Quintus channels to heal.
Rowena applies more pressure on the bone devil, pinning it to the ground.
As a move action, she quickly whips her rope of climbing out of her haversack.
Deeply injured, Trevor feels Quintus' healing energy and sighs. Unable to see his opponent, he quickly asks Iomedae to save his skin, then steps back to disengage, invoking the goddess' power to grant him a shard of Her grace.
Kelkzar fights off the devil's attempt to frighten him and bites the creature back.
[dice=Will save]1d20+14
[dice=Bite]1d20+16
[dice=Damage]1d4+27
[dice=Bite]1d20+16
[dice=Damage]1d4+27 [dice=Bleed]1d6
[dice=Bite]1d20+11
[dice=Damage]1d4+27
[dice=Cornugon Smash Intimidate]1d20+27
Rauno casts a spell and can see everything attacking them now. Rowena pins the invisible creatures and gets out her rope. Quintus heal everyone with a channel.
Kelkzar bites down on the barbed devil while being grappled.
The invisible bone devil in Rowena grasp tries to cast something once again but fails and remains grappled and invisible.
DC 25 *Fail*
The barbed devil holds on top Kelkzar and uses its barb to injure him more
An invisible bone devil next to Trevor attacks with multiple attacks, connecting on claws. After it attacks it goes back invisible.
*Hit*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
Quintus is also attack by a formerly invisible attacker. While its bite and first claws claws miss, Quintus get hit by the second claw and the poisonous stinger. It also goes back invisible once it is done attacking.
*Hit*
*Hit*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
Rauno is attacked as well by an invisible attacker, of which he can see. It misses twice due to concealment, but does connect on a claw and a stinger
*Miss due to displacement*
*Miss due to haste*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
The one Rowena is grappling tries to casts again and succeeds. Rowena is no longer holding him. Rauno sees he teleported back into the sky.
DC 25
- Trevor, Quintus, Kelkzar, Rauno, Rowena, Devils
AC 25 T 14 FF 20 CMD 31
AC 26 T 16 FF 20 CMD 34
Kelkzar continues the war of attrition with the devil. Concerned that the devil might be winning, the half-orc calls on Ragathiel to help him defeat the devil. He tries to bite it two more times.
As one of the devils appear in a shower of golden sparks, Trevor grins and extends his glorious white wings, flapping in an upward diagonal to leverage enough distance to bring to bear his fauchard.
"Enough." he states flatly as he swings his fauchard in a deadly sequence of arcs and thrusts. As he does so, he can feel Her grace coursing through him.
*
*
*
Rowena moves to F1, allowing devil 4 an AoO if it wants one.
Once there, she tries to land one telling blow.
and Fort save DC 21 or be stunned
Rauno casts glitterdust and blinds both bone devils!
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
DC 21
Rowena moves past the bone devil and get stung with the poisonous tail. The barbed devil gets stunned, dropping Kelkzar out of its grapple.
Trevor takes advantage of being able to see two of the bone devils and lands all four hits due to it being blinded
The priest easily resists the poison, then channels again to heal.
Devil 4 should be visible, since it would appear after the AoO and not have time yet to recast the spell.
The barbed devil is stunned so no attack this round, and Kelkzar will be able to attack it while stunned
Two of the Bone devils attack Rauno, included the blinded one Rauno taunted. #4 goes back invisible (for the last time quickened). It appears that the bone devil attacking Rauno shakes off the blindness.
*Miss due to Blindness*
*Hit*
*Miss due to Blindness*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
*Hit*
*Miss due to displacement*
*Hit*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
DC 19
Trevor gets attacked by the one previously grappled by Rowena. It hits him with one claw before going back invisible
*Hit*
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
Quintus gets attacked by the other blinded one which misses completely. It also is not able to shake the glitterdust out of its vision.
