As he creeps and crawls down the passage, Kris takes in the entirely alien surroundings with a mix of horror and pathfinder intrigue, just as he was intending on pulling back and informing the others, he spots the Xill and one seems to notice him. Swearing, he turns to Darro.
"Well, jig us up, four Xill and we've been spotted mate."
He creeps further into the passage to get a better look and tries to keep out of aight of the other Xill.
(Start regular initiative. Kris, Darro, and Kleetus are up. Any further movement into the room for Kris is through difficult terrain. The profusion of vines and growths in the room will also provide a cover penalty for ranged attacks.)
Kleetus, hearing that Kris and Darro seem to be in trouble, turns to the others and says:"Whelp, looks like we gotta git down! Race ya to it!"
He begins a chant to Abadar, a plea to make his limbs vigorous and stout, then races down the stairs, seemingly unimpeded by the vegetation. "BUGS!" he exclaims joyously once he arrives down the steps, activating his powers of judgement to protect him.
Standard:Cast Channel Vigor, targeting limbs; Free:Spend a use of my Agile Feet ability to not be impeded by the difficult terrain; Swift:Judgment of Protection (+2 Deflection AC); Move:Within range of angry bugs, drawing weapon :(
Cautious of engaging the enemy only to be swarmed by her fellows, Kris moves up to join Deaglan just inside of the room. A quick chant in elven, the pirate spellblade runs his hand over his blade, enhancing its cutting power again. He then gets into a ready stance for enemy assault.
Move action to next to Deaglan, token not moved, swift action to enhance with +1 and Keen again. Standard action to ready a spellstrike on an enemy that comes into attack range.
Darro's arrow bites deep...! The xill with green speckles in her chitin hisses in pain.
The red xill that is decked out in fancier armor and up in the tree seems to reach down into the tree. You can see that tendrils of the plant-stuff writhe all over that xil's bone-thin forearms. The fronds and vines in the room begin to quiver as a result of the xill's actions-- and then they lash out, at Kleetus and Kris!
(Unfortunately it's not really a targetable enemy attacking you, Kai, more of an effect caused by the xill.)
However, neither manages to strike their targets. The xill chitters in anger.
The three other xill in the chamber seem to freeze in place, all staring at you fixedly. As they gaze at you and you at them, you notice they're starting to become translucent around the edges.
20% miss chance on the three lower xill for this round.
Round 1
Kris made his sword awesome and readied
Darro fired an arrow
Kleetus cast and moved in
Red Xill made the tree attack
Other Xill stood still? And went wavery?
>>...Naghamadi
>>...Deaglan
>>...Valais
>>...Lucija
AC 24 T 16 FF 19 (uncanny dodge) | Current HP 97/97| F +15 R +19(evasion) W +14 (+2 vs sleep, para, stun) | Init +3| Perc +25 Resist Fire, Electricity, Cold 5
Spells Per Day Remaining:
4-1/2 1-2/4
Spells Active:
Heroism
"Um...is everyone alright down there? It sounds rather strange down there...."
She nervously glances about, lightly gnawing on her lip. She shoots her wand of shield out of her wrist sheath.
"I hope this works. Best to be safe...."
Wand of Shield UMD:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
As she takes a few steps towards the door, Valais notices that her arms and legs suddenly appear especially limber as her "roommates" focus on staying aware of attacks against their shared home.
Martial Versatility for Dodge
Action summary: Swift action to draw wand of shield, standard action to UMD it, move action to use Martial Versatility, free action to five-foot-step
Has it been more than 8 minutes since I last cast shield?
I think you cast it in the first fight vs the xill according to my thread search, so I'm gonna say: yes, more than 8 minutes, since you had the xill fight, and healing up after where Kai used some infernal healing, and you interrogated the xill, and maneuvered through the overgrown upstairs, and portal'd, and figured out the cube, and talked to the hag. :P Deaglan's magic circle is likely still active, but at this point, only Valais, Deaglan, and Blackthorn are still receiving that, I think.
Speaking of Deaglan! You're up to finish out the round, Deaglan. Current party buffs: haste
"Huh?! What is happening!?" Deaglan shouts when everybody suddenly starts casting spells and rushing down the stairs. He also runs down the stairs and casts bless
With Lucija's magic speed bolstering people's movements, and Naghamadi ready to bite anything that comes near, the Pathfinders run down the stairs towards the enemy, Deaglan calling on the blessings of his god...
