OK, looks like we are going to try to trap the imp directly.
Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder
Arc 3 Post 21: Servant's Flight, Master's Folly
Servant's Flight, Master's Folly
23 of Arodus 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
At your warning Mina whirls around so fast her bag nearly flies entirely from her shoulder, but she does not hesitate either at the prospect of devils or the three hundred pound mountain of muscle, bone, sinew, and scale taking her actions amiss. She motions at the trees where you are pointing, a thread of silk around her finger, and lo a web is spun as though by a swarm of unseen spiders to snare an unseen prey. Yet in place of the indignant screech you had expected among the hissing of the iruxi and the sharp demands of Chief Sirkan, there is only the sound of strands being broken, a noose slipped.
Cursing under your breath you flex your thoughts and let them flow outwards to the space above the web.
Imp Reflex Save: 1d20+6 = 12 (Failure)
Imp Escape Artist 1d20+3 = 20 (Success)
Likely bored with all the talking Cob is even swifter, setting off as soon as Mina utters her spell. He leaps and latches on to something for just a moment, then slips and falls, his head bouncing off the green-blanketed ground even as you and half a dozen of the swiftest warriors reach him. While they stare bemused at the woozy goblin you wipe your head up in what must seem to be some strange dance in the hopes of catching something of the fleeing creature.
Attacking into full Concealment: 1d2 = 2 (Success)
Imp Attack of Opportunity: Waved to maintain the spell
Cob Grapple: 1d20+2-1-1 = 12 (Failure)
It's like trying to read the point of a knife, and all you can say of it is that it is sharp. Teeth clenched in annoyance, and not a little in anticipation of violence, you glance back at Mina only to find her jabbing her finger at the air in defiance. Though you do not speak iruxi there is no mistaking the air of someone whose point had just been unexpectedly proven.
Imp Will Save: 1d20+4 = 17 (Success)
Previous Rolls Revealed:
---
Mina Knowledge (the Planes) (Setting up the speech): 1d20+10 = 23 (Success)
Mina Initial Diplomacy: 1d20+1+5 (Argument) = 22 (Success)
---
Mina Driving the Point Home: 1d20+1+5 (Argument) = 26 (Critical Success)
"Chains unseen are still chains, are they not, my kin of blood and egg?" Though Gorok roars the words in iruxi you hear the shape of the thoughts in his head as you turns towards him, and you feel them echo around the crowd.
From the sudden burst of reptilian anger all around you deduce what Mina must have been saying: that the inquisitor had made slaves of them all with his carefully measured gifts. Now behold the sight of his spirit-messenger flying from the camp without a word, veiled and in silence, asking no permission of the chief. What had seemed before a reciprocal relationship was now cast as something far darker. From several minds you catch the memory of a turtle wiggling its tongue like a worm that unwary fish might dart right into its mouth.
After all, unused to artifice does not mean unused to thinking. If Vicio were willing to cast such a all-consuming geas upon a spirit, how much worse would he be willing to do to them in the fullness of time?
"You have made an enemy of the red robe," Chief Sirkan regains the attention of his people with a slap of his muscled tail into the muddy earth. "I know not what worth the small one is to him, but we know his game now. When message comes from him we say you went east and north into the frog-mouth. Small price to pay for gift of knowledge—" he motions at the slabs— "and gift of wisdom," his claw moves to the broken web.
Gorok stands up a little straighter, but Mina seems worried. "If he comes himself he will know if you lie."
Before the chief can answer, Cob, never one for shyness, even when he had just recently planted his face into the mud, offers: "If he comes himself why not ambush-kill?"
"He will not come lightly, nor soon," you and Gorok explains without judgement.
At this your small friend shakes his head, sending ears flapping. "A no-bait trap is no trap. Pretend we are prisoners of chief. Something fly back here, maybe bloodsucker, maybe imp get back to him say here are the ones who had No-Biting-One."
"Won't work, they will just try to fly the baby out on a stirge," Mina starts, but she sounds less sure of herself.
"Iruxi play dumb, he thinks iruxi are dumb so should work."
This is starting to sound scarily reasonable, except for one thing. "We have to get back to Iolda and the others," you say aloud.
"They are in a hurry because they are chased. No more chase, no more hurry," Cob offers.
It is not hard to understand Mina's look to you and Gorok. For his part the warrior also looks at you.
"Decision should be made all together for such a large risk."
What do you do?
[] Speak in favor of Cob's plan to pretend to be prisoners in order to draw Aurelian Vicio into the swamp and kill him. Maybe you can bring Iolda and her people in as well, you all share a foe it seems
[] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
[] Write in
OOC: Welp this was a roller-coaster ride of a chapter. Hope you guys enjoy.
Last edited:
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Whew, that was intense. Damned Imp was a slippery little bastard. Oh well, the objective was largely accomplished.
I doubt the Inquisitor is too much for us and the tribe to handle, but he could easily gain the temporary assistance of more Devils, most of whom can Teleport at will and have all sorts of nasty abilities. We aren't in a good position to deal with magical diseases, curses, etc. right now.
