Drongos - Heresy of Man (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

Is it just the tall room covered in darkness, and the party isn't yet in the area of darkness? Amaranti has an oil of Daylight, but not sure if it does any good from where he is now.

I know Ibid has a dayfinder, Cyrus might be a copycat now though....well, after this scenario.

-Posted with Wayfinder

You guys were exploring the room with the stairs. Tactical is updated. You all are in Deeper Darkness. Additionally, Daylight will only push away the Deeper Darkness, returning the area to its natural state: Darkness. I assume you guys were using things like the Light spell up until now, but any Light spell of 2rd level or lower won't work while the Deeper Darkness is active.

The darkness gets Amaranti by surprise. The Garundi was making a slow progress on the narrow ledge, looking at his feet. With the lights suddenly out, he almost collides into Finarin. He doesn't have long to wonder what is going on, until he hears Gunari mentioning something about daylight. This reminds Amaranti he actually has sunlight with him - in bottled form. He takes his vial of Oil of Daylight, and pours the oil over his backup weapon.

Move action: retrieve oil, Standard: use oil on heavy mace (hanging on belt)

Now, Daylight counters the deeper darkness in it's area. Will lesser light spells work on Daylight's area (since DD is being pushed away)? Amaranti is using Ioun Torch as his light source. Will torches work? At least Lort will see something in the worst case. I remember this having come up on local games several times, but I don't think anyone found an official answer...

For reference: Paizo's Ruling on Darkness effects.

Relevant text: If no other light spell is sufficient to overcome the darkness spells in the overlapping area, and if there is a daylight spell active in the overlapping area, the daylight spell's special negation clause kicks in (regardless of the spell level of daylight and the darkness spell; it just works, always). This means that you negate all the magical light changes in the area and bring it back to prevailing conditions. As a side effect of negating the magical darkness, those nonmagical light sources activate again (while they are not ambient, they were still part of prevailing conditions). Other magical light sources still are not active in the area; they had their chance to attempt to negate the darkness spells and didn't, so they were not part of the prevailing light conditions, instead subsumed by daylight's more powerful special negation clause.

TL;DR: While within the Daylight/Deeper Darkness area, all magical sources of light are extinguished and only mundane light sources work. So someone will have to light a torch if they want to see (besides Lort, who can now see due it being regular Darkness.

Additionally, lighting a torch is a full round action. Drawing a torch is a move action. I assume that lighting a torch also involves drawing out whatever tool you use to light it. Tindertwig drops the lighting time to a standard if you have one. Sunrod is the quickest with a move and standard (draw and light).

Initiative:
1st: Finarin; Amaranti
2nd: ???
3rd: Cyrus; Lort; Cunari; Ibid

So Ibid, Amaranti, and Lort will be able to see, but Gunari, Cyrus and I cannot? Sorry bit confused.

Drawing his scimitar, Finarin peers into the unending darkness ready to strike out in the direction he his hit.

ready action - attack a square towards where I get hit from.

Why can Ibid and Amaranti see? I believe that currently, only Lort can see as he is the only one with Darkvision.

As you all begin to react to the darkness, you hear the sounds of even ambient noise and your fellow compatriots suddenly shut off.

As the Silence engulfed you before anyone called out the enemy, only Gunari and Lort know of his location or existence.

Current Effects
Deeper Darkness - Black Circle (negated by Daylight, no current light sources active.)
Silence - Red Circle - Not affecting Cyrus at the moment.

Initiative:
1st: Finarin; Amaranti
2nd: Masked Creature
3rd: Cyrus; Lort; Cunari; Ibid

Cyrus has the darkvision ninja trick. As soon as it is my turn I can spend a ki point as a swift action to gain darkvision. It will last for an hour. Might still need the dayfinder though to make sure I can cancel out deeper darkness in the future and not have to rely on Ibid or others.

In other words, don't worry about me. :) I'll see what I can do to help with mundane light on my turn.

Edit: This might be a good opportunity to remind myself and mention the GM that Cyrus also has a ring of feather falling. I should give my snapleaf to Ibid since it doesn't really do Cyrus much good now that I have the ring. Makes me wish I had thought of that earlier.

