"We have no love for the Denizens of *chhh* Leng. But you would be unwise to demand services of us. Ask, however, and we may agree to work together."
"My friend speaks the truth. We react in an ill manner to demands, but welcome allies of any origin or form. What is it you need, and what could you offer us in return?"
Sealman whispers to Thunderpuss, "Just once, I would like us to demand goods from baddies so we don't kick their arse."
Rissi recognizes these creatures as Leng Spiders.
The grotesque leader clicks his mandibles and sways on his seven feet. "We have enemies above, at the pinnacle. Enter and destroy the other denizens of Leng you find within. If you can, you must also destroy the Leng Device. We know little about what the device is except for the legends that the denizens of our realm were called upon by Karzoug to aid in its creation over 10,000 years ago. We believe that its destruction will greatly distress our enemies in a way that we anticipate to be quite pleasing." There are satisfied clicks from the other two spiders.
Lucian addresses a quizzical look at the strange spider. "The Leng Device? I can only guess that its destruction will hamper Karzoug's plans, so we'll do it. Do you know anything else about it? Allow me to communicate with my goddess."
Following that, Lucian unfolds a piece of parchment and his pen, and starts writing a question. The oracle's hand runs fast on the paper.
"Feel free to suggest your own questions, friends."
Are the Leng Spiders trustworthy?
Do we have the means to destroy the Leng Device?
Is the destruction of the Leng Device better for the safety of Golarion?
Will the destruction of the Leng Device harm me and my friends?
Will the destruction of the Leng Device harm Karzoug or hamper his plans?
Does Karzoug know we're here?
Has Karzoug prepared for our arrival?
Can Karzoug be killed once and for all?
Has he turned into a lich?
Does he have any apprentices left inside the spire?
Has anyone inside the spire prepared any traps based on a Symbol spell?
Satisfied with the answers so far, he writes one more question, although he hides it from his friends' eyes at the best of his ability.
Rissi considers for a moment, but can find no question to add to Lucian's own impressive list.
As you start ascending above the city, Miana is beset with a world of troubles. She first gains the sensation that causes intense vertigo, as if gravity’s direction had suddenly changed to be behind her. Worse, once a minute, the air pulses with an invisible force that creates wracking, blinding pain.
---
Lucian's hand goes back over the paper and starts to fill in answers after the questions:
Are the Leng Spiders trustworthy?
In this instance.
Do we have the means to destroy the Leng Device?
With application.
Is the destruction of the Leng Device better for the safety of Golarion?
Yes.
Will the destruction of the Leng Device harm me and my friends?
It will be guarded.
Will the destruction of the Leng Device harm Karzoug or hamper his plans?
Yes.
Does Karzoug know we're here?
Yes.
Has Karzoug prepared for our arrival?
Yes.
Can Karzoug be killed once and for all?
Yes.
Has he turned into a lich?
No.
Does he have any apprentices left inside the spire?
Yes.
Has anyone inside the spire prepared any traps based on a Symbol spell?
No.
Yes.
Lucian jumps with an intense feeling of joy as he reveals all the answers.
Turning to the spiders, he beams a smile.
"We would be honored to ally with your cause today, and destroy the Leng Device for you. Do you know how it can be destroyed or disabled? Also, are you able to provide any help to us?"
Seeing Miana wracked with pains, he does his best to soothe his wounds.
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Miana resists the first pulse.
When the second passes though, she realizes that eventually, despite her resolution, her mind will slip.
Miana accepts the Thassilonian ring from Lucian; still uneasy about accepting the relic of an evil empire, she does her best to cope. "I guess this isn't how you were expecting to give a ring to a woman.", she jests.
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Lucian turns bright red as he hears Miana's words. Not realizing it is a jest, he fumbles for words, not sure what to say.
"It's not... I mean... you know... I didn't mean to imply..." the end of his sentence dies out in the utmost confusion.
"Er... do you need healing, Miana?" he asks, mortified.
Suddenly, something strikes him.
"Oh, I get it. You were joking... right?"
"If you are worried about baddies using the rings to find us, don't you all got some magiks to take care of that? Or is it even worth it now?
"So do we think more Ling-lings will be protecting this device?"
"Do you understand runes? Do you know how they act or how they are used to control the minds of giants? No? Well *squeak* I worry about such things; it is in my nature. Caution is rarely wasted, dwarf!" Rissi snaps, her voice cold and domineering.
Sealman cocks his head when Rissi mentions "controling of minds." He stares off blankly and it could be heard, ever so slightly, the sound of a hamster runs his wheel in the dwarf's head.
"We would be honored to ally with your cause today, and destroy the Leng Device for you. Do you know how it can be destroyed or disabled? Also, are you able to provide any help to us?"
"We know little of the device except that its destruction would be distressing to our enemies. Do this for us and we will not eat you, that is the help we give you." The spiders then click and scurry away up the slope.
With that completed, you find nothing else preventing your ascent...
The true heart of the domain of Shalast, this massive ice-shrouded tower of white granite served as the seat of every Runelord of Greed up to and including Karzoug. The 2,200-foot-tall tower tops out respectfully just below the carved face at the mountain’s peak, yet the pinnacle itself is mostly hollow. The inside of the immense structure soars like a cavernous silo, supported by an intricate internal architectural wonder of dozens of stone flying buttresses and arches.
"Such a wonderful *chhh* deal. How comforting."
.
"Since Karzoug's expecting us, it sounds like deception won't work here. We'll have to be ready for a tough battle. Rissi, do you have any other means of divination to prepare for what is inside waiting for us? In any case, we'll prevail!" inquires Lucian. Apparently, the fact that Karzoug is aware of their presence doesn't bear on his optimism.
