“I already dropped my ssspear … It’sss in the wall by the hoo-man rogue!”
It’s a case of Strike Three for Team Pathinder as Pitbull, Asbo and Dusk all miss!
Pitbull: 47/73
Marsiass: - Dalton
Ngon Le:
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Arm dropping to his belt like a gunslinger, Salouris draws no weapon but taps a quick, somber rhythm on the small drums knotted in his belt. From the stone behind the nearest Nagaji a skeleton impossibly emerges from the ground to strike at it from behind with two claws.
for
for
Salouris yells out at it as he moves to a more secure vantage point: "Strike the scaled ones! Not the fleshies!"
Speed 30 ft.
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 29
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +2
DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits
Melee 2 claws +7 (1d4+5)
Str 15, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 10
CMB +7; CMD 19
Kolmorrow watches Saloris’ undead instrument pull itself out of the stone temple floor using its upper arm bones, not unlike the way a medium earth elemental does, before it rakes a claw across the Nagaji’s face.
All present hear a breathless *GASP*, followed by the whispered word “Blasphemy…” in Tanbaru’s contralto tone.
However, the angry muttering is not coming from behind the stone idol where the oni cowers.
Pitbull: 47/73
Marsiass: - Dalton
Ngon Le:
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Surprised to see a skeleton appear behind the snake attacking her Hailey is quick to exploit the option it offers though.
Swinging her scimitar in successive circles she hacks at the snake thing twice, hoping the sudden appearance of the skeleton distract her opponent just enough for her blade to find a spot to hit.
With her first strike, Hailey opens a small cut across Kolmorrow's shoulder.
The jaundiced Nagaji's only reply is, "Ngon Le! I've found her."
♨♨♨♨
The pink-tongued Nagaji spares Dusk neither word nor glance.
She does leave him with a parting gift however …
She then races 40’ to the north-west in pursuit of Hailey.
Pitbull: 47/73
Marsiass: – Dalton
Ngon Le:
As Pitbull appears at the temple entrance, she is again confronted by the Nagaji’s longbow.
+
The shaft takes Pitbull high in the left pectoral - but it's not enough to slow her down.
Pushing Asbo out of the way, the ranger grabs the back of the archer's head and with a violent , drives Marsiass' neck fully two feet down the waiting length of her blade - narrowly missing her own scale-filled fist in her rage.
The nagaji drops his bow, lifts fluttering eyelids to the temple ceiling, *wheezes* once and expires where he stands.
Pitbull: 23/73
Ngon Le:
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8The half-orc and the Owlbear both howl in unison at making the kill, a chilling battlecry celebrating the violence. Pitbull eyes the arrow wounds inflicted on her with the look one normally reserves for wounds inflicted on others - bit to the halforc they represent another day of battle that she has survivied.
Harmonius’ leaping pirouette, like an Iobarian skating champ, combined with the end over end twirl of his scimitar, reminiscent of a White Grotto student’s baton spin in front of a full house at the Irorium, ends with a *screech* from Kolmorrow somewhere above High-C.
Dusk takes a risk trying to duck Ngon Le’s smoking fist on his way to assist Hailey. He stumbles as he attempts to dodge, and the Nagaji connects, breaking his nose!
He shakes off the effect , and responds with his own diving thrust through Ngon Le's upper leg.
Pitbull: 23/73
Dusk: /58
Ngon Le: - Kelly - III
As Kishara sprints east to assist Dusk, she finds an interior wall of the temple prevents her from flanking.
Despite the slayer not providing an added distraction, the rogue still manages to run her short sword through the muscle below the Nagaji’s shoulder blade.
Ngon Le cries out!
However, it is more in desperation, than in pain. "Kolmorrow, the goddessss MUSSST have her sssacrificcce!"
The yellow-eyed humanoid nods his understanding and sizes up Hailey.
Pitbull: 23/73
Dusk: 46/58
Hailey: /52
Ngon Le: - Scott Mitch
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Taking a pounding Hailey rethinks her choice to stand her ground and fight and takes a careful step back to allow Harmonius to step into flanking position with the skeleton.
Looking around her it seems that all companions she can see are unhurt
" ..channeling doesn't seem like the best option right now..but those fist hurt..it feels like I'm bleeding internally, or atleast broke some bones and those marks are sure to leave bruises...better fix it while I can"
Hailey concentrates briefly and exchanges one of the spells she prepared for today into one of curing and casts it on herself
Hailey’s faith keeps her senses clear, allowing her to step back and heal some of her internal wounds.
Pitbull: 23/73
Dusk: 46/58
Hailey: /52
Ngon Le: - Scott Mitch
“Hsssamira sssave us! The wizard’sss clearly a necromancccer.” A staggered Kolmorrow clutches his chest at Salouris’ dark touch.
Hearing Pitbull and Asbo’s cold-blood freezing celebration, Ngon Le concludes that Marsiass is gone.
She states calmly, “You know what to do, Kolmorrow.”
