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Omar grasps his great sword tightly, whirling it about quickly to catch the Sinspawn rushing at him directly in the face, causing it to impale itself as it runs at him, just as Zando calls out a warning. Hoisting his Pathfinder flag high, the Storyteller begins reciting a heroic tale to bolster himself and his allies.
Able to react quickly, Ogmios runs to engage the enemies, hoping to strike quickly and hard before they can return the favor. He slams his elbow into the creature's face, but it's not enough to knock it out.
Encouraged by his brutality, two of the Sinspawn close on the "Big Man", lashing out with both fang and claw. Luck seems to be with Ogmios, or very much against the Sinspawn, as not a single attack makes it through his thick hide.
Kaylee looks at Balomar intently, mentally plucking at the strings of fate and luck around his aura, altering them, only minutely in his favor. This allows Balomar spring into full action, joining Ogmios on the front lines and cutting the Sinspawn in half. Only two remain, and thus far you seem less than impressed with their performance, but deep down know that one single bite might change all this.
ROUND 1
Omar ()
Zandu ()
Ogmios ()
Sinspawn 3 () <red>
Sinspawn 4 () <purple>
Kaylee ()
Balomar ()
Tûrak ()
Piety ()
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Piety looks at one of the Sinspawn, catching it's gaze for a few moments, but just long enough to implant a portion of his will into the bestial creature's mind. Omar speeds forward, cutting down the only enemy he could get close to, severing it from shoulder to pelvis in two.
The final one, goes down with little threat, though oddly, even outnumbered and wounded, it makes no effort to flee.
Each of the statues has two black pearls worth 150 gp each embedded in it that can easily be pried out (14 in total). The northernmost statue resembles Alaznist, who is depicted holding her signature ranseur; in her other hand rests the left cheek guard of the acrimony veil. It radiates faint evocation magic, though it seems latent and inaccessible currently. You also don't seem to have enough pieces to connect this one to the other yet.
With the Sinspawn slain, the room returns to utter silence once more, with the exception of the labored breathing you can only barely hear from the two still living victims laying bleeding in the middle of the room.
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With Kaylee rushing to heal the injured members of the archaeological dig staff, Zandu picks up the second part of the mask and places it in a separate pocket from the first.
"Well done there! My you are a fearsome sight with that Sword Omar! Now, shall we find out what these fellows know or explore the rest to see if we can find more survivors?"
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Both of the men wake up, barely alive, though very grateful for such aid. They confirm that it was the wrathspawn who attacked and killed most of the dig crew—and who tortured poor Riemme to death. The corpse is that of Riemme Batelle, left after the vicious wrathspawn tortured him to death. An elaborate rose tattoo covers his shaved pate. He wears a torn and bloody tunic, and the leather armor lying next to his corpse is damaged beyond repair. The Pathfinder Society will want the body retrieved and brought back to Heidmarch Manor in Magnimar.
Escorting them back to the shaft leading to the upper level, and back to safety, they return to the small village for healing and further care, allowing you to continue your explorations.
Checking the other hidden passageway, you find it leads to a concealed hallway that seems to bypass the other hall with the odd patch of ceiling. It has another door at the end, though it stands wide open.
The stench of death is strong in this ornate shrine. Another mosaic like that found in the grand temple above lies on the floor immediately west of the entryway. Two rows of slender columns carved with dizzying designs support the ceiling twenty feet overhead and every inch of the chamber’s walls is covered with intricate sigils and pictograms. A fat pillar stands in the center of the chamber. Six corpses lie on the floor near the base of this central pillar. An altar of red marble stands near the western wall, and it has iron manacles attached to its surface. Once used to secure the arms and legs of sacrificial victims and those subjected to brutal and vile experiments, this altar has black iron manacles built into its surface. The air is charged with palpable malevolence. This foreboding room is the Shrine of Mortification, where Yamasoth’s most sacred ceremonies took place.
Hunched over the corpses on the floor, two clear figures can be seen. Humanoid, but obviously somewhat monstrous. Their skin is pale, their hands rudimentary claws, they can clearly see in the dark with ease, and they are covered in the carrion they are feasting upon. They notice you instantly, having seen the light as soon as you entered the hallway, but they do not stop from feeding on the dead yet.
=========================
ROUND 1
Omar ()
Kaylee ()
Turak ()
Zandu ()
Ogmios ()
Balomar ()
Piety ()
Monster 1 () (green)
Monster 2 () (purple)
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Zandu helps escorts the men and listens to their tale, looking forlornly at their lost pathfinder companion and wondering how the end to his own end will come, the final full stop on the page before his soul joins the river in the boneyard.
Pushing past the encroaching melancholy, the Storyteller movs into the room, his lights following to illuminate. Examining the spawn creatures, ahead Zandu shares his findings.
"Ghouls! Be careful of their bites!"
He then begins a tale, a champion of Pharasma, atop a hill staring an approaching army of undead.
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Omar will fall in with the party and offers to carry the remains.
