Varkata calls out, "Any way to shake them out of this, Karethas? Other than dicing the harpies into bits?" as she draws ebon flame and swings at the Harpy that attacked her.
for
Karethas disappears and Varkata hacks a wing off her assailant. The harpy shrieks and pounces on the priestess, but is knocked aside. The other black-plumed bald harpy swings at the empty spot where the wizard disappeared. The singing harpy beyond the pool on the other side of the room keeps shooting her bow with speed that rivals Kzrira. Two arrows strike Varkata with freezing tips.
Amir and Kzrira cross the bridge and draw nearer the harpy archer and the cruelly smiling woman. The woman floats into the air and circles the pair flexing long-nailed fingers that look more like claws.
"Working on it!" Karethas says hurriedly. He hustles across the bridge and taps Amir with the wand.
Varkata swings the burning blade at the harpy attacking her, trying to clear herself a path to save her friends...
Ebon Flame cuts a freezing arc through the air and continues through the harpy's wrist and neck killing her instantly. The other harpy leaves off slashing at the unseen wizard and turns on the visible priestess. The wicked club it wields grazes Varkata. The singing harpy keeps firing her bow at the resistant priestess. Two shots hit though one merely glances off the fierce cleric's armor.
Meanwhile, Karethas races after his blithely marching companions. He catches up to Amir and, saying the command word, touches him with a magical wand.
Though fortified against evil, the old rogue cannot shake the allure of the Harpy's song.
The flying woman cocks her head as Karethas activates the wand. "Is that you, dear Karethas? I have missed you. I have had to console myself with your elf friend while I waited for you, you cunning little jackal." She suddenly slashes at the invisible wizard, but her long claws whistle through the air inches from her prey! Amir and Kzrira continue their march toward the sinister singer.
Varkata snarls at the singer's attack, Now I know how Kzrira's foes feel... Let's put an end to that... She looks up at her new assailant, disbelief in her voice, "Are you sure about this? You did notice I just cut your friend into three pieces, right?"
With that, she swings Ebon Flame, drawing on the ferocious strength of her deity as she does so, hoping to inflict a terrible wound.
for
As she pulls the blade clear, she turns her head to face the bow-wielding singer, "Your turn,", she vows, then vanishes, appearing next to the archer, "I'm not Karethas, but I'm more than pleased to keep you company."
Karethas curses quietly to himself when Undra reveals herself, but smiles invisibly when Varkata engages her. Good girl! He steps back from the div and begins casting a spell, Tempest held ready before him.
Varkata chides the haggard harpy and gives her a terrible wound to consider. Then the cleric suddenly appears across the chamber. The wounded vulture-like monster decides not to push her luck and retreats toward the entry area.
The huntress harpy sounds an off note in her continuing song and hops back to keep firing at the suddenly far too close priestess. She is thrown off by the unexpected tactic though and only one of the pointblank shots penetrates the priestess' armor.
The chant of a conjuration is heard from the unseen wizard and again Undra hovers close and slashes at the sound! But catches only air. Amir and Kzrira finish their march to stand perfectly still with glazed eyes before the battle between Varkata and the harpy huntress.
Varkata steps toward the singer, closing the distance and getting inside the bow's range, while releasing the power inside her blood, allow it to crackle through her, filling her with strength and vigor... With a thought, she releases the power, allowing it to arc down her blade, indigo and blue sparks surrounding the black flames.. She then swings the blade, calling upon the Drunken Hero's strength to add to her own as she does.
for
for
Karethas finishes the spell and the now familiar hound archon appears near Undra, unleashing the fury of heaven on the evil div. Soon after Karethas appears with a spent scroll in one hand, a green ray erupting from the other. The ray strikes Undra square in the chest. Karethas smiles widely, "Finally."
