Did you give me any information to work with on the world your character is from?
"In your world, different tribes fought for food and land, but shared some links that made them unite against foreign invaders if the situation arose."
"The people hunted, fought, and built with bronze, and the landscape was dominated by temperate woodlands and plains."
"These people worshiped a pantheon of natural gods, representations of the Sun, the Moon and similar natural entities, and they usually lived on good terms with the natural, having no large settlements and altering their environment as little as possible."
Cassius feels something akin to remembering when he's told about his world. "Yeah, that rings a bell." Only thing left would be to know what was his position in this world, and why he's not there right now. He decides to stay silent for now, though, as the others are asking very interesting questions and he doesn't want to push the limits with too much asking.
The scion racks his mind, eager to find some chance, no matter how slender of fulfilling his destiny.
And turns to Eirikur and the others.
"You are correct, Eirikur. It is just us. And if I cannot save my own, here is where destiny lies."
"There are many means of traversing both time and space in the Ninth World."
The Unfettered Prince looks at the octopus with great interest, but perhaps a little disdain.
"If such wonders are possible, why do you conduct 'research' with baser weapons on villages? In any case, I have some recollection of dimensions in the 'Outside'. Places such as the Banded Bluff, the Endless Abode, the Whispering World, Celerillion, or Reeval. Reeval, being the source of a threat named Nibovian. I would know of all of these, particularly any to do with the flow of time."
Eirikur is very interested in the response to Arc's question; the impersonal nature of such an assault does not sit well with him. What research does your group possibly have in mind that involves systematically wiping out villages?
The octopus creature's response breaks through the Nightmare Dragon's reverie. Research? They have neither wronged nor harmed you?
The octopus regards him quizzically, its right eye widening into an awesome circumference,
"So?"
Eirikur is very interested in the response to Arc's question; the impersonal nature of such an assault does not sit well with him. What research does your group possibly have in mind that involves systematically wiping out villages?
"A certain faction of my people are interested in the question of why the human species returned after an almost one billion year absence."
The scion racks his mind, eager to find some chance, no matter how slender of fulfilling his destiny.
And turns to Eirikur and the others.
"You are correct, Eirikur. It is just us. And if I cannot save my own, here is where destiny lies."
"There are many means of traversing both time and space in the Ninth World."The Unfettered Prince looks at the octopus with great interest, but perhaps a little disdain.
"If such wonders are possible, why do you conduct 'research' with baser weapons on villages? In any case, I have some recollection of dimensions in the 'Outside'. Places such as the Banded Bluff, the Endless Abode, the Whispering World, Celerillion, or Reeval. Reeval, being the source of a threat named Nibovian. I would know of all of these, particularly any to do with the flow of time."
The octopus almost seems to emit a laugh, if that were possible within the constraints of its anatomy,
"Well, I can't possibly tell you about all of those places, at least not all at once, why don't you pick one that you're most interested in learning about, and we'll start there?"
Cassius is surprised at the huge amount of knowledge the others are asking for, and at the fact that the octopus seems to respond all of their queries. He wonders if there's any kind of hidden agenda here...
The Unfettered Prince notes the answer.
[i]"I notice you didn't explain your testing of weapons. Are you testing defenses? Their will to fight? If they are human? I too would know of threats, such as the Nobovian of Revaal."
|
"A certain faction of my people are interested in the question of why the human species returned after an almost one billion year absence."
The Nightmare Dragon wonders at the "coincidence" of the group seemingly being pulled out of time and the reappearance of the humans.
And what answers are to be discovered with their destruction?
"A certain faction of my people are interested in the question of why the human species returned after an almost one billion year absence."The Nightmare Dragon wonders at the "coincidence" of the group seemingly being pulled out of time and the reappearance of the humans.
And what answers are to be discovered with their destruction?
"I just told you simpleton! Maybe why the humans returned so unexpectedly after being gone for somewhere around a billion years."
The Unfettered Prince notes the answer.
[i]"I notice you didn't explain your testing of weapons. Are you testing defenses? Their will to fight? If they are human? I too would know of threats, such as the Nobovian of Revaal."