"You take the centre one, I'll keep the left flank busy!" Kris calls out as he hops, skips and rolls over the various cables littering the place, feeling Lucija's magic limbering his elven muscles.
Landing infront of the Xill to the far left, Kris dances left and right, and cuts across the creature with his blade still coated with necromantic energies.
"Gotcha Kris!" Kleetus pulls his mask down as he asks once again for Abadar's blessings. "Almighty Abadar, dem' bugs need ta die!" He then moves on over to the center Xill, blade on high.
Darro, I see no inclusion of bless and haste in your attack; have you accounted for it? Kleetus: same question-- I see a floating +1 in your attack that I can't account for from your bonus line that could be one of those two, but you might also have another +1.
Kleetus's blade strikes, for the creature doesn't have her shield in position to best defend. The sheer force of his blow seems to strike some fear into the alien creature. A second or two later, Darro's arrow puncture its carapace, exploding with holy energy... the green-spotted xill shrieks and falls.
Kris's blade strikes hard and sharp. His spell sucks life itself from the xill and bolsters his own power.
The xill up at the crown of the swollen tree continues burying her thin limbs into the tangle of vines, seeming to pull and tug at them. Again, twin vines rip free from the encompassing plant growth and strike...
The xenophage's many tendrils writhe around Kris and Darro both, pinning limbs to sides and greatly impeding their abilities to fight. (Kai and Darro both grappled)
The ground-level xill fight in grim silence, with military discipline. The xill with the blue flecks on her carapace fades further out of sight (50% miss chance) while the other xill re-solidifies into full manifestation, ceasing her attempt to vanish from this plane. Instead, she turns her hideously fanged maws, and claws, on the intruder into their ship.
Kai Fortitude save, DC 16:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27Success
(21 total damage to Kai)
Round 2
Kris attacked and hit yellow
Darro fired and hit green
Kleetus slashed green
Red Xill manipulated plant and grappled Kai and Darro
Other Xill attacked Kai or continued to phase (green is dead) >>...Deaglan
>>...Valais
>>...Lucija & Naghamadi
Damage: Yellow - 23
Party Buffs: Haste, Bless
Other: 50% miss chance on blue xill; no miss chance on others. Kai and Darro grappled
AC 24 T 16 FF 19 (uncanny dodge) | Current HP 97/97| F +15 R +19(evasion) W +14 (+2 vs sleep, para, stun) | Init +3| Perc +25 Resist Fire, Electricity, Cold 5
Spells Per Day Remaining:
4-1/2 1-2/4
Spells Active:
Heroism
I forgot to mention that Valais is in both of her stances now
Valais runs into the room, her speed increased by the gnome's haste spell.
"Oh. Well this doesn't look very nice."
She shakes her head with a child's disapproval at the xill.
"All of you Mrs. Xills should not be so mean. I shall be cross with you, I think."
She does her best to navigate the mass of tendrils covering the room. As she stops next to Kai/Kris, she suddenly begins shouting at him.
"FREE YOURSELF FROM YOUR BONDAGE, CREATURE OF MORTAL FLESH, OR DIE UNDER THE STRAIN OF YOUR OWN WEAKNESS."
Liberating Command, Kai/Kris gets an immediate escape artist check to escape the grapple with a +8 bonus
Action summary: double move, immediate action to cast Liberating Command on Kai/Kris
Though the blue-speckled xill keeps fading away, the other two seem affected by Lucija's spell... Naghamadi bites, but alas, his teeth strike only air due to the way the xill is fading into the ether.
With a wrench of his limbs, Kai is able to free himself, thanks to Valais' timely assistance!
Deaglan's conjured weapon unfortunately cannot seem to get through the xill's innate resistance to spells. (You can redirect it to try and hit a different foe on your next turn, if any are still up at that point)
In a flurry of exceptionally-speedy steel, Kai's blade lashes back and forth in a flur, and the xill drops to the ground, thoroughly defeated.
Yellow xill dropped; Darro and Kleetus are up. Darro is grappled, but he gets an immediate action to escape due to Deaglan's spell, with a +12 bonus on the escape artist check.
No problem GM, and note that the spiritual weapon is dispelled: If an attacked creature has spell resistance, you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against that spell resistance the first time the spiritual weapon strikes it. If the weapon is successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the weapon has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.
