Sanira nods at the dwarf's fervor, crushing the "skull" of the waxen mannequin. She coils the chain around her waist once more, ensuring that it is just tight enough to dig into the skin below. Prodding at the unmoving mass of wax with the toe of her boot, she glanced at the dwarf and then at the others.
"Is this thing related to those fey creatures? I'd like to believe that a loyal worshiper of Zon-Kuthon would not try to murder us in such an impersonal manner."
"One thing is for certain, our little candle man is most certainly not, in any way, friendly."
Shadrick looks down at the wax, grimacing. To be so hideous and weak was sad, but he enjoyed the practice of tripping something. The carnage was certainly glorious, but, the lack of blood stripped any real thrill.
Looking over at Sanira; "I'm fairly certain that Zon Kuthon and the Fey race don't get along." He said, shrugging, not really sure about that.
Breathing a little hard ( he had run to his horse and back because he didn't want to leave the party in potential danger ) Fearn says, "Some kind of magically animated guard, I'll hazard. The fey are strong in magic. This fey is willing to indiscriminately kill anyone who enters the shop. We should be careful. "
With that he pushes past the counter toward the door.
And in the absence of other's intervention opens it to the next room.
Know(religion) on golem
Nicola kneels next to the creature's corpse for a moment, swabbing some of its body onto his fingers and smelling it. He hurries after Fearn a moment later, thinking of the creature.
With the storefront effectively neutralized, Fearn and Nicola exchanged glances as they examined the fallen Wax Golem.
Your mind recalls cultists of minor and obscure gods who employ the use of Wax Golems as enforcers and conduits for ceremonies. Though which particular diety escapes your mind, you do know this for certain – if given a proper construction, one can attain sentience and technically “live”.
The composition of wax and magic seemed poorly crafted, having been felled within mere moments by a competent team. Putting aside the poor fight, one thing that troubled you was how its waxen flesh was resistant to magic. In your musings, you remembered how constructs were often the bane of spellcasters due to their inherit immunity to magical effects...except for fire, which slows down the monster.
Satisfied, Fearn opens wide the nearby door, revealing another chamber.
Akin to a dormitory, the room was a complete mess. A matress stood against the wall, where crates and opened boxes laid scattered about – some upon the bed frame, and everywhere else. In the far corner stood a window, which was partially obscured by a leaning wardrobe who's contents stood out. In the glint of the moonlight, moth's had a feast upon the aprons and outfits that Catalina held dear.
"Unless our Fey is a scantily clad lady, I'm pretty sure we've just found our kidnapper..."
The mere idea that someone had done something so abrasive to a lady was enough for Shadrick to want to kill this fey. If she'd actually killed them, well... The paladin certainly wouldn't want to watch, or know about it.
Fearn views the untidiness with disgust. How can anyone live in this? I won't be able to cross the room without crushing boxes and clothes underfoot.
Any doors or is this a dead end?
The dwarve cast a questioning look amongst the area, scanning for some sort of hint. That very kind hidden in plain sight. Boxes...so many crates. It seemed as if something was in a rush packing. All manner of material laid about – wax components, thread and even wood. But what was striking the most was house a good amount of space between one corner of the room and the boxes didn't seem right.
Wondering over, you notice a particular differentiators of the floor. Pushing aside a box, you discovered a trapdoor. It looked ordinary and worn out, a simple 4 inch latch strapped on. You could tell that there was some manner of wax drippings within the cracks.
Keeping a rather astute eye on the dwarf the entire time, he seems to have found something. He sort of says in a quieter than usual tone, noting his concern; "What did you find?
"A trap door."
Fearn stared down at the trapdoor. He didn't like the wax drippings in the cracks. He had a feeling that he wouldn't like anything to do with wax for a while after this. He cleared back the litter around the door.
Perception
In your search, you find that the drippings are more condensed near the cracks, as if to say the Wax Golem may have come from below (Though how would be a very funny story).
Interesting enough, the handle seems worn - suggesting that its been heavily used. Guessing that since the Chandler didn't have a separate residence from her business, the likelihood is that her crafts and storage laid below - as well as Ilquis.
