Mask or Raid

You stand at the scene of a crime inside a merchant's storefront. There's a body under a sheet not more than a few feet away from you, and a guardsman with a troubled expression on his face. He holds a black mask in one hand and rubs his thumb over it like a worry stone. It seems like an ordinary black masquerade mask, but it seems to mean something to him and he looks at you all steadily for a moment. "This is the sixth murder we've had with a black mask left at the scene. Some of the murders have been gruesome, and some like this one have been clean enough that we wouldn't have thought them murders if not for the black mask."

He shifts his weight. "Sorry, it's been such a long day I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Balderdan Viet, and I'm in charge of the investigation of these murders, and I can't say that it's been going very well at all."

Fiore looks at the body and puts an arm on the roof of the nearby building. "What happened?" She says from on high. "Why would you think it was an accident?"

Mikilos frowns and considers. "Have to assume is some sort of pattern, or connection. Do you have information on the other victims? Six may have been everyone on the list, but somehow I doubt it."

Darius raises an eyebrow at this news, thinking back to the day he ended up adopting Aika, "The perpetrator wouldn't happen to be bald would he?"

Faranth ponders, a little out of her element in the city setting. She begins examining the crime scene. "Where was the mask found then? Was it on the victim?"

"It looks like he just dropped dead actually. His wife thought it was a heart attack but when she called the local priest to perform last rights he saw the mask and called us in. I recognized it right away." He glances toward Mikilos. "We have some information, but I can't see any sort of pattern in it. The first three murders were a baker, a privateer, and a homeless man. The fourth was a famous musician who was actually killed in front of witnesses by a group of masked individuals. The fourth was a sith-makar businessman whose son was kidnapped and almost killed. Thankfully the boy was rescued in time. This man is a tailor."

"Currently we don't have any individual suspects. Although some adventerers such as yourselves have suggested that a cult known as the Mask's are responsible for them. They have to have a leader however and if we could find out who they are..." He shakes his head and finally answers the last question. "We found the mask on the till." He motions toward the register which is sitting just above the body on the floor.

GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/local: (17)+14: 31

"So....Just went 'thud'." Fiore says, indicating said 'thud' with her hand." Fiore looks to the rest. "Well...I stay at a monastery and....well...you kinda have to shout to reach my ears usually."

Valadhiel hmms thoughtfully, glancing over at Mikilos, "You're more in tune with local affairs than I would be." The elven archer shifts a bit, looking around the murder scene with a curious eye.

Darius nods and moves to examine the body and crime scene, "The mask was placed on the till..." He pulls the sheet away checking the wounds, "I'm assuming no one nearby heard or saw anything, or if so, would admit to it?" He attempts to see if he can follow the tracks of the murderer.

GAME: Darius rolls survival: (10)+7: 17

Mikilos nods thoughtfully, turning to Balderdan. "I'm guessing you're talking about Ascal Liasandoral? Not exactly local, was fairly famous across the world." He considers a few moment. "My theory at this point is towards the Cult of the Mask, either some specific plot in motion, or making noise to let everyone know they're present and active. A protection racket, maybe? The homeless man doesn't seem to fit, but perhaps he was more than he appears. Or maybe just witnessed something he shouldn't."

Faranth looks over where the mask was found. "Was the wife here when it happened? Does she have any kind of testimony other than finding her husband?"

Fiore says, "Or these guys are like a death cult. Which could be a bit of a problem. But I'm just throwing stones here.""

GAME: Fiore rolls heal: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Mikilos rolls heal: (7)+0: 7
GAME: Darius rolls heal: (11)+0: 11
GAME: Valadhiel rolls heal: (5)+0: 5
GAME: Faranth rolls heal: (3)+3: 6

"All signs point to a heart attack." Indeed the body looks as though it died of natural causes though Fiore will notice that there is redness around the nose and in the throat that shouldn't be there. Suggesting that perhaps the man breathed in something before he died that was strong enough to singe his skin. "Even the priest says it looks like natural causes... but we don't think so because of the mask."

