Bon hesitates (delays), observing that the bunyip looks about ready to collapse after the next solid blow. Sadly, both Giovanni and the Maiden grow overzealous, wildly missing their swings while Zora's isn't strong enough to drop the beast.
The strange seal-shark seems to be enraged - instead of retreating, it manages a lone frenzied snap at Giovanni which is wilder than the half-elf's last swing.
Round 2
21 Bunyip (27dmg) : Roars
20 Giovanni : Misses
14 Bon : Delays
9 Zora : Strikes for 2
6 Maiden : Misses
Round 3
21 Bunyip (29dmg) : Snaps at Giovanni and misses
20 Giovanni :
14 Bon :
9 Zora :
6 Maiden :
After a brief respite, the intrepid Pathfinders return to their systematic checking of doors and delving deeper into the rooms within this level of the Spire.
Beyond the bunyip room, the door opens into a short hall with several side chambers of little interest. Finally, another door opens onto another platform overlooking yet another holding tank.
From his vantage point, Giovanni can see what looks like a humongous eel swimming about within the dark, murky depths of the tank here along with yet another portal connecting this area to the Elemental Plane of Water.
Zora also spots another door that after a quick swim, she deduces connects back to the main hall.
At this stage, I don't see any reason to push you into a fight with the giant eel, so you're welcome to return to the main hall where you have two choices - (a) take the door to your right or (b) go straight ahead into the room the hall dumps into.
You'll be swimming again, but with the elixirs and such, I won't be pressing anyone to make the numerous, tedious rolls needed here.
With the door pulled open, a difficult task underwater, Giovanni swims ahead once the Maiden discovers the portal is neither trapped nor locked.
As he surfaces, he grips onto a ladder that emerges from the water onto a small platform a mere foot above the surface.
Glancing to his left, Giovanni spots the larger room seems to contain similar platforms. He could also swear he glimpses some movement, indicating to him that the room beyond is also occupied.
Map updated. Nudge your icons forward however you'd like to enter this room (through the corridor Giovanni is in; paired off to enter both ways simultaneously, etc). Remember most of you are underwater, so you want to get into a room to surface for fresh air sooner than later.
That's good enough for your GM to position the team into two discrete groups for assaulting this next room!
The hallway opens into a large, flooded room with three isolated alcoves just above the water level. The roar of water pouring into this room is loud enough to drown out quiet conversation.
Swimming just at the base of the northern ladder is yet another of the strange crab-like eidolons employed by the summoners working this complex. It clacks its claws as it spots Giovanni crest the eastern corridor in anticipation.
From above, yet another undine - this one a woman, barks down at you all.
"You! Interlopers! Murderers! You shall pay for your intrusions!"
She begins waving her arms, clearly weaving a spell with hostile intent.
As the Maiden continues her efforts to swim into the room in time with Giovanni, she also notices lurking just below the water's surface something that resembles a humanoid construct with a shark's tail. It crackles with electric energy that seems to charge the very waters that surround it.
DC14 Know Arcana will ID this as a variant emerald automaton.
@Maiden: If you end your turn within 5ft of the automaton, make a DC12 Reflex save or take 1d10 electrical damage (you can roll the damage if you fail a save).
The eidolon woman immediately begins weaving a spell while her crab seems prepared to protect her on her perch.
The strange automaton glides through the water towards Charis, emerging in a dramatic burst of water. It brings down a wicked ranseur that Charis luckily sidesteps as she realizes one good hit could swiftly end her life (x3 crit weapon could've can hit fot over 60 damage!).
The water here is 20ft deep. The alcoves are just 1ft off the surface of the water, so the ladders depicted descend below the surface and don't represent much of a need to climb up/down.
Round 1
22 Undine : Casts haste
22 Crab : Waits/readies
22 Shark Automaton : Swims to Maiden
17 Maiden :
13 Bon :
10 Zora :
9 Giovanni :
Giovanni swims ahead, grimacing as the water shocks him, but finding solace as his weapon slices through the metallic construct like butter. The eidolon begins chanting a spell of his own as his crab wades ahead and snaps at Giovanni. Luckily for him, it misses. Unluckily, the shark-tailed automaton's guisarme slashes a nearly mortal wound (23 damage to Giovanni). The second strike from the shark-monster narrowly misses.
@Giovanni: DC12 Reflex or take 1d10 ⇒ 5 electric damage from the charged waters surrounding the automaton.
Round 1 Con't
17 Maiden : Moves in
13 Bon : Begins summon monster 1
10 Zora : Moves in
9 Giovanni : Swings at automaton for 11 (bypassing its DR!)
Round 2
22 Undine : Begins casting summon monster II
22 Crab : Moves and strikes at Gio, missing
22 Shark Automaton : Strikes at Gio, hitting for 23 dmg
17 Maiden :
13 Bon :
10 Zora :
9 Giovanni (23dmg + ??):
@Bon: You are correct, it's only when at half HP that happens! I believe that puts Giovanni at 1hp... which may be less than desirable.
