|
Laara continued to eye the forest around the stones warily - up until the monstrosity burst out in front of High.
Oh no you don't! she yells as she flies as quick as she can towards the other rogue, dropping her bow once she is safely over the clean ground.
As Chaine's lance tries to spear it, the brawler ducks past branches to deliver a follow-up punch as the lance retracts.
for
|
Iskar grants Chaine more power, and the archon races through the trees to the evil. Torrag fortifies the rogue with plated skin as his hand suddenly juts from the boulder behind. Chaine upon Silvermane make a darting path through the thick underbrush, finishing up with a stretched plunge of the lance toward the creature's back. Surprisingly, the creature spins Hugh around, trying to use him for cover, but the lance penetrates the vile beast still.
Grim's attack from above strikes as well, causing a gash to open above its shoulder. As it writhes, Hugh is able to plunge his rapier into its chest cleanly, destroying whatever resides within. No blood seeps from within, though. Laara intercedes with a darting plunge and connects solidly as well.
As you all gather closer to it, you realize there is an unnatural silence aura surrounding it.
The enraged creature tightens its grip on Hugh, releasing the diseased goo again. The stoneskin protects him from the damage of that admirably. But with a quick snap, the tentacle detaches and wraps tightly around the rogue.
Black Tentacle Monster <20 foot silence aura> -140 hp
Iskar
Torrag (mage armor, shield, see invisibility)
Chaine (barkskin, bull's strength)
Silvermane
Grim (bull's strength, ironskin, shield of faith, fly)
-------
Hugh -38 hp (stoneskin = 20 used) <tied up> <need 2 fort saves>
Laara (barkskin, fly)
|
|
Saves: None
Acrobatics rolls for jumps: None
Chaine continues his assault. Partially blocked by Laara, he tries to find an opening. "Hold on to life, Mr. Veridian. This monstrosity will be defeated! FOR GOOD OLD VALSIN, MALDRIS, AND ALL OF 'EM ASSEMBLED!!!!!"
Chaine's attacks and confirmations: [AC 32 vs. evil creature - including Archon; +2 saves]
[swift action- For The King +3 competence bonus on all attacks and damage to all allies within 30 feet for 1 round]
for
for
Silvermane's attacks and confirmations:
[standard action- full defense +6 AC, +2 AC from Archon, +2 saves]
|
|
AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+9 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil)
hp 39 (6d10+6)
Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +5; +4 vs. poison, +2 resistance vs. evil
DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification; SR 15
As the celestial being approaches the undead fiend, an aura oozes off him. Getting into position, he slashes at the creature.
Those who fail take a –2 penalty on attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours or until they successfully hit the archon that generated the aura. A creature that has resisted or broken the effect cannot be affected again by the same archon’s aura for 24 hours.
With a sigh, as he watches his companions battle from afar, the Half-Orc lumbers through the trees.
|
|
The archon attack just misses, but it is enough to distract the creature so that Chaine can quietly whack it with his lance. The creature sinks to the ground and dissipates in a blackened mess of gooey dust and fibers.
Ultimately, you are able to free Hugh from his binds. Regrettably, the disease has taken hold, and he begins to shake uncontrollably.
@Hugh Visions of the world’s imminent destruction begin to fill your thoughts
The group moves down to the circle of stones. It is clear a ritual of some sort must be done, and quickly, before more creatures exit it.
------------------
Black Tentacle Monster = destroyed
Iskar
Torrag
Chaine
Silvermane
Grim
Hugh -38 hp <diseased>
Laara
|
|
Eyeing the rift from a safe distance, Iskar thinks back on the summoning's he's done. 'Could my breaches in time have similar effects?'
Shaking off the concern, as 'Obviously my cavalier summonings are not an issue.' He begins to ponder the potential activation rituals one would use to cause such a thing.
|
|
Remembering that some of the ghosts had Taldor uniforms, Chaine wonders if this undead army could be drawn from unworthy or shameful souls from ancient Taldor which have not passed to the Great Beyond yet...
In his best drill instructor voice, Chaine attempts to get the ancient souls in line and shame them into moving on to the final judgement of Pharasma.
"Remember your kin, your blood, your ancestors. They watch from beyond the vaulted courts of Pharasma, anxious to see their sons and daughters accept RESPONSIBILITY! you have LIVED! and DIED! it is time you realize that, and bring back honor to your families! Return from that wretched hole and know that you have been lied to by evil powers! Such as the fiends corralling you AS WE SPEAK! GO BACK, and if you're feeling honor again, TURN ON THE FIENDS WALKING AMONG YOU!!"
|
|
No offense, but you look a bit of a mess yourself. Laara says as she approaches Hugh. Make sure to get that looked at right after this.
Stepping up to the stones, she carefully tries to avoid the tentacles. Pulling out her Cure wand, Laara offers it to Grim. Just the normal pole, but maybe it'll help.
The fighter then begins attempting to imitate what she thinks an ancient ritual would be.
|
|
The group focuses on constructing a ritual out of whole cloth. Although it looks shaky for a few nervous moments, ultimately the rift begins to slowly close upon itself, the shadowy tentacles clawing desperately at the ground as they retreat under the cacophony of haunting screams and wails.
The evening air is suddenly quiet, save for the rushing waters nearby. Although the threat has quelled, you are not certain the ritual is complete. Perhaps only Medda will know for sure. So you wait for her to arrive.
--------
Several hours later, Hugh begins to feel better and his mind clears from its apocalyptic thoughts.
|
As Medda and Anok join your group of Pathfinders around the stone circle, she assists you with the binding ritual. Medda thrusts Ivvora’s hilt into the portal, calling on Vildeis for aid. The shadow rift shrinks and closes, releasing a massive shock wave that knocks the Pathfinders, the Twinhorn warriors, and Medda to the ground. A field of dark, rippling energy remains, suspended above the stone altar. As Medda reaches out to pick up Ivvora’s hilt—the already broken blade now spider-webbed with new cracks—a supernatural silence descends. Only the telepathic rage of some unseen menace cuts through the quiet. “You dare to shut me out?” it rages. “I see you, but I do not see her. Where is the dwarf woman, Ivvora, who fought me so long ago? Has her mortal body failed at last? Has the realm of the living at last lost its protector? Know this: when the long shadows reach out again, I will grasp them and claw my way back into your world to see your flesh devoured by my children.”
Sound returns to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, and Medda cautiously stands. “It seems that Eshimka still lives and has even left this foul scar on our world,” she declares. “If we are to believe its promises, the fiend will attack on the next winter solstice. If we are to survive, we must be ready. Nearly a millennium ago, Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka. By following her legends and discovering her fate, we may harness the same holy power that banished this fiend—and together end the beast entirely.
“When we set out, it would be the privilege of this following to have the Pathfinders at our side. But that is a trial for another day. Tonight, at last, we rest.”