Don't forget, the leucrotta and the Baron are up in the tree.
Caith tries to climb up and knock the creature down but is unsuccessful. Colt then puts a bullet into its side as Braugher claws into it! Kylar's magic missile then drops the leucrotta from the tree!
Out of combat!
You now have a chance to rest before you set off toward the Urapangi Lowlands towards the lost temple. You can rendezvous with Count Matsanda and the rest of the hunting party if you wish.
" Good job fending off that fell creature Baron, well done. And thanks for letting us in on da action..made my blood rush and got it pumping proper through me body."
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
Rhoswen takes a look around for her arrow that flew wild.
1 Recovers 2 Loses it:1d2 ⇒ 1
She easily finds it stuck into the trunk of a nearby tree.
"Yes, good show Baron!" Rhoswen calls out enthusiastically. "What do you say, shall we meet up with the Count and the rest of the hunting party now? Or shall we rest up ourselves a bit and meet them at the temple?"
Does anyone have the means to heal the Baron?..he took a fair bit of damage ..would be a shame if he would keel over from getting an insect bite or something in the next encounter
The Baron agrees that rest is in order and leaves it up to you whether to fetch the Count or not. "He missed the fair share of the action! Yes, that was quite exciting, made me feel young again! Tomorrow I'll show you the way to the temple and you can begin your explorations."
You can decide whether or not to bring the Count along. I don't think it will ultimately affect much since the Baron will just be escorting you to the temple at this point.
---
The next morning you wake early and well rested, with some of the porters already preparing a hearty camp breakfast.
A large freshwater swamp dominates the Lowlands, making travel through the region difficult. You would have to make Survival checks to get lost but you have enough favor with the Baron that he is leading you so you encounter no troubles on the way there.
The site is almost completely overgrown by vegetation, and only bits and pieces of its brown sandstone exterior are visible from the outside. The weight of the massive roof and the passage of centuries have caused the ceiling to collapse near the building’s center. The jungle around the temple is exceptionally thick and requires a full-round action just to move 5 feet.
New map is up. Anything you need to do before heading in or are we ready to explore the temple?
Male Nagaji (6.0A) Sorc 4/ Ninja 3 | HP 47/47; AC 19;TCH 14; FF 15; F +6; R +10; W+5; CMB +3; CMD 17; INIT +10;
Consumables:
Spells: 1st 8/8 2nd 0/4 ; Acidic Ray 3/8; Ki 0/8 | Wands: CLW 42/50; MM 43/50; Mage Armor 45/50; Shield 48/50; Less Rest 50/50 | Rods: Less Pierce 3/3
Kylar does not care too much about getting the count along for the ride now that the 'Tiger' is dead. He grabs his wand as he increases he defensive spels about himself
Kylar will apply Mage Armor from his wand before they go into the temple
Columns line the walls of this small room, each decorated with a high-relief carving of a monkey in a different pose. Some of the monkey sculptures sit serenely in mediation or reach out with their hands as if to deliver blessings to the viewer, while others adopt more naturalistic poses. The floor is littered with decaying plant matter and mud, and the stench of rotting muck pervades the area. An open archway leads south out into the jungle, while a second leads north deeper into the temple.
As you enter this magnificent chamber, you encounter a rival group of looters heading toward the door! The seem to be fleeing from something within but as you block their way, the leading woman puts on a brace face and shouts, "Get out of our way! This temple is not yours! We got here first!"
DC 15 Sense Motive:
She is quite afraid. Delaying them too long will probably set them off but they could be talked down if you are quick.
Hold it, crypt robbers. We can't let you leave with valuable artifacts. They belong in a museum!... or in a warehouse in Absalom is more likely where anything we find will be stored... Braugher stands in front of the exit, not letting them pass.
AC21/T14/F18/CMD23||HP77[67]|F:+8 R:+12(+2 vs traps) W:+6(+2 vs illusion)|Init.+3|Percept. +15(+18 trapspotter) Human Professional Detective 8
Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Peering over the woman's shoulder to see what might be coming, Niko holds his hands up. "Whoa..whoa...whoa! What's coming? Can we help you? Can we take on whatever is coming if we combine forces?"
"There's. . . these piked fiend things, dancing with two blades. . . let's get out of here! A terrible evil lurks at the heart of the temple and I don't want to have anything to do with it." The woman and her two fellow looters start moving towards the entrance, trying to push past you and get out of the temple.
