The archon steps to the side of the demon, continuing to lash out with his sword and even his teeth.
Meanwhile, Argor hovers in place and spins his hands in arcane gestures, calling forth red orbs of energy that crash one by one into the demon.
Both Cladissa's and Argor's spells fizzle out when they contact the demon, having no effect on it.
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Realizing that the now bound and grappled Gianluca is the only person who even stands a chance against this otherwise invincible demon (and that her buddy needs both hands to use his sword), Sabrina unleashes her inner ham and utters a mighty battle cry. She nimbly zips over to the Honeyed Man and makes him as slippery as a snake. The demon's tendrils promptly lose their grip, leaving Gianluca open to make the evil creature hurt.
Blood pouring from numerous wounds, Gianluca remains standing through sheer determination.
"Arshea, if now is my time, I know I have lived as passionately as I was able." he declares while swinging his greatsword three times in hasted fury.
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As the group is fighting, they notice Osprey leaning over Brother Dunnamast when they glance back. It appears the druid is asking him questions and leaning in close to hear the cleric's whispered answers.
"Gianluca!" Cladissa yells when she sees the demon rip into the newest member of their team. She moves forward and unleashes a silent scream into the mind of the monstrosity.
The archon steps to the side of the demon, continuing to lash out with his sword and even his teeth.
Meanwhile, Argor hovers in place and spins his hands in arcane gestures, calling forth red orbs of energy that crash one by one into the demon.
Both Cladissa's and Argor's spells fizzle out when they contact the demon, having no effect on it.
Realizing that the now bound and grappled Gianluca is the only person who even stands a chance against this otherwise invincible demon, Sabrina unleashes her inner ham and utters a mighty battle cry. She nimbly zips over to the Honeyed Man and makes him as slippery as a snake. The demon's tendrils promptly lose their grip, leaving Gianluca open to make the evil creature hurt.
Hrimnagel fires two more arrows at the demon.
They fail to harm the demon again.
Blood pouring from numerous wounds, Gianluca remains standing through sheer determination. "Arshea, if now is my time, I know I have lived as passionately as I was able." he declares while swinging his greatsword three times in hasted fury. He manages to slash the primordial fiend twice, burning huge swathes of its smoky form away. Unfortunately, the terror is uncountably old and power. It does not succumb to its wounds.
The demon lets go of the honeyed man, then whips its tendrils at Gianluca and the Hound lackadaisically, as if swatting flies.
Gianluca is torn asunder. He disappears from the dream realm.
Xersus is also sitting on the floor, rubbing his head. The bodies of the others lie slumped in the circle around Dunnamast, still holding hands.
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Argor grits his teeth when the creature sends Gianluca to his Lord. Hoping to outsmart the thing, he proclaims, "ENOUGH of this foolishness!"
He retrieved a scroll from his side and reads off the incantation contained therein. When finished, a massive portal appears and an angelic warrior of equal stature to the demonic thing steps through. The feminine warrior is clad in radiant full plate engraved in holy markings, her feathered wings flapping powerfully behind her. She draws a sword that glows with radiant energy, and takes up a battle stance!
The hound continues its own attacks.
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Seeing her one of her only three friends die, Sabrina hisses angrily and Wild Shapes into an Emperor Cobra. As she slithers into flanking with the Hound Archon, she finds herself wishing that the shapeshifting process was faster. Hopefully, Lord Yig will favor her for the remaining few seconds her Invisibility spell lasts.
"Nooo!" Cladissa yells as Gianluca is ripped apart. She runs forward in a staggering gait, horrified at the creature's brutality. She moves closer and focuses her hex against the demon, using in desperation her most potent Hex, even though she had doubts as to its effectiveness in this dream realm.
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If the Sleep Hex Takes...
::Classy, have everyone hold their fire; I'll finish this fool!::
Seeing her chance to avenge Gianluca, Sabrina casts Divine Favor and then unhinges her jaw. After taking a second to locate her enemy's head, she clamps down hard on the sleep demon's ugly mug. She silently prays to Yig that her attack is enough.