Fortunately, keeping mind of the condition of the bedroom and the storefront, whatever is in charge was in a haste and left a very sloppy mess.
Everyone was standing around and looking at the trap door in the Chandler's floor. The dwarf was poking at it and taking a closer look, but had refrained from actually opening it. The cramped back room was wearing thin on her patience. This inaction was half the reason Kuthites hated working with outsiders.
She walked over, leaned down, and heaved the door open regardless of any consequences that might follow.
"Enough time wasted - the sooner we handle this, the sooner you can all get on your way."
With the door open, she peered through into the basement below.
To Sanira's surprise, the door had been unlocked, which proved why it opened easily. As the door swung wide, a blinding flash of bright blue energy shot out, shocking first Sanira, and then went down the line hitting everyone. It felt like an arc of lightning hopping from each person.
Though slightly crisped and singed, Sanira was able to peer below.
The ladder leading down had been specially made. It was wide and fitted with thick steps. Even in the absence of light, she could see how a trail of wax had formed large beads on various parts of the ladder – .
The room below you was larger than Catalina's bed room. From your angle, you see more stacks of crates laid haphazardly strewn around the room. Small puddles of liquid shimmered in the dimlight, where some pieces of twine had soaked. To get below, the sensible option was to descend the 5ft ladder.
Nicola coughs in the wake of whatever that just was. "Magical trap?" he posits and inspects a little closer.
or
Seeing that they're descending into darkness, Nicola snaps his fingers. "Incantatum lux." A pair of four spectral torches appear in the air around him, igniting, before swerving through the air to hover uneasily around each of his companion's shoulders. "This should help."
Nicola takes the ladder last, once everyone else has gone-- as he descends, his leg swings like he's hung a weight from it, threatening to unseat him from the ladder at any moment.
A tingling sensation ran up Sanira's spine - and back down again - before jumping off to the others in the room. It was strangely pleasurable, despite the injuries it was sure to have caused. It was nothing she as unused to.
She looked at the others, who she imagined were probably slightly less pleased with the sudden jolt.
"Looks like storage below. More wax, certainly. Be ready for another of those golems."
She was more than glad to take the lead down the ladder to get a better look at the room. Her chains dangled as she lowered herself down the small ladder.
R Save
"Urgh!" Fearn grunted as the bolt hit him. At least the pain didn't last long, although his shield arm felt numb. Following Sanira, he swung himself onto the ladder mumbling, "Ladders are a lazy man's construction. People ought to take time to put in a proper stair."
Reaching the cellar floor he said as he looked around, "Don't rush off. This Ilquis seems to like magical traps. Nicola can you detect such traps?"
"I can give it a whirl," he says.
"Incantatum acarnum visio," he speaks, bringing to mind his old Varisian training-- before the real magic set in.
As the bolt hurls through them, Shadrick is most definitely taken by surprise. He wags a playful finger through whatever pain he might feel at Sanira, coyly saying; "What did we learn?" followed by a quick cough.
– Electricity Trap. When triggered, a series of small wires explode with great energy, passing into the nearest object – whether living or not. Because of the pent up energy, it travels for quite a distance before dissipating.
As the team continues to peer, Nicola notices an object faintly glowing in the depths of the cellar. It seemed to be attached to something.
Fearn eyes the large puddles of wax and twine suspiciously. "Nicola, is there any devilry in those pools?"
Shadrick, while he wouldn't neccessarily admit it, was not a general fan of electrocution, acid, or fire. I mean, he'd had his kinks at some various points, but none of the... wizardy elements ever really tickled his fancy. The tickle of a blade, or the caress of a mace against the soft chuckle of bone was something he was much more accustomed to.
Well, the mace, more-so on others, than himself. That being said, he didn't typically enjoy being electrocuted.
Finishing his coughing, and cursing his lack of reflexes, he looked to the pools with little interest. Most likely they were for creating more wax monstrosities. At the worst, a potential floor hazard. Regardless, that bit of a shock had addled him.
"Sanira, was your name yes? While I admire your relationship with Zon Kuthon, please remember that some of us don't revel in all pain. At least, not the electrical kind, anyway."
Now, for most Zurites, the feeling was mutual on the whole, if you're going to wound yourself, do it right. stanza. Shadrick is most likely just addled and irritated that impatience just cost him one of his least favorite types of injury.
