Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
I believe the note sums things up nicely. Looks like you have the ring right there, fortunately. So just slip that off and we'll be on our way. Giovanni gives a smile hoping this goes as smoothly as possible.
Arvok glances down at his hand, and seems surprised to see the ring there.
"Now how did that get there?" he says, as he looks at the ruby ring on his right ring finger, and he seems genuinely surprised to see it there.
As he says this, the ring begins to change, and in place of a ruby ring, the merchant now has a hideous, red-eyed serpent wrapped around his finger, which begins to laugh in a sort of slithery cough.
"I'm afraid Arvok ssshall be keeping the ring, foolisssh creaturesss. And I ssshall be keeping him," the snake says in a hissing voice.
Surprisingly the merchant doesn't seem overly shocked by this, and smiles at the serpent like it is his friend.
Knowledge (planes) DC 12:
This is a raktavarna, a type of rakshasha.
Made up of smoke, blood, and gold, raktavarnas are the least of the rakshasas—they are born not from humanoids, but from the souls of rakshasas who failed utterly in their previous incarnation and who are thus reborn from a serpent’s egg.
They have several special abilities.
Change Shape (Su) As a full-round action, a raktavarna can take the shape of a handheld object, most often an ornamental light, a one-handed weapon, or a piece of treasure. If the rakshasa remains stationary in such a form, it can attempt Stealth checks even while being observed. It can remain motionless in object form indefinitely, but reverts to its true form as soon as it takes any action.
Master’s Eyes (Su) A raktavarna can designate a single creature as its master as a standard action. If the raktavarna is a spellcaster’s familiar, its master is automatically that spellcaster, and the raktavarna cannot change this. As a full-round action, a raktavarna’s master can observe the world as if looking through the raktavarna’s eyes. The master must concentrate to maintain this link each round. The master’s visual senses are suppressed for this time, and he uses the raktavarna’s darkvision, detect magic, and regular eyesight to observe the world. This ability has no limit on range, and functions even across planar boundaries. If the raktavarna is slain while its master is using this ability, the master is stunned for 1d4 rounds (no save).
Poison (Su)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Wis plus modify memory; cure 1 save.
Each time a victim takes Wisdom damage from this poison, a modify memory effect causes the victim to forget the previous minute’s interactions with the raktavarna, as long as the raktavarna is no longer visible or is in object form. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Knowledge (planes) DC 17:
These terrors drift through society, passing from hand to hand as weapons or strange tokens from foreign lands, curiosities brought home by traders and emissaries and given to leaders as tribute. In this manner the raktavarnas gain entry into corridors of power throughout the world, and what they see, their foul masters know. A raktavarna’s servitude to a master ends only when its master decrees, or (more commonly) upon the master’s death. Little disconcerts raktavarnas more than having no master, and when they are cast adrift in this manner, they seek a replacement as soon as they can.
These foul creatures also have a number of spell like abilites: including charm person, commune, comprehend languages, detect magic, detect thoughts, and suggestion.
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
kn planes:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Damn, a raktavarna. Watch out for it's bite. It is poisonous. Giovanni raises his hand and sends a glob of acid at Arvok.
Minor Magic Rogue Talent, casting Orb of Acid at will.
I actually screwed up and Mikhail, not Giovanni should have been up. Giovanni missed anyway, so its no big deal, but for ensuing rounds I'll use the initiative as it should have been. Anyways, long story short, Mikhail may act.
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Mikhail the dwarven inquisitor moves carefully around to get behind the merchant. However, the raktavarna sees him doing so, and speaks in its
"Foolsss, foolsss, you can't fool me. Arvok here will be just yet another victim of my irresssissstible personality. And maybe this dwarf will be next. You, dwarf! Protect me from anyone who attacksss me, and kill anyone who triesss to hurt me." He says the last words with a strange authority in his voice, as if it were a spell.
Mikhail needs to succeed on a DC 15 Will save. I'll give him time to roll for it, since its kind of a big deal, and anyway you guys all get to go before Mikhail will act.
