Liam turns Scion's Dagger on the giant frog-beast.
It might take a while to carve through this massive beast, but as long as the casters keep it staggered he feels up to the challenge.
HP 129 (+15 temp)/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 3/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [3/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [3/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [5/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 17
Spells/day: 1st [x][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 3/20; lightning bolt 1/20; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 5/34
Effects: Liam buffs (+4 to attacks, saves, skill checks; +3 damage), haste, fly 30 feet
Katria send out another blast from the wand in her hand, then drops both of the magic items she's carrying and pulls out Dignity's Barb, hoping she'll have time to bring it to bear.
"Hold your magic, we don't know what else could be coming for us!"
Thanara's and Katria's magic missiles batter the froghemoth while Liam and Amelia hit with all of their attacks! The monstrous aberration is bleeding heavily, still slowed by the electricity. It tries to chomp down on Amelia--
--but it narrowly misses! It doesn't last much longer, falling to the next solid hit!
"I think we are done here? We defeated the slime naga, which according to Iphalt-C was behind the corruption here. We can report back to the inevitable.
But maybe we should look around first just to be certain there is nothing else."
A thorough search confirms that there are no more dangers here. You return to the surface to report your victory, though you can already tell that your actions have had an effect. The twisted, diseased pallor that had fallen over the cemetery has vanished, and the crowds gathered outside the police line cheer and chant your names. Your bold strike has won the adulation of thousands across Sayashto, and your courage and heroism cannot be denied.
The next day, after resting, Lieutenant Fanalyx finds you. "I have compiled all the evidence you have uncovered. Allow me another day so that my divination resources can analyze these findings more closely and hopefully pick up on Taldaris’s trail. I will submit everything to my superiors, and if all goes well, we will have reached a consensus tomorrow."
There is a gentle knock on Amelia’s door. When she opens it, she sees Thanara standing there leaning against the doorframe, holding two wine glasses and a bottle of wine, a coy smile on her face. ”So, about that game you mentioned?” she asks.
The dandy opened the door with her hand on Koriana's only to see Thanara. "Come in."
The room was in order, but it was unclear whether or not it was due to Axis or the tenant's doing. She swiftly moved toward a seat and grabbed a set of dice and wooden cubes, "I would promise not to use anything supernatural but..." She gives a knowing shrug, "Sometimes things just... happen."
Leaning the blade up against the bed by her armour, she comes back to the seat and takes a glass, "Cheers. You did a great job today." She thinks for a moment and decides to avoid saying what Taldans wanted to hear and just came out with it, "I misjudged you earlier."
Taking a sip, she lets it linger in the air, "No business tonight though. I can't promise the bad luck but I can promise you that much at least."
Thanara walked in, taking in the room and the dice set. ”Well, I do hope you are willing to keep it interesting,” she says as she sits at the little table and crosses her leg over her other knee.
”So, what are the rules?” she asks as she pours the two of them a glass.
"The object is to place each of the stones in your pool into your four cups before I do..." She goes on to explain it while taking a sip, "We will roll six dice, and taking turns select a die and a cup and move that many stones from the pool to the cup or cup to the pool." With a flourish she procures a handful of dice, "The roller always selects first, and we change rollers each turn."
"Two problems though. If you ever select dice that shares a value with a die your opponent selected this turn, you can instead move stones from that assigned cup to the pool, or the other way around. And the last, if a cup ever overflows with more than 10 stones in it, you must empty the entire cup back into your pool."
A gleam goes through her eyes, "You ready?"
”Sounds simple enough,” Thanara boasts. A mischievous smile grows on her face and she asks ”We going to make it interesting?”
"I'll let you make that choice. It would be rude for the host to choose the game and the stakes."
”Alright…loser each round has to either drink or remove an article of clothing!” as she boldly takes the dice in hand…
Thanara is handily beaten the first three rounds. She first removes her shoes, then belt, then cloak. She snickers and adds ”Maybe I made a poor call on the wager, but all in fun, right?” with a wink as she playfully tosses the cloak to the floor.
Amelia looks amused, "I did this for a living you know. How about this, we just enjoy the wine?" She takes another drink, "I'm also fairly decent at drinking so I'll stop you in advance before your competitive side gets out." She gives a good laugh.
"This is fun. Its been a while since I've had actual fun." The dandy puts the glass down and looks serious, "Thank you. It's hard when your entire life is living a façade or for the great work." She says the latter with a dramatic flourish, "Old habits die hard."
Upon losing the fourth round, and Amelia’s suggestion, instead of removing anything else she raises her glass. ”Well, someone has to loosen you guys up! Every single one of you are wound up tighter than an Abadaran lender!”
