Against the Whispering Tyrant in his own backyard.

Game Master Vrog Skyreaver

Btw, you get to skip the following encounters: The bored goth vampires who are having a veranda party (complete with zombies wearing tuxes and tails running around as servants), the cavalry squad of graveknights riding skeletal mammoths who would ride people down with large sized lances, and the zombie horde (which in my notes were 100/pc, coming in a wave).

I can post later tonight

Manisha drops the handful of weapons and armor at her feet. Some good stuff here, take it if you can use it.

She had already slide the scroll of eldritch might and the chunk of shield into her bag. Grasping Quester in her hand, she adds this will do, for a bit, though I am not an adherent of Desna, she may still bless our quest.

Manisha casts these every morning when she rests:

SLA: Mindblank, 24 hours
Detect Scrying, 24 hours
Magic Aura, 15 days (15 castings active)
Endure Elements, 24 hours
Nondetection, 15 hours

In preperation, she casts:

See invisible, 150 minutes
Spell Immunity, 150 minutes
SLA: Fly, 15 minutes
wand: shield, 15 minutes
Align Weapon on crossbow bolts, 15 minutes
Expeditious retreat, 15 minutes
Wand: Invisibility, 3 minutes
Holy Aura, entire party 15 rounds
Haste, entire party, 15 rounds

Quester: Quester is a holy relic that was given by Desna herself to her first high priest. this walking staff resizes itself to fit the needs and wants of the wielder. It is a +2 benevolent quarterstaff; should the wielder be a divine caster who worships Desna, it is instead a +4 benevolent quarterstaff that allows the wielder to select one of the following enhancements when they prepare spells: Spell Storing, Anchoring, Defending, Glorious (the light produced by it is starlight), Impact, or Phase Locking. Finally, a divine caster who worships Desna may use a 4th level spell on the staff to have it cast freedom of movement on each ally within 30'.

The Scroll of Eldritch Might: This scroll (written on the hide of one of the spawn of rovagug) is the first scroll written by Nethys. If studied by a caster (regardless of arcane or divine) the reader must make a will save, with the DC=10+twice their highest natural caster level. If the will save is failed, the caster loses all non extraordinary abilities, regardless of source. should the save succeed, the scroll allows the reader to add their highest caster in spell levels to the list of their spells known and their spell list. for example, a 16th level sorcerer would add 16 levels of spells from any spell list to their list of spells known and class spell list, so they could choose heal, mass cure moderate, barkskin, and good hope to their list of known spells and class list.

I have copied all of the items to the bottom of my sheet, everyone may look at them there.

Hey, Voice. I have this thing called a Nexus Crystal. Any idea about how this could be useful? This place is sort of dimension locked.

As Lorelei prepares for the battle, she takes a glance at The Scroll of Eldritch Might. The Dark Tapestry Oracle slowly finds herself falling deeper and deeper into the knowledge contained within. She quickly begins to see and understand the very essence of magic. All of it. The line between arcane and divine becomes nothing to her. However, while the material is nothing for Nethys to grasp, Lorelei's mortal mind, already broken long ago, starts to unravel. She feels her connections to Desna and other Dark Tapestry entities begin to break. Her magic slowly starts to fade into nothing...

Just as her mind is about to sink into the abyss, she manages to surge just enough willpower to pull herself back to reality.

Scroll of Eldritch Might Will Save DC 44: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (17) + 24 = 41
Mythic Surge: 1d12 ⇒ 3

Eyes wide with fear and understanding, Star tosses the scroll aside and whimpers.

"...Don't read that thing. I almost lost my mind. Again."

As expected, Lorelei giggles, though it feels highly forced.

Star's natural caster level is 17 (an ioun stone puts it at 18, but that isn't natural). So the DC was 10 + (17*2) = 10 +34 = 44. Which I just made!

