GM SpiderBeard's Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

Just in case, don't forget that Sarkast does speak Abyssal. I suspect you already checked, but figured I'd mention.

I assume everyone has their PHD in Abyssal Comparative Literature this far into the campaign. It's not that :)

Sarkast opens the doors to reveal a set of stairs, leading into a huge room. Which is ... strange.

The exact dimensions of this cavernous room are difficult to discern because of the presence of thick sheets of strange fibrous materials not unlike tangles of webs or filaments of fungus that cover the walls and ceiling in the room's northern half. Three large pods, or perhaps cocoons, hang in the tangles about twenty feet above the bare floor.

The moment the doors open, the pods burst open, and enormous, horrific creatures emerge, chittering wildly.

This crab-like nightmare has a lamprey mouth, twitching eyes on its legs, and several blisters along its back that hold human brains.

Ayesha is up! Map is updated.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Sarkast has never seen anything remotely like this before.

"Oh, that is disgusting!"

Concentrating on her image of herself, Ayesha chanted and suddenly there were a half dozen or so copies of her, moving in sync. All the Ayeshas moved into the room, hoping to draw some attention away from Dejik and the others.

Casting mirror image for 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 copies of myself!

Arueshalae looks a little green as the strange, crab-like monsters move in on the group. She clicks her heels together and speeds up. Two of the creatures in the bag suddenly blast out spells from little wands carried in their claws. The spells explode amongst the group and then onto Ayesha. All three of the creatures then rise up into the air, flying above the group while the last blasts Sarkast and Dejik with lightning. Sarkast flips out of the way while Dejik avoids the worst of it.

Sarkast and Ayesha are confused, but will act normally next round! Will save DC was 16, check the spoiler if you have a means to beat it. Dejik takes a whopping eight damage. Ayesha also get an attack of opportunity on plain. Everyone is up! PLease note the baddies are flying 20' above the ground now.

Spellcraft: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Nilus doesn't recognize the spells. Nilus does however recognize the danger that foul spellcasters represent. So, he does the first thing that he thinks of, he channels the mythic power inside him. Reaching down into his own soul and pulling from the the twin sources of his power, his faith and his newly discovered deific power.

Shelyn, protect us from these fiends.

Nilus casts Magic Circle against Evil centered on himself

AoO: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

AoO, confirm: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Ayesha lashed out at the nearest monster as it flew upwards, cutting at one of the thing's joints. Then, she moved quickly to Nilus' side. Chanting softly, she empowered the man with the ability to fly.

Using a MP to cast fly on Nilus

I have a +2 vs spells from my Belt of Dwarvenkind, but that's not fixing a Natural 1.

Resave against Confusion from Nilus' Magic Circle: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
That's a big ol' bag of NOPE.

Sarkast feels his mind cloud as the spell hits him. Nilus' magic seems to help a bit, but the scout can tell it is only a temporary reprieve.

Given that, I'm going to delay my action until after Dejik, because she might have a way to get me clear. She'll post this evening once she's off work.

Recognizing the glazed look in Sarkat's and Ayesha's eyes, Dejik remembers the spell she used against the vescavore swarms.

Using a MP to cast Calm Emotions in the middle of the room. She targets it so that Sarkast and Ayesha are both just inside the edge of the 20 ft. spread.

Sarkast calls on the divine magic in his armor and flies up to join Ayesha.

Using the 1/day Fly spell from his Celestial Armor (CL5, so it lasts 5 minutes), move action to move up. How high are the ceilings? If it is possible to get above them? IF so, move me around to try to get a flank with Ayesha.

Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
AC35 vs AoO

Ceilings are 40' up. No problem.

Ayesha viciously slashes the creature as it flies upwards, and Dejik manages to suppress the confusion spell overtop of Sarkast and Ayesha. Sarkast then zips into the air, swooping past the creatures to hover over top of them. Arueshalae steps forward and lets loose a series of arrows, two of which slam viciously into the creature Ayesha attacked.

The one being harassed by Sarkast quickly turns on him, casting a spell. Sarkast feels his limbs seize up, but he resists the spell! Seeing their confusion spells fail, the other two creatures blast Arueshalae with twin acid arrows.

Everyone is up!

