Round 1:
Nidhi lets out a sharp screech, recoiling from the bolt of energy. She begins to sing, then disappears from sight. She floats 5 feet towards the wall, hoping to escape any more rogue lightning.
With a screech, the red one slashes at Zilchus as he closes - some 20’ away!
Blue tries to keep its sight...
vs DC 18 or be blinded
Thunderbolt (Su) A thunderbird can fire a ray of thunder and lightning from its outspread wings as a standard action. This attack has a range of 200 feet with no range increment, and requires a ranged touch attack to hit. A creature critically hit by a thunderbolt is stunned and deafened for 1 round if it fails a DC 22 Fortitude save. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Storm Aura (Su) A thunderbird is surrounded by a 100-foot-radius spread of severe winds that blow out from the center, dissipating swiftly at the limit of the aura’s range. In this area, ranged weapons (but not siege weapons) take a –4 penalty on attack rolls, Fly checks are made at a –4 penalty, and exposed flames are extinguished. Small creatures must make a DC 10 Strength check (if on the ground) or a DC 20 Fly check to move toward the thunderbird, while Tiny or smaller creatures can be knocked backward (1d4 × 10 feet if they are on the ground and fail a DC 15 Strength check, or 2d6 × 10 feet if they are flying and fail a DC 25 Fly check). Creatures on the ground that are pushed back take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage per 10 feet, and flying creatures that are pushed back take 2d6 points of nonlethal damage regardless of the distance they are pushed. In addition, once every 1d4 rounds, a bolt of lightning strikes a random creature (other than the thunderbird) within the area of its storm aura. This bolt of lightning deals 12d6 points of electricity damage (DC 22 Reflex halves). The save DC for the lightning bolt is Constitution-based, while those for resisting the wind effects are fixed.
Stormsight (Ex) A thunderbird ignores all vision penalties and concealment from weather effects, including those created by fog cloud, obscuring mist, and similar spells.
- - -
Florence tries to blind one of the great birds. Zilchus closes quickly, slashing one of the great fliers deeply. Nidhi turns invisible and calls out to the party, reinforcing them. Kosei protects the rest of the party from at least the electrical effects of the blasts. Stelle improves everyones defenses.
The red bird tries a 5’ flap to avoid Zilchus. vs DC 15
It then calls down a thunderbolt upon him with a ranged attack.
The other flies a lazy circle in the air, and also targets Zilchus, moving so boldly through the air against them.
His resistance protects him from much of the damage, if I hit at all after Stelle's boost, much to the chagrin of the flying guardians.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Sparkly eyes they have" Kosei performs magical roars and a small bullet of fire forms at his mouth. The Garundi lion spits the bullet of fire into the air and it flies up to the area in between both birds where it explodes into a fireball that takes both of the flying creatures!
Round 2
Zilchus 5’ steps up to red bird and responds to the attacks, moving in rhythm to Nidhi’s words.
to hit; (+hero,+DF)
adamantine slashing damage. (+DF)
to hit; (+hero,+DF)
adamantine slashing damage. (+DF)
[ dice]1d20+20+2+2[/dice] to hit; (+hero, +holy)
[ dice]1d10+23+2d6[/dice] adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)
[ dice]1d20+13+2+2[/dice] to hit; (+hero, +holy)
[ dice]1d10+23+2d6[/dice] adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)
HP: 114/114
AC: 38/34 (10 armor + 2 def + 3 dex + 1 dodge + 2 insight + 2 natural) + 4 shield/buckler +3 barkskin (kosei) + 1 armor (warpriest) + light fortification.
DF 1/10
Weap: 0/14 rounds used (swift, +3 bonus/flame/ghost/frost/holy)
Grunting/Summoning: 2/9 used (+7 str)
Quick Prayer: 3/10 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
Armor: 1/14 minutes used (swift,+3 more bonus (fortification=+1/+3)
Crocodilic Channel: 0/2 used/smite: 0/4 used (7d6)
Gr. Magic Weapon (+3); Magic Vestment (+3)
Falcon Crown: 0/3 used, immediate action sac spell
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not use
Large animal Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural, –1 size)
hp 105/105 (red) -22 -4
hp 105/105 (blue) -2 -10 -36
Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +6 Resist 10 Fire & Acid DR 5/lawful
Special Qualities: Tail thrawping, heel nipping
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 50 ft.
