"I think this was just the welcoming party. Badness is ahead. Suishen says he senses another weapon of the five families ahead. Another one like ... him." Parity waves the katana loosely.
The doors appear to be barred from within, but Heng spots no traps.
Kiyomi, stopping singing after the attack, walks up. "If it pleases you, I may be able to teleport four of us to the other side of the door, though I will not be able to know where we will end up. We could then open the door from the other side for the others."
Malnival grins at Kelda as he wipes the blood from her face. "Well done my love!"
He turns at the blind man's words and moves forward. "Another like it you say? Well then, let us go greet its owner."
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"If it pleases you, I may be able to teleport four of us to the other side of the door, though I will not be able to know where we will end up. We could then open the door from the other side for the others."
Heng looks impressed, "That would be a fantastic help. If we could appear just beyond the door, I can quickly open it for the others while Parity and Malnival attack our adversary beyond."
Kelda stands and checks her sword's edge. "You all go ahead... finish this. I vill stay and vatch the door."
Kiyomi nods and murmurs "Gather round me, each touching the other," as she begins to sing a traveling song quietly.
Parity nods as he prepares, summoning the terra cotta warrior, activating the chaincloth cloak again, and using vanguard tactics.
In a flash of Kiyomi's magic, you step from one side of the doors to the other and find yourself in a long hallway running north-south. Tall doors, similar to the double-doors you just passed through, lie at each end. The walls lack decoration, but are instead marred by hundreds of long, parallel gouges that look nothing so much like claw marks.
"20 paces to the north, he said. What direction are we facing?"
"Beyond another door, apparently." Parity adds wryly gripping Suishen tighter. "Lets move quickly. Grab the others."
Parity directs the terra cotta warrior to the doors.
"Stay here with Kelda, Skygni. I don't know what to expect but I'll be ok with the others, Kelda needs your protection right now. I'll be able to heal you further when I return."
******************
"Not sure Parity, let's look for a door. I sure don't like the look of those claws."
Heng slides a heavy bar aside to open the double doors, letting Harlan through to the corridor. Kelda and Skygni remain guarding the entrance while you follow the passage to the north. The door there is not locked and opens silently.
Beyond lies a part-antechamber and part-bedroom. The twenty-foot-high walls are covered with detailed paintings and carvings of powerful female oni, dominating brutally over mortals of all races, especially humans. To the west, partially obscured by tall laquered screens is a wide, filthy-looking futon.
To the north, a tall arched opening opens into the final sanctum. As you near the entrance, you are greeted by a bloodcurdling scream echoing from the massive chamber beyond.
Inside is a repulsive charnel house of death and decay, its glowering walls a vision of madness, sin, and unsated lusts. Countless figures are carved into the walls, glaring, pleading, and screaming in silence. But on closer inspection, the figures are revealed to be the rotting corpses of araneas, humans, hobgoblins and more impaled on the walls, their anguished features frozen at the moment of death.
To the east, a wide open pit gapes in the floor. At the opposite end of the room, a ragged spur of stone supports a bloodstained iron frame above a bed of nails. The broken and mutilated body of an aranea hangs partially filleted on the frame. A wrinkled, ancient Tian woman stands next to the victim, cackling as you enter. She tears off a strip of skin and eats it, noisily smacking her lips.
The woman remains focused on toying with her captive. "Munasukaru knew you would come. Anamurumon called her 'the Least', but her mission was vital. After the kimon collapsed, she would remain to protect the secret. Eventually, the scions of the Five Families would come... be they Teikoku, Sugimatu, Shojinawa, Higashiyama, or... Amatatsu?" A grin curls at the edge of the old woman's lips.
Kiyomi seems to shrink in upon herself, but she perks up when mention of the Five Families is made.
Do you recognize this woman ... is she oni?
Wil sv:
Malnival cast a spell.
As a side note, when she transforms, you recognize the naginata she wields as the Tundering Blade of the House of Sugimatu, the legacy weapon of that royal house.
