Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

((LoL - loving  visual of Ulthan and cat just nonchalantly walking out of ballroom with a painting under his arm...))

Mordekai shows Ketch's reply to Meepo, and whispers "Ketch thinks he's got the right Quill in there, but doesn't want to get the dagger trapped in there. Do you think I should go in and try to speak to Ketch's Quill, leaving the dagger with you? Or do you think we should try and nick this Quill with the dagger first anyway?"

“Meepo say take out beholder and then do what came for.”  Meepo says, glancing to the beholder.  “If no beholder, then no reason hurry choice.”

"hrmpfh agree kobold hrmpfh" If decision is made then Ulthan will look for good position to get cover from many-eyes. he sighs... 

(If Lionel hears that he will remind that fighting beholder now would mean to do it without Ketch while the beholder has a helper (imposter) of unknown strength. (And we do not know how civilians - even mindconrolled puppets - will react. But if everyone feels bloodthirsty, sure)

"I'd be hesitant to take on a beholder even if our cleric weren't trapped in a painting.  But you're right that we need to do something.  Standing around here isn't getting us anywhere."

Mordekai sends one last message to Ketch, "Is your Quill hostile or friendly?  Is there anything in the manor that might help us free him?  Find out anything you can."

25.  Ketch, message received, you may respond!

     “This guys a jerk and very unhelpful. Must be a bard, right? Still, dimension door not working, dagger may not...”

Mordekai puts his Tome away, and hands the dagger back to Ulthan.  "Meepo, come check out the painting with me?"  Mordekai will wander back over to the painting.  He'll stand there for a moment and take a really good look at it.  If Meepo comes too, Mordekai will mutter quietly to him, "Has anything changed since Ketch entered it?  Do you see anything hidden around the frame or anything that might give us a clue as to its magic?"

     Via Sending Ketch sends a further message:  "Turning in, new spells in morning. Guess you'll have to find a way to free us, dagger unlikely to affect the book from in here."

"May be your charm will help to change his attitude. Not that many people locked in one room with Ketch would demonstrate their best behaviour," diplomatically noted Lionel. "But we have to make the choice. If you wish, I will go first."

"Meepo look..." Meepo says as he studies the painting, the frame, the wall, anything that might give some clues. Investigation: 21 (assuming help from Mordekai, just take first if no help given. His passiv eis 18 though.) Arcana: 19

The framed painting is 5 feet square. And though it seems to be....jiggling slightly.....there seems to be no gap between the frame and the wall, and as Meepo tries to just, pry something in there, nothing will go...almost as if the frame is fused into the wall. He figures it's probably close to impossible to remove it, without taking a large chunk of the wall with it.  Even then, if it's magical in nature, it may be anchored to this location, so tearing the frame and wall apart around it may not move it still. 

After checking that Ulthan has the dagger, Mordekai waits for a moment when the beholder isn't watching, and goes ahead and touches the painting. 

During this exchange, the beholder has been doing nothing except staring at all of you. His eye stalks got especially twitchy when Meepo seemed like he might touch the painting. Quill seems to be pretending to make the rounds but he looks at the group of you every few seconds. When you glance towards the beholder to look for a moment to touch the painting he reacts further. He raises 20 feet into the air in the room, still glaring at you. Some people smile and clap in response, pleased at the beholders “trick”. 

Mordekai stops and turns to Quill and the beholder. He gives a small bow of respect and says, loudly to the room, "This painting is astonishing! The genius in the brush strokes, the subtleties in the shades, the realism of the subject within! Truly this painting is a wondrous thing! Who is the artist? They must be congratulated!"

Quill glances over awkwardly, nodding and smiling, before turning away, attempting to pretend he's not paying attention.  The Beholder glances down at Mordekai. A "frown" appears on its main eye.  Then its growls and three eye stalks point at members of the group, and rays lash out. 

Mordekai: 3 

Lionel: 1 

Ulthan: 4 8

Mordekai :

 Lionel:

 Ulthan :

Beholder's Initiative : 7

As the eye rays blast out, Quill appears to look suddenly panicked, and looks around for the nearest place to hide or run. Several women in the room scream....and the people at the party are all suddenly panicked and looking around in fear as combat has suddenly broken out. 

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Ketch, inside the painting you examine the window. It has both conjuration magic on it....but also abjuration. Though as you cast dispel magic, it appears to have no effect. The slime seems to be emanation abjuration.  Suddenly you hear the sound of distant muffled screams that sounds like they're coming from through the window.  Quill looks up in interest, and stands, "Was that, screaming?"

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 Everyone (Ketch included) roll initiative.  If you go before the beholder take your turn.

Ketch Initiative: 21

(Didn't intend to actually cast Dispel yet but as it has no ill effects, seemingly, I'll nick off a slot for it.  I'd have gotten to it eventually anyway, I'm sure. But I have to cast it 4th level... Though I doubt that'll change the no effect.)

Meepo initiative: 23

Lionel Initiative: 11

Dex saving: 24