More importantly, we already obligated ourselves to help the Halflings escape Cheliax, and I don't want to go back in that. Even if we deal with the Inquistor, the Halflings will still be hunted, if not by him then by another Devil-worshiping Human supremacist.
[X] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
I doubt the Inquisitor is too much for us and the tribe to handle, but he could easily gain the temporary assistance of more Devils, most of whom can Teleport at will and have all sorts of nasty abilities. We aren't in a good position to deal with magical diseases, curses, etc. right now.
More importantly, we already obligated ourselves to help the Halflings escape Cheliax, and I don't want to go back in that. Even if we deal with the Inquistor, the Halflings will still be hunted, if not by him then by another Devil-worshiping Human supremacist.
[X] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
[X] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
Yeah, we don't know enough about this guy to plan a decent ambush.
Damn imps, so annoyingly skilled at running away.
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
Yeah, we don't know enough about this guy to plan a decent ambush.
Damn imps, so annoyingly skilled at running away.
- Location
- Argentina
Remember that this guy decided to tame bloodsucking idiot beasts because he was cheap and couldn't afford devils.
I am not worried about other devils, a bearded devil might come or two. We can face them.
We are the godsdamned stealth party. We could even go, attack and escape into the night. We would be excellet at ambushes
I am not worried about other devils, a bearded devil might come or two. We can face them.
We are the godsdamned stealth party. We could even go, attack and escape into the night. We would be excellet at ambushes
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
There is one thing I can not understand. It was some of Invisibility spell-like ability, right?
-[X] Not only is the risk too great, but we have other obligations that are very time sensitive. It's bad enough to go back on our word, but even worse to do so after we've been paid for our services in advance.
-[X] Suggest that it might be best if the tribe moves deeper into the swamp, far away from the Inquistor's reach. There is also the possibility of following us back to Nar Voth, a place the Humans and Devils of Cheliax do not lightly intrude, and where skilled hunters and warriors can make a living for themselves.
There is one thing I can not understand. It was some of Invisibility spell-like ability, right?
Maybe I do not understand something (Pathfinder is a very complecated system), but Invisibility should end at the time Imp attacked Cob.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
Ha. I admit not having expected our words to have much of an effect here. But I also expected the imp to stay. Dammit, just whose child Click is?
Normally I am all for facilitating Cob's masterful plans, but dangling the kid as a bait sounds too spicy even for me. Sorry, gobbo friend, we'll get you the limelight you deserve some other time.
[x] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
Normally I am all for facilitating Cob's masterful plans, but dangling the kid as a bait sounds too spicy even for me. Sorry, gobbo friend, we'll get you the limelight you deserve some other time.
[x] Speak against the plan, it is too risky
Oh right, he would not have taken the chance to attack, he wants to keep his invisibility.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I'm still hoping we can hop a ride on that ship to Andoran, rather than coming back to Cheliax after we finish the escort mission.
- Location
- Argentina
It is Gorok's tribe. His personal quest was to gain ancient knowledge to help them. If Cheliaxian authorities come here and wipe them out it kinda defeats the point. I don't think that Gorok wants this course of action
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I'm sympathetic to their plight, but we've already accomplished a significant quest for them, and alerted them to the Inquisitor's duplicity. I don't want to get stuck defending the tribe from all external threats, and we've already agreed to help the Halflings.
I don't want to back out of that, even if we don't go to Andoran with them.
Gorok doesn't seem inclined to drop everything to defend the tribe, either. He knows as well as anyone else how bad their situation now is and how easily they could slip away deeper into the swamps.
- Location
- Argentina
It seems likely that we will have time to prepare.
Still,
@DragonParadox , what is Gorok's opinion about relocating the village to another place? Somewhere away from Cheliax
He does not think a territory would be easy to find, you would have to kill someone for it.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Speak in favor of Cob's plan to pretend to be prisoners in order to draw Aurelian Vicio into the swamp and kill him. Maybe you can bring Iolda and her people in as well, you all share a foe it seems
Stabbing? Good.
Stabbing a devil-worshipping Inquisitor? Better.
Getting the loot? Best.
Stabbing? Good.
Stabbing a devil-worshipping Inquisitor? Better.
Getting the loot? Best.
- Location
- a place without enough snow
[X] Speak in favor of Cob's plan to pretend to be prisoners in order to draw Aurelian Vicio into the swamp and kill him. Maybe you can bring Iolda and her people in as well, you all share a foe it seems
[x] Speak in favor of Cob's plan to pretend to be prisoners in order to draw Aurelian Vicio into the swamp and kill him. Maybe you can bring Iolda and her people in as well, you all share a foe it seems
Update tomorrow, looks like we are going to try for an ambush.
Vote closed.
Arc 3 Post 22: To Set a Snare
To Set a Snare
23 of Arodus 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
Ambush and trickery have long been the weapons of the People snare, draw, and slit the throat. You nod firmly.
Clearly ill at ease Mina asks: "Are you sure? Cheliax is huge, greater than the empire of the dark dwarfs under the ground. It's legions may be but a shadow of what they once were, but the House of Thrune has set devils abroad upon their enemies and not all of them are as cowardly as an imp. Little good does gallantry do against such foes. The Mezinas, the Tildernos, the Cannors, all great and noble houses garbed in shinning plate and the blessings of the Inheritor have fallen, now husks of what they were, or buried under the bloodied soil. No offense to Gorok and his folk, but—" she gives a helpless shrug, motioning in the direction of Longacre.
