NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
"No not worry about the creature seeing you. All they can know is that someone is looking for Olivinia - not that we know where she is. As the daughter of a noble house, they will have realised her family will have deep resources to call on in the search. That is probably why she was kept in dark room."
He thinks for a bit.
"I have only by ioun stone for light. It is good to know the challenges we may face. I confess that in darkness I am somewhat less formidable as an opponent."
With the groups preparations complete, Vrald carefully opens the door in front of him.
Male NG Human (Kelish) Cleric 12 | HP: 91/91 | AC: 20 (12 Tch, 18 Fl) | CMB: +14, CMD: 24 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +19 | Init: +2 | Perc: +12, SM: +22 | Speed 30ft | Channel 7/7 Aura of Protection 1/12 | Active conditions: Heroism.
Omar looks past Garinol, trying to see if there is anything interesting in the room. He waits for those more accomplished at searching before moving forward.
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
perception:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Vrald looks around before cautiously entering the room. He starts with the curtain to the right, moving it aside with his drawn sword.
Lurgh summons a shield from his wand, Garinol steps cautiously into the room, and Vrald moves aside the nearest curtain. The alcove behind the curtain is empty but for an odd stain on the stone floor.
Slide 1, round-by-round, give Zahra a chance to post
Male Neutral Tiger Animal Companion 12 | 85/85 | AC 34 T 18 FF 29 | CMD 34 (36 vs Grapple, 38 vs Trip) | F +14 R +15 W +9 (+4 morale vs Enchantment, +1 morale vs Fear, +2 Charm and Fear) | Init +6 | Per +11, SM +6 | Speed 70 Ft | Active Conditions: Shield
Perception:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Pumpkin sniffs the air, alert. When he sees the movement behind the curtain, he crouches and stares at it, looking at Zahra for confirmation about what to do.
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
Vrald calls out softly. "Stain on the floor here... hopefully not blood." He then pulls aside the next curtain with his sword.
"This is nerve wracking work. I prefer a stand-up fight."
I hope there is nothing invisible in here..
He pauses and does a quick swish through the alcove he has "opened" with his sword.
Vrald will slowly advance down the room. Each round he advances five feet and then pulls back the next curtain and then slashes into any apparently empty alcove. Anything of interest he'll tell the group.
hp 57/57 | PfA 100/100 AC 17 (incl mage armor) | T 13 | FF 14 DR 10/melee or magic| CMD 18 (19 vs grapple) | F +5 | R +8 | W+9 (+2 vs enchantments) | I +4 | P +13 (+2) | Concentration +19 Elemental Manipulation 11/11 | Versatile Evocation 11/11 | Reroll 1/1 |
Active Spells:
Darkvision, Floating Disk, Heightened Awarenes, Mage armor, Life Bubble, Overland Flight, Protection from Arrows, Unseen Servant
Faeranduil notices that some spells have ran out. He takes a pearl from his pouch and studies it for a moment. He puts the current rod away and takes out another. He focuses on the rod and casts a spell. The rod looses it's luster, almost as if it needs another coat of paint. He puts it away and takes the first rod again.
His unseen servant follows Vrald with the lantern.
Recasting extended heightened awareness, see invisibility runs out at 22:20
Omar and Garinol move further into the room as Faeranduil recasts his spell. From behind the curtains, two clockwork constructs come to life. As they step out from their alcoves, you hear a hiss and purple gas streams from the grilles set into the floor and fills the room with haze. The gas stops an inch away from Vrald, Omar, and Garinol as their life bubbles are visibly outlined.
The four-armed machine with a red crystal inset in it's chest extends its hand unleashing a bead of fire into the doorway. It explodes in a fiery blast that manages to catch the entire party.
Damage(Fireball CL 9):9d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 5, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3) = 34 DC 14 Reflex for 17 fire instead
Initiative (Surprise round): Bold may act
Red Clockwork
Garinol
Zahra +4 Reflex for cover Faeranduil+4 Reflex for cover
Omar
Lurgh
Clockwork
Vrald
Pumpkin +4 Reflex for cover Pumpkin will delay for his human, but only have a standard action
Detect Poison or Craft Alchemy DC 20:
The gas is nightmare vapor which does Wis damage and causes confusion.