Melee bite +13 (2d8+12)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 26, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +7; CMB +17; CMD 30 (34 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Mobility, Toughness
Skills Perception +14, Swim +16
Interesting curse Flo. That would be quite effective against it's various attacks...
vs DC 21 to avoid befuddlement
...whew...
Kosei, no need to roll SR.
vs DC 20 for all of 31
vs DC 20 for all of 31
Despite the massive damage it has sustained so far, red remains airborne... for now.
Nidhi and Stelle to go!
Round 2, Init 4-
Once again, Stelle grants everyone a +2 dodge bonus to AC for a round (standard), and preps Death from Below (move).
Nidhi, DMPC, attacks the wounded bird harassing Zilchus.
Florence attempts to befuddle blue, but the thunderbird manages to resist it. Zilchus digs in twice, slashing at the enemy with vigor. Nidhi releases a volley of arrows hitting once. Kosei lightly tosses a fireball into the mix, damaging both birds badly, and destroying red! Stelle continues to improve the defenders chances.
Red disappears in a clap of thunder as the party’s combined efforts bring it down.
Blue continues to fly in lazy circles around the battlefield as it sends another thunderbolt at Zilchus.
If the bird is frustrated by the continued missing of so powerful a ranged touch attack, it does not show it.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Kosei roars and makes movements with his head conjuring two fiery acorn grenades into his mouth that he gently offers to Stelle after stepping closer to her "Fdizz, take fdizz, fdzow fdem at fde bizd Zzztelle vy fziend! Aze magical fiezy accccconsszzz!!"
Round 3
Zilchus trods after blue after sending red to the nothingness. He lunges out, after provoking.
to hit; (+hero,+DF)
adamantine slashing damage. (+DF)
[ dice]1d20+20+2+2[/dice] to hit; (+hero, +holy)
[ dice]1d10+23+2d6[/dice] adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)
[ dice]1d20+13+2+2[/dice] to hit; (+hero, +holy)
[ dice]1d10+23+2d6[/dice] adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)
HP: 114/114
AC: 38/34 (10 armor + 2 def + 3 dex + 1 dodge + 2 insight + 2 natural) + 4 shield/buckler +3 barkskin (kosei) + 1 armor (warpriest) + light fortification.
DF 1/10
Weap: 0/14 rounds used (swift, +3 bonus/flame/ghost/frost/holy)
Grunting/Summoning: 2/9 used (+7 str)
Quick Prayer: 3/10 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
Armor: 1/14 minutes used (swift,+3 more bonus (fortification=+1/+3)
Crocodilic Channel: 0/2 used/smite: 0/4 used (7d6)
Gr. Magic Weapon (+3); Magic Vestment (+3)
Falcon Crown: 0/3 used, immediate action sac spell
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not use
Large animal Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural, –1 size)
hp 105/105 (red) -22 -4
hp 105/105 (blue) -2 -10 -36
Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +6 Resist 10 Fire & Acid DR 5/lawful
Special Qualities: Tail thrawping, heel nipping
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 50 ft.
Melee bite +13 (2d8+12)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 26, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +7; CMB +17; CMD 30 (34 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Mobility, Toughness
Skills Perception +14, Swim +16
Round 3, Init 4-
"Oh! They're beautiful, Kosei Lion!" Stelle exclaims accepting the acorns. "Thank you!"
She encourages Anubis forward in order to encounter the flying creature, and hurls acorns at it!
for
"Leave us ALONE!"
First Florence tries retribution....
vs DC 23 or be retributed
Later, Zilchus provokes...
...and the bird misses, not realizing that was a good thing under the circumstances.
