Erevan notices that if someone were small enough, they could squeeze through the rubble to the north. But as that would only apply to Wilm, the party decides to go to the balcony. Raman's holy sight finds nothing in this room.
A narrow path extends between the exterior wall of the temple and the thick web of vines and tree branches that cover the temple’s walls. At either end of the path, small open-air balconies lead back into the temple.
No evil here and nothing else, so I assume you proceed.
A 20-foot-tall, high-relief sculpture of a mountain dominates the north end of this large chamber. A statue of a figure now missing its head sits in the lotus position at the mountain’s peak, while smaller statues of monkey-faced pilgrims rest on ledges farther down the mountain. Shattered pieces of yet more monkey statues litter the floor.
The southern half of the room is filled with rubble, obstructing an arched passageway to the south. In the center of the room, a small enclosed shrine made of dark brown stone faces south toward the rubble. A hallway to the west leads to a balcony overrun by foliage, while a hallway to the east leads to an open balcony.
A pair of creatures just like the looter described try to hide on top of the mountain statuary, but Faellyn, Erevan, and Raman notice them (and the latter also detects the presence of evil).
Surprise round (1 standard or move action)--Erevan, Raman, Faellyn, then baddies
Only a DC 5 climb check to get up this mountain for anyone who is interested.
Erevan, this is the surprise round and you only get a standard action. Normally you can partial charge, but not while climbing. Do you just want to take the move action now?
Nah, they're 20 ft up and you can only get 5 ft up. On your full turn in round 1 you can do accelerated climbing (DC 10) to move half speed so you could move up the rest of the 15 ft as your move action, then attack as your standard. You won't be able to attack them in melee in the surprise round. Also, I didn't mention this I think but they do have tiny little bows. Literally tiny. Just wanted to mention that in case it affects anyone's turn.
Half-elf Fighter 3 / Monk 1 | HP 39/39 | AC 17 [21 mage armor]; Tch 17; FF 16 | F +7; R +7; W +5 | CMB+3; CMD 17 | Speed 30 ft | Init +4 | +1 Dueling Sword (adamantine): +9 (1d8+1/19-20) | Perc +10
With that in mind, I'd like to change my action if I can.
Erevan observes the enemy with a critical eye.
"I know how to deal with these beasts. Everyone work together, focus on one until we drop it, and follow my lead!" the half-elf says.
I'd like to use Advice instead...everyone has a +1/+1 to atk/dmg
Advice (aka Inisire Courage):
Advice (Ex): A sensei’s advice is identical to bardic performance (using oratory), allowing him to inspire courage at 1st level, inspire competence at 3rd level, and inspire greatness at 9th level, as a bard of the sensei’s level, usable a total number of rounds per day equal to his level + his Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). This ability replaces flurry of blows, fast movement, and improved evasion.
HP 18/18 :: AC 18 :: Fort +7 Ref +6 Will +7 :: Perception +5 Initiative +3
Raman’s torch hits the floor as she steps into the room to get a cleaner shot at the farther target. "Keeper guide my arrows," she whispers as she sights in on her quarry.
Draw. Nock. Release.
The arrow speeds towards its target.
Drop torch. 5’ step down (map updated). Use Smite on the Red one, then fire at the Red thing (including Smite, Point Blank shot, & Advice).
Longbow:1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 18 damage:1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 7
Sure thing, Erevan. I moved you 5ft move down so Raman could still do her move. Hope that's ok. Faellyn, you would be able to see them if you 5ft move to the right from where you are.
Erevan gives some sound advice and it seems to pay off as Raman lets her arrow fly. The creature just stands there, smirking, until the arrow rips through its shoulder, audibly hissing upon contact as if the arrow point was white hot.
Red dude -7 HP
Next up: Faellyn (standard action only, can 5ft move)
I believe Faellyn said she has trouble posting on weekends, right? I think she'd probably use her standard to shoot at the flat-footed, hurt guy, so I'll bot her surprise round action.
Faellyn steps up and fires, but the little creature dodges.
Then, its wounds seem to knit together a bit as it fires its own bow at Raman. The arrows flies tru, but an invisible force knocks the missile aside. The other monster fires at Faellyn, its tiny arrow bouncing off the archer's armor.
