Deaglan recalls some tales about certain undead creatures that need to soak themselves in vinegar after gorging themselves on blood. He recalls that they are known as penanggalen, although he doesn't know much more about them.
"A ha ha!" a familiar voice calls from the balcony above. You look up to see Lord Ryuu, clearly still quite mad, standing ready to cast something at you. "I have been expecting you!" Two animated yetis lacking their heads move about the balcony towards the stairs to block your way up as two swarms of tiny human heads fly down from above!
Sihir recognizes that Lord Ryuu is about to summon black tentacles and tries to disrupt his casting:
concentration DC 31:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Ryuu keeps his concentration as Sihir's missiles plunge into his chest!
They effectively cover the whole floor that you guys are on, but not the stairs. CMB grapple on everyone:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 damage if you are grappled:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Grappled opponents cannot move without first breaking the grapple. All other movement is prohibited unless the creature breaks the grapple first. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the tentacles last.
---
At Ryuu's bidding, the tiny heads then fly down to Nixkamich and Deaglan!
swarm damage on Nixkamich:1d6 ⇒ 5 DC 11 Fort save against distraction (move action only)
swarm damage on Deaglan:1d6 ⇒ 3 DC 11 Fort save against distraction (move action only)
The beheaded yeti then fly down the stairs to block your way up!
Initiative:
1. Sihir
2. Lord Ryuu and undead
3. Hagrym, Deaglan, Nixkamich, Lore, and Insidion
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 *
Insidion, it is a CMD 24 grapple check (10 + CMB of 14), the 35 was the concentration check.
Fortitude Save:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Deaglan takes a potion from his bandolier and drinks it, he immediately starts growing to twice his size. He keeps his longhammer ready in one hand while the other hand is empty.
GM, being enlarged: would I be able to threaten the wizard on the balcony if I was not grappled?
@Deaglan: sure, being twice the height and with 10' reach that sounds reasonable.
CMD to break free of the tentacles is 24. And that is a static number, it's not going to change. "The CMD of black tentacles, for the purposes of escaping the grapple, is equal to 10 + its CMB." Nat 20s still work though.
@Lore: you can still draw a scroll and read it I think, but as per regular grappling you just need a concentration check to cast. "A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell."
---
Deaglan drinks a potion while everyone else struggles against the tentacles!
Initiative:
1. Sihir
2. Lord Ryuu and undead
3. Hagrym, Deaglan, Nixkamich, Lore, and Insidion
Tiefling Barbarian 1 / Sorcerer 4 / Dragon Disciple 4 | HP 87/87 | AC 20 [24 shield]; Tch 12 ; FF 18 | F +10; R +6; W +7 | CMB+14; CMD 25 | Speed 40 ft | Init +6 | Bite: +14 (1d6+13/19-20) | Perc +11
Sorry, I misread the rules to escape the grapple. Since I thought I couldn't achieve it, I didn't roll last turn. So if this could be my roll for last round, I'd like to use this to escape last turn, plus move out of the tentacles. For this turn, I'd like to double move toward Ryuu. I understand I will invite an AoO from the headless yeti. I have 40' movement...I'll go ahead and move for last turn and this turn, but let me know if you have any problems with this and I'll rework my turn. It looks like between last turn and this turn, I have 120' movement and can make it to Ryuu, but will have an AoO against me.
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 spent her action this round trying to break the grapple so she couldn't cast this round.
Also, sorry for the delay! Holiday weekend meant I was very busy and yesterday was spent traveling. Mondays I teach and spend most of the day before that preparing so I'm usually a bit slower. Should be back to normal now!
Sihir casts a spell and rids the room of the black tentacles! At least I think you rolled high enough if I'm understanding it correctly. I'll err in your favor just in case.
---
The two flying beheaded yetis beeline towards Deaglan! Provoking along the way.
slam:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 damage:1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 DC 12 Fort save or staggered for 1 round by the numbing cold of its touch!
slam:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 damage:1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 DC 12 Fort save or staggered for 1 round by the numbing cold of its touch!
If you destroy one with the AoO (a real possibility), you can ignore that attack.
---
The two swarms of tiny heads continue to flap around Nixkamich and Hagrym!
swarm damage to Nix:1d6 ⇒ 3 DC 11 Fort save against distraction (move action only on your turn)
swarm damage to Hagrym:1d6 ⇒ 4 DC 11 Fort save against distraction (move action only on your turn)
Lord Mata Ryuu backs away from Insidion and casts another spell which causes the bricks of the floor to expand upward, creating a wall of stone which blocks him off from the tiefling.
Initiative:
1. Sihir
2. Lord Ryuu and undead
3. Hagrym, Deaglan, Nixkamich, Lore, and Insidion
|AC 17, T 17, FF 14|HP: 50/50|F +3, R +6, W +5 (+2 vs shadow/death)|Init +3, Perc 0|CMB +3 CMD 16|11/11 Blinding Rays, 8/8 Invisibility Field, 10/10 Veil, 1/1 Arcane Bond, 1/1 Jewel
"I don't suppose you were expecting that?" Sihir calls up at the (other) unhinged wizard, a bit too late. He keeps his eye on him, waiting for his next trick....
readied magic missile to disrupt Lord Ryuu's next spell:4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 4) + 4 = 15
Deaglan ignores the flying yeti's and waits for the caster to make a mistake. Stepping back to cast a spell is just the mistake the dwarf needs, the wizard steps right into the reach of his enlarged longhammer. While the wizard is casting his spell Deaglan's hammer comes his way, followed by another strike in quick succession.