If the Sleep Hex Fails...
Sabrina hisses in frustration.
The primordial demon, master of the realm of dreams, terror of aeons, cannot help but fall prey to Cladissa's hex. It falls gently asleep, and allows itself to be snuffed out of existence.
The dream realm dissolves around the Pathfinders, and they find themselves back in the basement of Cayden's temple. Xersus and Gianluca are there, and alive, but look rough. Bother Dunnamast seems alive, but he is in a state of shock, as of yet unable to talk.
Osprey on the other hand looks alright.
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Empress Cobra Sabrina leaves the talking to those who can actually talk; instead, two hundred pounds and sixteen feet of happy snake promptly coil around Gianluca is the most comfortable but affectionate hug Yig's Champion can manage. Somehow, Sabrina manages to make her hisses sound almost like coos and purrs. Needless to say, she is very happy that her friend is alright.
As the dream realm dissolves around them, Argor allows the illusion to dissipate as well. "How is the priest?" Argor asks Osprey.
As he dies in the dream-realm, Gianluca howls with pain.
As Gianluca awakens back in Golarion, he rubs his eyes and bursts into laughter as he realizes he's still alive...and then groans just as loudly as the laughter reminds him how badly injured he is.
He yowls a bit as Sabrina coils around him, but relaxes when he sees how gently she's hugging his injured form. "None of that snake-sex right now, Ssssabs, I don't think my body could take it," he kids.
As he gets his bearings Gianluca notices that Xersus yet lives as well, and smiles.
With the demon hexed, Cladissa allows her tears to fall while Sabrina finishes it. The shunt back to reality disorients her and she looks around in a daze as her grief over Gianluca begins to crawl over her.
Then she blinks her eyes clear as she hears Gianluca groan. A wave of relief crashes over and Cladissa begins to laugh in triumph.
Snake-sex?!? The words register in her brain and her laugh gets cut abruptly by a choked gagging sound. Cladissa had heard people make the comment that they just threw up a little in their mouths but had always thought it was in jest. Now she knew first-hand it could literally happen.
She spins away from the Arshean and the snake, trying to suppress her shudders and control her stomach from emptying the remainder of its contents. She finds herself straying close to Argor, hoping one of his inevitably snide remarks would shift her focus away from the horrifying revelation of what an Arshean would be willing to do with a shapeshifting druid.
"I don't know. I hope he will be fine, given time," Osprey answers Argor. "Thanks to you all, whatever that thing was is gone. Dunnamast told me something that makes me think Baldimar's supposed hidden archives actually exist, and likely hold something of great value. The fact that demons are willing to attack a major temple in Absalom just proves it. Dunnamast said there's something hidden under a bench in the garden. We should go check it out."
Saphira nods. "If any of you need healing my priests will see to you. I will make sure Dunnamast is seen to. In the meantime I'll escort you to the garden."
Xersus says, "I could use some healing and a drink. That was a fascinating encounter, but I've never been so terrified in my life! I shall have to write a report for the Chronicles immediately!"
"Then let us be off to the garden. If this has become a race to find whatever it is that is hidden in these archives, then our opponents already have quite the head start," Argor says with a matter-of-fact tone, before collecting Rutai and beginning to hover that direction.
Eager to occupy her mind with something else, Cladissa nods hurriedly in agreement with Osprey and Argor.
"Yes, let's do this quietly. Hrim, you're best suited for that." She checks herself for the presence of her serving girl disguise and renews it if necessary. Then she slips out of the chamber and goes to the garden.
Gianluca gratefully accepts the healing of Saphira's clerics. Once he's back to full health he smiles, bows to them theatrically, and then heads out.
At Cladissa's sugestion to go quietly, Gianluca replies "It's a reasonable suggestion but I don't have a way to stop being seven and a half feet tall, honey-golden, and distractingly good looking. If you or Argor have a way to disguise me, I'm game. Otherwise...I suspect things are a bit in a tumult here already."
