Jino shuffles impatiently as Kramac works, obviously uncomfortable being in this underground tomb.
Enora steps back from the altar and is totally shocked! You see small tears in her eyes but after a while she manages to get a grip on herself.
"This place is so evil ... we have to cling to each other to stay sane! Thank you all for you company ... I would probably be lost already without you." Enora says breathing heavily.
The 'lab team' gets back to the library. Dhiara, Nithrandyl and Rogar are going over their findings. Then, from another hidden entrance, the remaining sages appear.
"Admit it, dragon-lady, those Shira Divs almost had you before old Amenopheus hit 'em with a Repulsion!" Torch is chiding Tahonikepsu.
"Rubbish! I had the situation perfectly under control!" she retorts.
"If it were not for my detecting their thoughts as they approached we would all have fallen." rasps Sinuhotep.
"Enough bickering, colleagues!" Amenopheus interjects. "Dhiara and the pathfinders have found the place we searched for. We must begin the purification ritual. There is no time to lose."
Amenopheus explains that he has designed a group ritual that can draw out the malignant presence in the sage jewels so that the assembled sages and Pathfinders can bind, banish, or destroy the entity. "I must warn you, the ritual’s nature means casting spells, activating magic items, or even consuming magical draughts could have dangerous side effects. I suspect that any entity that can possess a sage jewel could as readily hijack another magic item or magical process, putting us all at risk."
The sages gather around the orrery in the centre of the ritual area.
"I would be grateful of assistance pathfinders. However, I must stress, if you do not consider yourself expert in the matter at hand either assist someone who is, or stay well out of the ritual operation."
"Dear sages, it is an honor to be at your side during this critical ritual! Me, small Enora ... Nethys thank you for this opportunity!" Enora says and sends a prayer to her god.
"I will of course support you to provide technical assistance before the ritual!"
After the initial preparation Enora will assist the ritual.
"Oh this is soooo exciting!! I know that this is a critical moment but I can not control my emotions ... I am so happy to be here!" Enora says clapping her hands.
Please place your tokens appropriately on Slide 4. If you are taking part in the ritual directly (ie you are making your own skill check in the ritual phase) then somewhere around the orrery or adjacent to a sage would be appropriate. If you are Aiding another pathfinder then being adjacent to that pathfinder would be apt.
You'll notice that there is a black shape next to Amenopheus, and a sort-of-orangey shape next to Sinuhotep. These represent the "vacant" sage jewels - Onyx (formerly belonging to Padrym, whose shade you met) and Spinel (formerly belonging to Mnesoset, who is featured in the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game season of plundered tombs).
As the final preparations are made, Tahonikepsu, in her natural draconic shape, takes a position at one side of orrery. ”I do not understand how you humanoids stand being squeezed into so little flesh!” she exclaims. ”Amenopheus, I have decided that I shall lead the ritual.”
”Tahonikepsu, we've been through this over and over again” replies the Sapphire Sage. ”I have accounted for your Time Dragon nature. Yes, it will provide us with an advantage because of your peculiar connection to the currents of time, history and memory. But this is an arcane ritual, and I AM A WIZARD! Your grasp of magical theory is tenuous at best. This is my ritual. I designed it. Me. Amenopheus. I will not yield to you. Take your place!”
Unused to being countermanded by her predecessor as head of the Order, Tahonikepsu backs down. The rest of the sages take their places too.
The sages present their sage jewels, bringing forth the topaz, emerald, amethyst, diamond, and sapphire. Then the spinel, onyx, and the shards of the shattered ruby in turn. Amenopheus produces a silver pendant set with an obsidian crystal and places it at the focus. The sage jewels blaze with light as shadows gather, rising up until a whirlwind stands contained within pillars of light emanating from the gems... and suddenly ceases. The sages are utterly still and unseeing, and distortions form around each sage jewel, emitting faint cries for help. At the centre of this storm forms a spectral being: a frail, dark-haired woman of middle years wearing the silver pendant. A ring of lights orbits her head, matching the colours of the sage jewels. She looks around the room as a child inspects an anthill and an eerie murmur echoes throughout: “So much time has passed. I have so much catching up to do...”