Male Dwarf (+2Con, +2Wis, -2Cha) 30/30HP, AC: 16 T: 16, FF: 14, CMD: 19,F: +6, R: +4, W: +6, Init +1, Pereption +7, Sense Motive +7LN Male Dwarf Master of Many Styles/ Monk of the Sacred Mountain 3,Unarmed Strike: +7, (1d6+8, x2) MW Cestus: +7, (1d4+8, 19-20x2)
Aye, how bout I put em to sleep then lizard man.
Tholand moves up, leaps, and does a downward palm strike across the back of the merchants neck.
Stunning Fist:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 181d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 DC:16 or be stunned and Shaken for Shaken:1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds
Tholand's blow hits Arvok, but he is tougher than he seems and avoids being stunned. Smiley's punch connects, but he finds that the merchant must be wearing a breastplate under his tunic, as it does no real damage.
The merchant draws a longsword and brings it down two-handed in a powerful slice, cutting deeply into Tholand's shoulder and sending an arc of blood into the air.
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Giovanni comes around the side, wedging his way into the party. We can revive the merchant but we must take him down.
Is the raktavarna too small to attack? If she can attack it she'll aim for it, otherwise she'll attack the man wearing it.
Everblooms circles around her companions to get a decent view of the weirdo with the talking ring. She shoots a flurry of pine needles at the enemy!
Ranged Attack:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11 Magic Piercing Damage:2d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 + 1 = 12
|AC 17, T 12, FF 15|HP: 24/24|F +5, R +3 W +6 (+2 vs magic items), SR 8|Init +5 (+1 in surprise rounds), Perc +3 (+2 vs pickpockets)|CMB +4 CMD 16 (20 vs disarm/steal)|1/1 Judgment, #1
Sorry for the disappearance - NOBODY expects the Sudden-Desperate-Need-For-A-Break-From-It-All! NOT EVEN the Inquisition!!!
Will save vs what is arguably a magic item:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15If you don't think this fascinating corner-case counts as "coming from a magic item", there may still also be the matter of my spell resistance (7).
Assuming I've made it either way, however:
Knowledge (Planes):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
"I do not follow orders from YOU!" Bellows Mikhail at the 'ring', conveniently around eye-level with him. "Well, at least, if you ARE sent as a lower-emissary of the Infernal Order, I have received NO notification of it prior, and I DO have a contract as stands!" Something seems to change in Mikhail as he goes on (and on)...something ominous. "Nay, by the Lord of Heresies, 'tis the mortal who shalt Judge the Hellspawn, who art hereby charged with crimes against decorum, serial contractual infidelity, breach of Infernal protocol, AND crimes against seasonal and regional fashion! That's FOUR..." He bellows as unholy hues of crimson, green, an in-between inexplicably glint off his flail...
I hereby declare Judgment!
masterwork silver heavy flail, flank, Judgment of Destruction vs Arvok:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 damage:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 NOBODY EXPECTS THE CRITICAL THREAT!:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 Critical damage?:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14+ 15 = 29 if that confirms
"...and a FIFTH for you, merchantman: Clear violation of the Eternal Edict As-Officially-Recognized-and-Sanctioned-By-The-Unholy-Church-of-Mammon-Itse lf, of 'Caveat Emptor'!" He declares as he wallops Arvok from behind with a nasty *cracking* sound.
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Am I hearing that Arvok has Damage Resistance 10+? Did making it Nonlethal make a difference?
Hskoro is correct in that I was just flavoring the miss as a "hit" that didn't hurt him because of his armor, since the better part of his armor class comes from armor bonuses.
Everbloom wrote:
Is the raktavarna too small to attack? If she can attack it she'll aim for it, otherwise she'll attack the man wearing it.
No, the raktavarna is tiny sized, but still a viable target.
Giovanni stabs at Arvok with his rapier, but the merchant's breastplate turns another blow. Everbloom can't get a clear shot at the tiny rakshasa, and sends leaves and pine needles blowing into the wind.
Then, the inquisitor takes his turn, and after quite the rhetorical flourish, he brings his flail smashing into Arvok's back, in a blow, from the sound of it, that must have broken multiple bones. The merchant goes down immediately, unconscious, bleeding badly, but seemingly alive and breathing.
Thankfully it wasn't a critical hit, and thankfully Tholand's damage was nonlethal, or this guy would for sure be dead.