DC 19 Know(arcana):
These are Clockwork Mages, faceless constructs with a crystal wand set into its chest, bristling with arcane energy. Their magical construction provides them with Spell Resistance 20.
DC 24 Know(arcana):
Due to their clockwork construction, they are vulnerable to electricity damage.
DC 29 Know(arcana):
Their hardened steel construction gives them DR 5/adamantine.
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
ref:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
His back turned as he checked out an alcove, Vrald takes the full force of the fireball.
arcana:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
He turns at the force of the explosion, but can't make head or tail of what he sees.
Male Neutral Tiger Animal Companion 12 | 85/85 | AC 34 T 18 FF 29 | CMD 34 (36 vs Grapple, 38 vs Trip) | F +14 R +15 W +9 (+4 morale vs Enchantment, +1 morale vs Fear, +2 Charm and Fear) | Init +6 | Per +11, SM +6 | Speed 70 Ft | Active Conditions: Shield
Reflex:1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 4 = 30
Pumpkin leaps completely out of the way of the blast, and lands on his feet, snarling.
Garinol steps forward and slices through the hardened steel robes of the red construct.
Crit did not confirm, only a single attack in surprise round.
The metalic mage with a yellow crystal raises its two lower arms and unleashes a bolt of fire at Omar and Vrald.
Faeranduil recognizes the magic as a scorching ray and counters with his own casting. The two rays erupt from the arms of the mage and are met in mid air by two rays from the elf's outstretched finger.
Faeranduil, save your dispel magic and your reroll. You can counterspell with your prepared slot of scorching ray instead.
Faeranduil recognizes the Clockwork Mages as powering their spells from a specialized crystal wand. These two are clearly using spells of the evocation school. They cast spells from these wands as spell trigger magic items. The constructs don't provoke from casting spells this way, but if you target the crystal with dispel magic you might shut down their casting ability altogether.
Pumpkin waits for Zahra's command.
The mage with a red crystal steps back from Garinol and unleashes its own scorching rays.
Male NG Human (Kelish) Cleric 12 | HP: 91/91 | AC: 20 (12 Tch, 18 Fl) | CMB: +14, CMD: 24 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +19 | Init: +2 | Perc: +12, SM: +22 | Speed 30ft | Channel 7/7 Aura of Protection 1/12 | Active conditions: Heroism.
Seeing how badly injured Faeranduil and Garinol are Omar channels positive energy, reflexively excluding the two opponents even though he doesn't think they would be affected anyway.
Channel, 35' radius from Omar:5d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 2, 1) = 14 Should get everyone
He then moves into a position where he threatens both automatons.
hp 57/57 | PfA 100/100 AC 17 (incl mage armor) | T 13 | FF 14 DR 10/melee or magic| CMD 18 (19 vs grapple) | F +5 | R +8 | W+9 (+2 vs enchantments) | I +4 | P +13 (+2) | Concentration +19 Elemental Manipulation 11/11 | Versatile Evocation 11/11 | Reroll 1/1 |
Active Spells:
Darkvision, Floating Disk, Heightened Awarenes, Mage armor, Life Bubble, Overland Flight, Protection from Arrows, Unseen Servant
Faeranduil casts a spell. Electricity crackles over Omar, Garinol and the two constructs. The two humans reappear unscathed, the automations seem less fortunate
Omar channels the healing power of Shelyn as Lurgh defends himself from the fiery energy of the constructs.
Faeranduil unleashes his Specialized Spell, shaping the magic of his fireball to produce electricity that will pierce his enemies' defenses and ignore his allies.
Both constructs react quickly, avoiding the worst of the electrical blast, but their metalic forms spark and stutter where they could not avoid damage.
59/59 HP, AC: 24. FF: 18, T: 16, CMD: 23, (Dodge/Mobility, +2 vs Evil), Fort: +7, Refl: +6, Will: +7 (+2 vs Evil) , Perc: +14, (Scent, +22), Init: +8, Sense Motive +12, NG Human Inquisitor of Sarenrae 8, +12/+7 Att, 1d6+6, (15/x2)
I'm sorry, I totally missed the Surprise Round part or might have done something else instead. My fault.
Very thankful for the sudden healing burst, Garinol calls on more powers to help kickstart his own immune system and fight on through the serious wounds, as he steps in closer to the same Clockwork Mage he had just attacked rather feebly.
