|
The tormented soul curses at you in a tongue that holds no meaning, but its intent is clear, it is determined to destroy you and render you Gods powerless for their betrayal. Reaching out it claws at Isonda.
for
This time the creature's claws catch Isonda and impart some of its own madness upon her. However much of faculties remain intact.
Combat! Bold are up!
Fascinate - 4 rounds
G -67
Mariel
Sifvery
Isonda -1 Wisdom/Scratchlings
Dumm
Wembly/Whiskers
Hakime
|
"Don't let up now," Mariel urges on her companions. "We can send this sorry creature back to where it should be gone at once. Hopefully, it can rest easy then..." She raises her sword with a flourish, presenting the symbol of Iomedae worked in the crossguard.
"While wielding a longsword, you can perform an impressive display of prowess as a full-round action. All allies within 30 feet who can see your display gain a +2 sacred bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 round + 1 round per 5 points of base attack bonus you have."
http://archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Divine%20Fighting%20T echnique
|
|
Hakime connects with a single arrow which, unlike the other strikes so far, connect with the incorporeal creature and make it flinch. It is obviously not far from destruction.
Combat! Bold are up!
Fascinate - 4 rounds
Active conditions: +2 Sacred bonus on attacks, skills and saves
G -76
Mariel
Sifvery
Isonda -1 Wisdom/Scratchlings
Dumm
Wembly/Whiskers
Hakime
|
|
With one final rage-filled outburst from the darkness inside Dumm, the tortured spirit is torn asunder and dissipates into the ether, shrieking and cursing as it does so.
Offered a bit of breathing space, you are able to search the room. On the long coat rack, a closer look at the baggy leather reveals them to be a bulky suit of some kind. The leather suits are designed to cover one’s entire body, complete with glass panels to allow a wearer to see normally and filtered ports to facilitate breathing. There are five suits fitted for Medium humanoids and two fitted for Small humanoids.
The wardrobe holds many special herbs and unguents used for rituals, as well as oil. On the body there are two Prisms, one,grasped in the skeleton's hands, gives of a bright glow and the liquid inside shows it to be full, whilst the other, at their feet, lies empty. A sweep of Detect magic also reveals a scroll and Potion in the Wardrobe to hold magic as well s the preserved Cassock the Skeleton wears, depicting the Sword of Iomedae.
|
|
Wembly snaps out of the stupor.
Hey! What happened? Where did that wonderful babbling go? It was so soothing!
He looks around at the others and realizes they had been fighting.
Oh oh. Not another one of those episodes! AND I MISSED IT?
Seeing the suits he suspects this may be a time for Whiskers to visit his home plane.
I suspect these are here for a reason...and they do not appear to fit four-legged creatures. Sorry buddy. I will call you back soon, I promise.
potion
Cassock
He shares what he knows of the two items.
These look to be protective items as well. The cloth thingy may be good for Mariel or Hakime I think
|
|
Mariel breaths a sigh of relief as the shrieking creature is banished, then turns to the companion's that had been entranced by the wailing. "I wouldn't exactly call it soothing, but I know what you mean. You did miss the fighting. I was only barely able to shake off the effect myself, because I was attacked."
--
Mariel helps examine the room, casting Read magic to identify the scroll. "I think Dumm could make good use of the potion, or maybe Isonda. She drew quite a bit of attention from the Allip, in any case. I could use that Cassock, I think." She looks at it in awe, eager to see whether she can indeed make it display the symbol of Iomedae.
With some hesitation, she finally takes a look at the leather suits. "You're probably right, Wembly. They seem to be designed to protect against something specific. Something to do with the weapon, I suppose." She sighs, then begins to undo her plate mail. "I know, Haephor, these missions seem to be conspiring against me later, always requiring me to go without armor..." She dons the leather armor.
|
|
As you rummage through the room and start donning the suits as appropriate, there is a strange sound as another spirit leaves the body slumped on the Chair. He is a translucent warrior bearing the Blazing sword of Iomedae on a Cassock.
“For the second time, demons draw near,” he explains. “If you have made it this far, then I trust you have disabled many of my tower’s defenses—contingencies that trapped even me when they triggered. The weapon awaits beyond, though I suspect it lacks the energy to activate properly. The prisms that you have seen store the essence of Heaven itself, which I harvested out of hubris. You will see places to slot them in the control panel at the top of the stairs. Once you are ready to fire the weapon, turn both keys at once, and I shall pray that my creation is powerful enough to banish the scourge of Sarkoris.”[/b]
The spirit of Ghalcor begins to fade, though he stays around long enough for you to question him if you wish.
|
As the spirit dissipates, Dumm returns to himself. His muscles relax, his fur retracts into his skin, his claws and teeth shrink, and he becomes a recognizable half-elf again-- albeit a tired one. The transformation makes him a powerful weapon, but it's a draining ordeal. "Is gone?" he says between breaths.
|
|
Mariel laughs sheepishly when she's correct on the proper use of the leather suits. "Well, that's a relief. I feel a lot better keeping my suit of plate on. You know, this one time Society Leadership asked me to attend a wedding. I thought it could go for ceremonial, but they wouldn't have it. I felt awkward all throughout the event..."
