Male Halfling Unchained Rogue (Bandit Knife Master) [5.0] | HP 38/38 | AC 20 T 15 FF 16 | F +5 R +10 W +3 (+2 vs morale bonus charm/fear, +2 fear) | CMB +3 CMD 16 | Init +10 | Perc +10 | Acro +14 DD/EA +12 Stealth +16 Climb/Ling +6 | Diplo/Intim +9
Xavian howls with pain as he is slashed three times by the surprise attack! Quickly he draws blades, thankful that he has a friend to flank the creature with!
The gargoyle doesn't even flinch as Teric throws fire at it. Also resist fire! Xavian's one two misses one but two strikes the gargoyle right in the belly, but the knife does not go in very far. The creature stands as he wants to retaliate against his attackers. However that's all he is able to do before the pathfinders bombard him again.
Provoke AoO from Xavian,Navoreal,Brunhilde. Go ahead with your AoO and Round 2 actions.
Feamle Human (Ulfen) Init +2, Perception +8 AC 21 (T12 FF 19) HP 26/26 CMD 18 CMB +6 BAB +3 WIL +4 (+2 vs. Mind affecting) FORT +6 REF +5
AoO with shield. 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Damage 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Initiates another bull rush. Pushes it into the pillar again and knocks it prone again so the Gargoyle take -4 to AC for our attacks.
Being the bully she is Brunhilde pummels the stone creature into the statue once more, knocking it to the ground. While it's there the Ulfen princess utilizes her tactical advanatage and continues to stomp on it.
You folks can save your spells, as the AoOs took out the gargoyle.
Before the gargoyle could even get on his feet, Brunhilde and Xavian slashed and bashed at the creature causing him to fall to his inevitable demise. Xavian finally approaches the bag without any further threats, as he inspects the bags contents, all you find is a single gem.
detect magic,spellcraft DC21:
The gem is a magical elemental gem. Crushing the gem conjures an elemental being of your choice. Works just like elemental gem except with choice of the element.
I would say we are 75% of the way through, for the final-ish part, I like to ask everyone, do you guys want the difficulty relatively safe, or a little bit more challenging? It will not change what you encounter or the storyline, more like how you encounter, that's all I can give away without spoiling too much.
Teric inspects the gem. He casts a detection spell, noting the gem's magic. "Interesting. It seems to be like an elemental gem, but the kind of element can be chosen by the user. Should we encounter anything using elemental powers, it would be useful to conjure the vulnerable element."
As you venture deeper and darker into the crypt, the temperature gets colder, and the vibe eerier. A long and winding hall contains the crypts of three major houses; each section has a single stone sarcophagus for the most prominently interred ancestor. The names of the families are beyond legible. Recesses in the walls hold other, less important family members. All are empty save for bits of burial cloth
Survival/perception DC15:
Some of the "empty" tombs might have been emptied post burial.
Even deeper you come across three white marble statues of featureless spirits echo the murals on the walls, which depict thousands of souls streaming toward a great spire.
kn. Religion DC 10:
the mural depicts the River of Souls flowing into Pharasma’s Spire to be judged.
Perception DC20:
You are not sure, but at the door beyond, you saw two humanoid figures enter the door.
You approach a door, a very heavy steel door. Arcane symbols cover the door, you are unfamiliar with these symbols, they are beyond recognizable with the wear and tear that is seen within the place.
The mural depicts the River of Souls flowing into Pharasma’s Spire to be judged. That make me hungry. says Zaroslav who picks up one of his ration and begin to eat it.
Hmm, some of these empty tombs might have been not so empty at once time. Graverobbers or undead is the question.
And I'm not sure, but at that door beyond, I thought I saw two humanoids enter the door. Xavian draws daggers. I'm going to assume we are not alone. Xavian will do his best to stay quietly hidden as the party proceeds.
Detect magic does not reveal anything about the symbols or the door, there is nothing magical about it, and the symbols are beyond comprehension as they are illegible.
