The flap of Ayako's Handy Haversack nudges open and a little flat nose pokes out, taking a few sniffs before ducking back in.
Ever since he was rescued from All the World's Meat, he knew this strange woman was tied to him, he really didn't know how but still knew it when she lead him and the others to safety. So he followed her, sticking to the shadows and watching over whatever building they had gone into. He knew that eventually she would go beyond his ability to keep up and so one night when she slept, he snuck into her magic pouch and snuggled in. There was a bunch of clutter, and he had to stick his nose out to get fresh air, but the odd food tucked away was rather tasty! He snuck out when she slept to make sure to do his piggy business in a corner before going back in.
But now something was strange, he felt different, more connected and special. Perhaps the time was upon him to reveal himself to his new friend.
Bweee
Tyrandro gets up. "You'll show us the way?" he asks the lord, well aware that he will not but send his servant at best.
"Thank you. Let's go to the Labyrinth. I'm interested in seeing the statue, and finding what we seek."
Glorio glances at the sudden appearance of the pig. "Interesting trick."
Glorio then gets angry at your incessant questions. "Listen! I can not help you. There are politics going on that you cannot understand. Neolandus is my prisoner. I cannot simply hand him over. This conversation did not happen and you are on your own. I take my leave of you now. Do not wander in my home. Go back the way you came and the garden is directly across the way from the entrance. No one will hinder you in the garden. I cannot say the same if you choose to wander from this route."
With that, Glorio hurriedly leaves to head upstairs. His cape billows behind him as he goes.
Ayako sighs and looks in her haversack. Seeing the little pig within, she feels this connection form. They stared and stared, she stared, he stared she stared, he stared and then they were one.
Well, let us go to this statue. Ayako stands and heads out with the others.
You leave the visitor's lounge and make your way to the garden.
This chamber hardly seems to be part of a palace, but looks more like a clearing at the heart of a vast jungle, teeming with life. The sky above is a deep, cloudless blue, while in the distance, hazy towers rise above the verdant canopy. Exotic bird calls fill the air, the scent of dozens of unfamiliar flowers and plants assault the nose, and everywhere a riot of color demands the eye, whether it’s the wing of a tropical bird, the petals of a brightly hued flower, or the glittering multicolored tiles that make up a round fountain to the north. The fountain’s central plume is a stone pillar around which entwine two cobra statues that clutch green gems in their fanged maws. To the south of the fountain stands an immense, life-sized jade statue of an elephant, a howdah perched on its back, its tusks and trunk raised high in greeting to the southeast doors. From inside the room, the doors look more like gates set into a wrought-iron fence that encircles the garden. Other gates set in this fence doubtless lead to other parts of the palace, and after a bit more observation, the somewhat static nature of the jungle and landscape becomes apparent—the walls of this garden are in fact an incredibly realistic and clever painting of a Vudrani junglescape.
Ayako approaches the statue and says in a firm voice, "Chamidu is blind"
What beautiful paintings. Almost made me believe that it was real. She steps up next to Ayako and waits silently afraid to say anything until they are in the dungeon.
"Why are there green gems everywhere?" Tyrandro asks.
Green must be their favorite color
Ayako says, "Chamidu is blind" and nothing immediate happens.
The 10-foot-diameter stone platform on which the elephant stands is a circular secret trap door. Upon closer inspection, Ayako discovers a hidden 6-inch-diameter pressure plate at the platform's center. Pressing the plate causes causes the entire disk to slowly rotate 180 degrees. As it does so, a curved opening appears, granting access to a flight of spiral stairs that descend into the ground.
You take the stairs down into a hidden underground garden.
The air in this vast grotto is cool. An iron-framed flight of spiral stairs winds up through a hole in the ceiling in the northwest section of the room from the top of a semicircular ledge. The ledge winds down along the cavern’s inner wall to a series of rope bridges that descend even lower from ledge to ledge. The upper ledge is breathtaking and strangely beautiful—a tableau of all manner of odd-colored fungi, lichens, and molds. The fungi have been cultivated, shaped into symmetrical patterns normally not seen in nature, transforming the ledge into a sort of underground fungal garden. Here and there, flickering torches burn in sconces above the fungi, while from somewhere in the darkness below comes the soft splash of water against an unseen shore.
We best stay away from the fungus. Mu Shu, no eating! The piggy snorts and comes to heel rather than investigate the hopefully edible mushrooms.
I guess we will be heading to the ledges. Ayako gazes into the darkness, wondering if there are any creature slurking about.
Tyrandro takes his bow once they are underground. "Those Arcona's have style. Here is a generous present now go into our private prison please, you may find there what you search."
"And we took it hook line and sinker. We are going to go down in history as the team with the best strategies ever." he adds, his words dripping with irony.
Iolana takes a look at the pretty green gems before she heads down the staircase. There's so many gems around here. They must have really good security. That or I've never been in a house this fancy.
"We needed to find him. Do you know of another way into this lovely labyrinth? Did you have a better plan? I wonder if we're going to find Vencarlo down here too." She pulls out the ring that was given as a reward, and studies it not sure if it's really what it's purported to be.
