JZ's Carrion Crown - COMPLETE! (Inactive)

Game Master JamZilla

Reminder that I have true seeing on

Markus stands beside Jon, echoing his words. "Adivion, our paths were set in stone Desna brought us all here today. We are too different now, you can not turn from yours and we cannot turn from ours we're set on a collision. After all the hate I've felt for you it just seems hollow now. To see you like this, to you fall to such depths to put into a failed plan." When Erek unleashes his power Markus feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and know it's all about to start.

Hearing Kendras cries he steps back away from the front of the group and moves over to her taking her hand. "What is it, Kendra? Please, now you have to tell me everything you can. I care so much about you, it almost broke me when he took you. I only want you safe, I only want to protect you. After everything your father did for me, I cannot let his last wishes go." He squeezes her hands now, all the feelings come flooding back he tried to stay away and give her space but he just wants them to all be back in Ravengro. "I just want that month we all spent together in Ravengro again, It was the happiest time. We have to stop him please help us."

With what looks like genuine resignation, Adivion lowers his head and shakes it.

So be it... he says softly.

Round 1 - Heroes

Erek, taking your spell as your first round action

Will save: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25 Fail

Adivion stands relaxed, with his arms beside him. He does not flinch when Erek lays his judgement upon him. He does not resist, nor grimace eventhough the spell must wrack him with doubt.

No deity has the right to judge my actions, Erek. I am a FREE MAN. Not only do I reject your judgement, I resent it. You say I have no right. I am trying to give people true free will! While this slave to Iomedae lays down death and judgement for no other reason than She wills it! Who is the monster, here? he asks, a determined steel in his eye.

"Careful of those symbols they are protective and summoning wards" he says to the group as they prepare for their assualt on Avidion

"There's no deity guiding my actions today, this is my own free will" he says then cast dispel magic and attempt to strip away any magical defenses

Dispel: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Heroism, PoE, death ward, images 7

Then you are even more blind than I realised Davos. With your intellect I expected more. Perhaps too much. he replies coolly though you see a shimmer of magical protection around him fading out.

Reminder that I have true seeing on

Markus stands beside Jon, echoing his words. "Adivion, our paths were set in stone Desna brought us all here today. We are too different now, you can not turn from yours and we cannot turn from ours we're set on a collision. After all the hate I've felt for you it just seems hollow now. To see you like this, to you fall to such depths to put into a failed plan." When Erek unleashes his power Markus feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and know it's all about to start.

Hearing Kendras cries he steps back away from the front of the group and moves over to her taking her hand. "What is it, Kendra? Please, now you have to tell me everything you can. I care so much about you, it almost broke me when he took you. I only want you safe, I only want to protect you. After everything your father did for me, I cannot let his last wishes go." He squeezes her hands now, all the feelings come flooding back he tried to stay away and give her space but he just wants them to all be back in Ravengro. "I just want that month we all spent together in Ravengro again, It was the happiest time. We have to stop him please help us."

I don't know Markus! Kendra screams as the battle begins. There's just something that doesn't seem right, I just have this feeling in my heart that we're making a mistake!

Erek speaks coldly. "No mistake. This vermin is an affront to all that is good. This ends today."

Jon watches Adivion warily, he knows he wields immense power and he knows how dangerous and ruthless he can be.
Hearing the uncertainty in Kendras voice Jon tries to block out the other voice in his mind that keeps telling him he is condemning humanity, that Adivion brings the prospect of peace and an existence free of death and disease.
Focusing on all that Adivion has put them through Jon steels his heart, his course set.
Drawing deeply upon his powers jons hand becomes wreathed in a dark red light that writhes hungrily around his arm, pointing at Adivion the light suddenly vanishes from Jons hand only to appear all around Adivion, wreathing him in the vengeful aura of fate.

jolting portent dc22 fortitude save every time he tries to attack or cast a spell. Failure means he takes 4d6+5 electricity damage. Lasts 15 rounds

Markus bends over and whispers. "Give me something I can use, please Kendra." He stands up and looks around as the group flings spells, his stomach knots up as the whole situation isn't going the way he wants. Kendras reaction putting him on edge. "Wait! Everyone WAIT!" He shouts out, letting go of Kendra and moving to the front of the group to stand between them.

