Pawns of Fate Chapter 10.5 -All Things Considered

[Lazarus]

OOC: This begins the morning after your return to Celeste. You've all leveled to 10th (Tytha to 8th), no combat so don't panic but I would like levelups done before I start chapter 11. The only xp for this sub-chapter will be for roleplaying, but depending how that goes I may be quite generous. Irrule is busy negotiating a contract with the Wayfarers Guild, not something he takes lightly. Those negotiations will prompt your next mission unless you decide to follow up on a quest of your own. You still have 2 dead bodies going stale, deal with that during this thread or I'll consider them buried.

OOC: Thedeadone has until the end of this thread to introduce his new character or I'll consider him out for the next chapter. Anduril may be left behind for the next chapter, depending on it's nature and his ability to post.

It's a grey morning in Celeste, but the clouds look reluctant to break. Down in the kitchen Effy is already busy at work creating an experimental pastry, the results are quite fantastic. Various staff trickle through the kitchen, some are nervous about the negotiations. At a corner table Irrules seers sit together, their muttered tones suggest some form of mental communication. A Goliath has taken one of the few seats for larger folk and sits at the bar (Thed's toon if he'd like to introduce himself).

[Tiblorian]

After waking and memorizing the days spells, although unlikely to be used, Sunduri makes his way to Effy's kitchen. Greeting the goblin, and stealing a pastry, Sunduri congratulates Effy on his superb work. Nibbling on his pastry Sunduri sits down at an unoccupied table, once noticing he is the first of the group to seek breakfast, or at least the only one here. Noting Irrule and his seers, Sunduri wonders what they could be discussing, though the wizard doubts it is anything trivial. Reading through the blessed spellbook he created, and nibbling on another pastry retrieved from Effy, the wizard relaxes, brooding over the events of the temple.

Sunduri waits for other members of his party to appear, or for Irrule to finish his conversation, so he may search out the best option for speaking with the dead goblin's souls.

[Lazarus]

OOC: Irrule is not there, you won't see him on this day.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Ahh yes sorry, Irrule's seers, not Irrule and his seers.

[Nogard]

OOC: Sorry my computer puked out over the weekend. As for my next level I was considering the Master of Radiance prestige class (Libris Mortis pg. 45) if I could also take Natural Bond (Complete Adventurer pg 111) as my 12th level feat. If not I will continue as a druid.

As the sun rises Boneclaw and Perrin wake to the sounds of nature. After prayer the two begin walking to Irrule's to meet the rest of the party. "If Irrule is unavailable it seems we may as well wait for these negotiations to conclude. Effy have you anything a little less sweet prepared. Perrin doesn't need such sweets this early in the morn and I wouldn't enjoy one if he can't.

OOC: Assuming Effy does have something else prepared:

Boneclaw grabs two plates and fills them with Effy's marvelous cooking. Setting one plate on the floor for Perrin, Boneclaw sits at the table and begins eating. As Perrin finishes licking his plate clean he lays next to Boneclaw's chair waiting patiently for his friend to finish his meal. "Sunduri have you seen Araidin this morning I am curious about what has been learned of Lazarus and had some questions regarding the matter I hope he can answer?"

[Lazarus]

He offers leftover meat stew that would probobly be more to Perrins liking than baked pastries.

OOC: The class & feat look fine, your going all the way with the undead hate I take it.

[Lazarus]

OOC: It's been awhile since Xaearth has posted on the forum, Thedeadone has been even more slack, and I'm not sure why Rommalb posts everywhere but here. Anyway I'll continue checking this frequently but can't really offer any advance on either game while only 2/6 Pawns and 2/4 Minions have posted.
You're welcome to take a solo approach, say taking the Goblin bodies to your own church or talking to npc's in the city. I would set a deadline for the inactive players but there are too many.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Sorry bout lack of posting, my computer has been.....problematic, as I am out of state.(And away from my dnd books) However, I'll try to compile an item list within the next few days.

"I have not seen our other Dwarven companion today, I have simply been enjoying this pastry while I waited for the rest of our companions to awaken. I was hoping to take the goblin corpses to the temple of Correllan and to return to my magical workroom, which you are welcome to visit if you are in need of enchanted items," Sunduri rambles, taking another bite of his pastry. "As to the topic of Lazarus, I am attempting to put those thoughts out of my mind, as they are most unsettling, and Bixby reminds me I am in sore need of relaxation. Does Lazarus's true identity still unsettle you Boneclaw? Perhaps that is the cause of Araidin's tardiness as well."

