Valik punches the small creature again, while the sickened Archon moves into position to hit the remaining drow with its greatsword.
Zephyrus continues to have issues with the darkness as his next bomb misses, while Quiella presses her attack against the drow leader, finally finishing her off with a strong blow. "Inexoria, eviscerated by the greatsword of a gnome of all things." She says with her dying breath.
As the leader goes down, the smaller creature disappears from the fight and the area.
It takes about 100 minutes for the darkness to subside, but the group pulls the body out of the blackness shortly after the combat.
The babau demons carry nothing of signficant value, while the drow minion carries 10 +1 shock drow sleep poisoned bolts, 2 tanglefoot bags, a +1 chain shirt, a +1hand crossbows, 10 regular arrows with drow sleep poison on them, and a +1 rapier
The drow leader has a lesser bouncing metamagic rod, a scroll of wind wall, a wand of resist energy (CL 7th, 8 charges), +1 chainmail, +1 dagger, an amulet of natural armor +1, a cloak of resistance +1, a headband of inspired wisdom +2, and 93 gp
Also on her body you find a satchel filled with ancient elven texts, including the journals mentioned by the captive elf. She also has several maps of the cave systems that connect to the tower basement as well as a very rough map of northern Avistan marked with the location of the Worldwound and multiple possible routes to get there. In addition, she carries a heavy book of her own making filled with logs of hundreds of autopsies. Each page is covered in detailed anatomical drawings, many of humanoids, with copious notes on the subjects’ injuries including times and causes of death.
* * *
With the drow defeated, the group returns to the surface with Melufiuos and makes arrangements with the captive elf to turn the drow prisoner over to his people.
Upon your return to civilization, Melufiuos is restored to full health while scholars pour over the journals you recovered. These books give the Pathfinder Society greater insight into pre-Earthfall elven culture, magic, and architecture; however, not all of the PCs discoveries are cause for celebration. In particular, Sheila Heidmarch finds the drow’s obsession with the Worldwound deeply concerning, and she remarks that the matter requires further attention from the society.
Nevertheless, with the band of drow defeated, the Velashu Uplands become slightly safer to travel, and the Pathfinder Society is able to send more groups in to study the ruin in relative peace and quiet.
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Heccan waves once again at the barkeep who only shakes his head and adds another full bottle to the several empty ones strewn about the bar. The Chelaxian tosses another gold coin on the pile and eagerly fills his cup with the latest offering. He takes a deep swig of his precious Chellish red and shakes his head. He runs a hand through his wavy black hair.
"Mortality. It is the burden, no?" Smiling at no one in particular, he downs the rest of his glass and fills it again. He seems annoyed that he is still sober.
Chapter 23: King of the Storval Stairs
It's an early morning at the Magnimar Pathfinder Lodge at Heidmarch Manor where you await your briefing in the sitting room. Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch eventually enters the room, gives you all a quick once-over and launches into the assignment in her characteristically deep voice.
"Thank you for coming, Pathfinders. You look well qualified for the task at hand, and I’m relieved a team such as yours was available so far from the Society’s heart in Absalom. How familiar are the lot of you with the ruins of ancient Thassilon? Well, you’re going to be getting a lot more familiar with one of the most strategically important sites in the entirety of Varisia—the Storval Stairs."
"This stairway—carved by giants and scaled appropriately for creatures of their size—provides the easiest means of climbing the Storval Rise west of the Iron Peaks. Thus, it also provides the swiftest means of getting supplies and personnel to and from the ruins of Xin-Shalast and other sites of interest on the Storval Plateau. We had a supply caravan go missing a week ago; its last reported location was near the stairs, and rumors I’ve been hearing from as far away as Riddleport indicate this isn’t the only similar situation in recent months. Some reports claim a tribe of hill giants have claimed the Storval Stairs as their territory and are demanding exorbitant tariffs to pass in either direction. Apparently they’re led by the self-proclaimed King of the Storval Stairs, who doesn’t like the idea of anyone traveling through his kingdom without paying their due."