New Spells (17 Levels total): Greater Heroism (6), Moment of Prescience (8), Slow (3)

Buffs:
Nobody of Consequence/Nondetection - Constant
Mythic Contingency - 18 Days
Life Bubble - 36 Hours
Ant Haul - 36 Hours
Frightful Aspect (Enduring Blessings) - 24 Hours
Mind Blank - 24 Hours
Magic Vestment (Inspired Spell) - 20 Hours
Longstrider - 18 Hours
Moment of Prescience - 18 Hours
Cloak of Darkness - 17 Hours
Wings of Darkness (Overland Flight) - 17 Hours
Source Severance (Arcane) - 180 Minutes
Freedom of Movement - 180 Minutes
Telepathic Bond with the Group - 180 Minutes
Resist Energy (Fire) - 180 Minutes
Resist Energy (Cold) - 180 Minutes
Resist Energy (Electricity) - 180 Minutes
Resist Energy (Acid) - 180 Minutes
Resist Energy (Sonic) - 180 Minutes
Magic Circle Against Evil - 180 Minutes
Greater Invisibility from Cloak of the Hunt - 1 Hours until she attacks someone, then 1 Minute
Greater Heroism - 18 Minutes
Mythic Shield of Faith - 18 Minutes
Mighty Strength - 18 Minutes
Mythic Fly - 18 Minutes
Deflection - 18 Rounds
Channel Vigor (Fort) - 18 Rounds
Divine Power - 18 Rounds

Shield (20)
Detect Secret Doors (20, concentration)
" Thoughts (20, con)
" Scrying (24 hrs.)
Greater Invisibility (20)
Overland Flight (20 hrs., already up)
Mind Blank (24, already up)

Greater rod of Silent spell in hand.

Looks like that's everyone, unless Baergar wants to use some abilities or spells before we start.

Stepping into the portal is unlike any experience you've ever felt before: you feel your body twisted, contorted, and stretched in several ways simultaneously; and that's when the pain starts. Your body begins changing, warping, as if all of your organs had decided to go their separate ways and the only thing caging them in was your skin.

And then you are through, and you realize that there are indelible changes in your body and spirit.

As you may have guessed by now, the 3 fortitude saves were for each of your physical ability scores, and the 3 will saves were for your mental ones. The good news is, anything over 40 will see that attribute increased.

The bad news is, as per usual with me, that anything below 30 will result in a reduction of said attribute. The formula works as follows:

40+ on a save: +2 for rolling a 40, with an additional 2 for each 5 by which you beat DC 40. if any of you roll a 20 (which I don't think there were) or got a 40+ on three or more saves, those attributes would remain unchanged and you would instead gain a randomly determined template.

30-39: No change. You're awesome, so keep being awesome!

<30: you will take a -2 penalty for each 5 below 30 you got on a stat. Should there have been any 1's (which I don't think there were), that attribute remains unchanged, and you instead randomly determine a new race based on the reincarnate table. The same applies if you have 3 or more saves of 25 or less (no attributes will change, and you will instead change race).

I know that this will mean some changes in people's statblocks, so I'm just going to set the scene and then give people the weekend to make what changes are necessary. Read on, and discover the horribleness that is The Whispering Tyrant.

As you regain your senses, you can see that you are in what was once a throne room. The throne, however, is made of the bones of a great many creatures both great and small, including the partial vertebrae of a dragon that makes up the back half of the throne.

Currently, however, you can see a pair of stone altars that are sitting in the middle of the room, where a massive ball of negative energy is floating above the figures. on your left is a being that was once female, but has long since had moves of the meat removed from her bones. Despite being an obvious being of unlife, she cries out in pain as her essence is being ripped from her, piece by piece, and flying up into the orb of darkness.

On the slab to your right, you can see a being that can only be Tar Baphon, The Whispering Tyrant. Clad in robes that appear to be pulled from the night sky, he sees your arrival and glares at you but does not move.

The first of you to react is Hiram. Gathering his feet under him, he bounds forward, screaming "For Cheliax!" and then reflects off of a forcefield that appears in response to his presence. Hiram doesn't stop, however, but instead he is ricocheted into the air. He has but a moment to realize what is going to happen, and in that final moment, a look of peace covers his face, as if he has accepted his fate: being sucked into the growing typhoon of death magic that floats above the lich. With that, Hiram Morrow, The (former) Lord High Marshal of Cheliax, is no more.

