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And down you go.
Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls of this large cavern,
bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber’s ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. A small tunnel leads to the northeast, and several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern.
You reach the bottom of the cavern with no issue whatsoever. Immediately Kalkamedes starts pulling against his harness. The sword has remained relatively silent, but Alspeth can still sense the blade's mind connected to hers.
Every surface except those containing summoning circles is scarred by claw marks of various sizes, hinting at the hundreds of creatures once held captive here.
As Kalkamedes pulls harder, you pass into a circular alcove budding off from the larger cavern to
the north. An elaborate set of concentric circles inscribed in dull metal of different colors occupies much of the space within the room.
You notice a small, pink haired gnome male trapped in one of the circles. He stirs as you enter.
"Hell...Hello?" He whimpers.
Kalkamedes pays no attention to the Gnome and continues to pull toward another alcove to the west.
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"There's also a woman trapped there," Shayla says while pointing the woman out, "She looks... different."
"What do we do, shall we free them? We should at least try to talk to them..."
Shayla moves closer to the trapped gnome and woman, and waves at both. "I'm Shayla, who are you? Any idea how we can get you out of those things you're in?"
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The woman doesn't move. You can see that she's alive, but she's nearly clearly unconscious. The gnome is dressed in threadbare clothes and has an unkempt mane of fuchsia hair. He seems relatively unhurt, if not emaciated and haggard.
The gnome however becomes excited when he hears your voice.
"Oh thank the Gods, you're not just some hallucination!" He cries with joy. "My name is Koth'Vaul, We've been trapped here for time immeasurable. There were three of us once. Good friends, we were explorers. We stumbled on this place and the Thrallkeepers, enslaved us. These circles, they were used to keep us locked in and somehow drew on our magic power, while keeping us barely alive. I think if you just destroy the circle, I'll be released. I can then help you with my blood-sister Sulianna. She's been silent for so long."
He then looks intently at Kalkamedes.
"Johanis!" He shouts trying to get K's attention.
"Joh--- no, it can't be Johanis, he'd have died several times over. By the Gods, his oath must have some power. He swore that he or his descendants would come back for us and release us from this hell. Oh thank you Johanis! Thank you!"
Turning back to you.
"Quickly, just destroy these runes and I'll be free and able to aid sweet Sulianna."
You are free to make any skill or knowledge checks you want to aid you in disrupting the circle that has the gnome and the unearthly woman trapped.
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Crin's attention fastens on the other gnome. "Wow, so you've been here a long time? Who are the Thrallkeepers? I like the hair, good shade. I had pink hair once, but found no one take me seriously. Funny that." Ever eager to help a fellow gnome, Crin starts to move forward to help the emaciated looking gnome. But his eye is drawn to the concentric circles; now, why do they sound so familiar?
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Seeing her plan is effective, Shayla swings her swords till her arms begin to feel tired. "Break, break, break, break, break already!"
"Could anyone... tell me... if I'm at least... halfway... breaking this darn thing...?" Shayla will ask if the barrier's still standing, breathing heavily while she speaks.
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I'm going to roll this in case Niko doesn't see this.
Niko I used your moment of Inspiration because it's very important, I hope you'll forgive me.
To Niko, certain things seem to be odd about the story the Gnome is telling.
First and foremost is the fact that this specific circle should not be capable of holding a Gnome captive. It is designed to trap outsiders.
Secondly, the Gnome's name, is not Gnomish, in fact it's Abyssal and any Gnome that would have been trapped for that long would have started bleaching due to having his spirit crushed.
Finally, his claim that Kalkamedes must be Johanis's descendent is outlandish. The Thrallkeepers' rule over this area ended more than 1000 years ago.
+20 to Sense Motive roll.
+4 for Crin and Strat's Aid = 40.
"He's Lying!" Niko shouts, pulling Shayla away from striking the last blow that would have undone the circle.
"Wha---NO YOU FOOL! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" The Gnome roars, but the voice is not that of a small, weakened Gnome. It is the full roar of Koth'Vaul's true nature — A Glazebru Demon!
Suddenly, from within the Circle the gnome begins to spasm and shift and terribly transform, until a powerful, but wounded Demon stands before you. He looks at Shayla and shouts.
"Continue your work and I will let you live, you've already weakened my bonds mortal. I will be free within days. Strike the last blow and I will not hunt you down and consume your soul!"
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"Foul creature, the Dawnflower is the only one who shall possess my soul, as my parents before me! What have I need of power as long as I possess her warmth in my heart? We have seen through it's deceptive words, friends, do not give in to whatever temptations it may offer!" Strat moves towards the creature, attempting to interpose himself between it and Shayla.
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"I knew something was funky about this."
