Hidden, Hrim explores the room while the team waits for his all clear signal.
Argor returns the wand to it's place on his belt, then removes a couple scrolls from their tubes. He holds one to his side and says, "Take this." The unseen servant takes the offered scroll, as Argor removes another and holds it at the ready.
Grommuk waits patiently for Hrimnagel to return with a report.
Seeing the many stuffed behemoths in this room -- and the memory of the others coming to life still fresh in his mind -- Nyugusk decides to quaff his Extract of Unusual Size.
Shuddering at the acrid taste, he starts to feel his skin stretch as he grows to double his size.
As Hrimnagel moves into the center of the room he activates another unseen trigger of some kind. Four of the masks lining the walls begin to crack and slough off their outer stony lair. Horrid blackened, bat-winged fiends' heads burst out of them. Tentacles dangle from their chins and scalps, and their fanged mouths hang agape. The four creatures shriek and flutter towards the door to attack.
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For every 5 you beat the DC by you can choose one of the following tidbits to know.
*Kiss (Su)
A vargouille can kiss a helpless target by making a successful melee touch attack (this provokes attacks of opportunity). A kissed opponent must succeed on a DC 16 Fortitude save or begin a terrible transformation that changes the creature into a vargouille within 24 hours (and often much sooner; roll 1d6 separately for each phase of the transformation). First, over a period of 1d6 hours, all the victim's hair falls out. Within another 1d6 hours thereafter, the ears grow into leathery wings, tentacles sprout on the chin and scalp, and the teeth become long, pointed fangs. During the next 1d6 hours, the victim takes Intelligence drain and Charisma drain equal to 1 point per hour (to a minimum of 3). The transformation is complete 1d6 hours thereafter, when the victim's head breaks free of the body (which promptly dies) and becomes a vargouille. This transformation's progress is paused by sunlight or any light spell of 3rd level or higher, but stopping the transformation requires remove disease or a similar effect. The transformation is a disease effect. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +4 racial bonus.
*Poison (Su)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 12; frequency once; effect damage caused by bite can only be healed with magic if the spellcaster succeeds on a DC 20 caster level check; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.
*Shriek (Su)
Instead of biting, a vargouille can open its distended mouth to shriek. Those within 60 feet (except other vargouilles) who hear the shriek and can clearly see the creature must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 2d4 rounds or until the monster attacks them, goes out of range, or leaves their sight. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same vargouille's shriek for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Initiative
Party 14
Vargouilles 9.5
Hrimnagel tries to stay unseen until his companions enter the room. He moves toward a wall, so he can flank with with one of his large friends.
.
And yeah, I did a doubletake to see both Jelani and Thron describing this weird monster I've never heard of twice in the same night in two different games.
Nyugusk ducks sidewise through the door and bounds in 3 big step up to the first bat-thing.
When Hrimnagel reveals himself, Nyugusk takes advantage of the momentary distraction. He opens his maw wide enough to fit a mastiff, he grinds it between his tusks and then spits it back out.
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Argor takes a step to Cladissa's side along the opposite wall, and begins the practiced motions of a summoning spell.
__________
Nervously, Cladissa moves into the space the enlarged Nyugusk vacated, peering into the room. Grommuk! On your left! Get that one! she shouts, while giving it the Evil Eye, lowering its defenses.
________________________________
Fail. -2 to AC for 7 rounds.
Grommuk strides into the room and waits, clenching a fist and waiting for one of the strange creatures to approach.
>
Hrimnagel tries to stay unseen until his companions enter the room. He moves toward a wall, so he can flank with with one of his large friends.
Nyugusk ducks sidewise through the door and bounds in 3 big step up to the first bat-thing.
When Hrimnagel reveals himself, Nyugusk takes advantage of the momentary distraction. He opens his maw wide enough to fit a mastiff, he grinds it between his tusks and then spits it back out.
Argor takes a step to Cladissa's side along the opposite wall, and begins the practiced motions of a summoning spell.
Nervously, Cladissa moves into the space the enlarged Nyugusk vacated, peering into the room. "Grommuk! On your left! Get that one!" she shouts, while giving it the Evil Eye, lowering its defenses.
Grommuk strides into the room and waits, clenching a fist and waiting for one of the strange creatures to approach.