Round 1 - Enemy

Adivion produces a series of complex gestures with his hands, which begin glowing with eldritch fire. He completes the spell and tosses a ball of flame among the gathered party.

Fireball damage: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 5, 6, 3, 6, 3, 4, 4) = 38

Reflex save DC19

I truly did not want it to come to this. he says and with astonishment you hear his voice is thick with emotion.

Round 2 - Heroes

Map update soon. We don't need it quite yet

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Davos put's up an acrane ward to block the fireball but it's too powerful and takes some fire damage from the Adivions spell.

With a quiken hand gesture the party is hasted

hp - 88

Heroism, PoE, death ward, images 7, haste 15rnds

In the flashes of lightning, Adivion looks pale and washed out, a sheen of sweat on his forehead but steely determination in his eyes nonetheless.

ref: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Markus crouches flinging his cloak around him blocking more of the fire.

"Adivion! I didn't want this either you're not looking so good. If you just stop we won't kill you." Markus shouts out turning to look at Kendra.

Going to delay tell everyone else acts.

Adivion Fort save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 Fail

Adivion completes his spell but bolts of wracking electricity run through his body from Jon's otherworldly power.

dam: 4d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 1) + 5 = 16

concentration check to cast his spell is dc29 10+dam taken+spell level

Yeah he successfully cast it

Jon, what is your actual action this round? Markus, Morbar, Cara and Erek also

Morbar flies at Adivion, intent on smashing his skull in - "'Nough talkin!"

Flying to him and attacking.

Earthbreaker Vital Strike: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (14) + 31 = 45
Damage if it hits: 6d6 + 33 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 2, 3, 3) + 33 = 49

Caradwen lets fly, biting her lower lip - "Kendra?"

Longbow 1 Manyshot: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Arrow 1: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 6) + 18 = 30
Arrow 2: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 4) + 18 = 28

Longbow 2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
Arrow: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 1) + 18 = 22

Longbow 3: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Arrow: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (4, 1) + 18 = 23

Longbow 4: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Arrow: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (2, 3) + 18 = 23

Longbow 5: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Arrow: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 2) + 18 = 25

Morbar rushes forward, undeterred by the war of words. Raising his hammer he brings it around in a wide arc and slams it into Adivion's stomach, causing the slender man to double over and gasp for breath.

As he rights himself, Cara sends three arrows lancing toward him, thudding deeply into his chest.

He staggers... once, twice... and then sinks to a knee.

She doesn't hear him, but with her perfect, 20/20 vision she sees him mouth the words Thank you...

He then falls backward as blood begins to seep through his robes.

Combat Over

my action was casting the spell j , now that’s over...let’s get out of here. Jobs done right?

reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42

"Don't let your guard down, something isn't right about this" he says to other scanning the area

Perception: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (17) + 32 = 49
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31

Do I have any idea what all that is?

Markus rushes over to Adivion's body. "I didn't want this... In the end, I just wanted us to talk." He says placing a hand on the man's beaten body, channeling holy light into his body attempting to stabilise him.

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Jon watches Adivion fall and he cannot quite believe it was that easy, something did not seem right but he was down and as far as Jon was concerned that was the only outcome.
talk to him? Markus, have you lost your mind! Jon says with incredulity the man was an egotistical maniac! After everything he has done? You want to talk to him!
Jon strides forward and as Markus tries to save Adivion he raises his sword and plunges it into his chest beside Caras arrows.

sword: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
dam: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

he deserved to die, no talking, no second chances Jon says coldly as he pulls his blade free.
if you bring him back Markus, We will kill him again!

As Markus approaches Adivion's body he hears rasping, gurgling breaths as blood rushes up the nobleman's throat. He coughs weakly and the illusion that was covering him flickers and fades.

He looks absolutely ravaged.

His limbs are withered and atrophied and he is as thin as paper. His skin is almost translucent and his eyes are black and sunken into his head. You realise now that even before the fight, he was already on the verge of death.

Not going to react to Jon's action just yet except...

Kendra dashes forward, wisps of white light streaking off her like mist. Whatever has happened to her she is closer to the source of it. She kneels beside him and says in a small, shocked voice;

Oh Adivion... what have you done....?