*If Hit Fort Save DC 20 vs poison
DC 19
- Trevor, Quintus, Kelkzar, Rauno, Rowena, Devils
AC 25 T 14 FF 20 CMD 31
AC 26 T 16 FF 20 CMD 34
Quintus takes a short step forward and chops repeatedly at the most wounded of the devils, but fails to penetrate its armor.
Trevor takes a step back and lashes with his fauchard at the devils he can see.
*
*
Site ate my post, but I'll sum it up as Rauno's Lightning bolt didn't get past either of the SRs of the devils, and Trevor's first two hits killed Bone Devil #2, but missed otherwise.
With both hands back on his falchion, Kelkzar slashes repeatedly at the stunned barbed devil.
Kelkzar lands three blows on the Barbed devil killing the creature. The remaining bone devils see that and each of them teleport away right after one them says , "This is not the end of this fight. Viscannix will also have that piece of the Rod!"
Combat Over
The rest of the trip is without incident. The next day after the fight with devils you reach the city of Magepoint.
This small, sleepy, idyllic village appears, at face value, to be an archetypal farming and fishing community. Well-tended fields and meadows surround the village proper, while many fishing boats bob at anchor along the village’s dock.
Gentle hills and full green trees cradle the southern reaches of the coastal village of Magepoint. Wide streets, plentiful greenery, and pleasant wooden buildings speak of peace and ease, yet the community buzzes with activity. Clearly the village prospers.
Rising from a rocky island about half a mile out is a pale blue castle surrounding a tower capped with a vast faceted dome that glitters like a blue jewel. A twenty foot wide stone causeway runs from the village shore all the way out to this castle.
Magepoint is an adventurer’s haven. Many retired explorers and adventurers call the peaceful community home. Magepoint houses many small shops well equipped to meet the needs of the adventurers, diplomats, spies, and couriers who stream in and out of the community with surprising frequency. A large temple-library houses a massive collection of tomes covering arcane knowledge, religion, history, and other topics. Scholars travel from all over the world to study there.
"I wonder why the devils were after the piece of the Rod, and how they knew we had it? Rauno, you should see if you can find out anything while we're here."
When you arrive anyone can tell you Manzorian is not present at this time and you need to wait. He is also expecting you and he wants you to wait until he returns. You are directed to Magepoint's only inn, a comfortable and cozy place called the All-Seeing Eye. When you enter you are told by the establishments owner that you were expected, and your rooms are already prepared for you and they have been paid for.
Equipped to cater to the nuanced tastes of powerful visitors from all over the world, and even other planes. The sprawling three story building houses a collection of well-appointed rooms, a grand ball room, two skilled chefs, and many other minor comforts expected by the rich and powerful. The All-Seeing Eye rivals the finest inns and eateries in all of Golarion.
The following morning after the first night you stay there, the woman Celeste is downstairs in the common rooms waiting for you.
She greets you all with a smile and apologizes for her absence from Magnimar after Eligos was murdered. She asks that you follow her into a meeting room behind the bar where you can all talk in private.
When you get inside you get the shock of your life, Eligos is alive and inside the room. Also present in the room is a tall female elf named Cymria. Celeste tell you Cymria has been Manzorian's eyes and ears in Magepoint, supporting the leaders of Magepoint with Manzorian's might as well as screening those who wish an audience with the archmage.
Eligos greets you with relief when you enter. He tells you it took powerful magic to return him to life, and thanks to Celeste she was able to get enough of him here for Magepoint's powerful priest Agath to bring him to life. He wanted to let you know that he was ok, but needed to wait until you could get here before he could. He tells you that when you have the audience with Manzian all will become clear, until then he doesn't want to say too much more.
Cymria says she knows much of what has happened up until Magnimar, but is eager to learn what has happened since that time, especially anything concerning the Age of Worms. Assuming you tell them everything that has happened, she nods and thanks you before telling you she will contact you the moment Manzorian returns.
Celeste tells you that you have the free run of Magepoint until the time the archmage returns, but not to approach the tower until then as it is protected by powerful magic until he returns.
