As soon as Khessa opens her mouth, Akkron casts hold person on the professor to avoid a repeat of what happened with the monk (Wis save, DC 24). If the professor makes his save Akkron will cast silvery barbs to make him roll again, and he'll hope Khessa counterspells the professor's counterspell.
"Search him quickly," the lich says. "Make sure he isn't hiding any poisoned pills like that monk we just finished dealing with. Don't forget to check his teeth... I once saw a hollowed-out false tooth implanted in a man's jaw that would release a poisonous gas if he clenched his teeth in just the right way."
After Sparhawk takes off to fetch a horse, you do a quick rudimentary search of his person and belongings. In his robes, you find a belt pouch with 5 GP, 10 SP, and 25 CP, and a brass key. Around his neck, tucked under his clothes is an amulet with the same design of the main tattoo that was on the Monk. Going on a hunch, you roll up the professor's sleaves, and on his upper right arm is the same brand as the Monk, and you can see a dark sliver of something just under the skin.
In the books he had stacked near him, is a day planner that only had the class schedules and when he had to give his lectures, and in what hall he was to give them. Two books were of historical references, such as The Unearthed Arcana, and a book titled Fiend Folio, A treatise on Old Monsters. A third book looked out of place, the cover too new and not worn like the other books. As you touch it, you feel a dark radiant energy. As you open it, you see the cover is false, and the book within is very old, the pages yellow with age. You do not recognize the script that it is written in.
Mal leans in to the group and whispers, "I will be back, going to follow these students and see where they end up." Mal will then start to follow the group of students and when given the opportunity, her armor will once again shift to some garb that resembles what the students are wearing. If the students start to split up she will focus on the one that seems to be the leader of the group.
Stealth: 34
Perception: Rolled a Nat 1 so 9, but with Reliable Talent, becomes an 18.
You follow the different groups of students out. The third who were speaking of which tavern to visit, head off down a side road that goes towards the business district. The bored third head in different directions, mostly into the academic areas of libraries or other departments. The third who appeared to be enraptured with the lecture, stay together in a tight group, their heads close together whispering. They constantly look up and around, paranoid that someone might be watching them, where you observe passersby could actually not care at all at what they were doing and ignored them.
They continue to walk down the main street, then turn down an alley that heads towards some older buildings that appear to not have been used in a good while. As you follow them, you determine this area of the academy is no longer used, heavy dust, cobwebs, brush and debris lay about the small street. You see a faded sign, that stated "Academy of Ancient Necromancy," that shifted back and forth on the breeze.
Keeping your distance though an amateur could have shadowed them without difficulty, you observe they come to an old wizard's tower that had the topped blown off by some type of explosion a long time ago. They enter a door at the bottom, then the last one doing a quick look to see if there is anyone following them (and not detecting you), closes the door.
Akkron considers the situation carefully for a few moments...
"We should also consider the possibility that he may be a victim in this," the lich says as he looks at the protrusion from the professor's skin. "Granted, it is unlikely... but he might be under the effects of a geas or similar mind-altering ability that has turned him into an unwilling conspirator."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
“Maybe” Khessa concedes. "Anyway, one thing we know for sure is that that thing under his skin keeps him in contact with bad company; so let's take it away from him and put it with that other thing in the lead chest. We'll see if, without it, the professor repents... or not".
The blonde arcane warrior binds and gags the prisoner, then tries to extract the dark sliver... is it necessary to cut the flesh with a knife? She does it if necessary (trying to cause only the pain that is strictly necessary). Then, when it is possible to extract the sliver, he has Alfred take it - he is a construct, he should not be affected too much by good or evil influences - and has him put it together with the one extracted from the monk's body.
"Waiting to understand if the book is dangerous..." the tall adventuress begins - but immediately corrects herself "No, I'll rephrase: while waiting to understand in what ways the book is dangerous, do you want me to have Alfred carry this too? When we reach the basement, perhaps we can try to quietly examine the book with the help of magic".
