Male Gnome S Gnome Gunslinger 7/Shieldmarshal 1 | HP 68/68 | AC 23 | T 18 | FF 17 | CMD 21 | Fort +9 | Ref +12 | Will +6 | Init +8 | Perc +23
"Probably not the best swimming pool, but much more interesting than normal water." He takes a moment to smell the liquid before cleaning off his hands.
Takkit stands guard while the prisoners are questioned, and his fur spikes up thinking about how awful this whole thing is, for the prisoners, the cultists, the victims...
Doesn't this all feel really messed up? I mean, these people were brainwashed into wanting to be beaten... And I'm worried about this true form thing. I think we've come across a lot more than we signed up for!
He scurries over to Kleetus and spins his daggers in his paws.
Let's be careful. I don't want to see more Pathfinders get killed. It happened, you know, a few missions ago for me. It was really sad. Let's just make sure we all have each other's backs.
At the door, his ears fall flat.
Now how are we going to get through that? I'm not strong enough!
Male Gnome S Gnome Gunslinger 7/Shieldmarshal 1 | HP 68/68 | AC 23 | T 18 | FF 17 | CMD 21 | Fort +9 | Ref +12 | Will +6 | Init +8 | Perc +23
"Hard for me tell if and how the water is enchanted. I wondered if it was alchemical, but it seems to be too vast for that be what they are doing here."
"I've met ... fought with folks that aren't right in the head. I don't much care if it is a dragon beyond that door, I want to make sure whatever creature that derives enjoyment from such acts to be stopped. Either behind bars or otherwise."
Male Gnome S Gnome Gunslinger 7/Shieldmarshal 1 | HP 68/68 | AC 23 | T 18 | FF 17 | CMD 21 | Fort +9 | Ref +12 | Will +6 | Init +8 | Perc +23
"Hold up there. I admire the enthusiasm, but doors are meant to be opened. I'll check the door for the run of the mill death traps and see about opening it. If that fails then we can break in with all glory of Abadar and whomever else is behind us.
The bronze doors open onto a darkened shrine. A dais rises off the floor, every foot of it inlaid with runes of assorted metals. On it, a marble sculpture of the serpentine goddess coils around an altar carved to resemble a book. Six pillars line the sides of the hall, each wrapped by a twenty-foot-tall statue of the goddess; their snaky tails coil about the bottoms, unfurled wings brushing each other and rune-like heads gazing down at the altar. Each holds a different implement; a quill, a chain, an hourglass, a scroll, a spool of thread, and a whip. The ceiling rises higher here than in previous rooms; at least thirty feet tall. High above, deep purple banners emblazoned with golden runic text hang from granite buttresses linking the pillars.
The first level of the altar is 5 ft above the ground, and the second level is another 10 ft above that for a total of 15 ft. All stairs are difficult terrain, and squeezing through any square that is partly covered by alter or an object is also difficult terrain.
A tall, wiry redheaded Shoanti man decked in rune-covered armor stands at the altar and bellows "If you fall, your lives shall be spared so that your minds may be wiped clean and rededicated as the newest thralls of Lissala!"
Putting down his mask with a sigh, Kleetus calls out to Abadar for his stern judgement. Activating my usual pair, Destruction and Healing
"And if you fall, Abadar th' Law-Giver ain't gonna crush ya 'neath his boot. How ya feelin' 'bout that" he shouts angrily from beneath his mask, moving as if the rough terrain didn't hamper him. Free Action, I activate Agile Feet to ignore difficult terrain.
The warrior stands firm as the bullet strikes him. A bead of blood slowly appears under his armor and he laughs. "Is that all? I shall come down and teach you a lesson in pain!" He sneers as he prepares to jump down to face the gnome.
Going to give Takkit a bit more time to post before moving on. I've been rather busy myself and won't be able to make any significant posts until likely tonight anyhow.
"But first... that rascal with the tiny cannon... I promised him pain." He leaps off of the altar and moves up around the side of the temple. He walks towards Rakenlattle menacingly. dragging his morningstar across the stone as he approaches. "I will tear your flesh from the bone until you beg forgiveness from Lisalla!"
The arrow strikes the warriors heavy armor and he doesn't even flinch. Although... you do notice something very odd... the arrow despite being clearly sticking from his armor also passed through and struck the wall behind him...
