"If Allegra does not wish to return, should we Disintegrate her remains so that they will not be defiled by this place?"
Theophilus will say a few words. He then swirls and twirls in preparation to lead the way to the next destination....
The first stele, where Upianshe's ghost was.
The second stele, on the shores of the lake. This is the one we are closest to, so we should do the Beckon the Stars ritual.
We haven't found the third stele, I think, but there is more of the above-ground city to explore.
Ci Ci kneels beside the reposing body of Allegra. "Farewell, Boss. May you revel in your Godclaw gods negotiating for your soul. Rest assured your body will not be put to use by agents of Chaos and Corruption."
The sorceress places a hand over the closed eyes of the Inquisitor, and quietly intones, "Diasporatum." Energy surges into Allegra's body, causing it to dissipate into a fine ash.
Mara bowed her head and paid her respects to her fallen comrade. "Farewell, Allegra. You fought heroically, and helped save Golarion from the Innermost Blot's corruption."
"May the Lords of Law look on her with favor."
Dervak gathers up Allegra's gear. He will offer the Lucky Horseshoe to Cerise. "Theophilus has one that has helped him, even if this one could not save Allegra."
Allegra's Lesser Extend Rod and two 1st-level Pearls of Power may also be useful.
Ci Ci accepts the Lucky Horseshoe from Dervak. "Thanks. I could use whatever luck I can get."
Theophilus will read aloud from the Necronomican in remembrance of Allegra.
Before he can; the White Rabbit puts a gag over his mouth.
As you begin the ritual Aeptolinu casts doubt, ”The star-marked pillar, I thought humanity wise enough not to seek Carcosa’s Blessing, but they have failed before, as you have now, and will fail many times more.” The man leaves you.
For 30 minutes Theo and Mara intone the necessary profane words to attune the Star Stelae. They call out to distant worlds and entities, who's spying eyes you feel gaze upon you. At the culmination a portion of their life energy pours from their eyes, nose, and mouth feeding the ancient monument and causing it to glow softly.
Shortly after the ritual is complete you hear a booming voice behind you, ”Vile mortals! You have tasted the taint of the Necronomicon and now drunk from the depths of its knowledge deeply. You must be destroyed along with the book.” A pair of archons with flaming wings and swords are ready to smite you for your sins.
The party gets the drop on the archons, perhaps they thought you would drop to your knees and beg for forgiveness.
Mara declared, "You don't understand, we must pursue Count Lowls! The fate of the world is at stake!" She cast cast a spell, unleashing the majesty and fury of the heavens. Seven shimmering, multicolored beams of light sprung from her hand. Then she moved to the side.
Ci Ci takes a moment to wrap her body in energy and diamond dust.
Theophilus watches in frustration as the Archons attempt to burst their bubble!
You fellows best be on yer way! Or my friend Dervak will carve you up like next Thanksgivings turkey!
He winks at Dervak.
Yer turn!
Dervak will Str-rage, casting Shield on himself through Greater Bloodrage.
He will use Barroom Brawler to pick up Riving Strike, activate Arcane Strike, and ready to 5' step and attack the first foe to get within 10'.
As two yellow rays electrify each of the archons one begins to taunt, ”Your foul magic has no effect on us. Absolutely nothing good can come…” Which is when a violet ray strikes it, whisking it away to gods knows where.
A bead of sweat rolls down Yrisolma’s brow and it concentrates intently on the Necronomicon in Theo’s hand. The foul book vibrates as the excinder tries to steal the text from you but something prevents it from being teleported away.
"Setforstun!" Ci Ci intones, drawing her power through the rod and projecting three sky-blue beams at the remaining archon.
Theophilus watches as his Split Hex takes hold of them both; although, he does frown just slightly when one blinks out of existence.
Darn Law of Averages!
The Witch then presses The Book tightly against his chest!
It's mine! My precious!
He then winks at the remaining asshat.
Something from the nether regions of his mind suddenly snap in the Mad Hatter's head.
He winks at Dervak!
He Cackles.
The White Rabbit makes a rare in combat appearance (he is seen wearing sunglasses and a fedora).
He slaps Theo in the face.
Theo nods.
He actually recalls what team he is on; he Evil Eyes the archon.
He waves at Dervak.
Dervak will move up and strike at the archon, remaining on his guard.
Mara prayed to the Heavens sprits to grant Dervak good fortune.
Ci Ci strikes the remaining archon once in the face and once on each wing, it recoils a bit from each of the blows but still stands. Dervak wades in and slices it, but not grievously harming it.
The archon seemingly outnumbered and the party meaning business warns them, ”You won’t get away with this!” It steps back and promptly disappears.
"You'd better hope we do! We're trying to save the world!" Ci Ci yells to the empty air where the archon stood moments before.
She releases the hold on her power, takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh.
"Nigh-immortality apparently doesn't guarantee any degree of sense," she mutters to herself.
Dervak ends his rage.
"My magic is nearly spent. If those archons should reappear, it will fall to you all to eliminate them. I will hold them off as long as I can."
"Let us go back to the first stele, where Upianshe's ghost was, and perform the ritual again. Then we can rest and then look for the last one."
Repeating the ritual to attune the Stelae Theo and Mara notice subtle variations in how the monument pulls their minds at a different angles. The first time they were overcome with thoughts of meaninglessness and the impossibleness of their situation. This time their minds drift towards thoughts of rebellion and disorder.
