chaincomplex
   OOC Thread   ▪   Combat Maps   
 
 Spoiler: Streets of Sigil 
   
 

You step through the shimmering portal and onto the cobble streets of  Sigil , the City of Doors. Before, behind, and flanking you the urban sprawl of stone, cast iron, and chimney smoke continues onto an unseen horizon before rising into the sky. From a glance you see the city lives on a floating ring, the inner side to be specific. While fog—smog, rather, as you make a  Fortitude save  against DC 11 to avoid 1 Constitution damage from the foul but thin air—conceals the city's distant figure, it is not hard to work out from the curvature that walking along the curve should eventually bring you back where you started.

You currently stand on a platform, one of three in a row amid a large plaza and in the shadow of a colossal onyx-black statue of a rearing three-eyed horse. You understand you are at the  Triona  in Clerk's Ward, a landmark visible throughout this labyrinthine city. You each clutch a large egg-shaped ruby gem in your hands; this is a  key  worth no less than 5,000 gp allowing you transit between Sigil and the Prime Material Plane from this particular portal platform. The Material Plane's side of the portal tends to skip around from month to month. You managed to track it to a tavern in a small Faerûnian town called Daggerford, which was an expensive hassle but given it is generally not possible to  plane shift  or  gate  to Sigil you had little choice in the matter.

The plaza is crowded with several dozen locals, the usual humanoids but also planetouched and occasionally outright planar beings—you think you spot a bariaur or two. Half of the folk look to be on leisurely strolls, the other half on brisk, business paces. The clothing and architecture evinces a practical level of wealth: everyone here has a trade and the means to be comfortable, if not wealthy.

Your arrival attracted attention. Nothing like alarm, but from the reactions you gather the portal you passed through rarely sees use.  Eight guards  in red plate armor are milling about the plaza. They look at your party with concern and mutter amongst themselves.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Your target is the mysterious  Teru —mage and planeswalker—of whom you know only race and gender, namely human and male. He is said to be wise to the ways of the planes, especially the ways ruin comes to them. As  legend lore  would have it, he is a patron of the Society of Sensation, the tip that brought you here to the City of Doors where they headquarter.
remetagross
Ux Utanar coughs once before clearing out the smog from his lungs, and pockets the ruby. He looks up, down, left, right...  The place is as impressive as I was told!   He pats the snout of his dire bat companion Ereshki, crawling on all four right behind him, and notices the guards' disquiet. The dragonborn makes a purposeful step towards them and raises his open hand as a sign of peace. Either the guards move to him and the group, or he moves towards them. Fixing a benevolent and powerful stare on what appears to him the leader of the guards, he softly says:
  "Greetings. My name is Ux Utanar tibur Human Randal Amblecrown, coming from the Prime with my companions."   He gestures at his comrades.
  "We are looking for the Society of Sensations."  
Metastachydium
Delja sniffs the air inquisitively. It smells almost as bad as home. She can live with that. The attention that they get, with special emphasis on attention from what looks like local law-enforcement is a lot less welcome. She hoped the bustling of the city will mask their arrival, but alas. Such is her luck! When Ux Reallylongname heads straight for the guards, announcing their destination (because obviously he  had to  do that; Delja's not even surprised at this point), she can't, however, help but mutter a quick   How subtle.   She's not angry with the man, of course: Ux is a good fellow, and his manners have opened doors before that would have been a pain to bypass otherwise. But old wartime habits die hard, and her fey blood isn't likely to just go away either.

Stashing her ruby away, she steps off the platform as well, feeling the cobblestones of the plaza with her soles and then, tugging at her cloak to better conceal the naked blade tied to her right, she takes a half-step to the side to put the dragonborn between herself and the guardsmen, just in case. An  incident 's the last thing she wants right now, after all.

 
 Spoiler: Check. 

Sleight of Hand to keep her sword out of sight:  (1d20+14)[ 26 ] 
 
watupwithdat
From the reactions of his companions, Woren figured the air was bad. And he supposed that made some sense, considering the visibility wasn't all that great. Not that he cared too much about that, because they had finally arrived in Sigil after a surprising amount of difficulty. The fact that his considerable talents were insufficient on their own to get them here was slightly humbling.

  At least we're here now  , he thought as he puts the portal gem away and watched the dragonborn make contact with what appears to be the city guard. Too distracted by the strange geometry of Sigil to strike up any kind of conversation, Woren was more than fine leaving such things to the rest for now. Hopefully they even shared a language.

Absentmindedly he wondered how much of the lore he had managed to gather was actually accurate, seeing how it was impossible to even scry into Sigil. While he did expect something otherwordly, he hadn't expected  this . It seemed he could still be excited even in his old age.
Geeksthenewsexy
'Drucilla the dwarven maiden' (*ahem*  Myriad  *ahem*) beams happily at the guards and nearly vibrates with perceived excitement and proceeds to babble at the guards happily, waving the smog away idly with one dismissive hand.   " Yes!  And we are  so excited  to visit your  wonderful  city! Is it  true  that  cinnamon  is actually  contraband  here? Does anyone ever  fall down  from up there? Oh! Do you know the current exchange rate of coinage? Wow, your armor is  amazing ! Where do you guys get outfitted?! Hey, do you know any really  good  places to eat around here?"   Hardly seeming to breathe, the 'dwarven' woman gestures excitedly as she applies word vomit to the guards in an attempt to distract them from whatever obvious concern they had at the group's arrival and continues pelting them with innocuous questions and random praise. As she moves towards the guards casually, when she gets between the group and the guards, one hand that reaches up to scratch at the back of her neck mid-sentence makes a subtle 'shooing' motion to the group, attempting to afford them a chance to slip away if they are so inclined.

[ Bluff:  60   - "I'm a friendly yet harmless dwarf tourist and can totally be trusted!"]
[ Diplomacy:  50   - "If directed where we want to go, the dwarf's cheerful babbling will surely cease..."]
(Myriad takes 10 on social checks as part of the Changeling Rogue class feature, Social Intuition)

   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 38 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 
 Originally Posted by remetagross 
   "Greetings. My name is Ux Utanar tibur Human Randal Amblecrown, coming from the Prime with my companions."   He gestures at his comrades.
  "We are looking for the Society of Sensations."   
 

One guard responds, concern slipping off his face replaced quickly by a mask of professionalism,   "You primes should find yerselves a tout—a, er, guide. Helps ta not get peeled on th' streets."   He looks your gear up and down, uncertain whether 'peeling' would be in your future, then chuckles.   "Well, you look like you'll do alright on yer lonesome, in truth. Alright, you want ta head that'aways..."   He proceeds to give loose directions based on landmarks but reassures you,   "Can't miss it, really. Tallest tower on that edge of the Ring, 'least in Clerk's Ward anyhow. And, oh, it's jus' the  one  Sensation."   He chuckles again.

Another guard steps in, grim of expression and speaking in plain if accented Common,   "Careful travelers. The Master of Portals claims a fee on usage of these gates, and it's the rare prime who holds the keys. You aren't in trouble—yet—but I wouldn't come here again without cutting a deal with the Master. He resides in Lady's Ward but you may want to talk to the Fated at the Hall of Records, since they handle most of his paperwork. They're just a short jaunt from the Civic Festhall, towards Sandstone District. Biggest building. Can't miss it, as they say."   He tries to offer a compassionate smile, but it just turns into a grimace as he considers your situation.


 
 Originally Posted by Geeksthenewsexy 
 'Drucilla the dwarven maiden' (*ahem*  Myriad  *ahem*) beams happily at the guards and nearly vibrates with perceived excitement and proceeds to babble at the guards happily, waving the smog away idly with one dismissive hand.   " Yes!  And we are  so excited  to visit your  wonderful  city! Is it  true  that  cinnamon  is actually  contraband  here? Does anyone ever  fall down  from up there? Oh! Do you know the current exchange rate of coinage? Wow, your armor is  amazing ! Where do you guys get outfitted?! Hey, do you know any really  good  places to eat around here?"   
 

The guards look at one another with concern of a different sort, almost pitying.   "Ramander's going to proper bob these primes, he will,"   says one.   "Poor luck these clueless walked through  this  particular gate. Happens every damn year."   She sighs.

  "I 'unno,"   says another, appreciating your party's gear.   "They  look  ready to stomp some poor sod into the stone..."   But the guard seems to be having second thoughts. As far as Myriad can tell, she successfully convinced the bunch of the party's harmlessness.

The first one says,   "You primes  definitely  want a tout. Mebbe a factotum."  
 ──────────────────────────────── 
The plaza bustles, the denizens of Sigil once again ignoring your party. Another day, another prime. You hear chatter—of love, of life, of worries—woven through with the occasional laughter. Carts bearing craft goods and cabs the well-to-do navigate between crowds at expert speeds, drawn equally by pony-like beasts, pony in all ways save for rabbit ears and lanterns grasped by a tentacle reaching out from their sternums.

Everything like the streets of Neverwinter, and nothing like the streets of Neverwinter.

A slight bariaur accidentally brushes your party in her hurry, carrying a small crate bearing a sharp, acrid odor. The crate has a stamp reading  The Styx Oarsman . The bariaur, young with an ewe's body below the waist, nervously says,   "Sorry! Sorry! Coming through!"   She tries to leave immediately, hoping none of you took offense.
remetagross
Ux Utanar makes an absent-minded hand sign to the young bariaur to indicates all is good as far as he is concerned, his mind still focused on the guards. He stays silent for a few seconds as he commits to memory the indications that have been provided.
  "Alright, I thank you for these thorough explanation - and apologies for having mispronounced the Society of Sensation. And in which direction is located Sandstone District from here?   The Dragonborn is pleased to see the guards are cooperative and will not present an additional hurdle. Though they are probably mistaken thinking anyone, being Ramander or else, will bob them anytime soon.
  "Well,  Drucilla , I think the ladies and gentlemen at this Hall of Records will be able to answer all your questions, don't you think? Maybe they will accept cinnamon as payment - I should have brought more!"   Ux Utanar also makes an interrogative gesture towards Woren and Delja.
  "Shall we proceed?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar's first inclination is to deal with the proper paperwork,  as the Lawful Stupid brainwashed citizen he is , as it is the polite and sensible thing to do to better blend in and avoid future mishaps. He is ready to move from here whatever the destination we actually settle for.
 
Metastachydium
Delja is at first just as amused by Myriad's newest foray into histrionics (and, naturally, by the useful confusion it creates) as she is pleased by Ux's success in obtaining the information they were looking for, but then, she realizes two things that immediately make her groan, albeit only internally. Perhaps most importantly, for all the pride she takes in her brains, she's apparently an idiot. Or, at any rate, all rusted up to the point of borderline uselessness.  She's wearing a string of disguise wrapped around her bun . Instead of playing hide and seek, she could have just done as "Drucilla" did and, mayhaps, make use of what she has. Were he around to witness this, Uzo would laugh his stupid slimy fish head off and worst of all, he'd be right. But while she cannot do much about most of that in plain sight, the most pressing issue is thankfully easy to remedy. With a mumbled command word, she gets her sword and gauntlet to take on the guise of a harmless looking stick halfway between a cane and a baton and a leather cord wrapped around her palm and wrist, respectively.

Secondly, Ux went into law-abiding citizen mode. Again. She'll have to keep him on target.   By all means.   she tells the knight, sparing only a single disparaging glance to the bariaur and her crate.   So long as we can take the scenic route. Word is, Sigil's sensational this time of the year.  
 
 Spoiler: Checks. 

Bluff to clandestinely tell the others that "nah, business first, paperwork later":  (1d20+20)[ 22 ] 

And a wild stab in the dark: Knowledge (local) concerning the  Styx Oarsman :  (1d20+12)[ 25 ] ;
also, Spot to make sure the bariaur is not a pickpocket or something:  (1d20+26)[ 30 ] 
 
Da'Shain
The delicate-looking elf mage with a thousand-yard stare simply pauses to allow his compatriots to interact with the guards as he takes in the sounds and sights of Sigil, feeling a tiny pang of satisfaction that their research had finally paid off, catapulting them to the city of portals and its planar crossroads.    "The Hall of Records it is, then,"   Tuld-Culain nods, agreeing with Ux both from a practical point of view and because it sounds like the most interesting part of this metropolis to someone with almost no inclination towards sightseeing, like himself.  He adds under his breath,   "And if we can mollify this self-important sounding 'Master of Portals' without having to personally deal with him, so much the better."    He has already dismissed the guards from his thoughts, though he turns a baleful eye towards the offending bariaur who bumps into the party.  A sharp recrimination is just on the tip of his tongue, but instead he just sighs and turns to his compatriots.    "Faster we set off, faster we find this Teru and what we came for."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Fort save:  (1d20+19)[ 25 ] .

Spot check on the bariaur for whether it tried to pickpocket someone  (1d20+30)[ 40 ] , as being a high-level Beguiler, Tuld-Culain is familiar with plenty of tomfoolery.  Also what I assume would be a Knowledge (Nature) roll to see if he recognizes the smell from the box:  (1d20+22)[ 27 ] .

Also a Knowledge (Planes) roll  (1d20+25)[ 33 ]  to check whether he knows anything about the Master of Portals.

In terms of what he would have cast before coming here: Tuld-Culain is currently under Mind Blank (24 hrs), an Extended Foresight (6 hrs 40 minutes), and Shapechange (3 hrs 20 minutes), Magic Vestment (20 hrs), Moment of Prescience (20 hrs).  If people want specific buffs off the Cleric or Beguiler list, let me know.
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The plain-speaking guard says,   "You're welcome. Once you get to the Civic Festhall—that being where the Sensates do their business—Sandstone District is just between you and the Slags. You'll know the Slags by the chimneys, foul air, and mountains of rubble. If you  hit  the Slags, you've gone too far."    While not great directions, so far none of the guards bothered with streets, seemingly deliberately. It appears locals know the city by landmarks.

 Delja.  Delja does not know the  Styx Oarsman .

 Tuld-Culain.  Ramander, the 'Master of Portals', is by all accounts an irritating wizard who spends his time running a cartel on planar gates. Given the kind of folk who engage in planar travel this is a rather dubious profession, but being able to cast nine levels of spells gives the fool some leeway. Most planeswalkers feel his years are numbered nonetheless. Tuld-Culain is pretty sure the party could turn Ramander into a smear on the wall in a straight fight, but wizards are never not annoying foes.

Searching his memory for the familiar scent of whatever the bariaur was carrying, Tuld-Culain recognizes it to be darklight brew. It is a drow poison that blinds its victim and causes substantial physical atrophy. Reputedly quite painful.

 The Bariaur.  Delja and Tuld-Culain had watched the bariaur like a hawk, and are certain there was no tomfoolery involving possessions. Grateful to be left alone, the bariaur gallops off with her package and is in a moment lost in the crowd.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Cobble streets turn to white granite tile, avenues widen, buildings grow clean and orderly, and half the denizens begin looking like the clerks of the ward's namesake, with buttoned shirts and flowing robes.

The party winds through the airy streets of Clerk's Ward, on their way to the Hall of Records.

After twenty minutes the party passes the Civic Festhall, where the Society of Sensation headquarters. This colorful and baroque thing soars just short of the clouds, monolithic and grand, and among its flying buttresses and wide columns is its main body, a building that could fit an entire town or three within. In the plaza before the Festhall the wealthy and poor mingle with entertainers; stalls sell their wares and musicians play their intertwining tunes.

The party continues back onto duller sections of the ward, eventually reaching the Hall of Records, guided by the distant stacks of the Slags then by the Hall itself.

Grand in its own way, the Hall of Records is a cylindrical fortress three dozen stories tall in a gated garden of giant trees—trees being a rare sight here, much less in such size and numbers. Some nearby buildings clearly belong to the same "campus", but none nearly as domineeringly large. A steady flow of bureaucrats tells the party they are in the right place.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
The lobby of the Hall of Records is big and busy. Behind a row of counters receptionists guide locals to the right rooms—neither receptionists nor locals look happy.

A large sign has a map of the Hall with listings of departments and services. None mention portals; they are all the usual matters of licenses, property, debt, and taxes.

Sounds like fun.
remetagross
Ereshki's bridle is affixed to a signpost outside the titanic office, the beast looking up and dawn and screeching with wonder at the sight around it. In the meantime, Ux Utanar is already regretting his suggestion to proceed as was asked. He walks up to the nearest office and addresses the clerk.
  "Greetings. My name is Ux Utanar tibur Human Randal Amblecrown, and here are my companions. We need an agreement with the Master pertaining to planar transportation. Could you please tell us the way to proceed. We do not have much time to spend here, if there would be a way to hasten the process."   

Knowing he is not nearly as socially gifted as Delja or Myriad, the hulking dragonborn prepares to step back and let any of them intervene to better dictate the flow of the situation.
Metastachydium
Seeing that her subtle nudges fell on deaf ears (with all her gesturing towards the Sensation headquarters going likewise unnoticed) and Ux will just trudge straight on towards the local authorities with everyone else in tow, Delja rolls her eyes and follows grumpily herself, muttering a barely audible    For the love ofÂ…    This turn of events raises all new questions, of course. Should she set up a less conspicuous alter-ego before or after the run-in with the clerks? And what should she pick? Few planetouched come in her size. A mephling perhaps? Fire or water. She could pull that off. Or, rather, a wispling? Choices, choices.

 ♣ 
While she keeps an eye out for good cracks to slip into for changing between the two Halls, she finally settles on  after . The paper chase would make little sense for a local(-adjacent entity). Accordingly, she enters the Hall of Records as she is, all green and wonderfully unkempt. Ux deserves some thorough embarrassment, after all. Still, though not feeling particularly helpful, she looks around with feigned didinterest hoping to locate the right counter or office. The fewer clerks they have to interact with, the better.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Spot to find a good hiding place around the streets:  (1d20+26)[ 30 ] 
Spot to locate the right clerk/counter/office/informative poster or somesuch:  (1d20+26)[ 38 ] 
Knowledge (local) regarding local law and bureaucratic organization:  (1d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Bluff to stay in "nothing to see here, citizen" mode:  (1d20+20)[ 31 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The receptionist's eyes glaze over as Ux Utanar recites his name and confusion flits over his expression when Ux Utanar mentions the "Master", though understanding quickly dawns. With lengthy instructions he directs the party to the Department of Licensing, Portals and Gates, 8th Floor.

 Delja.  The immediate exterior locale of the Hall of Records is a gated park filled with great trees. The bureaucrats stick to the paths giving Delja plenty of room to hide outside. The interior of the Hall is a different story: with clerks and citizens on every corner, extraordinary steps would have to be taken to conceal oneself.

Delja knows little of Sigilian bureaucracy.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
The party climbs many flights of stairs and passes through a few halls before arriving as directed by the receptionist. The halls are quiet though busy, with the shuffling of robes of passing clerks and the scratching of quills through half-open office doors. Entering the right department, a few queries sufficed to stand the party before the appropriate bureaucrat.

And appropriate the bureaucrat was. A bespectacled, doddering older human woman made it clear what was necessary for the Trioptic Nic'Epona—the formal name for the Triona, the party gathers—gates:   "For each of the three gates one must rent a key: ruby to the Material, emerald to Elysium, and amber to Celestia. Each rents for 100 gp a month and permits passage for only one person. In addition a license must be possessed, a payment upfront of 1,700 gp plus upkeep of 30 gp a year. Only license holders may otherwise possess keys; any key held without a license will result in a fine of 100 gp a day. To obtain the license you must fill out a form and pass the background check, and all transit and cargo in transit must be declared a week in advance else a fine of 500 gp per undeclared crossing will be levied. Here are the relevant forms—"   the clerk pulls out a stack of what must be hundreds of pages   "—it may take up to two months to process your application. You need submit one application for each member of your group. Ask if you have any questions about the paperwork. And—"   the lady fishes out a massive tome   "—here is the legal contract. Your counterparty is the Master of Portals, who may cancel the agreement at any time. No refunds."  

In the cramped room that barely fits the party—notably missing any chairs save for the clerk's—the small old woman sits back, looks up at the party, and hums, waiting for their response.

It may worth noting at this juncture that the party has seen only a handful of guards on each floor, mostly in the atrium. This particular floor had four. The nearest guard would probably take upwards of a minute to arrive.
Geeksthenewsexy
Humming and tutting with an understanding nod at appropriate times, Myriad's currently dwarven visage is a mask of understanding and deference as the process is explained. Knowing she won't be following  any  of these instructions, she doesn't really give the clerk her full attention, instead casing the area with a practiced eye as she 'examines the furnishings'.


[ Bluff:  60   - "I'm  totally  listening, I  swear. "]
[ Spot:   (1d20+27)[ 33 ]  - "I wonder if there is anything worth pocketing in here..." (See the Unseen + Detect Magic Active)]

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 51 ] 
 

 
remetagross
Ux Utanar slowly processes the implications of all that procedure to follow. He sifts through some contract pages and frowns. The frown intensifies over the course of a few seconds. He speaks with a low, grumbling, and somewhat annoyed voice.
  "...So in case I have understood correctly, we have to wait for  months  for an application that  might  not be accepted, and can later be revoked  at a moment's notice  and the whole thing is  outrageously expensive . Is that correct, madam?"  

The dragonborn patiently waits for her answer, focusing the full magnitude of his stare on her. He then continues, his voice still annoyed but not all-out aggressive:
  "The matters with which we usually deal involve events of the magnitude of planes shattering, dragons wiping out entire continents and divinites ascending. I am entirely sure the paperwork will be able to wait for a few more weeks. All the more so that, if I have properly followed, as long as we stay in Sigil and do not use a portal to go anywhere,  we do not need any of these legal agreements.  Is that correct, madam? We will cater to all this once we leave - provided we leave by one the portals of the Master. Unless there might be a legal shortcut,  devised for pending planar-class threats , that we could use?"  

Ux Utanar remains silent, still gazing at the old clerk.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Alright let's roll an Intimidate check to see if things can be moved forward a little bit:  (1d20+37)[ 51 ] 
Anyhow mates, either we get the paper we need (by some way or another), either we don't, but I'm ready to leave and move towards the Society of Sensation about now.
 
Metastachydium
   Just kill me  now .    Delja mumbles, all the muscles in her scaly face contracting into an irked mask as the clerk keeps rambling on and on, producing more and more papers. Her first answer to Ux's first question she can  tolerate , albeit barely. BUt when the dragonborn asks for  further  clarification  after  that, she loses most of her patience with the whole interaction.   You know what? Ignore his first question. Answer the second. In one sentence, preferably, with no more than two predicates, thank you.   she instructs the woman snappily from behind her companion's broad back, while silently gesturing at Tuld-Culain, trying to urge the caster to just mind whammy the bureaucrat if she stays less than agreeable.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Bluff to convey secret message:  (1d20+20)[ 26 ] 
Aid another on Ux's Intimidate (mostly for the fun of it; I don't expect the clerk to be able to so much as come close to resisting a 51):  (1d20+9)[ 11 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Anything Worth Grabbing...  There is unfortunately little, save for the desk concealing something with a magic aura in its drawers; Delja and Woren can sense it is illusion magic. Besides the desk, floor-to-ceiling shelves overfill with volumes of handbooks and records, shoddily bound things at best but often just loose stacks of paper. A quick glance at their covers show riveting titles like  Year 122, Quarter 2: Customs Forms . Hanging on the wall behind the clerk is a painting of a young couple. Along with a jar of brilliant peacock feather quills on the desk, these are the only signs of color in the room.

 Ux Utanar.  If the clerk is nervous she probably cannot show it, so permanently fixed is her dull expression. However she removes her spectacles and drops her tone of legal recitation, instead adopting a natural one:   "The Triona Gates are high-profile, and the Master will know immediately if I, ah,  expedite  your paperwork. If you find other, privately owned gates—well, chances are their owners are also paying the Master a fee, but you'll be dealing with the owners only.  This —"   she waves her hand at the paperwork   "—is just for the Triona. You only need a license for this particular 'public' gate and a few others."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar's brow stiffens even more as he answers the clerk, his tone level but his face greatly annoyed.
  "Alright, you've failed to address the demand of my friend here   - he indicates Delja -   which means, as far as I am concerned, that we are done here. We will send you someone to take care of that for us eventually, but not now. I would like to thank you for your cooperation, except there was none. Good day all the same, madam."  

If the others agree, he exits the place, joins with his dire bat, and proposes the group to head towards the Tower of Sensation, based on the indications the guards have given.
Metastachydium
   Ugh, finally.    Delja mumbles, appending a more clearly audible   That's how I like you, Ux!   punctuating it with a soft little punch to the dragonborn's thigh and flashing a quick glance at the picture on the wall, before turning tails and leaving the room, joyfully "forgetting" to bid her farewells.

Once outside, she slips away disappearing ampng the trees while Ux is busy retrieving his steed, and thus the party's progress is delayed anyway, emerging under a new guise, with smooth, tan skin, brilliant bright red hair, small, slightly pointed ears, wearing a maroon, silken vest with a blood red cape and sirwal. The briny smell is still there, nevertheless, lingering about her.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Spot to see what the picture on the clerk's wall's supposed to be:  (1d20+26)[ 39 ] 

Hide in the park:  (1d20+15)[ 35 ] 

She then uses her  hat  nondescript string of disguise to take on the appearance of a much less shabby wispling.
 
remetagross
  "Well, I must apologize for this delay, I didn't expect we would end up trapped in such a quagmire...oh, there you are!"   says Ux Utanar as he realizes he was addressing, in fact, a  genuine  half-elf bystander, and not a disguised Delja. He smiles and turns towards the wispling.
  "Good thing you got me fooled - if  I  start being able to see through you, that means that entire city can too."  
chaincomplex
 The Painting.  From a glance Delja sees the painting depicts a human couple in their twenties, a joyous pair in loving embrace on a sunny, grassy field. She makes a note that a male in the painting looks like a relative of the clerk, with roughly the same facial features. The framing suggests the painting is quite valuable—for ordinary mortals, that is, and certainly not by the standards of the party.

 Behind the Oak.  Delja manages her transformation concealed by the giant conifers quite comfortably.

 Back to the Society.  The colossal headquarters of the Sensates rises before the party once again. It is now two past noon but the plaza is as lively as ever. Trumpets and strings play discordant, unorganized tunes and laughter permeates; children run about with balloons and adults pull their hair over dice. It is an unending fair that surrounds the Society.

Its great front doors are swung open, by guards who admit the party after a quick look over. The party enters and it is immediately quieter as the doors shut behind them.

Quieter, but not quiet by a long shot. They are in a grand foyer apropos to the structure, a hemispherical room with a dozen levels of balconies, not quite opulent but very nearly there in the colorful and rich abstract frescoes that adorn the walls. The place looks to be able to fit two or three churches within, belfry and all. The people here keep their voices to a low chatter, not unlike a library, though an echo magnifies all speech. A few lounge about at luxurious couches and tables, but others speak to the many receptionists, purchasing access to something. There are scholars, clerks, and wealthy elites here, but also the commoners and performers and tradesfolk the party saw outside.

Before the party can speak to a receptionist, a bariaur waves them over. She is young and bespectacled, with an intelligent spark to her eyes, and bears a large tome and quill.   "I am Annali,"   she says in smooth Common.   "Welcome to the Society of Sensation, adventurers of the Prime. This is not a typical introduction but it is clear to me you are not typical adventurers."   She nods at the party's gear.   "I am no expert in artifice but you bear the aura of ones accustomed to dangerous foes and deep secrets. Let me get straight to the point: we Sensates record and study memories, and it would be our privilege to record yours. Whether a great battle with a demon or the moment of epiphany researching the flow of time, we appreciate any contribution of unusual or rare experiences you may possess. We can pay up to one thousand gold per unique experience.

"Now with  that  said,"   she raises a hand in apology,   "I am certain you did not come here to be entertained, so: how may the Sensates help you today?"  
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by remetagross 
   "Well, I must apologize for this delay, I didn't expect we would end up trapped in such a quagmire...oh, there you are!"   says Ux Utanar as he realizes he was addressing, in fact, a  genuine  half-elf bystander, and not a disguised Delja. He smiles and turns towards the wispling.
  "Good thing you got me fooled - if  I  start being able to see through you, that means that entire city can too."   
 

Delja flashes a curious expression at Ux which appears indicative of her being mildly amused by or at least satisfied with his reaction.   Eh, put a plug in the flattery. I'm fresh out of being rusty, and I'd like to keep things that way.  Except for the part with  fresh    , obviously.   she replies moving past the knight and taking point with renewed confidence in her ability to blend in seamlessly.

 ♣ 
The wisplingnixie slows down somewhat as the group files into the tower, throwing only a few, superficial glances around, relying on her ears instead, so as not to look too much out of place. Accordingly, it is with no small amount of annoyance that she finds her efforts to have been in vain. That the bariaur calls her an  adventurer  doesn't help much either. She never really liked that term. To her, it implied a strange wantonness and lack of seriosity. Uzo is an adventurer at heart and Krii wanted to be one in her naive youth.  She , in turn, used to be a mercenary. She had a stint as a hermit and before that, as (plainly put) a criminal. But not an adventurer. She's doing what she's doing  hic et nunc  out of desperation. She's still the same old, jaded, grounded creep she's always been.

She does manage to swallow her pride, nevertheless, and despite herself, gives the glorified she-goat a slight but courteous bow.   Greetings and well met, Annali.   she says simply, before shifting ad leaning somewhat closer.   As for what brings us here, am I right to presume that we can count on your  discretion ?  
 
 Spoiler: Checks. 

Listen to pick up something from any ongoing conversations in one of the nine languages Delja speaks:  (1d20+24)[ 25 ] 

Bluff to look genuinely pleasant, harmless and so not offended:  (1d20+20)[ 39 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Considering the woman's words, 'Drucilla' nods and smiles.   "Oh, you're a dear! I'm sure you can help us out!"   Gesturing at her companion asking for discretion, she flashes a winning smile. Thinking to herself, she muses,   Hhhmmm....how do we go about locating this guy quickly without making it obvious...  


[ Bluff:  60   - "We're wonderful people, really!"]
[ Diplomacy:  50   - "You'll keep our secrets since we're obviously going to be wonderful friends, right?"]

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 48 ] 
 

 
remetagross
Having considered how his previous attempt at dealing through the paperwork has turned, Ux Utanar lets the more silver-tongued ones of the group at the forefront of the negociation for this time. The towering dragonborn, after having tied Ereshki's bridle at the entrance of the massive building, absent-mindedly takes in the immensity of the space around him. He almost gets lost into the fascinating hustle and bustle of the patrons heading left and right, of all races, ages and shapes. The voice of the bariaur clerk bring him back on point. He only adds his own presentation to the ongoing discourse.
  
"Greetings Annali, my name is Ux Utanar tibur Human Randal Amblecrown. Your pleasant welcome is more than appreciated."  

The knight also catches the hinted at messages from Myriad. Though far less experienced than her in that regard, he knows he can reasonably try to answer in a similar fashion. Though the way he does so is fairly different (  I like to think it is more Knightly  ): he fixes a benevolent and powerful stare on Annali, captivating his attention. This way, she doesn't catch the subtle hand gestures he makes towards the changeling.
  
Noted for the discretion. But now what?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff check (untrained) to get across a simple hidden message: DC 15.  (1d20+14)[ 18 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 The People Are Talking.  As far as Delja can tell from ambient chatter, two kinds of people come to the Sensates. The first comes for entertainment, to attend performances and experience the memories of others (by magical means). The second comes for learning, to attend lectures and also to experience the memories of others, though of a less pleasurable bent. As such the echoing murmurs in the hall center around the themes of excited anticipation or scholarly reflection.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Annali pauses as she considers.   "My discretion is given freely and without terms. But we are not in a discrete place.   She gestures about the crowded hall.   "Come with me."  

If the party follows, she leads them down an adjoining hall, richly carpeted and adorned with tapestries on every inch of wall. It is truly quiet here, with only the occasional muffled footsteps of passersby. Then she brings them into an elegant office and shuts the door. It is a large and comfortably furnished room, with a lounge for guests. Innumerable portraits of planar creatures hang around you.

Annali does not take her place at the desk but instead stands by the lounge, inviting the party to sit.   "I have a distaste for  kriegstanz , you should know, but if that is not your business I will listen without judgment. To be clear I may have to report to the factol of our society, so that is the limit of what discretion I can offer. Beyond that, anything you say here will remain here."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar pauses and considers for a moment. Let's not bring in Ereshki: even though the dire bat certainly fits within the place without any trouble, it would do them no good as far as stealth is concerned. Once in the lavishly furnished office, he takes in the magnificent tapestries and decorations. To start off with a good foot, he amiably answers the bariaur.
  "Well, for a start, let me appear as the beginner that I am in these kinds of negociations. What is a kriegstanz, and what is a factol? And I do hope that this question will indeed remain here."   he aks with a humble and pleasant smile.
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by chaincomplex 
 Annali pauses as she considers.   "My discretion is given freely and without terms. But we are not in a discrete place.   She gestures about the crowded hall.   "Come with me."   
 

  Marvelous and of course.   Delja intones in an almost singsong voice and another bow, her face still a professionally blank mask, following the bariaur without hesitation, trying, in the meantime to ignore how  odd  the thick carpet feels against the bare skin of her feet.


 Annali does not take her place at the desk but instead stands by the lounge, inviting the party to sit.   "I have a distaste for  kriegstanz , you should know, but if that is not your business I will listen without judgment. To be clear I may have to report to the factol of our society, so that is the limit of what discretion I can offer. Beyond that, anything you say here will remain here."   

  We'll keep that in mind.   the wispling nods understandingly as she seats herself, crossing her legs with fluid grace.   Now, if you would indulge the curiosity of my friend here, we could as well cut to the chase. We do not mean to waste your time, obviously, for any longer than absolutely neccessary.   she twitters unsmiling but pleasantly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff, since Delja cares a lot about Annali's time and convenience, why would anyone think otherwise:  (1d20+20)[ 26 ] 
 
chaincomplex
Annali replies, distaste evident in her voice,   "The  kriegstanz  is the game played by the powers that be within our fair city, and some as well without. It is the game of dominance played with lives as pawns, the object being control over some aspect of the Cage⁠—that being how we call Sigil. Sometimes it's powers of commerce, politics, or divinity, but mostly it's one of the fifteen factions. Each faction is an affirmation of a philosophy, a way to paint the multiverse with its colors. With the Sensates we believe these are the colors of memory and experience, but other factions tend to ideas of law or entropy or greed and so on.  
  "Each faction appoints as its representative within the Cage one who they believe exemplifies their creed; this person is called a  factol . Ours is Erin Montgomery. They aren't always the most skilled, as is Factol Montgomery's case, but their understanding of the faction is always beyond question.  
  "Needless to say the Sensates have been entangled in such a game with the Takers and their allies, one I'm not certain we can win. Though I'm sure you have other business here; the  kriegstanz  is not something an outsider disinterested in plying the board with the powers of Sigil should concern themselves with."  
Geeksthenewsexy
A smile curling the corners of her lips, 'Drucilla' looks very interested as she murmurs wistfully,   "Oh well, I mean...if there is time,  surely  we could dig further into that..."   Shaking her head as if to clear it, she glances at her companions and nods her head towards the man to indicate him.   "Should we just ask him about the guy we're looking for? I'm much better at  telling  lies than  discerning  them.... but , I could always just replace him for a while if he betrays us and handle damage control."   Shrugging her shoulders, she leaves the decision to her peers.

[ Sense Motive:  18   - "Can we  really  trust this guy...?"]

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 49 ] 
 

 
Metastachydium
  Happy?   the wixie flashes a friendly glance at Ux, before briefly meeting Myriad's gaze, opening her eyes wide for the fraction of a heartbeat and drawing a quick circle in the air with the index finger of her left. Within the blink of an eye, she's all focused on Annali again, leaning forward slightly, her right arm motionless under the lush cloak.   Worry not. We are not currently involved in local politics. We simply mean to arrange a meeting, of the, so to say, private sort with a patron of the Society.  
 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Bluff to convey "any divinination stuff active in the room?" to Myriad:  (1d20+20)[ 31 ] 
Sense Motive on Annali, especially her answer:  (1d20+15)[ 25 ] 
 
remetagross
"  Happy  ", answers Ux Utanar with a smile to both Delja and Annali. To the latter, he adds:
"  The sooner the better. I am certain a person as busy as he is has little time to spare beating around the bush."  
chaincomplex
 Annali.  Annali presents as "merely" a sharp clerk but she has the air of one even shrewder, accustomed to running in the circles of the powerful—people such as yourselves. Delja has met her kind many times. Nonetheless Delja sees within Annali the soul of a scholar and judge: her distaste for the  kriegstanz  is true, she sees herself as above untruths, and she has every intention to honor her obligations.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
  "And who,"   says Annali after a long pause,   "might this patron be? We have many across the planes, and not all of them would react well to their privacy being breached through our channel."  
remetagross
Inching forward, Ux Utanar finally says the name, as there is no point in delaying that any longer now.  
"We are looking for the planeswalker named Teru. Does that ring a bell to you?"  

He watches Annali intently as she processes that name.
Metastachydium
When the dragonborn begins to speak, Delja instinctively opens her mouth to silence him, figuring he'll do his usual thing and go all honest on Annali, but hard as she may strain her mind, she realizes that at this point, that might actually be their best bet. The bariaur strikes her as trustworthy, or as trustworthy as someone of her intellect can get and they don't quite know enough to trick her into doing what they want without resorting to hostile action. Accordingly, she goes with a curt nod instead.

  And if so, which I  suspect  to be the case   she joins in.   does that present an  issue ?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Peering at the clerk for a moment, 'Drucilla' eventually nods in satisfaction.   "Seems legit,"   she says with a light shrug. A dagger appearing in her hand, she leans against one wall and begins cleaning her nails with the tip, seemingly satisfied.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 41 ] 
 

 
chaincomplex
Annali pauses.   "Master Teru is known to us, this much is no secret. Good news, first: Teru is currently in residence as a visiting scholar, and receptive to adventurers such as yourselves."   She gives directions to Teru's guest quarters. The Festhall, the party realizes, consists of over two dozen levels each as wide as a town, labyrinthine in their layout of halls, lecture rooms,  recorder  lounges, and more. However, an architectural principle of concentric circles guides the Festhall's design and from Annali's expert direction there is no confusion as to where to go.   "The bad news, now: Master Teru has been experimenting with planar magic and his quarters are, ah,  unsafe . It's been a week since he's last emerged. If high theurgy is something you are willing to brave, we would be most appreciative if you could return our patron to us alive and in one piece. If not, we will seek aid by way of other adventurers; in the meantime we would be willing to host you as guests for I've no doubt Master Teru would be interested in making your acquaintance. If he's not dead, that is."  
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by chaincomplex 
 Annali pauses.   "Master Teru is known to us, this much is no secret. Good news, first: Teru is currently in residence as a visiting scholar, and receptive to adventurers such as yourselves."   
 

  Excellent.   the wixie nods appreciatively, something  slightly  resembling a  half- smile appearing on her face for the fraction of a moment as she slides off her seat with a single fluid motion.


   "The bad news, now: Master Teru has been experimenting with planar magic and his quarters are, ah,  unsafe . It's been a week since he's last emerged. If high theurgy is something you are willing to brave, we would be most appreciative if you could return our patron to us alive and in one piece. If not, we will seek aid by way of other adventurers; in the meantime we would be willing to host you as guests for I've no doubt Master Teru would be interested in making your acquaintance. If he's not dead, that is."   

The bad news, in turn, only serve to enliven her even further.   Oh. That must be remedied.   she affirms bobbing her head energetically.   It's not like his…  Research  and its results aren't of interest to the lot of us.   she goes on pleasantly unfazed.   By the way. Should we retrieve the corpse or any assorted body parts we find, in case Master Teru isn't available  alive and in one piece ?  
remetagross
Ux Utanar is pleased to see the conversation finally heading to a profitable conclusion. He warmly bids the bariaur farewell.
  "Very well; thank you for your great help, Annali. We will strive to rescue Teru and bring him back here...and Delja, I think I have a little space left available in my haversack in case we need to resort to such an unfortunate extremity. but I am certain we will next see you, Annali, with your master safe and sound."  

Once everyone has said their part, Ux Utanar gladly proceeds to the location that has been provided.
chaincomplex
Annali replies,   "Please do whatever you can to recover Master Teru if he's not in one piece."   She adjusts her spectacles.   "He was always savvy and kept contingencies for death. If he's truly gone then be wary of whatever powers made it so."   She hands the party what she explains is the key to Teru's quarters and bids them farewell.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Down a quiet hall, up two elegant spiral stairways, and down yet more quiet halls. Even so encumbered the party could barely hear their own footsteps upon the carpet. Portraits and landscapes line the walls the whole way, faces from across the planes staring down the party and alien landscapes dreamy and grand inviting the party to explore their frozen features.

Past lecture rooms, some empty but some within which the party could make out the muffled sounds of scholarly and artistic studies, the party finally arrives at Master Teru's guest quarters. Two oaken doors the hallway wide shut the way forward. Nearby behind the party three lecture halls are in use, their doors shut. (See the  map . PCs are marked by the first two letters of their names.)
remetagross
Realizing they are going to embark straight on on a potentially perilous operation, Ux Utanar takes the time to exit the place and fetch Ereshki before joining his teammates. The bulky dire bat flies to the ceiling and hang itself upside down so as not to obstruct the hallway. Then, he decides there is no best time to start than now. The Dragonborn steps forward, slightly opens the door to the right hallway and peeks inside while asking:
  "Master Teru, are you there?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Hhhhmmm....a moment, please."   Fishing out a set of House Kundarak's famous Warder's Keys, 'Drucilla' palms them as her eyes take on the tell-tale faint violet glow given by her Detect Magic abiliy. Checking the hallway itself for magic, she steps up to begin examining the door carefully.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Trap Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check thanks to her Trap Sensitivity feat. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Mechanical Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 52 ] 
 

 Slight of Hand to Palm Her Lockpicks:   (1d20+20)[ 21 ] 
She'll use Detect Magic to examine the area and also check the door for any magical spells on it whatsoever.
If the automatic mechanical trap check (in the spoiler above) doesn't trigger, she'll search for magical traps.
 Search For Magical Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 44 ] 
If there are any traps whatsoever, she'll attempt to disable them. (She can bypass arcane lock spells as though she had cast them, ignore glyphs of warding as though she knew the password - even glyphs that  have  no password - and bypass the magic of a hold portal as though she could cast knock at will)
 Disable Device:   (1d20+33)[ 37 ] 
If there are no traps found, and no magic visible, she'll check to see if the door is even locked. If it is, she'll attempt to unlock it.
 Open Lock:   (1d20+33)[ 52 ] 
 
Metastachydium
  One'd think that's the one approach they  did  try.   Delja remarks dryly as Ux calls out to their lost mark, giving Myriad a silent nod of approval in the meantime and making a point of not proceeding any further towards the door, but keeping eye and ear on high alert, just in case.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls&amp;stuff. 

Listen, especially for any noise from beyond the doors:  (1d20+24)[ 42 ] 
Spot, pretty much anything that might be there to see and isn't a trap:  (1d20+26)[ 35 ] 
 
chaincomplex
Ux opens the door  S20 , which does not require a key, and spots a lone human scholar in an empty auditorium preparing a speech.   "Factol Terrance would teach that our divines are merely shadows of true divinity: powerful, yes, yet ultimately distinct from the Demiurge. Yet at the same time the Guvners have established that divines have truly mantled their portfolios in..."   The scholar looks up when Ux calls out, puzzled.   "Wrong room, friend. The mage is quartered just down the hall."   His eyes flickers over Ux's armor.   "My word, you look ready to knock some heads together. Are you for hire, perchance?"  
 ──────────────────────────────── 
Myriad confirms there are no traps in the immediate hall or the doors to Teru's quarters, and what magic there  is  is limited to faint evocation emanating from the wall lamps; there is only the mundane if master-quality lock on the double doors to the planeswalker's quarters, and the party possesses the key to those.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Delja can hear on the other side of the double doors on  Q26 – R26  what can only be described as moderately powerful whooshing air, covering a more gentle sound of trickling water as if from a fountain. There are no other sounds of life or movement.
remetagross
  "Oh, really"  , answers the Dragonborn with deference.
  "Apologies for the unwanted interruption, and thank you for the direction. I will proceed to that hall at once. However, I am not for hire - unless you were going to hire me to find out about Master Teru."   That being said, and unless the mage answers positively, Ux Utanar moves up to the nearest room, and enters throug the open door in L10.
Metastachydium
  Ux.   Delja calls out, trying not to raise her voice too much.   Securing the perimeter can wait. Come over here.   Anything that can jump them from a lecture hall concerns her a lot less than the out-of-place sounds emanating from inside, especially since she has reason to suspect that these might be by-products of a dumb mage thinking he's really clever. Stepping close to the door, she swipes her cloak off of her ready blade and cautiously inserts the key into the lock, waiting for some dragonborn-shaped backup to arrive.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja enters total defense, bumping her AC up to 73.
 
remetagross
The Dragonborn stops in his tracks, turning around.
  "What's that? Oh, all right."  

He exits the hall he had just entered into, and calmly moves down the corridor so as to stand near her ally. His hand on the hilt of his sword, he concentrates and raises his head above him.
  "Ereshki, brave one, be ready to jump down and take me in."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Handle Animal check DC 10 (auto-success) as a move action to ask Ereshki to perform the Defend trick: she will come to protect Ux Utanar in case of an incoming threat.
Ux Utanar moves to R25.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Simply shrugging at the lack of any security, 'Drucilla' pokes around and starts prodding at furniture and walls, checking behind decor, etc.   "The lack of decent security is...disappointing. Makes me think there isn't worth finding."   Grunting, she mumbles under her breath as she pokes about.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
  Myriad [/B] 1]
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 41 ] 
 

 Search For Clues/Documents/Secrets:   (1d20+37)[ 56 ] 
 
chaincomplex
  "Ah, it's quite alright,"   says the scholar to Ux, disappointment in his voice,   "I wasn't about to hire you for that, no, though I do worry for the wayward mage, even as I'm certain he is quite in control of whatever insane experiment he has committed to now. Good luck anyhow!"  

Checking in on the room through  L10  Ux finds an empty lecture hall. Partially erased musical notation remains on a chalkboard, smeared and dusted in white.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Myriad walks straight into the planewalker's suite and is immediately buffeted by strong winds. The source is obvious: at  U31  there is a large shimmering magical sphere, brilliant fractal colors peeking out of its surface from its infinite depths. The air seems to be interacting with the surface of the sphere... violently... and eddies of air are jetting out of the sphere like steam from a boiling kettle, though a quick check reveals the air to be rather cooler—and fresher, even—than room temperature.

The suit itself is a spacious and luxurious affair, with a sprawling lounge at the center, bookshelves lining the walls, and a large trickling fountain by the western wall. Two closed doors go south and east respectively. The wind has blown books and papers off the shelves and strewn them across the room. There is no sign of life.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Now the sphere is no magical trap, but the principles behind magical traps are quite similar to other kinds of magical engineering and Myriad knows it is no "natural" formation. No, the thing at  U31  is absolutely the product of a mage.

The magical aura emanating from  U31  is a complex and multifaceted creature. There is, first, an overwhelming aura of evocation, then there are strong auras of abjuration, transmutation, and necromancy respectively.

Myriad begins her search. The books still on the shelves (few remain) and strewn on the floor appear to be a collection of histories and arcane treatises, with a focus on artifact magic and planar cartography. Some volumes appear to be quite old and rare. She does find, fallen under a rather large half-open encyclopedia of esoteric Flow charts, a palm-sized crystal ball with veins of gold and sapphire running intricate patterns within. This object detects as magical with a strong aura of transmutation.
Metastachydium
Delja follows closely behind the "dwarf" with her weapon ready but pleasantly surprised to see the room is still  mostly  there. She was expecting something more unusual, perhaps an unholy mixture of elemental-adjacent demiplanes encroaching into the suite. Only the strange sphere gives her some pause.   Hey, "Druce". What's  that ?   she inquires, as she crosses the room to approach the double door on its opposite end, giving the orb a wide berth and keeping an eye on it even as she scans for the rest of the room for anything out of place.

 
 Spoiler: Checks. 

Spot: [roll]1d20+26[/QUOTE] for the reason stated above; and
Listen at the other door as before, to get an idea of what could be on the other side:  (1d20+24)[ 33 ] 
 
Metastachydium
 
 Spoiler: Sigh. 

Spot, again, for obvious reasons:  (1d20+26)[ 38 ] 
 
remetagross
  "Nothing of use here"   has noted Ux Utanar before joining with the team down to the corridor. He contemplates the spectacular display of the swirling sphere, while Delja and Myriad look around as is their modus operandi. The Dragonbon moves cautiously around, mindful of not stepping on anything that could explode behind his big riding boot. He looks up at the ceiling. If it appears reasonably normal, he will whistle at Ereshki to come and hang herself down from it.

The knight also notices the shiny bauble uncovered by Myriad.  
"Huh. Do you think we could use that to communicate with Teru somehow? Does it appear to be currently working?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
Shrugging, 'Drucilla' holds up the encyclopedia before pocketing it for now.   "Some light reading,"   she say with a rougish grin. Examining the magical orb next to it, she considers it carefully.    "This crystal ball is giving off Transmutation vibes. So using it changes.... something .  Maybe  it changes our voice to be heard by the planeswalker? Then again, maybe it changes the user into a fart cloud or something. I dunno. Anyone wanna try to identify it right this second, do we bag it for now and take it somewhere else less...  windy ?"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: [roll]1d20+37
 


Pocketing the encyclopedia of esoteric flow charts for later perusal.
Also using Sleight of Hand  (1d20+20)[ 28 ]  to slip a few of the old\rare looking books into her haversack during her sorting near the crystal ball.
 
remetagross
  "I can't do any of that, unfortunately, but why not give it a try?"   The Dragonborn hulks over the shining sphere and tries out his best:
  "Hello there, Master Teru?"   while gazing into the pattern. He shrugs.
  
"And what was this encyclopedia about? That might give us a clue to what was Master Teru currently working on...and what we might need to face."  
chaincomplex
As best as Delja could tell from a glance the sphere is a construct of multiple spells woven together, layers interacting visually in such an exuberant display. It does not respond to the presence of anyone in the room noticeably, though the random swells of light may coincidentally convince an observer otherwise.

Delja can hear nothing on the other side of the door on  Q36 . While part of this could be the loud, gusting air emitting from the sphere, she is pretty sure nothing is actually making a peep on the other side.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
The encyclopedia of Flow charts, appropriately named  Beyond the Arcane Inner Flow: Astral Cartography on the Frontiers  (with no credited author on the title), is actually rather large but with some physical motivation manages to squeeze through the opening of Myriad's  handy haversack . With little effort she manages to fit a handful of eye-catching volumes in after it:  Planar Diffusion in Higher Dimensions  by Kallber Nesh,  Graded Mirrors: The Theory of Portals  by Hon. Kentari Zee,  Silver Sands: Cosmic Geography in Athas  by High Preserver Sadira, and a particularly dense-looking text called  Local Measurements on Connections  by one R. Soames. Their apparent age and inlaid gold and gems would alone fetch a good price at an auction, but their content is exactly the sort of indecipherable technical arcane gibberish that wealthy collectors buy to look smart—though Myriad could probably make some headway working through the texts on her own.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Ux speaks into the magic sphere, which seems to happily blow fresh air into his face then flash him with a flurry of harmless lights in response. After a moment it becomes clear this was just random; the sphere continues this pattern in various directions.
remetagross
Ux Utanar raises an eyebrow at the sight of the incomprehensible tomes.
  "Well, I am about as useful as my mount when it comes to understand the first thing out of these. But portals,  Drucilla , that's more of your cup of tea, isn't it?"   That said, the Dragonborn joins his lips tight and emits a high-pitched whistle. A few moments after, in a great swoosh of wings, Ereshki comes swooping through the door and right to the ceiling, where it hangs itself down with a squeak.

Ux Utanar decides to take a look at the eastern door. He knocks, and then cautiously half-opens it, squeezing his snout through the gap to peek at what lies beyond.
Metastachydium
  I'm more curious about the  wind , actually, not to mention its source.   Delja remarks dryly as she tests the door with her free hand. The room beyond might sound clear, but she'd rather be safe than sorry.

 
 Spoiler: Roll. 

Delja will try to open the southern door. If she succeeds, she enters total defense again (AC -&gt; 73) and looks around.
Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 45 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Flashing a roguish grin, 'Drucilla' nods.   "My thoughts exactly. I'll crack some spines when we're somewhere secure and there is no risk of high winds divesting my light reading of its pages. I doubt a book on Astral Cartography will do us much good until we can read enough to decipher its use if any."   Eyeing the sphere now with her full attention, she gestures at it.   "That thing is giving off  really  serious vibes of evocation, plus serious vibes of abjuration, transmutation, and necromancy. Suggestions?"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps:  (1d20+37)[ 49 ] 
 


Knowledge (Arcana):  (1d20+9)[ 25 ] 
Knowledge (The Planes):  (1d20+9)[ 24 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja raises her eyebrows with a grimace. That sounds like a headache at best and a disaster in the making at worst. The fact that this probably means it's a key part of what they are looking for only makes things worse.   Yeah. Can you turn it off?  Without  setting the room on fire, that is.  
remetagross
Popping his head off the half-space he has fit it in, Ux Utanar answers in an amused tone:
  "I don't have the first idea about what to do with any of the things you just mentioned, except when I try to fool my wand of  Enlarge Animal  into believing I'm a druid. I don't think I will be able to fool this big sphere into anything, so I'll let you deal with it as you see fit."  
He then returns to observing the room ahead of him.
chaincomplex
Delja opens the door to find a bedroom. It is a dimly lit, comfortable room with a low ceiling. An ornate four-poster bed sits against the wall, with no evidence it was ever used. Flanking the room are two small reading alcoves, within half-full bookshelves with decorative paraphernalia filling the gaps. The books are memoirs and journals, and the paraphernalia various minerals and art objects collected from across the planes.

After a careful scan, Delja notices a notebook tucked under the covers of the bed. She can barely make out "SHIPPING" in the part of the title that is visible.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Ux opens the door to find an almost-empty storage chamber. Shelves that once stored mundane equipment, rations, and trade goods form lanes across the chamber. Only a small fraction of what was once there remain: ink, parchment, chalk, spyglasses, notebooks, folded linen, silk cords, candles, tea leaves, iron pots, and spell component pouches.

It is dark and musty. This room has not been visited in some time.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Myriad considers. She is not quite sure she grasps the principles of arcana running the artificial magic sphere before her, but there is a curious lack of the normal tells of evil or affliction or energy drain associated with the strong energy of necromancy which permeates it. Standard theory suggests that this ties into the  other  face of necromancy, namely its role in the manipulation of soul. (As many talented necromancers would complain, the field has been misjudged due to its poor name and connotations of raising the dead, whereas its true purpose is the study the soul. An argument many laymen find uncompelling due to the absurd prevalence of the walking dead.)

There is planar power here. Though the Lady of Pain prevents the creation of portals that leave Sigil proper, nothing prevents a talented mage from conjuring a pocket plane contained within the cosmic topology of the City of Doors, and whatever the sphere is it carries the cadence of that magic.

And like many things of planar power there is a key that accesses them, whether a literal object, the presence of a person, or a spoken word.
Geeksthenewsexy
'Drucilla' stares at the sphere for another few moments, mithral hand twitching slightly.    "...Yeah, I'm gonna touch it. Maybe stand back, just in case."   Giving a curt nod, she reaches out with her mithril arm, she puts action to her words, attempting to interact with the sphere as she mumbles something inaudible.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: [roll]1d20+37
 


She can make use of any magic door or portal she comes across as though she had the specific ability to do so, thanks to her Silver Key class capstone ability. If it doesn't fall into that category, she'll simply try to use the 'Activate Blindly' (or DEactivate, perhaps?) version of the skill Use Magical Device  (1d20+30)[ 39 ] 

For any mishap, she does have SR 25, so....fingers crossed. lol
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar cautiously inspects the romm without crossing the threshold. He is looking for signs that could indicate the time of the last use of the storage space. Is there dust on the floor, possibly with footprints? He extends a finger to swipe the nearest shelf and to scoop up a component pouch. Does that leave a dust-free circle beneath its resting place? Do the parchments seem to have started soaking in humidity, or do they appear crisp and rigid still? Are the tea-leaves relatively fresh, brownish and shriveled, or to the point where a light touch would see them crumble completely? Are the rations rotten, full of moss and fungus, or just a little stale?
  "Alright, this space has not been visited in quite some time, but I'm not sure if we're talking days, weeks, or months here."   says the dragonborn to the others with a pensive tone.

Once his assessment has been performed, Ux Utanar moves in and leafs through the notebooks, looking for a diary or an accountancy book of some sort which could provide some dates. He then comes back to the main space to observe, though from a few meters away, how 'Drucilla' is handling things.  
"If one person here is able to figure out this portal-thing, it's definitely you!"  
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by remetagross 
 Ux Utanar cautiously inspects the romm without crossing the threshold. He is looking for signs that could indicate the time of the last use of the storage space. Is there dust on the floor, possibly with footprints? He extends a finger to swipe the nearest shelf and to scoop up a component pouch. Does that leave a dust-free circle beneath its resting place? Do the parchments seem to have started soaking in humidity, or do they appear crisp and rigid still? Are the tea-leaves relatively fresh, brownish and shriveled, or to the point where a light touch would see them crumble completely? Are the rations rotten, full of moss and fungus, or just a little stale?
  "Alright, this space has not been visited in quite some time, but I'm not sure if we're talking days, weeks, or months here."   says the dragonborn to the others with a pensive tone. 
 

  Bedroom looks likewise clear. Our guy didn't even touch the bed, far as I can tell. Clutter abounds, though. I'm gonna rifle through… Hold on.   As she notices the half-hidden notebook, Delja begins slowly and carefully advancing into the room, to very gently lift the object with her free hand off of the bed to take a better look at it.


 
 Originally Posted by Geeksthenewsexy 
 'Drucilla' stares at the sphere for another few moments, mithral hand twitching slightly.    "...Yeah, I'm gonna touch it. Maybe stand back, just in case."   Giving a curt nod, she reaches out with her mithril arm, she puts action to her words, attempting to interact with the sphere as she mumbles something inaudible. 
 


 Once his assessment has been performed, Ux Utanar moves in and leafs through the notebooks, looking for a diary or an accountancy book of some sort which could provide some dates. He then comes back to the main space to observe, though from a few meters away, how 'Drucilla' is handling things.  
"If one person here is able to figure out this portal-thing, it's definitely you!"   

She doesn't so much as glance over her shoulder to check out what the "dwarf"'s doing in the meantime.   Yeah, what he said.   she nods noncommittally. Myriad's indeed supposed to know what she's doing.   Just don't blow it up, and maybe don't die either.  
chaincomplex
Delja approaches the text without issue and picks it up. The title fully reads  Silver Shot Shipping Logs: From Caz-Adar to Realmspace, 116 F. Hashkar . There is no author. It is, however, a thick and well-bound volume, and the title itself is rather finely embossed even as the cover is otherwise devoid of artistry. Quickly flipping through the tome reveals hundreds of pages of, well, exactly what was promised: deliveries, receipts, contracts, forwards, charters, and so on. It may take some time to work through it proper. The nixie does notice, however, some rather lovely hand-drawn docking charts and doodles of exotic landscapes as seen from a docking spelljammer. The author, presumably one of the officers of the eponymous spelljammer  Silver Shot , was certainly a romantic.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Ux stands close but not quite over the threshold and tests the nearest shelf. There is a fairly minimal but extant layer of dust on  everything , though as dry and stale as the air is there is likely not enough movement to spread sediment across the room. He checks a component pouch: this one is filled with colorful salts (whose age is indiscernible), and there is only a slight visible differential in dust under it. The stacks of parchment do not seem to be decaying and should be functional to write upon, but are likewise covered in dust. The tea is on the brittle side, older than would be served at any of the cafés around Sigil, but nothing so old that a sailor would hesitate to drink. The rations are primarily oats, honey, nuts, and dried berries. They are similarly edible, though the nuts and berries are probably at the point where a choosy sailor at port might consider replacing them.

As Ux moves in and starts going through the notebooks, he realizes the vast majority are blank. The few that are not, are filled with disjoint lecture notes, written in the obtuse discursive style of highly technical arcana mixed with the shorthand of an academic who has no interest in their pedagogical value. While none of the notebooks are signed with the author's name, Ux gathers from the author's commentary that: (i) the author is a planeswalker; (ii) the author is a patron of the Society; and (iii) the author is a visiting scholar.

It is no great leap to assess that the author would be the very mage they are looking for, in which case it appears from the most recent notebook that Teru last lectured about one and a half months ago.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Myriad feels the mythical weave that suffuses the magical sphere and finds within it structure and purpose. With masterful control she bends it to her will and successfully—and she  knows  she is successful as certainly as she knows she is standing the right way up—accesses the sphere for what it truly is, a gate to someplace else.

With a flash she is pulled within the sphere. (On the map, go to the tab  Inside the Sphere .)

As soon as Myriad reorients herself she sees she is standing in a gorgeous, botanical corridor, with neither Delja nor Ux present. Beds of perennials hug the contours of the walls, which are embossed with motifs reminiscent of the hyperbolic tessellations the djinn put on all their constructed and woven art. The ceiling is a gorgeous, rafted bronze hemisphere and the floor aesthetically irregular marble tiles.

It is quiet. There are doors in each cardinal direction, fortunately marked with Draconic plaques. The north is marked  Control and Operations , the east  Living Quarters , the south  Ritual Theater , and the west  Recreation and Library .

There is a very slight trail of gory viscera leading between the south and east doors, which (as with all the doors in this hall) are shut. Some of the gore seems to be caked onto the handles of the south and east doors.

Even disregarding the... problematic... gore, there is something very strange about this place, and Myriad can feel it in her bones. It is as if the Blackheart himself was whispering to her, that this is a place the gods do not see.
Geeksthenewsexy
Having successfully passed through the spherical gate into elsewhere, Mryiad gives a small fist pump and cheers to herself with a silently-mouthed    "yay."   Quickly glancing around, she focuses on the gore and mentally chastises herself.  Not   yay. I yayed  entirely  too soon.   With a quick flick of her wrist, her previously hidden dagger appears in her hand, held in a reverse parrying grip. Glancing around, she immediately attempts to locate a possible escape route, preferably back where she came from, should she need it. Eyes shining with more than one type of magic, she scans her surroundings carefully.

Focusing her senses on seeing and listening, her breathing slows and quiets automatically from years of training. Even as her senses tune to her environment, a part of her mind works through the complex processes of the gate's mechanics that she hijacked, assessing the results beyond the immediate 'being elsewhere now' effect.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps:  (1d20+37)[ 41 ] 
 


See the Unseen + Detect Magic + Search (for the exit, if present)  (1d20+31)[ 49 ] .
Move Silently  (1d20+33)[ 36 ] 
Knowledge - The Planes (for general information about the method of planar transport and its unique processes &amp; results beyond the obvious physical effect of transport)  (1d20+9)[ 21 ] 
 
remetagross
The dragonborn exits the room but does not close the door behind him. He turns to his companions to explain his findings.  
"Alright, it seems master Teru has been missing for a few days, maybe a few weeks, but no more than a couple months. It is odd that no one so far has been preoccupied by finding him sooner. Maybe the Society is used to having him disappear at times? Anyway, that room is mostly clear, though your eyes might pick up someth-"  

And then goes Myriad. That being a habit of hers, the knight is not overly concerned at first sight. Still, Ux Utanar approaches the swirling device cautiously, his hand on the hilt of his sword. When a few steps away, he tries out with a clear voice:
 " Myriad, are you there? Can you hear us somehow?"  
Metastachydium
With a noncommittal shrug, Delja stows the book away and heads over to the various personal effects piled up in the alcove to the left of the door; making sense of it will have to wait until their resident expert isn't busy doing, well, whatever she's doing with that sphere. Unseen to the knight, she nods along to his report on the storeroom.   That would be weird.   she comments as Ux falls silent.   The goat downstairs said  one  week. Didn't sound like she's lying either, so… Ux?  

She didn't think much of the dragonborn biting off the end of that last sentence, but the cautious footfalls she thinks she's hearing give her some pause. And then, he speaks up. With a heavy sigh, Delja rolls her eyes.   She's doing it  again , isn't she?   she asks in exasperation, but without a hint of worry in her voice, continuing her search unabated.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 39 ] ;
Search:  (1d20+7)[ 8 ] ;
Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 28 ]  for clues.
 
chaincomplex
Magic suffuses Myriad's senses and she feels the outline—where she stands—of a circle brimming with strong conjuration energy. She recognizes the tinge of a portal: it is inactive, but she can use it, she is certain.

Standing still as a mouse, Myriad assesses her recent transportation.

She is on a demiplane. Countless years of silver key experience has instilled her with the understanding of the subtle differences in travel between different kinds of worlds. There is something strange about this place, like it is cut off from reality in a fundamental way. Sigil itself is cut off from the rest of the multiverse, existing in its own pocket cosmology with its own astral river, shadow realm, and ethereal parallel, but this place seems to be removed in a more fundamental way. She is no cleric but she has a suspicion they would have difficulty praying for spells here, so oppressive is the feeling of isolation.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Ux calls out to the sphere but his lost companion cannot hear. Delja searches the room in the meantime, though it is hard to make heads or tails of the absolute mess covering the floor, especially with so much of it shifting in the wind. Thick reference tomes, light monographs, and pages of scribbles make a dense, dynamic mosaic.

Strong winds continue to circulate; the rush of air fills the senses. The doors, though thick and heavy, slowly budge aimlessly. Airborne papers catch onto Ux and Delja's clothing and armor.
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding to herself in satisfaction that the air was breathable, the portal was two-way, and there were at least no traps being set off on the spot she landed, she carefully begins creeping about this small space, making a circuit, now turning her magical eyes towards signs of traps and checking the exits from the room to ascertain their locked or trapped statuses before returning to report to the others. They might want her to bring them through, so she sets about securing the immediate surroundings and making sure it would be safe to do so.

Careful not to giver herself away via sound, she efficiently scans for tell-tale auras of magical traps while quickly performing a circuit of the room, sweeping for mechanical traps before also checking the exits, dagger in one hand at the ready for trouble, and her Warder's Keys in the other ready for trap hunting.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Mechanical Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 46 ] 
 

 Spot:   (1d20+27)[ 37 ] 
 Move Silently:   (1d20+33)[ 40 ] 
 Search For Traps in General:   (1d20+37)[ 48 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Between Myriad's usual antics and the headache-inducing mess around her, Delja is reduced to massaging the bridge of her nose in frustration with her free hand before scooping up a few loose pages of notes and scribbles and stashing them away for Myriad to sample them if and when she gets around to do so. With that, she strides back into the sphere room to stand by the knight's side, tapping the floor impatiently with the tip of her naked blade.
remetagross
Ux Utanar absent-mindedly removes the flying papers off his face, casting a cursory glance at one of them in the off chance it contains something intelligible to him. He turns to Delja and shrugs.  
"And now what? Should we try to cross too? Wait for our scout?"   
He tries to put his hand through the sphere to see if Myriad was able to cross because of her specific abilities or if that is open to anyone.
Metastachydium
Delja's eyes widen as the knight reaches out towards the sphere. As quick as in the days of old, her own left darts forward slamming forcefully against his wrist in an attempt to grab hold of it or, at the very least, bat it away from the (for lack of a better term) object.    Are you out of your mind?    she hisses.   That's her thing, as getting hit in the face is yours. We  wait  until she gives the all clear.  
chaincomplex
Myriad sweeps the room in utter silence. The doors she determines are free of traps, and though equipped with rather intricate locks, they all appear to have been left unlocked, checked by gently testing the handles. She notes the light gore on Ritual Theater and Living Quarters door handles are caked and old. The Control and Operations door appears to have the most wear from key scratches, but the Living Quarters and Recreation and Library doors have the most smudged handprints.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Standing before the scintillating sphere, wind blowing in his face, Ux reaches out towards it. The moment Ux's hand contacts the sphere he feels a layer of something cool but comforting, like a cushion of air—as he feels around, he is certain this is the very font of all the wind—then as he extends his hands further in, he immediately feels searing heat. Ux reflexively withdraws his hands (20 fire damage, DC 35 Reflex save for half). He is certain he briefly touched upon a different layer farther in, something his intuition tells him is probably the next layer of a  prismatic wall . One of the benefits of being an experienced adventurer of his caliber is having been, or knowing someone who has been, fried by one, and it is not a description one readily forgets.
remetagross
Ux Utanar's hand was already halfway through when Delja's snapping command reached him. He doesn't need such an external warning, though: the wracking pain in his hand gives him all the intel he needs about that sphere. The Dragonborn promptly pulls his hand out of the device, and shakes it for a minute or two to cool it off. No harm done, though - Bahamut's blessing wards him off from fire. He smiles and turns to Delja, showing his hand.
  "The Platinum dragon protects his servants, however careless they might be. But just in case his attention is elsewhere next time I'm about to do something stupid, I'll remember to listen to your opinion before acting."  

That being said, Ux Utanar comes back to wait before the sphere.
  "And what now? I'll tell you, if Myriad doesn't come out of here soon to tell us what's beyond that sphere, I think our best bet is to get back to the scholar I have seen in the room just above and ask him some more info about Teru. Because I can't quite see what more we can do in here."  
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by remetagross 
 Ux Utanar's hand was already halfway through when Delja's snapping command reached him. He doesn't need such an external warning, though: the wracking pain in his hand gives him all the intel he needs about that sphere. The Dragonborn promptly pulls his hand out of the device, and shakes it for a minute or two to cool it off. No harm done, though - Bahamut's blessing wards him off from fire. He smiles and turns to Delja, showing his hand.
  "The Platinum dragon protects his servants, however careless they might be. But just in case his attention is elsewhere next time I'm about to do something stupid, I'll remember to listen to your opinion before acting."   
 

Delja sighs. The important thing is that Ux Utanar is safe and sound and nothing exploded into  her  face.   As you should.   she grumbles.   We're lucky all it wanted was to hit you in the face, you know.  

 That being said, Ux Utanar comes back to wait before the sphere.
  "And what now? I'll tell you, if Myriad doesn't come out of here soon to tell us what's beyond that sphere, I think our best bet is to get back to the scholar I have seen in the room just above and ask him some more info about Teru. Because I can't quite see what more we can do in here."   

Delja purses her lips and looks up at the ceiling for a moment, as if in deep thought.   Right.   she says at last, turning on her heels to storm all about the suit, disappearing at last in the storage room the dragonborn surveyed.   We'll do that, and we'll do that now.   she assents, smoothing out a piece of parchment before her on a shelf while opening up a bottle of what she hopes is ink.   It's not just the portal, you see. I've got some notes and a book. Our guy kept it  in his bed . But it's way beyond me, so we need her for that too.   she explains, scribbling furiously as she speaks in a crude, angular hand:     DRUCE. bored went 1st door right with U. scream if need us    

Satisfied with the end product, she reemerges from the storeroom and pins it to the floor with two tomes somewhere she expects Myriad to see it, should she return.   There.   she says, nodding twice to herself.   Let's go.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding to herself in satisfaction that the space was as safe as could be without going off exploring on her own in some random demiplane (as seriously awesome as that actually sounded), she eyes the space that she knows in her gut will take her back to her friends. Shrugging, she reaches into her Survival Pouch, spending one of its charges to pull out...a full-sized mule. Grinning at the absurdity of that particular function of the bag, she pats the Mule and shrugs apologetically. Grabbing its reins she leads it to the space that will return her from whence she came. Glancing nervously at the mule, she thinks to herself,   Gotta figure out if its safe to bring others. Not making  that  mistake again  . before shuddering at the memory.   Better the mule, if it  doesn't  work . 
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Mechanical Traps:  N\A - Already cleared the area.
 


Once more into the breach!  YEET! 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar nods at the piece of parchment left as a message behind them.   
"That should do. Alright, let's proceed."  

He leads Delja back through the northern door and knocks again on the door on his right. Peeking his head through, he amiably asks again the mage he has previously seen.  
"Sorry to bother you again. We are unable to locate master Teru so far, and his room seems to be a magical mess. I was wondering if you could tell us more about the last time you saw him and his recent projects you might know about?"  

Ux turns back to Delja, pointing the books and notes.
  "I think we can show him this, don't you?"  
Metastachydium
Slipping her sword back under the cloak, Delja dutifully follows and greets the scholar with a quick nod that is meant to be polite. The knight's subsequent suggestion, however, makes her eyebrows rise slightly. She motions to the dragonborn to lean a bit closer and blurts out a quick, whispered   Might be a  rival . We're after Teru's goodwill and trust, remember?   maintaining a pleasantly innocent facial expression for the benefit of the mage in the meantime.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls. 

Sleight of Hand to conceal that weapon:  (1d20+12)[ 25 ] 
Bluff:  (1d20+20)[ 23 ] 
 
chaincomplex
Light envelopes Myriad and in a moment she hears and feels the familiar rush of air. Papers blow about her. She sees she is back in the mage's quarters, standing before the giant scintillating sphere and surrounded by the bookshelves and fountain, reins and mule in hand—for the moment, anyways. The mule is not taking its transport well and has started to make its discontent known, braying and sharply pulling against its restrains. It is a simple Handle Animal check (DC 12) to maintain control.

Ereshki stares at her with wide, unblinking eyes, not particularly bothered by either the changeling or her mule's sudden presence.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
Ux returns to the scholar, back through the quiet corridors and into the near-empty lecture hall. The scholar was in the middle of his recitations when Ux interrupted.

More surprised than annoyed, the scholar considers the dragonborn's question, then responds,   "The first part is simple enough to answer: I last saw Master Teru precisely one hundred and eighty-two hours ago, rounding down. He stopped by to greet me as he retired to his chambers, though this happened at a lounge one floor beneath us, insofar as space has any meaning within these walls.

"To your latter query... Master Teru as with all the eldritch masters of his distant home world seek beyond all else to identify the pillars of reality—namely, the laws of the planes, of divinity, and of metaphysics. Teru has been quite open with the fruits of his research, and we have on many occasions discussed and debated the nature of the gods who bind our reality into the tangible essence we perceive around us. I am however merely a philosopher and historian, not one of any arcane skill, so I cannot pretend to understand the technical aspects of Teru's work.

