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Al shakes off the spell and returns the gesture with a flurry of slashes. "You miserable toadstool, be gone!"
Starflit is relieved to see that one of the vampire guards has been eliminated for the time being. She makes use of her Freedom's Call ability to ensure that none of her allies can be paralyzed or otherwise restrained by the powerful and tricky undead. Then, using her enhanced speed, she follows after Tristain, entering the room beyond the door he opened.
As Lothan moves to get a shot, he's just about to fire at the main bad guy and witnesses something he's not sure he's ever seen in his life. Al, the completely normal human, unloads a measure of attacks that just ANNIHILATES the vampire in an explosion of body parts and gore.
Taken slightly aback, "HA! Good-freaking-bye!" Lothan exclaims.
Looking to Al, "I gotta say, that was impressive, Al. Remind me to never get on your bad side," he says with a slight grin. "Okay, let's finish off the rest and call it a day, hm?"
"I gotta say, that was impressive, Al. Remind me to never get on your bad side,"
"Oh yeah," Tristain says, looking at bit queasy at the absolute carnage. "Yeah, that's exactly what a totally normal human would do."
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Vampires are known all across the world -- and apparently multiple worlds based on your current situation -- for their connection to blood. They need it to survive, and take it from others, willing or not. In a span of six seconds, it becomes quite clear that vampires like Lord Avaric feast on such blood, drinking it to sustain them, and fill them. It's quite clear because about six seconds after Al begins swinging his sword, there is not a single drop of blood left in Lord Avaric -- it is instead sprayed across the entire ballroom, leading to most of the guests (who you might remember are mostly cursed and don't realize they are undead) fleeing in fear, screaming into the night.
Combat, in fact, ends almost as quickly as it began, and you are able to collect Delmaria and return to her father's estate as soon as you are ready.
"Well, that was most impressive," Erich Zann says. "Say, do you have a birthday by any chance? I should hate to miss it and upset you in any way."
"Nicely done Al!" Kyffin remarks as he wipes blood and viscera off himself. "I guess you really didn't like being out of it, if breifly..." He grins.
He turns to the others, "Are we going to find the musical instrument? Or just get a new one later and get out of town now?"
"Oh, no, I think I'm looking for a very specific one," Erich replies. "But I can show you where it is!"
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Starflit waves to the fleeing partygoers, flashing a wide grin. "Thank you all for coming! We hope you enjoyed our gory and realistic performance! Lord Avaric will no doubt be back by tomorrow to throw other grand pageants for you in the near future! Good night!"
Finally seeing the extent of Al's utter annihilation of the vampire lord, 'Flit's eyes widen and her smile fades. She mouths the word "Wow!" and moves to help the others recover the bard's missing instrument.
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Lothan looks to Starflit with a raised eyebrow and a slight grin before quickly adding his own two cents to the fleeing crowd. "NO HE WON'T! HE'S PRETTY MUCH DEAD! I MEAN, DEAD AGAIN! AND YOU WILL BE TOO IF YOU COME BACK! JUST SAYING! SO DON'T COME BACK IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!"
Looking over to Starflit, Lothan throws her wink before cutting his focus to Erich.
"Oh, no, I think I'm looking for a very specific one," Erich replies. "But I can show you where it is!"
"Okay, Mr. Music Man, let's get this show on the road. Lead us to this instrument of yours."
Starflit waves to the fleeing partygoers, flashing a wide grin. "Thank you all for coming! We hope you enjoyed our gory and realistic performance! Lord Avaric will no doubt be back by tomorrow to throw other grand pageants for you in the near future! Good night!"
Tristain tries to match Starflit’s energetic goodbye with a smile and wave, but fails miserably, still thinking about the carnage from the totally normal person, Al. ”Yeah, come back soon! Don’t forget to tip your waiters! We’ll be here all week!”
He then casts [i]Detect Magic[i] and checks out the forms of the guards and Lord, looking for magics and things of interest.
Albert looks at his own blade in amazement. "Well, that was unexpected, but good timing for us. Let's find that instrument, get Delmaria, and get back to her father's estate." Al leads the way with his dripping blade out as the party completes their objectives and escapes the vampire's party.
The two guards each had a +3 breastplate, +2 heavy steel shield, +2 falcata, cloak of resistance +3, and 962 gp . Avaric had a +3 glamered breastplate, +3 keen rapier, amulet of natural armor +2, belt of incredible dexterity +4, cloak of resistance +4, headband of alluring charisma +4, mask of the mesmerist, ring of protection +2, and 630 gp.
