Baz explodes in burst of gore that quickly turns to smoke and disappears completely.
The pair of imps share a startled look and disappear from view. You hear the flapping of leathery wings as they make a break for the door.
XP 600
LE Tiny outsider (devil, evil, extraplanar, lawful)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect good, detect magic, see in darkness; Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural, +2 size)
hp 16 (3d10); fast healing 2
Fort +1, Ref +6, Will +4
DR 5/good or silver; Immune fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (perfect)
Melee sting +8 (1d4 plus poison)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th)
Constant—detect good, detect magic
At will—invisibility (self only)
1/day—augury, suggestion (DC 15)
1/week—commune (6 questions, CL 12th)
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +1; CMD 15
Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +9, Bluff +8, Fly +21, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge (planes) +7, Perception +7, Spellcraft +7
Languages Common, Infernal
SQ change shape (boar, giant spider, rat, or raven, beast shape I)
ECOLOGY
Environment any (Hell)
Organization solitary, pair, or flock (3–10)
Treasure standard
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based, and includes a +2 racial bonus.
Clement wipes some of the gore from his armor, at least the larger chunks, and looks at Rhesus.
"WOW!"
After patting him on the back, he keeps his shield at the ready for a few moments before finally sighing, shrugging and relaxing.
"Some lord eh guys? Except... we're still out a shard."
Rhesus lets the imps flee while grinning at Clem.
"Pretty awesome, right?"
Bibic searches the chamber for the shard, and is clearly frustrated at it's lack.
(just in case...)
"Where is the damn thing? The other was much easier to find than this one. Nice hit Rhesus, nice hit indeed."
He watches the imps flee and is glad to save his arrows.
"Let's be careful checking this room, you don't know if anything is cursed"
"Pretty awesome, right?"
Spasi whistles deeply as Rhesus lays down the big blows.
That's why Dr. Toffitt assigned him to this team. Nice work, Dr. T, you mummified old bastard.
"Nice work, Rhesus. Darn nice work,"Spasi says while unloading his crossbow and putting it away.
"Say, Bibs, can you use your power thingy to tell us which direction the shard lies? Are we even close?"
"It's all cursed, everything is always cursed. Cursed water with a key in it, telling you."
"Say, Bibs, can you use your power thingy to tell us which direction the shard lies? Are we even close?"
"Sadly the shard doesn't work like that. I know we're in the right complex, but where in here is anyone's guess."
Bibic takes out the shard anyway, and confirms we're still in the right general area.
"So we have to find it the old fashioned way."
Seeing little reason to delay further in this room, Clement nudges Rhesus along with a grin and walks in tandem with the warrior back through the hallways to an unexplored area of the complex.
"Oh yeah, Clem. That's a good idea, let's go that way."
Spasi follows the team to C13.
Rhesus nods at Clem and moves to the lead.
"More planar kobolds or something up here I bet."
Realizing that the key found in the fountain appears to be like a giant version of a clock key, you hustle back to the storage room where you found the rundown clockwork machine. Taking the key, Spasi finds that it fits into the back of the contraption and with several twists, he winds it back up. The creature springs to life after a few shuddering fits and starts, then stands motionless. It does nothing else, but when, frustrated, you decide to leave it rumbles to life and begins to follow you. It appears that Spasi has made a new friend.
"Oh yeah, we already went this way...it's tricky in these dungeons, huh? If we weren't with me, we'd probably be lost all the time," Spasi says while winding the key in the mindless automaton (no, not Noya, the construct).
"Is this thing following me? That's pretty cool, huh? I told this thing was totally sweet. Now, I wonder if I can find a dress to put on it." Spasi scratches his chin, thinking about the previous levels and wondering where he might find some women's clothing.
"We're going to have to name it too. Say, Bibs, do you have any of them cool Elvy names for it? Like 'Gladrasyphillus' or something?"
"We're going to have to name it too. Say, Bibs, do you have any of them cool Elvy names for it? Like 'Gladrasyphillus' or something?"
"Well, I don't know how elven it is, but I knew a bard named Kymeruse once. There was also a Oashuyere and a Bekydywy. They were sisters. Oh, I knew a Nocudufa once too. She was nice, but a little slow."
Clement stands in amazement as the construct springs to life and seems set upon guarding Spasi as if Spasi were the center of the universe to it.