"Reeval is an utterly alien dimension almost wholly filled with a writhing intelligent mass called the Thread. The Thread created
Nibovian creatures, such as the Nibovian wife. The only parts of Reeval that dimension walkers are likely to see (and survive for any appreciable amount of time) are the interiors of one of several miles-wide spherical empty spaces, called voids, where the Thread conduct transdimensional experiments. The Thread are interested in creatures other than humans, and have even made some headway into sending Nibovian probes to other worlds and dimensions. But, for whatever reason, these beings seem most comfortable in entrapping humans.""Most people misunderstand the term “Nibovian.” The word isn’t meant to convey a place, but a process. Creatures with the Nibovian title are artificial drones, probes, and lures extruded into the human-inhabited universe by incomprehensible transdimensional beings who can’t understand humans or the universe humans reside in, but who nonetheless want something from us, something transcendent. Or something far more base—in the same way that Nibovian creators can’t understand humans, it’s possible that humans are equally incapable of comprehending what the Nibovian creators want. The truth is that if the human universe was a market stall where the vendor had set up a bin filled with toys, the Nibovians are the catching pole. The one holding the catching pole is the Nibovians’ utterly alien creators. Humanity are the toys. This means, then, when explorers travel to Reeval, the dimension from which Nibovian constructs are injected into our reality, they do not find it populated with Nibovian wives, Nibovian children, and so on, because those beings were made for the sole purpose of manipulating humans on Earth. Who makes Nibovians? That would be the utterly alien life
form known as the Thread."
"Reeval is a dimension of densely interwoven, living tendrils that writhe like a vast bucket of elongated, milk-white worms. Occupying only
a tiny fraction of this this far-flung expanse are a series of connected, evacuated spherical spaces completely bounded by the living tendrils. The living tendrils, known as the Thread, are the intelligent natives of Reeval. The empty spherical spaces are where the Thread interface with and experiment on entities harvested from other dimensions. The Thread possess an intelligence that dwarfs human cognition while at the same failing to understand the phenomenon of individual self-awareness. Thus the Thread probe other dimensions using biological constructs grown to mimic other creatures’ forms, emotions, and self-consciousness despite the fact that (or because) the Thread do not (yet) understand what self-consciousness is. The spherical spaces—called voids—are different from each other. Some of the voids are wholly given over to crafting Nibovian drones, and others are used to generate transdimensional vortices through which the Nibovian drones are deployed. Some contain particularly bizarre enterprises that are hard
to describe in human terms. Within these voids, the Thread practice interaction among themselves using puppetlike facades called Thread walkers that are dressed in harvested human skin and clothing."
|
|
"I just told you simpleton! Maybe why the humans returned so unexpectedly after being gone for somewhere around a billion years."
Arc does not love being called a simpleton, but reins in his temper for now, wondering if he is being deliberately misinterpreted. I will rephrase: How might their destruction answer that question?
Eirikur is not at all happy with the beings' answers. You say you seek knowledge, but your admitted aim is to destroy that which you would learn about. I believe you are lying to us, or incredibly short sighted; and if you were actually that short sighted, I doubt you would be here now.
Eirikur suspects that calling the beings' honor into question, having already made them prickly in the past, might lead to words spoken in haste and anger that reveal their true goals.
The Unfettered Prince too continues to note the strange responses of their "host" to the question of hostilities against the human. He decides to try a different tack.
"So what would it mean to you if those *are* humans? Presumably after you study the pieces, had you continued with your original plan."
"I just told you simpleton! Maybe why the humans returned so unexpectedly after being gone for somewhere around a billion years."Arc does not love being called a simpleton, but reins in his temper for now, wondering if he is being deliberately misinterpreted. I will rephrase: How might their destruction answer that question?
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+12
The eight-legged creature sighs wearily, as if burdened by the unwelcome duty of explaining simple matters to a simpleton,
"One might wish, for example, to vivisect several specimens in an effort to determine if they were cloned, for example. Or one might run tests on their blood and fluids to investigate whether these new humans are partially artificial. Testing their nucleic acids might also yield some interesting results."
The Unfettered Prince too continues to note the strange responses of their "host" to the question of hostilities against the human. He decides to try a different tack.
"So what would it mean to you if those *are* humans? Presumably after you study the pieces, had you continued with your original plan."