Shock-burns weren't attractive, and he had happened to be wearing metal at the time...
Fearn eyes the large puddles of wax and twine suspiciously. "Nicola, is there any devilry in those pools?"
"Sanira, was your name yes? While I admire your relationship with Zon Kuthon, please remember that some of us don't revel in all pain. At least, not the electrical kind, anyway."
The metal-bound woman merely shrugged off the armored human's displeasure. The shock had been something of a respite from the outsiders' lack of respect. The cripple and his butterfly goddess, the dwarf and his dwarfliness, and the metal human's... whatever it was he did.
"A pity, certainly."
She looked at Nicola, as anxious for a response as the rest of the group was, apparently.
Fearn listens to the exchange between Shadrick and Sanira and grits his teeth. Shadrick's trying to tell her something and Sanira's not even listening. Funny how the gods can cloud your brain. Get tied to the wrong one and you can't tell good from bad. She's tough and brave, but not too bright, opening the trap like that. But he's an odd nut too. I'm not sure he's altogether straight. What did he say about Zura? He shakes his head and returns to the business at hand.
He mumbles,
Lay on Hands :
Raising his shield to shoulder height and hefting his war hammer, Fearn steps forward among the boxes. His eyes dart from side to side as he looks for potential threats.
Perception
Nicola scanned the pools of liquid from his perch in Catalina's bedroom. It was just odd, seeing this sort of feature.
But his floating torch seemed to catch something.
Those weren't just puddles...
A corpse could be seen from his angle, lying right in a large pool of blood.
But before Nicola could get a response out, Fearn had crossed into the chamber below. Getting a good view of the corpse, he was surprised to find a dead person let alone here. Though laying down prone, the dwarf could say the woman wore a large apron, and thick clothes – Catalina was dead.
"Dead woman here," Fearn called softly to the others. He bent down to examine her.
The paladin has nealt to examine the dead body that laid before him. The blood was still fresh, and warm too. Interesting enough, as he gingerly turned her over, his eyes widened. The woman's neck had been viciously opened - like a bear that clawed a bee hive. Her neck was supernaturally large, much like the townsfolk that the party had encountered early. Except, a cantaloupe sized hole rested in the space between the Chandler's head and body. Puss and bacteria clung to the extremities of the newly formed orifice.
As Fearn was met with this sudden revelation, he felt something cold. Turning around, his jaw dropped - A shadowy creature stood before him, its socket less eyes bore a strange aura.
To Hit, melee touch att
Initiative
Fearn looked up at the featureless visage. He tightened his grip on his hammer. "Another foe!"
Know (religion) to ID these things
Seeing the strange shadow creatures, Sanira once more pulled the chain free from her armor. As she began to whirl the weapon through the air, nearly clipping the ceiling, she approached the creature and spoke to it.
"The Midnight Lord has not granted you passage upon this plane - return to the Shadow Realm at once!"
While she had no way of knowing for sure that her Master hadn't summoned the shadowy apparition before them, something in her gut told her that it was acting of its own will. She prayed to the shadows - the ones not attacking the outsiders, at least - that her hunch would prove correct.
Does this shadowy monster look at all substantial?
Alright, so basically...you know EVERYTHING about this creature!
Its a shadow, in this particular case - one that's recently materialized. You know this because it stumbled through the nearby crate of yarn and missed wide on its attack. Even its appearance seemed fresh - like a cloud forming in the air.
As far it being substantial...no.
Its an incorporeal being - and it has the appropriate traits
- It has no physical body
- An incorporeal creature is immune to critical hits and precision-based damage (such as sneak attack damage) unless w/ a magic weapon, or one that's got the ghost touch weapon quality.
- A spell, channel ability, spell like ability, supernatural ability or magic weapon are the only things that can affect the enemy.
-Holy Water may be used against Undead
Incorporeal
Incorporeal (Ex)
An incorporeal creature has no physical body. It can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, magic weapons or creatures that strike as magic weapons, and spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities. It is immune to all nonmagical attack forms. Even when hit by spells or magic weapons, it takes only half damage from a corporeal source (except for channel energy). Although it is not a magical attack, holy water can affect incorporeal undead. Corporeal spells and effects that do not cause damage only have a 50% chance of affecting an incorporeal creature. Force spells and effects, such as from a magic missile, affect an incorporeal creature normally.
