Ben nods to Cahal.
"Exactly. Let's go Cahal, I will follow you."
There seems to be some indecision and everyone is delaying/waiting for everyone else. :)
Tomorrow I'll advance the round as you discuss what to do if you haven't done things prior to that. So far only Florence has acted - casting Heroism on Zilchus.
Though he knows he's right to return to the monster, he double moves up.
Cahal (DMPC-ish) keeps up with Zilchus. Florence casts heroism. Zilchus double moves quickly around the twisting passages. Benedictus delays until Zilchus moves, and then he follows. Nidhi too (I think) delays and follows.
The Stalker continues to flee down the passage, waiting for a time when the spell fails and it can again attack the party with impunity.
Flying, but at ground level so it could just as well be walking. However it is not touching the ground at the present time.
"Enough! We won't reach it, and we risk running into a trap if we keep chasing it! Dammit!"
Ben gives up, frustrated.
Round 3, Init 9
Zilchus gives Ben a really confused look and continues to follow after the thing.
He keeps a look out for traps as he moves.
Perception
"I think if it's running away, we shouldn't have much to worry about." Nidhi casts detect magic on the statue. She doesn't think chasing an invisible foe should be their top priority.
Cahal stays where she is and begins to plan for the creatures return. Florence moves up, pursuing the wispy elemental. Zilchus charges forward. Benedictus stops chasing in frustration. Nidhi joins him, and investigates the statue (not magical).
The Stalker continues to flee down the passage…
Round 4, Init 9
Heroically unaware of the dithering idiocy happening behind him, Zilchus heroically double moves again...and heroically again.
He heroically keeps a look out for traps as he moves heroically.
Perception
Nidhi turns away from the statue and looks around. "Where did Zilchus go?" Did run off to barf or something?
Nidhi will double move two rounds to follow Zilchus. Move Nidhi back if she's too far.
Ben moves a bit forward in order not to be left behind. "No way we are reaching it! What if it lures us into a trap?"
_________________
The party argues a little as to what should be done, but you all move, at least a little, in the direction of the fleeing Stalker. Zilchus looses sight of it around the bend as pursuit continues.
The Stalker appears to be invisible again as it lashes out at Zilchus with an unexpected violence. I’ve left the icon where it was when it attacked, but it may not be in that square currently.
Round 10, Init 9
"What? Now you want to go back? Make up your piddlespotting minds. I'm in no mood for this s!@~ this morning," Zilchus grouses. "Where are we planning on going back to and why? So we can go dither?"
Zilchus 5' steps to his left and swings into the square above where the stalker was.
to hit; (-hungover,+heroism)
adamantine slashing damage.
miss chance
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
HP: 35/58
AC: 22/20 (7 armor, 2 dex, 1 dodge, +2 buckler)
DF: 0/10
Weap: 0/6
Grunting: 0/6 used (+3)
Quick Prayer: 0/6 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
GoodFeelings: 0/2 used
Weapon: 0/7 rounds used
Armor: 0/7 minutes used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
Ben moves closer to his friends. He has no idea on what to do to make the stalker visible again, so he ends up helping Zilchus as best as he can: that is, watching his back.
Ptolomy, can you see it?
Blindsense (Ex) Using nonvisual senses, such as acute smell or hearing, a creature with blindsense notices things it cannot see. The creature usually does not need to make Perception checks to pinpoint the location of a creature within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent the creature cannot see still has total concealment against the creature with blindsense, and the creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.
But if we're going to change him into a faerie dragon perhaps it is better not do use this ability.
- - -
Florence does indeed reveal the Stalker (placed on map) on her init. So Zilchus may make a different 5' step to be adjacent if he wishes, and Benedictus & Cahal may act differently as well if they wish.
Nidhi still to go!
And he's blinded... again!
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖
Now able to discern the stalker, Benedictus decides to resort on a damaging spell, one that offers the complete certainty of hitting its target.
“I…what did I just do?! Four missiles?! At once?! Wow!”
_________________________
Conditions – mage armor (+4 AC, ? hours)
Wizard spells prepared (CL 7th, concentration +13)
[smaller]4th ()― scrying, summon monster IV (2)
3rd ()― fireball , fly , haste, summon monster III
2st ()―
1st ()― burning hands (x2; DC 17), grease (DC 18), ear-piercing scream (DC 17), mage armor,
Cantrips ()― dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, prestidigitation
Cahal closes in and makes ready with her spear. Florence glitters up the hallway, exposing the Stalker, and blinding it! Zilchus steps up, but misses wide (even blind). Benedictus lights up the target with magic missiles, throwing more than ever before. Nidhi, GMPC, begins again with a song to improve the parties abilities (+2 to hit, damage, etc from bardsong).