Jon closes in behind her...

Markus tries to use his healing magic but instantly, he feels Adivion's body reject it as if it were poison.

I had assumed... I guess he's changing like Kendra. Also I have true seeing if that changes anything

Can I make a check on the black liquid?

Markus pulls back as he attempts to heal Adivion, seeing now what is happening. "Kendra." He grabs the woman. "Is this what happened to you? Is he becoming like you?" He then places a hand up toward Jon. "Jon stop! Things have changed!"

True Seeing did not affect the illusion. It was an incredibly powerful affect produced by a Wish spell

You can make a knowledge arcana or incredibly high craft alchemy

No... gods no! Kendra cries. Nothing like this, nothing ever like this!

As he closes in and raises his blade, Kendra sees Jon's intention and she throws herself over Adivion, blocking his strike.

I have to know Jon! I have to know why and what is to become of me! she shouts through a mist of tears.

Arcana: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42

Markus stands up looking down at Adivion and Kendra, then around at the group.

You think that the black sludge is the remnants.... of the Carrion Crown elixir!

Let's quickly see what everyone else has to say about this before I move on, I don't want to rush things at this late stage.

"It's the Carrion Crown elixir, you damn fool! He's drunk the elixir. Everything he said was utter crap! " Markus shouts out. "Kendra GET BACK!" He moves forward quickly to grab her. "This is bad! Adivion! You said he wanted to save this world and now you've doomed it!"

Jon holds his sword above Adivion and Kendra his fists clenched so tightly on the hilt as he fought against his urge to thrust the blade through them both.

go on Jon...DO IT! END THEM BOTH the familiar cold voice suddenly screamed inside his head they both deserve it DO IT NOW! KILL THEM, KILL THEM BOTH

Jons muscles bunch and coil as he strains against his own inner demons, this place had made them stronger than he could ever remember and he reeled from their mental barrage.
Opening his eyes his vision swam as he looked down upon Kendra, desperately covering Adivion. Then Jon remembered the girl he had first met in the rain so long ago, grieving for her father and the love he bore for her and her father bloomed once more inside him and he cried out
Be still! You do not control me. Not now, not ever he hisses through clenched teeth and slowly with tremendous effort he lowered his blade and stepped back away from them as Markus finally realised what Jon knew all along.
Adivion was a master of lies and manipulation and everything he said was to further his own goals and had little to do with the truth.

"Talk sense lass! Whaddya mean?!" - Morbar roars - "Imma crush his head and end this yeah?! Get movin' outta tha way!" - he adds, his hammer held high.

Caradwen looks back and forth between his companions and their friend - "Kendra, why do you protect him? We need to finish this" - she moves closer with an alarmed look at Morbar's hammer - "Leave him, he has chosen this path, regardless of who suffered" - the bard added, placing her hand on Kendra's shoulder - "He must pay..."

Jon shook his head , focusing on the scene before him despite the shrieking in his mind and as he looked at Adivions ravaged corpse and the reality of Markus words suddenly dawned on him
...it’s the carrion crown elixir, he’s drunk the elixir

it’s too late Morbar, we were all too late! Jon called to the dwarf Markus, what does that mean? What the hell is he going to change into? Jon shouted at him as he watched him trying to drag Kendra away.

Kendra.... Adivion whispers, blood bubbling over his lips. There... was no... other way.

After I was denied the Raven's Head.... and I used... the only formula... I had to save you... I had to make certain adjustments.

A tear wells in the corner of his eye.

The Tyrant is coming.... I had to... the world must change... it can be better.. it must be better than it is... undead, evil, demons, monsters, greed, sickness... we can all be... better

Aroden and Tar-Baphon had a vision... but they were both too... selfish... like all the Gods. The machine... he points weakly. It will fulfil... that vision... when the Tyrant is destroyed it will harness his power and amplify it... spread it across the world with the angelic blood you carry Kendra...

He looks to the gathered group;

You say I have manipulated you all along. I have tried... to persuade you... to bring you with me... to see what I saw... But I failed. Well if my final act is to manipulate then so be it. In killing me while I ingested the Carrion Crown... it made the Tyrant's return inevitable. But I know.... I know you can defeat him. I have seen how strong you are.... how good you are.