As Thanara and Amelia gamble and drink, Katria goes looking for Liam.
"We're so close to finding Taldaris," she says, eyes bright. "Did you ever think we would end up here when Lady Martella recruited us? Or when Stavian murdered poor Kalbio?"
Liam is relaxing in the common room by the fire.
"You know, Katria, I spent a lot of time in Stachys on the minutae of government. Giving talks about the merits of a ranked-choice voting system for village administrator, or laying out the pros and cons of term limits. Real-world matters that the common people can grasp and that, in fact, they should grasp for moving Taldor forward.
I am sure it must have seemed terribly dull to many. Especially the part about apportionment of seats and common divisors. It gets rather mathematical and I think I lost the crowd that time. But overall it is important work."
"And now, here we are investigating remnants of legends on the Astral Plane, seeking the soul of Taldor's first emperor, and investigating the schemes of a cabal led by an immortal archmage.
You are right, this is far from where we started. But I am proud of everything we have accomplished together. The big and the small.
I hope Lord Kalbio is doing well. I am pleased I was able to revive him, but he may be out of his element... well, the people of Breezy Creek support him, and that counts for more these days than it used to."
After a bit of small talk, Thanara stands and collects her things. ”I think I am going to call it a night. Though, I think I will choose better accommodations than these…” she says and with a wave of her hand, a shimmering portal opens up in the middle of Amelia’s room, with small arcs of electricity occasionally rippling along its edges. Thanara steps towards it but pauses and looks over her shoulder. ”You are welcome to join me, if you’d like.”
Amelia looks at the portal and shakes her head, her loosened hair flying wildly, "I don't go through strange portals when I've been drinking." She gives a grin and laughs before stepping up from the seat and toward Thanara, "But take the storaeya set." Her hands linger a little too long before letting go of the lacquered wood, "I'm expecting an invitation for a rematch at some point."
Katria nods at Liam's comments. "Hopefully he has people who are supporting him," she agrees.
She continues to make idle chatter for a time before heading off to bed, hoping the morning brings them one step closer to finishing their quest.
The next day, you meet with Lieutenant Fanalyx in her office. The axiomite nods in greeting. "I have assembled and presented your findings to my superiors, and we have reached a consensus. Taldaris appears to have been abducted and taken into Duskfathom, the god Norgorber’s subterranean realm. Terrible as this fate is, the police analysts have identified the particular area where he was likely taken: Lost Silhouette, an outpost accessible by subterranean canals and tunnels. The department has launched 27 raids or other infiltrations on the larger area over the past millennium, during each of which the troublemakers there have slipped away and inflicted considerable losses. Sayashto’s council is unwilling to sacrifice numerous inevitables to save one, but it is amenable to a smaller group like yours infiltrating this outpost, eliminating the dissidents, and rescuing any abducted citizens.
"The council has also provided a packet of tools that may help you down there." Fanalyx slides over a box full of goodies.
"We have secured several skiffs to help you navigate the sewers. The incursion may last several days, so make sure you are prepared before you depart."
"Thank you," Katria says, genuinely. It would have been nice if the answer hadn't been quite as bad as it's turned out to be -- Norgorber's realm! -- but she appreciates the help greatly.
"We can try to prepare.
Norgorber is a god of assassins, murderers, and thieves. I might guess that generally their tactics involve poison, stealth, and sneak attacks.
I can prepare spells like Communal Delay Poison, Invisibility Purge, Greater Shield of Fortification, and Particulate Form.
But those are just guesses based on common tactics of assassins.
Lieutenant, do you have any more specific information on the resources and capabilities of the Norgorber agents in Lost Silhouette? Are there reports on those 27 raids that document the foes and tactics encountered? And I would assume that over the past millennium there have been attempts to use divination magic on Lost Silhouette. Did these attempts provide any information on the size or layout?"
Amelia lets out a tired breath, "Norgober..." She knew enough about the once-man as a deity, but was definitely more familiar with their people than she let on. "When I was--- Before all of this, when I was younger, I prayed to the Reaper of Reputations. He answered me and gave me the secrets I needed to get out of the squalor I was in." Amelia looks at her companions, "There was always the idea of a price, and I refused to pay it."
The dandy rubs her face thoughtfully, "I never thought I would be going there though." She puts her hand on her sword, "I left that all behind."
Katria's jaw drops slightly at Amelia's revelations.
"What secrets? What price?"
"Let us just say you don't rise from street urchin to confidant of Her Majesty's right hand without a little help; and for now I would prefer we leave it at that." She says it with such a detached tone that one could find it disquieting.