A knock sounds on the door, and a messenger sticks her head in shyly. In her hand she holds a leather scroll case embroidered with traditional Varisian beadwork. "A message for you, Lady Heidmarch. From your cousin Guaril in Riddleport." Sheila accepts the missive, tips the courier, and turns back to the matter at hand, shaking her head.
"I’ve told that greasy charlatan to stop calling me family…" The venture-captain draws the scroll from the case and quickly reads it, raising one eyebrow inquisitively. "Well, this is fortuitous. It seems ‘Cousin’ Karela is also interested in your mission, and wants to ensure your success in a timely fashion. No doubt he has some ulterior motives that don’t align with our own... Then again, we’re likely to use his influence among the Varisian people to populate the supply caravans to and from the Storval Plateau, so perhaps his motivation is not so different after all."
"Travel to the Storval Stairs and confirm what happened to our supply wagons. While you’re there, take care of this so-called king and ensure he and his giant followers don’t present a problem for us in the future. Then hold the location until a larger contingent of Pathfinders arrives to set up a more permanent way station there. It’s nearly a five hundred mile journey, but our ‘cousin’ has seen to it that won’t be a problem for you—he included a scroll here to teleport you to a location another ‘relative’ of his divined as the current location of the supply caravan. He says it was expensive but a good investment, and that you’re worth it."
Sheila holds the scroll out for the taking, the sketch of the location one should use as its destination visible in its uncurling corner. "Best of luck, Pathfinders."
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Heccan awakes with a start as the Lady Heidmarch enters the room. The wily Chelaxian sorcerer no doubt recovering from another late night bender. He runs a hand through his dark wavy hair and tries to straighten up, hoping neither the Captain nor his fellow agents noticed he had nodded off.
"Ahem...yes, terrible news my lady. Such a tale strikes me deeply, as I have a rather large stake is a similar caravan. Events such as the one you describe is always a worry for me. Thankfully I see to it that MY caravan is suitably stocked, defended and the proper bribes are paid in full and in advance."
Stifling what surely would have been a very unseemly belch, the former noble continues. "Please, my lady, what exactly do you mean by 'take care' of these troublesome giants? Also is there any information about these giants that we may find useful?" As for the caravan, any cargo we should be particularly on the look out for, or be weary of?"
Heccan listens attentively as he is able to the Lady's answers and the rest of any conversation. When complete, he heads back to the tavern for just one more for the road while he asks about events surrounding the Storval Stairs.
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Heccan laughs as one of the tavern patrons spills a little of his knowledge, he then turns to notice Mel.
"Meluflous! By the nine lad, its good to see you!" The pale Chelaxian quickly motions the bartender over. "My good sir! Give this man two of your finest. What's that, on the house you say? You are a good man, barkeep!" Heccan winks to Mel and offers him a cheers. "Terrible business with those fiends Mel, terrible. Tell me, how are you feeling?" Heccan downs a glass of wine and quickly has it re-filled as he listens to Mel.
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Here is his tale.
After a few drinks, Mel is willing to describe what he felt the moment he died.