[Rommalb]

OOC: yeah, sorry Laz. I always get sidetracked as I dont like to sit in one forum too long and whenever I need to do equipment selection can never actually remember to make it back here. That being said, there really isnt much good equipment I can find to spend the money on other than the standard +1 upgrades

[Nogard]

"It is not who Lazarus is that disturbs me my elven friend, but what he is. An undead creature of any kind is a blasphemy of the natural order of things and should not exist. Good or evil intentions mean nothing to nature as death is the final destination for us all. I myself have made arrangements for my possesions to be donated to my druid circle when I die."

[Lazarus]

OOC: Apologies if my being slack with equipment and such has been awkward, it's been hard to concentrate long enough to do all the digital paperwork lately.

OOC: Noone has objected to Sunduri's comment of 'take the goblin corpses to the temple of Correllan' (which should read as Corellon by the way), and it's the only comment so far that takes the chat to npc's so I'll use that to move things along.

Some of you set out for the temple mound, the massive cliff on the northern end of the city, looking down on Rotoraks house. The morning church crowd had died down as you make your way through the tunnels past various shrines and churches. You find a combined Elven church on one of the upper levels where there are several Clerics of Corellon Larethian. The head Cleric of the church considers your request and suggests you ask at the Teltesta-Dorn Temple on the top level, or perhaps the enclave of St. Cuthbert four levels down.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: I was without my players handbook for my regular Correllon spelling lookup. (I doubt I will ever be able to spell it without the phb, as Firefox spell checks are the only way of making my posts make any sense at all...)

"It is not who Lazarus is that disturbs me my elven friend, but what he is. An undead creature of any kind is a blasphemy of the natural order of things and should not exist. Good or evil intentions mean nothing to nature as death is the final destination for us all. I myself have made arrangements for my possesions to be donated to my druid circle when I die."

I am an Elf, and our kind tend to agree with the druidic beliefs on death, as our long life does not cause us to fear death as the rash humans tend to. While we morn the passing of a life, were as the Druids accept it as a part of nature, I cannot say what I would do in Lazarus's position. It is one thing to die rather than embrace undeath, which I would never do, and slay any who have. However, Lazarus did not embrace undeath, it was forced apon him, and the only way out of his predicament is suicide, which does not seem to be a favorable solution to the problem. If there was a way to regain life and banish his undeath, then I would surely fault him for not having chose it, but the unfortunate truth is there is no cure for vamparism, and despite my hatred of undead, I cannot find fault with Lazarus seemingly having taken the least evil of the options available to him. I cannot say what I would do in his predicament, though I do find it most unsettling. Undeath has not had a positive affect on my people, and I wll never break my oath that forbids me to cast any spells remotely tied to the realms of death.


Some of you set out for the temple mound, the massive cliff on the northern end of the city, looking down on Rotoraks house. The morning church crowd had died down as you make your way through the tunnels past various shrines and churches. You find a combined Elven church on one of the upper levels where there are several Clerics of Corellon Larethian. The head Cleric of the church considers your request and suggests you ask at the Teltesta-Dorn Temple on the top level, or perhaps the enclave of St. Cuthbert four levels down.

Sunduri thanks the head of the church and offers a sack of Celestials(500) as an offering to the church of Correllon.

"Perhaps it is best if we take the corpses upward to the Teltesta-Dorn Temple." The wizard helps carry one of the goblin corpses, up the stairs, but has to pause and gather his breathe a few times, as the group walks up the steep steps. As the wizard pauses to take his breathe he confesses to the party, "I have to admit that the meeting with such devout worshipers of my god has left me in a strangely pious mood. I am not one prone to regular vocal prayers to the Elf Father, preferring to instead worship him within my heart, always viewing my profession as my own form of worship to him. I always considered the time in the morning spent memorizing the days spells to be sufficient homage to my God, but now I feel as if I have been insufficient in my worships of him.

OOC: My internet problems are now gone, so daily posting will return, and now am in possession of all my books.

[Lazarus]

The head Cleric takes the money and professes his gratitude, telling you in Elven that it will add to the expansion fund (Every known good or neutral religion is entitled to a shrine, but for anything more funding is required for the real estate and work).