"Of late I believe he's been preoccupied with news from home, not the sort I should inquire into—or, well, I  am  curious, since whatever this news was sent him into a renewed research frenzy, but as he seems to be... presently engaged... I suppose it's a moot point."   The scholar shrugs.

If he noticed Delja's concealed blade, he does not show it. In fact, it is not even clear he noticed the nixie herself when she arrived, so caught up is he in his own thoughts.
Geeksthenewsexy
Patting the mule to calm it, the plane-jumping maniac grins from ear to ear.   "There there, Pickle. You're fine."  . Pleased that the magical pseudo-animal wasn't torn to shreds and reduced to pulp, she glances around and flashes a grin at the impassive Ereshki before catching sight of the message left for her. Still patting Pickle absently, she reads it quickly, muttering,   "Ugh, Delja, your handwriting is still terrible..."  , to herself as she reads. Grunting at the message, she pulls a ration from her Survivor Pouch, using another of its limited daily charges. Leading Pickle to a corner, she gifts the ration to the mule and gives it a few more head pats before abandoning it there in the room - after all, it would unsummon itself from whence it came in eight hours, even if she did lose track of it.

Glancing around one last time, she nods and heads off, following the note's instructions, to find the group and report what she's discovered.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Mechanical Traps:  N\A - Already cleared the area.
 

 Untrained Handle Animal Check   (1d20+11)[ 28 ] 
 Untrained Decipher Script to read Delja's terrible penmanship   (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Much as she enjoys the  lack  of attention she gets from the scholar, emboldened by the assurances that no, he's not likely to be of much concern, she nimbly slides forward to address the man.   Hm.   she intones, clearing her throat.   Caz-Adar. The  Silver Shot . Does that sound familiar?  
 
 Spoiler: Roll. 

Let's Sense some Motives, just in case:  (1d20+15)[ 33 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar ponders the scolar's answer while opening the door a little more. While Delja makes her own inquiries, he prepares to formulate his own questions.
  "That would mean you haven't seen him for around 8 days. Do you know if there is another person that might have seen him after you? Moreover, you mentioned he received some news from home. Do you know where, exactly, is Master Teru's home?"  
The Dragonborn then gauges the pupils sitting around them.
  "But maybe we should wait for the end of your lesson?"  
chaincomplex
To Delja, the scholar considers a moment then says,   "Caz-Adar is a distant sphere—or really, system of spheres—as any of the learned of Sigil could tell you. It's not a  particularly  challenging part of the Arcane Inner Flow to reach, but it  is  distant and the trip  is fraught as are all long stays in the Flow. As for the  Silver Shot , well, I don't know that name, but it has the ring of a spelljammer to me."   He pauses as he considers.   "As silver as the Astral Sea. Aye, a fitting name indeed."   He is, as far as Delja can discern, telling the truth.

Ux, noting that the scholar has been merely reciting and practicing to an empty lecture hall, does not say that last bit. Replying to Ux's other queries, the scholar says,   "I'm not sure who else you could ask about Master Teru. I'm sure various temporary and permanent guests here  did  see him after myself—the walk here from the lounge is rather long, after all—but it'd be happenstance and you'd be lucky to track them down. As for where Master Teru is from, he hails from the distant plane of Arcem, which I understand in their local tongue means  Refuge ."   The scholar looks Ux up and down, then chuckles.   "Perhaps when you find Master Teru he shall tell you of his home world. As for  where  specifically on Arcem he draws his roots, I understand there's a continent called  Ancalia ... beyond that, I don't believe he's mentioned details."  
Metastachydium
The left corner of Delja's mouth twitches ever so slightly as she nods. That's not much they didn't know.   I see.   she says slowly, her tone cautiously appreciative. This does tell them that Caz-Adar is  not  Teru's last declared destination, after all.   You done?   she flashes a side glance at Ux Utanar.   'Cause I think I am.  
remetagross
  "Well, thank you for your time, Master...?"   says Ux Utanar to the scholar.  
"We will not bother you any further." 

Closing the door, he answers Delja.  
"Yes, I guess we're done here. The one thing we've learnt is that he comes from that plane Arcem. What do you make of that? Maybe we can get back to Myriad and see if she senses some sort of portal to Arcem, or search the room for any info about Arcem."  

The Dragonborn comes back to the room with the sphere, whistling to Ereshki.   
"Anything happening here in the meantime, old friend?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux had not used the "Guard" animal trick to ask that of Ereshki before going to ask the scholar, that's more of a rhetorical question to interact with his mount in a friendly way.
 


Ux Utanar then goes back to the cellar he has already explored and picks up the notebook, leafing through it while scanning any mention of "Arcem" through the undecipherable writings.
chaincomplex
The scholar introduces himself to Ux as Demar then excuses himself. As Ux and Delja leave, they hear Demar begin lecturing to the empty hall. As they return, they run into Myriad just outside Teru's quarters.
Metastachydium
Sensing no urgency in how Myriad (none too surprisingly still alive and in one piece) is approaching the two of them, Delja grabs her arm with her free hand and turns the changeling around without even bothering to break her own pace to usher the planehopper back into Teru's quarters.   How was your trip?   she inquires.   We   the nixie looks around for a second to check on Ux Utanar, only to see him delving back into rummaging through the papers floating and lying about.   've got stuff for you.  
remetagross
Once Ux Utanar is done rummaging through Teru's notebooks, he joins back with Delja and Myriad, happy to see her intact.
  "What have you found? In the meantime, we've got some tidbits about Master Teru's whereabouts, thanks to the scholar the next door over."   The dragonborn explains to Myriad what they have learnt.
Geeksthenewsexy
Grinning at being spun around, Myriad listens and nods.   "Weeeeell, the  good  news is that the trip there is safe, and the landing point isn't trapped or guarded."   Nodding at the mule standing skittishly in the corner to indicate how she ascertained the safety of passengers, she continues,   "The  bad  news is there is a lot of gore splashed around, something unpleasant went down there. There are multiple exits from the landing room."   continuing, she gives a detailed report of her scouting foray into the portal. Listening to their own report in turn, she 'hhmmms' and tuts in contemplation.   "You guy wanna do a full sweep of the inside of the portal and see if we can find more clues? I think we should definitely figure out what went down there and clear any threats before we leave anyway, so we might as well get it over with."  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Mechanical Traps:  N\A - Already cleared the area.
 


None
 
Metastachydium
Delja nods firmly in agreement.   Mhm. Let's follow the blood.   That  does  tend to give the kind of results that she likes.   While we're at that. Anything you can tell us of Caz-Adar and, um, Arcem, I think?   she adds, carefully approaching the sphere.
remetagross
After having sifted through Teru's cellar, Ux Utanar turns to Delja and Myriad.  
"Nice to see you back in one piece. Has any of you two found any reference to these two names in the books we have found there, by the way?"   The dragonborn embraces the room with a gesture of his arms.  
"Anyway, I suppose we are done here. Let's see about all this blood you have found. I hope it's not the blood of a planeswalker. Ereshki, come here. This might be a little disorienting, but trust me."  
The dire bat swoops down and lands near its master on her claws, steadied by his hand on its head.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Auto-success on the Handle Animal check for the "come" trick so that the mount follows through even in an unnatural space.
 
chaincomplex
Once again Myriad attunes herself to the sphere, retreading a now-familiar path in its arcane ciphers as winds blow around her, and with a sharp pull she and her compatriots, joined by touch, are brought into its scintillating surface.

The world resolves around them and she once again finds herself in the quiet empty chambers of the  other . Where prior journeys were relatively uneventful however, this one was was punctuated by a moment of confusion as the party is forcefully shunted into a small space with Ereshki. The dire bat tumbles awkwardly to the side.

It is a Handle Animal (DC 23) check to prevent Ereshki from screeching in alarm.

It is a Balance (DC 20) check to maintain footing during the tumultuous arrival.
Geeksthenewsexy
A sharp intake of breath comes from Myriad as she stumbles from being jostled by the unexpectedly rough transition. Holding out her arm to try to steady herself, she visibly grimaces at the less than optimal entrance. Aaaaand promptly falls on her butt with a wince of pain and embarrassment.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps:  (1d20+37)[ 49 ] [
 


Balance to keep from falling:  (1d20+9)[ 10 ] 
Listen for indication anything noticed their graceless entrance:  (1d20+27)[ 44 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja shifts away from poor Ereshki with nonchalant grace, slipping between Myriad and Ux Utanar. She still has  some of  it and that's certainly a relief. Still, being able to keep herself from doing the flop is no reason to get all smug. Sniffing the air, she shrugs her cloak off the blade bound to her right and lokks around, listening intently for any noise  not  made by her her own companions. This place does indeed look off; it might be free of traps, but that hardly means it's truly safe. Someone or something drew blood here and whatever it were, it could still be close by.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 27 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar falls head over heels in the least possible dignified way. Still on his butt, he recognizes Ereshki about to cawk frantically at the unnatural experience. Frowning, he whistles a specific tweet at her intention. The dire bat regains its composure, and steadies itself in silence, more or less. That done, and if allowed, Ux Utanar gets back to its feet, patting it.
  "It's alright, friend. I'm right here."  
Ux Utanar looks around, the hand still on the saddle of his mount.  
"So this is it, Myriad. What can you tell us of that place already?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

The Handle Animal check is an auto-success.
 
chaincomplex
Delja and Myriad listen attentively for anyone, or anything, that may have reacted to their arrival. Myriad's breastplate gave a solid  click  as it contacted the flagstone, fortunately not as loud or screeching as it would have been were it not of mithral make or enchanted with  easy travel . Between Ux's weight and his thick scales he gave a weighty  thump  as he tumbled, a noise that would have been heard a room over in the average Cormyrean house, but the walls of this new place he finds himself looks (hopefully) more robust.

There is silence. Delja hears nothing.

Myriad, however, hears something begin to move far behind the southern doors. She can only barely pick up the noise, it is as imperceptible as a mice crawling behind several layers of stone, but hear it she does. First, the sounds of chains clinking; then the strange sounds of something squirming, drawing closer.

Myriad hears somewhere, far behind the thick southern doors, another set of heavy doors swing open.

There is plenty of time for both Myriad and Ux to regain their footing. Ereshki gently nudges Ux as he pats her, a motion he recognizes as its way of expressing concern over her master.
Geeksthenewsexy
Hopping to her feet, Myriad waves a hand sharply at her companions to get their attention and points first at her ear and then towards where she's heard something. Her dagger appearing in her hand faster than most people blink, she darts towards where she pointed even as she fades from view, becoming invisible. Her companions know Myriad runs  toward  danger far more often than running  from  it, so the fact she's burning through her limited ability to turn invisible, she must expect a fight, and isn't taking chances with their lives - after all, she's their ride out of this place if things go sideways.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Room Already Cleared[
 

 Standard Action:  Using her 1/Day Silver Key SLA Invisibility (Su) as a 20th level caster - Duration 20 minutes.
 Free Action:  Drawing her Dagger (Quick Draw feat)
 Move Action:  Position herself near the door for an ambush. Plan to stay behind whatever it is as it enters to flank it as it spots and goes for her companions.

Move Silently (1d20+33)[ 44 ] 
 Initiative (If Needed):    (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja grimaces as she's doing her best to follow Myriad's lead in approaching the indicated door without producing too much noise. She used to have a good ear. She's  supposed to  have it still. No matter, though. She shouldn't be easy to jump, let alone  touch  regardless. She takes up position opposite where she estimates Myriad to be, slightly off to the side but in plain view of the door, dropping into a stable, defensove stance.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Alright, Delja Moves Silently towards the door:  (1d20+15)[ 23 ] ; once there, she drops into Total Defense, raising her AC to 73 (T 64, FF not really a thing).

Initiative, if needed:  (1d20+14)[ 19 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar almost starts to ask Myriad about what is going on, when he sees her in hurried action. He hops on his feet too, then mounts on Ereshki, patting it back on his way. The dire bat then stations itself square in front of the door, a few meters from it, ready to welcome anything that will go through fair and square.
chaincomplex
There are heavy, slick  thuds  as whatever it is beyond the southern doors approaches. At first only Myriad hears it but soon Delja and Ux do as well. A minute passes, then the noises stop just beyond the doors. The door handles shift at first slowly, then suddenly all at once and the doors are thrown open.

What stands before Ux are two large aberrations in a wide and long hall. Drying gore is caked all over the floors and walls, and along the far end runes embed the floor, walls, and ceiling, though all their patterns look charred, scratched, or chunked off.

The aberrations themselves are large, roughly oblong, rot-grey fleshy things with gaping, slavering maws and tentacles slick with some kind of foul secretion. Each has a single, massive bloodshot eye darting frantically about the room. After a moment the party realizes each of the tentacles also has a mouth on it, or something resembling a cross between a mouth and a suction cup.

A nauseating aura—part actual smell of rot, part supernatural force, the presence of something foul and not of the waking world—immediately hits the party like a jolt of lightning. Ux bears the brunt of its effects—he must make a Fortitude save (DC 20) to avoid being sickened.

The frontmost aberration   A1   opens its maw and speaks in what can only be described as a human child's voice.   "Would you like to play, little boy?"   Its tentacles move about,  tasting  the air, then its massive red eye centers on Ux.   "Come with me, little boy..."   It lunges forward.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
 Turn Order:    A2  ,   Player Block  ,   A1  .

While the party reacts faster than the frontmost aberration, the aberration   A2  , poised on a its tentacles like a spring, acts immediately. It chitters nonsensically as its eye flashes with power, and immediately the party feels their senses and motor functions being suffocated by some unseen force. All party members (including Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) to avoid paralysis.

Afterwards, the aberration moves to the center of the corridor at  V20 .

It is now the   Player Block  .
remetagross
Ux Utanar and his mount ward off the effects trying to impede them. The Dragonborn steadies himself in his stirrups, and locks gazes with the unholy monstrosity before him. He answers its call with a clear and calm voice.  
"Who are you, what are you, where do you come from, and what do you know of the whereabouts of one Master Teru?"  

His lance springs to his hand while Ereshki slowly rises above the ground in a precise flutter of wings.  
"Don't come forward with violent intention or you will meet violence in return. You have been warned fairly."   Ux Utanar steels himself for the oncoming assault and tries to keep both creatures's movements in his field of view.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ereshki takes a full-round action to take the "retreat" action and move up her movement without provoking AoOs. Since her maneuverability is perfect, she can move in any direction with no minimal forward motion, so she rises 5ft above the ground.

Ux Utanar takes a free action to unsheathe his lance (because it has a lesser crystal of alacrity, which grants Quick Draw with some other benefits). I'm not sure of my AoO-fu, but as far as I remember, free actions do not provoke AoOs.
Then a standard action to ready a breath attack if the A1 aberration moves one square forward. That breath attack will be a 100ft long line of electricity dealing ( (7d8)[ 34 ]  /2 ) damage, Ref 30 for half damage. That should cover both creatures. If any takes damage, for  (1d4)[ 1 ]  rounds it is also  entangled  and will take an additional 1d6 point of electricity damage at the beginning of that number of Ux Utanar's future rounds. The cooldown for the breath weapon is   (1d4)[ 3 ]  rounds.

Aberration A is designated as the target for the Shield Block class feature of Ux Utanar, which increases his AC to 39 against that foe specifically.

In addition to this, Ux Utanar threatens for AoOs in a 10ft square around him, thanks to his lance and his shield spikes, even if the foes make 5ft steps. Tumble checks to get past him without AoOs suffer a -20 penalty. In case Ux Utanar is allowed an AoO, he attacks with his lance: to-hit  (1d20+31)[ 49 ]  and damage  (1d8+5)[ 9 ] . Ux Utanar uses the Standstill feat so that in case he hits something, no damage is dealt, but instead the opponent makes a Ref save of 10+damage dealt and has to stop moving at once in case of failure.
 
Metastachydium
Delja greets the newcomers with a surprised and, yet, strangely appreciative nod.   You  are  ugly, aren't you?   she wonders aloud, as she springs forward, slipping under the dire bat and dances through the door to skirt around the frontmost creature and get behind it, while resisting the urge to do a facepalm as Ux Utanar begins to inquire about Teru's whereabouts.

But then, at least he didn't politely introduce himself this  one  time. That's got to count as an improvement of sorts. She better just  sting  the uglies for now.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

So, Delja has Swift Tumbler, and so, she can Tumble and still move 25' to set up that flank. Here's a Tumble check:  (1d20+27)[ 41 ] 
If she gets through without incident, she'll ATTACK A1 from behind, fighting defensively (her AC drops from 73 to  71  (T 62) or  79  (T 70) if she provokes an AoO):  (1d20+26)[ 29 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  adamantine magic and piercing plus  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
With a flash of steel, Myriad pops into other visible spectrum once more, now flanking the creature Delja targeted, dagger snaking out and stabbing at its flesh repeatedly.   "This is my special key! It unlocks your insides so they become your outsides!"   she says cheerily with a disturbingly cheery grin on her currently dwarvish face.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Room Already Cleared[
 

 Move Action:  5' step from door adjacent to the doorway opposite Delja to flank.
 Full-Round Attack 
Dagger Attack One (Flanked)  (1d20+29)[ 48 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  piercing damage +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric damage &amp;  (8d6)[ 25 ]  Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Two (Flanked)  (1d20+24)[ 40 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  piercing damage +  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric damage &amp;  (8d6)[ 27 ]  Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Three (Flanked)  (1d20+19)[ 28 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  piercing damage +  (1d6)[ 4 ]  Vampiric damage &amp;  (8d6)[ 27 ]  Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Four (Flanked)  (1d20+14)[ 27 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  piercing damage +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric damage &amp;  (8d6)[ 26 ]  Precision dmaage.

Would normally gain HP equal to Vampiric damage dealt. Ineffective because she is at full HP.
 
chaincomplex
Delja, supernaturally swift as she is, repositions before the aberration can react and strikes true. Foul, steaming goop pours out of the wound she inflicts. The aberration screams continuously with the uncanny voice of a human child. Immediately after, Myriad fulfills her spoken promise: her flurry of strikes vivisects the same aberration into its constituent parts, large chunks of silently quivering flesh, soon to fall inanimate. It is gone.

Undeterred, perhaps not even cognizant of its partner's demise, the other aberration   A2   unleashes a full attack on Delja while muttering repetitively in a child's voice,   "The girl eats the snail in the garden. The girl eats the snail in the garden."   Four slams and a bite with one of its tentacle mouths—all of which Delja dodges with the very grace and effortlessness of the wind. It slithers back 5 feet.

It is now the   Players' Block  .
remetagross
  "Now, if you keep trying to harm us, we have to answer."   Ux Utanar knows the knight code has been followed here: the abominations have had their chance to stop assaulting them. He spurs Ereshki onward and roars out a cry of challenge:  
"Face me now, or die for the Platinum Dragon!"  
Letting his shield clang to the floor, he seizes his lance with both hands and tries to plunge it right through the monstrosity's eye as Ereshki comets forward to crash into the thing, flying right above Delja.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ereshki takes a full-round action to charge at the monster.
Ux Utanar: swift action to issue a Knight's Challenge to the creature (it will not work if the creature's CR is less than 18), +5 morale bonus to to-hit and damage for 17 rounds.
Standarc action: charge attack with Power Attack -6, to-hit:  (1d20+27)[ 28 ] , damage (multiplied by 4 by using a lance, and a Valorous Weapon, and Spirited Charge),  (1d8+25)[ 28 ]  x4
 
Metastachydium
Thoroughly satisfied with how much her muscles still remember from the good days of old, Delja shifts back cautiously in pursuit of the creature, trying hard not to step into the goo. It doesn't look like something she would like to have on her skin. Ux Utanar crashing into the creature while bellowing religious slogans just a mere foot above her head, on the other hand, is much more impressive a sight. She has to give the knight this much: he has style.
  You need help with that?   she calls up, quizically and in a manner much less solemn, punctuating the question with a quick succession of measured stabs.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

5' step and full-attack on A2, defensively for AC 71:  (1d20+26)[ 38 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  adamantine P,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  adamantine P,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 19 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  adamantine P,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force;
and  (1d20+11)[ 17 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  adamantine P,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Twirling her dagger with a flourish and slightly unnervingly maniacal grin, Myriad dashes past the remains of the slain abomination, circling around her companions to feint and stab at the second enemy.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Room Already Cleared
 

 Move Action:  30' to get within melee range.step from door adjacent to the doorway opposite Delja to flank.
 Free Action:   Feint  (automatic take-10)  Bluff = 60  vs Sense Motive check or become flat-footed (if not immune).
 Stabdard Action:  Dagger Attack vs A2  (1d20+27)[ 47 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  piercing damage +  (1d6)[ 6 ]   Vampiric damage &amp;  (if not immune to Feinting and if they fail Sense Motive DC 60)  (8d6)[ 42 ]   Precision dmaage.
 NOTE:   Natural 20 on attack roll. Rolling to confirm crit for double damage in OOC thread.
Would normally gain HP equal to Vampiric damage dealt. Ineffective because she is at full HP.
 
chaincomplex
Ux's charge misses the aberration as it quickly prances out of his path.   "Where are we, papa?"   it squeals. Ux notes that the aberration did not seem to respond to his challenge.

Delja's flurry strikes once, tearing grey flesh and chilling the wound as the aberration manages to dodge the other strikes. She notes that it does not seem to be hurt by the chill.

Then Myriad moves in and delivers the final strike, a brutally precise attack piercing deep within its eye. As its foul, dark blood splashes everywhere, it seems to almost survive the blow and begins to crawl away, but the vampiric negative energy imbued within the changeling's blade takes effect and after a violent shudder, it falls dead.

 ──────────────────────────────── 
 The battle is over.  For the moment, at least. Across the hall of broken runes the party now finds themselves in, the sounds of chains clanking behind the southern doors promise more. They do not approach; they wait for the party.
Geeksthenewsexy
Even as she flicks her blade out to rid it of gore, Myriad's eyes take on the faint glow of her Detect Magic ability and she begins a circuit around the room, pausing at doorways to double check for traps bot magical and mechanical. Holding a hand out to her companions as she does so to indicate they shouldn't meander as she works to secure the room, she pauses at the sound of rattling chains to tilt her head and listen before resuming her circuit around the room.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 38 ] 
 


Checjk for Traps (Roll in spoiler above)
 
chaincomplex
As Myriad methodically moves about the once-elegant stone-and-brass hall it is clear none of the runes, which may once have shone with magical power, are potent any longer. These runes are inscribed into the floors, walls, and ceiling with a brilliant blue mineral, but they have long since been defaced by what looks to be a combination of persistent clawing and powerful slams. It is a Spellcraft check to try to discern their former purpose.

Besides the runes there is mixed, dried gore over much of the middle and far end of the hall, now coated with a fresh new layer of the foul grey guts of the two aberrations the party just slew.

Myriad finishes her sweep. There are no mundane traps, and interestingly enough, all the doors leading from the hall are unlocked despite possessing similarly intricate locks to those of the arrival chamber.

Heavy chains continue to shift behind the southern doors.
remetagross
Ux Utanar sheathes his lance, dismounts and pats Ereshki. He is impressed by the combat prowess of his two comrades once again. He speaks in a low voice, though the rumble of the fight must have warned whatever creatures are waiting for them anyway.  
"Well done all, that was swift and effective! But there seems to be more..."  
Once Myriad has secured the area, the dragonborn goes back to fetch his shield, and by whispering the command word, the shield starts floating in the air right next to him.   
"These creatures didn't seem powerful enough to annoy a planeswalking mage, though. They must be some sort of byproduct of the real threat in that place, don't you think? Any idea of who these chain sounds can come from?"  
Metastachydium
Delja wipes the the dismal fluids off her face with a thoroughly unimpressed grimace as she watches Myriad snoop about. She has a clear preference for goos of a more natural sort. Ux Utanar's a lucky fellow to have had the bat block most of it for him. As Myriad wraps up her examinations and the knight voices his own assessment, the nixie nods energetically at first in agreement (these sacks of pus would be little more than a speed bump for a wielder of magic), but she quickly finds things to disagree with as well.    Who? Try  what .    she murmurs, flicking her eyes between the changeling and the dragon, before gesturing towards the southern door with the point of her sword.    Clean up now, search later?    she asks eyeing the others expectantly. She's finally back in the fight and, for all the goo, it feels  good . She'd rather stay on the offensive.
Geeksthenewsexy
Twirling her dagger idly in her fingers, Myriad shrugs and answers quietly,   "Byproduct or not, We should clean the place out of any unwanted elements regardless so we can investigate in peace. Plus, I'm totally going to try to take the portal object with us. Who wouldn't want their own pocket dimension?"   Gesturing around at the goo, she waffles her other hand,   "And the goo can totally be cleaned out later. Better to investigate at leisure rather than camp in this guy's office until someone else comes in and finds the portal object and possibly us inside and starts asking questions we don't know the answers to yet. But, making it safe to investigate should be our first priority, I think."  

As she is speaking, her off-hand raises and her Warder's Keys bob over to both the eastern and southern doors. Fingers twitching as she controls them from afar, they proceed to lock both doors as she positions herself by the western door. As her tools slip themselves back into her haversack, she nods to her companions, having secured their rear as she prepares to sweep the area room by room, starting with the eastern door.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Cleared
 

 Silver Key class feature ' Crafty Hands ' : The ability to manipulate mechanical devices with your mind, allowing you to make  Open Lock and Disable Device checks at a distance of up to 60 feet . Activating this ability is a move action, after which you make the appropriate check as normal. You can move and manipulate objects weighing up to 5 pounds (including your warder's keys), allowing you to use any bonuses that such objects add to your checks.

Open Lock check to lock Eastern Door:  (1d20+33)[ 49 ]  (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)
Open Lock check to lock Southern Door:  (1d20+33)[ 42 ]   (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)
 
chaincomplex
Two satisfyingly weighty clicks and the eastern and southern locks' unseen complications snap into a shut state.

Myriad is now standing by the western door.
Metastachydium
Delja blinks twice, quite confused.   Druce.   she says slowly.   I grew up in a swamp and  liked it .   Cautiously picking her way around the body of the slain creature, she walks past the side doors and towards the southern one, stopping just short of the section with the runes.   By  clean up  I didn't mean  tidy up . I meant  kill everything that moves and isn't us or Teru .  
remetagross
Ux Utanar nods appreciatively at Myriad's telekinetic command.  
"I'm always impressed when I see that trick of yours."   He approaches the southern door and gently knocks on the door as if to ascertain how secured it is. He turns to Myriad and Delja.
  "But do you all think whatever creature is behind that door will be stopped by a closed door? Tell you what Myriad, if we carry on to the west, I wouldn't be so confident in thinking our rear is safe. Do you have any kind of alarm system, maybe? Else, I can ask Ereshki to stand guard here for us,"   and he strokes his dire bat that has happily flewn by his side. The dragonborn moves up to the changeling and looks towards the nixie.
  
"At any rate, I'm not sure I'm fond of your plan, Delja: what if after that creature, there is another one, and then another one, and...we'll never make progress if we keep waiting for them to come to us, right? What do you think?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
Shrugging, Myriad nods towards the now-locked doors,   "Monsters usually don't use keys and thieves' tools. More the 'break the door down' sort. Which should make plenty of noise, if they can use tools or have key with those tentacles, I wouldn't mind if Ereshki stays too, but dying mule should make plenty of noise. Or at least give Ereshki time to warn us while it is being murdered."    Reaching into her Survival Pouch, she yanks out another magically conjured mule. Patting it on the head, she shoos it towards the middle of the room.   "Just....uh....bray loud if anything tries to eat you? We're counting on you, Mule #2!"  

Twirling her dagger in her fingers, she places her free hand on the door and waits for her friends' signal that they are ready to sweep the room beyond.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Cleared
 


Handle Animal to just get the mule to stand in the middle-ish of the room:  (1d20+11)[ 20 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja sighs with a  hint  of resignation in her voice. Words seem to fail her today again and again.   Look, I never said we should  wait ; quite in the…   she closes her eyes for a second to make a dismissive gesture with her left.   You know what? Never mind.   She throws a quick nod in Myriad's general direction as she shifts beside the door, opposite the changeling.   We'll do it your way. So,   she sighs again.   Whenever you're ready, I s'ppose?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Let's Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 42 ] 
 
chaincomplex
The  survival pouch  mule gives its summoner a melancholic look as it settles down on the half-crumbling stone floor of the hall. It is clearly less than pleased being hoof-deep in viscera, and it very nearly bolted when Myriad handled it.

Myriad swings the heavy west door open. Beyond, the party sees a passage made for humanoids. Two closed doors flank the way and the end terminates in a sharp turn south.

Delja first hears only the muffled moving chains to the south, though after a moment of concentration she hears...  something ... down the west hall, like whispers only that she cannot make out words among the noise.
remetagross
Ux Utanar pats Ereshki and indicates the room to her with a swipe of his hand. He looks at her in the eye, flatters her neck, and takes a soft, encouraging voice. He gestures to Delja, Myriad and himself.
  "Alright Ereshki, I am now asking you to perform a difficult task. If anything other than us three enters this room, you must warn us of this. Emit your fiercest cry so we will hear you and come to help you...and the poor mule. Is that understood? If you perform well, you will have a weasel. Guard,"   and he takes his whistles to produce the sound Ereshki has learnt means she needs to guard some place,   "and warn!"   and he mimicks a direbat cry.

Once the mount has understood what is asked of her, she flies upwards to the ceiling and comfortably hangs herself upside down, squeaking happily.

The dragonborn comes forward, unarmed but his shield still floating near him.  
"All good. I'm ready too, Myriad. Waiting for you to proceed."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar tries a DC 25 Handle Animal check (and that is an auto-success with his +26 modifier) as a full-round action to "push" Ereshki to accomplish an animal trick she does not know: the "warn" trick from Complete Adventurer (which needs the "guard" trick as a prerequiste, and Ereshki knows that one).

 
 Originally Posted by Complete Adventurer 
 Warn (DC 20): An animal must know the guard trick. The animal reacts to new creatures coming near without any command being given, using any or all of its senses. The exact warning sound given varies is chosen at the time of training and cannot be changed. If the newcomer does not stop after this warning, the animal attacks. As part of the training, the animal can be trained to ignore specific creatures (such as the trainer’s allies). 
 
 
Metastachydium
   Keep quiet, you two.    the nixie hisses in a low voice.    There's talking down the hall.   
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding at Delja's warning, the resident sneak-thief creeps into the passage, making a slow circuit as she hunts for traps, all the while keeping one ear pointed towards the far-end, attempting to hear what Delja had heard.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 53 ] 
 

Move Silently:  (1d20+33)[ 38 ] 
 
Metastachydium
As Myriad flits close to danger like she always does, Delja shifts into the passage herself, ready to dart forward and get between the changeling and, well, anything that would fancy jumping her. One can never know, after all. Worst case scenario, she gets to stab something from the front row.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja Moves Silently into the corridor:  (1d20+15)[ 22 ] ; and
readies an action to move past Myriad if anything appears from behind the bend.
 
chaincomplex
Myriad moves into passage. Shadows dance over her face as she passes the wall lamps. Silently, the "dwarf" checks the doors and sweeps for traps. The doors are identical to those elsewhere on this demiplane—elegant, dense wood with good locks and silent hinges—and similarly there are no traps. The doors are unmarked.

Delja notes that whatever is whispering is all the way down the hall, past the southward turn and behind some door or wall. She thinks she recognizes the language as Abyssal, some primeval dialect. It is a Knowledge (the planes) or a Decipher Script check to assess what is being said, and she will have to move closer to actually make out explicit words.
Metastachydium
Abyssal? That can't be good news. With a mildly annoyed grimace taking shape on her face Delja shifts forward, placing her raised index finger on her lips as she passes by Myriad and stopping just short of the bend. No risk, no risk, no gain after all.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sadly, Delja doesn't have either of those skills. She is, in fact, fluent in Abyssal, on the other hand (one of these days picking up Orc and Demodand (yes, I keep doing that) will likewise pay off, I'm just sure of it).
 
remetagross
Being utterly devoid of any stealth abilities, Ux Utanar remains motionless so as not to parasite his friends' attempts to hear the waiting foes. His eyes dart back and forth between Delja and Myriad. Calm but concentrated, he waits for any of them to give him the signal to move forward, when the clanking of his steps will not matter anymore.
chaincomplex
Peeking down the hall, the nixie sees it terminates in more doors identical to the last: two flanking and one right at the end, none marked, and likewise clear of traps. All the doors in the hall are unlocked.

She is certain now the whispering comes beyond the southernmost door. It  is  Abyssal, she recognizes its cadence, but the dialect is too obscure. It is certainly not the same Abyssal  lingua franca  of the Blood War tanar'ri, the most commonly spoken variant, the kind one encounters in the City of Doors or learned by the diabolists of Faerûn. This variant she is hearing is ancient, like Auld Common to Common, a curious thing as Abyssal has remained unchanged for a  very  long time.
Geeksthenewsexy
Giving a hand signal to indicate no seen traps, Myriad continues creeping down the hall, even as her off-hand raises and her Warder's Keys bob over to both the northern and southern doors. Fingers twitching as she controls them from afar, they proceed to lock both doors as she continues on. As her tools slip themselves back into her haversack, she nods to herself.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Cleared
 

 Silver Key class feature ' Crafty Hands ' : The ability to manipulate mechanical devices with your mind, allowing you to make  Open Lock and Disable Device checks at a distance of up to 60 feet . Activating this ability is a move action, after which you make the appropriate check as normal. You can move and manipulate objects weighing up to 5 pounds (including your warder's keys), allowing you to use any bonuses that such objects add to your checks.

Open Lock check to lock Northern Door:  (1d20+33)[ 40 ]  (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)
Open Lock check to lock Southern Door:  (1d20+33)[ 49 ]   (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)

Move Silently:  (1d20+33)[ 42 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja, in the meantime ponders their options, to little avail. She's unlikely to figure this out on her own. Given that, she probably shouldn't bother either. That doesn't, on the other hand, mean there's nothing she can do. Tiptoeing past the bend, she catches up with Myriad and lays a light, cautious hand on her shoulder (which would have been tougher business with Ux Utanar; it's a good thing Myriad picked a dwarf's shape from among all the available options). Making sure she caught the changeling's attention, she points at the door at the end of the passage and wiggles her index finger negatively before pointing, in turn, at Myriad, her own mouth and towards where they left the knight.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move Silently onwards:  (1d20+15)[ 30 ] 
Trying to just as silently convey the following message: "leave that one alone for now; the three of us need to talk". Bluff, if neccessary:  (1d20+20)[ 26 ] 
 
chaincomplex
With satisfying snaps, the locks of the two doors  O22  and  J32  activate. At this moment the whispering abruptly halts, and there is utter silence.
Geeksthenewsexy
As Delja silently gets Myriad's attention, the changeling nods with a slight shrug at the hand gestures and starts creeping back down the hallway, throwing one last glance at the last door in the hallway before turning back, thinking to herself,   She must want to talk strategy before clearing rooms or something.  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Cleared
 

None
 
Metastachydium
Delja follows suit, swallowing a displeased groan as it becomes obvious that whatever's past the door has been, at some level, alerted to their presence. Once Myriad's been herded all the way back to their clankier companion, the nixie pulls both of them closer.    Huddle time, people.    she whispers.    There's good news, bad news and more bad news. Good news is, I recognized the language spoken back there. Bad news is, it's Abyssal. Of the archaic sort. Pre-tanar'ri archaic, I'd say. Does that ring a bell?    she throws a glance in Myriad's direction.    Also, they've heard the damn locks,  Druce .    she adds with a grimace.
Geeksthenewsexy
Pausing to consider her companion's words, the changeling shrugs.   "I mean...they were about to  see  us when we went in, so hearing the locks shouldn't make that much of a difference? If it speaks demon, we're just gonna murder it anyway on general principles."   Glancing between her two companions, and even giving the mule a glance before continuing,   "Aren't we?"   She gestures at the gory chunks of abomination scattered about to the north. Obviously not seeing any issue with her preferred 'stab it til it dies and the problem goes away' approach to hostile diplomacy.   "We'll just take care of that room first before going back to clear the others, since it already heard us."   She flashes a confident grin at having an easy-to-follow plan of action. If 'stab all the things' can be considered a plan.
remetagross
Ux Utanar nods at Myriad's remark.
  "Indeed, they must have some sort of supernatural senses that don't care for doors anyway. Moreover, if I understand correctly, only the door far at the south was emitting any noise, right? So if you lock the two other doors near that one, "Druce", then we're good to explore the noisy door. How does that sound?"  

And turning to Delja, he adds:  
"But archaic Abyssal means nothing to me, I'm afraid. Though this means whatever's behind that door is probably a different creature than what we faced when arriving here, since the two monstrosities were speaking in Common."  
Metastachydium
   No kidding.    Delja replies to the dragonborn's last comment, rubbing her temple absent-mindedly.    And yes, we're killing stuff and whatever.    she half-turns towards Myriad. What's even going on here, she wonders. The changeling used to understand this thing about the element of surprise.    Once you've told us what in the  Abyss  you think might speak like that.   
chaincomplex
Ux searches his memory for common knowledge about Abyssal, but there is nothing. Not even in the tanar'ri haunts of the Lower Ward in the City of Doors would the linguistic history of Abyssal be common knowledge.
remetagross
   "Sorry mates, nothing comes to mind about that language you've heard, Delja"   , he whispers in return. But he turns to Myriad.
   "Anything you might recall?"   
chaincomplex
Myriad knows that tanar'ri are not the first inhabitants of the Abyss. On any mortal timescale they have ruled for approximately eternity, but there was a time, perhaps a time  before  time, when dead gods walked and and primeval forces shaped the cosmos. It was in this time that the aberrant obyriths ruled the Abyss, or what passed for the Abyss in that dark era. Later nearly wiped out in a war of mutual hate with what are now tanar'ri, the obyriths were the first to speak the runes of Abyssal, though in their distinct, tilted style a contemporary speaker would find challenging to follow.
Geeksthenewsexy
Tapping her chin in thought with one hand as the other idly flips her dagger between the fingers of the other, Myriad shares what she recalls about the subject (See above post). With a shrug, she suggests,   "Maybe the guy we're looking for is dredging up or recreating the obyriths? Maybe they are the tentacle things. Come to think of it, this demiplane doesn't feel right. Like..."   Pausing to concentrate on the odd feeling, she hesitantly continues,   "I think this plane is protected from outside sight. Like it's a place outside the view of  powerful  forces. Maybe the same forces that conmspired to hunt down these particular abominations? Good bet that if these things escape, some very violent-minded beings  way  above our paygrade will come calling if whatever he's hiding in here gets out. Better make a note to wash all the gore off us before we leave, just in case. Don't want to walk out wearing the blood of some demigod's ancient enemy and get caught in any crossfire..."  

Shuddering at the thought, the dwarf-shaped changeling smirks.   "We might not have the full element of surprise, but as long as we can control the flow of what we have to deal with, I think we can handle it. Slow and careful beats fast and dead every time!"  
Metastachydium
   Huh.    Delja says simply, a corner of her mouth visibly twitching.    Huh. Alright. Why don't we do this  fast , careful and  now , then?    she asks, her question mainly rhetorical. Turning already to move back into the passage, she flashes a glance back at the knight over her shoulder.    So, you wanna lead the way or shall I do that?   
remetagross
Now that the debate is settled, Ux Utanar answers Delja.  
"Well, we already know there are no traps before us, and that our presence is detected. I might as well go first. The role of a Knight is to block out all possible way for harm to reach his comrades - I''m going to do just that in that narrow hall."  
Bading a farewell sign to Ereshki - which is still guarding the room for them - Ux Utanar moves past the nixie and the changeling, unsheathes his sword, and proceeds down the lobby.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar moves all the way to the southernmost door, provided his comrades follow closely behind him and that nothing happens in the meantime.
 
Metastachydium
Delja rolls her eyes (albeit  almost  affectionately).    I'll be right behind you.    she says simply, following suit.    Let's  do  this.   
Geeksthenewsexy
Beaming at the plan being put into action, the portal-obsessed pseudomagical rogue flips her dagger into the air and snatches it into a backwards grip, and follows her companions, obviously ready for action. Her eyes begin to glow a faint purple as she turns on her ability to Detect Magic and tosses a thumbs-up to Magical Mule #2 behind them as they move into the hallway, who obviously just continues to stand there eyeing Ereshki warily.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Cleared
 

None
 
chaincomplex
The party moves through the silent corridor, hearing only their footsteps on the wooden floor. They stop just before the southern door. Torch sconces on the paneled walls look down on them, flickering. The doors sits invitingly.
remetagross
Ux Utanar moves his hand forward, the other still gripping his sword, his shield still floating behind him. He raises his eyebrows to his comrades as if asking whether they have any reason to stop him in his movement.

In case he gets the A-Ok from Delja and Myriad, the dragonborn works the door open.
Geeksthenewsexy
Holding up a hand, Myriad slowly and carefully squeezes past her companions to give the door a quick and silent check for traps and lock before falling back to the rear position.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 43 ] 
 

For expediency, if there is a trap - She"ll quietly gesture to have everyone back up down the hallway before using  Disable Device   (1d20+33)[ 43 ]  and/or  Open Lock   (1d20+33)[ 51 ] 
If no trap/lock, she simply gives a thumbs-up to rush the door.
 
Metastachydium
With a curt nod, Delja drops into her defensive stance. They may as well get over with this. Hells, it might even prove educational in some way. She's never fought obyriths before.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja goes into Total Defense, raising her AC to 73 (T 64, FF not really a thing).
 
chaincomplex
The heavy door swings open smoothly and noiselessly, exposing a comfortable room beyond. The room is carpeted and wood paneled, with two dim crystal chandeliers hanging high overhead keeping the room lit but shadowed. Strange control panels flank the room, mirrored exactly ( E34 – E36  and  O34 – O36 ). A row of luxurious couches sit facing the far wall, which appears to be cleanly carved from a totally opaque, ocean-blue crystal.

The room is empty—there is neither space to hide, nor any invisible creature Myriad can see.

The crystal wall pulses a moderate aura of abjuration. The aura extends to a pair of symmetric elegant levers on the control panels, marked by plaques as  Theater View  in Draconic. The other pairs of levers, similarly marked in Draconic, read respectively  Observation Lights ,  Ritual Information ,  Plane Information ,  Summon Servants ,  Theater Channel ,  Conference Channel ,  Emergency Channel , and  Emergency Quarantine ; together these levers pulse with strong auras of abjuration, conjuration, divination, evocation, and illusion.
remetagross
Ux Utanar makes a wary step forward, his sword still in his hand. Though no visible ennemies are present, there might be hazards he can't detect.
Metastachydium
Peeking out from behind the dragonborn's legs, Delja narrows her eyes and sniffs the air, mostly out of instinct as she tries to pick up the noise ( any  noise) the whispering obyrith-adjacent entities might make. Keeping her ears honed, she then briefly turns her head around to look at Myriad and moton towards the  apparently  empty hall with her eyeballs, the wrinkles forming on her forehead asking a silent question:  now what? 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 36 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Carefully squeezes past her companions, Myriad carefully scans the room.  Taking note of the row of luxurious couches and then the far wall of totally opaque, ocean-blue crystal.   "The Wall has a moderate aura of Abjuration. The plaques under the levers read, 'Observation Lights, Ritual Information, Plane Information, Summon Servants, Theater Channel, Conference Channel, Emergency Channel, and Emergency Quarantine' in Draconic and give of auras of abjuration, conjuration, divination, evocation, and illusion. Fairly high-end bit of magecraft, if they function as advertised, as far as I can imagine. I'm assuming the 'threater channel' and 'plane information' are our best safe-ish bet to test, if we want, when I'm done."  

Nodding, she begins to make a slow, careful circuit around the room, checking for traps, saving the panel and levers for last to check over.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 41 ] 
 

Trap check in spoiler above.
 
chaincomplex
Delja strains to listen. She hears the mule, back in the hall, stepping in place and snorting. She hears the softest rush of air from the door as her companions enter the room. She hears the sturdy steps of the dragonborn, accompanied by the occasional clicking of his weathered scales. She hears utter silence: these walls insulate noise the way only a foot of stone can.

Myriad does her rounds. The room is clear of hazards, save for whatever hazards the levers can unleash.
remetagross
  "No more...Obyrith sounds?"   asks Ux Utanar in a puzzled voice. He moves further in the room, reading the Draconic instructions.   
"It could be useful if we could find records of some sort. Maybe a journal somewhere?"  
The dragonborn sits where "Plane information" is written, and haphazardly taps on the panel to try and activate some device.
Metastachydium
  No more obyrith sounds.   Delja confirms, letting her feet sink into the carpet. It still feels weird.   Knowing our luck, they went ethereal or something.   she adds, as she approaches the blue wall herself, having acclimated herself to the texture of the new floor.   And, um, Ux?   she places her left on the knight's wrist.   We've  talked  about this, damn it. Yes, intel on this place'd be welcome, but could we  maybe  let 'Druce' handle that thing?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding in satisfaction that there are no active hazards, the group's trap-spotter meanders over to the same portion of controls that the beefy dragonborn seems most interested in. Nodding at Delja's comment, she briefly slips her dagger in its sheath and cracks her knuckles loudly before drawing it again and glancing at her companions.   "Let's see if this is labeled correctly, shall we?"  

inspecting the lever and section of the wall near it, Myriad pauses expectantly and waits for her companions to give her the go-ahead before attempting to activate the 'Plane Information' function of this magical construction.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 


Use Magic Device (When the group is ready and gives the go ahead):  (1d20+30)[ 44 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Letting go of Ux Utanar's arm, Delja makes a couple of impatient gestures with her free hand, urging the changeling to activate the device.   We have things to kill; let's get done with this.  
chaincomplex
Myriad pulls the lever. It easily rotates into place with a click, before returning to its original position when she lets go. She is certain there is no trick to it—the device was made for laymen to operate.

The sounds of a soft bell rings in the room, then an image appears on the crystal wall. It does not take long for the party to recognize it as a full map of the complex (see the  battle grid ). Small figures move on it: three humanoids in the party's room, namely the party themselves; a huge, writhing creature in the room  K39  just south of the party, interacting with some complex arcane machinery; what appears to be dead humanoids at  Q29 ,  AM23 ,  AM29 ,  F16 ,  O43 , and  P43 ; a large, arachnid creature at  U5 ; and eight of the same aberrations from earlier scattered across the complex. The scene plays out like a macabre dollhouse.

At the same time, a transparent figure appears before the party at  N36 . It is liveried like a butler, but beneath the fabric is a cloud wisp in approximation of a humanoid. It speaks Draconic in an airy, male voice:   "I am Pilot, the  genius loci  of the  Five Pebbles . We are currently moored in a temporary demiplane with standard laws. All methods of egress presently blocked due to quarantine breach. Engines and environment control nominal. Crew status: six deceased, one soul trapped.

"State your query, guest."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Waving at the apparition, Myriad smiles and replies in draconic - for anyone with an ear for the language, her accent is distinctly aristocratic...which is entirely at odds with her stream-of-consciousness word vomit.   "Hello, Pilot!"   Glancing at her companions, she shrugs.   "Can you...uh...maybe tell us more details about the erm...' containment breach'? Like...uh  what  was contained,  what  breached, and the ' quarantine protocol ' details? Oh! And about the dead people. The uh..crew? Wait...crew implies like...a ship, right? And your name is Pilot...."   Eyes going wide, she excitedly continues,   "Is this a  ship ? Like...a  planar   ship ?"   Clearly having forgotten her line of questioning, her voice becomes  very  excited at her last question. Hiding her mouth from the apparition, she clearly mouths the Common word 'DIBS!' with exaggerated enunciation her companions with a look of wild and unadulterated  glee  in her eyes, clearly too excited to explain what exactly she is attempting to call 'dibs' on.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 
Metastachydium
   You're  killing  me, Druce.    Delja remarks with a pained grimace and a sigh.   For the sake of us all,  please  do ignore everything she's said after  dead people . We're after  that . People.   she turns to address Pilot in a harsh but otherwise flawless troglodyte dialect.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sense Motive on Pilot:  (1d20+15)[ 25 ] 
 
chaincomplex
Pilot considers Delja's interruption briefly, then replies,   "An artifact was brought aboard the  Five Pebbles  and contained in the ritual chamber for study and decommission. Quarantine protocols were activated, involving force and prismatic walls over all external portals, activation of decontamination wards in the main hall, and the sequestering of the  Five Pebbles  in a temporary demiplane. During the period of observation the subject item attempted to conjure creatures within the ritual chamber, which was blocked by our defenses. After several failures in this vein, the subject item used two wishes: one to bring the lower planes denizens presently aboard, another to soul trap the principal investigator.

"In the ensuing confusion, the wards in the main hall were broken, and the remaining crew killed in action. Among the deceased: Engineer Sunsdóttir, Quartermaster Tsana, Pathfinder Nokor, Marine Diligence, Marine Burtrann, and Marine Fist."  
Metastachydium
  What Joy!   Delja quips sardonically.   Can you name the imprisoned lead investigator for us?   she thinks for a second.   And maybe point out wherein the, um,  artifact  is contained? Is it somehow   she gestures towards the blue wall   the thing that obyrith's staring at over there?  
chaincomplex
Pilot responds without hesitation,   "The soul-trapped crewmember is Navigator Teru. The artifact is located in the ritual chamber, in the aftmost compartment, portside. The largest of the lower planes intruders is attempting to interface with it."  
remetagross
Ux looks at the others with an air of ah-ah ! He asks in a stern voice:
  "Pilot, could you identify or at least describe the intruders, their power and what they are currently doing ? Maybe scrying on them right now ?"   
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad's mouth opens and closes several times as she fails to find adequate words. Her eyes are wide and filled with unspoken feelings of betrayal as she silently stares at Delja with the absolute saddest pouty-face a dwarf can make.


 
 Spoiler: The Guild of Crushed Dreams 

Attempting to guilt Delja into feeling bad for dream-crushing.
 Bluff:  60
 Diplomacy:  50
 Intimidate:  50
 

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 
chaincomplex
Pilot sweeps their arms towards the crystal surface. The map of the complex is immediately replaced by three images, creatures in suspended animation. One the party recognizes as the aberrant creature they fought earlier.

Of the other two, one is a large spider-like creature, except that it has ten legs, numerous arm-length tentacles spilling forth from where the mouth would normally be, three long and vicious tentacles tipped with stingers extending from its abdomen, and nine red eyes arrayed asymmetrically about its head.

The last one is a bloated creature that appears to be a crude amalgamation of huge, deformed heads, connected by bleeding, rotting tumors, and secured by thick, shifting chains. Its two largest eyes, yellow and predatory, are accompanied by a massive fanged maw. Countless little arms extend from its body, performing various tasks. Several are holding books. One is clutching a large black pearl.

 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
After a moment, the images jerk to life. Of the aberrations the party fought earlier, the party sees one sauntering down a hall, trailing nauseating slime in its wake. After some inspection it is clear this is aberration   A3   moving to the door at  H11 .

Of the arachnid creature   O2  , the party sees it standing before a large, complex control panel in a spacious chamber. Behind it, some large, dizzying magical contraption swirls with a kaleidoscope of colors ( K7 ). The creature is murmuring to itself in its archaic Abyssal as it probes the switches and knobs on the panels. Delja recognizes the voice.

Of the chained creature   O1  , the party sees it interacting with some kind of machinery, a runed stone platform with brass and glass piping and wires running across its surfaces, and a massive series of connected spikes and conductors, lined with pulsating blue arcane circuits, all arrayed at a heavy if nondescript black leather tome sitting atop it ( I40 ). Two of the creature's hands feed a broken length of piping dripping glowing blue substance into one of its many mouths. The image persists for only a moment, before one of the creature's eyes looks straight at the party and the scene turns pitch black.

 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
  "It found the scrying sensor,"   says Pilot dryly.   "In any event, I'm not equipped to answer material questions about our guests, other than to say the arachnoid can teleport and the chained one can spellcast."  
Metastachydium
  Alright.   Delja nods.   So we have Teru and…   oh no. Did she just make Myriad  almost  cry? That can't be good. With an exasperated sigh, she places a small, webbed hand on the changeling's arm.   I hate you, Druce, did you know that?   she says encouraginigly.   And you  can  have the thing once we're done with it,  just stop making that face . 'Til then…   she goes on soothingly.   Why don't we go and stab something to death? The many-faced thing, maybe? Would that make you feel better?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Huge, slightly watery eyes wide, Myriad lets out a small sound of happiness,   "Really?!"   She throws a fist into the air in triumph with a cheer before snatching Delja into a quick hug, already prancing away before she has a chance to react, already with her dagger in hand blurring between her fingers in intricate flips and twirls.   "Lets go stab  all the things !"  

Turning around, still walking backward, she calls out to Pilot,   "Thanks, Pilot! If you can do any more  quarentiney  things to the doorways to keep these things even better contained, feel free to do so! Stuff like that shouldn't bother us much. We'll take care of these critters and then we'll see what we can do about your trapped friend. Can you let us know remotely if things change so we can help with any new issues?"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 
Metastachydium
Still winded by the unforeseen hug, Delja bites her lower lip, somewhat concerned as she watches Myriad skip away merrily.    How come I already regret this?    she mutters. More importantly, though, she's supposed to be a heartless, blooded killer for hire! How does that damn changeling even  do  these things?   Come on, Ux, let's pick up that pace before she runs into something too big for her alone.   she adds with a big, fat sigh.   Hells, it's not like we can even  leave  this place, should something happen to her.  
chaincomplex
In response to Myriad, Pilot bows in an exaggerated manner, then he vanishes along with the images on the crystal surface. The room is silent and lifeless once again.

 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
As the party leaves through the hall with Myriad leading, they hear Ereshki screech in alarm, shortly followed by Myriad's mule making something between a drawn-out whinny and a whimper.  Roll for initiative! 
remetagross
Ux Utanar watches Myriad's antics with a mixture of amusement and wariness.
"  There there, you'll be sure to have that place for you at the end of it. If only because I doubt Master Teru will be able to resist these tearful eyes."   He smiles as the two women hug.

  "Yes, we'll take care of her, Delja, as we've always done."   Marching behind the enthusiastic changeling, Ux Utanar is wondering which creature they are going to face first. But then, the cry of alarm of his dire bat turns up the adrenalin into him. He starts running towards his mount, seizing his sword two-handed.
  
"By the Platinum Knight! Something has arrived in the hallway!"  
chaincomplex
 Turn Order.  Aberration   A2   → Arachnoid   O2   →   Players' Block   → Aberration   A1  .

  Aberration    A2  .  Delays.

  Arachnoid    O2  .  It moves with suddenness, grace, and purpose. It teleports forth and attacks!
 
  Swift Action:  Vanishes from  V8  and reappears at  U24 . 
  Full-Round Action:  Full attacks Ereshki (  Er  ). 3× stings hit for 12, 9, and 14 hp damage respectively; plus 1 Strength damage (DC 29 Fortitude save negates), 3 Dexterity damage (DC 29 Fortitude save negates, save separately), and 3 Charisma damage (DC 29 Fortitude save negates, save separately). 2× tentacles miss, 3× tentacles hit for 8 hp damage plus 4 acid damage, 5 hp damage plus 4 acid damage, and 10 hp damage plus 9 acid damage. 
  5-Foot Step:  Steps from  U24  to  V23 . 
 
Despite the constant chittering of the aberrations around it, the arachnoid remains silent, its many red eyes hatefully watching. It  knows  Ereshki is not the main threat.

  Aberration    A2  .  Acts. It burbles nonsense in Common as it moves to join the fray.
 
  Move Action:  Moves from  Y7  to  V13 . 
  Standard Action:  Moves from  V13  to  V21 . 
 
  "Are you lost, little one?"   it squeals at Ereshki, spittle flying from its maw.   "Where are your parents? Why don't you come with us?"  
 Turn Order.  Arachnoid   O2   → Aberration   A2   →   Players' Block   → Aberration   A1  .
remetagross
Ux Utanar can hear the roar of pain of Ereshki from a distance.   She is not prepared to deal with that kind of monster by herself!   He barrels through Myriad and Delja, barely stopping to turn right at the corner of the hallway, and now he sees a confusing tangle of...pseudopods and limbs everywhere. But Ereshki cannot be seen. The dragonborn is seized by a great anger, and he shouts a mighty cry to the arachnoid thing and he gibbering abomination at the end of the lobby.
  
"You unholy monsters, stop attacking foes that are weaker than yourself, and come to face me in the battlefield, if you so dare! By Bahamut, be prepared toface my wrath and meet your end here!"  

In the meantime, the wounded Ereshki reverts to a very simple battle behaviour, which is to flee.  Cornered, it flies back 5 ft to the south and as low to the ground as possible (since it was up to the ceiling) to put some distance between her and the spider-like creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Two move actions to get to square M23 (Ux Utanar suffers no speed reduction for wearing medium armour).
Swift action to initiate a Test of Mettle towards the monsters. Will save DC 37 or they have to attack no one else than Ux Utanar for the next 17 rounds. This only works if the creatures have a CR of 18 or greater, an Int score of 5 or greater and possess a language. But it works even if they are immune to mind-affecting effects.
Ereshki moves to U27 in a move action.
 
Metastachydium
 Rusty.  All rusty. How does  Ux Utanar  react faster than her? Delja shoots forward and rounds the corner, slipping past the knight. Maybe she should move further yet? She could do so, she hasn't used the belt yet. But what would be the point of that? She'd stand alone. and that wouldn't be…  Ideal.  The nixie's well aware that she's probably overthinking it, but her advance still grinds to a halt. Still, her head's  largely  clear; thinking shows that. They'll need a couple of clear heads for this.   Keep calm, Ux.   she calls back, without turning. Myriad needs no  real  reason to be rash. Were the dragonborn to enter some kind of vengeful frenzy… That could get interesting.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Having a single swift action is a pain. I went through, like, a billion combinations and by the time I came up with something other than "double move", Ux Utanar went forth, making "chrge defensively" less than feasible.

Delja moves to O23 and stands by.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Barrelling around the corner, Myriad leans hard as she does so, hugging the wall and raising her free hand to unhesistatingly fire off an eldritch blast parallel to the wall by mere centimeters, keeping the center of the hallway free for her companions' own movement, her face fixed with a chilling smile.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

Move 30' to square  K23 
 Eldritch Blast Attack vs  Touch AC  on target O2:   (1d20+20)[ 27 ]  for  (3d6)[ 13 ]  Untyped Magic Damage if successful.
 
chaincomplex
The arachnoid   O2   tanks the eldritch blast. It barely reacts to Myriad's presence, its many red eyes all fixed on Ux.

  Myriad's Mule.   The mule flees south in fear.

 
  Full-Round Action:  Withdraws from  W25  to  X28 . 
 
 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
  Aberration A1.   It moves to join the fray, but sees Ereshki in the process and pivots to attacking.

 
  Move Action:  Moves from  S6  to  V12 . 
  Standard Action:  Uses a spell-like ability. The dire bat blinks, shakes it head, and squeaks. Its mind is being affected! It is a Will save (DC 18) to avoid the state of confusion. 
 
  "Come here, little one,"   the aberration burbles.   "Comeherecomeherecomehere—"  
  Arachnoid O2.   It murmurs in its archaic dialect of Abyssal, its voice deep and alien.   "Szara ak tûl, trizg mes tûl."   It is a Decipher Script check for any Abyssal speaker to interpret.

 
  Standard Action:  Uses a spell-like ability. The dragonborn feels his muscles knot impossibly densely, the skin under his scales turn hard and cracked, his airway closing as he struggles to breathe. He is turning to stone! It is a Fortitude save (DC 23) to negate. 
  Move Action:  Moves from  V23  to  U24  
 
  Aberration A2.   Sizing up the width of the hall, it decides instead to attack Ereshki.   "There's no need to be afraid, little one,"   it chitters.   "We are just going to play."  
 
  Move Action:  Moves from  V21  to  W25 . 
  Standard Action:  Bites Ereshki. It hits for 16 hp damage. A foul orange venom seeps into the wound. It is a Fortitude save (DC 23) to avoid being poisoned. 
 
 Turn Order.    Arachnoid O2   →   Aberration A2   →   Players' Block   →   Aberration A1  .
Metastachydium
Delja closes her eyes in frustration for a split second before glancing back. Much to her satisfaction the obyrith's apparently trying to petrify Ux Utanar. Good luck with that! Satisfied, she turns back almost in the same instant to face the arachnoid monstrosity again.   Where did you learn to  speak , ugly?   she quips in the finest Abyssal she can produce just as she leans forward and activates her belt. The world seems to slow down all around her the moment all colour fades from a bead on the buckle; time is her ally now and she sprints forward, halting gracefully inches away from the obyrith, a foot sliding back as she assumes a stable stance that lets her weave, forward to swing, and away from stings at her leisure and  sting  she does. In a blur of motion, her blade darts forth, once, twice, four times, aiming for the eyes, eager to draw ichor.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja swift action activates her Belt of Battle to gain a move action; 2/3 charges remain;
she then move action closes the distance with O2, ending on U23, activating Child of Shadow and gaining concealment against all attacks;
finally, she full-attacks defensively (AC 71, touch 62):
 (1d20+30)[ 43 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+25)[ 30 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold plus  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+20)[ 25 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold plus  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+15)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold plus  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
All attacks crit on 17+; they  could  possibly count as cold iron, but I realise I never specified that Delja activates the metalline quality when she learned that it's demons.

Also, an untrained Decipher Script for the heck of it:  (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
As any potential target moves further into the chamber, out of her view, Myriad leans forward and puts on more speed, slipping past Delja and readying her dagger as she takes in the situation in the room.   "Duck and Weave, Magical Mule #2!"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

Move 30' to square  K23 
 Double Move Action  (60' total, from K23 to W23), having lost line-of-sight/effect.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar fights against the magic seeping through his body, and after a few seconds he feels his organism free of the petrification power. Concentrated on the arachnoid monstrosity that seems to have answered his challenge - his conscious mnd has filtered the gibberish away - he decides now is the time to join the fray. The aberrations have had sufficient warning that their actions would be met with consequences. The dragonborn lets his greatsword drop to the ground with a clank, and his lance magically springs to his hands. Knights do not always fight from dire batback. He shouts with great fury, briefly clicks his two gloves together, with his shield still floating behind him, and charges.

  "For the Platinum Dragon!"  

In the meantime, Ereshki, wounded, cornered, and unable to attack any supernatural monstrosities without the supervision of her master, flutters her wings desperately to bat away (got it? haha) her foes.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Free action: the arachnoid is designed as the target for the Shield block class feature of Ux Utanar, which grants him a +3 shield AC versus that foe.
Free action: drop the greatsword.
Free action: draw the lance two-handed (because there is a lesser crystal of alacrity on it that gives Quick Draw to the weapon).
Swift action: activate the 1/day  True Strike  effect of the Gloves of the Master Strategist.
Full-round action: charge up to S23, dishing out a single melee attack to the arachnoid O2 at the end of the charge. Power Attack for -15 to-hit, +30 to damage.The lance has the Valorous property, which doubles damage on a successful charge. To-hit:  (1d20+33)[ 35 ] . Damage:  (1d8+38)[ 44 ]  times two. -2 to AC for this round.
Note: everyone is now within 30ft of Ux Utanar and benefits from a +4 to all Fort saves thanks to his Draconic Aura (stamina).

Also, in case O2 leaves its square, there's a -20 penalty to Tumble checks to avoid AoOs, and even 5ft-steps trigger one. In case Ux Utanar is entitled to an AoO:  (1d20+3)[ 22 ]  damage  (1d8+38)[ 40 ]  and in case there's a hit, Ux Utanar will use its Stand Still feat to, instead of inflicting damage, asking for a Ref save the DC of which is equal to the damage that would otherwise have been dealt. In case of failure, O2 cannot move.

Lastly, due to the Mage Slayer feat, O2 cannot cast defensively.

Ereshki does not move and takes the total defense action to raise her AC to 34.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  As the nixie moves to engage, the arachnoid lashes out at her twice with inhuman speed. Matching its speed, she dodges both strikes, one just barely, then delivers her own. Two of Delja's attacks land, biting deep into the arachnoid's alien physiology. Its "hide" is as tough as steel, but Delja still manages to slice straight through it. Dark, inhuman blood coats her blade. Her critical strike misses as the arachnoid's form suddenly displaces out of the path of the attack. The arachnoid seems totally unharmed by the repeated cold assaults.

No luck on understanding the creature.

 Myriad.  As the "dwarf" slips past the front, the arachnoid lashes out thrice with its stingers, striking with pinpoint accuracy and speed. Two of the attacks land. First, Myriad takes 23 hp damage. Additionally, she takes 4 Dexterity damage (DC 29 Fortitude save to negate) and is staggered (DC 30 Fortitude save to negate). Second, Myriad takes 27 hp damage. Additionally, she takes 1 Dexterity damage (DC 29 Fortitude save to negate) and is staggered (DC 30 Fortitude save to negate).

 Ux.  The dragonborn's attack lands, lance skewering right into the creature's body, spraying its blood in a wide arc across the hall. The arachnoid leans into the blow, many red eyes staring hatefully at Ux.

 Ereshki.  After a few shakes of her head, she is free of the magic's influence.

 Myriad's Mule.  The mule cowers in its corner.

 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
  Aberration A1.   It moves to join the battle then attacks Delja.

 
  Move Action:  Moves from  V12  to  V20 . 
  Standard Action:  Attacks Delja. The nixie dodges with ease. 
  Swift Action:  Uses spell-like ability. Its tentacles radiate arcane energy, and Delja begins to radiate a shadowy field. All creatures within 20 ft. gain concealment, even those with darkvision or low-light vision. 
 
  "It's nighttime,"   the aberration burbles.   "You need to go to bed!"  
 New Foes.  The door  Y23  bursts open. In the hallway, squeezed so tightly that its nauseating flesh fills almost all the space, an aberration   A5   frantically moves to join the battle. Behind it there is yet  another  of the aberrations (  A4  ), it too moving to join the battle.

  Arachnoid O2.   The creature's wounds are not minor, yet it does not seem in the least bit perturbed. It calmly assesses its status, then delivers a parting attack before teleporting some distance away.

 
  Full-Round Action:  Makes a full attack against Ux. It attacks with stingers thrice, only one landing. The knight takes 10 hp damage. Additionally, he takes 2 Strength damage (DC 29 Fortitude save to negate). It attacks with its tentacles five times, only twice getting past Ux's defense. Ux takes 6 hp damage and 5 acid damage, then 7 hp damage and 8 acid damage. Ux's  retributive amulet  lashes back at the arachnoid with a surge of energy, yet all of it dissipates harmlessly against its hide. 
  Free Action:  Speaks to the aberrations,   "Aketûn vol."   Its deep voice sounds almost amused. 
  Swift Action:  Uses spell-like ability. It teleports from  V24  to  V12 . 
 
  Aberration A2.   It steps closer and its saucer eye flashes red. The party feels a familiar force trying to freeze their movements.   "Why are you hurting us?"   it burbles.   "We're only trying to help..."  
 
  5-Foot Step:  Steps from  W26  to  V25 . 
  Standard Action:  Uses supernatural ability. Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) each have to make Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed! 
 
 Turn Order.    Arachnoid O2   →   Aberration A2   →   Players' Block   →   Aberration A1   →   Aberration A4   →   Aberration A5  .
Geeksthenewsexy
Taking the two hits with a hiss, Myriad's nearly feral grin twists into a rictus snarl of anger and bloodlust.   "Oi! Stabbing **** is  MY  job!   Putting her words into practice, she lunges in, fainting, and quickly stabbing at the abomination's vital spots as best as she can fathom them, seeking to regain her own lost vitality by stealing her foe's.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  222/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

5' Move if this would make the target flanked. No move at all if not.

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int)
 Full Attack   
  (1d20+27)[ 36 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 28 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+22)[ 37 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 32 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+17)[ 30 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 23 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+12)[ 20 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 20 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.

Also, I added Sneak Attack Damage for each in case the Faint works, but the sneak attack damage (and bleed) only applies to the first attack that hits  unless  it is  also  considered  flanked,  in which case  all  instances of sneak attack damage should apply, regardless of faint's effectiveness.

(Please indicate either how much Myriad heals via vampiric damage, or at least w hich  strikes connect so I can tabulate healing accurately)
 
Metastachydium
The Spider blinks away and now she's radiating darkness. Marvelous. Delja hisses indignantly as the spell energy from  another  magical assault uselessly washes over her and then it's decision time. Again. She assesses things as quickly as she can; she could go after the Spider, but splitting up with the whole hive converging on them doesn't seem wise. She better deal with her new shadow, then.   Sorry, ugly, I'm not that sleepy right now.   she tells the blaberring pile of tentacles with cold contempt and slipping her fingers into a pouch on her belt, pinches between two fingers and pulls out a small coin. Brilliant light bursts forth from it as she shifts closer and stabs at the creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja move action pulls out her copper piece with Continual Flame from her belt pouch; even if she was hit by Deeper Darkness, CFlame should negate it;
she then 5' steps at V22; and
attacks A1 defensively (for AC 71, T62):  (1d20+26)[ 44 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical piercing (possibly cold iron) plus  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar winces as the spidery creature before him seems to stomach the blow with no sign of panic or weakness, then teleports away. The creature leaving the space before him allows him to witness through the darkness the vague silhouette of the two new monstrosities hurrying to add themselves to the fray. He remembers the first two of this kind they have encountered when entering the ship had been defeated rather easily, but he still would rather they didn't make things more complicated than they already were. These monsters are too weak to pose a worthy challenge, but they are numerous. Bracing himself for the attacks on the way, he barges through the width of the room to block off access to the two newcomers.

"  Don't move any further, or you will taste the steel of Ascalon"  , snarls the dragonborn to the squeezed-by creature. He also addresses Ereshki, glad to have her in his field of view and witness her not too badly hurt so far.
  
"Ereshki, do not move from where you are!"  

The dire bat squeeks with panic and excitement at seeing her master, but happily stays away from the abomination before her as much as she can.

Ux Utanar, somewhat seeing the shape of the arachnoid monster at the bottom of the lobby, decides this is the most dangerous ennemy and that he must keep on applying pressure.
  
"If you are honorable enough, come and fight with us without your teleporting antics. Be brave and face your death eye to eye!"  

His feet stable in the ground, his lance ready to stab whatever wants to come close, he takes a deep breath...and unleashes a thunderous lightning bolt. The electricity courses right through the gibbering many-eyed monster before him and towards the arachnoid ennemy. Bolts of electricity dance on their skins and ensnare them for a few moments.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move action: go to X23. Ux Utanar might be eating some AoOs on the way, he hopes his AC (back to 36 now that the charging penalty is over) is high enough to ward them off (and potentially bounce back half the damage to the attackers). His conditional +3 shield bonus to AC remains targeted to O2. Ah, and his lesser crystal of arrow deflection on his shield grants him a +5 bonus to AC against ranged attacks.
Swift action: initiate a Fighting Challenge towards opponent O2 (the conditions of applicability are the same than for the Test of Mettle, so I suppose it applies as well). Ux Utanar now benefits from a +4 morale bonus on to-hit, damage and Will saves against that foe for 17 rounds.
Standard action: breath weapon between the upper left corner of square X23 and the lower left corner of square W14. This should catch both A1 and O2. Since this is an area of effect attack, the concealment due to the supernatural ability of A2 should not apply. Ux Utanar deals  (7d6+4)[ 26 ]  electricity damage, divided by 2 (because of the use of the Entangling Exhalation feat). Cooldown duration:  (1d4)[ 1 ]  rounds. Duration of the  entangling  effect and the added 1d6 electricity damage at the beginning of their turn:  (1d4)[ 3 ] .
Immediate action: since Ux Utanar is now adjacent to Myriad, if Myriad ever suffers physical damge before the start of Ux Utanar's next turn (and if she is still adjacent to him at that moment) then Ux Utanar spends his next turn's immediate action to use the Shield Ally class feature. The first attack for physical damage that Myriad would suffer is entirely transferred to Ux Utanar (and then, provided it's a melee attack, the Retributive Amulet will trigger and send back half of that to the attacker). All following physical attacks for that turn will be half transferred to Ux Utanar (and then again, Retributive Amulet).

Ereshki remains in total defense, except if Myriad's attacks have taken down A2. In this case she will roost right next to Ux Utanar in the W25-X24 squares.

Ah, in case an AoO must be rolled: he uses Stand Still as usual. Power Attack of 5:  (1d20+18)[ 31 ]  (add +4 if that's again O2) and damage  (1d8+18)[ 25 ]  (damage = Ref save to be allowed to keep moving, add +4 if that's again O2).
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  The aberration   A2   is not flanked as Ereshki does not threaten it. Nonetheless the first three of Myriad's attacks land, even through the present gloom. The changeling's feint works on the first attack. She sees the silhouette of her dagger slicing well into the creature, accompanied by a spray of foul blood smelling of rotting flesh, all too familiar in these horrid halls.

She heals 3 hp from the vampiric assault.

 Delja.  Her shining piece dispels the darkness, and her followup strike lands. The blade bites deep into the slick gray physiology of the aberration. The thing squeals like a human child.

The stench is going to take forever to wash off.

 Ux.  As Ux moved past it, the aberration   A2   attempted to bite Ux, but missed. The dragonborn's Fighting Challenge is successful. His lightning breath zaps both targets, but they appear to shrug off most of the damage. The aberration   A2   is entangled, but the arachnoid   O2   seems to move freely despite the coils of lightning winding about its form.

A smell of ozone joins the present odor.

 Myriad's Mule.  Cowers in its corner.

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration A1.  Its saucer eye flashes red! Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) or become paralyzed. Entangled in a field of electricity, it gibbers, upset.

 Aberration A4.  Moves from  AC21  to  AA23 , squeezing into the tight hall. Then its saucer eye flashes red! Delja, Myriad, and Ux (but not Ereshki this time) must make another Will save (DC 20) or become paralyzed.

 A New Foe Approaches.  Yet  another  aberration (  A3  ) comes into view, just behind the arachnoid. This one is curiously mute and behaved, simply staring at the party with its giant alien eye.