The woman cackles, responding to Heng, "Munasukaru is..." When Malnival begins his spell, her face snaps up and she snarls. ... your death!" Her visage instant changes as the illusion sheds away, revealing a wiry ja noi oni with dark red skin and elongated tusks. Her long hair is pure black and straight, as are her wicked claws. She wears a suit of colorful do-maru armor and holds a two-handed polearm, a naginata of exquisite make.
Kiyomi lets out a soft yelp, almost puppy-like as the oni transforms! Gathering herself, she begins to inspire courage on her action, then fires an arrow at the oni!
for damage and acid damage!
Harlan looks at the images in disgust, but he moves on after one brief shudder. His crossbow is slung across his back and he is holding the plant found earlier, perhaps that is the source of his resolve.
Round 1 Init 22
HP = 67/82
AC/T/FF = 22/14/19 (+2 BoF)(25% ignore sneak/critical)
Weapon Equipped = +1 Light Crossbow
Bolts = 27/35
Speed = 15'
Channel = 1/6 (6d6)
Energy Body = 11/11
Oracle Spells Known (CL 10):
5 2/4 Cure Light Wounds, Mass, Break Enchantment*, Breath of Life*, Wall of Stone
4 0/6 Blessing of Fervor, Cure Critical Wounds*, Restoration*, Air Walk, Holy Smite*
3 1/7 Cure Serious Wounds*, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Neutralize Poison*, Stone Shape, Magic Circle Against Evil
2 1/7 Aid, Restoration, Lesser*, Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Shield Other*, Spiritual Weapon, Ghostbane Dirge*
1 3/8 Bless, Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Command*, Cure Light Wounds*, Burning Disarm*, Sun Metal*
0 Stabilize, Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Detect Magic, Mending, Guidance, Light, Spark*
* Save DC = 15 + Level
Status Effects = None
Looking at the goal of their long delve at last, the halfling oracle attempts to discover her weaknesses.
Sadly his knowledge of deities outstrips his knowledge of those that live with said deities, and the young cook learns nothing new.
"Die abomination!"
Who is Anamurumon? Maybe Kiyomi will know.
"Hmm, she's carrying the ancestral blade I referenced earlier"
Depending on placement, Parity will move in to attack, using as much of his 70 foot movement range as he can to attempto circle around and flank with Heng.
He mentally commands the spritual warrior to attack as well
,
; used CL 11 for Parity, adjust as required
; used CL 11 for Parity, adjust as required
; used CL 11 for Parity, adjust as required
Heng surges forward, calling on divine righteousness to face the oni. He lunges, trying to grab her, but Munasukaru is nimble and evades the monk's grasp. Harlan blesses the group as Kiyomi begins her song of courage. Her arrow is well-aimed, but again the oni is ready, deflecting it away with her naginata.
Munasukaru shifts to Heng's right and brings the naginata around and down hard. She misses him, but he is not her target. The blade hammers the floor hard, sending a sonic shockwave across the room.
Fort sv:
Malnival cast another spell.
Still 9 rounds of deafness, which is sheer badness for Parity. Need to think on next action.
If Suishen can get him close enough, he will stumble that way at half speed to avoid any acro rolls. Will cast true strike this round instead of corrosive touch.
HP 22/90
Kiyomi, accustomed as she is to hearing the world around her, is stunned for a round and deafened for 18 rounds!
Deafened: A deafened character cannot hear. He takes a –4 penalty on initiative checks, automatically fails Perception checks based on sound, takes a –4 penalty on opposed Perception checks, and has a 20% chance of spell failure when casting spells with verbal components.
