Mythic 6 - Tar-Baphon's final trap and the world left untouched.

Game Master Davachido

Right sorry for the delay was just checking over the document a bit. There might still be errors because I'm bad at grammar checking but do point something out if it does not make sense.

Some of the group go back to retrieve the two girls as they do not know what will happen after they perform this feat. If they will be able to return. When the group is ready they gather together and Nethan begins shrouding them in black colour magic. The group all begin to see the black line that Nethan was talking about.

The group holds onto the line and are drawn into the sky. As they pass a threshold they are welcomed by a myriad of colours surrounding them. Each person sees this mesh of colours as a flurry of rainbows but one colour stands out for each person. The colour that is illuminated to their eyes is the one that they learned from Sarangeral.

As their bodies speed through this barrier they can sense that they are taking part of it with them as this sheet of colour washes over them. As they break through, they feel their power renewed. They wonder if this is how Tar-Baphon is using the Eldred for power but in far greater quantities.

I will describe the room in a bit, but first: Intermediate Colour Magic. You can pick one of them that you qualify for or one other basic colour magic.

There will be a set of Virtues as well that I just need to finish. You will get to pick one virtue then you may spend feats to get other ones too. The virtues will be colour agnostic so you should be able to ponder your pick of more colour magic.

Yep yep let's fly : )

The group looks down to their feet and see the myriad of colours forming a mosaic pattern on the floor. Looking up and around they see a starry sky lightning up the sky. The group recognize it as Golarion's sky, however each of them see it differently now. The white light that the stars emit now feel a slight hue of the colour they have been acclimatised too. The colours of the stars have these glows except to Alþórel who sees the sky extremely brightly and if the night sky is like this in Golarion he doubts he'd ever need a torch outside under the stars ever again.

In front of them is a large monolith. A tower like structure reaching for the sky. On the edges of the monolith it is all a deep black. To most that is the only colour they see, however to Nethan he can see that there are runes traced all along the length of the walls. At the tip of this monolith it pulses every so often each colour and when it does the floor pulses with that colour for a split second, despite the short duration of each pulse it is noticeable now that the group can sense the colours far more than they used to.

Sorry was going to post yesterday but paizo site has been annoying. Will post the virtues in the discussion soon.

"Hmm, interesting? This looks like some sort of nexus? Uncle Al, what do you think?"

Amelia is awestruck by the sight of the stars, now tinged with purple. As she stands before the monolith, though, she is confused. "Wait, where are we? Are we in Golarion? The sky looks familiar." Amelia tries to deduce from the stars where the were (or should be). At the very least, she tries to orient herself North (which should be automatic).

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"Well that was something..." Elise mumbles, quietly for once. Standing with her feet wide apart and her arms reaching out to the side she half expected the floor to warp away at any moment. Looking around she couldn't help but groan - even the sky was wrong. Or...? Squinting to the sky, she recognized familiar constellations in an unfamiliar tint. While the term "seeing red" wasn't very unfamiliar to her she hadn't expected *this*. All in all it took her some time to regain her bearings, but once she did, she spoke up offering her opinion on the situation. "*That* was strange. Is strange even."

"And that's the strangest lighthouse I've ever seen..." The word strange almost started to feel inadequate - I'm almost going to have to ask Al to augment my vocabulary. Pff! She frowned quickly at the sight of the monolith - that couldn't be good - and then made sure everyone made it trough okay. "Hey Atenzuki and Kizutena, you okay? If you feel anything odd at all please tell!"

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 Looking to augment Amelia's excellent idea with an dice roll - this is one of the few skills Elise actually got yey :D

Both Atenzuki and Kizutena are looking themselves over to see if they have been hurt. They both shake their heads with some relief on their faces. Atenzuki sighs saying "No it seems we are unharmed, but that was something else."

Kizutena tilts her head over so that her hair would drape but it has been done up to her surprise. She remarks "It was a similar feeling to when I fell in the lake all.. that.. time ago. I don't remember how long that was but it felt like yesterday almost."