(Not enough for you to get free, alas. That's only an immediate action, though; if you have anything else you want to do (albeit while grappled), go ahead and do it. You can certainly call Blackthorn.)
Sorry for the delay. Weekends! And you're quite correct about the spell, thank you Deaglan.
His blessings speeding his limbs, Kleetus closes with the red commander xill manipulating the plant, and lands a solid hit. The xill chitters with fear, its limbs slowed by Lucija's spell.
However, this doesn't seem to interfere with its ability to manipulate the xenophage creeper and bid it to its will. In desperation, the red xill uses its bond with the overgrown plant matter to try and restrain the Abadaran...
(It's specifically called out that it's a standard action for the xill to do the creeper double-vine-whammy, so unfortunately, the xill still gets that even with slow up; it also doesn't say this action provokes. The tendrils used are some of the unnumbered 'many' that exist in the room, so even if it has an ongoing grapple in place, there are still two attacks to be made. That said, I will say the 'shaken' and 'slowed' kicks in, because it's lame that y'all do all of that and it doesn't negatively affect the plant violation. Maybe it's interfering the xill's connection with the plant. Who knows.)
Darro is suddenly hauled by the many plant tendrils-- yanked roughly through the room, towards the tree. As he is pulled closer, he and Kleetus see that what they might have taken for just a wrinkle in the swollen, grotesque bark is opening wide-- the tree's bole seems to have an internal cavity, filled with a viscous, sticky sap that looks deeply unpleasant...!
(Just to save you all wasted attacks: the creeper itself is not a statted monster, though with the description of it having a mouth to eat you you would definitely think it is. It's more a terrain hazard that is being manipulated to attack you, but in any case, you can't directly attack it in combat.)
The blue xill disappears completely from sight...
Round 3
Kris destroyed the yellow xill
Darro was unable to break his grapple
Kleetus closed with red and hit it
Red Xill manipulated the tree again, dragged Darro closer.
Blue Xill disappeared
>>...Deaglan
>>...Valais
>>...Lucija & Naghamadi
Damage: Red - 28, slowed, shaken
Party Buffs: Haste, Bless
Other: Darro and Kleetus are grappled
|AC 19, T 12, FF 18|HP: 78/78|F +5, R +5, W +6 (+8 vs MA, +4 vs fear, +2 vs despair/confusion/insanity/death)|Init +1, Perc 0|CMB +9 CMD 20|11/11 Summon Monster VI, 2/2 Maker's Call, 1/1 Pride, 1/1 Mysteries, 1/1 Davian
"Damn!" Shouts Lucija, not at all happy with their elusive target's successful escape to the Ethereal Plane. She casts a potent ward on herself (shield) before mounting Naghamadi, who flies in a roundabout way (attempting to stay clear of where the xill was last on this plane) toward xill commanding the xenophage.
AC 24 T 16 FF 19 (uncanny dodge) | Current HP 97/97| F +15 R +19(evasion) W +14 (+2 vs sleep, para, stun) | Init +3| Perc +25 Resist Fire, Electricity, Cold 5
Spells Per Day Remaining:
4-1/2 1-2/4
Spells Active:
Heroism
Valais stands awkwardly as she sees the xill in front of her get sliced to pieces.
"Oh...um...I'm sorry, Ms. Xill."
She looks up towards the lead xill and Valais's friends that are wrapped-up in the tentacles.
"LET GO OF THE HALF-ORC, CURSED PLANT."
Liberating Command on Kleetus, escape artist with +8
She rushes up to the xill, but pauses for a second.
"Please go unconscious and stop killing my friends, Ms. Xill, if you don't mind. "
Naghamadi tears in again, but is unable to connect with the xill's limbs, even though it is slowed.
Valais uses the supernatural speed to reach the xill and throw a punch that does connect, however. Pow!
Deaglan calls on the power of his god in the hopes he can remove a spell from the xill; however, there is no discernible effect. It's possible the xill has no spells upon her at the moment-- save for those inflicted by your own party.
Round 4 >>...Kris
>>...Darro
>>...Kleetus(Entitled to immediate action attempt to break grapple at a +8)
...Red Xill
...Blue Xill
...Deaglan
...Valais
...Lucija & Naghamadi
Damage: Red - 56, slowed, shaken
Party Buffs: Haste, Bless
Other: Darro and Kleetus are grappled
His foes down in a deadly dance of death, Kris' chest heaves heavily as he lets the adrenaline outburst fade slightly to allow him time for a combat assessment. All other foes defeated he darts through the ship, ducking and diving vines, with no where else to go he runs around the deadly Xill to stand opposite the entwined Kleetus.