However, Khessa also keeps 'The Unearthed Arcana' and 'Fiend Folio, A treatise on Old Monsters'... they seem like interesting reads - and perhaps even less dangerous than the third book!
As Mal approaches the door, I have found the location, I should turn around and rejoin my friends, but truly what have I found, nothing really.
Sighing, she looks intently at the door before she tests to see if it is locked, then she presses her ear against the door, listening for any sounds right on the other side of it. Hearing nothing she gently and as silently as she can opens the door and creeps inside. Once inside she will look around and see where the students went once inside and she will continue to creep after them and see if she can find an advantage point above them and listen in on their conversations and make a note of who all is there. Admonishing herself, Why do I continue to forget the simplest of tools, quill and paper, hopefully my memory will be sufficient to remember all details of who is inside and what is being said.
(Perception: 20 Detect traps before touching/opening the door. If she hears anything she will try to find another way into the tower.)
(Survival: 14 to see which direction the students went)
As Mal approaches the door, I have found the location, I should turn around and rejoin my friends, but truly what have I found, nothing really.
Sighing, she looks intently at the door before she tests to see if it is locked, then she presses her ear against the door, listening for any sounds right on the other side of it. Hearing nothing she gently and as silently as she can opens the door and creeps inside. Once inside she will look around and see where the students went once inside and she will continue to creep after them and see if she can find an advantage point above them and listen in on their conversations and make a note of who all is there. Admonishing herself, Why do I continue to forget the simplest of tools, quill and paper, hopefully my memory will be sufficient to remember all details of who is inside and what is being said.
(Perception: 20 Detect traps before touching/opening the door. If she hears anything she will try to find another way into the tower.)
(Survival: 14 to see which direction the students went)
(Stealth: 31)
The door is locked, and when you press your ear to the door, it sounds like shuffling but going down, perhaps a stairs as you hear boards creak.
“Maybe” Khessa concedes. "Anyway, one thing we know for sure is that that thing under his skin keeps him in contact with bad company; so let's take it away from him and put it with that other thing in the lead chest. We'll see if, without it, the professor repents... or not".
The blonde arcane warrior binds and gags the prisoner, then tries to extract the dark sliver... is it necessary to cut the flesh with a knife? She does it if necessary (trying to cause only the pain that is strictly necessary). Then, when it is possible to extract the sliver, he has Alfred take it - he is a construct, he should not be affected too much by good or evil influences - and has him put it together with the one extracted from the monk's body.
"Waiting to understand if the book is dangerous..." the tall adventuress begins - but immediately corrects herself "No, I'll rephrase: while waiting to understand in what ways the book is dangerous, do you want me to have Alfred carry this too? When we reach the basement, perhaps we can try to quietly examine the book with the help of magic".
However, Khessa also keeps 'The Unearthed Arcana' and 'Fiend Folio, A treatise on Old Monsters'... they seem like interesting reads - and perhaps even less dangerous than the third book!
You pull out your dagger, and it is a simple slice to expose the black sliver. As it is exposed, you see that it is the same type of material that was embedded in the arm of the dark monk.
Khessa instructs Alfred to take the sliver between thumb and index then gently remove it (assuming that gentile strength sufficies) to put it in the lead box with the other.
Although probably Maynard touched the sliver, as he extracted it from the monk, the blonde arcane warrior prefers to be cautious, having made contact with Azash twice already today... she is not longing for a third contact, so it lets only the construct touch the sliver, hoping that its soulless nature will allow it to avoid negative side effects.
Seeing that they have everything under control with the Professor, Tyekanik will try to catch up with Mal. If he’s able to join him, seeing her press her ear up to the door Tyekanik will say with a bit of a grin, “Want to scare the sense into some of them?”
[OOC: LOL, read all the posts except the last one, If Tyekanik can find me, I will fill him in on what is going on and then continue with the below. Will bring stuff out of spoiler once I learn if Ty can find me or not.]
