your status line still says you're 50/50... I assume that's not up to date? Varian can heal, but not til the last spriggan is dead... maybe Eolowyn can drop it?
Looking about, it is easy to be reminded that the whole palace seems to be an entire giant plant. Queen Rhoswen seemed to have stepped into the floor itself.
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
"Where did she go?" Eolowyn exclaims while she pours arrows into the last spriggan.
Besides the doors to floor below and a door leading out of the tower, there appears to be a flight of stairs leading up from the chamber.
The dark artifact-mirror sits on the stairs, quietly reflecting a scene of battle from the material world. Spriggans are in the process of slaying a satyr, while a unicorn and elf fight a retreating battle from the oncoming spriggans.
"Varian, would you apply some magical aid? The infernal energies won't be quick enough and we do not have time to waste."
Mathias will use a charge of his wand of infernal healing to get fast healing 1 for 10 rounds, although hoping for a CMW or CSW to take care of the rest in a more expeditious manner.
"She may still be inside the structure, so we should hunt her down like the scared rabbit that she is."
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
"Investigate upstairs?" Eolowyn asks while she listens at the door
Male Nagaji (6.0A) Sorc 4/ Ninja 3 | HP 47/47; AC 19;TCH 14; FF 15; F +6; R +10; W+5; CMB +3; CMD 17; INIT +10;
Consumables:
Spells: 1st 8/8 2nd 0/4 ; Acidic Ray 3/8; Ki 0/8 | Wands: CLW 42/50; MM 43/50; Mage Armor 45/50; Shield 48/50; Less Rest 50/50 | Rods: Less Pierce 3/3
Can we tell which way she melded?
Kylar agrees with Eolowyn. Let's keep heading up. Though if she has had time to recuperate and gather more of her forces I don't know how much help I can be. I am nearly depleted of my magic.
I estimate about three rounds to get that all resolved. I believe the haste is down. Map updated
Tree-sized columns support this open chamber with translucent draperies hung between them, stirred by a soft breeze from narrow windows in the tower’s outer walls. The center of the room lies two feet below the outer walkway and contains a pile of sleeping cushions, cages filled with songbirds (although one seems to have died recently), several large vases of flowers, a table set with four bottles of wine, and a small jewelry box. Overhead, a ceiling of rose-colored crystal mirrors the recessed floor, allowing starlight to filter through.
When Varian and Kylar throw open the door, they feel a stiff breeze - and look up to see an elemental creature of air blocking their way! It hisses emptily. Within the room are also two Rhoswens!
Kylar is up!
Kylar
Rhoswen: 34
Elemental
Eolowyn: gravity bow
Mathias
Varian: great sword, shield of faith, lead blades, keen edge and weapon of awe, invisibility purge
They both appear to be Rhoswen - but undoubtedly one is fake
Magic missiles tear away at the insubstantial mass of the elemental. The wind whips up as the elemental lashes out at Varian, but it misses the Aasimar.
The Rhoswen figure to the north of the room gestures at Kylar and suddenly his world starts to fade!
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
Eolowyn urges Arrano forward, staying just slightly above ground in case the air elemental chooses to attack her. She shoots three arrows at the northern Rhoswen, switching to the other one if that turns out to be a mirror image.
The first of Eolowyn's arrows proves true, and Rhoswen screams in pain while the western copy stops moving. Major image, not mirror image, but similar effect
Meanwhile Varian's blade falls short of the elemental.
"Curious, these smaller elementals are not immune to electricity in the air... how about from my hand."
Mathias then steps next to the elemental, carefully casting a spell that sends a powerful jolt of electricity at it.
Concentration DC 17:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 Empowered Shocking Grasp Touch @ Elemental:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 Electricity damage on hit:5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 4, 4) = 21+50% Used my last daily use of the acrimony veil on that
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
Fort save:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Will save:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18assuming this was a baleful polymorph, so no +2 vs enchantment, she isn't an evil outsider by chance?
Where moments before Eolowyn was shooting her arrows suddenly she is transformed into a sparrow. The tiny animal flutters away from the combat and the giant bird of prey next to it.
Varian's blade can't quite manage to hit the nimble and magically guarded fey. She twists to the side, her laughter a sweet and cold as a mountain brook. "Did I hurt your friend, my little man? Oh, I've done it many times!" She sweeps her arm about the room, gesturing to the many birds in cages that dot the nearby columns.
Her mocking is cut short by the ball of ice. She fights off the slick coat of frost that forms about her.
The queen staggers slightly on her feet - the battle has clearly taken her toll an her green blood oozes everywhere now.
