Paladin 4 / Oracle 8 AC 27 {T:13/FF:27} HP 116/116 Init+0, Perception +2 | Fort +15, Reflex +9, Will +19 | Tracked Resources:Oracle Channel 7d6 (DC 20) 6/7 | Paladin Channel 3d6 (DC 16) 9/9 | LoH 4d6+2 {+1d6 or Mercy} 11/12 | Reroll 1/1
The paladin walks into the room and places himself between the construct and the wizard. "No need to take any unnecessary risks Markolf. We don't know everything that may trigger the construct's directives." He calls upon the power of Iomedae to sense any evil in the area. Standard Detect Evil.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
The monolith seems to pay little attention to the new inhabitatns, continuing to pound on the door with its adamantine hands, and Caduceus gets no sense of evil from the monolith.
DC 19 Kn (engineering):
After watching a moment, you estimate that it will take the monolith less than ten minutes to break through the doors.
In the first mosaic, the large doors are ajar and three snake-like tails are slithering free. In the second, four cyclopes each place small discs into the panels. In the last mosaic, beams from the panels push back the serpentine tails.
Markolf checks out the writings above the four large panels is in a language Markolf doesn't understand.
Cyclops language OR DC 20 Linguistics:
the phrase above the panels reads, The MOON set within the VOID reflects the SUN but does not obscure the STARS, with the capitalized words centered above each panel.
Paladin 4 / Oracle 8 AC 27 {T:13/FF:27} HP 116/116 Init+0, Perception +2 | Fort +15, Reflex +9, Will +19 | Tracked Resources:Oracle Channel 7d6 (DC 20) 6/7 | Paladin Channel 3d6 (DC 16) 9/9 | LoH 4d6+2 {+1d6 or Mercy} 11/12 | Reroll 1/1
"I know you mean no disrespect Jhalan, but no mortal is that strong. It is why we pray. However, we should be wary. When the construct breaks through, perhaps whatever is on the other side will summon our entranced colleagues to assist it."
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana will give a try at understanding the cyclopean words.
Linguistics:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Kirana shrugs, having no real clue. Her studies lay elsewhere.
"At this point, I expect the same trouble you do, Markolf. If it's alright with you all, I'll take a look and see what we have on our hands. Mister Wizard, if can help me be invisible, that'd be appreciated."
Kirana then wildshapes into a small earth elemental. Whether Markolf thinks an invisibility spell is worth it (it might not be), she burrows into the wall (a la earth glide) to the west of her. Once positioned, she'll take a peek and quickly pull back. She does this as quietly as possible.
I bet you want a Stealth roll. Figure I'll hold the roll until after Markolf helps or not, so that the result doesn't sway his choice.
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
Markolf takes 10 for both Kn: Eng and Linguistics.
(I'll knock off two uses of Investigative Mind since I knew the DC before taking 10).
The information in both spoilers is now available to everyone.
Markolf starts looking around for glowing discs. He pulls the one out of his Haversack and hands it to Kirana.
"The woman who wasn't actually sick said they were stuffing these in the cracks in the wall. If you can find more in there...bring them back," he says as he pulls a scroll of Invisibility out of his Haversack.
He reads from the scroll and touches Kirana, then holds his hand out expectantly. "Probably best if you don't take that one in there with you..."
"..."
"Just in case."
"..."
"In case you die in there, I mean."
"She's probably gone by now."
"..."
"I would really like to get my hands on her corpse."
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana chuckles in her earthen form. If gravel could laugh, that is. She hands back the disc to Markolf, the takes a quick (and invisible) peek into the room.
Stealth w/Invisibility:1d20 + 7 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 20 = 29
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
Re-reading his notes, Markolf yelps.
"Wait! There are four stones. We have one, and Arletta said only two others were slotted through the crack. The fourth might be in the room to our North(?)."
"I think we're going to want as many as possible before we face whatever it is that monolith is after."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Kirana:
Kirana sinks into the stone and tries to enter the room; she finds something prevents her from entering, however, and the ward is strong all around...until she makes her way to the crack in the wall, where the ward is just weakened enough to let her slide in.