 Aberration A5.  Five-foot steps from  Z23  to  Y23  then full attacks Ux! Two slams, one bite, and two tentacles—none manage to get through the dragonborn's defenses.   "More friends!"   it cries in its high-pitched voice, waving its gore-slick tentacles with excitement.

 Arachnoid O2.  The creature's deep voice rumbles in response to Ux, almost like laughter. A violent, unseen force sweeps the dragonborn's legs. Ux is being tripped! He must make a Strength check (DC 17) to fight the force and avoid falling prone.

A deep voice whispers into the minds of the entire party. Telepathy.    Why do you come here, outsiders? This toy world is ours by right of conquest... What do the interlopers seek?   
 Aberration A2.  Makes a full attack against Ux! Two slams, one hits for 11 hp damage. It bites but misses, then swipes with its tentacles twice but misses both times. Ux's  retributive amulet  lashes out with power but the aberration shrugs it off. (All damage values are, and will be henceforth, given in pre- amulet  numbers.)

  "Dili said she wouldn't bite,"   it chitters.   "But she was a liar!"  
 Turn Order.  Arachnoid   O2   → Aberration   A2   →   Players' Block   → Aberration   A1   → Aberration   A4   → Aberration   A3   → Aberration   A5  .
Metastachydium
The darkness goes away, but now she smells like aberrant goo. Great. Delja sighs as she shrugs off to more waves of magic, almost as an afterthought. That the Spider's now asking stupid questions (but,  at least and at last  in an actual language) barely even manages to annoy her.   Why? To kill you and your smelly friends. Of course. What does it  look  like?   she jabs at the Spider in Abyssal… And at the aberration with her sword. Repeatedly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Defensive full attack (for AC 71 T 62):
 (1d20+26)[ 31 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 25 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 24 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+11)[ 16 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing plus  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Hissing in annoyance, Myriad takes in a sharp breath and mutters to herself through gritted teeth,   "This is going to  suck ...   before darting back the way she came, opening herself up to attacks from the creature in order to circle it (A2) in order to lay into it from behind, opposite of Ux, calling out to him,   "Ux, keep looking threatening  right where you are , please! Thanks in advance!  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 175  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  - 25' Move from W23 to U26

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the attack is against Flat-Footed AC

 Standard (Flanked) Attack VS Target A2 -   
  (1d20+29)[ 39 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 4 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 32 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 Previous successful Bleeding Wounds cause -1 HP. 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.

Depending on DM's rules for AoOs, (she never moved out of the threat  range , but did change threatened  squares ), Myriad may be taking one (or more, if it has Combat Reflexes) AoOs while moving.
 
remetagross
A5 has taken an additional  (1d6)[ 4 ]  electricity damage at the beginning of its turn (unless you have rolled it already?).

 
 Spoiler: If Ux Utanar has not used his immediate action for Shield Ally during Myriad's turn: 

A griffon-adorned medal resting on the chest of the knight, currently sprawled about on the floor in a rather ridiculous position ill-befitting a knight of his rank, flashes gold. In a blur of motion, the dragonborn is suddenly standing again on his feet, ready to continue the fight.
 

 
 Spoiler: If he does not have a swift action for the round anymore 

Ux Utanar, surprised at having his legs swept from under his feet, stands up as fast as he can, knowing he exposes himself in the meantime. That monster has more resources than he thought it had.
 

  "We seek first to avenge the crew of this ship that you have killed, second to free its master that you have trapped. Do you wish to negociate that?"   speaks Ux Utanar in a clear and steady voice above the thunder of battle.
   "Did you say that too?"   he whispers to Delja. 
  "I am not moving, - Druce"   answers the dragonborn - he was on the verge of using another name for her in the heat of it.

Spinning about his great lance, the knight thrusts forward to the aberrant creature between Myriad and him.
  "I am your foe now, don't get distracted by whoever is behind you."  
 
 Spoiler: If Ux Utanar has not used his immediate action for Shield Ally during Myriad's turn: 

He then reverses his motion to lash out at the monstrosity behind him that, according to her allies, does not play by the rules (+20 bonus damage from Knight righteous outrage at a cheater).
  "So you would be Dili."   he mutters, panting. But he still locks gazes with the arachnoid monstrosity he is challenging between each blow of his spear.
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 If with a swift action: 
Immediate action: use the 1/day Medal of Steadfast Honor to get back up from prone. It might or might not trigger an AoO, depending on whether Ux Utanar has succeeded in warding A5 off in the corridor due to his previous AoO.
Full-round action: full-round attack, Power Attack of 2. Ux Utanar will attack A2 until it's dead. Once it is (or if Myriad's previous attack has killed it already), then all subsequent attacks are for A5.
Attack rolls:  (1d20+24)[ 30 ] ,  (1d20+19)[ 30 ] ,  (1d20+14)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+9)[ 18 ] . No flanking bonus because of the Knight's Code.
Damage rolls:  (1d8+11)[ 13 ] ,  (1d8+11)[ 15 ] ,  (1d8+11)[ 12 ] ,  (1d8+11)[ 19 ] .
 If not: 
Move action: stand up from prone.
Standard action: melee attack agasint A2, take the first of the above rolls.
 


Ereshki, either paralyzed by fear or a supernatural effect, cawks miserably in her corner.
Metastachydium
Pained furrows form on Delja's forehead as she listens to the dragonborn address the obyrith.    Hells, Ux, why do you  hate  me so?    she grumbles.
chaincomplex
 Delja.  Only her first attack hits. She deals damage; as before, the creature seems unaffected by the cold.

 Myriad.  In order:

 
 Aberration   A2   bites at the changeling but misses. 
 Myriad's attack hits and gets the sneak attack off. Her dagger bites deep! She heals 4 hp from  vampiric weapon . 
 
 Ux.  In order:

 
 He hits his attack of opportunity against   A5  . The creature is stopped in its tracks. Incidentally, it ends up falling prone due to the dragonborn's Bulwark of Defense. 
 The first two of his attacks against   A2   hit. The first, by some trickery, fails to puncture the creature's foul skin. The second only draws a little ichor, but it does damage. 
 Both the aberrations and arachoid are unaffected by the lightning damage from Ux's breath. 
 Ereshki is not paralyzed. 
 
 Myriad's Mule.  Is rooted to the spot. It is paralyzed! Its eyes are alight with terror.

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration A1.  Full attacks Delja. All attacks miss.   "Stand still or I can't give you medicine,"   it burbles.

 Aberration A4.  Uses a supernatural ability. Its eye flashes! Delja, Myriad, and Ux must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack.   "LET ME THROUGH,"   it screams in its awful voice.

 Aberration A3.  Moves from  U7  to  T12 , then from  T12  to  U18 . This one is silent.

 Aberration A5.  Stands up; if Ux has reach, this provokes an attack of opportunity. Moves from  Z23  to  Y23 , carefully advancing through the dragonborn's Bulwark of Defense; if Ux has reach, this would also provoke an attack of opportunity.   "Wait your turn,"   it chitters.   "Did you hear about the silver dragon who ate their spawn?"  
 Arachnoid O2.  The party notices that the creature's wounds seem to be rapidly closing on their own. It telepathically responds to the whole party, its deep voice booming in their minds,    Curious! I would ask how you arrived here, but I have no interest in deals. If these failures of flesh-shaping do not overcome you, meet us in the chamber yonder for the final battle you so desire...    It uses a spell-like ability, and teleports away in a flash of magic.

It is gone.

 Aberration A2.  Uses a supernatural ability. Its eye flashes! Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) must make another Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack.

The creature drools something foul, though this fortunately precludes it from speaking nonsense this round.

 Turn Order.  Aberration   A2   →   Players' Block   → Aberration   A1   → Aberration   A4   → Aberration   A3   → Aberration   A5  .
Metastachydium
 Great.  The Spider is gone to get ready for a showdown and here they are, stuck with these… Things and their stupid flashing eyes.   It's funny that you'd say that.   Delja replies to the aberration, mostly to vent, before she'd go on and try to remove its eye.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Another defensive full-attack (for AC 71 T 62):  (1d20+26)[ 40 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical piercing (and cold iron if she changed it or adamantine if she didn't) plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 26 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing (and cold iron if she changed it or adamantine if she didn't) plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 29 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing (and cold iron if she changed it or adamantine if she didn't) plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+11)[ 16 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical piercing (and cold iron if she changed it or adamantine if she didn't) plus  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
 
remetagross
Armed with his lance, Ux Utanar jabs again at the one-eyed horror before him as it tries to come closer. He feels once again the magic of these creatures trying to wrest control of his body away from him. For the briefest moment, the knight feels his body starting to petriffy in place, his motion slowing down against his will. But he thinks about the soulbound mage he has come to free. He cannot allow himself to stop there. Ux Utanar brings about a surge of willpower, and he is free again.
  "Let's finish these, and then we'll pursue the spider-thing!"  

He brings about his weight left and right to fend off the monster facing him. Seeing how the creature warded off most of his previous blows, he leans in more into his next attacks, trading accuracy for penetrating power. Ereshki cawks to encourage her master, but has not been given the order to attack; she is happy to follow her instincts of not facing a creature with that many tentacles and that few eyes.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar has reach because of his lance, so he is allowed an AoO against O5, possibly preventing it once again to come closer. But only one, since he doesn't have Combat Reflexes. Attack roll:  (1d20+24)[ 44 ] , Ux Utanar cannot take advantage of the +4 to-hit against a prone opponent because that would be an unfair advantage for him. Damage roll  (1d8+12)[ 16 ] , turned into a Ref save of (10+damage) to be allowed to move.

 Full-round action  for a full-round attack against O5. Ux Utanar goes with a Power Attack of 4. Attack rolls:  (1d20+22)[ 42 ] ,  (1d20+17)[ 26 ] ,  (1d20+12)[ 31 ] ,  (1d20+7)[ 24 ] , damage rolls:  (1d8+16)[ 22 ] ,  (1d8+16)[ 19 ] ,  (1d8+16)[ 20 ] ,  (1d8+16)[ 18 ] .
In case there is at least one hit,  swift action  to trigger the Sudden Stunning property of the lance. A5 must make a DC 31 Will saving throw or be  stunned  for 1 round.

In case that's needed, here's an extra AoO rolled in advance:  (1d20+22)[ 27 ] ,  (1d8+16)[ 19 ] , still using Stand Still.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad's cheery voice, which is rather off-putting in the current situation, calls out from behind her current target,   "You're the best, Ux!"   A moment later, everyone can just catch the sing-song chorus of a disturbing lullaby emerge from her vicinity in a hauntingly beautiful falsetto punctuated by wet squelching stabbing sounds.
   "There shant be trumpet, flute, or drum,
The single sound, a whispered snick.
For if your bad, the  Legion  comes,
Dagger flashing, dagger quick..."     
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 179  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  - None

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the  first attack is against Flat-Footed AC. 
 Full (Flanked) Attack VS Target A2 -   
  (1d20+27)[ 28 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 29 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+22)[ 24 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 32 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+27)[ 30 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 22 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+17)[ 19 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 18 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 Previous successful Bleeding Wounds cause   -2 HP  . 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.

 Perform (Sing)  - Creepy Lullaby  (1d20+30)[ 44 ]  because....reasons?
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  Her first and third attacks hit, dealing piercing and force damage both times.

 Ux.  Results:

 
 His attack of opportunity on   A5   hits, forcing the creature to remain in place at  Z23 . 
 His first, second, and third attacks hit, dealing piercing damage each time. This creature is less resistant to his attacks. 
 The creature is stunned. 
 
 Myriad.  Her feint succeeds. Her first and third attacks hit, dealing piercing damage both times and healing her for 1 hp and 6 hp respectively.

Aberration   A2   collapses to the floor, dead. Its body remains an obstacle.

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration A1.  Its eye flashes with power. Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack.   "I AM HELPING,"   it screams. It seems moved by Myriad's lullaby, though its exact mood is impossible to read.

 Aberration A4.  Its eye flashes with power. Delja, Myriad, and Ux must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack.   "The dragon demanded her meal,"   it chitters.   "So they made her wyrmling into a pie!"  
 Aberration A3.  It moves to attack Delja, squeezing between another aberration and the wall.

 
  Move Action.  Moves from  U18  to  U21 . 
  Standard Action.  Bites at Delja and hits. The nixie takes 13 hp damage and must make a Fortitude save (DC 23) to avoid contracting poison. Its teeth drip with a foul orange substance that seeps into the bite wound. 
 
The creature maintains its silence.

 Aberration A5.  Cannot act—and arguably just as importantly, cannot speak.

 Turn Order.    Players' Block   → Aberration   A1   → Aberration   A4   → Aberration   A3   → Aberration   A5  .
Geeksthenewsexy
Skipping around the now-dead abomination, Myriad continues to hum the same melody as the fragment of lullaby she was singing the chorus of just a moment earlier. Twirling around Delja with a flourish, she lunges at her new target with a faint before deftly switching to an actual attack from Delja's side but apparently slips on some previously unseen spatter on the ground, missing the creature entirely.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 186  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  - 30' move from around the corpse from U26 to W22

  Free Action   -   Bluff Check to Faint A1  ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int)  If  the faint  succeeds , the  first attack is against Flat-Footed AC. 
 Standard Attack VS Target A1 -   
  (1d20+27)[ 28 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 25 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage   (CRITICAL MISS)   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
Metastachydium
  Yes, ugly, you sure…   Delja doesn't quite get to finish her sentence. Did… Did that thing just  bite  her? It barely stings, of course, but surprise makes her blink twice, quite confused, all the same. That's not  exactly  something that happens to her often. She  really  need to pull her faeces together, starting  now .   Druce, right-forward.   she barks, lowering herself into a half-crouch before kicking her whole gaunt body forward to roll through the thicket of tentacles before her.   Let's clean this up quick.   she adds, back-stabbing the silent one in retaliation.   And for  rot's sake , stop it with the creepy songs!  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja suggests that Myriad 5' step to X21 next round; she Tumbles under A1 to U20 herself, setting up a flank: Tumble:  (1d20+27)[ 34 ]  (if she draws an AoO anyway, she has AC 79, T 70 against it); she then
attacks A3 defensively:  (1d20+26)[ 35 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
remetagross
  "Come to me, Ereshki!"   says the dragonborn without looking directly at her. They have both shaken away the paralysing effect. The dire bat is happy to finally fly above the unmoving corpse of the aberration that had locked her away in the corner, screeching as she meets her master again. Ux Utanar swiftly hauls himself aboard with one hand and suddenly he is where he belongs once more: on the saddle of his trusted mount, a valiant Knight of Bahamut.   I feel incomplete whenever I fight without you. And so do you, don't you?   In the heat of battle, the dire bat screeches with excitement.

Guiding Ereshki with his knees, Ux Utanar turns his attention away from the stunned aberration - there is no fairness in attacking a foe unable to defend itself - and instead lends a scaly hand to his two friends.
  "You have a new ennemy here. Face me!"  
Lunging above the slight frame of Myriad, Ux Utanar spears through the cornered aberration with vigor. Ereshki, intimidated by the unnatural creature, is unable to attack.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar keeps his Shield Block towards A5: his AC raises from 36 to 39 against A5 only.
 Free action:  asks Ereshki to move to W23-X24, flying above the dead A2, 5ft from the ground. Since there is no danger for Ereshki here, I assume that doesn't count as using the animal trick "Come", which is required to make animals move where they would normally not go.
 Free action:  fast mount on Ereshki. This is allowed as Ux Utanar still has a move action available for this round. Auto-success on the Ride check: Ux Utanar can always take 10 on them, and so rolls a 40 (the DC is 20).
 Full-round action:  full-round attack against A1. This is possible because his lance gives him a 10ft reach, and he can measure the starting point of that reach from any corner that Ereshki occupies. The attack roll does not include the flanking bonus, but does include the +1 for attack from a superior position (since I assume Ereshki flying at 5ft of elevation makes it so that Ux Utanar is higher than A1. Power Attack of 2. Attack rolls:  (1d20+25)[ 45 ] ,  (1d20+20)[ 37 ] ,  (1d20+15)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+10)[ 11 ] , damage rolls:  (1d8+12)[ 18 ] ,  (1d8+12)[ 17 ] ,  (1d8+12)[ 16 ] ,  (1d8+12)[ 14 ] .
 Swift action:  in case one of these hits, then Ux Utanar activates once again the Sudden Stunning ability. Will save DC 31 to prevent stunning from happening.

In case A5 wants to move in again, it will eat that Stand Stilling AoO: attack roll  (1d20+25)[ 31 ] , Ref save DC to be allowed to move: 10+ (1d8+12)[ 18 ] 

Once during the following round, if Ereshki is attacked, Ux Utanar uses the Mounted Combat feat to replace her AC with the result of a Ride check. Taking 10 on that check gives 40. So, against the first attack that targets Ereshki before the start of Ux Utanar's next round, her AC is 40 (the feat does not specify what happens to her touch or flat-footed AC, though).
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  Attack hits and deals piercing damage.

 Ux.  Critical does not confirm. First two attacks hit and each deal piercing damage. Aberration 1 is stunned!

 Myriad's Mule.  Still stunned. It is terrified.

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration 1.  Is stunned and does not act. Drool spills from its maw.

 Aberration 4.    "MOVE MOVE MOVE—"   it screams.

 
  Standard Action.  Uses supernatural ability. Its eye flashes with power! Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. 
 
 Aberration 3.  It remains silent.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks Delja, missing all attacks. 
  5-ft. Step.  Steps from  U21  to  U22 . 
 
 Aberration 5.  It tries to stun the party then closes with Ux.

 
  Standard Action.  Uses supernatural ability. Its eye flashes with power! Delja, Myriad, and Ux (and Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. 
  Move Action.  Moves from  Z23  to  Y23 , dodging Ux's attack. 
  Free Action.  Giggles and drools. Very disgusting. 
 
 ────────────────

  Players' Block   →   Aberration 1   →   Aberration 4   →   Aberration 3   →   Aberration 5   ↺ 
Metastachydium
Delja grimaces as the silent one tries to shuffle away and towards Myriad.   Look at me, ugly.  Look. At. Me.    she hisses at the thing, springing into the air and pushing herself off the wall with a graceful kick to stab at the creature from above. And from behind. Thrice.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja free action yells stuff; then
swift action initiates Sudden Leap within A3's threatened area (drawing an AoO (AC 79 T 70 due to Enhanced Mobility)) to leap at (drum roll)  U21  (Jump:  (1d20+17)[ 34 ] , not that she really needs it); and
full-attacks defensively (for AC 71 T 62):
 (1d20+26)[ 40 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical piercing (adamantine or cold iron; I'm not quite sure which) plus  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  magical piercing (adamantine or cold iron; I'm not quite sure which) plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 22 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical piercing (adamantine or cold iron; I'm not quite sure which) plus  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+11)[ 27 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing (adamantine or cold iron; I'm not quite sure which) plus  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Following through with her previous failed stab, Myriad uses the momentum to spin and slide further along the abomination's side, assuming a flanking position opposite Delja. Leading with a Faint as usual, Myriad begins another flurry of attacks with a grim and slightly manic smile across her currently dwarven features.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 186  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  (Free Action) 5' Step from W22 to X21

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint A1 ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the  first attack is against Flat-Footed AC. 
 Full (Flanked) Attack VS Target A1 -   
  (1d20+27)[ 41 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]   Piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 28 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+22)[ 35 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 18 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+17)[ 18 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 25 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+12)[ 21 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 27 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is annoyed to see the monster he had locked down in the narrow lobby succeeding in evading his vigilant thrust. Leaving the now-stunned monster to his comrades, the dragonborn turns back in the direction of his old friend Aberration A5.
  Now is the time to put an end to it.   Ereshki shakes off the paralyzing effects, motivated by her devotion to her rider.

He jabs left and right, heaving with all his might behind each motion of his lance. His mount encourages him with both frightened and excited screeches.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full-round action: full-round attack on A5, Power Attack of 3. Attack rolls:  (1d20+24)[ 39 ] ,  (1d20+19)[ 23 ] ,  (1d20+14)[ 17 ] ,  (1d20+9)[ 10 ] , damage roll:  (1d8+14)[ 19 ] ,  (1d8+14)[ 21 ] ,  (1d8+14)[ 15 ] ,  (1d8+14)[ 21 ] .

In case someone somewhere triggers an AoO in the next round:  (1d20+24)[ 26 ] , Ref save DC 10 +  (1d8+14)[ 20 ]  to keep moving.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  The first two attacks hit, and each deal piercing and force damage.

 Myriad.  The first two attacks hit, and each deal piercing and sneak attack damage. The changeling heals for 2 hp and 6 hp damage respectively.

Aberration 1 collapses to the ground, lifeless. Foul ichor spills from its mortal wounds across the floor.

 Ux.  The first attack hits and deals piercing damage.

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration 4.  Moves up and tries to paralyze the party.

 
  Move Action.  Moves from  AA23  to  Z23 . 
  Standard Action.  Uses supernatural ability. Its eye flashes with power! Delja and Ux (and Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) or be paralyzed. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack. 
  Free Action.  Its screaming continues incessantly, growing even louder and shifting a pitch up. Eventually it reaches cacophonous heights, its immense voice joined by the chamber's powerful echoes. For the next round, all creatures within 60 feet must make a Listen check (DC 20) to be able to understand each other. 
 
   "AaaaaaAAA AAAAA  AAAAAA  AAAAAAA —"   
 Aberration 3.  Focuses on the dragonborn. It remains silent, not that anyone would be able to hear anything it might say in these conditions.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks Ux with two slams, one bite, and two tentacles. All miss. 
 
 Aberration 5.  Its maw opens and moves, as if speaking. It is hard to hear anything.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks Ux with two slams, one bite, and two tentacles. One slam hits, dealing 10 hp damage and 1 Constitution damage. One bite hits, dealing 17 hp damage and inflicting poison (DC 23 Fortitude save negates). Foul orange venom glistens in its maw. Given damage values are raw and do not factor in defenses. 
  Retributive Amulet.  The dragonborn's protections kick in! Aberration 5 is dealt backlash damage. The backlash does not penetrate the creature's defenses. 
 
 ────────────────

  Players' Block   →   Aberration 4   →   Aberration 3   →   Aberration 5   ↺ 
Metastachydium
Delja pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. These slugmounds are just  horrible  and apparently they  hate  her poor, sensitive ears.   UX! KILL THE DAMN THING ALREADY!   she attempts to outyell the scream, just as she tries to catch Myriad's attention with a couple of quick, violent motions of her left arm before she'd lower herself again to dart forward and under the silent aberration with her blade snapping forward to bite into it once more.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

D. tumbles to T23: Tumble:  (1d20+27)[ 42 ] ; her AC against AoOs is 79 T 70; and
she attacks once, defensively (for AC 71 T 62):  (1d20+26)[ 42 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing (adamantine? cold iron?) plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.

Listen checks to hear the others are at +24 and therefore automatically succesful.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Bouncing from her now-dead foe, the stab-happy changeling slides toward the large abomination being surrounded by her comrades at Delja's request. Wincing at the thing's keening wail, she yells herself,   "This is  terrible  battle music but I've still heard worse from a bard or two!"   Pausing only a moment to take in her companion's positions, she nods and lays into the new target.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 195  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  (Free Action) 5' Step from X21 to W21

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint A3 ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 60 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  56  (Additional -8 for a total of 48  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the  first attack is against Flat-Footed AC. 
 Full (Flanked) Attack VS Target A3 -   
  (1d20+29)[ 49 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]   Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 26 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+24)[ 29 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 16 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+19)[ 33 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 22 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
  (1d20+14)[ 28 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 27 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar shrugs off the poison, but the bite stinged anyway.
  "Ah, will you stop   that  ? What did you just say, Delja!?"   he yells.

All the while, he spears about the creature facing him.   They're tougher than what they look, but I least I've succeeded in warding them off so far.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Full-round action : full-round attack versus A5, power attack of 3.
Attack rolls:  (1d20+24)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+19)[ 37 ] ,  (1d20+14)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+9)[ 15 ] . Damage rolls:  (1d8+14)[ 21 ] ,   (1d8+14)[ 22 ] ,   (1d8+14)[ 22 ] ,   (1d8+14)[ 22 ] .
 Swift action : sudden stunning in case there's one hit, Will save DC 31 to avoid being stunned.
 
Metastachydium
   I SAID KILL THE ROTTEN SCREECHER ALREADY!    the nixie yells back. Typical Ux, not hearing things like that.
chaincomplex
 Delja.  Tumble is successful. Attack hits, and deals piercing and force damage.

 Myriad.  Bluff is successful. All attacks hit, and all deal piercing and precision damage. Myriad heals 1, 3, 2, and 1 hp respectively.

Aberration 3 falls to the ground, dead.

 Ux.  Only the second attack hits, dealing piercing damage. He successfully stuns   A 5   .

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration 4.  Reaches past   A 5    to strike Ux.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks Ux with two slams and two tentacles. (It attempts to bite but is not in range.) The second slam hits, dealing 14 bludgeoning and 1 Constitution damage. The second tentacle hits, dealing 8 bludgeoning damage. 
  Retributive Amulet.  Surges with power. Aberration 4 is hit by the backlash. The energy dissipates harmlessly against its thick skin. 
  Free Action.  As   A 3    falls, Aberration 4's screaming grows to an inhuman volume. All beings within 60 feet must make a Listen check (DC 25) or be unable to hear anything besides the screaming. The screams are building to some crescendo. 
 
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA    
 Aberration 5.  Stunned and unable to act.

 Initiative.  Turn order:

 
 Players' Block 
 Aberration 4 
 Aberration 5 
 
Metastachydium
The unceasing scream begins to translate into a constant, throbbing pain inside Delja's skull. She's had quite enough of that, and apparently, Ux Utanar is not going to get his priorities straight anytime soon. Wordlessly, she springs forward and over the sad heap that used to be the silent aberration to duck under the mounted knight and speed into the narrow corridor, intent on slipping past both slugmounds – and on feeding the Screamer something pointy.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Alright, Delja swift action initiates Sudden Leap for a 10' Jump:  (1d20+17)[ 23 ] ;
move action Tumbles to AA 23 (Swift Tumbler; she can move 25'):  (1d20+27)[ 41 ] , increasing her AC to 79 T 70 against AoOs and gaining concealment for the round (Child of Shadow stance); if all goes well, she then
standard action attacks A4 defensively (AC 71 T 62): [roll]1d20+26[roll] for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision (Precise Strike; I kind of forgot she has it) and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
 
Metastachydium
 
 Spoiler: That Attack roll, again 
 (1d20+26)[ 44 ] ; see damage in the previous post.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Spinning around, Myriad steps towards Ux and lets out a blast of eldritch power with her offhand towards the only thread within line-of-sight without hesitation.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Listen Check  to hear others  (1d20+27)[ 35 ] 
 Move Action  (Free Action) 5' Step from W21 to W22

 Eldritch Blast  (Range Touch Attack)  VS Target  A5  -   
  (1d20+20)[ 35 ]  for  (3d6)[ 13 ]  Eldritch Blast Damage 
 
 
remetagross
For once, Ux Utanar is glad he possesses such a poor sense of hearing.
  "I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING DELJA WHAT DID YOU SAY?"  

All the while, he grimaces as the toxic tentacles of the screaming thing sap vitality out of him.   I should clear the way before that monster so that Myriad can come in.  
He furiously attacks the previously-stunned aberration that has just come back to its senses.
  "Pay attention, the fight is going on here."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Full-round action:  full-round attack versus A5, power attack of 3.
Attack rolls: (1d20+24)[28], (1d20+19)[37], (1d20+14)[28], (1d20+9)[15]. Damage rolls: (1d8+14)[21], (1d8+14)[22], (1d8+14)[22], (1d8+14)[22].
 Swift action:  sudden stunning in case there's one hit, Will save DC 31 to avoid being stunned.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  The nixie deftly slips through the gaps in the corridor that organically open and close with the movement of the aberrations she is dodging. She tumbles safely without taking any attacks of opportunity. Her attack critically hits, and deals piercing, force, and precision damage.

Aberration 4's screaming ends abruptly as its voice mangles from the interruption. Blessed silence returns to the chamber—or, well, it is still quite loud with only the sounds of fizzling arcane energy and steel on bark-like flesh, but at least none of the adversaries are making a peep.

 Myriad.  Her eldritch blast hits, but dissipates harmlessly against Aberration 5's skin. It has spell resistance!

 Ux.  His first three attacks hit (none critically). He deals piercing damage.

Aberration 5 falls dead. Its fleshy mass fills the hallway; its body remains an obstacle. It is a DC 30 Escape Artist check (free action part of movement) to squeeze past it without slowing down; a DC 25 Escape Artist check (free action part of movement) to squeeze past it as difficult terrain; alternatively, it weighs 500 pounds. (See:  carrying rules .)

 ──────────────── 
 Aberration 4.  It tries pathetically to resume screaming but only a small, choked,   " aaaaaaaaaa ,"   escapes its maw.

 
  Full-Round Action.  It full attacks Delja with two slams, one bite, and two tentacles. Only the last tentacle hits, dealing 7 hp damage. 
 
 Turn Order.  Players, Aberration 4.
Metastachydium
Fantastic. She's hit. By this gibbering joke of a slimeheap. Again, it's not going to leave so much as a bruise on her skin, but her sad, tired mind and ego felt it all the same.   F-finally.   she hisses grumpily; she might not be as good as new, but at least she  did  make the thing stop screaming. She better make sure it will not resume it.  Ever.  Maintaining her stance, she lashes out four times.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Simple full attack, defensively (AC 71 T 62); no movement so no concealment:
 (1d20+26)[ 37 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  magic P and  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision plus  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force;
 (1d20+26)[ 39 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magic P and  (1d6)[ 4 ]  precision plus  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+26)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magic P and  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision plus  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+26)[ 32 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magic P and  (1d6)[ 4 ]  precision plus  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Pausing to look down at her left hand with furrowed brows, she shakes it out with a frown and steps around Ux to get line-of-sight on the  next  target before pointing at  that  one and trying another eldritch blast.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  Already Clear
 

 Move Action  (Free Action) 5' Step from W22 to V23

 Eldritch Blast  (Range Touch Attack)  VS Target  A4  -   
  (1d20+17)[ 23 ]  for  (3d6)[ 10 ]  Eldritch Blast Damage (if it does  not  have has Spell Resistance equal to or greater than  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] ) 
 
 
remetagross
  "Almost there!"   shouts Ux Utanar to encourage himself and his comrades. The unmoving corpse before him proves a little cumbersome to maneuver around, but the length of his weapon allows him to fight past it. He directs the attention of the last remaining aberration towards him so as to offer it a proper confrontation, all while jabbing left and right.
  "Look at me, monster! I am going to finish you off."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full-round action: full-round attack on A4, thanks to Ux Utanar's 10ft reach. Power attack of 4. Attack rolls:  (1d20+23)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+18)[ 36 ] ,  (1d20+13)[ 28 ] ,  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] . Damage rolls:  (1d8+16)[ 18 ] ,   (1d8+16)[ 21 ] ,   (1d8+16)[ 22 ] ,   (1d8+16)[ 22 ] .
 
chaincomplex
 Delja.  All her attacks hit, each dealing piercing, precision, and force damage.

Aberration 4 is grievously wounded. Great gashes ooze ichor across its body.

 Myriad.  Her eldritch blast does not hit.

 Ux.  Only his second attack hits, dealing piercing damage.

This appears to be  just  enough—Aberration 4 falls dead. Combat has concluded.

 ──────────────── 
Silence falls over the hall. The smell is indescribable, at the same time acrid and rotten. The party themselves are covered in the nauseating gore.

Somewhere to the south, muffled chains clank behind thick doors.
remetagross
Ux Utanar, at first, does not speak. He enjoys the newfound silence. After a few seconds of contentment, he calmly unhorses Ereshki and starts to summarily wipe her fur clean of blood and gore with his gauntlet. The beast squeaks with pleasure. His levitating shield floats back in his back, and he sheathes his lance. The poor-eared dragonborn, his ears still ringing from the deafening cry of the dead thing, is completely oblivious to the distant clanking of chains.

  "Well. That was a challenge for the ears. And I'm not speaking about your singing, Druce. Are you both alright?"  

He walks a few paces around.

  "I am mostly unharmed. These monsters seem to be rank-and-file minions, whereas the real deal was that teleporting arachnoid thing...Have you noticed it was starting to heal back during the fight? It'll prove a worthier challenge. How about we went back to that control room and ask for some more scrying? We could make sure in which direction it has gone."  
Metastachydium
Delja grimaces as she begins slowly clambering through the two bodies to reunite with her allies.   Well, I'm  reeking  and scratched up a tad.   she grumbles. How did that even happen?   And not in a way that I like much.   she adds, just as grumpily.   You, Ux? What's a  mostly  these days?  
remetagross
The dragonborn grimaces in answers as he pats himself in the knee where he was hit by the aberrant tentacles.
  "Some of these attacks were life-draining. You don't happen to be able to heal that kind of damage, do you? Apart from that, I've got some very minor scratches here and there."  
Ereshki screeches indignantly.

  "Ah, yes, sorry old friend"   chuckles the knight.
  "That one did suffer more than us. Can you tend to her wounds, too?"  
Metastachydium
  In more than one way, actually.   Delja's head nods as it emerges from the mouth of the corridor. Once she's done extracting herself, she drops to the floor, cross-legged and shrugs her backpack off her shoulders, placing the shining coin beside herself on the ground.   Come over here, you big lizard.   she says pulling a short, thick rod and then two sturdy belts out of the bag, poking the knight with the former the moment he gets close enough, tossing it back into the sack afterwards to activate one of the belts on herself.   I'm not sure I have enough juice to fix up your buddy, on the other hand.   she admits in the meantime, looking around to locate their changeling.   Druce?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar regains his lost Constitution!
Delja selfishly heals for  (2d8)[ 15 ]  points!
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Peering at her companions as they seem to be talking to each other, she gives a start of surprise when they look at her expectantly.

  "....WHAT?"  

Cleaning her blade on a clean patch of her pants before slipping her dagger into her belt, Myriad tilts her head and starts popping herself in the temple until a glob of...something splurts out of her ear cánal. Eyeing the awful warily, she does the same to the other ear and shudders as she swallows hard before murmuring   "I...need a hot bath. Think we all do. With soa p. ALL  the soap."   Shrugging in a 'what can you do' sort of 'oh well' gesture, she does some light stretching and calls out,   "I'm good when you guys are."  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
remetagross
  "This will do, thank you"  , says Ux Utanar as he feels reinvigorated. He then turns to Myriad and chuckles.

  "Hey, Druce, look at that place. A wizard did it. Hells if he hasn't incorporated a bathroom somewhere. We'll ask the magical butler about that, too. Shall we proceed? Ah, Ereshki, you'd better come with us, if you can manage. You are too wounded to be left alone guarding".   He gently pats her on her snout.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
If everyone is ready to go, Ux suggest we all moved back to the control room, with Ereshki squeezing at half speed to progress in the air (this is an automatic Handle Animal success skill check for the "Come" trick).
 
Metastachydium
  Well, that was gross.   Delja remarks in perfect deadpan as… Whatever that thing's supposed to be evacuates Myriad's ears. She tosses one of the belts back into her bag and rises, stepping closer to Ereshki and unloading the remaining charges from the one she's just used onto the bat, before putting the now inert item away and shouldering the sack again.   I'll have our rear. Let's roll.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ereshki heals for  (4d8)[ 22 ]  points (we aren't in initiative, so D. used the two charges separately).
 
remetagross
The bat screeches with pleasure as some of her wounds knit back - a deep gash on her left wing and a broken hind leg.
  "She says it's appreciated"  , comments the dragonborn with a smirk.

Once they proceed to the control room, Ux Utanar asks aloud.  
"Erm...magical servant? Spectral controller? Ectoplasmic butler? Whatever your title, could you appear again and tell us the current whereabouts of the three previous creatures you've displayed to us? And a bathroom, too."  
chaincomplex
Even with the defeated aberrations, the summoned mule whimpers and sidles to the other corner of the hall (moving from  X28  to  U28 )—hardly an improvement from its original position. It continues to cower before the foul, hulking, if lifeless, bodies. Sickly gray joins thick red and orange viscera. The place looks as horrid as it smells.

The party moves back into the clean, lit western passage, a minor reprieve from the filth of the main hall. Ereshki squeezes in after the party, a comical ball of fluff with two eyes peeking out, taking up most of the space. It is pulling itself forward as much as it is shuffling, claws finding grooves in the paneled walls for leverage, making soft taps and creaks as it goes, adding to the sounds of the party's footsteps.

 ──────────────── 
The party arrives at  J32  and the dragonborn calls out. The lights of the wall sconces flicker, casting shadows across the seats and panels. In a moment, the apparition materializes at  N35 , spectral livery billowing in nonexistent wind, and responds in Draconic:   "The remaining lower planes denizens are in the southwesternmost chamber. I count two living, five deceased within said chamber."   It pauses.   "I am also sorry to inform our guests that all nonessential functions aboard the  Five Pebbles  were deactivated prior to anchoring. This includes our lavatories. Related log: 'Overdue maintenance, docking prep.' Responsible crew: Navigator Teru. Time of log: six hundred and twenty-two hours ago."   The log is recited in Common, with a peculiar dialect probably not native to Faerûn.

Another pause.   "There is a logged response: 'WHY IS THIS SHIP SUCH A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN, LITERALLY NOTHING WORKS.' Recorded by: Engineer Sunsdóttir. Time of log: five hundred and ninety-one hours ago."   As before, the log is recited—or rather, screamed—in Common.

And then another pause.   "This one also has a logged response: 'Look, we're heading into Dymos. The  Pebbles   will  take damage. Rather refit and fix this thing all in one go. We'll delay until after we return.' Recorded by: Navigator Teru. Time of log: five hundred and ninety hours ago."  
Metastachydium
Ignoring the bathroom bits of the conversation, Delja nods along thoughtfully, leaning against a conveniently located couch and smearing dead aberration sludge all over it.    Dymos.    she repeats aloud, slowly and loudly, mostly for Myriad's benefit.   Thank you, Pilot.   she says then, off-handedly, but in a fairly pleasant tone.  Ectoplasmic Butler?  Really? Ux Utanar's manners really need some polishing, weird as it may be for  her  of all people to pick up on that.   Two quick questions.   she goes on, in the same troglodytic Draconic as before.   One; where's the  Pebbles  right  now , again? Two; are the five dead dead-dead or the…   she makes a number of swift gestures with her coin hand as she look for the right word.   …more  mobile  sort?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Considering thoughtfully, Myriad follows-up with a question of her own.   "Also, Pilot, is there any contingency for like...cleaning of organic hazards?"   Gesturing at herself and her companions' gore-covered bodies, she continues,   "...or a way to rig existing services up to function again? I'll be honest, I'm sneaky as the nine hells, but that won't help us help you if the creepy invaders can smell us coming."  

Turning to her companions, she muses as an afterthought,   "I'm thinking I need to invest in like... a whole  bundle  of eternal wands of prestidigitation or something just to clean up on missions like this. I'm sticky in places that should  not  be sticky. Um....while in public or polite company, at least."   She frowns and picks at her gore-soaked pants uncomfortably.


 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
Metastachydium
Delja narrows her eyes in a display of pure, undiluted  pain  and begins massaging the bridge of her nose with all her available fingers.   Druce, I…  Really  didn't  need  to know that.  
chaincomplex
To Delja, Pilot responds:   "The  Pebbles  currently has no material location; it is contained within its own generated demiplane, which is anchored to a point within the planar metropolis of Sigil."   It pauses as it considers the nixie's second question.   "The full mobility status of the deceased within the aft compartment is not on record. I assess that they have not moved within the past hour, however."  

To Myriad, Pilot responds:   "Answer to query unknown. Related log: 'What about decontamination?' Recorded by: Marine Diligence. Time of log: five hundred and fifty-eight hours ago.

"Log: 'This is going to be a scry-and-die at a mile. No exposure risk.  But  if for some reason you've got something on you, just go on and stroll through the hall wards. It'll clean you right up.' Recorded by: Pathfinder Nokor. Time of log: five hundred and fifty-eight hours ago.

"Log: 'Normally I wouldn't feel the need to say this, but Dili being Dili I stress to all crew: the hall wards  will  rip you apart. Well maybe  Dili  will survive but the rest of you won't, and I assure Dili it will still hurt like the Nine Hells. Just shower and use one of the cleric scrolls if you've caught a bug.' Recorded by: Engineer Sunsdóttir. Time of log: five hundred and fifty-seven hours ago.

"Log: 'Right, well I'm off to plant the marker. By this time tomorrow we should be back with that damned  book . Don't worry about decontamination, if we're close enough to get exposed to anything we're already dead. Without our navigator you— we —stand no chance against the abominations in close combat. Ugh, not looking forward to this jump. Dymos used to be so beautiful.' Recorded by: Pathfinder Nokor. Time of log: two hundred and sixteen hours ago."  

Pilot falls silent.
remetagross
Ux Utanar sits on a couch that faces the hallway they just came from.  
"Umm...would there be any of these cleric scrolls around here, Pilot?" he asks aloud.  
  "Also, do you gals have a clue of what that Dymos place might be? I gather it's a plane of some sort. Pilot, can you tell us more about that place?"  
Metastachydium
  That'll have to do.   Delja nods thankfully in Pilot's general direction.   And yes, let's set our priorities straight. We figure out the death world issue, kill those damn things and then you can clean up all you want.   The nixie grimaces before adding   Unless we can do that quick and…   dirty? Not quite.   …quick. Either way, I  don't  want to hear any more about it,  Druce .  
chaincomplex
Myriad searches her memory for knowledge of any plane called Dymos. There is nothing.

To Ux, Pilot, in an oddly snide tone, responds   "I am not equipped with inventory management abilities. I cannot comment on the presence or absence of scrolls, clerical or otherwise.

"Dymos is a natural demiplane. It is registered as a planar trade city. I however have no recent records of trade on Dymos. There are: three hundred and twenty-one logs relating to 'Dymos'. Analyzing logs for importance...

"Log: 'Our navigator is back, from Arcem. He has bad news. Another world's gone, this one called Dymos. Never heard of it.' Recorded by: Engineer Sunsdóttir. Time of log: eight hundred and twelve hours ago.

"Log: 'Lovely world in miniature run by mercanes. There's a planar trade port there, been many times back when I ran with my old crew. Is it really gone?' Recorded by: Pathfinder Nokor. Time of log: eight hundred and twelve hours ago.

"Log: 'It's really gone. Teru's headed there to find out why. In the meantime he  sent  me to inform you all to prepare for another jump. We got a week, maybe two. Says this one's going to be hot so don't skimp.' Recorded by: Quartermaster Tsana. Time of log: eight hundred and eleven hours ago.

"Log: 'The navigator stopped by to mention that we're aiming to snatch and grab an artifact—one of the  books of vile darkness —that supposedly blew up Dymos. This isn't our first run involving one of the  books  so you all know what to do. Except you, Fist, you need to learn the procedure from Burtrann.' Recorded by: Engineer Sunsdóttir. Time of log: seven hundred and sixty-six hours ago."  

Pilot falls silent.
Metastachydium
  Ominous.   Delja quips without any apparent conviction.   Anything we need to know about the capabilities of the late crew effortlessly slaughtered while trying to do what we are trying to do here, Pilot?   she muses in the same deadpan tone, only shifting ever so slightly closer to the apparition, covering some  more  of the couch in aberrant slugslime.
chaincomplex
To Delja, Pilot answers,   "The  de facto  commander would be Engineer Sunsdóttir, formerly a cleric of Gearsmith Arnaglaerus, and her lieutenant is Quartermaster Tsana, formerly an artificer of the Union Gleaners. Pathfinder Nokor leads the ground branch, formerly commando of the abd Multahib. Marine Diligence, background unknown. Marine Burtrann, formerly a Cipher of the Transcendent Order. Marine Fist, background unknown. The owner and shipwright of the  Five Pebbles  is Navigator Teru—and the binder of yours truly."   The apparition bows.

It continues.   "At the time of quarantine breach, Navigator Teru was immediately subject to  trap the soul  and  wish  by the foreign artifact. The intruders broke out and slew most of the rest of the crew without resistance, for they were in various states of unarmed and asleep. Marine Diligence was on watch and managed to down three of the intruders before falling herself."  

Pilot falls silent.
Geeksthenewsexy
Drucilla snorts softly.   "What a waste. If I has Wishes, I'd wish for infinite booze."   glancing down at her clothes, she amends her statement,   "And forever clean clothes."   She pauses thoughtfully, and amends her statement again,   "And the ability to do that  really  loud whistle thing where you hold two fingers in your mouth in some weird way. Never been able to do that. Man, that would be  awsome !"  

Turning to Pilot, she muses,   "Hey Pilot, before we go kill more creepified intruders, are there any traps, wards, glyphs, or any other hazards that you are aware of tht we need to worry about? Would save time if we can move at a decent pace without me needing to check every doorway and hallway, since this seems to be  sorta  time-sensative."  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
  "None internal to the  Pebbles ,"   says the apparition.   "The hall wards are inactive. They appear to have been destroyed by physical force."  
Metastachydium
Delja shakes her head with silent exasperation.   Booze is the last thing you  need , Druce, and if I'll still have fingers, I might be able to help with the whistle thing – once the job's done and wrapped with a tidy ribbon.   She seems to concentrate for a moment and as she does so, the metal of her blade begins to change its colour and consistency, turning a sturdy, rugged dull grey.   We'll be back with updates, Pilot.   she nods towards the figure, already shifting towards the exit and flashing a quick glance each at her companions.   You two ready?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Before I forget about it again, Delja activates the metalline property; her sword is now cold iron. She's going to likewise spend a standard on turning her cloak into wings once the hall's reached.
 
remetagross
  "Hey, I've tried that   a lot  as a signal while rearing Ereshki"   says Ux Utanar while mimicking a two-finger whistle.
  "However, it turns out you often have both hands grabbing a weapon when you need to signal something. So instead I whistle high-pitched, like so:"  
The dragonborn knots his long, forked tongue in a complicated way to block off most of the space between his teeth, and produces a modulated sound. Ereshki produces a matching sound.   
"I can teach you, Delja, if you use one of your wishes to enlarge your... tongue."  

Realizing it came out a bit weirder than expected, Ux Utanar swiftly moves on.  
"Anyway, let's deal with those crew-slaying artifact-summoned things."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Staring at Ux with saucer-wide eyes, Drucilla sticks her tongue out and looks down at it corss-eyed very skeptically.    "...ah mah eed da ot me ah 'warf da 'earn 'at..."   she mumbles with her tongue still sticking out. Shaking her head in wonder, she retracts her stubby tongue back into her head and nods dazedly at Delja.   "Huhu? Oh...uh....yeah. Sure thing. Totally,"   she murmurs, completely unconvincingly. Nevertheless, she draws her dagger and follows.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
The party returns to hall  V25 . The trip is uneventful, aside from the scratching of Ereshki's claws against the wood-paneled walls as it struggles to squeeze back out into the main hall.

The bodies of the fallen aberrations loom, their stench unbelievable. If it is any consolation, there is no chance that anyone could scent the party in this mess.
Metastachydium
   So?    Delja whispers before muttering some short, obscure phrase.    Do we just barge in?    Her cloak bulges and billows before rising up on both sides, getting tougher, thicker, more leathery until it's not much different from Ereshki's wings, albeit smaller and darker in colour and hue. The nixie stretches and then folds her new wings with lazy nonchalance, the rest of her body already shifting into its usual stance of balance and stability as she waits for an answer, be that words or the sound of a double door being pushed open.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Okay, Wings of Flying are active; Delja now has a fly speed of 60' (good).
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Reaching out and attempting to comfort Magical Mule #2, the party's changeling shrugs.     "I mean...we  could  open the doors and make a big racket and try to funnel them through the door. We could set up on either side and have Ux stand in front when we open for a three-way flank killbox. Tear down each target one at a time together as it comes through instead of trying to run in and go after separate targets...? But that only works if they actually come and don't attack from ranged."    she murmurs softly, using her dagger to gesticulate as she does so. She ends with a shrug, seemingly out of ideas-

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle

Handle Animal to attempt to placate/reassure Magical Mule #2 and send it away from the door somewhere out of the way:  (1d20+11)[ 16 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar answers Myriad.
  "They've been enthusiastic to move to close combat range last time, there's no reason to think it'll be different this time. Besides, given your size, you two are much more mobile than they are, what with their bulk in these cramped spaces. I like the "three-way killbox" plan. What do you say, Delja?"  

All the while, the dragonborn chooses a wand from his belt and waves it around at the attention of Ereshki and himself.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
That's a wand of Shield Other, which Ux Utanar will succeed in activating unless he rolls a nat 1 on his Use Magic Device check:  (1d20)[ 13 ] 

For 3 hours, Ereshki gains +1 deflection to AC and +1 resistance to saves, and half hit point damage she suffers goes to Ux Utanar. This ends if either moves more than 30ft away from the other.
 
Metastachydium
Delja stares at Myriad for a long moment. That was pretty clever actually. Bt the time Ux Utanar is all finished with presenting his own insight, she's likewise made up her mind and simply nods.    Well, you're the noisy one.    she tells the dragonborn, stepping to the side.    Kick it in. We'll let them move first.   
chaincomplex
At Myriad's coaxing—or after about half a minute of it, as it were—the summoned mule finally musters the strength to move. With a quiet  hee-haw , the mule trots off into the western corridor, taking care to avoid the oozing corpses of the aberrations. The echoes of its hooves recede into the distance.

 ──────────────── 
When the party is ready, they open the heavy southern doors. Fortunately the doors appear well-greased, as they swing open with little friction or noise.

A large, well-lit chamber greets them. The room's granite floor is marred by thick scratches, not just from any recent battle but also from what must have been decades of use in storing heavy cargo. Brass plating covers the walls, and their veins run out across the ceiling and floor, conveying unseen currents to unknown purposes. Gas lamps line the walls, burning so brightly from every direction there is no shadow.

At first the party spots two of the aberrations at  W33  and  V39  respectively—three, counting the small sliver of  P38  in their line of sight between the two columns  S35  and  S37 —but upon a second glance they are clearly deceased, cleanly cloven apart by some great, but unseen, weapon. A trail of their ichor leads southwest to unseen corners of the room, promising the source of their deaths.

The place echoes. The sound of shifting chains, slow and plodding, can be heard from the unseen southwestern portion of the room.
remetagross
Ux Utanar closes in to inspect the cadavers.
  "That must be the work of the marine among the crew, that has been able to slay two before being taken down. Except these kills seem fresh enough, and no one has hearh about Master Teru in months. And the logs say this fight happened dozens of hours ago. So... either the ship is equipped with some sort of preserving magic, or... it was not the marine. "  
Metastachydium
Suppressing the powerful urge to bash her own head in, Delja follows the knight, tugging at his forearm to halt his progress.    Pilot said  three . The numbers match.    she whispers rapidly.    Don't overthink it and  stop moving forward , for rot's sake. The obyrith's in here.   
Geeksthenewsexy
Peeking around the corner through the door at the dead bodies, Myriad mutters,    "Well... shyte ."    Glancing at her companions she nods towards the door and shrugs questioningly, deferring to them for a new suggestion.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
Metastachydium
Delja gestures towards the unseen reaches of the hall past the corner with her blade.   The old-fashioned way? Ux and I close, you join in from behind once we have its attention?   she breathes out and indeed, almost just  mouths  at Myriad, trusting the changeling's phenomenal ear to pick up the brunt of it.
Geeksthenewsexy
A cheerful dwarven thumbs-up greets Delja from across the doorway along with a grin and a waggle of eyebrows.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
Metastachydium
Though suddenly not so sure it's a good idea, the nixie gives the knight's arm another tug.    Change of plans.    she tells him softly.    Let's get in there an make some  noise .   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Initiative for whenever we'll need it:  (1d20+14)[ 15 ] 
 
chaincomplex
As Ux and Delja move forward, more of the chamber comes into view around the corner. The duo pass a dead aberration, its stale rot assaulting their senses, though so thoroughly desensitized to filth at this point they cannot be compelled to sickness.

At this time two humanoids come into view, or rather what used to be humanoids: they appear to have been violently ripped apart. Their lifeless bodies are slumped over at  O43  and  P43  respectively, torn into gory chunks and stewing in their own rotting viscera. One has the vague features of a human woman—this one has patches of mail remaining on her body as well as a shattered fullblade readily as large as her on her corpse—and the other roughly humanoid but possessing an otherworldly tinge to his skin and hair, or what is left of them anyways; they are pallid from decay and difficult to assess with any precision.

The one with the fullblade is also caked in the gore of the aberrations, and sits at the end of the trail of ichor.

 ──────────────── 
Then as Ux and Delja move a little further, the unmistakable form of the spider-like demon they saw before comes into view (as  O₂ ). It is very much alive and moving, though at moments it is so still it may as well have been a lifelike statue. There is no mark of any prior damage upon it.

As neither the dragonborn nor nixie attempted to conceal themselves, the demon senses their presence instantly and turns to face them. There is no emotion of hatred or disdain upon its many void eyes: it moves like a hunter after a deer, with intent to kill and little feelings to spare.

The other, tumor-ridden demon is nowhere to be seen.

Roll initiative (except for Delja)!
remetagross
  "Alright"  , speaks Ux Utanar softly to Delja.  
"Let's make some noise."  

The dragonborn unsheathes his lance Ascalon and taps the haft with a finger. This triggers the wand stored in the hollow chamber inside it. Dosing himself with it, he stores it back before doing the same maneuver with the wand in his shield. This one is for Ereshki. Rider and mount immediately swell to bulky proportions. Ux Utanar then slowly proceeds to ride up Ereshki, lets his floating shield loose, and prepares to... 
 Spoiler: When his initiative is up... 

...bellow at the monster with a thunderous voice.   "You ! We have defeated your pathetic minions. Are you there to own up to your massacres ? Or to flee one more time like a coward insect ? By the Platinum, I will avenge the crew you have killed. Now show a shed of honor and face me here !"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move action: retrieve a wand of Enlarge Person with the power of Heward's Handy Haversack.
Standard action: Use Magic Device to use the wand on himself.
Then again with the wand of Animal Growth, all during the surprise round.

When initiative begins:

Swift action: Test of Mettle on 02 (Will save DC 37 negates).
Free action: 5-ft step to the south.
Free action: designate O2 as target for the Shield Block class feature, increasing the AC by 3.

 

 
chaincomplex
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2, then Player Party.

 Obyrith 2.  The spider-thing closes in to attack.

 
  Move Action.  Half-leaps, half-glides from  M40  to  U37  in a motion utterly unnatural and swift as quicksilver. 
  Standard Action.  Uses a supernatural ability. An intense psychic assault besieges the party—their thoughts descend into a infernal cloud! The entire party (including Ereshki) is stunned for 4 rounds and takes 3 Wisdom damage. A Will save (DC 27) negates the effect totally. This is a mind-affecting gaze attack. 
 
It does not speak—by its focus, it evidently appreciates the party for the threats they are. In proximity it smells of acrid ash, not a terribly unpleasant smell considering the prior hall. Yet the smell of rot is ever present in this chamber as well, from the party (coated in gore as they are), the rotting corpses, and perhaps from other unseen sources.

It is the party's turn.

 ──────────────── 
 Ux Utanar.  Results:

 
 Test of Mettle succeeds against Obyrith 2. 
 Unable to take a 5-foot step south; Delja is in the way. 
 
Ux still has most of his turn remaining.
Metastachydium
Gritting her teeth and feeling her shoulders sag for a heartbeat, Delja powers through whatever the Spider hit them with.   South past the second!   she calls out to Myriad, currently unseen to her, as she dances around the obyrith to try and test her blade against it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja swift Tumbles down to V38:  (1d20+27)[ 31 ] ; and
attacks the Spider defensively (for AC 71 T 62):  (1d20+26)[ 39 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
She free action suggests Myriad flank with her from S38 to give Ux room for maneuvering. Bluff if needed to convey the message:  (1d20+20)[ 38 ] .
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  As the nixie rounds the corner, the rest of the chamber comes into view—and with it, the massive obyrith from before (as  O 1  ). Its huge, tumorous body pulsates nauseatingly as the chains that hook into it begin shifting, dragging along the floor, almost animated by their own force. The now-visible large arcane machine at  J40  buzzes with energy along its runic circuits. Atop a lectern-like part of the machine, surrounded by brass instruments arrayed towards it, sits open a tome. At the foot of the machine are countless blood-soaked notes, strewn about in discord.

 O 1   is cradling an orb in one of its larger hands, a black pearl as wide as a dinner plate, in a possessive manner like a mother their baby. The largest of its many faces wears a hideous, too-many-toothed smile.

Delja's attack hits  O 2   and deals the full piercing, precision, and force damage. Even so, the damage seems to be glancing; the spider-thing shrugs it off with little concern.
Geeksthenewsexy
Slipping along the inner wall, Myriad's steps hitch slightly as the thing's psychic assault slams into her, but after a split second, she shudders and continues on her path, having shrugged the effect off. She then heeds Delja's call and flanks the spider-like abomination before laying into it from behind.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 202  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  (1d20+37)[ 41 ] 
 

 Move Action  - 25' Move from Q35 to S38

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 55 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  51  (Additional -8 of base/adjusted ( 47/43 )  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the attack is against Flat-Footed AC

 Standard (Flanked) Attack VS Target O2 -   
  (1d20+29)[ 31 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 25 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
Extending his elongated arms, Ux Utanar viciously stabs at the monster with greats swings of his lance. He winces as he sees the obyrith will probably try and attack his allies as well as himself. He barely gives an afterthought to the mental onslaught the creature is trying to submerge him with.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Full-round action: full-round attack. Power attack of 2. Attack rolls:  (1d20+23)[ 29 ] ,  (1d20+18)[ 25 ] ,  (1d20+13)[ 17 ] ,  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] . Damage rolls:  (2d6+14)[ 16 ] ,   (2d6+14)[ 21 ] ,   (2d6+14)[ 16 ] ,   (2d6+14)[ 23 ] .

In case Ereshki gets attacked during the next round for HP damage, Ux Utanar will use him immediate action to use the Shield Ally class feature and take all the damage for himself for the first blow, and half the damage for himself for all remaining blows. Since half of the damage suffered by Ereshki already goes to him, that means 3 quarters of the damage would go to him.
 
chaincomplex
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2, Player Party, then Obyrith 1.

 Myriad.  Her feint succeeds and she manages a hit by catching the spider-thing off-guard. No piercing damage penetrates its damage resistance, only some precision damage and all the  vampiric  damage gets through, the latter also healing Myriad for hp. The thing's wounds drip near-black blood smelling like burnt ash.

 Ux Utanar.  All of the dragonborn's attacks do not hit through the spider-thing's natural armor. Alas, the supernatural ability the thing used is not an enchantment effect, and Ereshki suffers the full brunt of its effects.

The dire bat is forced still by the psychic assault. She cannot act, and from her dark eyes, Ux senses she is suffering internally.

 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 1.  The huge creature  O 1   pulsates as it begins to act. Chains shift under its powerful form and its many arms begin moving around in crude mimicry of magic. At the same time one of its maws open to reveal bubbling acid within.

 
  Standard Action.  Uses spell-like ability. Its voice resonates in the minds of the party!   "Drop... weapons..."   it rasps in Abyssal, its very presence in their minds alien. The party is affected as if by  greater command  (DC 24) with the drop instruction. This is a compulsion, language-dependent, mind-affecting ability. (Thus, being Delja is the only speaker of Abyssal, she should be the only affected party.) 
  Swift Action.  A line of acidic bile erupts from its mouth towards Myriad. It hits the changeling true, dealing 41 acid damage and causing 1 round of the nauseated condition. A DC 27 Fortitude save negates the nausea. 
 
 Obyrith 2.  The creature  O 2   goes all in on the dragonborn. It makes a full attack with three stingers and five tentacles. Only one stinger hits, dealing 14 piercing damage and 3 Strength drain, and two of five tentacles hit, dealing 7 bludgeoning and 9 acid, and 14 bludgeoning and 17 acid damage respectively.

Ux's  retributive  protection kicks in. A flash of backlash energy hits the spider-thing, though none penetrate its damage reduction. The creature's injuries rapidly begin stitching up on their own.

Players' turn.
Metastachydium
Delja feels her fingers twitch as the command begins to resonate inside her skull; still, the obyrith doesn't get waht it wants. It gets what looks like it could almost be a smug half-grin instead.   You're quite the jokester, Chains, do you know that?   she quips, the words dripping with scorn. Spreading her magical cloak-wings, she calls out to Myriad with a quick   Druce, with me if able!   as she springs into the air and begins to maneuver towards Chains at speed, touching ground a mere 10 feet away from… Whatever the book's placed upon, but only so as to spring forward again, trying to get within stabbing distance of the demon and, once there,  stab  it, hard.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja move action uses her Wings of Flying to fly 60' towards O1 at low altitude, touching ground at L42; Tumble to get past O2:  (1d20+27)[ 43 ] ; if that fails, she has AC 75 T 66 against the AoO;
from L42 she swift action Sudden Leaps to G42; Jump:  (1d20+17)[ 28 ] ; she designates O1 as the target of her Dodge and she has AC 76 T 67 against the AoO, as well as concealment from her stance;
lastly, if still alive, unhindered and in one piece, she standard action attacks O1 defensively:  (1d20+26)[ 39 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  cold iron magical piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Counting on you, Ux! Yell for us if it gets hairy!"   Making a final lightning-fast faint before once again stabbing the abomination in front of her, she quickly spins around and darts off after the  much  faster Delja, curving her path around a large decomposing coprse. She shouts after her companion as she struggles to keep up,   " Ack ! I'm using  dwarf legs , Delja - they are made for  sneaking , and  not  for  speeeed !"   Stubby dwarf arms pump as she mumbles under her breath.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP    222 / 166  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  (1d20+37)[ 42 ] 
 

 Move Action:  30' Move from S38 to M39

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 55 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  51  (Additional -8 of base/adjusted ( 47/43 )  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the attack is against Flat-Footed AC

 Standard Attack VS Target O2 -   
  (1d20+27)[ 42 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 23 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
   -1HP to  O2  for existing Bleed   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
The poor Ereshki is a petrified statue under his legs. Ux Utanar lets the acid wash over it, protected by his natural resistance to this effect. However, he is powerless to prevent his strength being sapped from him. And his allies have snapped the monster out of his challenge. He frowns, while mentally wishing them good luck.
  "You are a worthier foe than the babbling things from the previous room, mutters Ux Utanar between gritted teeth. You should better face the worthiest foe  you  have in that room, and that is  me ."  
  That said, if Ereshki were mobile, I could get out of reach...hmmm...  Ux Utanar displays an impressive riding mastery as he suddenly stands up in his stirrups, kicks hard, and propels himself sideways and completely over the back of Ereshki. The size of his weapon still allows him to jab at the obyrith before him past the dire bat's immobile frame, though in a much more cautious manner. A final step back sees a pillar between himself and the creature.

  "Come now."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift action: Renew the Test of Mettle, Will save DC 37 negates.
Free action: Fast dismount. This requires a DC 26 Ride skill check that Ux Utanar auto-passes by taking 10 on it, 39 total. Ux Utanar lands in R33-S34.
Full-round action: defensive full-round attack. This is made possible by Ux Utanar's reach of 20ft with a reach weapon and being of Large size. Ux Utanar's AC is now 39 against O2 (36 against anyone else). Attack rolls:  (1d20+20)[ 32 ] ,  (1d20+15)[ 31 ] ,  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] ,  (1d20+5)[ 16 ] . Damage roll:  (2d6+7)[ 16 ] ,  (2d6+7)[ 11 ] ,  (2d6+7)[ 15 ] ,  (2d6+7)[ 17 ] .
Free action: 5ft-step to the left. Ux hopes that between the unmoving Ereshki and the pillar, O2 will have a hard time maneuvering itself close enough, all the while being forced to attack him.

If, for whatever reason, an AoO is allowed at some point:  (1d20+20)[ 38 ] ,  (2d6+7)[ 13 ] .
 
chaincomplex
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2, Player Party, then Obyrith 1.

 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
 As she moves,  O 2   makes an attack of opportunity against her with a stinger. It misses. 
 Mid-flight, she is subjected to an intense psychic assault from the huge obyrith. Visions of twisting blood and flesh assail her thoughts. She takes 3 Charisma drain and is subject to other unknown horrible effects (DC 24 Will save to negate). 
 Her attack hits, dealing the full magical piercing, precision, and force damage. 
 
 Myriad.  Results:

 
 Her feint succeeds in catching  O 2   off-guard. 
 Her attack hits, dealing no magical piercing damage, partial precision damage, and full  vampiric  damage. Myriad heals for 1 hp. The bleed continues to stack on her target. 
 As she moves,  O 2   makes an attack of opportunity against her with a stinger. It hits, and deals 12 piercing damage and drains Dexterity by 1. 
 As the changeling approaches  O 1   she is subjected to an intense psychic assault from the huge obyrith. Visions of twisting blood and flesh assail her thoughts. She takes 2 Charisma drain and is subject to other unknown horrible effects (DC 24 Will save to negate). 
 
 Ux Utanar.  Results:

 
 Test of Mettle against  O 2   succeeds. 
 All his attacks do not hit; the creature's natural armor is too thick. 
 
 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 1.  The tumorous creature cradles the massive black orb in its arms even tighter as the nixie and "dwarf" approach.   "Die... now..."   it rasps, out loud, in Abyssal.

 
  Standard Action.  The creature defensively uses a spell-like ability. Delja is struck by a powerful psychic assault! She is affected as if by  feeblemind  (DC 24 Will save to negate). 
  Free Action.  The chains attached to the creature animate and strike with sudden speed! There are four independently moving chain segments, each making one attack against Delja. Each one attempts to grapple but they do not succeed in touching the nixie. (This provokes four attacks of opportunity against the individual chains specifically, and not the creature itself, if Delja wishes make use of them.) 
 
 Obyrith 2.  The creature darts around the columns with dramatic speed, and closes in to attack. It draws itself directly next to Ux.

 
  Free Action.  Its injuries begin to stitch up on their own right before Ux's eyes (to the tune of 8 hp). 
  Move Action.  Goes from  T37  to  Q48 , then from  Q48  to  Q35 . This provokes an attack of opportunity from Ux, who hits—but then, as his lance is about to land its blow, the spider-thing's form suddenly shifts out of the way. (It is under a  displacement  effect.) 
  Standard Action.  Its stinger strikes Ux, dealing 9 piercing damage and draining 4 Strength. It is hit by backlash from Ux's  retributive amulet , but none of the backlash gets through the creature's damage reduction. 
 
Players' turn.
Metastachydium
Delja flashes her blade towards one of the swinging chains, retorting with a   Maybe later.   through gritted teeth, in her best Abyssal.   Ux!   she calls out right afterwards.   Stop it with the lance, they are demons! Use iron!   Heeding her own advice, though she doesn't feel quite as nimble as she did mere moments before, her right juts forward in a blur of motion, seeking purchase on those ugly tumors four times in a row.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sadly, I had no space to squeeze in Combat Reflexes, so she only makes one measly AoO:  (1d20+30)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force.
She then full-attacks defensively for AC 70 T 61:  (1d20+26)[ 27 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 31 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 24 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+11)[ 19 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
remetagross
Things are taking a dire turn. Ux Utanar feels weaker and weaker with each blow he takes. Time to focus on what is happening before him, and there's no mental space left to think about how the gals are handling themselves. Ux Utanar inhales, exhales, and whispers a quick prayer.
  "Oh, Bahamut, lend strength and courage to your servant so that I can fight for the weak and your cause."  
The hulking dragonborn clicks his ankles together. Suddenly, he has shifted in space, and reappeared on top of his still-paralyzed mount in a precarious position. Not stopping there, he cautiously proceeds to jump down Ereshki all the while avoiding the darting tentacles of the obyrith. He turns to prepare himself to fight it, completely warding himself off with his lance.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Swift action:  activate the Anklets of Translocation to teleport out to S33-T34.
 Full-round action:  withdraw to jump down from Ereshki without provoking an AoO from O2. Ux Utanar is now in W35-X36.
Ux Utanar enters the total defense mode, which means he is not allowed an AoO during his next turn. His AC against O2 now rises to 41.

Ereshki is still paralyzed.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Skidding to a stop opposite Delja on the other side of the abomination, Myriad opens her mouth...and snaps it shut, too out of breath from her sudden sprint. Fainting once with her dagger, she misdirects her opponent and follows up by slamming her dagger hilt-deep into what she  thinks  is a vital spot.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  7,  HP    155 / 222  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  33,  Touch  23,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  23,  Will  20,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +26/+21/+16/+11 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +19 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 21, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 15, Cha 24
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  (1d20+29)[ 39 ] 
 

 Move Action:  30' Move from M39 to G38

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint O1 ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 54 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  50  (Additional -8 of base/adjusted ( 46/42 )  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the attack is against Flat-Footed AC

 Standard (Flanked) Attack VS Target O1 -   
  (1d20+29)[ 39 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  (Magical) Piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 22 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
   -2HP to  O2  for preexisting Bleed   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
 Her attack of opportunity hits the creature and deals full piercing, precision, and force damage. It seems resistant to cold. 
 Only the second attack of her full attack hits, dealing full piercing, precision, and force damage. 
 
 Ux Utanar.  The dragonborn teleports atop Ereshki and dismounts with no issue.

 Myriad.  Results:

 
 As the "dwarf" moves through  H38  she takes an attack of opportunity. The creature bites at her—it does not hit. 
 She successfully feints. 
 She lands her attack, dealing no piercing, full  vampiric , and 21 precision damage. The attack induces bleed. 
 
The creature's tumorous flesh is raked with deep gorges where the party's weapons cut into.

 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 1.  The creature's bulk shudders as its arms begin waving to mimic a spell. Two of its arms however maintain their solid grip on the orb.

 
  Standard Action.  It uses a spell-like ability defensively. Delja feels her muscles begin to tighten! She is affected as if by  hold monster  (DC 24) at CL 15th. 
  Free Action.  Two chains try to grapple Delja, provoking two attacks of opportunity. If not held, the nixie dodges them with ease. (The attempts attain a 34 and 39 on their melee touch attacks inclusive of all bonuses, I am unclear if they hit if a held Delja.) The other two chains whip around and try to grapple Myriad—both connect. (This causes two attacks of opportunity.) Otherwise the obyrith attains a 44 and 45 on its grapple checks respectively. 
 
 Obyrith 2.  The spider-thing dashes out into the open to assess  O 1  's situation. After it is satisfied, it magically assaults the dragonborn.

 
  Move Action.  Moves from  Q35  to  R39 . 
  Standard Action.  Uses a spell-like ability.  Telekinesis ! An unseen force whips around Ux's legs and attempts to pull them out from under him. The melee touch attack hits, and the creature attains a 17 on its ability check. 
 
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2, Player Party, then Obyrith 1.

Players' turn.
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Ack!"   Counterattacking quickly as the chains seek to bind her. Myriad gets a few stabs in before being nearly grappled, just barely avoiding the chains and then manages to stab some more in retaliation.   "Why you so hung up on that orb, ****face? If I was you, I'd be voiding all the reflective surfaces so I didn't scare myself half to death with that carriage-wreck you call a face!"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  7,  HP    160 / 222  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  33,  Touch  23,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  23,  Will  20,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +26/+21/+16/+11 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +19 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 21, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 15, Cha 24
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps: Already rolled.
 

 Move Action:  N/A

 
 Spoiler: Borked rolls 
 (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  (1d6)[ 6 ]  (7d6)[ 20 ]  (1d20+23)[ 28 ]  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  (1d6)[ 3 ]  (7d6)[ 28 ]  (1d20+18)[ 29 ]  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  (1d6)[ 1 ]  (7d6)[ 27 ]  (1d20+13)[ 19 ]  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  (1d6)[ 4 ]  (7d6)[ 20 ] 
 


Please see  OOC Thread 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
Metastachydium
Delja's face twitches again. She's not exactly accustomed to having her  very mind  assailed with a frequency of this sort. If the thing can keep this up…   Hey, big one!   she speaks up in Abyssal.   In case you missed it, my friend thinks you're ugly. I   She stabs forward as Chains exposes itself with two more swingsflying past her.   tend to agree.   she adds with scornful calm without unleashing another flurry of her own blade on the obyrith.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Attack of opportunity:  (1d20+26)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical cold iron and piercing with  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force.
And then a defensive full-attack for AC 70 T 61:  (1d20+26)[ 37 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical cold iron and piercing with  (1d6)[ 1 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 38 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical cold iron and piercing with  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 21 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical cold iron and piercing with  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force; and
 (1d20+11)[ 21 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical cold iron and piercing with  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar feels a magical sweep trying to put him on his rear. He achieves a great feat of combat legwork in remaining to stay standing. He can dimly hear the babble of Delja and Myriad exchanging quips with whatever lies further in the room...The ongoing effort starts to leave him panting...but he must keep that creature's attention on himself.   
"Don't try to shy away, you savage monster! I'm still your foe, and will be as long as I still draw breath. This is a formal challenge between the two of us. May Bahamut assist me in defeating you!"  

That said, the hulking dragonborn makes a sidestep and furiously jabs at the outsider creature. He still proceeds with caution, but his initiatiating a challenge reinvigorates his fighting spirit. At the same time, Ereshki starts to blink and rotate her head a little. Almost free!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Free action:  5ft-step to V35-W36.
 Swift action:  Knight's Challenge to O2. Ux Utanar gains a +4 morale bonus to Will save, attack rolls and damage rolls for 17 rounds.
 Full-round action:  Full-round attack against O2, fighting defensively. The -4 to attack rolls is cancelled out by the +4 from the knight's challenge. Attack rolls: (1d20+22)[ 34 ] ,  (1d20+17)[ 30 ] ,  (1d20+12)[ 13 ] ,  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] . Damage rolls:  (2d6+8)[ 17 ] ,  (2d6+8)[ 16 ] ,  (2d6+8)[ 15 ] ,  (2d6+8)[ 19 ] 

Ereshki is spending her last turn as a Stunned creature.
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Results:

 
 With her two attacks, Myriad manages to fight off the grappling chains. Both attacks hit and deal damage. 
 Her first, second, and fourth attacks hit, and deal damage. 
 
