AVB - The Fallen One

[TheFallenOne]

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Bluffety Bluff (1d20+4)[16]

[Rizban]

"Then give your version of events."

[TheFallenOne]

"I was picking up the thing with the spies and looking into it, to get an idea how the diplomatic relations are with Aldhaven. During that I attracted someone's attention. I never saw his face, or heard his name. Robes of a blue so dark I first thought it's black, covered with runes I didn't recognize. Your eyes watered if you tried to focus on them too much. Face covered in a skull mask that looked human save for the two small horns protruding from the forehead. He submitted me to his will through a method I can't identify. It seems my Soulmelds in particular piqued his interest. After some preparation, he ordered me to infiltrate the Fortress. Find the spies and kill them. Kill or evade anyone trying to stop me. Try to break out anyone else from the Empire I meet, but not risk the mission for it. And I'd prefer to give testimony in front of a proper court, not towards the already summoned executioner."

[Rizban]

"Very well. You will appear before a magistrate in the morning."

They leave.

[TheFallenOne]

He nods. "Thank you." He waits for the next day, hoping to maybe still spin this around with his ability to evade magical lie detection. It is a rare gift so they might not be prepared for it.

[Rizban]

The next morning, they remove the charm from above the cell door, lifting the antimagic field. However, they quickly lock you into shackles and place the charm into a grove on the shackles apparently designed for it.

They lead you upstairs and to a small chamber with a raised platform obviously intended for the magistrate. As you are led in, another man in shackles is being led out another door.

As soon as you are in place before the bench, the magistrate bangs a gavel and speaks.

"Court is in session. The convicted pleads appeal. How do you plead?"

[TheFallenOne]

The short moment when the field was lifted was tempting, but he decides to go through the legal process.

"Um... Not guilty I guess? Or not responsible for my own actions due to outside circumstances? Sorry, not entirely clear on the formalities here... Point is, my body did kill those men, but not on my own free will. I had no control. It was taken from me."

[Rizban]

"What evidence have you for this?"

[TheFallenOne]

"I can describe the man who did this to me, maybe he is a known criminal around here." He repeats the description he had given earlier. "I'd also request you question the ones who witnessed me during this terrible thing. The other two prisoners. The watchmen who survived meeting me. The poor men I killed if you have magic to talk to dead people available. I wasn't acting myself, I couldn't shake off the control while I cut through them but I tried. Maybe one of them noticed something... off about my behaviour."

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I'm angling for the fact I've been Confused for good parts of the fights thanks to Reflexive Psychosis.

[Rizban]

"Yes, we heard the description before when you were talking with your cell mates. The description does not match any known criminals, and neither divination nor a cursory investigation has revealed leads or other hints as to this mysterious figure. It is the opinion of the court that no such figure exists, being concocted to escape punishment.

As to the other two criminals, their sentences have already been carried out.

If there is nothing else, then I see no reason to change the verdict in this case."

[TheFallenOne]

"I have no physical evidence on me, and if I had you already took it anyway. All I can do is give my own testimony and request you get the testimony of the other witnesses as well. Ask them whether I seemed not in control or unaware of my surroundings during the fight.

Is there no way for you to ascertain I tell the truth? Except torture of course, rather not request that one. I very much like my toenails where they are."

[Rizban]

The magistrate turns to two men sitting at a desk perpendicular to his bench.

"What say you?"

Make two Will saves please.

[TheFallenOne]

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(1d20+1)[3] +3 from Madness

(1d20-2)[11]

[Rizban]

"I believe him to be lying to the court."

"I am inclined to agree."

[TheFallenOne]

Sedrach blinks twice in confusion. "Explanation please?"

[Rizban]

"Discern lies. A common spell. It shows you to be lying."

"I cannot seem to get a fix on your with detect thoughts, but your motives are clear."

The magistrate considers their responses for a moment.

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Discern lies isn't [mind-affecting].

The second can't find you with detect thoughts, which is [mind-affecting], but he also has high ranks in Sense Motive, which he normally uses to help sift through the surface thoughts of the accused. He can still use it outside of that.

[TheFallenOne]

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I didn't say a thing after the spells were cast, but I suppose they could have asked me to repeat my statement. Too bad they use the higher level spell instead of Zone of Truth. Though I would have been more careful in my statements after the saves, and a 'During the fight in the Fortress I lost control of my actions' would not register as a lie with the Confusion.