Meanwhile, the Stalker moves (can’t five foot step blind I think) to engage Zilchus. He swings blindly once in a fury.
Round 11, Init 9
Zilchus swings with all his might at the shimmery outline. He grunts as he does.
to hit; (-hungover,+heroism,+grunt)
adamantine slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
HP: 35/58
AC: 22/20 (7 armor, 2 dex, 1 dodge, +2 buckler)
DF: 0/10
Weap: 0/6
Grunting: 1/6 used (+3)
Quick Prayer: 0/6 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
GoodFeelings: 0/2 used
Weapon: 0/7 rounds used
Armor: 0/7 minutes used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
If the invisible stalker is still alive by the time it's Nidhi's turn:
Nidhi continues to inspire the party, singing the same song as before.
Cahal steps up and ends the Stalkers stalking forever as it crumbles to the ground in a heap. Florence heals Zilchus who (I expect) smacks the Stalker one more time for good measure.
We are out of combat. Nidhi you can save a performance, there's nothing left to kill by your initiative.
Zilchus spooks a bit as Florence gooses him with healing energy. He quickly recovers to offer thanks...then moves against the circular wall and heroically expunge his breakfast onto the floor.
He stands gasping and drying heaving, spitting and drooling, for a few more minutes before recovering. He casts Create Water and rinses out his mouth, which tastes awful as you might expect.
He moves to another part of the wall (un-be-belched upon) and leans into it. He looks green and unhappy...and still can't even look at Nidhi.
"You piddlespotters are going to kill me today."
Ben nods to Florence. "Yes, let's rest for a few minutes." Ben himself sits cross-legged on the floor.
"Mmh...I was thinking...," he starts by saying, after a minute or so of silence, "why was an invisible stalker here? I get it could have been a guardian. But why was it hostile to us without any reason? And why the statue looked exactly like it? Too many questions, perhaps..."
Ben drinks a bit of water, then is ready to go.
"Good job, Zilchus." Nidhi approaches the corpse to examine it while Florence heals Cahal. "I didn't think it would turn around and attack again." Nidhi sticks an index finger in her ear, itching her lobe.
After her companions are healed, Nidhi asks: "Time to move on?" She creeps down the hallway with her bow put away and her torch out. If all looks safe, she'll continue past the curve.
"Good job, Zilchus."
Ben can't help but look at Zilchus, curious to see his reaction.
"Good job, Zilchus."
Zilch dry retches again, breathing hard. He says nothing in return.
He cleans off his sword and wonder what the awful vomit smell is all around him.
He moves to follow after Cahal, not moving too quickly.
The party rests a moment to catch their breath, and lose their breakfast, before pressing on deeper into the complex. There is certainly something odd about the Invisible Stalker’s presence here. Tholurtu said there were two, and that they were ‘trapped’ and implied they had been for some time. But the mystery remains for now as the party presses on.
You round the corner and see the inner sanctum - the stacks. The corridor opens into a wide, circular chamber. Instead of a floor, a vast well lined with row upon row of books, scrolls, parchment, and other items plummets downward. Below, flickering flames gently illuminate the chamber in soft light. A flight of narrow stone stairs descends in a spiral along the inner walls of the shaft, which is crisscrossed by a lattice of slender, impossibly thin bridges.
The Spiral’s Heart contains the majority of the Spiral Archive’s holdings. The shaft is 160 feet deep, and the thin bridges that cross the shaft at various levels are actually made of magically strengthened papyrus!
Researching in the Spiral’s Heart is tricky however. Although the papyrus bridges are as strong as thick leather, they are flexible and bow when weight is placed on them. For every Research check attempted in the Spiral Archive, a character must succeed at a DC 10 Acrobatics check to safely cross the bridges. A character can avoid having to attempt an Acrobatics checks by slowly and carefully moving across the bridges (effectively taking-10), but that character takes a –2 penalty on his Research checks for that day. On a failed Acrobatics check, a character must succeed at DC 17 Reflex save or fall off the bridges and to the floor below (random falling damage 2d6 x 10’).
Once again, you can have the more lithe Cahal make three checks (auto success), allowing three of you to research safely as before. To research, make a DC 20 Knowledge (history, nobility or religion) check. Success and roll d6 (d8 for Nidhi and Benedictus) for the strength of your success.