Even as the shade of Black Moon manifests, a noise like the cracking of old bones comes from Jino's side. Ermias Dalla tears himself free of his bindings and stands inbetween Grandmaster Torch and Amenopheus! His once-gleaming armour is black and ruined. In one hand he holds a small dented shield, in the other a rusty flail . His golden symbol of Osiris is also corroded and tarnished. Pale blue pinpricks of light shine from his empty eyesockets as he turns to face Kramac. Dalla speaks in the ancient tongue of Osirion.
The ritual is successfully completed, but the sages did not bargain for Aryana Tahari's degree of control over the Sage Jewels. She has manifested before you, and the sages, save for Amenopheus, stand in a daze unaware of their surroundings. Amenopheus is conscious, but has a glassy look in his eyes.
You recognise the distortions surrounding each sage jewel as being similar to the mindscape entrance generated by the memory extractor. You can enter these mindscapes simply by being adjacent to them and willing it (a free action): your physical bodies of course remain behind. Each mindscape entrance is effectively in the same square as the associated sage; the vacant jewels are indicated, and also have mindscapes; you can enter Tahonikepsu's mindscape from any of the three squares between her and the orrery.
As all of this happens, light from the Sage Jewels plays off the walls and the shelves of the library. In the lights are images – you witness a small girl, thin and dirty, beg an older boy for a share of his bread. The boy refuses, and pushes the girl to the ground. She cries out. She grabs a stone from the ground, and swings at the boy, bringing the rock against the side of his head. The boy falls, and the girl, who looks not unlike the shade who floats before you, strikes him again and again until he stops moving. Her bloody hand takes the bread, and she eats it.
Kramac, Karos and Nithrandyl you are Sickened. If you attempt to approach within 30 feet of Tahari you will need to pass a DC15 Will save.
Combat round 1
Initiative order:
GM stuff
Ermias Dalla (green highlighted token)
Kramac
Karos
Amenopheus
Aryana Tahari (black highlighted token)
Enora; (remove sickness)
Vordrek; (-6hp; ghoul fever; 1 negative level)
Rogar (heightened awareness; heroism; 1 negative level)
Nithrandyl (mage armour)
Active effects: Well of Evil
Ermias Dalla addresses Kramac:
Dalla raises his flail, and brings it crashing into Kramac.
Kramac and Karos are up!
Karos' body goes rigid as his mind enters the Emerald Sage's mindscape...
A harried warrior bearing an illuminated wayfinder runs across a chasm alongside a woman in leather armour, and an emerald spectre trails behind them. "Asha! The entrance! Run!" The warrior urges the other Pathfinder toward the entrance just before the apparition mutters a terrible curse that engulfs him in flames. A flask of holy water strikes the spectre from behind as the woman returns and tries to carry the man to safety, shoving him toward the entrance as the spirit’s rage collapses part of the ceiling onto her, trapping her beneath rubble. "Asha!" The man cries, but the woman is still and quiet. The man staggers outside into a sandstorm, terribly burned and alone. He pulls out a barely intact scroll and reads the incantation, struggling to speak, then forces out a message for the spell to carry: “It’s Ven. Everyone’s dead. I’m just west of the site. Send an extraction and recovery team. Please hurry.” He waits in the desert, staring down at his wayfinder. No response comes.
Karos, you can offer Torch aid, console him, or lead him to safety by using Diplomacy, Heal, Sense Motive or Survival. Other creative skill uses may be allowed. Bonuses for roleplay! You get 3 checks as a full round action, and so far you've only made a 5' step this round.
Enora starts to shout out warnings.
"A wall of evil surrounds her that makes those with a good heart susceptible to her mind warping and undead attacks!"
* * *
"She is a ghost and incorporeal!"
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"She is drawing power from the Sage Jewels. Either destroy the Sage Jewels or enter the mindscapes!"
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Ermias' blows clang off Kramac's thick armor
Treachery! Foul Necromancer! You have corrupted the spirit of this Paladin! This cannot stand!
Kramac is caught off guard as the corpse on Jino's back rises to life, and begins swinging a flail dripping acid at him. Kramac's heavy armor deflects the first two blows, and he responds with a series of blows intended to topple the undead champion. His first few strikes fail to find their mark, but he eventually succeeds in sweeping the feet from his opponent, seizing the opening to sink his odd looking sword into the Paladin's shoulder, while Jino stomps on their opponent. Kramac pauses, waiting for another opening, and addresses tha Paladin.