Percent for spell failure:
Round 2
HP = 14/82
AC/T/FF = 22/14/19 (+2 BoF)(25% ignore sneak/critical)
Weapon Equipped = +1 Light Crossbow
Bolts = 27/35
Speed = 15'
Channel = 1/6 (6d6)
Energy Body = 11/11
Oracle Spells Known (CL 10):
5 2/4 Cure Light Wounds, Mass, Break Enchantment*, Breath of Life*, Wall of Stone
4 0/6 Blessing of Fervor, Cure Critical Wounds*, Restoration*, Air Walk, Holy Smite*
3 1/7 Cure Serious Wounds*, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Neutralize Poison*, Stone Shape, Magic Circle Against Evil
2 1/7 Aid, Restoration, Lesser*, Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Shield Other*, Spiritual Weapon, Ghostbane Dirge*
1 2/8 Bless, Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Command*, Cure Light Wounds*, Burning Disarm*, Sun Metal*
0 Stabilize, Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Detect Magic, Mending, Guidance, Light, Spark*
* Save DC = 15 + Level
Status Effects = None
Harlan is left stunned by the sonic wave.
Spell failure for displacement:
Malnival bears through the thunderous blast, keeping his wits enough to finish his hastening spell. Parity staggers and stumbles forward slowly, holding Suishen out in front. He, too, casts a spell, shouting the mystic syllables awkwardly.
Heng immediately counterattacks with a flurry of strikes, slamming Munasukaru four times in rapid succession and feeling a satisfying impact with each hit. The oni gestures and shouts, but none can hear her curses.
Harlan and Kiyomi stand stunned, slowly getting their bearings back.
Munasukaru shifts a more aggressive fighting stance, then leaps suddenly into the air, flipping high over Heng's head before landing behind him. As she comes down, she slices the naginata neatly down his back, leaving a deep, bloody line.
;
Kiyomi shakes her head, but the deafness does not clear. Instead she resumes her bardic song and fires an arrow at the fiend!
for plus acid damage!
Parity will take a step backwards, wheeling with Suishen and cutting a divinely inspired blow designed to disarm the foul creature.
;
If the disarm is successful (and Parity survives the ensuing AoO) then he will drop his shield, pick up the naginata, and send it into his glove of storing.
If not successful, he follows up with attacks.
,
,
Round 3
HP = 29/82
AC/T/FF = 22/14/19 (+2 BoF)(25% ignore sneak/critical)
Weapon Equipped = +1 Light Crossbow
Bolts = 27/35
Speed = 15'
Channel = 1/6 (6d6)
Energy Body = 11/11
Oracle Spells Known (CL 10):
5 2/4 Cure Light Wounds, Mass, Break Enchantment*, Breath of Life*, Wall of Stone
4 0/6 Blessing of Fervor, Cure Critical Wounds*, Restoration*, Air Walk, Holy Smite*
3 1/7 Cure Serious Wounds*, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Neutralize Poison*, Stone Shape, Magic Circle Against Evil
2 1/7 Aid, Restoration, Lesser*, Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Shield Other*, Spiritual Weapon, Ghostbane Dirge*
1 2/8 Bless, Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Command*, Cure Light Wounds*, Burning Disarm*, Sun Metal*
0 Stabilize, Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Detect Magic, Mending, Guidance, Light, Spark*
* Save DC = 15 + Level
Status Effects = Bless, Haste
Shaking himself out of the daze, Harlan pauses before turning into an elemental of life. He quickly moves through Mal and Kiyomi before heading towards Heng and Parity.
Malnival casts a displacing spell, making his image shifty and difficult to track. Parity closes and brings Suishen down hard against Munasukaru's naginata. While exposed, she cuts Parity across the torso. Magically guided, he strikes true and the royal weapon clatters to the floor. Parity makes a blind grab for the naginata, and the oni screams (though none can hear it), kicking the weapon out of his reach.
Heng continues to flurry, but she maintains a more nimble defense and he only connects with a couple hits. Harlan transforms himself into a radiant healing force, flying around to heal Kiyomi and Malnival with his touch.
Munasukaru lets out a ferocious roar, leaping at Parity and slashing her clawed hand across his neck vicious. His stony skin blunts the heavy attack, but her claws still leave bloody marks behind. Munasukaru then leaps away backwards, impossibly high... somersaulting to land atop the dropped naginata.
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