None of the churches you've passed have been disappointing, being magically carved from solid stone. The mound is like a living growing thing, the top levels already have a few mages at work, hardening and shaping the stone, and adding what would have been precious metals before transmutive alchemy was perfected. When you exit into the top tier you get a breathtaking view down on Rotoraks House and the city beyond, from your vantage the House looks like the centre of an eye between the 'eyelids' of the temple mound and the inner city defensive wall. It's daunting that the defenses turned inward dwarf the not unsubstantial outer walls.

The Teltesta-Dorn portion of the mound is still relatively busy, people trickle in and out but the Temple is more than large enough for it's congregation. The size and use is unsurprising when you consider most of the citizenry follow the combined god, while most of the rest follow one or the other. The temple is merged at it's centre but defuses into two, stark somewhat militant order on one side, and soft and bright on the other.

When you explain your needs to a resident Cleric you get sent to someone on the Dorn side, a grizzled Cleric fully armed and armoured. "You are lucky I have Speak With Dead spells prepared, they are meant for others but those can wait for another day. Follow me I will lead you to a more secure room for questioning." He takes you to a roomy closed chamber with thick walls and inbuilt barricades. "We have had enough experience with Husha Assassins that these precautions are mandatory, hopefully this 'Ninja Clan' have not taken up similar methods, the explosions can be very messy. Stay behind the barricades while I cast the first spell." Ten minutes later he says. "I can ask it up to seven questions, be concise!"

/dm note to self ntf.

[TheDeadOne]

OCC: This event will happen when the party is back at the Inn.

Sitting rather large in what seems like a very small chair is a Goliath scraching at a scab that is on one of his rather large fore arms. He seems to be taking away his bodies own natural healing for some what reason it is unknown untill you see that there is a large number of scars over most his bodies. Once he notices Tytha he jumps out of the chair, which then crashes to the floor.
"LT!" He then runs over and gives her a massive hug with his 7'10'' in height to which she seems to disappear.
"I heard that you were in town and thought that I should try and catch up with you and the captain. I had heard that he was with a group of seeking fame and fortune and I'm sure that he just forgot to bring me along. Was hoping to talk to him about the small mishap."

[Lazarus]

OCC: This event will happen when the party is back at the Inn.

Sitting rather large in what seems like a very small chair is a Goliath scraching at a scab that is on one of his rather large fore arms. He seems to be taking away his bodies own natural healing for some what reason it is unknown untill you see that there is a large number of scars over most his bodies. Once he notices Tytha he jumps out of the chair, which then crashes to the floor.
"LT!" He then runs over and gives her a massive hug with his 7'10'' in height to which she seems to disappear.
"I heard that you were in town and thought that I should try and catch up with you and the captain. I had heard that he was with a group of seeking fame and fortune and I'm sure that he just forgot to bring me along. Was hoping to talk to him about the small mishap."

OOC: "Ow!" Your grammer hurts my brain. A few corrections/observations, your in the dining hall for Irrules workers, there are chairs here big enough for trolls, you should have been updated on the current party makeup, and Irrule was upfront about the two (or 6 according to his seers, that still has them flustered) party deaths.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Gah just lost my entire post to the dreaded backspace key. I'm too tired(its 2 am :() to type up the questions again, so I'll just repost the dining hall convo, and rewrite the questions tomorrow.

A startled Sunduri quickly stands up as a giant creature lunges towards Tytha. The wizards hands glow momentarily with a strange light, before he realizes the goliath means no harm to the elven female. Picking up his dropped spell book, and a disgruntled toad, the wizard sits down and begins to dust off his spell book and return to his morning studies. The wizard mumbles, "Now I shall have to waste time to reprepare this spell, because certain people cannot contain their enthusiasm"

[Anduril]

OOC: I'm finally back at school and ready to get back in. I probably won't be able to read all that's gone on so if you could direct me to important places that'd be helpful.

[Lazarus]

OOC: I'm finally back at school and ready to get back in. I probably won't be able to read all that's gone on so if you could direct me to important places that'd be helpful.


OOC: Mkay a very brief recap of threads 10 & 10.5 so far:

Chapter 10: In chapter 10 the party teleported far north to the jungle and entered an ancient blood soaked temple to recover another artifact for the Cleric of Palor Lazarus. The temple was filled with traps and various creatures, but the only casualty was Boneclaw who reappeared naked and wiser. On exiting the temple the party found Lazarus had killed another trio of Goblin Ninjas who had been hunting for you. When the artifact (a goblet of endless blood) was handed to Lazarus he revealed himself to be a daywalking Vampire. Reactions varied from accepting to flat out revulsion but no one offered more than verbal aggression. Lazarus payed each of the five main members 10000cel worth of diamonds and teleported them back to Celeste.