Beyond them, you can see that the room continues:
A mosaic of a monkey-faced figure decorates the floor of this room, though the tiles that would form its eyes are missing. The north end of the room is filled with rubble blocking an arched passageway. To the west, vines and foliage intrude into the temple through an open-air balcony, while a similar balcony to the east remains relatively clear of plant life. An open archway leads south.
Male Kitsune Gunslinger (Mysterious Stranger) 1; HP 12/12; AC 15 (T 13, FF 12); Init +3; Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +0; Per +4; Grit 3/3
Cowards! Make way for those who have the intestinal fortitude to face the monkey god and his minions. Tuck your tails and run! And make sure you never darken our sight with your presence ever again.
Colt will follow close on the heels of his companions as they move further into the temple, pistol in hand.
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
Rhoswen gives the fleeing party the raspberries, "Go on, ya pansies!" She turns and peers into the temple. She draws her sword and steps forward carefully.
@Niko: you're taking a penalty because their description is vague so you don't know what it could be yet.
To the north, a narrow path extends between the exterior wall of the temple and the thick web of vines and tree branches that cover the temple’s walls. At either end of the path, small open-air balconies lead back into the temple. You find a sack of spoils dropped by the looters in their haste to flee. This sack contains a dozen gold rings worth 10 gp each, which were pried from the fingers of the monkey carvings, and an item the scenario claims is in Ultimate Equipment but which I can't find a reference to anywhere: "naga scale bindi (guardian naga)". Is that a typo? What is 'bindi'?. If you can find out what it is, you can have it. Otherwise I'm not sure what that's supposed to be.
A large statue of a monkey-faced man sits on a pedestal straight ahead in this small shrine. The statue’s arms and legs are missing, and deep scratches have been gouged into its face. Pieces of broken stone, rotting plant matter, and other assorted rubbish lie in heaps on the floor of this room. The smell of rot is particularly strong here.
The statue of Ragdya is wearing a monkey belt. Additionally, a small cabinet in the pedestal below the statue holds a richly illuminated copy of the Vigrahin Patitraka (a Vudran holy text) worth 50 gp and a handwritten journal belonging to a priest who accompanied Khiben-Sald on his travels around the Inner Sea. The cabinet also holds copies of the Azvadeva Pujila and Mizravrtta Brahmodya worth 50 gp each.
But more importantly, there is some space behind the statue where the fiendish creature must lie!
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
A bindi is a forehead decoration - usually in the form of a jewel. Popular in South Asia. It's usually a jewel, or small arrangement of jewels that is affixed to the forhead, between the eyes.
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
Rhoswen rummages through the sack of spoils and notes the bindi. "Oh, how pretty." Without waiting for anyone to say anything, she affixes it to her head.
"What do you think?" She asks Caith with a smile.
She then remembers where they are and takes her sword back into her hands.
" uhrm..is it supposed to be making the skin around it look scaly and make your eyes look reptilian? ..Also your neck seems to be getting longer...Are you all right?"
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
"Oh... uh..." Rhoswen looks at her arms and notices the scaling that is occuring. "What is happening?"
Suddenly, her mouth fills with the sour, acrid taste of poison. She turns her head away from her companions and spits, noting that she seems able to spit much more forcefully than before.
Male Kitsune Gunslinger (Mysterious Stranger) 1; HP 12/12; AC 15 (T 13, FF 12); Init +3; Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +0; Per +4; Grit 3/3
Very becoming. You spit almost as well as some gentlemen I knew back in Vudra. Of course, they were spitting juice from a potent herbal stimulant, not poison. Still, could come in handy.
Hey, the monkey god is wearing a belt. Which is odd since he's not wearing any pants. Anybody else want to wear the belt of a monkey god?
Colt will take the belt if no one objects.
Now, how about we go find these fiends the cowards were talking about?
Male Nagaji (6.0A) Sorc 4/ Ninja 3 | HP 47/47; AC 19;TCH 14; FF 15; F +6; R +10; W+5; CMB +3; CMD 17; INIT +10;
Consumables:
Spells: 1st 8/8 2nd 0/4 ; Acidic Ray 3/8; Ki 0/8 | Wands: CLW 42/50; MM 43/50; Mage Armor 45/50; Shield 48/50; Less Rest 50/50 | Rods: Less Pierce 3/3
Kylar looks over Rhoswen as her skin changes. The jewel seems to have improved your looks human. Kylar smiles at her in jest with rows of razor sharp teeth himself.
Ah! I tried Archives but didn't have the - in there, that must've been why I couldn't find it.
Also, thanks for the info about bindis. I didn't know that's what they were called and didn't have time to look it up earlier.