Myriad heals for the full  vampiric  damage dealt that round. As usual it seems some of the damage is shrugged off by the creature's damage resistance. Yet damage resistance or no, the obyrith  O 1   appears to be gravely wounded, more gore than flesh at this juncture.

 Delja Utorak.  Her first two attacks hit and deal their full damage.

The creature  O 1  's body shudders, spasms, tumors roiling under a lattice of deep cuts that spill blood freely with each tiny motion. Then it collapses to the ground, dead. Its giant yellow eyes lose focus and its many arms fall limp. The chains too pile upon the floor, no longer animate.

It releases the black orb, which strikes the ground with a great, sharp crack that reverberates in the chamber. The orb rolls only a short ways before coming to a full stop.

 Ux Utanar.  Only the dragonborn's first attack hits, and such as it is deals only a small fraction of its damage. The spider-thing's hide is too tough, and it darts about too fast.

 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  It is fair to say, if this creature's face could be said to have an expression, then that expression is surprise. As it watches  O 1   fall dead, its many giant red eyes glitter with hidden thoughts.   "Ohk anm,"   its voice rumbles, deep and powerful. Though still some archaic variant of Abyssal, this one is simple enough for Delja to guess its meaning—a meaning hard to translate precisely because it is rooted in what is uniquely a tanar'ri subculture, but if a translation had to be given, it would be a deadpan,   "What."  
 
  Standard Action.  Suddenly fixated on dealing with the two threats on the far side of the room, the creature uses a spell-like ability on the nixie. Delja is affected as if by  flesh to stone  (DC 23). 
  Move Action.  It closes in on Ux, provoking an attack of opportunity. It moves from  S39  to  U37 . 
 Its flesh knits together as it continues to fast heal, which is only partially counteracted by its bleed. 
 
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2 then Player Party. It is now the players' turn.
Metastachydium
Elja exhales loudly as the heap of tumors hits the ground and goes all motionless. At last! And it even had the manners not to spray mucus all over the two of them. She turns to face the Spider with a rare, actual,  triumphant  smile   on her face.   Oh, yes, ugly.   she tells the creature in Abyssal, shaking a sudden, unexplained bout of stiffness out of her right foot.   Feeling up to the same?   With that, she takes a mental note of the black orb (Master Teru, perhaps?) and springs into the air, in pursuit of the Spider, her blade hungry for  more .

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move action fly to S39; no Tumbling, but her AC is 78 T 69 against the AoO and she has concealment from her stance;
standard action attack the Spider defensively for AC 70 T 61 (incl. Dodge):  (1d20+26)[ 37 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Twirling her dagger around her fingers, Myriad gives a shout of victory,   "The doctor is in, baby! Another successful session of  back-upuncture !!"   Grinning, she darts off, trailing behind delja, firing off an Eldritch Blast while she starts closing the distance.

 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  7,  HP    170 / 222  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  33,  Touch  23,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  23,  Will  20,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +26/+21/+16/+11 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +19 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 21, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 15, Cha 24
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps: Already rolled.
 

 Move Action:  30' from G38 to M40

 Standard  Attack vs O2 (-4 penalty for firing into Melee):   
 
 Eldritch Blast (Ranged  Touch ) (1d20+15)[ 28 ]  for  (3d6)[ 13 ]  Eldritch damage. CL check to overcome Spell Resistance (if applicable) is  (1d20+2)[ 15 ]  
   -2HP to O2 for preexisting Bleed   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar cannot clearly see what has happened further away in the room due to his position, but even his poor hearing catches the sound of a dying creature, and then a fluttering silhouette darting to behind his foe, and  then  a ray of energy from around the corner hitting it in the back. A surge of triumph flows through him, as Ereshki is now free to move!

(to be continued)
remetagross
The dragonborn jumps on the buzzing dire bat, readies his lance, and kicks in. Squeaking with joy, Ereshki bounds forward, and Ux Utanar, feeling the end is at hand, drives his lance deep into the distorted flesh of the spidery monster.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Free action:  fast mount on Ereshki. Auto-success on the Ride check DC 20.
 Full-round action:  charge on O2. Ereshki cannot attack since that is an unnatural creature.
 Attack roll:   (1d20+29)[ 35 ] , damage roll:  (8d6+44)[ 71 ] . Damage is quadrupled on the charge since the lance is Valorous and Ux Utanar has Spirited Charge.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
 Her movement proves an attacks of opportunity. A stinger lashes out at the nixie as she approaches! The attack is launched with a precision that could have plucked an arrow out of the air—yet Delja still dodges it with ease. 
 Her attack looks like it is about to hit—but the creature's form suddenly shifts out of the way. It misses! 
 
 Myriad.  Results:

 
 She moves without issue. 
 Her eldritch blast hits, but fails to penetrate the creature's robust spell resistance. 
 
 Ux Utanar.  Results:

 
 The dragonborn mounts then charges without issue. 
 His charge attack hits! Though the spider-thing is nimbler than a dragonfly despite its size, with his unparalleled experience Ux manages to adjust his aim at the last moment to account for its dodge. The lance slams into the creature with tremendous force, yet even so its incredibly thick skin and dense-knit musculature, or what passes for musculature on this otherworldly creature, stops the lance before it can pierce too deep. Dark, acrid blood spills freely from the gaping wound, though the creature responds only with a hiss, its red saucer eyes focusing on Ux with no recognizable emotion. 
 
 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  As the creature's wounds start to knit back on their own, it all-ins the dragonborn.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks Ux with three stingers and five tentacles. The first attack misses, the second and third hit, dealing 12 piercing and 3 Dexterity drain, and 12 piercing and 4 Constitution drain respectively. 
  Swift Action.  The spider-thing suddenly vanishes. It teleports from  T37  to  Q33 . This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. 
 
 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2, Player Party. It is the players' turn.
Metastachydium
The brief smile melts off of Delja's face. Right. The Spider teleports.   Play nice, damn it!   she sighs as she wills her own anklet to toss her into a more advantageous position for assailing the obyrith – which she's quick to do, bursting forward with all fibres in her muscles ready to flex and weave as her safety demands. And  then , she stabs at it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja swift action uses her anklet of translocation to teleport a full 5' to R38, before move action Tumbling the rest of the way to R35:  (1d20+27)[ 33 ] ;
once safely there, she'll standard action attack O2 defensively for AC 70 T 61:  (1d20+26)[ 32 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  plus  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar displays a painful grin as his foe lands several blows. Though the wounds themselves are scratches, he instantly feels both number and weaker as a result. Worst, the monster has deflected off the attacks of his two comrades.
"We need to keep the pressure up before it flees again!" cries out the dragonborn to his comrades. "M-Druce, we need you here!" And then, through the heat of battle, Delja's warning from several seconds ago finally hits home in his focused mind.

All the while, he maneuvers his lance around to try and land a telling blow on the staring creature before him. As soon as he feels he has connected, he drops his lance away and promptly draws his greatsword to press the attack on. Ereshki cautiously moves back at the end of the maneuver, encouraging her master.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Full-round action:  full-round attack. Attack rolls: [1d20+27], [1d20+22], [1d20+17], [1d20+12]. As soon as Ux Utanar witnesses one his blows striking true, he
 Swift action : activates the Sudden Stunning property of his lance to force a Will save DC 31 to O2 against being stunned for one round.
In case he still has some iterative attacks remaining after this, Ux Utanar
 Free action:  uses his Gloves of Storing to store his lance in it. He then
 Free action:  draws his masterwork longsword (made of cold iron) thanks to the least crystal of return on it, and continues his attacks.

Damage rolls from using a lance:  (2d6+11)[ 19 ] ,  (2d6+11)[ 16 ] ,  (2d6+11)[ 17 ] ,  (2d6+11)[ 16 ] ,. And from using a greatsword:  (3d6+10)[ 17 ] ,   (3d6+10)[ 19 ] ,   (3d6+10)[ 20 ] ,   (3d6+10)[ 20 ] .
After that, Ereshki flies back and up 5ft.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Coming around the corner, Myriad's eldritrch blast flares again as her stumpy dwarf legs slowly but surely bring her closer to the battle.
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  7,  HP    170 / 222  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  33,  Touch  23,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  23,  Will  20,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +26/+21/+16/+11 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +19 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 21, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 15, Cha 24
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps: Already rolled.
 

 Move Action:  30' from M40 to Q37

 Standard  Attack vs O2 (-4 penalty for firing into Melee):   
 
 Eldritch Blast (Ranged  Touch  with penalty for in-melee)[roll]1d20+15[roll] for [roll]3d6[roll] Eldritch damage. CL check to overcome Spell Resistance (if applicable) is  (1d20+2)[ 7 ]  
   -2HP to O2 for preexisting Bleed   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
 She moves, teleports, then tumbles without issue, arriving at her destination. 
 She attacks, but it is a near miss. The spider-thing dodges with lightning speed! 
 
 Ux Utanar.  He strikes with extraordinary martial precision and a healthy dose of luck!

 
 He lands his first blow. Most of the damage fails to penetrate the creature's hide.  Sudden stunning ! The obyrith's movements jerk a moment, and briefly the dragonborn senses the stun set in, yet even so the creature seems to simply shake off the effect and continue moving at its ordinary speed. 
 Ux stores the lance and draws the longsword. 
 He lands his next two blows and misses the last. The damage is true and slices into the being; its flesh is as tough as its hide and stops the blade only a little ways in, but now there is no damage resistance in the way, just a lot of demon flesh. 
 
 Myriad.  An eldritch bolt streaks towards the creature and... the creature displaces out of its path. The bolt hits the wall and leaves a scorch mark.

 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  It unleashes a powerful psychic assault!

 
  Standard Action.  A wave of power washes over the party (including Ereshki). Make a DC 27 Will save or be paralyzed for 3 rounds and take 6 Wisdom damage! This is a mind-affecting gaze attack. 
  Swift Action.  It teleports from  Q33  to  K40 . This is a spell-like ability that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. 
 
As Ux and Myriad look upon the creature, its wounds continue to knit together, albeit more slowly than usual from Myriad's bleed. Its many red eyes begin scanning the cadaver of the dead tumor-thing for an item, finally settling on the great black orb upon the floor.

 Turn Order.  Party, then creature. It is the party's turn.
Metastachydium
  Oh, come on!   the nixie grumbles with a grimace as the Spider avoids her blade, she feels her muscles assaulted again  and  she gets to watch the demon brazenly slip away. Still, she's more than able to move still and, it occurs to her, she can do something about the first issue as well. The remaining two pearls on her belt go dark, just as the lenses over her eyes light up for a moment. That should do. She takes wing again, rushing the Spider with her sword ready to  sting .

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Delja swift action activates her belt of battle, gaining an extra
standard action which she uses to switch on her blindsense; it will be active for the next ten rounds;
she then move action flies to M41, forgoing the Tumble; her AC is 80 T 71 against the AoO; lastly,
she standard action attacks the Spider, defensively (for AC 70 T 61):  (1d20+26)[ 30 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  plus  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad freezes in place, paralyzed

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
She already used her 1/Day get-out-of-paralysis-free card.  Really  wish she was using the  Class Fix for Silver Key . lol
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar sighs with contentment as he sees his greatsword finally biting true. A moment later, the situation is much different. Myriad is incapacitated, Delja is alone facing the monster, and that black orb seems to be the focus of its attention...but miraculously, this time Ereshki manages to stave off the stunning effect of the mental assault! Triumphantly, Ux Utanar directs his mount.
  "There Ereshki, do you see that black ball? Go fetch it!"  
Squeaking with excitation, the dire bat maneuvers her bulky, enlarged mass around the room. Flying above one of the dead aberration's bodies and Delja's tiny silhouette, she deftly scoops up the orb from the ground before the malevolent eyes of the ennemy. At that very moment, Ux Utanar times a mighty swing of his greatsword into one of the spidery legs. Ereshki promplty moves away from the crime scene, while his master wards her off from attacks with an expert hand.
Ux Utanar's shield, still floating around him, suddenly thrums with power as the emblazoned gold dragon roars defiantly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Swift action:  activate the Shield of Vigor. Ux Utanar gains fast healing 5 for 3 rounds.
 Move action:  auto-success on the DC 24 (including +4 because Ereshki is both wounded and has suffered ability drain) Handle Animal check to make Ereshki use the Fetch skill trick.
 Standard action:  melee attack at O2 with the cold iron greatsword. Attack roll:  (1d20+27)[ 36 ] . Damage roll:  (2d6+7)[ 17 ] . Still no way to pierce miss chances.

Ux Utanar also takes 10 on a potential Ride check for use of the Mounted Combat feat in order to defend Ereshki from an incoming attack (be it an AoO or a regular attack next round). This gives (only once) an AC of 37 to Ereshki. In addition, in case Ereshki is hit despite that, Ux Utanar will use an immediate action (thus using up his next round's swift action) to use the Improved Shield Ally class feature and absorb all damage taken by Ereshki once, and half damage for all subsequent attacks she might suffer until the beginning of Ux Utanar's next round.

Ereshki:
 Move action:  go from T33-V35 to L38-N40, for 50ft of movement flying above A and O2. From L38-N40, Ereshki's reach of 10ft (because she is a long animal of 5ft while Large, and has been enhanced to Huge) allows her to access the orb reaching above O2. Then, 30ft back to R38-T40 for her total complement of 80ft (perfect) movement. She is liable to an AoO.
 Standard action:  using Flyby Attack, in the middle of the move action, she grabs the black orb.
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
 As she moves to  M41 , she takes two attacks of opportunity from the spider-thing as it lashes out with its stinger with impossible speed. The nixie still dodges with ease, as an adult might sidestep a child's unpracticed swing. 
 As Delja's blindsense kicks in, she notes it does not negate the creature's  displacement  effect. 
 She does not land her attack, regardless of displacement. 
 
 Ux Utanar.  Results:

 
 The dragonborn swoops across the chamber to  L38  upon his huge bat steed. This exposes Ux to two attacks of opportunity from the spider-thing's stingers. Both attacks do not land, one the dragonborn only barely manages to block with his shield. 
 Ereshki swipes the smooth black orb from the ground. The dire bat feels its warmth, though looking into its smooth black surface, she sees naught but her own distorted reflection innocently peeking back at her. 
 Ux lands a blow, barely adjusting his strike in time for the thing's  displacement . The cold iron cuts through its hide like butter. Acrid blood spurts from the wound. Ux deals the full slashing damage. 
 
 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  The spider-thing hisses. It makes a full attack on Delja. Three stingers and five tentacles swipe at the nixie at speeds an untrained eye would be completely unable to follow, yet Delja dodges each attack with ease. It calmly shifts its stance as it transitions to what the nixie has a hunch is a more magical form of assault, after her defenses turned out to be too hard to assail physically.

Its wounds quickly stitch together before the party's eyes, though the healing is somewhat stymied by the lingering bleed Myriad inflicted upon it.

 Turn Order.  Obyrith 2 then players. It is the players' turn now.
Metastachydium
The nixie makes an annoyed face as she realizes her blindsense is as good as useless. And the Spider seems just as fed up with her as she is with the Spider; that can't be good. It must go down fast or she must get out of here faster. And why shouldn't she, actually? Besides having a blast, apparently, Ux Utanar snatched the bauble. Maybe they could just take that back to the goat and… Leave the obyrith here with the Book of Evil Evil?  Assuming  Myriad can pull herself together?

Delja sighs. No. That won't do.   Hey, ugly.   she calls out in an annoyed Abyssal.   Why don't you do me a favour and just  DROP DEAD  already?   she queries, punctuating the words with thrusts of her blade.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bog-standard full-attack, defensively (for AC 70 T 61):  (1d20+26)[ 39 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical cold iron piercing plus  (1d6)[ 3 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 23 ]  magical cold iron piercing plus  (1d6)[ 3 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 19 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical cold iron piercing plus  (1d6)[ 1 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force; and
 (1d20+11)[ 29 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical cold iron piercing plus  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad remains frozen in place.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
1 of 3 rounds of paralysis remaining
 
remetagross
  "Well done, Ereshki !"   roars Uk Utanar with triumph. Ereshki squeaks with pride, still clutching the black ball.
  "Let's keep up the pressure with Delja !"   The dragonborn makes his mount turn round to face the obyrith.

Ux Utanar lets his greatsword to the ground with a clank, snaps his fingers, and the lance that was stored in his gloves reappears in his hand. As if in a joust, the knight pushes on Ereshki and charges past the monster.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Free action:  drop the greatsword.
 Free action:  make the lance reappear.
  Full-round action:  charge attack at O2. Ereshki does not attack since it's an unnatural creature. It's a Valorous lance and Ux Utanar has Spirited Charge so the damage is quadrupled. Attack roll:  (1d20+29)[ 33 ] . Damage roll:  (8d6+32)[ 67 ] .
Ux Utanar uses the Ride-by Attack feat so that Ereshki keeps on moving straight past O2, and neither rider nor mount provoke an AoO from it.

Ux Utanar moves from R38-T40 to E38-G40 (flying above the corpse).
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Delja lands only the first two of her attacks, but they pierce deep. The magic of her sword, guided by her blade skill, carries its edge deep into the obyrith's dark abdomen both times, finding flesh softer than the densely knit alien muscle she had been cutting into previously.

 Ux Utanar.  The dragonborn's form flashes by above the obyrith, maneuvering adeptly through the reach of the spider-thing's three stingers. He thrusts forth his lance, yet as he is about to hit, the creature's  displacement  kicks in, shifting its form just out of the way.

 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  It casts defensively. A deadly magic assaults the nixie: Delja is affected as if by  flesh to stone  (DC 23).

While ostensibly the obyrith is unfazed by its substantial collection of wounds, at this juncture it seems more to be immune to pain than unaffected; its otherwise supernaturally quick movements have developed a strange gait, compensation for torn muscle and rent flesh. As usual, its wounds fast heal, offset slightly by Myriad's inflicted bleed.

Players' turn.
Metastachydium
Delja flinches as all her muscles spasm and a nasty taste fills her mouth as if she's just bitten into gypsum.  This one was close.  Very close. But that may well be a good sign; the Spider can see the end of the rope.   I've had worse hangovers.   she quips at the thing in Abyssal as she cracks her shoulders and presses the attack.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Suddenly, Great Fortitude doesn't seem so much of a feat task anymore!
Anyhow, full-attack, defensively (for AC 70 T 61):  (1d20+26)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  prescision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force; miss chance (the higher the better):  (1d100)[ 16 ] ;
 (1d20+21)[ 27 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 4 ]  prescision and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force; miss chance (the higher the better):  (1d100)[ 63 ] ;
 (1d20+16)[ 17 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  prescision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force; miss chance (the higher the better):  (1d100)[ 66 ] ;
 (1d20+11)[ 24 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical, cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  prescision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force; miss chance (the higher the better):  (1d100)[ 21 ] .
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is pissed off to see his attack dodged at the very last second. He points his finger at his forehead, and a headband falls in place before his eyes. At the same time, he encourages Ereshki to press on.
  "Foward, Ereshki! I know you can take it on!".  

Thusly motivated, the dire bat turns around, climbs up till it reaches the ceiling, and dives right to O2 with her bare fangs.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Standard action: Ux Utanar activates his Scout's Headband by using all three charges. He now has True Seeing for 1 minute.
Move action: auto-success on the Handle Animal check to have Ereshki attack an unnatural creature.
Immediate action: to absorb all damage to Ereshki from a potential AoO that would hit through Ux Utanar's Mounted Combat roll of 37.

Ereshki does not have enough space to perform a dive attack (this needs 30ft of movement before the attack occurs), so that will be a regular charge attack.
Attack roll:  (1d20+21)[ 26 ] , damage roll:  (2d6+15)[ 22 ] .

Ereshki then carries Ux Utanar to S40-U42.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad remains frozen in place.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
This is the 3rd and final round of paralysis
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie unleashes a flurry of attacks, but not only does her first attack miss on a  displacement , the rest fail to land a good hit between the creature's unnatural speed and thick hide.

 Ux Utanar.  As the dire bat climbs to swoop around, it incurs an attack of opportunity from  O 2  .

 
 The obyrith lashes out with a stinger, hitting Ereshki and dealing 12 piercing damage and 2 Strength drain (prior to Ux's use of Shield Ally). 
 Ereshki does not land a good bite. 
 Finally, at least, the dragonborn has  true seeing , and the spider's form sharpens before his very eyes. It is even uglier than before. 
 
 ──────────────── 
 Obyrith 2.  At first the spider-creature bristles as it prepares to unleash a full barrage of stingers at Ereshki, yet suddenly it shrinks back in hesitation as the dire bat twists dramatically to defend. The obyrith's body language, though alien, is thoroughly clear here: it does not want to damage the black orb in melee, and the way all its eyes are razor focused on said orb, it is thoroughly committed to securing the orb whole and unbroken.

 
  Standard Action.  Uses a spell-like ability defensively. Ereshki is affected as if by  flesh to stone  (DC 23)! 
 Its wounds slowly stitch together despite the bleed. 
 
 Turn Order.  Players, then Obyrith 2. It is now the players' turn.
Metastachydium
  By all means, just ignore me.   Delja grumbles as the Spider directs all its attention at Ereshki, the genuine offense she has taken at  not  being assaulted for a change surprising even herself. She does not, nevertheless, waste much time on being surprised, aiming, rather  to surprise . The Spider. With some more stabbing.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

The usual deal. Defensive full-attack (for AC 71 T 62):
 (1d20+26)[ 46 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force; miss chance (higher's better):  (1d100)[ 94 ] ;
 (1d20+21)[ 25 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 4 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force; miss chance (higher's better):  (1d100)[ 63 ] ;
 (1d20+16)[ 29 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force; miss chance (higher's better):  (1d100)[ 48 ] ;
 (1d20+11)[ 14 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical cold iron piercing,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force; miss chance (higher's better):  (1d100)[ 90 ] .
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Stumbling slightly as her locked muscles finally release, Myriad sprints around the large corpse once more, sliding in next to Delja even as she flicks a feint towards the abomination before taking a serious stab at it as she grins and shouts,   "Sorry I'm late!"  
 
 Spoiler: Statblock 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  7,  HP    170 / 222  ,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  33,  Touch  23,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  23,  Will  20,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +26/+21/+16/+11 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +19 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 21, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 15, Cha 24
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:  (1d20+28)[ 33 ] 
 

 Move Action:  30' Move from Q37 to M40

  Free Action   -  Bluff Check to Faint O2 ( Sense Motive Check of higher value Negates )  Base 54 - 4 for Nonhumanoid =  50  (Additional -8 of base/adjusted ( 46/42 )  if  creature only has 1-2 Int) If the faint succeeds, the attack is against Flat-Footed AC

 Standard (Flanked) Attack VS Target O2 -   
  (1d20+28)[ 33 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  (Magical) Piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric (Heals Myriad by same amount),  (7d6)[ 21 ]  Sneak Attack, &amp; -1/Round Bleed Damage 
   -2HP to  O2  for preexisting Bleed   
 
 Note:  The Bleeding Wounds caused by the invisible blade's dagger bleeds for 1 point of damage per round. Multiple wounds from the weapon result in a cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can only be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, and so on). Creatures immune to sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well.
 
remetagross
  "Glad to see you back, Druce, you're needed"   says Ux Utanar between his gritted teeth. This creature hits hard and takes a lot of punishment itself. Now, with his vision cleared, things should change however.  
"Turn around, Ereshki!"  

The dragonborn feels himself suddenly shrinking, as the effect of the Enlarge Person upon himself vanishes. His mount, still as bulky as ever, takes to the air once again and rushes past the tentacled monster. Ux Utanar delivers a precise hit with his lance as they pass by.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar returns to Medium size. The fast healing from his shield is over too.
Full-round action: charge attack at O2 using the Ride-by Attack feat, so that neither mount nor rider provoke an AoO. Attack roll:  (1d20+29)[ 49 ] , damage roll:  (4d8+24)[ 44 ] . Ux Utanar's AC goes down to 35 (-2 because of the charge, but +2 from since he was Large) for this round.
Rider and mount both end their movement in E40-G42.
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Even as Delja and Myriad unleash their attacks upon the obyrith, Ux swings around on Ereshki in a practiced flurry of movements that sends a powerful gust throughout the room. The room spins with shattered glass and falling parchment, and the room's lights dance around the dragonborn's vision. The spider-creature tracks his movements and readies a defense, but between  true seeing  and martial skill worthy of the Platinum Dragon's champions, Ux does not fail to land his strike. He crashes into the obyrith with incredible speed and accuracy, the lance driving into his foe and through its body into the floor. A web of deep cracks cascades from the point of impact with a booming noise that is felt as much as it is heard.

Then it is over. The creature lies dead. Its red eyes have dimmed to a deep crimson, and its alien, viscous blood slowly pools.

A moment of silence confirms the deed. Both the spider-thing and the tumor-thing are immobile. The device-laden pedestal stands invitingly, the large volume atop it undisturbed by the ultraviolence.
Metastachydium
Delja looks at Myriad, the lance, the dead Spider affixed to the floor and then Ux Utanar at the other end of the lance, giving the now slightly less hulking dragonborn a nod of appreciation and an impromptu little salute with her own sword. That  was  an impressive kill.   Good job, folks.   she says stretching with leisurely grace.   Next on the agenda: we don't want to touch  that ,   she motions towards the tome, shifting back half a pace.   right?  
remetagross
  "Praise to Bahamut! The righteous have triumphed today!"   Ux Utanar beams as he unbats, and walks around to gather the greatsword he had earlier dropped off. He summarily wipes the blood off his weapons, sheathes his lance and stores his floating shield his in back. Then he pats a joyous Ereshki.  
"Well done Ereshki. You have fought very bravely today."  

With all that said, Ux Utanar salutes Delja and Myriad back.
  "Why thank you, Delja. That was a good team fight. And yes, we definitely do not want to touch that. How do we handle it around? Maybe we can ask the unseen servant of the ship?"  

Ux Utanar walks closely to the book on its support.
  "Hmmm, ship? Are you there? Are there any more hostile on board?"  
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Announcing their arrival with a sharp whoosh, Pilot appears before the dragonborn and speaks in its breathy, genderless voice,   "Depends on what you mean by hostile, naturally, but the invaders appear to be... immobile. Congratulations on your victory. And no, I am barred by the Navigator's orders from touching the artifact."   There is a pause.   "Do you have the soul gem of the Navigator, my present owner?"   A note of smugness creeps into its voice.   "Are you familiar with the...  functions  of the soul gem? That, upon being freed, they may be... forced to obey one command from the one who shatters the gem?"   A pause, then it adds in an uncharacteristically impatient tone,   "Like a djinn. Genie. From a lamp."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad does a little dance, sliding around in slimy offal, before stopping to consider the orb. Debating on whether or not to poke it while Ux is questioning the group's next moves, her eyes go huge when Pilot appears and gives them some very interesting information.

Slowly turning to stare at Ux and Delja, her voice is uncharacteristically monotone and careful with each and every word as she speaks,   "A command like...' unreservedly and fully transfer all authority and ownership of this vessel and its contents to me '...?"   Her fingers twitch, seemingly unbidden, as she seems to hold her breath waiting for confirmation.
Metastachydium
Delja's eyes basically roll back into her skull.    For the love of…    Still, Pilot's comment itself is certainly intriguing. She flashes a side glance at the orb. If it's true, it better not be the Sensates who restore the mage – after all, it's not like  they  did all the slimy, gory work here. Her grimace smoothens into a polite mask.   And,  perhaps  pertinently, woh do we   she clears her throat almost theatrically.   release this trapped  genie , by the way? I'm not sure I'm familiar with the specifics of the,   she clears her throat again.   process . 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Pilot's facial features, consisting mostly of turbulent and patternless streams of vapor, twists violently. Its voice is strained.   "A command... just like that..."  
 Delja Utorak.  Pilot's voice and features calm suddenly, and it says,   "I have watched Navigator Teru bind many creatures to his service with  trap the soul . It seems only... cosmic irony... that it is he himself trapped as such. He connects... metaphysically... to the souls he holds, before sending pulses of energy through the soul gem to shatter it into fine dust. But it should be sufficient to crush, slam, strike the orb until it breaks. Grasp the orb, focus and ponder upon it, and you will feel the control you need..."  
 Ux Utanar.  No sooner than does Ux hear Pilot speak does his consciousness involuntarily reach out to the orb. It is a strange feeling, like a limb he never knew springing to life, grasping, feeling out into a world he cannot see. And it makes contact, another soul, a cold, patient creature that seems to look back at him curiously. He feels the edges of it, frayed, broken; it is not in its home world, and it will take time to reform should it be freed. He knows now, the threads of the soul Ereshki holds as an orb are firmly within Ux's mental grasp. There will be a window of time, when he somehow releases it, where he can give it a command, verbally or even just mentally. Familiarity stirs as memories of wizards and their called servants come to mind—this must be what it is like to have another bend to your will. There are limits, he can feel as much, but it is hard to tell where they are, what with his practically nonexistent Spellcraft or Knowledge (arcana) training.
remetagross
The experience is extremely unsettling for Ux Utanar, who is as knowledgeable as a wyrmling when it comes to magical matters of such magnitude (besides being of only moderate Intelligence in the first place). He frowns, stares at the orb with a look of wonder, then amazement, then defiance, all within the span of a few seconds. Ereshki, feeling her master is somehow in a process akin to a fight of some sort squeeks with encouragement.

The dragonborn slowly walks up to her mount, and retrieves the orb from her grasp. He holds it to his eye and tries to peer through its surface. After a moment, he turns to his friends.
  "I think Pilot here has said the truth of it. I have reflexively reached out to the orb...and I can clearly feel  someone  is inside it. And I am not sure this someone is a particularly commendable person. I also feel that if I break that orb, the person inside will be temporarily forced to do as I say...whatever I say. I am not used to holding such power over another creature."  

With still a very puzzled look on his face, Ux Utanar asks some more questions to the servant of the ship.
  "...you don't seem to hold Master Teru in high esteem, do you. Maybe you yourself have been trapped in such an orb by him in order to enter his service? Tell me more about the previous uses of this spell by Master Teru. What about the rest of the crew?"  

He also answers Delja and Myriad.  
"Well Delja, here's your answer on the  how  of it. But Myriad...tell you what. At first, I was dismissing the command you formulated to take hold of the ship as a banter of yours. On second thought...I'm not so sure I'm liking the idea of releasing Master Teru here and there without further ado. What's your take on that?"  
Metastachydium
Delja snorts and grimaces from the sideline.  Commendable  person? Assorted moral qualms?   Give me a break, Ux. Some of us haven't been in the righteous warrior business since forever.   she says with a sigh and another pained grimace, even as her attention shifts back over to Pilot –  and Myriad . She has this uncanny presentiment that the three (well, four with the big bat) of them may soon end up with a brand new disaster to manage.
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Pilot responds hotly,   "The present master bought me as a slave from the efreet lords, as well as this flying annex, and bound me to it. Never in an orb, but my soul is no less trapped here. The others are—no, I don't think they're slaves, just mercenaries."   Its voice turns calm.   "But over many years, I've seen Navigator Teru puppet the souls of countless outsiders... tanar'ri, baatezu, devas, planetars... he would bind them, and press them into service, and sometimes if they disobeyed, he could seize their souls... as his is seized now... and force their compliance. His magic is ancient and dark."   The faceless figure stops abruptly.
remetagross
Ux Utanar frowns.

  "There we are. I think Master Teru cannot be freed and left to his own devices just like that. Binding evil outsiders is one thing, doing the same thing to a planetar is another...as is owning slaves. First,  on the matter of trapped genies, we could start by freeing Pilot himself, no? Is that even possible in an easy way?" the dragonborn adds, turning to the hologram.   
  "Apart from that, Delja..."   he smiles at her disdainous reaction.   
"What do you suggest? Are you with Myriad on the matter of the ship?"  
Metastachydium
The nixie shrugs.   Most magic's pretty dark to me, insofar as I don't really get it.   she inspects her blade for a moment before looking up at Pilot.   You know, I'm not  against  Druce – that'd be stupid – and Pilot has been nothing if not helpful so far.   she pauses to make a mildly annoyed face again.   BUt the Sensates are going to want their mage back and (if I may remind you)  we  are here to  talk  with  him .   Delja scratches a little scale on her left hand almost idly as her eyes settle on Pilot again.   Speaking of, can he hear us, in there? From the orb?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking absolutely torn, Myriad simply bites her lip. Lost in thought, she hesitantly asks,   "Can...can this 'annex' be piloted  without  you, Pilot? I really wanna use it for adventures...but I do not condone slavery, and Delja is right - you are good people, so we should definitely help you out."   Looking sad, she mumbles dejectedly,    "Even it that means I don't get a pocket dimension plane ship..."   
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Pilot considers, then responds,   "Unless you are capable of magic beyond the Ninth Circle... Master Teru of course could release my binding in an instant, but he would never of his own volition. The only other one who can is Sunsdóttir, but she is deceased in Controls and Operations. There is a mage in Sigil called Lothar, who would also be capable of freeing me, but he is a very dangerous man."  
 Delja Utorak.  Pilot responds,   "I have never come across a case of a trapped soul being able to hear... but Master Teru knows many necromantic secrets, and I think we cannot rule out the possibility."  
 Myriad.  Pilot responds,   "Sunsdóttir regularly pilots the  Five Pebbles  when she does not approve of my flying. Master Teru taught her the skill... This implies you should be able to as well, in theory. Powerful mages able to understand the arcane machinery within this vessel could teach it to you, if you are not yourself capable of reverse engineering the magic."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking hopeful and considering Pilots' words, Myriad slowly nods.   "Well, as long as it  is  possible, I'll just have to figure it out."   Waving a hand as if cyphering out how an extradimensional interplanar magic demiplane vessel functions and operating it as such without tearing a hole in the fabric of the multiverse or something equally catastrophic is somehow  no big deal , she seems to dismiss that issue out of hand.

Pointing to pilot, she tells her companions,   "We should totally free Pilot. But we need this Taru bastard for...something - I forget what, exactly, but meh - so...can we just demand he takes Pilot's place as some weird-but-forcefully-helpful assistan but with like...zero authority. Like an undead archive of knowledge but no actual control? That way he  has  to stick around and do...whatever it is we need him for...and  also  free Pilot in...um...whatever way Pilot suggests? Since he probably knows better what the guys is or isn't capable of, so we should probably just go with what he thinks would work for him best."   Looking thoughtful, she asks Pilot,   " Could  we do that? And if we  can  get him to swap, is there an easy means of taking him out if-and-when we need to? Shouldn't keep bad dudes around longer than absolutely necessary. They have schemes and whatnot. Its like...in the rules for them, or something."  

Glancing at her person and rifling through her belongings she mutters as if to herself,   "Maybe we could stick him in a  different  object since we gotta break the orb to make him free Pilot? Like  uummm. .."   Seeming to realize how light she travels and quickly dismissing her own mithril arm, a cheap-looking wand, and the few pieces of magical gear she is actually wearing, she looks up sheepishly and shrugs,   "If so, there has to be  something  on board we could use....right?"   Looking hopefully at Pilot, she fiddles with her mithril arm, looking a little nervous.
Metastachydium
Well. Looks like they are doing this, whatever  this  really entails.   Either way, since we are  apparently  keeping the ship,   Delja speaks up again, with another grimace   I'd  again  stress the little fact that this  thing    she gestures towards the tome   is still very much  on  the ship we are  apparently    she rolled a shoulder noncommittally   keeping. Now, the Sensates would probably know what to do with it, and   she flashes a quick glance at Myriad and the knight   whatever it is that happened to you two; but, again, they want Teru. Or his body. Perhaps we could restore…   him and then trap his  soul  somehow to swindle the goat with an empty pile of dead meat they can't raise? Ux Utanar was never going to agree to that. This is going to be  another  headache.
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Pilot pauses to process the possibilities. Then, slowly, they respond:   "An  exact  swap is not possible. The elemental binding that connects me to the  Five Pebbles  is not something that would bind Master Teru; his essence is, after all, not elemental. You  could  command him to, at a later date, cast some spell upon himself such as  trap the soul ,  binding , or  imprisonment , but this is a waste of your one command."   Pilot pauses again, then their features swirl as they say,   "The greatest of the spellcasters of Sigil is Lothar the Old, though Factol Skall, Factol Darkwood, and Ramander the Wise are also quite capable. Darkwood and Ramander I believe would happily assist you in trapping him again; they have opposed Teru in the past, and this time their chances are good, as Teru was repeatedly energy drained within his orb-prison. But Lothar and Skall... they have plans I cannot see, and I would trust neither a necromancer nor a being whose essence is rooted in death."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Switching her big currently-dwarven eyes to Ux, Myriad nods enthusiastically,   "The obviously  very -evil wizardy slaver experimenting on eldritch evil entities to do gods-knows what in a demiplane he obviously set up to  avoid  their notice gets prison time and forced labor instead of an easy death! That's totally more   justicey   anyway,  right  Ux...?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 
  #JusticeForPilot  
A reminder that her Diplomacy is a flat auto-49 right now, for reference of how convincing her argument  normally  is. I know that doesn't work on players (what with IG familiarity and meta-balance purposes), mechanically, but I figured I would mention it for the purposes of thin justification as an 'out', if desired. lol
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar chuckles at seeing how the girls are trying to work around his morals, each in her own way.
  "Well, to be honest, I'm quite in agreement with you, Myriad, on that matter. It's too bad actually swapping Pilot and Master Teru is out of the picture, at least not within a single command given to Master Teru. Tell you this: we first go to either this Darkwood or this Ramander; these two seem to be the most commendable of the bunch. We free Master Teru, ask him to free Pilot, then get them to trap Master Teru at once again. Then we give the trapped Teru to the Sensates. Mission accomplished, we've freed an innocent soul in the process, we've delivered the mage, and we've given him a taste of what it feels like in that tiny orb. How does that sound?"  

But the question of the tome remains. Ux Utanar glances at the item, and he can instinctively feel how repulsive the artifact is for a soul like him.  
"But about that thing, Delja...no clue. First, we try to understand what it is, and then, I guess we try to destroy it somehow? We could get to a temple of Bahamut somewhere to ask for guidance."  

All the while, Ux Utanar pets Ereshki, which has shrunk back to normal size .
Metastachydium
Skeptical wrinkles run up high on Delja's forehead.   Sure.   she says.   Let's trick and trap the shady fellow with all the magic  ancient and dark , and once he's sufficiently pissed, let's just hand him over to folks who are  bound  to set him loose before we'd reach the door.   she goes on, her words interspersed with a couple of quick, stiff nods.   Sounds like my kind of dying an ugly, messy death.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Eyeing the object of Ux's disgust, Myriad shrugs.   "I can grab it and see if I can figure out what it's for before we wave it in front of any potentially power-hungry mages of questionable character. But...that should probably wait til we search the place and I get you guys out of here. It would totally  SUCK  for you guys if I picked it up and explodified without first making sure you can leave on your own now that the Five Peebles or whatever isn't on Pilot's  super- lockdown ."   She snorts a cackling chuckle, as if the thought of blowing herself up would be comedic because of how  inconvenient  that would be to her companions. Wiping a tear of mirth from her eye with a finger not  completely  covered in gore, she shrugs nonchalantly.   "But ya know... the first rule is to always  loot the bodies . Can't go against tradition!  Even if one of the bodies is technically  Pilot's  and its a plane ship thingie that  isn't  dead... "   That last bit is spoken quickly under her breath and quickly dismissed with a clearing of her throat. With that, she slips her dagger away into its sheathe and stretches languidly, looking around as if deciding what direction to go start the finding-and-looting process.
chaincomplex
 The  Five Pebbles .  With a bow Pilot vanishes, followed by a quick hiss and loud  thump  as two airtight thresholds unseal at  R32  and  Z37 . It is quiet, but now the party is aware of a humming that pervades the  Five Pebbles . It is as if a weight has been lifted from their minds, and they are no longer cut off from the rest of the multiverse.

Looking up the hallway from where they entered, the party sees there is now a shimmering field where they first teleported in. In the field there is a distorted image of Teru's suite in the Sensates' headquarters.

The party begin to search the rest of the vessel.

 
  Aft Bay.  Site of the last fight. There are dead obyriths strewn about. The air is thick with a rotting and acrid stench. Two deceased, eviscerated planestouched, one male and one female, lie against the southern wall. The female's gear includes: a fullblade engraved with runes M , a full plate engraved with runes M , a set of traveler's clothes, a golden holy symbol of a stylized sun, two rings etched with runes M , and a Celestial pocket dictionary. The male's gear includes: a rapier of high quality M , a chain shirt of high quality M , four dark and viscous potions M , two light and pleasantly scented potions M , an engraved ring M , a set of courtier's clothes, and a waterproof pouch holding 5 pp and 20 gp. 
  Theater.  Empty and thoroughly silent, as if the walls themselves absorbed noise. It is dark in this chamber. 
  Conference.  Empty. A large table sits in the center of the room. Complex control panels line a wall. 
  Archive.  A large library and storage space. Countless rare tomes on arcana, religion, nature, the planes, and geography line the shelves (+4 circumstance bonus to the respective Knowledge checks). Myriad's summoned mule seems to have found some peace here, yet all is not well. A trail of obyrith viscera and mortal blood leads from between the shelves to the northern door. Following the blood trail, the party finds a deceased elf woman against a shelf. She fought hard, as evidenced by chunks of what the party recognizes to be flesh of the spider-thing. The elf's gear includes: a set of robes with runes finely stitched across it M , a silver holy symbol depicting two eyes in a starry sky, a diamond ring M , and a prayerbook. 
  Controls and Operations.  This massive chamber is lined by massive, floor-to-ceiling opaque crystal screens, and numerous control panels of brass and copper knobs, dials, and gauges. Two huge, identical magical objects stand at  K7  and  AF7 . They seem to consist of a central granite column veined with arcane runes inscribed in some deep blue mineral, surrounded by billowing sheets of prismatic magical energy. Slumped against a control panel is a dead dwarf. She fought hard, and the floor around her is splattered with the foul secretions of the chained obyrith. The dwarf's gear includes: a sturdy adamantine and darkwood rod M , and a set of traveler's clothes. 
  Bunks and Washrooms.  The sleeping chambers are reasonably spacious with plenty of cabinet and table space; this is no ordinary vessel, that much is for sure. Scattered throughout the bunks there are several dozen sets of various outfits, ranging from plain to extravagant, as well as 152 gp. The washrooms have spotless faucets, basins, showers, and toilets, but none are operable. In two of the bunks there are deceased humans, torn apart by—judging from the pale viscera on the floor—the foul and numerous gray obyriths. The bodies' gear includes: two sets of traveler's clothes, a rune-engraved sword M , a plain darkwood band M , and twelve trinket tokens in various shapes M . 
  Captain's Quarters.  This is a large sleeping chamber with a beautiful four-poster bed and drawing desk. A shelf is stocked with practical mundane traveling and office gear. 100 gp and a smooth ring with inlaid gems M  can be found in the desk. There is a wax-sealed letter on the desk next to a quill and pot of ink. 
  Storage.  A room with fully stocked shelves. The party finds: thirty-four days of rations (dried fruit, aged sausages, hard cheese, honey cakes, and roasted nuts), four violins, two violas, two cellos, three harps (one of which detects as magic M ), twenty-six writing sets (inks, pens, papers, candles, wax, and stamps), two sets of masterwork alchemy tools, eight spell scrolls M , twelve potions of various consistencies (one dark black and viscous, four light green and viscous, two oily and beige, three blue like the sea, and two pure black and sparkling like the night sky) M , and six black velvet pouches containing strongly scented incenses. 
  Workshop.  A room with shelves stocked with tools and countless working tables with brass, glass, and copper contraptions for all sorts of arcane purposes. All Craft and Spellcraft skill checks made here are made with a +4 circumstance bonus. 
 
Everything Myriad detects as magical is marked as  M . In addition, each of our heroes gain 5,200 XP. In the aft bay, the arcane pedestal with the large book sits invitingly.
Geeksthenewsexy
Going room by room, Myriad mutters something about sanitation and uncharacteristically sets aside the loot into a pile while carefully carrying the bodies (and body parts) to the main room with the majority of the larger corpse they themselves were responsible for and setting them off to the side along with any soiled bedding, carpets, or other mostly worthless objects that can be gotten rid of easier than it could be properly cleaned. She, of course, stripped them of everything even remotely valuable-looking and everything with a hint of magic to dump in the 'loot pile' at the main entrance by the portal. Coming across what looks like the Captain's Quarters, Myriad's gleeful cackle resounds throughout the corridors as she calls out in a sing-song voice,   "Calling dibs on   this   roooom!"   Glancing at the sealed letter and considering the nice desk and how she should brush up on her forgery at some point, she leaves it for now in the face of clean-up procedures. Now going about her business with a spring in her step, she continues her ghoulish self-imposed task. Leaving the things in the storage room where they were stored, she saw no reason to drag the mundane contents out, so left anything non-magical where it lay. All the magical things needed identified (and labeled, hopefully), but mundane things that are obviously useful like writing and alchemy kits as well as food and instruments were worth storing over selling anyway in her mind.

Ducking in a room to find her companions, she calls out,   "Hey Ux, can you help me shift the big ones, please? I need your dragony muscles for those!"   Popping back in to wait for Ux, she sorts the mundane loot from the magical loot into separate piles. The arcane pedestal and soul orb doohicky, of course, she leaves untouched where they lay.
Metastachydium
The nixie, for her part, is somewhat less enthusiastic. Not that Myriad isn't a much better looter than herself anyhow. She ambles, almost idly, if still a bit tense along for a while to get a good measure of the place, but soon enough, she trails off on her own and back into the theater to slouch herself, face down, on a sofa, letting her sword arm hang inert above the carpet.

After a while, she emits a low growl of pure, pathetic pain.   Pilot, you here?   she says into the upholstery.   Now that lockdown's over   she continues   is there a chance that Evil Book of Evil will try to throw another party?  
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  There is a pause, then Pilot's disembodied voice comes clearly from some corner of the room (rather curiously, from one of the electrum runes which decorate the paneled walls):   "In truth, I do not know why or how the  Book of Vile Darkness  summoned the intruders it did. As much as I... do not like Master Teru, there is no question that he possesses an inordinately sharp magical mind. If even he could not predict the current predicament of the  Five Pebbles  and himself, then there is no guarantee that I could give with any certainty."  
remetagross
Ux considers the motley mountain of items currently gathered by Myriad and chuckles. He suggest half-jokingly and half-seriously:
  "Selling this stuff would likely net enough cash to pay a True Resurrection for the whole crew."  

That said, he doses himself with his wand of Enlarge Person once more, also known as the wand of Improved  Moving Out. And he helps Myriad navigating the million boxes around them.

But he pauses after hearing what Pilot says.
  "A Book of Vile Darkness ? That cannot be good. How and why did Master Teru get a hand on it ? Pilot, tell me he was trying to destroy it."   
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Pilot responds strangely stiffly after a pause, again as a disembodied voice,   "Master Teru was not trying to destroy the  Book of Vile Darkness  currently in the aft chamber. I am not privy to the details of how it was acquired, other than it was brought here... after being used to destroy the trade plane of Dymos."  
Metastachydium
   Figures.    Delja mumbles as Pilot explains how even he doesn't have explanation for the breech event. The rest isn't exactly news to her.   Didn't we already know most of that? I mean, with Dymos and the book.   the nixie tells the upholstery of her couch.   One of those logs with the dead folks said they've been dealing with these things. The stupid Evil books.   With a miserable look on her face, she gets up.   Sepaking of which, I'll go keep an eye on ours. From a distance. A  very  safe distance.  
remetagross
Ux Utanar remembers Pilot telling them about some logs pertaining to Dymos. After having asked him to tell them the relevant log again:
  
"Ah, so there was a set of standard procedures to know in order to handle the Book of Vile Darkness properly. Pilot, do you happen to know them? And in addition to that, maybe Master Teru has stored somewhere the results of his investigations about how exactly that plane got blown up? And..."  

Ux Utanar is wondering if they have been too careless. He looks at his comrades with a concerned look.

  "Delja, Myriad, that book was able to pull off two Wishes to soul trap Master Teru and get these obyriths on board. Who's to say it does not have another pair of Wishes in store to simply repeat just that?" I think I'm having an idea. I'm going to stuff that thing into my haversack. That should prevent it from summoning whatever creatures it can into our current demiplane. Or, it'll hoepfully cost it yet another  Wish. "  

The dragonborn proceeds to setting his backpack on the ground and checking the amount of space remaining inside it. He also takes out a length of rope.  
"I'm going to tie that around the book to move it without touching in directly."  
Metastachydium
  Ux. For the  love  of your god.   Delja hisses in mild exasperation, slipping a slender arm under the knight's in a symbolic effort to impede his work.    Stop doing that.  Do you  really  need to try and muck about with every crrepy magic thing we find?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

First the portal sphere (that zapped him!), then the controls in the theatre and now the Book of Vile Darkness. Poor lil' Delja.
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.    "Assessing..."   says Pilot. After a pause, they continue,   "The crew never let me take part in their ventures save as a helpless observer. However, I remember three prior encounters with the  Books of Vile Darkness . Typically, the crew secure the  Books  in the aft bay after... obtaining them, quarantining the artifacts with prismatic barriers when doing so, then upon returning to port, Master Teru boards and takes custody of said  Books .

"He does not store research logs. He rarely boards this ship except to talk to the crew, to maintain its magic, or to debrief after a voyage. I have... never seen Master Teru have trouble with the  Books  previously."  
 ──────────────────────────────── 
Up until now, the large book upon the pedestal had been resting like any ordinary object—immobile, unchanging, a tome whose features are as unremarkable as any other, save for its size. Yet as the dragonborn moves a rope into proximity with the tome, the tome itself begins to shift. Words dance across its pages, flitting from side to side like little ants. The binding and covers shift hues, and Ux could swear—though it always seems to happen as he blinks—that the tome changes size and shape. Whispers assail Ux's ears, nonsensical, garbled voices. They are not inviting him, nor are they compelling him to leave. They simply speak, and in doing so, Ux feels a weariness begin crawling into his heart.

Ux should try a Use Rope check. This may be a difficult one; as the rope touches the book, there is a very loud, very  physical  hiss, and the rope comes away with scorch marks as though it had been burned. At the same time, there is an inherent difficulty in finessing a rope around something as awkward as a big book.
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Um...maybe we should save that til  last .?"   Myriad eyes the book and Ux's burned rope hesitently.   "I mean... I'll  try to stow it safely if we really need to. But uh...only if we  need  to. And I would rather recover from that fight beforehand, if possible..."   
Metastachydium
   Thank  you!   Delja nods at Myriad pointedly, ignoring just how disturbing the changeling acting like the voice of reason feels as she gives Ux Utanar's arm another, equally pointed, if practically pointless tug.
remetagross
Ux Utanar recoils from the attempt.  
"Alright, alright. There's nothing to be done here."  
He stores his burnt rope back and keeps moving away from the tome till the otherwordly whispers cease.
  
"Promise you, Delja, that was the last time I'm messing around with an unknown item  like that. ".   The humour of the situation is not entirely lost to him either.

The dragonborn proceeds to pace around, pondering.  
"So, have we settled on a course of action in the end? Maybe find the locker room full of Books of Vile Darkness in Master Teru's abode in Sigil?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
Considering even as she goes back to sorting loot, Myriad calls out,   "Hey Pilot, is the um... entry point  to the Pebbles calmed down now that lockdown is lifted? I don't wanna leave it lying around in the dead guy's office and planned to take it with us as we run errands for security and safety reasons. Can it be stored in a nondimensional space without issue?"   She gestures at her Handy Haversack as the obvious nondimensional space in question.   "And are there keys or a password or anything so my friends can come and go without me yanking them through the tricksy way?"  
Metastachydium
  Good and agreed.   Delja nods, unhanding the dragonborn, before shifting her focus over to the  other  ongoing conversation.   If we can't just smuggle the thing out of the Sensational Messhall, I'd really rather see it stay in a state only Druce here can properly use it.   she joins Myriad.   The Sensates sound like a nosy lot.  
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Pilot responds,   "I am not clear on how you entered to begin with, as the password was not spoken. I am not permitted to share the password and there are no keys either within the  Five Pebbles  or near its anchoring point in the Civic Festhall. I understand Sunsdóttir was granted Master Teru's key, but I cannot sense its location. My former masters among the efreet lords would also have a portal key. As quarantine has been lifted, there should no longer be any barrier or inconvenience to regular travel through the portal. I can close it from this side to prevent others from entering, but then you would need the password to reactivate it. The keys are more powerful magic items which will create an instantaneous  gate  to this vessel from wherever you may be... with a few exceptions.

"The main hall portal itself cannot be transported, and presently I cannot move it as I am still carrying out Master Teru's final instructions."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar resumes moving stuff around with Myriad. While hauling a carpet loaded with of the content of a pored-over chest, he ponders Pilot's answer.
  "Hmmm, if I get that correctly, that means the one stumbling block we have here is that missing key from Sunsdóttir. Say we get our hands on it, after Myriad's...thorough  frisking  of the ship...then we're the only ones that can move in and out of that ship. Apart from other top-level Silver Keys, of course. I don't mind the 'tricksy way'. This means that evil artifact here is relatively safe to leave here...unless it starts to pull off some more Wishes. Pilot...was that the first time a Book of Vile Darkness ever did that?"  

Ux Utanar pauses a moment to pat Ereshki.  
"Here's what I want to achieve about all this. First, administer a just punishment to Master Teru for what he has done to a number of souls, last but not least to Pilot. Second, destroy that book. Third, figure out where exactly did all the previous books go. I think we could break Master Teru's orb and bind him to finding a way to destroying the books, in case we don't find such a means by ourselves. That'd be fit. And then, we could report to the Society as mission accomplished."  
Metastachydium
Leaning against the doorframe, Delja looks, in turn, at the book and Ux Utanar's broad back. She has the sudden urge of asking that old question:  and then, what happpens next?  BUt on second thought, that would be a silly question to ask. Taking care of this is enough of a  next  in itself; they came here looking for some threat Teru knows of, and they would seem to have found it, or, at any rate, one such issue all on their own.

  Sounds about right.   she nods, scratching her right wrist slowly and still in thought.   But here's the thing: this is an either–or deal. One orbed Teru means one wish. We can't have him hand over the ship  and  deal with the books.   she reminds the others.   And that latter command might be broader than we'd like it anyhow.  
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Still disembodied, Pilot's voice responds,   "It is indeed the first time I have seen a  Book of Vile Darkness  react so violently... or, indeed, the first time I have seen Master Teru bested by any of his experiments."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad nods in agreement.   "We gotta free pilot, so we'll likely have to use the one command to do that. We need to keep that ******** around as punishment after, so we need to find a way to make that happen. Ideally with the same command, like making him free pilot by replacing him as a helpless magical assistant without free will or whatever."   Gesturing at all the goodies that has been gathered, she continues,   "And unless Pilot has a detailed manifest we could check or has the ability to identify magic properties for us, we need to get this stuff identified, appraised, and sold off so we have money for researching a way or hiring an expert to handle it for us. Plus, if we're dealing with this level of threat, we could all use a few additional tools to keep us alive if there is a next time."  
Metastachydium
Delja, still leaning against her chosen doorframe within view of the Book nods slowly.   So we'll take our time, most likely.   she muses aloud.   I think we best have the ship locked down once we're done here, then. Can you do that for us, Pilot?  
remetagross
Ux Utanar exhales, all the while carrying a drawer under each arm.
  "So it's settled, then. I'm liking this idea of paying someone else to take care of the Pilot-Teru swapping operation. I think we'll need to have a have level of confidence in whoever we pick for that task. I mean, we're planning to trap an epic-level wizard within his own planar ship. That's bound to attract the attention of a lot of people. We could swoop by a temple of Bahamut - I'm sure there's one somewhere in Sigil - I'd like to be able to make an offering for a Commune spell or that kind of magic to get advice from the Platinum Knight on that matter. And a Greater Restoration or two, while we're at that. You're done with gathering up useful items, Myriad?"  
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Pilot responds,   "Affirm. I will shut the portal from this side when you leave. It will be hard to see when closed as such, so bear in mind its location."  
Metastachydium
  Appreciated.   Delja tells Pilot conversationally, bobbing her head forward, her attention already elsewhere.   And if you aren't,   she joins Ux Utanar's line of inquiry at an increased volume.   could we speed things up?  
remetagross
Once the overhauling of valuables is over, Ux Utanar goes to Ereshki to calm her down.  
"Gentle, it's going to be a little disquieting one more time when you get through that portal. I'll be here with you."   He leads her by the rein up to the location where Myriad will translate them.
  "All set, gentlewomen."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad nods and gathers up all the magical odds-and-ends bound for itentification.   "You guys know the drill. You wanna go one at a time, or all together in one big  whoosh ?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
 a fullblade engraved with runes 
 a full plate engraved with runes 
 2 x rings etched with runes 
 a rapier of high quality 
 a chain shirt of high quality 
 4 x dark and viscous potions 
 2 x light and pleasantly scented potions 
 an engraved ring 
 a set of robes with runes finely stitched across it 
 a diamond ring 
 a sturdy adamantine and darkwood rod 
 a rune-engraved sword 
 a plain darkwood band 
 12 x trinket tokens in various shapes 
 a harp 
 8 x spell scrolls 
 a dark black and viscous potion 
 4 x light green and viscous potions 
 2 x oily and beige potions 
 3 x blue like the sea potions 
 2 x pure black and sparkling like the night sky potions 
 


51 Items to Identify in total
322gp in found coinage to put towards that.
 
Metastachydium
Delja slowly backs away from her chosen guardpost, keeping her eyes on the tome for as long as she is able. The nixie then spins around and rejoins her companions with a firm nod.   Big whoosh.   she proclaims, almost sternly.   We don't have all day.  
remetagross
  "See you around, Pilot!  Thank you for your help."    Ux Utanar readies himself for the whoosh.
chaincomplex
  Five Pebbles .  The hulking monster corpses are lined up in the hall, so numerous that they spill over into the aft compartment. In the meantime the dead humanoids—or most of what remains of them, anyways—are set leaning in the halls between the controls room and crew quarters. There is sorted clutter spread out nearby, discarded mundane things and some of the linens and carpets used to cart around goods. The party steps through the shimmering portal, leaving the quiet hum of the vessel behind.

 ──────────── 
 Civic Festhall.  Once again the party finds themselves in Teru's messy quarters. Gone are the harsh winds and the magic sphere; the room is calm with papers settled and strewn about, and in place of the sphere is an identical shimmering portal, this one with the faintly visible and distorted image of the  Five Pebbles  entryway they had just left. As soon as the party clears the portal's space completely, it vanishes, in its place remaining only a faintly visible haze.

The room smells good, despite the mess. Unseen incense perfumes the air. The slow trickle of water from the western fountain pools in a sparkling clean basin. Caked in drying viscera, and juxtaposed with the (if messy) luxury of the environment, the party stands out dramatically in appearance and in smell.

Through the door north the party cannot hear much activity, just distant footsteps down the curving corridor. They are passersby; none sound to be coming closer. The door is presently open.

 ──────────── 
The Civic Festhall is immense with countless floors, halls, and rooms. But the layout has a geometric logic to it. The party can readily find their way out if they wish; there are many entrances and exits. But even at this hour the halls are populated with nobles, scholars, and adventurers. There is no leaving unseen unless exceptional measures are taken.

Teru's quarters are on the third floor. In these halls the traffic is lighter. South and north windows look over the still-busy dusk streets of Clerk's Ward; east and west windows the Sensates' gated gardens and amphitheaters.

 
 Spoiler: Civic Festhall, Ground Floor 
 
 
Metastachydium
Delja sticks her head out through the door, only to retract it just as quickly. Stepping away from the egress, she wipes her feet on the closest rug she can find as she assumes  her previous guise , looking all clean and sharp again, with only the smell (now worse than perhaps ever before) still remaining. Draping her cape over the naked blade in her right (that once again looks like a plain swagger stick to the equally naked eye), she turns to face the others.   I'm not sure I need questions in my life right now.   she say with blunt simplicity.   Any chance you can make yourselves more agreeable?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sleight of Hand to conceal the sword again:  (1d20+12)[ 21 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar proceeds to hastily wipe his equipment clean with a strewn-about curtain, and does the same with Ereshki's fur.  
"This is the best I can do given five minutes, Delja. But aren't the Sensates an exotic bunch, anyway? I'm fairly certain we're actually looking rather mundane in comparison!"  

Hauling the carpets full of pilfered belongings behind him, he then adds :  
"Where should we go to sell all that?"  
Metastachydium
Delja is about to say something, but then, the sheer size of the loot suddenly hits her, alongside the fact that  it's currently contained in bulky carpets . She slaps a tired palm on her own forehead. Looks like she's not up to her old speed  at all .   No idea.   she replies to Ux Utanar a bit morosely, as she fishes out a nondescript piece of cloth from a pouch and lays it carefully down on the ground.   But I  do  know I want it look less conspicuous.   she continues, staring down into the hole that's just materialized on where there used to be floor a moment before.   Let's see if we can help that, eh?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

The PORTABLE HOLE opens!
 
remetagross
  "Aaah, that's a useful item you've got here, Delja. My own haversack is filled to the brim."   Ux Utanar then proceeds to jump down the hole, and to pull the nearby carpets to him. He then carefully holds them to the bottom of the hole. When that is over, he jumps out again.
  
"Now that this is done for, tell you what. Let's exit this place, and then we'll find a place or another to sell our items."  

If the others agree, Ux opens the door north to his position, followed by Ereshki, and starts backtracking to the entrance of the Society of Sensation.
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking down at her blood and ichor-soaked clothing, Myriad considers thoughtfully. Dabbing with Ux's purloined curtain, once it is the best they can do, she gives the bloody curtain the fish-eye and quickly unhooks it and stashes it in her backpack.    "Probably best not to leave a bunch of bloodstains in the dude's office people may have seen us visit, yeah?"    She sighs at her clothing.   "I vote we stop by the closest viable shop and see if we can get a wand or two of prestidigitation for clean up before we go meeting new folks and trying to be...diplomatic. Or bargain for more supplies. Unless we were going the intimidation route...?"  

Waiting for an answer, she does a quick search of the room for any evidence of their passing to easily get rid of, and anything of worth that probably won't be missed.
Metastachydium
The alleged wispling merely shrugs as she closes the hole and puts it away.   We may as well. Sigil's too big to start fights in if we can help it.   and it's not like she wouldn't like to have the obyrith sludge somewhere…  Not  on her. Or the others; currentyóly, they aren't exactly easy on the eye and nose.   Spirals form fast. Let's roll out, shall we?  
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  There is nothing to be done but to clean the grime the party itself brought in, which would be a chore at this juncture. A tracker would have no trouble following the party, but there is little direct evidence of the party's passing besides—in part due to the general state of the room.

 Civic Festhall.  The guest quarters vanish behind the party as they walk down the twisting corridor. Offices and lecture halls pass by, a few still populated at these hours, muffled voices seeping out. Portraits and landscapes of the planes and their inhabitants gaze down at the party, all depicting strong expressions either of joy or grief or something in between, literally or metaphorically. The muted, comfortable lights of the wall sconces do their part to make the party stand out a little less visually; odor is however a different matter.

Down flights of stairs and through the main corridors, the party runs into more of the Festhall's denizens. Scholars, travelers, and the well-to-do, cosmopolitan in fashion and in mannerism, envoys from countless distant worlds. The party does turn some heads, more from smell than appearance, but they are not accosted as they make their way past the lobby and out into Clerk's Ward. Despite backtracking, they do not run into Annali.

 ──────────── 
 Sigil.  The sounds of the city blast the party as they step out of the Civic Festhall. The Festhall's monolithic shadow looms over the plaza. The dizzying geometry of Sigil stretches the avenues and boroughs into the sky; in the dusk they watercolor everything with lamp and window lights. Slow horn and string music wafts through the air, at these hours calming and melancholy. The party is currently in Clerk's Ward. It takes about an hour to move to an adjacent ward; the following wards are listed by adjacency (wrapping around).

 
  Clerk's Ward.  A place of bureaucracy, culture, and learning. 
  Guildhall Ward.  Businesses and services, high crafts and high finance. 
  Market Ward.  Nonstop trade from across the multiverse. 
  Lady's Ward.  The wealthy and the powerful are welcome. 
  Lower Ward.  Workshops, industries, factories, and spelljammer docks. 
  The Hive.  Slums and ghettos. 
 
 Clerk's Ward.  The wealthy and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and of course, the countless clerks of the district's namesake—all mingle here. The avenues are wide and maintained, touts and carriages are aplenty, and the streets are lined with offices, colleges, shops, and taverns. It takes a dozen or so minutes to transit anywhere within a district. The district's immediate landmarks:

 
  Civic Festhall.  A colossal center of culture and learning run by the Society of Sensation. The party just left here. 
  The Greengage.  A cozy ciderhouse and community center. 
  Grundlethumb's Automatic Scribe.  A printing press, scriptorium, and scroll shop. 
  The Hall of Information.  The everyday management of Sigil's infrastructure and governance happen here. 
  The Hall of Records.  Administrative management and taxation on behalf of Sigil's informal government, run by the Fated. 
  The Hall of Speakers.  Sigil's legal and policy center, run by the Sign of One. 
  Jeena Ealy's Compound.  The planeswalker, explorer, writer, and celebrity Jeena Ealy has a villa in Clerk's Ward. 
  The Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness.  A place for the avant garde musician, stage actor, or illusionist. 
  Tea Street Transit.  Pony-drawn cabs for hire, can bring one just about anywhere in Sigil in good time. 
  Tensar's Employment Service.  Where employers and employees match. 
  Trianym.  A public amphitheater where one can usually learn about the city's goings-on. 
  The Trioptic Nic'Epona.  A large plaza and statue with many businesses, also a planar thoroughfare. 
 
remetagross
  "Ah, it's nice to see the stars again,"   says Ux Utanar while stretching his neck back.   "And not to have been stopped by anyone on the way out, too."  

The dragonborn then squints to make out the proper direction to Market's Ward. Above, below, to the right, to the left? He asks a passerby in case he cannot figure it out by himself, or if Delja and Myriad are of no help in this matter. Ereshki takes to the air out of pleasure to be able to stretch her wings again, and joyfully circles above their head as they make their way by foot.
  
"Gals, any preference for a particular kind of shop? Personally, I like dragonborn-run ones - they're pretty uncommon, but I guess in Sigil of all places, might as well try our luck!"  
Metastachydium
Delja, for her part, is pleased enough to have gotten away from the weird rugs of the Sensates that she doesn't quite bother to check on… Well, whatever goes for the sky in this warped place.   I'm happy to keep you happy,   the disguised nixie shrugs at her towering companion.   so long as they are cheap.   The illusion that she can afford to be tired doesn't do much for her ability to take the initiative right now, much as that may annoy her at some level. As such, she welcomes Ux Utanar's ideas and proactive asking around in equal measure: they  should  indeed keep moving, away from the Festhall.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I just realized D. has Knowledge (local) trained; I'll make a check, in case it helps:  (1d20+12)[ 21 ] 
 
remetagross
As they proceed, Ux Utanar ponders aloud. Walking to a store seems so mundane, such a strange break of pace, after their hectic fight.
  "It's been a while since we've settled a little bit, Delja. Say, we're done managing epic wizards and evil artifacts for a little while. What's the first thing you'd do with some free time on your hands?"  
Metastachydium
 Burnt wine.  Clear,  old  burnt wine. The mental image fills up the nixie's head for a moment, before she could suppress it. It's not a healthy sort of mental image.   I don't  want  free time on my hands.   she blurts out, a bit more round-eyed and defensive than she'd like to be. She shakes her head.   What about you, Ux?   she manages with a more even tone to try and change the subject.
remetagross
Given that Ux Utanar's Wisdom  equals that of a lemming , he remains totally oblivious to Delja's unease. He happily answers with his rich voice.
  "What I would do would be to settle for a few weeks at a temple of Bahamut somewhere isolated, where my strength might be needed in case of danger. Then, I'd take some time training the young clerics to fight and explaining the way of the Dragonborn to any pilgrims or visitors."  

He stretches his arm and looks at the bruised and gory scales at the back of his hand.
  
"See, there are not many of us, and we usually throw ourselves in situations of danger, by definition of what we are...we don't have enough occasions to actually sit back and talk with other people about why we do that and how they can join."  
chaincomplex
 Market Ward.  The avenues grow rougher and the bustle louder, even in these dusk hours. The buildings here are just as intricately ornamented, overlapping, and dense as in Clerk's Ward, but at the same time they are more spontaneous and less planned in layout. Domes are more homely, cartouches more modest, the people here being more of practical means than the academics and leisure-folk of the Civic Festhall. But wealth is still plain to see from all the colorful fashions and stately carriages, even if they are clustered within a sea of commoners. The party quickly gets their bearings from signs and posters, noting the major landmarks of Market Ward:

 
  The Great Bazaar.  A colossally sprawling plaza of stores and stalls hedged in by a matrix of towers and halls. Merchants from across the planes come here to trade common and rare goods alike. Almost anything can be found here irrespective of natural availability, legality, or morality; and what cannot, can be ordered from at least a handful of reputable traders. Run by the Free League. 
  The Great Gymnasium.  A gorgeous great hall run by the Ciphers. It is not entirely clear what happens within but working and wealthy folk alike seem to partake in whatever they offer. 
  Xanist's Shop.  One of the largest independent stores in Sigil. This place caters to all manners of rare artifacts. Only the wealthy come here. 
  Ensin's Discount Elixirs.  An alarmingly cheap potion shop. Plenty of clients, mostly of the desperate, poor, or urgent sort. 
  Zakk's Corpse Curing.  A curious and flashy taxidermy hall. The party has never seen a stuffed red dragon before, posing just as if it were still breathing. 
  Chirper's.  An upper-class inn catering to the many travelers who are here for the Great Bazaar, whether as customers or as merchants. 
  Imel's Happy Tongue.  A tavern and restaurant for the rest. Exotic but not pricey stuff, a place to try new things. 
 
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie is pretty sure that the chances of finding another dragonborn in the City of Doors are close to nil. She does however know of a modest shrine to Bahamut in Lady's Ward; if there are other dragonborns in Sigil, there is no better place to start a search.
Metastachydium
 Awkward Conversations 

Delja shakes her head in somewhat better spirit. She was fairly certain Ux Utanar would say something like that, and lo behold. At the very least, she's not being discussed herself anymore.   Well, there's no huge risk we'll lose you to that  here .   she muses aloud.   There's a shrine, I think, to your Big Dragon in Lady's Ward from what I hear, but in terms of scaly beings to interact with, you'll have to make do with me.   she goes on. Dragonborn  are  uncommon enough, now that she thinks about it.


 ♣ 
 Market Ward 

The bustling of the great trade hub set wave over wave of throbbing pain upon the nixie's tired little head, but she consoles herself with the convivtion that the crowd will, at least, mask their presence or at least their putrid stench. Such gatherings are a useful, if annoying tool – that much she's learned back in her day.

After some aimless drifting with the masses, she abruptly stops, however, to frown slightly. Walking has given them a sense of this place, but that will only facilitate the decisions to take so much.   Alright.   she swirls around to arrest the progress of the others as well.   The obvious thing seems to be hitting the Bazaar, but… That doesn't really narrow down the range of our options. So: now what? Any insight, Druce?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding, Myriad muses aloud,   "Lets pick up some eternal Prestidigitation wands and clean ourselves up first."   Fishing out the coin, she asksy,   "Hard to get people to like you and give you information if you're covered in blood, ya know? Then I can do a quick search of the market for a place to identify and sell off some things so we have liquid capital? Probably need some for bribes or something after we figure out who we're going to get to help us with the dead dude and Pilot."  

Pausing, she looks at Ux,   "If you can get some church peeps to fix us up first to put us on top of our game for negotiations, that would be helpful. If not, I think I can still swing it, though."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Gather Information  -  Where to identify stuff reliably for cheap :   39   (Auto Take-10)
 Diplomacy  -  To haggle, if possible :   49   (Auto Take-10)
 Intimidate  -  To browbeat, if they have an issue with our gory appearance :   49   (Auto Take-10)

 Note:  Add +1 to each if Ux can get us cured of ability drain/damage via his church peeps before we start.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar chuckles.   "And as soon as we'll get these wands, I'll be the only one left with scales."   And then he answers Myriad.
  "Ah, well, we could get to that shrine of Bahamut Delja has heard about to get some healing, I guess. How does that sound, Ereshki?"   The dire bat, which has been quite thoroughly drained during the fight too, circles above them gently.

The dragonborn changes direction to head for the temple.  
"If that's fine with everyone, then let's postpone the trade a little bit."   
Metastachydium
Delja, sparing only a confused side glance at Myriad when Ux Utanar mentions losing scales as a possible effect of Prestidigitation, zips past the knight once more to block his path.   I think we can get the wands as we are while we're here  anyway .   she proposes.   The two of you would stick out a bit too much in Lady's Ward.  
chaincomplex
 Market Ward: The Great Bazaar.  ( Eight past noon, evening. ) Under the hazy orange sky tents small and large crowd in the shadow of great spires and sprawling halls. Signs abound promising goods common and exotic, shops that look older than even some of Faerûn's civilizations beckon locals and travelers alike to browse their wares. The selection is eclectic, sounds, smells, and sights assaulting the party: spices, metals, silks, and more, only some of which look properly terrestrial in origin. Humanoids are only the slim majority here. Winged, horned, hoofed, and tailed creatures stalk the streets peacefully if not in a particularly friendly manner, and even those that are humanoid often wear alien fashions, expressions, or body parts. Occasionally there is the glint of a scale—more often than not Delja and Myriad quickly identify the possessor of these scales to be lizard-like creatures, when robed as they often are not too visually distinct from dragonborn yet evidently not of Ux's ilk.

Myriad zips from stall to stall with little issue. What in Faerûn is called Thorasta Common here is "Planar Trade" or simply Trade Speech, only that there are idiosyncrasies in accent and syntax to work through with the local denizens. She eventually narrows down a male azer trader, a sturdily built, brass-skinned humanoid with a mane that flows straight into what can only be described as burning, flickering fire. The trader operates out of a stone brick shop with granite fixtures. He is careful to keep his distance from his customers; the changeling can feel the heat radiate off him.

