Game: We're Still not Quite Dead Yet

Bruce (Lema):

"If you want," says Morry, "You can see the prisoners now if you like, but we have to keep them locked up until we can get a date in court for the lot of them. We can't just execute them ourselve, can we?"

OOC: For time's sake, I assume you accept.

The PTC's prison is located in the basement of an office labeled "security." There are several armed guards on the upper floor along with what seems to be an armed clerk sitting at the desk. Morry states his business with the guard at the desk, and one of the other guards opens a heavy metal door leading downstairs.

It's disturbingly quiet down here, and you don't even hear any footsteps. The sight around the corner makes Morry faint and collapse to the ground. Three gaurds and four prisoners, all in the same cell, are missing their heads. As in the violently exploded fragments of bone imbedded into walls sort of missing. There are no other prisonerspresent. You'd assume the ones who died were yours.

(Int check) 

 Bruce (Sid):

Temporal paradox resolved.

Sid:

Can't cast contact outer plane in Sigil. Not an issue here, just a reminder. Should I answer your first questions or wait for 3 more.

OOC: Your questions are dangerously vauge, and like wish, the entity anwers based on the wording, not the intent of your question regardless of it's truthfulness or the lack thereof.

Canzon:

The adventurers, according to Yijral's very precise notes and speculations are foolishly excavating various sites in Minauros in the chaos of the war. (Yijral provides her best guesses at their location, but it's clear she doesn't know exactly). The adventurers aparently returns to Sigil frequently to do research and get advice. Misdirection would work, though given Yijral's apparent interest in the location of their digs, you might be able to get a favor out of her for the information given by a party member. Nobody in the group seems to be a serious threat in combat by Yijral's reckoning. The group includes two Guvners, hired muscle, and someone who seems to be their social leader and public face.

Chaad:

Traveling through the silver void, you don't even register the presence of something hostile until what feel like claws tear at your armor, but are safely stopped by it. You can't see what's attacked you--it seems to be invisible. The creature is currently behind and possibly slightly above you.

OOC: Roll for initiative

question 4 is 2 questions, and I'd reread question 2 as well, and rethink 1, because it's broad and easily misinterpreted.

Also, It's Jack Silverknife--you don't want to be asking about some random elf, do you?

Bruce:

OOC: They weren't inside the cell, there are several cells, and then a corridor between them.

"This isn't good," says Iiya, "I have searched for scrying, but there is nothing here at the moment. There are surviving divination auras, however. I can't possibly fathom the motives unless someone had an interest in keeping these theives of yours dead. I will do what I can to find out what happened, any information on any enemies you may have would be greatly apreciated. We may be able to pin something down if we can narrow the possibilities. This doesn't seem like a random action to me."   

Chaad:

As your arrow whips through it, the ectoplasm of the creature ripples, and then reforms. A trail of protomatter drifts away into the distance, and your attack has clearly had an effect. You can see the effect of the creature's transformation now--the claw on one of the thing's hand is growing longer. Without warning, the being's arm lashes out at you, stretching and deforming to cover the distance between the two of you. The wickedly sharp claws fly by your head as you move to evade it.  

Bruce:

"I'll do the best I can to get information from what's left of them, an I'll be sure to let you know what I find."

 OOC: Is there anything you want to do, or any precautions you want to take.

Canzon:

Within the day, an imp arrives at your door with a sealed scroll case with Yijral's seal on it.

You find out the following (Yijral asked 6 questions to each corpse, checking the answers of each against the others):

-3/3 The theives were employed by a tanar'ri

-3/3 The theives were employed by a succubus

-3/3 The sucubus called herself Minae

-2/3 The theives had no prior contact with the 'Minae' (the last, the wizard, had worked for her once before)

-3/3 Do not know whether the Sucubus sent more assasins after you

-3/3 Minae is in Sigil

OOC: You know exactly who you're dealing with now, and she probably guessed you'd be questioning the prisoners, so she decided to send a message to you.

Yijral attempted to scry on Minae, but failed.