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 10
"It is a mystery. The last time humans lived on this planet was some billion years in the past. Many of our kind are puzzled by their apparent resurgence, and would like to know the explanation for this phenomenon. Not many of the myriad species that have evolved, lived, and gone extinct during our people's some 2 billion year existence on this planet have returned after so long an absence to achieve a similar prominence in the biosphere as that which they once enjoyed when their civilization was dominant."
The octopus appears to be sincere in its answers. The party of amnesiacs has disrupted their scientific expedition, and they are collectively quite annoyed with the strange assemblage, but also simultaneously intrigued by their unexpected manifestation.
The Unfettered Prince mindspeaks to the group.
"Its responses seem genuine. As are both its annoyance with us, and curiosity about our arrival. It may see *us* as subjects for experiments."
He resumes speaking with the octopus.
"I for one can understand battling a foe to understand them better. But by your own admission, you do not know why these humans have suddenly reappeared. They may well be more potent than they appear, or have powerful patrons and allies. But far be it for me to advocate caution!", he finishes on a jovial tone.
Eirikur shakes his head. Did it occur to none of you to ask the people for their stories and history? You will get far more answers from a willing and cooperative group than a dead one.
He makes sure to hurry past any hesitation on that last, not knowing if the magics compelling dead beings to share their secrets are still around but not wanting to give any ideas to the beings before him.
Again to his companions, and only his companions, the Unfettered Prince mindspeaks. There is a distinct sense that he senses potential for violence, and it is not a possibility that bothers him.
"Should the octopi turn on us, or disrespect us sufficiently, I say we make an example of this vessel and its crew, by crushing them all."
No, you will not be harvesting them. The Nightmare Dragon's reply comes out rather forceful.
"Well, not now that you've so rudely interrupted us, we won't! At least not this one. I'm sure we'll find another suitable collection site in due course. The genetic epiphenomena encountered in this particular population were most intriguing, but I suppose it won't prove that important in the wider scheme of matters."
|
|
Wordlessly, the Nightmare Dragon gives the Prince the Let's do this nod. No, you won't be doing any more harvesting... at all. Touching his chest, there is a brief spark and a look of elation comes over him, just before he rushes the one called Pherenx.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
While the face of the Unfettered Prince remains behind his helmet, the tone of his mindspeech and his entire body language shout confidence.
"Rejoice! For you get to witness the battle prowess of strangers first hand."
He snaps his fingers, and the area *pulses*. Shadows flicker, and an aura of primal chaos begins to touch upon hearts and vessel alike.
He then walks up to the octopus, flexing his fists, limbering for a fight and utterly unconcerned about any potential backlash.
While the face of the Unfettered Prince remains behind his helmet, the tone of his mindspeech and his entire body language shout confidence.
"Rejoice! For you get to witness the battle prowess of strangers first hand."
He snaps his fingers, and the area *pulses*. Shadows flicker, and an aura of primal chaos begins to touch upon hearts and vessel alike.
He then walks up to the octopus, flexing his fists, limbering for a fight and utterly unconcerned about any potential backlash.
** spoiler omitted **
Cassius was following the conversation, a bit more bored than interested since he's not much into science, when suddenly everything seems to take a different route. It seems his most recent companions want to break heads.
Not knowing this is the best idea, but fearing for his own safety, he braces himself and gets ready for whatever's coming, searching quickly for something he might use as a combat tool.
Eirikur has heard enough from these beings, and as Arc sets upon one of them he eagerly advances on another. He may not remember who he is, but he does know that even without an altruistic cause, beings with such a casual disregard for life, and for so little value gained from its extermination, must be taught a lesson.
The Nightmare Dragon rushes the one called Pherenx.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[dice=Bite(B/P/S)(Power Attack)]1d20+17-2+1
[dice=Bite(B/P/S)]1d20+17-2+1
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d6+15+4[dice=Claw(B/S)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Claw(B/S)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d4+10+4
[dice=Crit Confirm]1d20+17-2
[dice=Crit Confirm]1d20+17-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d4+10+4
[dice=Cornugon Smash: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=Claw(B/S)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Claw(B/S)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d4+10+4
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33[dice=Wing(B)]1d20+15-2
[dice=Wing(B)]1d20+15-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d4+5+4
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33[dice=Wing(B)]1d20+15-2
[dice=Wing(B)]1d20+15-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d4+5+4
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33[dice=Bite(B/P/S)(Power Attack)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Bite(B/P/S)]1d20+17-2
[dice=Damage(PA)]1d6+15+4
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
[dice=CS: Intimidate]1d20+33
-------------------------------------------------------------------
...
