Bert indeed finishes off the qlippoth! As it drops, a pit forms under Ardathanatus but he is too quick and leaps away. The flames that bounce between the sinspawn seem to be taking their toll. Argust steps up and easily puts down one of the sinspawn.
The two sinspawn in the back continue to fire at Karn:
Ardathanatus shouts curses to the gods, "I shall crush this Groetan dungeon and the homes of the false gods above before I let you take this place from me!"
Blasphemy CL 15 and you guys have 12 HD so you are all weakened (your Strength score decreases by 2d6 for 2d4 rounds) and you are dazed (can not take actions for 1 round except to defend yourself)
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
Will:1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 = 25So down 4 for 2 rounds.
Argust 5' steps to the other sinspawn and attacks!
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
DC 22 Will save, incl. lingering luck and good hope:1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 3 + 2 = 28
So down 4 for 3 or 4 rounds, depending on how I round.
Bert manages to resist the worst of the priest's spell, but it still takes its toll on him. He steps up and prepares to shoot at Ardathanatus when the elf begins to cast again, bracing his suddenly-heavier gun with both hands.
DA bullet to Ardathanatus, incl. lingering luck and good hope:1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 3 + 2 = 24
DA bullet damage, if applicable, incl. lingering luck, good hope, and arcane strike:1d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 19
Oh sorry Karn! Yeah, doesn't look like you got to do anything. Channel it is!
@Bert: round down
Argust quickly dispatches of the sinspawn! I also stepped you back so you wouldn't have to save against the pit; remember that ending your turn within 5' of it means you have to save (albeit with a +2)!
The two remaining sinspawn continue to burn! Bert's bullet mostly just chips off a piece of Ardathanatus' toughened skin! Obviously stoneskin.
Karn stands dazed by the elf's horrid blasphemy!
The two sinspawn, unaware of Brelar's presence (provoking if he had a weapon out) fire at Karn!
Ardathanatus casts a spell and laughs as the stone ceiling above Karn and Bert begins to melt and soften, crumbling on top of them!
DC 17 Spellcraft:
soften earth and stone
Essentially a cave-in with no bury-zone.
damage:3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) = 6and buried in the rubble DC 15 Ref to avoid damage and to avoid being buried.
If you are buried, you will take 1d6 nonlethal every minute until you fall unconscious. You can try to dig yourself out with a DC 25 Strength check; others can clear rocks and debris without checks but it will take several rounds.
Initiative:
1. Brelar
2. Ardathanatus and minions
3. Argust, Bert, and Karn
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Reflex save, trying not to roll a 1:1d20 ⇒ 4 Spellcraft check, incl. lingering luck and good hope:1d20 + 18 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 3 + 2 = 28
Even in his weakened state, Bert is able to get out from under the collapsing ceiling. He fires at the more wounded sinspawn, trying to weaken it so that Argust can go after the elf.
DA bullet to S3, incl. luck, good hope, and PBS:1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 28 DA bullet damage to S3, incl. luck, good hope, and PBS:1d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 17
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
@Brelar: using greater dispel magic as an area attack makes one check against each creature, which then works as if they were targeted by dispel magic. Regular dispel magic only removes one spell from the targeted creature, the highest spell that you beat with your check but not all spells below the check. You actually did remove a spell from Ardathanatus, but it was something higher than stoneskin so stoneskin is still intact.
Bert puts a bullet in one of the sinspawn! Karn smites the foes but it doesn't blind them. Brelar bites at one of the sinspawn and tries again to turn Ardathanatus into a bunny but the elf resists!
Initiative:
1. Brelar
2. Ardathanatus and minions
3. Argust, Bert, and Karn
Male Kellid Fire Elementalist 16 HP: 114/114 | AC 22| T 13| FF 19| CMD 21| Fort +11| Ref +12| Will +14| Init +5 | SR: 18
Just want to double check since I've not used this spell much but...Targeted Dispel: This functions as a targeted dispel magic, but it can dispel one spell for every four caster levels you possess, starting with the highest level spells and proceeding to lower level spells. So I should have gotten rid of 4 spells as long as I beat the caster level check?
And ballz to him not getting suckered into turning into a furry critter!