"Hmmm, sounds like people are still within range of the door, but seem to be moving down," Mal quietly as she counts to twenty and then tries to unlock the door and enter the structure.
Dex check to unlock door: 22
If the door unlocks Mal will quietly go inside and make her way down slowly, looking for any traps along the way or anyone hiding in an alcove as a guard for what lies below.
Stealth: 40 Perception: 19
If the door does not unlock, Mal will make her way back to the others and report what she has seen, advising Sparhawk to raid the place immediately.
Khessa instructs Alfred to take the sliver between thumb and index then gently remove it (assuming that gentile strength sufficies) to put it in the lead box with the other.
Although probably Maynard touched the sliver, as he extracted it from the monk, the blonde arcane warrior prefers to be cautious, having made contact with Azash twice already today... she is not longing for a third contact, so it lets only the construct touch the sliver, hoping that its soulless nature will allow it to avoid negative side effects.
Brother Maynard hold opens a lead lined box he has received from one of the departments. "I used tweezers to handle it, seeing what it does to skin contact," he explains. It doesn't seem to have any impact on Alfred who drops it into the box, and Brother Maynard closes the lid.
A short while later, Sparhawk returns. "I have a horse we can drape our friend here and cover him with a tarp when we take him back to the Inn."
[OOC: LOL, read all the posts except the last one, If Tyekanik can find me, I will fill him in on what is going on and then continue with the below. Will bring stuff out of spoiler once I learn if Ty can find me or not.]
"Hmmm, sounds like people are still within range of the door, but seem to be moving down," Mal quietly as she counts to twenty and then tries to unlock the door and enter the structure.
Dex check to unlock door: 22
If the door unlocks Mal will quietly go inside and make her way down slowly, looking for any traps along the way or anyone hiding in an alcove as a guard for what lies below.
Stealth: 40 Perception: 19
If the door does not unlock, Mal will make her way back to the others and report what she has seen, advising Sparhawk to raid the place immediately.
You pick the lock easily, and the door opens. You are in the old entranceway of the tower, heavily strewn with debris and thick layers of dust. There is only one door visible, and you can see the tracks of the students go into the door.
The door has no lock and opens reveling a wooden staircase going down. You can see the flicker of lights coming from below. Walking carefully and slowly, staying close to the wall where the wood is strongest and limiting the sound of creaking, you make your way down. As you spiral down, the flickering light becomes brighter until you can see into once was a basement chamber. The 5 students have donned black robes and are in the process of lighting numerous candles. It appears they are preparing to do a ceremony of some type.
"So... am I the only one who found it odd that no one even seemed to notice an undead sitting in the back of the classroom?" Akkron asks as they bundle up the professor. "Not that I'm complaining, it's kind of nice when people don't scream and run as soon as they see me. But... it makes one wonder if perhaps he's had 'guests' like me before..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
"Oh, you may be right, Master Akkron..." reflects Khessa, who had not dwelt too much on the question "But I have also heard that among university students, playing pranks is not at all uncommon... And these are students of magic... Maybe every now and then it happens that some students try to surprise or scare others with a Disguise Self or something!" she giggles "Maybe a lot of people were thinking 'Hey! Who do you think it is?''I bet it's Aseir... Do you remember when he came to class in devil form?''No, I think it's Seipora... last time she had come to class invisible...' and so on".
"I suppose that is possible," Akkron concedes with a chuckle. "Still, seeing how it is a school of magic, you would expect them to be more careful. It's not exactly unheard of for students of magic to accidentally summon monsters that they can't get rid of. I might or might not have done that a few times when I was still a naïve mortal wizard..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
“Yes, true Master Akkron,” Khessa concedes. "I don't know what to think... Maybe they have security measures that would be triggered in case of out-of-control creatures... but you just followed the lesson like a diligent student..."
