. . . Makes me want to go back and give that portal-man another pounding."
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Here's an evil thought: What if the Portalman put the statue of Lydia into one of the walls? - Oooooo - that's good.Or how about: I swapped bodies with her, knowing that the Dune Squad would shred me to bits and ask questions later. Or. . . No wait, I like Gandel's.
Unidentifiable being has a point. - And you! Too cowardly to even return to my chamber to face me in battle?
The guardian feints another attack at Hurgah, but then spins away, seeking to instead deliver a powerful smash at the dwarf to his side. True to his namesake, however, Shattershield is ready: his shield is up, in place and in time to catch the blow. There's an explosive crash as Ro Ap Han's metal arm slams into the magical barrier of dwarven craftmanship. When the dust settles, Breach has held and it is Ro Ap Han who is frozen in place from the tremor of his own blow. (miss!) (n/a) Meanwhile, the guardian slowly recovers and continues his efforts to backpedal from his attackers, trying to keep an uneasy distance between himself and the pair of warriors working away at his flanks. Gradually though, he begins to show signs of running out of room, as the north wall approaches. At the same time, Donkor hungrily eyes the guardian's predicament and prepares a timing to cut off Ro Ap Han's only avenue of escape.
Which updates us to: XX.XX.RH.XX.XX.XX
+21? Bah! It doesn't really matter if you can't hit to begin with.
The guardian retaliates with snapping blow from his fist (hit!) (applies - but is reduced by Hurgah's damage reduction) At the same time, he does what he can to escape the pincer-vise set by Breach and Hurgah.
Which updates us to: XX.XX.RH.XX.XX.XX
The "it" seems to change its mind. Ro An Hap suddenly launches forward, staff somehow back in hand, and attacks
Ro Ap Han takes to his feet, his eyes locked on the Sooron. Ancient Osiriani:
Slowly rises from his chair. . .
As the Dune Squad steps through Ro An Hap's portal he ceases his struggles and says: Ancient osiriani speakers only:
Ro Ap Han has a few choice words about being dragged against the wall: Those choice words translated from Ancient Orisiani:
("yeah, I didn't think so. . .")
Karek takes Hal's rope* and begins looping it around Ro Ap Han, tying a series of sailor's knots designed to steal any hope of leverage or meaningful movement. *a rather elviny rope if you ask me. Silk?
Ro An Hap struggles as hard as he can, but he gets nowhere. The dog-pile is too strong.
(fails!) Ro An Hap pumps away furiously, trying to escape as Breach hammers him with blows of his axe, but he's not going anywhere. Karek and Hurgah are just too strong.
- When Moon sits upon the throne, nothing happens. Even though Karek has a hold of him and Breach is pounding away with his axe, Ro An Hap still manages to take notice: Translation for Donkor and Gandel who can comprehend Ancient Osiriani: "You insolent [BLANK]*! You dare to plant your portly derriere upon the entry throne of Ahn'Sehlota? I shall have your [BLANK]* and see that you die an uncountable number of deaths." *no words known - or maybe the GM is just being polite.
Karek drops his earthbreaker, deciding instead to follow Hurgah's lead and see if he can't tackle the immortal jackrabbit that is Ro An Hap. When he closes, the guardian spins his staff and tries to force the onrushing dwarf back with a powerful kick to the chest. (miss!) (n/a) The sheer force of the blow crushes dozens of links of Karek's chainmail and drives them into the flesh of the dwarf's muscular chest but Karek is too stubborn to care. . .
Seeing the Reaver bloodied, Ro An Hap presses the attack. he spins suddenly bringing his elbow across and down, smashing into Hurgah's temple.
(hit) (applies)
(success) (success)
Hurgah attempts to close upon Ro An Hap and seize him once and for all. The guardian, however, stops him dead in his tracks with a sudden snap of his outstretched palm, as though ordering the man-beast to "halt". The blow drives into Hurgah's nasal cavity, cracking the barbarian's nose into an unnatural shape. (hit) (applies)
Seeing Hal prepare an incantation, the guardian leaps off the throne to attack. When he begins his vault, for a second the strange orb of space on his chest appears again, rimmed by a golden-hued aura. Hal could swear he could see something inside the sphere, a pillar, a hieroglyph, a flagstone, but then it's gone. Besides Hal's too busy contemplating the leveraged staff attack coming right at him as the guardian prepares with a double-handed wind-up. Once again though, Ro An Hap resorts to a last-second change-up. Rather than swing, he hurls his staff at the dwarf, sending it crashing into the dwarf's helm bouncing off his head. He then uses the split second of Morgrym's blindness to finish his charge, leading with elbow.
(applies)
Ro An Hap rises in silence. The guardian places a finger to his lips as though calling for silence. He is trying to communicate something. He points to himself. He points to Halstadt. He points to his scepter. He points to Halstadt’s axe. Then he points his scepter at Halstadt as though making a salute. He begins to step down from the throne, ignoring the Dune Squad as he slowly steps towards Hal. For Hal to open on a DC 15 Sense Motive or Linguistics check (a single roll only - use whichever is higher):
Hal thinks Ro An Hap is challenging him to a solo duel.
Ancient Osiriani speakers only:
The guardian shouts: Still coated in goo, Ro An Hap whirls his staff in a dizzying pattern, deflecting the trio of axes and hammers raining down upon him. Unable to carve out enough space to retaliate, he settles for driving his knee into Shattershield’s chest.
