The Brink [of Madness] Act 1, Scene 1

[BishGada]

"If there are no other options I may get to melee fights."

[Lord Torath]

He then looks at Steve. "I must politely decline your offer to mess with my noodle. My arcane and divine thoughts already scramble this about. However the link Allikhain provided was quite useful. Maybe we can work a deal for that one to make it's way into my spellbook as well."

“It should be noted that the link I would create is essentially the same as that created by Allikhain's spell. But I will honor your request. Let me know, should you ever change your mind.”

“Ke'Sha, what is your preferred weapon? And do you have any restrictions on using bladed weapons?”

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Stephen spends most of the next day in meditation. Around 20:30 in the evening he spends 20 minutes creating the link with Jack.

[BishGada]

Ke'Sha narrows his eyes and tells Steve, "My preferred weapon is zombies..." [ooc]but then he checks at his character sheet[/ooc] he thinks for a moment and adds "I usually fight with my morning star, while conveying my experiments with my sickle and other surgical blades." He says while presenting the morning star in one hand and pointing to the surgeon kit at his belt with the other.

[TristenC]

[Before we get too far into the next day stuff, what is everyone doing for the remainder of this first day?]

[Lord Torath]

[Steve will rest/meditate after establishing Mindlink with Landro. Then around 22:00 he'll use psychic surgery on Ke'Sha. Around 04:00 the next morning he'll do the same to Jack.]

[Nocturno]

Jack shares his plan of going to re-scout the areas they have been.
Jag will agree to go if another member of the party will go to be a bodyguard.

[TristenC]

Landro nods, I will accompany you, and then we will be able to communicate with Steve here on the surface.

Allikhain will remain in camp

[BishGada]

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(OOC: Ke'Sha has 2 Genius spells that can be used to ask divination questions. He also can resurrect the body they found if they stay long enough in camp, and he can conjure fire elemental and use his Stone of Controlling Earth Elementals to conjure earth elemental.
If no one had special need for those he will go far from the camp hopefully at least with Allakhain that understand his motives, conjure these (casting protection from evil on himself) and ask them to bring him a local man from at least 10 miles away from camp. He will then cast energy drain on them, should they die he will animate them as Ju-Ju zombies.)

[Styrius]

Axid will rest to regain expended PSPs. He wants to be ready when he will be needed to break things.

[BishGada]

"OK. Let's get on with it." Ke'Sha says impatiently. He then arranging a circle and sit with Gur meditating. Then it seems they are conversing telepathically for a while.

'My old friend, let's get some useful information from your relatives, shall we?' he smiles wickedly. 'Try to keep the wording, but feel free to decorate the sentences with appropriate language that fit the nature of the called beings.'

He then recite the questions one by one:
'Can the sigils be tracked, used to control or weaken the party members?'
He waits for a while giving the quasit the time to translate the question, get the answer and filter all the curses Gur throws at him, then
'Will having all the 20 sigils have different dangerous drastic effect than exposing another dimensional layer of the Labyrinth?'
Again the ceremony repeats itself, but Ke'Sha is less patient,
'Will plunging the scepter into the pool do anything dangerous other than free the paladin?'
[OOC] I'm trying to rephrase the "What" questions to yes/no ones, but it's pretty complex to keep in one 1:1 questions mapping[/OOC]
'If two people, one heavily defensed against mental attacks and one heavily defensed against physical attacks, would go together to the Labyrinth, then of the two, will the mental defended one be in less danger posed by the Labyrinth traps and creatures?'
'If two people, one heavily capable of dispelling magic and the other greatly capable of imposing physical damage, would go together to the Labyrinth, then of the two, will the first one will be more effective against the Labyrinth traps and creatures?'
Gur looks at Ke'Sha in panic and shouts loudly "WHAT?!? Are you finally done for? What are these stupid questions? My people will laugh at me forever!"
Ke'Sha tenses and answers mentally, 'Come on! You know as much as I know that these people with us will never let this thing go if we can't give at least one decent answer! They will make us consult with the elements on every opportunity! Just ask the question unless you can phrase it better and let's go find ourselves something better to do!'
Gur says, "Sure I can phrase it better! I phrase it as 'SOVE IT WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE!' you want to ask arch-demon stupid questions? Then ask them yourself!"
Ke'Sha moans, and says, 'Right... Gur'Khal-Negh, pppleeeesssseee, do me a favor and ask the question. On the worse case we will get a 'maybe'. We have been there more than once! I promise to raise the first undead minion according to your request. OK?' The only way I can communicate with the devil is by making deals with him. He rolls his eyes.
'FINE! But he will be MY minion! And if you have another stupid questions I'll give *THEM*... *YOUR* name!'
Shoulders slumbered Ke'Sha continues.
'OK, the last one is: 'If two people, one'...' "SHUT UP with these two people! Is it a bar joke??" Gur bursts out. "WHAT DID I JUST SAY TO YOU?!?! You want us dead! That's it! You just want to be one with your god! I have figured it out! But why are you taking me down with you?!?!?"
'Stop it Gur! I understand you don't see eye to eye with me!' "Wow! You are SOOO perceptive! I bet these two people just whispered these pearls of wisdom in your ears! Don't see eye to eye... I don't see even leg to stomach with you! In fact I don't see you at all!" he shuts his eyes.
"Gur! How many times have I saved your ass?? How many times was I right? I've never put you in a real risk and I'm not doing it now!" Ke'Sha says loud in a commanding voice and zeal that none have seen this side of him until now.
Surprisingly Gur stops his opposition, listens and after a moment gives a sly smile, "Nice to have you back!"
'And I have to deal with this for decades...' Ke'Sha thinks to himself and then finally finishes.
'If.... two..... people.....' he says very slowly, once noticing no interference he continues, 'one evasive avoiding fights, and the second protected, armed to his teeth, and fights the defenders of the Labyrinth, will the first one have better chance to save Sorril?'