Theophilus closes his blue eyes in absolute mad rapturism! The Mad Hatter swoons once the ritual ended. A lone tear slides down his reddened face.
The White Rabbit punches him in the stomach!
Like you didn't enjoy it!
The White Rabbit just shrugs noncommittedly.
He takes out his Wand; tapping himself.
Are we ready to find the last one?
Before resting, Mara healed her companions' wounds.
In the morning she meditated, gaining new prayers for the day.
Orisons: Detect Magic, Light, Guidance, Read Magic
1st lvl (6): Ant Haul, Liberating Command, Protection from Evil, Unbreakable Heart x2, open slot, Color Spray (spirit)
2nd lvl (6): Barkskin x3, Calm Emotions, Delay Poison, Resist Energy, Hypnotic Pattern (spirit)
3rd lvl (6): Heroism x4, Dispel Magic, open slot, Daylight (spirit)
4th lvl (6): Blessing of Fervor x2, Freedom of Movement, Restoration, Spiritual Ally, open Slot, Rainbow Pattern (spirit)
5th lvl (4): Baleful Polymorph, Breath of Life x2, open slot, Overland Flight (spirit)
6th lvl (3): Greater Dispel Magic, Wall of Stone, open slot, Chain Lightning (spirit)
7th lvl (3): Heal x2, open slot, Prismatic Spray (spirit).
"I'm ready to go. Let's find the final stelae."
Dervak will stand guard during his watch shift and then sleep fitfully, uncomfortable in this place.
In the morning, he is ready to find the final stele.
Your sleep is less troubled than the nights before. The sensation is strange, as if a loud noise had been sounding for weeks and is suddenly gone, not only relieving your discomfort but also making you realize what discomfort you were in.
As you navigate around Neruzavin you notice that the odd fungal growths that litter the area have withered and died. Still an ever present sense of foreboding lingers like a haze from nearby wildfire. Theophilus follows his pinky toe which invariably leads you on the correct path. Massive staircases scale the sides of this short, basalt tower ringed with unadorned columns. Open doors at street level lead to a chamber below.
Theophilus takes confident steps toward open doors. The surprised, shocked Witch begins to feel a bit of resistance.
I feel like I used to be chaotic neutral?
The White Rabbit nods in agreement.
He powers through; although, he feels like he is alone.
Seeing Theo pass through, Ci Ci attempts to follow.
"That energy. It's wavelength was a bit too erratic for comfort, but I made it," she comments.
Mara followed Theo and Ci Ci into the tower, pushing past the mental resistance.
Once the party was through, she stopped and offered healing to everyone with her wand.
"Thanks," Ci Ci replies, accepting the healing from the wand.
Dervak makes a point to stay near allies as he walks.
Dervak is slightly more Good than he used to be, so needs to force his way through the resistance.
"That didn't feel so great. Any idea what it was?"
"This tower seems to be warded. That effect may not be the only thing we face. Should we prepare?"
Dervak will cast See Invisibility and Shield.
You descend to the chamber below: Eight broad skylights in the domed ceiling connect this spacious room to the sky above. At the center of the chamber stands a familiar, cylindrical monument with a single flat face
inscribed with several runes.
Within the chamber: Hundreds of stylized stars adorn the walls and ceiling of this chamber, many of them connected by lines to form a menagerie of constellations. The floor and ceiling both curve outward, forming a gentle bowl depression and domed arch respectively. A series of patterned silk cushions and warm bronze braziers provide unexpected comfort for such an
inhospitable region.
Mara said a few prayers to prepare for the tower, and the ritual.
When they entered the chamber, she studied the stars depicted on the ceiling commenting, "I don't recognize these stars. They don't correspond to any stars that I'm familiar with in the night sky."
”These aren’t our stars,” Ci Ci replies in a tone of certainty. ”Not in our sky, or any other over Golarion.”
Dervak will scout the room for signs that anyone has recently been here.
He will look at the cushions for imprints, and examine the braziers to tell how long ago they were lit.
Dervak notices that one the braziers still has coals with faint dying embers within. The cushions have long indentations as if something without legs reclined here often. Wedged within the cushions Dervak finds a white hair and a glossy black snake scale. Whatever was here, was her last night and is not humanoid.
Theophilus looks at the 3rd familiar, cylindrical monument with a single flat face inscribed with several runes. The Witch begins casting.
Theo then nods in satisfaction. He glances up at the stars.
Bet we are heading there.
He then looks over at the cushions and brazier still burning.
Naga. I read this novel once that had a Moon Naga in it. Very misunderstood are Nagas.
"Go ahead and start the ritual. I know I am not much help at these things, so I will remain ready in case anything decides to try to interrupt."
As Dervak keeps a weathered eye out for trouble he finds a hidden compartment under one of the cushions.
As the ritual begins you hear the slithering of a trio of very large snakes. As Theo predicted, three creatures with the bodies of snakes and the heads of women with stark white hair descend to the chamber with you. Their scales shimmer hypnotically threatening to put you in a trance. ”Welcome to the Oraculum seekers. This is our domain and if you wish to make use of our hospitality you must provide a tithe to the stars.”
Theophilus looks up from reading The Book. The Witch's blue eyes look at each of the Nagas.
He smiles. He bows (putting The Book in his Haversack).
Lucky Number was 5
He lifts his grand Hat.
Theophilus Carter, at your service! Are you Ladies available to talk in like, say, an hour. We have extremely pressing business with a man who owes us $2 for past due newspaper fees.
He grins.