One of the creature's six eyes looks directly at her invisible form, and she hears whispers in her head: bring me another magic stone! Kirana feels a probing in her mind, but something wards the invasion off. The snake thing appears enraged by this, and lashes out at her! Fortunately, Kirana glides back through the stone in the nick of time!
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana glides back to the party. If she breathed in elemental form, she'd be breathing hard.
"There are two discs like the one you carry, Markolf. They are inside. So is a very nasty looking creature. A massive, three-tailed and six-eyed serpent. It was like three snakes melded into one. An abomination of nature. Unfortunately, the creature sensed me. It tried to compel me to bring discs, but it seems some protective magic prevented this."
She glances at the golem, an action nobody can see since she's still invisible. "It's not going to stop. But it might be smart for us to let the two battle. I can check the remaining room for trouble. Perhaps there are more pieces there and we can open the door. And whatever we do, I feel we need to keep the disc we have far away."
Feel free to check the spoiler for Kirana. Any questions she's asked will detail what she saw there.
Male Human Empyreal Sorcerer 2 (HP 12/12) (AC 10/10/10) (CMD 11) (Fort +1, Ref +0, Will +9) (Init +0) (Perception +8)
Linguistics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23.
Amenhotep considers the carvings, carefully.
"Four things bolded, four tablets, and four pnaels in the wall... probably not a coincidence? Perhaps the text refers to the order they need to be placed?"
When Kirana reports back, he nods gravely.
"Very well. It sounds like we should check out the room to the north, for the remaining tablet. Perhaps once the door is battered down, you could grab the tablets from inside the room, whilst that creature is busy with the golem?"
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
"Agreed. Let me make a quick study of the other room while this magic holds."
Kirana uses the same approach she did with the previous room. She glides through the earth, takes a quick peek into the room as quietly as she can, and comes back to the group.
Stealth w/Invisibility:1d20 + 7 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 20 = 44
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Kirana:
Kirana moves into the room north of the chamber with the single-minded monolith.
Unfortunately, the room within is shrouded in darkness.
Fortunately, Kirana has darkvision and can see just fine.
The room appears to be a storage room, or at least was in ages past. The shelves are fashioned of rough limestone, and most contents appear to have long since succumbed to age and crumbled to dust. There is a darkness aura seems to be emanating from the far west side of the room; Kirana can see a stone disc, maybe thirteen or fourteen inches across, on the floor.
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana returns to the party and reports on what she saw. Feel free to look at her spoiler, folks.
"There's a stone disc, and some kind of magical darkness that exists there. I could just go in and take the disc, but it might be worth a quick search," she pauses. "If needed, I can create an aura of daylight to repel the darkness."
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
Markolf holds out the disc.
"This may counter it, though it would have to have been created by a similarly powered caster."
"Moon, Void, Sun, Stars."
"One emits Light," he hefts the stone in his hand, then indicates towards the other room, "another Darkness. And you said the room with the beautiful snake creature was lit only by the discs."
"So I'd wager a monkey foot that one over there must be Void."
"Which makes this Sun, Moon or Stars. Hard to say without getting hold of the other two."
"Here, you can stuff it in this." Markolf offers Kirana his Pathfinder Pouch.
I'm suggesting Kirana take the Pathfinder Pouch and put the Darkness disc in there. Markolf will keep the one we have in his Haversack. Then we can reconvene in the puzzle room and maybe expedite the monolith's entry.
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Yeah, I don't think earth glide as an elemental will let me take items. I'll go for the revised plan.
Kirana glides through the stone and enters the room to the north. She moves to the disc, picks it up, and then opens the door and leaves the room. Cue bad things that happen when she does this.
"It's ironic that I've more or less done what the creature wanted. I swear I'm not under any compulsion."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Kirana sinks into the ground and moves back into the room.
Kirana:
When her hand comes to rests on the stone, she can hear heavy running footsteps thunder about her for a moment!
haunt=init 10
Kirana:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Man, even when someone rolls FOR you...