"If I had one I would have told you before. This is still better than say kill the Lord and then go in here anyway. But as nice and polite he acts - he is in charge here and we are the pawns in his game. And he likes the queen and has Neolandus Kalepopolis locked away in some dark dungeon. Do you believe we will find him in a luxury underground suite?"
"And I recognize a pattern. Please come along for an audience with the emperor. A lot of good this did to us. We have to improve on that or there will be the day where brute force won't get s out of this s%%*."
Invest in a method of fast escapes? I don't have any abilities that would allow us to do so, yet. As for His Highness, it really didn't seem to be ending in any other way. His goons attempted to rob us or worse at first sight and then he wanted us to kneel. Then arrows everywhere.
Ayako takes a look at the ring that as given to them.
"The end would have bee the same. But we could have slain the four thugs where they approached us instead of following them into the throne room on the emperor's terms. That would have been a lot less painful."
"Walk in on the next group of guards and take care of them. Wait for the rest at a choking point. Instead of standing in the spotlight for everyone and his uncle to slash and shoot at us." Tyrandro rants - mostly about his own stupidity.
"We would have needed to fight far more had we not followed the thugs. Following them saved resources, and caught the emperor unaware, and unprepared. "
"Does anyone want darkvision for a few hours? There's a tactical plan for you Tyrandro. We won't have to advertise our presence with lights. Ayako is that a pig with you? Where did you find him er her? If he's not going to be hiding does can he use some Mage Armor?"
Iolana looks around the room. "So which way should we go?"
I can see in the dark, Mu Shu is indeed a pig.
Oink oink
Mu Shu says 'hello'. He has a good nose and can sniff out threats. Isn't that right, Mu Shu?
Mu Shu oinks and sniffs the air.
A little Mage Armor would be helpful
"Darkvision would be appreciated. Down is the way to go I guess." Tyrandro replies.
Ayako and Iolana inspect the strange green gems you've noticed through the palace. The gems in the hall and on the statue indicate divination magic. So does the gem on the ring. The gems on the fountain do not.
You make your way around the lip of the cavern pit to get to the wooden bridges leading down. You take care to avoid the fungal growths as you walk. About half way, Mu Shu oinks that something seems amiss and you hear the footsteps of something approaching but don't immediately see any danger. However, once they are close enough, four skeletal creatures, drop their invisibility and shimmer into view. Unlike a normal skeleton, mushroom caps and mold sprout from their bones. The mold on their bodies bulge and burst releasing a choking cloud of spores that lingers in the air around them.
All of you manage to resist the spores effects except for poor Mu Shu who is poisoned and takes 1 Con damage and is fatigued. Unfortunately for you, the spores remain in the air and you'll need to continue to make saves until you leave the area or disperse of the spores somehow.
This is a fungal creature. A fungal creature is an animate plant with the appearance of a living creature. It grows from spores implanted in the dead body of a host creature, and takes on the host creature’s basic form and many of that creature’s abilities.
The host creature for these garden guardians is a janni, a lesser form of genie.
Mu Shu squeals as the bad mushrooms hurt him and is worried that there is noplace to run.
Ayako is suddenly panicked by the creatures around them and her thoughts begin to jumble.
Bweeee! Bweeeeee!
What is that Mu Shu? Oh yes! These are Garden Guardians, they seem to be a kind of genie that has been infested by fungus.
We should concentrate on one at a time to get them down faster. Destroy the North one?
Ayako begins to chant and whispers seem to reach out, pulling across space and bringing forth a shape.
N Large animal
Init +4; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 9, flat-footed 15 (+6 natural, –1 size)
hp 42 (5d8+20)
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Defensive Abilities ferocity
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee gore +8 melee (2d6+9)
STATISTICS
Str 23, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +3; CMB +10; CMD 20
Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness
Skills Perception +12
Ayako also kneels down so Mu Shu can get into her Haver Sack.
"Wonderful." Tyrandro sighs and shoots the northern one.
XP 400
N Small outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +0
Defensive Abilities air mastery; Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee slam +6 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks whirlwind (DC 12, 10-20 ft.)
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 15
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Acrobatics +7, Escape Artist +7, Fly +17, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +11
Languages Auran
Ayako begins casting a summon monster spell.
Tyrandro hits the northern guardian with two arrows and it bleeds a green sap-like blood.
Sebastian 5 ft. steps up attacks the guardian (blue) near him. One hits. He discovers its skeletal anatomy turns out to be more fleshy plant matter than body.
The (red) guardian steps up to attack Iolana. The attack is weak but still manages a wounding cut.
The (blue) guardian, that Sebastian engaged, attacks back and nearly hits with two devastating slashes. Sebastian avoids the critical hits but takes two regular hits.
The (green) guardian moves up and attacks Tyrandro. Unlike Sebastian, he isn't able to avoid a critical hit.
The (yellow) one double moves up next to Tyrandro (and doesn't attack this round.)
Tyrandro steps away from the plants and continues to shoot the one he started with to make way for a retreat.