Hound Archon CR 4
XP 1,200
LG Medium outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect evil, low-light vision, scent; Perception +10
Aura aura of menace (DC 16), magic circle against evil
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil)
hp 39 (6d10+6)
Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +5; +4 vs. poison, +2 resistance vs. evil
DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification; SR 15
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d8+3), slam +8 (1d4+1) or mwk greatsword +9/+4 (2d6+3), bite +3 (1d8+2)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)
Constant—detect evil, magic circle against evil
At Will—aid, continual flame, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), message
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12
Base Atk +6; CMB +8; CMD 18
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power Attack
Skills Acrobatics +9, Intimidate +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +13, Survival +14; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth, +4 Survival
Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; truespeech
SQ change shape (beast shape II)
Varkata hacks at the Harpy again leaving a burning cold wound. On the defensive, the birdlady leaps into the air to take wing out of the blade's reach. The powerful Hound Archon appears once again radiating menace and holy power. Undra shrieks in anger as the radiant greatsword cleaves into her exposed flesh and Karethas' beam surrounds her with a crackling emerald field that prevents her teleportation. She hisses and slashes with her long cruel nails at the outsider leaving bloody parallel cuts.
Unfortunately, the Archon and Div battle about thirty feet from where Amir and Kzrira have stopped and remain under the sway of the Harpy's song.
"Wait!" Karethas cries out. He recites a spell and reaches out to touch Varakata's back. Her boots rise from the floor, and she realizes that she can fly. "Whatever you do, don't let her get away." he whispers in her ear. He then calls to Gen, the staff lying on the floor where he dropped it to pull the scroll.
Kzrira happily hums along to the harpy's tune, ignoring the fight going on around her.
for
The great room is 100 feet long and 80 feet wide. The dust-filled pool takes up the center 60 x 40. The entrance arcade is at one end of the great room. At the opposite end, a pair of broad stairs lead up to a balcony holding a pair of large double doors. About midway on one side of the pool, a dried up waterfall once poured down the wall of the great room and through a channel to fill the pool. The channnel is crossed by a footbridge.
The vile DIV, UNDRA, battles the Archon halfway between the footbridge and stairs to the balcony. Karethas leaves them to rush around the pool to the foot of the stairs where Varkata, Amir, and Kzrira stand. The Tempest Staff twists and transforms into the small genie that flies after her master looking concerned.
The HARPY suffers another frosty bite from Ebon Flame as she takes to the air to fly over the pool.
Kzrira continues to stand and listen to the beautiful music.
The Archon continues it's assault on the div, while Karethas uses his wand to cast Protection from Evil on Kzrira.
Will: <-- pretty sure there is +2 for the Protection from Evil?
The div's supernatural skin sheds the Archon's blows, but Karethas' touch yields a better result as Kzrira blinks as if she had just awoken. Amir steps forward as if he would follow the harpy's voice right into the pool of black dust.
Suddenly realizing that these creatures had her under their thrall, Kzrira begins to reach for her bow to teach the horrid singers a lesson. However, as she is about to reach for her bow, she notices that the old rogue is still meandering forward. Instead of shooting the creature, she instead swings bow at Amir attempting the grab him to keep from moving forward any.
Standard - Grapple Amir
Grapple:
--> If she is not next to him, I think that I can use a charge action to move a normal distance and then attack/grapple.
--> Not sure, but is it possible that Amir gets another save from being (sort of) attacked?
Karethas, can we wake up Amir?
Varkata watches the harpy take to the air, her blade biting into it, then releases the power inside herself, feeling her mind clear. Was rather hoping I'd kill it, but now I need magic.... though the fatigue isn't the most helpful.
She whispers a prayer to the Drunken Hero, casting fly on herself, then takes to the air, closing the distance with the archer-harpy. "It'll take more than wings to get away from me.."
--> Not sure, but is it possible that Amir gets another save from being (sort of) attacked?
Kzrira collars Amir holding the rogue back from following the alluring harpy 's song into peril. Varkata shouts a quick prayer and leaps into the air in pursuit.
The harpy lands on the far side of the pool firing at her pursuer, but only one hastily shot arrow hits. Undra retreats up into the air out of the Archon's reach and toward the harpy.