Just checked the map, and Ayesha and I are not where I remember us ... I'm not going to touch it, but if you can fix it so we are where you expect us to be ... ;)

In position above one of the creatures, Sarkast cuts loose with a flurry from his knives.

If sneak attack hits, target is Slowed (unable to make attacks of opportunity) for 1 round. In addition, target is Bewildered (-2 AC, -6 vs Sarkast) and Disoriented (-2 attack, -6 vs Sarkast) for 1 round. For each additional sneak attack, extend duration by 1 round or until a new effect is applied.

Primary Attack, Freedom's Kiss: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Sneak Attack: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 1, 3) = 17
Secondary Attack, +1 returning dagger: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Sneak Attack: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6, 4, 1) = 20

Primary Iterative Attack, Freedom's Kiss: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Sneak Attack: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 3, 3) = 22
Secondary Iterative Attack, +1 returning dagger: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Sneak Attack: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 6, 1) = 20

Nilus charges a creature while flying! Plain

Radiant Charge!: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30
Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

If Nilus takes an AoO that's fine, he'll expend a use of Mythic power to absorb up to 20 points of damage using his Guardian Ability

All of Ayesha's images curse as her opponents fly away, leaving her on the ground with little to do. She could, of course, repeat the same trick that she had just used on Nilus, but her spells and powers were running thin. She really hoped she could save something for their next major combat...Grillexbie's boss?

With a nod to herself, she recalled the mechanics of the flight spell and cast on herself, readying to take the fight to the beetle things.

Spend 3 pool points to recall fly, and cast it on herself

Not sure how it moved buuut... it's not killing the fight. I'll ust roll with it.

Sarkast and Nilus leap into the air and Ayesha casts a fly spell on herself as well. Attacking multiple times, Sarkast only manages to hit once while Nilus skewers and almost kills the creature he's facing. Arueshalae sends an arrow flying north that slams into the maw of one of creatures, killing it outright. She then focuses her arrows westwards, and a second creature goes down betwen the combined blows of Sarkast, Nilus, and Arueshalae.

Dejik Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Dejik Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Dejik fires two arrows of her own, one of which pinks the remaining creature. Garbling something in its language, it vanishes from sight. The door then opens to the west. Sarkast can easily tell he is adjacent to it, but it is invisible.

Everyone is up!

Nonmythic foes really don't have a shot...and even the mythic ones typically get waxed pretty fast.

Nilus will hold, knowing that the creature is still around somewhere nearby.

Sensing the beast's presence, Sarkast continues swinging, hoping to connect.

Primary Attack, Freedom's Kiss: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Concealment, hit on 1: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Secondary Attack, +1 returning dagger: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Concealment, hit on 1: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Primary Iterative Attack, Freedom's Kiss: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Concealment, hit on 1: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Secondary Iterative Attack, +1 returning dagger: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Damage, good, magic: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Concealment, hit on 1: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Sarkast swings out repeatedly at the aboleth but is unable to connect.

Ayesha and Dejik are up!

Dejik draws her magic rod and moves forward, trying to use her newly-discovered senses to pinpoint the creatures' location.

Drawing the intensify rod, moving up so that her 30-ft blind sense covers the whole room. If she spots either or both of the creatures, she'll try to describe what squares they are in for the rest of the party.

Cursing at the fact that she keeps using up her spells with no effect, Ayesha watched as the last foe disappeared. Swiftly she cast a spell in the general direction of where it had last been. An explosion of blight light and glittering dust filled that part of the room.

Casting glitterdust, will DC17 to avoid blindness, burst on the map

Dejik immediately can spot the creature, which is exacerbated by Ayesha's glitterdust exploding in front of it. The creature is nicely outlined by the spell, but is not blinded.

As Nilus was holding, he still has an action!

Nilus charges the invisible creature!

Radiance!: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 2 = 34
Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Nilus moves up, slamming his glaive home and pouring goopy ichor over the floor. It then charges westwards, fleeing through the door! It speeds across the hallway, heading west before it crams itself into the western hallway, frantically struggling towards the closed doors.

Everyone is up! It went thattaway and is now squeezing.

Nilus charges after the fleeing creature!

Radiance!: 1d20 + 18 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 2 + (5) = 33 Legendary Power!

Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Sarkast starts to follow Nilus, then remembers that he needs to stay inside the room for Dejik's spell to counter the confusion.

I'll just stay here ...