As promised, he has the cheapest  eternal wands of prestidigitation  for sale at the price of 400 gp each (six in all), and they are well-made things too, thin steel-and-silver wands wreathed with brass ornamentation of efreet carrying goblets and vases, terminating in a delicate crystal. A curiosity considering the price.

  "Need to clear my stock before I head back to the City o' Brass, Cutter,"   he explains gruffly but not disrespectfully.   "Short notice. Cous-in-law is a high-up, needs my sense for some nasty biz. Some air planar turning stag, prolly getting written into the dead-book. Got lucky with this deal you did. These were forged by the hands of House al-Haldra artificers. Likely apprentices but still, Bloods among Bloods."  

If he is bothered by the smell he does not show it; the shop's burning incenses fortunately covers up the party's stench fairly well. Whether or not the party chooses to buy the wands the azer will finish with other customers then close shop. He will not open again for the near future.

 ──────────── 
 Lady's Ward.  ( Nine past noon, evening. ) Spacious, well-paved streets and the nighttime silence, a refreshing change from the chaotic crowds and avenues of Market Ward. Well-adorned, lantern-lit carriages flanked by heavily armed escorts almost glide through the streets, even as the strange ponies that draw them clop rapidly against the flagstone. Mail and steel on stone too, from the heavily armed guard patrols in the distinct crimson full plate. Buildings here are large and sprawling: pricey merchants, iron-gated estates, beautiful temples, and grand halls. Aromatic, colorful flowerbeds and cast iron lamps line the district. Eyes watch all, familiar and stranger, with suspicious, perceptive cunning.

Guided by street signs the party quickly identifies the district's landmarks:

 
  The High Houses.  The powers of Sigil and the greater Planescape reside in this loose collection of villas and mansions, if they reside in Sigil at all. 
  The Armory.  A famous clearinghouse of high-level weaponry and combat-related magic items. Also where the best mercenaries and assassins gather. Run by the Doomguard. 
  The Twelve Factols.  Just a tavern, the party is stubbornly informed. Reasonable prices, uncommonly so for this district. 
  City Barracks.  Exactly what it sounds like. A granite citadel run by the Harmonium. 
  City Court.  Where judges of immortal law determine the future of not just Sigil but—so it is rumored—much of the rest of the planes. Run by the Fraternity of Order. 
  Fortune's Wheel.  An inn and tavern fit for kings. Important people come here and important events are planned here. Very selective, invite only. 
  The Golden Bariaur Inn.  One of the largest of the inns and taverns catering to high-class clientele. A relaxed place open to anyone who can afford it. 
  Court of Pain.  A colossal, ghostly palace with gated grounds that sprawl. Hooded figures can be seen going in and out. 
  The Prison.  Also exactly what it sounds like. A grim castle of many spires. Run by the Mercykillers. 
  Temple of the Abyss.  An architectural devotion to the very Abyss. Weirdly elegant and minimal, though no less imposing than it should be. 
  Temple of Hermes.  One of the largest and most beautiful temples in the district. One can readily guess who it is a temple to. 
  Tower of the Wyrm.  A dark, monolithic thing that stretches well into the dark, featureless sky. Locals fear this place. Wise outsiders do too. Run by the Mercykillers. 
  Traban's Forge.  One of the greatest artificers in the planes, working on commission here in Lady's Ward for the wealthy and powerful. 
 
In addition, the party has no trouble locating the local place of Bahamut's worship. It is a modest shrine with equally modest annexes. Still, it is a well-kept building. Lanterns lit beside slightly ajar front doors indicate it is still accepting visitors.

 Lady's Ward: Shrine of the Platinum Dragon.  The interior of the shrine is beautiful. Glittering metals and stones make up the walls and floors, the ceiling bears soaring draconic motifs, and gentle fountains along the walls trickle, pooling in basins connected under the elevated crystalline floors. There is but a single figure in the place, a hooded humanoid meditating in the center of the floor.

The figure stirs. There is a glint of scales under its thick robes.
remetagross
Ux Utanar's profane eyes still marvel at the exquisite design of the wands.  
"I think we'll take three of these, then" he says by waving at the items. "Aye?"  
In case the others agree, the dragonborn proceeds to shell out the money from his purse, and adds
  "Good luck for this future endeavour of yours"   to the Azer.

In the shrine, having left Ereshki at the entrance because he is not sure of the local custom with regard to mounts, Ux Utanar enters the place reverently. Looking at the glistening patterns, he feels immediately both at ease and full of respect. This is as close to home as I get.

Ux Utanar cautiously approaches the silhouette. When he feels he cannot move further without his bulk entering its personal space, he softly speaks up in draconic.  
"Praise be to the Platinum One. I am Ux Utanar tibur Human Randal Amblecrow, from Faerün. I have come to seek the counsel and the healing from the Lord of the North Wind."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Beaming cheerily at both Ux and the merchant, 'Drucilla' agrees readily. Pausing long enough to exchange a bit of follow-up business with the merchant, the flash of coin can be seen as she leans in slightly despite the heat to speak quietly with the merchant briefly. Thanking the fellow, she prances off with her companions.

As they leave to make their way to the temple, Myriad busies herself with using the new wands to clean them all up to draw less attention.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Myriad tips the merchant an extra platinum and asks for any insider merchant tips on identification services on the cheap in the city - anything from a friend of a friend doing a solid with an introduction or a good word put in, to anyone needing to offload any identification magical items on the down-low due to less than convenient providence.  (Same Take-10 Results as previous post, plus the tip if that helps at all) 

Everyone should be decidedly less gross!

-81 Platinum from Myriad
+80 Platinum to Ux
+1 Platinum to the Merchant
 
Metastachydium
Delja is more than pleased to see matters handled without much need for her participation first in the azer's shop (Myriad has quite the nose indeed to have tracked down that price which very nearly left the nixie herself saucer-eyed), where she mostly elects to just hang in the background looking far more presentable than the others and reinforcing the idea with the neccessary little verbal pleasantries, and then in the temple.

Leaning against the wall near the entrance, she rubs her left eye lazily and shakes her head ever so slightly as she tries to get a good measure of the place. She never really expected to actually witness Ux Utanar's spiel with grinding out his whole unending name when coming across someone new  actually  be a certifiably good idea, but there it is, all set to  work . Probably, anyhow – but she'll let this one just play out without breaking the decorum with so much as a single roll of her eyes either way.
chaincomplex
 Back in Market Ward: Myriad.  Without hesitation the azer merchant rejects the proffered platinum coin though not impolitely.   "Not the way for us of the City o' Brass to take coin for a job not done."   None of his associates, so he claims, offer services cheaply except in special cases (such as his).   "The canny don' ask for cheap identification, 'cus the cheap'll bob ye. Ye need trust, an established relationship."   He gives a short list of recommendations: the Doomguard or Traban's in Lady's Ward, the Hands of Time in Lower Ward, the Sensates in Clerk's Ward, or Xanist's or the Ciphers here in the Guildhall and Market Wards.   "Ye could look about the Bazaar for an honest merchant, practiced in identification. But ye'd be just as likely to find someone try'na bob ye, aye?"  
 ──────────── 
 Lady's Ward: Shrine of the Platinum Dragon.  Even as Ux speaks the party quickly realizes that the hooded silhouette is no dragonborn—nor even lizardfolk or anything in that neighborhood. No: the being turns around and reveals itself to be  sahuagin . It is a DC 15 Knowledge (nature) or DC 20 Knowledge (local) check to even identify the creature. Fine, scintillating fish scales run down its body. A strongly muscled form ripples under fabric. Its face, amphibious with wide, glazed eyes, is alien in appearance and expression. It is a fish-man through and through, and not of the merfolk kind.

Still, if there are questions of allegiance, the sahuagin unmistakably wears an ornate amulet bearing Bahamut's symbol, twinkling stars arrayed above a milky nebula. Seeing Ux, the sahuagin bows in greeting and speaks roughly in a male voice unaccustomed to yet still fluent in Draconic:   "Greetings, Emissary Amblecrow of the Prime, and may the North Wind smile upon our meeting. I am Rasabu, Dragon Cleric and Sacred Fist of Bahamut. I am prepared now to channel the God of Dragons' magic to  heal ,  greater restore , or  commune . Other magics up to the Seventh Circle I can prepare by tomorrow. As is customary I will require a donation for these services—unless you act in the service of Law and Good, in the spirit of the Lord's will, in which case I provide these services freely."   He looks Ux up and down meaningfully then switches to Common, speaking much more rapidly and familiarly.   "In this day and age there are dragonborn who are not born of the  Rite  but of mortal coupling, and their intentions may not be so pure. You will understand if I do not immediately trust that you are a Faithful of the Platinum Dragon, even as you wear their skin."  
Metastachydium
Delja  almost  frowns as the cloaked figure reveals himself. For starters, she didn't expect a fish person so far out of water, and not one of Uzo's sort either. Still, more pressingly, sje knows exactly what the priest is: a shark-tamer. A  sahuagin . Krii never stopped badmouthing them for some reason back in the day, calling them soulless predators out for blood, worse yet than the sharks they consort with, but that isn't really the point here; Enos says that's a darfellan thing she shouldn't think too hard about. The thing is, sahuagin  are  unlike herself or Uzo or the merfolk comically dragging themselves about on the shore:  very  ill-suited for prolonged survival on land. This doesn't quite add up.

Nevertheless, for the time being, she's going to take the man at face value. Maybe there's a saltwater pool out back. Who knows, after all. She's not Krii to judge. In that case, however, the sahuagin means business. Business of Law and Good. She removes her back from the wall and puts on a very solemn and polite face. This might get tricky. On the one hand, Ux Utanar is not much of a liar. He'll easily prove he's of the flock. On the other hand, Ux Utanar is  not  much of a liar. She steals a side glance at Myriad. The changeling and her are… Not the Platinum Lizard's sort of people. This might result… In  issues .

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

A quick Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 32 ]  and Sense Motive:  (1d20+15)[ 19 ]  on the sahuagin, just in case, because D.'s a paranoid little twit.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad waves at the fish person, holding up her mithril arm.   "Hey, this thing wouldn't even  work  if you're a not good person. It  hella  curses bad dudes! I gave it to a bandit that tried to rob me once because he needed a new arm, and watching him flop around on the ground like a half-dead fish was  hilarious !"   Chuckling heartily at the memory, she stops abruptly and looks at the fish person in slight dismay.   "Uh...no offense! I  meant  like...a  fish  fish. Not like a...uh... person  fish. Not even like a fish, now that I think about it. More like...a....um... other thing  that flops...? Yeah, definitely! Maybe a...uh...animated...pancake? Yeah! Probably. That would be  super  floppy. Especially if it was  buttered ."  

Nodding as if completely satisfied with her total save self-correction, she nudges Ux and flashes a grin.   "You didn't tell me you could have dragon babies! I thought you all did that  egg  thing. That's neat!"   Pausing and eyes going a little bit wide, she continues hurriedly,   "Ux, do  you  have any dragon babies!?  Please  tell me you have dragon babies!"  

Turning to Delja, she stage-whispers loud enough for everyone to hear,    " Now  I really want  pancakes ...we should  totally  find some when we're done here."    
 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Still Same Social Rolls (I'm lazy, which is why I love that alternate class feature lol)

Myriad is Chaotic Good. Though, it is more of a 'Killing bad guys is considered good, so if you  wanna  murder people,  just find more bad guys ' situation. If your job is killing bad guys, and killing bad guys is a good thing, then being good at your job is also a good thing. Yay justifiable homicide!

Morally right is superior to Legally right in Myriad's eyes. Some of her... problems (read, trouble with the law) ...stem from the fact that morality is  very subjective .

Arm of Nyr (Defenders of the Faith, p. 26) - I'd post a screenshot of the snippet, but,  copyright . If interested and don't have the book, PM me for the excerpt instead :)
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie can see the sahuagin priest is a combat veteran. Deep scars, physical and magical, pockmark Rasabu's skin (scales?) in grotesque ways. The priest's symbol of Bahamut also shows signs of wear in scratches and deformation. Still, the sahuagin appears to put a high priority on cleanliness, from glittering scale to gleaming symbol. As to what Delja can  sense —that is a different matter. So alien is the sahuagin's expressions and general physiology that little can be gathered from the usual tells—the averted gaze, the nervous tic, and so on. At the very least Delja is certain the priest is not making things up on the spot; it speaks in a manner too confident and practiced for that. Beyond that, the nixie knows better than to fool herself: she does not have a good read on the sahuagin.

Delja's gaze did not go unnoticed. The sahuagin priest returns an inexpressive gaze, assessing the nixie briefly and silently before returning its attention to Ux.

 Myriad.  If the priest was offended, it did not show it. Nor does it show that it is  not  offended. In fact, Myriad is pretty sure she cannot tell when sahuagin are angry or not.

For the priest's part, its gills flare slightly then it speaks with as much emotion as a rock,   "No offense taken. And the usual term is 'dragonborn hatchling' or simply 'hatchling', as they do hatch from eggs created from mortal liaisons. As opposed to the  Rite of —"   It stops abruptly as it seems to realize it has no interest in continuing. It emits a soft click and hiss.   "A discussion for another time. And another priest. Perhaps one specialized in hatchlings... dealing with hatchlings, that is."  
Metastachydium
Delja resists letting an annoyed corner of her lips twitch as the priest catches her eye and scans her, briefly as he might do so. There's no telling if he noticed the disguise, but it's perhaps the best to assume he did; in that case…

Her train of thought collapsessin an instant as  Myriad  happens, luring back her headache from hiding.    Change of plans.    she grumbles in the priest's general direction, rubbing a balled up little left fist against her corresponding temple.    Throw in a mercy kill for me; I'm paying extra.   
remetagross
Ux Utanar's scaly eyebrows raise as he discovers the face of his vis-à-vis. However, he confidently bows in return, and answers with a warm, pleased voice in Common.
  "Greetings, Rasabu. I would be lying if I said I was not surprised to discover you're not of my kin by blood. However, this is balanced out by the joy I feel from meeting a kin by faith. It has been a long time since I've last crossed paths with one of ours."  

Ux Utanar throws sideways glances at his two comrades, one of them giggling, the other almost uncomfortably staring.
  "And these are two of my pack, not followers of the Justice Bringer per se. But my experience with them allows me to have trust in their willingness to walk along the path of Law and Good, even if by their own ways. I have indeed come to ask for the blessing of Bahamut both in healing and in counsel. We have all been severly injured in fighting...obyrith fiends, if I recall their name. And I do understand your wariness. In Sigil of all places, I feel anyone can go about disguised as anyone. I have no proof to hold up to you but my good faith. If you prefer to Commune with our god first to ensure the rightness of your goals, we will take no offense."  

The last words have been spoken with a little more vigor, which Delja and Myriad effortlessly interpret as meaning   I will take no offense and my comrades are not going to make a fuss about it either.  
  "By the way, I don't have hatchlings, no. It's not on top of my list for the moment, either. Sorry to disappoint!"   adds a smiling Ux Utanar to Myriad, turning a little to face her.

Ereshki squeaks outside the shrine.
  "Ah, yes. My noble partner Ereshki, a Dire Bat, has been injured as well. Would she be allowed inside the temple so that you can tend to her too? We would all four of us need the help of a Greater Restoration prayer. I know this is a difficult spell to conjure, so even if you are convinced of our pure intentions, I will offer a donation to the shrine."  

Having spoken quite a lot in a single shot, Ux Utanar lets his well-composed priest stomach all this and give his answer.
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The sahuagin does not possess the facial muscles to express most emotions, or the vocal cords needed to sound them in ways familiar to most speakers of Common. But the one expression the party can readily catch on is that of surprise, brought forth through impromptu pauses and hissed emphases in speech.   "...You battled  obyriths  here? I know not what dark recesses of the Catacombs you found them in but the tanar'ri are the only Abyssals to walk openly in the City of Doors. Obyriths they hunt—or are hunted by—on sight or even on rumor, such is their ancient enmity. I can only imagine the most powerful of obyriths being hidden deep beneath the City. Lesser obyriths would be hunted to extinction. More visible obyriths would cause Abyssal conflict to spill over onto our streets. Your tale is indeed a strange one.

"Casting the  commune  spell is intensive and I will not do it merely to verify what you say. Nor will I cast it freely on your behalf. Not because I do not trust you, Emissary Amblecrow, but because I would need either a pressing matter to justify fraying my soul in its casting, or a donation substantial enough to cover its cost on my person. As for healing, however, I accept that you are who you say and I will gladly give it without cost. Call your mount in but bid her not to knock over the unfastened lights. Speak now: what healing do you request?"  
remetagross
Ux Utanar, in another situation, would have wondered whether he has spoken too much. But not with a faithful of the Platinum.  
"I may have misspoken: it was not in the city of Doors, but in another plane, which we accessed from here. I suppose that put it this way, our tale seems less surprising. At any rate..."  
He turns around and walks up to the front porch.
  
"Ereshki, come here! You know how to behave inside buidings, don't you."  
The dire bat happily lands in front of him, stretches her neck out so her head can be patted, and then follows inside slowly and clumsily on all four.

Ux Utanar presents himself and his mount to Rasabu again.
  "We all have suffered from draining attacks both in our bodies and in our minds. The touch of these creatures was leaving us weaker and weaker each time. Bahamut gave us the strength to prevail anyway, but we still feel the wounds we have suffered this day. They will not heal naturally. Besides..."  

The dragonborn removes his haversack and his belt, and lays them on the floor as well as his weaponry.
  "I can offer you small change, about 1500gp, for the upkeep of this beautiful temple. Apart from this, my lance is yours. If you should require my help for any task that will serve the Valiant, I will gladly oblige."  
Metastachydium
  Big thing in chains, of scholarly bent, a spider creature hopping about and a small host of tentacle slugs, all babbling or talking Abyssal. An archaic sort. An obyrith sort.   Delja briefs Rasabu as Ux Utanar busies himself calling Ereshki in. Bringing the Book up doesn't strike her as the best of ideas, but the sahuagin may as well learn this much. Who knows: perhaps they'll leave richer with some insight.
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The sahuagin priest bows deeply.   "I am humbled. Fifteen hundred gold is beyond generous. I will gladly  commune  on your behalf, and offer as many castings of  restoration  as I am prepared to today to ready you and your companions for the path ahead. Keep your lance, and know that you and your companions will always have friends among the servants of the Platinum Dragon here in the City of Doors, few though we may be. Describe now your injuries, how exactly you feel you are harmed in body and mind, so that I may know how to shape my magic."  
 Delja Utorak.  Rasabu listens to Delja's report. The priest mumurs,   "The chained one is the sibriex, a flesh shaper, and the arachnoid is the thulgant, a demon hunter. There are few enough of either left in the multiverse. The sibriex is a terrible creature that delights in ruling and enslaving dark corners of the material world. Its defeat is a victory for Good without question. The thulgant on the other hand... this is the first I've heard of one dealing with mortals at all. Curious indeed that you should run into one, but they are Abyssal creatures without question—Evil is in their very being. As for the third, babbling one with tentacles, I cannot guess; there are many that fit the description.

"The thulgant is among the most dangerous of Abyssals. You are mighty indeed to best it in combat. Know you the difference between obyriths and tanar'ri? The Abyss of old predates mortal life, thus predating as well the Crystal Spire and the Fugue Plane in their entirety. In this time obyriths ruled the Abyss, unconcerned with the material world in totality, for naught in the material world interested them, particularly not souls, for which they had no use. Yet when mortals were created and the River of Souls born in the Astral, a new breed of demons came into existence. This breed was weak, dependent on the souls of the Evil so judged in the Fugue, but so limitless was the supply of Evil souls that they quickly outnumbered the obyriths. In time the obyriths were overthrown and forced into hiding, and the new masters of the Abyss unlike their predecessors had a great interest in the material world; this after all is where souls are given form.

"The sibriex, the cowardly petty rulers of Abyssal kingdoms that they were, fled to mortal worlds to secretly rule lesser domains. The thulgant however remained in the Abyss, committed to continuing the fight even long after it's been lost. It is said that to this day the few remaining thulgant continue to hunt demons from dretch to balor throughout the Abyss, and deadly hunters they are."  
Metastachydium
Delja nods along with interest that is not feigned in the slightest. It never hurts to know one's enemies, especiually if the knowledge comes free of charge and without immediate danger. She gathered enough intelligence for a sufficient number of employers in her day to be aware of that much.   No kidding.   she acknowledges the truth of Rasabu's last statement sternly.   That one gave us real  pain .   she adds with a small grimace.   But I don't quite know why they were working together in the first place either. Hells, the thulgant even invoked the  right of conquest ! Demons shouldn't mek legal arguments.   she grimaces again, with a small shrug.   Say,   she raises her head suddenly as if the thought just occured to her.   if we had, perchance,  reason  to  suspect  they were working on behalf of something bigger, what would you guess that thing were?   she asks the sahuagin, giving him the very thoughtful look of a very thoughtful wispling in need of some  expert  opinion.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

A little Bluff to conceal knowing more than she lets on:  (1d20+18)[ 27 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking thoughtful, Myriad sights,   "I  know  I'm not thinking right after some of those magicky attacks. Memory is fine but uh...knowing what is correct and what is actually  dumb  is a bit fuzzy? I'm also not as happy, or as fast as I should be. Oh! And I'm not  really  a dwarf, but I think I look cute as one! I'm kinda short for a changeling anyway, and I  like  having a booty. Dwarves have these   childbearing   hips, ya know?"   Gesturing at the booty in question, she glances at Ux and quickly clarifies,    "Not that I want...uh...any hatchlings or anything. That's...um...yeah. No offense..."   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

-1 Dex
-9 Wis
-2 Cha
 
Metastachydium
As Myriad begins talking over her as  she is trying to be subtle , Delja closes her eyes for a moment before turning her head  very  slowly towards the changeling.   I think you're happy enough as you are.   And perhaps a bit too much, even.   I'm also  very  certain Master Rasabu here can see your body proportions just fine and probably doesn't care.   the wixie adds with a  very  emphatic nod.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff to convey the secret message "Have you considered talking  less ?" to Myriad:  (1d20+18)[ 25 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The sahuagin ponders, comically bringing a finger to its chin—or where its chin would be anyways, were it not a bipedal fish.   "A conjurer, an obyrith lord, or a god."   It makes a clicking sound.   "I'm no demonologist. The most knowledgeable sage in these matters and more in the City of Doors is Master Lothar, if you can abide consulting a necromancer. He is, at least uncommonly for necromancers, not Evil in nature, though he is no servant of Good either. Perhaps the Guvners, Sensates, or Ciphers can help with your query, if dealing with Lothar does not appeal."  
 Myriad.  The sahuagin priest opens its mouth to speak, closes it as it struggles to find words, opens its mouth again upon finding them, then thinking better of it shuts it again.
Metastachydium
  Master  Lothar ? That does ring a bell.   Delja nods again, slowly, electing to pretend Myriad's little interjection never happened.   Not the best of bells, mind you.   she muses on.   We might approach Factol Darkwood or Master Ramander for   she purses her lips for a moment.    largely  unrelated reasons in the coming days. Could either of them aid us in this matter?  
remetagross
Ux Utanar feels split between indignation at such a farcical outburst within a shrine to Bahamut and in presence of a high priest, and an urge to burst into laughing. He suspects the same is pretty much coursing through Rasabu's mind. Being more experienced in Myriad antics than the cleric, however, Ux Utanar manages to produce a few words in his confusion.

  "...None taken, friend. Well, um..."  

"  where were we? ah, yes    ...Rasabu, I have suffered from draining attacks leaving me weaker, clumsier and less healthy. As to Ereshki, she has a damaged sanity. Receiving this healing from your hands would be a blessing. And we are all very much thankful for your offer to Commune with the Lord of the North Wind. I feel at this juncture we do need some divine clarifications. Let us think about what we will ask for a moment.  "

He then slightly moves to the side, so that the four of them now form a rough square. Since a general conversation has started, him standing in the middle of the group does not makes sense anymore. All the while Ereshki strolls around on all four.
chaincomplex
 Delja.  The cleric hisses.   " Master  Ramander, Ramander the 'Wise'. A powerful wizard he is, it is true, he has access to Ninths. But no less criminal than he is magical. He proclaims himself  Master of Portals . He of course has no natural claim over any portal in the City of Doors. He simply locks and keys them, and extorts others for gold in their use. He has the soul of a parasite. I suppose he  could  be of help, a planeswalker such as he would know the nature of fiends better than I. Myself, I would first approach a fiend in person before even thinking of standing before Ramander.

"Darkwood is a priest of Ysgardian Law. He is an honorable blood, but dabbles far too much in  kriegstanz —it is an old tale that politics befouls even the noblest of intentions. He too can cast Ninths, and I consider him as learned as any great sage in matters of religious lore. As for  planar  lore I am less certain. When one's interests turn more political than scholarly, once-regularly practiced knowledge becomes vague recollection."  
 Rasabu.  The sahuagin nods in the affirmative.   "I channel now healing magic,"   says Rasabu.   "Come closer; I must lay my hands upon you for the magic to function."   Myriad is first. The cleric, with visible distaste in its body language, casts  greater restoration  on the changeling. Rasabu's form is wracked with the strain of its casting and the changeling feels a powerful but cleansing energy surge through her muscles. Next, Delja and Ux receive four castings of  restoration  in all, wherein the cleric delicately sprinkles diamond dust from a pouch onto the recipient of its spells, and with a gesture and incantation the dust sublimates into divine light, accompanied by a feeling of clarity and elation. Lastly, Ereshki (after some cajoling by Ux) sits still long enough to receive a casting of  restoration . Whatever Ereshki feels cannot be read in the inky blackness of its pupils, though Ux has been with the dire bat long enough to recognize happy chitters from unhappy ones.

From without the shrine, the slightly ajar front doors are briefly silhouetted by the magical glow of Rasabu's casting. A rush of energy escapes and dissipates into the wind, blowing through and rustling grass and flowers and trees in the lamp-lit night streets of Lady's Ward.

 Ux Utanar.  The shrine, while beautiful to behold, is actually rather modest in size and it is not feasible to hold a private discussion in this main chamber. Still, the sahuagin priest reads the party's intentions clearly.   "I must rest now and prepare myself for the casting of  commune . I shall be in the left annex. Call for me when you are ready."   He leaves through an adjoining door, which closes with a heavy thud.

The party is alone now in the shrine. All that can be heard is the gentle trickle of the indoor fountains and half-muffled crickets through the slightly ajar front doors. Shades of blue dance on the faces of the party as water streams beneath the crystal platforms they stand on, occasionally mixed with the fiery red of a centralized burning brazier so reflected on the surface of the shallow flow.
Geeksthenewsexy
Beaming happily, Myriad sighs in contentment.   "Okay, I feel a  lot  better. That dude is  awesome !"   Pausing to consider, she elbows Ux lightly with a knowing smile as she waggles her eyebrows,   "The priest guy is pretty cool too. Thanks for setting that up for us, big guy."  
   
"That ' master of portals ' seems like he would uh...  really   hate  me  in particular if all he does is lock and key the portals. Since I um...sort of make his entire career pretty redundant? Professional lock and key makers   always   hate people like me, no matter  what  sort of locks they specialize in. And we don't really need a planar expert anyway - we need someone to help Pilot more than anything. Honestly, since we are dealing with dead and semi-dead people, the evil undead guy sounds like he would be more useful. Less trustworthy, obviously...but potentially more useful for what we need? Which is less than ideal."    Sighing heavily, she shrugs.   "But if you guys wanna try the glorified portal key maker guy, I won't argue."  
Plopping down to wait now that she has said her peice, Myriad pulls out her stack of pilfered books and sets them down, picking up Graded Mirrors: The Theory of Portals by Hon. Kentari Zee and starting to flip through it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Decipher Script:   (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
 Knowledge (The Planes):   (1d20+13)[ 19 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja tries to keep a straight face as she watches the fish person in the room being hesitant about actually touching Myriad and focus on the little circumstance she did not account for: they  are  to be touched. Lacking a better idea, she bows her head in an attempt to make sure that Rasabu makes contact with her hair rather than the skin. It would feel a bit stringier than it looks, but the little scales would be a dead giveaway. Hopefully, he's not sufficiently savvy to notice that she's significantly colder to the touch than a wispling should be. Uncertain whether she succeeded or not, she goes with a simple, sympathetic   Thank you.   as she feels the healing power wash over her, the gratitude in her voice (for the explanation and the service alike) quite genuine.

Once Rasabu has discreetly made his excuses, retreating, the little nixie casually rubs a foott against the back of her knee as she ponders their options and listens to Myriad's ramblings.   You know,   she says slowly   I tend to agree, for once. I remember that name now. Ramander's the nuisance pretending to own the gate we came through; we wasted some time on  not  filling the paperwork on doing that,  Ux .   she looks pointedly, but in a visibly passable humour at the dragonborn.   Lothar might be our best pick, after all, Pilot's reservations notwithstanding.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff to "guide Rasabu's hand" while looking all natural:  (1d20+18)[ 24 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Well, good news first: Myriad can read this particular Zee volume, being that it is written in Common, though evidently not the same Common of Thorass origins. It is said that Common as a trade language has, for reasons of network anthropology and many more esoteric reasons of scholarly speculation, undergone a type of convergent evolution across the immediate neighborhood of this multiverse. At the very least the people of Sigil speak a type of Common that cannot be traced back to the Central Thorass alphabet of Faerûn. Myriad gets a similar feeling from Zee's writing: it is Common, but at the same time it is the Common of a place distant from Faerûn.

As for bad news: Myriad cannot read the book. She was prepared for a baccalaureate-type technical treatise on planar mechanics, but the contents of the book are some of the densest technical jargon she has ever seen in her life, with arcane diagrams so detailed a magnifying glass is needed to discern the smallest of the lettering. All she can tell is that it is  probably  legitimate in nature, being that it uses all the right terms of art that she can recognize, and that its intended readership is limited mostly to other archmagi and people of similar learning.

 Delja Utorak.  Many priests being healers learn some bedside etiquette for patients (even if not as necessary given how quickly they can heal ailments). One such etiquette is assessing the patient's comfort going forward with treatment and adjusting said treatment accordingly. Not all healers—or priests, for that matter—are so considerate, but Delja could tell that Rasabu has picked up  some  of this from years of interacting with the denizens of Sigil. She has no trouble guiding the sahuagin's touch to her hair, there was no need even to bluff body language to get this to happen naturally.

What did have to be bluffed was the hair part—most patients preferred getting touched on the hand. The hair  is  an unusual place and the sahuagin's expression was thoroughly unreadable, though the sahuagin's body language suggested that all contact with non-sahuagin is practically alien to it, so perhaps nuances such as this was lost to it.

The nuance of how hair should feel, however, probably was not lost on it. The sahuagin had a brief pause after the touch, considering, but seemed to shrug away its concerns before it retired to the adjoining chamber.
Metastachydium
Pleased, in hindsight, with her chances of having fooled the priest, Delja takes in the pregnant pause, before looking up at the dragonborn again, seeing how Myriad seems…  Busy  with inspecting that thing she pilfered.   So… Background check on Lothar the Old, and whatever else you fancy?   she proposes.
remetagross
Ux Utanar winces at the mention of the paperwork episode.
  "Ah yes. What an utter loss of time that was. Sorry for that again, Delja. Tell you what, if the man hides himself behind that kind of filter, I really don't think we want to have business with him. We don't have a couple months to spend waiting for our interview application to be processed. If that leaves us only the two of Lothar and Darkwood, we're already saving up some of our precious few questions to ask for the Commune spell."  

He starts to pace around but the amout of metallic implements on his person makes a very loud clanking noise as he does so. Mindful of the peace of the place, the dragonborn carefully removes his weaponry and his backpack - something he would not do in a lot of places, but a shrine to Bahamut provides the required security for him to allow himself that. Resuming his pacing, Ux Utanar thinks aloud.

  "Alright. Let's start to figure out what exactly we wish to ask the guidance of Bahamut for.
1. We have secured the Five Pebbles for now, but we are not sure the menace is durably warded off. Is the Five Pebbles still at immediate risk due to the Book of Vile Darkness' attack?
2. About that book. Is trying to destroy it as soon as possible the best short-term course of action against the Obyrith attack?
3. Or is tracking down the Obyriths the best course of action instead?
4. About them fiends. Are the Obyriths about to come back at us in the next few days or so?

These should give us some pointers about what to do in the immediate future. And then we can add:
5. Is swapping Teru with Pilot, possibly for a duration equal to that of the imprisonment of Pilot, a just punishment for what Teru has inflicted to him, and to his crew in general?
6. Will the dead crew answer positively if we try to resurrect them?
7. If we do prepare the Pilot-Teru swap...is Factol Darkwood the person to turn to?
8. If not, is that Master Lothar?
9. Are any of the two of those going to double-team us if we explain to us the Teru situation?

I think that's a good start to work off of. What's your take, gals?"  
Metastachydium
  Ux?   Delja shuffles closer, reducing the volume of her voice to that of a whisper.   I understand that your church has your trust, but… Do we  have to  let Rasabu  know  about the Book? It's not like your people have what it takes to handle it right here. It'd just leave yet another aware of where it is.   she purses her lips uncomfortably.   And one that's easier to wring than the three of us combined.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Staring blankly at the book in her hand, Myriad heaves a sigh and mutters,   "This is a  bedtime  book,"   and shoves Graded Mirrors: The Theory of Portals by Hon Kentari Zee back into her haversack and pulls out Beyond the Arcane Inner Flow: Astral Cartography on the Frontiers to flip through instead. Glancing up at Delja and Ux discussing the plan, she interjects   "Telling a bunch of churchies we've got the bane of their faith lying around what is essentially our new living room unguarded and unattended is  probably  a bad idea. Let's just agree to call it something like 'The Stupid Book' and when you ask your questions about it, ask about 'the book we call The Stupid Book' or whatever, yeah?"   Shrugging, her attention drops back to her new book, flipping through it casually.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Decipher Script:   (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
 Knowledge (The Planes):   (1d20+13)[ 29 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  As before,  Beyond the Arcane Inner Flow  is written in Common but a planar form with idiosyncratic differences from what is spoken on Faerûn. Fortunately unlike before, the changeling can actually  read  read this book. The first third consists of techniques for planar and Flow cartographers, a fair chunk of which Myriad is familiar with and the rest a decent reference: the text acts as a combined masterwork tool of Knowledge (the planes) and Knowledge (geography).

The other two-thirds of the text is dramatically more useful. Here they intricately detail charts of the Flow near and far and coterminous planar sites. The printed charts themselves are well done, but the real gem is the notes in the margins penned in half a dozen different handwritings. There is breadth and depth to the spelljamming experience evinced in these margins. Combined with the charts, these margins could guide the party—if they had an appropriate vessel—to quite distant worlds outside the Arcane Inner Flow with relative ease. Alternatively the tome would fetch a good price at an auction; Myriad suspects some of the navigational wisdom in these pages are not printed anywhere else.
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking much more interested in her current book, Myriad mumbles aloud to herself.   "If this whole adventuring thing doesn't work out, I could  totally  be a proper planar pirate pilot person."   Pausing, she quietly repeats the last four words a few times, at an increased pace each time as if testing it as a tongue-twister phrase before grinning and chuckling to herself.
Metastachydium
  Yes, Myr, a shrine to Law and Good is a majestic place to loudly contemplate a life of piracy.   Delja remarks dryly, rubbing her temple again, as she waits for Ux Utanar to make up his mind. Recalling Rasabu immediately seems a better idea with every passing heartbeat spent hoping that Myriad will continue to pretend she kinda-sorta behaves.
remetagross
Ux Utanar stops circling around and ponders the remarks of Delja.
  
"....hmmm. Fair enough, I hadn't thought about that. Well, we can definitely phrase that a bit differently. How about
1. Is the Fives Pebbles at a risk presently?
2. We have identified the source of Teru's demise. Should we try to destroy it before pursuing any other course of action?

What do you make of that, Delja? Oh, wait, I have one more question to ask Bahamut about.

10. Is Myriad going to end up a successful... proper planar pirate pilot person?"  

The dragonborn grins at the attention of the joyful reader.
Metastachydium
   You two are  killing  me.    Delja shakes her head. The nixie inhales and exhales loudly.   All. Right. Let's do this. The sooner, the better.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Clapping her book closed with one hand, Myriad points at Ux with it with a grin.   "And  that  is why you are my favorite. When you have dragon babies someday, I'm totally gonna spoil them rotten!"   Jumping to her feet, the energetic changeling stuffs her book back into her haversack and sticks her tongue out at Delja with a waggle of her eyebrows.   "Lets go see a god about a book!"  

Stretching languidly, she nods in satisfaction and takes a few steps before turning to question Ux as they proceed,   "So, speaking of gods...why is  water  such a big thing with them? Instead of making holy  water , why not holy  oil ? That way when you throw it in the faces of undead, they could get all holied and blessified....but then could  also  be set on fire? Wouldn't that be way more efficient? And like...if you used olive oil, you could cook with it too, and make like...holy  meals ! That would have to be good, right?"  
remetagross
  "Ease of access, I guess. Though I'm fairly certain if you're a cleric of Yondalla, you can just as well hand out blessed olive oil at the temple, since they're basically taverns. We can go there next time we want to Commune, Myriad!"   answers Ux Utanar joyfully. He feels himself won over by both the enthusiasm of the changeling and the somewhow funny fake dour mood of the nixie. Humour is a rare commodity in his trade, every occasion to get some needs to be taken.

The dragonborn gets in fron of the door Rasabu used to leave the room, and softly but firmly speaks up.

  "Rasabu, kin of faith, we have settled on what we desire to ask to Bahamut."   He then retreats to stand in line with his two friends, moving away his stuff so that it lies on the side and not in the middle of the room.
chaincomplex
  Commune .  Ux calls the sahuagin priest, who reenters the chamber carrying a pouch of incense. Rasabu's footsteps clink and echo as they stride towards the centrally located brazier, expression calm while painted in a shifting mosaic of reflected colors and lights. Silhouetted against trickling wall fountains on an oceanic-blue mineral backdrop, the sahuagin was as much at home here as they were in the sea.   "I repeat a warning I give always: it is difficult for the Powers to give complex answers, so in turn you must produce your queries precisely and examine all assumptions, or risk misleading yourself. Formulate problems answerable with simple assents or dissents, but even then if they are formulated poorly, the answers you receive could be worse than useless. Now, let us begin."  

Rasabu empties the contents of the pouch into the brazier and a great plume of sparkling, light smoke erupts, suffusing the room. Noises of trickling water and the muffled outdoors fall away into nothingness. Suddenly the party is very aware of their own breathing, the echoes of the shrine, the swirling eddies beneath their feet. The sahuagin has taken a meditative form before the brazier, once again an obscured hooded figure cloaked in dancing lights.   " Commune ,"   the priest hisses.

For ten minutes the sahuagin sits, cloaked in the smoke of the incense, sparkling like stars thrust into a deep sea. Then, as if from a great distance yet as softly as a murmur, the priest speaks.   "We speak to Samashkail, Solar of the Court of the North Wind. You have thirteen questions, and They have thirteen answers. Ask."  

(The party may give all their questions at once.)
remetagross
Ux Utanar feels humbled by the solemnity of the process. During the ten minutes it takes for Rasabu to cast the spell, he marvels at the sight of the shining temple, drawing serenity from its beauty. Speaking mentally in Draconic so as not to break the enchanting silence of the place, Ux Utanar prays to Bahamut. He prays for the the dead crew that has fought off the creatures with honor and courage. He prays for Teru, misguided as he was in his ways, who in the end was trying to destroy an item of Evil. He prays for Pilot, chained for all of eternity without a body of his own. He prays for Delja, guarded as she always is, and for Myriad, always seemingly headless of the dangers around her. He prays for himself, too narrowly-sighted to see the big picture. So that the three of them can find the wisdom to make the right choices and the courage to see them through.

It is with an empty mind that Ux Utanar asks the first few questions.

  "Samashkail, greetings to your blessed person that stands right next to the Platinum one. Here are my questions.

1. Is the starship known as the Five Pebbles currently at risk of being captured or invaded again?
2. Should we try to destroy the item that has brought forth the Obyriths and thus caused  Teru's demise before pursuing any other course of action?
3. Is immediately setting off to track down the Obyriths the best course of action?"  
chaincomplex
 
  Is the starship known as the Five Pebbles currently at risk of being captured or invaded again?    "No."   
  Should we try to destroy the item that has brought forth the Obyriths and thus caused Teru's demise before pursuing any other course of action?    "Yes. First Servant, Eternal Sun."   The priest starts while relaying this response, not having expected an extended answer. 
  Is immediately setting off to track down the Obyriths the best course of action?  An immediate response.   "No."   
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie searches her working memory of all matters Cager and political. Nothing really comes to mind, except that in the hierarchies of the powers of the Outer Planes one usually regards high priests or ranking angels or fiends as the first among the servants of a power. The powers being as metaphysical as they are physical, servant here is rarely interpreted in the usual master-servant sense—think "servant of justice" and the like.

 Ux Utanar.  No dice for the dragonborn. He has no clue what the Eternal Sun refers to, or who or what the First Servant may be.
Metastachydium
Delja makes a face, immediately regrets it and turns aside not making the face anymore. That  is  unneccessarily cryptic, but they've been warned of the spell's inherent limitations and the three of them have enough on their plate already without offending Ux Utanar's god, especially now that, for all intents and purposes, he'll understand that they've just received a Holy Quest from the Big Dragon Outside. Her composure regained, she reaches up to squeeze the third of the knight's wrist that fits into her hand encouragingly. At least it's a track; any track is better than no track at all.
Geeksthenewsexy
Opening her mouth, Myriad quickly clasps her hands over her it, fairly dancing in place as she retrains herself from interrupting with seemingly  great  effort. Her body nearly vibrates with the effort.
remetagross
Ux Utanar makes a surprised face as Rasabu has produced more than just a yes or no answer. He is about to blurt out an unplanned question when Delja gently squeezes his wrist. The dragonborn turns to face her, and understands her gesture.   Alright, let's carry on, we'll see about that later.  .

He nods with a thankful eye contact, then turns back to face the transing priest.
  "Hmmm, alright, here are the following questions we wish to ask.
5. Is swapping Teru with Pilot, possibly for a duration equal to that of the imprisonment of Pilot, a just punishment for what Teru has inflicted to him, and to his crew in general?
6. Will the dead crew answer positively if we try to resurrect them?
7. If we do prepare the Pilot-Teru swap...is Factol Darkwood the person to turn to?
8. If not, is that Master Lothar?
9. Are any of the two of those going to double-team us if we explain to us the Teru situation?" 
 
After a break, he whispers to Delja, knowing Myriad's keen senses will catch it too.  
"That's it for the questions we had prepared. Ideas for the last four?"  
chaincomplex
 
  Is swapping Teru with Pilot, possibly for a duration equal to that of the imprisonment of Pilot, a just punishment for what Teru has inflicted to him, and to his crew in general?  There is a long silence. For a moment the party can hear their own heartbeats. Then:   "Unclear."   
  Will the dead crew answer positively if we try to resurrect them?  This time a direct response:   "Yes."   
  If we do prepare the Pilot-Teru swap... is Factol Darkwood the person to turn to?    "Unclear."   
  If not, is that Master Lothar?    "Unclear."   
  Are any of the two of those going to double-team us if we explain to us the Teru situation?    "No."   
 
Metastachydium
   Five. You skipped four. More to the point…    Delja whispers back, rising on her tiptoes in the hope of getting marginally closer to the dragonborn's earholes before rifling out fast a few quick suggestions.    How about  : is  the Goat     the nixie pauses to silently mouth Annali's name    going to learn of our designs before we'd be ready to reveal them? Will any harm come out of our dealing with Lothar the Old? Did Teru properly dispose of the  previous  artifacts? Perhaps?   
remetagross
Ux Utanar is left a little puzzled by the lack of clear answers. He ponders a moment after Delja's whiperings to gather his thoughts.   Ah, yes, I missed number four. I'm afraid I'll be getting another unclear answer if I gi with that goat designation though...  

The dragonborn resumes his questions, adding one more to clarify a previous vague answer.
  "
4. Will the bariaur learn of our designs before we'd be ready to reveal them?
10.  Will any harm come out of our dealing with Lothar the Old?
11.  Did Teru properly dispose of the previous artifacts?
12. Does Teru deserve to be judged and punished for his forceful binding of Pilot?"  
chaincomplex
 
  Will the bariaur learn of our designs before we'd be ready to reveal them?    "Yes."   
  Will any harm come out of our dealing with Lothar the Old?    "Yes."   
  Did Teru properly dispose of the previous artifacts?    "Yes."   
  Does Teru deserve to be judged and punished for his forceful binding of Pilot?  Again there is an awkwardly long pause causing the priest to shift with discomfort. Then:   "Unclear."   
 
Metastachydium
Delja turns slightly away from Rasabu to make a face as the angel speaking through him confirms that their ruse is bound to fall apart, and then to make  another  face as he goes on to drop the "good news" on Lothar. But for the time being, she doesn't speak. If she understands the procedure correctly, Ux Utanar should have one more question, after all.
Geeksthenewsexy
Making a very 'Ugh!' face, Myriad pinches the bridge of her nose and closes her eyes with a sigh. Muttering to herself quietly in a somewhat petulent tone, she laments,    "I'm more confused  now  than  before  we got answers..."   
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The rock gnome steps through the portal and into the night. The world spins then resolves into the plaza of the  Troptic Nic'Epona  (just  Triona  to the locals) in  Clerk's Ward . Before Azlin is a maze of cast iron and stonework under a foggy night sky, multistory houses guiding countless avenues in the dim comfort of their lit windows. The district stretches upwards to meet the heavens, and in the distance—as far up as it is away—the pinpricks of windows diminish into the mist.

A cool but thin breeze hits Azlin. She is very quickly aware of just  how  thin the air is: she must make a Fortitude save (DC 11) or take 1 point of Constitution damage.

The plaza itself is a sprawling exception to the otherwise labyrinthine layout of Sigil, the City of Doors. Here the paved thoroughfare is flanked by generous gardens surrounding a colossal horse statue, the Triona itself. The onyx equine is rearing on its hind legs, tall as a tarrasque, its dark mass a monolithic black standing out even against the nighttime backdrop. It is quiet at these hours. Lanterns light the road but only a half-dozen guards in distinctive crimson plate are milling about.

Azlin is clutching a ruby gem worth 5,000 gp, the key for the Triona gateway. The guards observe her arrival with watchful, dark eyes but make no move to interfere.

 
 Spoiler: Prior Info 

 
 Originally Posted by chaincomplex 
  Sigil.  The sounds of the city blast the party as they step out of the Civic Festhall. The Festhall's monolithic shadow looms over the plaza. The dizzying geometry of Sigil stretches the avenues and boroughs into the sky; in the dusk they watercolor everything with lamp and window lights. Slow horn and string music wafts through the air, at these hours calming and melancholy. The party is currently in Clerk's Ward. It takes about an hour to move to an adjacent ward; the following wards are listed by adjacency (wrapping around).

 
  Clerk's Ward.  A place of bureaucracy, culture, and learning. 
  Guildhall Ward.  Businesses and services, high crafts and high finance. 
  Market Ward.  Nonstop trade from across the multiverse. 
  Lady's Ward.  The wealthy and the powerful are welcome. 
  Lower Ward.  Workshops, industries, factories, and spelljammer docks. 
  The Hive.  Slums and ghettos. 
 
 Clerk's Ward.  The wealthy and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and of course, the countless clerks of the district's namesake—all mingle here. The avenues are wide and maintained, touts and carriages are aplenty, and the streets are lined with offices, colleges, shops, and taverns. It takes a dozen or so minutes to transit anywhere within a district. The district's immediate landmarks:

 
  Civic Festhall.  A colossal center of culture and learning run by the Society of Sensation. The party just left here. 
  The Greengage.  A cozy ciderhouse and community center. 
  Grundlethumb's Automatic Scribe.  A printing press, scriptorium, and scroll shop. 
  The Hall of Information.  The everyday management of Sigil's infrastructure and governance happen here. 
  The Hall of Records.  Administrative management and taxation on behalf of Sigil's informal government, run by the Fated. 
  The Hall of Speakers.  Sigil's legal and policy center, run by the Sign of One. 
  Jeena Ealy's Compound.  The planeswalker, explorer, writer, and celebrity Jeena Ealy has a villa in Clerk's Ward. 
  The Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness.  A place for the avant garde musician, stage actor, or illusionist. 
  Tea Street Transit.  Pony-drawn cabs for hire, can bring one just about anywhere in Sigil in good time. 
  Tensar's Employment Service.  Where employers and employees match. 
  Trianym.  A public amphitheater where one can usually learn about the city's goings-on. 
  The Trioptic Nic'Epona.  A large plaza and statue with many businesses, also a planar thoroughfare. 
 
 
 
 
Biscuit
Azlin's step into the City of Doors falters slightly at the difference in air quantity, and she takes a moment to brace herself. Tearing her gaze away from the new city, she glances at the newly acquired (and promptly used) key gem in her hand. Uttering a word of power and making an intricate gesture with her other hand, her personal rune comes into being, imprinting itself on the gem before fading from view. Now, like all of the rest of her equipment, if it gets misplaced or stolen, the Dragoneye Rune will let her track it down easily. Content, she slips it into her Handy Haversack and looks back out at the city.

Taking in the city's landscape, she wonders at all the fantastical things the city must contain. Then immediately thinks of how she's nearly flat broke.   "Damn it,"   she sighs.   "Even if I can find a planar fork for this place, I probably can't afford it right now,"   she mutters.   "I need to make some money first. Lets see what that is going to entail."   Having been alone so long for so often, Azlin's bad habit of talking to herself to fill the silence of her own mechanically altered mind was something she barely even noticed anymore.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 

 Azlin Chitramaya 
Fort Save  (1d20+18)[ 28 ]  to avoid Con damage.
Spell Cast: Dragoneye Rune (DrM 66) on the Sigil Gem Portal Keystone for the Triona gateway.
(Untrained) Gather Information Check  (1d20+12)[ 19 ]  to ask around about selling spell-related services in the city and any rules, regulations, taxes, or taboos pertaining to such, about about where to find such information, or direct her to whom she should ask about it.

Edit: She would start asking around in the Clerk's Ward as it seems the place to ask about bureaucracy but would quickly move to the Market District if directed there by any reasonable suggestion to do so by a local since she would assume that is where she will eventually need to go for work regardless.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is unsettled by Rasabu's last answer.   Very well, there's no need spending our last question on that topic. It seems we'll have to decide for ourselves. And for Lothar...maybe we can find some other, less dangerous, spellcaster.  

Locking eyes with the priest, Ux Utanar asks his final question.
  
"13. Is there in this city spellcaster powerful enough to enable the Teru-Pilot swap and who is neither Darkwood nor Lothar?"  
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.  So the bad news is, it is late in the day. More than that, it is  night . Windows are shuttered, curtains drawn closed, smoke wafts lazily from chimneys evidence of lit hearths and families reuniting after a hard day's work. The rock gnome is a shadowy figure wandering the dark avenues, out in the cold mist that lies heavily on Sigil tonight. Her features only illuminate briefly as she passes under the cast iron lamps that line the thoroughfares, the face of a lone traveler in the night.

The good news is, she is not looking for much. Directions and basic guidelines she can gather from any of the guard patrols. The Harmonium are a paramilitary order in stylized and distinct red plate armor who act as the law and order in the City of Doors. There are not many on patrol, but there are enough for Azlin to run into one such patrol just a few blocks from one of Clerk's Ward's official-looking great halls.

She gathers that there are not  really  any formal rules regulating spellcasting and selling it. There  is  a spellcasters' guild in and around the Guildhall and Market Wards though the Harmonium troops are quick to note that a great many noted spellcasters in the Cage do not bother joining it. The usual warning she receives from the patrol is to—obviously—not do anything that would ordinarily be a crime with magic. Do not disturb the dabus (whatever those are, Azlin has not seen one yet), do not worship the Lady, so on and so forth. As a final, parting warning she is told that some spellcasters in the Cage are practically above the law and so, especially at the highest orders of magic, the law will not protect her from the games of ego and control they play.

She receives directions to Tensar's Employment Service in Clerk's Ward (a most reputable establishment to match her with those willing to shell out for spellcasters), the Civic Festhall in Clerk's Ward (a high-society kind of place that includes many magic users and those seeking their services), the Great Bazaar in Market Ward (if she wants to set up a tent and sell her services directly), and the Great Gymnasium in Guildhall Ward (the guards have difficulty finding words to describe it other than to say that yes, spellcasters often find worthy employment here).

She is also recommended to seek out taverns to make connections to buyers of magical services, higher-end taverns that is. The guards reassure her that if she is of any skill, there is currently a shortage of magic services that the wealthy are willing to pay premiums for.

 Ux Utanar.  To the dragonborn's final question the priest responds immediately,   "Yes."   Then the priest exhales deeply and sharply, a great fatigue settling on their form. The very room seems to brighten as the incense fumes fade into nothingness, leaving only embers in the brazier. The sounds of crickets and trickling waters return, as if welcoming the party back.

Rasabu stretches powerfully then says,   "Your queries could have seen improvement in form. But what is done is done. I will offer one piece of interpretative advice though I do not know the purpose behind all your questions. The ethical conundrums you proposed, questions of just punishments gone unanswered—the lack of answer suggests either that there is a  categorical error  in your query, such as an unfounded assumption, or a doctrinal disagreement within the Court of the North Wind itself. Experience tells me it is likely the latter, though I am not of strong conviction that it is so.

"If you are truly certain that your query is well-formed, then you must act according to your best judgment and inspired conscience. It means that the Lord Bahamut will not smile upon a particular  outcome  but upon the process of reasoning that leads you to it: if your thoughts are just and rigorous, then so will the Lord Bahamut be pleased.

"If this lack of doctrinal clarity is a surprise to you, then know that you likely do not see the same landscape of facts that the Court does."  
Biscuit
Thanking the guard patrol respectfully, Azlin follows their advice and wanders toward the Clerk's Ward set on visiting Tensar's Employment Service. Having doubts at the agency would be open for business so late, she takes her time and takes in the sights of the city as she makes her way slowly. Not needing to sleep, she plans to idle and rest near the business until they are open. She hopes a reputable tavern is somewhere in the same vicinity so that she can make the inquiries suggested by the guards, as well as ask about the Tensar's Employment Service in more detail.

Considering what types of magical services that the wealthy elite would desire, she decides to create a few display-model Shalantha's Delicate Disks, or 'Shadow Cookies' as an acquaintance once called them. Secretly, she loved the nickname, but refrained from calling them such when doing business so as to not look unprofessional.

Gathering her magic, she focuses and creates a Shadow Illusion of the Shalantha's Delicate Disk spell and another Shadow Illusion to imbue a replica of the spell Regal Procession into it. While the horses produced would only be around eighty percent 'real', she thought the slightly translucent nature made them even more stylish. Shifting the magic around as she casts, she sets the color of the horses to be a smoky quartz, and the banner and livery to display a highly detailed knotwork crest that had the words, "Your Affiliation Displayed Here" written within the blank center. If the artistry taken from her own craft at Drawing isn't highly valued, the fact that the disk had no expiration date and the spell would produce twenty-two horses that would last for more than three and a half days was surely worth  something .

Thinking long about what else might be worth something, she chuckled softly to herself and created another Shadow Illusion of Shalantha's Delicate Disk and imbued it with a Shadow Illusion version of Wall of Salt. Sure, it was only about ninety percent 'real', but that wouldn't effect anything except possibly the texture and it should work just like normal rock salt. The selling point would hopefully be that the disk would produce a wall containing nearly seven and a half tons of the stuff. Also, if you needed a quick wall or bridge, there was also that option as well, even if it seemed a waste of perfectly good rock salt.   "Would it be considered more exotic if I called it ' shadow salt ', maybe? Hhmm,"   she mused as she made her way along the streets.

Thinking she'd burned enough spell slots for 'sample products' for the day, she hoped they would be enough for a decent sales pitch. If not, she could always make more tomorrow.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 

2 * 6th level spells of Heightened Silent Image burned for 2 * Shadow Illusions of the Shalantha's Delicate Disk spell (LEoF 33).
4th level spell of Heightened Silent Image burned for Shadow Illusion of the Regal Procession spell (SpC 172) imbued into Disk.
5th level spell of Heightened Silent Image burned for Shadow Illusion of the Wall of Salt spell (Sand 127) imbued into Disk.

Wall of Salt resulting in a sheet of rock salt at  standard rock salt density  of 135.469 pound per cubic foot with an area of 110 cubic feet - 5'/CL with CL of 22 - equates to 135.469lbs per cubic foot for a total of 14,901.59lbs or 7.450795 tons or 6.759248 Metric Tons.

If 'realism' percentage factors into weight, that reduces the standard rock salt density by 20% to 108.3752 pound per cubic foot with an area of 110 cubic feet - 5'/CL with CL of 22 - equates to 11,921.272lbs per cubic foot for a total of 14901.59lbs or 5.960636 tons or 5.407398 Metric Tons.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
With a pained sigh, 'Drucilla' whines,   "Instead of a spell for asking yes or no questions, why isn't there a spell that just tells you what your god or whoever thinks you need to know?"   Tossing up her hands in resignation, she mutters quietly,    "Your god is probably a lot smarter than any of us, so it doesn't seem fair making us think up the right questions."    Stretching out with a weary grunt, she shrugs.   "So where to next, guys?"  
Metastachydium
  Yes, I'm  also  very much convinced insulting the efficiency of divine revelation  in a temple  is going to work out in our favour somehow.   Delja glowers at the not-dwarf briefly before swirling about to give Rasabu a respectful nod.   Well. At any rate, thank you and thank you.   A thoughtful grimace shifts through her face.   But speaking of advice. "First Servant of the Eternal Sun" sounds like… Clergy? Or some major outsider-type?   she purses her lips.   Do you think you could direct us to them? Or to someone who can?  
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The rock gnome wanders down Clerk's Ward's main thoroughfares. It is only a few minutes before she spots a place obviously catering to the upper crust of society: the Whole Note Inn. The inn stands out from the usual townhouses and offices that make up the ward, sprawling across half a block on its own and carrying a consistent rustic style across its length. Numerous towers rise from its main body, warmly lit curtained windows pantomiming shadows of the inn's clientele. Gentle instrumental music drifts from the front doors.

 Clerk's Ward: Whole Note Inn.  A spacious, elegantly furnished interior ushers in the rock gnome. Liveried servers quickly judge Azlin with sharp gazes. Being discernibly not a poor commoner, Azlin finds warm welcome and freely given information. This inn Azlin gathers: (i) serves fancy and exotic foods (5 sp–1 gp/day); (ii) hosts famous stage performers; (iii) offers coach, hireling, and messenger services; (iv) and provides only luxury accommodations ranging from quality rooms to royal suites (2–32 gp/day).

And yes, the servers also offer a steady stream of rumors and connections, though there is nothing like a formal bulletin. If Azlin is interested, she only has to ask. In the meantime, Azlin readily finds a secluded corner of the tavern to practice her shadow magic without interruption. With the strumming lute in the background it is a rather pleasant experience.

 Clerk's Ward.  Stepping out into the night mist again, Azlin continues a few blocks down to reach what looks to be half a dozen disjoint townhouses combined into a single establishment. This has to be Tensar's. It is an architectural story told in parts, with Tensar's having started out as just one of the townhouses, expanding and taking its neighbors as its own as business boomed. Now it is an eclectic thing of red brick, baroque and haphazard yet cultivated and spotless at the same time. It appears to be still open—lights are visible in the windows.

 Clerk's Ward: Tensar's Employment Service.  Tensar is not in, though Azlin is assured that there is indeed a man called Tensar who usually runs this place in the day. The clerk, a lively young half-elf by the name of Irma, mentions that they are open at all hours of the day, all days of the year. After all, Tensar's caters to mercenaries and explorers in addition to the usual domestic, commercial, and industrial services, and their hours are  weird . Azlin can readily see this to be the case: even at these hours the charming lobby is hosting two adventuring parties, huddled in their own corners and plotting their next moves. The parties look to be younger and less experienced than what Azlin is used to by a long shot, the kind who might have trouble with even relatively simple tasks like,  Kill a particularly bloodthirsty manticore,  or,  Deliver a parcel to the Plane of Air. 
  "So what's it ya need, chief?"   says Irma with a cocked head and an innocent smile.

 ──────────── 
 Myriad.  Rasabu makes a hoarse, throaty sound somewhere in-between hissing and choking. It takes a moment for the changeling to process this as what passes for laughter among sahuagin as opposed to anger or something.   "A more valid critique than many of the faith give it credit for. I shall not deliver a lecture on divine metaphysics at present but know that the common ripostes be they concerned with limitations of the mortal mind or our magics are half-answers at best and excuses at worst. Some cynicism is healthy. But be mindful that it does not take you off the path of right action."  
 Delja Utorak.    "It is almost a riddle."   The priest ponders.   "The Eternal Sun is the dead Netherese god Amaunator, I think there is no ambiguity in this. The one to mantle his divine portfolio now is Lathander. One interpretation is thus that Amaunator's first servant is the highest-ranking Lathanderite. I do not feel this interpretation to be correct as Samashkail could well have named the Morninglord directly. The interpretations that remain are either one of the mortal worshipers of the Eternal Sun, all but extinct save for the Risen Sun heresy, or one of Amaunator's angels, whose very names are lost to time.

"Lothar the Old you know of and I cannot think of a better sage to ask. Darkwood or Ramander you may also ask, though neither specialize in Faerûnian pantheons. The Lathanderite cleric Dawnbringer Illance maintains a temple to the Morninglord nearby, though I expect you shall not find him at these hours. You may consult the Sensates or Ciphers whose annals of lore are no less ancient than the Eternal Sun. You may seek the wisdom of the Dustmen who are experts in all things dead, gods included. If desperate you could journey into the Outlands and seek out Lord Boccob's Library of Lore.

"Go with the blessing of Lord Bahamut whichever path you choose."  
Metastachydium
Wonderful. Now they have to chase down a dead god's nameless cohorts in Hells know where. Still, Delja nods pleasantly.   And many thanks for that as well and once more.   she intones, grabbing Myriad so that she can drag her outside if need be before she could say anything  else  that is widely inappropriate.
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding at the priest as she is being dragged away by Delja, Myriad waves enthusiastically and calls back,   "Thanks for the spells! If I ever meet your god, I'll put in a good word for you!"   Letting herself be dragged away, she rolls her eyes and forestalls Delja's reprimand with a wave of her hand,   "And before you say anything, it totally  is  possible. There  has  to be a portal to wherever gods live  somewhere , and we both know I'm gonna go say high if we ever find it. It  could  happen. He seems like a decent sort, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Right, Ux? Maybe Pilot even knows where it is, or where we could start looking once we get done with...wait, where  are  we going next?"  
Biscuit
Glancing at the two adventuring parties and coming to a conclusion about the quality of work, Azlin changes what she was originally going to ask as she turns to Irma to respond,   "Yes, I have just arrived and was told this was the place to go to ask about work. I'd like to either set up a small stall somewhere to sell my particular style of spellcasting services, or connect with someone who would be interested in buying high quality spell consumables. Can you direct me to where I can fascilitate that?"   Bringing out both a quick potion of Mirror Image and one of Haste with about fourteen hours left before they become inert, as well as the two shelf-stable Shalantha's Delicate Disks of both Regal Procession and Wall of Salt (Shadow Salt™) that she had spelled on the way and one of Greater Invisibility, she explains her two primary consumable products, detailing their potency and longevity, and how she needs to familiarize herself with local regulations, taxes, etc on top of finding an appropriate place to sell or market her products and services.   "If you think it would be helpful, I can also jot down a list of spells I can provide. Though I might need to just create a large book for that if descriptions are required, as there are several hundred. I also need a planar fork for Sigil to use with Plane Shift spells, or at least know where I would go to find or inquire about one."  

As she finishes her lengthy and dry business-like explanation, she belatedly gives the young half-elf a strained smile in an attempt to seem friendly or likable, but knowing it was not a strong point of hers. She was really hoping that her work would spark interest on its own without her having to try to mimic a marketable personality. Maybe she should change tact and inquire about a marketing manage she could hire? Definitely something to consider.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 

Diplomacy  (1d20+12)[ 18 ]  &amp; Gather Information  (1d20+12)[ 15 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Delja raises her free hand defensively with the face of someone fighting back a stroke.   The dead god's replacement god. Or, rather, his temple, I'd say?   she glances at Ux Utanar for confirmation.   Should be close enough. We'll get its size, at least, even if it's not open right now.   she adds, closing her eyes forcefully as if trying to blink something out of them.   And Druce… Please be gentle and postpone discussing that with anyone until such time as I'm safely asleep, unconscious, elsewhere or dead.  
remetagross
Ux Utanar bows with respect after Rasabu has left their trance. It has been a long time since he has experienced such an intense moment of communion with the Platinum One. He speaks softly, his voice full of the weight of the moment.

  "Thank you for the gift of your energy, Rasabu. It will not go to waste, and it will not be forgotten. The Lord of the North Wind has spoken - and it is my own wording that I question, not his answers. "   

This said, the dragonborn turns back to confering with his mates.
  "I suppose heading to the Dustmen is now our best bet. There's also the matter of that one additional spellcaster that we could use the help of...and finally, with regard to the unclear answers. I think the problem might have been that we've been assuming Teru to be guilty all along. Maybe we don't know the full picture of it. After all, while Pilot was of a great help, who's to say he didn't mislead us?"  
Metastachydium
The Dustmen.  Of course.  She'll have to start  actually  paying attention at some point. In this case, taking the lead might have led to a delay at most; but circumstances are of as many sorts as they are many. Delja rubs her left temple almost irritably. Looks like she'll never be quite the  same  again.   Right.   she says quietly, at last, nodding at the big dragonborn.   Let's take the Dustmen route. We'll figure out Teru sometime else.   The nixie turns her head to gaze into the gloom.   Maybe we should just go grill the goat. She'll learn  anyhow .  
chaincomplex
 Clerk's Ward: Tensar's Employment Service.  ( Day 215, Year 127. 10 AP. Night. )   "Hmm,"   says Irma,   "if it's a stall and tent ya want, you'll be setting up at the Great Bazaar, and you'll have ta register with the Takers—sorry, they're the fellas at the Hall o' Records. But—"   she leans close and winks conspiratorially   "—lots of bashers just put up a stall and move every other day or so 'fore the Takers catch on.

"As for the other thing, you  could  talk to A'kin. He's a fiend, I warn ya, but he's so barmy for his type he's straight up fair and good. Fiend trades all sorts of magic trinkets and got lore for days. You'll find him and his place in Market Ward. If that's not your style, there's the Bronze Bezants bank in Guildhall Ward. They'll exchange magic valuables on your behalf, for a fee o' course, they're professionals. Then there are all sorts o' magic tinkerers—Traban's in Lady's, Hands o' Time in Lower, Xanist's in Market. Hells, the Sinkers—er, Doomguard, I mean, over in Lady's—usually buy trinkets from passing mages like yourself."  

With a flourish, Irma retrieves a set of clockwork glasses from under the counter. Little widgets whirl half-concealed behind the frame and pulses of arcane energy run across its surface. With a grin Irma dons them.   "Let's see your magic, chief!"   She runs her delicate fingers across the  delicate disk  holding the shadow-mimicked  wall of salt . Her expression furrows momentarily, then suddenly she shrinks back.   "Oh wow. Oh wow! Pardon my manners, miss. Didn't realize you were—I mean, I wasn't expecting a mage of your merit to just stroll in one night! You can cast Ninths, right?"   Irma is evidently less interested in the toys Azlin bears than she is in the mage herself. She coughs and straightens her back in a failing attempt to be more professional. Still, the whole affair is enough to get the attention of the two adventuring parties in the lobby, whose curious gazes are now directed at Azlin.   "Miss, we can sell these  disks  for you. We'll put the word out in the high circles and I wager we'll be getting back to you within the day. If we knew where we could find you, we could send a runner. The potions, though, don't think we can sell something that'll go dud in less than a day. Sorry, miss."  

Irma awkwardly bows in apology before continuing.   "As for the planar fork, I'm also sorry to tell ya—you—that the Cage is sealed tight against planar travel. Not even a  wish  or the powers themselves get through the Lady's protection. There are some exceptions but these are made with the Lady's permission, always, like She lets most all summonings go through providing they aren't permanent. If it's you who's going to be traveling in the flesh, it  has  to be a portal. There are so many to use, though, I could give pointers if I knew where you wanted to be going.

"But enough of that! Miss, there are  so many  folk rolling in gold been looking for casters of Ninths. Ya could—er, pardon—you could jot down a list of spells you know you think people'll like, but honestly I think that's denigratin' your magic. You cast  Ninths , and they'll appreciate that you've probably got the brains to finish whatever magical work they need done with or without the exact right spell on hand. If you want, we could put out the word in the high circles: a mage of your merit is looking for a worthy patron and partner. We can also do all the vetting if that's not your thing. What do you say, miss?"  
 ──────────── 
 The Hive.  ( Day 215, Year 127. 10 AP. Night. ) Smog-filled streets wind through chaotic blocks of slowly crumbling tenements, taverns, and warehouses. In the distance, the countless great factories of Lower Ward's soaring chimneys spew dark clouds ceaselessly. Passersby shuffle in heavy, grimy cloaks, avoiding eyesight, furtive as can be. The people here come in two sorts, the first that wishes to be left well alone to live their meager lives in as much peace as can be mustered in this place far from the grace of any god or even guard, and the second that wishes to leave none alone save for those obviously more destitute or dangerous than they.

The Hive is not a good place to be, but it is the place the party has to be, as both Myriad and Delja know enough to know that the Dustmen make their home in the Mortuary in this very ward. Stepping around dark, oozy puddles of gods-know-what and veritable mounds of odorous garbage, the party can at least be consoled that the more thuggish sorts of the Hive seem to find them intimidating enough to keep a wide berth of. Given the treasury of magical arms and armor they bear—and the large dire bat in tow—a more obvious party of murder hobos one would be hard-pressed to find.

Here in the Hive the party finds the following landmarks:

 
  Allesha's Pantry.  A charity kitchen to feed those who cannot feed themselves, which is at least half of the Hive. 
  Bottle and Jug.  A seedy inn and tavern that looks more like a small fortress than anything. Popular with locals. 
  The Gatehouse.  It looks like an asylum, because it is an asylum. It is other things too, though what these other things are, are not obvious on a glance. Headquarters to the Bleak Cabal. 
  Green Stone Stables.  A warehouse selling all kinds of mounts, from plain to exotic. 
  The Hive.  Confusingly there is a collection of buildings in the Hive called the Hive.  This  Hive is bases run by the Xaositects: lodgings, services, traders, craftsmen—by Chaosmen, for Chaosmen. Visibly well-to-do places and peoples, an oddity given the ward. 
  The Mortuary.  A colossal structure that is what it says on the tin. Known domain of countless portals to far-flung worlds. Headquarters to the Dustmen. 
  The Scratch Wall.  A massive black stone wall, like a literal protective wall, a barrier between the Hive and the Slags. Now it is a place where people chisel inane nonsense deep into the rock face. 
  The Slags.  An endless expanse of trash and debris. A battlefield long since abandoned. Dark secrets hide beneath its ruins. 
  The Weary Spirit Infirmary.  A charity hospital to care for those who cannot care for themselves, which is much more than half of the Hive. 
 
 The Hive: The Mortuary.  A grim building sprawling across at least four blocks. A black dome soaring above the smog, flying iron buttresses flowing outwards, multi-level wings casting immense shadows over the ward. The Mortuary has a gated courtyard, a semblance of peace and security in the chaos of the Hive. There is no green here, just stone and rock, worn iron statues to ancient beings. Two hooded figures in gray guard the gates and another two are milling in the courtyard at this late hour. Dim, spiked lanterns light the way.

The party finds entry without trouble. They pass through the gigantic double doors of the main building, left slightly ajar with plenty space for even Ereshki to squeeze through. They step into an intimidatingly dark if grand entry hall. In the middle, a strange and unsettling abstract statue of black iron towers well above the party. There are three Dustmen present, all hooded and just as indistinguishable as those outside. One steps forward to greet the party.

  "The Dead embrace you without judgment,"   his voice comes out in a murmur. From this distance the party can make out the human under the hood.   "What is your wish?"  
Biscuit
Small face scrunching up slightly, Azlin looks doubtful.   "Only three spells of true ninth level, and unless someone just needs the services of an iron golem for a little over twenty minutes, I doubt they would do anyone  else  any good. Not  that  marketable, I'd think."   Letting out a sigh as she considers the sad news of the pervasive use of portals over planar forks, she thinks of the ruby portal key in her pack.   Well, I suppose I can always shift to that portal on the Prime Material to come and go. Inefficient, but doable,   she thought to herself.

Looking back up from her thoughts, she tries to mask her own disappointment.   "I don't actually sleep, so no real need to stay anywhere specific, I'm afraid. If you can take disk requests for me, I'd happily stop by when I'm free to make a few if there are any orders?"   Considering the possibility of working for hire, she considers it carefully. Thinking of the mercenary she herself once hired, her thoughts go cold at the memory. Flashes of a grinning face, never the same face but always the same smile, casually discussing genocide and putting a price point to the numbers involves gave her pause.   "I'm not sure if I have the temperament for  real  contract work, but I suppose I could consider requests. Is taking requests for freelance work something your establishment provides?"  

Tapping her lip slightly, she pauses and takes a long moment before continuing thoughtfully,   "As for  vetting ...I'm from the Material plane where I am known a few different ways, depending on where you check. Though, mostly in the Island nation of Lantan as Azlin Chitramaya, last scion of the fallen House Chitramaya, Genocider of Houses Dagvaarden and Aanval."   Waving a small hand dismissively, she makes a pained face and continues,   "I'm not exactly well  liked  in Lantan because of that last bit, since The Ayrorch lost two council members because of how I earned the name, and a hefty percent of their population. They really like to pin stupid names on you when you spend nearly a decade hunting down and eradicating  every  member of two separate wealthy Houses who happened to each have a member on the ruling council. Even if the laws of blood feuds are  technically  legal. Or  were  - I think they actually made laws  against  them after that, actually? But, they definitely have records of me."   She pauses thoughtfully, sorting through what she thinks might be helpful,   "I  think  the craters where the main branch houses for both House Dagvaarden and House Aanval  used  to sit were  named  after me, actually, if that helps? I think they are small lakes, now. Which is kind of neat, since I never actually even  lived  there, as I was from one of the branch families on the mainland. But  that  area is  basically  completely destroyed now from all the spells involved with that whole ordeal, so Lantan is  probably  your best bet."  