--
When the spirit appears and Mariel realizes who is must be, she looks up in awe. "Greetings, Sir," she starts as she clasps a hand to her breast. "The.. the essence of Heaven, you say? And it's used to power the weapon? We've seen... five of those prisms, but some have lost their power. Should all of them be at full strength before we can activate it? Also..." she hesitates a bit before asking the next question, "What does the weapon do, exactly? And can we take it with us, away from this place?"
Finally, she takes a glancing look at the Cassock, which she had wanted to wear only seconds ago. Knowing who it belonged to makes they feel almost sacrilegious. "Sir, one last thing. We've found your Cassock. What would you like us to do with it?"
|
|
Isonda goes to comfort Scratchings once the wailing stops. "I feel much happier knowing you're better now boy."
She's about to re-mount when the spirit appears. She waits until the end and adds her own questions.
"Excuse me sir. What are these suits for exactly? Is the weapon dangerous to living creatures too? Should I be concerned for my animal friend here?"
|
|
Ghalcor looks down upon you all and frowns for a moment, indicating his rotted corpse he answers Mariel's question regarding the Cassock first before pondering the others.
"I have no need of such a garment, keep it if you will and let its power guide you in the fight against the Inheritor's foes."
He then thinks about the weapon before answering.
"“My creation channels holy energy over a massive area, as if Iomedae herself had spoken a single word of ineffable holiness. All who are evil shall feel its wrath.”
He then speaks about the suits.
“The Mendevian Crusade welcomes all warriors, even if they are not truly devout and pure of heart. Those suits help to shield our less zealous allies.
And finally the Prisms.
“Those who can channel the power of good can direct it into the prisms. I fed these prisms my every prayer and very vitality, though I miscalculated once again and lost my life in the process. Be careful.”
As the Spirit of Ghalcor stops talking, the essence fades away leaving the room still. However the peace is soon disturbed by he sounds of destruction from the door beyond this chamber. Heavy claws tear at metal from inside the Tower's final chamber!
Dumm
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
???
|
|
Wembly would not have any of the prisms, fearing his balance with good is not always as pure as it could be. He will definitely wear the suit.
Hearing the approach of hostiles, he muses...
I wish Whiskers were here now. I guess it is for the best.
I wish that ghost could have stuck around and helped us in battle. I bet he would have been awesome!
He will cast extended haste on the party (all 6 , excluding Scratchlings)
|
|
Sifvery protects herself whilst Wembly makes the others quicker and Hakime debates their position. Pushing on the door, Dumm is met by a large circular chamber. The entire room hums with energy. An immense column of silver and steel rises through the center of this tower, almost touching the ceiling nearly one hundred feet above, where it’s capped by an elaborate device much like an astrolabe of gold and glass. Stairs made of metal mesh round the perimeter of the tower clockwise before reaching a platform twenty feet off the ground. A C-shaped console occupies much of the platform.
There is a lonng set of narrow stairs running around the edge of the room to the Platform that sits around 30' high. One Demon stands on the stairs, seeming to stare around and take in its surroundings, whilst another can barely be seen, ducked behind the console but the noise of the destruction it is causing can easily be heard.
Abrikandilus are formed from the souls of mortals who vandalized art or defaced objects of exquisiteness, particularly those whose acts of destruction were born from jealousy.
Ongoing Effects: Haste,
Dumm
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
D
???
|
|
Boosted by Wembly's spell, Dumm finds that his feet take him much farther forward than they ever had before. As he races up the stairs, he begins his transformation again. Fur sprouts on his exposed skin, and he drops to all fours as his muscles flex and his claws lengthen. "You get to top, I will clear stairs..." His voice becomes harder to understand as his jaw reshapes itself and his mouth fills with teeth. Clear. Kill.
|
|
Mariel looks at her suit dumbfounded, but doesn't have the heart to take it off again. "Thank you, Ghalcor. We'll do what you can."
--
"Oh no, wrecker demons," Mariel bursts out as soon as the door opens. "They delight in destroying things of beauty. Would they want to wreck the weapon as well?"
Hoping to slow down the demon on the top platform, who seems to be in reach of a controle panel, Mariel calls upon the righteous might and brilliance of Iomedae.
|
|
The Demon hammering at the council cries out as the light burns its flesh, managing to raise its forearm just in time to stave off the worst of the lights blinding radiance however.