After you loot the corpses and return to Lord Eldarius, the ghost noble upholds his part of the bargain and tells you the location of the Star Stela. It has stood since time immemorial in the center of a local vineyard that is still worked by local people today.
Kyffin considers the belt of dexterity to improve what he already wears (a +2 if anyone wants it). He also eyes the cloak of resistance +4 (happy to give away my +3 cloak if anyone wants it).
However, he lets Al and Lothan choose first as they've skipped a few hauls.
He moves with the group out of the damned house and returns to Lord Eldarius.
"Thank you for keeping your part of the bargain Lord Eldarius. Good luck!"
As it's late, he turns in, taking his watch rotation gladly in this place. There's lots to watch...
Tristain helps grab and identify the magics, hoping that they might be useful in whatever new abomination or monstrosity or love lust interest decides to attack the party next.
He will rest up and ponder how best to prepare for the challenges to come.
"Erich? Can you play us some relaxing music so we can slumber well? I would love to hear your music."
"That's a nice ring, and it fits my pinky just right, would look real fancy when I'm drinking a cup of tea." Al tries on the lord's ring and flashes it around. "Let's get some rest and then make our way to the star stella."
"Lothan, you want that dex belt? I don't want Al and I to just carve it all up among ourselves!" he laughs.
Shaking his head, "Nah, I'm good."
Kyffin gives the belt of dex to Al - he seems to get hit more.
He'll rest the night and be ready, after fervent prayer, to go in the morning.
As the group prepares to rest, Starflit asks a question that's been bugging her. "I'm not sure I understand what Lowls hopes to gain with this mad scheme," she admits to Tristain, Kyffin, and Al. "Is he the mastermind of this whole affair or just a foolish pawn being used by a far greater evil?"
"Is he the mastermind of this whole affair or just a foolish pawn being used by a far greater evil?"
”Don’t look at me, I’m not insane,” Tristain replies. ”As a normal person, I can’t explain the actions of others.”
While waiting for the music to play, Tristain does some quick, restorative bonking.
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
With the treasure doled out and the group fully rested, you head for the star stelae, where you face another carnivorous plant, which you're able to defeat without too much difficulty. Performing the ritual, you manage to deactivate the first of the three stelae that threaten all of existence as you know it, and you move on to Bohlvarai.
You head to the tunnel that leads to the next nexus, with Erich Zann in your midst. A wide path winds through what appears to be mist-shrouded mountaintops jutting from the earth. Ahead to the north, wisps of snow, blown about by gusts and eddies of wind, partially obscure a monumental tunnel that cuts right through the mountainside. The tunnel appears artificial, as gigantic support columns brace the sides and roof every twenty to forty feet.
You can tell magic was probably not used to create the tunnel, as it lacks a uniform or consistent appearance, but neither does it appear to have been dug out using tools.
You think the tunnel must have been scooped out by Huge creatures or larger, without tools, and the support columns placed afterward.
The floor is rough, but not too difficult to traverse, at least here. It is, however, icy.
Tristain will avoid the icy floor by flying over it. No need for cold toes.
Know (Engineering)
"I know you guys are all thinking it, but I'm just going to say it: 'Magic didn't create this tunnel. Something big and ugly and creatury did. Without tools.' There. I said it for all of us. Now, let's move on and be careful."
"We'll have to be careful." He nods to Tristain.
"Those of us on foot, let's stick together. If we see anything coming, I'll cast a communal air walk so the surface won't be an issue."
Kyffin starts to march down the tunnel, weapon out.
Al looks at the tunnel with trepidation. "If anything catches us in that tunnel we won't have many ways to escape. And if some giant beast built it we could be walking into a surprise. That airwalk will help with not announcing our approach with footsteps, but we should stay on alert the whole time. Is there no other way around the mountain, or perhaps mines going under it?" Al follows Kyffin, although he's sure any mines under the mountain would be the safest route and nothing could go wrong in there.
Wary, you continue down the tunnel, where you find a solid statue of an unusual creature, carved from oddly colored stone, stands on a raised dais. The statue is approximately twenty-five feet tall, and its head has fallen off and now lies shattered at its base. The figure itself is a monstrosity, with a barrel-shaped body, leathery wings, and five tentacles at its base. The head resembles the broken remains of a starfish with bulbous eyestalks on the end of five tentacles.