"Do you have any idea how many duergar have had their throats slit trying to cut across lesser tunnels in a season?" you ask idly as you look over Warty's bags and belts. "I don't, I don't think anyone does."
"We take his life, we take his shinny, take... magic?" Cob sounds a little more dubious on that last one, unsure of how one loots sorcery, but clearly game to try.
Though Chief Sirkan and the rest of his tribe are not as eager for blood the fury, your words had stoked fire bright all the same and they do not fear this 'Infernal Empire'. Why should they after all? They had been at war with the humans not for decades or centuries, not even for millennia, but for whole ages of the world, since 'the skies were made black'. When Mina speaks those words your stomach clenches in wordless dread, but you shake off dreams and phantasms just as swiftly. Battle is near at hand.
As though to herald it Pepper streaks off like a shadow under the trees, a message for Iolda and her charges affixed to his collar. This is their chance to face their pursuer. For all the good that will do, they had set out to flee this land not do battle with its masters.
Still, the iruxi set about setting the trap with the skill of long practice. Some, green and brown-scaled, hide in the bushes under nets adorned with twigs and leaves, such that the eye slides off them even knowing they are there while others, mostly unblooded like the young warrior who brought you here, take up hollow reeds and snake-skin pouches filled with poison darts and prepare to hide under the water of the nearby pond while perhaps half a dozen of their most nimble warriors take to the treetops armed javelins and handaxes of Chelish steel.
All the while Gorok does not, as you half-expected, fall in with the warriors preparing the ambush. Instead he enlists Cob and a few of his kin in the making of cages to sell the ruse and, he explains, serve as ramparts between you and the swords of the inquisitor's escort. Alas, speed does not sturdy construction make. The result is less a cage and more a crude stockade, stakes driven into the muddy soil at intervals too narrow for you or Mia to pass... and hopefully too small for any attackers as well.
Gorok Profession (Hunter): 1d20+6+2 = 11 (Minor Success)
Stakes have Hardness 5 and 30 HP; DC 17 Strength to uproot
"I can stay with you and guard," Gorok offers, looking at his handiwork with an jaundiced eye. "Cob can signal Warty from the bushes."
Can he though? you wonder. Not that you doubt the goblin's love of the slurk, nor the fact that it is in some way returned, but Cob tends to get excited when there's a fight to be had. On the other hand, putting Cob in the position of sacrifice takes advantage of his uncanny ability to fade into the underbrush as easily as he can among the stones of Nar Voth. Finally... there is the option to leave both Gorok and Cob outside the cage while you and Mina stay inside with Click to serve as bait and then hurl spell and bolt into the battle, though if anything gets in...
"Take stink-hide?" Cob offers, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Neither you nor Mina are skilled fighting the foe head on.
A soft whistle echoes suddenly from under the trees, a cloaked and hooded figure, not quite four feet in height lead by a very stiff-tailed cat, though whether with pride at his achievement or annoyance that he had been sent is beyond your ken in reading cats.
"Well?" the sorceress asks, her voice sharper than it had been in the barn. She looks over the preparations and silently counts the warriors before turning to Gorok to ask: "How are we going to hamstring this devil's lickspittle so I can get my people clear?"
Mina Diplomacy: 1d20+1 = 19 (Success)
"What can you do?" he asks without preamble.
Alas, she proves no more skilled than you or Mina, though she has more in the way of spells that wound, not just cripple or befuddle. A welcome aid so be sure which you are sure to tell her.
"Lets get this over with," she snorts.
Iolda Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 3rd; concentration +5)
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 12), detect magic, light, ray of frost, read magic
1st (6/day)—cause fear (DC 13), color spray (DC 13), mage armor, magic missile
How do you arrange the party?
[] Gorok with Mina, Akorian, and the baby in the cage, Cob outside to release Warty and then raise hell among the enemy
[] Cob with Mina Akorian and the baby in the cage, Gorok to loose Warty and then fight among this tribe
[] Just Mina, Akorian and the baby in the cage, Cob sneaks around slitting throats, Gorok releases Warty and then fights alongside the other Iruxi
[] Write in
Where do you put Iolda?
[] Inside the cage, you could use more firepower, though her presence might make the inquisitor more suspicious
[] In the trees with the boldest of the Iruxi
[] As part of the reserve with chief Sirkan
[] Hidden with the hunters
[] Write in
OOC: If you have other preparations or buffs to put on before the fight now is the time for it.
Last edited:
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
@DragonParadox, just to be clear, Pepper can move about like a normal Familiar? I'm completely fine with that, but normally Figment Familiars cannot move more than 100 feet away from their master. We already know Pepper is special, even as far as Familiars go, so this isn't a huge leap in power or anything like that.
It will be nice to be able to send him out for scouting, message delivery, etc.
It will be nice to be able to send him out for scouting, message delivery, etc.
Yes, he can move around fine, just keep in mind he does have the stats of a house cat.