Life After Death IC

[NeoSeraphi]

Spoiler

Show

+16? At level 5?! Asmodeus...Oh well!

Sense Motive: (1d20+5)[17]

The king looks a bit annoyed when Vul uses the word "my", but he lets it pass. "He was exiled to the Banshee Isles, northwest of here. I do not remember his name, though he was credited during his years here as the most skilled botanist in the entire kingdom. If his habits have not changed since he left, I expect you will know when you've found him by the lush, living foliage surrounding his person."

[GFawkes]

Spoiler

Show

+6 from Charisma bonus, +8 from ranks, +2 from racial modifier. Add in Glibness, and I can do what Haley did and then some.

"Thank you for your assistance. Now if you'll excuse me," Vuls says, beginning to let his face quiver, shifting into the face of the king's father, complete with a vocal pitch and height change to be slightly shorter. "I have to go see a man about a scepter," he says with a grin.

[NeoSeraphi]

The king's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you! You're not my ancestor! GUARDS! Seize him!"

The palace door opens and three soldiers wearing crossbows rush in, all of them pointing their loaded weapons at you.

Spoiler

Show

Initiative for everyone. If Vul manages to win initiative, he may act before the guards, otherwise the guards will receive a surprise round.

[NeoSeraphi]

The guards all quickly launched their bolts at the ghost who appeared to be their previous king. Though they were taken by surprise at his disguise, the distress their true king felt was real, and so they obeyed him and him alone.

Spoiler

Show

Attack Rolls. Vul is flat-footed against each of these attacks. For the purposes of determining whether they miss his incorporeality, I will roll 1d100. A roll of 50 or lower is a hit, a roll of 51 or higher is a miss.

Attack 1: (1d20+9)[29]
Damage 1: (1d8+2)[6]
Miss Chance 1: (1d100)[8]

Attack 2: (1d20+9)[27]
Damage 2: (1d8+2)[8]
Miss Chance 2: (1d100)[87]

Attack 3: (1d20+9)[27]
Damage 3: (1d8+2)[8]
Miss Chance 3: (1d100)[59]

[GFawkes]

Vul winces as one bolt passes through him, while the other two seem to avoid him. Looking around, his eyes settle on the king. With a grin, he moves closer and attempts to pass into him.

Spoiler

Show

Yep, attempt to posses the king with Malevolence. DC 21 Will save to resist.

[stanleyindraven]

Kraven will move on his go behind one of the archers and manifest. So fort save for those who see me within 60' DC 18 or take 1d4 str, dex and con damage.

[NeoSeraphi]

Spoiler

Show

Archer 1: (1d20+5)[25]
Archer 2: (1d20+5)[19]
Archer 3: (1d20+5)[14]

Str Damage: (1d4)[1]
Dex Damage: (1d4)[4]
Con Damage: (1d4)[1]

The archers gasp in fear as another ghost appears. One of them cries out, "This entire castle is haunted by spectres!"

[lostsole31]

Horatio tears through the castle to find the Archbishop.

[NeoSeraphi]

OOC: Oh goodie, it's my turn again.

The guard who felt the most sickened by seeing so many ghosts dashes out of the room, screaming, "Archbishop Carcino! Help!"

Meanwhile, the other two guards, hesitant to fire at their own king, instead turn their bolts on Kraven.

Spoiler

Show

Each guard spends a move action to reload his crossbow.

Attack 1: (1d20+9)[16]
Damage 1: (1d8+2)[4]
Miss Chance 1: (1d100)[76]

Attack 2: (1d20+9)[27]
Damage 2: (1d8+2)[7]
Miss Chance 2: (1d100)[26]

[GFawkes]

Vul reaches the king's hand to the sword at his side. Stepping back, he draws it and holds it to his throat. "Nobody move, or I get it!" he calls to the guards.

Spoiler

Show

Step back 10 feet, just enough to constitute a move action
Threat to stab "myself". Not really going to follow through. I'm a thief, not a revolutionary. Bluff check: Take 10 (Social Intuition allows this, even threatened), final result of 26

[stanleyindraven]

On his go Kraven will reach out and grasp the archer that hit him.

Touch Attack (1d20+3)[5]
Damage (1d4)[2] Con damage

If successful, heal 5 hp.

[NeoSeraphi]

Kraven misses.

Edit:

Horatio: 3 rounds until you find the Archbishop.

The two guards sigh and drop their crossbows, stepping ten feet back and raising their empty hands placatingly so that Vul doesn't kill himself.

[GFawkes]

Vul begins to move towards the window, slowly and without taking his eyes off the guards. "I want free passage out, and the same for any other spirits here. Understood?"

Spoiler

Show

Move action to get to the window.

Diplomacy with the guards and Bluff to send a secret message to Kraven. Message: "It's time to leave, follow me."

