The arrow lands in the right shoulder of the trogdolyte who grunts loudly and takes a step back with the impact. Both creatures surge forward and pull out their clubs, swinging at the hunters. Both clubs swings high and miss.
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Kharina looked upon the prisoners with disdain, she never could understand why a person would tolerate such a state. If they were truly unhappy she knew they could find a way to end themselves and if they were strong enough they wouldn't be slaves in the first place. No, she felt no pity for these wretches, no desire to aid them, she also had no reason to harm them either. That decided she ignored the filth in their pens as they continued on only to run right into another form of lizard man. As the fighting started the lovely woman found no means to close on her foes to inflict real harm so she instead drew her tiny crossbow and fired at one of the smelly brutes from her position near the back of the group. Unfortunately there are just to many people in her way and her bolt strikes the ceiling as she is jostled by unexpected movement.
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Katswiri manages to bumble to the monolith, poison burning through her veins. Once there, she examines the monolith with intense excitement, which she examines before returning to land, suffering through another viper bite, where she consults with the rest of her group about their purpose to discover the ritual.
As the group begins to move through the slave pens, Katswiri intently examines the slaves, although she doesn't recognize what she can see of their words. "These poor people...".
As the stench thickens, she recognizes the troglodytes at the same time as Sapper, and draws her morning star as combat begins. In the back, she waits to move into melee if a gap opens, saving her remaining magic for healing or if a more dangerous fight occurs.
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Daisy winces as the snakes' venom sinks into her veins, making her feel weak. That could have gone better. So much for looking dashing...
She takes care to be more cautious afterwards, and is able to sneak out of the area without incurring any more snake bites.
Although by the time she's righted herself, the others have already done enough work on decoding the plinth's inscriptions, she's still pleased at their success in creating the potion... just a little bit annoyed that she didn't get to contribute, that's all.
As they enter the slave pens, Daisy winces in sympathy at the poor wretches tied up in those cages.
"They're holding those people captive -- that's enough for me," she says when the others identify the creatures as troglodytes.
The hallways are too narrow for her to approach and engage directly, so instead she pulls out a dagger and throws it at the troglodyte that's scuffling with Pea'nut the cat.
Muroi's frost ray catches the creature on it's left hand which begins to freeze as the cold takes over. The guard squeels loudly and shakes his hand several times trying to shake it off.
Tsadok'ul and Pea'nut drop the trogdolyte between them to the ground and rip open enough wounds in the creature to ensure that he will not be rising again on his own.
Daisy's dagger lands with a thud into the belly of the remaining guard. He grunts and pulls it out and throws it down on the ground beside him.
As Sapper's bolt flies high the last remaining guard swipes at Tsadok'ul but misses once more. He grunts and growls as the hunter dodges his club again.
Sapper catches keys hanging from both trogdolytes belts that will likely open the locked pens. Alternatively he could attempt to start picking them all, but that might take a fair bit of time.
The oracle's morningstar crashes down on the shoulder of the creature, crunching and breaking bones in the process. His left arm hangs limply at his side as he begins whimpering.
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Daisy pulls out her rapier and advances on the final creature, preparing to attack whenever she has an opening.
"Of course we should free these poor people!" she says in agreement. "Who would not be opposed to slavery?" She kneels down and pulls the ring of keys from one of the guards' belts, then heads towards the nearest cage and starts fiddling with the lock, trying to figure out which is the correct key.
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As the troglodyte falls, Katswiri warily glances around, before placing her morning star back on her hip and turning back to her companions. "I feel for these people as much as you do, Daisy, and I agree we should free them. But remember, these people died ten thousand years ago. Once the machine runs out of lightning, this will all fade back to the mists of time."
"We need to learn as much as we can from them before that happens; how were they imprisoned? Is there a human civilization from where they were captured, or are all humans slaves to the reptiles? Who are their leaders? What do they know about their masters? And so on. Unfortunately, I do not speak whatever tongue they are using; I suspect it is either ancient Azlanti, or else the tongue of their oppressors. Does anyone else recognize what they're saying?"
The last creature falls to the ground from the combined efforts of the team, leading the way for them to take the keys and open up the pens. As you free the slaves they look at you begin to ask you questions in a tongue that none of you understand. It's apparent they are happy and grateful to you, but so far the language barrier prevents any detailed interaction. The large majority of the slaves are injured and group together, attempting to help each other with the most severely wounded.
The people tilt their heads and point at Katswiri while she talks, shaking their head and struggling to understand the woman.
