No Incognito
Log Info
- Title: No Incognito
- Emitter: Zeke
- Characters: Mikilos, Cryosanthia, Aya
- Place: Alexandria Underneath
- Time: Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 4:46 PM
- Summary: Invitations to a mysterious meeting have been received. Mikilos and Cryosanthia attend, as a gnome and a Jotun. Aya attends separately. Ostensibly, this is the cult of Mariela, and the three are there to investigate. They are told to remove their masks, and hesitate. This simple ruse outs them as newcomers, and the Cult Leader summons a demon who reveals they are in actuality, an elf and a sith'makar. Removing their masks, Mikilos passes his off as a misunderstanding, while Cryo feigns a personal interest in ... Mariela's fecundity. Important tip, do not make reproductive jokes around demons, it gets taken way too seriously. Cryosanthia is recognized, to mortifying gasps she will never live down, and the demon lunges for her. Mikilos dismisses it. The cult leader summons another. Mikilos summons some archons to play with it, why Aya continues to be part of the crowd and Cryo advances on the cult leader. He vanishes. The demon, does not, and it's a marilith and very interested in Cryo. A flurry of blades descend on the whitescale, who avoids almost all of them. Still, she's wounded, and the demon is interested. Aya descends on the demon in a flurry of shadowy strikes, impressively hitting with most. Mikilos mazes the marilith and tells everyone to run. Cryo and Aya do, while Mikilos tarries a moment. The marilith pops back in surprisingly swiftly, and he teleports out. They've all escaped, for now, and learned an important lesson. 'Let's go check it out' isn't a plan.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome.
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-=--=--=--=--=--=--= As the GM =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Following the directions on the back of the card is easy enough. It leads to a tunnel somewhat under the noble district. The tunnel itself is lit with sconces, and has been thoroughly been cleaned of late. The path itself leads you on and on until at last you come to a ostentatious red door. This door is guarded by a singular person who requests to see your invitation. Upon presenting it, you are allowed entry into a flight of stairs that leads you into a grand ballroom. It is hard to tell if you're still underground or not.
This room is filled with individuals all wearing dark robes and masks. At least one of you sticks out badly.
Nobody seems to notice however, the group gathered seems mostly preoccupied with watching a man at the forefront. He stands on a dais but hasn't spoken yet. He seems to be waiting.
Mikilos had almost forgotten a mask. Disguise magic is his typical route, a physical barrier on his face seems quaint. But, it is the dresscode, and so a few strips of simple iron have been shaped to fit over his face without blocking vision or speech. The Doctor Doom style of mask.
His robes are proper onyx silk, well cut to envelop is form without restricting movement. though is one watches for a moment, tiny crystals have been set into the fabric to act as stars on a dark night. Just because you're being secretive is no reason to skimp on fashion.
In all, the little gnome is quite the height of Secret Society fashion. Oh, yes, that's right, he's currently a gnome.
Cryosanthia has on a mask, the wooden one that was a present from Sabina and enchanted by Mikilos. She uses it frequently, sometimes to look like an improved version of herself. Similarly, she has dark robes. In direct sunlight they're a very dark, almost black purple. In comparison to onxy silk, the dark purple velvet is perceptibly lighter, but only barely, and closer to darkness than true black can be, as that often seems like a deeper hole in the gloom. Hers have no decorations, although here is a hooded cape of sorts to go with them.
She towers over the gnome, most Jotuns do. She's not herself but did choose something in her own weight class. The carved expression on her mask is placid today, drowsy with a frowm.
A few more cultists drift in.
Aya is not typically one to obscure her appearance; she is proud of who she is, afterall. On the other hand, she isn't a stranger to deception or obfuscation, which are the words of the evening, now. Her black robes are long enough to reach the ground, and the mask chosen is full-face in a stark white. The slits for eyes and mouth are both covered with an open weave black fabric, allowing her vision out readily enough while preventing casual observance in. There is the matter of her stature, of course, so it can be presumed that she is not a giantborn or oruch.