"The wife was sleeping upstairs, having fallen asleep near the fire while knitting. She says that she woke up and went downstairs to check on him, and found him dead. You're welcome to question her though if you like. She's just outside." Balderdan frowns at Mikilos. "We are sir, trying to keep the nature of Ascal's death quiet. If it was known by the populace that he was murdered there would be... problems. So I ask all of you to keep the identity of these murder victims to yourselves."

Mikilos nods. "Understood."

"He didn't die of natural causes." Fiore says to Balderdan....and she squats down. "Look. There's redness around the nose and throat. It's possible he breathed in something he shouldn't, and that lead to his heart attack." She then looks to Balderdan. "I don't think the wife did it though, but that's just me."

Faranth listens carefully, nodding as Balderdan speaks. She frowns and begins concentrating, focusing her magic inward, she casts a spell and then looks around the room again, wondering if there is any lingering magical auras at work on the body or the shop.

GAME: Faranth casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13

Darius frowns, "No tracks either... curious..." He walks around to the door, "So the killer somehow got in here, murdered the shopkeeper, then either teleported or made his way out without leaving a trace."

Valadhiel hmms, "So they appear unstoppable, basically." She makes her way towards the door as well, studying the lack of tracks as she considers, "Was there anything unusual among his effects, aside from the mask of course?"

GAME: Faranth rolls spellcraft: (9)+6: 15

Faranth looks at the body, then around the room. Her attention becomes focused on Balderdan's hand. Specifically the one rubbing the mask. She stoops down to get closer to it, tilting her head and hissing quietly. Suddenly, she straightens up and takes a step back. "That mask appears to be enchanted with a scry spell, like someone can watch through it." She hisses again. "I can't tell if it's being used right now or not. They could be watching us."

Balderdan leans down to look at the body more carefully. "You're right. I'll have the priest look for toxins. Perhaps he was poisoned with something, or they used something to knock him out." He glances outside. "I think that the wife is innocent as well, she seems devastated about the death of her husband."

He straightens and frowns. "They're not unstoppable! We must find some way to find them and bring them to justice." Balderdan's words stop as Faranth speaks and he throws the mask away from himself. "It what?!?"

Mikilos glances to the mask with curiosity. "That... may be a mistake on their part. Perhaps we can trace the magics used." He considers a moment. "Though I don't have such magics prepared myself."

Valadhiel glances at Balderdan, "I'm not saying that they /are/, I'm saying they wish to appear as such, so they can spread fear." She blinks at Faranth's announcement, then gives Mikilos a wry look, "Sadly, I don't have that prepared either, although..." She considers the matter, growing silent as she thinks.

Fiore says, "I don't have magic." She then looks to the Mask. "I could destroy the mask."

GAME: Fiore rolls survival: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Faranth rolls survival: (20)+10: 30
GAME: Valadhiel rolls survival: (10)+9: 19
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (12)+7: 19

There's no signs of anything really, but then... Faranth scents something in the air. The scent of lavender where it doesn't really belong. She follows it outside through the back door of the shop where you find your first real hint. The back edge of a boot print in the mud. A few steps away there's a dirt clod, and you've got your tracks. They're difficult to follow but together you manage to track the killer via scent and tracks to a sewer grate and down into the sewer itself.

You expect to find... well sewer down here, but it's surprisingly clean and perhaps because of that you quickly run out of tracks to follow. It's alright there's only one path before you now, and so you follow the straight line that the sewer makes forward until you find a door. A metal door set into the wall of the sewer. The path of the sewer continues past it, but it /is/ unusual.

And locked.

"Well....I'm guessing this is where the trail leads...right? Do we want to go past it?" Fiore is asking rather...bluntly.

Valadhiel grins slightly, glancing over at Fiore, "Well, it's just a locked door. I can bypass that easily enough." She looks back to Mikilos, "Unless you wanted to do the honors?"

Mikilos grins, and shakes his head. "Go ahead. We might want the door later." He considers. "Although, we might want to take a moment to prepare for whatever's on the other side. No promise it's close, but no promise it isn't."