Nidhi still to go.
Round 3
While remaining invisible, Nidhi continues to sing as she fires off another volley of arrows.
Florence, frustrated by the creatures steadfastness, tries another angle. Zilchus flies over to the remaining bird, and takes his shot - hitting! Nidhi barely manages to connect twice stripping away more of the creatures power. Kosei the lion, mouthes a few acorns to Stelle who flings the larger acorn at the creature hitting, though no strength damage is added as it’s a splash weapon.
Blue also tries a 5’ flap to avoid Zilchus so it can continue to launch lightning bolts at him.
vs DC 15
Successful, it summons another thunderbolt!
Additionally, from out of the storm, a heavier lightning bolt spontaneously erupts, targeting … going alphabetically that makes Kosei!
vs DC 22 Reflex for half, then remember your resistance (30).
And with that, the party piles on - Zilchus' blade, Nidhi's bow, Stelle's acorn, Florence's hex, and Kosei's spell, any one of which is enough to dissipate the summoned beast back to wherever it is such creatures come from.
The battle is over, but the stone block is still descending. We are out of initiative, but the block will be removed in just a few seconds, so don't get carried away. Please just as much as two rounds of actions before the block has cleared and you can see into the next chamber.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Kosei roars painfully as he fails to see the lighting bolt coming from the ceiling. The lion shortly licks his scorched back with the tongue.
"That was ugly" then he looks to the air expecting more lightnings to come in their direction.
And meanwhile he calls for Nidhi to heal her "Where are you magnificent singer of the dunes?" using his healing hands on her once he finds her.
Then he casts a spell to complete the bard's healing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zilchus smiles at Florence tends to his wounds, thankful for such a short pain.
"You do that well, thank you. Makes bleeding for you worthwhile," Zilchus states thankfully. "Now, what is going on with that block?"
Zilchus takes a full round action to summon a Chaosodile (large), edging Kosei out of the way. He puts it in front of the stone block.
"Now now, beast, don't snap at my friends, I feel there are the cowering foes of the Great Crocodile inside, and you may feast on them," Zilchus says soothingly.
Stelle awaits the end of the block's decent, bracing herself against anything that might come charging out.
If nothing does, she'll cautiously makes her way down the new pathway when the others are ready.
Nidhi waves her arm in an attempt to heal herself. Then heals again. "I'm okay. But I'd prefer to stay invisible for now."
"Now now, beast, don't snap at my friends, I feel there are the cowering foes of the Great Crocodile inside, and you may feast on them," Zilchus says soothingly.
Nidhi looks over the large creature now blocking the doorway. Is... he going to send the crocodile in as a scout?
As the battle ends, the party makes a few hurried preparations as the stone block descends fully, revealing the next chamber.
Paintings of falcon-headed humanoids face one another on this chamber’s floor, and elaborate murals of birds in flight decorate the walls. In the west and east wings of the chamber, tall statues of owl-headed humanoids stand at attention with long spears. In a niche to the north stands a sizable crystalline pyramid of emerald, pulsing with light. Near it is an oddly positioned pillar lined with hieroglyphs in vertical columns, though blank spaces suggest it might be unfinished. It looks very much like another scrivener’s pillar though your attention is gathered elsewhere for the moment.
For crouching comfortably next to the pyramid, is a mummified androsphinx (image). He smiles with malice, and perhaps a soupçon of insanity, though perhaps not at you as he says, ”Pray, before we tear at each other hell bent on destruction, listen to my offer.”
As the group takes a breath, he plunges on assured of his audience, ”Excellent!” He pads around the crystal pyramid, caressing it as he goes, ”I’ll allow you ten minutes alone in this room, if you can but answer my riddle. Succeed, and the time is yours - I shall resume my duties at the end. Fail, and we shall do our best to rend each other to bits!” He gets a little shrill at the end, but manages to keep it together.
His glowing blue eyes pierce you from beneath the wrappings as he awaits your response. ”So, will you hear my riddle?” The very air seems to sizzle, though it’s likely just the storm at your backs.