"We were in that dark cave, fighting. That feind had just shirked off my last attack like it was nothing. I could see the look of malice and pure hate in its eyes. But it was grinning! Like it knew something, ya know? And then there was a brilliant flash of pain. I couldn't see anything. Just white pain. There was nothing else around me. Just this all-consuming white pain." His eyese glazed over while he was speaking, as if he was seeing the past, instead of the bar and people around him. He takes another drink and shakes himself back to reality. "And then I got heavy. Slowly at first, but then faster and faster. But I wasn't falling. I hung there, dangling. Like I'd fallen off the edge of a very tall cliff but someone had caught my hand before I was gone. It was Quiella. I could feel her very soul straining desparatly to hold me. And then there was a pop. A snap. It made no noise but it felt like a sonic boom. When the link broke, I fell. Everything got dark. Pitch black. I couldn't see anything, but I knew I was falling. And then it got weird." He does not want to talk about it any more, but after a few more drinks, it comes spilling out of him. "I saw her. The helpless dark elf I killed. She was standing there, staring at me with these accusing eyes. And then she opened her mouth and it was my mother's voice. You killed me. How could you do that? I was defenseless! You know better than that! Fear and guilt overwhelmed me. And then Quiella was there. She stood there with her hands on her hips. A look of shock. Such deep disappointment in me, clear on her face. It hurt even worse than my mother's voice. And then they were both shaking their fingers at me. And growing. They were giants and they were crushing me with my own guilt. And then I could feel it. The bottom. It was coming up fast. I was going to hit it so very hard. But I couldn't wait because it would make them go away." He stops for a second to catch his breath and then continues on calmly. "But I never hit the bottom. I felt a sudden tug and then peace washed over me like wildfire, burning away the fear and the guilt and the pain. It seemed to come from some place very far away, yet it had found me. Yes, it had been searching for me. Once it had burned everything away and I was surrounded by white light, I felt a much strunger tug. It demanded that I follow. It pulled me up and up and up and up. And then I opened my eyes and there was this strange priest I had never seen before. Yet I felt like I knew him deeply. I was alive again." He looks at each of you. "I really cannot explain how wonderful you all look to me right now. Almost as comforting as my own mother's arms wrapped around me." Having been out with him before, you truly expect him to say, 'Now let's find us some wenches!' but he doesn't. He just sits there, clearly content to just .... be.
Melufiuos recalls the Storval Stairs serve as a connection between the Varisian lowlands and the elevated Storval Plateau. It’s the easiest route between destinations on the plateau and western Varisia (though still an arduous trek).
In addition to the giants spoken of in current reports, harpies and trolls are also known to claim the Storval Stairs from time to time.
Heccan finds out later that some Magnimarian merchants are said to have negotiated a deal with the Shoanti Hawk Clan to guard a caravan through the stairs. Rumor has it the missing Pathfinder expedition had a Hawk Clan escort.
Coco recalls the Storval Stairs were created millennia ago by the empire of Thassilon and many ruins surround the stairs themselves.
The stairs originally housed an army of giants, and the proportions of the entire site are suited for creatures at least twice the size of a human.
The Shoanti Hawk Clan has patrolled the stairs for generations, and was driven off only recently by stone giants. Though the giants were later driven away, the Shoanti have not returned to their patrols of the stairs, leaving the site undefended for new creatures to claim as their lairs.
To Melufiuos' question, Heidmarch replies simply, "You don't."
In regards to Heccan's inquires, she says, "Since I doubt the giants will be willing to negotiate, you'll most likely have to destroy them. There were merely everyday supplies in the caravan, there's not in particular to look out for. I'm sure you can learn more about giants in the Manor library."
"No one in the caravan was particularly noteworthy, but if you find any remains you'll surely want to collect them to provide some sort of closure for their loved ones." She adds in regards to Vailis' question.
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Can we visit the Manor library to learn about giants? How to identify the different types. The resistances and special abilities of each? While there, we may also want to do the same for trolls and harpies.
Oh! Trolls.... Mel buys 5 flasks of Alchemist Fire. (assuming he knows enough to do so).
+ ???
Oh, once we get started, Mel distributes the following items for other players to use during the adventure:
* Valik: ioun torch
* Heccan: ioun torch
* Quiella: scroll of Longstrider, scroll of Spiritual Weapon
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The scroll is finally lifted from Captain Heidmarch's hand by a tall, strange man in fine, flowing clothing and a jeweled mask, behind which fuchsia eyes blaze out; what little of his skin can be seen carries a strange brassy tinge. Some may recognize him as none other than "The Amazing Vanzetti," renowned actor of Andoran.