"Anyway," the blonde arcane warrior instead turns her thoughts to the prisoner "soon we will be able to interrogate someone who, for a change, is alive... How do you think it is best to act? Our companions versed in the sacred arts should have spells that detect or prevent lies - while you might be able to charm the professor as easily as you blocked him... Is there anything else we should exploit? Or should this be enough to make the prisoner tell us everything he knows without deceiving us?"
Akkron taps the side of his skull a few times gently with his staff while he thinks.
"The first thing we should do is probably attempt to identify any spells that may be effecting him," the lich says. "If he is an unfortunate pawn then we should be able to dispel whatever charm he is under before we use our own magic to compel the truth out of him... conflicting compulsions might get a bit messy, after all."
[OOC: LOL, read all the posts except the last one, If Tyekanik can find me, I will fill him in on what is going on and then continue with the below. Will bring stuff out of spoiler once I learn if Ty can find me or not.]
"Hmmm, sounds like people are still within range of the door, but seem to be moving down," Mal quietly as she counts to twenty and then tries to unlock the door and enter the structure.
Dex check to unlock door: 22
If the door unlocks Mal will quietly go inside and make her way down slowly, looking for any traps along the way or anyone hiding in an alcove as a guard for what lies below.
Stealth: 40 Perception: 19
If the door does not unlock, Mal will make her way back to the others and report what she has seen, advising Sparhawk to raid the place immediately.
You pick the lock easily, and the door opens. You are in the old entranceway of the tower, heavily strewn with debris and thick layers of dust. There is only one door visible, and you can see the tracks of the students go into the door.
The door has no lock and opens reveling a wooden staircase going down. You can see the flicker of lights coming from below. Walking carefully and slowly, staying close to the wall where the wood is strongest and limiting the sound of creaking, you make your way down. As you spiral down, the flickering light becomes brighter until you can see into once was a basement chamber. The 5 students have donned black robes and are in the process of lighting numerous candles. It appears they are preparing to do a ceremony of some type.
What do you do?
Looking to Mal quietly Tyekanik says, "Wanna scare some sense into em?"
Mal quietly places a hand on Tye's arm and whispers, "As much fun as that would be, let's wait a moment and see what happens. Currently our best course is to gather as much information as we can and see just how deep this infection goes before we cut it out of the body, so to speak. They seem to be in starting some form of ritual, let's see what transpires and then we can go from there. Currently there is only the five of them, but there might be more."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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After Sparhawk takes off to fetch a horse, you do a quick rudimentary search of his person and belongings. In his robes, you find a belt pouch with 5 GP, 10 SP, and 25 CP, and a brass key. Around his neck, tucked under his clothes is an amulet with the same design of the main tattoo that was on the Monk. Going on a hunch, you roll up the professor's sleaves, and on his upper right arm is the same brand as the Monk, and you can see a dark sliver of something just under the skin.
In the books he had stacked near him, is a day planner that only had the class schedules and when he had to give his lectures, and in what hall he was to give them. Two books were of historical references, such as The Unearthed Arcana, and a book titled Fiend Folio, A treatise on Old Monsters. A third book looked out of place, the cover too new and not worn like the other books. As you touch it, you feel a dark radiant energy. As you open it, you see the cover is false, and the book within is very old, the pages yellow with age. You do not recognize the script that it is written in.
You follow the different groups of students out. The third who were speaking of which tavern to visit, head off down a side road that goes towards the business district. The bored third head in different directions, mostly into the academic areas of libraries or other departments. The third who appeared to be enraptured with the lecture, stay together in a tight group, their heads close together whispering. They constantly look up and around, paranoid that someone might be watching them, where you observe passersby could actually not care at all at what they were doing and ignored them.
They continue to walk down the main street, then turn down an alley that heads towards some older buildings that appear to not have been used in a good while. As you follow them, you determine this area of the academy is no longer used, heavy dust, cobwebs, brush and debris lay about the small street. You see a faded sign, that stated "Academy of Ancient Necromancy," that shifted back and forth on the breeze.