Amelia scrunches her face a little trying to remember the star scape of Golarion. Elise pats her on the shoulder then starts pointing out constellations to recentre their bearings. The pair of them start triangulating where they could possibly be. Elise then figures it out, they would be standing in Ustalav.

Using the highest one here
History (Al): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

At the mention of Ustalav, Alþórel recognizes the tower as the Gallowspire.

Wow! I didn't know what the Gallowspire is. And then I Googled it and was very surprised.

For a moment, Amelia's jaw drops and looks completely unhinged. "Woah, we're at the Gallowspire? The place where Tar-Baphon is sealed away? Talk about getting to the heart of the matter!" Suddenly feeling a sense of imminent danger, Amelia looks for both sentries and for a spot to hide. Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20. "We should find some cover while we plan our attack."

Nethan nods his head, "This is one piece of the puzzle Amelia. Tar may not even be here with the network we have seen already."

Nethan takes out the Bloodstone compass and points it at the Gallowspire.

"Let's check to see if we need to be here or grab another colour magic ley line."

"Glad to hear that." Elise nods at the 'twins'. "Not even any strange ... colours?"

"The dragon's den." she inhales sharply and instinctively flexed her hands. "Yeah, we shouldn't linger in the open. There are probably lookouts somewhere at the very least!"

Amelia does not spot any place to hide as this plane or demi plane, dimensional pocket she can't tell right now is rather barren except for the tower. It seems the place was 'made' or 'sustained' just for this structure. At the very least she can see that no eyes are on them, unless they are invisible. The tower itself does not have windows. She does spot the outline of a doorway however, it is hard to make out with her eyes. When she points it out Nethan sees that it isn't faint to him. It's defined and opens inwards or slides as they can't see any hinges on the outside. It is well patterned with elvish runes and Necril scrawlings.

The compass right now brightens up with the two bloodstones standing nearby but there appears to be one coming from directly towards the spire.

The two girls meanwhile shake their heads at Elise. "This place is bright white to me, I'm not sure about Kizutena." Atenzuki comments. Kizutena nods in agreement.

He looks up from reading the compass at the door Amelia is pointing out ...

"I see the hingeless door on the Gallowspire clearly Amelia and it open inwards. In addition, there is a blood stone in there. I wonder if this is the astral projection of the true Gallowspire or something similar? Shall we proceed .... with caution?"

He then places the compass away.

GM Radiance, when do we add the new Colour Magic Features to our virtual sheets?

Al has the look of a man who has bitten into an apple, only to find half a worm. "The pitch black of its owner's soul." he answers Kizutena.
Turning to the others "This is beyond my experience. We stand outside Gallowspire. Colour magic - ripped from the souls of the Eldred - is being funnelled to this spot. We stand with two of the Bloodstones, possible last remnants of a God. That they - or at least Atenzuki - perceive it as bursting with colour suggests that something about them is stored within that tower. Our decision here is critical - but I do not know what the correct decision is."

"We need to discuss this. If we intend to stay here for any length of time, Amelia and Elise are correct. We should find cover. Dig into the ground, or create something extra-dimensional seems to be our two options. Suggestions?"

Al should still have his Arcane Sight up from before the battle. That allows some pretty funky magic detection, and gets around a lot of the lower level detection blockers. Anything additional from that?

is it possible to tell with his Arcane Sight where exactly the magic is being funneled to? This plane, this spot, or the spire but we dropped out 'early'?

"I can't really see a hiding place here. I can't see much at all. In some ways, this place look like Ustalav, but obviously the colors are all off. That's probably a good thing. If we were back in Golarion, there would probably be a lot more guards. Here, things seem a lot quieter. I say we go in. Nethan will have to be the eyes for all of us."

Amelia checks for retreat options. Did they have any way to return to the Eldred plane if things went south?

"*Argh*" Elise grunted and glared at the tower. "No, I'll have to change my opinion with Amelia, if the place is windowless. If there still are lookouts I have no doubt that won't be a problem for them - and how to we hide from something that sees trough walls?"

