"We have given you more than enough by not tearing this place apart." the syrinx says. "We betrayed the Aspis in our effort to make it home. One book is not much to ask. You may make note of it and tell your superiors, I am sure they will not mind."
The syrinx make to leave with their book, taking their pet bird with them.
Where do you want to go now? Stay in the same area or run somewhere else?
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
"There are probably others in here--let's stay and search the domes."Assuming that we hadn't gotten there yet.
Ander nods in agreement. "Yes, let us stay and investigate here for a bit longer. I'd rather clear this area and be able to pronounce it safe. Once clear, we could get someone to guard the entrance."
Starhall seems to have been cleared out but there are noises coming from the next building over, the mausoleum. This enormous, columned stone structure is both temple and fortress. Two wings flank an open courtyard. The imposing structure is adjacent to a thick copse of trees.
In the courtyard you can see the bodies of two caretakers slumped to the sides of the western doors.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Are those windows along the west side of the courtyard?
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Kilian nods, guisarme ready. "By the way, I'm pretty good at knocking people over, so be ready to hit them when they're down."
You cautiously walk past the dissection room and the ossuary where skeletons are cleaned and stored for study. There are a few signs of broken entry and violence such as a knocked over tray of tools, a few bones lying on the floor, and a cut-mark in a piece of fabric, but you find no sign of the intruders.
You go through the next door to the cold-room lined with stone cubicles colloquially known as "The Slab". A bit of light shines down from three small sky lights to reveal that the intruders have been waiting in here for you: two Aspis dwarves with long dark beards flank the doorway with waraxes and a gaunt-faced man in a black robe stands at the back of the room.
Male Halfling Rogue (Burglar) [10.0]: HP 62/63 | AC 30 (33 vs traps) | T 21 | FF 23 | F +7 | R +16 (+18 vs traps) | W +7 (+9 vs. fear) | CMB +7 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +16 | SM +5 | Stealth +23 | DD +26 | EA +19 | Acro +21 | Perform (Sing/Dance/Act) +4 | Climb +12 | Swim +9
I see no enemies on the map.
Quiven will wait for the others to move into the room and engage the enemy, hoping he'll be able to surprise one of the Aspis a few moments later.
I don't think I can reach any of them and even if I could I don't really want to be the tank. Assuming I'm out of sight I'll try to "come out of stealth" and hopefully fire an arrow at the robed fella after the others clear the way a little.
Human Ulfen | HP 89/89 | AC 20/23 [F 17 T 17 | F+10 R+7 W+9 | Init +8 | Perc +10 | Sense Motive +3
Quiven, giving up the initiative is throwing away actions. Do something - they are flat-footed now so fire your bow or throw a dagger. Or drink a potion, or whatever.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
And Kilian has a reach weapon and Combat Reflexes; given the ease of approach to the party, this might become important shortly.
Sorry, had to run to class and forgot to add their tokens! Quiven can retcon something but he doesn't have line-of-sight so he can't attack without putting himself in danger, which is why I think he didn't want to do anything.
The dwarves pull out matching potions and gulp them down.
Dammit, they say that the priest guy lets the others handle the fighting but they give him nothing but touch spells....
The dark-robed man calls out a divine incantation and moves up near the dwarves, guarding the doorway.
Initiative:
1. Quiven
2. Aspis
3. Kilian, Ander, Aod, and Cornelius
Ander casts a spell and vanishes. Now invisible, Ander darts into the room, past the dwarves, and circles behind the priest, drawing his curve blade along the way.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Kilian takes a short leap forward as the door opens. The Andoren expertly channels the momentum from his advance into a pair of attacks on the priest. "You shouldn't have come here, you know."
Chop the cleric, PA, incl. leaping attack:1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 = 29 Chop the cleric iteratively, PA, incl. leaping attack:1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22
Human Ulfen | HP 89/89 | AC 20/23 [F 17 T 17 | F+10 R+7 W+9 | Init +8 | Perc +10 | Sense Motive +3
Aod grips his sword, channeling arcane power to it. He then pulls a wand from his belt and activates it. Leaving a multi-hued cascade of images in his wake, he dashes forward to the priest and slashes with his sword. He then spins to his right, stepping past a dwarf to take a stance at the priest's side.
Swift action to use arcane point to add +1 to weapon, Move action to get wand, standard to use wand of bladed dash (30' instant movement that avoids AoOs and enables 1 attack), then 5' step. +2 Bastard Sword Bladed Dash + Flanking:1d20 + 12 + 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 3 - 2 + 2 = 23 Damage:1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Unable to edit map right now. Position should be to the right of the priest.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Ander turns invisible and makes his way past the dwarves! Kilian reaches forward and cuts into the death priest! Aod rushes in and likewise hits the priest! Cornelius prepares from behind.
Initiative:
1. Quiven
2. Aspis
3. Kilian, Ander, Aod, and Cornelius
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
EF, my first two rolls were to hit, and my third and fourth rolls were for damage.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
If the first attack takes down the priest, Ander will step south and use the iterative against the red dwarf. If he goes down after both, Ander will then step south.
Aod takes some punishment from the priest and his henchman. Spitting blood, he bellows in laughter.
"They've got fight in 'em!"
Working his sword and wand in a complex series of movements he slashes three times at the dwarf, his wand activating upon the last strike and sending him dashing away to the far side of the room.