You can identify the creature as an elder thing.
You know that there has been no seismic or volcanic activity in this area, and that something must have intentionally knocked the statue’s head off with one solid slam.
"That thing is--or was--an elder thing, an abomination from beyond the stars and human sanity," Starflit says in a hushed voice. "Probably not too out of place for where we've found ourselves...."
”A statue, huh?” Tristain examines the art.
Know (Dungeoneering)
Know (Dungeoneering)
”Not a big deal. Just an Elder Thing,” Tristain says, even though another presense has no idea what an Elder Thing is, and how much it might be like an Old One? No one know really, except an overworked editor from the City of Love.
”Something big knocked the head right off.”
Known by various names on various worlds, but most often as "elder things" or "old ones," these alien creatures are interested in creating lasting works of art, architecture, and even life (such as the dreaded shoggoths). They possess a boundless capacity for war and egotism.
Al looks at the tunnel with trepidation. "If anything catches us in that tunnel we won't have many ways to escape. And if some giant beast built it we could be walking into a surprise. That airwalk will help with not announcing our approach with footsteps, but we should stay on alert the whole time. Is there no other way around the mountain, or perhaps mines going under it?" Al follows Kyffin, although he's sure any mines under the mountain would be the safest route and nothing could go wrong in there.
Raising his hand, "Question: Why do we care? Seriously, who cares? Not I. Anyway, since we've now solved the great mystery of the headless old thing, can we keep moving? Time's a wasting and I'm not getting any younger. Let's move people! And keep your eyes open for aliens. They're weird."
"I, sadly, agree with Lothan. It doesn't seem to be coming to life, so let's take the warning and move on carefully."
Do we have any idea how long the tunnel is? When we get to a door, I have spells to cast before we enter anything.
You continue on, to where a cave-in appears to have blocked any way forward. You're about to look for some other passage, but when Tristain turns around, he sees an immense purple spider with a legspan of nearly forty feet and a hideously bloated body emerge seemingly from solid rock. No one else can see it, even as Tristain screams that it's rushing forward -- until it spits a web at Tristain, entangling him, as he sees another one emerge!
Starflit invokes the judgments of Protection and Purity as she tries to figure out exactly what the great arachnids might be.
Spells: 5th 4/4; 4th 5/5; 3rd 6/6; 2nd 6/6; 1st 7/7
Judgments: #1 of 5; purity (+4 sacred bonus on all saving throws (+8 against curses, diseases, and poisons)); protection (+4 sacred bonus to Armor Class (+8 against attack rolls made to confirm critical hits against the inquisitor))
Buff Spells: life bubble?, communal protection from evil
hp (current):123/123; (no damage since last turn);
AC (CURRENT): 36, touch 22, flat-footed 33 (+4 sacred from protection judgment)
Saving Throws (CURRENT): Fort +19, Ref +18, Will +22; stalwart; purity judgment (+4 sacred bonus on all saving throws (+8 against curses, diseases, and poisons))
Greater Bane (plants); 19/19
Conditions: none
These are Leng spiders, which have long warred with that realm's more humanoid denizens. These spiders see themselves as deserving of true positions of power, and the only creatures they suffer to live apart from their kin are their magically controlled slaves.
They are magical beasts, immune to cold, confusion and insanity effects, poison and sonic, that resist magic.
Know (Arcana/Religion) -
”Oh c’mon!” Tristain looks down at the webbing, which he does not deserve. He didn’t do anything wrong. Especially compared to others. ”My cravat!”
He will explain about the creatures and also complain that he’ll need help getting out of the webbing.
Like Tristain, Starflit recognizes the monstrous arachnids to be Leng spiders. She, too, explains their resistances and defense, all while hacking at the webbing that binds the spellcaster.
for
for
for
Tristain looks at Starflit, and then at the webbing, then back at Starflit, then again at the webbing.