As his energy is added to the pool above, there is a flair of energy and then the sphere grows a couple of inches. With a voice that sounds like cold stone and drifting dust, he says Kill Them!

Have a good weekend, and we'll pick back up on Monday for the final battle!

I actually meant Tuesday, as I forgot that I was off yesterday due to holiday. Apologies all.

As several groups of defenders begin moving towards you, Trent turns to one group and charges, diving into a pile of what appear to be liches.

That frees up the rest of you to deal with the three spectral knights that are moving in your direction.

Per suggestion, I'm going to roll initiative for everyone to save time. The beings are ghosts (to save knowledge rolls and whatnot).

Ghost Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Star: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28
Baergar: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26
Lefty: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (2) + 35 = 37
Manisha: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42
The Whispering Tyrant: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Initiative order is:
Manisha
Lefty
Star
Baergar
Ghost
Tar Baphon (off to a good start!)

Manisha is up, Lefty is on deck

Was the forcefield a plot device for removing Hiram?

know:arcana: 1d20 + 41 ⇒ (12) + 41 = 53

Manisha begins casting summon monster IX (SLA). She moves up into the air, hovering 15' up.

I think you mixed up me and Lefty. His init is +17, and mine is +35.

Lorelei studies the force field before she does anything, lest she want to end up like poor Hiram.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 29 + 4 = 48
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 29 + 4 = 53

I did actually. you can just assume that the initiative is switched.

As far as the forcefield goes, it is actually an effect that is in play on the scenario. You'll have to find some way to bypass it in order to actually deal with TB =) I just found Hiram's death as a handy way to show what it does, as well as removing him as a combatant.

Corrected Initiative Order:
Manisha
Star
Lefty
Baergar
Ghost
Tar Baphon (off to a good start!)

So do I know anything about it? I rolled rather high on those checks. Also, who is Trent?

I meant Troy McClure of course. I just had it in my head that it was Trent for some reason.

As far as the "force field" goes, it's a ritualized version of a repulsion spell, with anti-life shell thrown in for good measure.

Manisha, it is your turn, and 3 ghosts are advancing on your group.

Manisha started casting summon monster IX, and moved up.

Her summoned creature will appear the beginning of the next round.

right. sorry. That would make it Star's turn.

From what I can tell from those rolls, is Tar-Baphon the source of the Repulsion and Antilife Shell? As in, did he cast those spells on himself? This is important because Lorelei has this spell up. In short, she basically has a personal Antimagic Field up that would suppress any spell, supernatural ability, or spell-like ability cast by Tar-Baphon (or any arcane spellcaster) that Antimagic Field normally suppresses. Magic items work just fine, though.

he's the source of the repulsion, but not the anti-life shell, which does not appear on any arcane list. Also, neither spell is centered on him.

Friendly reminder, Lorelei is covered by Rose's Undetectable property. As long as she is invisible and wears Rose, nothing in the game can perceive her.

Lorelei quickly flies up after Manisha. Star then reaches deep into her mythic well and hurls a powerful antimagic bolt at Tar-Baphon's forcefield. If anyone could actually see her, they would notice darkness-cloaked woman actually be pushed back by how powerful the shot is.

Moving next to Manisha. Using Inspired Spell to cast Greater Dispel Magic on the forcefield. She will use the Targeted Dispel to dispel the Repulsion and Antilife Shell and three other effects if necessary (20/4 = 5 spells total). Inspired Caster Level is 20.

Dispel Check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35

I don't know if that technically counts as attacking. If it does, my Greater Invisibility from my cloak goes down from an hour to one minute and begins counting down.

I need a caster level check for dispelling the repulsion, and it does indeed count as attacking.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 4 = 37

As Star finishes her spell, she finds that the barrier is much harder to dispel than she imagined that will fail, unless you have a trick up your sleeve to either increase the caster level check to bypass SR or roll again. You will dispel the anti-life shell, however.