Alspeth's eyes widen for a moment as the thought-sent offer is given. A breath of time passes, before the Silver Crusade member laughs. "I came here to get away from those things," she says, mostly to herself. "I certainly do not need your help, creature."
She draws Gamin the Misforged, even if the blade is not her signature weapon. It seems fitting, somehow. "Gamin," she says. "We will need your aid."
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For a moment, Crin is tempted. Seriously, ultimate power would be fun.
But really, did the demon have to disguise itself as a gnome? That was just wrong, and it made Crin mad. Sure enough, he'd like to be an all-powerful spellcaster, but he'd like to feel he'd earned it, and didn't want help from some stink-horned demon anyway.
The diminutive gnome drops into a combat stance, ready to blast the demon with a spell if it starts to get any funny ideas.
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"Foolish mortals, my cage will fall apart within the day. And then I will take my time as I kill all you hold close. I will make sure to take my time and enjoy it first. As for you.
ILLVASTER, will handle you."
And with that a young black dragon appears around the corner roaring!
Initiatives: I'll put the map up after I get home from church.
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"By the Host," Alspeth murmers as Strat shouts out his warning. Gamin in hand, the undead dragon takes a bite of the woman. SHe does hurt, but there are others that need protecting first, and the woman steps in to strike with the enchanted longsword. She calls upon Gamin. "Gamin, I call on your aid."
I am unable to see the map at work. Will reposition myself when I get home.
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Crin's eyes widen as he sees the black scaled dragon lumbers around the corner. He's even more surprised when Nikomedes shouts that it's an undead dragon. "By the Gods!" Crin gathers up the magical energies he was building up to throw at the demon, and aims it at the dragon instead. The gnome then moves back, not wanting to be caught between the demon and the dragon. He sees the rock pillar and moves for the far side, keeping it between himself and the dragon as he draws out his alchemist's fire - he didn't want to be caught in the open if that dragon still has its nasty breath weapon.
[ooc] Cast magic missile at the dragon. 5 points force damage. Then move 30 feet to get behind the pillar. Will draw alchemist's fire next round.
HP 7/7
Spells Cast
1st - reduce person, magic missile x3
0 - detect magic x2, acid splash x2, light
spell-like ability - speak with animals
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HP 21/21
AC 18 FF17 T11 CMD 16
Saves F5 R3 W8
Channel Energy 3/5
Fire Bolt 7/7
Rebuke Death 7/7
Spells
0th - Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, Guidance
1st - Bless[ ], Bless[ ], Burning Hands[ ], Magic Weapon[X]
2nd - Produce Flame[ ], Lesser Restoration [X], Spiritual Weapon[ ]
Effects
None
Strat calls upon the dawnflower to restore his allies vigor. "My goddess, please grant us a reprieves from these wounds."
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Because of time. I'm going to fast forward.
Niko and Strat approach the otherworldly woman. A few minutes of study of her prone form, convinces the both of you that she is a Ghaele Azata, a being of purity who defends the ideals of goodness and freedom. Within moments, you break through her barrier and free her from her prison.
The Demon is raging within his own circle, uttering threats and promises of destruction for you and your descendants. Promising to hunt you down to the 13th generation.
Ignoring the demon, Strat channels positive energy into the Ghaele Azata healing her.
She instantly recognizes Kalkamedes. And apologizes to the man as she lifts the effect that is afflicting him, waking him. She introduces herself as Sulianna the Luminescent, and quickly explains how she came into this predicament. She had attempted to slay the demon within the circle, but was ambushed by his Zombie Dragon, terribly injured she fled into the summoning circle for protection (the Undead cannot cross the circle). She attempted to use her telepathy ability to reach out to Kalkamedes, who was adventuring in the area, but in her weakened condition, it afflicted him as a Gaes.
As she finishes speaking, she walks over to the demon.
"These bonds will not hold past the week," She says. "We cannot allow this creature to escape, unfettered onto the material plane.
She turns to Shayla and puts a hand on her shoulder.
"I will grant you the ability to banish this creature." She says and some of her power flows into Shayla, as it does Shayla begins casting Banishment.
Koth'Vul curses the party even as an Arcane portal begins to open beneath him and drag him back to the planes of the Abyss where he belongs.
With Kalkamedes and Sulianna restored, you've earned powerful, lifelong allies.
Sulianna accompanies the group back to Kalkamedes’s cottage and then departs for Elysium, but not before promising a favor in return for the PCs’ assistance. Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch expresses visible relief upon seeing the Pathfinders return and offers them heartfelt thanks for their patience and hard work. Kalkamedes is also grateful, spreads word of the party's good deed to his long-time Pathfinder colleagues, and— with Gamin’s consent—gives his sword to Alspeth as a gift. In addition, he might take one or more of you under his wing and act as a mentor figure.