The party moves around the statue that makes up the center of the shrine to the room beyond:
A 20-foot-tall, high-relief sculpture of a mountain dominates the north end of this large chamber. A statue of a figure now missing its head sits in the lotus position at the mountain’s peak, while smaller statues of monkey-faced pilgrims rest on ledges farther down the mountain. Shattered pieces of yet more monkey statues litter the floor.
The southern half of the room is filled with rubble, obstructing an arched passageway to the south. In the center of the room, a small enclosed shrine made of dark brown stone faces south toward the rubble. A hallway to the west leads to a balcony overrun by foliage, while a hallway to the east leads to an open balcony.
1. Rhoswen
2. THE BEAST
3. Kylar, Niko, Caith, and Colt
4. Surprise!
5. Braugher
Rhoswen is up!
DC 17 KN (planes):
Known also as the twinned ones, adhukaits are warrior asuras, specialized at quick raids designed for theft, assassination, or kidnapping. An adhukait is adept at infiltration and escape. In killing, the fiend is brutally efficient unless it wishes to prolong pain to demoralize or enrage its enemies.
Although an adhukait appears to be two connected creatures, it is one entity with two minds. The creature's personality and purpose is as unified as its bizarre form.
Adhukaits are outsiders (asura, evil, extraplanar, lawful) with DR/good. They are immune to curses, disease, flanking, and poison and resist acid and electricity. They also have spell resistance.
DC 23 KN (planes):
Legend holds that the first adhukaits emerged from the shattered remains of two godlike brigands. These burglars, their names long since lost to history, attempted to raid a celestial hall. The resident deity and his or her servants slew the thieves, crushed their bodies together into one, and hurled their remains to the earth. As their crumbling, entwined bodies struck the world, they caused terrible earthquakes and tsunamis that slew thousands of innocents-including many worshipers of the headstrong deity who accidentally caused the devastation. The first adhukaits grew from the shattered, mingled remains of these brigands, rising from the blasted crater to serve the asuras as elite soldiers.
They have several spell-like abilities and their dual mind allows them two saving throws against mind-affecting effects. They can also preform a dance of disaster, which allows them to move around after each successful hit during full-attacks.
AC21/T14/F18/CMD23||HP77[67]|F:+8 R:+12(+2 vs traps) W:+6(+2 vs illusion)|Init.+3|Percept. +15(+18 trapspotter) Human Professional Detective 8
KN: planes:1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 8 + (4) = 25
"Adhukaits! The twinned ones! Only good aligned weapons will due full damage, and they are resistant to electricity and acid." Niko says, as he continues to lecture his companions about the asuras.... Read spoilers for more info.
I forgot to mention in the spoilers above that in addition to having DR/good it has regeneration unless damaged by good weapons or good spells.
Rhoswen reacts quickly and rushes forward, digging her blade into the twinned creature! The asura steps away from Rhoswen and casts a spell! Suddenly 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 images of the asura pop up around it!
Initiative:
1. Rhoswen
2. THE BEAST
3. Kylar, Niko, Caith, and Colt
4. Surprise!
5. Braugher
The tiefling hears how only good weapons can overcome this monster. This is not good. We should be prepared to retreat and regroup as this will likely head south.
Seeing the multiple images Caith decides to use his head (for something other then bashing) and tosses an throwing axe at the creature(s) - hoping to either pierce an image..or to hit the actual enemy
To hit AC creature(s):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 Damage if hit:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Caith's axe pops another image and Niko's fire breath only singes the strange creature.
There is a strange calm in the surrounding jungle for a second before the temple suddenly reverberates with the wrathful screeches of monkeys that seem to originate from nowhere in particular! This portent seems to have shaken the asura!
Off to the side, a blur of black and blue aerials through the air. As he lands, the dragon monk pivots on his back foot, tracing a semi-circle on the floor with his front foot as he focuses a ball of ice in front of him. As soon as it is formed, the tiefling does a spinning crescent kick, catching the magical snow with his heel and sending it rocketing at the second face of the demon.
Snowball - RTA:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Damage:3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6) = 9DC 15 Fortitude Save or Staggered for One Round.
Female Elf Fighter 5 HP: 49/49 | AC 22 | T 15 | FF 18 | Fort +6 | Ref +6 | Will +4 | CMD 20 | Init +6 | Perc +2 | Sense Mot +0
Rhoswen blinks her eyes, trying to parse out which one is the real deal. ["Eenie, meanie, miney....moe!" she cries out as she chooses a target and tries to hit the true creature.