Kick in the door and take it from there then :P?

Alþórel looks around with his arcane sight and can see that the colour magic is all being funneled to the top of the tower to where the pulses of colour are emanating from.

SC(Alþórel): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

In addition, Alþórel can see that something with the tower is pushing blasts of magic, specifically negative energy, to the top to cause that pulsing effect of colour. It is acting like a dispersal tool. From here he can not tell the purpose, though anything involving necromancy is likely a bad sign.

Amelia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Amelia meanwhile concentrates trying to figure a way out, her eyes suddenly pick out the purple on the ground far more than any colour and she can see the tendrils of purple snaking their way like a thread to the top of the spire. They are being drawn there but she believes that they could escape if need by trying to reverse the flow of the colour magic to go back to the plane of the Eldred. She doubts they can reverse all of the flows but maybe enough to draw them back similar to how they got here.

The group sees no cover but the ground likely could be shaped like Sarangeral does with pure colour magic similar to paint. Perhaps they could hastily construct a barrier by pulling at the ground so they can hide and talk out a plan if they are feeling cautious.

@Nethan: You can add the colour magic to your sheets now once you've chosen the Virtue and school. :)

knowledge: planes: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25 educated guess about the material of the plane, and whether the ground is likely to end three feet down, be something that can be shaped by will, etc...
spellcraft: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 To try and work out how to use White magic to shape the ground. He knows white is earth affiliated, so seems reasonable. If he can create a depression, he can use Web Shelter or somesuch to make a place to rest, and camouflage it by putting dirt back on top.
Edit: wish I'd done those rolls in the other order...

Ah well, 1s on skills aren't automatic failures and your spellcraft is really high!

The material can be shaped by those with the ability to use colour magic similar to how earth can be shaped by those that know spells to shape or move earth. Alþórel doubts that the ground is 3 feet think, it is likely more than that. Something that can not be too easily broken like a shell or semi-permeable barrier around this plane.

Alþórel gathers he can either push the ground down to creature the depression he needs or pull part of it up to form a small wall for them to hide behind. Either will likely give them the cover they are after.

"I could probably form us a snug little hideout here. Or we could go on. Whatever we do, I think we need to do it quickly. Standing out here in the open like this is the worst case."
He hesitates "Should we be separated, let us meet at the Baths."

"The Baths. Okay. Let's kick in the door then?" Elise grins and takes a deep breath. "Maybe it is like pulling off an bandage; going slow only makes it more painful..."

"Kicking in the door is definitely my style. Let's do this."

Wanting so bad to play with the Khekeret Spear, Nethan frowns, shakes his head, "Yes, we have worked to do. I must conserve resources. Let's go?"

The group decides to press on. Opening the doors is easy enough as they do not appear to be locked. They slide open when pulled with a bit of force but the group has that in droves. They step inside to see what awaits them See Current Map

The bleeding corpses of angelic beings drip fresh celestial blood on the dusty floor of this courtyard, their bodies impaled on the iron-hooked walls of Gallowspire. Signs of destruction are evident among the fallen blocks and rusted weaponry here, and the black core of the tower looms cold and imposing in the structure’s center. A staircase of entwined skeletons winds upward around the inner spire’s windowless and doorless exterior.

The ceiling of the chamber extends 60 feet up before the group can see the staircase disappear to the floor above.

In low voice, Nethan addresses everyone, "I take it these are either the guardians or the projection, either false or real, of the guardians that once guarded the Gallowspire" Nethan looks at the compass, then at the Bloodstones. "Make sure to keep everyone close eye on especially those who we are protecting."

"You're probably right, Nethan, but this blood looks so fresh, like the angels were just impaled." It occurs to Amelia that she should probably just move on, but her curiosity gets the best of her, as it often did. "I just want to see how this is possible." She approaches one of the corpses to investigate.

Al looks in horror at the impaled celestials

"Dark magic." Elise spits in disgust. She raises her axe and looks around at the macabre sight. "Look at all the dust - not a chance these where alive anytime recently. I'd be more worried about the opposite."

