One With Warren Northwode (IC)

[Meat Shield]

Arcturus

'Could have sworn the throne would have done something.....Ah well. Anyone fancy a squeeze through that crack in the wall?'

[Anna_Irving]

Warren
paladin

'Does anyone else have ideas or want to try himself?' Warren mentally whispers, mindful of waking the sleeping Anersha. 'I must admit, these hands-on activities were never my forte.'

If no one wants to try investigating the chair:

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'We can try the crack after I destroy the evil objects,' Warren replies, as he rummages through various people's gear for a hammer or similiar smashing implement.

[UglyPanda]

Mick

'Anyone try, y'know, moving the chair? What if it's just on top of a trap door or something?'

OOC: What kind of chair is it? Is it broken in any way? Is it nailed or otherwise attached to the floor? Does it have four legs? What material is it made out of? What color is it and does it have any decorations?

[salokcin]

The chair sits directly on the floor, there are no legs. It is gold, possibly solid, decorated with gems, and covered in the foul images described above. It seems fully intact, and though it could be attached to the floor, no one has tested. Either way, it would likely be quite heavy (OOC)(So any attempts to move should come with a strength check).

[Gorgondantess]

'Ugh... listen, I want to examine out this chair some more. Give me control, and I can look it over for magical emanations.'

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IF Vance is given control, he'll use detect magic on the chair, and then the rest of the room. Spellcraft check to determine school of magic: (1d20+12)[16]

[Anna_Irving]

Warren
paladin

'Very well, Vance. You are the expert at finding things hidden, after all. Though I would rather we destroy it immediately, perhaps it will yield a key to solving our problem.'

Warren yields control.

[UglyPanda]

Mick

"What's your obsession with destroying things?"

Mick tries to push the chair over repeatedly.

OOC:
(1d20)[4] What's the strength mod, +3?

Edit: If at first you don't succeed, you take 20.

[Gorgondantess]

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Mick

"What's your obsession with destroying things?"

Mick tries to push the chair over repeatedly.

OOC:
[roll0] What's the strength mod, +3?

Edit: If at first you don't succeed, you take 20.

Emmm, I believe control was relinquished to me... just saying...

Vance sighs when he assumes control of the body. He then looks down, and assumes a look of disgust. The next minute or so he spends his time getting a feel for the body, becoming more and more annoyed. "By god... it might be strong, but it is just so muscle bound, and clumsy, and so.... ugly. What I would do to regain my old, lovely self... ahh..." He then remembers the voices in his head. "Oh, yes, I need to get to- my god this voice is so scratchy, and blunt... so unlike my lilting, dulcet tones... ugh. I need to stop speaking, it's quite grating." With that he uses detect magic to scan the area for magic, focusing in on whatever shows itself for the full 3 rounds for every aura.

[UglyPanda]

OOC:
Does it matter? It's one set of actions which doesn't interfere with your own. If we waited for "I yield control to X" or "If X gets control, then Y" then we'd never get anything done.

[salokcin]

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As long as nothing I consider to be majorly game changing happens, I will not be too strict on the control mechanism. Combat, skill combos, and interactions with NPCs will be carried out with a strict order for control, though you are still welcome to post your actions in advance through spoilers.

Vance can tell that the following items in the room have magical auras, but is unable to discern the school of any of them:

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The chair: Strong
The goblet: Strong
The crystal ball: Weak
The location where the door was: Dim
Something behind a part of the Northern Wall: Moderate

Eventually, Mick is sucessful in pushing the chair about 3 feet to the side. The floor and wall behind the chair are a slightly lighter color, as if untouched for quite some time.

[Anna_Irving]

Warren
paladin

'It doesn't look like the tunnel we were looking for, unless the dirt is merely a cover?'

[Meat Shield]

Arcturus

'Ah ha! I knew that chair did something! Let me see.....' The academician pauses for a moment.

'That spot on the armrest - see if the crystal ball or goblet will fit there.'

[Anna_Irving]

Warren
paladin

'Why... why are you sure activating this evil object is a wise idea?' Warren asks nervously, but makes no move to wrest control for the moment.

[Meat Shield]

Arcturus

'Ah my dear Warren, I have no idea what will happen - that's part of the fun! And any tool can be used for good or ill - only the hand of the controller determines the outcome. Would not finding its function allow us to determine whether or not it is truly evil? Or perhaps we can use it against or foe? These are things we must investigate! Without knowledge, all efforts are doomed to failure! Ignorance is the greatest evil of all.'