Keeping your distance though an amateur could have shadowed them without difficulty, you observe they come to an old wizard's tower that had the topped blown off by some type of explosion a long time ago. They enter a door at the bottom, then the last one doing a quick look to see if there is anyone following them (and not detecting you), closes the door.
Akkron considers the situation carefully for a few moments...
"We should also consider the possibility that he may be a victim in this," the lich says as he looks at the protrusion from the professor's skin. "Granted, it is unlikely... but he might be under the effects of a geas or similar mind-altering ability that has turned him into an unwilling conspirator."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
“Maybe” Khessa concedes. "Anyway, one thing we know for sure is that that thing under his skin keeps him in contact with bad company; so let's take it away from him and put it with that other thing in the lead chest. We'll see if, without it, the professor repents... or not".
The blonde arcane warrior binds and gags the prisoner, then tries to extract the dark sliver... is it necessary to cut the flesh with a knife? She does it if necessary (trying to cause only the pain that is strictly necessary). Then, when it is possible to extract the sliver, he has Alfred take it - he is a construct, he should not be affected too much by good or evil influences - and has him put it together with the one extracted from the monk's body.
"Waiting to understand if the book is dangerous..." the tall adventuress begins - but immediately corrects herself "No, I'll rephrase: while waiting to understand in what ways the book is dangerous, do you want me to have Alfred carry this too? When we reach the basement, perhaps we can try to quietly examine the book with the help of magic".
However, Khessa also keeps 'The Unearthed Arcana' and 'Fiend Folio, A treatise on Old Monsters'... they seem like interesting reads - and perhaps even less dangerous than the third book!
As Mal approaches the door, I have found the location, I should turn around and rejoin my friends, but truly what have I found, nothing really.
Sighing, she looks intently at the door before she tests to see if it is locked, then she presses her ear against the door, listening for any sounds right on the other side of it. Hearing nothing she gently and as silently as she can opens the door and creeps inside. Once inside she will look around and see where the students went once inside and she will continue to creep after them and see if she can find an advantage point above them and listen in on their conversations and make a note of who all is there. Admonishing herself, Why do I continue to forget the simplest of tools, quill and paper, hopefully my memory will be sufficient to remember all details of who is inside and what is being said.
(Perception: 20 Detect traps before touching/opening the door. If she hears anything she will try to find another way into the tower.)
(Survival: 14 to see which direction the students went)
(Stealth: 31)
The door is locked, and when you press your ear to the door, it sounds like shuffling but going down, perhaps a stairs as you hear boards creak.
You pull out your dagger, and it is a simple slice to expose the black sliver. As it is exposed, you see that it is the same type of material that was embedded in the arm of the dark monk.
Khessa instructs Alfred to take the sliver between thumb and index then gently remove it (assuming that gentile strength sufficies) to put it in the lead box with the other.
Although probably Maynard touched the sliver, as he extracted it from the monk, the blonde arcane warrior prefers to be cautious, having made contact with Azash twice already today... she is not longing for a third contact, so it lets only the construct touch the sliver, hoping that its soulless nature will allow it to avoid negative side effects.
Seeing that they have everything under control with the Professor, Tyekanik will try to catch up with Mal. If he’s able to join him, seeing her press her ear up to the door Tyekanik will say with a bit of a grin, “Want to scare the sense into some of them?”
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
[OOC: LOL, read all the posts except the last one, If Tyekanik can find me, I will fill him in on what is going on and then continue with the below. Will bring stuff out of spoiler once I learn if Ty can find me or not.]
"Hmmm, sounds like people are still within range of the door, but seem to be moving down," Mal quietly as she counts to twenty and then tries to unlock the door and enter the structure.