Cyrus looks around, nerves and senses heightened with the sudden appearance of a threat.

To dark, to dark...

The ninja swallows his panic down, which fuels his inner street survival mechanism. Suddenly his eyes blink, and his vision pierces the dark veil, revealing black and white outlines of the walls, alcoves, stairs, and his friends.

Realizing the peril he and his companions are in, Cyrus decides it is time to even the odds a bit. He reaches into his handy haversack and wills his wand of greater invisibility to appear in his hands.

Only 4 more charges... so valuable.... But something needs to be done.

Guess I need to buy a sunrod! he thinks as he tries to activate the wand on himself.

UMD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Cyrus now has darkvision for 60 minutes, and greater invisibility. Because of his wall climber ninja trick, he can scale vertical walls with a climb speed of 20'. Would I be able to get in position behind this thing with a double move next round?

Technically, no, however it puts you on the wall, just over the square in that position. Which means that you can fall from 5' (take no damage, thus not fall prone) and get a full attack.

f'ing silence, too? OMG!
Gunari is hit, AC24 flatfooted and blind
fort save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
The warpriest is not completely shocked to be hit, but not all that happy about it, either. Swift action: activate Improved Weapon of the Chosen - reroll miss chance, and weapon is Good. As always, greater weapon of the chosen is in play. He attacks where he was attacked.
Power Attack, VS, Keen, GWoC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Power Attack, VS, Keen, GWoC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
In case it matters with those crappy rolls!
miss chance >50 is hit: 1d100 ⇒ 46
miss chance >50 is hit: 1d100 ⇒ 74
damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (3, 1) + 9 = 13

Note: he does have a Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier, but is not using it for that sneak attack. Will do so in the next round if he is hit again.

The old man takes a moment to register that an impenetrable blackness has enveloped him which soon becomes a terrifying reminder of the ghost that very nearly cussed him to drown. His hands clutch madly at his chest, specifically attempting to peel away the open jacket and pull aside his shirt to reveal his Dayfinder. Fumbling with mechanism he finally holds it aloft then opens his mouth to speak but finds that no words can pierce the stillness. A moment later he tries to shout but finds only a heavy silence filling his ears, quickly being replaced by the rampant beating of his terrified heart.

His footing is unstable in the consuming dark, so he unslings his longbow from its resting place across his shoulders and pushes his back against the unseen wall.

Move Action: draw Dayfinder
Can't activate Dayfinder because he cannot speak the command word.
Move Action: draw longbow

Seeing what a precarious position Gunari is in, Lort pushes past his companions and bulrushes the strange creature. He wishes he could yell at Gunari to step back and save himself. He wishes he could yell out to warn his sightless friends where the thing is and to simply move out of the range of silence. I just hope one of them has the sense to light a torch.

Bullrush: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Lort keeps his weapon drawn and, of successful, will move along with the creature.

Ibid, from what I can tell, your dayfinder is worn around your neck and doesn't need to be drawn. You could step outside of the silence radius and use it. Also, your longbow requires two hands to use... so not much point pulling the dayfinder if you won't use it.

Strength Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Gunari begins to succumb to the poison coursing through his system as he bring his churchkey to bear, however Lort moves through the crowd and hunkers down to bull rush the hooded man, but his lack of training in the technique allows the man to bring down his short sword into Lort's back as he runs at the man, deftly pushing Lort off course and sending him spiraling back down the stairs.

AoO @ Lort: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage taken applies as a penalty to the CMB check, which causes it to fail. Due to PF mechanics, Lort ends up in the nearest viable square, which is his old square.

Gunari, unaware of Lort's approach takes a swing at that exact moment as Lort rushes past him, knocking him askew and causing his churchkey to slam against the wall as Cyrus leaps from alcove to alcove in the wall, trying to avoid the man.

Ibid tries to activate his Dayfinder to purge the darkness around him, but finds that the silencing effect is keeping him from doing his action or hearing his friend's words. He draws his bow, just in case.