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Sabrina plops her Hat of Disguise on Gianluca's head.
"There. Shave off a foot and normalize your skin tone. Maybe lose a degree or two of handsomeness. I doubt the average drunkard can tell me apart from other Nagaji, so I should be fine. Besides, no one noticed that nutty air elemental flying around."
Gianluca tries on the hat, focuses, and looks himself over. "Hey, not bad. Thanks for the assist."
Cladissa keeps her back to the nagaji and the aasimar, pushing real and imagined details of their strange relationship into the deep recesses of her mind. She focuses on the task at hand, and strides purposefully to the garden.
She pauses for a moment to bring up an enhanced sight to see invisible creatures before entering. She looks around for threats first, then begins checking out the benches.
Upon close examination Hrimnagel finds that one of the flagstones under a bench seems like it could be removed. The hidden doorway is expertly hidden. To get to it, someone will need to move the bench out of the way.
Argor looks to the Archon and gestures with his head for it to move the flagstone. It grinds its teeth before being compelled to obey, and moves to the stone and lifts it away with a heave.
Cladissa offers the unwilling servant a smile in thanks. Then she tries to peer into the opening in the floor made by moving the flagstone.
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::Hey, Classy. Where did this Hound come from? I thought Argor summoned him in the Dream Realm. I don't remember him being present in the room after we slayed the demon. And now he's suddenly here! Argor needed some muscle, and boom! How did no one notice him until we got to this particular spot? Or do I just need to get my eyes checked?::
Sabrina clearly enjoys having a direct mental link to her current straight woman.
The glamoured witch takes a quick glance at Sabrina. ::Argor's conjured minions have a duration that's tenfold of most summoned creatures. You may have just missed that he returned with us. And clearly Argor ignored my suggestion that we try to remain unobtrusive:: Her mouth twists in irritation, then she looks back to the flagstone.
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::Huh. That's neat! My sister would be so jealous. She can only keep her buddies around for like a minute tops. Anyway, I'm surprised that someone so logical like Argor would ignore your plan. I mean, I, of all people, contrary to what some people might say, went along with it!:: Sabrina mentally chirps as she joins Cladissa in taking a peak.
The hound lifts the stone, revealing a wide but steep set of stairs that descends into darkness beneath it.
Saphira gasps. "I had no idea that was there!"
Bertrand pops his head into the garden entrance. "Mam, we've done a head count and it appears four more members of our order are missing."
Saphira sighs. "Are you sure?"
Bertrand nods. "No one has seen them at work in two days. Normally we'd just assume they are off on a bender somewhere...but given the circumstances...."
Saphira nods. "Please, Pathfinders, we need more of your help. Search whatever is below for my missing priests. If there are demons here, they must be destroyed. I also need to know what lies hidden beneath my temple. Do this for me, and we will add our own reward to whatever you find below."
Cladissa stares down into the darkness with her augmented, demonic sight. Then she pauses, and looks at the others.
"Argor, did you already enchant your vision to see in darkness? If so, then Sabrina is likely the only one left without that ability." She then pulls from her brow a crown with a single cats eye gemstone at its center, and passes it to the druid. "Here. Wear this, and you should be able to see in this darkness, and we will not need to risk the light. I won't have the extended range that this item affords me, but I think it best that we all can see properly."
Then she adds, with a furtive glance in the direction of Argor, ::Then we'll see if he disagrees with this plan as well::
"All of us being able to see in the dark would indeed be a boon," Argor comments as he floats down the stairs, behind the Archon.
Cladissa blinks at Argor floating down ahead of most of his companions save for his summoned minion. ::Why the rush, Argor? Why not let Hrim scout as usual?::
Gianluca sniffs the air as he starts to descend. "Hmmmm, what's that smell? Not just mustiness I think..."