Male Neutral Tiger Animal Companion 12 | 85/85 | AC 34 T 18 FF 29 | CMD 34 (36 vs Grapple, 38 vs Trip) | F +14 R +15 W +9 (+4 morale vs Enchantment, +1 morale vs Fear, +2 Charm and Fear) | Init +6 | Per +11, SM +6 | Speed 70 Ft | Active Conditions: Shield
Pumpkin pads into the room, right next to yellow. He couldn't wait for a chance to grapple one of these things!
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
reflex:1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14
"Gods damn those things." shouts Vrald, badly burned by the twinned fireballs
He quickly rushes forward delivering a solid chop at the red one.
The machine makes a sad sounding whistle as the energy barely singes Garinol.
Initiative (round 2):
Bold may act
Red Clockwork (-90)
Garinol (-51)
Zahra (-3) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire
Pumpkin DC 14 Reflex for 25/0 fire
Faeranduil (-20) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire; or cast sphere
Omar (-20) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire
Lurgh (-3) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire
Yellow Clockwork (-30)
Vrald (-32)
Male NG Human (Kelish) Cleric 12 | HP: 91/91 | AC: 20 (12 Tch, 18 Fl) | CMB: +14, CMD: 24 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +19 | Init: +2 | Perc: +12, SM: +22 | Speed 30ft | Channel 7/7 Aura of Protection 1/12 | Active conditions: Heroism.
I'm probably being dense, but why can it fireball without provoking? I thought it was just the scorching rays that were from a wand effect.
Reflex + Haste:1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23
Seeing Pumpkin beside him, Omar concentrates on destroying the red construct. He shifts position to the left so that he can still threaten the yellow construct.
All their spell effects are spell trigger. The ranged attack would provoke if they fire more scorching rays.
Omar swings at the construct, but only manages to connect once, to little effect.
Initiative (round 2):
Bold may act
Red Clockwork (-92)
Garinol (-51)
Zahra (-3) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire
Pumpkin DC 14 Reflex for 25/0 fire
Faeranduil (-20) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire; or cast sphere
Omar (-32)
Lurgh (-3) DC 14 Reflex for 25/12 fire
Yellow Clockwork (-30)
Vrald (-32)
820-1 | Female NG Human (Keleshite) Sylvan Sorcerer 12 | HP 74/74 | AC 16 (21) T 12 (13) FF 14 (18) | CMD 17 | F +12 R +12 W +15 | Init +6 | Per +15, SM +3 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: 1st 7/8, 2nd 7/8, 3rd 7/8, 4th 8/8, 5th 4/6, 6th 2/4 | Active Conditions: Extended Mage Armor, Dark Vision, Shield
Reflex:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Zahra jumps out of the path of the fireball, and then looks at the two clockwork mages. "Ve really need to kill vun of these things and they have spell resistance, so..." She gathers magical energy, packing it into an ice snowball and throws it straight at Red.
Male Neutral Tiger Animal Companion 12 | 85/85 | AC 34 T 18 FF 29 | CMD 34 (36 vs Grapple, 38 vs Trip) | F +14 R +15 W +9 (+4 morale vs Enchantment, +1 morale vs Fear, +2 Charm and Fear) | Init +6 | Per +11, SM +6 | Speed 70 Ft | Active Conditions: Shield
Reflex:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Grapple, Haste:1d20 + 26 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 26 + 2 = 31
Pumpkin evades the fireball, but his paws slip on the clockwork's sleek casing.
____
I just realized that I'm an idiot. If I had just told Pumpkin to attack, he could have full attacked and had free grab attacks each time. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
It looks like Lurgh should be exactly 30 feet from Vrald, so he should have been a valid target for Haste, and it looks like it matters in this case, so I want to be sure it should have been included. If he is hasted, he takes no damage, if not, he takes 5.
Lurgh decides it's too crowded for his close range spells and fires a volley of missiles of force at the yellow construct.