"May victory visit us in this venture," He says to the party. "If such is your volition, you may call me 'V'. The venerable Vitruvian has been vexed by some sort of vital vision, but before he vanished, he visited and voiced your valor to me, whom he viewed as a viable understudy." He bows theatrically.
Melufious spends some time in the local lodge library and discovers that hill giants are on average not a very bright race of giant humanoids. These large creatures are usually around 10' tall with a 10' reach. They excel in throwing very large stones at their enemies and also catching those types of stones. They only speak the Giant language.
Vanzetti does not discover any additional information about recent events concerning the Storval Stairs.
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Heccan does his best to parse all of the information. He says to the group. "As the lady commands, we shall...deal...with these giants one way or another. I will say though that this Hawk clan may hold some more information. I suggest when we are all ready we seek them out. I think they may be able to shed some light on our missing caravan."
Once everyone is ready, Melufiuos has no issues using the scroll of Greater Teleport.
As you all materialize in a new location, you see 500 hundred feet from the foot of the Storval Stairs lie the remains of what appears to have recently been a small caravan, now scattered over a large area. Most of the wagons are overturned, and the corpses of livestock, hill giants, and a few humans litter the area. The smell of rotting flesh permeates the air, and a haze of flies surrounds the carcasses on the ground. A pile of broken wagons burns in the center of the wreckage, sending a plume of thick, black smoke into the afternoon air, visible for miles.
Standing among the wreckage are two Large-sized creatures that Melufiuos immediately identifies as Hill Giants. One of them quickly notices your group and points it out to the other. They both arm themselves with greatclubs.
Initiative Roster (Round 1)
Vailis <= Up
Valik <= Up
2 Hill Giants
Heccan
Melufiuos
Quiella
Vanzetti
Preparing for a potential assault, Valik puts himself into a defensive posture.
Vailis casts a spell to summon 2 fiery leopards in front of the giants. The creatures go on the immediate attack, with the blue leopard hitting its giant with only its bite and not grabbing it. The red leopard likewise bites its target, but does not grapple or hit with the rest of its attacks.
Both giants say something angry in their language as they swing greatclubs at the leopards before them. The giant in blue hits its leopard and instantly sends the creature back to it home plane. It then moves forward 40 feet.
The red giant also mirrors the blue, as he kills the leopard harassing him and moves forward 40 feet.
Initiative Roster (Rounds 1-2)
Vailis <= Up
Valik <= Up
2 Hill Giants
Heccan <= Up
Melufiuos <= Up
Quiella <= Up
Vanzetti <= Up
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Vailis archs an eyebrow as the leopards are destroyed " That is going to pain " he produced a drop of molasses from his pouch and it is consumed when the half-elf casts slow in the giants.
Vailis then draws his enlarge person wand.
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Heccan gasps as he sees the giants turn on the party. "I hate to say this, but I think my words will fall on deaf...or dumb..ears on these brutes. To arms then."
Heccan draws on his power, gritting his teeth he unleashes arcane power into the air, suddenly, the party feels empowered and the outside world seems to slow.
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a shaving of licorice root)
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
DESCRIPTION
The transmuted creatures move and act more quickly than normal. This extra speed has several effects.
When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a speed weapon, nor does it actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.)
A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
All of the hasted creature’s modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject’s normal speed using that form of movement. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects the creature’s jumping distance as normal for increased speed. Multiple haste effects don’t stack. Haste dispels and counters slow.
Melufiuos turns invisible and moves closer to the blue hill giant.
Vailis casts a Slow spell on the two enemies, but only the red giant seems affected. He then draws a wand allowing him to make a companion giant sized.
With a fiery flourish, the Amazing Vanzetti begins to casting a fireworks spell.
Heccan casts a Haste spell on his allies, allowing everyone to react faster in combat.