Perception: Any of the bodies doing anything they shouldn't (other then bleeding!): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Amelia approaches one of the bodies and sees that it is a recent corpse, the blood appears to be fresh though the blood is not flowing at the moment. It has not dried on the hooks. So fresh kills though not extremely recent, at least from a glance.

Alþórel has a think at the heraldry and the type of angelic beings these could be. He recognizes them as Legion Archon's specifically for as he guessed Aroden. These Archons haven't been seen in Golarion for nearly a whole age.

Elise can see that although the floor is dusty the dust has picked up and collected in small swirls likely due to wing beats. Whatever left them here did not leave traceable footprints.

"This looks genuinely recent to me," says Amelia, quite concerned. She touches the flesh to see if it feels real and whether it feels warm, and searches for wounds that might show the cause of death and the type of creature that caused it.

"Aroden's Legion. Not seen in Golarion for near on an Age." Al looks confused "Preserved? Were they guards? Were they prisoners and if the latter, why were they killed now?'

Maybe they felt the Bloodstone inside? And remember the theory, that each Bloodstone is a fragment of Aroden? This is why the coin we found still glows with his power. Also, this is an Astral projection of Gallowspire for the real one is still on the Prime Material plane.

"These were but the last dregs of Aroden's.. "resistance"... before giving in. To put your theories to rest. Though I did not think he had anyone that would even deign to help him. Such an individual who would leave his followers in the dust to die deserves not even simple prayers." A voice rings out in the hollow tower, affirming perhaps a suspicion or two. However, as the group looks around they can not see anything that could be producing a voice.

The voice sounds hollow and it reverberates on metal as if is talking through something.

Nethan looks around for signs of the voice, "Well, either that is Tar-Baphon who I don't think we are ready for? Or that is one of his minions? Or it could even be our next Bloodstone? Shall we continue since I am now feeling like a target and be watched?" Nethan smiles.

Amelia immediately raises her guard as the voice echoes in the chamber. They had obviously been detected. Unable to discern the threat, she decides to talk back to the voice, perhaps to draw it out. "Aroden deserves far more worship than an evil lich, who treats living beings as disposable tools whose only desire is for self-aggrandizement and power. Do you think you mean anything to a tyrant like him?"

Does the voice sound male or female? Or neither?

Elise flinches as the voice rings out. Having someone sneak up on you where bad, even if they seemingly were only an disembodied voice. Slowly approaching the stairs she looks up and calls out, thinking Amelia has the right idea. "And who are you to judge - too cowardly to even greet guests in person?!"

Al looks around wildly as the voice sounds, then settles into a defensive stance.

Voice sounds male

"Oh, he might wish self-aggrandizement yes. Though it is for the betterment of that filthy world. We are all but lowly tools I understand but at least his power can be shown in action. Unlike a god who squanders his gifts not even helping those he protects." The voice seems to enjoy this talk with a hint of elation in his voice.

"You are right, so rude of me why don't you come up and we talk.. face to face." The bone staircase begins to spiral upwards, when some bones reach them top they crumble and begin to spiral up again from the bottom. Think fantasy undead escalator.

"Come now, don't be shy" The voice adds bemused.

Spend that MP 1d8 ⇒ 4, yup it's enough.

Alþórel can not pinpoint who the voice is per say but the way this person talks as well as the metallic ring in the air he knows that this is likely the voice of Sey'lok. Sey'lok was one of the only known generals in Tar-Baphon's army. A nightwalker and a powerful one at that.

If you go looking for nightwalker on pfsrd or something don't worry things have been adjusted in the world to still be epic creatures, just not CR16. He is powerful though yes.

"General Sey'lok, I presume?" Alþórel asks politely, stepping onto the staircase. "A waste to have one of the NIghtwalkers trapped here, surely."
knowledge: religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 Nightwalker weaknesses and powers?

Amelia wasn't really thinking of actually riding the moving set of bone stairs, but isn't about to leave Al behind. Instead, he quickly moves onto the staircase as well. "Wait, you know this guy? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

"You know, I'd almost think that pitiable thing is *bored*" Elise let out a small chuckle to steel herself and then follows Al and Amelia up the stairway.