An incorporeal creature has no natural armor bonus but has a deflection bonus equal to its Charisma bonus (always at least +1, even if the creature’s Charisma score does not normally provide a bonus).
An incorporeal creature can enter or pass through solid objects, but must remain adjacent to the object’s exterior, and so cannot pass entirely through an object whose space is larger than its own. It can sense the presence of creatures or objects within a square adjacent to its current location, but enemies have total concealment (50% miss chance) from an incorporeal creature that is inside an object. In order to see beyond the object it is in and attack normally, the incorporeal creature must emerge. An incorporeal creature inside an object has total cover, but when it attacks a creature outside the object it only has cover, so a creature outside with a readied action could strike at it as it attacks. An incorporeal creature cannot pass through a force effect.
An incorporeal creature’s attacks pass through (ignore) natural armor, armor, and shields, although deflection bonuses and force effects (such as mage armor) work normally against it. Incorporeal creatures pass through and operate in water as easily as they do in air. Incorporeal creatures cannot fall or take falling damage. Incorporeal creatures cannot make trip or grapple attacks, nor can they be tripped or grappled. In fact, they cannot take any physical action that would move or manipulate an opponent or its equipment, nor are they subject to such actions. Incorporeal creatures have no weight and do not set off traps that are triggered by weight.
An incorporeal creature moves silently and cannot be heard with Perception checks if it doesn’t wish to be. It has no Strength score, so its Dexterity modifier applies to its melee attacks, ranged attacks, and CMB. Nonvisual senses, such as scent and blindsight, are either ineffective or only partly effective with regard to incorporeal creatures. Incorporeal creatures have an innate sense of direction and can move at full speed even when they cannot see.
A second shadow emerged from a nearby crate, adding much terror to the paladin's fate. Finding a flanking position against the armored dwarf, the second shadow reached out with its incorporeal hands. Its cold grasp passes through the stalwart dwarf's armor and touches his very heart, sapping his strength with supernatural terror.
"Undead! Torag smite them!" Reflexively Fearn grabs for his holy symbol and raises it over his head. "Fire of the furnace, light of the hearth drive these creatures away!"
Remembering the others he adds, "Normal weapons will fail against them. Only magic has a chance!"
Save DC 16.
Assessing the situation and seeing the dwarf attempt to smite them with his holy prowess, Shadrick makes it a point to attempt to cleave one of the closer shadows in twain.
Swinging the weapon, however, reveals all too quickly that these creatures are immune to his blows, no matter how enthusiastic they may be.
The first shadow creature, feeling more secure in the material plane stretched out a fully formed hand - three elongated fingers reached out and passed through the Dwarven Paladin.
Hobbling within the threshold of the chandler's basement, Nicola steadied himself upon the stairs of the room. With a clear view thanks to his dancing lights, the situation before him did look grim. While a dead body laid within a pool of blood near the dwarf, two shadows were phasing in and out of the debris that laid scattered about.
While lacking the magical aptitude as Wizards and Sorcerer's in terms of evocation, he had called mind something that might affect the circling shadows.
Puffing in a large breath, he shot out an ear piercing scream that targeted the shadow nearest him.
Sanira, who was a servant of the shadows was appaled at how her fellows didn't follow the Midnight Lord's Will. Being that the monster's weren't true subjects of the shadow plane, she held no remorse. Swinging high her chain, she delivered a blow that struck the monster that was before Fearn. Her chain, a symbol of Zon Kuthon's will struck home and sent the monster into crying.
While struck by an armored woman, Shadow 2 reached with its ghostly hands and reached into the dwarf's armor, finding his warm beating heart appealing. While it was relatively new to the material plane, it couldn't hold onto long.
Fearn, accompanied by his allies found light within Torag's anvil. Brandishing his holy symbol, a supernatural aura illiminated the room beyond Nicola's dancing lights. It seemed like chanting dwarves and iron pounded in the distance, and at the center, Fearn stood proudly.
