Rosebud searches her memory but comes up blank. Visions of a vibrant red celosia plant kept appearing instead, visions that she knew were incorrect. “If needed, I can shape shift. Just to land animals, like a cat or dog, if that would be helpful. And only a few times during the day since I haven’t mastered the skill.” she offers.
"That sounds like an imp... if these guys have something like this at their disposal then I could only fear that these murders are part of a much bigger scheme from below. I can try my best to stay out of sight, but these things are pretty good at that too."
correct you are Khessa, and I believe your spot one Atlas, an imp of some sort. I do recall, brother Ray, does your order have a spell for detecting or protection from good and evil?
"Indeed, the protection you speak of, Elias, would make it harder for the Imp to hit us..." Khessa muses aloud "But Atlas also has a point; if you can detect magic and keep your concentration on that spell, you should sense its invisibility aura when it comes into range... It won't be the same as seeing it, but you should be able to figure out its general location - at least it couldn't surprise us".
"After that, we could get closer to the area where Percy was flying... Maybe with Atlas following us hidden..." the blonde arcane warrior continues "The imp could see us and think of attacking us... But Elias should detect its aura in time, point us to the area where he senses the aura and we all could spring forward and attack in that area... Even if we can't see it, one of us should be able to land a hit. And Atlas could be ready to shoot an arrow at the imp by surprise as soon as it becomes visible to attack us".
Elias thinks a minute, I'm not sure that spell will benefit us much in this case. The way master Orbos taught it to me implies that it works on objects such as weapons and armor, empowered with some sort of magical energy, be it arcane or devine. I'm not sure how it would work on living beings. We can give it a go though. However, I think two things are most certain, we've lost the element of surprise, someone knows something is going on and someone connected to this cult has close ties with the nine hells, possibly a patron demon or devil of some power. In order for the spell to work I'll have be within thirty feet or so of the creature. New plan? Shall we spring the trap so to speak?
As he scans the faces of his friends they notice Elias's demeanor seemed to have shifted, fear and doubt now a distant memory, his soft boyish features, though still young in appearance, have taken on the look of a youngster that has been bullied one too many times. A child becoming a man or the dangerous inexperience of youth?
"In that case, let's do this" Khessa suggests. "I'll go to where Percy was. The Imp will see me - and seeing me alone I think it'll try to eliminate me. It can be tiny, but its poison is dangerous - and it knows".
"Atlas will follow me, sneaking" the blonde arcane warrior continues. "All of you will follow Atlas from a greater distance, staying out of sight".
"When the imp attacks me..." the tall adventures sighs "I hope I'll be able to have quick enough reflexes to defend myself - but, in any case, Raynoir will be able to heal me, later and, more important, the fiend will become visible... and Atlas will be able to shoot him with a surprise arrow - and you, seeing Atlas act, can rush to the scene, just in case Atlas didn't manage to finish the Imp with his shot".
"Shall we try this?" Khessa seeks confirmation. "If we manage to eliminate the Imp, the cultists will lose a valuable spy... and we can then still try to ambush one of them and carry out the original plan".
[[ OOC: @DM: If we decide on this course of action, Khessa will try to move to the area where Percy was eliminated... but you know what that area is better than me. ]]
"I think this might be the best course of action. Worst case scenario that thing attacks me instead..."Atlas readies his bow with an arrow and awaits his cue to move in.
You see that the bathhouse is a one-story stuccoed building with stained-glass windows and clay roof tiles. Ten-foot-tall walls enclose a large courtyard outside the southeast corner of the building. The closed wooden doors to the courtyard are engraved with images of smiling nymphs dancing and frolicking in water. The gate was not locked. KHESSA will move just inside the gate. It was around here that Percy was attacked. Nothing happens. KHESSA is not attacked. ATLASmoves to a position just outside the gate.
Khessa then strains all her senses, hoping to catch some sign of the Imp's presence... even if it is invisible, it might make noise by flapping its wings... or other clues might be noticed, such as trampled grass, if the Imp lands on a patch of grass.
Rosebud moves behind Atlas outside of the gate. Seeing no martial reaction, she figures the imp has already seen and heard them and has left to report back to its master. As is her custom, she is carrying only her quarterstaff. There is a knot just above where her left hand normally rests on the stick. She is running her thumb along the knot, feeling the ridges between the smooth areas of the stick. This petting habit soothes her, and is something unconsciously does before starting to knock some heads.
"Head on in?" Khessa muses, speaking in a low voice so that only Elias and those around him can hear. "I wouldn't like that... We'd lose the advantages we planned to have. And the fact that the Cultists have an Imp with them is, if there was any need, further proof of how dangerous they are - so we'd need advantages. I'm convinced that the Imp must still be out here. Wouldn't it make sense, that he had returned to the base to report... what? That he had killed an owl (or a familiar, if he had realized what it was)? Having eliminated the 'intruder', without knowing that there were others nearby, he had no reason to go and report immediately. I assume he is still patrolling outside".
"Since we are in no hurry..." the blonde arcane warrior suggests "do you want to perform that ritual to detect emanations of magic? That way, even just by walking around, we could get an idea of the area where the Imp is... Or be certain that he is no longer around. At least we could make an informed decision afterwards".
In the meantime, having failed to locate the tiny fiend, the tall adventuress tries to see if, somewhere near the Bath House, there is a sheet or a large towel left (something that a customer might have used to dry themselves after a bath).
ARCANA:14
Arcana: 8,8
Rosebud searches her memory but comes up blank. Visions of a vibrant red celosia plant kept appearing instead, visions that she knew were incorrect. “If needed, I can shape shift. Just to land animals, like a cat or dog, if that would be helpful. And only a few times during the day since I haven’t mastered the skill.” she offers.