Come Paladin, Kramac will give you the final rest denied you by the wicked necromancer
AC is currently 31.
Jino rears up, and stomps down on the now prone fallen Paladin.
Kramac's sword is parried by Dalla's shield, but the undead warrior cannot match the half orc for speed, and he is finally dragged to the floor. Kramac strikes the prone Dalla, and Jino stomps and gores him.
Karos you can take your mindscape actions.
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Kramac's sword is parried by Dalla's shield, but the undead warrior cannot match the half orc for speed, and he is finally dragged to the floor. Kramac strikes the prone Dalla, and Jino stomps and gores him.
Dallas is flanked because Kramac and Jino have Pack flanking.
I did indeed 5-foot step back after attacking. Your method sounds good, and indeed, will save me some work. That post took me like 25 minutes, figuring out how to properly nest all the attacks, and make sure relevant bonuses were included in each one. Good call about the elevation... I will include that in future attacks.
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"Torch?" Karos looks around at the scene of loss and devastation, intuiting the sense of betrayal the burned man must feel. This memory might have been the very thing that led Torch down his dark path to the Shadow Lodge. Torch must feel alone, a loss of faith in what he once believed in. What had the man's name once been before he was burned?
"Listen to me. This isn't real. It's a memory. You and I are inside the Sapphire Jewel right now. That crazy ghost woman is trying to make you a prisoner of your own regrets and loss. But this isn't who you are. You didn't die here, and you didn't go home and retire. You took this moment and went on to challenge one of the great powers of Golarion. You changed the conditions we all operate under. This place didn't break you the first time and you can't let it break you now when it's not even real. You don't break; you go and break things so they can be put back together better."
The gunslinger gestures around them. "These Pathfinders paid the price when no one came to their aid. Right now, out there, real live Pathfinders are paying that same price. Every one of us will die very quickly if you don't stand up and lead us both out of here right now. Shut down this mindscape and help your team survive!"
In Torch's mindscape...
The scarred man looks up at Karos. "You're a pathfinder? You're a pathfinder! You came! Wait. No. No, nobody came. Those self-serving Decemvirate scum sent us to our deaths! But, you ARE here. You're here with me. Now, why would that be?"
The scarred man stands up, emerald fire in his eyes. "I am Ven Lorovox. I am Grandmaster Torch! I am the EMERALD SAGE! Emerald, Karos. Emerald. I took the Jewel that belonged to the spirit that cursed me. I'm not going to let that sodding necromancer keep me from my goals. Let's go."
And back in Black Moon's sanctum...
Grandmaster Torch comes out of his reverie, along with Karos. The distortion around the Emerald Jewel collapses into the gemstone, and Torch wraps his hand around the stone and pockets it. The green light orbiting Aryana Tahari's head goes out. The ghost sneers, and focuses her attention on Torch and Karos.
"Thank you Karos. I owe you. Now shoot that b&*~$ so we can get out of this hole, would you?"
Torch draws a rapier that glows dimly with a cold light. He thrusts it down at Dalla, stabbing the fallen paladin.
Amenopheus steps away from the floating Sapphire Jewel and its associated distortion. A blank expression on his face, he goes through the rote gestures of casting a spell... and throws a fireball into your midst!
Enora, Vordrek, Karos and Nithrandyl, you get a DC 19 Reflex save. 35 fire damage, 17 damage on a successful save. Torch and Dhiara seem unharmed.
Tahonikepsu takes some fire damage.
Tahari cackles. "Fools! Did you think you could take what is mine? Now suffer and die!"
The ghost floats upwards away from Rogar, to drift above an upper level. Arcane symbols form about her and a cloud of sickly green vapour fills the room from ceiling to floor.
Everyone except Rogar make a DC 23 Fort save. Bonuses vs spells or poison apply. On a failure you take . On a save you take half damage. The cloud is thick and obscures vision. Anything adjacent to you has concealment. Anything more than 5' away has total concealment.
EDIT: Kramac, if Jino fails this save he dies outright. If he passes he takes 4 Con damage.