A rasping, hissing cough comes from the ground where the merchant fell, and the serpentine raktavarna slither out of the merchants sleeve.
"Ah, well. I sssuppossse I'll have to find another target," says the tiny outsider, "I do hope you killed him at leassst, though I'd have preferred to do it my way. I like to get them to kill themselvesss, you sssee."
Then, with sudden swiftness, the raktavarna springs towards Mikhail, and tries to bite him on the ankle.
Arvok- 11 non-lethal, 15 damage; unconscious and bleeding to death
Mikhail can make an attack of opportunity against the raktavarna as it enters his square. Assuming he doesn't kill it with the AoO somehow, Mikhail then takes 1 point of piercing damage, and needs to succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save, or he will take 1 point of Wisdom damage and come under the effect of modify memory, effectively forgetting the previous minute's interactions with the raktavarna.
Hskoro, Tholand, Smiley, Everbloom, Giovanni, and Mikhail may act.
Male Nagaji Fighter 6.0 | AC 30 (T 15/FF 27) *+2 AC vs Critical Confirmation | CMB +12 CMD 26 (FF 23) | HP 70/70 | Init +2 | Fort +8 Ref +4 Will +2 (All +2 vs Mind-Affecting Effects & Poison; +1 vs Fear); +4 Hot/Cold Environment & Suffocation) | Perception +2 | Low-Light Vision | Speed 20' | Active Conditions:
Frowning when the merchant goes down, he spots the snake making a break for it. Bring his hammer down on it, he yells out. "At least stabilize the merchant."
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Giovanni stutter steps at the creature trying to throw it off and follows with a rapier strike supported by Mikhail's flank.
|AC 17, T 12, FF 15|HP: 24/24|F +5, R +3 W +6 (+2 vs magic items), SR 8|Init +5 (+1 in surprise rounds), Perc +3 (+2 vs pickpockets)|CMB +4 CMD 16 (20 vs disarm/steal)|1/1 Judgment, #1
attack of opportunity, masterwork silver heavy flail, flank?, Judgment of Destruction vs raktavarna:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20-2 if I don't actually have a flank silver damage:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Fortitude save vs what is arguably a magic item:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
"BAH! Many years I have trained for this day, you little...proscribed artefact!" Mikhail's eyes gleam with malice as he looks down at the little ophidian fiend - only to be overtaken by a glaze of hesitation. "And yet...are ye not of HELL, made in a facsimile of my Lord's image? To smite your profane being would be HERESY...and as such, the most infernal of honors to Lord Geryon! NOBODY EXPECTS THE HERETICAL INQUISITION!"
masterwork silver heavy flail, flank?, Judgment of Destruction vs raktavarna:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25-2 if I don't actually have a flank silver damage:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 threat roll:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Ending my turn by shifting to Judgment of Purity as a swift action.
Male Dwarf (+2Con, +2Wis, -2Cha) 30/30HP, AC: 16 T: 16, FF: 14, CMD: 19,F: +6, R: +4, W: +6, Init +1, Pereption +7, Sense Motive +7LN Male Dwarf Master of Many Styles/ Monk of the Sacred Mountain 3,Unarmed Strike: +7, (1d6+8, x2) MW Cestus: +7, (1d4+8, 19-20x2)
Oi! Get up, ye weren’t hit that hard now...we’ll sorta I guess.
Tholand stays with the merchant, and spends a full round drawing a potion of CLW and force feeds his potion to him.
CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Tholand feeds Arvok a potion, which stabilizes the merchant, though he remains unconscious.
Giovanni and Mikhail deliver an effective one-two punch to the raktavarna (though Mikhail's bludgeoning weapon damage seems to have been reduced by the rakshasa's defenses), and it hisses in pain.
"Ah, the show nearsss itsss end. It wasss a good run. I'm sure to come back as a more powerful rakssshasssa next time, especccially after my masssterpieccce, the Chelaxian girl Althea, that poor, sweet, lovestruck thing. And it wasn't long after she killed herself that those nasssty little goblinsss came and finissshed off the ressst of her mourning family, all except the one child who essscaped."