"Oh wait - I could go inside in ethereal form to scout! I'll be right back"
There is a wide stone ramp heading into the structure, slowly winding down. Lucian sends an ethereal form of himself running down: the seemingly infinite stone ramp finally comes to an end and a massive pair of golden double doors stands to the north, while a smaller golden door to the west allows an alternative route onward. Intricate carvings on the walls evoke images of Xin-Shalast in its heyday, accented with vibrant paint and inlaid gems here and there. The highly polished floor consists of a checkerboard pattern of gold and black tiles, while the entire place is brilliantly lit by what appear to be dozens of bejeweled everburning torches in equally decadent sconces.
Luckily Lucian's ethereal form pops out of existence before the four cloud giants in the room notice anything going on....
Lucian warns his companions and together they start making their way to the double doors. After warding them with spells and enchantments, Lucian additionally conjures a lillend azata to help them in the fight to come.
"Ready, let's move out and slay these giant sentinels. Sealman, if you'll do the honors."
Upon hearing of cloud giants at the end of the neverending stairway, Sealman is more then willing to bust down the doors.
But before doing so, he activates his Adapation, Enlarges himself & then taps his Lead Blades wand on Isoult. He debates activating Thunderpuss's collar, but decides against it when the Azata comes into reality.
When everybody is ready, Sealman opens the doors o' doom.
Rissi sighs. "It seems hardly worth our time to *squeak* deal with these giant simpletons. From your description, I suspect magical defenses, but I suppose we will *chhhh* discover the truth soon enough."
The party begins to prepare on the descent down the long ramp and just as you turn the last corner you see one of the cloud giants standing on guard. He carries an absolutely immense morningstar (even for a giant) and floats a few inches off the ground.
The ratfolk unsheathes a wand and casually snaps off three rays of fire at the closest giant.
Lucian blesses the party with a familiar blessing, while the lillend's eerie voice fills the halls, bolstering the party's resolve! Among the musical tones, the chanting of a spell can be heard as well.
Lucian blesses the party as Rissi hits the first giant with a set of firey rays!
blue: 33 dmg
The Wyrm leaps into air and glides swiftly towards the nearby giant, drawing a short-sword and mace into hands. His eyes - slitted, yellow - spark with electricity in anticipation of his next kill.
plus plus -2 on attacks (-4 vs. Kufieno) for 1 rd
If it has an abjuration effects up, add: +2 to hit and damage
The cloud giant fights off the mental control as Kufieno leaps down to engage the giant but discovers that these giants have very thick hide. Miana follows behind and engages the next giant.
The first giant bellows in anger and swings its weapon at Kufieno!
The other steps back and swings at Miana:
Finally, the other two move in to swing at Miana as well:
blue: 33 dmg
Kufieno quickly chants and incantation, attempting to quickly disappear into a cloak of greater invisibility...
vs 23
... and fades from view! Thus guarded, he glides behind some of the giants assaulting Miana!
Rissi glides forward a bit and pulls another wand.
She calls out to Miana.
She unleashes a fireball into the giant's midst.
The Azata, while still singing her Elysian song, flies over to the closest giant and slaps it with her tail.
Meanwhile, Lucian flies forward and conjures a brilliant flash of blinding light on the giants.
Evanya flies to Rissi and casts guidance on the ratfolk.
Kufieno disappears as Rissi lets out a blast of fire in the room. Lucian's azata then hits the lead giant with its tail as he blinds two of the giants with a blast of holy light!
blue: 77 dmg
red: 46 dmg, blinded 4 rnds
green: 46 dmg, blinded 4 rnds
yellow: 46 dmg, dazzled 4 rnds
Sealman slowly hovers into the room with Thunderpuss at his side.
Sealman centers himself between all of the giants, ready to be blessed in their blood. Then with Isoult, he begins to dance.
Thunderpuss leaps into the action as well, trying to take down the Blue giants.
Seal wounds the first giant and Thundpuss moves in to finish it off! Seal then continues the momentum through the other three giants! With a whirlwind roundhouse kick, Miana then finishes them all off!
"Let's keep the party van rolling."
Not wanting to waste time, Sealman kicks open the double doors hoping to find more giants beyond.
"Unless someone needs healing, let's continue - our best warding spells or invocations won't last forever." suggests Lucian as he gets a copy of a Sihedron ring.
Seal throws open the doors! The ceiling of this curving hallway rises to an arch some fifty feet above. Curving to the west, the hall ends at a particularly immense pair of double doors that appear to be made of gold.
You are surprised that here, behind the very first doors you have opened, is Karzoug himself, standing in resplendent robes. “And so the fools have found me. I must applaud your tenacity. You are much more persistent than the worms I thought you to be. You are more like hungry maggots in your endless squirming and writhing to get to the death that awaits you at the core of your fate. I am that fate, maggots. I am your death!”
Those more trained in magics recognize that this is a projected image and that although Karzoug is not really there, he can still harm you.
Those with dominant weapons feel a strong urge and an innate knowledge that using the weapon against the image would dispel it instantly.
Karzoug is quick to hurl a set of missiles at the large dwarf leading the charge.
And then sends a winter storm over the party.
Sealman charges the wizard, flying at top speed. He brings Isoult down with all his might.
Rissi holds a rod in hand and advances slowly, ready to strike with her dagger should Sealman's magical weapon fail him.
Kufieno circles wide around the image, unsure of what to do about the wizard that isn't really there.