Dalamus easily circumnavigates the lock on the gates and then heads across the Temple grounds to the main doors in the Cathedral. Smaller outbuildings are built further away, almost like living quarters. He pushes open the massive main doors and they swing easily inward, showcasing a grand sight.
The grand hall of the Temple of Pharasma is a magnificent sight. The huge octagonal room measures one hundred fifty feet across and the vaulted ceiling rises to a height of fifty feet in the hall’s center. Pillars engraved with images sacred to the faith of The Grey Lady ring the massive chamber, and an exquisitely rendered symbol of the death goddess covers most of the chamber’s otherwise bare floor. Built to house huge gatherings and contain powerful magical ceremonies, the hall is as beautifully and sturdily built as any building in the city. Strangely, there are no pews or other items of furniture at all in the chamber. In addition to the grand doors leading into the main h+all and a second set of even larger doors to the east, one small door in the southwest corner of the room hangs slightly ajar. A second normal-sized door opens onto a southern balcony about fifteen feet above the ground. The balcony provides access to a narrow set of stairs encased in an intricate iron lattice. These stairs wind upward along the inner surface of the chamber’s walls to a third door high up near the ceiling above.
Standing at the far side of the room, just outside the massive doors and to the east of the large symbol are a trio of half-orc mercenary officers, a priest of Pharasma, and a pair of massive bald gray giants. Stone Giants?! Here? In Cauldron ... strange.
The priest cries out when he sees you, "They've figured it out ... kill them!"
The stone faced half orc delays a moment before he replies to Epik with indifference . "Don't care if you're the reincarnation of Aroden, himself. You ain't getting in here."
Initiative
Dalamus is going to cast invisibility (This is NOT greater)
Epik double moves into the room. He attempts to use the pillars to provide partial cover.
Sam will cast Greater Invis and move south
I'll do a full round of attacks on the priest (-2 to hit or damage if he is not human):
Attack: Damage: Miss: Crit:
Attack: Damage: Miss: Crit:
Attack: Damage: Miss: Crit:
Attack: Damage: Miss: Crit:
Nowzai casts levitate and ascends.
Epik pauses to detect evil on the half orc before responding. "Fine. Tell the duke we were here. We'll be back tomorrow."
Once out of earshot he whispers to the others. "I don't trust our new major. Something nefarious is going on. Dalamus, can you scout around and see if there is an alternate way in?"
Again, only if I am with the party at this point. Up to you Tike.
Dalamus nods at Epik and says "Maybe you should turn away Epik, I don't want you to have a hard time with this" Dalamus smiles and then starts
Stealth
Perception
If he finds a locked door.
Disable Device
Epik nods a wry smile at Dalamus, "Extreme circumstances require extreme measures. Vhalantru forfeited the protection of the law when he illegally usurped the mayor. Do what you must, my friend."
raising jenya
initiative
i will move to the right
The first to see and the quickest to react, the priest casts a quick paralyzing spell at Dalamus and then slips through the massive doors behind him.
Magma moves in and Dalamus (if not paralyzed) turns invisible.
The giants move behind pillars and grab perfectly formed stone spheres and hurl them across the room with surprising speed and accuracy at the only visible target in the room striking him once but smashing the pillar the other 3 times.
Nemoris, having lost his target .. moves his aim slightly and feathers the nearest half-orc with three arrows, staggering him before he moves and nearly killing him . The resilient creature continues to fight on, though and charges forward with his companions.
Nowzai rises in the air.
; HIT!;
; miss
; mis
; miss
Fort save
Dalamus will use Dimension door and reappear on the other side of the door with the priest, in a location that was free of objects.
Epik double moves into the room. He heals himself as he goes.
round 2
move to other side of the door
Init -
Sam will cast fly and continue moving towards the giants, now straight across the middle
He will also enchant his sword to Keen and Shocking
-Posted with Wayfinder
Magma moves back to the door as Dalamus, invisible, casts his spell.
The giants continue to hurl rocks at their closest assailant, now Epik, and one gets through and smacks the paladin in the shoulder but the others smash into the columns doing nothing more than make a horrendous noise.
Nemoris lets fly a barrage of arrows dropping the injured horc and wounding his wingman. The horcs continue in charging Magma quickly and slamming the stonechilde with gruesome blows from their waraxes cutting deep into his flesh and drawing a rare sight of blood.
Nowzai begins his spell as Epik heals and he and Sam move closer to the giants.