Gur translates the questions, add flattery, pleas, whimpering, and some curses and mockery aimed at Ke'Sha where needed to get the best reaction from the forces they communed with.

Once the ceremony is done Ke'Sha thanks Gur and share the results with the others.

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(OOC: Hope it goes well. )

[TristenC]

[Hahahah, I love all the back-and-forth. I especially enjoyed the "SHUT UP with these two people! Is it a bar joke??" comment
Good stuff. I see extra RP xp in your future ]

Gur Concentrates and enters a trance-like state, he mumbles quietly in infernal language, twitching and jerking at random intervals as he mentally communes with the lower planes. Many maleficent mutterings are mumbled to infernal powers, and their blasphemous litany returns...

-'Can the Sigils Found in the Labyrinth of Madness be tracked, used to control or weaken the party members?' Unknown
-'Will having all the 20 sigils Found in the Labyrinth of Madness have a different dangerous or drastic effect other than exposing another dimensional layer of the Labyrinth?' Only the Labyrinth.
-'Will plunging the scepter into the pool do anything dangerous other than free the paladin Sorril?' No.
-'If two people, one heavily defensed against mental attacks and one heavily defensed against physical attacks, would go together to the Labyrinth, then of the two, will the mental defended one be in less danger posed by the Labyrinth traps and creatures?' Unknown
-'If two people, one heavily capable of dispelling magic and the other greatly capable of imposing physical damage, would go together to the Labyrinth, then of the two, will the first one will be more effective against the Labyrinth traps and creatures?' Unknown
-'If two people, one evasive avoiding fights, and the second protected, armed to his teeth, and fights the defenders of the Labyrinth: will the first one have better chance to save Sorril?' Probably.

Suddenly Gur seizes, twitching and falling to a prone position on the ground, flopping about like a fish out of water...

[actions?]
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Gur uses his Weekly ability Commune to contact the lower planes

[Styrius]

Axid takes in the scene and is rather ambivalent about it all. He finds some alcohol to offer the flopping fish.

[BishGada]

Ke'Sha quickly grabs the quasit and holds him in his arm, then he also grabs the alcohol. "Thanks! I really need it!" and takes a long sip from it, then shove the rest down Gur's throat.

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(OOC: I guess it is not the fist time Gur uses his commune with Ke'Sha. Is it a normal reaction?)

[TristenC]

[The blacking out is not typical but it has happened before, albeit rarely. Usually it seems to be when whatever power is being questioned grows orritated, or is in a particularly bad mood for some unrelated reason. Normally the effects pass momentarily]


Ke'Sha lifts Gur up and feeds him the proffered drink. At first the quasit coughs and sputters, but soon his mouth is locked on the bottle like a nursing babe. He lets out a sigh as he drains the bottle. Releasing a noisome sulfrous cloud, he sighs and finally opens his eyes. Ugh... f5<king grouch... those assholes down there always think they're hot shit. He spits a bit of bile onto the grass nearby which sizzles.

[Lord Torath]

“Huh. Looks like there are some obvious drawbacks to working for the powers of the lower planes. Are they extra grumpy because they had to reveal their lack of knowledge? They really didn't tell us much. Or do they always exhibit this level of 'care' for their... agents? followers? underlings?

“Parsing their answers, I guess they did confirm a few things:
“The sigil tattoos' effects are probably limited to the Labyrinth.
“Plunging the scepter into the pool will not do anything other than free Sir Sorril.
“We are probably better off not trying to directly fight everything we encounter.
“There is probably a mix of magical and mundane defenses down there. No particular guidance other than 'be ready for anything'. This may be reading too much into their 'unknown' replies, though. Are they suggesting neither approach is likely to be better than the other? Or do they really have no idea what's in the Labyrinth?”
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Is Allikhain planning on casting Contact Other Plane?