Further spell manifestations appear, and Rogar finds a sphere of fire evoked around him! Rogar you may attempt a DC20 Reflex save. On a failure you take and are Dazed.
As Tahari works her spells, the Amethyst and Onyx Jewels glow in tandem with their corresponding lights circling Tahari's head.
Combat round 1
GM stuff
Ermias Dalla; prone, -48hp
Kramac + Jino: Fort save needed
Dhiara; trapped in a mindscape; 2 CON damage
Karos; Fort save needed, Ref save needed
Torch; 2 CON damage
Sinuhotep; trapped in a mindscape
Amenopheus; 2 CON damage
Aryana Tahari; flying, on upper level
Enora; (remove sickness); Fort save and Ref saves needed
Tahonikepsu; trapped in a mindscape, 2 CON damage, -17hp
Vordrek; (-6hp; ghoul fever; 1 negative level); Fort and Ref saves needed
Rogar (heightened awareness; heroism; 1 negative level); Ref save needed
Nithrandyl (mage armour); Fort and Ref saves needed
Active effects: Well of Evil, cloud of nastiness
The bold may act!
Rogar sidesteps the flaming sphere at the last moment.
Mnesoset's mindscape...
The explorer Mnesoset is an athletic Garundi woman who keeps her hair in braids, and her outfit includes accessories and garments from a wide range of different cultures and countries. She waves to a diverse crowd of humans, insect people, dwarves, and more, who cheer and wish her luck as she begins entering a mountainside ruin. Within she finds a hall inhabited by row after row of towering statues; as she inspects them, the sound of her friends being slaughtered echoes from outside. Mnesoset draws out an ivory rod and commands the statues to follow her orders. At first they follow her commands, but then one grabs her and throws her against a wall. Other statues stand in front of the entrance, keeping her from leaving yet not stopping the stream of blood that trickles down from the ruin’s entrance. All the while, a horned fiend watches from the shadows, moving its hands as if controlling marionettes. Mnesoset looks at you. "I have failed you! I have failed the homeland. All this time I spent exploring other lands, and now my own is lost!" You are conscious that her speech contains words from many different races and languages, all mixed together, yet somehow, perhaps because this is a mindscape, you understand.
Rogar, you can point out the fiend in the shadows (who strongly resembles Kabede the sepid div), you can show Mnesoset that it was not she who failed, or you can even help her regain control of the golem army; appropriate skill checks are Knowledge (arcana or planes), Perception, or Use Magic Device. Bonuses for roleplay! You may make 3 checks as a full round action this turn.
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Nithrandyl is suffering from the sickness but tries to work through it all... and is thankful Enora is able to tell the others what the foes is...
pass, 17 damage
fail, -4 CON
if he is able to, the elf will move away from the cloud of sickness to the south. He tries to cast Scorching Ray on flying female foe (or the grave knight if she is not in range)
...
...
Enora shrieks "Ahhhhhhhh ... " but tries to control herself.
* * *
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* * *
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Via her staff Enora sends magical force through the room that dispels the lethal cloud.
Now that she can see again she focuses on the Amethyst and Onyx Jewels that glow in tandem with their corresponding lights circling Tahari's head.
Enora runs to other side of the room to be next to Amenopheus and the Onyx sage jewel and enters Amenopheus mindscape!
"I am coming for you Amenopheus!"
Enora successfully dispels the Cloudkill spell! Enora enters Amenopheus' mindscape. .
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The Dwarf bard saddens at the sight of such pain...
"Mnesoset. You must stand up. See through the deception of this nightmare. This tragedy was not your fault. See the truth!"
"Open your eyes. See past your grief. The Div Kabede is tricking you. He is there - the servant of our enemy!"
"Please hear me Scarab Sage! Rise up and fight! It is not your fault! Resist Tahari and this nightmare! Wake up!!!"
Nithrandyl staggers out of the cloudkill, coughing up blood. He stands and looks for a target, but sees none.
Enora dispels the deadly fog, and Nith sees the undead foes. Tahari's ghost is out of range of his Scorching Rays, so he targets Dalla. Although Dalla is prone, Nithrandyl strikes true with both rays. The power of Nith's elf magic overwhelms Dalla's defence. Enora bolsters her own defences and rushes to Amenopheus' side, becoming rigid as she enters his mindscape.
