Hikaru watches and learns the secret handshakes and body language too, just in case something happens to Bernard, it would be good to have someone else versed in the knowledge.
Over 40 minutes have passed since the party entered Thurl's basement. The creatures in the glass, the worm bursting forth, the demon parts throughout the laboratory have told a terrible tale of a man driven by madness into dealing with demons.
Fuzzfoot spends ten more minutes confirming what everyone knew, and discovering more terrible secrets. Valais, usually very quiet, becomes more agitated as the party investigates.
2 more Evidence Points found. That's 4 so far.
As Shonne investigates the statue of the glabrezu, the carved mouth begins to move, and it speaks!
"Ah, Thurl, you’re back. I trust your little vacation to Jormurdun was pleasant and that my brethren did not demolish your laboratory in their conquest of Nerosyan. Now that I know where you are, I shall join you shortly. There are plans in motion that go far beyond our original compact, and I wish to make you a part of them."
Valais stared open mouthed at the statue. "Something is coming. We should not be here." The vermin who have been following you scatter away. You hear the sound of glass break and the inhuman roar of beasts from the laboratory.
CLW wand if allowed to use it:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Mind if I use a charge of your wand, the claws were quite painful indeed.
If not, I will use my potion of CLW instead, same roll
Ryskovich, doesn't even bother with the scrolls, for he was never into reading. He changes his cold iron falcata with his longbow. He readies an arrow at the sound of someone or something coming towards them.
SERIOUSLY?! I agree, lets get the hell out of this demonic place. I have SEEN and FOUGHT with enough mutated crap already, and I have no intention of seeing what the hell pops in to attack us this time. Ryskovich, stands in front of the double door, in case they are not able to flee before whatever comes to "greet them".
Realizing you have time to escape, the party decides to retreat out of the laboratory. The creatures who were in the glass tubes are free, but you quickly run up the stairs before they can move.
As you emerge from the laboratory into the maze, you notice the walls extending into the horizon.
Welp, you're in a maze. Some of the walls are illusory and some are almost entirely real. To make this maze possible in PbP, I've instead blocked off some of the maze so you can't see everything until you get there.
As you travel through the maze, the source of the roars become clear:
A ghost of a minotaur emerges. "Hear me, enemies of the beast! I am Karsos, and you will pay for threatening my master!"
Some of you have a chance to convince him to prioritize other teammates first.
Fuzzfoot's Fortitude holds firm and he resists most of the ghostly touch.
You can roll a K. Religion check to identify Karsos.
Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Nijenabot tries to identify what Karsos is, but she can't remember the specifics.
Knowledge(Religion) DC 16:
Incorporeal and Undead, Karsos is now a ghost. Nonmagical items will not hurt him, and magical weapons will deal 50% damage. Magic has a 50% chance of actually affecting him. Force magic, Holy water and positive energy will deal full damage on him, though.
His attacks bypass armor except for force effects like Mage Armor.
sorry, Hikaru has nothing that can hurt a ghost...
know religion dc 16:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
and he knows it too! For expediency's sake, let's just say he imparts all the information in the spoiler to the party.
Hikaru lets the others know what he knows about ghosts... then backs away from the encounter, hoping others have magic with which to affect it.
He does pull out his wand of cure light wounds, and offer it to Bernard. "The magic in this should have some affect on the creature if you can manage to touch it with the wand."
Karsos emerges through the wall to see where his prey moved. As soon as his head pokes through, a magical arrow and a burst of wind batters him.
Nijena draws her longsword and waits patiently.
Karsos swings his axe at Ryskovich. He feels it ignore his armor completely and tear away his life force.
Touch Attack vs Flatfoot:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Negative Energy Damage, Fort Save DC 14 for half:5d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 1, 1) = 14
Nijena releases a blast of positive energy to heal her allies. "Does anyone want holy water? I have a 2 more vials." Channel Energy:2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6
Round 2
Shonne
Karsos (13 Damage)
K'Kei Fuzzfoot (1 damage)
Valais
Bernard Nijena Ryskovich (14 damage, Fort Save DC 14 for half, 6 healing)
Shonne releases another magical arrow, landing right in Karsos's nose. He snorts it out. Bernard releases another tiny thundercloud that hits the minotaur's apparition.
