Called into the brink once more, the Pathfinders have been asked to venture into the Blakros Museum to rescue two Blakros daughters before the Plane of Shadow can steal them away in an ancient bargain, and if possible destroy the machine that makes it all possible.
Female fetchling alchemist 4 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s
Guide 26, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 123)
CE Medium outsider (native)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +6
Defense
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 22/27 (4d8+6)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +1; +2 vs. poison
Resist cold 5, electricity 5
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +6 (1d8+3), 2 claws +6 (1d6+3)
Ranged bomb +7 (2d6+2 fire)
Special Attacks bomb 8/day (2d6+2 fire, DC 14)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +4)
1/day—disguise self (humanoid only)
Alchemist Extracts Known (CL 4th)
2nd—invisibility, spider climb
1st—comprehend languages, cure light wounds, identify, true strike
Tactics
Before Combat If Mazzel Gol hears the sounds of combat in
the next room, she immediately drinks her mutagen (already
included in her stats). If time further permits, she drinks her
extracts of spider climb and invisibility, and readies her true
strike extract.
During Combat Mazzel Gol initiates combat by throwing an acid
bomb into the largest group of PCs she can target. She fights
recklessly with her claws and bite, climbing up the walls if
she’s cornered or facing an opponent she can neither hit nor
effectively damage, and then resorting to bombs from range.
Morale While under the effect of her extract, Mazzel Gol is
maniacal and fights to the death.
Base Statistics When not under the effect of her mutagen,
Mazzel Gol has the following stats: AC 16, flat 13; Melee dagger
+4 (1d4+1/19–20); Ranged bomb +7 (2d6+3 fire); Skills Appraise
+10, Craft (alchemy) +10, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge
(planes) +6, Spellcraft +10
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 19
Feats Brew Potion, Extra Bombs*, Improved Initiative, Throw
Anything
Skills Appraise +9, Craft (alchemy) +9, Disable Device +10, Heal +6,
Knowledge (arcana) +9, Knowledge (planes) +5, Perception +6,
Spellcraft +9, Stealth +6; Racial Modifiers +2 Knowledge (planes),
+2 Stealth
Languages Aklo, Common, Draconic, D’ziriak (cannot speak)
SQ alchemy (alchemy crafting +4, identify potions), mutagen
(+4 Str/–2 Int, +2 natural armor, 40 minutes), discoveries (acid
bomb, feral mutagen), poison use, swift alchemy
Combat Gear potions of cure light wounds (2), alchemical grease* (2),
weapon blanch (adamantine)*; Other Gear masterwork studded
leather, dagger, cloak of resistance +1, alchemist’s lab, 38 gp
Special Abiliti es
Shadow Blending (Su) Attacks against a fetchling in dim light have
a 50% miss chance instead of the normal 20% miss chance.
This ability does not grant total concealment; it just increases
the miss chance.
* See the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide.
Also, the tome is called the Umbral Leaves. Its a part of a few faction missions, and I would have ignored it, except it is also part of the GP for the encounter, (it's worth 100gp), so I went ahead and included it, but it doesn't have any other real point in the scenario. It is written in D’ziriak (?), and probably can not be read anyway.
"Awwww, I was hoping to make better use of this elixir," says the frowning, giant-sized dwarf. "Oh well, let's see if she's got anything informational on her."
"Awwww, I was hoping to make better use of this elixir," says the frowning, giant-sized dwarf. "Oh well, let's see if she's got anything informational on her."
I really wanted to go Hulk vs Loki on her. ;) Otherwise, I'm not sure I can fit through the doors to get outside... unless the walls are a bit thinner than I thought...
Virgil looks around for any secret passages out of the room.
Female Aasimar (Azata-Blooded) 107797-4 | Sorceress (Celestial Bloodline) 2 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 14/14 | F +2 R +3 W +3 | Init +7 | Perc +6
Grace will examine the cloak carefully for a few seconds, and announce her findings.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
"The enchantments are too powerful for me to determine, sorry," as she tosses the cloak back with the pile of taken loot. She then grabs a handful of fire from the air before her, grasping it tightly in her hand, and places her palm upon Morvius' wound with a flash of blue light, "Take this blessing from the Empyreal Lords, my friend."