59/59 HP, AC: 24. FF: 18, T: 16, CMD: 23, (Dodge/Mobility, +2 vs Evil), Fort: +7, Refl: +6, Will: +7 (+2 vs Evil) , Perc: +14, (Scent, +22), Init: +8, Sense Motive +12, NG Human Inquisitor of Sarenrae 8, +12/+7 Att, 1d6+6, (15/x2)
Looking terribly hurt, Garinol's wounds begin to heal, but slowly, Garinol tries to refocus his mind, blocking out the pain, and press on. It's a gamble, but Zarha is right, one of these must be destroyed soon.
hp 57/57 | PfA 100/100 AC 17 (incl mage armor) | T 13 | FF 14 DR 10/melee or magic| CMD 18 (19 vs grapple) | F +5 | R +8 | W+9 (+2 vs enchantments) | I +4 | P +13 (+2) | Concentration +19 Elemental Manipulation 11/11 | Versatile Evocation 11/11 | Reroll 1/1 |
Active Spells:
Darkvision, Floating Disk, Heightened Awarenes, Mage armor, Life Bubble, Overland Flight, Protection from Arrows, Unseen Servant
"Sure, let's all enter the blast area...
Reflex:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Faeranduil sighs and drops his rod. He takes another rod and casts a spell. Small hands of force seem to touch everyone...
Resist energy communal, using reach rod. Everyone has Fire resistance 20
Next round:
Activate Elemental Manipulation for Fire(Su): At 8th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura that transforms magical energy. Choose an energy type from acid, cold, electricity, and fire, and a second type to transform it into. Any magical source of energy of this type with a caster level equal to or less than your wizard level is altered to the chosen energy type. This includes supernatural effects from creatures with Hit Dice no greater than your caster level. For example, you could transform a white dragon's frigid breath weapon (a supernatural ability), but not a fire elemental's fiery touch (an extraordinary ability). If an effect lies only partially within your aura, only the portions within the aura are transformed. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. The rounds do not need to be consecutive.
@Lurgh, you were 35 ft from Garinol, who is a higher priority target to receive haste. just how it worked out, sorry.
Zahra's magical snowball strikes the red construct's exposed machinery and it stops moving as it's glow fades.
Pumpkin fails to grab the yellow mage, and Lurgh's missiles shatter on contact with the construct.
Seeing that the red construct has been destroyed by Zahra's spell, Garinol steps forward and attacks the yellow mechanical mage. Only his first swing connects.
Faeranduil grants energy resistance to the group.
The yellow mage backs away from the threat of weapons and fires another scorching ray at Vrald and Garinol.
I figured out what the issue was. I keep forgetting in these cases you have to count your starting square, unlike movement. Then in other cases you have to count corners. Honestly spell aiming always seemed to be one of the most inconsistent and confusing aspects of the rules.
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
Vrald, thankful for the magical protection steps forward towards the last of the constructs.
"There is no honor in fighting such a thing as this." he sighs, as his sword goes to work
By the way, Vrald is a fey foundling, so he heals +2hp per dice rolled, I think that would reduce his damage by 10 due to a better pick up from the channelling
With his longsword, Vrald makes short work of the construct. His final blow finds the creatures thin, metal neck and severs the mage's head from the clockwork body.
Red Clockwork (-113)
Garinol (-48)
Zahra (-15)
Pumpkin (standard action)
Faeranduil (-32)
Omar (-32)
Lurgh (-8)
Yellow Clockwork (-119)
Vrald (-22) I did miss your Fey Foundling feat, hp adjusted
From earlier: This low-ceilinged chamber features two pairs of manacles bolted to the floor in the center of the room. The stone floor beneath them is stained rust-brown and edged with decorative grilles. Hundreds of half-melted candles populate the floor, along with several ritual ingredients, such as jars of tallow, salt, ash, and small bones. Fifteen alcoves line the room, each concealed with a heavy curtain.
It takes less than a minute to pull back all the curtains in the room. One curtain leads to a dark halway, the rest conceal small alcoves. Most alcoves are empty, but for one on the north wall. It contains a stylized statue of some devil with dark wings and a wicked grin. Gems and baubles adorn its base, as well as a journal of alchemical formulae. The book is signed only as "The Beast Within."
DC 20 Knowledge(planes or religion):
The statue depicts Alichino, the devil Faeranduil mentioned earlier, known as the Jester Prince of the Cage.