; miss
; HIT!;
; miss
; miss cover
; HIT!; Damage a lot.
; HIT!;
; HIT!;
; miss
; HIT!;
; ; CRIT!;
Epik again double moves towards the nearest stone giant.
Nowzai completes his summoning spell, bringing a huge air elemental swirling into the temple in front of the stone giants. It immediately attacks.
;
;
Nowzai turns to the half-orcs pressing Magma and casts a sound orb at the southern.
;
do i get an attack for round 2? if so
damage
Round 3
attacking the wounded orc
damage
damage
I included the sneak attack damage to the attacks
stealth if needed?
Attack 1
Crit Confirm
Damage
Attack 2
Crit Confirm
Damage
Attack 3
Crit Confirm
Damage
Sam will cast Vampire Touch and move up, he can't attack this round so he will be prepared to attack next round.
He is invisible
The priest finishes his spell and a shimmer of energy appears around him for a moment and then disappears. You sneak up behind him and cut him viciously, the Mantis Blade sighing with contentment, YES, destroy the blasphemer, worshipper of the vile Skinsaw.
The priest is completely surprised and clutches at his arm which is now spraying blood.
Magma steps back and beats on the unwounded half-orc . He slips on the tile and misses his first attack but smashes the mercenary well with his second one.
The northern giant drops its stones and pulls a massive greatclub out to wait for Epik to approach. The other one hurls two stones across the hall at Nowzai, floating in the air. Nowzai gets clipped with a rock, his spell absorbing the brunt of it.
Nemoris changes targets now the open doors are blocking line of sight to the horcs and sends a volley of arrows at the southern giant. The first two together hit the giant in the eyes, killing it instantly.
The horcs wade in to assault Magma, but they are unable to get through. Nowzai finishes his summon and then clobbers the southern horc with an orb of sound. His elemental wades into to buffet the surviving stone giant triggering the giant's readied attack as it hammers back.
Sam and Epik move forward, casting spells as appropriate.
; HIT!;
; HIT!;
; miss
; ; CRIT!;
; HIT!
; miss
; miss
; miss
; miss
Dalamus will again full attack the priest, this time visible.
Attack 1
Crit Confirm
Damage
Attack 2
Crit Confirm
Damage
Attack 3
Crit Confirm
Damage
Epik grits his teeth and attempts to dodge the giant's club as he moves to engage. "Stand down, servant of Pharasma. We have no conflict with you or your God. We should be fighting together against the wicked forces that threaten this city!"
round 4
attacking the half orcs
damage
damage
The air elemental continues to pummel the stone giant, keeping at the edge of its reach.
;
;
Nowzai holds, waiting to see what the giant does.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The rogue in return takes a pair of vicious swipes at the priest and severs his head from his body.
Waves of black energy pour from behind the door, hitting the giant and the air elemental.
; success!
Magma takes a couple swings a the horcs but they are able to deflect his poorly aimed blows.
The giant steps toward the elemental and swings hard twice striking once.
; miss
; HIT!
Nemoris moves into the room and fires at a nearby horc feathering it in the back and killing it quickly.
The horc strikes back at Magma cutting him once.
; HIT!;
; miss
Sam moves in and strikes at the giant ...
temp hit points gained
Epik absorbs a blow on the shoulder and then with the help of the elemental cuts the giant down, leaving the single half orc for Nowzai.
; HIT!;
Sam will and cast a shocking grasp and 5' and use lunge to attck the other giant
To Hit -
Damage -
Confirm Crit -
Total Damage -
To Hit -
Damage -
Confirm Crit -
Total Damage -
To Hit -
Damage -
Confirm Crit -
Total Damage -
To Hit -
Damage -
Will Save
Dalamus will slowly open the door and try to sneak attack the giant.
Fast Stealth
Attack
Damage
Bleed 4HP/round
Epik double moves back towards the remain half orc. He will heal himself as an immediate action.
Nowzai descends to the floor and moves over beside Nemoris. If the remaining foe still stands, he will hurl an acid bolt.
;
"Epik, this is your show.....What is it you were hoping to get now, that the priest is dead? Clearly there is something sinister going on here, but we are still looking for aid and probably don't have a lot of time to waste."
Epik will wipe the gore off his blade. "Something isn't right here. The temple of Pharasma is somehow linked to the greater malady affecting Cauldron. With Iomedae's guidance, we shall find out what is going on."
Epik will secure search the rest of the first level and will then open the door and will lead the way up.
You explore the rest of the first level.