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
I think it is fitting for the beastmaster that she did not resist the polymorph ;-)
Male Nagaji (6.0A) Sorc 4/ Ninja 3 | HP 47/47; AC 19;TCH 14; FF 15; F +6; R +10; W+5; CMB +3; CMD 17; INIT +10;
Consumables:
Spells: 1st 8/8 2nd 0/4 ; Acidic Ray 3/8; Ki 0/8 | Wands: CLW 42/50; MM 43/50; Mage Armor 45/50; Shield 48/50; Less Rest 50/50 | Rods: Less Pierce 3/3
Stepping up to Rhoswen Kylar's hand begins to crackle with energy. Thisss isss the lassst ssspell I have fey. It will alssso be the lasssst ssspell you will sssse.
Cast Shocking Grasp
Kylar's long dangley limb just out and grasps the evil fey woman.
With a last gasp of magical power, Kylar laces the body of the queen with thousands of volts. She screams and the stink of burnt plant matter begins to waft through the air.
She falls to the ground, slowly breathing and continuing to ooze her life's blood.
At her feet lies her crooked, night black staff.
spellcraft 24 to identify:
Crook of Cildhureen
Aura moderate illusion; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 16,800 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
Description
This twisted and gnarled black oak staff draws upon the formless magic of the Shadow Plane to allow use of the following spells:
• major image (1 charge)
• shadow conjuration (2 charges)
• shadow evocation (3 charges)
In addition, the staff can further influence shadow conjuration and shadow evocation spells, whether cast from the staff or the wielder’s daily allotment of spells, without increasing the spell’s level. By expending extra charges, the wielder can increase the shadowy substance used to form such spells by +10% per charge, up to a maximum of +50%. Using the staff for this purpose does not increase the casting time of these spells.
Construction
Requirements Craft Staff, major image, shadow conjuration,
shadow evocation; Cost 8,400 gp
Now that the blood of the Pathfinders cools and they get a chance to look at their surroundings, they find that a floating platform can be lowered by a crystal rod into this chamber. The platform seems to lead to a fairy circle at the top of the tower, a place that brims with the colorful green auras of conjuration magic and the violet hues of illusion to those with the eyes to see it. It is easy to deduce that this is the loci from which to perform the ritual which the nymph Aripha spoke of.
The ritual itself requires 10 minutes and a DC 24 arcana, planes and/or spellcraft. You may take 10 on this check. Once the ritual begins, the dimensional pocket will slowly seal, which you can escape but means you can't dally.
A quick exploration of the lower levels while securing the level below in preparation for the length ritual reveals an armory and several other rooms of note, including a number of spriggans but the remaining forces seem temporarily stunned by the death of their Queen and offer no resistance. The few fey scattered among their numbers seem to have already fled in self-preservation.
AFTER a thorough search, we perform the ritual... Varian knows he isn't the best at this sort of thing, but instead opts to assist whoever takes the lead:
Mathias locks the crook of Cildhureen into the center of the faerie ring. It takes a moment for him to focus the magics of the device, but as he finishes the final incantations a rainbow of color swiftly leaps from the faerie circle at the top of the tower, into the staff. After a moment of absorption, the staff emanates a pillar of rainbow light into the heavens of the Fellnight.
Nothing happens for a moment. There is a gentle silence in the eternally starry night of the Fellnight.
With a crack rainbows begin to issue from the heavens in rapid lightning strokes, flashes in deep blues, bright oranges and bloody reds. The discharge dances repeatedly over the stones that ring the boundaries of the Fellnight queens realm. Moments later, bodies of spriggans are spit from shining portals opened up between the wardstones; the creatures lie moaning and senseless upon the ground, stunned from being snatched back from the material realm. The armies of the Fellnight Queen have once again been returned to their prison.
The ritual complete, escape from the transforming plane quickly becomes the order of the day. The Pathfinders find their way unimpeded by living foes. Reaching the wardstones, a fog has sprung up around the stones that is thick as a soup - although difficult to navigate through, the travelers eventually find their way through and look up to see the gentle light of Somal in the night sky.
--------
The Pathfinders find themselves traveling through the Verduran forest only a few hours before the seelie fey armies find them once again - the unicorn Palombir, Maligorn the satyr and Aripha the nymph astride it. They hail the Pathfinders; the satyr Maligorn even embraces them enthusiastically (perhaps overly so, in Eolowyn's case).
"Ah, it seems we've misjudged you, friends. You've done a grand job of sealing the shadow creature and her lackeys away for - well, perhaps not for good, but for another 10,000 years." the satyr laughs heartily.
The nymph quietly adds a somber note. "I am afraid Oreius Dawnsprinter of the centaurs and Lielaera of the elves did not survive. My they find happiness when they are reborn into the world again."