Kirana sees the shadowy form of a burly cyclops straining against a massive serpentine creature. The serpent strikes at they cyclops' face, and Kirana can feel the pain in her own eyes!
DC 16 Fort save or suffer the effects of a blindness spell from the haunt!
Regardless of the save outcome, Kirana can then act; her hand is still on the disc.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Kirana:
Unfortunately, the haunt manifests in a surprise round.
Fortunately, Kirana made the save!
Unfortunately, it manifests once/round in the high tier.
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Fortunately, Kirana made the second save, can now open the door, and leave! (Keep the daylight as it doesn't affect the haunt.)
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Caduceus, being a good Paladin, begins to patiently explain the difference to Markolf, when a tremendous CRACK is heard from the room with the monolith.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
The party scampers back into the chamber just in time to see the automaton's fist rearing back for another blow, the doors already battered and cracked!
A single round permitted for buffs, then yes, initiative.
Amenhotep:
Caduceus: bless
Jaysin:
Jhalan:
Kirana: begin a summon spell
Markolf:
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Amenhotep can retro a Standard action, if he wants.
With a final blow, the enormous construct smashes through the stone doors. Framed in the doorway is a Gargantuan black-and-red serpent with three tails and six eyes. A gloating telepathic cry exudes from the creature, Foolish, mindless machine! Now you are the prisoner, and I am finally free! With a dazzling flash, the two creatures change places: the golem in the smaller room and the serpentine fiend outside of it. As the serpent begins to uncoil, the golem lunges forward and grasps the fiend by its head. The two titans are in a temporary stalemate; the golem cannot release its hold or the fiend will escape, and the fiend cannot break the golem's grip!
DC 30 Kn (planes):
This is a xacarba, an evil and chaotic extraplanar outsider.
DC 35 Kn (planes):
A xacarba has damage reduction overcome by good-aligned weapons, is resistant to acid, cold, and fire, while immune to electricity and poison.
Markolf:
Markolf has correctly deduced the role of the discs in the panels of the room. He is also certain that, without restoring the magics that sealed it here, the monolith will eventually be defeated by the xacarba.
GM note: don't forget to remind people of the effects received from the fountain!
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Markolf cannot currently see the discs, but he can see that light is flowing into this room from that one, so coupled with Kirana's recon it's not hard to put two and two together.
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
As a move action that does not provoke, Markolf will spend a point from his Arcane Reservoir and 5ft of movement to perform a Dimensional Slide into the room behind the Monolith (he has 70ft of movement for this).
Once there, he will seek out the nearest disc, using his remaining 25 ft of movement to approach it.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Markolf Crowley wrote:
Can he identify whether there is some reason he can't move them other than his weak, spindly arms?
Maybe. Would probably take a really high Spellcraft or Kn (arcaa) roll.
Jaysin Deckert wrote:
Well, might as well do what I'm good at. Jaysin attacks the enemy with a slew of arrows! Adamantine arrows.
Jaysin's shot provokes! (EDIT: Or would, without Point Blank Master, since the xacarba has Combat Reflexes.)
The Taldan scores two hits (crit does not confirm), though the arrows don't do nearly the damage Jaysin thought they would! One of the beasts' eyes seems to look Jaysin's way!
Male Human (Keleshite) Slayer 8 | HP 70/70 | AC:20 T:13 FF:18 CMD: 27 | F+10 R+10 W+4 | Init +6 | Perc +11
"You mean aside from killing that thing and asking the golem nicely so that he helps us? Alternatively, try lifting it with two people or more." Yet the Keleshite asks Slitherbane if he has any idea how to move the discs as he brings down the flail on the massive beast.
Slitherbane, PA, Enlarge+, BS+:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 362d8 + 21 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 21 + (4, 5) = 35 Confirmation:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 262d8 + 21 ⇒ (5, 8) + 21 = 34 Not sure if the extra 2d6 from axiomatic is doubled. In case it is: axiomatic crit extra damage:2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6.