The temple-library houses more than 10,000 volumes of arcane and historical lore. A week pass costs 100 gp
After 5 days in town Cymria contacts you that Manzorian will meet you the following afternoon. She cautions you to be respectful both to Manzorian and his fortress. There is a half mile stone causeway you will have to walk to get there. She lets you know that you will want to walk as the tower is protected from teleportation and creatures using flight.
True to her word, Cymria shows up at the All-Seeing Eye with Celeste and Eligos and walk with you to Manzorian's fortress. A polite guard greets you at the entrance, quickly ushering you through the courtyard and into the beautiful central tower. Although far from ostentatious, the fortress and keep speak subtly of great wealth and power. As you move through the fortress, currents of arcane power ripple through the air and even the fortress itself. The guard politely gestures for you to enter Manzorian's study, quietly taking up a position a few feet down the hall from the entrance.
This long, airy chamber has a high ceiling and generous adornments. A deep blue carpet covers much of the floor. The walls are thoroughly covered by a wide range of paintings, each depicting a different exotic locale or dangerous region. The paintings are rendered with extraordinary skill, and seem almost like windows looking out on remote locations around the world. Several overstuffed chairs sit throughout the room, and at the far end looms a massive antique wooden desk, its surface a tangle of scrolls, books, statuettes, stone tablets, quills, vials of ink, and an expensive dragonchess set, its pieces arrayed in mid-game.
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The Archmage Manzorian waits for the party at his desk. A sixty-year-old man, Manzorian remains in good health but is not muscular. His hair is streaked with gray, and he has a prominent aquiline nose. His blue robes bear the sign of a thin scimitar, as this is a part of his coat of arms.
Waiting with Manzorian in his study is a stern middle-aged man in a black robe covered in stars. You have seen this man at the temple and know his to be the priest Agath. Manzorian introduces him and tells you he is here just to observe to keep up to date.
Manzorian has already looked over Eligos’ research, but now he wishes to hear the party’s full story of recent events. He listens intently, his expression darkening as the group’s tale draws to a close.
Once done Manzorian begins to speak, "“The Age of Worms is foretold in a prophecy that speaks of a coming apocalypse, an age of death and writhing doom. Normally such rumors should be dismissed—doomsday prophecies are typically the product of nothing more sinister than madness. This prophecy is different. It can be traced back, through various incarnations in books, tablets, and carvings on walls, for over thousands of years. It does not change in content during this time—it has not evolved through clumsy attempts of fanatics desperate to reword its predictions to support their agendas."
“This alone would be enough for it to merit further study. But even more interesting is the fact that in the last few years several of its predictions have actually come true. In one prophecy, it predicts the ‘ruin by fire of a city built in a bowl in the spire’s shadow.’ Just last year, far to the south, the city of Cauldron—built in the caldera of a dormant volcano only a few miles from Kyuss’ one-time home, the Spire of Long Shadows—was nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Other prophecies speak of the recrudescence of the worm-eaten dead, the recovery of potent artifacts from ancient tombs, the destructive manifestation of an immense demonic tree in a distant city across the sea, the return of the Runelords, and the cleansing of an evil taint from a city besieged in the past by giants."
“These events have all come to pass, and quite recently. In fact, there are only two prophecies remaining to be fulfilled. The first of these mentions the reunification of a tripartite spirit—I assume this is a nod to the goals of the Ebon Triad. The second remaining prophecy reads: ’And on the eve of the Age of Worms, a hero of the pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead.’ I believe this last line may have been speaking of Loris Raknian, certainly a hero from the gladiator’s pit, and his recent attempt to sacrifice thousands at the end of the Champion’s Games. Yes, I’ve heard of this, and I know you played a role in its prevention. It remains to be seen if your actions actually made a difference or not, but it would be foolhardy to assume that those who are trying to fulfill the prophecies will abate their efforts.”