F Human (Qadrian Keleshite) Sorcerer (Elemental: fire) 2 ~ AC 12 (t 12) (ff 10) | F+1, R+3, W+3 | CMD 12 | Init +4, Per +0 | HP 10/10
@Raman, probably the DR. Your smite is bypassing, but Faellyn's arrow likely did not.
Sahba moves West (20'), trying to stay out of the way of the halfling's likely charge. With the evil creatures no longer blocked by the wall, she shoots fire from her hand. (Red one)
Sahba's ray burns much like Raman's arrows, and the creature is charred and barely standing.
They're not flying, they're just sitting on top of the statue. You can climb up next to them, but that will require a double move and a DC 10 Climb check.
Even with his high speed, Max would need to use a double move to get high enough to attack them, sadly, so you just get Wilm's attack, which misses. :-( DC 5 climb check is only for 1/4 move speed. That would mean that Max can get 10 ft up the mountain with his first move. All three of you will be getting AoOs, though, so you can keep that roll with Max for the AoO. I'll have Erevan double move to climb up as well, which is what it seemed like he wanted to do, and I'll just use his earlier roll.
Erevan and Wilm bound up the mountain, threatening the little creatures as Faellyn's shot goes wide.
Just then, the temple reverberates with the wrathful screeches of monkeys that seem to originate from nowhere in particular. The smirks on the asura's face turn to sheer terror as they try to back away from their attackers and the sound of the monkeys.
Asuras are shaken.
The tiny wretches try to back away, climbing the wall like spiders.
Max catches the wounded one in his jaws and throws it back down on top of the mountain. It tries to stab him from the ground with its stinger but misses. Its partner in crime scurries along the wall and drops to the ground, falling hard. It fires an arrow at Sahba as the worst of its wounds heal. The tiny missile stings like an enormous bee. 2 damage to Sahba
AoOs for Wilm and Erevan on the Red one (or blue, if you would have chosen not to take one vs red for some reason).
Red -19 HP, prone (possibly more hurt depending on AoOs), Blue taken 3 nonlethal, Sahba -2 hp
Erevan's blade starts carving through the creature just as Wilm strikes home, severing the creature's torso with a thunderous sweep of his axe. The glow in its eyes fades and it's clear this wound won't heal.
Red guy is dead!
Next up: Everyone
Blue taken 3 nonlethal (and actually he should have been prone after falling, which would mean he couldn't have shot Sahba, which would mean he'd stand up for his standard action. Sorry for the mistake!)
Note: Erevan and Wilm/Max are 15 ft up the mountain. Blue is now standing on the floor.
Half-elf Fighter 3 / Monk 1 | HP 39/39 | AC 17 [21 mage armor]; Tch 17; FF 16 | F +7; R +7; W +5 | CMB+3; CMD 17 | Speed 30 ft | Init +4 | +1 Dueling Sword (adamantine): +9 (1d8+1/19-20) | Perc +10
Ending Advice...
"I do not know," Erevan says as he continues his assault on the remaining creature. "But the fact that these vermin run from the noise does not bode well. It is nothing I fear, though."
Are you sure you want to end Advice? This is the last encounter, which you'd probably have a decent chance to figure out if we were playing live (with 4 hour time limits and whatnot). You're also 15 feet up the statue, so you'll have to climb down or drop to the ground to stab the blue guy (he dropped to the ground). DC 10 Climb or DC 15 Acro
Sahba--yep, I forgot that you fall prone when you take any falling damage, and you can't fire a bow from prone, so you were not hit.
Sahba tries to singe the little asura but can't connect this time, but Raman's divinely guided arrow finds its mark again.
Blue is -9 HP, (and 3 nonlethal)
Next up: Clarification from Erevan, Wilm + Max (again, you need to climb down or jump down), Faellyn
Erevan--Don't worry, you'll probably know the cause of the disturbance by the end of the round ;-) Did you want to stab the red guy again to make sure he's dead, or hop down to fight the blue guy?
Raman--Ah, thanks, for some reason I thought smite worked on both of them because they are the same creature type. In that case, DR does apply.
Then you need to Climb DC 10 down the mountain or jump (DC 15 acro), as you are 15 feet up on the mountain statue and he is on the floor right now. Hard to represent the 3d stuff with the 2d map provided. I probably should draw in different colors or something to represent different elevations.