”You all take a girl to the nicest places…” Thanara says, her nose crinkled in disgust.
"We do not have much in the way of specific information," Fanalyx says. "Strangely, most of the official reports I tried to locate were either missing or had their contents altered. No doubt the influence of Norgorber's agents. And, unfortunately, all of Duskfathom is protected against outside divinations, as well as teleportation directly in or out. You'll be going in relatively blind."
Katria looks dismayed -- information is probably her favorite thing in the world, other than a good lecture or dissertation to curl up with, but they'd have to go with it. It was too important to succeed.
Once you are ready, you take the skiffs down into the sewers. More than 1,000 feet below Sayashto lies a large network of sewer flows and tunnels carved out from thousands of years of compressed building foundations. At a depth of nearly 700 feet, this network crosses into Duskfathom, the divine realm of the god Norgorber. There, the maze of tunnels becomes even more maddening, with only one route leading directly to the outpost of Lost Silhouette.
Using the intelligence provided by Fanalyx, you navigate these waterways and steep portages safely, narrowly evading a patrol of hydrodaemons and fending off a pack of tumorous rats that vainly attempt to clamber onto your boats. The journey takes 3 hours.
You can feel a strong malign presence permeating the very air here, and there is no doubt that you have crossed into the domain of an evil deity.
As you near your destination, you see that the jagged sewer tunnel extends for 100 feet from the nearest branch before reaching a roughly square subterranean harbor. A stone stoop serves as the pier, from which is moored a long skiff.
Standing on the skiff is a horned, skeletal figure that clutches a wicked staff. A seething glow burns in its eye sockets.
"Greetings, travelers," a deep, telepathic voice sounds in your minds. "What business have ye in this forsaken place?"
"A thanadaemon," Katria breathes out to her companions. She then raises her voice and calls back: "We are seeking someone who was stolen!"
Magic Vestment +4 on Amelia's armor (spell slot with Anointing Oil)
Magic Vestment +4 on Amelia's shield (spell slot with Anointing Oil)
Eaglesoul
2 (6+1): Barkskin (D), Find Traps (2), Resist Energy, CMW (2), Lesser Restoration
3 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D), Good Hope, Invisibility Purge,
4 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D), Freedom of Movement, Blessing of Fervor (2), Divine Power, Death Ward
5 (5+1): Spell Resistance (D), Breath of Life, Cleanse, Life Bubble, True Seeing, Open Slot
6 (4+1): Antimagic Field (D), Greater Dispel Magic, Heal, Invoke Deity,
7 (2+1): Deflection (D), Particulate Form, Open Slot
8 (1+1): Quickened Spell Immunity (D), Frightful Aspect
Liam holds the Standard of Conquest in one hand, the other hand free.
He tenses, unsure what to expect from dealing with a daemon. Katria's knowledge was extensive and invaluable, that was for certain.
"Indeed?" the daemon stoically replies to Katria. "The Reaper of Reputation does not take kindly to those who try to take back what he has taken. Any prisoners here belong to Norgorber now, and he does not give up his prizes. Go back from whence ye came, if ye value your lives."
Thanara steps up and puts a hand on Katrina’s shoulder. ”Why don’t we let me handle sweet talking the extra planar monstrosity…”
She pushes forward and then says, more loudly, ”Apologies, mighty one. My friend I feel did not convey the message accurately. The one we seek was stolen from another plane from which his soul was already judged and determined to belong. And by denizens acting without Lord Norgorber’s knowledge, so we are told. We seek only to restore the balance and prevent an inter-planar incident. We do not seek to create more of a disruption than is necessary.”
Amelia looked at the thanadeamon, and then listened to Thanara speaking out. It took her some time to become adjusted after moving through the tunnels and darkness to get here but once she heard the name of the Reaper, the dandy froze up a little.
Knowing enough of secrets and outsiders, she dispelled the thoughts from her head.
The daemon narrows its eyes as Thanara spins her tale. It takes in all of you with its burning gaze, then raps its staff on the skiff, which floats to the side seemingly of its own accord. "Ye may pass, then, but make no trouble while ye are in this place, lest ye wish death to claim ye."
The fiend rows its skiff aside, allowing you to dock your raft and step through the doors into Lost Silhouette. Beyond, a hall of dull gray stone leads away to the left and right. Several doors provide exits from the hallway, and an open archway stands directly opposite the entry doors.
After they pass through the doors (and close the doors), Liam says, "While it may have been better to avoid that fight as we did, it does leave us with a powerful fiend behind us - which could arrive as reinforcements for any within this place.