Opening the reveals a vaulted room which features a raised dais with a large, gold-flecked stone basin full of a green fluid. Arcane symbols painted on the basin glow amber. Six scorch-marks mar the floor of the chamber, all angled from the dais into the gallery. Another feature that stands out from the room is a very large crack on the ground, around 9 inches thick and 10 feet wide. The crack emanates some sort of blackness to it, like a black fog.
As the light reaches the corners of the room, the humanoid figure is slowly reveal, not humans at all, but an absence of light. The figures are humanoid outlines of shadows. Kn Religion DC 13 to identify creature.
As you note the crack in the ground, you recall Venture Captain Shevar Besnik putting a bunch of scrolls in your bag for an occasion like this. "In case of inter-dimensional rift, use these scrolls..." He has placed 6 scrolls, one for each pathfinder, each scroll is magically infused to holder so you may not activate more than one scroll.
To activate the scroll, each player may attempt one check of their choice, Kn. Arcana,planes,religion, Linguistics, Perform (oratory),spellcraft, UMD. At a distance adjacent to the rift.You need to complete more than one to successfully close the rift, but need not all. You shall all start the ritual by attempting to activate your scrolls. And since you are adjacent you will take the negative energy damage. We shall do this in combat rounds but each round will be 1 minute intervals.
Once you have successfully done your scroll, you may back off from the rift, you may attempt to aid another by following the relevant skill check that your ally is using, or aid another through channelling positive energy or cure spell into the scroll. Alternatively you can heal your allies taking negative energy damage. If someone breaks the ritual, by stepping away from the rift without successfully activating the scroll, the ritual halts and we restart from minute 1.
This means you have to all attempt closing it at the same time or the ritual might fail and you might need to restart it. Other groups have chose to defeat the threat before trying to close the rift to make things easy.
Teric recognizes these beings as Shadows. On their own, shadows arise from the souls of greedy but lackluster evildoers. Shadows sap strength from the living in an effort to feed their dark hunger and satisfy their eternal desire to touch the world once again. Because death at the hands of a shadow means becoming one, places plagued by the creatures are either already desolate ruins, or else quickly become so once enough shadows have infested the area. Newly created shadows seek out and drain the life from others, creating yet more shadows, until all living creatures have either fled or joined their ranks. This leaves shadow-haunted places isolated as word of the danger spreads, and ensures that the shadows there are ravenous when the next living beings appear. These creatures are definitely undead, and they are incorporeal.
Male Halfling Unchained Rogue (Bandit Knife Master) [5.0] | HP 38/38 | AC 20 T 15 FF 16 | F +5 R +10 W +3 (+2 vs morale bonus charm/fear, +2 fear) | CMB +3 CMD 16 | Init +10 | Perc +10 | Acro +14 DD/EA +12 Stealth +16 Climb/Ling +6 | Diplo/Intim +9
Hmm, I thought I had a post that did my healing but I don't see it. I need to redo that it seems.
CLW Wand:4d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 7, 2, 2) + 4 = 16I think that's one more charge than last time, rats.
Xavian sees the rift and the shadows and decides to try and defend those that are doing the ritual from a distance by flinging a pair of cold iron daggers at the closest enemy!
Feamle Human (Ulfen) Init +2, Perception +8 AC 21 (T12 FF 19) HP 26/26 CMD 18 CMB +6 BAB +3 WIL +4 (+2 vs. Mind affecting) FORT +6 REF +5
Just noticed that I was ninjaed by the GM earlier today...as Brunhilde lacks a magic weapon she will interpose herself between their foes and the party.
I'll allow Zaroslav to retcon since Brunhilde is retconning too.
The pathfinders decide the best course of action would be to eliminate the risk before trying any fancy magic spell. Xavian is quick to act as usual, but finds himself on the short side as he misses the mark. Brunhilde moves in the protect the rest of the party. Navoreal cast a spell to protect himself from the beings in front of him and Alexander attempts to throw the shadows into the blind by foiling them with glitter.