The Maiden lands a well-placed arrow, preventing the summoner's spell from completing while Bon's eagles screeches as it soars in tearing at the blue woman's face.
18+3+4+8=33 damage. That's enough to drop the summoner!
With a blood-curdling scream, the woman falls face forward into the murky water while he crab-like eidolon simultaneously dematerializes from this plane.
Unfortunately for everyone, the shark-tailed construct continues to pummel at Giovanni...
@Zora: It looks like the Maiden won't get attacked if Giovanni is up if you wish to revise that action.
Having had the living daylights well and truly beaten out of him, and knowing that another hit would most likely spell certain death, Giovanni withdraws.
At least until he has a chance to do some healing.
Fffff-TING! Zora's bullet bounces off the construct's hard exterior while Giovanni wisely backs away as he notices more blood than water in his immediate area.
With Giovanni out of the picture, the automaton paddles over towards Charis and Zora, striking at (1d2 ⇒ 1) the Maiden and possibly pinning the pair in the alcove. It's ranseur slices a vicious wound (18 damage) which begins filling the alcove with Pathfinder blood.
Round 2 Con't
17 Maiden : Attacks undine for 18
13 Bon : Eagle attacks undine, dropping her, Bon begins another summon
10 Zora : Slings for 0 (DR)
9 Giovanni (23dmg): Withdraws
Round 3
22 Shark Automaton (11dmg) : Strikes at Maiden, hitting for 18
17 Maiden (18 dmg):
13 Bon :
10 Zora :
9 Giovanni (23dmg):
The ranseur has reach, but it only hits targets 10 feet away. I should be able to take a 5 ft step and either get into melee or 15 feet away. If I can't fire without provoking I'll risk it anyway.
NG Male Human (Ulfen) Sorcerer (Celestial) 6 | HP: 46/46 | AC: 12 16 (12 Tch, 10 14 FF) | CMB: +2, CMD: 14 | F: +10, R: +6, W: +7; +1 vs. curses| Init: +2 | Perc: +0, SM: +0 | Heavenly Fire 7/8
Current Conditions:
none
Active Spells:
good hope, mage armor
Yes, I started a post while playing Moonscar this weekend, but was forced to abandon it and didn't get back to it until now.
Bonaventure uses his wand of bless. The summoned blue celestial eagle flies over to attack the only remaining enemy, and a red celestial eagle appears and claws at the automaton.
The eagle pair's talons and beaks scrape against the strange automaton's exterior with a grating sound and seem to do little to stop its continued assaults against Charis.
One. Two.
Two massive swings, and Charis blinks a few times, surprised she managed to dodge both and that she's still standing intact.
Round 4
22 Shark Automaton (42dmg) : Misses Maiden twice
17 Maiden (18 dmg):
13 Bon :
10 Zora :
9 Giovanni (14 dmg):
Hmm, I don't what this thing's DR is... it's at least 5/piercing since one of my arrows didn't pierce. Eagle talons aren't helping, either, so not slashing? I'll try bludgeoning this round, and hopefully won't get 1 rounded here. Man, whomever wrote this scenario loves DR...
The Maiden decides to close in, past its ranseur and see if she can bludgeon the automation without resistance.
Flurry 1, Bless, Flanking:1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 10 Damage:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
@Everyone: I'm fine if you want to deduce its DR5/adamantine based on observing your attacks thus far (the eagles, Giovanni, etc).
Bon's acid sprays onto the hard shell of the automaton, sizzling as it pits the armor. The twin eagles seem to seize advantage of the compromise as the first begins to now scratch the construct.
2+1+1=4 more damage. 42+4=46 sustained.
Sparks fly from the construct, charging the water around it... as it appears about ready to keel over, yet still manages to swing its ranseur in wide, heavy arcs at Charis.
Still Up: Zora
And hoping you finish it... not sure I want to swing at Charis twice again.
Zora steps up, and with the eagles providing ample distraction, she spots the small "organ" just behind the emerald automaton's chest armor. With one graceful move, she slides her dagger around the plate and into the construct's heart, splattering oil everywhere as electricity crackles and the machine drops into the water.
Electrical damage, reflex saves, yadda yadda...
With their jobs done, Bon's pair of eagles "poof" out of existence and a calm takes over the room, just the sound of dripping water audible along with everyone's labored breathing from the latest battle.
A quick scan of the chamber finds that this third and final undine, named Senethar, was also researching the portals here. You discover her notes on the portals, along with half-finished letters to “Uzar-Kus of the Circle of Vissk-Thar”.
A scroll case contains a parchment with an Emerald Spire level sigil labeled “Eight” in Aquan and Draconic and a Spire transport token you have been accustomed to discovering.
In addition to her equipment, she seems to have stashed away a magical adamantine battleaxe and a magic headband (+1 and +2 wisdom, respectively).
And that, my friends, concludes Level 5, The Drowned Level! I'll get to work on Chronicles.