(miss!) (N/A!) -----
(succeeds!) (succeeds!) What is with these double rolls!? So I guess the good news is Hurgah and Karek get to save their attacks of opportunity. The other good news is thanks to Moonpate's tanglebolt Ro Ap Han is only able to advance 15 feet, so he does not get very far. Further good news is that the DC's on the spoiler tags seem to be on the decline. Open only on a DC 16 (for Hurgah, Karek, Breach and Moonpate). The rest of the Dune Squad requires a DC 26: Inside Ro Ap Han's weird torso-sphere there appears to be stone - more of the solid granite you see on the pyramid walls perhaps. Only it appears to continuously change as the guardian slides along the wall, revealing subtle variations in veins and pores. Once Ro Ap Han finishes his move though, there is an empty space in his chest once more - as though his chest were not there at all. And within that space at the far end there's a panel of smaller hieroglyphs. Ro Ap Han then turns to the side, shielding it from your view. The "sphere" is enlarging though, it's starting to extend down his thighs and arms.
Ro Ap Han holds his staff to the side with one hand, warding Hurgah away. At the same time he suddenly snaps his free hand forward, driving at Karek with the base of his open palm. (hit!) (applies!) There is a sickening crunch as the guardian's blow stops the onrushing dwarf in his tracks, leaving a palm print-like indent in the center of Karek's helm. Next, having created a modicum of space between him and his foes, Ro An Hap seizes the moment to try to escape the Dune Squad's pincer trap - before Breach can slam the door and the guardian finds himself boxed in on all three sides. He suddenly runs up the wall and the flips upside down, landing on the ground once more, trying to elude his attackers. (fails!) (fails!)
Once he lands all three dwarves and Hurgah catch a quick glimpse that there is a large gaping circular hole where Ro An Han's chest should be. Open only by Hurgah, Karek, Halstadt or Breach and only on a successful Sense Motive DC 18 (free action on your turn):
The bizarre spherical deficit doesn't seem to phase Ro Ap Han any, though you notice the guardian tries to twist away, as though he is trying to conceal it from you. Open only by Hurgah, Karek, Halstadt or Breach and only on a successful Sense Motive DC 24 (free action on your turn): Wow! Let me know if this happens - I'll have even more info.
Pillar number 4 please! - Osirion speakers only: "Curse you Donkor! How could you have known the one pillar which contains the secret to my eternal ruin: the dread pillar number 4." (Just kidding - he says no such thing.)
- Only those who can translate Ancient Osirion can understand the guardian's protest:
As the Dune Squad pours inside the great chamber, the elder guardian reacts with lightning speed. With a surprising flip, Ro Ap Han lands on his hands and begins cartwheeling away from the throne to the right hand side of the room - somehow the guardian manages to keep his staff in hand as he does so. When his tumbling is complete, he breaks into a low defensive stance, sweeping his staff in front of him to ward away his opponents, taking care as he does so to keep his back to the wall.
Open on a successful DC 22 Perception check only. But only Gandel and Karek can attempt it, the rest of you need to elect to enter the great chamber first: The creature might be bending low to hide whatever it is that is taking place across its chest. There's a golden shimmer of light there bordering some kind of aperture. This certainly isn't helping Gandel's identification any: you've never seen anything quite like this.
It would appear the 'doorman' is ready to rumble.
Seeing the Dune Squad file back inside the room with all haste, the figure on the throne, the Master of Doors, rises from his seat once more and steps forward. Judging from the way he silently brandishes his staff, you suspect he has divined your hostile intentions.
The sentinel continues to sit in silence, staring forward into space.
The figure appears to calm down as the Dune Squad begins to back away. Ancient Osiriani only:
*Ro Ap Han is an unusual name. It might be more of a title. It loosely translates into something like "The Portalman" or perhaps the "Man of Doors" or maybe even just a simple doorman. Slowly, the huge man sits back down on the throne, placing his staff across his lap once more. He stares straight ahead, as though looking straight through you down the entry shaft.
For those who can translate Ancient Osirion: "Oh wise guardian! Truly your mercy is a reflection of the beneficence of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension - all honor and glory to their names! However, we must warn you that agents of the Devil-God Asmodeus seek to enter Ahn-Selota and steal the treasures contained herein or destroy what they cannot take - including the Pact Stone of the Four Pharaohs!" Ro Ap Han answers (waving his staff):
"When we learned of the Asmodeans' foul plans we traveled here with all haste to try to thwart their designs. When we arrived we were quite disheartened to find the entire pyramid surrounded by their legions. We did what we could to prevent them from unearthing and opening the doorway into Ahn-Selota , but we were unable to cause them more than a minor hindrance. Once the Asmodeans opened the portal they were able to send two squadrons of their men into the pyramid before we were able to make our way past their forces. We found the remains of several of their men in the passageway without, and we are relieved to see that you dispatched any who managed to reach your chamber," Gandel pauses to indicate the two crumpled bodies near the throne. Ro An Hap answers (speaking more slowly as he looks to the dead slaves on the floor):
"However, we are certain that they will soon send more of their forces into the pyramid. My companions and I have pledged our lives to defend the secrets of the Four Pharaohs contained within Ahn-Selota . We have blocked the entryway for now and have placed new traps, but we fear it is only a matter of time before they send ever-increasing numbers of their men and reach this chamber again. Unfortunately, we have severely depleted our strength in making our way past the Asmodean legions, and need to rest to replenish our resources so that we may help defend the pyramid. Is there a chamber in which we could rest safely? Or a position within the pyramid in which you feel we could provide the most aid in defending the secrets of the Four Pharaohs?" "Ro Ap Han answers (pointing his staff at Gandel):
The entity atop the throne silently rises to its feet, its great metallic sceptre held in its hands. It answers: Authentic Ancient Osiriani:
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