Sidhartha:

OOC: You still have 7 questions written down, not six. Commas seperating clauses don't make it one question ( 6 is actually 2 questions. 4 is one question and is redundant, and not 2 questions) I've posted this already, and given fair warning, so I'm going to proceed with answering 1-5 and half of 6. If you want to ask 6 again, you can, but you have to cast the spell again. Remember, each question is rolled seperately.

1: Technically

2: Don't know

3: Don't Know

4: Yes

5: Yes

6(1): No

OOC: I roled tabletop (as with all secret rolls) because I can't make private dice on PW, but your rolls weren't terrible. That's as much as I can say without being helpful.

Chaad:

The after your downward strike, the creature's upper torso is now hanging together by a small portion of protomatter near it's 'waist.' Despite this, it gets a terrific strike, tearing at your face with disturbingly cold hands (crit). You can feel the creature tearing at your mind.

OOC: It rolled a crit (I'm rolling all my dice tabletob because I'm pressed for time at the moment.) instead of increased damage, you have to deal with an increased save DC (30) or take 1d8 (rolled 5) points of wisom damage. Regardless, you take 6 damage--terrifying.

 OOC: Sorry for this, but damn, my life must watch my forum posts and the jump me when I least expect it. I'm going to be speeding things along for you all. I've hit a major wall in the solo section.

Chaad:

While your mind is slightly hazy now, your strike is true, and you cut the protmatter-creature in half from shoulder to waist. The individual pieces begin to disintigrate into wispy tendrils that curl with the thought breezes. You can proceed to whatever location you choose to get your papers, but regardless of which, you find yourself being followed by someone in a grey, purple, and silver cloak. He's trying to keep pace with you, and he doesn't look to be armed. He doesn't call out, but he seems like he wants a word.

OOC: This is to move things along a bit. You'll be meeting the party very soon, probably within two posts.

Bruce, Sid, Canzon: I'd prefer you didn't play out the sending exchanges. I need to get this game moving again. In any case...

Canzon: The time ago is up to you. Fiends have long memories, it's not important unless you can think of a reason.

Each of you receives a sending from Ephaez. It suumons you to the Embassy to Dis, "In light of recent developments." An imp arrives at your (Bruce and Sid's) residences later in the day with the papers you'll need to prove your identity.

The embassy is extremely heavily gaurded, in fact it is surrounded by a cordon of barbazu reinforced by osyluths. After presenting proof of identity, you are allowed inside, and directed to a private office. The room is extremely high celinged to acomidate it's fiendish owner. Epheaz sits behind a desk made of mortal bones carved into snarling heads and wailing faces in some places. The room is extremely dark--not that baatezu care--and is lit dimly by a single lamp. Ephaez is at least thoughtful enough to provide for that. Chairs are set for you, but there is one unacounted for--on the off chance Su'oure Drum shows up again (OOC: Or Sh'Chaad). You almost miss her, but Yebena is sitting outside your little circle beside Ephaez's desk. Her robes are lighter than you've previously seen (to the extent Ghenan robes are ever light), and jet black. Her eyes do not glow with her claim to rank, and are instead quite dark. She looks up, but doesn't say anything.

 "Greetings," Says Epheaz. "I have been informed of...recent developments. I think we need to adress the source of this matter. It is a security risk of the highest order."    

 Chaad:

There is a delay as the telepathic command (you assume) passes down the line, making it's way (you'd hope to ephaez and back)

Eventually, you receive the go-ahead to enter after almost ten minutes (you may now make an entrance whenever you like)

Canzon:

You have the misfortune of being able to see in dark, and you can make out Yebena's expresion. Her smile seems to change slightly, from just arrogant to arrogant and mocking. There is no love lost, it seems.

(To Canzon) "Hello Canzonia. I trust you are settling into your new responsibilities. I offer you my congratulations"

(To Bruce) "Greetings mortal. I trust our agreement is still to your liking."