Before her stay in Mechanus where they relieved her of her nightmares with the use of mechanical additions to her mind and body, the memories used to haunt her. They seem distant now, and somewhat trivial. Knowing that is probably a detriment, all Azlin feels is a small pang of sadness as she remembers her lost family, which is nothing compared to the relief of being free of the nightmares. She had avenged them, and immortalized the importance of their loss in the minds of thousands through unrivaled amounts of bloodshed and death. No one could ask more than that from any one person. It had to be enough. Blinking away the memories, she takes note that she's probably started to babble again, so stops speaking abruptly to stare at the nice man, allowing him to participate in the discussion. She was always  terrible  at conversation, but it was a necessary evil. She still hadn't mastered the social arts, as everything she read on the subject said to be attentive and to listen, and that eye contact was  very  important, so she stared patiently into the man's eyes, unblinking.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
I used Lantan, the island nation in the Trackless Sea on Toril as her primary region of notoriety. I suspect that a 20th level mage that wiped out two prominent wealthy familes would leave at least some lasting impact on such a small region, if nowhere else. It seemed small enough to be a 'big fish in a little pond', but large enough to be easily verified. I hope that is acceptable!
 
Metastachydium
Not to be embraced by the dead, probably, Delja wonders. She keeps the thought to herself and bows, rigidly but solemnly.   To seek the wisdom of the sagely Dustmen.   she pronounces, her voice almost as low as the hooded figure's, but still melodious.   An audience, perhaps? We were charged with finding a living Servant of a dead god, and cannot find the trail on our own.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Diplomacy, I suppose:  (1d20+15)[ 28 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Clerk's Ward: Tensar's Employment Service.  Irma listens to Azlin's account of her own past, eyes widening all the while. She is not alone in this: across the lobby, the other adventurers are listening with rapt attention.   "Whoa, miss! You've done—er,  gone through  quite a lot, it sounds like! I think few enough High Houses care of Lan..  Lantan  and its troubles so I doubt any here would turn their noses up at you. Still, good to know, don't wanna match you with some long-lost Dav... Dag... er,  Dagvaarden  or some such, right?"   She has trouble pronouncing the Imaskari-derivative nouns and laughs nervously.   "But anyhow, it isn't  you  who we're gonna vet. You cast Ninths, and it's your market, as they say. Your clients are the ones that we'll be vetting, make sure they're not gonna try to cheat you or us. That said, the High Houses do like to do their exercises, they'll be sure to learn any and all facts about one 'Azlin Chitraymaya' for good or for ill. By the by, you have a beautiful name, miss! (Even if it does have the whole genocider thing attached to it, ahem.)

"So, like I said, it's  your  market. We can set something up where we collect requests from those who can pay right, and every time you pop by we'll give you those that don't make us too peery. You can decide then and there whether you'll take any—I assure you, most requests for Ninths go unfulfilled, they'll just be happy someone's even looking. No long-term contracts to tie you down or anything.

"So how's that sound? Also, can you get that golem spell inside one of your disk-things? I know there'll be bidders by sundown tomorrow for  that ."   She removes her clockwork spectacles and looks to Azlin with a genial smile as if Azlin had not just confessed herself to be a mage capable of mass murder.

 ──────────── 
 The Hive: The Mortuary.  The nixie put on a solid diplomatic face, but she soon finds it to be unnecessary. The Dustmen seem to take her at her word immediately.   "With me, travelers. Mind your giant bat."   The Dustman who greeted them then leads the party into the adjoining halls.

Iron and stone walls carrying dim torch sconces pass by as the party follows the Dustman, the faint shadows they cast approaching and receding on the dark floors on every pass. The halls are wide enough for Ereshki to keep a comfortable distance from the torches, though she frequently bumps into what look to be large wheeled slabs, recently cleaned, sitting across the hall as if waiting for something or someone. The vaulted ceilings ensures that every one of Ereshki's small squeaks as she clambers around and atop these slabs echoes throughout.

They pass from halls to stairways then offices and living chambers. Here something resembling creature comforts—carpets, desks, chairs, shelves, and so on—furnish the rooms, a reminder that people  do  do things in the Mortuary other than die (or be dead, as it were). The furnishings are not particularly comfortable but they are at least well-made and well-kept, and not of the same rotting and dilapidated constitution customary of the Hive's buildings.

Eventually they stop at a door in what looks to be a large office space. A plaque for this door reads  Factor Komosahl Trevant . The Dustman knocks, the door opens, and all are ushered in.

This is a  nice  office in comparison to the rest of the building, not luxurious by any stretch but properly cozy. Shelves spilling with records and texts line the walls. Hanging lights from high ceilings are bright, warm, and airy. There is a large desk topped with organized piles of papers. Sitting at the desk is yet another Dustman, though this one bears rings, amulets, and pouches of miscellaneous magical articles. An orange Ioun stone lazily orbits this Dustman's head.

The two Dustmen confer quickly, then the one from the lobby bows and leaves.   "I am Komosahl Trevant,"   says the one at the desk. He is also a human.   "Second among the Dustmen. I'm told you seek lore regarding a dead god. So speak now. It is late yet I remain busy."   He sets his quill down and rubs his eyes, sighing.
remetagross
  "Greetings, Lord Trevant"   says Ux Utanar with a courteous bow.
  "We come here to seek advice after asking a divine oracle has provided us with a piece of information we do not know how to interpret. First Servant, Eternal Sun. We have been led to suspect that might refer to the late Netherese god Amaunator. What does your wisdom make of this?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking around at the stone and iron walls, the group's changeling currently packaged in a bubbly dwarven form nearly bounces with each step, head craning and swiveling back and forth as she takes in all the dark and dreary decor as if it were artwork as she murmurs to herself.   "I am  loving  the aesthetic here."  

Giving Lord Trevant a very casual wave, she nearly ignores the man as she 'ooh's and 'aaah's to herself as she looks around the room and muttering descriptors like 'swanky' and 'faaaaancy' to herself quietly, obviously taken by the luxurious decor. As Ux gets down to business, she has her own discussion,  with herself  by all appearances, as she looks around excitedly.    "If  I  ever get a lair, this is  totally  the style I want to decorate with. Who  wouldn't  want a lair like this? It's  fancy , but  cozy  instead of  pretentious . This dude has  seriously  good taste..."   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Bluff (Taking 10):  55 - Maintaining the image of an inoffensive airhead.
 Diplomacy (Taking 10):  50 - Attempting to improve relations through indirect flattery.
 
Metastachydium
Delja goes with a simple, respectful   Factol Trevant.   and a small bow. Ux Utanar seems to handle the conversation just fine. Instead of interjecting anything inane, she opts to keep an eye on Myriad instead.    Try  not  to touch anything.    she advises the changeling somewhat sternly, trying not to think too hard on concerns that aren't immediate such as all this talk about "lairs".
Biscuit
  "Oh, well then that is much easier."   Readily agreeing to having the agency vet clients and collect requests, she pulls her lips into a tight smile while silently berates herself for misunderstanding. She was terrible at this.   "Unfortunately, the disks are limited to spells of low to middling power and nothing over fifth tier, sadly, so no iron golems. Though, I  can  do one that summons a Clockwork Mender Swarm for a few minutes, if constructs are what people are interested in?"  
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Trevant listens, expression momentarily scholarly and devoid of cynicism, but then he snorts.   "The Eternal Sun is Amaunator, without question. The rest isn't much of a riddle but it's needlessly ambiguous. Six living and eight dead fit 'First Servant' well, and without context I cannot narrow it further. To what end did this oracle reveal the First Servant to you? Who are you and what is  your  purpose? Names given freely are names given thoughtlessly."   He taps a nail on his desk impatiently, gazing out the nearer of the room's two windows. The window views the stone garden just outside the Mortuary, and past that the the spiked gate and the crooked and leaning multi-story silhouette of the Hive's countless buildings. Imposing on this is the reflection of Trevant's office from within, an interplay of light and dark that makes it difficult to see outside.

 Myriad.  If Myriad had any concern that the Dustman would see past her facade they were immediately assuaged when Trevant's eyebrows twitch in annoyance at her antics. Still, Trevant seems to swallow his irritation when Myriad approves of the office decor and says,   "I find style often gets in the way of substance when one has work to do. Whenever I am forced to do business with the Sensates I am reminded of the truth of this."  
 Delja Utorak.    " Factor ,"   corrects Trevant sharply.   "The  factol  is Skall, who is... away."   He studies the nixie with a careful, experienced gaze, suddenly interested in her appearance.

 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  Irma nods.   "Miss, now that does sound useful, but I can't say I know that particular spell. High Houses are always wanting longer-lasting summons that can obey commands. Alright Miss Chitrayama, you got yourself a deal. We'll keep you on the books 'till you say otherwise. Also come by tomorrow and we'll see about selling those other  disks , 'kay? Also don't freak if you don't see me, Tensar'll be running this in the day."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Not seeming to truly notice the man speaking to her, Myriad answers him as if she were still talking to herself quietly and what he had said had been part of her own inner monologue.    "Style is  always  a factor, but there is style, and then there is  style . Most people think they have to impress people with fanciness or display objects of wealth that don't have any real purpose. But the aesthetic you achieve when everything you own not only blends into a singular style, but everything flows with everything else because they all have a purpose, a place, and a real reason for taking up exactly the space they do? That brings a satisfying peace that no amount of gaudy decor or expensive conversation pieces could ever give someone.  This ? This isn't just an office. This is a  domain . A  demesnes . An exterior and separate extension of someone's  being . You can't just  buy  this kind of aesthetic."    Tracing the lines of the shelves with her hand as she talks, Myriad drifts to and fro, pointing out little details and mumbling about 'form and function' while unobtrusively reading titles, labels, and silently cataloguing the types of things being stored on the shelves.

Leaning back and nudging Delja absently, she makes a small show of pointing at the lighting and stepping away again to show how it falls on the shelving and stage whispers to her excitedly,     "Oooooh, Del, do you see the lighting? I love how it opens up the whole room! Do you think we could do something like that in the workshop? I know money is a factor, but we could definitely squeeze that in, yeah?"    
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Bluff (Taking 10):  55 - She totally isn't rifling through your paperwork! She's captivated by your masterful use of  style  that is obviously superior to that of the  common rabble  or the  pretentious and pompous elite , and cannot help but be charmed by it. Obviously.
 Diplomacy (Taking 10):  50 - Attempting to gain favor through 'unintentional' (cough-totally-intentional-cough) flattery.
 Decipher Script:   (1d20+8)[ 9 ]  - In case she sees anything in a language other than Common, Undercommon, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Sylvan, Halfling, Gnome, or Orc.
 Spot:   (1d20+27)[ 38 ]  - To spot anything telling or particularly interesting.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 46 ]  - Automatic check for traps if she gets within 5'
As always, her Detect Magic is still running.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar's gaze and attention is locked with that of Trevant, which means he is completely unaware of Myriad's antics. But he knows that in such situations, Myriad is likely to pull off some shenanigans on the sideline. He has a comforting though nonetheless, bringing an inner smile.   I guess if I am not hearing Delja speaking to Trevant, that is because she is making sure Myriad is either not doing anything or not screwing whatever she is doing.  

Ereshki, feeling at home in this building not unlike a natural cave, proceeds to jump at the roof and tries to hang herself down from a supporting beam. Ux Utanar watches if the Dustman seems annoyed by this, in which case he leads Ereshki to cavort in the lobby instead.

  "My name is Ux Utanar tibur Randal Amblecrown, Dragonborn Knight of Bahamut."   The capital letters can be heard in his solemn proclamation.
  "My comrades and I have been asking the Platinum One through one of his oracles about what to do with an evil magic item we have encountered. The entity answering on behalf of the Lord of the North Wind was the solar Samashkail. When asked whether we should try to destroy that item before pursuing any other path, the divine answer was "Yes. First servant, Eternal god". Neither the oracle nor ourselves understood what to make of this, hence our presence here."  
Metastachydium
  Please forgive my ignorance,  Factor  Trevant.   Delja says with another quick bow, trying to shrink back into the shadows. She really doesn't like the sudden attention she's getting, but she does her best not to show that much. If she has to keep an eye on the man  and  Myriad at once, that will be taxing. Speaking of which,    It's demesn e , actually, that was the plural. And the workshop has no windows.    she whispers over to the changeling, quickly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff to act all natural under the scrutiny and suspicion:  (1d20+20)[ 28 ] ;
do I need another Sleight of Hand ( (1d20+12)[ 31 ] ) to keep the sword concealed?
 
Biscuit
  "That sounds excellent, thank you. I will plan to stop by tomorrow,"   Azlin confirms, giving a nod to both the receptionist and the adventurers before taking her leave. Back in the street, she stops to ponder.   Well, that's a step in the right direction as far as getting things in motion for gainful employment while I'm here. I suppose I should familiarize myself with the city's layout,   she thinks to herself. Glancing up into the sky, she pauses. After a moment her lips turn at the corners into a small frown and closes her eyes, pinching the bridge of her petite nose slightly as she takes a deep breath before letting out a sigh.   "Damn."  

Turning around and striding back into the building, looking embarrassed, she calls to the receptionist,   "I apologize. I forgot to ask before - what exactly are the local laws regarding  flight  within the city?"   She shifts her handy haversack slightly and partially slides out an adamantine wing and waggles the tip to indicate her reason for asking before shifting it back under the pack.
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Whether Myriad had intended it or not, what she said seems to strike past Trevant's outward cynicism and through to the philosophical soul hidden beneath. This has the added benefit of thoroughly distracting the Dustman from her discrete rifling through of his documents.   "Aesthetic as the focus, intensity, and unity of soul,"   murmurs the Dustman.   " Sibelitz's Meditations . The Narrow Path. The Color of Ego."   It is a challenging Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (the planes) check to have any clue whatsoever as to what the Dustman is talking about, though Myriad and Delja both have a good hunch that it is a red herring at best from their present objective.   "What you say is true, dwarf, but even the purest among the living must question whether that is simply a different face of gaudiness to impress a different type of person. Many carry the same base motivations. "  

Myriad has no trouble performing a surface-level sweep having verbally distracted the Dustman from her purpose. The office's shelves are stocked with, as far as she can discern, two types of volumes. The first, which occupies about two-thirds of the shelves, records the affairs of the Dustmen going back... well, by the shelves' organization the earliest record should be the relatively thin tome farthest from the Dustman's desk marked only as  B. F. Oponn 191:3 , whatever that means—it is a Knowledge (history) check to decipher.

The last third of the shelves consists of volumes upon volumes of research journals, monographs, and textbooks. The texts collectively seem to represent a career's worth of studies in topics in arcana, religion, and the planes, and accordingly will take the appropriate Knowledge checks to discern what is valuable from what is not. On the other hand, with the aid of  detect magic  Myriad finds no fewer than six separate auras, though lacking Spellcraft training she cannot discern their schools:

 
 The Dustman himself radiates a strong magic aura. 
 A polished crystal ball just small enough to hold with one hand lies on a shelf behind the Dustman. Moderate aura. 
 A beautiful brass monocle with inlaid arcane runes lies on the desk in plain view. Faint aura. 
 A delicate gold amulet set with quartz crystals sits on display behind the Dustman, tucked between two mundane spellbooks. Moderate aura. 
 A thick, unmarked tome with silver thread as binding on a shelf between the near and far windows. Moderate aura. 
 A brass horn engraved with battle motifs lies on the desk at the foot of a paper stack in plain view. Faint aura. 
 
 Ux Utanar.  Trevant's brows furrow in annoyance as Ux remains vague about the magic item in question, but the Dustman is content to be silent for the next dozen heartbeats. Then his expression lifts as he suddenly chuckles to himself, pleased with his own cleverness.   "That suffices. I have deduced of whom your oracle speaks and it is a rare name indeed. So! We know now that the Dustmen  can  help you. The question remains as to why we  would . Might I propose a trade? A name you seek and so too is there a name that we seek. Or if you're not in the mood to resolve a mystery of a name, I await your counteroffer."  

Delja gets the impression that Trevant has deduced more than just who this First Servant is.

 Delja Utorak.  Trevant studies the "wispling" a moment longer but then loses interest, waving Delja's apology away.   "There is nothing to forgive. Ignorance is no crime and I simply state...  facts ."  
 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  Back in Tensar's, Azlin finds Irma looking through some papers, though not for long as when Irma spots Azlin, she immediately puts the papers away and stands up straight. Hearing Azlin's query and staring at the rock gnome's wings with open curiosity, Irma replies,   "Um... I think  technically  there are rules about flying but I've never heard of anyone getting scragged for it, if you catch my meaning. The Cage has more rules than the means to enforce 'em. A trick of the high-ups to toss as many arbitrary punishments as they can dream up on whatever poor sod earned their ire that day. Blame the Takers."   Her expression hardens and she looks about to spit on the floor at the mention of Takers, but thinks twice of dirtying the lobby.   "Anyways, the rules are more for airships than... winged folk like yourself, Miss. Don't have to worry about 'em unless you're making trouble for the 'ships, 'kay?"  

Across the lobby one of the mercenaries laughs and speaks up,   "No high-up in the Cage's barmy enough to try an' scrag a spellslinger who can toss out Ninths on a dime, even if the spellslinger  is  going around and smashing up airships. You'll be fine, lady. Only law you need to heed is the Lady's law."  

Another mercenary, carrying a more morose expression, interjects.   "If she writes too many into the dead-book, well, there are other real bloods of spellslingers in the Cage who'll take exception."  

The first mercenary considers then shrugs.   "True as the Nine Hells. So don't go around, er,  genocidin'  folk, lady. You're not the only power in the Cage. But you'll be fine otherwise."  
Metastachydium
  Of course, Factor Trevant. And your generosity is appreciated.   Delja is heard from the background, her voice pleasantly melodious again.   As for the matter at hand, please state your price. We could hardly make a better offer than offering what you require.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Diplomacy to be diplomatic:  (1d20+15)[ 34 ] !
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar has the distinct impression he's been somehow bamboozled by his interlocutor, despite the fact he has really not said much. Frowning and a little bit moody, he steps back, letting the more socially gifted Delja take it up from here. He adresses a mental prayer during the process.   O you the Justice Bringer, hear my plea: that this Dustman we are dealing with will bring good fortune rather than harm to our cause, which is also yours.  

The dragonborn then keeps to himself, still staring at Factor Trevant with intensity.
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding along at the man's musings, Myriad perks up at the mention of a trade.   "Oh, we  already  know the name, so we're not  seeking  it. We just need more information about a name we already have. But if  you  need a name, I know a  lot  of baby names, and I could  totally  help! I worked someone's job at an orphanage once, and we had to come up with names sometimes, and I remember  all  the nice ones."   She flashes the man a huge smile, looking as if she is happy that she can help, and eager to do so.

 
 Spoiler 

 Bluff (Taking 10):   55  - She's a harmless, lovable idiot. You  know  that, right?
 Diplomacy (Taking 10):   50  - Don't be mad! Be amused. Being amused and friendly is way better than being irritated. :)
 
Biscuit
Nodding her thanks, Azlin's lips turn up at the corners in a small smile.   "Thank you. And no, I have no plans to 'genocide' anyone. I reserve that for people with very specific family names, and I have it on good authority that I've already gotten them all, so no worries."   Waving at the friendly folks inside the employment agency, she takes her leave once again and leaves the building for the second time. Glancing around the city street, she ponders for a bit as to where to go next. While her long-term financial plan has been set in motion, her immediate lack of funds hampered her current options. She had other questions, but she felt she was already asking a lot of the nice folks in this establishment, so would seek more answers elsewhere.

The Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness and the Trianym were both here in the Clerk's Ward, and sounded like they might be worth at least checking out to see if there were any reasonably priced entertainments and she had nothing demanding her time until she was set to return here. Since she had no need to sleep, simply resting in a place that offers entertainment of some form is always preferable to sitting quietly with her own thoughts, so she started walking back towards where she thought the closer of the two could be found. Freeing her wings from under her haversack, she shook them out, but otherwise kept them folded. Head craning as she strolled slowly towards her destination, she took in the sights and sounds of the city. Even if she got turned around, she had plenty of time to kill.
Metastachydium
Delja waves her free hand in a manner at once dismissive and apologetic in Trevant's general direction as Myriad provides her own insight.   …and please don't mind young Drucilla. I have not the faintest idea what she is talking about half the time myself.   she says dryly.
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  A confused expression appears on Trevant but disappears just as quickly. Suddenly he looks very tired, as if remembering the hour of the day. Myriad is not sure that the factor buys that she is a harmless and  lovable  idiot, but harmless and idiot she sold the Dustman hook, line, and sinker. The Dustman looks to the "dwarf" with an expression not unlike an exasperated uncle their precocious niece.

 Delja Utorak.  Seeming having already taken Delja's last piece of advice to heart, Trevant sits up.   "Then listen well. Over the past month some two and a half dozen bodies were discovered by the Collectors in the Ditch. This is nothing new and many dozens more Hivers meet their end there regularly. However,  these  bodies did not come from the Hive. Among the departed we count one son and three daughters of the High Houses, five sons and seven daughters of merchant and guild lords, five more young borne to the Cage by the astral caravans of travelers and adventurers, and six mercenaries we had hired previously. All the dead were vivisected while alive in some manner of ritual, all by the same hand or group of hands. It is our... assessment... that they all died in prolonged and painful manners.

"We Dustmen do not pity the dead, but for young souls to be returned to the Great Cycle before their time... after being so defiled in their last moments... it is an  affront  to the Peace of the Dead. What was taken from these souls must be balanced on the scales of the cosmos. Factol Skall has  plans  for the perpetrators.

"The Collectors have told us the body dumpers are so brazen as to act openly in the Ditch every night at antipeak. We thought then it was a simple matter of sending mercenaries then to bring them before us. Alas, you have heard the fate of the mercenaries we sent. Their souls have since been guided to the Great Cycle.

"Those directly responsible for the killings—however many they may be—are perpetually hidden by  mind blank . But their existence we may still infer by divination, as we know the ones who dump the bodies meet with them in a private room on the lower floors of the Twelve Factols before and after the deed.

"Precisely what we need is for you to provide us the identity, or identities, of the ones directly performing the killings, the ones hidden by  mind blank . This alone is sufficient as Skall would easily grind their worthless existences into dust. For this we shall provide you the name you seek. If brought back disabled but alive, we would be  most  appreciative, and we shall additionally reward you with worthy magic items.

"If they should perish or somehow come within the grasp of the Harmonium or Mercykillers or whoever else may be interested, then our deal is off. Are there questions and are our terms acceptable?"  
 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The rock gnome steps out, leaving the comforting warmth of Tensar's lobby behind. The night swallows her whole.

 Clerk's Ward.  The main thoroughfares, lit by iron lamps and with the odd guard patrol, are fair to travel even at night. The roads are exhaustively and smoothly paved, countless wheel marks witness to what they bear at day. Multistory buildings, mostly offices, halls, and businesses, loom shadowy overhead, though still some windows are lit, conveying figures rushed and tired. In contrast, taverns remain bright and brimming with customers even at these hours. Groups come and go, and more than once Azlin walks past shuffling and loud locals reeking of the drink. The locals, that is, primarily being humans, tieflings, and bariaurs (beings bearing the torso of a humanoid and the quadrupedal legs of a ram). Invariably the bariaurs are the loudest, their addled boasts reaching all the way down any given block where there is drink to be had.

Unseen forces circulate breezes down avenues big and small, cool but not cold. The lights of the ward are arrayed like a flowerbed of stars before Azlin, twisting up with the contours of Sigil itself. Distant structures bring dark silhouettes, of towering halls and sprawling townhouses, of tall arches and land bridges.

 Clerk's Ward: The Trianym.  A colossal hall of grayish marble stone, partly open-air. Lanterns cast lights approaching the Trianym from the road, and illuminate the carved designs and faces upon its walls. The faces are proud and judgmental, and what are not faces are depictions of all manners of planar creatures holding fora—wings, tails, claws, and horns, differences subsumed by their shared expressions of passionate debate, the spirit of fora brought to life.

The Trianym is not open at this hour. All Azlin finds here are couples and families come to witness the Trianym's monolithic majesty at night. None of the entrances are locked, however, and Azlin could readily make her way in should she wish to.

 Clerk's Ward: The Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness.  This is a sprawling, gated compound of frescoed adobe clay walls, not more than half as tall as the Trianym but wearing domes of the strangest, most imbalanced geometries. One such dome seems to protrude chaotically from a convex-leaning wall segment, stabilized only by iron brackets. As with most halls of the ward, its windows are mostly dark, though a few remain lit with movement within. The front doors are large, brass things, their surface intricately shaped with mesmerizing abstract patterns. They are slightly ajar with light spilling out, mingling with the lantern light flanking the cobbled path up.

The air smells strongly of cloves and incense. A gray-haired, dark-robed man sits on a wood bench along the entry path, smoking a long pipe and gazing dreamily up into the twinkling lights of distant wards. He raises an eyebrow as Azlin approaches.   "A visitor at this hour?"  
Metastachydium
Delja's face grows smooth and expressionless.  Finally.    Knowing more about the exact method by way of which the victims were slain could perhaps help us better assess the exact capabilities of our mark, Factor Trevant.   she speaks up once more, with confidence that surprises even her. For a moment, the shadow of a small doubt crosses her mind: is the price proportionate with the service it is tom pay for? But she realizes within the same heartbeat:  she doesn't care .   But if my companions have no particular objection, the Dustmen have a deal.  
Biscuit
Appreciating the silent architecture of The Trianym in the late hour, Azlin looked forward to seeing it again during the day sometime soon before moving onto The Lazz School of Vivid Unpleasantness. Lips flickering at the corners in a small smile, she nods her head to the pipe-smoking man she finds on a bench there,   "I do not sleep, and find I must pass the time. As I do not drink, the taverns seemed a poor choice to occupy myself in. New come to Sigil, I seek to familiarize myself with the city and what it has to offer."   Gesturing with a hand, she continues,   "I might not find the entertainment I'd  wished , but as my current goal is to simply pass the time time  anyway , even a fruitless endeavor has its merits."  

Nodding at the wooden bench the man sits upon, she asks politely,   "May I join you?"  
remetagross
Ux Utanar frowns at Trevant's tale. After Delja has spoken, he steps up again to add a comment.
  "Bringing murderous cultists to justice is an acceptable task for us. But I would like to gather more intel as well A... kind of an objection, as put by my comrade. By doing as you ask us, would we be stepping on the shoes of whatever official Sigil patrol force there might be ? In addition, there are always two sides to a tale. Once we have captured and neutralized these people, whomever they might be, we will interrogate them to evaluate their deed with more completeness. Would you be fine with that ? "  
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding along thoughtfully, Myriad purses her lips and muses aloud in a tone far more professional than before,   "So you already have supplies for this job?"   Her eyes pointedly shift from drifting and unfocused to staring and razor focused on the prospective employer, and her no-nonsense tone continues as she adds,   "We don't really have a problem with the job itself, but asking for this sort of labor and supply-intensive order for  live  targets on no-notice without  also  providing the normal supplies and means would be a  big  ask when all your offering in return is a bit of information you already have. Professionalism when doing business is important, wouldn't you agree?"   An arching eyebrow is now the only expression on her previously kind and jovial face as she stares at the man expectantly.

Her dagger appearing in her hand, she casually spins it around her fingers, flipping it so quickly it blurs and shimmers, tossing it from hand to hand and looping it through both sets of fingers as she continues to stare at the man and speaking casually but still with a distinct lack of emotion in her voice,   "Especially if you want them  alive . Alive is, of course,  much  more difficult. It requires supplies for subdual, at least minor healing to prevent death by blood loss, restraints, reliable transport, etcetera.  You  know how it is, I'm  sure ."   Snatching the dagger from the air mid-toss, still keeping eye contact, she starts using it to idly clean her nails as she maintains eye contact, awaiting his response.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Time for professional dagger-for-hire Myriad.
 Bluff:  55 - Nothing unusual about being serious for business. Totally wasn't grifitng you before, I swear. Supplying the equipment or funds for such for such short-notice jobs is  totally  the standard.
 Diplomacy:  50 -  Fair  dealings make the world go round. Very good for business.
 Intimidate:  50 (+ Knife Show) -  Unfair  dealings end in tears. Very bad for business (read: health).
 Perform (Weapon Drill):   (1d20+30)[ 32 ]  - (Quickdraw) Flippity flip goes the flickity flick.
 
 Spoiler: Perform - Weapon Drill 

You are skilled in quick, flashy movements of a weapon and can put on a display that shows off your prowess in combat.

This category of the Perform skill covers any sort of weapon display, such as twirling a sword or flipping a dagger from hand to hand.
 

 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.    "It is... complicated,"   says Trevant.   "The technically accurate answer to your query is that all victims perished from systemic shock induced through the mind, most likely through pain though exhaustion is also a likely candidate. The vivisections of the bodies in question were performed... most amateurishly, in a manner which would kill any victim in under ten minutes, likely less. We  assess  that healing magic was used to bridge the gap between the skill of the perpetrator and the desired length of suffering, which we believe to be upwards of half a day or more.

"In contrast with signs that all victims were kidnapped in a professional manner. Ligature marks from precisely set knots, residual traces of enchantment magic, and so on. This—"   he adds   "—applying as well to our mercenaries. No signs of a violent struggle, they were simply  taken . Is there something more you wish to know about their manner of deaths, insofar as autopsies can determine?"  
 Ux Utanar.    "Undoubtedly you will be in opposition to other forces of law."   There is no hesitation in Trevant's reply.   "Sigil's law is manifest through the Harmonium and the Mercykillers, who too are searching for the killers in question.  They  are worthless and Factol Skall has divined that there are vanishingly few possible worlds in which they succeed. But even should they succeed by outside assistance our deal requires that the killers are delivered to  us , the Dustmen.

"You are free to interrogate whoever the killers may be. We care not so long as they are living."  
 Myriad.    "I suppose I  could  part with a few things."   Trevant begins to pull from a messenger bag at his side vials, pots, cuffs, rope, scrolls, and a charm. It would be comical how much is being produced from such a small bag were the party not jaded to the magic of the  bags of holding . When Trevant is done he begins to identify the collection before him: two vials of oil of taggit, four vials of darkeye, two airtight pots of sleep-smoke, two masterwork manacles, two 25 ft. coils of hempen rope, an  scroll of hold person  (arcane), a  scroll of Leomund's spacious carriage , and a  whip feather token .

Trevant eyes the goods with some nostalgia.   "The things younger Dustmen carry with them—ah, those were the days. These are yours should you wish it, I no longer have any use for mundanities. I doubt an adversary who can cast  mind blank  would be susceptible to any of these common toxins or spells, though one never knows.

"Anyhow, I repeat that if you bring the killers back alive, you will be rewarded in addition to the name I possess. I... do not know what reward yet, but this is Skall's domain, and he is not a stingy... man. If on the other hand you determine that you  cannot , then I insist you simply return to us with the names of the killers, let us perform the capture at our leisure. Names for a name. That was our baseline deal."  
 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The man gestures for Azlin to join him. Up close it is evident that he is a half-elf, old though the elf side of his heritage keep him looking spry. He takes a puff of his pipe.   "Truly, you do not sleep?"   He tilts his head quizzically.   "Like an elf does not sleep but meditates, or are you fully awake and aware at all hours of the day? Sounds like a living nightmare, traveler, I shan't lie. I look forward to sleeping and dreaming, to exploring the frontiers of my mindscape every night. It gives me inspiration for my waking moments.

"But I digress. Welcome to the Lazz School, traveler. Alas but you have come at a bad time, had you come by day you would find our campus bursting with colors and ideas, the talents and magic of our apprentices and masters on full display."   He considers.   "Well, had you come by day  and  a week ago."   He sighs.   "The festivals have been canceled since... ah, but here I ramble on. Perhaps you won't get to experience everything we have to offer, traveler, but I still have a little magic and countless stories in me. Is there a topic you'd like me to weave a tale around?"  
Metastachydium
Delja offers Trevant a firm nod of understanding, and tilting her head, fixes her gaze on her own knightly companion.   Justice can be a messy business, Ux, and the messier the place, the messier the justice. Sigil's nothing if not complicated; I think the Factor's making a fair point there.   she really wants to do this now, and to reach an agreement before Myriad could do something even  more  stupid than drawing daggers to show off.
Geeksthenewsexy
Going over the equipment on offer with a critical eye, Myriad sighs and shrugs,   "Well, hopefully the ones we hunt are just the recipients of the Mind Blank, and none are the caster. Otherwise we'll likely be more concerned with keeping ourselves alive than giving them the same courtesy."   Gathering up the equipment, she turns to Trevant and starts making suggestions in a no-nonsense breakdown,   "I usually opt for bleeding and don't use many poisons since I don't normally do  non -lethal jobs, but if non-lethal poisons are part of the normal equipment for your people, I urge you to consider adding some carrion crawler brain juice in the future. If you were to apply it to one of the ropes and add in a scroll or two of  animate rope , that would be your best entry-level instant-capture setup, honestly."  

Packing the offered equipment into her haversack, she continues her professional assessment,   "The carrion crawler brain juice is also great for coating caltrops and door handles, or hands-free bait items like grey ioun stones as bait or a failsafe if captured. Anything you know the person being targeted will come in contact with, really. It's easier to finesse one way or another than an ingested poison like oil of taggit. Some eggshell grenades are both handy and inexpensive as well and could be useful to your people."   Gesturing at the scrolls before she packs them away last, she waffles a hand in the universal 'kinda' motion and finishes,   "A scroll or two of Create Trap would also allow for  much  better ambushing, more likely get-aways, and provide moderate security for agents having to take temporary shelter to avoid counteraction. Overall, your initial kit expenses go up, but I can all but guarantee it would increase their success rate proportionally, and save you money in the long-run as more agents survive, saving money on training, recruiting, and new kit replacement."  

Pausing before she closes her pack, she considers.   "You wouldn't be able to identify a few things for us before we leave, by chance, would you? We haven't had time to track down an honest merchant in a long while and I would prefer to know if we're picked up anything along the way that would be useful for the job at hand. You know how cluttered a pack can get after several jobs, I'm sure."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Diplomacy: 50 - Free, useful advice as goodwill. Professionalism is to be admired! Admire me, and help some homies out?
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in Myriad's demeanour. He remains speechless for a few seconds, before picking up on Trevant's answer.
  "Well, if Factol Skall estimates the chances that another body of law will get to these guys are almost zero, then that means without our intervention, no justice will be done. But I'm surprised you're mentioned two other groups, the Harmonium and the Mercy Killers. Are they both affiliated with Sigil's...higher-ups? Are they rivals? My experience tells me that as soon as two conflicting authorities pretend to be legitimate about the same domain, then that means zero authorities are now legitimate on that topic."  

He is glad that each of the three of them has their area of expertise to question Trevant without stepping on each other's shoes. Because it would be extremely painful to Delja's and Myriad's feet, given his weight.
  
"I am asking all this so that I've got a better understanding of how things proceed around here. The terms, at any rate, are fine by me. I always prefer to keep my foes alive if I can afford to."  
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Trevant listens with interest to Myriad's suggestions.   "We're not in the business of capturing people generally. These toxins are more intended for...  surgery . Still, your advice is well-heeded, as we had not considered carrion crawler-based toxins and I expect they would be abundant in our markets. Now, show me your enchanted articles. I can try to aid you in this."  
 Ux Utanar.  Trevant is silent a moment as he considers.   "It is difficult to explain the Cage's politics to outsiders, as I expect you three are. It will suffice to say that no organization is legitimate in the Cage for any higher reason beyond that they  try  to do what is expected of them. The three factions—the Harmonium, the Fraternity of Order, and the Mercykillers—are 'responsible' for enforcement, judgment, and punishment respectively. In theory they should work in concert, with the Harmonium catching, the Fraternity judging, and the Mercykillers jailing criminals. In practice... they get along well enough, too well to be called rivalry, but they often cannot help but get in one another's way."  

Trevant sighs and continues.   "They are not  actually  incompetent, mind, at least no more than is the average paladin required to adhere to Law and Good so strictly that they veer into stupidity. Nor are we Dustmen interested in doing their job for them. The present case is... unique."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar chuckles.
  "They are allies in theory, and most of the time in practice, but sometimes personal interest step in anyway. This reminds me of a Dragonborn saying. Do you know the difference between a paladin and a knight? A knight that falls simply stands up again and doesn't make a fuss. It seems your three orders have that same kind of relationship between them.  The paladins, of course, have a counter-saying to that...I'll keep it for when we have brought your targets to you. anyway, that point is settled for me. I thank your for your explanations, Factor Trevant."  

The dragonborn makes a bow before the erudite, his gear clinking and chittering.
Biscuit
Waving a small hand dismissively, Azlin offers the man a very slight, sad smile.   "All my dreams became nightmares, so I chose to close that door forever. My mind has become more still and peaceful for it, I assure you. And the extra hours give me time for peaceful endeavors while I rest, such as books, drawing and sketching, or enjoying music,"   with this last she gestures at the school with a small chuckle,   "when it is available, at least."   Considering his point of mindscapes, she pulls a small tuning fork from her pack to show him.   "There are planes where your mind can be set adrift and mold reality much like a dream, but with more control. Add in a bit of illusion, and it can be enough, when it must."   

Tucking the tuning fork for the Astral Plane back away, she nods at the school, she asks,   "I'm afraid I've only arrived to the city, so have not heard what has caused the festivals to be cancelled. If it isn't too much trouble, could you tell me that tale? And perhaps a bit of what the prior festivals entailed, so I know what I'll be missing?"   Her smile genuinely touches her eyes briefly for the first time tonight as she chuckles softly,   "I too have a bit of magic in me. Perhaps we can amuse ourselves by combining our efforts, if you don't mind a non-performer's efforts."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Nodding at his appreciation of her suggestion, she adds with a grin,   "Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it though, right?"
  
As he agrees to helping identify some things, Myriad opens her pack and beams.   "That would be great, thank you. This saves us from having to run a lengthy errand before we get started on yours."   Myriad starts taking items out and handing them to Trevant one by one with a warm smile, attempting to gauge his level of patience as she does so. Offering small words of thanks or encouragement with each item, she just keeps pulling things out of her storage.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Bluff:  55
 Diplomacy:  50
 Sense Motive:  17

Below is a list of Items being handed to the man, in order. Any time he looks annoyed, she'll coo and fuss over how talented he is, how much time he is saving them and himself, and how wonderful of a person he must be for being so kind. If/when he seems  more  than very mildly irritated, Myriad will switch to the sad and pathetic 'just one or two more' phase, and anything more than that and she will sigh and thank him and make comments about how it looks like they'll have to go somewhere else after all, but maybe after  his  mission, since he was already so helpful, etc.

 
 an engraved ring 
 a diamond ring 
 a plain darkwood band 
 2 x rings etched with runes 
 a sturdy adamantine and darkwood rod 
 a set of robes with runes finely stitched across it 
 a chain shirt of high quality 
 a harp 
 12 x trinket tokens in various shapes 
 4 x dark and viscous potions 
 2 x light and pleasantly scented potions 
 8 x spell scrolls 
 a dark black and viscous potion 
 4 x light green and viscous potions 
 2 x oily and beige potions 
 3 x blue like the sea potions 
 2 x pure black and sparkling like the night sky potions 
 a rune-engraved sword 
 a fullblade engraved with runes 
 a full plate engraved with runes 
 a rapier of high quality 
 
 
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The half-elf's expression turns dour for a moment before showing a deep weariness.   "This one I will tell... though not as a tale, for it is a wound too fresh and sensitive to bear bardic embellishments. The truth, traveler, is that the festivals were cancelled due to one of ours being killed. Young Inda of High House Midai, first among our apprentices, talented in the theory and art of illusions... she had prepared a demonstration for after dark last week, something we masters had seen her rehearse, and truly we were proud to call her our own. But she did not show to her own demonstration, and after searching all night we found that she was simply... gone.

"Her body was found two days later. The Dustmen—something like a death cult, I suppose—apparently dragged her out of some dark corner of Lower Ward. We have communally funded a casting of  raise dead  but the Dustmen would not allow it. And High House Midai, well, Inda was the black hollyphant of the clan, for she was always outspoken against slavery, a disgusting practice they partake in. They will not care, perhaps are even glad, that Inda is dead. The Harmonium—our, ah, city watch—tells us this is but one victim in a long line left by a serial killer.

"What you have missed, traveler, had you the opportunity to witness young Inda's work, is a prodigy who could evoke tastes as sounds, sounds as sights, and sights as touch. She could weave colors into ego and melt thoughts like ice. The worlds she would build for those lucky enough to be in her audience stretched the very limits of one's senses and ideas. Ours is a festival to appeal to, even if not to comfort, all the ways we know the multiverse, our artists and illusionists bringing to life music and paintings and illusions like you have never seen, traveler. And Inda was the best of us."   He falls silent as he takes a puff of his pipe and looks to the dark, hazy sky above, the lamplight casting harsh shadows across his gaunt features.

 ──────────── 
 Myriad.  With a careless but practiced wave of his hand and an intonation of,   " Detect magic ,"   Trevant's eyes momentarily flash with power before he gets to the task of examining the items produced by the "dwarf" one by one.

 
  Engraved Ring.    " Freedom of movement ."   
  Diamond Ring.    "...Strong evocation. I cannot tell the specific magic."   
 
With a groan and a heavy sigh, Trevant withdraws a beautiful crystal lens from his desk and murmurs,   " Analyze dweomer . I  did  promise aid, but... what a waste of a Sixth."   Arcane magic ripples along the lens' golden frame and crosses its sapphire surface. He peers down again at the diamond ring, though this time through the lens.   " Ring of three wishes . There's still one  wish  on it."   He shakes his head with astonishment.

 
  Darkwood Band.    " Major fire resistance ."   
  Rune Ring #1.    " Invisibility ."   
  Rune Ring #2.    " Negative protection ."   
  Adamantine and Darkwood Rod.    "... Rod of absorption ."   He stares at the item enviously. 
  Rune Robes.    " Robe of arcane might . Attuned to... conjuration."   
  Chain Shirt.    "Two levels of enhancement and  energy immunity ."   
  Harp.    " Dove's harp ."   
  Feather Tokens.  Trevant throws up his hands.   " Really ?"   Still, with a little more cajoling from Myriad he ends up identifying all the tokens, though the magic on his lens dissipates partway through the identifications. There are five tree, three bird, two swan boat, and two fan feather tokens. 
  Potions.    "No. I'm done. It's obvious none of any of this belongs to you, and I shudder to think which High House you looted these from."   
 
Metastachydium
Delja's fists clench for a moment and, for the same heartbeat, her facade of disinterested calm crumbles and drops.   We are neither thieves, nor looters,  Factor .   she says slowly and quite grimly.   This is salvage.  All  these items, without exception, were acquired from a site outside Sigil, overrun by Obyriths. The things had the gall to invoke the right of conquest. We killed them all. We claimed  their  loot.   she pauses, drawing a sharp breath, her offense almost audible.   We are not of your station, Factor Trevant. But in polite company, such as yours, I believe we deserve, if not respect, as you command, some courtesy.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Immediately thrusting the ring containing the wish spell into Delja's hands, Myriad looks slightly panicked.   "Take that. Take that  now  and do  not  let me have it."   Taking a deep breath, she mutters quietly to herself,    "It doesn't  matter  how much I suddenly want a pink cat that honks like a goose. We can use it for something we  need , and not just something we  want ."   

Nodding at Delja and obviously keeping her eyes off the ring she just handed her, Myriad confirms,   "Yeah, the creepy tentacled ****s gave me flashbacks. Never  ever  go to a teifling-run brothel next to a tiefling-run store that sells  tentacle rods . Trust me, it isn't  nearly  as good of an idea as it sounds."   Shuddering viscerally, she shakes her head as if to shake of bad memories.   "Most of the stuff came from what was left of their victims. We post-humously accepted a  valiant  quest to avenge them. This is how they paid! We avenged them  so  thoroughly that we actually had to stop and buy some wands of prestidigitation to clean up with before we went to the church dripping ichor everywhere to ask about the creepy things before we maybe go hunt more later. Remember how I said  non -lethal was actually a lot harder? We don't really  do  'gentle', most of the time."   Producing one such wand of prestidigitation, she waves it at him.   "This one had one more charge for the day if you wanna tidy your office or something?"  

Looking down at the potions, she sighs sadly at their perptual unknown status.   "Well, at least we got  some  mildly useful things identified. Most of the rest is just merchant fodder, though. Probably the same with the other weapons and armor I still have laying at the bottom, but maybe we'll get lucky with one of those later when we can get more stuff identified at some point in the future. I don't have high hopes for the potions, but most potions taste like sour donkey milk and dirty twigs anyway. So... meh ."  

Collecting the rest of the identified things, she starts shoving it into her pack like she is pick up garbage for later disposable, but at least eyes the harp consideringly before tossing it in as well.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Bluff: 55  - This is mostly trash and you should feel bad for thinking  we  would need to bother  stealing  it.
 Diplomacy: 50  - Come on man, be reasonable. We're not bad  people . We don't deserve accusations like that. We're just bad  ass .
 
Metastachydium
Delja takes the ring  very  fast, acknowledging Myriad's sudden bout of insight with a curt nod. Of what follows… She is   far less  appreciative of.   Druce, I didn't.  Want. To KNOW that.    she comments on the tiefling episode, raising her left slightly and looking around, apparently not sure if she wants to tear the head of the damn changeling off or she's just looking for a length of rope to end her own mysery.
Biscuit
Furrowing her brow at the man's sorroful tale, Azlin takes a long minute to process this information before responding cautiously with a follow.up question,   "So, these 'Dustmen' are holding her corpse hostage to prevent her raising, because of politics?"   She would have  loved  to have seen such a display, not only for the opportunity to observe another illusionist at the craft, but simply to enjoy the sheer  artistry  of it. If her death was  such  a blow to this community that entire festivals would be cancelled at her loss, surely she must have been a truly worthy artist. She considers thoughtfully. She wasn't  actually  doing anything  else  of any importance at the moment.   "I am no Cleric, but I believe there is a limit to that spell in terms of how long you can wait to cast it.  If  someone were to retrieve her body from these Dustmen, is there still time for the spell to be cast, by chance?"  
remetagross
Ux Utanar is a little offended as well by the Factor's disparaging comments. He stiffens, and stares at the erudite with a stern look.
  "Factor Trevant, I will have you know that these items we have gathered from the bodies of those slain will be sold so as to allow us to afford a set of  Raise Dead  castings for them. Let it not be said that the servants of Bahamut, nor those they ally with, are ghoulish pillagers. "   the dragonborn adds to Delja's reaction with a deep, intense voice. Ereshki, still perched upside down to the ceiling, senses his master getting tense, and lets out a loud  screech  as she tenses too.

Fortunately, Myriad's tentacle-based antics a few seconds after that relax the atmosphere, and Ux Utanar can feel a sort of kinship establishing between the three non-changeling persons of the room. Three fellows at the receiving end of her unrelenting ability to...well... be Myriad , in a nutshell.
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.    "Ideology, politics, or some other unfathomable reason, I do not know. The Dustmen have always kept their own counsel and are not keen on explaining themselves to others. Inda was taken eight... no, nine days back. The latest we can reasonably afford her resurrection is... about a week from now."  
 ──────────── 
 Delja Utorak.  Trevant studies the "wispling" with curiosity, then raises his hands in a show of apology.   "Then I retract my accusation. As you say, it was discourteous of me to assume the worst. Obyriths... very curious. Difficult to find under the best of circumstances."  
 Myriad.  Trevant coughs when Myriad offers to clean the room.   "No, er, I would prefer you did not wave about any wand or wand-shaped object in this room. Or ideally anything you may have procured from that tiefling store."  
 Ux Utanar.  Trevant nods.   "You speak fairly—I have never known a servant of the Platinum Dragon to abide dishonorable acts. If indeed those who originally possessed these articles were slain by obyriths, I would be interested in speaking to them. As recompense for the insult I imputed upon your honor I could resurrect some of the deceased. If you are interested in taking me up on my offer, bring their bodies to us."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar, already having returned to a lighter mood, smiles warmly at the Dustman.  
"This is a most generous offer from you, and I am certain my comrades will agree with me that we will accept it. May the Lord of the North Wind smile upon this honorable house".   He then bows deeply to Trevant.  
"May I simply demand that one of the questions you ask to each of the interrogated bodies is "Do you wish to be  Raised ?"."  

The dragonborn then adds in a more business tone (he has slowly taken some pointers from his friends):
  "As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to depart. I suppose the first stop is to go to the Collectors to ask them about the whereabouts of their discovery and maybe have a look at the bodies, if they still have them. Once that is done, we should go to the Ditch and start inquiring on the spot."  
Metastachydium
Delja grants the Factor with a quick, elegant bow of her head, mostly meant to convey she's accepting the apology.   I wouldn't call circumstances under which one encounters these…  Beings  something I'd ever describe as the  best , but yes, other sages we consulted would agree. We are told one of them was a    Delja digs deep into her memories to find the exact word, subtle furrows appearing on her forehead for a moment    Thul-gaunt , I believe? Apparently those stick to the Abyss as a rule.   the nixie goes on, not that she expects Trevant not to know that much himself.   Now, if you'd put that thing away,  Druce    she spins to shoot a still quite disparaging look at Myriad   I'd agree it's about time we said our farewells, for now. But, and please correct me, Factor Trevant, should I be mistaken,   she spins around again   I don't see why we'd go anywhere near the Ditch. The ditchers are not our marks. Their employers are. And the Twelve Factols is safer site to conduct preliminary reconnaisance in anyhow.  
Biscuit
Nodding at the information, Azlin spreads her hands,   "In that case, I will go and get more information about that from these Dustmen, if you'll give me directions. But there is time for that still, as you say. For now... shall we distract ourselves with a bit of magic?"   Wiggling a small fingers in the air in a dramatic fashion, her slight smile touches her eyes once more.   "I'm quite interested in seeing how the craft is practiced here, and would certainly not mind a tale, if it is still on offer as well."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Myriad shrugs and puts her eternal wand of prestidigitation away, nonplussed. Eyeing the man as he asks for the bodies to be brought to him, her eyes lose a little of their mirth before her face goes back to the blank stare of jovial ignorance it normally presented.   "Sounds like a plan!"  
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The old half-elf smiles.   "Outsider... I don't know why you would help, but we thank you all the same."   He gives directions, based around landmarks more so than road names. At first he names the landmarks of Clerk's Ward, its great halls and statue-dotted plazas, but then he names the landmarks of the Hive, roads identified by crumbling tenements, dilapidated taverns, and the beggars too stationary to move. The Dustmen are headquartered in that sad place, in a building too large to miss, the Mortuary.   "I've an inkling you can more than handle yourself, but do take care—the Harmonium doesn't patrol the Hive."  

He then leans back and adopts a serious expression.   "To honor Inda and her belief that all sentient beings have the right to be free, I perform now the work of the late artist Polley, who has been a great influence on all the artists of the Lazz School. He sacrificed all he had when he first performed this, but that we follow in his footsteps now is evidence that while one may kill a man, one may not kill an idea.

"Behold, the true face of slavery across the planes."   Azlin does not see or hear the half-elf do magic, yet all the same the lantern-lit brick path is now being walked by shimmering, opaque figures. It is hard at first to see what they are exactly—vaguely humanoid, yet disturbingly out of proportion. Nor does Azlin realize at first that they—the image as a whole, in fact—are moving. Not in any sensible, physical way, the figment seems to shift as Azlin's own gaze, as if she is looking within a kaleidoscope, and each shift seems to represent a brand new image with little continuity from the last.  Seems . Yet as Azlin looks on, it is clear all the images are connected.

She is witnessing horror. Not something to frighten her, but the horror of the slaves. Nowhere are the masters of the slaves depicted, but all they wrought can be seen. Men and women, expressions of terror so dramatically distorted as if drawn by a child. Body parts—unclear if they are still attached—collage over their faces, guarding from unseen whips, cut by unseen blades. The figment has no sound yet Azlin can hear it all the same, the sounds of death that she is all too familiar with. No matter where Azlin looks, new victims, new tortures. Expressive fragmentation and dislocation, anatomies disrupted, the unnatural brutality and darkness of life. Skeletal, unfed, begging for mercy, ritual sacrifices atop blood-soaked altars.

The image persists for a minute or an eternity. Then it is gone, and once again Azlin is on a bench on a lantern-lit brick trail, the lights of Sigil's distant wards circling overhead. The sound of crickets return to focus.

  "Behold,"   says the half-elf softly,   "the memories of a slave child of Union. Think not of rescue, for his time is centuries past. Union stands to this day, a monument to the most disgusting practice across the planes, slavery so terrible that the gods cry out for justice. Yet here we stand today in the Cage, partaking in this injustice, the High Houses deaf to the suffering merely one doorway away. Behold, and remember."  

The half-elf pauses, signifying the end of the show, then flashes a smile.   "A simple  silent image , yet sound is not needed. Polley was a master of making more out of less. What do you think, outsider? Art like this is uncommon on the Prime, as I understand it, where artists mainly find themselves making generous depictions of whichever lord whose retinue they happen to serve in."  
 ──────────── 
 Ux Utanar.    "Off the top of my head I know not which Collectors brought us the bodies, but I have no doubt they are at the Ditch again tonight."  
 Delja Utorak.  Trevant starts.   "Thulgant? The arachnoid demon? That thing is very nearly a creature of myth. I don't suppose you could bring us its corpse? Let's see... if you bring us the thulgant, I will identify all the remaining magic items you have. Will that suffice as a reward?"  
Metastachydium
  Yes, a spider relying heavily on teleportation effects.   Delja confirms with a nod.   The body is… In a fairly  battered  state currently, but I don't know that we have any need of it. The trade is fine by  me , at the very least,   she flicks a quick look at the others to gauge their stances on the issue   if you can help us figure out how to move the body. It is quite sizable and oozing fluids that look very unsanitary. We also have a   her toes drum on the floor for yet another moment of hesitation as she tries to recall yet another difficult name    Sibriex , I think, if you are interested. But that one's even bigger.  
remetagross
Ux Utanar cannot help a smug smile upon his face.  
"Well, I suppose the three of us are  mythier  than the thulgant is, then. But I'm sharing the stance of my friend here."   and he indicates Delja.
  "Apart from this, if the Collectors which have found the bodies are in the Ditch again tonight, then we could go there to meet them and gather some intel about their discovery. Unless"  , and he turns to Delja and Myriad for their answer,   "you prefer to have a look at the bodies first?"  
Metastachydium
  I maintain that we better head for the  Twelve Factols  first. Again: we're not after the ditchers. Not directly, anyhow.   Delja reminds Ux Utanar once more.
Geeksthenewsexy
Shrugging, Myriad seems strangely non-committal.   "Sure, wherever you guys think is best to start."   Her face is contemplative as if she is internally debating something.
remetagross
Ux Utanar comes to his senses as he recalls the meeting point before the cloaked killers and their supervisors.
   "Ah, yes, of course. Let's settle for the Twelve Factols, then."   

The team then proceeds out.
Biscuit
Finding the display equal parts heartbreaking and captivating, Azlin took a long minute to form her response. Deeply moved by the illusion, Azlin's own battered heart yearned to bring solace and hope to a place that had just relived such sorrow. With determination, she rose from the bench and clasped her hands together, focusing her magical energy.   "That was  truly  masterful. Thank you for sharing it with me. Please allow me to repay your kindness."   The air around her crackled with anticipation as she silently casts the spell  Mirage Arcana  with just a gesture and  the force of her will and desire.

Within moments, a swirling vortex of shimmering lights and ethereal mist materialized before her. Through the veil of illusion, she conjured a portal large enough to drive a wagon through - something the city she found herself in was famous for, but clear as if a spell of Portal View had been cast upon it. It was her way of offering solace to a place that had just re-witnessed such suffering. The portal materialized before them, a magnificent display of colors and light. Its form wavered like a mirage, as if bridging the gap between realms. The surroundings transformed as they peered into it, revealing a breathtaking landscape of pristine beauty.

As the illusion took form, the air was filled with the haunting melodies of soft, soothing music that emanating from the realm beyond the portal. Within the portal, vast meadows stretched endlessly beyond a small stone-ringed ledge shaped like a natural balcony, a tapestry of vibrant green hues swaying gently in an unseen breeze that can be felt coming from the portal. Towering trees, with gnarled trunks and sprawling branches, adorned the horizon, their foliage casting dappled shadows upon the ground seemingly below. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, painting patches of golden warmth upon the serene tableau.

Crystal-clear streams meandered through the terrain, their gentle currents glimmering with a translucent shimmer. They snaked their way through the landscape, carving intricate paths and forming natural boundaries. The soft gurgle of water provided a soothing soundtrack, harmonizing with the tranquil ambiance. Flowers of various shapes and colors speckled the meadows, their delicate petals swaying in harmony with nature's rhythm. From vivid blossoms to delicate buds, they added splashes of crimson, azure, and gold to the scene. Their unearthly fragrance wafted through the air on the breeze that shouldn't truly exist, a subtle perfume that mingled with the pure freshness of the surroundings.

Above, a boundless sky stretched like an azure canvas, adorned with fluffy clouds drifting lazily. The sunbathed the landscape in a warm, gentle glow, casting long shadows and imbuing everything with a soft golden radiance. The celestial dome seemed to stretch endlessly, an expansive ceiling that embraced the tranquil realm below. As they peered into the portal, the serene panorama invited them to explore its hidden wonders. It offered a sanctuary away from the chaos and turmoil of the mortal world, a glimpse into a realm where peace and serenity reigned supreme. It beckoned them to step through and immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of this divine tapestry.

Sitting back down beside the man, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as she stared into the illusion she had wrought as the sound of happy children at play mixed with the soft music coming from the portal. Azlin speaks then, her words quiet and firm as they mixed with the peaceful melody coming from the radiant portal,   "In the symphony of existence, where dissonance and harmony entwine, the resolute seeker discovers an eternal truth: hope evades only those who abandon its pursuit. Within life's intricate trials, where shadows linger and despair beckons, the bold soul embraces the quest for a brighter tomorrow. Amidst the interplay of joy and sorrow, uncertainty and conviction, hope's flame endures, casting a gentle glow on the darkest realms. It is in the unwavering hearts of those who dare to seek that hope blossoms, even amidst desolation. For within this grand tapestry of this thing that we call life, hope remains a guiding light, forever igniting the spirits of those who seek it. Never allow yourself to abandon it."  

Squeezing the man's shoulder gently, Azlin stands once more and glances at the sky as she ponders thoughtfully. Nodding to herself, as if comign to a decision, adamantine wings ruffle out and flex, and she offers the man another small smile.   "Thank you again. It was a wonderful evening. And now there  is  music to be had after all. If you will excuse me, I need to go have a conversation with the Dustmen. Oh, and,"   she gestures at the illusionary portal still happily pouring light, soft music, and the smell of flowers and nature into the real world,   "Please do view it from the ledge, if you would. The acoustics should be  much  better there, and you can see even more from within."   Turning from the man with a slight bow of appreciation for his company, she flexes legs crafted of metal and magic, launching herself into the air with a flap of adamantine wings. She was off to The Hive.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Going into the 'portal' you would find a 220 cubic foot grassy shelf area on the side of a heavily forested mountain, blocked off by various natural obstacles like a railing, but with about a 300° panoramic view of her own artistic interpretation of a divine realm of goodness and hope. To one side, a person would see more mountains, dotted with shining golden palaces bathed in sparkling light, above you would see castles made of clouds, and to the other side, a tropical ocean. Complete with audible, tactile, and olfactory elements appropriate for that 'side' of the little clearing.

While the sounds are soft and muted on this side, they are loud and 'in person' inside the area of the spell.

 Mirage Arcana  - "This spell functions like hallucinatory terrain, except that it enables you to make any area appear to be something other than it is. The illusion includes audible, visual, tactile, and olfactory elements."

Also, it will last for 52 hours.
 
chaincomplex
 The Hive: The Mortuary.  Trevant sighs.   "The corpse of a sibriex would also be invaluable. Normally I would say cast  flesh to stone  and  shrink item  on the cadavers, but I am out of scrolls of both. Well, no matter. If you can find a way then good, but my primary concern is our killer."  
 The Hive.  Ux, Delja, and Myriad leave the Mortuary. Its menacing shadow recedes as they continue down the stone garden path and through the black iron gates at the front. Wandering along the gates are hunched-over, dark-cloaked Dustmen who pay little heed to the party. Soon the party finds themselves back on the dirt avenues of the Hive, flanked by crumbling tenements and seedy alleys. It is time to make their way to Lady's Ward.

 The Hive: Street.  ( Day 215, Year 127. 11 AP. Night. See  map . ) While the many streets and avenues of Sigil are labyrinthine, it is not on the whole difficult to navigate to another one of Sigil's wards. After all, merely by looking up one sees the lights of said distant wards hanging suspended in the sky on the inner edge of Sigil's great ring. They lead travelers in the Cage like constellations do sailors. One merely walks in their direction, or at least one does along the curvature of the great ring.

It is in this manner that the party finds themselves traveling between a row of dilapidated two- and three-story buildings, concealed within their shadows. Behind the party Ereshki lazily glides, silent as the night under which the party moves. Lanterns hanging by front doors cast long shadows as the party passes. Curtained windows leak illumination, evidence of life within. Yet some of the buildings are as dark as their facades, abandoned long ago.

Some one hundred feet down the way the party can hear a commotion. There is an empty wagon and two ponies, their silhouettes blocking most of the road, yet from behind them the party can see faint figures flailing about and the sounds of commotion and yelling. Between the party and the scene, dark puddles of grime and ooze pool in the streets and alleys. This is not uncommon in the Hive—sanitation is unheard of in the ward—but they are deeper and wider on this street, noticeably so, and the smell accordingly fouler.

 ──────────── 
 Clerk's Ward: The Lazz School.  At the outset of Azlin's display, the old half-elf's eyebrows shoot up when he sees the level of magic, seeming to recognize the spell. He stands silently and slowly strolls through the  mirage arcana , head turning every which way to examine all the small nuances of the illusion. A small smile spreads on his lips. He is not taken the way an innocent mind is, yet there is an appreciation for the craft in his expression, the gaze of a practiced artist and teacher.

  "Well done,"   he murmurs.   "I see lived experienced, an image of hope drawn not by mere wishful thinking, and it is executed more than competently. You would be welcome at this school, though perhaps the vision is more romantic than what we are used to."   He continues to pace about, finding new angles to look from and details to study.

When Azlin is set to leave, he nods.   "Be well, traveler. Mayhap we shall meet again."  
 The Hive.  ( Day 215, Year 127. 11 AP. Night. ) The rock gnome soars overhead, the lights of Sigil rushing by below, yet at the same time the lights of distant wards approach and recede as if Azlin is flying right at the stars. Disappointingly then, perhaps, that they should resolve to the lamps and lanterns of buildings and yards, the abstract landscape of night replaced by the reality of the Hive. This is a poor district, and it is not well. Fallen roofs, rotting foundations, dirt roads with pooling muck—there is desperation here, too; the people of the Hive are not here by choice.

 
 Spoiler: The Hive 

 
 Originally Posted by chaincomplex 
  The Hive.  ( Day 215, Year 127. 10 AP. Night. ) Smog-filled streets wind through chaotic blocks of slowly crumbling tenements, taverns, and warehouses. In the distance, the countless great factories of Lower Ward's soaring chimneys spew dark clouds ceaselessly. Passersby shuffle in heavy, grimy cloaks, avoiding eyesight, furtive as can be. The people here come in two sorts, the first that wishes to be left well alone to live their meager lives in as much peace as can be mustered in this place far from the grace of any god or even guard, and the second that wishes to leave none alone save for those obviously more destitute or dangerous than they.

The Hive is not a good place to be, but it is the place the party has to be, as both Myriad and Delja know enough to know that the Dustmen make their home in the Mortuary in this very ward. Stepping around dark, oozy puddles of gods-know-what and veritable mounds of odorous garbage, the party can at least be consoled that the more thuggish sorts of the Hive seem to find them intimidating enough to keep a wide berth of. Given the treasury of magical arms and armor they bear—and the large dire bat in tow—a more obvious party of murder hobos one would be hard-pressed to find.

Here in the Hive the party finds the following landmarks:

 
  Allesha's Pantry.  A charity kitchen to feed those who cannot feed themselves, which is at least half of the Hive. 
  Bottle and Jug.  A seedy inn and tavern that looks more like a small fortress than anything. Popular with locals. 
  The Gatehouse.  It looks like an asylum, because it is an asylum. It is other things too, though what these other things are, are not obvious on a glance. Headquarters to the Bleak Cabal. 
  Green Stone Stables.  A warehouse selling all kinds of mounts, from plain to exotic. 
  The Hive.  Confusingly there is a collection of buildings in the Hive called the Hive.  This  Hive is bases run by the Xaositects: lodgings, services, traders, craftsmen—by Chaosmen, for Chaosmen. Visibly well-to-do places and peoples, an oddity given the ward. 
  The Mortuary.  A colossal structure that is what it says on the tin. Known domain of countless portals to far-flung worlds. Headquarters to the Dustmen. 
  The Scratch Wall.  A massive black stone wall, like a literal protective wall, a barrier between the Hive and the Slags. Now it is a place where people chisel inane nonsense deep into the rock face. 
  The Slags.  An endless expanse of trash and debris. A battlefield long since abandoned. Dark secrets hide beneath its ruins. 
  The Weary Spirit Infirmary.  A charity hospital to care for those who cannot care for themselves, which is much more than half of the Hive. 
 
 
 
 

 The Hive: The Mortuary.  Azlin circles overhead on her outstretched wings, metals clinking as they shift to bank. It is chillier than expected in the air, and foul too, the acrid chimney smoke evidence that more than just firewood is burning. Beneath her is a sprawling complex with massive, brutal spikes and edges. It is a dark thing, almost insect-like, but it is merely a hall. The home of the Dustmen. It was simple enough to find the place—even in the Hive there are makeshift signs that led Azlin here, requiring only that she dip down close enough to see every so often. The Mortuary's primary building is surrounded by a stone garden populated with ugly statues, fenced in by black spiked gates. There are astonishingly few figures or guards present, and what there are, are not obviously armed. Mere men, darkly robed and almost hobbling, congregate around the front gates and by the front doors, less than half a dozen in number. Even at this late hour Azlin saw more guards patrolling Clerk's Ward.

From the ground Azlin is a black figure in the night sky, visible only by way of the distant lights she occludes.
Biscuit
Azlin soared through the expansive skies above the city of doors, her adamantine wings cutting through the air. From her elevated vantage point, she scanned the sprawling cityscape and marvelled at just how terrible the condition of 'The Hive' district was in. How this place hadn't been leveled by a few spells seemed a great mystery to her, as she judged it really wouldn't take much. Her eyes eventually honing in on the Mortuary nestled within the rundown and decrepit district, she banks and circles from above. Touching the Collar of Umbral Metamorphasis at her neck absently, she notices the chill in the air, but ignores it as she focuses on her goal.

With a slow gliding descent, she lands on the cobblestone street a short distance away from her destination. Guarded, but obviously not well, she suspected any  real  defenses were hidden if the did exist, as such things normally were. Undeterred by the possibility, the partially mechanized illusionist strides purposefully towards the foreboding building. As she approached, the sound of her purposefully heavy footsteps echo through the otherwise quiet street. Her determined, albeit short, strides carried her closer to the entrance, where the guards stood watch. folding her spell construct wings only partially, she keeps them free for use but chooses not to flare them as to not be mistaken for immediately hostile.
remetagross
The poor-sighted Ux Utanar is warned of the rumble ahead of them by Ereshki squeaking and agitating. He recognizes her cry of alarm, and reacts accordingly.
  "What's that, Ereshki? Full stride ahead!"  

He swiftly jumps on the back of the dire bat, which promplty takes some altitude before rushing down the scene. Quickly enough, the knight realizes this is a fighting scene between two sides of unequal strength. He drives Ereshki to perch atop the wagon, which buckles heavily under their combined weight. Gauging the scene, the dragonborn speaks with a banging voice.
  "Hold off everything! What is going on here?"  
Metastachydium
Full stride ahead. Delja lets the air escape her weird amphibian lungs with a hiss as Ux Utanar zips up and away.    Oh, joy.    she sighs. Just what they needed: a brawl between these mud people to break up.   Come on, Myr.   she shakes her head, nevertheless, with limited enthusiasm.   The knight in shining armour found us some trouble.  and he won't have to handle it alone. The nixie grabs Myriad's arm and begins dragging her along towards the wagon,  at speed .
Geeksthenewsexy
Groaning as her companions shoot off at their enhanced speeds, Myriad pumps her stubby dwarf legs and follows along behind as quickly as she can, already trailing behind as her sudden muttering comes out in short huffs,   "Gods be  damned , if it's... going to be like this much longer, I need... to figure out a way to get... faster."   As she runs, her dagger appears in her hand in a flash as she readies herself for trouble.
chaincomplex
 The Hive: The Mortuary.  Azlin lands with a solid  thud , her biomechanical legs smoothly absorbing the force against the dirt road. In the shadow the outstretched, blade-like wings of her silhouette fold until her true, smaller form becomes apparent, a lone wanderer of the narrow dark between leaning tenements, under a sky of distant pinpricks of lights and hazy columns of chimney smoke.

The streets widen and she comes upon a major thoroughfare flanking the great black gates of the Mortuary, the headquarters of the Dustmen. There is an entryway to the stone courtyard within, open with a Dustman standing by it. They are slight in build, hunched over, less guard and more greeter, missing any sign of a weapon or the paraphernalia of a mage. Strangely lax security for a ward where the signs of poverty and violence are omnipresent.

The Dustman's head tilts slightly at Azlin's approach but they say nothing. Down the path through the courtyard and to the monolithic black Mortuary itself Azlin sees the silhouette of another Dustman shambling along, just as unarmed as the one at the gate.

 ──────────── 
 The Hive: Street.  As Ux moves up upon his mount, companions in tow, the strange scene reveals itself. At first it appears to be the  most  mundane encounter. There is the unladen cart and its strange Cage ponies stopped abruptly upon the road. A congregation of civilians, three humans and one elf, are struggling besides one of the many foul dirt pools that dot the streets of the Hive. One of the humans, an older man, has fallen in the dirt pool and the others are helping him up. Yet another glance shows there is more to this scene than its initial impression. The human has fallen in  deep , well up to his waist, yet the pool only appears to be an inch deep at most. The human is struggling to pull himself out like a man caught in quicksand, with just as much futility.

The elf, a young, muscular man covered in the muck and ooze of the pool, has a solid grasp on the fallen man. His form flexes and stretches with athletic power, yet even with this aid there is little give from the dirt pool.

The other two humans, an older woman and a young girl, are in varying states of covered in ooze. The older woman has a flimsy grasp on the fallen man's clothes and is trying to hoist him out. She murmurs in desperation,   "Not like this... not like this... not today... please, please Sun Father..."  

The girl on the other hand is struggling trying to untangle a spool of what looks to be unintentionally knotted rope, basic motions rendered difficult to impossible in her panic.

  "Ahoy, travelers,"   says the elf, taking note of the mounted dragonborn and his companions running up in short order. The elf's voice is strained but clear and melodic, far calmer than the humans about.   "Help would be appreciated...! If you are the sort to offer help, that is. If you're in the business of offering the  opposite  of help, then... then I suppose we would appreciate that you let us be!"  
remetagross
Ux Utanar takes in the scene in a glance, and then answers the elf.
  "I am indeed of that sort. But that muck is not some ordinary muck, is it?"  
The dragonborn unbats by jumping straight down near the pool of mud. He whistles some sort of peculiar tune while doing so - and Ereshki looks at the scene with attention. Cautiously, he draws his longsword and dips it into the ooze, carrying on until he encounters something solid - be it the pavement or the immersed body of the old timer. If the dirt does not react in any specific way, then Ux Utanar sheathes his weapon, stands by the assisting elf, grabs the old man from below the armpits, digs in his boots in the pavement and starts heaving with a great cry of effort. He has looked at nothing if not the pool of mud from the moment he went down from Ereshki.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Auto-success on the Handle Animal check to have Ereshki accomplish the Guard trick - Ux Utanar is not quite sure this is not some sort of ambush.
He then takes 10 on a Str check: result of 22.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Scanning the crowd, Myriad slips her dagger back in its sheath, hiding it away as she trails behind, strolling naturally as her eyes alight with internal magic. Taking her time, she examines the 'pool' as she passes it slowly before scanning the crowd in turn, looking for magic auras. As she passes the people, always moving as if she belongs and as if she had some goal just beyond each person, she brushes by, her dextrous fingers flicking in and out of clothing unseen, subtly checking for hidden weapons as her eyes continue to scan the scene.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Detect Magic &amp; See Invisible
 Bluff:   55  I'm  totally  with you guys!
 Slight of Hand:  Mod is +25, and the DC to actually  lift  objects from pockets and such is 20. She's just  checking  for hidden weapons. Let me know if you want me to roll checks!
 Spot:   (1d20+27)[ 45 ]  - looking for anything or anyone that looks immediately 'out of place'.
 
Metastachydium
Seeing that the locals are unlikely to pose an immediate threat to any of their trio (or Ereshki, for that matter), or so the others would seem to think, Delja slows down herself. The nixie approaches the puddle from the opposite side, descending on a knee to lean closer – and sniff it, with what appears to be idle curiosity.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Knowledge (local):  (1d20+12)[ 15 ] 
Knowledge (nature):  (1d2014)[ 1035 ]  to see if she knows this as a thing normal, after a fashion, for the place, a natural aboveground hazard/creature/whatever or something like that.
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.    "On the money, outsider,"   says the elf, still straining to keep the older man from slipping further into the pool.   "They are  ooze portals , gates to the Inner Plane where Earth and Water meet."   He pauses as he shifts to recover his grip, then continues.   "They appear about the Hive, every which way and without reason, camouflaged in the filth and a constant threat to those who call the Hive home. Nothing new under the Lady's Eye, of course, but they've been getting much,  much  worse of late. Speaking of which—"   The elf again nearly loses his grip and hastily adjusts himself.