Current Effects
Deeper Darkness - Black Circle (negated by Daylight, no current light sources active.)
Silence - Red Circle

Initiative:
1st: Finarin; Amaranti
2nd: Masked Creature
3rd: Cyrus; Lort @ 9 damage; Gunari-Poisoned (1/6) w/ 2 Str Dmg @ 20 damage; Ibid

This is rough:, bad briefing, vanishing servants, swarms, haunt, magical darkness. This is the Wizard of Oz of scenarios.

Not knowing what is happening, Finarin descends down the staircase hoping to outrun both the magical darkness and the magical silence.

Move down up to 30 feet as a move action.

Once he exits the darkness/silence area, he removes a torch from his backpack. Move action.

As a side note, I can't believe a bunch of 8th level characters are relying on light a freakin' torch.

Sorely disappointed his Daylight didn't remove the darkness, Amaranti tries to come up with a new plan. He keeps still, standing on the narrow ledge, surrounded by darkness. No sound can be heard, not even his own breathing. But something odd is going on...

If he cannot see or hear anything, maybe something else could. Using his connection to the outer planes, Amaranti summons creatures of air to the empty space in the middle of the room.

SLA Summon monster IV to summon 1d4+1 Small air elemental

How many: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Three elementals answer the summoner's call. The mundane darkness does not bother them, so they soon enough understand the situation, and proceed to attack the enemy.
Attack, charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Attack, charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack, charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Unaware how his summons are doing, Amaranti retrieves a torch from side pocket of his backpack.

Move action to retrieve torch

By spell description, summoned monsters attack the summoners enemy even without instructions, so this should work

Amaranti acts in the darkness and silence by summoning elementals but is unaware of their impact on the situation. Honestly, he isn't even sure if there is an enemy to attack, but it is better safe than sorry.

Current Effects
Deeper Darkness - Black Circle (negated by Daylight, no current light sources active.)
Silence - Red Circle

Initiative:
1st: Finarin; Amaranti
2nd: Masked Creature @ 7
3rd: Cyrus; Lort @ 9 damage; Gunari-Poisoned (1/6) w/ 2 Str Dmg @ 41 damage; Ibid

Pending
Gunari - Two Fortitude Saves against Poison

Ok - I've been staring at this map for a while now. Warning - Severe mechanics thought bubble ahead.

Cyrus sees what the others cannot. He cannot hear, but he knows what is happening. And it is just to far away to get there now and do something about it. He looks across the dilapidated stairs and crumbling walls.

It's not really that far, is it?

Cyrus gets a smirk on his invisible face. He crouches down, hand on the hilt of his electrified wakizashi. Exploding his hands upward and pushing the ledge away from him as powerfully as he can, he leaps. Impossibly high, impossibly far, Cyrus the invisible flea tucks at the high point of his jump, rolling his feet over his head and straightening his body out on the descent to land nimbly behind the mysterious figure that is assaulting his friends.

Acrobatics, ki point: 1d20 + 20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 20 = 52

Spending a ki point to get a +20 on my acrobatics check. Ninjas can count as having a running start as long as they have at least 1 ki point in their pool. Total movement is 30' per the map, DC 30 check. This is my move action, leaving me a standard action to still attack.

As soon as he lands, wakizashi in hand, Cyrus lashes out at the figure, reaching for a vulnerable spot in his back, right were the kidney should be if it were human. He relishes the power of the magic that hides his form, keeping him invisible even through the assault.

Attack from Invisible, flank: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 26 for Damage, sneak, shock: 1d6 + 7 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + (6, 1, 3, 6) + (6) = 30

fort save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Poisoned, blind, silenced and hurt badly, Gunari retreats back through Ibid, along the wall. double move retreat action, token not moved Though none can hear him, he is swearing to himself, unbelieving the ridiculous situation they are in. It seems so contrived!

The old man can hear only the thunderous sound of his heart beating rapidly, realizing there is no sound but only tremulous shudder reverberating from deep in his chest, and looks frantically in the dark for any source of light. When his wild eyes can search out nothing to focus on, he feels something silent but lumbering brush passed him and he tips, once more hitting his back on the stone wall, managing to steady himself. Following the lumbering figure the old man holds one hand on the wall, and trods down the stairs until suddenly an overpowering glow of light falls upon him.

