Lydia's magic seems to fade without any effect on the merchant, but he does seem to be intimidated by her shadow's manifestations. Shalendra hexes the villain and finally pieces together what he may.
Shalendra:
Based on his command of dretch and the strange behavior of his body, you suspect that the merchant is possessed by a vermlek. Know outsider traits. Ask 2 questions.
The merchant glances down at his rapier forlornly. "Fine! Be that way. Now, let's get rid of this pest!"
He turns on the elemental and, jaws spreading unnaturally wide, bites down on the elemental's head. The elemental vanishes from the Material Plane. "Who's next?" he asks, turning to Maria, grinning his insane grin.
Takumi will wait until someone take the space right in front of the merchant, before he does the following, so to get flanking.
"It is advisable to not get too... cocky as they say here in the west. There are more when it came from." Takumi replies coldly. In truth though, he knows he is running low on his arcane energy but it is more important to keep up the bluff for now. He takes a few steps forward to get in range, pulls out another sheet of paper and quickly folds it into the shape of an eagle, flinging to the rear of the merchant when he's done.
Inflict Light Wounds 45/50; Spells: 1 - 3/5, 2 - 2/3; Mental Focus: T 2/4, A 3/4, N 3/4; Spirit 4/4
"YOU END NOW!" Faust commands as he steps into the doorway, right as his favorite avian harbinger of death appears, and attempts to smash his sword down through their final foe. "You have returned... LET US WORK TOGETHER ONCE MORE!" he cries out to Takumi's eagle.
________
+1 Evil Outsider Bane Scimitar (Flank, Spirit Bonus) vs Merchant:1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 151d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14Bane is not included Swift for Possessed Possessions, 5ft step, standard to attack.
Takumi specifically delayed until you were there so that the eagle got the flanking, which means you do not. However, the evil bane, which I understand you did not include in the to hit bonus, makes up for it. But then, you also forgot your doom.
Faust steps forward and swings his scimitar toward the man's neck. The merchant claps his hands together and stops the blade a hair's breadth away from his face.
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
Abyssia moves up and tries to find an opening with one of her cold iron swords.
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
...which constitutes, in this case, of very nearly tripping over it while the bullet rolls into some orifice in the wall that should be a mouse-hole, but probably isn't.
Weaknesses: Cold Iron, Good Aligned Weapons
Immunities: Electricity, Poison
It turns out that he didn't need that ear. DR ate the eagle's bite.
Shalendra calls down a second curse upon the villain and cackles wildly about it as she feels the chains of fate tangling him.
The door frame proves to be the bane of swords as Abyssia's gladius is caught on the jagged chunk cut out earlier by Faust.
The villain does not fall for the same trick twice as he ignores the shadow's mocking. However, the door frame proves to be the bane of fangs as well as the merchant opens his mouth impossibly wide and tries to bite the dhampir in front of him, only to bang his forehead against the wooden frame. Faust briefly sees that there are dozens more teeth inside his mouth than there should be for a human.
Combat! Round 9. Bold may act. Abyssia (-3 hp, -2 STR)
Shalendra (-6 hp) (mage armor)
Faust (doom 2)
Maria Takumi (doom 2)
Lydia (-3 hp) (shield 6)
Fomalhaut
Merchant (-2 saves 6, -2 to hit 2)
Takumi frowns at the comment about his eagle, but decides that the heat of battle is not the time to be arguing this. Instead, he sends a bolt of magical force at the monstrosity.
wand of MM:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Despite the ineffectiveness of its attacks, the eagle keeps on going, and at least providing a flank for Faust.
bite, flank:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16dmg:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 claw, flank:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9dmg:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 claw, flank:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15dmg:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 smite evil: +1 dmg if merchant is evil
Was thinking of casting grease on him/it, but decided I didn't want to impose even more penalties on Maria. :) Want to try a color spray? If so, I would need a clear path to him.
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
posted this earlier, appears to have gotten eaten.
Maria fails to strike anything with meat on it. The eagle fares better, but in the end, it only leaves the tiniest of scratches. Takumi fires a bolt of force into the merchant's chest.
Abyssia strikes the door frame and then strikes past the door frame with her second blow. The cold iron blade cuts across the man's arm, causing a stream of steam to erupt. "Ah!"
Faust swings his blade, which is hungry for the flesh of the beast inside the man-suit. "Aiyee!" the merchant screams, revealing his multitude of teeth once more, and the purple coils visible through the wounds writhe violently.
Combat! Round 9. Bold may act.