Torag's forge was so bright that Shadow 2, exploded with supernatural might, leaving the party to deal with the remaining foe.
Shadrick knew that his weapons posed little threat to the incorporeal nature of the Shadow, so he stood waiting and attentive to aid his allies in any matter.
At this point, the remiaining foe, angered and fearful of the paladin's divine prowess drove in, and tried to chill the very heart of the stalwart paladin – but failed. Going too far, it ended up prone on the floor between Fearn and his allies.
Nicola, seizing the opportunity to participate in combat tried to deliver an Ear Piercing Scream but had missed, only creating further noise in the room.
Scowling at the shadowy creature that remained before her, Sanira continued to whirl her chain through the room. The Kuthite priestess tightened her grip on the weapon before lashing out once again, trying her best to decapitate an incorporeal and largely shapeless entity. Her efforts were in vain, of course, but that changed little. Such mindless beasts knew little of the Master's pleasures, anyway.
"Return to the shadows! Learn respect for your Master before treading on his lands..."
Fearn grunts as he feels cold and darkness leech at his life and hatred for something whose mere touch was inimical to life flares in his heart.
"Hammer of light, drive the foe from us!"
And a second channel
Fearn grunts as he feels cold and darkness leech at his life and hatred for something whose mere touch was inimical to life flares in his heart.
But seeing the shadow dissipated by Sanira's chain, the dwarf says, "Truly struck! Glorious victory achieved by faith and skill at arms."
Waiting on you actually. You took the other shadow's turn on it's turn so I figured you were going to do the same on the second, and it could greatly change what my action could be. Nicola has a touch of 8 and they have a +4? attack bonus. If I got crit I could actually die-- if I got hit for any damage above 3, I wouldn't be able to carry my gear and would have 20-30% spell failure.
An aside: incorporeal isn't 50% miss but half damage from magical effects, including weapons. It's why Shadrick can't harm him. It doesn't matter because he's immune to fortitude saves, but I thought I'd let you know.
I also have no idea how I cast that spell-- it's not one I have prepared... It's a mystery?
- - - - - -
As a harbinger of Zon Kuthon's will, Sanira struck with her chain again. Its link wrapping around the shadow formless body. Horrible screams filled the air, as Sanira yanked hard, and it too succumbed to death.
Devoid of present dangers, the party was presented with the scene of a horrible crime. The chandler's decomposing body revealed horrible truths. Thanks to Nicola's abundant light, the party could see a cantaloupe sized hole formed in the chandler's neck. It seemed supernatural - with its grey green flesh near the edges of the wound.
As for the body, save for the nasty neck gore - Catarina seemed like she had been sick for days. Her clothes were a mess: a work apron stained in candle wax, sweat and fresh blood; and rips in hem of her dress were about. Interestingly though, a key protruded from a side pocket.
In regards to the room, a door stood at the far end - 30ft away. There was dim light that hummed from the door's cracks. It felt welcoming. Stacks of toppled over boxes filled with candle making equipment stood out - chemicals, twine and holders were littered about. Much like the prior room, it was just as difficult to walk around. The condition of the room was definitely unbecoming of a proper chandler's work ethic.
Fearn collects himself and stands. "Good work, everyone."
He points down at Catarina's neck. "I hope that's not the fate for everyone with tallowthroat. Grisly, that. Do you think such an natural death brought those shadows into our world?"
Shadrick rubs the back of his head, rather bermused at the sight. "And they said filth fever was bad..." That said, women dieing wasn't something he took easily, as it was very saddening to him. Of all the things, this, right? This.... "Ilquis" was certainly in for something awful.
"If this... Fey, or whatever, has anything to do with this "Tallow Throat" I want to personally kill him myself." he said, making sure to look at Fearn when he did. "What say your laws against vengeance, Dwarf?"
Nicola looks her over, says her rites and turns her onto her back. He closes her eyes and palms a pair of coppers across her eyelids.
He picks the key from her side pocket and turns it in his hand as he stands up. "Key for a door. Hopefully, that door." He hands the key over to one of the other far more burly far more armored men, fetching an old piece of paper out of his coat pocket.
"Don't be alarmed when things start getting crowded."