Mythic Surge: 1d12 ⇒ 5

That enough?

yes, that will succeed.

Drawing upon the inner well of power, Star manages to force her own magic into the matrix of power that was the woven spell, which causes the barrier to end with a simple *POP* sound.

Corrected Initiative Order:
Manisha
Star
Lefty
Baergar
Ghost
Tar Baphon

That takes us to lefty.

Dispelled the barrier. It was a Antilife Shell-Repulsion mix. Still, be careful approaching him, Lorelei tells the others through the Telepathic Bond spell she set up before they went through the portal.

Lefty takes out and opens the box that was supposed to be opened near Tar Baphon.

What's in it?

As you open the box, each of the rest of you feels a rumbling in your packs and tiny golden motes of light come pouring out, swirling together to begin to form a shape, one you quickly come to realize is Ambrus Valsin. As his form coalesces, he begins speaking: "Tar Baphon, my name is Ambrus Valsin, Venture Captain of The Pathfinder Society. You have spent far too long on this plane, and your followers in the whispering way have caused untold horrors and suffering. I say enough. The beings you see arrayed before you are going to kill you. By now, they should have already destroyed your phylactery, and this message means that they are now standing before you. Goodbye, you wretched thing, and trouble this world no more." With that, the motes of light begin dispersing to every direction, only to reappear shortly, dragging the wards with them. You feel a tingling on your skin as, one by one, the wards pass you by and slam their way into Tar Baphon. As the first few corrupted wards hit him, he actually appears to be strengthened, but then the first pure ward hits and he screams, as wave after wave of divine power pours into him.

Each time the wave passes over Star, she feels a tugging from her pack. when the last wave passes over her, The Nexus Crystal rips itself free of her pack and disperses as well. It would appear that even Urgathoa is not immune to the ravages of the divine energy slamming through the room. Her body is ripped apart by the power that passes through it.

The only thing that appears unaffected, however, is the hovering black cloud of death. When Urgathoa's body is destroyed, it moves to the top of the room and hovers there, watching the proceedings.

Standing and dusting himself off, The Whispering Tyrant turns his baleful eye towards your group, and Lefty in particular.

That will take us to Baergar. Note that all of the wards are down, so the normal planar rules of Golarion are back in effect.

Did I do that?

Baergar laughs: a delighted, hopeful sound. He looks to his companions. "Should I die, Tell my people I died fighting to give our children a better future."

"För allas bästa!"

Baegar charges the lich, his sword blazing with holy light.

Fleet Charge (Bypasses all DR) 1d20 + 49 ⇒ (12) + 49 = 61 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 6) + 51 + (1, 3) = 71

1d20 + 40 ⇒ (13) + 40 = 53 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 1) + 51 + (5, 1) = 67
1d20 + 40 ⇒ (3) + 40 = 43 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 3) + 51 + (3, 6) = 77
1d20 + 40 ⇒ (8) + 40 = 48 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 2) + 51 + (5, 2) = 69
1d20 + 35 ⇒ (7) + 35 = 42 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 6) + 51 + (2, 4) = 80
1d20 + 30 ⇒ (18) + 30 = 48 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 2) + 51 + (3, 6) = 74 CONFIRM 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (8) + 30 = 38 for 4d6 + 51 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 1) + 51 + (4, 3) = 64

Now that he has Tar Baphon's measure, Baergar activates Quarry and Instant Enemy.

Rolling miss chance for each attack:
1d100 ⇒ 29 only the fleet charge hits

Rerolling failed miss chances:
1d100 ⇒ 95 and it will actually hit.

Also, quarrying is a standard action and instant enemy is a swift. you've already taken a swift and a full round. Finally, as your blade strikes him, I need a pair of fort saves as you trigger his contingency, an aura that he projects, and the spellstoring on his armor (which is going to be a touch attack, rolled below):

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22That will hit. You take 1d4 ⇒ 1 negative levels, which don't apply to your fort save, as both effects happen simultaneously.