Isonda calls upon her deity to guide her with luck before order Scratchlings to follow Dumm and Hakime up the stairs, the boar easily bounding up the smooth staircase to stand behind the Raging monster.
Atop the platform, one wrecker demon crouches low behind the console and you can hear the tearing shriek of tortured metal as it tears at the Console.
The other screams in rage but stands its ground, seemingly waiting for Dumm to come in close so that it can tear into him.
Ongoing Effects: Haste,
Dumm
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
D 1 - 11 (Dazzled 3 rounds) / 2 -
???
|
|
There is a large roar and the very tower you stand in shakes, threatening to come apart around you. Suddenly, the wall at top of the stairs explodes inwards, showering rubble and masonry across the chamber floor. A large fiendish hand reaches through the created hole and starts to drag itself in, a corrupted amalgam of bear, a mantis, a wolf and a reptilian humanoid.
Just as you stare in horror at the large beast, Wembly and Sifvery witness Lady Ollystra charge into the room, flanked by two of her loyal crusaders. Raising her sword high she shouts out to you all.
"Pathfinders! Focus on firing the Weapon, we shall keep this monstrosity busy!"
Ongoing Effects: Haste,
Dumm
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
D 1 - 11 (Dazzled 3 rounds) / 2 -
???
Also, in case you didn't know - You can move through Gargantuan creatures to get up the stairs can tumble as normal.
|
|
"Oh, Gods!" Mariel starts running up the stairs as quickly as she can. "Hurry, we have to get to the console. We can't let the demons destroy it."
As she rushes up the stairs, she calls back to her faction leader. "Yes, Sir. We're on it. You can count on us." Knowing that the demon halfway up the stairs stands between them and the console and could delay them, she calls upon the power of Iomedae again to smite the demon.
|
|
Calling a celestial ally to aid them, the Archon fires two rays at the Demon wrecking the console. The first ray explodes harmlessly off the metal casing whilst the other strikes true though much of the ray's power has obviously been sapped by the Worldwound's closeness.
Dumm charges in and the Demon smiles wickedly, striking out with its readied claw at the Rager's armour, tearing a nasty rip through the darkleaf hide.
for
Dumm then tries to grapple the creature and it in turn bites at the rager, though it is off balanced and misses! However, Dumm is unable to get to grips with the wrecker demon.
Mariel's Burst Rocks the demon on the stairs and unlike it's companion the demon is unable to shield its eyes in time, rendering them blind!
Ongoing Effects: Haste,
Dumm
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
D 1 - 12 (Dazzled 3 rounds) / 2 - 11 Blind (2 rounds)
???
When in 30' of the Gargantuan Demon you need to make a DC 19 Fort Save (VS a Gaze attack) or be paralyzed for one round. You can avert your eyes giving yourself a 50% chance of not needing the save but doing so means all foes have concealment against you.
Also, in case you didn't know - You can move through Gargantuan creatures to get up the stairs can tumble as normal.
|
|
Sifvery divs into the room and assists with shooting at the Demon barring Dumm's way as Hakime looks to climb the podium to the raging demon destroying the Console, which looks to the summoned Archon and attempts to make it flee in fear!
The Lantern cowers before the Raging Wrecker demons stare and panics, fleeing out of the room! The second Wrecker Demon swings out at Dumm, trying to bite him as well as claw at the berserker. Hittiing with the bite and one claw
for
or
Ollystra and her brave Crusaders rush the Shemazian demon that is trying to burst into the tower and lay into it with Sword and spell, though they are all also struck by the Mighty demon as they move towards it. The Demon is visibly scarred by the Crusaders but it is little more than an irritant as thee creature responds with a wave of black energy, striking the three. Ollystra and her Paladins call upon Iomedae's light to heal them, but they too are damaged!
Ongoing Effects: Haste,
Dumm 30/58 (Armour Damage = 14)
Hakime
Sifvery
Mariel
Isonda/Scratchlings
Wembly
D 1 - 28 (Dazzled 3 rounds) / 2 - 11 Blind (2 rounds)
??? -30
Also, in case you didn't know - You can move through Gargantuan creatures to get up the stairs can tumble as normal.
|
|
Wembly sees his summoned archon fly off in a panic.
Well, that just will not do. Poor thing.
He summons another archon, causing the first terrified one to instantly vanish, relieved of the source of its terror.
The new lantern archon fires its bolts of light at the upper demon at the console.
for ignore DR
|
|
Seeing how she cannot directly aid Dumm in his struggly with the wrecker demon, she looks up at the second wrecker demon, through half-closed eyes. "Great job, Wembly. Keep him distracted!" With nothing else to do, Mariel urges on Dumm to fight harder, waving her longsword with passion. "You've got this. Hurry, so we can move to the second demon!"