Kylar's magic unfortunately fails as the force missiles simply wash off the statues. Sindar hits the mutated statue once more and it finally collapses in a heap of stone. Deaglan then swings his hammer once more at the remaining statue which falls to the mighty hammer.
When the last statue falls, an audible click is heard from both sides of the room, near the doors. The laughing face quickly turns back into streams of yellow smoke. Finally, the floor resets back into level ground, the party the victors of whatever ambush or trap this was.
While you can guess the voices were created by programmed illusions, the face... seemed too real as it moved back from one form to another.
[ooc]New door or back out where you came?
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"How should I know? If all it does is laugh at us, I don't seem the harm."
Sindar tries talking to the thing in a few languages, starting with the Common tongue.
"Hey, you! Gasbag, what do you want?"
Sindar used Taunt.
It is not effective.
Sindar tries to get the billows of yellow smoke to react, but seems to have no effect upon it.
The party opens the door, revealing a hall lined with eight statues of regal figures that are garbed in ancient finery. Each bears a brief transcription on its base written in an ancient script. The stairs to the south lead up to a ninth statue, taller than the others. This figure holds a mighty glass sword above its smooth, featureless face, and its other hand juts outward, palm upturned as if seeking alms.
The large statue may be a form of Aroden, the deceased god of humanity.
Actually, Aroden came after the fall of ancient Azlant; this must be a pre-Earthfall figure, the legend of teh Last Azlanti. This would be a hero of prophecy that would rescue the empire at its greatest time of need, some would say Aroden fulfilled or took advantage of, depending on the source.
A sole figure has his back to you, but stands as the party approaches.
"Who... who are you?", asks a surprised Rozimus.
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Deaglan looks up at the Azlanti statue "It is rare to see such an ancient Azlanti statue. Did you know that there have been prophecies that one day the an Azlanti hero would rescue the empire? Some say that was a foreshadowing for Aroden, others have said that Aroden used that prophecy for his own reasons. Better stick with dwarven gods is my opinion."
He then seems to see the human for the first time "Ah, my apologies if I offended you, discussing religion is one of my favorite past-times"
"Wait, what?", Rozimus looking confused at the accusations. "Look, I ain't met you fellas here. In fact, you don't know what crap you just brought upon yourself being in this damned floor. Don't know if you can, but I'm getting outta here.", the man starting to walk towards and potentially past the party.
You see a chain around his neck, like he's wearing a necklace, but whatever it is is tucked inside his shirt.
You remember that Rozimus had his wayfinder around his neck when he gave it to Varian.
When Sindar begins casting a spell, Rozimus pulls out a dagger, aiming it at the wizard. "Stop that arcane mumbo-jumbo right now!", the man bursts out.
Rozimus is obviously stressed out and still untrusting to the party. You'll need a good Diplomacy check to calm him down.
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"There is no need to fret, Rozimus... Yes we know your name. We met your double in town and thought he was you. I am Varian, a pathfinder from Absalom. My friend here was only casting a detect magic spell to make sure you are free of unhelpful magics. He had no intention of frightening or distressing you. How about we just stop and talk together and try to figure out what's going on here. Would that be okay with you?"
"Whoa, double? That's just crazy...", Rozimus shaking his head in confusion. "Okay, I guess that makes sense. I mean, you ain't some lightning breathing monster or anything, so that already makes you better than anything else in this place.", Rozimus acquiescing to the detect magic.
Other than a potion of cure light wounds, and an everburning torch, the only thing magical is an item around the necklace he is wearing, with another aura inside
It's a wayfinder, and probably with an ioun stone inside, too.
"So tell me more 'bout this double posing as me?", Rozimus asks.
"What? No way, he couldn't have had my wayfinder! I engraved it myself!", Rozimus pulling a compass out of his shirt and showing some crudely marked initials, 'RT'. "See? Bet his didn't have that!"
