With a quick rush, Nilfyr opens the door, unleashing a cloud of hot
steam. The misty room contains a steaming pool edged with glistening stones. Three serpentfolk sit inside the pool, turning with shocked looks upon their scaly faces.
Init Order (bold = up)
SURPRISE ROUND (standard action only)
Serpentfolk Blue
Serpentfolk Red
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Serpentfolk Yellow
Artemus
Nilfyr
Faeros
|
Art 5' steps and casts BoneShatter on Yellow.
The archons fly in and the enemy all need DC 13 Will saves vs the Aura of Menace. And if he can do so in the surprise round Art moves his dancing lights into the room.
Lantern Archon CR 2
XP --
LG Small outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +4 Aura aura of menace (DC 13)
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+4 natural, +1 size; +2 deflect vs. evil)
hp 13 [17] (2d10+2) [2d10+6]
Fort +4 [+6], Ref +3, Will +0; +4 vs. poison, +2 resistance vs. evil
DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification
OFFENSE
Speed fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Ranged 2 light rays +3 ranged touch (1d6)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd):
At Will—aid, continual flame, detect evil, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only)
STATISTICS
Str 1 [5], Dex 11, Con 12 [16], Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB -4 [-2]; CMD 6 [8]
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Diplomacy +5, Fly +14, Knowledge (planes) +3, Perception +4, Sense Motive +5
Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; truespeech
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Gestalt (Su)
Nine lantern archons can fuse together as a full-round action, becoming a single Large entity that is more powerful than the individual archons that make up its parts. Looking like a whirlwind of dancing firefly lights, the gestalt has all the powers and abilities of a Large air elemental plus the following: archon, good, and lawful subtypes; archon traits (aura of menace DC 16); 2 light rays (2d6); DR 5/evil and magic. The archons can remain in this form for 2d4 rounds. When the gestalt separates back into individual lantern archons, its remaining hit points are divided evenly among them; if it had less than 9 hit points, some of the component archons die when the gestalt ends.
Aura of Menace (Su)
Any hostile creature within a 20-foot radius of an archon must succeed on a Will save (DC 13) to resist its effects. The save DC is Charisma-based, and includes a +2 racial bonus. Those who fail take a –2 penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or until they successfully hit the archon that generated the aura. A creature that has resisted or broken the effect cannot be affected again by the same archon's aura for 24 hours.
Light Ray (Ex)
A lantern archon can fire beams of light to damage foes. These light rays have a maximum range of 30 feet. This attack overcomes damage reduction of any type.
Thunderstealer and his trusty companion enter with a splash, sending water over the pool and onto the flooring nearby!
The surprised serpentfolk is wracked with pain, which is then made worse as Nilfyr's blade twirls between its now warped feet, sending it to the ground before cutting deeply.
Faeros eyeballs his target, his bowstring drawn in anticipation.
The two serpentfolk still standing bite at the rude intruders!
Belcher lashes out as he is attacked, keeping the serpentfolk at bay, although Thunderstealer's arm is bitten. Luckily, the large man's impressive physique resists the toxin injected with the bite.
Init Order (bold = up)
Serpentfolk Blue
Serpentfolk Red
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Serpentfolk Yellow (39 damage, prone, menaced)
Artemus
Nilfyr
Faeros (studied Blue)
Belcher attacks! (red, but will switch to blue if red goes down)
for
for
for
for
for
for
Belcher rips apart his serpentfolk, sending it to the realm of unconscious with a particularly savage talon strike at the end.
Thunderstealer meanwhile trades bites with the serpentfolk!
The prone serpentfolk tries to cast a spell to save itself...
But his damaged hands cannot seem to work the spell correctly!
Init Order (bold = up)
Serpentfolk Red (15 damage)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Serpentfolk Yellow (39 damage, prone, menaced)
Artemus
Nilfyr
Faeros
Faeros tells the serpentfolk to surrender... which is a moot point as Nilfyr and Artemus' summoned allies finish the foes off.
The room clear of threats, the party finds a sack on one of the serpentfolk that has 60 gold crowns and two orange jacinths.
The gems are worth 200gp each.
In a sack in the northwest corner, though, is a jade necklace of a headless snake, a bag of various spell components, a wand, a scroll, and a piece of parchment in Draconic.
That's an unholy symbol of Ydersius.
That's a fully charged wand of cure moderate wounds
That's a scroll of flame strike
The writing in Draconic describes the symbol of the 10th floor of the Emerald Spire (great if you want to use a spire transport token to teleport there.