Ayesha followed Nilus, slashing at the creature as it tried to flee.

attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
confirm, anatomist: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 1 = 19
1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

As soon as Ayesha leaves the area of her spell, Dejik drops her concentration and casts another spell on Sarkast.
Dropping Calm Emotions and casting Unbreakable Heart on Sarkast: for the next 10 rounds, confusion is suppressed.

Siellä, serkku, nyt voit mennä auttamaan!

"Sinulla on aina oikea vastaus!"

Sarkast flies out after the others, ending up just above Nilus as he jabs his dagger at the creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 Damage (good, magic): 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Sneak Attack (Skirmisher): 5d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 2, 6) = 22

If sneak attack hits, target is Slowed (unable to make attacks of opportunity) for 1 round. In addition, target is Disoriented (-2 attack, -6 vs Sarkast) and Hampered (1/2 speed and cannot take a 5' step)
for 1 round.

The group charge in on the fleeing creature, and Nilus and Ayesha manage to catch up, and put an end to it. It plops messily on the ground, and the fight is over.

End of Combat

The room the creatures were in has been converted as some sort of lair to them. Slimy human brains are plopped into indents on their backs that appear perfectly-sized for their grisly purpose. Looking in the room, you spy a variety of gems and strange metals ores that may be valuable. As well, each of the creatures carried a wand of confusion with a few charges left.

Ayesha cleaned and sheathed Darb N'ssiar before going back to the original room to look around with her magical senses. She couldn't quite get over the whole brain on backs thing. It was not only gross, but more than a little creepy as well. Especially given how fresh they must be, based on the mess in this room. She closed her eyes and looked around the room with her arcane sight instead, ignoring the human wreckage to focus on the arcane.

Unfortunately the weird... brain collector things didn't keep much in the way of magical valuables. Their purpose here remains alien. However, the wands of confusion appear to be quite valuable.

From here, the remainder of the Ivory Sanctum stretches out before you. In the western half, you're aware that there are blackfire adepts in the area, and the hallway going to the north, and south. Somewhere, Xanthir Vang awaits you.

Sarkast gets a strange look on his face, then seems to concentrate for a moment.

He then looks at the others. "That door there is the one that minotaurs lurk behind. If they aren't coming out to bother us, I suggest we leave them in peace. We can return to the western wing to search the rest of the place."

Unless anyone objects, my thought is to go back to the western wing and work our way south, starting at the one single door.

That sounds good to me, but Ayesha will still keep an eye out for minos in the backfield

At Sarkast's suggestion, Ayesha nodded, then used her pearls of power to recover some spells. "I am running low in spells. It is going to be more difficult from here on, not less, until I can rest and recover a bit. I am still good to continue for another fight or two, assuming Dejik can keep up with the healing."

As Ayesha concentrates on her pearls, Dejik calls on Iomedae to protect her friends.
Casting Mythic Protection from Evil on both Sarkast and Ayesha: +4 deflection bonus to AC and +4 resistance bonus to saves.
Casting Shield Other on Nilus. (I think Ayesha should still have Shield Other from the daily buffs--11 hours. If that's expired, Dejik will recast it, too.)

Arueshalae exchanges a significant glance with Sarkast and nods a little.

You return to the west wing of the Ivory Sanctum. From here, doors lead in multiple directions. Sarkast takes a moment to scout out the various doors, hearing the following:

- Knowing of templars and blackfire adepts in other rooms, he listens at more doors determining that there are humanoids of some variety shuffling around but not making much noise.

- The distinct buzz of insects from the southernmost door

- To the north, a hallway wraps around the northern side of the Sanctum before coming to ominous double doors - beyond there is utter silence. eerily so, considering how Sarkast can almost hear a heartbeat through a door at this point.

Map is updated with tags. Pick something.

Sarkast looks to Nilus and Dejik. "It may be worthwhile to make ourselves known to the Blackfires and templars. Our fight today is not with them but with the demons infesting this place. We can inspect the rooms while maintaining truce."

If they agree, we can open those doors non-aggressively to talk to them. Otherwise, the buzzing insect sound may be more of those drive-you-mad demons ... do we go south to check them out, or inspect the eerie silence? My first thought is eerie silence.

Nilus looks doubtful

The Blackfire Adepts and Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth are wicked men who worship the Abyss. But,we should come forward with a Rose. I will speak to them.