Three of the fiends advance on Grommuk, while the fourth opens its mouth for an unearthly shriek.
______________________
The three vargouilles on Grommuk attempt to kiss the massive orc after he freezes in place. All three of the fiends molest the helpless orc, shoving their vile purple tongues into his mouth and throat in a horridly disgusting mockery of a lover's passion. Grommuk's paralyzed throat muscles struggle not to choke on their viscous saliva, but some of it leaks down into his stomach despite his best efforts.
--------------------------------
________________________________
Fail
Pass
Fail
From above and behind Nyugusk, the melodious cry of a celestial eagle cries out as it appears through a brief tear between planes. It surges forth at the nearest fiend and attacks, but fails to make contact.
Argor then recites the magic from his scroll, bolstering his defenses once more and calls out, "Kill the one that screamed! And do not let them kiss you!"
__________
N Small animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 7 (1d8+1+2)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4+2), bite +3 (1d4+2)
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
"Help Gromm! I got this one." Hrimnagel steps back and splashes the weird creature with acid.
But he misses like a schmuck. Great timing!
Nyugusk -- clearly relishing his new size and the thrill of letting loose -- laughs heartily at Argor's warning, replying, "It's alright, Argor, they're not really my type."
Dodging Hrimnagel's acid makes the fiend in front of him vulnerable, and Nyugusk takes full advantage of it, shredding it to a bloody pulp with one swipe. Without slowing, he steps to his left, attacking the nearest one assailing Gromm with tusk and claw. With his massive, clawed paw he holds the bloody vargouille down against the floor.
___________
AC 22 T 11 FF 20
STR 24 (18+4(mutagen)+2(enlarge))
CMB +9 (+13 to grab)
CMD 21[/ooc]
AoO
The creature's scream had froze Cladissa in place, leaving nothing but terror and her heart beating loudly in her chest as the others descended upon Grommuk. But after Nyugusk's claws rent one apart, she finds herself moving again, with one directly in front of her. She lets her crossbow clatter on the ground while reaching for her dagger. She uses her weapon to hold it at bay, but she still relies on her hexes.
___________________________
Succeeds, -2 to attack for 1 round
Grommuk hacks and sputters as the paralysis lifts. He manages to clamp his teeth down on the tongue of an overambitious vargouille, holding it in place long enough to wrap his fingers around it and squeeze until it begins oozing through his fingers like jelly. The massive orc then shrinks down to normal size.
Grommuk hacks and sputters a bit before shrinking back down to normal size.
From above and behind Nyugusk, the melodious cry of a celestial eagle rings out as it appears through a brief tear between planes. It surges forth at the nearest fiend and attacks, but fails to make contact.
Argor then recites the magic from his scroll, bolstering his defenses once more and calls out, "Kill the one that screamed! And do not let them kiss you!"
"Help Gromm! I got this one!" Hrimnagel says, stepping back. He flings his hands out with a short prayer to Count Renalc and a glob of acid shoots past the vargouille to nearly hit Nyugusk. Hrimnagel winces looking apologetic.
Nyugusk -- clearly relishing his new size and the thrill of letting loose -- laughs heartily at Argor's warning, replying, "It's alright, Argor, they're not really my type."
Dodging Hrimnagel's acid makes the fiend in front of him vulnerable, and Nyugusk takes full advantage of it, shredding it to a bloody pulp with one swipe. Without slowing, he steps to his left, attacking the nearest one assailing Gromm with tusk and claw. With his massive, clawed paw he holds the bloody vargouille down against the floor.
The creature's scream had froze Cladissa in place, leaving nothing but terror and her heart beating loudly in her chest as the others descended upon Grommuk. But after Nyugusk's claws rent one apart, she finds herself moving again, with one directly in front of her. She lets her crossbow clatter on the ground while reaching for her dagger. She uses her weapon to hold it at bay, but she still relies on her hexes.
Grommuk hacks and sputters as the paralysis lifts. He manages to clamp his teeth down on the tongue of an overambitious vargouille, holding it in place long enough to wrap his fingers around it and squeeze until it begins oozing through his fingers like jelly. The massive orc then shrinks down to normal size.
The two remaining fiends shriek in a manner similar to their companion a moment before. Nyugusk, Cladissa, Hrimnagel and Grommuk feel their muscles go rigid once again.