The man waits a bit longer and then holds up a hand. The gentle murmur through the place falls silent and he speaks. "You faithful, and you of noble blood have been brought together for one purpose. That is the Adventurer's Guild. It has become too powerful. Even now its members are holding our goods in place and why? Because of the word of a few ignoble whelps who dare stand against our purpose! So! I ask you tonight to unmask!" He waves a hand imperiously and many in the crowd lift their hands in response.
Mikilos keeps quiet, unclear as to exactly what's going on. Was he meant to receive an invitation? Is the Speaker talking on what he thinks he is? Was the call to unmask literal? The gnome keeps still and waits to see.
Cryosanthia is both startled and curious. Masks off will reveal a lot of participants behind this skullduggery, provided they go first. As one of the more recognizable adventurers of the Guild, who often works at it, she's not looking forward to her reveal.
She has some options, none good. There's a glance downward at the gnome, she finds herself meeting his illusionary eyes. She's probably talking to Mikilos' belt, her voice is a quiet whisper, "what do we do?" <sylvan>
Aya stands near enough in the gathering to view and hear the speaker, but by no means near the front. The rhetoric he claims is not surprising considering the circumstances. The call to unmask, however, strikes her as quite odd. Why hold a masquerade solely to invalidate its purpose? Was it merely to gather without drawing suspicion from outside? Is it a test to see who is foolish enough to actually remove their mask?
She has numerous questions and no immediate answers. It is possibly a worthy indication that, while many raise hands, none seem to be in a rush to remove their masks?
With a few people not lifting their hands at all, attention is drawn to them. To any not lifting their hands to take their masks off that is. The crowd inevitably turns toward them, and they are by this method... singled out. The leader puts his own hand down. "That is... of course how we determine who our newest members are. Of course we don't actually take off our masks, but the hesitation of doing so is always a dead give-away that you're new here." The man seems pleased with himself but it's hard to tell with the mask he wears.
With this said the man turns toward the back of the stage and pulls and speaks to the air. "I summon you now, to our holy house, and ask that you look upon our new members with your eyes. Tell us if they be true or no." Fire bursts from the ground there, and a monstrous form takes shape. Very like a Minotaur in form, it nonetheless has an arua unlike that beast which bespeaks evil. Its tail lashes behind it, and it looks across the space. "There." It speaks in infernal, pointing to Mikilos and Cryosanthia. "Those two be untrue. I see an elf and a sith-makar. Their illusion falls before My eyes."
Aya may not be aware that you Mikilos and Cryosanthia are here... Ahem. Until now, possibly.
Mikilos is mildly surprised at the cleverness of it all, but not overly so. The extra-planar creature is novel, but not entirely unexpected. With a shrug, the wizard adjusts his hood, turning back to his typical elven self, his iron mask quite real, though his robes are more a very dark grey.
As his companion hesitates, he instructs quietly. "Remove your illusions."
Louder, he apologizes to the Speaker. "The invitation said mask. It did not specify mundane or magical."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls bluff: (2)+9: 11
"Well, this is embarrassing." The jotun says, loudly enough for it to carry as she reaches up and removes her mask. She is revealed, a white-scaled Sith'Makar in dark purple robes. Her clothes are as they are, courtesy of her AnyGarment sleeves, magical but not illusionary and removing them would be a bit too revealing.
Although Cryo does a good job getting there verbally, "So... I was having trouble ensuring my eggs were fertilized and thought I'd check out some options, since that statue looked really successful."
She shrugs, grinning awkwardly, "and I didn't want my mate, or my other friends, or half of Alexandrian nobility finding out."
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+23: (8)+23: 31
"New, or less interested in hand-waving and more interested in addressing the true issues..." Aya notes from behind her mask with some complaint. Her volume is more for those in her immediate vicinity eyeing her from her lack of lifting, rather than the speaker or creature on the stage. She turns to look towards the two pointed out as illusionists that are pointed out by the all-seeing unexpected guest.