"That's amazing! I haven't seen one of those since that day in the..."
As vivid memories of the burning building dance in Clement's mind, he shudders and cuts his sentence short.
Then, he remembers he didn't die that day, but was saved and steps bravely up next to Rhesus.
"In a long while. They're super loyal and will probably do anything to defend you and keep you safe."
Clement stands next to Rhesus, shield ready, oblivious to any similarity.
When the construct wakes up
"Oh boy this could be a problem."
"Yeah Clem, not sure I'd trust one of them. Don't worry buddy, I won't let you let me down, do you don't have to worry about replacing me with one of them!"
"Don't worry Noya, shouldn't be a problem unless Spasi mistakes it for one of his temple girls."
Spasi points the team to C18, if not then C19.
"Sure are a lot of rooms in here. And no one knows where the shard is," Spasi grouses. "Well, at least I got my clockwork butler with me. Good ol'...uh...uhm..." he sputters, trying to find the right name for his new follower as nothing Bibic suggested had the right zing and panache that he was looking for.
"Maybe I'll call you Calistra's Handmaiden for now. Until we figure things out."
Noya lets a slight laugh at Rheses's poke a Mr Gaten
"Ha"
Moving on, you pass down a tunnel that eventually opens up into an area of unworked stone. Stalactites of various sizes hang from the irregular ceiling of this cavern, dripping slowly onto the stone floor to form a pair of shallow pools. Sheets of fungus grow in a riot along the walls and floor of these dank caves, while what appear to be the mineralized bones of some huge monster lie slumped to the northwest. The cavern curves around the bend and a still pool lies against one wall.
"I get the felling this might be a feeding ground for something."
Spasi puts his arm around his new companion, feeling pretty lucky.
"Nah, what can possibly live in this dump? We're probably going the wrong way."
Spasi takes a look around then guides the party to C20.
As Spasi begins to poke a bout, an amorphous blob rises up and slithers forward.
Combat Round 1
18 Spasi
15 Bibic
15 Rhesus
14 Noya
13 Ooze
12 Clement
XP 1,200
N Medium ooze
Init –5; Senses blindsight 60 ft.; Perception –5
DEFENSE
AC 5, touch 5, flat-footed 5 (–5 Dex)
hp 50/50
Fort +9, Ref –4, Will –4
Defensive Abilities ooze traits; Immune cold, fire
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4 plus 1d6 acid and grab)
Special Attacks acid, constrict (1d6+1 plus 1d6 acid)
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 1, Con 26, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1
Base Atk +3; CMB +6 (+10 grapple); CMD 11 (can't be tripped)
SQ transparent
ECOLOGY
Environment cold marshes and underground
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Acid (Ex) The digestive acid that covers a gray ooze dissolves metals and organic material, but not stone. Each slam and constrict attack deals 1d6 additional acid damage. Armor or clothing worn by a creature grappled by a gray ooze takes the same amount of acid damage unless the wearer succeeds on a DC 20 Reflex saving throw. A wooden or metal weapon that strikes a gray ooze takes 1d6 acid damage unless the weapon's wielder succeeds on a DC 20 Reflex save. The ooze's touch deals 12 points of acid damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the material for 1 full round in order to deal this damage. The save DCs are Constitution-based.
Round 1, Initiative 15
Weapon Equipped = Bow
Cold Iron Arrows = 18/20
Silver Blunt Arrows = 6/8
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 6/6
Ghost Salted Arrows = 6/6
Bardic Performance = 5/12
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 3/3) (CL 3, Con: +6, SR: +5)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease
”Dear god what is that? Definitely the breeding ground for something!”
Bibic shrugs and lines up two shots hoping to wound it enough for the front line to take out.
"Looks like I was right in that this is likely a feeding ground."
Round 1, Init 18
"Wow, look at that. It's one of them silver blobs."
Spasi draws and loads his crossbow.
Round 1
"What's it eat, gristle and dust?"
The ooze envelops Noya. Its very touch is agony and she screams as her armour and skin begin to hiss and smoke.