Ngon Le attempts a standing backflip, but muffs the landing providing both Dusk and Kishara with an open target.
She continues to the south on a sprained ankle, before spinning 180 degrees to blast Dusk with another scorching ray.
Pitbull: 23/73
Dusk: 46/58
Hailey: /52
Ngon Le: - Scott Mitch
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Pitbull and Asbo come running from the south, and flank around coming in both directions in the corridor...
She holds up her orcish weapon suggestively, the inky blood and gore clearly visible... "Gutted your friend to make some shoes, but now I need a handbag" she grunts and then breaks into a cold and cruel sounding laugh - the owlbear puffs its feathers.
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Dusk moves 20 feet south, then 5 feet SW (putting me in the flank between the two opponents if they're both still alive, but not provoking). Dusk glances thoughtfully at the opportunity to flank with Harmonius, and decides that Kishara would benefit more.
"The flank is yours, Kishara."
If the scorching ray caster is still alive, Dusk will attack that target(pink). Otherwise the attack will be on the yellow nagaji.
for damage.
for additional damage.
Dusk only meant to stop her escaping. Honest he did.
The Silver Crusader aims a low sweep of his gladius at the back of Ngon Le’s knee. The Nagaji’s unfortunate landing and the subsequent collapse of said knee, results in her neck aligning with Dusk’s perfectly-timed slash.
The creature’s head takes a long roll to the south to greet Pitbull, it’s bloody wake a crimson arrow pointing back to raw materials suitable for manufacturing a half-orc fashion accessory.
With much less drama, Harmonius simply drives the point of his curved blade through Kolmorrow’s right eye, bringing the running battle through the temple to a sudden end.
Pitbull: 23/73
Dusk: 46/58
Hailey: 39/52
Tanbaru lifts his head up from behind that of the idol’s. “Well. We sure showed those lizards, huh?”
“Is there anywhere we haven’t explored yet, Pathfinders?”
Old clothes, barrels, large sacks, rusted pickaxes, and other miscellaneous junk lies in piles in this room.
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"Hmm no one home..."
Pitbull and Asbo will lead another counterclockwise search of the place, slowly moving through each room, looking for trapdoors, hidden levers and switches and the like - they will move any carpets, mats (and that bedding!) looking for anything they've missed.
Once complete, she will lead the group back to the giant snake statue.
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While Pitbull heals himself, Salouris looks around at the others.
"Well, that was...unexpected."
"And did anyone else hear that 'blasphemy' accusation? Was that you Tanbaru - I didn't think nature Gods cared much either way about remains. If so, I can dismiss him. Think of it as helping make sure there are six less bodies left to litter if you like."
“Nuh.” Tanbaru replies rudely, though he appears to be telling the truth. “Musta been busy … trying to save my life maybe?”
“I didn't think nature Gods cared much either way about remains.”
“They don’t, Salouris. Indeed they're perfectly natural. And neither do paladins, parents or other upright, gods-fearing folk.”
“But try animating those remains and have them do things for your own gain in their home or place of worship and see how they react.”
Pitbull finds nothing of value in the new room, but notices some recently made bundles of dried rabbit meat.
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Before we move on with further exploration Hailey gathers her wounded companions around herself and does a quick prayer for healing
and then closes the last of her own wounds with a charge from her wand of cure light wounds
She then moves with the others to a new area to explore
"Look, over there some eggs..of some sort of creature. Not my expertise on what kind though"
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"Point taken." Salouris replies dryly and dismisses the skeleton.
Calling out to Hailey, the elf yells. "If we can't tell what they are then perhaps best to leave them for the time being. And you wouldn't happen to know any appeasing prayers, would you? I don't think the aura of this place appreciated my survivial efforts."
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Know Nature Take 10 = 13.
"Eggs hidden like that, more of the snakes like the ones out front? Don't reckon they are nesting chickens"
Pitbull examines the eggs.
"Raised Asbo from a little egg, now look what I have to deal with"
Pitbull covers them back over gently...
"We can take them with us later, they don't belong here, but not gonna crush em. Find out what they are, find them a good home"
When Pitbull leads you back to the north-eastern chamber, a more careful search discovers that magic oils intended for religious purposes are stored amongst the old bottles.
These include:
While you are busy striking oil in the Sacristy, you hear the of a typhoon coming from the Idol Room.
Tanbaru gives Pitbull a frightened glance, before the ranger leads the party back to investigate.
Surrounded by fierce whirling winds, an athletic woman of living stone is standing atop the head of the massive serpentine statue.
She doesn’t look best pleased.
In a booming telepathic voice, she declares, “For over a thousand years I’ve stood vigil over the procession that leads up to this temple.”
“I was watching you while you walked the Pilgrim’s Path. Everything you faced along the way was a test of your abilities and your character.”
She stabs an angry finger at Salouris. “It was you who defiled my holy ward with restless dead!”
Her criticism is not restricted to the occultist however.
“You barbarians all engaged in the bloodletting of the other vandals, with no thought to the sanctity of this hallowed stone!”