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Magic Vestment, Sacred Armor (+3 10r)
Teralindar's Honor: Attack: BAB +11/5/1, Str +5, Magic +3, Focus +2, (Power -3) Damage: Str +5, Magic +3, Specialization +4, (Power +6) Crit: 15-20 DR Magic, Cold Iron, Silver Special Aberration Bane & Crit x3
Longbow: Attack: BAB +11/5/1, Dex +2, Magic +1 Damage: Str +5 (adaptive), Magic +1
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Arrows = 10/10
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
Blessings (10/10, su) (Holy Strike (std), Battle Companion (std), Fast Healing (std, 3 for 1m), or Powerful Healer (sw))
Fervor (10/10, su, sw, DC 20, 5d6)
Sacred Weapon (15/15r, su, sw, +3)
Sacred Armor (14/15m, su, sw, +3)
Dawnflower Sash (1/1, std, feather fall)(1/1, im, cure light wounds)(std, as torch)
Pearl of Power (1/1, first)(1/1, second)
Rod Extend Spell (3/3)
Spells (Caster Level 15, Concentration +19)
Zero (13): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Stabilize
First (14): Command, Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Shield of Faith
Second (15): Bull’s Strength, Burst of Radiance, Delay Poison, Hold Person, Protection from Evil Communal, Sound Burst
Third (16): Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Circle against Evil,
Fourth (17): Blade of Light, Blessings of Fervor, Blessings of Fervor, Divine Power, Shield of the Dawnflower
Fifth (18):
- - -
Before the party scatters, he casts Air Walk Communal .
Then he’ll swiftly bless his armor (sacred +3) and begin to climb into the air (15’ up, so a ways to go yet). I believe, as large as these things are, he’ll provoke.
With the casting from Kyffin, Al walks into the air and attacks the spider he can see.
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Round 1
Tristain moves back 20', away from the spiders, moving slowly away and trying not to be noticed, like Lothan seeing a sign for a free baptism.
Tristain casts the best spell he knows at the moment, and encourages everyone to bonk freely.
HP: 118/118+15 temp hp
AC: 16
Points: 9/9 left
Spells: Lvl 1: 10/10 left (Bless*0,MM*0,IllOm*0,MurdCom*0,Vanish*0) dc 22
Spells: Lvl 2: 7/9 left (ReEn*0,FlsLife*1,SpirW*0,Sugg*0,SeeInvis*1,Invis*0) dc 23
Spells: Lvl 3: 6/9 left (Fly*0,ForPun*0,MagVest*0,DazeMM,Haste*1,Hero*2) dc 24
Spells: Lvl 4: 9/9 left (BlakTent*0,Guard*0,MindThrust*0,DimDoor*0,FoM*0) dc 24
Spells: Lvl 5: 6/8 left (Commune*0,Serenity*0,LifeBub*1,OverlandFly*1,Teleport) dc 25
Spells: Lvl 6: 7/7 left (BladeBar*0 dc 26,EgoWhip*0,PsychSurg*0, Disint*0 dc 25)
Spells: Lvl 7: 5/5 left (Forcecage dc 27,Gr Scrying, Banishment dc 27 Quick Haste, Quick ForcePunch)
Cure Used: 0/4 used
Rod of Reach: 0/3 used
Rod of Extend (6th): 2/3 used
Rod of Extend (3rd): 0/3 used
"zee-NOO!”
Wand of Magic Missile (lvl9): 30/50 left
force damage.
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+15[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d20+2-4[/dice] to hit; ()
[ dice]1d8-1[/dice] piercing damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+19[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
"GAH! I hate spiders." Lothan quickly launches a murderous slew of arrows at the overgrown critter directly above them.
Starflit: 19
Lothan: 14
Tristain: 12
Kyffin: 12
Albert: 8
Antagonist: 30
Starflit cuts at the webbing, but can't fully slash through it as Tristain scurries away and casts his spell. Kyffin casts another spell on the group and begins to climb as Al and Lothan go on the attack.
As they approach, the spider bites at Kyffin, but misses. Al, however, isn't as fortunate and his flesh starts to blister and rot away as he suffers and horrific hallucinations. The creature screams as Al's sword cuts it and three of Lothan's arrows hit home. Even as it begins healing, it lashes out at Al with a rock attached with a cord of webbing into a horrific flair, smashing the paladin with a pair of brutal blows . It tries to bite Kyffin again, but the half-orc easily avoids its mandibles.
The second one casts a spell -- and Kyffin and Al suddenly drop out of the air, slowly sinking back to the ground!
