Fighting back a sense of deja-vue, Annilda opens the door to see several stone biers equipped with drainage troughs for the preparation of bodies, wooden cabinets containing embalming tools, and wall carvings dedicated to the rewards of rule and the afterlife.
As you begin to take note of the various items inside you see what could only be a zombie, grossly bloated, with its rotting skin stretched and straining as if pumped full of air, shambling towards you!
Knowledge Religion DC 12:
While this is indeed a zombie, it is a rarer version of one known as a gasburst zombie. When they are destroyed they burst open, sending whatever poisonous gas contained therein all around it.
For every 5 you beat the DC by you may select one of the items from this LIST to get information on.
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
Kn. Religion (DC 12):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
"Um...this seems kinda familiar but I can't put my finger on why," Lucina remarks as she peers into the room beyond. Noting how small the room is, she waits to give Damien and the others a chance to move inside first.
______________
Lucina will delay until our fighting force have moved into the room first or blocked the doorway~
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae wrinkles her nose as Damiel gasses the room "You seem to smell like marsh gas. It is flammable so please do not do that when I have summoned my fire." She finishes repacking Sunny's saddle bags and is ready to go. The spirits of the forest returned.
----------
Mae takes a hop step closer to the doorway and peers inside. "Damien, you and this one seem to have a similar gut problem. I will ask a friend to assist." She begins casting a summon nature's ally I. Sunny stays put.
"Anotha undead jerk! 'N this one tries ta rival my gasses? Not a chance!" Damien slaps Ruby on the rump, and the wolf takes off in a blur of grey and white.
Lance, spirited charge:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 93d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 12 = 18 Ruby, bite, charge:1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 71d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
"Um...probably not against this," Lucina remarks as she shuffles up to the doorway. "Like what do you say? 'Eat less brains'? I don't think it'd work."
From her position in the doorway she fires a magic missile at the zombie!
Lady Mae decides to summon some help in dealing with the zombie while Uriel blesses the Pathfinders with his wand. Damien's charge is wide of the mark and Annilda finds the zombie's skin deflects her blow rather easily. Only Lucina's spell manages to damage it.
The zombie swings out at Annilda with a beefy arm...
Current Effects:Bless(Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects). Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell.
_____________________
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae steps can completes her summoning, a ball of feathers appearing across from Annilda. This ball of feathers is apparently pissed and starts clawing and biting at the zombie with great and furious vigor! Mae stands there and cowers around the corner in case the scary bird goes rogue. Such a scary bird!
Annilda struggles to damage the zombie, while Lucina snares it into place. Lady Mae's eagle scratches the zombie slightly but Damien crushes the zombie with a perfectly placed strike...which triggers a violent explosion as the gas contained bursts forth filling up most of the crypt!
I need Annilda, Damien, and Ruby to make a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1 CHA Drain. If you make your save then no further saves are needed. You can attempt to hold your breaths while inside to avoid inhaling the toxin, which means you receive a 50% chance of not having to make the Fortitude save.
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
"Oh, I feel like I expected that for some reason..." She then gives Damien a long hard look, wondering if he'd explode in a green cloud of gas if something hit him too hard as well.
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
LG Aasimar (angelkin, scion of humanity) Male Paladin-3/Oracle-1 | HP 35/35 | AC 16 / 12 T / 14 FF (+3 armor, +2 DEX, +1 shield) | CMD 16 | Fort +9, Reflex +7, Will +9; Resist Acid/Cold/Electricity 5; Immune Disease, Fear | Init +2 (Temporal Celerity: Roll Twice) | Perception +4, Darkvision 60 ft; Sense Motive +4 | Speed 30 ft. | Smite Evil 1/day | Detect Evil at will | Vow to Self 1/day | Oracle Spells: Level-1 4/day | Conditions: Aura of Good
"Wouldn't be seemly for a paladin to swipe some loose stones, but I wouldn't object to one of my companions pocketing those two onyx gems. We've got expenses, after all."
Uriel follows Annilda. "Another door, another room. What's awaits us within?" He asks. "Nothing good, I'll wager."
As Annilda moves up to investigate the door he sees the door is warded by a very well-made padlock, and also Uriel sees it is surrounded by a faint magical aura.
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae pats Ann on the backside when she makes it out of the room "You do rush in fast. Sometimes that makes you a meal, sometimes that makes something else a meal. You are very brave, or foolish. Only time will tell." You aren't quite sure what that's supposed to mean... The scary eagle disappears in a poof seconds later.
-----
"Another door, another lock. Maybe I should have brought a key or something." She points to the earthbreaker Damien carries.
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
"I have heard there are people that learn to fake keys. Unlock locks without the true key. Maybe we need one of these people to make this easier yes?" Mae gives Sunny's reins a solid tug as she starts nibbling on Lucina's hat. She must not have enjoyed my dried flies for supper as much as I did.
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
With there being no other obvious way to proceed from their current location, Lucina thinks a moment and then beckons the others to follow. "Come on, I think we can head down this way and that'll take us back close to where we first started. There was another set of doors leading east, maybe we can try them!"
Assuming nothing has changed, Lucina makes her way back to said doors and gives them an inspection for magical auras and other hazards.
LG Aasimar (angelkin, scion of humanity) Male Paladin-3/Oracle-1 | HP 35/35 | AC 16 / 12 T / 14 FF (+3 armor, +2 DEX, +1 shield) | CMD 16 | Fort +9, Reflex +7, Will +9; Resist Acid/Cold/Electricity 5; Immune Disease, Fear | Init +2 (Temporal Celerity: Roll Twice) | Perception +4, Darkvision 60 ft; Sense Motive +4 | Speed 30 ft. | Smite Evil 1/day | Detect Evil at will | Vow to Self 1/day | Oracle Spells: Level-1 4/day | Conditions: Aura of Good
Uriel follows Lucina, and when they reach the double double doors, he checks for evil auras that might be strong enough to detect through the doors and any magical auras surrounding the portal.