A massive pair of double doors, when opened, provide this area a commanding view of the Grand Hall to the west. Two beautifully sculpted pillars frame a massive onyx altar encrusted with runes and elaborate magical glyphs. The jet-black walls have been painted with images sacred to Pharasma: stylized sarcophagi, obscure magical spirals, and other religious imagery. Two massive tapestries (100 gp ea/ 120 lbs ea) cover the wall directly behind the altar, giving those standing to the west an impressive view of the altar and its imagery of the death goddess. A single door sits in the corner of the room to the southeast.
This well-appointed chamber houses several comfortable chairs. The walls are pleasantly decorated with hanging art, and a long polished wooden table rests against the northern wall. Two bookcases hold a few minor religious texts, writings of those devoted to the service of Pharasma.
Glancing at the writings, they are numerous but unique and valuable.
This long chamber is strikingly bare, its polished walls and floor a glossy black. Gilded sconces hang in each corner, and each holds a torch that glows with a silently flickering green flame. The austere room is divided by a thick velvet curtain about two thirds of the length of the room away, and the body of a young man lies on a long low table in the middle of the room. You recognize him as Todd Vanderboren, one of the Stormblades! His body is richly appointed
An elaborate holy symbol of Pharasma covers most of the floor.
Each of these single backrooms holds a simple pallet, a small wooden dresser, and an empty sconce. There are no signs of anyone staying in any of them currently.
This small storage chamber is packed with dozens of boxes and lined with shelves. A musty smell fills the air, mixed with hints of exotic incense.
This bedroom is immaculately clean and perfectly ordered. The thick carpet is embroidered with hundreds of small designs of skulls and bones and arcane runes. The room’s furnishings include a large, well-made bed, two large armoirs filled with rich clothes and ceremonial robes, and a large desk.
A search of the room reveals three gilded candlesticks (50gp ea), a pouch of 102 platinum pieces, and 2 beautifully made wall hangings (150gp ea)
Epik will quickly search each room before moving upstairs. He is careful not to be disrespectful of the temple. Upon seeing Todd Vanderboren, Epik pauses. "The Stormblades have lost one of their own. I wonder what our rivals have been up to?"
Epik will say a silent prayer to Iomedae to guide Todd's soul to its rightful destination.
; High alter
; Prep chamber
; Ritual chamber
; Priests' Quarters
; Storage Closet
; Priests' Chamber
Dalamus will examine the body of the Stormblade on the table, and check to see if he is alive. If he is not, then Dalamus will inspect the body to find where the wounds are.
dalamus
stormblades are not our enemies let the dead rest.
are we going to sack the temple?
perception
high alter
prep chamber
Ritual chamber
priest quarters
storage closet
Priest's Chamber
down 106 hp
heal
Perception: High alter
Perception: Prep chamber
Perception: Ritual chamber
Perception: Priests' Quarters
Perception: Storage Closet
Perception: Priests' Chamber
Your extra searching turns up nothing new in the rooms.
Dalamus notes that Todd is definitely dead and is covered in numerous wounds, but none of them appear to be even remotely mortal. In fact, they all seem to be flesh wounds that likely had stopped bleeding before he died.
You head up the stairs.
A thick red carpet, emblazoned with fiery diabolical symbols, covers the entire floor. The circular chamber has no windows to the outside, but a large window, currently covered by a thick curtain, overlooks the Grand Hall. The furniture consists of a well-made bed, a beautiful wooden armoire, and a small but beautifully carved wooden desk covered in papers.
The stairs outside lead to the balcony that takes the stairs up through the ceiling of the Grand Hall.
Epik will quickly scan the room for any sign of danger. He then pulls back the window curtains, reads through the papers on the desk and rifles through the desk drawers. "There must be a clue here to what is going on."
With a look of perplexity Dalamus reports to the group his findings of the body "Is it possible that he was willfully murdered in order to come back to life?"
woman who attacked Jenya, could have killed Todd.
Epik rifles through the papers and finds a fair amount of paperwork that outlines the day-to-day activities of the Cathedral's faithful Pharasmin priests. However, in one drawer he finds a false bottom. The hidden compartment holds 3 potions of cure serious wounds, a black figurine of a hooden man and a small sheaf of papers between the high priestess, Embril Aloustinai and a man named Fetor Abradius. All but one of the letters are brief reports that allude to a continuing and taxing search for something unnamed. Each letter concludes that all remains on schedule, but that the final answers still allude the searcher. But one goes into far more detail.