"I am sure you have noticed the attempts on each of your lives," says Ephaez. "While each of you were attacked by people connected to or directly in the employ of enemies you may have made in the past, there is a common element between the attempts. Coincidence is not an adequate explaination for the execution of so many attacks within such a short time period. The evidence clearly points to a guiding hand behind these events. After gathering my own inteligence and consulting over the matter," (Yebena laughs at this with her trademark Heh. and Epheaz glowers at her. There is a short telepathic exchange between the two.)  Ephaez continues as though nothing had happened: "The most likely explaination is that annother outside party has become aware of the situation as a result of breach of contract" (Ephaez glowers at Yebena, who does not reply or respond) "Or incompetence and inadequate precautions," the pit fiend continues, turning his gaze on you. "However, after assesing and discussing the possibilities with my..." "Heh." (More telepathic conversation as Ephaez continues). "In any case, the likely architect of these assasinations  has been determined. Since my...colleague (he spits the word like a curse) seems to be determined to speak, I will yield to her wish."  

Yebena pauses and retreives a scroll from her robes.

(OOC: Knowing ephaez for far longer than the others, Canzon can tell Ephaez is--you would go so far as to say shaken. It is however obvious that the relationship between Ephaez and Yebena has changed somewhat.

OOC:I've run out of time to post, but I'll leave this up if you want to interupt.

Chaad:

A pit fiend seated behind a desk facing the door  acknowleges you. "I am Ephaez. Please be seated."

You also feel a telepathic 'voice' in your head. (Fiends' telepathic speech is in understandableconcepts and pictures, not words). It conveys wordless and inarticulate rage. How a fiend expresses that in thought/pictures is best left unthought (Chaad) "You are unwelcome here." You can see that the voice's source is arcanaloth staring at you from a dark corner of the room.

You are also telepathicaly contacted by Ephaez "While I am sure your superiors will inform you of your purpose, I am able to answer some of your questions. In the meantime, know that your purpose is to aid the others assembled here.

Canzon:

Ephaez looks slightly amused (it takes a fiend to tell), and judging by Yebena's drawn out pause, he has suceeded in wresting control of the situation away from her.

All:

Part of Yebena's atention seems to be focused on epheaz, and vice versa. Their own conversation seems to be continuing in paralel.

"While one of your number is no not yet here, I will begin," Says  Yebena. "After performing my own research and divinations, I have determined the most likely connection between your attacks. I needn't explain my methods. They are effective. In any case, the one who provided the impetus for these assasinations is an ultraloth called Xanthus. Most likely, an unfortunate lack of precaution on the part of one of our number is the result of this. I will leave the asignment of blame to you. What you do with this information is not up to me. Nor is it up to Ephaez, who did not make preperations for such a situation in his contracts with you. Heh. Neverheless, I am sure there are other reasons than obligation that might compel you to deal with this problem."

(in response to Canzon)

"No, and to my knowledge no as well. Ephaez and myself are rather more difficult targets than you are. It is a rare assasin indeed who takes a contract on a pit fiend or arcanaloth. There is no ulterior motive for my part. Xanthus is a dealer in soldiers and assasins. He/she does not interfere with my own sphere. It is of course in my interests to remove a security leak as soon as possible..." Yebena leaves this intentionaly hanging, grinning slightly. You would hope that you weren't the cause of the leak.

 OOC (Canzon): Maybe I'm just sleepy, but I didn't quite follow the last part of your post. The subject is unclear, are you talking about your intent to investigate, or Xanthus' dupes'?

OOC (Chaad): I should hope you mean ultraloth, or a fight will break out. That would be very bad.

(Sidhatha) "I assure you the issue of incompetence will be addressed immediately," says Ephaez. "We are currently discussing the attacks on each of your persons." (the fiend telepathy defines "your" as you, Bruce, and Canzon, which is helpful.

Yebena nods in acknowledgement, and sumarizes the general qist of the conversation. Her recounting is unsettlingly accurate and frequently quotes those who were present earlier. (OOC: meaning I don't want to exclude you from the conversation, and there is no need to retype.)