Chapter 10.5: While the group waits for their next mission they have a chance to great a new member. Also two of the Goblin Ninja bodies have been transported with them, Speak With Dead questioning is about to begin at the Temple of Teltesta-Dorn in Celeste's hollowed cliff of religions.

OOC: Other important details. Everyone has levelled to 10th, and a new thread has been opened for this. Some party members are putting some or all of their reward from Lazarus towards a party Raise Dead/Resurrection fund. The dm is still being a slack bastard with the digital paperwork but will get it done.. ..eventually.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: On to the questions..... I'm not sure I have an entire seven questions, as we did go to a sage to obtain answers a chapter or two ago.

"Is the one who is directing your actions going to send strike forces against us in excess of three members within the next month?"

[Lazarus]

"Is the one who is directing your actions going to send strike forces against us in excess of three members within the next month?"

The body answers. "I don't know."

OOC: 6 questions left for this body.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: I had a feeling I'd get that answer :(

"What orders were you given regarding your most recent assignment."

[Lazarus]

"What orders were you given regarding your most recent assignment."

"Engage with the adventurers, defeat them all, torture and kill any survivors of the fight, collect the Ascender, and transport the Ascender to <Goblin Legion leader>."

OOC: Sick, hot, I'll insert the leaders name some other time if I remember to hunt it down. It should be written somewhere else, meybe the recap thread.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Did we learn the location of the Goblin Legion leader from the sage?

OOC: On a completely unrelated note; No one in this party has empower spell, right?(Crafting prerequisite problems)

[Lazarus]

OOC: Did we learn the location of the Goblin Legion leader from the sage?

OOC: I'm not sure if that came up. You do know that the Legion is in a semi-secret location in the North-East of the Wilds. The leader is likely there but given the number of high profile enemies he has he would be dead if he didn't have some defenses against scying. If you ever seek out the location you can probobly get more detailed intel than that offered by corpse questions.

OOC: On a completely unrelated note; No one in this party has empower spell, right?(Crafting prerequisite problems)

OOC: Nope, I think the only metamagic feats in the party are swift ones.

[Rommalb]

"How are you able to keep tracking our location?"

[Lazarus]

"How are you able to keep tracking our location?"

"Seers have been scrying your movements and communicating with us."

OOC: 4 questions left for this corpse.

[Nogard]

OOC: When the episode with Tytha and the goliath happens:

Perrin rises quickly just as Sunduri does before realizing Boneclaw had remained seated. "Relax Perrin I highly doubt anyone who meant harm to Tytha would have had an easy time getting into Celeste through the wards. On top of that Irrule wouldn't have left such a person waiting unattended in the kitchen." As Perrin settles back to the floor and Sunduri goes back to muttering over his book Boneclaw looks at the large man hugging Tytha and says "It appears you know each other and sounds as if you knew Findecano as well. I didn't get to know him very well in the short time he was with us, but he seemed a very capable mage. In fact he took the magic wielding goblin ninja in our last ambush down with only a small amount of help from Sunduri and I."

OOC: When Sunduri suggests going to the mound to find another cleric:

"Perrin and I will come with you Sunduri, perhaps Araidin is still performing morning prayers. If not I am curious what these goblins have to say nonetheless."

OOC: After the casting of the speak with dead spell:

"The first time we fought a group of goblins they were on a mission to a small fortress of goblins that included a necromancer. Are there any other similar groups that you know the location of?"

[Lazarus]

"The first time we fought a group of goblins they were on a mission to a small fortress of goblins that included a necromancer. Are there any other similar groups that you know the location of?"

"No."

OOC:3 questions left for this corpse.

OOC: After consulting with Rommalb I've changed the way Tytha's spells work and progress. Now instead of preparing set spells she casts spontaneously from her list, the trade off is she has a slower spell progression in keeping with other spont' casters. This may have been a dubious move, but I think it'll may her easier to work with both for players and DM. Her full spell list is now displayed in the 'Prepped spells thread'.

OOC: I've also noticed that with the latest levelup Shannons Companion has a Companion. :sweatdrop:

[Rommalb]

OOX: oh joy, more minions for me to ignore....

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Not a question.