Heavenly Fire:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
I imagine Virgil would be able to ID the potions and vials much more easily than I could.
She then moves back over the man on the desk, looking to see if she can offer any aid or comfort to him.
EDIT - what is the deal with all these 1's being rolled!?
A quick examination reveals that the alchemist is slowly bleeding to death. She had 2 potions of Cure Light Wounds, 2 Alchemist's Greases, and an Adamantine Weapon Blanch on her, but you think that under her mutagens, healing her to wakefulness will probably cause her to resume attacking until put down once more. The man on the slab, on the other hand, the human with the odd ruin on his forehead, seems stable.
A large placard above the entryway to this hall reads “The Evolution of Dragonkind” in bright, elaborate script while a shadowy sign next to the door describes the room as “Pain Laboratory—Tests in Progress.”
This room is filled with ancient tapestries of chromatic dragons besieging castles and battles between Dahak and Apsu at the dawn of time. An alabaster obelisk covered in Draconic runes occupies the far corner, surrounded by a spread of various dragonhides of all colors and thickness, and a taxidermied wyvern hangs from the ceiling above, its stinger flexed above its head. Umbral chains drop from the same ceiling on the Shadow Plane; gruesome hooks at the chains’ ends hold long dead skeletons. The southern wall sports a massive wheel with shackles along its edge, apparently for holding writhing subjects in place during tests. You see two sets of doors on the far side of the room. From behind it a dark barking.
Inside the room, are two more Fetchling warriors. One male the other female. As soon as you open the door, they draw their longswords and take up a defensive posture.
I'm going to say both party's are surprised, so everyone gets a Surprise round.
Group 1
Grace
Virgil <draws wapon>
Kurvast <moves behind cover>
Morvius <moves in and waits>
Darvan
Mur <readies to trip>
Group 2
Dark Warriors <draw longswords>
Completely startled by the intruders, these warriors where expecting more guests, just not the likes of you. Behind one of the doors a dog's bark can be heard growing more excited, and the warriors look at you without understanding, drawing blades. Their longswords seem to lack a certain luster, and not reflecting the light you bring back any more than a dull metal, despite them being clean and polished.
I'll let the others catch up, (and some people slightly shift their actions if thy want to) before I continue with the two fletchling's attacks/actions.
They seem to be, unfortunately. Both draw their blades and then then 5ft step, staying mostly behind the rooms natural cover, but it looks like preparing to charge.
Back to everyone and Full Round Actions.
Virgil, going t say that you have 7 rounds left on your Enlarge. Its been a while, but I honestly do not remember this much combats basically back to back.
HP 20/20, NL 0 | AC 19, T 14, FF 15 | CMB +4, CMD 17 | F +1, R +7, W +0 | Init +4 | Perc +4 | Melee: Rapier w/ PA +5 (1d6+4/18-20/x2)
Now if only he could fit through the door.
Kurvast sprints out from behind the display and sprints toward the further warrior. A few feet from his target, the monk drops low and sweeps his weapon forward, aiming for the fetchling's knees.
Luck is not with Kurvat as he rushes foreward, looking to sweep the legs with his hammer, and Morvius simply lets loose an arrow, that hits home much better than expected, driving into her neck and dealing a near lethal jagged cut to both her jugular and windpipe. She falls in a heap and begin to bleed out. The other one is having second thoughts about his plan of attack.
Male Human (Keleshite) Druid (Saurian Shaman) 4 [ HP 31/31 | AC 21/T12/FF19 | Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +6 | Init +4 | Perception +9 ]
Darvan, seeing Morvius' arrow bring down the closer opponent, points at the other and orders Sahba to attack. He then moves behind the swordsman, hoping to assist his comrades in landing a blow.