When he sees the statue, he says "Unfortunately, it looks like you were correct Faeranduil. We are dealing with followers of Alichino -- the Jester Prince of the Cage."
Any way for us to know if it is blood that caused the rust-brown stains versus something else?
The stains are almost certainly the result of blood. You cannot tell if it is human or animal, or whether the blood is the result of sacrifices or relatively more mundane blood rites.
Male NG Human (Kelish) Cleric 12 | HP: 91/91 | AC: 20 (12 Tch, 18 Fl) | CMB: +14, CMD: 24 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +19 | Init: +2 | Perc: +12, SM: +22 | Speed 30ft | Channel 7/7 Aura of Protection 1/12 | Active conditions: Heroism.
Heal:10 + 8 = 18
Leaning down to rub at the stains, Omar states "I'm pretty sure these stains are blood. I can't tell what type nor be sure of the purpose they were used for."
Omar is willing to use anyone's wands on them. Please roll them yourselves.
820-1 | Female NG Human (Keleshite) Sylvan Sorcerer 12 | HP 74/74 | AC 16 (21) T 12 (13) FF 14 (18) | CMD 17 | F +12 R +12 W +15 | Init +6 | Per +15, SM +3 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: 1st 7/8, 2nd 7/8, 3rd 7/8, 4th 8/8, 5th 4/6, 6th 2/4 | Active Conditions: Extended Mage Armor, Dark Vision, Shield
Zahra pulls out her own wand while her husband is busy with his own. After all, all wands love her. She's from Katapesh, where everyone's very friendly.
59/59 HP, AC: 24. FF: 18, T: 16, CMD: 23, (Dodge/Mobility, +2 vs Evil), Fort: +7, Refl: +6, Will: +7 (+2 vs Evil) , Perc: +14, (Scent, +22), Init: +8, Sense Motive +12, NG Human Inquisitor of Sarenrae 8, +12/+7 Att, 1d6+6, (15/x2)
"Superb job, team. I thought a few of us might fall to these,. . . contraptions, but we where able to pull each other back from the brink. I thank you all for your assistance." as he begins to cast a few spells to help bind the remainder of his wounds.
"I concur. Such an idol should not be left to cause more harm." as he slashes the statue of Alichino until it is destroyed. "Such vileness can not stand, less it's influence still be allowed some foothold in this place, and it call to others."
With that completed, Garinol will move near Omar to investigate the puddle stains, bending down to smell it, both in hopes of perhaps identifying it's source, and perhaps even having something whose scent he might recognize later.
Heal:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Before leaving, Garinol, still utilizing his adamantine weapon, will sever the manacled chains in the room, "These will not be used for further torment!" almost as if taking it personally.
The book, however, he finds rather interesting. Firstly, a clue as to what might just be waiting for them later in this horrific temple-mansion, but also because of the play on words, "A Beast I am, it is said, lest a Beast I become."
Before moving onwards, Garinol will again cast Magic Circle vs Evil (on Omar) <80 Mins>, as well as Heroism <80 Mins> and Comprehend Languages <80 Mins> on self.
"Look, a hidden passageway." Before proceeding on, he will inspect the threshold, first scanning it with Detect Magic and then proceeding to look for traps.
NG Male Human HP 94/94; Reroll @+3 1/1; Fighter 9; AC 36 (normally 35) (+2 vs a crit confirm); FF 32; touch 15; Fort +9; Ref +6; Will +8; Perc +1; Init +2;
Vrald moves to clean his sword, and then realises there is no blood as such to clean off it.
"Can any of you use the wands that these constructs wielded so effectively?" he asks, hopeful that some good may come of the encounter.
The young lord give a nod to Garinol. "Teamwork is best. Where one might fall, two can succeed, and three Exceed. I am just pleased my sword has finally been of service."
Vrald moves a bit stiffly in his slightly charred armor as he moves towards the obvious way out.
Faeranduil examines the remains of the constructs, curious about their magical construction.
"The crystal 'wands' that power these creations are not wands like most common folk think of them. They are tuned to the construct to provide the arcane energy the construct requires to replicate a true mage's spellcasting ability. And alas, they are cracked."
GM Screen:
You just had to look didn't you?
Garinol examines the threshold and sees neither magic auras nor further traps. The hallway ahead seems safe and blessedly stain-free.