Sunduri consults his party before asking another question and says, "It appears as if these goblins have been given a minimal amount of information regarding us, no doubt foreseeing their possible failure and our actions here, but perhaps we can determine when the next attack will take place."

OOC: A question

"How many days ago did you set out in search of your most recent target?"

[Lazarus]

"How many days ago did you set out in search of your most recent target?"

OOC: That's difficult to answer (for the DM) becouse I haven't kept a good track of how many months and days your team has been working (I blame the data loss), so I can't write the answer in speech quotes.

The Goblin body gives you an answer that puts their outset during chapter 4.

2 questions left for this corpse.

[Tiblorian]

"It is most disturbing if these goblins set out so soon after our initial encounter, this would seem to indicate that multiple squads are attempting to locate us at the same time. I had no doubt that the forth attack would not be the last, but this shows extraordinary determination."

"Why were only three goblins assigned to your group?"

OOC: I seem to remember the seer giving us a vague answer to this question, but I blame the data loss if I'm forgetting anything.

[Lazarus]

"Why were only three goblins assigned to your group?"

The body replies. "It's traditional." It's tone seems almost condescending.

1 question remains for this body.

[Rommalb]

OOC: I dont have any questions at the moment, however Ive been thinking: is there anyway to hide from Scrying easily enough? I know some high level magic does it, but i dont know how expensive that would be

[Tiblorian]

OOC: I was thinking the same thing Rommal, I was planning on asking Irrule when we met up with him again. There is a third level wizard spell nondetection (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/nondetection.html) That masks one person for scrying, but as it lasts only one hour/level, but even if I bought another extended metamagic rod, I could only cast enough protection for 20 hours a day, and that would only be for four party members, as I have to memorize at least one evocation every day. As well as a 50 gp/cast spell component cost(which would be 200 celestials a day, 300 if I could cast one for each party member) In a couple of levels I could pull off complete scrying protection, but again at the loss of all but one third level spell and the spell component costs. Plus, the goblins could probably scry the location of the ascender, since it has such a powerful magical aura.

[Rommalb]

OOC: well we could pay a wizard to hit us with permancy, but hiding an artifact is whats really up in the air for me. Theoretically it could be done, but it wont be cheap

[Lazarus]

OOC: I don't know any easy way of hiding from Scrying. Nondetection is good, but it's single target, has a cost, and is only 1 hour per level. Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum works well, but is only really of help if you want to conceal your campsite, the same can be said of Rope Trick. Detect Scrying can trace your viewers, but be wary of looking into the eyes of gods if anyone tries it. No doubt there are anti-scry items somewhere in the oodles of sourcebooks, I don't imagine they would be cheap. One of your problems is the sheer number of viewers, not just gods and Goblins, you also have Irrules seers keeping tabs on you during missions, and some of Ten'sings telepathic senses could be described as passive precognitive scrying.

[Lazarus]

OOC: Actively scrying on artifacts can be dangerous, anyone you consult will tell you it's more likely they use one or more of you as the scry target, probobly using other divinations periodically to make sure you still have it. Boneclaw (with a good wisdom check) points out that you've had no indication yet that they even know what it looks like.

[Rommalb]

OOC: hmm, I see a potnetial final question there. Is the group ok with asking if the goblin knows what the Ascender is?

[Tiblorian]

"That question would be fine with me Shannon, if we desire more answers, there is still another corpse we could consult, but I cannot think of any other questions that would result in clear answers."

[Anduril]

"Actually I've been wondering why we whated so long to ask it that, but don't ask it if it knows, ask it to tell us if it can, otherwise we may simply get the answer 'yes'."

[Lazarus]

OOC: Yes wording matters for each qustion, and Rommolb used an OOC instead of a quote so I'm still waiting for a confirmed quote for the last question.

[Rommalb]

OOC: I know I did, I did to specifically say I was consulting the party without any accidental questions being asked.

"Very well, tell us everything you know about the Ascender"

[Tiblorian]

OOC: I'm not sure that will work, I think thats a command, not a question.

Sunduri suggest to the party that they ask either, "How were you commanded to identify the artifact known as the Ascender" or "What powers do you know the artifact know as the Ascender to possess?"

[Lazarus]

"Very well, tell us everything you know about the Ascender"

OOC: I'm also not sure if that qualifies as a question, but I'm being pretty slack with the spell so I'll let it through.

The body answers. "..The Ascender is an artifact of great power, carried by The Butchers of Beachhead III." Than the semblance of life leaves it and it thumps to the floor.