As the ghosts were obliterated by divine wrath, that will take us to Tar Baphon.

New initiative order:
Manisha
Star
Lefty
Baergar
Tar Baphon

Though he is grievously wounded, Tar Baphon is far from defeated. Having had his nascient divinity removed from him by Ambrus' surprise, The Whispering Tyrant decides that if he can't draw upon such power, no one should. drawing a rod, he casts a spell then draws on the power of the rod to cast another one in quick succession. The regular speed spell is targeting Star (which requires a will save), and the quickened spell is targeting Baergar.

Touch Attack for the quickened Spell: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 that will give Baergar another 4 negative levels.

That will take us to Manisha at the top of round 2.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 38 ⇒ (19) + 38 = 57

Question. Is Star still invisible? She had Greater Invisibility up from her Cloak of the Hunt. It lasts an hour when first invoked but decreases to one minute after throwing an attack. Even though she "attacked" by dispelling his barrier, she should still be invisible for nine rounds, so Lorelei should be covered by Rose's Undetectable power.

I ask because this might change his target.

I forgot Fleet Charge was a swift, my bad. Quarry I used a mythic power to activate amazing initiative to take an extra standard action.

FORT 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (20) + 29 = 49
FORT 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (7) + 29 = 36 Surge if needed 1d12 ⇒ 8 =44

@star: he appears to be able to see you just fine.

@Baergar: You make both saves, but you do need to spend the mythic power on the 2nd one.

Activating Moment of Prescience.
Will Save: 1d20 + 28 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 28 + 18 = 59

Neither spellcraft roll would be necessary. Star current has a +33 to Spellcraft, enough to get both on a 1.

That will save.

isnt source sevarance a defensive spell? looks like it is cast on self, not target. Manisha succeeded on both checks.

With a flourish of her fingers, Manisha finishes casting her summoning spell. An elegantly armored sentinel stands alert, eyes radiating divine light and her noble blade crackling with power.

All within 20ft are hit with the effects of her holy aura.

There stands Tar Baphon, stripped and vulnerable. His phylactory destroyed. Now we finish him!

The Ghaele screams FOR MY SISTERS! and fires two light rays as she charges towards him, left of Baergar.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
ranged touch: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
damage: 2d12 ⇒ (10, 11) = 21
damage: 2d12 ⇒ (10, 12) = 22

Manisha begins casting another summon monster spell.

I think he meant Mythic Severance.

Reaching deep into her well again, Lorelei tries to dispel some more of Tar-Baphon's defenses. Unfortunately, even though Star resisted most of it, the lich's last spell seems to have thrown the Oracle off. Her own magic quickly gets counterspelled.

Dispel Check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 4 = 25

Using Inspired Spell to cast Greater Dispel Magic. It probably doesn't do anything.

alas no star, you do not penetrate his dispel SR

Both of those touch attacks will miss Manisha

Lefty casts Mage's Disjunction, positioned to affect Tar Baphon, but not Baergar.

He then flies up to 70' while drawing his rapier, and lands to flank the lich with the dwarven king.

No godhood for you, lich!

intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

OK, so that didn't work...

I love how lich rhymes with b&+!!. lol!

Lefty, I'm gonna roll a caster level check for your disjunction.

1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31 unfortunately, that will fail to effect him as well.

Initiative order:
Manisha
Star
Lefty
Baergar
Tar Baphon

That will take us to Baergar.

Mage's Disjunction is not affected by Spell Resistance. To my knowledge, only Aroden's Spellbane, Antimagic Field, or Source Severance can tank it.

Tar Baphon has spell resistance against anything that would hinder his spellcasting, including anti-magic fields and mage's disjunction. He's a dirty, dirty cheater like that (he's actually also casting while wearing armor without issue).

CL +26. 20 + 4 (greater spell penetration) + 2 (elf)

you're right. I just hit the wrong number. that will, however, still fail.

spellcraft vs magic cheating: 1d20 + 47 ⇒ (10) + 47 = 57