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Zilchus finds a chair and sleeps for the next few hours, dozing in an out of hangover. Occasionally, he wakes to drink some water.
By midday, he's recovered enough to think about wanting to help with the research...and he does, very slowly.
Know (History,-4 halfday)
failure tastes like vomit
"I will navigate the bridges on my own, if you allow me. I want to prove myself worth of this place, both physically and mentally," Ben explains lucidly. "Now, to work!
DMPC Nidhi’s research to move us forward…
vs DC 20
Bardic Knowledge (Ex): A bard adds half his class level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.
- - -
Florence, your procedure was correct, thanks.
The morning begins with frustration and, for Zilchus, recovery. An index cataloging all of the documents copied from Hakotep’s library is found as the library is well organized, but the books and scrolls have clearly been moved or hidden and are not where they are supposed to be. Still, you must follow every lead just in case, and waste the morning doing so.
After a break for lunch, you delve deeper in, ignoring the leads you’ve had thus far, and instead seeking out the far nooks and crannies where these items might be found. After a few hours Cahal is sweating profusely running to and fro seeking out what seemingly wants to remain hidden. However, Nidhi finds a thin thread of a lead, sending Cahal ever deeper into the stacks.
Success! As the party presses on into the evening, you locate the missing scrolls from Hakotep’s library! A huge pile of materials containing several references to the Sky Pharaoh and his participation in some ancient war. The Sky Pharaoh is represented by a very distinct hieroglyph of a winged pyramid.
According to the scrolls, the Sky Pharaoh was convinced that an attack was coming from enemies who lived in cities in the clouds to the southwest, and that he was frantically searching for a weapon to defeat them. Apparently, the pharaoh eventually succeeded in finding this weapon, but all that remains of the scrolls that detail this weapon are a handful of ragged papyrus scraps depicting confusing geometrical patterns. You know that these scrolls should be here, but have clearly been removed.
However, your long tiresome day is over, and it’s time to begin watches.
Zilchus slams another book shut, unable to find what he wanted to find (nudie drawings, probably).
"I can't believe how little art is in these art books," Zilchus complains animatedly. He then looks up to where others are probably doing real research (Zilchus started late and gave up early).
"It's getting late. Are we going to stay here tonight or work all night or what?" Zilchus queries Ben.
Nidhi isn't particularly excited about the research, but the papyrus bridges in the Spiral Heart catch her eye. She will cast Detect Magic on them.
"We should spend the night here. When else will we have the opportunity to sleep in a creepy library?" Nidhi shrugs, palms up.
Ben gives Zilchus' question serious consideration. He ponders the situation carefully, scratching his chin as he eats his dinner cross-legged on the floor.
"Mmmh...Staying the night here would certainly maximize our research productivity, since we would not have to come back here tomorrow and lose all the time to get in again," the scholar expounds, before drinking a bit of water from his canteen.
"On the other hand, however, sleeping here might be a danger. As Florence says, we know that there is at least one invisible stalker lurking somewhere in this place. They might also be two, if the ceustodaemon tells the truth."
After a few seconds of indecision, Ben shrugs. "I say we run the risk. We sleep here, and if those things attack, we fight. Zil, would you mind setting up the watches?"
Assuming the others agree with him , Ben will spend the night in the Spiral Archive together with the whole party, following the watch shifts set by Zilchus.
Nidhi, Good Question! After some thought, I'm not going to allow Lore Master, as it's designed to be a 'recollection' of knowledge, and this is a research roll. However, as knowledge recall is important in research, I'll let you use it to provide a +4 bonus to your research roll. Won't help today, but might tomorrow. :)
As for magics, the place does have some. All of the light sources are continual light torches, lanterns, and sconces. The bridges themselves are not magical, but they were likely made utilizing some. However that aura has long since dimmed.
The night passes uneventfully for the party. It never quite gets dark, as the continual lights continue to flicker throughout the night, but you manage none the less. You rise early, and begin work early as this is your last day with access to the Spiral Archives, and there is still much to find.
As a reminder, to research, make a DC 20 Knowledge (history, nobility or religion) check. Success and roll d6 (d8 for Nidhi and Benedictus) for the strength of your success. One of you needs to make an Acrobatics DC 10, while Cahal does the running for the other three.
The depths of the library well await!
Zilchus opens up a bottle of applejack to help with his studying the next day. He sips and reads, only occasionally getting up to whiz in the whizzing corner of the library.
Know (history)
if success
Zilchus seems still greatly uninterested in studying. But also has slowly begun to forgive Nidhi and even manages to look at her without glowering a few times.