The Cleric asks. "Shall I begin casting on the other cadavar? I must insist you retreat behind the barricade before the enchanting begins."

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Beachhead III sounds like another planet, but Sunduri wouldn't know that.

Sunduri bows and says, "Thank you good cleric, but unfortunately I am out of questions to ask, but my companions may have more questions."

[Lazarus]

OOC: The body obviously meant you, I needed something for the Goblin to call your team. The only thing you've done other than carrying the Ascender that the Goblins would care enough to remember is wiping out the fort in chapter 2, which was an advance post for a larger force, aka a 'beachhead'. And obviously not the only one that was used or they would not have made it to their new base.

OOC: I'm not sure if it's appropriate to use the term 'beachhead' when there's no beach but I'm pretty vague on military terms. (delete delete delete) I think I'm starting to ramble so I'll cut the subject here.

Ten minutes later the Cleric calls you back forward. "There was no resistance to the spell, you have another seven questions."

[Rommalb]

OOC: A beachhead refers to a landing zone during an invasion, the fort would probably be a Forward Outpost

[Lazarus]

OOC: A beachhead refers to a landing zone during an invasion, the fort would probably be a Forward Outpost

OOC: While more accurate that seems less appropriate, I needed a single word, the reference was meant more like a call-sign or mission title. Perhaps I should have gone with something like Locust III, but I wanted a military air to the descriptive. Alternatively I could have done a little more research and tried finding period terms from Roman Legionary tactics. No doubt it would be easier than researching on Ninja history (google Ninja in any way and you'll get Naruto Naruto Naruto).

OOC: How about 'Waypoint III'? I can't think of any real world parallel for the situation, mass troop movements assisted by forward outposts set up with massive teleport circles. The term 'waypoint' is somewhat synonymous with fantasy teleportation (thanks to Diablo type games).

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Ok, that makes more sense now.

"I do not think our group requires more questions, good priest, would you have any suggestions for what we should do with the bodies?"

[Lazarus]

"I do not think our group requires more questions, good priest, would you have any suggestions for what we should do with the bodies?"

OOC: Wait until Nogard and Andy have posted before declaring that, besides the spell is already done.

[Nogard]

Boneclaw stands for a time seeming to stare off into space while scratching his beard with one hand and Perrin's ears with the other. As he comes back to the moment he asks the goblin, "How many troops would you estimate your leader to have under his control at the moment? How many squads like the one you were in do you estimate were dispatched to attack us? Why have we never been attacked by multiple squads?"

OOC: Those are all the questions I can think of at the moment. I will be without by books for a day or two while I move. Will post level up as soon as I am settled into new place.

[Anduril]

OOC: We might already know this and I"m just forgetting.

"Do you seek the artifact or just revenge for your fortress?"

OOC: I can't really remember when we picked it up.

[Lazarus]

There is some brief confusion over language, the Cleric ends up casting Tongue's on those of you who don't speak Kurlish.

"How many troops would you estimate your leader to have under his control at the moment?" .

"Ye mean the Emperor, oh quite a few."

""How many squads like the one you were in do you estimate were dispatched to attack us?"

"Huh?"

" Why have we never been attacked by multiple squads?"

"Squads?"

The Cleric states the obvious. "There is something wrong with the answers!"

[Tiblorian]

"Is the body damaged in some way? That would affect the spells results"'

OOC: We got the dagger from the fortress I believe.

[Lazarus]

The Cleric looks over to Sunduri. "The body is no worse than the other, do you mind if I use a couple of test questions?"

OOC: Sorry I skipped Andy's post I think we posted around the same time. One of the previous answers told you thier mission was to kill you and recover the artifact. The dagger was found when you fought the mad Orc rugby team in chapter 4, it was on the body of the dead adventurer, which was a character of one of the players I first took through the fort of chapter 2.

[Rommalb]

"Go ahead, something is obviously amiss. May I suggest asking it to completely identify itself?"

[Lazarus]

The Cleric nods and does so, and the body responds. "Gothrend Dags, sheep farmer, 'usband of Esthra Dags, father of Merrel, Utlet, and Gomesh Dags, winner of best Ram for the last five years at the Emren fair!"

OOC: Bonus xp for Shannon.

The Cleric looks astonished but eventually comments. "...that ..that is truly astonishing, and disturbing. I have never come across this method of subterfuge. I do not believe there is a point to furthur questioning. I would like to keep the body for examination if you are finished with it. I can only speculate that there was an enchantment set to trigger on death, without the soul the body is merely an object but... .. hmm I will need to make some consultations."

