Maaarv quickly removes the missing piece of the acrimony veil and less than a second later the alchemist and the dhampir are instantly teleported from their current locations near the statue back to the room with the corpses on the floor. Maaarv still has the piece in hand though.
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In a mock Christopher Walken voice from SNL in response to his first teleport.
Wow oh wow wee wow wow wow.
Everyone but Ackuda notices a secret door on the left hand side of the hallway.
Everyone but Vasilios notices a secret door straight ahead at the end of the hallway.
Maaarv and Yanos work at getting to ready to head through the secret door. After everyone is ready, the party makes their way through the door.
This long and narrow chamber contains niches in the walls that hold a number of statues, some of which are humanoid and some of which are clearly demonic. Murals cover the walls depicting human cultists being abused and reshaped by demonic figures. The ceiling of this black stone chamber is barrel-vaulted fifteen feet above.
There are three prone and brutalized human captives on the other end of the room; one of them is most certainly dead and the other two seem in dire need of medical care. Four creatures stand about the victims, cruelly torturing and playing with them. They seem to be engrossed in their foul activity and have not noticed the party yet.
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Vasilios would rather cast glitterdust and rush them next round. Hopefully blind them and at a minimum not let them hide. DC-15 will not to be blinded
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (ground mica)
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area creatures and objects within 10-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 round/level
Save Will negates (blinding only); SR no
A cloud of golden particles covers everyone and everything in the area, causing creatures to become blinded and visibly outlining invisible things for the duration of the spell. All within the area are covered by the dust, which cannot be removed and continues to sparkle until it fades. Each round at the end of their turn blinded creatures may attempt new saving throws to end the blindness effect.
Any creature covered by the dust takes a –40 penalty on Stealth checks.
Knowledge check on these torturers, please add the modifier.
Or bardic knowledge +2
Knowledge Arcana +8
Knowledge Dungeoneering +8
Knowledge Engineering +8
Knowledge Local +8
Knowledge Nobility +6
Knowledge Religion +8
Barlor decides to hold back near the door but as Maaarv moves forward he stubs his toe and lets out a curse that turns the creature's heads.
Vasilios recognizes these as Wrathful Sinspawn. They are immune to mind-affecting and have spell-resistance. They also have a sinful bite that sicken and then stagger the target. As wrathful sinspawn, they can detect rage and similar effects as if they were using scent.
Vasilios coats them in glitter and blinds one of the creatures
They don't seem to be paying Yanos any heed.
Sinspawn 1: 13 dmg, blinded 6 rounds
Sinspawn 2: 13 dmg, blinded 3 rounds
Sinspawn 3: 13 dmg, dazzled 2 rounds
Sinspawn 4: 13 dmg, blinded 4 rounds
The two men lay bleeding on the ground, their dead companion slumped unceremoniously behind them.
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Maaarv gives Yanos a pat on the shoulder. "Excellently done, friend." He turns his attention to the men on the floor. He first examines the two that seem to be in a less dire way.
He kneels by the bodies, checking for a pulse and looking for their significant wounds.
"I just hope it's not too late for these men."
Each of the statues has two black pearls worth 150 gp each embedded in it that can easily be pried out. The northernmost statue resembles Alaznist, who is depicted holding her signature ranseur; in her other hand rests the left cheek guard of the acrimony veil.
The party rushes to aid the brutalized men and finds that they are still conscious, but just barely. They introduce themselves as Pel Morigo and Saala Bry. "We were part of the crew," they explain. "It was those creatures that attacked us. They tortured poor Riemme to death." They motion over to the corpse of the third man. An elaborate rose tattoo covers his shaved pate. He wears a torn and bloody tunic, and the leather armor lying next to his corpse is damaged beyond repair.
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"Hum, I was under the impression that we where the first to be down here since it was opened up. How long have you been down here?"
I'll also try a Heal check to Aid Maaarv. and offer a charge of CLW from my wand to each of them.
"Don't worry, friends, we will get you out of here. But can you tell us anything about this place? Have you seen any other creatures down here?"
Pel looks to Saala. "I don't know, how long ago was the attack?"
"I sorta lost track of time." Saala responds. "We were archaeologists on the dig. Those. . . things just burst out and attacked, killed a bunch of the others and dragged us down here. I certainly don't remember much about the experience, I was too much in shock." Pel nods in agreement.
"Thank you so much though," Pel interjects. "We'll never be able to repay you."
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Maaarv looks at the injured men. "Did you say this one here is Riemme? Halla has sent us down here to seek after you. She'll be glad to know that you too are safe."
He also taps each of them once with his wand of cure light wounds.
"It is not too far back out to the entry. We disposed of a couple of harpies, but the way ought to be clear." The alchemist scratches his head in thought. "Or, you two could wait here. I think we should explore this temple further."
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"Might ought to bring them out. Figure I'd be real eager to be gettin' above ground after something like this."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The party helps the survivors back up to the main level and outside, after which they can find their way back to camp.
Yanos heads for the other secret door. It reveals a small hallway that likely acts as a shortcut to some unknown location.
As the party passes through the hallway, you eventually emerge into a large chamber.
The stench of death is strong in this ornate shrine. Another mosaic like that found in the grand temple above lies on the floor immediately west of the entryway. Two rows of slender columns carved with dizzying designs support the ceiling twenty feet overhead and every inch of the chamber’s walls is covered with intricate sigils and pictograms. A fat pillar stands in the center of the chamber. Six corpses lie on the floor near the base of this central pillar. An altar of red marble stands near the western wall, and it has iron manacles attached to its surface. The air is charged with palpable malevolence.
Standing at the head of the room near what appears to be the altar are three undead creatures, one of them seemingly the priest residing over the dark ceremonies of the room.
Yanos causes Barlor to bloat up and grow to twice the size! Barlor casts a spell and orders his hog into battle. Ing gores one of the ghouls!
Tholrist chants arcane words under his breath and points at Yanos!
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Vasilios casts grease under the evil cleric. Reflex DC 14, drawn on the map.
Into the fold again dear friends! Today we stare evil in its ugly face and we will not blink or wince. In this staring contest we will not go blind! We shall not even blink! We shall put out and extinguish the eyes of evil in this very place!...
Grease
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 1, magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (butter)
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
Maaarv's bomb hits the ghoul cleric in the chest, although its supplemental effects don't seem to have an effect. Vasilios trips up the cleric and Ackuda glares at the ghoul.