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 *
@Nix: They are indeed tiny but you are correct about bludgeoning weapons.
Nixkamich shoots an arrow through the first swarm of heads and sends them flopping to the ground. His second arrow likewise causes the next ground to fall from the air. His third arrow then hits one of the yeti heads in the eye.
Deaglan tries to his Lord Ryuu while the aged elf is casting but Ryuu sidesteps it. Unfortunately for him he is then hit by Deaglan's backswing, which chips away some of the elf's magically stony skin!
Ref:2d20 ⇒ (16, 1) = 17
Lore then steps up and unleashes a blast of fire which burns up one of the yeti heads and leaves the second singed and smoking. Insidion starts huffing around the balcony while Sihir prepares a spell.
---
The yeti head flies over to Lore and tries to get back at her!
slam:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 damage:1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 DC 12 Fort save or staggered for 1 round by the numbing cold of its touch!
Lord Ryuu continues to back away from Deaglan and casts another spell, now safely far away from the dwarf. As he starts casting, however, Sihir hits him with a set of missiles which disrupt his hand movements!
DC 30 Concentration:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Initiative:
1. Sihir
2. Lord Ryuu and undead
3. Hagrym, Deaglan, Nixkamich, Lore, and Insidion
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 *
@Deaglan: thanks! I had forgotten you were using adamantine.
Deaglan's dwarven smash sends Lord Ryuu crumpling to the ground unconscious (only at -4 now if you want to do anything with him). The last flying yeti head is easily taken care of by the rest of the party.
Out of combat!
Lord Ryuu's stuff:
lesser talisman of freedomOA, potion of barkskin
(CL 6th), scroll of break enchantment; Other Gear dagger, boots of the winterlands, cloak of resistance +1, headband of vast intelligence +2 (Fly), iron unholy symbol of Fumeiyoshi, spell component pouch, spellbook
No problem GM, can't expect that you know everything (still trying to get my players to understand that...)
Deaglan climbs up the stairs and casts stabilize on the wizard
"I don't think he is the mastermind here, I would expect an undead penanggalen to be behind it and he is just a mortal elf. I don't know if he is helping it out of his own free will or that he is also bound. Shareen, do you have any idea?"
The dwarf whips out a wand and heals himself "Anyone else wants some healing?"
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 *
*Before* the wizard regains consciousness, Nixkamich strips him of any obviously masterwork, magical, or jewelry items, intending to make sure that the man loses his bonded object.
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 *
"Who. . ." Ryuu struggles against his bonds for a moment before relaxing again. "What has happened?" He then slams his own head against the wall behind him, causing a fresh wound to open up. Deaglan can tell that he is suffering from a severe confusion disorder and perhaps memory loss.
Tiefling Barbarian 1 / Sorcerer 4 / Dragon Disciple 4 | HP 87/87 | AC 20 [24 shield]; Tch 12 ; FF 18 | F +10; R +6; W +7 | CMB+14; CMD 25 | Speed 40 ft | Init +6 | Bite: +14 (1d6+13/19-20) | Perc +11
"Take it easy, sunshine!" Insidion sneers. "You're gonna hurt yourself. You're working with a samsaran and tried to stop us, but you were not even close to a match for us. Now tell us where she is!" the tiefling growls.
F+9, R+5, W+10 (+5 v. spells and SLAs)(+3 v. poison) | Init. +9 | Perc. +13 | SenMot +15 | Move 20' Inquisitor (Gorum) 7 | AC 20/12/19 | CMD 20 (24 v. Bull rush or trips) | HP 59/59 |
Aid Another Intimidate 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
"The dragon boy is right, mage! You didn't even scratch our skin...and now we are mad. If you make us take you down again, we aren't letting you back up this time!"
"Undead samsaran? Who are you people? What are you talking about? I sure hope this is some sort of joke... what have I been doing with this undead samsaran? Take you down? No, I couldn't have done that, tried to do that..."
F+9, R+5, W+10 (+5 v. spells and SLAs)(+3 v. poison) | Init. +9 | Perc. +13 | SenMot +15 | Move 20' Inquisitor (Gorum) 7 | AC 20/12/19 | CMD 20 (24 v. Bull rush or trips) | HP 59/59 |
"Alright lads, this is futile. What are we going to do with him? Can we trust to leave him here alone? Or do we need to bind him until we are financed here?"
The yetis will gladly watch over him and help Lord Ryuu to recover while you finish exploring the tower.
Up the stairs you find the top chamber. Twin braziers disperse the scent of jasmine oil throughout this bedchamber. A yeti pelt is draped over a futon near an arcane circle carved into the floor. North of the circle, a teak box overflows with jade figurines. A hollow in the eastern wall is bordered with a marble carving of wolves stalking a hare amid grave markers. Words are carved in a spiraling script around the hollow.
DC 15 Perception:
You notice crushed jade dust in the grooves of the circle.
DC 25 Perception:
The circle is rigged to swing down two naginatas from the ceiling when activated. The hare figuring is somehow tied to this trap though, as a sort of safety.
DC 16 KN (arcana or planes) or Use Magic Device:
You recognize that the arcane circle can be used to produce a portal with a one-minute ritual.
DC 21 KN (arcana or planes) or Use Magic Device:
There is an inherent danger in the ritual in that it will instantaneously pull through the person who performs the ritual whereas everyone else will have to follow once it is opened.
Tien:
The words surrounding the hollow say: Only by destroying my brother could I walk safely into the grave, and emerge before the undead who worship me.