As an afterthought the Cleric asks the body. "What is your race?" It replies. "Human."

[Tiblorian]

"This is most peculiar, you may feel free to keep the body, could you perhaps dispose of the other? I wonder why only one of the bodies had such protections against this spell when the other did not. Perhaps this was the leader and knew more than the others. In any case it is very disturbing. Could you please contact us if you find anything more of note, it would most likely be easiest to contact us through our employer, Irrule. Again, you have my thanks for helping us find the information we seek."

[Lazarus]

OOC: Sorry for the delay, I wanted to get the equipment updated and look at the leveling details that have been submitted. But it's been really easy to run out of usable time lately (I should be sleeping right now). I'm pleased with the roleplaying posts in this subchapter, I'll award xp accordingly when the next chapter begins. And.. err... something.. anyway moving on before I get right into a 2am ramble.

The Cleric nods. "I will have them sent to a crematorium when the investigation is complete. This clan once worked for the Empire, it may be impossible to discover the original time and reason for this defense. The fact that the defense was only on one of them could be a matter of cost, experimental methodology, they may not have always been teamed together, or there are myriad other possible reasons. I know of this Irrule, I will forward a copy of my report to his offices if possible."

[Tiblorian]

OOC: Sorry I haven't posted, this was the first week of school, so things have been hectic.

"Again you have my thanks for the help, both with information and disposal of the bodies. I shall now bid you a good day and take leave of your presence, as there are matters arcane in need of studying."

Sunduri bows and departs down the stairs, pausing in the halls of his god to pray, before returning to his descent. The wizard stops by Effy's kitchen for food, which he carries to his room, were he studies his spell book for the remainder of the day.

[Anduril]

OOC: Are we waiting on something?

[Rommalb]

OOC: The DM

[Lazarus]

OOC: Alright I guess the roleplaying in this chapter is done. I'll let you see roughly behind the scenes on the xp division. The xp is roleplaying only, and I think there was enough to use my roleplaying chapter award scheme (mainly thanks to Tibby). Araidin gets nothing, sorry if he has a legit reason to be absent so long, but without even an 'I'm gonna be away" comment I can't carry him. Thedeadones unnamed character gets a 95% penalty, he only inserted 1 post and only interacted with an npc, and I don't even have a character sheet. Tibby gets man of the match. Both Tibby and Shannon get the good roleplaying bonus. I think Nogard missed a good oportunity to roleplay in the church, Dorn is his chosen god, I'm not penalising or anything but I think it's worth mentioning.

Anduril +4000xp
Boneclaw +4000xp
Shannon +4400xp
Sunduri +5200xp -motm
The Goliath +200xp

OOC: At this point both Araidin and the Goliath are counted out for the next chapter. Becouse of the plan for the chapter they can join back in easily, you'll be travelling with a Wayfarer. (The Wayfarers Guild are Teleportation specialists if you didn't already know)

OOC: I can't sit here for long but I'm working on updating your equipment before I head out to work. That should put me one step closer to not being a slack bastard. Give me as much detail as you can in the levelup thread, I know for most of you level 10 is basically fixed bonus' and a few skill points, but I'll at least want to know those skill points.

[Tiblorian]

OOC: A bit tired right now, but I think I already posted my level up info, but if I forgot I can readily repost it. I believe I have a list of spells I wanted to memorize while in Celeste as well, but I'll have to find those later. Anyway, after I rest I'll go ahead and repost all my info.

[Lazarus]

OOC: I've updated the equipment post with the chapter 9-10 changes. I've left out the Sunduri's Dispelling Cord and Chronogram of the grand Master, can I get page and book references for the price of those Tibby? Everybody check your equipment against your own notes and If I've missed any changes let me know.

OOC: I haven't moved Araidin's equipment over to the equipment thread or updated it but I'm not sure if he'll still be playing. As far as I can tell he stopped posting on any forum over a month ago, here's hoping he's ok.

OOC: I think my problem at the moment is that while I still have my muse all the paperwork involved is overwhelming. It's not helping that lately I'm tired and grumpy more often than not. I'm moving on to chapter 11, if I don't get everything up to date by the time character data becomes necessary I may need to declare a hiatus, if that happens I hope you'll all bear it 'till my heads on straight.

-end of chapter 11.5