Diplomacy check: (1d20+19)[20]
Bluff check: (1d20+16)[26]

[stanleyindraven]

Kraven will un-manifest and move towards Vul.

[NeoSeraphi]

The guards have no choice but to let you go.

[GFawkes]

"And let's keep this little incident off record, shall we? The king's been under a lot of stress lately, and won't need to be reminded of this incident." Vul adds, slowly lowering the blade.

Spoiler

Show

I just waiting for Horatio to get back. I've had bad experiences in the past with splitting the party.

And here's Diplomacy to have the guards consider "forgetting" about this ever happening: (1d20+19)[25]

[NeoSeraphi]

Alright, Horatio, you see the Archbishop walking directly towards you, headed for the throne room. He has a serious expression on his face and his holy symbol clenched firmly in his right hand. The guard who ran out of the room is next to him, crossbow loaded.

[stanleyindraven]

Unmanifested, Kraven will wait just outside the window for the others.

[lostsole31]

Horatio will manifest and say, as he heads back towards the throne room and pleading, "There's not a minute to lose, Archbishop, the king is under attack and possessed by one of those who fell with me. I don't know him well enough to know to what end he would abuse the king. We, the dead, are turned out the grave, while the living are held alive by death, evil beasts devour men in the dungeon, and bandits afar have a dire scepter. This day is for Chaos if you cannot help me end this. I fear for the king's life, and the desperation and poor choice of my fellows."

[NeoSeraphi]

The Archbishop narrowed his eyes and brushed past Horatio, running towards the throne room.

In the throne room, Vul will notice suddenly his body cannot move. The Archbishop steps inside and the two guards both sigh in relief. He has his hands raised, pointed directly at Vul. "Begone, spirit. You and your comrades may leave with your unlife, but you will not take the king with you. Exit him, and I sincerely promise to let you go. Do not make me drive you out."

[GFawkes]

"Never intended to take the king with me. Just needed a good defense against the guards. Sorry for the inconvenience, and tell the king thank you for his time and body." Vul says, exiting the king's body. He does so cautiously, not wanting to be full of bolts in seconds.

Spoiler

Show

De-possessing the king. Not sure of the action to de-manifest or to end malevolence, so I'll de-manifest next round, unless combat is decided as over.

[lostsole31]

Horatio follows in behind the Archbishop, shakes his head, and says, "How has it come to this?"

He then comes out a little and says, being sure to bow or show what ever decorage is required when the king is present, "Your Majesty, I am Horatio Priestly of Overhill. I and these spirits here were recently executed for a crime we did not commit, or possibly were dominated into committing. I believe that we cannot pass on until we aid you in retrieving the Scepter from those who did steal it.

"I am sure my companions meant no harm, but acted out of desperation and lack of judgment."

[NeoSeraphi]

The king sighed and shook his head a bit, trying to clear it. He looked at the Archbishop, who gave a subtle nod, and then cleared his throat. "I will pardon you for the possession of my body. I do this simply because I assume you all have had a pretty rough night, and purgatory is just plain worse than any punishment I could administer to a group of ghosts. However, if you do plan to retrieve the Scepter, as well as reveal the person truly behind its capture, I would be willing to drop the charge of grand theft against you all, and have the Archbishop restore each of you to life, with our sincerest condolences."

[lostsole31]

Horatio kneels just above the ground and says, "In life or death, Your Majesty, I wish to serve the honor of my country, my king, and my family name - in that order. I will do all that may become the spirit of man - with or without flesh - to restore all three and with what discretion I am able to keep this issue from becoming known."

[NeoSeraphi]

The king nods solemnly. "Then go. I cannot give you aid at the moment, I must concentrate all of my resources to keep the hydra contained for now. However, you may find this..." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. "...to be of use."

He steps forward and hands it to you. The box falls through your hand and drops to the floor. There is a beat of silence, before the king clears his throat, bends down (through you) and picks up the box, and then walks back to his throne. "Right. Best of luck, then."

[lostsole31]

Horatio bows again to the king, and as he begins to leave (and dematerialize) he says to the Archbishop, "Pray for us..."

And he is gone. On the Ethereal, he awaits his other ghost-siblings.

[GFawkes]

Vul looks at the king. "If you can spare the time, try to make sure our graves aren't disturbed. Might not be much, but it could help." He shrugs, then goes ethereal.

[NeoSeraphi]

The king nods and waves goodbye to you all.

The sky blackens and the world looks grim as you leave the manor. It has now been 6 hours since you spoke to the mysterious being in the graveyard. There are an additional 6 hours remaining before midnight.

[stanleyindraven]

"Shall we retrace our steps," Kraven will ask the others.

[lostsole31]

"Seems to be the best way to begin is at the end," says Horatio.