Ziranu's arrows finish off the monster, who collapses into burning embers.
You feel the entire castle shudder as another Soul Anchor is released. Two down, two to go.
You find a magic ring amid the devil's remains. More importantly, after giving the room a cursory examination (not going to make you roll, it'll become obvious after a just a little searching), you come to a realization - Kazavon may have preferred a human form, but he couldn't entirely shake off his dragon instincts. You are standing in his hoard.
The throne, covered in a thick layer of dust, is gold and has dozens of gemstones embedded within it. What appears to be a down stuffed mattress is actually stuffed with coins. Further, the perimeter of the room is covered in small alcoves, each containing an object of some import to the tyrant. Many of these are skulls, but they detect as magical and are polished to a mirror shine. Others are more obviously valuable, holding small statues, jewelry, paintings, and other precious items.
Finally you find five items of a magical nature. Spellcraft to identify, please. 7 total checks, including the ring and skulls. All the skulls have the same spell on them, so only one check for them.
(I'll total everything up and add it to the party loot once you identify the items.)
Also: Everybody hits level 15
1) Ring of Protection +2
2) The skulls have been permanently enchanted with a Magic Mouth effect. When picked up, each speaks the name of the previous owner, in an approximation of their voice (for example "Andachi of Tamrivena"). There are 34 of them, each worth about 200 GP to a collector of the macabre.
Sial: "Laori would have loved those."
3) A bejweled +2 Icy Burst Light Mace
4) A Rod of Splendor
5) A Scarab of Protection (fully charged)
6) A gem-studded Lantern of Revealing
7) Finally, a golden circlet that has some sort of Necromancy aura on it. After determining it's safe, one of you tries it on and realizes that you are seeing out of another being's eyes, somewhere else in the castle. Serithial reacts strongly to the circlet, and you suspect that it is linked to one of the other Soul Anchors.
The mundane wealth includes:
* 200 gemstones embedded in the throne, worth about 20,000 gp total.
* The gold of the throne itself, worth 2500 gp
* The mattress holds 460 pp, 15,500 gp, 24,200 sp, and 796,800 cp.
* 41 various valuable art objects in the other alcoves, totaling 15,300 gp in value
Let me know if anyone wants to claim any of this, and I'll add the rest to the loot sheet.
"I'll be pleased to carry zhe Lantern of Revealing for now, given bozh its powers when used as a normal lantern, and my own lack of darkvision wizhout using a charge from zhe mask..."
Anastasia looks at the golden circlet.
Anastasia recognizes the circlet and its purpose; there is a rare type of undead called a Skeleton Warrior, whose soul is bound to a circlet such as this as a lich is to its phylactery, or a graveknight to its armor. The warrior will do whatever it takes to gain ownership of said circlet, as it is the only way to free them from their bondage.
Judging by the reaction Serithial has to the circlet, it seems that one of the remaining spirit anchors is such a being.
”Well, it seems that this circlet holds great importance to one of the remaining spirit anchors. If what I suspect is true, it may be connected to a Skeleton Warrior, an undead soul bound to it. We must proceed with caution and be prepared for a confrontation!!“
"What happens if we destroy the thing? Will it destroy the undead?"
Anastasia knows that no, the circlet would just repair itself. But if brought close enough, it could be used to control the warrior.
"Excellent. Zhen let us use zhis knowledge of zhe Skeleton Warrior wizh Serizhial's powers to hunt down zhe next Spirit Anchor..."
Serithial indicates south as the correct direction.
Ziranu begins heading cautiously south, looking to the bearers of the sword and circlet among his companions for guidance on which way to stalk ahead as he reaches the portal to the larger passage to the south...
Please roll Perception and Stealth, Ziranu.
, +2 more if dealing with undead, +4 more if dealing with evil outsiders, and +7 more if trapfinding is applicable.
Ziranu finds himself looking out on a large ledge, overlooking another part of the castle. He also sees (and avoids being seen by) a pair of gargoyles keeping an eye on the area.
There are two ways you could go.
Either down the stairs and then back up a different set of stairs to the room to the south (which sadly I can' properly reveal without showing its contents, trust me it's there), which would be longer but "safer", though also the obvious route and so the stairs are probably watched/guarded by something , or you can deal with or avoid the gargoyles, slide down the ledge and hope to catch Castrothane by surprise.
Anybody for a knowledge check on gargoyles?
Tronar will maintain invisibility and take a peak at the winged beasts for Shaeda.
Tronar spots a few things. For one, these gargoyles are clearly some sort of mutation; they have four arms each. They also appear somewhat larger and bulkier than most of their kin.
“We must remain vigilant. These gargoyles could pose a greater threat than the standard variety. Let us proceed with caution and be prepared for a potentially challenging battle. Does anyone have further insights or strategies to share?“ she asks.
"I've nozhing more to share on zhe mutant gargoyles, but zhe zhought of taking zhem out as a zhreat to our control of zhe castle rooftops is razher appealing."
"Nor do I. Onward then?"
If you all want, I can lead the way to smash the gargoyles? Searok offers.
"Let's do it!" If Searok goes out, Shaeda will accompany him, after activating her armor blessing for +2, Light Fortification, so she can provide bodyguard protection.
"Agreed! Zhe ledge alcove to zhe souzh, right outside zhis door, is zhe best place to draw zhem in. Searok and Shaeda will keep zhe beasts from flanking us, while zhe rest of zhe company can target zhe enemies from wizhin zhe castle... Let zhe hunt begin!"
Ziranu will move no further, waiting until he has a shot at the nearest of the gargoyles to draw them to the company. When appropriate, the Ranger will then take the single shot, leveraging his Pinpoint Targeting feat, causing the gargoyle to lose any armor, natural armor, and shield bonuses to AC. The gargoyle would ostensibly be flat-footed, as well...
Ziranu hits the gargoyle head on.
Roll init.
Turn order will be:
Gargoyle 1
Gargoyle 2
Asyra
Ziranu
Anastasia
Shaeda
Tronar
Sial
Searok
Neither Gargoyle can reach anyone in a single move action, and the path isn't straight enough to charge, so both will swoop down to the corner of the ledge and ready an action to attack anyone who comes within melee range.
Asyra will take one of them up on that offer, since she has a weapon with reach, and charge the one Ziranu struck.
She lands a solid hit.
Ziranu's up.
Ziranu holds his ground, fortunately able to target that same gargoyle to the southwest from his present position, with his Improved Precise Shot, and unleashes his first emerald barrage...
Miss for Attack 1, possible critical hit for Attack 2...
Damage breakout, with definite miss from Attack 1, and otherwise mixed:
- Against AC 25 or lower: 28+39+26+19 = 112 points of damage.
- Against AC 26 or lower: 28+26+19 = 73 points of damage.
- Against AC 29 or lower: 28+26 = 54 points of damage.
Three hits for Ziranu, crit doesn't quite confirm. It's up but hanging on by a thread.
Anastasia's up.
Okay, Anastasia will delay, so I'll bot Shaeda. Good chance she can finish off the very wounded one, so she will move up and strike with her whip.
Shaeda finishes that one off.
Sial will fire a Ray of Sickening at the remaining one.
DC 16.
And the gargoyle is sickened.
Tronar's up.
Seeing the first one drop in a matter of seconds, Tronar will delay and see what develops.
Then on to Searok.
Searok will double move to get in front of the gargoyle.
The gargoyle will full attack Searok.
Asyra will double move to approach.
Ziranu steps to the southwest to target the other gargoyle to the southeast, and launches another storm of arrows...