Male Gnome S Gnome Gunslinger 7/Shieldmarshal 1 | HP 68/68 | AC 23 | T 18 | FF 17 | CMD 21 | Fort +9 | Ref +12 | Will +6 | Init +8 | Perc +23
"Well that is something new, I wonder how you managed to do that." Rakenlattle looks at the looming threat with an amused look as he reloads his musket and studies the warrior, throwing a dagger at him for good measure.
"I do say that I'm enjoying this fight a bit more than I was expecting."
Male Human (Taldan) Fighter (Archer) [8.1] | HP 60/60 | AC 24 T 17 FF 18 | CMB +10 CMD 27 | F+8 R+10 W+4 | Perc +3 | Init +8 | Acro/Climb/Swim/Escape +11 | SM +5 | Survival +4 | Ling +8 **Arrows : Durable Adamantine unless otherwise stated**
What? Another illusion? Jaysin sounds as if he has just been unduly insulted. Can't one of you mystical types dispel these things? He'll then go and collect his arrow, mumbling about wasting resources.
As Kleetus pulls out his scroll to reveal your foe, she reveals herself instead... standing tall, she has the upper body of a human female, but lower body of a massive serpent with her tail coiled back along the altar. She carries a whip in one hand and a scimitar, currently thrust deep into Kleetus's shoulder, in the other.
She screams as she makes the thrust, but the voice sounds as though it's coming from the illusory warrior instead. Her head is shaven bare, showing off a full circle of sin-runes that has been branded and inked around her head like a tiara of maimed flesh. Other runic tattoos run down her forearms, and she wears a sleeveless tunic of diaphanous material that provides fleeting limpses of the self-inflicted lashings and glyphs graven on her body.
Knowledge (Nature) DC 20:
She is a Lamia Matriarch. The queens of a race consumed by bitterness and predatory instinct, lamia matriarchs mastermind all manner of foul plots in hopes of breaking the bestial curse that afflicts their race. They move with shocking ease from silken-tongued temptresses to dervishes, striking with all the deadly precision of vipers. Quick to covet, enslave, and overindulge, lamia matriarchs luxuriate in gory feasts, violent trysts, and bloody entertainments, reveling until their playthings are broken or until they tire and move on. Read one spoiler below, plus one more for every 5 by which you exceeded the DC.
Special Qualities:
Lamia Matriarchs are potent spellcasters. They cast similar to sorcerers, however their repertoire of spells includes many generally considered unique to divine casters.
Special Attacks:
Lamia Matriarchs drain wisdom from their foes as they attack. The first time they hit with a weapon each round they can attempt to drain 1 point of Wis from their foe. Alternatively they can attempt to touch their foe for a more potent direct form of this attack.
Defenses:
Lamia have spell resistance and are immune to mind affecting effects.
Still waiting on Takkit and Lore. If anyone has an action they wish for one of them to take, post it here and I'll bot them as such tomorrow if there is no action taken.
Five Foot Step Back, cast Longarm. Move Action to retrieve a Smoke Pellet from my Bandolier for next turn. Acrobatics to Avoid AoO:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
What makes you think she's evil? Was it the rooms dedicated to sin? The self-flagellation and ritual scarification? Her association with Kytons? Penchant for torture? What gave it away?
Takkit makes a careful juke down the steps and withdraws his smoke pellet without receiving a slashing rebuke.
As she moves about you see several glimmering mirror images of her wake.
I don't think I mentioned the mirror images in my last post so I'll give you a moment to weigh in on that as well. If someone wouldn't mind rolling Lore's SR check and potential damage for whatever you decide to cast (sounds like holy smite at the moment) that'd be great. She'll take her turn this evening (Pacific time).
Will Save:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26Saves for half
Lore rebukes the Lamia's worship of such cruelty with a blast of righteous flame. Miakovna resists the bulk of the effect, but new wounds are apparent alongside her self-inflicted injuries.
She begins to lash out at the warriors who have approached her altar starting by wrapping her whip around Kleetus's leg to drag him to the ground.
Whip to Trip Kleetus:1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 35Provokes AoO from Kleetus and Gromsk, Succeeds on trip
She follows with a thrust at the newly prone target.
Scimitar vs Kleetus:1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 34 Damage:1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12and a second will save, same as above in the first AoO.