This crab-like nightmare has a lamprey mouth, twitching eyes on its legs, and several blisters along its back that hold human brains.
Neh-Thalggu (CR 8)
XP 4,800
CE Large aberration
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 19, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +7 insight, –1 size)
hp 105 (10d8+60)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11
DR 10/magic; Immune confusion effects; SR 19OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +13 (1d8+7 plus poison), 2 claws +13 (1d6+7)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 2d6+7)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 7th; concentration +17)3rd (5/day)—lightning bolt (DC 16), hold person (DC 16)
2nd (7/day)—acid arrow, alter self, invisibility
1st (7/day)—grease (DC 14), magic missile, ray of enfeeblement (DC 14), shield, unseen servant
0 (at will)—acid splash, dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, read magicSTATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 16, Con 23, Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 17
Base Atk +7; CMB +15; CMD 35 (cannot be tripped)
Feats Arcane Strike, Extend Spell, Combat Reflexes, Eschew MaterialsB, Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Fly +15, Knowledge (arcana) +23, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +23, Knowledge (planes) +23, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +17, Stealth +12, Use Magic Device +16
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Draconic, Protean, Undercommon; telepathy (100 feet)
SQ brain collection, strange knowledgeSPECIAL ABILITIES
Brain Collection (Ex)
A neh-thalggu can store up to seven humanoid brains and use them to enhance its knowledge and power. Each stored brain grants a neh-thalggu a cumulative +1 insight bonus to AC, concentration checks, and Knowledge checks. A neh-thalggu can extract a brain from a helpless opponent with a coup de grace attack, or as a standard action from a body that has been dead for no more than 1 minute. A neh-thalggu that has fewer than seven brains gains one negative level for each missing brain. These negative levels can never become permanent, but they can only be removed by replacing one of its collected brains. The stats presented here assume a monster with a full collection.Poison (Ex)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 21; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage and staggered; cure 2 consecutive saves.The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spells
A neh-thalggu casts spells as a 7th-level sorcerer. For each negative level it takes from missing brains, its caster level is reduced by 1. A neh-thalggu with no collected brains cannot cast any of its spells.Strange Knowledge (Ex)
All Knowledge skills are class skills for neh-thalggus.ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure doubleKnown also as brain collectors, the alien neh-thalggus hail from distant worlds, traveling the gulfs of space on immense living ships that swiftly decay when they land upon a new world, leaving behind a deadly cargo of hungry monsters. Neh-thalggus are carnivores, but they do not digest humanoid brains they eat—rather, these brains lodge in one of several bulbous blisters on the Creature’s back and help to increase its intellect.
Some speculate that neh-thalggus encountered in this reality may merely be juveniles of their kind, perhaps exiled from their home worlds by greater kin until they can prove their worth on other worlds. Their brain collections may be a morbid form of currency in their home realm, or the thoughts in these brains may merely be fuel for a dark apotheosis into an even more sinister mature form.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2, © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Graeme Davis, Crystal Frasier, Joshua J. Frost, Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Hal MacLean, Martin Mason, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona, Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Owen K.C. Stephens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
1d20 + 11; 1d10 +8 +6
Eirikur has heard enough from these beings, and as Arc sets upon one of them he eagerly advances on another. He may not remember who he is, but he does know that even without an altruistic cause, beings with such a casual disregard for life, and for so little value gained from its extermination, must be taught a lesson.
This crab-like nightmare has a lamprey mouth, twitching eyes on its legs, and several blisters along its back that hold human brains.