Manzorian pauses for a moment then looks at Trevor while continuing, “Kyuss is an enigma—what we know of him is sparse. We know that he was once a mortal, a powerful priest who ascended to godhood. He ruled a city named Kuluth-Mar far to the south in the Mwangi Expanse, and was famed for the creation of undead. A former companion of mine, and your father Trevor, a man named Balakarde, made an extensive study of Kyuss and his ways. You might even say he was obsessed with Kyuss.”
“When Balakarde learned Kuluth-Mar was the likely location of Kyuss’ divine apotheosis, he could barely restrain himself. I cautioned him against going to investigate the ruins. One does not simply teleport into an unknown region without doing some research. Yet Balakarde wouldn’t listen. He left immediately, returning two weeks later with a wild look in his eye. He wouldn’t say much of what he’d found there, and before he moved on he asked me to hold on to some of his notes. He promised to return later and tell me more, but that time was short and he had to follow a new lead. He vanished without a trace not long thereafter. Trevor, I understand his obsession caused you some issues in your earlier life, and for that I am sorry. I intended to try to track him down, but unfortunately, other events conspired to take my attention away. I suspect he is dead now. Or worse. ”
Manzorian looks at all of you before continuing, "“The notes Balakarde left with me are unfortunately rather sparse. They confirm that Kuluth-Mar is located in the Mwangi Expanse, far to the south, and estimate that Kyuss ruled the city more than four thousand years ago from a fortress called the Spire of Long Shadows. Balakarde believed that this spire was the site of Kyuss’ ascension to god-hood. Kyuss built a ziggurat to serve as the foundation of the Spire of Long Shadows. Balakarde writes how the ziggurat was a powerful magical focus for the ritual that propelled him to divinity. Much of Kyuss’ might has since left the city of Kuluth-Mar, but powerful undead servants and lingering touches of Kyuss’ own miasma make the ziggurat a fell and dangerous place. Balakarde visited the ruined city several times, but never penetrated the spire itself. I never found the journal pages that described his earlier visits.”
"I understand this is a lot of information to take in all at once, but my time with you is limited. So I need you to process this quickly and ask me any questions that you have now before I must leave again."
Rowena is, as always, polite and respectful, and fairly silent as she takes in the new information. She had been worried that a trip to the pit of Hell was in their future. A detour to the Mwangi Expanse seems less daunting.
She does ask, however, in a coldly tense voice, "Do you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of Raknian?"
"One of Eligos' tasks is to track him down. As you can imagine he is highly motivated to find him. If we do find him we will let you all know."
Quintus will get some diamond dust to replace what he borrowed from Rauno, and take some time to scribe a few scrolls.
"You- My fath- You knew my father?" asks Trevor, looking at Manzorian with pleading eyes.
"Balakarde... Balakarde..." he mutters, the new knowledge and its implications slowly sinking in.
"I hope he's still alive. I could meet him... Know him..." he reflects, uncertain if that's a good or a bad thing.
Then he snaps: "He left me behind! To fend for myself. Without hope..."
Quintus starts to say something, stops himself, and then presses on. "Trevor, think about what we're doing, and what we're a part of. The world is at stake--knowing that changes how we act, just like it changed how Balakarde acted. If you had to choose between letting a child fend for himself alone and the triumph of Kyuss, what would you do?"
Trevor turns crimson and snarls as he opens his mouth to snap a reply, but pauses instead.
A long silence passes before he relaxes and replies: "I'll have to think about that one..." now looking puzzled.
Rowena offers a comforting hand on his arm as he struggles with his feelings.
She doesn't remove it right away when he eventually gets himself together.
"Knowing you, you'd try to do both. And I think any of us would, too. Let's try to make sure we never have to put it to the test, though."
The priest stops suddenly. "Wait a minute. There's been something nagging at me ever since we fought the devils. Rauno, how accurate is your translation of what that last one said before they escaped? Was it really, '...will *also* have that piece of the Rod!'? Implying that their master already had at least one piece?"