Squinting, unable to adjust to sights before him, Ibid at last realizes he is beside Finarin and nearby to a veritable sphere of blackness.

Double Move: 1/2 speed due to being blind, 60/2 = 30 feet, ending beside Finarin

on my iPad, could not get my token where I need it (between Lort and Finarin). That is 25', since I cannot go my full 30 due to Finarin's location. Also, I don't think I can use my fervor to heal, since I can only move if I want to take advantage of the withdrawal.

@Gunari: One more save please.

"Ah yes. In my youth I did see the servants do ... something like this. Come on. Just a little more. Curse all this. Striking rocks like some uncouth .... human barbarian. Oh, hello Gunari. What the hell is ... going on up there? Here hold this.

"One more strike should ... do. There. Got it. Flame. Do you mind holding it and .... walking behind me a bit. I need both hands free for what I am ... about to accomplish."

Full round action, light a freakin' torch!

Shouldn't multiple doses of poison just increase the DC by 2, and the duration by half?
fort save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

You make a save against the regular poison (if applied anew), and, if you fail and are affected by the poison at the moment, then you fail then you merely deal with what is inside your body atm.

Lort is gratified to see Gunari step out of the way. He picks his way eagerly past his companions to stand toe-to-toe with the dark humanoid. Those who can see note that Lort is almost giddy with excitement at the prospect of finally getting to hack at this bastard.

"...." he teases, forgetting about the silence before hacking at his foe.

Greatsword vs Stabby McF$#%-face, power attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 2 = 28
Damage, power attack, vicious: 2d6 + 10 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 10 + 6 + (2, 4) = 28
Hurts so good: 1d6 ⇒ 3

As a smaller wound also appears on Lort's flesh, he bares his teeth and relishes in the sweet pain he feels.

Finarin's torch being lit, the light finally reveals the shadows of the scene - Lort, Cyrus and the elementals fighting an unknown assailant. There is still more shadows than light on that end of the room, but this is enough for the Garundi. Realizing the enemy has been within the reach of his lance all this time, Amaranti drops the torch and grabs the weapon two-handed. Focusing his arcane might through the lance, he makes two swift thrusts at the creature.
Target has cover. Swift action to arcane strike

Lance, PA: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage, PA, AS: 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
Dim light miss chance <20: 1d100 ⇒ 37
Lance, PA, iterative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage, PA, AS: 1d8 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
Dim light miss chance <20: 1d100 ⇒ 77

At the same time, the summoned air elementals continue their assault.
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Oops, forgot to include my flank with Cyrus. That should have been a 30 to hit. Probably doesn't matter, but still.

And with the light situation being overcome, the cleric of Norgorber is quickly cut down by Lort and Amaranti. The body of the creature explodes in a burst of flames that briefly light up the room even brighter, though the silencing field and darkness still seem to be in place for now.

The group deftly regroups away from the body, so as to be able to heal before moving onward up the stairs. They reach the top and move into what appears to be a storeroom. Dozens of barrels stand stacked against the far wall of this unoccupied storeroom, while many more are strewn about haphazardly on the floor. Something on the floor near the western door glints with silver.

From a nearby barrel, a person pops up with the lid of the barrel resting on the crown of his head. "Oi! You gotta hide! The Pure Legion is just outside the door!"

Three others barrels murmur at the Pathfinders in agreement as the man drops down suddenly, the lid resuming its place on top of the barrel.

Gunari pulls out his hallowed chalices one by one, draining them.
3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3) = 11
3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) = 15
3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2) = 12
one left
He will try and heal his ability damage. So that he can fight effectively
1d4 ⇒ 2 lesser restoration.
He will also take a drink from his Tankard of the Drunken Hero, giving himself heroism for 30 minutes. Then, just in case, he'll give himself an extended shield of faith (16 minutes)

"That was a clos call, fellas. Glad we got him. "

"Yes, yes it was," Lort agrees, "Next time you can't see your foe because of darkness... and this goes for everyone... please just leave me a gap! But that was dastardly in a way I've never seen before. Narrow approach, deeper darkness and a silence spell. Norgorber's a bastard, but whoever put that idea in that thing's head is just plain punitively evil*."