Red Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Blue Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Combat Round 1
Conditions:
Xavian, Zaroslav (shield), Navoreal (shield/protection vs evil Touch AC 21), Brunhilde, Teric (shield of faith), Alexander
Shadow Red Blindedx4 Blue
"They're incorporeal! Unless you have magic, you won't be able to hurt them. Even if you do, they won't be fully affected."
Teric draws a wand as he moves to get a good view of the shadows. Instead of using the wand though, he gestures and a bluish ball forms right on top of one of the shadow creatures. It seems like fire, but gives off cold instead.
Casting Flaming Sphere, modified to cold on top of the Blue shadow Damage:3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5) = 7
Reflex save DC19 to negate the damage. If he fails, he's slowed too (staggered, half speed, -1 to attacks, AC, and reflex saves).
Just to add, the shadows are floating. Teric, on top of blue means only hits blue right? Zaroslav I moved you on the map as I believe Chill touch is a touch spell, does not look like you can touch both without provoking AoO by moving through them, so I've assume you are moving to touch red creature with your spell.
The spellcasters prove themselves to be effective, as Teric cold burns one of the Shadows and Zaroslav puts fear in to the other ones mind(?). Immediately the shadow makes a dash away from the action closer towards the rift.
In retaliation though, the injured shadow makes for an attack on Brunhilde. The shadows touch puts a chill into Brunhilde's bones as she feels weaker from it. Almost as if some muscle had deteriorated instantly.
Meanwhile as all this is happening, three sets of limbs start to appear from the rift. The limbs are of bone! As if three skeletons are ready to emerge from the darkness.
Combat Round 1 Conditions: Xavian, Zaroslav (shield), Navoreal (shield/protection vs evil Touch AC 21), Brunhilde -3str, Teric (shield of faith), Alexander
Shadow Red -7 (Blindedx3) Blue (panicked x3)
???
Yes, the sphere can only affect a single square at one time.
"Brunhilde, get away! It will consume you and turn you into one!" His cold fire sphere continues to roil and freeze the shadow. Teric points at it with his wand and a streak of blue force hits the creature.
Magic Missile:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Flaming Sphere:3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) = 5 Reflex DC 19 to avoid the damage. If it fails, it is slowed this round too (only 1 action, half-speed, -1 to attacks, reflex saves, and AC)
Male Halfling Unchained Rogue (Bandit Knife Master) [5.0] | HP 38/38 | AC 20 T 15 FF 16 | F +5 R +10 W +3 (+2 vs morale bonus charm/fear, +2 fear) | CMB +3 CMD 16 | Init +10 | Perc +10 | Acro +14 DD/EA +12 Stealth +16 Climb/Ling +6 | Diplo/Intim +9
Xavian knows he might regret this but he moves toward the blue shadow with his +1 dagger! I would delay long enough for someone to flank it with me. Not sure I can sneak it but the +2 can't hurt.
Feamle Human (Ulfen) Init +2, Perception +8 AC 21 (T12 FF 19) HP 26/26 CMD 18 CMB +6 BAB +3 WIL +4 (+2 vs. Mind affecting) FORT +6 REF +5
Brunhilde looks at the shadow sapping her life force with major annoyance, then she turns to the shaman behind her who seems to think an Ulfen princess needs protection.
It's called shield wall you fool! If I weren't standing here protecting you it would be sucking out your feeble life force. So do your job and kill it with your clumsy magics...
Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Zaroslav, does your claw do any damage? I believe not as it's not magical, but do correct me if i'm wrong.
One of Zaroslav's claws strike the shadow, however, observing his shadow friend effected, he is much more prepared and does not cower in fear.
Reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
However it does not take much to remove the shadow completely as a magnificent combination of attacks from Teric, Xavian, and Navoreal vanquish the shadow completely out of sight.
Brunhilde can retcon if she wants to, If Zaroslav's claw does damage, then Navoreal can retcon post as well.
Xavian, sneak does not apply for incorporeals.
Combat Round 2 Conditions:
Xavian, Zaroslav (shield), Navoreal (shield/protection vs evil Touch AC 21), Brunhilde -3str, Teric (shield of faith), Alexander
Shadow Blue (panicked x3)
???
