TPS Report 5

The
Pathfinder
Society

Report



By: Tyack Verumpeto
Another day, another report. Today we interrogated Justice Ironbriar about his skinsaw cult. The most important thing we learned is that we are crappy interrogators, but with a little work we can eventually achieve our goals. At first I assumed that Ironbriar was hinting at his charmed nature to use the “I’m not responsible for my actions” defense, but it turns out, although he was charmed by what turned out to be a Lamia Matriarch named Xanesha.
Mostly we learned that Ironbriar had set up the cult of the brotherhood of the 7 along with Aldern’s grandfather and would-be lich Vorel. Although they had started out as quite the innocent blood-thirsty cult, apparently Ironbriar had gotten himself charmed by Xanesha and their murders had become much more frequent and outlandish.
We also learned that Aldern was supposed to be harvesting “Vorel’s Legacy” for a group known as the Red Mantis, who are apparently some crazed guild of assassins. The harvesting was apparently that strange moss we found growing throughout the house. Furthermore we learned that Tsuto was involved with this cult and was being passed messages from his other cult members while Ironbriar was working behind the scenes trying to get him freed on a technicality.
Ironbriar also referred to the “Grey Master” who may also be “Father Skinsaw” and could even be one of the aspects of some evil deity. Xanesha was somehow tied to this as well and ordered the carving of the runes into the bodies of the victims. There was also reference to a Final Blooding, which seemed to be some apocalyptic day of reference. But, try as we might, we could find no information for any future targeted victims, but instead found out that Xanesha laired in the 180’ dilapidated clock tower and flew in and out at night.
Researching Lamia’s at the Pathfinder’s society, we did not find too much more than we had already deduced or been told. Xanesha can: fly, charm, cast mirror image, Suggest, project major image, assume human likeness, and could go invisible. Some of these are innate abilities, and apparently some of them come from her being magically trained.
Ironbriar was incensed that he had been charmed by Xanesha and that she was taking his prized cult of blood-thirsty murderers on a more reckless path, so he imparted us with as much information as possible, Including warning of us 3 faceless stalkers that she had in the tower with her, as well as a guardian on the ground floor of the tower know only as “the Scarecrow”
Well, even though I continued to hope that we would find other evidence to indicate where Xanesha’s next move might be, unfortunately we had no other leads but to head to the clock tower and meet the monster in her lair. I procured a scroll of ‘fly’ for the trip and we made sure that our newly acquired cleric Kyra was stocked full of Protections from evil to ward us against any charm or suggestion effects.
Apparently the clock tower has a huge angel perched atop it. It is, as I’ve mentioned about 180’ tall, and apparently is in such bad condition, there are long-standing bets as to which year the thing will eventually fall in. We, being an adventurous and somewhat prone to destruction group, knowing that we were going in, proceeded to lay down bets for the tower coming down this year.
Our assault on the tower went worse than expected. We got to the base, went inside and searched around. As we were preparing to leave after reconnoitering, the scarecrow leaped out to attack us. Grok was immediately hit and Kyra bravely rushed up to heal him. However, this left her exposed to the creatures attack and the scarecrow cut her into two.
Meanwhile, we learned that the scarecrow was a magical construct known as a flesh golem, whom through some weird shooting; Bock was able to critical anyway. However Valdaire’s lightning bolt only served to empower it. Valdaire was able to correct that problem by then slowing it with his fire spells, while the rest of us chipped away at it, finally bringing it down.
Saddened by our newly gained companion’s demise, we decided to leave, but not before Valdaire proceeded to cast a fireball up into the beams supporting the bells, attempting to rob the Lamia of her fortress. Although 2 of the bells did come crashing down, and the angel dipped precariously, the tower did not fall. Bock spotted the Lamia leaving the area and took a shot at her, but missed.
We took Kyra back to Father Lightbeard, hopefully to get her raised, and contemplated how we would meet Xanesha again. Is she still hiding in her tower or can we get her to approach us on much safer ground. We agreed not to split up while she remained at large.