[Rizban]

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Both spells were already cast before you were brought in. Detect thoughts is persisted throughout the day (has a fixed range) and discern lies is actually built into a magic item with unlimited uses per day and a mental swift action activation with no obvious sign that it is being activated.

They do it this way because it's cheaper to just cast once per day on the one and to have an item of the other than it is to sit there casting them repetitively all day across different trials or through hours long sessions. It's also less distracting this way then having someone cast a spell repeatedly while testimony is being given.

He was under their effects of both the entire time. Your character just wasn't aware of it. There's also a zone of truth in effect, but it's also [mind-affecting] and therefore ignored. I just didn't have you roll until then, but you can assume you were rolling during your testimony. I guess I asked for the rolls when they'd be more relevant from a story telling perspective than from a game mechanics perspective...

[TheFallenOne]

"So choppity chop with my head then, huh? Well, as you notice when I lie you can take this for the truth: throw me in the docks, point me at the people you want dead and I'll make them so or die trying. I think I demonstrated I'm quite efficient in that kind of business."

[Rizban]

"Very well, the let record show that the guilty is to be restrained, marked, and dumped into the Docks to do as he will. May the gods have mercy on his soul."

[TheFallenOne]

"Is that what goes for a death sentence around here or am I now a hitman in your employ? Either way, proceed." He nonchalantly leans back.

[Rizban]

"Yes, to both. Take him away."

They take you to a back room and restrain you so that you can not move then begin placing a mark of justice across your face. You learn that should you leave the Docks after being removed from the city, the mark will activate, making you sickened, then nauseated, then incapacitated without a high enough Will save.

Unless you resist, you are placed back into you cell after the mark is completed.

[TheFallenOne]

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Wonder if they wait until night to drop me... Proceed.

[Rizban]

As you expected, they wait until just before night to escort you from your cell to Dockside Gate. Once through, you are released from the shackles that have been suppressing your magic. The guards quickly retreat back through the gate, and the gate begins to close as a deep horn is sounded.

[TheFallenOne]

On the way outside, Sedrach casually asks "Hey, you know, just in case I survive the night, mind telling me what I'm not allowed to do from now on by your verdict? Anything except leaving the docks I mean?"

Once outside, he strolls along humming a merry tune.

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what kind of equipment do I have once I'm free?

[planswalker]

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the docks at night is one of my special scenes. I'll be handling it from here until such a time as you either die or dawn breaks, whichever happens first.

I don't have access to your sheet, so mind giving me some vital stats?

HP, AC, Saves, Spot/Listen, and Sense Motive?

The guards do not deign to answer you, and the sun is quickly setting. You notice that all the doors you can see are firmly locked and bolted.

[TheFallenOne]

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48 HP
AC 19, Touch 13, FF 16
Fort 12
Reflex 10
Will -2(Immune to mind-affecting)

Listen/Spot +1
Sense Motive +5

That's with my usual equipment

"Oh well, let's see which horror gets me first." He continues walking along one of the wider roads, humming all the while; to survive he probably had to get friendly with one of the factions. Of course, not all would be open to the idea, and in any case a little demonstration of his skills would do well for making an impression, so he was not too concerned with what may come to challenge him. Can't be worse than dying, right?

[planswalker]

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okay, what's your race and class? I don't need to know the specifics of what you do or anything, but part of this encounter cares about race/class combo.

You wander around in the Docks for a few minutes as the sun sets. The place had been quiet before, but suddenly it was deathly still.

[TheFallenOne]

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Silverbrow Human. Scout 1/Totemist 2/Urban Ranger 1/Incarnate 1/Cloistered Cleric 1

"It's getting boring. Why don't you come out to play already?"

[planswalker]

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Oh, this sounds like a fun build I look forward to seeing it in action.

A quartet of daggers flash out from opposite corners of the gloom of the surrounding buildings. Two of them catch on your armor and fall to the ground uselessly. The other two land in your liver and kidney, respectively.

The liver dagger guts you for (d4+3)[7] piercing, (3d6)[15] sneak attack, and (2d6)[5] humanbane damage.

The kidney dagger shanks you for (d4+3)[6] piercing, (3d6)[8] sneak attack, and (2d6)[11] humanbane damage.

You do not see or hear your assailants, but you do know the direction each dagger was thrown from.

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roll for initiative.