It tries to bite Mikhail once more, spitefully, but the inquisitor moves his foot to the side to dodge the ankle-biter.
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Your meddling is done, creature. Giovanni attempts to deliver the final stab.
Male Nagaji Fighter 6.0 | AC 30 (T 15/FF 27) *+2 AC vs Critical Confirmation | CMB +12 CMD 26 (FF 23) | HP 70/70 | Init +2 | Fort +8 Ref +4 Will +2 (All +2 vs Mind-Affecting Effects & Poison; +1 vs Fear); +4 Hot/Cold Environment & Suffocation) | Perception +2 | Low-Light Vision | Speed 20' | Active Conditions:
Hskoro speaks final words to the snake ring, "Thanks for telling us about the child." He then hisses as he strikes his warhammer down on the snake ring.
Male Dwarf (+2Con, +2Wis, -2Cha) 30/30HP, AC: 16 T: 16, FF: 14, CMD: 19,F: +6, R: +4, W: +6, Init +1, Pereption +7, Sense Motive +7LN Male Dwarf Master of Many Styles/ Monk of the Sacred Mountain 3,Unarmed Strike: +7, (1d6+8, x2) MW Cestus: +7, (1d4+8, 19-20x2)
He be stable now, that’s about as good as I can do for now. Poor fella in the wrong place at the wrong time. How bout ye shut the darn ring up! Tholand stands guard over the merchant preparing to strike at anyone he perceives to be a threat.
With another stab from the rapier, Giovanni ends the raktavarna's sorry existence. The others make sure the thing is dead. As it dies, it morphs and changes, until all that remains is a small, strange, warped piece of metal, halfway between a ring and an outstretched serpent.
The threat is over, but there remains a badly beaten (and likely bewildered) merchant to be dealt with. Arvok remains unconscious. The other merchants are eyeing the scene with some interest, but they all have the look of men who don't want to "get involved".
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
UMD:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Giovanni will activate his wand of healing for the downed merchant.
Male Nagaji Fighter 6.0 | AC 30 (T 15/FF 27) *+2 AC vs Critical Confirmation | CMB +12 CMD 26 (FF 23) | HP 70/70 | Init +2 | Fort +8 Ref +4 Will +2 (All +2 vs Mind-Affecting Effects & Poison; +1 vs Fear); +4 Hot/Cold Environment & Suffocation) | Perception +2 | Low-Light Vision | Speed 20' | Active Conditions:
Hskoro reaches down and takes what remains of the serpent ring without fear. "We have what we came for and what now? The ghost in the necklace sent us here, perhaps she would have a suggestion."
"Good riddance," Everbloom snarls as the snake-beast dies. She stomps on it. With a swish of her tail she turns and leans against a nearby wagon. "Yes. Speak with the spirit."
Giovanni awakens Arvok, who, after the Pathfinders explain the situation, is overjoyed and thankful for the help he was given. In his gratitude, he gives the group a traveler's any tool, and 45 platinum pieces.
When the group return's to Delara Adnen's home, the anxious merchant greets them warmly, and is happy to hear of their success. Then Smiley produces the locket. Hesistantly, Delara speaks, "Althea? Are you there?"
As Smiley holds the locket aloft, the tiny image of Althea Irrica appears, projected above the locket's face as before.
"Greetings, my friends," says the hologram, "What have you learned? Did you bring my engagement ring so I can be at rest, and be with my fiance once more?"
"Ah, I see," replies the image of the young woman, "Well, I thank you for telling me the truth at least. But... do you know what happened to me? How I died?"
"Stupidity," Everbloom replies immediately. She lets out a yipping chuckle. "The ring was a monster, and it twisted your mind. You killed yourself. Perhaps it made you. Perhaps you did it to escape the monster. I don't know." she shrugs. "Stupid thing to do, either way."
Human Rogue (unchained, Investigator) 5 | HP 33 | AC 21/14/17 | F+2 R+8 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +10 (+11 Danger Sense) | Active Conditions: Heightened Awareness, Evasion, Feather fall (1/day)
Giovanni shakes his head at Everbloom's lack of bedside manor. The victim is not to blame here. The circumstances are clear that compulsion was the culprit. What else can we do to ease your rest, madam?