Warren has obviously touched onto a favored subject of the normally quiet scientist.

[Gorgondantess]

"Well, regardless of your worries, I agree with Arcturus; the knowledge to be gleaned by such a thing far outweighs the risk... and I wouldn't mind seeing some action myself, anyways." Vance says this as he tries the goblet and crystal ball.

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Ehmmm, I honestly find it odd Vance wasn't able to discer a single item's school of magic. He has a +12 to spellcraft, so those must've been pretty incredibly bad. Ah well.

[salokcin]

Vance reaches for the crystal ball, climbs up onto the chair, and places it in the depression on the arm. It immediately lights up, and colors begin to swirl inside. A sinister voice whispers

what is your command, master

the voice is transmitted telepathically to everyone, and has the cold, distant voice characteristic of undead.

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Note: It is not Aranok's voice.
Note: I chose randomly which object you picked up first. You can continue on with the crystal ball, or you can pick up the goblet.

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Meat Shield]

Arcturus

"Excellent! A stimulus-response action! Curiouser and curiouser! Apparently it is a scrying implement dedicated to visual stimuli transmitted via this crystalline interface! Outstanding! Quick, what does the goblet do!?' The other inhabitants of Warren's skull can easily visualize Arcturus vibrating with excitement.

[Gorgondantess]

Vance's (or rather, Warren's) face lights up in a smile. "Yes... that will do. Tell me of your nature and purpose."

[salokcin]

An image of a dark, robed figure appears in the crystal ball. At the same time, the voice speaks again. In its cold, dead tones, it replies,

"I show whatever thou wishes to see,
I go wherever thou asks of me.
For death and mayhem, I will help thee,
And hope one day thou sets me free.


After a brief pause, the voice repeats,

what is your command, master

[Gorgondantess]

"What are you capable of? What's your motivation? Where are you, exactly? What are you? I command a blunt, straight, non-cryptic answer."

[salokcin]

The figure in the crystal ball pauses.

"master? It is I, your faithful Dirgesinger Tssalla. Is something wrong? Have I displeasured you?

The shape appears to be holding a large round object, which it raises up in the air.

"I have done as you asked, the white elves are dead.
I return to you tommorrow with Lalandil's head.
If something is wrong, just give me the word,
and I'll summon your troops, armed tooth, nail, and sword.

[Gorgondantess]

"Forgive me, Dirgesinger... I've come under the power of a curse recently, and my memory is muddled... you may not find me as I once was. But yes, I remember you, my servant. Please, now... refresh my my mind. I require information to reignite my psyche. Now, answer my questions, and truthfully or you shall feel my wrath; I wish to understand your power."

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God I love bluffing. If a roll is required: (1d20+11)[23]

[salokcin]

The figure hesitates for a second...

Of course my good master, I would not lie.
My devotion to thee will never die.
Ask whatever you desire, I'm honored to assist.
Whoever did this to you shall cease to exist.


tell me what thou wishes to know.
I'll share with thee ballads of grief and sorrow.
All composed for thou, I'm delighted to note.
Some of the best I have ever wrote.


What power have I? I'm blessed to lead.
I command your army and carry out your great deeds.
Your legion of troops, all but I undead,
March home now, with the White elf's head.


You grace me with edicts, from the crystal ball
And where you decree, so darkness shall fall!

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Gorgondantess]

"Excellent, my servant... excellent. How many strong is my army at its current state? Surely you have suffered losses in the field. And tell me, specifically; what magics do you posess?"

[salokcin]

master, you started with a legion, and more now are there
since we raise up the bones after stripping them bare.
I bolster your troops and protect them from turning,
and in my spare time, I set villages burning.

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A legion is typically 4000-5000 basic troops, plus 100-500 mounted soldiers.

[Gorgondantess]

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I believe I also asked what magics he has. That's the integral part, y'see. It's all part of the plan. And then let's have a sense motive to see if he's just tricking me.(1d20-1)[2]

[salokcin]

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Well, Vance would probably know that most of a dirgesinger's powers work similar to a bard's (its a prestige class), but that they specialize in bolstering and raising undead troops. Feel free to enquire futher though.

[Gorgondantess]

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Em, hmmmm.... the potential here is pretty huge. I don't really know how to put this into IC, but I'd like to ask him if he knows the spell detect thoughts.

[Dreamshifter]

Anersha

Although it hasn't been long since she started snoring, Anersha's isn't resting peacefully any more. She mutters in her sleep, at first intelligibly, then it becomes clearer. "No, no, don't..."