Abyssia (-3 hp, -2 STR)
Shalendra (-6 hp) (mage armor)
Faust (doom 2)
Maria
Takumi (doom 2)
Lydia (-3 hp) (shield 6)
Fomalhaut
Merchant (-24 hp; -2 saves 6, -2 to hit 2)
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
plus 1-round non-cumulative 2-point Strength penalty if at least one of those hits; this is a negative energy effect, however, so I can't be positive it will work on him.
Fomalhaut manages to land a blow on the possessed merchant, while Shalendra and Lydia fire their missiles into the shadows.
Despite his grievous injuries, the mustached man is still grinning. “You think that is enough to stop me? You have to—” He stops mid-sentence as his obese form shudders. With a ripping sound, his flesh peels off, revealing a fatheaded man-sized worm, which utters in a gurgling voice, “Try harder.”
The worm surges forward and tries to engulf his head in its over-sized maw. However, the dhampir manages to dance out of the way.
Combat! Round 10. Bold may act. Abyssia (-3 hp, -2 STR)
Shalendra (-6 hp) (mage armor)
Faust (doom 1)
Maria Takumi (doom 1)
Lydia (-3 hp) (shield 5)
Fomalhaut
Merchant (-15 hp; -2 saves 6, -2 to hit 2)
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
Abyssia steps back up and attacks the horrible worm creature with her cold iron blades.
Inflict Light Wounds 45/50; Spells: 1 - 3/5, 2 - 2/3; Mental Focus: T 2/4, A 3/4, N 3/4; Spirit 4/4
Faust finishes his dance facing the doorway and waits for one of his allies to appear before striking. "THEN WE SHALL TRY HARDER!" he screams as he continues trying to chop the worm.
________
Readied action to swing with flank +1 Evil Outsider Bane Scimitar (Flank, Spirit Bonus, Bane) vs Merchant:1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 181d6 + 9 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + (5, 2) + 2 = 19 Swift action Mind Barrier to prevent up to 6 damage this round. Verification: our foe has healed since I last hit it?
HP 46 (-0, +5 to stabilize) | Mods: NA | LN Elf Zen Empiricist 7 | AC/Tch/FF 19/14/15 (+1 vs. Traps) | CMD 18 (talisman?)| F/R/W +7/+13/+10 (mods in profile) | Speed 30ft | Inspiration Pool 8/8, 2 Star Reroll 1/1, Perfect Strike: 3/3, Enduring Scholar 1/1 | Init +6 | Perc: 15+1d6 (+1 vs. traps), SM: 15+1d6
Maria fires another arrow at the newly revealed demon worm, "oh my you are decidedly ugly. Very hideous indeed. I would even say that a group of your demon peers would consider you ugly. Wow!"
New knowledge check with the inside critter visible?
The usually composed Takumi blanches at sight of the worm monster revealing itself. Nonetheless, he presses forward, looking for an opening to cast his spells on the creature. In the meantime, he continues firing another arcane bolt at it.
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
"Let's see if we can't clarify his classification!"
From their perches in the stained walls that oversaw their demises, innumerable vengeful spirits guide Lydia's mighty swing....
I'll let you retain your folio re-roll and guiding spirit, you might want them later, and Fomalhaut finished the demon.
Fomalhaut slides up to the demon worm and cracks it on the head, driving it to the ground where it regurgitates a mucous covered meal of random chunks of a human in its death throes.
On the table in the room from which the demons came, you can see several papers with diagrams and maps drawn on them.
If you look at the papers:
Explosive Runes! Just kidding.
One of the papers has a diagram of a room that looks like the summoning chamber next to this room with a summoning circle and portal showing a worm-like demon crossing through. There is also a rough map of Saringallow with sketches of what look like mites and arrows pointing at various buildings. The papers have notes written in Abyssal.
If you can read Abyssal:
Spoiler:
The vermlek believed that he was close to creating a rift to the Abyss in the summoning chamber that would allow many of his brethren to pass into this realm. There was an assault on Saringallow planned soon where the mites would abduct several citizens for possession by the invading vermleks.
Takumi looks at the regurgitated remains with some distaste. He calls the eagle to him, although its time on this plane is limited, just in case its services are still needed.
He looks at the notes but makes no sense of them.
Is linguistics possible? If so... linguistics:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
You get the gist of the notes: The demon was planning on summoning more demons here in the manor, and he was going to send the mites to raid Saringallow for food or something like that.