___________________________________________
The eagle wheels around, it's target defeated, and charges another of the fiends. It's beak finds purchase this time, shredding into the fiend's wing.
__________
Argor then strides into the room, and seeing all his allies unmoving, sighs to himself. He goes through the gestures of a spell, while collecting some colored sand from his components. He then flings it out in an arc, a wave of color waving over all on the right flank, avoiding Grommuk the best he can.
__________
The eagle does more damage to the wounded Vargouille, and then Argor's spell sends both the active fiends crashing to the floor, twitching. A swift dagger through the eye socket of each puts them down permanently and frees the other Pathfinders from their paralysis.
The group can still hear the mad laughter Hrimnagel heard earlier coming from the mist filled bathroom.
Argor dispatches the remaining demonic heads, and says, with a smug look in his eyes, "Well, now that you've all come to your senses and none of us were victimized by their kiss, shall we proceed?"
Cladissa stretches a bit, even dropping to all fours to arch her back, to work out the stiffness in her muscles. Standing back up, she smiles somewhat sheepishly at Argor. Nice spell. Very nice spell, she offers, but turns her attention quickly toward the door with the laughter behind it.
Nyugusk freezes momentarily, until being rescued by Argor's color spray. Weak in the knees, he turns to Argor and says, "Ugh. Thanks for that. I didn't relish meeting one of those beasts up close and personal. Speaking of which, Gromm...are you OK?"
"Taste bad. Not feel good. Feel bad-sick." Grommuk's stomach rumbles ominously as if to punctuate the remark. "Hungry too."
As the orc talks, some tufts of hair detach from his scalp and fall out.
"Of course."
Argor moved over and examined the orc, who clearly was infected. "It isn't urgent, but when we finish here, we need to get him to a priest, unless we want to see his head fly off and become the biggest varouille in history."
Genuinely caught up in the Transmogrifying Awesomeness of what Argor just described, Nyugusk's eyes blaze with excitement. "Is that really what would happen? Have you observed it yourself? And when combined with the serum that's already coursing through our veins, still transforming us as we speak, and perhaps some custom-made alchemical treatments, who knows what might..."
Seeing shocked eyes turn his way, Nyug corrects himself swiftly, looking a bit crestfallen, "Of course, the prudent thing to do is find a priest quickly, as you say Argor."
The more interesting question is why this caretaker had dormant vargouilles in his care, as the magic of the idols should not have done this...
Cladissa gulps and looks rather uncomfortable when she hears about Grommuk's ailment. Well, even if we have some time, we shouldn't waste it. Nyuguk, your concoction will run out soon, right? Let's see who's behind this door now, in case he means to do violence.
Nodding in agreement, Nyugusk waits for the rest to be ready and then opens the door.
Mad laughter echoes in this cramped stone chamber. The stench of sewage battles the cold of the mist, but through the haze can be seen smears of blood across the floor, walls, and ceiling, as well as the doors of several stalls. Out of the mists comes loping a pudgy bald man, smeared with blood and laughing maniacally. A much larger dark shape, lower to the ground and hidden by the cover of mist also surges forward with a loud chuffing noise.
A huge reptilian snout comes lunging out of the mist, filled with rows of gleaming yellow teeth. It is a massive crocodile bursting through the doorway, trying to grab ahold of Nyugusk. It's head and snout alone are as long as a man is tall. This is truly a huge specimen. Nyugusk is caught completely off guard and freezes as the massive jaws hurtle towards his face. Just before they clamp down on him, the croc's shoulders slam into the doorframe and it comes up short. The thing's mouth snaps shut in inch in front of Nyugusk's nose with an audible clap, before the croc pulls itself rapidly back into the restrooms.
As the Pathfinders stand in momentary disbelief at the sight they just witnessed, the chubby, mist-maddened clerk comes rushing out of the room to attack. He swings a rigidly clawed hand at Nyugusk, who is still frozen in shock. The clerk's fingers catch him in the throat, where they scratch five long bloody furrows up the underside of his chin. Thankfully, the half-orc's hide is tough, and the clerk's fingers don't tear open any veins or arteries.
______________________________________________
Initiative
Crocodile 17
Maldroog 16
Party 11.8
Miss
Hit
Miss