Zilchus crosses his arms, thinking about the offer. While he isn’t willing to put his own mind against the sphinx’s, he is willing to bet on wise Kosei and the bewitching Florence.
”Go on.”
Kosei sniffs the air "The sweetness of your sweat is clear like the moon in the middle of the night sky my singing friend"
-----------------------
The Garundi lion looks at the androsphinx with interest "Golden like a desert dune it seems, bana..." Kosei negates with his head "...no is. What is it? If you still do not know it... you should know... I have already told you what is it androsphinx"
Stelle tries not to look bored when the androsphinx suggests playing Riddles, but is clearly amused when Kosei Lion speaks.
"New to riddles, are you?"
She waits patiently waiting for the game to begin.
The mummified sphinx nods, clearly excited. He begins…
“In ancient days, a wealthy merchant of Sothis had a daughter of great beauty, upon whom he settled a rich dowry. Unwilling to part with either his daughter or his wealth, he found one reason after another to rebuff her many suitors. But when two sons of Pharaoh’s chamberlain presented themselves, the merchant knew he could not reject them outright as he had the others.”
“Thinking himself wise, the merchant devised an impossible means to decide which man would marry his daughter: the brothers would race their camels around the outskirts of the city, and whichever brother’s camel came in last, that man would have the hand of his daughter and her rich dowry. This way, thought the merchant, the race would never end!"
"But the brothers were no fools, and soon found a way to outsmart the wily merchant. What did they do?”
He looks at you with a mischievous grin and awaits your answer.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"But the brothers were no fools, and soon found a way to outsmart the wily merchant. What did they do?”
Zilchus is no fool, no fool at all. He moves over to whisper to Kosei, keeping his voice down.
”It’s clear that the brothers share the woman and the dowry, splitting her day and night, night and day. That’s the easy answer and it must be correct. Of the dowry, they should spend it drinking and whoring on the nights they are without wife. This is the solution, is it not?”
Kosei negates with his head to Zilchus "Oh no no! That would be horror! What about the honor of the daughter? No, the answer should be that one of the brothers understood the highest good for the daughter and his brother would come if he was to reach the goal last, and so he would tell to his brother. And after they married they would be all happy while the brother will protect his brother and new sister. That one shall be the answer, no matter what" the Garundi looks at Stelle and Nidhi for reassurance.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Stelle responds quietly never taking her eyes off of the Sphinx.
"Maybe instead of going around the city, they took a shortcut though it killing every riddle-telling mummified sphinx they encountered, then went on their merry way."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The bard, quite charismatic but not exceedingly intelligent, listens to the riddle and then to her companions. She sits cross-legged on her carpet and discusses with her companions: "I have to agree with Zilchus on this one. The brothers must share the woman. To be worth such a feat, she must be spectacular."
Shendakut laughs shrilly, and uneasily, as the party chats, ”Oh, well? Have you decided what your answer is to be?”
He looks eagerly at the party for a reply.
- - -
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"What if they did decide who would win the daughter's hand, ahead of time...and then switched camels without the merchant's knowledge?"
Zilchus nods, confused. ”But what about the drinking and whoring? Surely, that’s the important part...unless...maybe this is a better solution. Hmrph,” Zilchus crosses his arms, considering. He eventually shrugs, willing to go with Florence’s answer.
Shendakut paces, waiting for someone to speak aloud. He looks uneasy and jittery, though with excitement or something else it's hard to say.
Kosei looks at Florence very serious, then turns to Shendakut, then back to Florence. The lion stretches his eyes while looking at the woman "Yes. You are smart. I think you found the solution. Just go ahead Florence my friend! Tell it!" he then pushes her softly with her head towards the Shendakut.
The sphinx curls his tongue and whistles loudly as two large, invisible (and previously hidden), flying, somethings breeze past you to the outer chamber. Shendakut follows grinning from ear to ear like a cat quietly munching on a mouse. ”Well done… well done!! The chamber is yours.”