Dex check to unlock door: 22
If the door unlocks Mal will quietly go inside and make her way down slowly, looking for any traps along the way or anyone hiding in an alcove as a guard for what lies below.
Stealth: 40 Perception: 19
If the door does not unlock, Mal will make her way back to the others and report what she has seen, advising Sparhawk to raid the place immediately.
Brother Maynard hold opens a lead lined box he has received from one of the departments. "I used tweezers to handle it, seeing what it does to skin contact," he explains. It doesn't seem to have any impact on Alfred who drops it into the box, and Brother Maynard closes the lid.
A short while later, Sparhawk returns. "I have a horse we can drape our friend here and cover him with a tarp when we take him back to the Inn."
You pick the lock easily, and the door opens. You are in the old entranceway of the tower, heavily strewn with debris and thick layers of dust. There is only one door visible, and you can see the tracks of the students go into the door.
The door has no lock and opens reveling a wooden staircase going down. You can see the flicker of lights coming from below. Walking carefully and slowly, staying close to the wall where the wood is strongest and limiting the sound of creaking, you make your way down. As you spiral down, the flickering light becomes brighter until you can see into once was a basement chamber. The 5 students have donned black robes and are in the process of lighting numerous candles. It appears they are preparing to do a ceremony of some type.
"Way to go, Sparhawk..." Khessa compliments the orher "You seem ti always have what we need... You're quite the resourceful one!"
She then proceeds to wrap up the prisoner and heads to the inn, ready to put the professor to question, while waiting for Mal and Tyekanik to return.
"So... am I the only one who found it odd that no one even seemed to notice an undead sitting in the back of the classroom?" Akkron asks as they bundle up the professor. "Not that I'm complaining, it's kind of nice when people don't scream and run as soon as they see me. But... it makes one wonder if perhaps he's had 'guests' like me before..."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
"Oh, you may be right, Master Akkron..." reflects Khessa, who had not dwelt too much on the question "But I have also heard that among university students, playing pranks is not at all uncommon... And these are students of magic... Maybe every now and then it happens that some students try to surprise or scare others with a Disguise Self or something!" she giggles "Maybe a lot of people were thinking 'Hey! Who do you think it is?' 'I bet it's Aseir... Do you remember when he came to class in devil form?' 'No, I think it's Seipora... last time she had come to class invisible...' and so on".
"I suppose that is possible," Akkron concedes with a chuckle. "Still, seeing how it is a school of magic, you would expect them to be more careful. It's not exactly unheard of for students of magic to accidentally summon monsters that they can't get rid of. I might or might not have done that a few times when I was still a naïve mortal wizard..."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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“Yes, true Master Akkron,” Khessa concedes. "I don't know what to think... Maybe they have security measures that would be triggered in case of out-of-control creatures... but you just followed the lesson like a diligent student..."
"Anyway," the blonde arcane warrior instead turns her thoughts to the prisoner "soon we will be able to interrogate someone who, for a change, is alive... How do you think it is best to act? Our companions versed in the sacred arts should have spells that detect or prevent lies - while you might be able to charm the professor as easily as you blocked him... Is there anything else we should exploit? Or should this be enough to make the prisoner tell us everything he knows without deceiving us?"
Akkron taps the side of his skull a few times gently with his staff while he thinks.
"The first thing we should do is probably attempt to identify any spells that may be effecting him," the lich says. "If he is an unfortunate pawn then we should be able to dispel whatever charm he is under before we use our own magic to compel the truth out of him... conflicting compulsions might get a bit messy, after all."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Looking to Mal quietly Tyekanik says, "Wanna scare some sense into em?"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Mal quietly places a hand on Tye's arm and whispers, "As much fun as that would be, let's wait a moment and see what happens. Currently our best course is to gather as much information as we can and see just how deep this infection goes before we cut it out of the body, so to speak. They seem to be in starting some form of ritual, let's see what transpires and then we can go from there. Currently there is only the five of them, but there might be more."