HP 46 (-0, +5 to stabilize) | Mods: NA | LN Elf Zen Empiricist 7 | AC/Tch/FF 19/14/15 (+1 vs. Traps) | CMD 18 (talisman?)| F/R/W +7/+13/+10 (mods in profile) | Speed 30ft | Inspiration Pool 8/8, 2 Star Reroll 1/1, Perfect Strike: 3/3, Enduring Scholar 1/1 | Init +6 | Perc: 15+1d6 (+1 vs. traps), SM: 15+1d6
Maria inspects the beast and then turns to Shalendra, "a Vermlek you said? Hrmm..." She pulls out a pad of paper and starts sketching the outsider, adding a few notes as she goes. "Looks like some sort of possessing or parasitic creature that inhabits a host. Also... acts like a dick..."
Finishing up her drawing she goes and takes a look at the notes, "well I don't know the language, but we need to make sure we double check all those locations if we haven't already done so."
She takes her time to search the rest of both rooms for hidden doors, valuables and other information.
Inflict Light Wounds 45/50; Spells: 1 - 3/5, 2 - 2/3; Mental Focus: T 2/4, A 3/4, N 3/4; Spirit 4/4
Faust plucks the notes from their current keeper and reads them. "It says here, quite clearly,that the intention was to create rift to the Abyss and the Mites were to stage a large abduction of humans in Saringallow to host more of those miserable Vermleks," he explains. He then moves to collect as much of the materials as he can. If the Mayor doesn't need this, then I might have just found yet another avenue to research...
________
If we have reason to believe that our work has yet to conclude, Faust will summon Dumont again.
There are several dusty, old ledgers and journals inside of a bookcase. However, as you begin to collect them, the walls begin to shudder.
Then there is a single large tremor that causes the cabinets and shelves to fall from the walls in this room.
The following applies to all of the next obstacles: You can voluntarily accept a -2 penalty to your roll to grant a specific person a +2 to their roll. Multiple people can do this to boost the same person, i.e. the +2 stats. If anyone gets knocked unconscious, one person can drag them with a -4 penalty or two people can drag them, each accepting a -2 penalty. You have enough time between events to drink a potions, activate a wand, or cast a spell.
Reflex Save DC 10 to dodge or [b]Strength Check DC 12[/ob] to catch the falling furniture.
Inflict Light Wounds 45/50; Spells: 1 - 3/5, 2 - 2/3; Mental Focus: T 2/4, A 3/4, N 3/4; Spirit 4/4
As a dresser comes down on top of him, Faust catches it with feral reflexes and throws it against the ground beside him.
"What the hell was that?!" he asks, now scrambling to pick up more bits of research and evidence before more calamities occur.
________
Strength, DC 12:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
reflex:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Abyssia dodges out of the way of the falling debris.
Takumi ref:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
The preternatural grace of the elves fails to save Takumi when he is caught completely by surprise, as shelves start falling onto him!
eagle ref:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24Sigh...
The celestial eagle, however, reacts fast enough and takes to the air gracefully as soon as it felt the ground shake, dodging past the falling furniture.
A heavy wooden shelf strikes Takumi on the head while the others nimbly dodge or catch the falling finishing. As you flee into the summoning chamber, the long dead hands of children sacrificed by the Sarini in unholy rituals reach through the demon's bile and grab at your ankles and arms.
Acrobatics DC 10 to tumble past the hands or Escape Artist DC 12 to wriggle away from them.
Takumi acrobatics:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Despite a badly spinning head (or is it the room), Takumi manages to duck and weave past the grabbing hands.
eagle acrobatics:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
The dextrous eagle have no issues flying out of their reach, too.
HP 40/40 | AC 21 T 14 FF 17 | F +6 (Immune to Mummy Rot, +4 vs incubated diseases, +1 vs Poison/Disease), Ref +5, W+3 (+1 Vs Fear, +2 vs Haunts); +1 vs Fire/Heat, +2 trait bonus vs. Poison | Init +6 | Perception +0 Low-light
acrobatics 10:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Abyssia uses her lithe fish-like form to dodge out of the way.
Inflict Light Wounds 45/50; Spells: 1 - 3/5, 2 - 2/3; Mental Focus: T 2/4, A 3/4, N 3/4; Spirit 4/4
Through sheer chance, Faust manages to to avoid all of the hands grabbing at him and slashes at as many as he can on his way out of the basement. "GO GO GO GO GO!" he shouts. Out of my damn way!
________
Acrobatics, DC 10:1d20 ⇒ 20