Red: 107
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Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Magic Vestment, Sacred Armor (+3 9r), Divine Favor (+4, 10r), Air Walk (30m)
Teralindar's Honor: Attack: BAB +11/5/1, Str +5, Magic +3, Focus +2, (Power -3) Damage: Str +5, Magic +3, Specialization +4, (Power +6) Crit: 15-20 DR Magic, Cold Iron, Silver Special Aberration Bane & Crit x3
Longbow: Attack: BAB +11/5/1, Dex +2, Magic +1 Damage: Str +5 (adaptive), Magic +1
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Arrows = 10/10
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
Blessings (10/10, su) (Holy Strike (std), Battle Companion (std), Fast Healing (std, 3 for 1m), or Powerful Healer (sw))
Fervor (9/10, su, sw, DC 20, 5d6)
Sacred Weapon (15/15r, su, sw, +3)
Sacred Armor (14/15m, su, sw, +3)
Dawnflower Sash (1/1, std, feather fall)(1/1, im, cure light wounds)(std, as torch)
Pearl of Power (1/1, first)(1/1, second)
Rod Extend Spell (3/3)
Spells (Caster Level 15, Concentration +19)
Zero (13): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Stabilize
First (14): Command, Divine Favor, Divine Favor,
Second (15): Bull’s Strength, Burst of Radiance, Delay Poison, Hold Person, Protection from Evil Communal, Sound Burst
Third (16): Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Circle against Evil,
Fourth (17): Blade of Light, Blessings of Fervor, Blessings of Fervor, Divine Power, Shield of the Dawnflower
Fifth (18):
- - -
Kyffin casts Air Walk Communal again. He shouts, ”I can do this all day!” at the nasty creature for taking away his spell.
With religious fervor, he’ll cast Divine Favor (+4 attacks/damage (luck)) (swift) and he’ll climb up again (15’ up) and provokes again.
Round 2
Still hobbled by webs, Tris moves back away from the spiders again. Slowly, but after a few more rounds of this, he'll be back at his usual position of cowering in the back of the party.
He will offer a Magic Missile at the most wounded spider.
force damage. SR
HP: 118/118+15 temp hp
AC: 16
Points: 9/9 left
Spells: Lvl 1: 9/10 left (Bless*0,MM*1,IllOm*0,MurdCom*0,Vanish*0) dc 22
Spells: Lvl 2: 7/9 left (ReEn*0,FlsLife*1,SpirW*0,Sugg*0,SeeInvis*1,Invis*0) dc 23
Spells: Lvl 3: 6/9 left (Fly*0,ForPun*0,MagVest*0,DazeMM,Haste*1,Hero*2) dc 24
Spells: Lvl 4: 9/9 left (BlakTent*0,Guard*0,MindThrust*0,DimDoor*0,FoM*0) dc 24
Spells: Lvl 5: 6/8 left (Commune*0,Serenity*0,LifeBub*1,OverlandFly*1,Teleport) dc 25
Spells: Lvl 6: 7/7 left (BladeBar*0 dc 26,EgoWhip*0,PsychSurg*0, Disint*0 dc 25)
Spells: Lvl 7: 5/5 left (Forcecage dc 27,Gr Scrying, Banishment dc 27 Quick Haste, Quick ForcePunch)
Cure Used: 0/4 used
Rod of Reach: 0/3 used
Rod of Extend (6th): 2/3 used
Rod of Extend (3rd): 0/3 used
"zee-NOO!”
Wand of Magic Missile (lvl9): 30/50 left
force damage.
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+15[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d20+2-4[/dice] to hit; ()
[ dice]1d8-1[/dice] piercing damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+19[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+5[/dice] force damage
Al shakes off the poison like it was bad cooking and climbs to the attack again with the aid of Kyffin's airwalk while smearing dirt across his wounds.
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Starflit charges her magical starknife with greater bane, hurls it at the wounded Leng spider, and takes to the air to engage the beast in speeded-up melee the following round.
for
Lothan continues to attempt to pepper the spider with a volley of arrows.
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Starflit: 19
Lothan: 14
Tristain: 12
Kyffin: 12
Albert: 8
Antagonist: 30
Starflit and Lothan take down the closest spider, which fortunately falls to the ground with a sickening splat!
As Al and Kyffin rush toward the remaining spider, Tristain tries to blast it with a barrage of magical missiles -- but they have no effect! . It chitters and starts to move forward ... but then freezes at a muffled and distant cry of “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!” A second later, it turns and flees back the way you came from!
Kyffin is somewhat relieved - he's out of air walks. But they're aloft now, and that's not nothing.
"Whatever that call was, it might be warning of something worse. We should stay ready just in case."
He quickly corrals the loot, all while keeping an eye out for trouble. "Has anyone seen coins like this before?" he admires the design as he stows them away.