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"Wow, Katswiri!" Daisy says. "I'm impressed you speak that many languages, especially with you being deaf. I only know Common... I wouldn't even know where to start."
"I, um, I wouldn't mind being one of the ones who gets that potion, though," she adds. "Speaking with someone from the past! Not something you get to do every day!"
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"Oh! Its been a passion of mine, Daisy. I worked so hard to learn to see the words and to speak common, that after I did I found I just wanted to keep learning all the ways people talked to each other."
Katswiri gives her a big smile and hands her the potion of Tongues. "I think you should be the one to use the potion. It is a great opportunity, and while I believe the magic would work for me as well, we only have the one and it would be most regrettable if it did not translate the shapes of their mouths along with their sounds."
Katswiri passes the potion to Daisy who quickly drinks it. She approaches the prisoners and is excited when she understands what it is they are saying! She is quickly frustrated by the fact that the potion however does not give her the ability to speak and respond to them in their native tongue. Through the use of gestures and time she is able to work out what has happened here and relay the information to the team, but the process is time consuming and slow going.
After grasping the situation the party takes note of voices that sound out further down the hall—the guttural and staggered ringing of human speech rather than the lilting hisses of snakes. Fearing the worst, the party quickly sets down the corrirdor and finds men and women—many of them malnourished and wounded but athletic nonetheless—stand over the fresh corpses of troglodyte minders while gripping stolen blades and makeshift clubs.
At the sight of the heavily armed party the men and and women raise their clubs (which look nearly identical to the clubs that were previously wielded by the trogdolyte guards) and look aggressively at the party. It's quite clear they intend to attack you imminently.
Allied Offensive: A Pathfinder agent strikes a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt by one attack by 1d8 points. In addition, after the attack, anyone attacking the target is considered to be flanking it until the beginning of the attacker’s next turn. In Subtiers 5–6 and 7–8, increase the damage dealt to 2d8 points. In Subtier 10–11, this amount increases to 3d8 points.
Burst of Healing: A Pathfinder agent heals all of the PCs of 1d6 points of damage. In Subtiers 5–6 and 7–8, the amount healed increases to 3d6 points. In Subtier 10–11, the amount healed increases to 5d6 points. Alternatively, in any subtier the agent can instead cast neutralize poison, remove curse, or remove disease with a caster level equal to the table’s APL (minimum 5).
Spellcasting Synergy: A Pathfinder agent casts a spell at the same time as the PC, increasing the save DC and caster level of the PC’s spell by 1. In Subtiers 7–8 and 10–11, the PC’s caster level instead increases by 2.
Timely Inspiration: A Pathfinder agent provides the effects of a bard’s inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds. In Subtiers 1–2 and 3–4, the competence bonus is +1. In Subtiers 5–6 and 7–8, the competence bonus increases to +2. In Subtier 10–11, the competence bonus increases to +3.
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Katswiri steps forward, shield arm down at her side, her other hand raised up away from her weapon in a non-threatening manner. "Greetings. I know you cannot understand me, but we mean you no harm." She tries to keep her voice as calm and soothing as she can, attempting to convey peaceful intentions through nonthreatening body language and tone. "Daisy, could you try to talk to them? I think this is another group of escaped slaves. The ones we rescued might be able to vouch for us to prevent conflict as well."
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With the last of these latest lizardmen dead Kharina found herself feeling a great deal of relief. The things smelled atrocious even from where she was standing. It was then that she saw her companions freeing the slaves, something the woman thought was a waste, not to mention who knew what it might cause to happen in the present. Still, if it created chaos it served her purposes just fine. As her companions freed the slaves she saw them take up weapons and become aggressive towards their rescuers with exasperation, Kharina rolled her eyes and simply said, "Some gratitude huh, they wouldn't resist their captors but they turn on their rescuers." She put her tiny crossbow away and intentionally turned her back on the slaves and walked to the other exit from the room to watch for any trouble that way with her morningstar in hand.
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Daisy accepts the potion from Katswiri with a grateful smile. "What was this called? Potion of tongues? I'm trying not to make a dirty joke here, but– Oh!" She breaks off when it kicks in and is immediately absorbed by the freed slaves' talk. But frustratingly she can't communicate back...
When those negotiations are finally concluded, Daisy is surprised to see a new group of humans, seemingly also escapees, but hostile towards them. She slowly puts up her hands, away from her weapons completely, to show that they mean no harm. Then she gestures towards the dead lizardfolk on the ground, and to the humans; miming a stabbing motion at the the corpses, nodding and smiling. She's trying to convey a message along the lines of "We're happy you killed them, they were our enemies too."