Faranth is nervous the moment she gets down into the sewers. Out of hand she mentions quietly. "Last time I was in the sewers, there were undead that exploded when you hit them." She shakes her head but follows along with the rest of the group. She remains quiet as they talk about getting through the door, slightly curious at the conversation.

Fiore says, "Either someone unlocks the door or I'm gonna tear it off it's hinges. Make your choice guys."

GAME: Valadhiel casts Knock. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18

The door opens easily now and beyond the door is a hallway. Which feels anticlimactic, but you follow it a long way down until you reach a large open room which is unfortunately empty. There are several exits out of the room, likely long hallways like the one you just came down, and a small raised area in the center of the room.

Fiore says, "well...if they're down here...we need to pick up the trail again..."

Faranth walks into the room, and begins examining it closely, trying to see if there are any magics at work.

Mikilos frowns mildly. "Some sort of central point. Either a meeting area, or a travel waypoint." Murmuring softly, the mage eyes the raised area.

GAME: Mikilos casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18

Mikilos tsks and frowns. "Whole place is magical..."

As Faranth goes down into the room she brushes against something, and suddenly an illusion is shattered as the whole room becomes suddenly filled with black-robed black-masked individuals. There's silence for a breath and then suddenly someone yells, "Scatter!"

GAME: Fiore rolls melee: (7)+11: 18
GAME: Fiore rolls 2d6+4+1: (6)+4+1: 11

Seeing the masks appear out of nowhere when Faranth bumps one, FIore doesn't hesitate to rush forward and...with one well placed punch, smashes the Mask's face in and he crumples to the ground. "And here, I was looking for a challenge."

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (9)+16: 25
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+16: (15)+16: 31
GAME: Fiore rolls fort: (15)+9: 24
GAME: Fiore rolls fort: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4: (3): 3

Two of the Mask's closest to Fiore attack her and she goes down in a flash of blades. Meanwhile the rest beat a hasty retreat; rushing the exits.

GAME: Mikilos casts Fireball. Caster Level: 11 DC: 21
GAME: Mikilos rolls 15d6: (52): 52
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (15)+30: 45

Mikilos squints. "No." Murmuring rapidly, the magus gestures, and a tiny spark of flame rockets to the far side of the room. It doesn't stay small, the explosion rocking the room and frying the Masks trying to flee.

GAME: Valadhiel rolls perception: (8)+13: 21
GAME: Valadhiel casts Web. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (1)+30: 31 (EPIC FAIL)

Valadhiel shouts, "That one in the back, he's not even singed! Probably the leader!" With that, she gestures, chanting a quick arcane phrase as she points towards the fleeing Mask. Webbing suddenly springs up all around him, hopefully slowing his progress enough for the others to deal with him.

GAME: Faranth rolls weapon4: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Faranth rolls weapon4: (4)+2: 6

Faranth for a moment considers running the gauntlet of defenders to get to the leader that Valadhiel just pointed out, but then decides better and hurls one of her spears in his general direction. Unfortunately, general direction is all she manages to accomplish, her spear flies cockeyed and skitters uselessly on the ground some distance from her intended target.

GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (3)+13: 16
GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (9)+10: 19
GAME: Darius rolls weapon7: (5)+13: 18
GAME: Darius rolls damage7: aliased to 2D6+10: (5)+10: 15

Darius stepping up to protect Fiore, narrows his eyes and drawing his greatsword, slashes both of the ones that KOed her and kills them both with a huge slash.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+43: (17)+43: 60

Down the hallway the leader manages to easily get free of the webbing and then without a backwards glance at you vanishes.

Valadhiel actually draws out her bow, and... well, the apparent leader vanishes through the webs effortlessly before she can take a shot. "Blast. I thought that might at least slow him a little bit." She glances over at Mikilos, "I think you've been practicing."

Darius snarls once the leader vanishes and says, "Well that's annoying." He then flicks the blood off of his blade and sheathes it in the scabbard over his shoulder.