The demon snorts at Cryosanthia's words and there's suddenly an... eagerness in the room. Whispers of 'Cryosnathia' echo through the room. Not everyone here recognizes her, but a few do, and her name spreads like wildfire. The leader notices this and steps forward. Looking from the elf to the sith-makar and back again. "A sith-makar /adventurer/. Tell us truly... Are you with her? Or with us? If you are with us... then you've brought us a grand gift. And you will be well rewarded." The people around Cryosanthia tighten ranks. They don't notice the demon making its way through them toward the white-scaled sith.
Aya becomes part of that collapsing wavefront as she moves with others towards Cryosanthia. One more body joining the increasingly dense congregation.
Mikilos snorts, more amused than anything. "Do you really not know whom you've sent invitations to? Or is your order so rife with adventurers they can invite whomever they like without your approval? Either way, not very impressive. Or is this another test? Yes, the whitescale was known to me." Turning focus to the demon, the elf switches to the infernal tongue. "You are poorly informed."
"Aaaahhh ... I must confess an excess of curiosity. I was checking out options, I wasn't ready to commit. Iuitl has some great herbs." Cryo says hurredly to the crowd, sinking in her stance, enough she'll be able to leap if she is surrounded and they get grabby. Her nostrils flare, "I don't want infernal younglings, regular ones are difficult enough. Mostly I wanted to see if other women were..."
"Actually, can we get off this topic? I have terrible timing with it." She's flipping through her few and many spell options, glancing at Mikilos beside her, "So immediate answer is 'no thanks', and yes, I was the Plus One and thought a costume ball would be fun."
Quite suddenly the demon gets tired of pushing through the people and suddenly appears beside Cryosanthia. "Perhaps." It snorts in infernal to Mikilos. "But you would be wise to let us have her just the same."
Excitedly the leader waves at the demon. "Bring her up here! Yes!" Ignoring her comments now entirely it seems. Nobody's listening to Cryosanthia. The demon reaches for her.
GAME: Mikilos casts Dismissal. Caster Level: 15 DC: 24 <OOC> Mikilos says, "banish a demon. make a will save or it goes home" GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+21: (2)+21: 23 <OOC> Zeke says, "The demon got bamphed" <OOC> Mikilos idly notes, 20 percent chance it went to a random plane. GAME: Zeke rolls 1d100: (10): 10
Mikilos sighs, and looks to the demon. "Begone." A gesture and and arcane phrase, and the towering figure is shunted back across the planes. Most likely back to it's home.
GAME: You spend ONE point of PANACHE. (5 remaining) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 (bonus to Acrobatics) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls acrobatics+5+2: (4)+21+5+2: 32
"Wow!" Is Cryo's reaction to Mikilos' spell, as the lunging demon is suddenly portal punted someplace it won't enjoy. It looked nice, from what she could see.
Then the people press is getting a little intense. "Um, bye!" With a whip of her tail she springs, and a nearby cultist is an unwilling springboard as she launches herself in the air. Very clumsily, perhaps it's her partial wings throwing her off. She impacts the wall, and sticks, then starts running up it. Towards the cult leader.
"Okay if you know who I am, one, don't say ANYTHING I'll die of embarrassment. I do not want to be having -that conversation- with my mate. Two, you know I can cause freeze things. I will breathe cold and that will be very bad for delicate constitutions."
She's closing on the cult leader, "Especially you!"
GAME: Aya spends ONE use of DARKNESS. GAME: Aya rolls intimidate+org+dark: aliased to intimidate+4+2: (19)+19+4+2: 44
The cultist turns from Cryosanthia and begins to pray again. This time the gust of fire is larger, and the creature that is summoned is larger. This demon has six arms and a lashing tail. It seems... far stronger at even first glance than the one that came before it. Each of its many arms bearing a longsword that flickers dangerously in the dim lighting.
There is a utterance amidst the crowd of cloaked cultists and suddenly the sconces' light does not reach so far. Amidst the growing darkness is not just the absence of light, but the sense of presences within. It is never the dark, itself, that most truly fear: it is what may or may not hide within it. This aids in clearing some of the crowd and granting space for those that need to move to do so. It is also somewhat fulfilling as Aya watches presumed nobles stumbling over each other all but blindly. She imagines that Aryia would approve.