Rogar speaks to Mnesoset, the Spinel Sage...
"I shouldn't have come for the golems!" she says. "The Keleshites are upon us! They're killing everybody, and I'm trapped here! You - how did you get here? I know you! You're not from home. You are Rogar, the bard. Your knowledge is broad master Rogar. I see the div now. The truth is that I died long ago. Aryana Tahari is trying to trap me in a perversion of memory. I will not be deceived! Go, Rogar! Destroy the necromancer for good!" With a wave of her ivory rod she takes control of the golems once more and they pour out of the ruins as the div vanishes into the dark.
In the sanctum...
The Spinel Jewel swallows up the mindscape distortion that surrounds it, and drops to the floor. The corresponding light orbiting Tahari's head goes out, and Rogar comes to his senses. Rogar, you still have a 5' step available if you'd like to step out of the flaming sphere?
Vordrek is troubled by the arcane assault, but gathers his composure and prepares to blast Tahari.
Karos is caught in the centre of Amenpheus' fireball with nowhere to hide, and then gets a lungful of the deadly gas before Enora clears it.
The Sage Jewels continue to project images from Aryana Tahari's life. Now you see her as a young apprentice to an elderly Usij cultist. She is with two other apprentices. They are flensing a corpse. One of the other apprentices places a hand on Tahari's shoulder; she seems to be trying to correct Tahari's cutting. In a flash, Tahari turns the flensing blade on her colleague. The third apprentice tries to run, but trips on his robe. Tahari stands over him, blade poised...
The diamond jewel in front of Tahonikepsu pulses once in tandem with the white light orbiting Tahari's ghost.
A black vortex opens up in the middle of the room, above the ritual space. It twists and turns, and spits out two horned women before it vanishes again. Each of the women is voluptuous, and dressed in revealing silks. Yet, their bodies are covered in pustules and sores; their flesh bruised and broken. They fly around 10 feet off the floor.
Arcane runes in sickening hues cascade from the sultry fiends. .
Rogar and Vordrek, DC21 Will saves vs enchantment please. If you pass the Knowledge check to identify the fiends you get a +5 circumstance bonus on the save (because you may treat them as allies of Tahari).
Ermias Dalla stands, and Grandmaster Torch stabs him again. "Destroy me!" he says in common this time. "Grant me the rest that I have been denied!" He raises his hands, almost as if he was inviting attack. A blast of acid originates from his open mouth, covering Kramac, Jino and Nithrandyl. DC17 Reflex save for half damage.
Combat round 2
GM stuff
Jaundiced Jill (yellow fiend); flying 10' up
Crimson Rose (red fiend); flying 10' up
Ermias Dalla; -90hp
Kramac: 4 CON damage, 46/46hp; Ref save needed
Jino: 4 CON damage, 45/45hp; Ref save needed
Dhiara; trapped in a mindscape; 2 CON damage
Karos; 4 CON damage, 2/37hp
Torch; 2 CON damage
Sinuhotep; trapped in a mindscape
Amenopheus; 2 CON damage
Aryana Tahari; flying, on upper level
Enora; 4 CON damage, 29/31hp plus 10 temp hp
Tahonikepsu; trapped in a mindscape, 2 CON damage, -17hp
Vordrek; (ghoul fever; 1 negative level); 30/40hp; Will save needed
Rogar (heightened awareness; heroism; 1 negative level); Will save needed
Nithrandyl (mage armour); -4 CON, 27/38hp; Ref save needed
Active effects: Well of Evil
The bold may act!
As soon as the two malevolent creatures appear Enora shouts out.
"These are Pairaka Divs. Suitable allies or servants of Black Moon, these Divs are harbingers of plague! Pairakas are resistant to weapons that are neither cold iron nor good. They hate the colour red and will tend to focus attacks on anyone wearing red."
"Be careful! Both are using 'Charm Monster' spell like abilities!"
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You shall have your rest Paladin!
Kramac shouts, rage on his face and spittle flying from his mouth as he steps forward to reengage the undead creature. In his fervor, Kramac does not even raise his shield to deflect the acid, taking the full brunt of the blast before once again sweeping the legs out from Ermias and launching a devastating series of blows.
Karos and Torch! Knock him out before he can cast again!