Ayako finishes her chanting and three small clouds appear over the choking masses of spores and begin to spin. Soon, the masses of fungus are sucked into the small funnels and clear the air of the foul miasma.
Ayako then darts her fingers, sending a ray of brilliant white light streaking at the northern creature
Iolana casts defensively Ray of Cold on the mushroom thing in front of her.
Iolana cats Magic Missile, and four missiles fly from her hands.
Iolana hits the garden guardian with frost. The creature does not appear to be resistant to cold attacks.
Iolana lets fly magic missiles at two of the guardians. The most wounded one (red) still continues the fight.
Ayako's summoned elementals blow away three clouds of spores, clearing the area for the party to breath safely. Her ray of light then strikes the northern guardian as well. It still stands but it looks like it is struggling to continue.
Sebastian continues to fight off the southern guardian that he is engaged with and lands another strike.
Tyrandro hits the (red) guardian one more time. It staggers from the attack and looks like it probably can't take more than one more hit like that.
The northern guardian turns and attacks the air elemental. It hits once but stumbles with its second attack.
The southern guardian manages to hit the elemental next to it twice which is enough to destroy it.
Likewise, one of the garden guardian near Tyrandro turns and destroys the air elemental near it as well.
One more hit gets through while Tyrandro's attention is one the further enemy.
Ayako 5' steps up to Tyrando and touches him with the healing wand
The elemental punches at the one who harmed it
Tyrandro continues shooting at the fungi after stepping away. Though the room for that becomes scarce.
Ayako heals Tyrandro and her remaining air elemental punches the garden guardian. Its stormy fist does little damage to it.
Tyrandro's first shot takes down the (red) guardian. Another shot hits the (blue) guardian further weakening it.
Sebastian manages to stab the (blue) guardian one more time. It can't take much more.
With the elemental gone, the (blue) guardian turns back to face Sebastian and slashes him once across the chest.
When Tyrandro steps back, he opens a path for one of the garden guardians to move up and attack Ayako. The creature hits her hard with a critical hit to the face and another across the gut.
The last one (yellow) takes two swings at Tyrandro but he is able to block them both with his bow.
Ayako grunts in pain and steps back, ice forming on her hand as she sends the cold of space at the blue guardian
DC 17 fort to save
The tiny elemental keeps punching
Iolana steps back, and fires Magic Missiles at the blue and green fungi. "Careful there. This may not be as easy as we thought.
"Who thought this were easy? The path is free! Retreat behind the bottleneck where the fungi creature dropped!" Tyrandro yells.
He takes a defensive stance to avoid being hit again.
Iolana moves to the north as Tyrando directed. She fires all of her Magic Missiles at the green creature.
Iolana fires four missiles at the creature engaged with Sebastian, weakening it enough for Tyrandro to finish it off with his arrow.
Iolana chooses a new target and starts damaging the (green) guardian with her magic missiles.
Ayako chills the air around the (green) guardian to the frigid cold of space causing massive damage and its fungal body chips and flakes away.
Mu Shu continues to suffer from the fungal poison. It seems likely that he'll just need to weather through it.
The elemental moves up to attack but the creature is much weaker than its opponent and flounders in the air instead.
Sebastian follows the party's strategy and moves into position to bottleneck the enemies and takes the full defense action.
Tyrandro also takes a defensive position and retreats behind Sebastian.
The (yellow) guardian moves up to attack Sebastian but cannot penetrate his defense.
The (green) guardian however turns and destroys the last air elemental easily.
"That's much better." Tyrandro tells relieved as the number of fungi is dwindling and all are in a position that is easy to hold against them.
Obviously too relaxed now as he doesn't hit with a single arrow.
Bweeeeee..
Ayako taps herself with the CSW wand and then steps back next to Iolana
Ayako heals herself. Poor Mu Shu continues to suffer but luckily the poison has just about run its course.
Tyrandro fires three arrows but they all go wide.
Sebastian maintains his position holding the enemy back and fights defensively (+3 AC), hitting the (yellow) guardian once.
Sebastian fends off most of the attacks but one attack gets through and critically punctures an organ. He grits his teeth and bravely holds the line.
Mu shu manages to cough out a few mushrooms. he is one miserable piggy.
Ayako steps up and taps Sebastion with the wand.
Iolana continues to fire magic missiles at the green tinted fungus.
Tyrandro takes a step back and continues shooting.
Iolana hits the fungus with a powerful blast of magic.
Mu Shu finally shakes off the effect of the poison.
And Ayako closes Sebastian's most serious wounds with her wand.
Sebastian sees that one of the remaining enemies is weakened and lowers his defensive stance for the opportunity to finish it off. The (green) garden guardian falls to the ground dead leaving only one more.
Tyrandro manages to get one arrow into the last guardian but it still looks fairly strong.
The last guardian swings twice and comes very close to hits him both times but Sebastian manages to fend off the attacks with some fancy parrying.
Ayako draws her spear(move) and throws it at the monster
Iolana backs farther away from the battle. She fires two Scorching Rays at the remaining fungus.