A powerful Kellid witch has taken the King of the Storval Stairs as a lover, and they sacrifice prisoners and slaves to a god of the giants on the Storval Plateau.
Quiella uses a wand to increase her defenses while arming herself with her hammer.
Valik tumbles into position to attack the blue hill giant and punches it in the knee.
The blue giant retaliates with two swings of its greatclub, but neither hits Valik.
Screaming something in Giant, the red enemy charges Valik and also misses with its club.
Initiative Roster (Rounds 2-3)
Vailis [Life link with Quiella] <= Up
Valik <= Up
2 Hill Giants
Heccan [Life link with Quiella] <= Up
Melufiuos [Life link with Quiella] <= Up
Quiella <= Up
Vanzetti [Life link with Quiella] <= Up
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Surprisingly, the magus does not immediately attack, even though he has the perfect position. Instead he reads a scroll of Cat's Grace.
HitPoints: 54/54
AC/T/F: 22/17/15 (includes Haste + Cat's Grace)
Speed: 60 (includes haste)
Equipped Weapon: Rapier
Active Effects: Vanish, Haste, Cat's Grace
Light: Ioun Torch
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PREPARED SPELLS
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Level 0 (DC13): Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Read Magic
Level 1 (DC14): Burning Hands, Chill Touch, Magic Missile, Shocking Grasp, Vanish (5 rounds)
Level 2 (DC15): Ablative Barrier (7hrs), Bladed Dash, Mirror Image(7min), Shatter
Level 3 (DC16): Force Punch, Daylight (70min)
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TRACKED RESOURCES
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Arrows: 25/25
Arcane Pool: 7/7 charges remaining today
Wand of True Strike: 37/37
Wand of Shield: 8/8
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 39/39
Wand of Spontaneous Immolation: 14/14
Sunrod: 1/1
Perl of Power: 1/1 uses remaining today
Spell Storing (rapier): na
Ring of Counterspells : feeblemind
Empowered Magic: 1/1 uses remaining today
Daredevil Softpaws: 10/10 rounds of stupidity today
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From V's sparking robes emerges a spectacular pyrotechnic in the shifting, etheric form of a tiny dragon, which whizzes chaotically through the clearing before exploding right in a giant's face!
[dice=Dazing snapdragon fireworks, DC 18, vs Red]1d4+2[/dice]
Scarcely more than an eyeblink later, this is followed by an even larger explosion, engulfing the giants from behind!
[dice=FIREBALL!, augmented by alchemist's fire, saltpeter, and Sacrificial Boon, DC 20, vs both giants (but originating far enough back to spare Valik and Melufiuos)]8d6+3[/dice]
*KABOOOOOOOM!!!*
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Vailis uses his wand to begin enlarging Quiella.
The invisible Melufiuos uses a scroll to increase his physical dexterity.
Vanzetti's firework spells finally goes off, hitting the red giant and dazzling him. He then casts a Fireball, but the blue manages to jump out of the way of the worst of it.
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Heccan watches the battle unfolding, calculating his next move. Having recently discovered there are limits to his power, he uses caution but ultimately unleashes another burst of his hellish ability. Heccan throws his hand out, grimacing and pouring infernal power into the air which manifests as a cloud of shimmering particles around the giants' heads. "Such ugly creatures. Do dispatch them quickly."
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 2, bloodrager 2, magus 2, sorcerer/wizard 2, summoner/unchained summoner 2, witch 2; Elemental School earth 2, metal 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (ground mica)
EFFECT
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area creatures and objects within 10-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Will negates (blinding only); Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
A cloud of golden particles covers everyone and everything in the area, causing creatures to become blinded and visibly outlining invisible things for the duration of the spell. All within the area are covered by the dust, which cannot be removed and continues to sparkle until it fades. Each round at the end of their turn blinded creatures may attempt new saving throws to end the blindness effect.
Any creature covered by the dust takes a -40 penalty on Stealth checks.