"No one deserves such a fate. A proper burial is needed for our fallen brother. ."
At the call of undead he will set down the body and start a battle song to join with
Inspired Rage (Su) At 1st level, affected allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.
Note: Each willing participant also gains *SCENT* and *2xCLAW* attacks(d6)
♪♫♪♫ Fight the good fight every moment
Every minute of this day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay
♪♫
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ROUND 1
Omar (raging song)
Kaylee ()
Turak ()
Zandu (move and inspire)
Ogmios (move and attack, miss)
Balomar (move and attack, hit)
Piety ()
Ghoul 1 () (green)
Ghoul 2 () (purple)
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Omar begins to sing a chant to again inspire a deeper rage within his allies while Kaylee, also quick to react to the sight of Ghouls feasting on the dead takes a step back and grant's Turak good fortune. Turak moves closer, drawing his bow, and fires an arrow at the Undead creature on the right, putting it down with a well aimed, and lucky shot.
[dice=Perception ("trap")]1d20+7[/dice]
Zandu adds his own inspiration to the mix, weaving an interesting melody as both Ogmios and Balomar rush the last Ghoul. However, just as they enter the room, a third combatant, hidden behind the dark red mutilation alter springs up, shouting the end to a prayer in an ancient tongue, then locks eyes with Ogmios. Suddenly overcome with overwhelming fear, his thoughts of Pharasma vanish even quicker that he does, as he turns around and flees the room following the same path ha came in. Balomar, a bit surprised by the sudden turn of events lashes out at the Ghoul with his Falchion, ending the other Ghoul there on the spot.
ROUND 1 & 2
Piety ()
Omar ()
Kaylee ()
Turak ()
Zandu ()
Caster Undead () <black>
Ogmios (running for his life)
Balomar ()
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Omar continues his raging song as he rushes into the room to confront the creature scaring his friends.
Had a funny feeling I can't hide
Hey, Hey, Do the Zombie Stomp
Why can't they just let me be
Alone without the misery
Hey, Hey, Do the Zombie, Zombie Stomp!
He draws his reach weapon and stabs at the casty undeadish one!
for
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His tale of the Pharasman Warrior, cutting down the foul abominations, enslaved to the will of a powerful Necromancer continuing, Zandu falters when Ogmios flees in aparrent terror, the twos empathetic link causing him to shiver.
"And as his blade struck down, the creatures were rent, our hero continued forwards crying 'For Pharasma will my life be spent!'"
The worda have slightly more magic than usual, causing rhe creature to feel the piercing might of the warriors sword.
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Piety draws his light crossbow and looses a bolt at the new target, but it bounces off some sort of hidden armor beneath the death priest's rags.
Omar rushes him as well, much to the same effect, though Kaylee, after summoning a globe of goo to her hand seems to have better luck, but only barely, catching the Undead in the face, as Turak sends another arrow flying. Even blinded, he, whatever he is seems unstoppable, avoiding both with, and pardon the pun, blind luck.
Feebly wiping at his eyes, he grasps an unholy symbol from around his neck, pressing it outwards in a vile display, and suddenly waves of black energy flood the room, hitting all except Ogmios who is far enough away to avoid the deity's wrath through it's chosen vessel, then doing so again, chanting an odd prayer, this one taking a little time to complete.
ROUND 2
Piety ()
Omar ()
Kaylee ()
Turak ()
Zandu (chords of Shards)
Caster Undead (blind, casting 1 Round spell) <black>
Ogmios (running for his life)
Balomar ()
round 3 -> Piety ()
Omar ()
Kaylee ()
Turak ()
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"Interesting... All of those symbols and writings... The Society will love all of this...", Tûrak was entranced with their discovery, when he is suddenly surprised by the ghouls in the room.
"Be careful with the mosaic in the floor. It has sharp-toothed shards of glass, maybe it is a mortification device that penitent cultists", the half-orc warns his companions.
A few moments before becomes silent due to the spell that the creature is casting, Tûrak takes a step forward and fires an Explosive Missile against the caster undead!
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Calling on every bit of divine training, and luck, that he has, every ounce of nobility and righteousness, Balomar rushes in, drawing first blood against the death priest and ruining his spell. His strike seems to hurt a lot more than it should, and there is a small flash of brilliant light as it bites, searing through some of his defenses. Piety moves closer while shoving another bolt into his crossbow while Kaylee calls on her unnatural healing arts to disrupt the death priest's undead nature, turning the very energy of life against him, and Turak seems to tie something odd to an arrow, firing it. The would be kill shot falls short at just the last moment, the priest catching it only an inch from his face, the drops the arrow to the ground harmlessly.
The death priest, looking worse for wear, but hardly ready to give up the ghost just yet again grasps his unholy symbol, takes a step backwards, first chanting a brief prayer and then following that immediately with another wave of pure blackened, life-draining energy that hits everyone in the room. Suddenly Balomar feels some sort force trying to crush him, preventing him from moving. He gets the mental image of a demonic hand, larger than his entire body grasping at him.