Mikilos hisses softly, and sighs, before shrugging to Valadhiel. "Not so much, really. But I do pick up tidbits in my readings." He sighs, and heads further into the room to take a look at what's left of those who didn't escape. "I really need to remember to try and stop types of teleportation when something powerful pops up. That disappearing act is a little too common."

Faranth hisses out a curse at the fleeing figure, before hanging her head in shame, realizing her poor showing of herself in the combat. "I don't think we're going to be bringing Balderdan much information, though he might be interested in this place."

"EUUUUURGH!" yells out Fiore as she rolls to her stomach. "ugh. Wasn't your fault guys." She says pushing herself up to a sitting position. "ugh. Mikilos.....Can you grab one of their blades and....get the poison off of it? Find an antidote? Wicked hangover, but it only puts you to sleep. Really deep sleep."

Valadhiel glances over at Faranth, "Well, we can go over this place with a fine-toothed comb... and we forced them to change their plans. No small feat, that. I mean, if their leader escaped Miki's fireball /and/ my web spell without so much as a scratch, I don't know that one spear would do too much regardless." She gives Faranth a smile, then looks at Fiore with a bit of concern, which fades when she says it's just a sleep toxin.

Faranth moves over to pick up her spear, looking again to see if the magical aura she noticed earlier is gone from the room.

Mikilos nods, and carefully picks up one of the blades, eyeing the edge for a moment before sniffing it cautiously.

GAME: Mikilos rolls Profession/Apothecary: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Faranth rolls perception: (17)+8: 25

Darius looking around, finally notices something and walking over, grabs one of the cultists and lifts the man up and says, "Quit trying to fake that you're dead, I can tell that you're breathing scum. If you want to continue to do so, I HIGHLY suggest you answer some burning questions my companions and I have... before we turn you over to the Guard for disposition. If not... well, maybe I'll just hand you over to my friend there that you poisoned..." Indicating Fiore and says, "Let her... entice you to talk..." The smile Darius gives the cultist is just slightly disturbing.

Fiore says, "And believe me..." She says as she pokes the corner of a wall.....and it explodes. "......You'd better tell him. Because all you did, was piss me off.""

The warrior shakes the man, but he is quite unconscious, it's hard to tell much about him behind his mask aside from the fact that he's bleeding profusely from the face. So the threats don't have much effect.

Mikilos sighs, and shakes his head, carefully wrapping the blade in a bit of wax paper. "I don't know what poison was used. I have a few ideas, but will take some study to know for sure."

Maybe it's the shaking, or maybe the damage was just too much, but the guy stops breathing in Darius's arms.

GAME: Faranth casts Stabilize. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13

Faranth stabilizes the cultist. "I can bring him back to conciousness if you want to question him, or we can take him back to the city guard..." She waits, looking around to see what people want to happen.

Mikilos shaks his head. "Nothing we can do quickly, might as well let the Guard ask the questions."

Fiore says, "Make sure no further actions can kill him. But we need to bring him back to the guard." She then looks to Mikilos. "Take the entire blade. There might be a trace of the poison on it. For all we know, the shopkeeper might not be dead."

Darius makes a face and says, "You're kidding me, he's that fragile?" He stares at Fiore, "Ok Big Girl, next time, no more SHE-HULK SMASH the minions until after we've got all the info out of them."

Fiore stares at Darius. "You'd have done the same thing, metalhead."

Faranth nods to Fiore. "We should tie him up first before I wake him up. He will be likely to struggle, or try and kill himself if he's a good cultist."

Fiore says, "yeah. Let's tie him up." She says getting to work.

GAME: Faranth casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
GAME: Faranth rolls 1d8+2: (4)+2: 6

Mikilos does a little more poking around but doesn't expect to find much. "Could try charming him, but with cultists that usually means they end up asking their new best friend to help them commit suicide."

In spite of Faranth's healing the cultist remains unconscious.

Fiore says, "All right." She says literally hogtying the guy....so he's easy to carry.

-End-