* Yeah, I'm talking to you, Greg Vaughan and Kevin Wright. Remind me never to play scenarios written by you two sadists again. Oh, and now we come to another lovely bit of writing - the turds we're supposed to avoid angering and the rightful authorities of the land, who irrationally want to kill us. AGAIN! What, couldn't think of another type of enemy for us to fight and so you did a copy-paste from page 2?

Cure moderate wounds (bye bye to resist energy): 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 2) + 7 = 16

"That servant has much to answer for," adds Lort after the barrels speak, "These tunnels were supposed to lead us away from the Pure Legion.

"So, I'm not one for hiding. Unless you've got a way to make me invisible, let's either talk sense into these arse wads or 'try to knock them out'. They'll probably be carrying enough manacles for us to chain them up... and I don't fancy getting discovered while in the confines of a barrel."

"It has been a struggle so far, that is true," Ibid says, turning to Lort and nodding in agreement. "What had started as a stealth mission has quickly turned into struggle, fighting for our own survival."

The old man adjusts his Dayfinder, making sure the exquisite mechanism is easily accessible in case any further calamities should occur, then loads an arrow onto his bow. "We could at least ask the Pure Legion members to put down their weapons or to let us pass. I'm sure they will not do so willingly, but I don't know if I could justify ambushing these men that are only doing their job and killing them in cold blood."

"Why don't the rest of us hang back and let Gunari chat them up a bit?" the old man laughs, even unclear himself if this comment was meant as a joke or an honest suggestion.

"Lort and Amaranti no hide. Too big. Best meet legion, eye to eye. Fight, if no can reason." Amaranti tries to imagine himself hiding in a barrel, and shakes his head at the idea. It looks like approaching in secret is not really an option, so Amaranti can just as well call his eidolon. If they are going to fight, then at least Kaisharga will get its share of the action.

Start summoning Kaisharga, takes 1 minute to complete

"Yeah, let's talk," Lort grins, a lower tusk creeping up over his upper lip, "If talking doesn't work, let's yell. If that doesn't work... screw it. These guys are just as bad as the Hellknights. They possess legitimate authority, true, but they support tyranny. There are innocents suffering from plague that need healing, and the Pure Legion is stopping that from getting through - even making it illegal.

"To my mind, stopping the cure is just as bad as infecting them with the plague in the first place." His principles may be convenient, but Lort feels his logic is sound.

"Well, why don't you let me talk before we go all attack happy on them. Remember, Lort, you worship Kurgess, not Gorum. We'll try and reason with them, using the fact that we are here to help... not as missionaries. Seems to makes sense to me!"

Going to see if I can remember my post from earlier. And try not to forget to save it before posting.

"You amaze me sometimes, Gunari." Cyrus says, patting his friend on the shoulder after the brutal fight with the cleric. "You can get swallowed by a T-Rex, or stabbed in the dark by a Norborger cleric, and somehow you are still alive. The lucky drunk certainly favors you, I think." he chuckles.

Cyrus feels like he hears Finarin's voice in his head. "Wait... how in the world is a CLERIC OF NORBORGER in here, and we are getting chased like dogs simply for showing up on the shore?"

A bit later, when they are implored to hide.

"You know something. I've never balked at the risks of being a pathfinder. Relished them in fact." Cyrus looks sideways at Ibid, expecting an involuntary groan from him. "I know that risks to life and limb are part of the job. I don't do what I do for the society. I do it for you guys. I'd walk to the ends of Golarion and through the nine hells for you. I wouldn't think twice to risk my life, or die for one of you, my brothers." Cyrus takes a deep breath to let that settle in.

"But Lort is right. These damn Pure Legion screw ups have got something twisted. We are here to save their people from a simple, unnecessary plague. I don't mind the normal pathfinder risks for a mission like this. There is a reason they picked us. I can appreciate not wanting to kill those who we are trying to help, even if they don't understand." Cyrus says, turning so Agosa can hear.

