he reconvenes with everyone in the audience chamber to decide their next move.
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To End a War

Post by Muskrat » Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:39 pm

Dreams says to Drak, "Yes, I think asking General Dakovya to provide an escort for our caravan back to Falcon's Hollow would be reasonable, especially since we saved them from a long and bloody siege."

Once they are reassembled in the audience chamber, Dreams says to Blacklock, "I am sorry to hear that of the Baron. I know the leaders of our community have been tempted with similar offers--and, in the end, I do not know that they will say no." She looks around and says, "I would guess you would rather get this surrender over with sooner rather than later, instead of letting the anticipation hang over you. Unless there is some reason for delay I do not know about, we should be on our way."

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To End a War

Post by Grimbold » Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:32 am

Torias nods ast Drak's suggestion. "I think that makes sense. We could handle the problem and let the army escort our merchants back." He nods to Blacklock. "Ok, I think we can go. Let us go first."

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Surrender of Olfden

Post by Vardaen » Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:31 pm

Ready, you join the Captain. Marching out of the keep Blacklock has his men in line, and you fall in with the Captain who marches stoically to the gates of the keep. He calls up, "Open the gates!" The two great doors are swung wide. You then march out into the area beyond, where the gallows are set and swing with the corpses of two men. As you march down the Keep Road, the main road of the town, of Olfden people poke their heads out of homes and businesses. You reach the crossroads of Mine Cart road in the center of town and you hear the banging of the smithy stop, and Smaar Janderfut appears at his door. He gives you a long look, and curiosity is on his face.

So as you march on he calls to some neighbors and follows along at a safe distance to see just what is going on. When you reach the gates of the city nestled near Dead Well Inn you have collected a dozen or so looky-loos who are watching eagerly to see what is going on. The cold wind blows hard, and snow swirls from off the roofs. You think you catch sight of a yellow cloak among the crowd, perhaps Bumbo, but that's the last hint of that man. Strange for you never again do see the Baron's nephew while here. A few rumors of him being spotted in these last hours are made, but no one can recall where he went or what happen to the man, and you never see him again here.

The Captain calls up to the barbican, "Raise the white flags!" The men atop the towers look down unsure, but Blacklock shouts it again and the hurriedly raise two white flags, one on each tower. The he calls up again, "Open the gates!"

Slowly the main gates of the city grind open, and Blacklock, and his half dozen keep guards march out to meet the Icatian General.
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Surrender of Olfden

Post by Muskrat » Fri Apr 06, 2018 5:07 pm

Dreams steps forward and bows to General Dakovya. "General, we have completed our mission. We have captured the Baron and brought him to you. This," she gestures, "is Captain Blacklock, the commander of the Baron's guard, who will formally surrender the city to you. The worst you feared of the Baron was true--not only did he establish a temple of the Black God in the city, but we found a secret chamber, inhabited by a devil the Baron had made a pact with. There were many other signs there that the Baron had fallen deeply into evil ways. Captain Blacklock, on the other hand, in our short dealings with him, has proven to be an honorable man, who served the Baron because he thought it was his duty. If you work with him, I believe you will be able to take command of the city bloodlessly, as you sought." She sighs. "A number of guards have already fallen to our blades, many of them doubtless decent men who thought they were doing their duty. I would hope that such bloodshed will stain only our hands and not yours."

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