Katria, what can you tell me about its abilities, in case we should have to fight it?"
Liam assumes that there will most likely be fighting to be done, so he takes one minute to prepare for combat.
First, he takes his new holy symbol of Milani - not the one he uses for most spells, but one that he picked up in the Refuge of the Red Rose for an exceptionally powerful spell. It shows a rose of rubies and emeralds rising up from blood-soaked cobblestones (garnet between diamonds). He burns rare incense, and prays to his goddess. A protective aura surrounds him.
He casts Barkskin on himself, then uses his Pearl of Power to recall it and cast it on Amelia.
He casts Shield of Faith on Amelia.
He casts Life Bubble on the party (8 hours each) and Communal Delay Poison (3 hours for himself, 4 for the others).
He casts Freedom of Movement on himself (160 minutes).
He uses the Lesser Extend Metamagic Rod to cast Find Traps and Good Hope (30 minutes each).
Magic Vestment +3
Eaglesoul
Invoke Deity (Shield, Shield of Faith +4, Resist Fire 30)
Barkskin +5
Life Bubble
Communal Delay Poison
Freedom of Movement
Find Traps
Good Hope
2 (6+1):
3 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D),
4 (5+1): Protection from Energy (D),
5 (5+1): Spell Resistance (D), Breath of Life, Cleanse,
6 (4+1): Antimagic Field (D), Greater Dispel Magic, Heal,
7 (2+1): Deflection (D), Particulate Form, Open Slot
8 (1+1): Quickened Spell Immunity (D), Frightful Aspect
AC is now 36 (+9 armor, +4 shield, +4 Dex, +5 natural, +4 deflection), and he gets an automatic Perception check at +32 vs traps (+23 base, +2 morale from Good Hope, +7 insight from Find Traps).
Saves are unchanged (the Standard already gives a +2 morale bonus to all saves, so Good Hope does not increase that further).
Getting ready, Amelia sees Liam casting magic and begins to hum arcane energy around herself.
Katria shares what she knows about the powerful daemon before Liam makes his preparations. When he's just about ready, she'll cast heightened awareness on herself.
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [6/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: xx
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
"Are we all ready? Should we take this door to the south?"
Thanara had woven her usual preparations as the others did.
She casually signals she is ready with a wave of her hand.
"Are we all ready? Should we take this door to the south?"
When they're ready to go, Amelia summons forth a little bit of magic and casts Heightened Reflexes.
This room contains towering shelves bearing dozens of terrariums, each containing scores of arachnids, insects, or wriggling larvae. To the north stands a wide glass cylinder, inside of which thousands of beetles nibble at a heap of scrap metal.
A small creature works at a desk here--the very same worm that walks that you encountered in Taldaris's house upon first arriving in Axis! She turns towards you as you enter and shrieks in frustration. "Ugh, not you again!"
Before you can react, the worm-woman casts a spell, conjuring a sinuous line of flames that snakes toward you!
Liam zigs where he should have zagged. But he has Resist Fire 30, so takes just 4 damage.
"Once more unto the breach. dear friends!"
Liam casts Divine Favor and moves up to the worm-woman while drawing Scion's Dagger. If possible, he will get her backed up to a wall so she cannot just 5' step back and cast.
Amelia quickly dodges the flames with no issue, and upon landing she uses her momentum to rush the worm.
Thanara manages to avoid the worst of the flames, her ward protecting her from the rest.
”Eww! A worm swarm that talks and knows magic!?!? That is just wrong!” Thanara says as she proceeds to kill it with lightning! She launches a large blast of lightning in an explosion on top of it before then sending a wave of lightning coursing out at it from her fingertips!
__________
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [2/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [6/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: xx
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness, life bubble, communal delay poison, fire resistance 56/90
Katria's caught completely unawares, but her strange magic saves her as the flames seem to do no harm.
"Snakes and worms," she says. "I think we've had enough!"
Thinking quickly, she pulls out a tangled knot of twine that she's carried for some time and whispers a word to it. It unravels, reaching for the worm that walks!
The worm that walks resists Katria's poltergeist knot, but she takes the full blast of Thanara's elemental assault, leaving her vulnerable! She avoids some of the sorceress's follow-up blast.
Amelia and Liam move in, the former landing a solid blow with her pick as the latter inspires courage and boxes the enemy spellcaster in.
"Gah! Get away from me!" the creature shrieks. She tries to cast a spell defensively.
She fails, and the spell is lost!
”Anyone…care to explain how a wad of worms can talk, use magic, and take human shape? And just saying ‘magic’ doesn’t count!” Thanara asks as she unleashes another gout of electricity at the thing.