Adventurer's Guild [Cult of Donjon]

[cameronpants]

Ashburn's smile is crooked. He remembers being in a very similar place with Dash, once upon a time: beaten, tied up, and fearing the worst. Dash was a dangerous man, and Ashburn didn't spend a moment not thanking the Gods for his turn of good fortune.

Steeling himself, Ashburn approaches the battered mage. He kneels and says in an even voice, "Hello. I am Koden. I would like to ask you about Keraptis, the weapon named Wave, and your capabilities. Which would you like to tell me about first?"

[Eonas]

The dinosaur puts down the rope for the first time in far too long, and then proceeds to growl viciously at the three men standing before him. The dragon remarks in an utterly emotionless tone "If you don't give us the right answer, we're going to beat you into a bloody pulp, you know."

[JanusJones]

Dash speaks without looking up from rifling through the man's belongings.

"Too late."

The man is bruised and bleeding, lip split, and his hands are so swollen they look unlikely to produce any arcane gestures ... at least not without serious medical attention.

[Eonas]

The dragon corrects itself. "Bloodier."

[Plerumque]

Spoiler: Dash

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You find an elaborately carved scrollcase on the table behind a pile of papers and a small cabinet inset into one wall which contains three potion bottles. Plus there's the vase and an ornate, gilded mirror on one wall.

"I am not sure exactly how I would relate the measure of my own power, but I would sooner say that than describe Keraptis or his stolen weapons. Could you be more specific, perhaps?" He feigns confidence, but is clearly trembling.

[Eonas]

"Start with telling us where Keraptis is, then tell us what his weaknesses are, then tell us about what protects him, then tell us some of the things he can do." the dragon says evenly. The dinosaur, having finished his general growling, focuses on growling at the wizard. The lion does so as well, and the goat has to content itself with a mere ferocious glaring. Last time it had tried to bleat intimidatingly... well, suffice it to say things had backfired.

Spoiler: OOC

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Intimidate check: (1d20+19)[36]

[JanusJones]

Spoiler

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Jesus. Think I peed MY pants! Nice!

[Plerumque]

The man shrinks back, curling in on himself. He looks around nervously. "The mirror. He can see us. Smash it."

[Eonas]

"Where is the mirror and can I smash it the same way someone might smash glass?" the dragon asks.

[Plerumque]

The mage points to a gilded mirror mounted on the far wall. "It's glass. But there might be some backlash. I don't really know."

[JanusJones]

Dash doesn't hesitate - before the man's finished speaking, his hammer's in motion.

Spoiler

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I'll roll when my update's finished. Mountain Hammer FTW, tho!

15 ft. reach, and he'll use every inch.

[Plerumque]

The mirror shatters into a thousand pieces, which evaporate in a swirl of smoke before touching the ground. The blank space inside the frame seems to stare accusingly, and the wizard draws his knees up to his chest. "Once I've told you everything, will you let me leave this place? It holds nothing but death for me now."

[Eonas]

The dinosaur doesn't move an inch, nor do any of its heads so much as swivel away from watching the mage. "Once you've answered my questions." the dragon answers, still calmly. The dinosaur gives the mage another quick growl, just for the hell of it, and the dragon reiterates his questions. "Where is Keraptis, what are his weaknesses, what protects him, and what things is he able to do?"

[JanusJones]

Dash continues methodically searching. He keeps an eye on the eel.

[Plerumque]

The magus gulps. "Keraptis resides in a chamber deep within the mountain that connects to no other rooms, accessible only by magic rivaling his. I have never had much contact with him, as he prefers to deal with others through his minions, terrible creatures created by his own fell powers. I cannot say what his weaknesses are- he is intelligent, powerful, and nigh-immortal. This entire cursed mountain is his toy, his plaything, his maze. He is everywhere. Honestly, the wisest thing to do and the only way in which you could defy him is to leave this place with as much haste as you can manage, to walk away from the game he is offering." He bobs his head in fright, and his eel familiar floats protectively in front of him.

[JanusJones]

Dash grunts as he begins destroying furniture. In between dismantling objects, he speaks without turning his head.