Combat Round 2
18 Spasi
15 Bibic
15 Rhesus
14 Noya
13 Ooze
12 Clement
XP 1,200
N Medium ooze
Init –5; Senses blindsight 60 ft.; Perception –5
DEFENSE
AC 5, touch 5, flat-footed 5 (–5 Dex)
hp 25/50
Fort +9, Ref –4, Will –4
Defensive Abilities ooze traits; Immune cold, fire
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4 plus 1d6 acid and grab)
Special Attacks acid, constrict (1d6+1 plus 1d6 acid)
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 1, Con 26, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1
Base Atk +3; CMB +6 (+10 grapple); CMD 11 (can't be tripped)
SQ transparent
ECOLOGY
Environment cold marshes and underground
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Acid (Ex) The digestive acid that covers a gray ooze dissolves metals and organic material, but not stone. Each slam and constrict attack deals 1d6 additional acid damage. Armor or clothing worn by a creature grappled by a gray ooze takes the same amount of acid damage unless the wearer succeeds on a DC 20 Reflex saving throw. A wooden or metal weapon that strikes a gray ooze takes 1d6 acid damage unless the weapon's wielder succeeds on a DC 20 Reflex save. The ooze's touch deals 12 points of acid damage per round to wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact with the material for 1 full round in order to deal this damage. The save DCs are Constitution-based.
Round 2, Initiative 15
Weapon Equipped = Bow
Cold Iron Arrows = 18/20
Silver Blunt Arrows = 6/8
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 6/6
Ghost Salted Arrows = 6/6
Bardic Performance = 5/12
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 3/3) (CL 3, Con: +6, SR: +5)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease
Seeing the unpleasantness that is the ooze, Bibic tries to shoot straight and true as he attacks the beast. Sadly he does not shoot straight or true, but it might yet be enough to wound the broad side of the barn that it is.
Round 1, Initiative 12
Clement watches with concern as the ooze engulfs Noya and she begins to sizzle inside of it.
"Blessed Valani, give her the freedom to escape that..."
Clement then steps up next to Rhesus, keeping his shield ready to interpose between the Shoanti and the ooze should it decide to go after his companion.
for
Round 2, Initiative 18
"Ah crap. Noya!" Spasi gripes.
"Who knew there was something pretty nasty in here?"
Noya quickly gets out the the thing
Round 2
Rhesus deftly manages to avoid dipping his weapon in goo, then decides to give it a second go and swing again.
Sadly he is not so lucky the second time.
Noya notices the damage to her armour and sword
"Looks like I might need to find someone to repair my armour and sword, either that or replace them."
Spasi looks at Noyooza's armor.
"Ah man, it got you good. That sucks," Spasi says, taking a deeper look at the damage. "I might be able to fix some of it with magic, most of it, I think. Maybe. Let's do a bit more then we can get back to town and whore it up sell what we've found and fix your armors."
Spasi follows Bibic to C20, leaving no ooze unsquozen.
"I'll have to see if there is a local tanner for my armour, and check with a local blacksmith for my sword."
The walls, floor, and ceiling of this curving corridor are sheathed in rusty plates of iron that have been bolted in place. Scorch marks mar this armour plating at periodic intervals, and the gnawed fragments of blackened bones are scattered here and there. Row after row of tiny runes have been etched into each iron plate. The corridor twists and branches into a maze.
"We're not alone folks. I can hear something growling moving about on clawed feet. Maybe something's lost in the maze."
"Can anyone make out these runes? I'm afraid I'm no linguist."
"I'm not that great a linguist, either."
Clement, eyes wide, scans the interior of this room, taking particular note of the scorched plates and bones.
"Oh, no no. This isn't good. This is like a furnace. We shouldn't be inside a furnace..."
He takes a couple steps towards the exit, pulling Rhesus towards him, while Spasi investigates.
He almost considers leaning over to Rhesus to whisper his thoughts about letting Spasi take a look, but the large Shoanti seems to fully understand his intent.
Spasi steps up to look at stuff.
Know (Arcana)
Know (Planes)
"This ain't good, but yeah, it's interesting for sure."
"This probably how them planar kobolds got in. If we go this way, we need to be careful. Might be more of them."
"Huh, what's up Clem? Oh, yeah Spasi can figure this stuff out, he's pretty cunning."
"Yup, something moving around for sure Bibic. Probably trapped, yeah? Maybe we can just shoot it through the bars like that other thing."