ATLAS will know that the creature that attacked Percy is an imp, a tiny devil.
"That sounds like an imp... if these guys have something like this at their disposal then I could only fear that these murders are part of a much bigger scheme from below. I can try my best to stay out of sight, but these things are pretty good at that too."
[Would i know anything about its abilities?]
(Click the imp hyperlink.)
correct you are Khessa, and I believe your spot one Atlas, an imp of some sort. I do recall, brother Ray, does your order have a spell for detecting or protection from good and evil?
“If I’m not mistaken imps can become invisible by magical means. In this case, simply detecting magic would suffice.”
"Indeed, the protection you speak of, Elias, would make it harder for the Imp to hit us..." Khessa muses aloud "But Atlas also has a point; if you can detect magic and keep your concentration on that spell, you should sense its invisibility aura when it comes into range... It won't be the same as seeing it, but you should be able to figure out its general location - at least it couldn't surprise us".
"After that, we could get closer to the area where Percy was flying... Maybe with Atlas following us hidden..." the blonde arcane warrior continues "The imp could see us and think of attacking us... But Elias should detect its aura in time, point us to the area where he senses the aura and we all could spring forward and attack in that area... Even if we can't see it, one of us should be able to land a hit. And Atlas could be ready to shoot an arrow at the imp by surprise as soon as it becomes visible to attack us".
(With any actions taken, please indicate on the map where your character is located. Thanks!)
Elias thinks a minute, I'm not sure that spell will benefit us much in this case. The way master Orbos taught it to me implies that it works on objects such as weapons and armor, empowered with some sort of magical energy, be it arcane or devine. I'm not sure how it would work on living beings. We can give it a go though. However, I think two things are most certain, we've lost the element of surprise, someone knows something is going on and someone connected to this cult has close ties with the nine hells, possibly a patron demon or devil of some power. In order for the spell to work I'll have be within thirty feet or so of the creature. New plan? Shall we spring the trap so to speak?
As he scans the faces of his friends they notice Elias's demeanor seemed to have shifted, fear and doubt now a distant memory, his soft boyish features, though still young in appearance, have taken on the look of a youngster that has been bullied one too many times. A child becoming a man or the dangerous inexperience of youth?
"In that case, let's do this" Khessa suggests. "I'll go to where Percy was. The Imp will see me - and seeing me alone I think it'll try to eliminate me. It can be tiny, but its poison is dangerous - and it knows".
"Atlas will follow me, sneaking" the blonde arcane warrior continues. "All of you will follow Atlas from a greater distance, staying out of sight".
"When the imp attacks me..." the tall adventures sighs "I hope I'll be able to have quick enough reflexes to defend myself - but, in any case, Raynoir will be able to heal me, later and, more important, the fiend will become visible... and Atlas will be able to shoot him with a surprise arrow - and you, seeing Atlas act, can rush to the scene, just in case Atlas didn't manage to finish the Imp with his shot".
"Shall we try this?" Khessa seeks confirmation. "If we manage to eliminate the Imp, the cultists will lose a valuable spy... and we can then still try to ambush one of them and carry out the original plan".
[[ OOC: @DM: If we decide on this course of action, Khessa will try to move to the area where Percy was eliminated... but you know what that area is better than me. ]]
Brother Ray, I'm not a very devote person but I've witnessed the rewards of your devotion to Bahamut, you think maybe he'll bless us before we run in?
"I think this might be the best course of action. Worst case scenario that thing attacks me instead..." Atlas readies his bow with an arrow and awaits his cue to move in.
You see that the bathhouse is a one-story stuccoed building with stained-glass windows and clay roof tiles. Ten-foot-tall walls enclose a large courtyard outside the southeast corner of the building. The closed wooden doors to the courtyard are engraved with images of smiling nymphs dancing and frolicking in water. The gate was not locked. KHESSA will move just inside the gate. It was around here that Percy was attacked. Nothing happens. KHESSA is not attacked. ATLAS moves to a position just outside the gate.
(Everyone can adjust their positions.)
Khessa then strains all her senses, hoping to catch some sign of the Imp's presence... even if it is invisible, it might make noise by flapping its wings... or other clues might be noticed, such as trampled grass, if the Imp lands on a patch of grass.
Khessa's Perception (if needed): 20
Yes. KHESSA does not see the Imp or have really any idea where it is.
Rosebud moves behind Atlas outside of the gate. Seeing no martial reaction, she figures the imp has already seen and heard them and has left to report back to its master. As is her custom, she is carrying only her quarterstaff. There is a knot just above where her left hand normally rests on the stick. She is running her thumb along the knot, feeling the ridges between the smooth areas of the stick. This petting habit soothes her, and is something unconsciously does before starting to knock some heads.
Elias surveys the bath house garden through the gate, perception 17
Guess we may as well head on in?
"Head on in?" Khessa muses, speaking in a low voice so that only Elias and those around him can hear. "I wouldn't like that... We'd lose the advantages we planned to have. And the fact that the Cultists have an Imp with them is, if there was any need, further proof of how dangerous they are - so we'd need advantages. I'm convinced that the Imp must still be out here. Wouldn't it make sense, that he had returned to the base to report... what? That he had killed an owl (or a familiar, if he had realized what it was)? Having eliminated the 'intruder', without knowing that there were others nearby, he had no reason to go and report immediately. I assume he is still patrolling outside".
"Since we are in no hurry..." the blonde arcane warrior suggests "do you want to perform that ritual to detect emanations of magic? That way, even just by walking around, we could get an idea of the area where the Imp is... Or be certain that he is no longer around. At least we could make an informed decision afterwards".
In the meantime, having failed to locate the tiny fiend, the tall adventuress tries to see if, somewhere near the Bath House, there is a sheet or a large towel left (something that a customer might have used to dry themselves after a bath).