ROUND 3
Omar (-11)
Kaylee (-11)
Turak (-11)
Zandu (-11)
Caster Undead (-33) <black>
Ogmios (running for his life)
Balomar (-5)
Piety (-11)
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Cursing fluently in his native tongue, Zandu reels from the damage inflicted by the Death-Priests foul black wave, blood pouring from his nose at the internal damage. Fighting through the pain, the Storyteller keeps his tale going, inspiring Balomar to even greater heights.
With another guttural, harsh turn of phrase, Zandu causes the very air to shred the Deathpriest.
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Coughing furiously, the Varisian storyteller wipes the blood from his face and checks to see if his standard had fallen in battle. Noting it was ok he smiles as Kaylee seals his wounds with the lightest of touches. Zandu takes the Elf's dainty hands and hws deeply, kissing it softly.
"My thanks good lady, I see your wounds are just as troublesome, allow me."
Drawing his polished ivory wand from his sleeve, Zandu activates it with a whisper and uses the magic to seal Kaylee's wounds. Before turning it on himself
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Zandu's and Kaylee's spells don't do much, but it's just enough that Balomar's next swing severs the creature's head and upper left shoulder from the rest of it's body. Normally, for one dead, this would not be fatal, though Balomar's divine powers act as a sort of acid against the creature's flesh, severing it from the negative energies that drive it.
It falls, and with it, the immediate threat ends. As you begin healing you spot yet another concealed door on the eastern wall, but need to recuperate and search here first. In a few moments, Ogmios returns, having regained his composure.
After a thorough search, you find a still functional set of +1 Mithral Chain Shirt Armor, a magical Ring of Protection, and finally that the death priest had another piece of the odd mask, this one the chin guard. It fits on with the other two pieces you have, but seems to be still missing one component.
Proceeding through the hidden doorway, careful to avoid the section of the floor that his broken glass, you enter a hallway. To the right you find it connects to the hall you had skipped earlier, with the odd section of the ceiling, and so turn back to investigate the other way. It winds around a few times until you come to an abrupt halt, where someone has constructed a crude barrier, walling off the entire hallway with thick dried clay. Bursting through it is easy, but as soon as you do so, you hear a grinding sound from down the hall, followed by a thunderous slam of solid stone falling hard on solid stone.
From the far side of the barricade, you catch the sudden and strong smell of pungent death, and then some sort of oozy goo begins to seep through the hole in the clay wall you had just cracked open. It quickly begins to fill the room, and you see it beginning to burn and sizzle the stonework as it forms into a massive cube. You attempt a few attacks against the goo, but it seems to do nothing, not even register pain, and so you fall back, only to find your way blocked as the entire 10x10 section of ceiling has fallen, cutting off that entire hallway.
Luckily, you had already found the secret escape door, and flee through it, leaving the ooze trapped inside. With only one last section of the undertemple to explore, . . .
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To the north, on a raised platform, stand leathery brown statues of withered and emaciated humans poised as though attentively observing passersby. The statues have a grim, realistic appearance, and each one is flayed and modified in a unique way. The figures have their throats and wrists slit and most of their mouths are sewn shut. Some of them have their forearms separated between the ulna and radius, splitting even the fingers of the hands to create additional appendages. Others have portions of their skulls removed and replaced with a different, leathery material. Some have modifications to their torsos, in which the ribs have been split, pried out, and sharpened to points. One figure in the middle of this display sits with its arms raised, palms out. Its teeth have been pulled out, filed to points, and then embedded into its hands.
petrified corpses of sacrificial victims.
Beyond the hallway opens a somewhat larger room. The wall decorations of cultists engaged in horrific rituals continue into this large chamber. Ages-old blood stains the floor and walls in dusty flakes. A mosaic similar to the one in the temple above covers the floor, partially obscured by dozens of naked corpses scattered across the floor. On the far western side you spot a patch of the wall boarded up.
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Zandu beckons Ogmios and the two fall in as they search the rest of the ruins, the storyteller marvelling at the ancient architecture, the perfect setting for a dark, doom filled last stand of an ancient hero. Narrowly avoiding the clay thanks to the their earlier thoroughness, Zandu wipes sweat from his brow and with a click of his fingers, cleans his clothing.
"Well that was certainly unpleasant!" he Exclaims before the sight of the next room stops him dead in his tracks.
"Petrified you say, and this one with teeth embedded in his hands? how odd this place is."
With a whispered chant, Zandu sweeps the strange figure with a spell.
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"Thank you, Kaylee", Tûrak greets the witch for the healing.
The half-orc pulls off his wand of CLW from the wrist sheath and use it on himself...
...then, he put it back in the wrist sheath.
A few moments before enter in the actual room, Tûrak approaches from the paladin.
"Hey, you. Take it", he gives him an infusion of Enlarge Person, "drink it before we enter. It will make you grow and get stronger".
Tûrak seizes the moment to drink an extract of True Strike and insert an extract of Long Arm in the wrist sheath, before cross the passage.
"I'm ready now."