"My gear.", quips Zisska as the party looks through the sack. "Give it to me so I can be of use in the battle against Uzar-kus."
The serpentfolk sighs, but relents. "Very well. I am at your mercy.", Zisska hisses.
The door to the north is locked. "Blast. Uzar-Kus must have the key on him.", Zisska slightly annoyed that a flanking attack may not work.
*click!*, Faeros making short work of the lock. Zisska is surprised, yet amused.
Noting nothing else dangerous about the door, Nilfyr opens it. To he left, a natural cavern corridor descends into darkness. A cold wind rises from it, carrying a foul stench. "That leads into the Darklands; our quarry is through the other door.", Zisska explains. "So shall we split up, to flank that damned Uzar-Kus?", the serpentfolk cleric asks?
The party splits up, buffing themselves. Thunderstealer and Belcher take the main door, planning on bashing it down while the others move in from the side.
Faeros notices that the door is locked, but makes short work of the lock.
Thunderstealer bashes down the door, signaling the others to open theirs!
This vast chamber glows with green light that seems to emanate from the stone itself. Along both sides of the chamber are emerald pools, above which loom gigantic serpent statues, their fanged maws pouring rivulets of green liquid into the pools below. On the far end is a glorious serpent statue plated with green metal scales, reaching nearly to the high ceiling. This statue is missing its fangs. In the center of its body is a glowing green emerald the size of a fist, held in place by brackets of dark metal.
Standing near the back statue is a pale-white serpentfolk in green robes... but instead of one head, it has two. It hisses at both groups before it spies Zisska in the back.
"You dare being human-bloods in this temple! Your actions shame Ydersius; this time I will kill you after I defeat your little friends."
The evil priest steps back, then casts a spell; now there are four of them in that spot!
Init Order (bold = up)
Uzar-Kus
Faeros
Nilfyr
Zisska
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Artemus
|
Faeros steps up to see his opponent, dimensional hops closer, swiftly studies, and unleashes a single arrow. He is still surrounded by a cloud of darkness.
(study, heroism, divine favor, point blank, deadly aim)
Attacking vs flat footed, sneak attack is included.
Here's the mirror image chance (top % is good for me?)
Faeros's arrow misses, but it pops one of the images!
As Nilfyr steps into the room, the snake head statue near him opens its jaw and spits out a glob of acid at the half-elf!
Nilfyr feels a burning sensation, causing him to strike at one of the false versions of Uzar-Kus, who hisses in delight.
Zisska then steps in, casting a spell that summons a spectral headless snake that slams down at Uzar-Kus!
That's a spiritual weapon.
The ghost snake bashes one of Uzar-kus's heads, but the other manages to avoid the painful strike!
Init Order (bold = up)
Uzar-Kus (7 damage, 1 image)
Faeros
Nilfyr (5 damage, acided-1)
Zisska (SW)
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Artemus
Move, attack
Threat!
Confirmation
While Thunderstealer makes sure there's only a single Uzar-Kus, Belcher rips into the serpentfolk. Amazingly, he pulls back just soon enough that the talon misses vital organs!
|
|
Art and his dancing lights come to the entryway of the room. The archaist takes in the situation and summons a Lion 10' from the two headed snake man. The lion then pounces into a flanking position with Belcher.
N Large Animal
Init +7; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +9
Defense
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex +3 natural -1 size )
HP 42 (5d8+20)
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee Bite +9 (1d8+7 plus grab), 2 x Claws +9 (1d4+7)
Space 10 ft. Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, rake
Statistics
Str 25, Dex 21, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +3, CMB +11 (+15 grapple), CMD 24 (28 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Run, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +11, Perception +9, Stealth +8 (+12 in undergrowth)
Special Abilities
Pounce (Ex) When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, it can make a full attack (including rake attacks if the creature also has the rake ability).
Rake (Ex) Gains two free claw attacks that it can use only against a grappled foe. The bonus and damage caused by these attacks is included in the creature's description. A monster with the rake ability must begin its turn already grappling to use its rake—it can't begin a grapple and rake in the same turn.
The lion lands several attacks on the serpentfolk, but it is still free to attack!
Uzar-Kus defensively casts a spell...
But if fails horribly! As it casts, the other head bites at the lion!
The new priest seems to be losing effectiveness....
Init Order (bold = up)
Uzar-Kus (43 damage)
Faeros
Nilfyr (5 damage, acided-1)
Zisska (SW)
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Artemus