Even if you roll a 1 on the last damage die, you'll still kill it, so I'll write it up. This "event" that is about to happen was supposed to take place after Wilm's turn, but you guys killed the enemies so quickly that it won't be as cool if it happens after the fact, so I'm going to have it happen prior to Wilm's turn just for coolness factor.
The temple shakes and monkeys pour inside from all openings, moving in unison like an ant hive. They thunder past the PCs and swarm over the asuras, stealing their bows and throwing them back and forth to each other, screeching, before leaving just as suddenly.
Wilm, not giving the remaining asura a chance to regroup, urges Max down the slope, who takes it in a few leaps. The wolf claws the little man but Wilm's axe cleaves it in two vertically, bisecting the mischievous thing.
Combat over. Only one place left to check out--
A large statue of a monkey-faced man sits on a pedestal at the north end of this small shrine. The statue’s arms and legs are missing, and deep scratches have been gouged into its face.
Pieces of broken stone, rotting plant matter, and other assorted rubbish lie in heaps on the floor of this room. The smell of rot is particularly strong here.
The statue is wearing a monkey belt. Additionally, a small cabinet in the pedestal below the statue holds a richly illuminated copy of the Vigrahin Patitraka (a Vudran holy text) worth 50 gp and a handwritten journal belonging to a priest who accompanied Khiben-Sald on his travels around the Inner Sea.
Religion DC 15:
The statue depicts Ragyda, the monkey god
I'll pause here for your questions/reactions. In a few hours I can wrap it up. Good job fighting the Asuras!
Sahba pokes around the edge of the room, looking for anything of interest.
[dice=perception]1d20-1
I'd like to get the rest of the map areas uncovered, and am searching the edges of the room in order to accomplish this.
Maybe we can persuade Wilm to go the through the Western (bottom) route, as he may be small enough.
Sorry, I was heading out and didn't want to leave you guys hanging. That description that I posted was for the last room. There was nothing of value in the Asura room, so I assumed you would finish the exploration. Sorry for jumping the gun.
Erevan and Raman (recalling your earlier knowledge checks) know that the journal is exactly the sort of thing Venture Captain Valsin would want.
Since the only way out of the temple is the way you came in...
After retrieving the items from the Monkey Shrine (Or is it the Shrine of the Silver Monkey! Remember that Nickolodeon show Legends of the Hidden Temple, anyone?) , you walk towards the exit to find a curious sight. Two of the monkey statues in the entrance room (where you met the looters) have changed positions. They are now kneeling and holding up the asuras' bows as if offering them to you.
You earned the god Ragyda's favor! Good thing you fed the monkeys and played nice!
After exiting the temple you see the baron hacking through the vegetation with his kukri to get to you. He sees you and slows his efforts, relaxing a bit.
What in all the hells was that? I've never seen so many monkeys, I thought for sure you were dead. I trust you found what you were looking for?
He escorts you back to the rendezvous point and Count Matsanda is pleased to see you, but has a puzzled look on his face.
Where is the tiger? I was envisioning where best to place it in my house and--
It's gone, son. For good. And so are my hunting days. I think I'll relax and write my memoirs, and you'll all have a part in them, the baron declares with a smile.
The rest of the hunting expedition passes without incident, and Count Matsanda embraces you all before you depart. You have given me the journey of a lifetime, and help drive away the demons that haunted my father-in-law. I owe you much and more, and will take it as a grave insult if you don't visit me when next you come to Alkenstar.
The journey back to Absalom passes without incident. Ambrus Valsin is excited to inspect any of the items you found in the lost temple, and he is especially thrilled to see the journal of Khiben-Sald’s travels.
He immediately refers the log to the Society’s Vudran historians for analysis, hoping to glean information about other lost sites the Maharaja may have built or visited during his travels.
Feel free to post any wrap up RP you would like. Congratulations, you have bested the Segang Jungle and helped both Count Matsanda and Baron Bomande. Well done, players! Chronicles will be up soon.
halfling cavalier 1 HP 11/11 AC 20/T14/FF17 F3 R3 W0 Init 3 Per 2/4 stealth 6 cmb +2 cmd 15
huzzah! take that little demon you.
with the fight and adventuring completed Wilm is happy to go back to larking around telling tales and bigging up the parties exploits all the way home.