She then flicks her whip at Gromsk, attempting to drag him to the ground as well and set up the rest of her furious assault.
As her blade and whip arc back and forth, the illusory warrior twitches and then begins to scream while frozen in position.
Round 2:
Jaysin
Round 3:
Rakenlattle
Kleetus (-62, prone, 2 pending will saves, may take an AoO before falling)
Takkit
Lore
Gromsk (-12, prone, may take an AoO before falling)
Miakovna (-7, 3 Mirror Images)
Gromsk and Kleetus both attempt to take advantage of the Lamia's opening while they can, but both of their attacks miss their intended mark. Gromsk however is close enough that the tip of his blade flicks through the cloak of one of her many figments, causing it to wink out of existance.
Rakenlattle flings a dagger at the Lamia, which passes straight through one of the mirror images causing it to wink out of existance. The musket shot however is completely off target and is deflected by one of her many wards.
Do our attacks miss my 5 or less? If they do, she has 2 less images.
Will Save:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 Will Save:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Kleetus shakes his head, his thoughts clouded. Taking a defensive stance, even prone, he disappears, only to reappear next to Lore.
Taking the Total Defense Action, I gain a +4 AC, which puts me at my regular AC. I then use dimensional hop, moving back 25 feet. That action provokes, however, I do heal 4 from my judgement, putting me at -58.
HP 69/69 AC 21, 13, 20(18 T 12 FF 17); bab 7, (scimitar) +9/+4, (lt xbow) +11; F +10 R +7 W +11; INIT +3; Perc +22; CMB +6 CMD 19; channel 8/8 | gnome cleric(theologian)/5; exalted/6 | -01 *
Lore steps forward and casts her last remaining blessing of fervor on the party.
blessing of fervor effects:
With this blessing, you call your allies to move forth and empower them to conquer and become victorious. Each round for the duration of this spell, each of your allies can choose one of the following bonuses for that round at the beginning of its turn (their choice).
- Increase its speed by 30 feet.
- Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
- Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
- Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
- Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
These effects are not cumulative with similar effects, such as those provided by haste or a speed weapon, nor do they actually grant an extra action, so you can't use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.
Male Human (Taldan) Fighter (Archer) [8.1] | HP 60/60 | AC 24 T 17 FF 18 | CMB +10 CMD 27 | F+8 R+10 W+4 | Perc +3 | Init +8 | Acro/Climb/Swim/Escape +11 | SM +5 | Survival +4 | Ling +8 **Arrows : Durable Adamantine unless otherwise stated**
Seems you managed to get yourself in trouble. Jaysin takes a step forward and unleashes a wave of arrows at the true enemy! Taking the extra attack on BoF. Going to take off Deadly Aim as it seems she has a pretty high AC.
Jaysin's first pair of arrows strikes her solidly but the arrows chip and splinter on her flesh. It appears as though some ward has caused her skin to be hard as stone! Nonetheless, the arrows still appear to draw blood, just not as much as would have been expected... The second show goes clear through her final image, and his third shot goes careening off of her incredibly tough hide. The final shot however manages to stick.
Male Human (Taldan) Fighter (Archer) [8.1] | HP 60/60 | AC 24 T 17 FF 18 | CMB +10 CMD 27 | F+8 R+10 W+4 | Perc +3 | Init +8 | Acro/Climb/Swim/Escape +11 | SM +5 | Survival +4 | Ling +8 **Arrows : Durable Adamantine unless otherwise stated**
As usual, I didn't think to mention that the arrows are durable adamantine, if that matters to any DR. That's why I keep collecting them after each fight. I might have mentioned what they were in an earlier fight but I can't recall. Apologies for not thinking of it sooner.
Male Gnome S Gnome Gunslinger 7/Shieldmarshal 1 | HP 68/68 | AC 23 | T 18 | FF 17 | CMD 21 | Fort +9 | Ref +12 | Will +6 | Init +8 | Perc +23
Rakenlattle draws upon the speed of the blessing to push forward at the lamia.
"You might be well prepared, but I think your array of barriers is running thin."
With a swift motion, the gunslinger draws his trusted pistol and fires it at the behind priestess to hamper her movement and leave her defenses open to his allies attacks.
Use blessing for movement, use startling shot to make the lamia flat-footed.