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
Back to 90 HP, last round of strength drain.
Argust moves/flies over to the evil-doer and takes a swing at him! Since I can't 5' step, bah.
Just want to double check since I've not used this spell much but...Targeted Dispel: This functions as a targeted dispel magic, but it can dispel one spell for every four caster levels you possess, starting with the highest level spells and proceeding to lower level spells. So I should have gotten rid of 4 spells as long as I beat the caster level check?
Ooooohh, good point. I missed that part about being able to dispel one spell for every 4 CL. Wow, that makes it so much more powerful than I realized. I mean, it still seemed powerful the way I did it before but that's crazy. Ok, yes, his stoneskin is gone, as are a couple other things...
---
Argust whiffs! The sinspawn nervously step away from the invisiBrelar that bit out at them. Then they continue firing at the barboracle!
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Bert shoots the same sinspawn again, now that Argust has moved on to the head bad guy.
DA shot to S3, incl. lingering luck, good hope, and PBS:1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 30 DA shot damage, incl. lingering luck, good hope, PBS, and arcane strike:1d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 21
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
So, can I fly down into the pit, above the BBEG, and attack from above him? I'm guessing I could.
@Argust: yes, you can fly down above him so you are still in melee but "anyone within the pit, not just those on the bottom, takes 4d6 bludgeoning damage each round as the pit contracts and then returns to its normal size..." But I'm guessing Argust will fly down there anyways even if he knows this.
Karn's hammer beats into the sinspawn. Argust deals Ardathanatus a devastating wound but the elf is strong! The pit closes around Ardathanatus and Argust for 8 damage (above).
Ardathanatus casts another quick curing spell
4d8 + 15 ⇒ (2, 8, 8, 5) + 15 = 38
and then casts another:
DC 18 Spellcraft if you can see him:
meld into stone
His form slowly sinks down into the pit and disappears from Argust's view! My turn to Mwahahahahahahahahahahaha! This fight is awesome! They gave him so many fun tricks!
There is only one sinspawn left and he continues to fire at Karn!
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Bert shoots the sinspawn.
DA bullet to sinspawn, incl. lingering luck, good hope, and PBS:1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 37 DA bullet damage, incl. lingering luck, good hope, PBS, and arcane strike:1d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 19
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
I don't think the sinspawn is going to survive this round....
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
I assume I take just 3 and Karn takes 5 of that 8 damage so I'm now at 77/134 HP. Also, does he not provoke from me or does he have some sinister ability to prevent that?
He's gone! He just vanished into the floor of the pit! Argust tries to explain what he saw to the others and waits to see if the man comes back. Can I ready a full attack? I'll ready an attack in any case since I don't know what else to do if I can't see him.
@Argust: he can't fail the defensive casting check on the spell. Also, you can only ready a standard action. I'm assuming you'll use your move action to fly back out of the pit through; otherwise you'll keep getting chomped.
@Karn: feel free to retcon a heal on Argust if you want. I'm going to move to the next round.
4d8 + 15 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 3) + 15 = 28
Ardathanatus does not reappear and a tense few seconds pass in silence!
Initiative:
1. Brelar
2. Ardathanatus
3. Argust, Bert, and Karn
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Gun in hand, Bert listens and looks carefully for any sign of the elf's return.
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
Argust will back out of the pit (as likely instructed) and look around for the "invisible bad guy", ready to strike.
Lol! If it were a "nonliving matter" it would simply disintegrate the stone but since he's in there it's no longer "nonliving" stone so I'm going to say he still gets a save and whatnot.
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
Argust moves back into the pit to strike him! Flying, of course.
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Bert steps up to the pit, easily keeping his footing on the slope, and fires down at the elf!
DA non-touch bullet to Ard, incl. lingering luck, good hope, and range penalty:1d20 + 12 + 3 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 3 + 2 - 4 = 27 DA bullet damage, if applicable, incl. lingering luck, good hope, and arcane strike:1d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 21
Reflex save to avoid falling in, incl. lingering luck & good hope:1d20 + 16 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 3 + 2 = 32
Male Dwarf Fighter (Two-Handed) [17] : HP:189/189 | AC 41 T 22 FF 37 | CMB +30 (+34 sunder) CMD 47 (51 vs trip/disarm, 55 vs sunder) | F +22 (+24 vs poison) R +19 W +16; all +4 vs spell/SLA/effect to lose weapon | Init +6 | Perc +13 | EA +18 | Climb/Swim +11
The combination of Brelar's acid breath and Argust's deep-cutting sword are too much for Ardathanatus and he finally falls!