Darvan Swift action: Order Sahba to attack Move action (x2): As indicated on map
Sorry, thought it was a full round action. Taking move.
Virgil wiggles his way through the doorway and into the room.
You are just squeezing, basically double movement and you take some negatives, but only when actually squeezing, so they don't matter.
Squeezing:
Squeezing: In some cases, you may have to squeeze into or through an area that isn't as wide as the space you take up. You can squeeze through or into a space that is at least half as wide as your normal space. Each move into or through a narrow space counts as if it were 2 squares, and while squeezed in a narrow space, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to AC.
When a Large creature (which normally takes up 4 squares) squeezes into a space that's 1 square wide, the creature's miniature figure occupies 2 squares, centered on the line between the 2 squares. For a bigger creature, center the creature likewise in the area it squeezes into.
Mur's veins in his neck bulge as his plan to trip the little nasty shadow people fails. He changes his grip on his guisarme and springs through the door in a charge. He stops just outside of the creatures reach and swings with an overhead chop.
Female Aasimar (Azata-Blooded) 107797-4 | Sorceress (Celestial Bloodline) 2 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 14/14 | F +2 R +3 W +3 | Init +7 | Perc +6
"He's a slippery one, isn't he?"
Grace's palm radiates with cobalt energy, and with a single word, the energy sweeps toward the Fetchling, engulfing his head in an instant and then fading back into thin air.
Mur: Sadly, there is no way for you to charge because of all the people and obstacles in the way.
1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
By sheer luck, the lone warrior shrugs of the magical assault. Seeing his friend dying, and himself far outnumbered, he lowers his his sword,"Loookkk, Zey donnaa paayy uzz enough for zis. Wez make deal, yes? You heal her, ztop the bleeding, I tell you how to locate and free your people. I tell you where iz Uthil Mak. Zen we leave, and you find better thingz to do zan to follow uz? We deeal?"
M Human Fighter 2. HP 17/23. AC. 18. (T 12, FF 16) Fort+5, Ref +2, Wis +1, Init +2, Perception +7
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so lucky that the demon fire dwarf is in my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leave your sword, it is mine now for it looks odd and I want it.
It's enough to stop her from dying, and wake up. Satisfied he answers, dropping his sword in a show of good faith,"Az I zaid, zey do not pay uz enough for this. We where hired only to make zure the agreement iz held, and that none of the zlavez are harmed or harmful. Uthil Mak iz zeir leader, and you will zhall him in the room at ze end of ze hallway. Ze zlavz are past zese doors. In whatever bargain had been ztruck, Uthil Mak uzez a machine zat inveztz a mark upon ze head and ze soul, binding humanz to ze Plane of Zhadow. Once ze night of ze Penumbral Accordz haz ended, zey zhall become part of ze Zhadow Realm only, and ze machine zhall not be important. But, if zhe are taken from here before that time, pazt both ze boundriez of the bright and the zhadow realmz, and you zhut off ze machine, you might free zem. Now we go, az agreed, yes?"
M Human Fighter 2. HP 17/23. AC. 18. (T 12, FF 16) Fort+5, Ref +2, Wis +1, Init +2, Perception +7
Mur picks up the blade Kurvast kicked, slips the blade into his belt, satisfied.
Shoot, crush his head in for all I care as long as that creepy bugger does not follow me around. Wait, so we need to get the twins out before we smash the machine?
"That sounds like the gist of the message. And they'll need a one of us to escort them out safe and sound before that thing is broken." Virgil plants the seed of an idea and waits for it to blossom.
M Human Fighter 2. HP 17/23. AC. 18. (T 12, FF 16) Fort+5, Ref +2, Wis +1, Init +2, Perception +7
Well... Ahem... It is my duty to ensure the twi... Fair ladies may get out to safety. Besides you are a demon fire dwarf built to smash machines, that is a trait I always liked about you, your machine smashy-ness; did I ever tell you that? Besides what could possibly go wrong.