A powerfully built woman Uszanriar, whose face and arm were heavily burned, seemingly leads the rebels. She is unfriendly towards you as you approach, but Daisy and Katsiri are able to calm her fears that you are some sort of serpent trick.
"Allies?" she asks. The angry glares of the one in front of you soften and the woman, the leader, steps forward. "I understand. The serpents use magic to fool us, it seems that you are not one of those." She motions for the mento stow their weapons.
"My name is Uszanriar. General Krahnaliara Lac Suhn, our commander, was dragged away by the priests only an hour ago. I believe that he is now somewhere within their temple. I have dedicated myself more to fighting off the serpentfolk!"
She eyes your group and asks, "Do you perhaps have anything to aid our wounded? I think a single bandage will not be enough, not the way you are trying to put it on."
The ragged looking men behind the woman eye your weapons and armor. They only wear torn clothes and some makeshift weapons.
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As Daisy interest what is going on Tsadok retrieves a slender wand from his wrist sheath passing it forward. "Help those who need it the most."
To Pea'nut he indicates the wand bearer "Guard", so long as no one attempts to harm the Pea'nut will be a nice kitty.
Tsadok is not relinquishing his guard position, he'll help them but still be wary of them. Greed can cause people to make stupid mistakes, especially desperate people.
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Sapperr lowers his weapon and steps forward. Through a bit of translation he says, I do not heal wounds, but perhaps I can help you cause some. These flasks are filled with a powerful acid. If you can force the serpents into a group, throw one of these among them. The results may smell horrid, but it will definitely wound, if not kill, whomever it strikes and anyone nearby.
He hands over five flasks full of weapons grade acid.
Sapper hands out the flasks to the group who look at them curiously. Once they explain what has they are for they express their gratitude and thanks. Soon after that has completed another group of Pathfinder's comes running in from the south. They explain that they have recently freed some slaves and have been traveling through the pens healing the wounded. Upon your direction they gather up all of the injured and proceed to utilize their healing abilities upon them.
With the prisoners sufficiently armed and healed the party is ready to push onward. Ascending further into the complex you come across wide flagstones that cover the plaza leading to a stepped pyramid. Larger-than-life statues of serpentfolk and snakes line the plaza, alongside pictograph-covered pillars and small cages filled with all manner of furry, chattering creatures.
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Katswiri hands the wand back to Tsadok, as the other pathfinders encounter her group and provide a healing channel to care for the freed slaves.
As the group moves onward and comes to the courtyard, Katswiri watches the statues intently, looking for possible ambushes. She is curious about their designs, but is unfamiliar with the depiction. She does take a closer look to try and identify the caged animals, and casts detect magic on the small pyramid before moving forward.
Assuming nothing appears ready to leap out and attack the group, Katswiri will draw her morning star, approach the pyramid and inspect the steps to ensure they are solid and not trapped in some way, poking them gently with her weapon before stepping up one level, and turning back to speak to the group.
"This site appears to be of some ritual significance, from the carvings and this structure. I would like to examine the top more closely, and perhaps take a sketch of the area as documentation for the society. Perhaps another scholar can find more significance here than I."
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Kharina was more than happy to pass of the freed slaves to another group for healing, it made their task much simpler not having them around. As they reached the surface and found the large plaza Kharina had to admit to herself she was impressed. It was obvious to her that this had to be a place of some religious significance but beyond that she had no clue who was worshiped nor how. Given all of the serpent folk it couldn't be good though, her patron would likely approve. All of what they could see made her quite curious and when Katswiri made her suggestion Kharina nodded in agreement, "I think that would be a wise idea as I'm at a loss as well."
The party doesn't spot any signs of guards nor unusual activity and begins to advance to allow Katswiri the option of investigating further. She pokes the steps as she advances and the steps do not poke her back, allowing her and the team to advance. When she reaches the top steps and is about to approach the altar, the small serpent statue on her right suddenly shifts and moves towards her! With the sound of grinding stone the head of the serpent snaps forward to bite her with it's stone fangs arcing down toward her. Luckily for the oracle the statue is a little slow in moving and it's jaws snap shut behind her.
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"Well, my friends. This is a construct. Don't waste your time trying to attack his mind, against it we should use brute force. Because this is made of stone, it's hardness will absorb some of the damage you inflict upon it each attack.
Muroi comes close to Katswiri, moves his fingers pointing to the construct and pronouncing "Rayo de escarcha" he casts.