Out of combat!
gear:
+1 adamantine full plate, flaying halberd, belt of physical might +4 (Str, Con), cloak of resistance +2, doomsday key, headband of inspired wisdom +2, Shard of Envy, spell component pouch, unholy symbol of Yamasoth, diamond dust (for casting stoneskin, worth 750 gp)
flaying halberd:
Flaying Halberd
Aura strong necromancy; CL 13th
Slot none; Price 24,310 gp; Weight 12 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
A flaying halberd is a +1 halberd that can be used to slice off large swaths of a creature’s skin. In combat, a character can denote a maximum of one attack per round to be a flaying strike. This attack deals normal damage, but the resulting wound is particularly painful as skin is torn away from the target’s body. This causes an additional 1d6 points of bleed damage, and as long as a victim suffers from this bleed damage, it is staggered.
A successful DC 15 Fortitude save made at the time the flaying strike occurs negates the bleed damage and staggered condition. The bleed effect can be stopped by a successful DC 15 Heal check or any spell that cures hit point damage. A flaying strike that results in a critical hit also deals 1d4 points of Charisma damage (no save) to the victim. Creatures immune to ability damage and critical hits are immune to flaying strikes.
I don't have the abilities of the Shard of Envy handy right now (I should really just buy the pdf of the first book, I have the others) so I'll confirm those when I get home. But I think it's essentially exactly the same as those listed on the chronicle sheet.
One of the key components of the refocusing ritual is that Ardathanatus must remain conscious for the weeks it takes him to perform the ritual. Therefore, as he loses consciousness and dies, the delicate and chaotic energies create a sudden and dangerous backlash.
As Ardathanatus loses consciousness, the light flickering along the walls and from the Doomsday Door itself suddenly turns black. An instant later, the door is flung open, the portal to Sekatar-Seraktis momentarily established to an extent even greater than Ardathanatus could have hoped. The portal opens directly upon the baleful presence of the Polymorph Plague Yamasoth himself!
The portal isn’t strong enough, fortunately, for Yamasoth to come through completely, but the qlippoth lord can certainly reach his tentacles through the door, which he does, reaching in to grab Ardathanatus' body. The elf's body is slowly dragged towards the portal (dropping his gear along the way, let's say) and the qlippoth lord opens his maw and emits a ferocious roar as Ardathanatus' body disappears into Sekatar-Seraktis.
After this disturbing event, the Doomsday Door slams shut with a sound that echoes and reverberates through your very souls. The energy slowly dissipates and you are able to safely approach the Doomsday Door and use your two keys to lock it, hopefully for good.
HP 107*/107* | AC 32| T 16| FF 28| CMD 14| Fort +14*| Ref +22| Will +15 (+2 vs. fear, neg energy effects)| Init +4 (+2 underground)| Perc +29/+34 w/lens (+2 underground)| Sense Motive +20 Male Halfling Archaeologist Bard15/Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger1/Inspired Blade Swashbuckler1
Bert breathes a sigh of relief once the Door is locked. "Whew! He was pretty tough--good thing we went in ready, or we might not have made it!" He puts the right ioun stone into the shard, negating its unpleasant side effects. "Huh--wonder how long he's had this. Maybe that's why he went over the edge. I remember how I felt, carrying around the bare shard of greed for just a few days."
With the shard safe to hold, the halfling concentrates on the location of the next one. "Might as well get a head start before the Venture-Captain gives us our marching orders, right?"
AC28/T17/F26/CMD35||HP134[134]|F:+13|R:+9|W:+12|Percept.+20|SenMot.+15|Init.+2| Human (Kellid) Life Oracle 6 / Barbarian 2 / Rage Prophet 8
Karn breathes a sigh of relief as the door is locked. Smiling at his companions, he says. "I'm glad that's over. Should we go see if those drakes are still there?"