After that, he physically examines the doors.
Take 20 Perception for 24 or:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae hops on Sunny and slowly prods her to follow the others, leaving a convenient slug trail they can follow back if needed. "I see why so many here are dead and desiccated. The air is so dry, Sunny is not pleased with this." Mae quickly lashes out with her tongue to dampen both Sunny's and her own eyes.
As Uriel takes his time on the doors, she does her best to help, pointing out things. Aid Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Then whoever enters first she offers them the guidance of the forest spirits beforehand. Guidance, +1
You return to the entry chamber where you started your explorations. Old carvings cover the walls of this square chamber, thick with dust and cobwebs. Three sets of stone double doors stand in the three facing walls. Heavy bronze seals emblazoned with the symbol of Pharasma secure the doors against whatever lies beyond. Again Uriel sees the strong abjuration aura from the other two doors has not faded.
______________________
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
"Oh, right...I forgot these doors were sealed," Lucina sighs. "Well...do we want to try the chime or do we want to backtrack first and see if there's anywhere else we can go without using it?"
______________
Is there any way to notate on the map where there are 'sealed' doors that the chime would work on vs. doors that are just really securely locked like that last one was?
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae nods in agreement, her large eyes looking to the others "We only need 1 charge to leave this stone pit. Let us press forward."
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Lucina strikes the Chime again and the seal to the eastward door dispelled. The door opens easily revealing a large statue standing in the corner of this L-shaped room, depicting a tall feather emblazoned with a large open eye. Though apparently carved from stone, the statue gleams with a golden-green iridescence. A pair of stone doors stands in the east wall in the short leg of the L.
DC 20 Knowledge (religion):
You manage to identify the obscure deity as the Peacock Spirit, a god of mind, body, and soul, whose worship ended with the Thassilon empire’s fall.
Carved into the floor between the western doors and the statue is the following inscription: “Though veiled behind the plumage of the soul, the Eye still sees, unblinking, through all the ages, from the beginning to the end of time. When the Three are One, and the spirit becomes flesh, the Seal may be opened and the Sleepers awakened. And the glorious apocalypse shall consume us all.”
The “doors” to the east are featureless except for a strangely shaped depression where they meet — examining the doors reveals they’re actually one solid piece of stone carved with a seam to look like a pair of doors.
A thorough search reveals a hidden compartment in the statue. Within is a single green feather that radiates a strong aura.
LG Aasimar (angelkin, scion of humanity) Male Paladin-3/Oracle-1 | HP 35/35 | AC 16 / 12 T / 14 FF (+3 armor, +2 DEX, +1 shield) | CMD 16 | Fort +9, Reflex +7, Will +9; Resist Acid/Cold/Electricity 5; Immune Disease, Fear | Init +2 (Temporal Celerity: Roll Twice) | Perception +4, Darkvision 60 ft; Sense Motive +4 | Speed 30 ft. | Smite Evil 1/day | Detect Evil at will | Vow to Self 1/day | Oracle Spells: Level-1 4/day | Conditions: Aura of Good
"I was never a diligent catechist, I have no idea what this symbol means," Uriel admits. "But very little of what we've seen in the place looks like the sort of decor you'd expect in a temple of Pharasma."
The paladin-oracle scratches the stubble on his chin. "Think the Pharasmins might be squatters on a temple of some other deity?" Uriel shrugs. "They should have hired a better realtor."
He looks at the magical green feather. "Anybody want to take this back to Paracountess Zarta Dralneen? Looks like something she'd keep on her nightstand."
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
Kn. Religion (DC 20):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Lucina's eyes grow wide as she realizes that she's heard about the deity the statue represents. "Oh...oh wow, you might be more on the mark than you think, Uriel. This statue is supposed to represent the Peacock Spirit, a god of mind, body, and soul, whose worship ended with the Thassilon empire’s fall," she explains. "So you might be right...if this is here, then maybe Pharasmins moved in here later and claimed this place for their own. It would actually explain some of the other things we've seen around here..."
Kn. Arcana (DC 21):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
"I have no desire to know how you'd know that," Lucina shudders as she studies the green feather. "It's got an aura of conjuration about it but I think the exact nature of the enchantment is juuuust beyond the limit of my understanding."
______________
Medium Giant Slug 4HD, HP 22/22, AC15, T9, FF15 (+6 NA), DR 5/Slashing or Piercing, CMD13 Can't be Tripped, Fort +5, Ref +3 Evasion, Will +3 , Init -1, Perc +0, Blindsense 30' Effects:
Grippli Druid (Swamp Druid) 4 HP 31/31, AC19, T14, FF16, CMD14, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +8, Init +3, Perc +10 Effects:
Mae read the inscription and swallows hard a few times "Does not sound nice. Glorious apocalypse doesn't sound good. Unless they just mean on this overgrown burial pit. That would be ok."
Mae looks at the magic as well, nodding her head repeatedly, agreeing with Lucy's opinion. "Powerful magic."
HP: 20/20 l AC: 14, T 14, FF 11 l CMD 12 l F +4, R +5, W +4; +2 vs. fear/+1 vs. death effects l Entangling Ectoplasm (7/7) l L1: 6/6 l Init +7 l Senses: Perception +2
Female NG Halfling Sorcerer 3 l Active Conditions:
"I feel like the inscription means something or that we're supposed to do something but I'm not sure what," Lucina finally says after reading it over again a couple of times. "And I'm not really sure who the Sleepers are supposed to be, either..."