Mur combs his hair back with Graces misfired grease spell, making more of a mess than anything.
"We are unsure. Bazed off of what we have overheard only, you need to remove them from here before the night is over, but dezroying the machine may also work. Zafer, I think, for you, o do both. Az for uz,", as they both suddenly begin to shift appearances, now looking more like the ghostly visages you have seen walking the halls, trapped more in the other realm than this one, "Do not worry. We will ztay hidden, and you havez our word, we will not interfere wiz you furzer".
Unless you have anything else for them, they magically disguise themselves and move out, hiding until the night is over.
Room on top This simple room of unadorned stone is piled from floor to ceiling with boxes and crates, with barely enough room left to allow the staff to squeeze between the towers of dusty, mothballed exhibits. It's shadowy refection, however, holds some sort of canine creature. You can hear it, but not see it. It's chained, you think, to the far wall, and you can see a section of the chain moving, but it vanishes into shadow.
Darkvision only:
You can actually see a sort of demonic looking dog, a Shadow Hound, baying at the collar. It's natural ability to blend into shadow is too powerful for the simple Light spell at it's distance, but you can see it clearly. It is attached to a chain upon the far wall, with enough room to almost reach the other wall.
(if you can see it)Know Planes DC 13:
This young creature has a moderate bite, but also a unique ability to howl, magically panicking victims.
(if you can see it)Know Planes DC 18:
This young creature has a moderate bite, but also a unique ability to howl, magically panicking victims. It is an Outsider and is Evil, it can fluently understand Common, but can not speak, and has the ability to become fully invisible in shadows.
(if you can see it)Know Planes DC 23:
This young creature has a moderate bite, but also a unique ability to howl, magically panicking victims. It is an Outsider and is Evil, it can fluently understand Common, but can not speak, and has the ability to become fully invisible in shadows. It has extraordinary senses, and a touch of logic and reasoning. This one in particular appears to be irritated that it is left here alone, and a bit hungry.
Also, just a heads up, the Longswords are just Longswords. Nothing magical or special, it was just flavor, because everything native to the shadow realm appears a bit dull or not to seem to reflect light much.
Bits of Virgil start contracting and shrinking down in size and the dwarf starts to quietly laugh through clenched teeth. "Sorry... that elixir tickles and burns when it wears off."
After the dwarf is dwarf-sized again he says, "There's some sort of critter over in the corner. It's a," Virgil snaps his fingers a couple times trying to remember its name, "shadow hound. I can't remember anything about it, but it hunts in the shadows like a tiger hunts in the tall grass."
Female Aasimar (Azata-Blooded) 107797-4 | Sorceress (Celestial Bloodline) 2 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 14/14 | F +2 R +3 W +3 | Init +7 | Perc +6
Grace nods, "Yes, I see it over there... you don't suppose it's dangerous, do you? I mean, it's chained up, maybe we can leave him alone for now. I don't see anything else in there of interest, other than those crates, which probably just hold more museum stuff. Perhaps we should investigate the other room and just close the door on this fellow here."
M Human Fighter 2. HP 17/23. AC. 18. (T 12, FF 16) Fort+5, Ref +2, Wis +1, Init +2, Perception +7
We should kill it.... I mean what if, what if their is a trap we set off and it releases the chain and this lion hound stalks us from behind! Let us neutralize the threat why it is bound.
It is clearly obvious Mur is getting ancy having not slain anything lately.
Virgil chides the sociopath, "Mur, what would the twins think if they knew you stopped to kill a demon dog just for fun instead of concentrating on saving their lovely necks?"
M Human Fighter 2. HP 17/23. AC. 18. (T 12, FF 16) Fort+5, Ref +2, Wis +1, Init +2, Perception +7
Dont you bring my lovely lovelies into this! I stand by convictions; there is a shadow lion that could be released anytime. Hell those last shadow people just vanished, what is going to stop them from doubling back and removing the chain!? Nope, let us dispose of it now while it is an easy target!