Fuzzfoot, out of ideas, defends himself against all assault.
Round 2
Shonne
Karsos (21 Damage, Storm Touched)
K'Kei
Fuzzfoot (1 damage, Full Defense)
Valais
Bernard
Nijena Ryskovich (1 damage)
Hikaru is trying to hand his wand to Bernard, but Nijena can use it too, so he'll let either one take it... "Use this to harm it.... I'm afraid I can't use it myself."
Seeing K'Kei trying to hand off a wand, Fuzzfoot suddenly realizes what he is trying to do. Pulling out his own wand, he says "Healing wand will damage this thing? Ok, then! Let's give that a try."
Nijena readies her longsword and offers K'Kei two of her flasks of holy water. "You can use these as well...I'm going to smite this thing back to the Nine Hells it came from."
Hikaru shrugs and puts the wand away, takes the two flasks of holy water and waits to see if Nijena's smite and Fuzzfoot's wand can put this thing down. besides he's out of actions now for this round anyway
As Nijena cuts into the ghost, he laughs. "This maze is mine! A gift from Demon Lord Baphomet! It is mine, eternal!" Karsos fades away, seemingly confident despite his defeat.
Without his profane influence, you are able to escape through the basement entrance. Valais hesitates.
"No, I cannot. I don't...I don't know what I am anymore. How can I face the outside world?" What will you do with Valais? She clearly doesn't want to leave. You'll want a Diplomacy check to convince her.
Leave her here, in Thurl's lodge.
Escort her out of town, bringing her to the forest outside the city walls.
Take her to the Starrise Spire, where Venture-Captain Jorsal may decide her fate.
Can Fuzzfoot sense if she really wants to stay or is just afraid? Sense Motive:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
"My dear Valais, you must return with us. You are, heart and soul, a Pathfinder still, and surely you can find peace with your fellow Pathfinders. There will be many ways in which they can help you, and we will, of course, protect you and vouch for you. Come to Starrise Spire, and away from this awful place!"
[/b]"Fuzzfoot makes a good point... returning with us to Starrise Spire might be the best option, better than remaining here, I'd think. The Society can help."[/b]
Bernard is but a simply farmer and shrugs his simple farmer shoulders.
"Gozreh teaches that leaving people to their disposition is what would be best for them. But your best nature seems to have been corrupted, I'd say you come with us, the Venture Captain will know how to help yas.
Fuzzfoot notices Valais's fear and her shame of her forced fusion with demon parts. But he- along with the party, convince her to follow them to the Starrise Spire.
"I...will come. If you believe it will help." Valais hesitates, unsure if she made the right decision. Some people do look at her with a mix of confusion and fear, but you are able to reach the Starrise Spire without trouble.
---
Venture-Captain Jorsal offers his hand. "Valais. I promise you we'll do everything in our power to help you. I don't know if we can restore you, but you are a Pathfinder. We don't let anyone behind." She replies with a clawed hand, which he shakes without an ounce of hesitation.
"Yes. I am a Pathfinder." She grins before leaving the briefing room. You have never seen her walk with such enthusiasm before.
She survived and is willing to tell you everything she knows about Thurl. That's 2 more Evidence Points - a total of 6.
Jorsal turns to you. "Good job, Pathfinders. Your act of humanity has impressed me. Thank you."
Venture-Captain Jorsal looks out the window and clears his throat. "That confirms it; Thurl is a traitor, my hunch was correct. But I did not expect this level of corruption. How many years did he know about Sky Citadel Jormurdun? Must have been years before the Society did."
"Ugh. And the experiments he performed. Dealing with fiends like that...what evil has he unleashed?" The captain paces the room for a bit, deep in thought. One of the cursed books falls over and breaks his concentration. "Rest for now, all of you. You deserve it."
The sun rises the next morning. You live another day, but the experience in Thurl's lodge is not easy to forget.