"But don't think that for a second I'll jeopordize any of your lives, or my own, to save them from themselves. I'm willing to die for any of you, but there is no way in any of the nine hells I am willing to die for their cause. If they won't listen to reason, then I will do my best to incapacitate them without killing them."

"Mark my words, if trying to knock them out cold is going to get someone killed, then I won't hesitate to cut out their hearts. And I will not shed a single tear over it."

With that, Cyrus reaches to his handy haversack and wills a sap to appear. He shifts his blade to his off hand, swinging the weighted bludgeon in his right.

I spend all my time training with my blade. This thing feels so clunky. Hopefully I can hit something with it...

Glad I did the copy/paste thing... got the golem again.

"So... shall we go out there for a lovely chat, then?" Lort asks, sheathing his greatsword and then patting the hilt.

What is with Gunari? Usually he relishes a good fight. And like I don't know I worship Kurgess. I just forget I'm one of his clergy sometimes.

Unless anyone objects, Lort will open the door.

"Sounds good. If it comes to it, I guess I can attack with the flat of my blade... pretty sure the Drunken Hero will guide my blow either way. But, perhaps we try talking first. After all, while I've never backed down from a fight, I have learned that getting stabbed, slashed, pummeled, blasted or burned hurts. Plus, if there are more Legionnaires out there, there might be a full regiment. Even with our prowess, I don't think that we can take on nearly that many.

"So, a nice, lovely chat." Gunari makes a small effort to put away most of his religious iconography, but still keeps out his wooden tankard.

FYI - I got the golem on both of these... but a ctrl-r did the trick without loss of post.

"Oh, yeah... it does hurt," Lort remembers, and pats his vicious hilt again, "Maybe we should enchant ourselves a little before going out there. Longer lastings spells would be best to give Gunari a chance to chat..."

Before opening the door, Lort will cast bear's endurance and shield of faith on himself. If the door is big enough, he'll cast enlarge person on himself, too. Nothing like being large for a good intimidate bonus.

Jumping back after being startled by the floating head "Gentlemen, who are you and ... why are you hiding in barrels? It seems odd. Why not just ... run away?"

Turning back to his companions, "Before we open the door .... do we have to go that way? Let us try and avoid a fight. If not ... well we did try. Or perhaps we can bar it.

"No matter, if you are insistent upon opening it Lort, at least let .... someone stand next to you." Finarin waves Amaranti forward.

Reflecting on all the missteps that have occurred since they arrived here, Finarin takes a deep calming breath and stands next to Ibid. "Cyrus speaks the truth of it. There are none that I wouldn't .... kill to keep and preserve you all in safety. Even Durothil." Finarin nods at Gunari, one of the only friends Finarin had that actually met his older brother.

"Well, let us finish this."

Finarin draws his scimitar and casts Shield on himself.

Cyrus watches Finarin cast the protective magic on himself. He waits until no one is looking and pops his wand of shield from his wrist sheath.

I never think of it first... Oh yea. Magic is kind of his thing...

UMD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Cyrus crinkles his nose when it doesn't work the first time.

UMD: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

"Better." he says, sliding the wand back in its spring loaded position.

Out of nowhere, a golem appears. Lort hacks at it once, twice... three times and yet it does not go down. At the last, Lort girds himself for a final massive swing. He barely touches the creature and it falls a part in a shower of pixies and sprites.

Lort suddenly breaks from his reverie, realizing that everyone is still preparing themselves. "Ready yet?" he asks, stifling a yawn.

Gradually, the recesses of his daydreaming mind relay to him what Finarin was saying, "Only one door, my friend. Unless you want to go back in there, close the secret door behind you and hide like these guys. Oh, that reminds me...

"People in the barrels... I'm assuming you didn't come from out there, since if you did you'd no doubt be trying to go through the secret door here and away right now. Which means you are trying to get out also. Since there is only one way into this room... how did you get past the undead cleric of Norgorber?"

Assuming there was enough time to summon Kaisharga

Amaranti finishes his summoning ritual, and smiles in satisfaction as the giant worm takes shape once more. While the other's finish their preparations, the summoners walks over to his eidolon, and mounts the creature. Only then he uses his magic to prepare himself and the eidolon for whatever is coming.

