"Good idea. Whatever's over there is definitely going to try and kill us," Ci Ci replies.
Theophilus ends his song, gratefully taking a clean handkerchief from the White Rabbit and blows his nose.
Yes, friend Dervak. It was a poor mans rendition of This is the days of our lives.
The Mad Hatter nods to CiCi.
Yes let's end this!
Mara said to her comrades, "When we get close to Iris Hill, I'll recite some prayers for Dervak, and prepare for the likely fight."
A two-story tower or peculiar yellow stone stands where the manor once was. It is featureless and windowless save for three open arched entrances at the base. Spired battlements, like the tines of a crown, surround the top of the structure. A beam of pale yellow light stabs through the eye of storm clouts that swirl around the tower in a ring. Shadowy figures can be seen moving on the tower's roof in the gloom.
A riot of sickly grayish-green grass and weeds intermixed with moss and toadstools surround the tower. Three curved menhirs wrap around the tower and are hewn from the same strange yellow stone. Three walkways meander towards, all facing different directions. Something about the scene strikes you as familiar but you can't quite place it.
Dervak will cast Freedom of Movement on himself just in case more tentacled monstrosities await.
He looks at the base of the tower, into the open arched entrances. Does he see anything within?
Ci Ci floats just above the ground as the group approaches.
She readies to unleash her power on whatever lies in wait within.
Mara recited a few prayers as they neared Iris Hill.
She flew low as they neared the grounds, deciding that it might be a bad idea to go higher. She tried to make out the shadowy figures on the tower's roof.
It's hard to make out from this vantage but Mara spies something that resembles a dead and rotting tree lurking at the top of the tower.
The Jaundiced Tower
Strange glyphs and sigils are engraved along the odd yellow stone archways that lead inside. The chamber within is stark and barren, save for a staircase that winds counterclockwise up to the next floor.
Dervak nearly misses it but at at the top of the stairs keeping lookout is an invisible ratling. It's uncannily human eyes go wide with recognition and it turns to flee.
Mara spotted the invisible ratling and pointed, declaring, "Stop that invisible ratling! It's going to raise the alarm!" She quickly recited a prayer, attempting to stop the lookout from announcing their presence.
The White Rabbit taps Theo on his trouser leg.
What? You see something?
The White Rabbit shakes his head.
Nope. You still got mustard on yer chin.
The invisible ratling twists and contorts into an invisible sheep, which promptly lets out a mournful "Bhaaaaa!"
"Should we kill it? What are the chances whatever's inside speaks Mutton?" Ci Ci asks.
"Yes, I think we should kill it. It would not do to have it flee for its allies to Dispel Mara's spell."
Theophilus and the White Rabbit are both seen wearing chef outfits complete with a tall chef hat.
"Alrighty then," Ci Ci replies, pointing her rod at the sheep.
"Pew. Pew. Pew," she says slowly and deliberately.
The sheep is struck by Ci Ci's pew pews, black spots of charred fur form where it is struck. The sheep complains loudly but is far from dead. Upstairs you hear the sounds of a spell being cast.
Some of you recognize the voice, though she sounds hoarse and dry.
Theophilus' blue eyes look at the strange glyphs and runes.
"Praise to the Unspeakable One who will emerge from Carcosa as a god." I wonder if they mean us?
A bit disappointed about dinner, Theo perks up when he hears the familiar voice casting a spell.
The Witch winces a bit.
Antilife Shell spell. The effect hedges out animals, aberrations, dragons, fey, giants, humanoids, magical beasts, monstrous humanoids, oozes, plants, and vermin, but not constructs, elementals, outsiders, or undead.
He looks at the group.
Anyone not one of those things?
He then calls out to the Voice.
Sounds like you may need a throat lozengier? I may have a cherry or two left? What do I have in my pockets?
Theo (absently rubbing his trouser leg) begins to Summon.
Hezrou demon,Augment Summoning, Evolved Summoned Monster(Sticky (Ex) (Champions of Corruption pg. 27): The eidolon is especially sticky, whether from a coating of adhesive slime, partially congealed blood, or tiny barbed spines. The eidolon gains a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks to initiate or maintain a grapple. )
The Witch taps his foot impatiently.
Sometimes I wish that I was an Alchemist.
In the meantime on an Abyssal plane somewhere, an unfortunate Hezrou demon is suddenly plucked from doing after work errands for his wife when he is unceremoniously pulled away!
F&!&! Lava sticks and boiled buttons! The wife is gonna be pisssssssed!
Theo--wisely(?)--activates his Flight Hex and enters the building proper.
Theo summons a demon, next turn. He doesn't have line of sight to target nor any actions to.
Mara commented, "It seems someone has already noted our presence."
She recited a prayer, bolstering her companions' minds against the attacks of their enemies, then rose into the air.