GAME: Mikilos casts Summon Monster VII. Caster Level: 15 DC: 26 GAME: Mikilos rolls ad4+1: (5)+ad4+1: 6 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3
Mikilos tsks mildy, and takes a second to address the crowd. "Anyone not willing to die for their beliefs tonight should stand back." So warned, the magus murmurs anoher spell, and grabs the Fabric of the Universe, nudging it aside to make a small tunnel, calling to the THINGS on the far side. They'll be along in a moment.
He blinks at the six armed demon. "Ferlixa?! Wait, no, her tattoos are different. Any relation? Ferlixa of the Grey Abby?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+23: (2)+23: 25
"Oh scales! I thought that was Braelnoir's gran-gran. B... um.. M... S... something. It'll come to me." Cryo says as she runs like a spider along the wall, getting higher and closer to the Cult Leader and his summoned pair.
She growls, "Like the mage said, get out of the way! Last warning I'm using the breath weapon."
Her right hand flicks through a quick arcane gesture, one very similar to a spell she knows. A pale grey metal icicle appears in her grip, one with a strange sheen to it.
The demon laughs at Cryosanthia's weak taunt, flying up into the air with ease in spite of its massive size. It's eyes are intent on the white-scale and the cultists... well they get out while the getting is good. Including their leader who disappears into the throng of people like a dream.
GAME: Aya rolls perception: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Mikilos rolls perception: (10)+25: 35
Aya had every intention of having 'words' with the leader, if just to prevent him from inviting every denizen of the hells to the meeting. Unfortunately, said leader chooses to lead the flock from the front, and the flock is fleeing. She somewhat joins the throng, attempting to pick out the man(?). The fact that all are dressed nearly the same makes it difficult and that they're all running away makes it impossible. She doesn't get very far before she stops and turns back. Cryosanthia may well need assistance, as Mikilos didn't happen to deport this one as he did with the last.
<OOC> Mikilos says, "each wind blast is 3d6 area, reflex DC 17 for half" GAME: Mikilos rolls 3d6: (6): 6 GAME: Mikilos rolls 3d6: (6): 6 GAME: Mikilos rolls 3d6: (8): 8 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+18: (9)+18: 27 (Marilith Reflex)
Mikilos's portal opens, and three angels step forth. Well, technically Azata. Bralani to be specific. Elf-like creatures with silver hair and large scimitar. The trio need no instruction... not that they're good at following them anyway, and swirl into pillars of wind (gaseous form), and spread out before sending waves of destructive air at the demon. (whirlwind blast)
<OOC> Mikilos says, "Okay, Dispell Magic at the demon. Might break the spell that summoned it. DC 11+spells caster level" GAME: Mikilos casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 15 DC: 22 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+15+1: (2)+15+1: 18
Turning his focus to the demon, the elf waves again. "Let's try this..." Nothing happens.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so PfE is lvl 1, so DC17 to defensive cast,and check is +12+4" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12+4: (4)+12+4: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 11 DC: 15
The whitescale walks backwards on the wall, curling into a hunch with her dagger forward. Her left hand loops through a quick arcane gesture. She traces a square, sideways, then adds a pyramid to it. At the corners, her arcane mark, a dragon-eye spins slowly. At the peak appears a moon, which transforms into a sword that pierces the edifice. "Eluna I need some protection!"
It's a recognizable spell, for anyone that knows the Silverguard's archaic method. Cryo's version is all her, but she doesn't know that.
Still, the protection from evil lands and buffers her.
<OOC> Zeke says, "Alright. The demon moves in a little and makes a full round of attacks against Cryo." GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (11)+24: 35 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (19)+24: 43 (THREAT) GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (11)+24: 35 (Not Confirmed) GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (4)+24: 28 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: You spend ONE point of PANACHE. (4 remaining) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon1: (6)+19: 25 (vs first - fails) GAME: Zeke rolls 2d6+4: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Zeke damaged you for 11 points. 140 HP remaining.
The monstrous demon lets loose a hail of attacks upon Cryosanthia, most of which glace off her weapon or her armor, but one manages to bleed the sith-makar and the demon's eyes narrow at that single red line with terrible intent.