Spell combat with wand wielder. I'm guessing Ander and Kilian will take down the priest - if so, direct towards the dwarf. +2 bastard sword -PA:1d20 + 13 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 13 - 2 - 2 = 18 Damage:1d10 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Iterative:1d20 + 8 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 - 2 = 16 Damage:1d10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Bladed Dash:1d20 + 13 + 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 13 + 3 - 2 - 2 = 25 Damage:1d10 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
HP 14/72
Unable to edit map at the moment. Moving 4 squares up.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Grimacing in pain, Kilian drops back and tries to break the dwarf's axe before chopping at him again.
And seemingly comes out of nowhere to finish off the dark priest! Aod struggles to land a blow on the heavily-armored dwarf but he does sneak one hit in. Quiven's arrow misses wildly but Kilian hits the second dwarf twice.
Initiative:
1. Quiven
2. Aspis
3. Kilian, Ander, Aod, and Cornelius
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Kilian's first attack was a sunder attempt on the dwarf's axe. Now that Kilian has an adamantine weapon, it seemed like the thing to do.
Cornelius dives to the floor of the entrance to not hinder his ally's strikes I'm small AND prone, so hopefully that wouldn't mess with Kilian's melee or Quiven's arrows, right? :P. He then calls upon Sarenrae's warmth to cover the party.
"Oh holy sun, repair the bodies of the just!"
Selective Channel, ignoring the priest and the two enemy dwarfs
Channel Energy (heal):4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 6) = 16Heals for the entire party!
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
The Andoren looks much less peaked after the healing warmth fills his body. "Thanks, Cornelius!"
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
For Cornelius' sake I hate to say this, but the dwarf would have to advance over him to get within reach of Kilian, or attack him instead. If the dwarf advanced over Cornelius to attack, Kilian will step back before his attack; in that case, add +1 to hit and to damage for leaping attack. ETA: If he didn't advance, add +2 to Kilian's rolls to hit, since he'd be flanking with Ander.
"You shouldn't have come here." Kilian chops twice again at the dwarf.
Guisarme PA to dwarf:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 Guisarme PA to dwarf, iterative:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
PA damage:2d4 + 15 ⇒ (3, 4) + 15 = 22 Iterative PA damage, if applicable:2d4 + 15 ⇒ (1, 4) + 15 = 20
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Oh, sorry Aod. I did miss that. With the full-attack I assumed you didn't move but I understand now, with bladed dash you got away. Redirect those hits at Ander then.
Also, I must have really been spacing out. Yes, the dwarf would have attacked Cornelius to try to get through to Kilian.
Kilian continues to work against the dwarf, hitting him twice, as Quiven dodges past the action and into the room.
Initiative:
1. Quiven
2. Aspis
3. Kilian, Ander, Aod, and Cornelius
Ander takes down the red-clad Aspis dwarf! Aod then springs back into the action to hit the other dwarf!
I'll call it there to keep things moving.
The last Aspis agent puts up a valiant fight but is no match to the Pathfinders' capabilities and you quickly bring him down. The villains seem to have been after the books in the mausoleum library, as their packs are stuffed with several tomes each.
DC 23 KN (arcana or religion):
Their interest was related to the capture of a soul after death and its subsequent control.
gear (x2):
oil of magic weapon (2), potion of aid, potion of bull’s strength, potions of cure moderate wounds (2); +1 full plate, masterwork cold iron dwarven waraxe, masterwork light crossbow with 20 bolts, masterwork throwing axe, cloak of resistance +1, 46 gp
gear of priest:
+1 chainmail, dagger, light crossbow with 20 bolts, cloak of resistance +1, headband of inspired wisdom +2, pearl of power (1st), ring of protection +1, bone unholy symbol, unholy water, onyx gems (worth 500 gp), silver dust for desecrate (worth 25 gp), 162 gp
The rest of the mausoleum seems clear other than the unconscious caretakers you spotted in the courtyard on the way in.
Male Human Fighter/7 (mobile fighter archetype) HP 64/64 AC21/T 14/FF 19 CMD 22/24 vs. trip & sunder Fort +8/Ref +5/ Will +6 Init +2 Perc +1|Sense Motive +1
Kilian leans on his guisarme, panting. "That first shot almost did me in--good thing I invested in some protective magic before this. I've got a curing wand, and I'd be much obliged if one of you who can use such things would." He'll take one of CMW potions for later use, if no one objects.
Human Ulfen | HP 89/89 | AC 20/23 [F 17 T 17 | F+10 R+7 W+9 | Init +8 | Perc +10 | Sense Motive +3
"I'll patch you up." Aod says to Kilian as he takes the wand and employs the healing spell within. "I always heard the Consortium were pushovers. These ones though, they weren't foolin around. I think it was dumb luck that priest's spell didn't send me to Pharasma." Once he's done he takes out his own wand and tends to himself.
After healing and claiming a couple potions from the dwarves, Aod looks through the books. claiming bulls strength and one cure moderate wounds potion.
Knowledge Arcana:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
"These appear to focus on the capture and control of a soul after death. The Aspis are some evil bastards. I think we should keep these safe for now." He stows them away in his pack.
***
Once everyone is healed and ready to move on, Aod leads the way to the next area of the building. "I got a scroll of disguise. I'm gonna take on the appearance of one of those syrinx and scout the area."
Human Ulfen | HP 89/89 | AC 20/23 [F 17 T 17 | F+10 R+7 W+9 | Init +8 | Perc +10 | Sense Motive +3
After a glance at the map it seems we've cleared this place. If that's the case, I'll skip the disguise spell here of course and use it when we head to the next.