A stony glance comes Pitbull's way. "Some of you even revelled in your blasphemy!"
“By the Mountain Lord, your test is not over. NAY! Not by a long chalk! Now answer my questions and face my judgment!”
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Pitbull takes umbrage at the tone, and the claim made against her and responds in her typically Orcish fashion.
"Holy ward? Sanctified hallowed stone? You serious? Have a look out front, half this place was ripped away and stored in the Hao Jin tapestry where it was over run with vicious Duergar who were using it as a playground and smashing the place up into some twisted wreck of profanity and now this bit is full of snakes and lizard men who are basically using it as a toilet - in both cases I have driven them by force out of the halls, that right - so far I have done more for the sanctity of this place than you have!"
"Stood vigil? Your eyes must be buttoned on if you call that 'watching' - who you judging? You should be thanking. Don't believe me? Ask Tanbaru."
Pitbull bristles, remembering her time in the Hao Jin tapestry and the deaths... so much death.
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Harmonious, eyes glowing with magical energies holds a hand out as he examines the oils and potions.
Breathing heavily, ”Exhausting work,”
Afterwards, spinning around to face the booming voice, he’ll eye her a bit suspiciously, speaking up after Pitbulls outburst ”I am the great and wonderful Harmonious, humbly at your service, oh ever what can I and my companions do for one so magnificently stoney such as yourself? Oh and please excuse my compatriot, this magnificant temple was hewn in two, the other half locked on another plane of existence,”
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Dusk steps forward. "I am Dusk. Although we did shed our opponents' blood in your temple, I gave them several opportunities to surrender. THEY were the ones who insisted on fighting, not us. We are no slavers, and we could not control the actions of those who opposed us. We merely reacted to the choices THEY made."
“… so far I have done more for the sanctity of this place than you have!”
At Pitbull’s words, the living statue quakes with fury, her form blurs into that of a reptilian outsider.
“The Lord of the Mountain judgesss Jiraku, NOT MORTALSss! He Ssshows no sssign of any Dissspleasssure.”
“Don't believe me? Ask Tanbaru.”
“You err invoking the name of that Mighty Zuishin in my presence. My brother abandoned his post here centuries ago.”
Searching for Tanbaru who is hiding in the corner, Jiraku asks her second question:
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"That's more fat cobblestones - Tanbaru was once a warden of the temple of Yamatsumi, together with it's sibling. Stupid Duergar dwarves smashed Tanbaru into... this" Pitbull gestures at Tanbaru "Why Tanbaru getting punished for what Dwarves did?"
Diplo
Pitbull looks pretty disappointed at the way Tanbaru is being punished "You 'splain it Harmonius - explain why Tanbaru shouldn't be punished for being kidnapped into the Tapestry and then tortured - captured and forced into servitude after they destroyed a location that he once inhabited... how's that fair?"
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"On top of that, this 'oni' was once a guardian of this place too. He has as much, if not more, right to be here than any of us. Yamatsumi's a God of volcanoes isn't he? Volcanoes bring about change: often violent and upsetting at the time, but as a result the opportunity for growth and advancement can occur."
The elf blinks as the strange stone figure warps into a bizarre oni form. "Look at yourself now. Clearly Tanbaru's transformation is not a unique or unforgivable failing."
Also I did dismiss the dead as soon as the crisis ended.
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Nodding during Pitbull's story, "Yeah, I mean, Tanbaru can't help if he endured countless tortures that changed his very being, into what you see now, he is still trying to do considerable good despite his Oni form, Saranrae, my deity, blessed be her name, believes in redemption for all creatures, I see that light of redemption burning in Tanbaru,"
Looking around at the group, "Perhaps an interpretative dance will help clear this up,"
He'll rip off his tear-away entertainer's close revealing the sparkling, bejeweled masterwork dancer's leotard underneath his normal clothing and begin a choreographed dance routine. Casting a Dancing lights to set the mood.
Jiraku stares at the spirit oni while Pitbull and Dusk speak. “Tanbaru? Is that really you? Come closer so I can see...”
“I have returned, my sister.” The small outsider reluctantly drifts forward, his head hung low.
“While what Pitbull says about my forced exile is essentially true, it was my decision to turn from my faith. But I am not alone.”
“As Salouris just said, take an honest look at yourself, Jiraku.”
♨⚕⛰☠
Jiraku looks down at her body, as if seeing her scaly skin and slithering tongue for the first time. “You and the half-orc are correct, dark elf. I have failed my ward.”
“Volcanoes bring about change: often violent and upsetting at the time …”
Suddenly, she looks up in raging despair.
Golarion trembles, and fiery flashes are visible at the summit of the mountain looming over the temple. Droplets of lava begin to seep and bead at the seams between the temple’s stone blocks.
Harmonius’ silent, twisting, snake-like dance is somehow the perfect backdrop to the drama unfolding. A saga about to reach its crescendo, after building for a thousand years.
The Pathfinders’ actions are about to decide.
A dance of celebration? Or a dance of death?