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Karethas calls Gen back to his hand. He points Tempest towards the singing harpy and speaks a few arcane phrases. A swirling line of air is drawn from the harpy's mouth, whistling towards the magical staff.
Varkata winces as she's struck again, Enough of that..., and whispers another prayer, asking the Drunken Hero to deflect away strikes against her. As she finishes her spell, she flies at the Harpy, closing the distance and ready to strike.
Kzrira continues to hold the old thief, in the process of grappling, she attempts to cover his old ears to block out the sound.
Grapple: <-- considering covering his ears sort of like a pin
--> well, there is a wasted crit. Better break you out of this daze.
Kzrira keeps her grip on Amir who tugs ineffectively at her hold. Varkata casts a warding spell as the constant barrage of arrows continues to shed her blood. She drops down beside the vulture-harpy. With the Div out of his reach and Karethas' spell foiled, the Archon blinks out of sight to reappear beside the harpy pinning her between himself and Varkata. The harpy squawks in frustration and her song grows ever shriller as she drops her bow and grabs her spiked club and strikes the pursuing priestess.
Trapped by Karethas' spell and ineffective now that her evil has been revealed and warded against. Undra howls and her form changes into a sparkling diamond-skinned female shaitan. "Umad al-Walliya! Mortal wizards and priests have violated your sanctum and seek to bind us with their treacherous spells!"
Karethas grits his teeth in frustration when his spell is resisted by the harpy and Undra manages to cause further problems. He mutters a spell and disappears again.
Getting frustrated with her inability to get Amir to snap out of his daze, Kzrira reaches into her haversack, pulling out a neatly coiled length of rope and attempts to tie up Amir so that he cannot break free.
Sorry old man.
Grapple(tie-up): vs DC23
Despite Amir's continued struggling almost allowing him to break through, Kzrira manages to loop the rope around his wrists and ankles, leaving him well fastened and, hopefully, unable to get free.
Once he is bound, Kzrira draws her bow and prepares to make Undra feel pain.
]ooc]Next up: Varkata and the Hound.[/ooc]
+
Kzrira knocks Amir down and ties him up as Karethas disappears from sight. The Archon and Varkata continue trading heavy sword strikes on the bloodied and failing harpy. The harpy flails at Varkata, but only one strike gets through her defenses.
Undra gives a shriek as the big double doors at the top of the stairs fly open with a crash. beyond is a tall dark figure. It is dressed in robes that have long been darkened with filth and tattered by the creatures rocky skin which appears to be cracked and shattered green malachite. It's face looks like a crudely sculpted skull. "Thieves and Slavers! How dare you attack my Consort, Rajali!" it shouts as it clatters down the stairs on hooves to Kzrira.
Kzrira pauses briefly, hoping that Karethas is able to identify this creature, and more importantly to help unmask the treacherous Undra.
Amir feebly tries to escape...
Karethas sizes up the daunting figure, "Friends, do not attack Umad! Umad, your "consort" is lying to you. She drew us down here, apparently to kill you. She's not even a Shaitan, watch!" Karethas casts a spell and Umad's robes turn a vivid shade of red. "Ask your beloved consort to embrace you now, Umad. She will not because she is a Pairaka and detests the color red."
Varkata pauses, waiting for a moment, trying to see if the Div's claim -- or Karethas' -- will have any effect.
Karethas identifies the creature as a Ghul, much like the undead guardian you met in the Crypt Shirak long ago. The undead abomination arises after the death of a genie corrupted through the influence of Ahriman, Lord of the Divs. This Ghul however, did not arise from a lesser Janni; it came from a more powerful Shaitan. It is still half-mad and vicious, nearly impervious to fire and weapons other than those which are made of cold iron and blessed. It can change its form or vanish from sight entirely and though it has lost most of the abilities of its Shaitan origins, it can still warp metal.
While the others watch in uncertainty, Karethas bluffs the creature.