Cast mage armor on Kaisharga from wand, using Extend rod to cast Shield on Amaranti, Bull's Strength on Kaisharga

@GM: just let me know if there's not enough time for all this buffing, so I'll adjust appropriately

"That cleric was .... undead? I never knew.

"Ah, the mighty Kaisharga, my how you have .... grown. Feasting on all of our ... vanquished foes no doubt. May Netyhs provide me the power to provide you with a feast that could satiate ... an obese king! Or Lort for that matter."

Turning to Cyrus, "You know I could help you .... with that. Should you ever want me too." Finarin flashes his friend a smile.

Exhaling in resignation, "Curse these liner progression through secret slaves tunnels. What they lack in creativity ... they make up for in .... foolishness. No Lort, I will not retreat. Though I had hoped for a .... different solution to this conundrum. Sadly, they will have no god to pray to in their last moments. Best you all clear the way ... and I can incinerate them in an instant if we are not going to parley."

Lort checks back up... then his private chat with Bold Strider... nope, not undead! 'Dark folk'. My bad. Misread. Let's just say Lort makes the slip up too.

A darker skinned man pops up from another barrel, across the room. "Aye, keep yer voices down unless you want us all to get buggered by the Legion." he spits out at the group as Finarin decides to posit his question.

"Aye, we're smugglers like you. All ye have to do is wear a holy symbol of Norgorber an' old Snzipt in the stairwell won't bother you." he says as he raises a wooden symbol of the assassin god out of his tunic before letting it drop. "Either way, he hides on the ceiling in darkness whenever they come, so the Legion never catches him." the man remarks. "Now either git out of here or climb in a barrel!" he whisper-yells before dropping back down in the barrel.

3d20 ⇒ (10, 14, 13) = 37

All buffs and summoning of Kaisharga go without problem.

As it seems apparent that several members of the group won't back down from the Pure Legion, Lort opens the door and strides into the courtyard. A group of Pure Legionnaires are being served tea as they sit on cushions with the Bey. Masur's bewildered eyes look up at the bold entrance as he accidentally spills tea on what appears to be a Captain.

"Hey, you little s~#+! What the..." the Captain begins to yell before noticing that Masur is looking towards Lort and he follows his gaze. The rest of the Pure Legionnaires stand quickly and draw weapons. "Who are you? The Pathfinders that I am looking for?" says the man with tea-stained breeches.

"We had some trouble with wearing holy symbols earlier..." grouses Lort, glancing back at the useless sack of holy potatoes they were escorting, "... but glad to see it worked out for you."

"How the hell did he know we were Pathfinders?" screams Lort, the size of a hill giant with a voice to match, "Looks like the jig is up. Let's just go for it!" He is about to rush forwards, when he takes a sideways glance at his companions and decides to simmer down for a moment.

"... unless you are willing to listen to reason? We're here to help, and not to mow down members of the Pure Legion."

"Guys," 'whispers' Lort in a voice audible to all, "I think I may have just threatened a captain of the Pure Legion. Now is not the time to hold your tongues!"

Lort looks over the scene, noticing Masur for the first time, "Oh, and if you don't kill that little f$@!-er for staining your britches, please do allow me. He has been warned of the price of betrayal. In addition to his life, it could easily cost the lives of countless innocents also." This time he does not try to whisper. Masur heard both comments, but this one is much louder in his ears.

"Lort, my apologies. It seemed that a ... purple monster of some sorts had me detained. No matter, here I am, ready to help."

Turning to the men seated, "Ah friends. A moment I pray. We are here to ... help ... not to harm. I fear that we have a bit of a misunderstanding that I would like to shed some light on." Finarin smirks at his witty quip.

"We are here on your shores, and though you seem to be looking for us, we have broken no laws. So we ask, no we implore, to let us proceed .... unhindered. You have my word as Lord that we will do our utmost to assist the citizenry of noble .... Rahadoum."

Finarin flourishes with a slight head bow.

"Now Masur, a cuppa if you don't mind and do not be shy with the .... cream."

Diplomacy assist: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Those golems are traveling in threes for me today