You will overcome him... release his power... and change the world!

He gasps and you can tell he is close to death.

Kendra is in floods of tears.

Adivion! It's too much. This is all too much. With your drive and intellect you could have done so much... this, this is more than I can fathom. Father would not have wanted this.

[smaller]It was the only way... even if only I could see... Kendra, to give my life... it is a price I pay gladly. he reaches up and strokes her face, leaving a streak of blood on her cheek. I hope I leave this world... better than I entered it...

Erek watches Adivion's defeat with grim satisfaction that quickly turns to chagrin. Suddenly the realisation of their manipulation dawns on him and he swears. He quickly considers their options and comes to the only conclusion there is. "This is bad but not hopeless. We need to work together now by separating. There's nothing else for it:"

He looks at each of them "You heard him. The Tyrant comes, even if we beat him the machine and Kendra's blood will combine to deliver his foul purpose."

"Morbar, destroy the machine. Don't stop until it is ruin, no matter what else happens."

"Markus. Get Kendra away. I don't care where the witch gates take you. Just teleport her out of here."

"Davos, help Morbar if there are magical protections on the machine. The rest of us will try to destroy the Tyrant. Some of us will die but we must be resolute and pray Iomadae aids us."

Jon grips his blade tightly his anger raging within him as Adivion reveals his true purpose here.
you selfish bastard! Jon snarls in anger this was your plan all along! To release the Tyrant and use us AGAIN! jons anger burns within him and he strides over to the stricken man grasping him around the throat
Your dreams will be nothing but ashes Adivion, the Tyrant may rise but his power will not spread around the world! we will never let that happen! Jon snarls as he slams him back into the ground
Listen to Erek! We take down this f@@#ing machine and then we deal with the Tyrant.
It cannot be done any other way. Whatever happens, the machine must be destroyed! He shouts, echoing Ereks plan

Tyrant coming more or less instant? Just wondering if chance to buff or look closer at the machine

Well played Avidion, well played. He thinks to himself feeling beaten and bested his emotions start running high, the journey he has been on has had no bearing for the event that as been revealed before them in Avidions last breathes on the mortal plane.

"This is not the time to show weakness or lose resolve" he says with an overwhelming voice, with a streak of sweat running down back and panic attempts to set in befuddling his thoughts

Heroism, PoE, death ward, images 7

Initiative coming tomorrow. You have 2 rounds. Hold nothing back. This is going to be brutal, I sh!t you not

Erek casts a spell on himself while he prepares for the final confrontation.

buffs: stone-skin, prot evil, divine favour, death ward

that's 1 rounds action. Will try to damage the machine in the 2nd.

Not really sure what to do, Morbar begins bashing at the machine - "Come on then! I'm waitin'!"

Gonna wreck the thing :D

Amidst the chaos, Caradwen smiles and winks at Kendra - "Everything will be fine Kendra. The boys are unstoppable" - then she squeezes her hand tight, and moves away to place herself.

I think we will try not to be all clumped together, right?

Also I think most spells are still running for her except Invis and Good hope.

In effect:
Mirror Image (8 images)
Gravity Bow
Echolocation
Cat's Grace

She's gonna cast:
Greater Invisibility on herself
Displacement on Morbar

Spells left:
Level 4: 1
Level 3: None
Level 2: 3
Level 1: 5
(Can't remember exactly when Kendra replenished us)

Markus just looks on in shock, hope begins to leave him even as the others move about readying themselves. No matter what they do here everything will change, this won't bring about a better world at best it will up the stakes make every little fight turn in to gods fighting gods he has seen how powerful Kendra has become without any training.

Looking down at Adivion again he shakes his head. I wanted to talk, I didn't want to kill him I just wanted to get him away from this place. He thinks back to every moment just trying to work out if he could have changed it all but at every step, he didn't have the will to stop it.

"It's done, we don't know enough about this tower to stop this. Even if we could stand against the Tyrant it will change everything, will it even help to get Kendra away? What if we drew the Tyrant away?" He just starts talking to no one in particular. Shock has set in another punch delivered by Adivion.

I assume we can't do anything to this tower, can I make any assumptions on how this ritual works? Is there a range and such ? I have a lot of knowledge do any of them work or is this just it a boss fight where if we die game over and if we win game over?