"Know of" Al corrected. "We've never actually had the pleasure. If it is Sey'lok, he was one of the Tyrant's generals during the war. One of the Nightwalkers - and one of the weaker ones. I have always been curious as to how he was convinced to serve a Lich, and to where he disappeared to after the war."

Sorry, should have been 'not one of the weaker ones.

Three brave souls step onto the staircase and they begin winding up the staircase. A few moments later when they are on the other side they hear the creature start talking again. "Yes, Sey'lok, a name I have not heard in many years. As all I have done is bid my time till now. A time where I can serve once more." A sound is heard and the bones stop moving. "I have not been here for long. I have only taken away part of the harlot so that she might be used. Though now we stand, face to face. Not that you can see mine at the moment." As he draws attention to the sound of his voice the three that are on the stairs can tell Sey'lok is somewhere in front of them.

"Now, you all sound so curious. You are here to save some lowly god yet are so lost. Perhaps I can help assuage you of any hope you have left to save him?" The voice asks almost goading the three on the stairs. Sey'lok is being a bit too helpful, or at least non-aggressive.

Hmm. Let's make sure nobody nabs our parts of the harlot queen while we are at it :P

"You know, we did not come here expecting *help*." Elise noted sourly, trying to figure out the creatures schemes. Also, if she could, figure out where the creature was. After all - that would give her a chance to beat it out of him! (Maybe...)

Sense Motive?: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Amelia is also trying to pick out Sey'lok's voice to pinpoint where he might be. Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

"You sure do enjoy gloating, don't you? Aren't you the least bit worried that we've discovered this place? Or are you telling me that you were expecting us to arrive?"

Does Arcane Sight pick up anything? If not, Al will cast See Invisibility, using Subtle Magic to keep it hidden. Sense Motive to work it out.
foresight: 1d20 ⇒ 12
perception to deduce location: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
bluff+MP: 12 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ 12 + 6 + (1) = 19

Nethan whipers to Elise, "I don't think he is going to help us and even if he does, it comes with a price."

Nethan also looks for the General while he responds, "It wasn't our initial mission but since we are here, it sounds like a good thing to do just like you believe it is good thing to support your lord or what ever Tar-Tar is to you, General."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Wow, we suck! We can't see that he is right in front of us ... LOL

The group is looking out in front of them and can't discern where the creature is. Though Alþórel cast see invisibility as subtly as he can and spots the Nightwalker perched in the corner of the wall. Pressing his legs and arms to the corners to keep himself suspended.

Elise is trying to figure out the creatures game but the best she can gather is that it is goading them.

"Why would I be worried that you are here? It just means if you decide to leave I have an excuse to kill you. Though no, I did not expect anyone to arrive here. I did not think anyone except those excuses for elves could use such magic. Interesting to know that Golarions can too. Maybe my master's experiments are better than even he thought."

Alþórel can see him shrug then says "Don't you enjoying gloating too? It is a fun enough past time, you must keep yourself entertaining while hearing your victims lamentations."

Sey'lok then lets out a chuckle "Ah the good thing to do? Do creatures even from the plane of good ever really care for Golarions? Interceeding only for their chosen playthings and damn the rest of the lot to die in a harsh world. Look at Korvosa, such a place became a place of sorrow so quickly because of one woman's greed. Did the god that literally receives money to aid people lift a finger? No, a ragtag group of misfits eventually solved that problem. Not Aroden or his successor either."

Al was careful to look elsewhere.
"True. I do enjoy a good gloat. I suppose it comes from my time as a teacher. I hate to see ignorance - even in those I am forced to kill."
He looked wrlyl into space "I suppose, if I recall the standard script, this is the part where I try to outbid your master and you laugh?"

Al is trying to be amusing to keep him talking. Not sure how to roll for this...

Nethan listens to Uncle Al making an attempt to entertain the General to get a feeling for the conversation.