<OOC> Aya says, "Activate winged on footwear just to keep from falling (as it's in the air)." <OOC> Aya says, "Flurry with an additional Ki. One Ki for AS to Dimensional Savant charge it." <OOC> Aya says, "AS to beside it, strike, then to the other side to flank with myself." <OOC> Aya says, "Stunning First on first, Elbow Strike Style strike on #2 and #3." GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (9)+24: 33 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4: (10)+24+4: 38 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4: (11)+24+4: 39 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4: (3)+24+4: 31 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-5: (2)+24+4+-5: 25 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-10: (11)+24+4+-10: 29 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-15: (8)+24+4+-15: 21 GAME: Aya rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d10+6+2: (15)+6+2: 23 GAME: Aya rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d10+6+2: (7)+6+2: 15 GAME: Aya rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d10+6+2: (11)+6+2: 19 <OOC> Aya says, "SF DC is 20" GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+25: (4)+25: 29 (vs DC20, success) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-5: (6)+24+4+-5: 29 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-5: (20)+24+4+-5: 43 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+4-5: (1)+24+4+-5: 24 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aya rolls damage0+2: aliased to 2d10+6+2: (11)+6+2: 19 <OOC> Aya says, "that damage is nonlethal, per the strike." <OOC> Aya says, "Though that does allow a free intimidate check to demoralize, assuming that works on fiends." GAME: Aya rolls intimidate+org+dark: aliased to intimidate+4+2: (8)+19+4+2: 33 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+23: (10)+23: 33
The darkened spot in the quickly-emptying ballroom suddenly relocates, temporarily smothering the sconces on the wall near Cryosanthia. The demon (and likely the sith-makar) witness a blur of black robes and white false face as the six-armed demon is struck from one side, then the other, and then another. Others are thrown, yet slide off the infernal hide or only hit the darkened air near it.
<OOC> Mikilos says, "Maze the demon. No saving throw, but is spell resistance. I have feats and items to boost my roll. If it fails, can make an INT check DC20 to return as a full round action, max 10 minutes" GAME: Mikilos casts Maze. Caster Level: 15 DC: 27 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+15+1+2: (16)+15+1+2: 34 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20 (Marilith int check)
Mikilos grumbles, and sighs, focusing for a more powerful spell. Pointing and the demon, he intones. "Get lost." Reality bends again, and the creature is hauled away. Glancing to the whirlwinds, he instructs. "Heal the wounded, then linger if it returns." To the other adventurers, he says simply "Run."
The azata return to humanoid form, casting healing magics at the adventurers and whatever injured cultists linger. Cryo is on the wall, fighting with a flying demon, and lamenting that her wings don't work. She flinches back as one of the scimitars opens up a cut on her, and even more as she sees the demon's hungry eyes.
"Velixhial! You're not Velixhial are you?" She asks, as there's a flurry of shadow and fists. Aya appears and vanishes.
The marilith does also, trapped in Mikilos's spell. Followed quickly by his command.
Cryo runs, along the wall and out towards the door, "C'mon c'mon. Thank you Mikilos! Aya. This one shouldn't have come."
Mikilos blinks as the demon reappears far faster than expected. "..huh. You're more clever than I thought. You have my compliments. But nothing else." So saying, the elf teleports away.
Now that Cryosanthia breaks and withdraws, and Mikilos is withdrawing, the large dark spot that is Aya (or rather, upon her) follows to the exit. She isn't attempting to maintain any ruse at this point, but chooses to not outrun the whitescale. Rather, she somewhat covers their withdrawal.
Behind the retreating adventurers can be heard the sound of irritation and ire. Howling and screaming as the demon vents its frustrations and... you escape.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
20 Aya 6 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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19 Mikilos 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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12 Cryosanthia 5 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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11 Demon
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4 Cryosanthia
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Aya's Plan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb-rENuLJeg
The conversation
<OOC> Zeke later: Cryosanthia... Were you engaging demons to lay eggs?
<OOC> Cryosanthia turns into a block of ice, "No."