As he leaves he clumsily takes to the air and flutters to the upper chamber where he sits comfortably awaiting the ten minute window.
You’re on your own in the chamber. You, presumably, check the scrivener’s column and read the last order given the pyramids tied to the emerald control pyramid in front of you, ”Position your vessels high above Sothis and await further directives.”
The emerald pyramid thrums with power, partially lighting the room with its sparkling green hues.
Knowledge Planes DC 21 to read the following spoiler:
- - -
- - -
Each Control Pyramid also controls something, though you’re not sure what exactly. To do, whatever it does, you need simply to touch the Pyramid and speak the words written on the Pyramids face in ancient Osirian, ”Open in the name of Hakotep!” Then whatever it is that the Pyramid controls, er, will happen. In some way.
Finally, you can use the power to control another large stone pyramid which is fueled by this one. That is tricky as it requires either a spell with the acid or earth descriptor, or a DC 20 Use Magic Device (trained) to succeed.
- - -
Zilchus takes some time to look around, pointing out anything of interest to the party.
Perception
”We’re probably going to have to kill that sphynx,” Zilchus mentions when the undead cat is out of earshot. ”We’ll want to be sure this place is safe before we present it to the Ruby Prince.”
Stelle sits in her saddle, resolutely glaring at the mummified sphinx.
"Really? That's the solution?" Stelle asks with more than a hint of disappointment in her tone. "Because -- the brothers wouldn't know which of their camels was the slower?" Stelle rolls her eyes.
"I hope you have a better riddle planned if there is a next time."
Stelle rides up to the others in the control room.
"It looks like it's just going to more of these controls anyway, so go ahead and speak the catchphrase. Maybe Nidhi can best perform as Hakotep? Take your time, though. I'm more than happy to help kill that sphyinx," she states, playfully tossing a magic acorn in the air and catching it.
"It's over there," Stelle says without looking, pointing in almost but not quite the opposite direction from where Zilchus is looking.
"We agree. Let's do it then my friends" Kosei lion approaches the pyramid and places his right paw over its surface, he then reads in Ancient Osiriani "Open in the name of Hakotep!"
Nodding he turns to Nidhi "I will leave the epic commands to the flying pyramids to noble artist Nidhi though"
Kosei steps up and speaks the phrase in ancient Osirian. The crystal pyramid thrums with power, and the dim light within it seems to shift and swirl. An enormous crack of lighting erupts from the clouded ceiling and strikes somewhere deeper in the well - likely the floor. That storm-smell of ozone fills the air and the remaining winds seem lessened somehow though still fierce.
Off in the distance, you hear Shendakut say, ”Wow! Impressive!”
Does anyone use the Emerald Pyramid to try and control the large stone pyramids connected to it? If so, let me know what you plan to do.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zilchus (and his chaosodile) keeps a watch at stone doorway, making sure no one disturbs the work that Kosie, Nidhi, Annie, and Florence are doing.
"You guys work. I'll guard."
"Wait a minute..." Stelle says, riding up to the pyramid.
Stelle lifts and pushes a bottom corner of the Pyramid to see if it is at all moveable. If it is, she'll invert it.
If not, she retreats sheepishly shrugging.
"Worth a try."
Annubis manages to tip the crystal pyramid to another facing. Though very heavy, it is possible to move it. Looking at the bottom, you see no more hieroglyphs or other markings however.
To be clear, as it may be confusing, earlier you gave 'verbal' commands to the commanders of the set of pyramids tied to the Earth Crypt via the scrivener's pillar. The crystal pyramids allow direct control of the larger pyramids tied to them (as many as four for each crystal pyramid). If you can activate the crystal pyramid, you can send those others crashing into the ground, fly them high into the sky, whatever you like.
However, you cannot 'see' them, or their surroundings, and you cannot give complex commands (like have them fly back here). It's direct control, like you had a joy-stick for the thing. But it'd be easy enough to crash them, just have them gain altitude for a minute or two, and then cut power.