 Myriad.  The two human women are carrying what feel like crude utility knives, things one can barely consider weapons, though no doubt deadly still if drawn sharply against a neck. It is simple enough for the changeling to lightly—imperceptibly so—run delicate fingertips along the folded creases of their ragged tunics to confirm. The elf on the other hand openly carries an ornate sabre at his side, clearly of magical quality and likely no stranger to violence. The patterning on the sabre is cohesive with the elf's clothes, an elaborate thing of red that would not be out of place at a noble's court, a sharp juxtaposition with the relatively poor status of the humans about. A holy symbol hangs around the elf's neck on a delicate thread. Indeed, as Myriad pays closer attention to the elf, it is clear there is a strange radiance about him, eyes that subtly glow and flicker like open flames—the elf is not of the material world, though not obviously so.

Seeing no hidden assailants and turning her eye now upon the dirt pool, Myriad immediately detects a strong magical aura about it.

 Delja Utorak.  Delja has heard rumors of deadly heaps of filth in the Hive—most long-time Cagers would have heard such rumors—but it is rare to get a credible description of them. This is the first she is seeing said ooze portals. The natural sciences scholar in her recognizes this to be a planar matter, well apart from any of the phenomena that would be considered "natural" even in a place as cosmopolitan as the Cage.

She leans close and sniffs the pool. At this juncture one may think to describe the smell, but the less said the better. The changeling must make a DC 20 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1d4 minutes. Also, is... is the pool trying to  touch  her? A thin, near-translucent sliver of ooze just shot towards her face. It is a DC 20 Reflex save to avoid... whatever that is.
Geeksthenewsexy
Eyes jerking up and all thoughts of her activities forgotten, Myriad's excited voice reaches the group mere moments before she herself is standing there, peering down at the anomaly in fascination,   "Ooze  portal , you say? Please, tell me more."  

Casually pulling a mule and fifty feet of rope out of the pouch at her waist, one after the other, she begins tying the rope to the mule, looping it through the saddle and saddlebags it was already equipped with before taking the other end over to the elf and eyeballing him, considering where best to tie the rope.   "Uh...you prefer being tied at the waist, shoulders, or around the chest?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Using 2 charges of her Survival Pouch to produce another mule and a 50' coil of hempen rope.
 
Metastachydium
It's a good thing Delja grew up in a bog; the olfactory assault that hit her must have been far worse otherwise. Still, she begins to recoil, and just in time, too, to notice the moving sludge and weave out of its way for now.   Hm.   she remarks, before appending a slow, thoughtful   Starting with, perhaps, whether it's two-way.   to Myriad's  please tell me more .   I think it just tried to get touchy-feely with me.   she explains, beginning to circle the portal to get a better grasp of the old man's predicament.   Hm. I wonder if a few blocks and tackles would help with that.   she muses on.   I have some on me, somewhere.   Her cloak slowly unfurls into a pair of wings as she speaks.
Biscuit
Azlin walks straight up to one of the guards, never lifting her eyes to his and simply staring at his chest like she was trying to stare a hole through it and flares her wings slightly, the pointed tips of the adamantine feathers flexing to point at him.   "I am here to retrieve the body of Inda of High House Midai."   Snapping the shadow cookie in her pocket loaded with an Arcane Fusion spell infused with Enlarge Person and Heroism, she grows to a heigh that nearly matches the man's, putting her eyes at his level so she can meet his gaze with an emotionless dead-eyed stare, she continues,   "Guide me to her. Failing that, guide me to one you can.  Please ."   Her now much  larger  adamantine wings flex slightly at the word  please , the metallic feathers nearly vibrating as if in anticipation.

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Used my 1 Arcane Fusion shadow cookie. Enlarge Person lasts 22 minutes. Heroism lasts 220 minutes.
Intimidate  (1d20+12)[ 29 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  The humans in distress barely notice the changeling pull out a mule, followed by a large length of rope. The elf, however, looks on with no small amount of amusement at the mule, though he rapidly has to shift his attentions back to the man he is trying to keep from slipping further into the ooze portal.   "Better get the rope around the human's chest, dwarf—my grip's slipping faster than my strength. I'll tell you everything you want to know about the portals after!"  

It is a Use Rope check to fasten the rope around anyone, but if applied to the human in the ooze pool a DC 20 Balance check is needed to avoid major physical contact with the pool. It is additionally a DC 30 Reflex save to avoid the splashing ooze—harmless, judging by how much is covering the elf, but very unsanitary.

 Delja Utorak.  The elf shakes his head.   "Some two-way, others one-way. Can't know till you fall in! Just know they  want  you to fall in, they are almost  alive . Don't get too close!"   The older man continues to flail, his body steadily sinking into the ooze pool. It is all the elf can do to keep him from dropping straight in.

 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The Dustman shrinks back, a look in their— his , Azlin can tell now that she is closer—eyes strangely reminiscent of that of a deer in brush caught by surprise. Still, he wordlessly beckons her to follow, then he keeps a brisk pace through the courtyard, boots sounding against the slate-paved path, a departure from the dirt walkways of the rest of the Hive. Ugly stone statues pass by, leering, looming, gargoyle-like in aesthetic but clearly depictions of humanoids.

The Dustman does not walk far. In fact, he only walks about as far as the other Dustman in the courtyard, with whom he briefly confers in a low voice. Azlin can easily hear that he is simply relaying what she has said. After this, the former Dustman chooses to scurry off towards their dark headquarters, disappearing behind its great black doors.

The other Dustman, a human woman, sighs and says,   "I suppose this is under my purview."   She turns to Azlin.   "Let me be plain: Lady Serua of High House Midai has ordered this Inda's interment. As Lady Serua is the ranking Midai head, it is her right to do so. She has  additionally  warned us of... interlopers... who would try to retrieve Inda's corpse. You are not the one we expected, but perhaps you are an agent or mercenary thereof."   A perceptive gaze glints from under the hood, quickly sweeping Azlin's form.   "Only Factol Skall or Factor Trevant may countenance the release of this Inda's corpse. Factol Skall is however presently attending to business on another world, and will be for a few days, and Factor Trevant has just left for home. Return tomorrow morn and you may speak to the factor, but I guarantee he too will say no. More than this I am not permitted to speak of, as is the right of privacy of Lady Serua and High House Midai."  

From a glance this Dustman is quite different from the other. For one, she is armed with a rapier of obvious quality, with an engraved hilt. For another, she carries what is recognizably a spell component pouch, and a holy symbol (of a wide-open eye in a pentagram) hangs around her neck on a thin thread. Her build is lean and tough, not unlike that of a trained soldier. Still, Azlin gets the hunch that this Dustman is not even close to being a genuine threat; Azlin has seen many like this Dustman before, an experienced adventurer but not much more.
Geeksthenewsexy
Eying the rope and the victim warily, Myriad shrugs.   "I mean...I'd  try ? But...uh...yeah, definitely screw that up. I have more for someone that can do that though, if they wanna try."   Instead of attempting to tie the rope she had secured to the man, as that is definitely not her expertise, she instead ties the rope to  herself , reaching into her pouch to toss another coil of rope on the ground for anyone else to use more effectively, and attempts to grip the man alongside the speaker losing his grip.

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Used the final charge of her Survival Pouch for the day to produce another coil of rope in the hopes someone else can use it.

 Reflex Save vs DC 30 to avoid splatter:   (1d20+24)[ 43 ] 
 Balance Check to avoid contact with pool:   (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
 Use Rope check to just tie herself off without screwing that up:   (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
 Strength/Aid Another check to take some of the strain off the main helper guy, and maybe help unstuck the pool guy:   (1d20+6)[ 18 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar, upon understanding the pool of goo does not pose some sort of sentient danger, sheathes his weapon, grabs the man under the armpits and heaves.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Taking 10 on a Str check: result of 16.
 
Biscuit
Pursing her lips, Azlin stares at the woman for a long minute before replying,   "I have yet to decide whether to raze this building entirely, along with everything and everyone inside and simply summon something to sift through the rubble for me, or to take the time to start breaking the minds of the people within until someone who understands the difference between my  statement of fact  and a  request  is finally wise enough to act in this organization's best interest."    Glancing around to look around at the surrounding room impassively before turning back to the woman, she asks,   "Do  you  have a preference?"  
 
 Spoiler: Rolls 

Intimidation roll, if needed  (1d20+12)[ 31 ] .
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  Myriad has no trouble putting a decent knot about her waist and around the mule with the other end. Then she throws her remaining coil onto the ground. With an exclamation the human girl drops her tangled length and dives for the free rope, and immediately tosses it to the sinking man. The sinking human grabs the rope like a lifeline, and together the human girl and woman pull on the other end.

Myriad steps finely along the boundary of the ooze pool with complete ease, just as readily predicting and avoiding the ooze splatters being flung about. All the while she grabs onto the sinking man and  pulls .

It is now that it is clear just how much force is being applied from the other end of the portal. The elf is not weak, not by a long shot, his muscles are well-defined and mark a seasoned fighter far and away stronger than most humans. The issue is that whatever is pulling from the other side may as well be a draft horse or two, judging by how much force there is. Myriad strains but all she can contribute is to prevent the sinking man from sinking even further.

But help she is nonetheless. The elf exhales with some relief as he repositions for a better grip. Fortunately it seems the combined effort of the elf, the rope the sinking man is holding onto for dear life, and Myriad has more or less halted the unfortunate man's descent into that muck.   "Ma—Many thanks!"   says the elf.

 Ux Utanar.  Ux approaches the pool of ooze to add himself to the fray. He must make the same DC 20 Balance check to avoid major physical contact with the ooze pool, and a DC 30 Reflex save to avoid ooze splatters if he wishes to close the distance.

  "Careful, stranger! If you fall in I don't know if we can save you!"   The elf pales.   "No, no, something's wrong. These ooze portals... this pull is... too much... there is something on the other side, and I think it wants to come through! Brace yourselves!"   (At this juncture the party should take care to place themselves on the  map  in a manner that makes sense for their current actions, but otherwise as they wish, in preparation for what is to come.)

 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  (Check the  map  under the tab  The Hive: The Mortuary . Azlin is on  AF62 .) The Dustman does a double take at the forcefulness of Azlin's words, yet what vestiges of fear there are, are mastered with practiced resolve and no small amount of loyalty to the faction.

The Dustman woman steels herself and her hand drops to the hilt of her sword.   "You have outstayed your welcome. We are not all so weak-willed."   For a brief second her contemptuous gaze glances back at the great doors of the Mortuary, at the spot the other Dustman had quickly vanished from.   "Leave, now, or know that the Dead do not forget and do not forgive."   (If Azlin pursues combat at this juncture, roll initiative. Let me know if you would like me to map out the surrounding regions of the Stone Courtyard and the Mortuary.)
remetagross
  "Alright, this is some serious business out there. Hold on for a few more moments!"   says the dragonborn to the helping crowd. Ux Utanar has taken stock of the danger posed by this seemingly innocuous pond. He steps back and doses himself with his wand of Enlarge Person. He then administers the same to Ereshki with his wand of Animal Growth. He moves behind the two female humans and takes a firm hold on the rope.

  "Ereshki, I need you to come here and, at my signal,  pull ahead ! Delja, someone, can you wrap the rope around her shoulders? It's the strongest part of her body. Everyone, be ready to pull at once at my signal and follow the movement of the bat."   he adds as a general instruction.

The now huge dire bat hops down on the ground in a thundering sound behind her master and waits for his instruction.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Use Magic Device for Enlarge Person: fails on a 1.  (1d20+18)[ 20 ] .
Same for Animal Growth.  (1d20+18)[ 32 ] .
Ux He auto-succeeds on a Handle Animal DC 25 skill check to "push" Ereshki into using the skill trick "Work", that she does not know.

Ereshki has Str 32, so (I'm not sure she's allowed to take 10) can either make a Str check :  (1d20+11)[ 24 ]  with everyone else trying to Aid (DC 10, but given the circumstances I'm not sure taking 10 is allowed, plus I'm not quite sure Aid Another works to help with ability checks, rather than skill checks. If it does, then Ux's roll for Aiding Ereshki:  (1d20+7)[ 9 ]  and I think everyone else shoudl try and use that Aid Another on Ereshki rather than making their own skill checks.

Another option : by being a Huge creature with Str 32, Ereshki can "drag" 41600 lbs of matter, but I don't know how helping her interacts with that.
 
Metastachydium
Delja merely nods at the elf, but, this once, gives Ux Utanar a quick shake of her head.   I think we're past that point, Ux.   she grimaces, letting the glamour disguising her blade fade away.   Get around the wagon and disappear, you two.  Now.    she snaps at the two humans clear of the pool. This promises to be a time for blades, not bare hands.
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Magically enlarged and scrambling over the cart to get in position, Ux finds himself on difficult terrain. The enlarged Ereshki however easily half-hops, half-flies to perch behind the two women, causing the cart to tilt. At this point it suffices for all involved parties to make a Strength check to haul the sinking man out of the ooze pool—if indeed he can hold onto his end of the rope, that is.

 Delja Utorak.  The situation remains stable for the moment, but the nixie notices that a number of the dirt puddles about this street are, very subtly, beginning to ripple. Neither of the human women pay Delja any heed.

  "If we can't rescue the human  right now ,"   says the elf,   "we'll have to deal with whatever nasties are crawling through. Can I trust you to do this while I keep the human from falling all the way through?"  
Geeksthenewsexy
Seeing that she was having little effect except to help delay the seemingly inevitable, Myriad groans as she strains to help hold the man.   "For the love of all the gods, I am  done  with this trumped-up puddle's  bullshyte !"   She growls before slapping her mithril hand onto the ooze and shoving her will into it with gritted teeth.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Attempting to use the Master of Doors class ability of the Silver Key Class: " Master of Doors (Su) : At 10th level, you have reached the pinnacle of a silver key's prowess, this potent ability allows you to  make use of any magic door or  portal  you come across  as though you had the specific ability to do so .  In particular, you can bypass arcane lock spells as though you yourself had cast them, ignore glyphs of warding as though you knew the password (even glyphs that have no password), and bypass the magic of a hold portal as though you could cast knock at will."

Specifically, to either turn the portal  off , emulate an 'authorized user' (and bring the stuck man along) to bring all involved to  her  side of the 'portal'.

If  that  fails, then point-blank Eldritch Blast instead, because she is done with this semi.sentient portal's shenanigans and it needs to know its damn place:  (1d20+20)[ 40 ]  for  (3d6)[ 12 ]  ( Do  Eldritch Blasts crit? Don't know that I've ever actually rolled a 20 to hit with one before, so I dunno!)
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  With a strange, gurgling sound, the ooze portal reacts to Myriad's commands. Very suddenly, as if nothing at all was the matter, the collective force of everyone pulling on the sinking man's rope is for nought as the man is shunted out and thrown to the side unceremoniously. There is a faint glow from the ooze pool at  AH14  (referring both to the dirt pool at that tile and the connected dirt tiles) then the pool is still. Myriad can feel now that her hand is pressed against hard earth under a thin layer of ooze. This portal has been shuttered by her and is now just an ordinary, rank, dirt pool, and Myriad is covered in splotches of... it. Ew.

  "Th-thank you,"   stammers the formerly sinking man, struggling back to his feet. Between gasps he embraces the women tightly.

  "Oh Morninglord,"   breathes the elf.   "I've never seen  that  before. You're a special one, aren't ya, dwarf? But no time to rest on our laurels— your  laurels in particular. Look about,  someone's  not happy."   As he speaks, the rumbling and bubbling from the other ooze pools at  X14 ,  AD12 ,  AI19 ,  AO17 , and  R17  intensifies.   "Let's us protect the civvies, aye?"  

As he speaks, strange, mottled, deep gray hands reach through the active ooze pools and begin pulling themselves out. The creatures that slowly reveal themselves are some sort of small outsider, roughly humanoid yet disturbingly off. Their "skin" rapidly shifts and bubbles like the pools they crawl out of; their maws gape like hagfish, and strange antenna-like stalks grow multiple eyes each—all turning, staring,  alive .

  "Ah,"   says the elf,   "that's... not normal. Less normal than how abnormal it usually is, that is to say. I have a bad, bad feeling about them."  

The ooze outsiders' intents are clear. Roll initiative!
Metastachydium
  Try not to think too hard about it.   Delja appends to the elf's comment on Myrriad as she scans the puddles.   Unless you really like headaches, that is.   But then, Sigil proves to have more things capable of producing such effects in store. Like these…  Things.  The oozing newcomers.   As for bad…   she acknowledges the elf's worries.   We'll see how bad it can get. At least it's something we can stab.   she grimaces, dryly, as she turns to measure up the closest one.   Anyone no good at that,   she throws over her shoulder to the humans.   please be happy somewhere else.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Initiative:  (1d20+14)[ 25 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Dagger appearing in her hand as if it had always been there, Myriad yanks the knot she'd tied around herself apart to free her from the mule she'd summoned and dashed around the ponies, slapping the mule's behind as she passes it, attempting to keep it from getting in the way of combat, while also  hopefully  being a decent distraction  away  form the group.   "Giddy-up, Magical Mule Number 3!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Handle Animal (Giddy-up!):   (1d20+11)[ 27 ] 
 Initiative:   (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  170/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
 Spoiler: Automatic Search Check 
If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
 Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 56 ] 
 

 
Biscuit
Nodding thoughtfully, Azlin shrugs.   "Well, if that is the stance you would like to take, then that is your right, I suppose."   Carefully pulling back her sleeves and flexing her fingers, she continues conversationally,   "So, in your professional opinion, would a single iron golem need more than twenty minutes to slaughter the people in this compound? If not, I'm afraid I'll have to use the celestial dire lions. I don't really want to waste more than a single 'Ninth' on this triviality tonight if I don't have to, and while I prefer the iron golem because of its efficiency, it only lasts a little over twenty minutes, but the lions last a bit over three hours."   Shrugging, her wings unfold and their adamantine feathers bristle and vibrate as they point at the woman.   "So, should I summon the iron golem, or the celestial lions? It is you and your people's demise, so really it is only fair to offer you the choice."  
 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

For the purpose of Sense Motive, truth detection, or otherwise, she is  not  bluffing. Her  intent  is to either cast the Summon Golem spell (1 Iron Golem - 22 Minute Duration), or burn a 9th heightened Silent Image to Shadow Illusion the 8th level spell Fierce Pride of the Beastlands (2d4 Celestial Lions immediately &amp; 1d4 Celestial Dire Lions 10 minutes after initial casting - 220 Minute Duration). Either way, she plans to set the result loose in the compound to 'chase everyone away', but 'self-defense' any outright attackers to death, and then start strolling around to find where they keep bodies.
 
remetagross
  "What's all that?"   says Ux Utanar while seeing his comrades readying themselves. Only after a few seconds does he notice the presence of the vaguely threatening creatures.

He unsheathes his lance from his back and turns from one to the other in turn.

  "Creatures, I don't know if you understand Common, and if you're hostile or not, but know that all sentient lifeforms in this area are currently under my watch. You will have to deal with me first."  
He repeats the same sentence in Draconic, just in case. Meanwhile, Ereshki takes off and starts circling around the street in the air.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Once his initiative is up, Ux Utanar issues the Test of Mettle to all the outsiders within 100ft provided they have an Int score of at least 5, can hear him, are not immune to mind-affecting effects and understand either Common or Draconic. They'll have to make a DC 37 Will save else they have to attack Ux, until they are attacked by someone else.
 
chaincomplex
 Azlin Chitramaya.    "Thrice-damned  primes ,"   says the Dustman with a sneer.   "Guardians, trouble!"   As the Dustman finishes her call, the statues at  AC62 ,  AI62 ,  AC67 ,  AI67 , and  AM64 , large ugly stone things in roughly humanoid form (with few enough distinguishing features that one cannot tell even  which  species of humanoids they would be), come to life with rough, shuddering movements, shaking the ground and kicking dust up in the air. Their eyes are lifeless, but even in this dark one could hardly miss the poorly cleaned, dried blood staining their fists.

From behind the monolithic facade of the Mortuary, Azlin can hear a muffled alarm bell ring. Roll initiative.

 ──────────── 
 The Hive: Streets.  In the dark of the rough alleys of the Hive, an otherworldly battle is commencing.

 Outsider 5.  The creature, almost lazily in manner, lopes from  AO17  to  AL14 , then with a sudden burst of viciousness, lashes out at Myriad's third summoned mule with an odd flesh-ooze tentacle that seems to spring out of its own body. It strikes with a strange, unerring precision, and with speed and force that would punch right through steel plate.

The mule's stomach is cut open and its internal organs spill out. The pitiful thing lies upon the floor, struggling to breathe. The outsider sets itself down by the mule and its tentacles begin to explore the mule's internals through the open wound, in a manner that is alien and difficult to describe but somehow reminiscent of  feeding .

But even as the outsider begins to "feed", the mule suddenly vanishes in a puff of light and magic. The outsider makes a noise one can only describe as  alien screaming .

 Outsider 3.  This one executes a similar attack against Myriad. Myriad is fast, but so is the outsider, and Myriad is struck. Myriad takes 20 bludgeoning damage. At the same time it attempts to wrap its tentacle around Myriad, but is relatively clumsy in its attempt. Still being in physical contact Myriad can tell that the tentacle—and the creature by extension—is  unreasonably ,  unphysically  strong for its size. In fact, there have probably been  giants  who would struggle to put out force per square inch on par with what this creature can do.

Myriad must make an opposed grapple check of at least 15 to avoid being grappled.

 Elf.    "This is, ah, completely new to me,"   says the elf, wide-eyed.   " Dismissal ."   He waves and gestures at Outsider 5. With a  pop  the air around the outsider seems to fold in on itself, and it vanishes, leaving only an echo of its momentary screech of alarm.   "Phew, one down! The Lady seems to be on our side!"  
 Noncombatant NPCs.  The humans, frightened, run into the alley to the north for shelter. Their ponies attempt to run east in alarm, dragging the empty cart with them and potentially knocking Ux and Ereshki, both of whom are occupying terrain directly over with the cart, to the ground.

Ux and Ereshki must make Reflex saves (DC 13) to avoid being knocked prone.

 Outsider 2.  Moves from  X14  to  AB14  and attacks Ux. (For this we will assume Ux is not prone yet.) As with the others it strikes with unreasonable precision, speed, and power, its tentacles crashing into Ux. Still, Ux manages to avoid the worst of it. It deals 18 bludgeoning damage.

The tentacle attempts to wrap Ux, but it has a bad angle for it. Ux must make an opposed grapple check and only beat 13 to avoid the grapple. (Ux may resolve this before he is knocked prone.)

 ──────────── 
 Ux Utanar.  Ux's challenge in Common, curiously, seems to reach the alien outsiders. Their eye stalks twitch and turn to the dragonborn. Their gaping maws begin "drooling" with some foul mixture of ooze and what might be pus. There is no misreading their intentions—Ux's challenge worked on all the remaining outsiders.

 Turn Order.  Outsider 5 → Outsider 3 → Elf → Noncombatant NPCs → Outsider 2 → PCs' Block → Outsider 4 → Outsider 1 ↺
Metastachydium
Delja nods at the elf – a job well done, with the dismissal that was – and quickly assesses the situation. Relieving Myriad would normally be first priority, but Ux Utanar is already on that. All she needs to do is keep  his  life easy.   Sorry, Ux.   she states in a deadpan that sounds anything but apologetic.   This one's busy.   she looks at the thing in the alley just ahead of her,  jumping  it the same moment, her blade flashing, striking, again and again.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift action Sudden Leap to AI 18; Jump:  (1d20+17)[ 25 ] ; Tumble:  (1d20+27)[ 46 ] ;
Full-attack, defensively with Dodge (for AC 72, T 63) on O4:
 (1d20+26)[ 37 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical piercing and  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 3 ]  force;
 (1d20+21)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  magical piercing and  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force;
 (1d20+16)[ 28 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 24 ]  magical piercing and  (1d6)[ 4 ]  precision,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force;
 (1d20+11)[ 19 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 22 ]  magical piercing and  (1d6)[ 1 ]  precision,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  cold and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force.
 
remetagross
  "It's alright, Delja"   answers the dragonborn while still keeping the creature right in front of him in plain view. After a flash, his Retributive Amulet has sent back some amount of pain right to it.
  "Ereshki, come here!"  

The massive animal swoops down right behind Ux Utanar and the dragonborn expertly swings on his saddle by grabbing the reins and jumping at the exact right moment. Perched atop his mount, he then makes a clicking sound with his tongue, and his shield floats away from his back to interpose itself between him and the nearest thing. From there, Ux Utanar warily considers the outsider standing right before him, but also the one right next to Myriad.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

9 bludgeoning damage is turned back at O2 from the Retributive Amulet.
Ereshki: move action to fly down to ground level.
Ux Utanar: auto-success on a DC 20 Ride check for a fast mount, which is a free action. I've read somewhere that free actions do not trigger attacks of opportunity, promise 😁
Standard action to activate the Animated Shield.
Outsider O2 is designated for the Shield Block class feature, so that against it, Ux's AC rises from 32 to 35.
In case Ereshki is attacked next round, Ux Utanar will use his immediate action for the Improved Shield ally class feature next round, to absorb all phyiscal damage for 1 attack, and then half physical damage for all subsequent attacks.
In case either O2 or O3 moves in a regular manner, then they trigger an AoO from Ux Utanar who will try to stop them in their tracks with the Standstill feat (but he has only one AoO for the round, so not on both in case they both move). Attack roll:  (1d20+27)[ 37 ] , damage roll:  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] . The ref save imposed by the Standstill feat to not lose the move action is 10+damage.
Also, they both are in difficult terrain and have -20 to Tumble checks as long as they remain in the threatened area by Ux (which is a 20ft radius around his position).
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Letting out a yip of pain at being struck, Myriad starts bobbing and weaving, attempting to keep away from the flailing tentacle trying to grab her, flicking her dagger in a flurry of counterattacks.   " Oi ! I do  not  want to go into all the reasons that I do  not  like tentacles, you damned  pervert !"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Anti-Grapple Check:   (1d20+22)[ 23 ]  (Assuming it has Improved Grapple or equivalent, so not rolling an Attack of Opportunity)
 Free Action  Feint (Bluff) -   55   (-4 if non-humanoid &amp; -8 if it is only of animal intelligence)
 Full Round Action  
 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying  (1d20+27)[ 45 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric if 'living' 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying  (1d20+22)[ 29 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric if 'living' 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying  (1d20+17)[ 31 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric if 'living' 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying  (1d20+12)[ 24 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric if 'living' 
  Sneak Attack Damage:   (8d6)[ 24 ]  - Applied on the first successful hit (if any), only if her auto-feint is successful. 
 

Myriad is Healed for the total of any Vampiric damage done.

   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  150/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Delja's attacks have trouble getting through the creature's natural armor. Flat-footed as it is, and even if it had acted first, Delja has no trouble literally  connecting  her strikes, but there is no way to describe the feeling that follows other than trying to stab a supernaturally dense block of oatmeal crossed with the toughest muscle and sinew known to the planes. Her blade does not even penetrate its skin.

 Ux Utanar.  The retributive energy washes over the strange outsider and it makes an alien screaming noise.

 Myriad.  By any measure the flurry of strikes Myriad unleashed would be masterful in precision and power. Yet her experience is much the same as Delja. There was no difficulty  connecting  with the alien outsiders, the problem was its obscenely unnatural natural armor. Her first strike felt like it  almost  got through, but all the same it fails to deliver its vampiric powers.

 ──────────── 
 Outsider 4.  Attacks Delja with a tentacle rake. As before, its speed and force are unreal, but Delja still manages to dodge the attack.

 Outsider 1.  Moves from  R17  to  AC16 . For the first time the party witnesses the absurd speed of the creatures, dashing across the dark avenue like a loosed arrow. It attacks Ux with a tentacle rake. Ux is hit. It attempts to grapple, and its hold is good—Ux has to beat a grapple check of 25 to break it. From this close he can see the insides of the tentacle are lined with horrid little lamprey-like mouths. It is probably a really bad idea to get grappled.

 Outsider 3.  Moves from  AD12  to  AD13  to attack Ux, provoking an attack of opportunity from Myriad. It hits with a tentacle rake. Again Ux has to beat a grapple check of 19 to avoid being grappled.

 Elf.    "Let's try that again!"   he cries.   " Dismissal !"   The air around Outsider 2 seems to waver, then suddenly it collapses upon the creature. With a terrifying cry the outsider is shunt out of this world, an empty space left where it once stood.   "Bringer of Dawn, let my luck hold for at  least  the next minute, I ask thee!"  
 Noncombatant NPCs.  They huddle in fear in the dark alley, unmoving, but suddenly the youngest yells,   "Dabus!"   Following her pointed finger, the party spots a gaunt, floating figure hover in at  AY15 . It is still, simply observing. In the dark and with this distance it is hard to make out its features, even for those with darkvision like Delja. But there was no mistaking its body language—its attention is fixated on the strange outsiders, body turning to follow their erratic movements.

 Turn Order.  Outsider 3 → Elf → Noncombatant NPCs → PCs' Block → Outsider 4 → Outsider 1 ↺
Metastachydium
  Huh.   Delja frowns at her own, raised blade for a moment.   This tends to work far better.   she comments, concentrating at the balde for a moment, raising a finger of her left as if to politely ask the slime thing to please stay put for a heartbeat there. The consistency of her blade begins to shift, and finally it solidifies once more,  changed . Harder.   Would you care to do something reckless?   she then inquires, eager to test if something changed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Standard action change the blade to adamantine;
D. remains defensive, for AC 72, T 62.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Flicking her dagger out as the monster turns away from her to attack Ux, she turns, pleased to now be flanking the creature before feinting and stabbing at it again in rapid succession as she calls out to her friends,   "Guys, we  really  need to sell out loot and buy new weapons. This place has  entirely  too much stuff that ignores my dagger, and I  do not appreciate it ."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 AoO:  +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying attack  (1d20+27)[ 43 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 11 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 1 ]  Vampiric if 'living'
 Move Action  None
 Free Action  Feint (Bluff) -   55   (-4 if non-humanoid &amp; -8 if it is only of animal intelligence)
 Full Round Action   
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying flanking attack  (1d20+29)[ 33 ]  (Target is denied Dex to AC for this attack is feint is successful) for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric if 'living'  +  (8d6)[ 23 ]  Sneak Attack Damage (Flanking) 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying flanking attack  (1d20+24)[ 27 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 12 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric if 'living' +  (8d6)[ 21 ]  Sneak Attack Damage (Flanking) 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying flanking attack  (1d20+19)[ 22 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 5 ]  Vampiric if 'living' +  (8d6)[ 21 ]  Sneak Attack Damage (Flanking) 
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying flanking attack  (1d20+14)[ 18 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 13 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 2 ]  Vampiric if 'living' +  (8d6)[ 31 ]  Sneak Attack Damage (Flanking) 
 
Myriad is Healed for the total of any Vampiric damage done.

   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  150/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is flabbergasted to see not even one of their attacks has hit true. That elf, however, he seems to have gotten how to do it. Without moving, his Ring of Freedom of Movement allows him to effortlessly slip free of the various tentacles'grasp. Turning to the northernmost clay monster, Ux Utanar then decides another mode of combat is in order. He opens his jaw as wide as he can, rears back his head, and lets out a jet of acidic slime. Strands of greenish goo wrap themselves around the nimble members of the outsider. After this, he roars at the monsters.
  "You will suffer all the same fate if you don't cease the fight !"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Standard action: Entangling breath weapon line of acid on O3. It takes  (7d6)[ 25 ] , divided by 2, acid damage. Ref save DC 30 for further half damage. Even if the creature is immune, it is entangled for  (1d4)[ 3 ]  rounds and takes  (1d6)[ 2 ]  points of acid damage at the start of each of these rounds.

Ux must wait  (1d4)[ 3 ]  rounds of cooldown.

Swift action : Daunting Challenge. The outsiders must make a DC 37 Will save or be shaken for 17 rounds (if not immune of course).
 
Biscuit
  "Hhmm...the hard way it is, then. What a terribly poor choice on your part,"   Azlin sighs, her adamantine wings fanning out in an aggressive manner as if to take flight, even as she stands calmly among the growing pandemonium.   I should really stop trying to solve my problems through diplomacy  , she thought to herself with some faint tinge of regret.   I'm  really  bad at it.   Magic surges through her body with a single word and flick of her off hand even as she repositions them to begin casting a more complex spell. Half the damage of her spells are Force damage (Level 6 Planar Sorcerer substitution level)

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Immediate action to cast Nerveskitter to get +5 on her initiative roll.
Initative  (1d20+11)[ 13 ] 

If she wins initiative, she'll hover just off the ground with her wings and cast Greater Arcane Fusion to simultaneously cast a Shadow Illusion of Shatterfloor (Allows Spell Resistance &amp; Reflex for 1/2) with a 15ft radius &amp; Mudslide (does  not  allow for Spell Resistance, but Reflex for 1/2) with a 40ft radius- both DC 35 &amp; CL 22. Radius of both start in Azlin's square. As the product of an 8th level spell, both illusions are 120% 'real'.

 
 Spoiler: Shatterfloor 
Creatures and objects in the area take 1d4 points of sonic damage per caster level (maximum 10d4), and can make a saving throw to take half damage. If the floor of the area is made of stone, wood, ice, or material with hardness less than those, the floor is pulverized, resulting in an area of difficult terrain composed of soft dust, wood fragments, or loose crushed ice, as appropriate.

 (10d4)[ 20 ]  Sonic/Force damage (+20%) on a failed Reflex Save (DC 35).
CL to overcome for Spell Resistance is
 

 
 Spoiler: Mudslide 
You create a landslide of mud and water, which crushes, buries, and mires those caught in its path.
The mud covers the area of the spell to a depth of about 10 feet (although it might fill low-lying areas or fail to cover high points in the area, at the DM's discretion).
Creatures within the spell's effect must make a Reflex save.
Those who fail take 8d6 points of damage and are buried (see Avalanches on page 90 of the Dungeon Master's Guide).
Those who succeed take 3d6 points of damage and are not buried.
Creatures of the fire subtype who are actually aflame (such as salamanders, azers, and fire elementals) instead take 8d8 or 3d8 points of damage, respectively.
A creature who escapes burial ends up on top of the mudslide, mired in deep mud.
After the initial slide, the mudslide persists indefinitely, producing an area of deep bog (average depth 10 feet) until the water in it evaporates.
It requires 4 squares of movement to enter 1 square of deep bog, and running or charging are impossible in the area.
Underwater, the mudslide remains indefinitely, producing an area of deep muck.
It costs 2 squares of movement to enter a square containing deep muck, the DC of Balance and Tumble checks increases by 5, and the DC of Move Silently checks increases by 2.
Aboveground, the mud normally dries out in 2 to 3 days.
A transmute mud to rock spell hardens the slide into stone, trapping any creatures still within.

 (8d6)[ 37 ]  Physical/Force damage (+20%) on a failed Reflex Save (DC 35) &amp; affected creatures are buried.
 (3d6)[ 14 ]  Physical/Force (+20%) on a successful Reflex Save (DC 35) &amp; affected creatures are not buried.
 


With Good maneuverability, her adamantine wings spell allows her to hover.

   Azlin Chitramaya   
Female C/N Rock Gnome Sorcerer 6 / Shadowcrafter 9 / Shadowcraft Mage 5,  Level  29,  Init  6,  HP  180/180,  DR  2/Adamantine,  Speed  20' Land &amp; 60' Fly (Good)
 AC  27,  Touch  21,  Flat-footed  21,  Fort  22,  Ref  20,  Will  32,  Base Attack Bonus  +10/+5
 (Spell) Adamantine Wings   +13/+6 (2d6, 20x2)
 (Shadow Illusion Spell) Greater Mage Armor  (+6 Armor, +6 Dex, +5 Deflect)
 Abilities  Str 16, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 34
 Condition  Shadow Cloak - 40% Miss Chance, Enlarge Person, Heroism
 
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  The changeling is a deadly, whirling tornado of steel, yet she feels as if she is cutting through hardening clay putty every time she strikes the creatures, both in consistency and in how much they seemed to care about the attacks. That the vampiric power of her blades is not even being delivered—something Myriad can readily  feel —suggests she has not yet managed to punch through their natural armor.

None of her attacks hit. Or rather, they do hit—it's not like the creatures are particularly good at dodging—but they do not  hit .

 Ux Utanar.  The burst of caustic acid catches the outsider. It is fairly dexterous, but its reflexes are unhoned, wild, and it is not nearly sharp enough to dodge Ux's beam. Outsider 3 is sprayed with a fairly large glob and glued to the ground. It emits an unearthly scream, something eerie like a wild beast attempting poorly to imitate a human child, as its "flesh" begins to melt with encouraging rapidity. The strange, thickened substance that makes up the outsiders' skin that the party was having trouble cutting through, is melting like butter over a fire. Not nearly enough to kill, but judging by how much of the outsider is being reduced to goop at this moment, one or two more good hits will reduce  all  of it to just another nasty puddle on the streets of the Hive.

The line of acid also impacts the house behind the creature, and there is sizzling as the crumbing masonry slowly dissolves. Globs of what was once

Curiously, Ux's daunting challenge seems to get their attention. Despite their lack of any communication or tactics evincing higher cognition, they show a strange awareness of what is being  said . Outsider 3 and Outsider 4 are shaken.

 ──────────── 
 Outsider 4.  Its multiple stalked eyes focus in on the elf, recognizing the slender humanoid for the threat he poses to their present assault. Growing bored of Delja, it lopes around the nixie carelessly—moving from  AI19  to  AG14  and provoking an attack of opportunity—but still with unnatural speed, bringing it right up to the side of the elf in the blink of an eye. It strikes the elf with a tentacle rake and the elf yelps in alarm. After a brief struggle the elf barely manages to kick the grapple attempt off, but with it the tentacle takes off a solid chunk of flesh from the elf's side. Its tentacles almost look like they are  eating  the flesh that just came off, it is hard to otherwise describe the uncomfortable, undulating motion with which they hold the flesh.

The elf cries out in pain as blood gushes from his brutal wound.

 Outsider 1.  Not staggered by Ux's daunting challenge, the outsider strikes again at the dragonborn, its absurdly powerful tentacles punching right through his dragonscale husk and wounding for 20 bludgeoning damage, drawing blood. A wave of retributive energy washes over it and it screeches as it is injured. It attempts to grapple Ux but fortunately, with his  freedom of movement  effect, the tentacle slides right off as if blocked by a magical force.

 Outsider 3.  Partly melted, and all the more uglier for it, the creature screams and lashes at Ux with tentacles. Its movements are slightly less coordinated than before, but the same unnatural power animating them still guides them to their target. Fortunately, also being entangled, it fails to strike with enough force to punch through Ux's dragonscale husk. Ux could still  feel  it, and how close it was to penetrating and wounding, but it was not a clean hit and just bounces off.

 Elf.  In great pain, he whips around and points to Outsider 4.   " D-dismissal !"   The air around the creature warps and bends—but the creature seems to pause and focus for a moment, and then it stabilizes. It remains and... is it grinning? Hard to tell what with its lamprey-like "mouth". The elf swears.   "G-guess I used up a-all my lu-luck."  
 Noncombatant NPCs.  The humans in the alley look on with terror as the elf is injured. In the meantime, the dark, gaunt hovering figure at the far end of the street is impassive, merely observing.

 Turn Order.  Outsider 3 → Elf → Noncombatant NPCs → PCs' Block → Outsider 4 → Outsider 1 ↺

 ──────────── 
 Dustman.  The robed woman moves with practiced speed and power—she is no mere clerk. She is faster than Azlin, but of these fast types, the rock gnome has seen far more dangerous sorts. An experienced adventurer, but again, not nearly of a caliber that would be a threat to Azlin short of a lucky hit.

But a lucky hit, or two, is a threat right now. The Dustman steps from  AG60  to  AG61 . The Dustman surges forward silently, hand suddenly wreathed in icy power, to touch Azlin. The Dustman is both fast and accurate, and reaches right through Azlin's cloak of shadows. A deep cold hits Azlin, chilling the rock gnome to the core, fat and muscle and bone freezing on the spot. Azlin immediately recognizes the spell as  shivering touch . She takes 11 Dexterity damage.

Without a moment's pause the Dustman transitions with incredible speed to a second spell. Without verbal or somatic components to witness Azlin cannot guess the spell by watching the casting, but the moment she is hit by it she recognizes it as the arcane spell  rebuke  instantly. Azlin must succeed on a DC 15 Will save to avoid its effects (dazed first round, shaken rest). It is an enchantment (compulsion, fear, mind-affecting) effect.

 
 Spoiler: If Azlin saves or otherwise avoids the effect... 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The rock gnome takes off into the night sky and out of reach of the statues. Her illusory  shatterfloor  reverberates through the stone courtyard powerfully. The path beneath is cavitated to dust, causing Statue 1 and Statue 2 to stumble. Statue 1 in particular just falls prone. They do not get damaged by the magic however, the sonic power simply washing over their surface.

The Dustman is hit particularly hard. She doubles over from the force and screams in pain, even as she stumbles from the floor under her shifting.

But the second fused spell comes out immediately after. The cavitated hole begins to shift, tremble, and hard mud surges out of nowhere to  swallow  its victims. In an instant, Statue 1 disappears beneath the depths, and so too does the Dustman, her screaming quickly cut short as she vanishes under the torrent. Statue 2 in a stroke of luck manages to leap aside the falling mud mid-stumble, but Statue 3, Statue 4, and Statue 5 are all swallowed by the mud, unable to move, the force of the mudslide chipping away at their hardened rock skin and causing cracks to web.

There is now a 10 ft. pile of mud obscuring the entrance to the Dustmen's headquarters. The Dustman woman, and the four large statues, are nowhere to be seen. Amusingly Statue 5 is still visible given its huge size, its damaged head poking out of the mud, struggling but failing to move at present.

Combat is effectively over so there is no need for a turn order. The  map  marks the buried area in orange. Note the doors obscured by the mud are inaccessible by direct, physical approach.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar is oblivious to the silent, hovering figure next to them but he is not to the fact his attack landed true. With a roar of triumph, he screams at Delja and Myriad:
  "They fear acid! Unleash everything you've got!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I'll actually post my actions tomorrow, but O3 takes 2 acid damage from the lingering effect.
 
Metastachydium
  Lovely to know.   Delja nods at Ux Utanar's back, making a quick mental count of  all she's got  within easy reach. 5 flasks and that corrosive bow she can't use unless she ditches the sword. Hm.   But first…   she adds with a grimace, as she remembers a little embarrassing something. Where did she spend the last decade again? Under a  rock ? It's so simple.

She can fight…  Aggressively.  Her wings spreading, she springs forward, weapon at the ready.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I literally forgot she can increase her to-hit by  9 points , under the current circumstances. D. flying charges O4 finishing her movement over the puddle at AH14:  (1d20+35)[ 48 ]  (+2 charge, +2 for flanking, +1 for high ground, if applicable) for  (1d6+20)[ 21 ]  adamantine magical piercing and  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force,  (1d6)[ 5 ]  cold plus  (1d6)[ 5 ]  precision. Her AC goes down to 61, T 52.
 
Biscuit
Pulling the magic of shadows into herself, Azlin lets go of one of the Heightened Silent Image spells she had prepared as a ninth level spell, bending the magic into a Extended spell of Superior Invisibility. Now invisible, she glances at the statue mostly submerged in the mud and gets an idea. Taking a moment to make good on her earlier promise, she uses a real ninth level spell to summon an Iron Golem directly past the edge of the mudslinde's effect.   "Break down every door and window of this building while avoiding stepping on this mud. When attacked or interrupted, defend yourself with minimum necessary force until the attacks or disruptions stop. Be as loud as possible,"   she commands it with a deadpan emotionless tone.

Satisfied that it would cause a sufficient distraction, she takes to the sky to circle the building starting high and flying wide to find an alternate way inside.   They always choose the hard way. I wonder why that is? So foolish...   With the golem causing a racket and poking holes in the building, it should be easy to circle back and enter that way if she finds nothing else easily accessible.

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Both the Shivering Touch spell and the Rebuke spell would be affected by Azlin's Cowl of Warding, which automatically reflects 6 levels worth of spells per day as if affected by the Spell Turning spell. Shivering Touch is level three and Rebuke is level 2, the caster would be affected by both of her own spells. The cowl was the reason she didn't bother putting up her magic other defenses. It can still reflect 1 level worth of spells for the day. Muahaha.

 Extended Superior Invisibility  Duration 52 minutes. Renders the recipient immune to detection by see invisibility, faerie fire, glitterdust, invisibility purge, and dust of appearance, although creatures under the effects of the spell can be detected by true seeing.

 Summon Golem  Duration 22 Minutes. Stats of an  Iron Golem 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar watches Delja springing into action right next to him...and his sight then catches on the poor elf being eaten alive by the mud creature.
  "NO!  " he screams.   "Ereshki, this way! Then, on the cart!"  
With a pressure from the knees, the dire bat screeches loudly and makes a swift hop through the air, crushing the cart even more under their combined weight. From here, Ux Utanar reaches out with his enormous gauntleted fist to sweep away the legs of the creature before him. All the while, he warily maneuvers his floating shield to block off any new tentacled attempt at devouring the elf.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Ux Utanar guides Ereshki as a free action.
Ereshki takes the Retreat action to move carefully away from her current spot to AD15-AF17. This way she denies an AoO from O3. From here on, she moves right on top of the cart. This allows an AoO from O1 and O4, but I think O1 is still compelled to attacking no one else than Ux Utanar. Here is an opposed Grapple check from her in case O4 lands a tentacle:  (1d20+28)[ 30 ] . Even if the grapple lands, Ereshki has enough carrying capacity to fly away anyhow, pulling the dangling creature under her 😁.
Ux Utanar makes a full-round attack, trying to trip O4. And with Power Attack at -5, for good measure. In case he still has remaining iterative attacks after having succeeded, he'll roll regular melee attacks hoping for a natural 20 to-hit 😁
1st attempt: AoO from O4, then melee touch attack  (1d20+21)[ 26 ]  including a +1 from superior position, then trip check:  (1d20+10)[ 14 ]  which includes a +4 size modifier.
2nd attempt: AoO from O4, then melee touch attack  (1d20+16)[ 21 ]  including a +1 from superior position, then trip check:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ]  which includes a +4 size modifier.
3rd attempt: AoO from O4, then melee touch attack  (1d20+11)[ 13 ]  including a +1 from superior position, then trip check:  (1d20+10)[ 30 ]  which includes a +4 size modifier.
4th attempt: AoO from O4, then melee touch attack  (1d20+6)[ 12 ]  including a +1 from superior position, then trip check:  (1d20+10)[ 21 ]  which includes a +4 size modifier.

In case some iterative attacks remain: Ux Utanar will spike the creature with his lance.
2nd iterative attack, Attack roll:  (1d20+17)[ 29 ] , damage roll:  (2d6+20)[ 31 ] . If by miracle this hits, then Ux Utanar uses a swift action to trigger Suddden Stunning and ask for a DC 31 Will save against stunning.
3rd iterative attack, Attack roll:  (1d20+12)[ 27 ] , damage roll:  (2d6+20)[ 29 ] . If by miracle this hits, then Ux Utanar uses a swift action to trigger Suddden Stunning and ask for a DC 31 Will save against stunning.
4th iterative attack, Attack roll:  (1d20+7)[ 22 ] , damage roll:  (2d6+20)[ 27 ] . If by miracle this hits, then Ux Utanar uses a swift action to trigger Suddden Stunning and ask for a DC 31 Will save against stunning.

Ux Utanar will use his next turn's immediate action for Improved Shield Ally on the elf (since they are now adjacent), entirely absorbing the first melee attack against him and absorbing half of the damage of all subsequent melee attacks.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Taking a free shot at the enemy that leaves itself open, Myriad watches her dagger do about what she expected - just about  nothing . Darting away from her current position to slide in beside the elf to better shield the cowering humans, Myriad feints the target Delja and the elf are fighting in order to distract it before whipping a potion of Cure Light Wounds out of her haversack and shoving it at the Elf,   "Healing potion - drink it!"   Turning her head towards Delja she continues,   "My dagger is as useful as a toothpick at a damned pudding-eating festival! Best I can do is distract it, unless you want me to play a freaking  ballad  or something!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 AoO:  +4 Steel (True Death) Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying attack  (1d20+27)[ 36 ]  for  (1d4+10)[ 14 ]  Magical Piercing +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  Vampiric if 'living'
 Move Action  move from AE12 to AG13 allowing an AoO from target O3, in order to get between the NPCs and the baddies.
 Free Action  (Flanked) Feint (Bluff) -   57   (-4 if non-humanoid &amp; -8 if it is only of animal intelligence) on target 04
 2nd Move Action  Retrieve a potion of Cure Light Wounds, holding it out for the Elf to take.

Target 04 is now flanked &amp; (possibly) feinted. The elf can use a free action to accept the offered potion.


   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  150/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie makes her attack of opportunity against Outsider 4, but again finds the creatures' natural armor nigh impenetrable. It was a good attack too, to the civilians huddled in the alley it would have looked like a meteoric blur, such was Delja's skill. And were the creatures not so terrifying to them, they might even have found it comical how the outsiders' insubstantial-looking skin stops the blade in such a physically improbable manner.

But when Delja follows up with an aerial charge against Outsider 4, she finally lands a proper, good hit. The blade pushes through—barely but cleanly—whatever alien nonsense makes up the outer skin of these creatures, and hits something with a far more vulnerable consistency, something that would probably be an organ if these outsiders' anatomies followed the rules of the Prime. The creatures still had some hardness of a sort even deep within their flesh, but Delja's magical sword cuts through it like a hot knife through butter.

The outsider's lamprey mouth makes a shape one might even describe as surprise, if any true emotion could be associated with whatever they feel inside the alien head of theirs. It pulls itself off the nixie's blade weakly, unable to make a sound—perhaps due to its injuries—and stumbles. It looks like one more good hit from anything will take it out for good.

 Ereshki.  Ereshki provokes attack of opportunities from both Outsider 1 and Outsider 4 in the form of two tentacle rakes. Both hit, dealing 18 and 25 bludgeoning damage respectively. In addition, there are two grapple attempts, and Ereshki must beat 28 and 24 respectively to avoid being grappled by the creatures' disgusting tentacles.

 Ux Utanar.  Ux attempts to trip Outsider 4, who thankfully is not agile enough to retaliate after being imbalanced from its raking Ereshki. He connects his first attempt, but the outsider has strength enough to push back the trip attempt. It is not lost on Ux how absurdly strong these creatures are, their tentacles easily twice as strong as Ux can despite their small size. Ux then connects his second attempt, this time leveraging his size advantage over the outsider. Outsider 4 loses its balance and hits the ground, hard—the second trip attempt is successful.

Of Ux's remaining two attacks, neither hit. Or to be more precise, he easily hits the creature with his lance with enough force to dent plate armor, but the thing he is hitting is just so sinewy and tough his blows just deflect into the dirt, leaving sizable impressions.

 Myriad.  The changeling feints and—noticing a telltale glimmer of intelligence, however small, in Outsider 4's overly many eyes—successfully gets Outsider 4 to preemptively react against a blow that is not coming. In this case, the outsider exposes itself on the dirt where it has fallen by its overactive reflexes. In this state it is—judging by the force Delja needed to land a good hit—much easier to line up a blow powerful enough to punch through its natural armor.

 ──────────── 
 Outsider 4.  Scrambles to its feet, immediately provoking an attack of opportunity from  everyone  in the party. Barely needed, as it happens, for Myriad's prepared strike finds its way through the outsider's alien skin. The blade punches past the unnaturally tough sinew and reaches the—well, still pretty tough, but not tough enough—organs or whatever horrid physiology lies beneath. Myriad's blade catches a little, but the damage is done. Outsider 4 was already on the cusp of death. It collapses in a heap, dark, vile ooze seeping out of the two deep lacerations it suffered. It quivers a little—it lives yet, but it is no longer conscious.

The vampiric energies in Myriad's blade heals her, confirming the injury she just dealt.

But perhaps an extra step is needed to guarantee the kill, as even while the party watches on, the lacerations on the outsider slowly—very slowly—stabilize, edges knitting together.

 Outsider 1.  Moves from  AC16  to  AF14  at breakneck pace and makes a tentacle rake attack against Myriad. It hits, and deals 19 bludgeoning damage. Additionally it makes a grapple attempt as the tentacles attempt to wrap Myriad. Myriad has to beat a grapple check of 14 to avoid.

 Outsider 3.  Moves from  AC13  to  AF13  and makes a tentacle rake attack against Myriad. It hits, and deals 25 bludgeoning damage. Additionally it makes a grapple attempt as the tentacles attempt to wrap Myriad. Myriad has to beat a grapple check of 27 to avoid.

Outsider 3 takes 2 additional acid damage from the residual effects of Ux's acid breath.

 Elf.  He gratefully accepts Myriad's proffered healing potion and downs it in a gulp. The healing effect is... minor, barely noticeable, though perhaps it is sufficient that the bleeding seems to have stopped. Still, the elf remains deeply wounded, and some bone from the lower rib is even visible now that it is not obscured by a torrent of blood.   "T-thanks... ahh."   He grimaces from a painful spasm.   " Flame s-strike ."  

He points at Outsider 1. A column of fire immediately falls upon the creature, yet the creature leaps with astonishing speed out of the way. Still, the creature is horribly singed from the affair. A fiery light suffuses the dark alley, casting shadows every which way, glinting on reflections forced upon the grimy, dark windows on the first and second stories of the surrounding dilapidated buildings. The fire is reflected in the elf's eyes, a divine fury marking him as a servant of the gods.

Outsider 1 is barely staying standing, sporting brutal burns from the  flame strike  and strange cuts from Ux's retributive energies. One clean, solid hit should take it out.

 Noncombatant NPCs.  They withdraw further into the alley out of fear of the outsiders' proximity.

It is now the players' turn.

 Turn Order.  Outsider 3 → Elf → Noncombatant NPCs → PCs' Block → Outsider 4 → Outsider 1 ↺

 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  Azlin's  cowl of warding  takes care of the spells slung at her, a light arcane shimmer over her form the telltale sign that the defenses worked as expected. Whether the turned magic affected the Dustman before the end is unclear given how quickly the Dustman was buried under the magical mudslide. To that question, the deafening silence over the pile of drying dirt and rock where the Dustman once stood was Azlin's answer.

Azlin summons her golem to the south past the mudslide's area of effect. While it does not acknowledge her orders verbally or otherwise, there is a sudden shift in its gait that Azlin recognizes from experience to mean that it has heard and accepted them. It moves a little slow at first, taking care not to step in the mud as instructed, but soon returns to its usual pace as it heads westward, to circle the compound clockwise.

Then Azlin takes off, and begins checking the compound carefully.

 ──────────── 
In the sky Azlin is lightly buffeted by an intermingling of fresh air from Clerk's Ward in one direction, and industrial smog from Lower Ward in the other. It is not particularly pleasant, but compared to the smell of sewage from the ground level of the Hive—or its replacement near the Mortuary, that of acrid chemicals and blood-iron upon the air—it is not strictly a downgrade.

Just as Azlin has seen it before, the Mortuary itself is a colossal structure with menacing spikes and spires, reminiscent of a giant insect's shell. It is a dark artifice of stone and iron, its figure menacing and baroque, but breaking the monolithic illusion there are a few rows of glass windows on the northwestern side of the building from floor two and up. Most of the two dozen or so windows are dark, but three remain lit. No activity is visible through the lit windows, but Azlin can readily see paper-stacked desks and bookshelves through them. These must be offices.

And similarly on the northeastern side there are also rows of windows, though they are mostly obscured by curtains with little light spilling out. The few with curtains drawn open Azlin can see roughly see beds, dressers, closets, and such. These must be living quarters or dormitories, though the ones with open curtains are devoid of occupants or their belongings.

As Azlin searches above, crashes below confirm her iron golem is making progress breaking through the first of its obstacles. It is slow progress—all the outer doors are cast iron so that even one as strong as the iron golem takes substantially more time forcing them open—but it is progress all the same.

Disregarding the thin spires that seem to reach as far as a dozen stories tall, the central dome only goes half as high, with adjacent wings two-thirds that. There are some windows along the annexes from every cardinal direction. That is, Azlin can try to enter through the windows and of the following annexes from any outward-facing direction (listed clockwise; see the map):

 
 From  Q16  to  U19 . This annex topped by a wicked-looking spire is too thin to be anything but some kind of storage. Windows on floor two only. Spire stretches further up but tapering so thin that it is unlikely any space is allotted within. 
 From  AJ16  to  AO20 . This annex topped by a wicked-looking spire is too thin to be anything but some kind of storage. Windows on floors two and three. Spire stretches further up but tapering so thin that it is unlikely any space is allotted within. 
 From  AW33  to  BC50 , and  BB27  to  BG32 . These are probably dormitories and living quarters. Windows on the second through fourth floors. The annex has a fifth floor by the looks of it, but no windows there. 
 From  BB50  to  BF60 . This annex topped by a wicked-looking spire is too thin to be anything but some kind of storage. Windows on floor two only. Spire stretches further up but tapering so thin that it is unlikely any space is allotted within. 
 From  AR63  to  AX67 . This annex topped by a wicked-looking spire is too thin to be anything but some kind of storage. Windows on floor two only. Spire stretches further up but tapering so thin that it is unlikely any space is allotted within. 
 From  T63  to  Y67 . The iron golem kicked these doors open on the ground floor. No windows, but clearly a tall, spacious spire. Visibly some kind of public memorial hall, though presently empty. 
 From  G52  to  L58 . This annex topped by a wicked-looking spire is too thin to be anything but some kind of storage. Windows on floor two only. Spire stretches further up but tapering so thin that it is unlikely any space is allotted within. 
 From  G24  to  O37 . These are probably offices. Windows on the second through fourth floors. The annex has a fifth floor by the looks of it, but no windows there. 
 
A sudden series of crashes below catches Azlin's attention. Her iron golem has apparently engaged in battle with moving statues (in the region of  O65 ) similar to those that Azlin "fought" a short time ago. The large ones it seems to hold its own against, but the huge ones are giving it some grief. Fortunately, it is a slow, plodding battle, Azlin has time to respond however she wishes, from wherever she wishes, if she wishes to at all.
Metastachydium
 Finally.  Delja is quite pleased to see one get pierced and go down at last, even as it's not the prettiest of sights in its current state, and nor does ot look like it will stay down for long. Skirting around its body, she stabs down at it forcefully, hoping to  change  that little, bothersome circumstance, before focusing the rest of her attention on the other nasty threatening Myriad.   Hey, elf, stop playing the hero and maybe  heal    yourself.  she barks at their newfound ally while at it.   And Druce…  Get away , for all hells's sake. Did you try your blast already? That needs not break skin.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Five foot step to above AG15, free action drop from above to attack O4, flanking with Myriad if possible:  (1d20+33)[ 53 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical admantine piercing,  (1d6)[ 6 ]  precision,  (1d4)[ 4 ]  force and  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold;
all other attacks target O1:
 (1d20+25)[ 31 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 26 ]  magical admantine piercing,  (1d6)[ 2 ]  precision,  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force and  (1d6)[ 6 ]  cold;
 (1d20+20)[ 34 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical admantine piercing,  (1d6)[ 3 ]  precision,  (1d4)[ 2 ]  force and  (1d6)[ 2 ]  cold;
 (1d20+25)[ 31 ]  for  (1d6+20)[ 25 ]  magical admantine piercing,  (1d6)[ 1 ]  precision,  (1d4)[ 1 ]  force and  (1d6)[ 4 ]  cold

D.'s AC is back to 62, T 54 (1 higher against O1 because Dodge)
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar refrains from hitting the rising creature, as striking a fallen foe is not what knights do. And anyway, Delja makes a pretty good jpob at finishing the weakened creature.
  "Well done, Delja!"   he joyfully cries out.

And since the creatures seem impervious to his attacks, while his friends (and that elf) manage to more or less strike true, he decides an archaic form of combat is in order to help them. In a blink, his lance disappears, swallowed by his Gloves of the Master Strategist. With his hands now free, he immediately rummages through his backpack...and pulls out a humble, bog-standard net. The Dragonborn throws it at O3, while firmly grabbing the trailing rope. Ereshki, wounded by the creatures during her short flight just before, is stressed out by the battle and his rider can feel it.
  "Shhh...trust me, Ereshki. We will get through."   he softly whispers to her all the while.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Free action: store the lance.
Move action (thanks to the magical property of Heward's Handy Haversack): retrieve the net. Yes, Ux does have a simple net in his stuff!
Standard action: throw the net. This is a range touch attack with a -4 penalty for nonproficiency.  (1d20+15)[ 23 ] . If that hits, O3 is entangled, and cannot move farther away than what the trailing rope allows (by the way, the standard length of said rope is not defined in the srd...) but with a successful opposed Str check. So, just in case, here comes the Str check:  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Uh...worth a shot!"   So say, she feints with her dagger once more for good measure and back peddles, using her free hand to send a beam of roiling eldritch energy at the enemy, dodging the grasping tentacles that had just battered her, preventing them from taking hold of her.   "I agree, elf boy! Start healing yourself if you can and fall back with the others. Staying in the fight longer means better odds for them  and  you. And  us , maybe."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Grapple Check (DC 14):   (1d20+22)[ 27 ] 
 Grapple Check (DC 29):   (1d20+22)[ 41 ] 

If she avoids getting grappled:
 Free Action  (Flanked) Feint (Bluff) -   57   (-4 if non-humanoid &amp; -8 if it is only of animal intelligence) on target 04 (or O3 if O4 is already dead)
 Pseudo-Move Action  5' Step from AG13 to AH12
 Standard Action  Eldritch Blast targeting O4 (if still alive) or O3 (if O4 is finished off by someone else) vs Touch AC [roll]1d20+22[/roll] for  (3d6)[ 8 ]  eldritch damage (CL Check  (1d20+2)[ 21 ]  to overcome any applicable Spell Resistance)

   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  109/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie's attack hits, a deftly executed  coup de grâce , the meteoric power behind her strike driving through the outsider's head and into the dirt below. Beneath the topmost layer of dirt layers of hardened, caked mud spiderweb with cracks from the force.

Delja will have to clean her blade after this, but a quick look at her victim confirms that its upper body is closer to the consistency of paste. Piercing damage though she delivered, the shock of the blow cavitated outwards and pulverized about everything else. There is no healing—it is dead for good.

 Ux Utanar.  The creatures are astoundingly quick, but it is an innate quickness without trained reflexes. They have no chance against Ux's legendary, battle-honed skills. He easily entangles Outsider 3 with his net.

 Myriad.  Were they free, targeting the creatures with ranged attacks would not be unlike shooting a fowl in flight from twenty or so paces—that is to say, completely trivial for Myriad. Add on top  that  that her quarry is presently struggling to move under a net, it has no chance. Myriad expertly tracks Outsider 3 and unleashes her eldritch blast. The blast strikes with an injuring wash of power, leaving satisfying arcane burns across the outsider's side.

Outsider 3 moves sluggishly from its injuries. It is close to death.

 ──────────── 
 Outsider 1.  The outsider's many eyes survey the battlefield. There is intelligence in it—of a form—despite its animalistic attacks. Its eyes turn to the elf, clearly debating attacking him, but then at the last moment the outsider fully turns and runs.

 
  Free Action.  The outsider chitters, speaking Common in a warped, strangely strangled voice.   "Cannot be stopped. Will feast. Cannot be stopped. Wi—kill me beg you mortal kill me—will feast. Cannot be stopped."   
  Full-Round Action.  Withdraws from  AF14  to  H15 . It moves at a speed of 60 ft., meaning that it easily lopes over 120 ft. in 6 seconds. Its undulating motions as it runs are disgusting to behold. 
 
 Outsider 3.  It desperately tries to break free of its entanglement.

 
  Full-Round Action.  Succeeds on an Escape Artist check to break free. The outsider is a slippery customer and curiously deft with its motions. Half like a circus acrobat, half like a freshly caught fish, it frees itself after a brief struggle. 
 
 Elf.  He slips behind Myriad and shouts,   "Appreciate the c-concern, but we can't l-let them r-run free!"  
 
  Standard Action.  Casts spell. The elf stammers,   " F-flame str-strike ,"   and points to Outsider 1. In the distance, a blazing column of fire falls from the sky, briefly bathing the dark avenue in its divine light. It envelopes the outsider who tries but fails to dodge. 
  Move Action.  Moves at half speed (for tight spaces) behind Myriad. 
 
When the light dies away and deep shadows return between the rows of tenements and warehouses, all that remains where the outsider stood is a fully charred husk, captured in the middle of its all-too-slow leap to dodge its demise.

 Noncombatants.  They cower where they are, but hopefulness rises in their expressions as the battle looks to be close to won. The dabus at the far end of the avenue continues to watch with interest, though its wrinkled face is hard to read.

 ──────────── 
 Turn Order.  Outsider 3 → Elf → Noncombatants →  PCs' Block  ↺
remetagross
  "Well done, elf! One last, now!"   bellows Ux Utanar. He always appreciates a good flaming. Rummaging through his backpack, he finds a small vial, lost in his enormous palm, and throws it at the last standing monster. He looks with dismay at his broken net, and throws the potion with a steady hand. Focused as he is on the ongoing battle, Ux Utanar remains oblivious to the sinister figure watching the party intently.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move action: retrieve a flask of acidic fire from the haversack.
Standard action: throw it at O3. This is a ranged touch attack. Attack roll:  (1d20+18)[ 28 ] . It deals  (1d4)[ 1 ]  points of fire damage, and  (1d4)[ 1 ]  points of acid damage.
 
Biscuit
Circling the structure, Azlin tisks to herself as she sees the golem having the slowest fight ever with the stone guardians.   Well, that's what he's for, I guess. A drawn-out distraction.   Diving down, she darts into the building through the impromptu entrance the golem created for her.   People who store bodies usually keep them under ground, right? So where would they keep the stairs...  
 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Entering the busted down door in the T63 to Y67 area that looks like a memorial hall.

Immediately trying to Spot  (1d20-2)[ 14 ]  likely places for stairs leading downward, and starting to Search  (1d20+4)[ 15 ]  for some if none are immediately present. Scouting is  not  her strong suite.
 
Metastachydium
  Well, you suit yourself.   Delja tells the stubborn elf for her part, with a small shake of her head. At least she doesn't have to chase it down now. Instead, she follows Ux Utanar's example, reaching into her own haversack to lob another vial at the thing, even as she absentmindedly begins scrubbing the muck and mud off her blade with her left foot.   Care to clean this up, Druce?   she points her chin towards the last ooze-lamprey-thing.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move action remove vial of acid from Haversack;
standard action ranged touch against O3:  (1d20+24)[ 31 ]  for  (1d6)[ 6 ]  acid;
Balance to do that while standing one-legged, if need be:  (1d20+16)[ 28 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Casually blasting the lampry thing with an Eldritch Blast at Delja's request, she absentmindedly begins wiping her dagger off on one of the only clean parts of her clothes before sliding it back into its sheath, Myriad looks up as Delja speaks.   "Cleaning!  Hells  yeah.  Gods , we need a real bath soon, though. Today has been the stickiest I've been since,"   pausing to eye the pools of grossness and considers for a moment before continuing,   "Nope. Too soon to talk about tentacles. Nevermind!"   Pulling out her wand, she stops and looks around.

Glancing at the elf looking positively ragged, she pulls out two more potions and starts to hold them out before eying them and shaking her head and putting them back. Glancing at Delja, she grunts,   "A bath, a nap, and selling junk to resupply. Soon. After we finish whatever we were supposed to do before,"   waving her hands to encompass the street, she continues,   " this . This city is  freaky  freaky. I'm not saying that I'm currently  broke  broke, but like... but if  I  robbed someone with my current amount of coinage, I'd feel obligated to immediately return it with extra thrown in, ya know?"  

Having put her potions back, she instead pulls out the Dove's Harp and waves over the humans and elf, along with her companions.   "Let's see if  this  bad boy really does heal people. So everybody that wants or needs some healing, come huddle up. Helps me make sure I don't miss any big slime trails that way anyway, then I'll start on clean-up."   she says while waggling her wand, muttering under her breath about it 'never being the  fun  tentacles these days'.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Diplomacy:  50 - convince everyone to huddle up and sit still for a lil ditty.
 Perform (Harp):   (1d20+32)[ 49 ]  - She'll play the Dove's Heart to apply a Cure Insanity (as if a  Greater Restoration  were in effect) +  Calm Emotions  + Cure Light Wounds (CL9)  (1d8+5)[ 7 ]  to everyone (20' burst radius) after everyone gathers..

Then she'll use a charge of Eternal Wand of Prestidigitation

   Myriad   
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2,  Level  20,  Init  8,  HP  109/222,  Speed  30' Land
 AC  34,  Touch  24,  Flat-footed  28,  Fort  22,  Ref  24,  Will  22,  Base Attack Bonus  +16/+11/+6/+1
 +4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying   +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
 Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC)   +20 (3d6, x2)
 Sneak Attack   Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
 +5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness  (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
 Condition  Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
 Active Invocations &amp; Effects  Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
 Other Defenses  SR 25, Mettle
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  With a practice throw Ux hits the outsider with the flask of acidic fire. He gets bad luck with the flask shattering when the splash mostly deflects away from the creature, but enough droplets stay for the burning sizzle of flesh to be audible.

 Delja Utorak.  Delja follows suit, getting a frontal hit. Her flask of acid shatters and coats the outsider. Flesh slowly melts while a strange, colorless gas rises from the injuries.

 Myriad.  The changeling lets loose an eldritch bolt, which with her skillful aim unerringly strikes the target. Magical energy envelopes and burns the outsider.

When Myriad reaches for her  dove's harp , the elf acquiesces to her request to be still. Then Myriad begins strumming the  dove's harp  expertly, drawing out a smooth melody that seems to fill the deadened air of the street. At the same time an aetheric glow suffuses the dark between dilapidated tenements, the  harp  shining with starry gentleness yet no less brightly than a torch.

 ──────────── 
 Outsider 3.  Its many eyes are focused on the elf, but with Myriad in the way it seems to settle with attacking the changeling. It steps closer in an instant and unleashes two powerful tentacle rakes in a blink.

 
  5-Foot Step.  Steps from  AF13  to  AG12 . 
  Full-Round Action.  Full attacks with two tentacle rakes. Its attacks are slightly unfocused due to it being shaken. The first hits, dealing 21 bludgeoning damage. This initiates a grapple: Myriad must beat a grapple check of 26 to avoid. The second attack barely misses: Myriad manages to dodge in time. 
 
 Elf.  Casts a spell at the outsider.

 
  Standard Action.  He intones through his injuries, waves a hand in the form of a rune, and after taking a moment to aim, he shoots a beam of radiant light from his palm at the outsider. 
 
The fiery energy washes over the outsider, and in a moment it is on the floor, fully deceased, no more than a burn-disfigured lump on the dirt. Combat is over.

 ──────────── 
Cloaked by shadows at the far end of the street, the Dabus suddenly turns where they hover and floats away, ends of their robe trailing underneath in a ghostly manner.

The elf sighs.   " H-heal ."   In an instant his wounds close, and where there was once a gaping hole revealing bone is now pale, unmarred skin. The only indication he had been attacked at all is that his tunic is torn at the site.   "I've had better evenings. Thank you, strangers. I have no illusions that any of us would have survived this were it not for your keeping the ooze creatures away."  
 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  Azlin enters the memorial hall.

 Memorial Hall.  Though ear-shatteringly loud and right outside, the sounds of fighting seem to muffle by the architectural design of this room. It is not a large room, but somehow the irregular shaping of the stone walls and high, vaulted ceilings seems to conserve the noise—or lack thereof—within. It is also thoroughly empty. Delicately engraved torch sconces light the hall in their flickering gaze and speak to some level of spiritual meaning. The floor is a mix of rough and smooth stone, switching between in deliberate geometric patterns. The vague scent of cleaning solvents intermingling with incense indicates recent occupancy.

There is a damaged scrap of parchment leaning against a wall. It is dirty but Azlin can make out the few words:

   angels—rumor of planetar, ask
tanar'ri—mostly dretches/quasits, but marilith!!!!/8 wish gems
baatezu—not in time for pit fiend :(. imps/erinyes. a dozen/4 wish gems
eladrin—shiradi (hah!), some coures, bralani, dont bother
mortals—DEFINITELY dont bother

go after the exiles funeral (give her the finger for me)

—jet o.h.m.   
There is nothing more of interest.
Metastachydium
Delja puts down her left foot  fast  as the thing bolts off to try and murder Myriad, but seeing that the Elf has that angle covered, she relaxes.   Well.   she says flatly, looking back over her shoulder   Don't mention it. At least now I know what fighting  me  probably feels like.   She makes a face.   Well, that, and how we really need to invest into a full-time caster one of these days. Anyhow,   she goes back to scrubbing stuff off her sword.   what was that wrinkled floater staring at us for?  
chaincomplex
 The Hive: Streets.  The civilians leave the alley with trepidation, eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Still, with the presence of the party they quickly regain their composure.

 "That's a  dabus ,"  says the youngest woman, helping the older man up. It looks like his ankle is sprained.  "Odd folk, serve the Lady. Aren't no danger, really. But those who wanna take a dice with them—well, the Lady'll straight write 'em in the dead-book, and mark these the truest words you'll ever hear in the Cage." 

The elf nods.  "It's as the girl says. The dabus are thought to serve the Lady of Pain, maintain infrastructure across Sigil. I don't think they've ever been seen to fight, but harassing them will attract the Lady's wrath. And the Lady—well, let's just say that even gods don't tread lightly here."  He gestures, almost sardonically, down the dilapidated street.

A cool breeze wafts down between the shadowy tenements. There is light clanking as unlit lanterns are pushed against dark stone and razorvine, strangely adding rather than detracting from the plucky melody Myriad is playing. The slice of night sky visible from beneath the ward's dark roofs twinkles with the pinprick fires of distant wards, meeting with the glow of the  dove's harp  in a surreal interplay of colors.