Rozimus steps up and looks at the wayfinder around Varian's neck. Sure enough both of them have 'RT' engraved in the same spot. "No way, man! No way. This is bull. This is-"
Rozimus about to bring his dagger to Varian when Rozimus' form turns hazy blue and fades out. While everyone feels a straining pulse inside their heads, Kylar and Sindar get the worst of it, almost bring both arcane casters to their knees. After 10 seconds, the migraines stop, but Rozimus is nowhere to be found.
You can only guess... but the only solution is that there are two Rozimus'. You can probably rule out cloning since the one in front of you just disappeared, but you'll need more evidence/information to figure out this strange anomaly.
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"...well all I can say is that he was real enough, not an illusion or some other funny business. Something odd is going on here, but I need more before I can start taking random guesses."
Heh, noted. Don't worry, I'll provide more 'clues' through the level :) And of course, there are a couple of NPCs that could provide more details, too!
You do not come up with any new ideas, but given your brief discussion with Sindar, you can rule out some possibilities.
The party makes their way back to the entrance chamber, looking to explore another path.
This time, it is Sindar and Varian that feel intense migraines as hazy, blue forms appear in the chamber. Four humanoid shaped forms seem to be battling a huge, multi-legged beast. However, the battle seems to be played out in reverse! The migraines stop, though, just before the large beast exhales a blast of energy from its mouth; the four humanoids fade away, but instead the large beast becomes solid, its blue scales opaque and the crackle of electricity in its mouth audible as it roars out in confusion before eyeing the party!
This is a behir, a multi-legged reptile that can breath electricity. It's bite is deadly, too, as it can grab its prey, then constrict them with its long, serpentine body before either raking it with its many clawed feet or simply swallowing the creature whole. It only has a 10' reach with its bite, but the blast of electricity shoots out 20'.
Init Order (bold = up)
Kylar
Sindar
Blue serpent
Deaglan
Varian
Kylar melts scales while Sindar makes some space after buffing the party. The behir howls out and launches a blast of lightning at Kylar.
Kylar avoids the worst of it, although he is still partially scorched.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Varian readies his weapon while Deaglan simply steps up and tries to smash the blue-scaled monster twice!
Unfortunately, Deaglan's swings simply fall short of their target.
Init Order (bold = up)
Group buffs:
Haste 7-rounds remaining
Kylar (11 damage)
Sindar
Blue serpent
Deaglan
Varian (readied attack)
Sindar's fiery bolts singe more of the behir, the wizard obviously getting on its bad side.
Init Order (bold = up)
Group buffs:
Haste 7-rounds remaining
Kylar (11 damage)
Sindar
Blue serpent (39 damage, acid arrowed)
Deaglan
Varian (readied attack)
Kylar disappears briefly before reappearing and spraying more acid on the behir!
Deaglan is savagely assaulted by the behir, the creature biting the Truddite and holding him in place!
Init Order (bold = up)
Group buffs:
Haste 6-rounds remaining
Kylar (11 damage)
Sindar
Behir (63 damage, grappling)
Deaglan (49 damage, grappled)
Varian
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Sindar grasps his cane and uses it to summon another pair of fiery rays at the behir.
From crb: If your target (or the part of your target you're aiming at, if it's a big target) is at least 10 feet away from the nearest friendly character, you can avoid the –4 penalty, even if the creature you're aiming at is engaged in melee with a friendly character.
If your target is two size categories larger than the friendly characters it is engaged with, this penalty is reduced to –2. There is no penalty for firing at a creature that is three size categories larger than the friendly characters it is engaged with.
Varian swings mightily at the behir, but fails to strike it. He then casts a spell to aid Deaglan's predicament.
Deaglan escapes the behir's grasp, although the pain from the bite and squeeze affects his aim.
I remembered most of that; although I did get my size categories wrong for partial saves. I'll remember that portion for later :)
Sindar's powerful magic once again burns the behir, the damage nearly taking its toll on the massive beast.
Init Order (bold = up)
Group buffs:
Haste 6-rounds remaining
Kylar (11 damage)
Sindar
Behir (96 damage)
Deaglan (49 damage)
Varian