Kleetus, hearing Valais' roar, tries to break free.
Escape Artist:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Unfortunately, the moment passes and Kleetus forgets exactly how it is he is supposed to escape the roots. Non-plussed, he shifts his falchion to one hand
and begins to punch the creature with his cestus-adorned hands.
Swift Action to change my judgment to Judgement of Justice
Unfortunately, neither Kleetus nor Darro are able to free themselves... Kleetus's strikes are powerful but only one connects-- thanks to the xill being focused on Kris's approach.
Surrounded now by foes, the red-speckled xill hisses in irritation. She is no longer shaken... but the magical lethargy keeps her from a full attack.
Valais manages to throw off the paralysis that is currently affecting Kleetus.
Round 4
Kris got into position
Darro failed to break grapple
Kleetus punched a xill, got paralyzed
Red Xill bit and paralyzed Kleetus
Blue Xill reappeared and bit Valais
>>...Deaglan
>>...Valais
>>...Lucija & Naghamadi
Damage: Red - 69, slowed
Party Buffs: Haste, Bless
Other: Darro and Kleetus are still grappled (even though the xill is no longer actively directing the plant); and Kleetus is paralyzed, for... 1d4 ⇒ 4 hours. Ouch. Did you have an unused reroll, Kleetus?
AC 24 T 16 FF 19 (uncanny dodge) | Current HP 97/97| F +15 R +19(evasion) W +14 (+2 vs sleep, para, stun) | Init +3| Perc +25 Resist Fire, Electricity, Cold 5
Spells Per Day Remaining:
4-1/2 1-2/4
Spells Active:
Heroism
Valais starts with a girlish shriek at the scratch on her back. Her breathing tense and quick, she settles into her stance and begins consciously calming her breathing.
"Okay...you can do this, Valais! You shan't let these mean xill ladies hurt your friends."
With a deep breath, she suddenly launches into another flurry of punches.
Free action to maintain archaeologist's luck. Start the full attack on Red Xill. If it drops, switch to Blue Xill.
Valais' first punch cracks into the already damaged red xill with enough force to remove it from the fight! Her remaining blows explode in a fury of concussive power to defeat the last xill.
You take stock of yourself and your injuries, breathing hard, tensing against further possible xill action. Without the xill consciously guiding the xenophage creeper, its tendrils eventually relax, enabling Darro to free himself. Kleetus, however, remains frozen in place in a rictus paralysis.... probably it will wear off... eventually... you hope...
With the threat of the xill defeated, you're at leisure to look around the chamber further. The alcoves on the walls are about half-full, and crammed with various otherworldly creatures. Those of you with some knowledge of extraplanar creatures identify the caged forms of phase spiders, ethereal marauders, dream spectres.... creatures from nightmares. There's even a devourer-- locked in a frozen stasis behind what appears to be a small, active wall of force, such as each of the alcoves boast.
Further inspection reveals these are not the only prisoners aboard this strange ship-- in the swollen, distended, and quasi-transparent bulk of the xenophage creeper's main bole, you realize you can actually see figures-- humanoid figures, motionless beneath the phasing plant matter of the xenophage creeper. It might be possible to cut them free, now that the creeper is quiescent again.
The creeper's tendrils seem to permeate every possible nook and cranny of the lower hold, and vanish into the walls in dozens, if not hundreds, of places.
The dead xill leader has some rather nice looking armor which turns out to be magical, as well as nicely made swords, which are not.
Kris looks on as Valais destroys the two XIll with a whistle of awe, a flick of his wrist sets another charge of Infernal healing going, sealing his wounds.
"Well I'll be lil lady, remind me never to piss you off"
The pirate begins to wander the chamber looking at the strange creatures kept behind various fields and tendrils prisons, spotting the humanoid creatures he waves over to the others.
"I'm gonna cut these people free if no-one has a grand objection? To be honest, even if ya do, I probably won't listen"
Assuming they don't look like more Xill or horrid creatures of Nightmare, Kris uses his enhanced cutlass to cut through the vines holding the people captive.