 "The powers that be,"  continues the elf,  "have a growing interest in these incursions from the Ooze Plane. The dabus are often seen around these portals. There are even stories of the Lady herself intervening in particularly bad attacks. This one... this one would count, strangers. These creatures are ooze mephits, but I've never seen them so..."  He struggles to find words.

 "Thought we were written in for sure,"  says the older human man. His leg seems to be healing with the magic of Myriad's  dove's harp , and in short notice he is able to walk under his own power. He nods thanks at "dwarf" Myriad.  "These ooze gates and the critters in 'em give us grief every day, small and large, but  these  critters... all wrong they are, even for the ooze-things, bodies dredged up from the darkest of the dark. I—I suppose, thank you, cutters."  He has a hard, unfamiliar tone, as if feeling out the words "thank you" for the first time in a while.  "I've little to give, but my masters are artificers of the Hands of Time, some of the truest bloods in the Cage. If you're ever stopping by, tell them—tell them Griff sent you. Don't know how much that's worth, but..."  Not knowing how to end the conversation, he abruptly steps away, joining the other humans by the cart, readying to leave in haste.

The elf throws the party a quizzical look.  "I see few people move as fast or strike as hard as you, and I count among that number some of the higher angels and fiends. Might I ask who you are? I—"  he bows  "—am Aeren, one of the celestial eladrin. I hail from Arborea, though presently I am visiting at the House of Nature at the invitation of the Morninglord." 
remetagross
After a few more seconds, Ux Utanar shrinks back to his regular size. Ereshki remains this hulking silhouette for quite longer, though. The Dragonborn unbats and takes some time to inspect the wounds she has suffered. The bleeding has stopped and the edges of the They don't seem too bad. He pats her gently.
  "You have done well, my friend."  

That said, Ux Utanar reacts to the mention of  Dabus .
  "What? We were watched the whole time? Hmm...well, if they're some sort of official watchers, I suppose I'm fine with that...but, say -"   as he answers the "elf",   "do these creatures basically keep tabs of everything that's happening on the streets? Not only invaders from the Ooze Plane? Say I'm looking after a set of mysterious disappearances. Can I go and ask a Dabus if it has seen anything? Besides - where are my manners."  

Ux Utanar bows to the eladrin in return of his greeting, as well as to the old man named Griff.
  "I am Ux Utanar tibur Randal Amblecrown, Dragonborn of Bahamut. Thank you for your kind words, Griff. May we never cross paths again fighting tentacled ooze things coming through the floor. And Aeren, I must say you have been holding yourself quite well in this affair as well."   
Metastachydium
Delja blinks in slight confusion.   I  think  I've come across the odd mephit before.   she says  very  slowly. At least  that 's what that one wizard called the ugly little flying thing flitting about.   They had… Fewer appendages. And a  normal  mouth. Were easier to swat as well.   Not that she wishes to press the issue; Myriad might get weird ideas again.   Anyhow. I'm not an eladrin, celestial or otherwise. You can call me Quince.   she says in a manner most elegantly blase.   I'm mostly just  humbly  attending on these two here. Some local bigwig bid us to investigate some local affair.   she waves her free hand.   We're just passing through.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

"Don't mind me, I'm harmlessly unimportant" Bluff:  (1d20+20)[ 24 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Grinning ear to ear, Myriad continues to play a cheery tune on the harp, as if by reflex as she chatters,   "Thanks, Griff! Hey, do they happen to identify and/or buy magical stuff there, by chance? We need a good place that won't rip us off to sell some odds and ends and resupply soon."  

As everyone introduces themselves, Myriad strikes a flashy pose and strums a trill on the Dove's Harp for flare,   "Drucilla Kandarak! Famed locksmith and intrepid explorer! Defender of strangers, slayer of icky things, and negotiator of deals!"   Finishing her declaration with a final flourish of the harp, she tucks it back into her pack and activates her wand, beginning the tedious cleaning process for everyone with Prestidigitation and mumbles quietly,   "And  laundress , apparently, if today is any indication. I'm kinda glad we bought more of these than we thought we  really  needed. At least we got a bulk discount. Worth it already."  
Biscuit
Quickly reading over the parchment scrap, Azlin considers,   Well, if I find a wish gem, that could certainly make things easier. And faster.   Tisking, she slips the parchment into her pocket and circles the room, determined to go in whatever direction she finds a way to first. If this is an entirely separate space, she'll just have to try  another  entrance. Perhaps the one that looked like dormitories.  Someone  here has to know where they keep the bodies in this place.
remetagross
  "Thank you for the music, Drucilla"   acknowledges Ux with a warm smile and a bow.   
"It's a nice change, after all the various horrible sounds of today...and also, I'm so glad about these wands too. They should be bought in bulk by any self-respecting adventurer".   The dragonborn examines his now neat-looking armour, and even Ereshi's leather appears clean and lustrous.
chaincomplex
 
 Spoiler: Ux, Delja, and Myriad 
 Ux Utanar.  The eladrin tilts his head and considers, then says,  "You  could  talk to them, but their language is in cryptic magical rebuses—appropriate for the City of Doors, I suppose! And they are  hard  to puzzle out, even for the talented scholars of the Fraternity of Order or the Transcendent Order.

"In any case, well-met Ux Utanar, servant of the Platinum Dragon. I appreciate your kind words, though know that all celestial eladrin have the essence of battle flowing through their blood. I additionally was prepared for fighting extraplanars, for I have been studying this ooze portal phenomenon, in particular the matter of their recent... growth spurt in frequency and destructiveness. The poor suffer greatly for it—see how barren of life these night streets lie.

"Alas, too few parties pay any heed. The Hive is the world of the untouchables, out of sight and out of mind for most of Sigil's denizens. I have only seen agents of the Lady or of House Midai join me in tracking these ooze portal outbreaks. I cannot communicate with the former, and I shall not be working with the latter—slavers, such as they are, offend all who dwell within the Olympian Glades." 
 Delja Utorak.  Aeren raises an eyebrow.  "If 'humble' passersby where you hail from move with the speed of lightning and strike with the fury of a meteor... then I should like to visit! But I shan't pry, I have seen your hearts are in the right place." 
 Myriad.  The human man appears to not have expected to be asked a question. He awkwardly stands as he tries to find the words to respond, stuck halfway between motions to secure the ropes on the pony-drawn cart.  "I—I suppose? We have artificers of true talent, but they aren't traders by profession, if you catch my meaning. We mostly work on artifacts on commission, but daily dealings are done between visitors and artificers. So it's up to how you carry yourself there, I suppose. We're stopping by the Hands of Time 'fore we head home, matter of fact. You can join us if you want..."  He scratches his head, then awkwardly returns to dealing with the cart.
 

 
 Spoiler: Azlin 
 The Hive: Mortuary.  Azlin leaves the memorial hall as she entered and flies up to locate the dormitories again. On the way she spots the fight still ongoing between her golem and the guard statues. The golem is slightly worse for wear, but so are the large-sized statues. The statues do not seem to spot Azlin—so hard to spot as she is—and she has no difficulty ascending into the cold, dark sky, leaving the violent clashes below.

Identifying the dormitories on the east side, she hovers above its baroque frame. Again, there are regularly spaced windows on every exterior-facing side from floors two to four. There are, however, no ground-level doors on the eastern side of the Mortuary whatsoever—just a menacing black iron facade.

Azlin takes note that while all the windows are curtained and dark, light is spilling out of the seams of a few of them: on the second floor at  BA51 , third floor at  BD36 , second floor at  BD41 , fourth floor at  BD40 , fourth floor at  BH31 , second floor at  BE26 , and third floor at  BD26 .
 
Metastachydium
Delja merely offers a quick bow of appreciation in response.   Well. Have fun and many good hunts, then, Aeren. Try not to get eaten either.   she tells the Eladrin with an impssibly seriosu face. Her gaze, however, is very quick to switch over onto her own companions.   We ready to move on?   the Nixie inquires, quite businesslike once more.
remetagross
Ux Utanar lets loose a sigh.
  "Ah, well. Sigil is one of these places with too many people in need of help, and too few that care to provide it, eh? Well, at any rate, I wish you the benediction of the Justice Bringer in this endeavour of yours. I'm sure we will cross paths again."  

Adressing the old Griff, Ux Utanar bouces back on his offer.
  "We were heading for the Twelve Factols. In case that's in the same direction as the Hands of Time, we will glady walk with you to that point."  
Biscuit
Deciding to start near the top and simply work her way down, Azlin dives towards one of the likely entry points on the fourth floor (BD40).  Someone  here must know where they keep the bodies.   Realizing that she's been burning through quite a few spells already and is still  somehow  no closer to her whimsical goal, she chews at her bottom lip in disappointment in her own capabilities.

  Next time, I'll just hire a  specialist  again. Expensive, but worth it. I am  terrible  at this. Maybe not that  specialist , though.   Thinking back at the last time she'd hired a 'specialist' made her shudder slightly. Azlin knew she wasn't really 'all there' anymore, after everything that had happened, and what she had done to reforge herself into what she was today, but  that  person was  truly  not right in the head.
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak, Ux Utanar, and Myriad.  Aeren bows.   "If ever you find yourself in the House of Nature, let it be known that you were once my ally. Fare thee well on your travels."   The elf bows with courtly grace and struts off, figure quickly enveloped in the shadows and vanishing around a corner.

Griff strokes his chin.   "We don't got the same road. Luck be with you, stranger."   With a creak, the empty wagon begins its slow roll down the street, flanked by the humans. The two women bow deeply in thanks to the party as they leave. Griff gives a gruff salute and leads the wagon away. It is not long before its sounds recede into the hum of the city.

 ──────────── 
 Lower Ward.  The party finds themselves on partially paved streets running between great factory grounds. Tremendous foundries and warehouses loom like great beasts in the dark. Black chimneys rise into the sky releasing great plumes of black, acrid smoke, blotting out the lights of distant wards. Even at this hour one can hear all around the sounds of clanking iron and roaring fires. There is however little sign of life on the streets, deserted as they are, only the occasional figure in motion deep behind the perimeter of scowling black iron gates that protect the industry so crucial to the City of Doors.

The party is passing through. The Great Ring circles overhead, lights tracing streaks in the sky.

 Lady's Ward.  So abruptly does it happen that the party almost misses it. The factories turn into warehouses turn into shops turn into luxury stores; the dirt roads turn into cobble turn into rough brick turn into smooth stone. Far behind the great smokestacks shrink and the party finds themselves in a gorgeous little neighborhood.

At first the buildings are simply quaint, well-spaced unlike the tight, haphazard construction of the other wards of Sigil. But soon as the Lower Ward becomes little more than a memory behind them do great, gated estates begin to appear. Flowers, trees, and parks line the wide avenues. Regular patrols of two, four, eight of the Harmonium, often heard first for their heavy footfalls before spotted in their gleaming red plate, protect the district, both along its border and within. The air is fresh, scented, and lanterns keep all paths well-lit, though presently they are barren save for the patrols.

Much can be found here with a little exploration. It does not take long for the party to locate the Twelve Factols, not even in the dead of night, so obvious is the establishment.

 The Twelve Factols.  On a corner of a tidy, lamp-lit avenue stuffed with luxury stores is a large hall. It is a curious hall that seems to be a normal, if large, townhouse until one's eye traces its foundation, which looks astonishingly ancient in nature. A modest but well-built set of doors lead in.

The entry foyer is not small, but nor is it particularly large. It is decorated pragmatically but with pride, and brightly lit by regular sconce candles. Clean carpets welcome guests, and walls adorned with richly colored frescoes depict some distant paradise and righteous warriors dueling on sacred grounds. Two long, winding stairways fork from here, one going down to the sounds of loud yelling, laughing, and singing, and the other going up but silent at the other end. The stairways are a little tight and Ereshki would have to squeeze—indeed, as she would in this entry foyer with the rest of the party in here, so presently she is standing outside, poking her snout in.

A young tiefling boy leaning against the wall stares at the party as they walk in, and his eyebrows shoot up.   "Well, well! What manner of creature is that? And are ya here to fight?"  
 ──────────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  Azlin hovers right outside the window at  BD40 . The curtains are drawn shut but not far enough that light cannot spill through the gaps. The windows are thick, rimmed with black iron, and by inspection clearly locked from within. Still, some noise escapes from within. Azlin cannot make out the words but... it sounds meditative? Like a woman reciting some important text.

Around the window is the strange lattice of black stone and iron that makes up the mortuary. From the corners of the window the wall looks rather thick, perhaps a good five inches.
Metastachydium
As the group traverses ward after ward, Delja only pays the superficial amount of attention to their surrounds that is needed to keep her suspicious soldierly mind happy and appeased. Instead, she is trying to mull their options over (and over again), especially her own. She considers slipping into an ally or a park  several times, to, perhaps, refresh her disguise (she hasn't gone air gnome in a while, for instance), but as they close in on their destination, she ends up deciding against it. She's spent too much time in the company of Ux Utanar and Ereshki (easily spotted from a ward and a half away) to not risk people concluding the various colourful little things that accompany the knight are all the same creature. It's better not to reveal her ability to change faces if she can help it.

And case in point: Ereshki is spotted the moment she sticks her head through the Twelve Factols's door. The nixie is not easy to fluster, nevertheless.   She's a bat, if a big one.   she informs the tiefling evenly and without missing a beat.   And no, we   she inhales   are merely present to enjoy the amenities this fine establishment has on offer. Will that be a problem?   she tilts her head, all friendly, all serious.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff:  (1d20+20)[ 30 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar commits to memory the names and faces of the celestial and the humans. They will cross paths again, he is sure of this. Once at the Twelve Factols, the Knight complements the answer from Delja.
  "A most noble mount,  if I may add. Does your establishment possess any kind of stable, boy? She's been going through a lot today"   and he pats her on her peeking snout while saying so,   "and she will not say no to a calm place with grain or seeds. And fresh water. And possibly enough room so she can hang herself upside down somewhere. And a sturdy roof to bear her weight then, this goes without saying. And only dimly lit if possible, or even in natural darkness. Oh, and she's not too fond of loud noises either-"  

Ux Utanar keeps going until someone stops him. If no one does, he spends a good minute or so enumerating the required properties for a comfortable accomodation for Ereshki.
Metastachydium
Ux Utanar's thigh gets a light punch and a lighter shake of the head from Delja. At least he didn't do the big introductory name drop though.  Yet. 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The tiefling squints at Delja as if trying to determine if he is at the receiving end of a prank.   "...Bats get that big?"   There is a pause.   "Well... a might finer sight than a vargouille of any size, I suppose! And nah, no problem with me, I'm just a tout. This here place gets bloods from 'cross the Planes, ya know, and antipeak's not a bad time to rack up some good coin.

"Well, well. Welcome to the Twelve Factols. Not just any tavern, you hear? You might think you're the toughest cutter in any other room, but in here anyone can pick a fight with the wrong planeswalker, get me? There are two types here: those with adventuresome business, and those who want to spar. You lot sound like the first, so... Norebo's fortune upon your endeavors, honored Primes!"   The tiefling bows cheekily.

 Ux Utanar.  The tiefling throws up his hands.   "Oh no no, I don't work here! If you need a guide to the City o' Doors—one of the best, mind—then I'm your tiefling. But about this place... no stables, no. Not that... an overlarge bat would mingle well with most stable ponies."   He jerks his head back towards the two stairways.   "Up goes to the rooms. Down to the drinks... and further to the Catacombs. Got no notion what you should do with your big bat. I wouldn't just leave it outside unaccompanied, though... Hardheads get all manner of ideas."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking a little bedraggled from all their adventuring already accomplished today, 'Drucilla' nods.   "I'm about all adventured  out  for the day if I'm honest.  Definitely  not looking to throw down with anything tougher than a strong drink or a fat pillow at this point!"   Smiling warily, she pulls out a bit of coin and looks at the man inquiringly,   "Point me to whoever it is that slings drinks around here? And by the gods,  please  tell me there's somewhere to take a hot bath."  
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  The tiefling raises an eyebrow and indicates the two passages.   "Down to the bar. The 'keep is Bertrand, he knows his drinks and his stories, way more stories than any barkeep should know, good man. Up to the rooms. Only the purser, Aietta, is up at this hour, she's not much of a people person but she'll sort out lodgings fairly. I mean, all the rooms here are on the pricey side, but they're good rooms... I  think  they all got baths, but don't take my word for it.

"Since you're offering coin, well, tout's pride says I shouldn't take it without giving you a fair shake myself. I'll give you a hint, since you don't seem to know this place: cutters don't come to the  Twelve Factols  for nothing, and we connect directly to the Catacombs deep within the Great Ring. Go down far enough, following the corridors all the way under the bar, and it is as bizarre a world as you can imagine... and nobody knows how deep they go or what lies within... besides, that is, the numerous beasties somehow sustained by those horrid tunnels. It is a perfect place for all manners of bloods to keep a low profile... and the dark of what they do down there is the stuff of legends.

"If you've got any questions about the Cage, feel free to ask. I'm not puffing myself up when I say I'm one of the best touts in the Cage, as only the best come to the  Twelve Factols  to guide bloods through the maze that is the physical Cage and its myriad intrigues. I know many rumors, and if I don't know the answer to your question, I know who else knows the answer with certainty."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar answers by staring straight at the tiefling with a slight hint of an annoyance in his low, booming voice.
  "Well...boy...what's your name, by the way? Given the status of the usual patrons of the place, I'll be damned if that Aietta person can't arrange an accomodation for Ereshki. Or even a casting of Reduce Animal, if nothing else. Gals, can I ask you to see what can be done in that regard? I'll stay outside with Ereshki in the meantime, given that, apparently, she might cause trouble if left on her own outside..."  
Metastachydium
A corner of Delja's mouth twitches almost imperceptibly as endless catacombs under the building come up. What if the Factor was wrong? Chasing a gaggle of killers in the uncharted darkness below is not a prospect she is looking forward to.   You got it, big one.   is all she says outwardly, nevertheless, giving Ux Utanar's thigh a light punch of the friendly sort. She knows Ereshki  eats  trouble; but scouting out the premises is a sound plan all the same.   So… See you around, fellow fiend of no name.   she nods at the tiefling on her way upwards, trying to keep an eye out and, perhaps, not get too distracted how  weird  fancy carpets  still  feel against her feet.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sense Motive on the tiefling (because of course):  (1d20+15)[ 21 ]  and
Bluff (to hide her frustrations and twitchy face):  (1d20+20)[ 34 ] , with
Knowledge (history):  (1d20+8)[ 20 ]  and
Knowledge (local):  (1d20+12)[ 29 ]  on the subject of creepy catacombs.

Also, Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 30 ]  and
Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 36 ]  on her way up, because our nixie is a paranoid twit in scouting mode.
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Dropping six gold coins into the man's hand, Myriad just nods warily, waving to Ux in recognition of his request.   "Appreciate it,"   she says wearily as she makes her way in the direction indicated to buy a drink to fortify herself before negotiating for room and board (and a  bath ) for the group.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

-6gp
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The tiefling gives a half-sardonic bow.   "Call me Grimbug. Guess I gave the wrong impression too—this is no place of status, cutter. The colorful lads and lasses of the high houses don't come lest they have work for the worthy. The folk who come here are those ready to throw down with the powers that be—not unlike yourself, by your looks—and the odd rich tourist. With that kind of blood comes coin and with coin expectations, though, so the rooms are pretty good for it."  
 Myriad.    "Nice,"   says Grimbug.   "Ahh... I love the sound of coin. Hey, you know, you pay decent, I don't mind watching 'Ereshki' so long as they don't bite or drool. While you work out lodgings and all. Hardheads know me, they won't cause a fuss. Up to you, chief."  
 ──────── 
  Twelve Factols : Lower Levels.  The sconce-lit narrow stairway is longer and steeper than it first seems. The precipitous descent brings Myriad wholly underground, quickly subduing the sounds of crickets and the breeze, at the same time the distant sounds of cheering from beneath growing louder. The air becomes staler, then tinged with the recognizable aroma of sweet mead. The walls are some manner of faded clay, discolored in splotches, a testament to the age of the establishment.

Eventually the twisting stairway ends and opens up into an entrance hall ( BE22  on the map). Here the faded clay blends into impressionist frescoes of what may be planar landscapes, of clouds, forests, and fjords, but also of violet maelstroms, silver storms, and starry rivers. The art everywhere is discolored with exposure but otherwise clean, just as clean as the rest of the hall is. There is no mistaking the establishment for a wealthy one—the tables and chairs are crude, angular things, the sconces are practical, the high ceiling hanging only rafted lanterns—but at the same time this is no place for the commoner.

As if to confirm this, a third to half the people at the Twelve Factols—a mixture of humanoids and outsiders, with plenty of horns, tails, hooves, and wings thrown into the mix—are evidently mercenary types, their magical armories worn in plain sight. The rest are hirelings or hanger-ons, listening to war stories, exchanging rumors, otherwise joking and sharing drinks with the ones who look to mean business.

 ──────── 
Further down the stairs (from  AY19  to  AP19 ) is a crowded tavern room. Behind a bar a bartender, and across from him a stage. It would not look out of place for bardic performances, but presently there is a dwarf and a devil sparring. Heavy footfalls move with supernatural quickness, dodging, spiked chain striking with the might of the baatezu; yet across from the devil, the dwarf holds his own with pure, unadulterated longsword technique and astonishing combat rhythm. It is evidently not a fight to the death, but nor is it choreographed, and the bloody gashes are very real—and with every new gash, raucous cheers (followed by drinking) from the crowd.

Amid the floor a middle-aged human woman balances plates of steaming food and glasses of mead with expert movement, weaving between chairs and their occupants to deliver their orders. She wears a tired expression but is nonetheless quick to smile, and in turn the people here treat her with respect uncommon of tavernkind.

The bartender, a spectacled human man, gives Myriad a brief glance before returning to working a dish with a towel.   "You're new. I'm Bertrand of the  Twelve Factols . What can I do for you?"  
 ──────── 
  Twelve Factols : Upper Levels.  A short climb up a flight of stairs and around a corner, Delja finds herself standing in a comfortably lit hallway. At the far end there are stairs up and down, and all the way down are numbered, locked darkwood doors on either side—rooms for an inn, clearly.

Nearby there is a fireplace crackling happily along, a presently empty couch and table for visitors, and a desk where it looks like someone would ordinarily work and greet guests. The desk is unoccupied, but a door behind the desk is slightly ajar, light spilling out, the sounds of quill scratching parchment clearly audible from within.

Within is what appears to be a shorter human woman, save that she has skin as blue as ice, and young too, save that she has deep shadows under her eyes. She is working at a desk before a stack of journals, and presently seems to be filling out a new page with technical scribbles, some combination of maps, diagrams, and paragraphs of description.

She does not notice Delja.
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results:

 
  Sense Motive.  The tiefling Grimbug is tout in manner through and through, what with the slick gait, the sharp planar cant, and the pride of a knowledgeable Cager. The only indication he is anything else are the relatively fancy trappings he calls clothes: a wool jacket and scarf, clean pants, well-made boots, and rings of some planar mineral. From the way Grimbug seems to effect his speech, he is undoubtedly targeting the wealthier, planar demographic of visitors to Sigil. 
  Knowledge (History and Local).  The Catacombs of Sigil are famous, or rather, infamous. They are a dense, partially mapped network of tunnels that extend far below the city on the surface of the ring, deep into whatever superstructure the ring actually consists of. The topmost layer consists primarily of burial chambers, industrial basements, and public works, but frequent incursions from beasts deeper within make security a high concern. Past this most accessible layer the Catacombs become something of an adventuring legend: There are portals to other worlds, monsters and cults aplenty, and curses older than the Lady of Pain herself. In this middle section many adventurers make their reputations collecting treasures. However, it is said that, once deep enough, time and space become meaningless, and the tunnels become something else entirely. As to what exactly, reports vary. Few enough adventurers return from the greatest depths, and fewer still have any desire to speak of it. 
  Listen and Spot.  Heading up the steps, the noises of the tavern and the nighttime outdoors are muted, even to the nixie's exceptional hearing. The lodgings up here are quiet. With acute senses Delja can tell most of the rooms are occupied—their occupants pacing, talking, writing, working, exercising, and so on—though the doors and walls are thick enough that it is not easy even for  her  to discern this. Delja could also hear the purser writing in the office behind the desk as soon as she entered the hallway. 
 
Metastachydium
The quiet crowd behind the doors makes Delja no more comfortable. That's a lot of people, in a lot of rooms. Their marks made a clever choice, certainly: they may have backup (and be waiting themselves, for that matter) just about anywhere, and this place has quite the size and capacity to accomodate them. Still, nothing seems to be too far out of the ordinary so far, and she is in no hurry to stir things up too much. Pleasant and quiet, that's how she'll stay for the time – but ever alert still.

Accordingly, the woman behind the barely open door gets a long, thorough look from the nixie, concealed by the convenient obstacles between the two of them, as does the room around her. The coloration of  Aietta , if the tiefling is to be believed, doesn't bother Delja too much. There is nothing wrong with being blue.  She  is blue herself, after all. Whatever the purser is scribbling doesn't look like mere accounting, however. A sage of sorts, perhaps? Maybe one with spells, even. She better be careful. Giving the observed space and figure alike a last cursory scan, she recedes somewhat, so as to make sure her having peeked in is not immediately evident, and, with a curled finger of her left, sounds two little, ringing knocks on the doorframe.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Knowledge (local):  (1d20+12)[ 30 ]  and
Knowledge (nature):  (1d20+14)[ 23 ]  to try and ascertain Aietta's exact race;
Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 27 ]  to identify weapons, possible weapons, concealed weapons, potential (un)holy symbol(ism), magic items and arcane paraphernalia, if any seem to be present.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar cannot help but feel a little amused at the tiefling's swaggering demeanour.
  "Ereshki is a "she", for one. But I'm feeling I can let her with you for a little while, as we mind our own business inside. She's much more clever than what she seems like anyway, so you'd be advised not to try silly things around her. What's your price?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Just a tad of frown eyebrows (and we're talking  Ux Utanar eyebrows , here) and a gaze a little bit too intense to be entirely naïve. Diplomacy check to ensure nothing wrong happens to Ereshki:  (1d20+14)[ 22 ] .
 


And as he absent-mindedly rummages through his purse, he keeps the talk live.
  "You know, we've heard quite a few things have happened these days...Plane of Oozes incursion into Sigil, does that ring a bell?"  
Biscuit
Casting a simple Silent Image spell to bring an illusion of the human woman she'd buried in the courtyard and set it to hover in front of the window and beckon as if annoyedly motioning for the window to be opened while glaring impatiently, Azlin knocks on the window,  loudly , hoping to get the attention of someone inside.
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  Results of checks:

 
  Knowledge (Local, Nature).  It is immediate to the naturalist in Delja that the purser is no natural variation of human. The nixie does not have the planar training to be certain of it, but from her deep awareness of regional cultures, the purser is clearly planetouched, perhaps  air genasi . 
  Spot.  The purser is dressed plainly but cleanly, buttoned shirt and breeches, and would fit in as a background clerk in any court in the planes. There is a variously burned and stained pouch on the desk set before her, possibly spell components. A pendant depicting a stylized cloud hangs on a slim silver thread about her neck. There is a sheathed rapier—of evident quality, judging by the guard—leaning against the desk. She wears two beautifully forged rings and an anklet. Something about her manner says "seasoned adventurer". 
 
At Delja rapping the door, the purser shakes her head and looks around, hair lightly tossed like strands upon a nonexistent wind.   "Oh. A visitor."   The purser scans Delja with a practiced eye then seems to be satisfied that there is no trouble.   "Can I help you?"   She sets her quill down and rubs her eyes tiredly, reaching for a thick ledger that had been set to the side.

 Ux Utanar.  Grimbug chuckles.   "I'll refrain from bullying Miss Ereshki, then. (Rather, avoid being bullied  by  her, judging by her size.) Let's see... what say you four gold for watching Ereshki for a few hours? And I'll tell you some dark about these ooze pools while we're at it."   Grimbug tentatively reaches out to pet Ereshki, who tilts her head curiously and watches him with her giant black eyes.   "Have to confess, prime, you know a pretty obscure tale there. Only the powers that be of the Cage, and the poor sods in the Hive, will have any inkling to the ooze portals getting real bad of late. But you're in luck. House Midai brought in a real blood from that mercane world, Union, to take a look at this exact problem. He actually arrived just last hour to go down to the Catacombs. If you're quick you might still catch up with him, I understand he's getting the lay of the land from one of the adventuring fiends.

"I'm happy to point the way... for coin, naturally! So I'll watch your giant, uh, bat and tell you something obscure, for the low, low price of four gold. I... won't pretend you're getting a good deal on the first one—Lady knows how cheap you can get touts in the Cage—but I got an inkling you aren't the kind to shy away from parting with gold for rare knowledge."  
 ──────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  There is some muffled thumping from the inside and the curtains are drawn open, bright lights flooding out. There is a younger elf woman in a nightgown looking downright dumbfounded. Taking a further look inside, Azlin sees a rather sparse but otherwise comfortable room. It is clean, and set for only one occupant. There is a messy bed for one with down quilts and pillows, austere wood panels for floors and walls, and a simple but sturdy desk with writing utensils spread across it. The elf woman is presently clutching a thick, unmarked tome.

The elf woman unlatches the window and pushes it open. From within Azlin can hear a gentle chiming of what seems to be an alarm. The girl looks down and around the floating image of the Dustman Azlin buried earlier, and squints.   "Sister Hedi? We heard the... and the guardians are prowling the halls. What's happening? S-should I get dressed and run for Clerk's Ward?"   She clutches her head between her arms delicately.   "The guardians are... are frightening, sister. I don't like being here when they're awake."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar smirks in return.
  "I suppose a knowledgeable tout is in order for a knowledgeable  "prime", eh? Here are your four golds, and now let's hear your gloomy tale. I'm fairly confident that whoever got dispatched to investigate in the Catacombs is self-sufficient enough that we can let them have a few miles ahead, and we'll still catch up to them while they're not drown in ooze yet."  

With that said, Ux Utanar proceeds to paying Grimbug. He also casually rests his back against the wall of the inn, arms crossed, to let the tiefling have his time.
Metastachydium
  Sorry to disturb.   Delja slips into the room with a polite nod, quickly, but not  too  quickly, lest her approach strike the probably-planetouched woman, apparently an arcanist of some fashion, as threatening.   I'm looking for an… Aietta, I believe? Would like to have a few questions regarding your stabling options. Maybe reserve a room for three, too.   she infroms the purser as casually as it gets.   We might have a really big bat we need to put somewhere.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Diplomacy:  (1d20+15)[ 34 ]  and
"we absolutely aren't trouble looking to disembowel and kidnap your other guests, no, Ma'am" Bluff:  (1d20+20)[ 33 ] 
 
Geeksthenewsexy
Flashing a wan smile, Myriad greets the man and comes immediately to her point,   "Well met, Bertrand of the Twelve Factols. Drucilla Kundarak of House Kundarak. I am in  desperate  need of a hot bath."   Glancing down at her clean clothes, Myriad sighs. She looked clean, and really  was  clean, all thanks to the wands, but she still  felt  gross.   "Some things, even prestidigitation cannot resolve and today has most definitely been one of those days. Please tell me you can help me on this  most  necessary quest, dear Bertrand of the Twelve Factols."  
Biscuit
Manipulating the image of 'Sister Hedi', Azlin has it mouth her own words and gesticulate angrily as she herself speaks aloud trying to imitate the likely-dead woman's voice as best she can,   "Time is limited and we are under attack,  you  need to get to the corpse of Inda of High House Midai. Go,  now ! We're all dead if you don't!   GO!  "  
 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

 Bluff:   (1d20+12)[ 16 ] 
DC 28 Will Save to Disbelieve Illusion
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Grimbug tilts his head.   "What I've got is neither gloomy nor a tale. A real canny tanar'ri known only as the Huntress emerged from the Catacombs last dark. She is a known delver of the Catacombs, one of the most masterful, and the chatter is that she's on contract with House Midai. Just hours ago then a traveler arrived and went straight to the Huntress. Some of the planar bloods say our traveler is a known quantity of Union.

"Doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. The Huntress costs a fortune to hire, and any of the powers of Union doubly so. High House Midai is heading the investigation into the ooze gates, and the dark is that all the investigators and sellswords they sent met gruesome ends. I figure... either Midai wants to write a solar into the dead-book, or they're calling in whatever favors they need to put an end to the gate problem for good.

"Not clear just  how  bad the gate problem is, being as it's just surfaced and really it's only been picking off Hivers so far, but the Ciphers say it's  bad , which makes sense. The Lady has power over all gates in the Cage, so what's it say about gates that defy her will?"  
 Delja Utorak.  If the planetouched purser noticed or even cared about possible ulterior motives from the nixie, she did not show it.   "I am Aietta.  We —"   she waves her quill around   "—have no stables. If your... giant... bat fits, it can come in with you. Flat fee of four gold per night per suite. Each suite comes with only one bed, but the bed's large enough for two, and each suite has a lounge others can camp in. I've seen entire parties of adventurers stay in one suite. I bring this up because we only have two suites free tonight."   She flips open the ledger and yawns.

 Myriad.  The barkeep chuckles.   "Well alright, Drucilla Kundarak of House Kundarak. You'll want to go upstairs and talk to Aietta. Our manager doesn't work nights but our purser  is  in tonight and helping with room and board."  
 ──────── 
 Azlin Chitramaya.  The girl's eyes widen.   "R-retrieve a body? M-me? But the guardians..."   For a moment she is still, as if parsing her situation. Then, slowly, she says,   "I—I, yes, of course,"   and slowly she backs away from the window.

It is not lost on Azlin that her impression of the Dustman woman was scuffed at best. Azlin had picked up too few mannerisms and had to extrapolate a bit. Her acting skills were good, but there is only so much you can do with limited material.
Metastachydium
Delja pinches the bridge of her nose with her left and sighs.   That's some very reasonable pricing.   she concedes readily.   And one suit should be more than what we need.   It's not like she even  sleeps  or needs or  wants  a bed and Ux Utanar being Ux Utanar will probably be generous enough to let Myriad figure out who sleeps where  if  that comes up. In the end, they are not here looking for lodging, and with some luck, won't need any, only a good pretext to be anywhere in the building, including up here.   But the bat… She  really  is big, and as such might still present an issue. I don't suppose you have one of those handy means to  shrink  a beast? That's apparently a thing. Oh, and before I'd forget,   another sigh of pure exasperation follows.   one of my companions expressed a very keen interest in a  bath  and might murder me if I don't, at least,  ask  how well the suites are equipped in that regard. She's been yammering about it ever since this giant mollusk thing exploded in our faces.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Keeping the cheerful ribbing going, Myriad sweeps into a curtsey and pitches her voice like the damsels in plays,   "Sir Bertrand of the Twelve Factols, you have my eternal thanks. I go now to quest for Mistress Aietta of the Purses to see my journey's end. Fare thee well, dear knight! I shant forget your aid in this most trying time."   Flashing a toothy grin, she proceeds to flounce toward the stairs.
remetagross
Ux Utanar listens intently to the cheerful discourse of Grimbug. He finds himself taken into the conversation.
  "Yeah, this is not your run-of-the-mill offendant, for sure. Then again, given it's very recent, I guess we might see a reaction from the powers that be in the next few cycles. What do you say? Ah, but-"   and Ux Utanar suddenly recalls why exactly he was heading to the Twelve Factols.

  "I've heard quite a few strange things happening these days apart from the ooze gates situation. What do you say about the bodies of highborn people being routinely dumped in the Ditch despite the Mercykillers and what have you?"  
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  Grimbug laughs.   "Cutter, that's a  political  question, though it sounds like you don't know it. Quick version: there's a big debate—er, more like  vote , but I'll skip the details of how we do things here—coming up at the Hall of Speakers to decide on whether or not slavery should be banned in the Cage. The big players are the High Houses Midai and Sauvais. Midai folk want slavery, they trade in it, do blood magic, all of that stuff, and they're rallying all the merchants and law-loving factions who're into it. Sauvais folk want slavery gone for good, they've got the vote of the common Cager and the freedom-loving factions, but that's not  the  vote that decides things. Fact is, ordinarily the Sauvais side had no chance of winning this debate; there are too many bloods here who line their pockets with slaves or slave-gotten goods.

"When the  Tempus Sigilian  reported on the recent spate of  gruesome  serial killings, canny folk noted that all the deaders were supporters of High House Sauvais's position in the upcoming debate, and it wasn't lost on Cagers that Midai has a suspicious history of dark magic. Suddenly all the criers and tabloids are on about High House Midai killing and vivisecting their foes in horrid blood magic rituals, and just as suddenly, most of Midai's supporters dropped out. Serial killers hit a  very  old nerve for Cagers, no one wants to be seen associated with that kind of dark. Now it's looking like  Midai  is going to be losing the debate, with Sauvais the clear favorite, and like a bolt out of a gate the eons-old practice of slavery in the Cage has an end visible on the horizon.

"That's the quick version. Depending on which Cager you ask, they'll have a different interpretation of things, but there's no denying that the advantage is to the Sauvaises. There's a bunch of Sauvais bloods down in Deep Hall, uh, the first lounge on your right as you come down. They've rented it in perpetuity and routinely meet at antipeak almost nightly now. If you're interested in this bit of true crime you can chat with them, just, eh, remember that everyone's got an angle here. Me included, heh heh."  
 ──────────── 
 Delja Utorak.  Aietta sighs heavily, as if competing with Delja for the loudest sigh.   "Not only have I not prepared  reduce animal  today—if indeed your 'giant bat' is indeed an animal and not some magical beast—I would have to be  substantially  financially illiterate to consider casting one of  my  spells over four gold's worth of services. Look, our main service  isn't  lodging, I'm  only  helping out in my free time, and if you want  lots  of staff and  lots  of pampering you can go to the  Whole Note ."   Her tone is one of exasperated annoyance, a familiar one to any still working at the end of a long day.

Aietta's expression suddenly shifts and she immediately looks to be regretting her small outburst. The purser raises her hands as a small apology.   "Just  how  big is this bat? And yes, there's a bathtub in every bedroom, plenty of dividers you can use for privacy, and all the bathing supplies and towels you'll need. This isn't a fancy operation with room or maid service, but the suites are cleaned and prepared magically, so rest assured you're getting a good spot for your gold."  
 ──────────── 
 Myriad.  The changeling makes the unusually annoying climb up the winding stairs to the inn, whereupon she spots—or rather, hears first, then spots—Delja and the blue-skinned purser going at it.
Metastachydium
A look of very heartfelt, honest sympathy materializes on Delja's face.  That  is a kind of sigh she knows all too well. Her free hand rises into the air, apologetically, supportively.   All understood. Don't worry. We'll see if we can squeeze…   …and that's when she hears the all too familiar sounds of all too familiar steps, closing in.   Oh no.   she grimaces.   Do brace yourself if you can.   she warns Aietta.
Geeksthenewsexy
  "Delja! Is this the famed purser Aietta that Sir Bertrand of the Twelve Factols told me of? I'm told that if we give her money, she will service us!"   Pausing as she draws to casual speaking distance, she purses her lips in thought as she continues,   "I  definitely  need it after the day I've had. It doesn't matter how many times we use Prestidigitation, some of that sticky stuff seems like it's  infused  into my garments after all that excitement earlier, you know? It's all in the nooks and crannies, and I think Aietta here is  definitely  the one to help with that."   Beaming a toothy dwarven smile at the purser in question, Myriad pulls out a handful of coin and offers it to Aietta.   "And if you have any special products to enhance the experience, I'd be very interested in that as well."
  
Glancing at Delja's twitching eye, she looks vaguely confused at the hesitated response.   "Wait...this is where you pay for  baths , right? Bertrand didn't give me bad directions, did he?"   
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak and Myriad.  No sooner than had Aietta received Delja's warning does Myriad walk in and drop her auditory bomb within the room. Aietta blinks thrice, looks to Myriad, to Delja, back to Myriad, to Myriad's proffered coin, then back to Myriad.

Finally, Aietta says,   "I—what's happening? Am I being robbed? I feel like I'm being robbed. Except for the part where you're  giving  me coin, which somehow makes it  worse ."   She furrows her brows and shakes her head to clear her confusion.   "Wait, no, what am I saying? Are you with her?"   She nods to Delja.   "We were discussing rooms. They come with a bath, soaps, oils, salts, towels. Five—er, sorry— four  gold coins a night. I don't take, er, payment for any additional services."   There is a pause, then she adds,   "Unless it's related to the Catacombs, I guess. I track expeditions and piece together maps."   She looks Delja and Myriad's gear—or at least, what is visible of it—up and down.   "You do sort of look the type. What was I talking about again? Oh right, robbery. No wait, rooms, right, are you getting a room for the evening?"  
Metastachydium
Delja buries the upper half of her face in her free hand.   Yes, young Drucilla is very much with me , sadly .   she half-groans, pulling the hand away to offer Aietta a "welcome to my life" sort of look.   Look, just… Take her coin and give us that room.   the Nixie shakes her head, sliding closer to the table to quietly slide a small handful of further gold pieces onto it.    And take this, too. A small compensation for the damages to your very mind.  We might come back to talk maps later.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sleight of Hand to deliver an 11 gold tip:  (1d20+12)[ 13 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar listens intently to Grimbug's chat. He can feel that, at last, he can get a feel of the complete picture. The only problem is that the tiefling speaks fast, with some slang Ux Utanar is not familiar with, and does not have the cultural background of Sigil in mind to understand everything perfectly from the get go, despite Grimbug's patience. The dragonborn has him repeat some snippets once or twice. When he is reasonably confident he has mastered the gist of it, a pattern gradually appears in his mind.

  1. We know from the Dustmen that the killers meet their patrons everyday at antipeak in the Twelve Factols.
2. I've just learnt that House Sauvais has a daily meeting at antipeak in the Twelve Factols.
3. The killing spree, while murdering a lot of Sauvais supporters, has a positive net outcome on the ongoing debate about slavery.
4. Adding up everything, House Sauvais is ordering their own folks to get brutally murdered so as to gain a decisive advantage in the vote.
5. And  these  are the folks that want to ban slavery? Might as well congratulate a Green Dragon for wanting to feed orphans.
6. But how does this mingle with the Catacomb thing? Maybe House Midai has hired this Huntress so as to find the Sauvais mercenaries and get rid of them? This could be, if they have followed the same line than I have.
7. This works only if the gates situation is somehow linked to the Ditch situation. What if the killers for hire are from the Plane of Ooze?
8. I need to tell that to the others.  

After a long silence of piecing his thoughts together, Ux Utanar finally answers the tiefling with a solemn voice. 
 "...well Grimbug, I must thank you. All of this was very interesting. I definitely feel I get a better grasp of the political scene around here. I think you've earned this."   Yet another four golds exchange hands.
  "And now, I'm finally getting inside. May the Lord of the North Wind smile upon your future endeavours. Ereshki, be kind to the young man."   concludes the dragonborn in a respectful bow.

That being said, Ux Utanar enters the inn and heads towards the rooms to hire.
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak and Myriad.  In a half-daze and visibly uncomfortably, the purser accepts Myriad's coin and stares at Delja's "tip". Seeming to want to forget this interaction as soon as possible, the purser quickly dumps the coin into a cabinet and returns to her thick tomes, but not before remembering that the transaction has not quite  finished  yet.   "Room Seven,"   she says, filing through her cabinet for a key. Soon she produces two surprisingly intricate and artful wrought iron keys. Mesmerizing maze-like patterns adorn their surfaces. They are almost but not quite identical.   "Here you go. These keys are foci for the  improved arcane lock  enchantments on the doors. The  physical  lock itself is almost worthless so don't dispel the doors if you can help it. And, if you need help with anything, just say it out loud and an  unseen servant  should be somewhere in the suite to assist. Every morning more  unseen servants  will visit the rooms to, uh, do brainless housekeeping stuff. You can flip a sign if you don't want them intruding."   Aietta frowns as she tries to remember something, then she groans the moment it reaches her. She almost gags saying this part:   "Have... a good stay."  
 ──────────── 
 Ux Utanar.  Grimbug bows deeply.   "And thank ya! Don't forget little ol' Grimbug if you need a guide in the Cage!"  
 ──────────── 
 Ux Utanar, Delja Utorak, and Myriad.  The group rendezvous on the upper levels of the  Twelve Factols , just outside the purser's office. Here they are looking down a hall lined with doors. The room numbers here range from ten to eighteen. A stairway at the far end of the hall both ascends and descends.

It is quiet and warm.
Metastachydium
Delja's swift left snatches the keys off of Aietta with practiced ease.   Thank you and have… An easier night, going on.   she tells the purser with an uncharacteristically sympathetic expression all over her own face as she swivels around to forcibly push Myriad back out of the room.    You say one more word, Druce, I'll crawl into your bathwater and  die  just to spite you.    she quietly warns the Changeling, sounding entirely too serious about the threat.

  Oh, hey, Ux.   she looks up on the big Dragonborn once outside.   Got a room. Have a key.   the Nixie tosses one of the foci to Ux Utanar; it's not like Myriad  needs  one to bypass a ward so simple.   It was cheap even. No stables, though, and definitely don't ask the purser about it. Druce just fried her brain. She said Ereshki can stay with us if we can squeeze her through the doors, nevertheless. It's worth a shot.   she rattles out in a manner most quick and efficient, dragging Myriad along towards the room.   We can discuss business once the suite's secured.  
remetagross
  "Greetings"  , says the dragonborn to the purser upon seeing her with a quick bow.   "My name is Ux Utanar tibul Randal Amblecrown."   
He then catches the key in the air (which is less a feat of agility and more a consequence of probability due to how large a target his enormous palm is) and takes in the new information. He turns to Aietta once again.
  "Ah, thank you for your offer about Ereshki, but she is too big to fit in here. I have left her momentarily in the custody of a serviceable tout."  

Eyeing the doors as he makes progress through the lobby, the knight realises Room 7 is not there.
  "Alright lads, let's try upstairs, shall we?"   
chaincomplex
 Twelve Factols: Upper Levels.  The party searches for their room. At first they head upstairs to find an identically cozy hallway. It is missing the purser's office and has instead a balcony exit. The rooms here are numbered from twenty-one to twenty-eight. There are two adventurers (dressed the part, delving goggles and all) milling about, discussing their latest expedition in hushed tones.

The party returns to take the stairs down where they find, like before, an identically cozy hall, though this time with a clean alley exit lit by incandescent wrought iron lamps. The numbers here range from one to eight and the party quickly locates their room.

Their room key slides in with a satisfying click. A floret engraving on the handle glows subtly before the thick darkwood door swings open noiselessly.

The suite within is quite handsome and spacious, consisting of two side-by-side rooms of about eight hundred square feet in total, connected by an open archway. The first is a lounge area, with cushioned seats and lounges facing a crackling fireplace. Several overfull antique shelves consisting of maps and dungeoneering technica lie against one wall. Painted landscapes of exotic and alien caverns hang next to them. A rich, velvety carpet pads the party's footsteps as they end. There is a writing desk and a comfortable chair against the remaining wall.

The second area is some type of bedroom. Moveable paper dividers mark one corner of the room as a bathing area, with a sturdy banded darkwood basin and plenty of salts, oils, creams, and towels on hand. The rest of the room is a well-appointed bedroom with a four-poster bed and an antique-looking dresser, a wash basin, and some manner of a cosmetics stand, which judging by odd burn-like marks, held more than cosmetics to one of this suite's prior occupants.

Torch sconces light the suite. There are windows overlooking the dark, lamp-lined streets of Lady's Ward outside. The party is clearly at ground level, but the windows look thick and well-secured, and have ample curtains for privacy.
remetagross
Ux Utanar tours the rooms with a satisfied look.  
"After the  Five Pebbles  and the Dustmen's place, that's definitely a cosier location to hang around."  

Though he frowns a little with dismay upon discovering there is but a single bed in there.  
"Ah, well. Guess I'll have one of the chairs, then. I'm pretty sure the bed would've collapsed under my weight anyway."  

The dragonborn unfastens his haversack and lets it rest against one of the seats, and lets himself fall heavily into it. 
 "Very comfortable indeed. So, gals, what was it that you've found out? What was this business you wanted to discuss, Delja?"  
Metastachydium
  Not so fast.   Delja barges in herself, only to suddenly stop and start rocking back and forth on her feet at the middle of the room. What's with this city and carpets? She'll never get used to how those things feel.   Druce, check the place for scryers, will you?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Meanwhile, the paranoid twit will stare and listen for anything suspicious (the death throes of the poor chair stuck under Ux Utanar don't count; they are par for the course):
Listen:  (1d20+24)[ 35 ] 
Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 38 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar stops himself and takes a slightly embarrassed look.
  "Uh. Yeah, of course."  
Geeksthenewsexy
Opening her mouth to protest, Myriad snaps it shut at Delja's threat.   Dead Delja sounds like the  worst  bath toy ever. Well, not the worst, but like....high on the list of nopes  , she thought as they made their way to the room.

Once in the room, she cracks her knuckles exaggeratedly and begins combing the room for any manner of hidden spaces, traps, or magical shenanigans.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

 Auto Search For Traps:   (1d20+37)[ 52 ]  + Detect Magic
 
chaincomplex
 Delja Utorak.  The nixie strains her acute senses. The door, windows, and walls here are very thick, anyone with ordinary mortal hearing would perceive nothing save for a violent, metal-clad battle in the next room. But Delja does not possess ordinary mortal hearing. She can hear in the next room, heavily muffled, the sound of quill scratching on parchment, and murmurs in some oratory tone, though unfortunately she does not quite catch the content of it.

Her sharp eyes scan the suite. There is little out of place here—it is, as promised, cleanly kept. The windows look out to a quiet night plaza. In the distance are red-plated patrols bearing torches, moving at a leisurely pace. Otherwise there is little enough movement in the shadows between the iron lamps that line the cobble roads. This neighborhood speaks of order and wealth. If there were to be commotion, it would likely not be of the petty criminal sort.

That aside, there are actually a decent number of trinkets scattered about the place: colored feathers, glass orbs, half-carved statuettes, silverware, loose parchments of various sketches, antique lamps, and such. It would take some time to catalogue it all if Delja had any interest, though on an immediate glance it is clear these are all belongings left by the many prior inhabitants of this suite.

 Myriad.  For a moment the changeling wonders whether she found a trap in among the tomes on the shelves. Hidden  deep  behind thick volumes is a strange wooden device with the glint of brass clockwork in the seams of its openings, built like a toy box small and light enough to carry in one hand. It is immediate to Myriad that it is not attached to anything dangerous, nor are there any arcane runes to channel power outwards. It is some kind of intricate mechanical contraption, and with  detect magic  she can see that conjuration magic (of moderate power) is woven through it. In principle it is like a trap save that it is not obviously meant to injure, and that there is no activation condition in immediate sight.

The tomes she found it stuffed behind appear to be detailed treatises on various dungeon hazards, none of which give an immediate clue as to the toy box's purpose.

Besides the toy box, the only other things that detect as magical are faint auras of abjuration about the points of entry (doors, windows, and amusingly, the fireplace itself) and a faint aura of conjuration associated with a crest mantled above the fireplace. The crest depicts the form of a liveried servant in a bow.
remetagross
Ux Utanar refrains from yawning.   This chair is  very  comfortable  , he thinks.  
"So, anything interesting that you've seen? I must say, I'm glad about the opportunity to take a proper rest, for once..."  

Ux Utanar casts a longing glance at the bedroom.
Metastachydium
  Nothing much.   Delja lifts and lets drop a trinket with her left.   Nothing much of interesat, at any rate. I'd love to take a look at whoever's next door; they sound like the priestly sort. Those can be a difficult lot.   she wanders closer to Myriad to lean in from behind and look upwards into her face. The Changeling looks… Just the regular sort of distracted, not magically distracted.   I don't think it's very urgent, nevertheless.   she swiwels back to face the Knight once more.   So. Given that if there were anything dangerous in the room,  she    a thumb gets pointed at Myriad   would already be dismantling it,  recklessly risking our lives in the process, if at all possible,  I think we can see to work. The Snatchers.   she goes on.   We are still to locate them and this establishment is big. It's time we drew up a battle plan of some sort.  
remetagross
Ux Utanar brings his head back from the depths of the chair's comfortable back to meet Delja's eyes.
  "Ah, well. Tell you what, that Grimbug fellow to which I've talked to while waiting for you gals has been very informative. As it turns out, there's some sort of public debate going on about whether Sigil should ban slavery or not. House Sauvais is a noble family against slavery, while House Midai is all for it. It's not the first time this topic is subject to vote, but each time, the "pro slavery" side wins, and this time it was assumed to go the same by everyone.

Except that this time around, there happens to be a serial killer on the move, and several House Sauvais supporters have been fairly gruesomly gotten by them. Which means that public opinion is slowly shifting in support of House Sauvais because of this, and for once, a victory of the "anti slavery" side is possible.

But wait, there's more. Grimbug has also told me that the Sauvais folk have a daily meeting at antipeak in the Twelve Factols. And remembler what Factor Trevenant told us? The killer, or killers for hire, just so happen to have a daily meeting at antipeak with their patrons! What an incredible happenstance, right?

So my hypothesis is that these House Sauvais folks are getting their own supports killed so as to gain public sympathy. And it's working so far. Except that House Midai will have none of it and has hired this super legendary bloodhound called the Huntress to investigate the Catacombs...which is probably where the killers for hire hide."  

Ux Utanar ends his long speech with a satisfactory look on his face.  
"I might not be the sharpest sword in the armoury, but I like to think I still have my moment, eh?"  
Metastachydium
   Grim who? The pushy Tiefling?   Delja tilts her head to a side, abandoning all attempts to somehow get the Changeling's attention.   A good job indeed, Ux.   she concedes all the same.   But if you gave away anything sensitive about our mission here, be ready for a shin kick. Anyhow,   she taps the Knight's knee, lightly, with a balled up little fist.   forget that Huntress for now. Did the Tiefling mention about where the mystery meeting room is, within the building? We might want to fly by and confirm what you learned.  
Geeksthenewsexy
Showing her friends the crest above the mantle, she mutters  "Unseen Servant, most likely."  as she continues to study the 'toy box' she'd pulled from the shelf.  "And...something else. Like a trap, but not dangerous. Spying device, maybe?"  As she muses aloud, her fingers flick over the box as she scrutinizes each detail.

 
 Spoiler 

Knowledge (Architecture &amp; Engineering)  (1d20+13)[ 18 ] 
Spellcraft  (1d20+14)[ 31 ] 
Use Magic Device  (1d20+30)[ 32 ] 
 Note:  I'd color my text but the toolbar doesn't even show up for me anymore, so I have to format everything by hand, which. Title field, Body field, Emojis, Post Icons, Submit &amp; Preview. That's all I get now. This is why I stopped joining games on GitPG and only use MW/Baldr now.
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar ponders about what he has said to the joyful tout.  
"Well, I did let on that we were interested in the Ooze plane incident, and about the whole killing spree. I guess that's about what everyone already knows, anyway. And about that meeting room location...what was it that Factor Trevant had said already..."  

It takes a few moments for him to get it back.  
"Ah, yes, it was along the lines of "in a private room on the lower floors of the Twelve Factols". Yeah, that's as precise as we're gonna get, I suppose."  
Metastachydium
Delja sighs and gives an excessively cautious, soft kick to Ux Utanar's shin. She really doesn't want to break a foot on those greaves, and he did nothing altogether  dangerously  wrong. Hopefully. So far.   Alright. That'll have to do. We'll have to make a quick descent and socialize some, I'm afraid.   Meaning close encounters with counters where drinks are served. Joy.   Try not to loudly introduce yourself more often than needed.   she warns the Dragonborn.   And I'm gonna strangle you if that  is  a spying device, Myr.   a shoulder is rolled and the Nixie looks at the door.   Someone do remind me… What time is it right now?  
remetagross
Ux Utanar chuckles.
  "I'll behave. But only if you promise me you'll let down this brooding face of yours for five minutes and take a little nap before we go down there. Because tell you what, I actually have no clue about the time of day. I'm not even sure it means anything in Sigil. It feels like I haven't slept in years anyhow, and that's what I'm intending to do - one of us at a time, of course!"   he interjects with a raised hand to ward off the incoming objection,   "and you and Myriad should do just the same."  
chaincomplex
 Myriad.  The clockwork Myriad can make out from the small gaps of the box does not strike her as being particularly sophisticated. This may well be a toy. Small metallic lines run through its wooden frame. The changeling is certain these are arcane conduits. It is not unheard of for toymakers to introduce clockwork complications that terminate with activating some magical circuit. Usually this casts some entertaining illusion before self-winding and becoming inert again. Such toys are typically very expensive, the kind of thing one passes down a family tree. It is certainly not a toy one forgets in an inn.

Myriad's study turns back to the box's aura rather than its material being, then it becomes clear. The box is under an active magical effect, and the "trap" simply triggers to renew the effect. At first she saw the aura for that of the box as a magic item, but this is in fact also the aura of an ongoing spell. A fairly subtle distinction that fortunately her experience in spellcraft saw through. And she recognizes the spell now: it is  gemjump .

 Delja Utorak.  Experienced as she is, the nixie knows that she cannot always tell the rough time of day simply by looking out the window. This does not even work consistently in the deep north of Toril, much less on any of the bizarre given worlds of the planescape. That said, the seemingly functional standing clock in the room reads  11  on the slow hand—just the number, one among twelve arrayed not unlike any timepiece back in Faerûn—and outside the window it is "night", or whatever passes for it in Sigil. It should be no more than an hour away from antipeak. In fact, the faster hand is just short of  6 .
remetagross
The dragonborn raises an eyebrow.
  
"So we have, what, 25 minutes to find their place? Seems good to me. What are you up to, Myriad?"  
Metastachydium
 Minutes . Delja narrows her eyes for a moment. Those are… Oh, right. That weird thing when one counts to  sixty , of all things, and it's used on some weird clocks. Probably another invention of the Sarrukh or somesuch.   Correct.   she nods at Ux Utanar after a long pause.   Meaning…   she suddenly hops up and onto the Dragonborn's knee, deactivating the Wispling disguise and going all blue again.   Let me tell you something.   she points a finger at the knight, now that they see eye to eye, folding her sword hand behind her back.   I'll stop  brooding  when we  finally  see something done, and to that end, I'd really rather we postponed sleeping and baths and whatever else you all seem to think we are here for  until  after  we gave it  at least   a try, or else we'll lose a day, and I'll brood a full day  more . Am I all clear?  
Geeksthenewsexy
Pointing the box out in answer to Ux's question, Myriad explains,   "Someone has used this as part of a Gemjump spell. So, someone can use it to anchor a teleport, popping in here whenever they like. If  I  was going to place down emergency teleport anchors like that, it I would hide them much better."   Pausing to consider the idea, she nods thoughtfully,   "Like take a cobblestone from some random corner of churchyard or something, hollow out a space for them gem on the underside, stash the gem in there, and then just... put it back. Who'd ever think to look there? But here? People rent this space.  We  literally  did  just do that. That's a terrible hiding place."   Sighting at the thought of such shoddy sneakery, the dwarf-shaped changeling seems somewhat dejected, as if disappointed in this unknown theoretical spellcaster and their lackluster performance in cleverness.

Unceremoniously stuffing the box into the bag of holding, Myriad glances at her companions.   " What ?  If we stash it in the bag of holding, it can't be used by the caster to just pop into our room whenever - that spell  only  works if you're on the  same  plane as the gem and bags of holding and the like  essentially  connect to super tiny demiplanes. We can  totall y sell it later because to take  that  spell, the materials on the focus have to be high enough quality to make at  least  a couple hundred gold on the open market. Kind of their fault for leaving it in a random inn room. Again,  terrible  planning."  

Seeming satisfied, she nods.   "Yeah, let's go ahead and give it the old Bardic Collage try.  Then  baths and naps.  Then  shopping."  
remetagross
Ux Utanar considers the menacing Delja standing on his knee. He frowns and answers Delja with a mildly annoyed, sonorous tone.
  "Well I do think we have accomplished quite a lot already. Remember the Obyriths? Besides, you were already all broody at that moment, so I'm not quite sure I'm believing you when you say you'll cheer up if we give this a go right now. With that said, I'm okay with going right now, since you both want to..but remember not to jump on my knee again, it's most undignified for a servant of Bahamut of my caliber. To meet my gaze, you could instead, I don't know, stand on the shoulders of Myriad, I'm sure that's the kind of antics she'd appreciate. Wouldn't you, Myriad?"  

That said, and once he can move around freely, Ux Utanar stands up and prepares to move.
Geeksthenewsexy
Looking directly at Deljy, Myriad grins wide.   "Yes. Step on me.  I'm  all  for  being undignified."   Waggling her eyebrows suggestively, she dips one shoulder and gestures towards it with a sweep of her arm.   "I'm told men with more money than sense  pay  to get stepped on by women, and other weird stuff. Usually barefoot or with sharp heels though, for some reason."  

Cupping a hand to the side of her mouth, she stage-whispers to Delja,   "Maybe Ux us just too poor right now to pay for it and is just too modest to accept charity."   Continuing, but still in the stage whisper for some reason, she continues,   "I'm not modest though, so I  always  accept charity."  
Metastachydium
Looking at the Ux Utanar Frown, her  own  bare feet, Myriad, and then the Ux Utanar Frown again, Delja is off of the Knight's knee somehow  faster  than she got on it.   Alright. Alright! Some of us grew up in a  swamp . You can both  bite  me.   she mumbles with a sigh, more tired again than annoyed. The Wispling disguise goes up again.   Can we just forget this conversation  happened  and  go  now?   she adds with something like a muffled groan taking a tentative step towards the door.
remetagross
Myriad never fails to cheer Ux up with her warped sense of humour.
  "That's more like it!"   he cheers up and answers.   "May the Lord of the North Wind smile upon our next journey."  
He stands up and proceeds to leaving the room with his comrades.
chaincomplex
The party makes their way down the quiet, sconce-lit hall, footsteps alternating between soft padding on thick carpets and the announcing snaps of hard footwear on hard wood. Delja and Myriad can vaguely hear the occupants of the other rooms. There is little cheer or friendliness, and conversations are held with professional urgency. On several occasions, Delja and Myriad could hear the clinking of metal arms and armor. The soundscape is reminiscent of an adventurer's lodge. This is no ordinary inn, that much is certain.

The party ascends to the main lodgings hall and pass the purser's office through whose doorway the party glimpses Aietta staring intensely at some complex chart in a massive tome. They descend the stairway to the entryway.

Outside in the cold night air, the party glimpses Grimbug and Ereshki standing no more than five feet from each other, engaged in some kind of staring contest.

 ──────────── 
The party descends into the first of many halls of the tavern part of  The Twelve Factols . Humanoids and outsiders crowd the tables. These are no common denizens, and virtually all their chatter concerns conflict in some fashion. A good number are dressed for the part as well—staves and blades are sheathed or leaning against tables. Armor or rune-engraved robes are common. Several tables have maps or charts spread out on them, corners held down by mugs of sweet spiced mead or plates of roasted meats.

These taverns consist of four levels (see  map ). Bertrand, the barkeep Myriad met earlier, is on the third, where there is also a stage for fighters to compete. At the moment a dwarf and large demon are sparring in a show match, the clanging of their weapons rising above the din of the crowd.

On the second floor several private rooms adjoin the main hall. There is also a planetar seated, drinking and talking to three companions consisting of two humanoids and some manner of baatezu. The planetar is drinking mead with the others, great white feathery wings shuddering with each gulp, which is the kind of odd sight one usually only sees in Sigil.

The first and deepest floor is an empty hall lined with statues of stately looking humanoids. At the far end of the hall is a grand stairway leading down to the darkness of the Catacombs. No one is here and the only sounds are those that filter from the stairway up to the rest of the tavern. A chaotic collection of dirty boot prints indicate that at other times of day, this would be a heavily trafficked path.
remetagross
After having thoroughly encourage Ereshki to win against the cambion, Ux Utanar proceeds down to the first level with his comrades. He gives an appreciative nod at the sight of the first hall.   
"See, these are people engaged in real business. It looks like the military headquarter of a dragonborn stronghold. We will fit just fine."     He speaks in a quiet tone, since he knows the auditive acuity of Myriad and Delja can effortlessly pick up his words even then.

The dragonborn looks around for the entrances of any private rooms or lounges, but does not see any. He also look for a barkeeper of some sort, but that hall seems to be devoid of any.
   "Let's proceed till we can ask someone for a private room we could use for ourselves. Shall we?".   
Metastachydium
Delja, still somewhat grumpy about All the Things that Never Happened, gives the closed doors with people altogether likely all too interested in getting close to danger, whether they can hadle it or not, a displeased grimace. This is bound to get unneccessarily complicated.


 
 Originally Posted by remetagross;25982629[B 
   
"See, these are people engaged in real business. It looks like the military headquarter of a dragonborn stronghold. We will fit just fine."   [/B] 
 

  See, I'd rather we didn't, for once.   she retorts as Ux Utanar notices roughly the same issue a level later, barely lowering her own voice. The Dragonborn… Has earholes, but doesn't seem to use them much. And she's  not  climbing onto Myriad to get closer to them.    Given the circumstances…    she mumbles, mostly to herself, and, as sadly as inevitably, likely to Myriad as she heads straight for the stairs.


    "Let's proceed till we can ask someone for a private room we could use for ourselves. Shall we?".    

The Knight's second comment elicits only the merest shake of her head, ion the other hand. All too direct. Way too much like Ux Utanar. They need to be a tad more subtle about this.   Quite a crowd.   she speaks up.   And I'd rather not sit by the stage now antway. Could you see about drinks while Druce and I check down if there's free tables?   she looks up at the Dragonborn, trying to make the look  very  suggestive to Ux, but  very  hard to notice for much everyone else.   Please?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluff to tell Ux "we'll go be nosy, let's not do your plan" discreetly:  (1d20+20)[ 26 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  It is, of course, a DC 15 Sense Motive check on the dragonborn's part to detect his nixie companion's secret message.

 Delja Utorak.  There are, though not many, free tables on the top two floors of the tavern. The bottom floor, the so-called  Twelve Factols Hall , has no tables to speak of, and the floor above that,  Deep Hall , is fully occupied by humanoids and outsiders, including the planetar just casually seated like any other denizen of Sigil, mug in muscular hands, engaged in calm but natural conversation with his companions.

Listening casually to the surrounding chatter, Delja notes that most tables are occupied by adventurers discussing and relating recent delves into the Catacombs, either to colleagues in the business or—being a good chunk of the patrons here, the nixie observes—interested journalists, historians, cartographers, or other laypeople documenting the adventurers' discoveries.

 ──────────── 
On the third floor,  Storm Hall , the barkeep works behind the counter, partly concealed by rows of bottles on shelves bearing the colorful and exotic labels of drinks from across the planes. The bottom row of one shelf has a collection local drinks, primarily featuring meads, ciders, and rums branded  Greengage . On the shelves above any semblance of organization drops away. There are Tethyrian spiced wines, a familiar sight for any Faerûnian, but there are also Abanasinian spirits from Krynn, Celadonian mead from Flanaess, Kier ale from Cerilia, Lhazaarian rum from Eberron, and more. The dizzying collection would take a good eye for drinks or places to properly comprehend.
remetagross
Ux Utanar, unfortunately, is completely oblivious to the hidden meaning of Delja's discourse.
   "Drinks? Are you sure this is the best moment for that? I think we should keep a clear head in this situation, and not start messing with our clarity of mind with alcohol...How about I took you some fruit juice instead? But fine, let's think about our next move at a table then."   

The dragonborn paces around in the hall, seeing no counter nor bartender. Exploring further, he descends to the third level in his search of beverage. At the third floor, he first eyes the ongoing combat between the dwarf and the demon. As always, his first impulse is to rush to the side of the mortal in his fight against an evil creature. And then he remembers he is in Sigil and refrains from making a second step after the first, groaning inwardly.

Bertrand is is sight quickly after that.  
"Good evening, sir. You've got an impressive array of drinks here I must say. I'm in the mood for something sweeter though. Any non-alcoholic beverage?"  

In case Delja (and Myriad) have replied to him that yes, they  do  mean "drink" and not "fruit juice" then Ux Utanar will purchase some real booze for them and some tamer thing for himself. Else, it'll be soft drinks for everyone.
Metastachydium
Delja succeeds in resisting the urge to stab herself straight in the head and resigns to just quietly roll her eyes instead.   Absolutely. No racket for today.   she says smoothly, slinkking off from beside Ux Utanar's side.

 ♣ 
Having surveyed the tavern floors, the Nixie is forced to conclude that the only visible doors that might lead to the kind of side room they are looking for are, quite naturally, on the one that is already all too inconveniently all too full of customers. Such is her luck. This will take a… Different approach then. After some seemingly confused ambling around, she steps between the side door near the stairs leading down and the Planetar, and looks at the big winged thing, as though she just noticed the Angel. Her gaze shifts from the green face to the mug and back and she tilts her head somewhat, putting on a face of friendly calm.   Tough day?   she asks, more intent to pick up any noise from behind the door than to pay attention to any answer she might get.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Spot:  (1d20+26)[ 29 ] , combined with
Knowledge (local):  (1d20+12)[ 18 ]  and
Knowledge (mobility&amp;royalty):  (1d20+8)[ 24 ]  to see if there are doors she didn't notice and, especially, anyone bearing the insignia of House Sauvais in the room;

Bluff to look like an innocent little some-to-nobody new to the place:  (1d20+20)[ 38 ] ,
Diplomacy on the Planetar:  (1d20+15)[ 16 ] , and

Listen to see if she can hear anything from behind the door on T18:  (1d20+24)[ 29 ] 
 
chaincomplex
 Ux Utanar.  The dragonborn approaches the barkeep, who is working casually in Storm Hall. He raises his spectacled gaze to meet Ux's. A fast sequence of clashing metal from across the room mixes with a deep, loud chuckle. A few cheers rise from the crowd. The demon had knocked the dwarf on his behind, but backed off to give his stout opponent a chance to get up and catch his breath.

Speaking above the din, Bertrand says with dissatisfaction,   "I  suppose  we have juices."   It is soon clear that he means fruit juices of apple, pear, orange, or currant, all five hours "fresh" and only slightly cooler than room temperature, having been delivered earlier in the day. With only crude methods of cold storage in-house, Bertrand explains, he only has a small batch of juices delivered per day for use in foods and drinks. And for just a mug of juice he is charging a full 1 gp.

Still, he does his best to make the mugs of juice palatable. He goes through a process of mixing in various colorful spices in turn, stopping to sample the concoction with a private cup, then adjusting and repeating until he is satisfied. In the end Bertrand sets Ux's order before him. The spiced juices Ux picks up have an alluring aroma. Whatever Bertrand did, he is clearly skilled.

 ──────────── 
 Delja Utorak.  The angel takes a deep drink then looks at the nixie with pupilless eyes which glint like pearls. His emerald-tinged skin and great white feathery wings marks him as a planetar. With a small smile tugging at his lips, he says in a deep voice,   "For those who dive the Catacombs, having a 'tough day' is a thing of pride, so does masochism breed in the heart of adventurers. With this in mind: No, stranger, I did not have a tough day, for I am no adventurer."  
  "You  were  just mentioning your dive this early noon,"   says the other outsider at the table pointedly in a deep, velvety voice. This creature is a cambion. His Hell-tinged skin and crooked horns do not mar his otherwise  very  handsome features. It is obvious to any onlooker that he is wearing a treasury's worth of magical gear. The chain shirt barely visible under his loose overgown shimmers gently of its own accord. A gorgeous, intricately detailed rapier handle is visible at his belt. He is fitted with just-as-expensive-looking rings, alongside a signet ring bearing some abstract mark. His other accoutrements—boots, belt, necklace—are of evident magical quality.

Delja does not recognize the mark on the cambion's signet ring. While she does not recall what House Sauvais's heraldry or mark would be, it being actually a somewhat obscure piece of Cage trivia for reasons of local customs, it is not lost on the nixie that no one else in the room is (visibly) wearing a signet ring.

Straining to listen through the door at  T18 , Delja hears nothing. The loud chatter going on in the main hall is not helping.

  "So I was,"   says the planetar, turning to the cambion.   "And to answer your question, my curious friend, the Huntress did not return from the way of the Antenmen Passage."  

One of the others at the table, a graceful elf in robes, speaks.   "Most curious, indeed."  

The cambion snorts softly.   "A riddle, then. Of what interest could the first two layers be to the Huntress?"  
  "Let us avoid speculation,"   says the elf.   "I have an inkling that, on this matter, we could place a hundred guesses and be wrong a hundred times over."  
Metastachydium
Seeing that going all Myriad (well, a lot less offensively obnoxious Myriad, at any rate) on the clientele seems to be working out in her favour so far, Delja narrows her eyes somewhat and touches her chin with a pensive left index finger.   The Huntress? The big name delving person?   she asks, as though confused. The Huntress may not be her chief reason to be here, but Ux Utanar said she's a Midai agent. That's related. Worth a few more moments of idle chat however she might look at it.   Is this An-ten-men Passage some really wild place?  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Bluffing on:  (1d20+20)[ 38 ] 
 
remetagross
Ux Utanar remains pleasantly smiling all the way through Bertrand's antics.   I suppose it's not that often people order that kind of stuff to him.   
His patience is rewarded with these three mugs of artfully composed fruit juice and spices. He even remains unflinching when the barkeep asks for the outrageous price of 1gp a mug (ok, one nostril twitched a little bit).
  "...well, I can't say these are  cheap , but I confess they look great. What are they?"   he says amiably as he puts the coins on the counter and spins around, cups in hand. And then he sees the dwarf warrior panting, hands on his knees, while the demon waits intently at the opposite side of the ring, clearly letting his opponent rest a little.   Huh.  
The dragonborn turns around once more to face the counter. He carefully puts the cups back, fetches another coin and slides it to Bertrand.
  "And one more juice for the dwarf warrior, please. Your most energizing one. Do not say it was from me. He fights well, but is clearly in need of something to keep his spirits up."  

Thus lightened of four gold pieces and burdened of three fruit juices, he heads back to the upper floor to join Delja and Myriad.