Declining to reply mentally, Argor says, "The rush, Miss Velorryan, is because whatever these demons are after, they have a head start. I do not relish the idea of facing them after they succeed at their task and are likely stronger for it."
Cladissa sniffs futilely at whatever scent Gianluca is detecting, having to force away her grief for her diminished sense. She shakes her head in frustration as she feels her tail writhe around uselessly behind her.
Argor's words breaks her from her black thoughts about her new form, and she has to stop herself from snapping at him in reflex. Instead, she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
"Very well, Argor." She waits for her turn to descend, after Argor and Gianluca.
The deep gnome takes a deep breath when he returns underground. He takes his usual place stealthily flying in front of his companions.
Looking for demons, he also focuses on Detecting Evil ensuring that Argor and Rutai are outside his sight.
Halfway down, the stairs are suddenly slick with blood. Inside the pool of blood are four human fingers. At the bottom of the curve lies a body dressed in the brown robes of one of Cayden Cailean’s priests — he’s missing all four fingers of his left hand.
The stairwell ends at a small, curved foyer facing a broad set of heavy, iron double doors that block further passage. Shallow alcoves flank the doors on either side. Each boasts a statue of Cayden Cailean, one holding a massive flagon, the other hoisting a large sack. The latter is badly chipped and one of its arms lies on the floor, broken off at the shoulder. Across both doors is a message scrawled in blood. The doors open inward, and though they are closed now, they show signs of having been forced open in the past.
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Sabrina happily takes Cladissa's offered item. While Hrim scouts, Sabrina quickly goes back to Bentley and uses a Pearl of Power stashed in his saddlebag to renew her formerly spent Shield spell. She then hugs the allosaurus around the snout and rapidly returns to the others.
If/When Hrim brings back any bad news, before heading further into the darkness, she Wild Shapes into a dire tiger.
::Last one for today. Might as well avoid wasting time if we get into a fight.:: Sabrina explains the Cladissa. ::By the by, it's so nice that I can still talk with you after I rip out my vocal cords!::
"This man's neck was crushed," she pronounces after a quick examination of the body.
Cladissa gives Sabrina an odd smile when she turns into a large sabre-toothed tiger. Cole slinks down the steps avoiding the feet of the others and meows softly. Cladissa looks at him then back to Sabrina. "You should also be able to talk with Cole if you need."
Then Cladissa turns her attention to the room and studies the message in blood across the doors.
Gianluca grimaces at the sight of the body. "Savage. Senseless. Let's destroy these demons before they can cause further harm."
Gianluca listens at the doors, and (looking at the bloody message on the door) asks, "Can anyone decipher what's written here?"
"Hope it doesn't read 'I memorized exploding runes today.' Nothing evil out here. Let's prepare before we push those doors open." a small, thin voice offers the freaks from a shadow.
"This man's neck was crushed," she pronounces after a quick examination of the body.
Cladissa gives Sabrina an odd smile when she turns into a large sabre-toothed tiger. Cole slinks down the steps avoiding the feet of the others and meows softly. Cladissa looks at him then back to Sabrina. "You should also be able to talk with Cole if you need."
Then Cladissa turns her attention to the room and studies the message in blood across the doors.
When Cladissa attempts to read the message, she triggers a trap.
The bloody writing springs off of the doors like so many flat, twisted vipers. The jagged abyssal blood script stabs into her, blasting her with negative energy and rending her flesh.
Cladissa is rent and crumples to the floor. Cole yowls and leaps to her side, giving her a quick dose of healing energy.
"Whoa! S%#%! That was crazy!" Rutai exclaims as the trap concludes.
He flits down and removes a pair of the wands from his back. He uses the first without issue, and the infernal magics within begin tending to Cladissa's wounds. He struggles with the second wand for a moment, but then succeeds on drawing the magic contained therein forth, and the positive energy washes quickly over Cladissa, a stark contrast to the demonic fueled healing of the first wand the group procured.
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