The sound of casting from up the stairs again, this time a Ring of Fire.
Dervak moves in front of Mara and Theo. He casts Long Arm.
Ci Ci flies up to level with the entrance where the sheep stands. Being immune to fire, she pays no heed to the ring of fire erupting before her.
Ci Ci sees nothing other than stairs going up and sheets of roaring flame, she is unable to see beyond the opaque effects of the spell.
The sheep suddenly finding itself cooking bounds its way down the stairs and outside.
Dervak has his sword out.
Round 2
Theophilus looks up at the Ring of Fire.
Theophilus begins Summoning.
Dire Polar Bear
CelestialTemplate
This town needs an enema!
Mara concentrated, speeding up the flow of time for her allies. Then she floated further up the side of the stairs.
Dervak cuts at the sheep ratling but does not kill it.
Daridela comments, "There us no stopping Xhamen-dor. Give up and you may yet live." If the druid is making further preparations you cannot tell what they may be.
Theo's celestial fire dire polar bears appear and carefully set down their frosty beverages. The mass of fur, muscle, and potential death trundle up the narrow staircase and stop suddenly. The lead bear gives a tentative swipe but stops short of being able to pass through the wall of fire.
Ci Ci targets the ceiling square right between and above where Dervak and Theo are standing.
"Diasporatum!" she declares, unleashing her power at the stonework.
Ci Ci makes a way forward through the ceiling and unceremoniously dumps a man in yellow robes onto the ground below.
To his credit he sticks the landing.
Above you is another chamber which rises 20ft to the ceiling, on the interior of the outside wall is a staircase which ascends clockwise.
Round 3
The White Rabbit suddenly appears, kicks Theo in his trouser leg, bows to everyone and disappears!
Theo (absently rubbing his trouser leg) begins to Summon.
The Witch taps his foot impatiently.
Sometimes I wish that I was an Alchemist.
In the meantime on an Abyssal plane somewhere, an unfortunate Hezrou demon is suddenly plucked from doing after work errands for his wife when he is unceremoniously pulled away!
F&#+! Lava sticks and boiled buttons! The wife is gonna be pisssssssed!
Theo looks at the fallen man in yellow.
Who ordered a pizza?
Theo then winks at the trio of polar bears.
Stay and guard them stairs, boys.
Mara called on Charlabu to aid her in this crucial battle to save Golarion, then moved closer to Ci Ci.
The golden archon appeared and tried to vanquish the cultist in yellow.
Dervak gives the gymnast a 9.0 for sticking the landing, but then decides to deduct an arm and a leg for being a stupid cultist.
Dervak and Mara double team the poor cultist and he expires almost as soon as he’s able to recover from his fall.
Daridela yells to the cultists, ”Draw them out of the stairs.” The cultists shuffle along and two are ready with their rapiers.
A demon appears next to Dervak cursing and tossing a shopping cart against the wall.
Climb over the railing, right into a cultist rapier.
Papa bear retaliates with a claw…
Not only maring his face with deep cuts but also bringing him into a tight hug. The cultist panics and meekly asks, ”Brown lie down, black fight back, but it’s white!”
Ci Ci flies a bit closer to the hole in the ceiling and draws upon her power. "May the darkness consume you, body and soul!"
Ci Ci draws her wand of invisibility and taps herself with it. She then flies up through the hole to the second level.
As Ci Ci flies up the hole she is hit with a spell to strip her of her enchantments. Daridela clearly saw through her illusion.
Ci Ci safely descends to the floor as her magic flickers and wavers out of existence.
Round 4
The celestial fire-retardant polar bears seem to not enjoy being stuck by toothpicks! Also, even the fire is a bit annoying. They decide to remove the cultist obstacles from their path!.
The duo (the smart one stays downstairs out of fire) take swipes at Green and Orange respectively!
Theo then winks at the Hezrou, floating upwards through the hole, as the Witch casts a spell once up there.
Waves of Fatigue
Welcome to the Tea party!
The disgruntled Hezrou (abandoning his shopping cart for now), heads up the stairs past the polar bears to emerge on the 2nd floor.
The demon smiles wickedly at the druid.
Theophilus says hello!
Theophilus whistles innocently at the whispers in his head, mentioning map skills deficiencies....
Dervak looks at the traffic jam on the stairs.
He sees Cerise floating down unexpectedly.
Casting Fly to get up there only to risk having it Dispelled is not appealing, given his very limited spell slots.
But... Potion of Fly on the Loot Sheet!
Dervak will retrieve and drink that.
Active spells in case Dervak gets hit with a Dispel:
Heroism, Barkskin, See Invisibility, Shield, Freedom of Movement, Long Arm, Feather Step (all CL 16)
Fly (CL 5)