"Be more specific about the creatures. That would be helpful."

[Eonas]

"Are there any more Sphinxes?" the lion head asks hopefully. "And what can you tell us about what's further down this passageway?" the dragon asks, almost simultaneously with his feline counterpart.

[Plerumque]

"Keraptis' minions are horrific beasts, tangles of claws, legs, tentacles. They seem to know what he wishes them to do before Keraptis knows it himself. There are no sphinxes other than Etrusca, who I presume you met. The path you are taking leads to Blackrazor, but I fear telling you much more. Keraptis may abide me revealing something about himself, but were I to spoil his game..." He shivers, and the eel curls comfortingly on his shoulder. "There are worse fates than death," he finishes.

[Eonas]

"Yes, like the fate in store for you if you don't answer our question." menaces the Dragon head as calmly as before, accompanied by the Dinosaur and Lion heads' growling.

Spoiler: OOC

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Intimidate: (1d20+19)[29]

I'm going to switch some stats up on my character sheet now, though, if that's okay with you? The arena game really highlighted the fact that Lozeki's a bit brittle.

[Plerumque]

"Exactly. You see my conundrum?" he asks, hiding his fear well but not well enough. "But... every minute we spend talking is another chance for Keraptis to see it, so... if I tell you, real quick, will you be done with the questions? Will you let me go?"

[Eonas]

"If you answer the question honestly. If not, you can bet that we'll be back to get you. So for your own sake, answer the question truthfully the first time." the Dragon states.

Spoiler: OOC

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For added effect, would you like to fake a Truth field spell, cam?

[Plerumque]

The man breathes a small sigh of relief. "Further down the hallway there's a 20-foot area lined with heat-producing plates, you should be fine as long as you go through quick. Stairs down, then there's a ghast to contend with. After that, there's a harpy that'll try to lure you in to a series of pit traps, then you have to kayak through the air, and- urk!" He begins struggling against his bonds. "Help me," he squeaks, face white.

Spoiler

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If you'd like, you can make Sense Motive checks now.

[JanusJones]

Spoiler

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Go go untrained Sense Motive! (1d20+2)[21]

[cameronpants]

Spoiler

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Sense Motive: Untrained, the Sequel: (1d20+3)[15]

"Spit it out, old man! We haven't got all day!"

Spoiler: OOC Note

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The entire time Ashburn has been in here he has been searching for a spellbook, or even scrolls or a crystal with arcane harmonics. ANYTHING for where this guy keeps spell knowledge. Random search check in IC!

[Plerumque]

"It's Keraptis!"

Spoiler

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Hmm. Okay, so Dash senses there's something wrong with the whole tableaux, but can't tell which part (if any) the man is lying about.

[cameronpants]

"So after we kayak through the air, it's suddenly Keraptis? I thought you said this path lead to Blackrazor- now it's Keraptis' sanctum?"

Ashburn takes the spellbook and places it in his satchel. He follows suit with the potions and whatever else looks tantalizing.

[Plerumque]

Ceasing to struggle uselessly against his bonds, the mage looks up with a clear, cold gaze. "I am Keraptis you fool," he spits, voice becoming deeper and smoother.

[JanusJones]

Spoiler: OOC

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10 ft. away, readied action to Emerald Razor (full PA) his face if anything like casting happens.

Granted maneuvers: (1d5)[5], (1d4)[4]: Vanguard Strike, Leading the Attack.

Dash has never left striking distance. He has palmed the silver ball of his hammer, and looks down, expressionless, at the mage.

"You want to say something before I break your puppet's mouth?"

[Eonas]

The Dragon head c ocks itself. "You look like the same scrawny mage to me."

He stands next to the mage, preparing to rip it to pieces if it does anything remotely threatening.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ditto. I'm standing 10' away (because of Morphic Range), and I ready an action to attack him if he does anything violent or spellcast-y.

And lol at the spontaneous GiantITP censoring.

[Plerumque]

The mage's head laughs derisively even as it lolls to the side. "Go right ahead. He has failed me, and will pay the price. I shall feel his every pain as if it were my own. It will be exquisite." Its face splits into a gruesome leer.