I assume we can't do anything to this tower, can I make any assumptions on how this ritual works? Is there a range and such ? I have a lot of knowledge do any of them work or is this just it a boss fight where if we die game over and if we win game over?

I'm not saying yes or no. I'm not giving you a way out or denying that there is one.

This is the situation. You know nothing about this machine. You know the ritual is done and the Tyrant, or at least some of his essence is coming. You know that if you don't destroy him then he will grow exponentially in power and work to wipe out all life on Golarion. You know that if you do kill him, the machine will harness the released power, transform it with the divine energy contained within Kendra's blood (already in the machine by the way) and release a wave that will do..... who knows?

The ritual is complete. In game terms you will be fighting in 12 seconds time. Beyond that is up to you

This tower was built with incredibly powerful magic, to imprison the Tyrant, in all liklihood you could do nothing to it.

You know Kendra clearly has some connection with the power that is going on here because she seems to have been growing in strength the closer to the tower you got. Maybe that was part of the plan, maybe it wasn't, maybe it was coincidental.

Erek has already mentioned a plan to stop the machine. If you can do that and kill the Tyrant then maybe that will do it. But maybe the power in the machine will react with the Tyrant in a way that is completely unanticipated. This has never been done before in the history of mankind. Nothing is absolute.

What I will say is that on the face of it - you have an impossible choice, which is exactly what Adivion planned and that sometimes things aren't wrapped up in a neat little bow as a happy ending

Also, think of the end of Usual Suspects, Arlington Lane, Se7en, The Vanishing or The Wickerman. Just because these movies didn't end with everyone living happily ever after didn't mean that the ending wasn't satisfying

In the mere moments before the final battle Davos attempts to prepare himself as best as he can

Heroism, PoE, death ward, images 7, shield, fly

Erek moves to take up position and await the coming of the tyrant. His years of fighting evil wherever it manifest, his ordeal at the hands of demons in the Worldwound, had all led him to thus point. A follower of Iomadae now finding himself standing as she must have all those years ago. Readying himself to face the Tyrant.

He says a silent prayer Iomadae, rarely do I pray, yet you have always lent me your strength and aid. Ever have I sought to root out evil and corruption. The Tyrant returns and we face impossible odds. I call on you for your protection one last time. I give my life here to prevent this ancient evil from again blighting the world. If I fall, take my place. Invest my body with your holy spirit. Raise the Ravens Head and send the Tyrant back to hell. Iomadae, hear my call.

He grips the Ravens Head and waits for hell to break loose.

Adivion's body spasms suddenly in time with an enormous flash of red lightning and a roll of deafening thunder that sounds like guttural laughter.

A moan rises in his throat and becomes a scream of agony. With his last gasping breaths - even as you see his flesh begin to rot and grow necrotic before your eyes, great patches of black and ashen skin appear as though his body were aging exponentially - he shouts to you;

He is coming.... he is coming! I'm sorry... finish what I started....!

He screams into the darkening clouds. Kendra cannot watch but then as wisps of the darkest energy begin to swirl and coalesce around him, a wave of black sweeps across the tower, sending you all sprawling.

From within that black cloud there is a laugh that chills you to the bone.

At last. At last my power grows and I am becoming free!

A figure steps out from within the cloud. You see that it is both Adivion and something else entirely. His hands end in long claws and his flesh continues to droop and elongate and rot before you. The darkness continues to seep into this thing, as though fuelling it.

In a voice older than history, it says;

Is it Aroden the betrayer who has awoken me? To finish the treachery he started an age ago?

Knowledge religion DC 32 to know anything about this

Religion: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (9) + 29 = 38

Hearing that voice... Seeing the transformation, there's no way out of this he couldn't run he couldn't figure this out. It's all some cosmic joke the gods hardly lifted a finger to help no one hit not one vision of what was to come and now it will all change.

So he begins to chant, pulling whatever power he can to at least do something and stop this evil taking hold on the world again.

Casting holy aura and bestow grace of the champion on Cara - Also going to post what I get from that check when I get it.

Spells - spell turning,eagelsoul,true seeing,freedom of movement - I forgot I had moment of prescience dis-spell I'll never get to use it now.