If the group is ok with me doing that

Nilus moves to a door and opens it. Door Labeled "Templars"

I am Nilus Romani, Champion of Shelyn and I come to you with an opportunity. Come forward, throw down your weapons and surrender. Leave this place at once. Our quarrel is with your Masters.

Diplomacy?: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39 Edit: Wow

Otherwise, Nilus would advise that the group investigate the silent room.

pretty sure Nilus has got to be cheating on those rolls :)

You had met these templars earlier, as they were with Grillixbee when you first encountered her. They start as they stare at you, and Nilus' smooth words put them a little more at ease. Behind them is a table stacked with what look like important-looking documents.

"Wait, what? Surrender? Where's Grillixbee? What did you do to her?"

"She was given the same choice put before you now. She chose the smart course and fled, not to return. Make the smart choice here."

Indeed. The Demoness chose to abandon this fight. The Worldwound will be closed, the demons defeated. You can choose to leave now, for good.

The two templars look over all of you with real fear in their eyes. Baphomet is a coward, a cunning liar, and a master of subterfuge. Quietly, almost meekly, they lay down their glaives and make to leave.

"Xanthir Vang will deal with you," mutters one as she slinks off.

Assuming you let them leave...

The room you're in appears to be a war room of some kind. A large jar of buzzing insects sits on a desk heaped with strategic documents for the Abyssal forces.

Repeat the same with the Blackfires?

Nilus goes and checks the documents, if they are similar to what was found in Jerribeth's room. He will grab them to turn over to General Irabeth.

Okay, here goes

Nilus moves to the doorway that held the Blackfire Adepts. These he thinks might have more resistance since their Master is Xanthir Vang.

I am Nilus Romani, Champion of Shelyn and I come to you with an opportunity. Come forward, throw down your weapons and surrender. Leave this place at once. Our quarrel is with your Master

Diplomacy?: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21 Edit: It had to end sometime...

Nilus goes to check the documents. He sees something strange scrawled over top of the first page, and leans in to read it.

I prepared explosive runes this morning.

KABLAM!!!

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nilus is thrown backwards by the force of the explosion, which doesn't particularly harm him but does cover his beautiful armour in soot. A swarm of locusts erupts from the jar, which shatters in the explosion, and busily gets to work shredding the already-exploded documents.

Nilus takes 9 damage.

Well, that will teach me to specify "I search the room". I was expecting just to ignore the table until we'd cleared out the bad guys ... :-)

Is there any hope of rescuing any of them at this point by braving the swarm, or is it clearly a lost cause?

Dejik, unfortunately, has nothing that will harm a swarm...unless it's an evil swarm?

Ayesha dithered for a moment, wondering if it was worth trying to kill the insects and preserve the papers, or save her magical energies for the fights to come. In the end, the knowledge they might find here tipped the decision point for her.

"Everybody get back!"

As soon as everyone had cleared the range of her spell, she launched a fireball towards the far corner of the room. As the pea-sized blob of fire flew, it morphed, changing from elemental fire to something cold and deadly. The ball of frost exploded, deep-freezing anything in its radius and hopefully preserving the documents even as it killed the vermin.

Mythic point to cast Fireball, using Energy Conversion to convert from fire to frost.

frost damage: 10d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 2) = 40, with a 1.5 multiplier on the swarm takes that to 60.

PSSSSSSHHHHT!

Ayesha, thinking very quickly, sends out a frostball which explodes over the swarm, destroying it instantly. Moving in quickly, the documents, which are damaged by the explosion but not utterly destroy them. These appear to be highly detailed, annotated plans which illustrate the movements of Abyssal troops, plans for future attacks. Even with what remains after the explosion, they would be priceless to the crusaders.

As Ayesha stuffs them in her pack, something else becomes apparent. The very loud bang has attracted some attention. You hear a word come out of the north doors you were preparing to go through.

"NOW!"

North of you, and south of you, the doors start flying open as blackfire adepts pour into the hallway. The fight is on!

Everyone is up!

Nilus raises Radiance and the swift magic of Shelyn's blessing flows through him and his allies. Casting Haste. (I get it from my PrC

You should throw down your weapons and flee. There is nothing but destruction for you here. he calls out to the Blackfire Adepts.

Everyone is hasted for 11 rounds.