Neh-Thalggu (CR 8)
XP 4,800
CE Large aberration
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 19, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +7 insight, –1 size)
hp 105 (10d8+60)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11
DR 10/magic; Immune confusion effects; SR 19OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +13 (1d8+7 plus poison), 2 claws +13 (1d6+7)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 2d6+7)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 7th; concentration +17)3rd (5/day)—lightning bolt (DC 16), hold person (DC 16)
2nd (7/day)—acid arrow, alter self, invisibility
1st (7/day)—grease (DC 14), magic missile, ray of enfeeblement (DC 14), shield, unseen servant
0 (at will)—acid splash, dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, read magicSTATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 16, Con 23, Int 19, Wis 18, Cha 17
Base Atk +7; CMB +15; CMD 35 (cannot be tripped)
Feats Arcane Strike, Extend Spell, Combat Reflexes, Eschew MaterialsB, Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Fly +15, Knowledge (arcana) +23, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +23, Knowledge (planes) +23, Perception +17, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +17, Stealth +12, Use Magic Device +16
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Draconic, Protean, Undercommon; telepathy (100 feet)
SQ brain collection, strange knowledgeSPECIAL ABILITIES
Brain Collection (Ex)
A neh-thalggu can store up to seven humanoid brains and use them to enhance its knowledge and power. Each stored brain grants a neh-thalggu a cumulative +1 insight bonus to AC, concentration checks, and Knowledge checks. A neh-thalggu can extract a brain from a helpless opponent with a coup de grace attack, or as a standard action from a body that has been dead for no more than 1 minute. A neh-thalggu that has fewer than seven brains gains one negative level for each missing brain. These negative levels can never become permanent, but they can only be removed by replacing one of its collected brains. The stats presented here assume a monster with a full collection.Poison (Ex)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 21; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage and staggered; cure 2 consecutive saves.The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spells
A neh-thalggu casts spells as a 7th-level sorcerer. For each negative level it takes from missing brains, its caster level is reduced by 1. A neh-thalggu with no collected brains cannot cast any of its spells.Strange Knowledge (Ex)
All Knowledge skills are class skills for neh-thalggus.ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure doubleKnown also as brain collectors, the alien neh-thalggus hail from distant worlds, traveling the gulfs of space on immense living ships that swiftly decay when they land upon a new world, leaving behind a deadly cargo of hungry monsters. Neh-thalggus are carnivores, but they do not digest humanoid brains they eat—rather, these brains lodge in one of several bulbous blisters on the Creature’s back and help to increase its intellect.
Some speculate that neh-thalggus encountered in this reality may merely be juveniles of their kind, perhaps exiled from their home worlds by greater kin until they can prove their worth on other worlds. Their brain collections may be a morbid form of currency in their home realm, or the thoughts in these brains may merely be fuel for a dark apotheosis into an even more sinister mature form.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2, © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Graeme Davis, Crystal Frasier, Joshua J. Frost, Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Hal MacLean, Martin Mason, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona, Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Owen K.C. Stephens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
Reeling from the Nightmare Dragon's overwhelming assault, one of the detestable eight-armed entities fitfully gives up its ghost, or whatever malevolent power animates the creature's squamous body, spraying a fountain of noxious ichor as it expires.
The tentacled quaternary attempts to mystically paralyze the vicious entity that has just dispatched one of their fellows.
Hold Person
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School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level antipaladin 2, bard 2, bloodrager 3, cleric/oracle 2, inquisitor 2, shaman 2, sorcerer/wizard 3, medium 2, mesmerist 2, occultist 3, psychic 2, witch 2CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, F/DF (a small, straight piece of iron)EFFECT
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target one humanoid creature
Duration 1 round/level (D); see text
Saving Throw Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance yesDESCRIPTION
The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place. It is aware and breathes normally but cannot take any actions, even speech. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A winged creature who is paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A swimmer can’t swim and may drown.
Hold Person, Mass
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level mesmerist 6, psychic 7, sorcerer/wizard 7, witch 7
Targets one or more humanoid creatures, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
This spell functions like hold person, except as noted above.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
Arc turns on the remaining cephalopods with a wicked grin as their spells slide off his mind like oil off a hot plate.
One of the surprised cephalopods shrieks!
"Aye, these ones are even worse than I remember!"
As the evidently frightened octopuses retreat to the center of the strange coral platform, a strange aperture suddenly opens in what might be thought of as the vessel's 'skin'. Where heretofore there had been no indications of any means of entry into the interior of the barnacle-encrusted vessel, now there gapes an odd, strangely-organic opening.
Another one of the surviving cephalopods squeaks,
"Ah poor Igvilix! So ignominious an end to a billion and a half years of life, learning, and exploration."