Turel slowly approaches the shrine. "This is a bas-relief of Nethys rising out of the Maelstrom behind him. While the altar has been defaced, I can see now it occurred long ago that the impact is lessened but still troubling. The two fonts were once used to create holy water."
Proceeding to the room where the pool is located, he nods in recognition. "Such large, shallow pools were not uncommon in ancient Osirian architecture, particularly on temple grounds, though this one is unusual in that it is indoors."
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Exits from the eastern wing are
1) along the northern edge of the map there is an archway leading west
2) around the middle of the map there are double doors leading west
3) along the southern edge of the map there is the hallway back to D1
If you go through exit 1, please give me a single file formation.
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Harmose grins that she's touching his hand, and squeezes hers back. "I think it's the sobering effect of them being around someone who once was in their ghastly club, but has grown up and moved on. They know I mean business."
He wanders around the pool, uncertain yet of its historical significance, but the religious context comes easily to him. "They performed baptisms here. The waters did not just represent life, but a melange of all creative energies. And you're right about the pillars, Aleris!"
He reads the Ancient Osirioni* aloud with ease...
Dip yourself within this healing pool
Magic is life, death and your only rule
Aspirant, ride the air, delve the earth
Unravel their secrets and their worth
Swim in an arcane flow, read words of fire
Learn, grow, become what you desire.
He pauses, running his fingers through his hair as he thinks. "Nethys is so serious about spells and the arcane arts. Although I find magic useful and a delight, I've never understood the drive to seek it out for its own sake. Oh well! Perhaps we will find great learning here for scholars like Kito, and others in Wati and beyond."
"I feel that we should clean the shrine, but perhaps that can wait until after we have found the Scorched Hand." Kito reflects.
"So, where next? I would suggest the archway to the north."
"Alright, sounds good to me." Harmose nods, and then looks to Ra-Khefer and Turel. "Lead on."
Turel nods in agreement and takes his place at the lead of the party.
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Qari doesn't say much while the others discuss their knowledge of history and ancient religions. She was becoming a bit embarrassed about her lack of knowledge of the same. She pledged to start listening more when the others delved into such esoteric topics.
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You enter a large, cathedral-like hall (D2).
D2a. Hall of Protection
Space and elevation lend a sense of past grandeur and majesty to this large space. A large, star-shaped fountain with a circular pool in the center sits in the middle of the chamber. The bottom of the pool is decorated with a great mosaic eye made from tiny colored tiles, and hieroglyphs are carved into the paving stones ringing the fountain. Two rows of columns support the ceiling overhead, which continues to rise to a domed ceiling in the northern portion of the chamber. At the far end of the hall, a massive statue with arms raised overlooks the entire length of the temple from atop a raised dais. East and west of the fountain, two sets of stone double doors exit the chamber.
D2b. Cathedral of Nethys
North of the Hall of Protection, the ceiling rises to a high dome 40 feet above the main floor, forming the primary cathedral of Nethys. Three flights of short, steep steps climb up to a large platform elevated 5 feet above the floor. At the rear of this platform, a 15-foot-tall statue of Nethys, half white and half black, stands atop a raised octagonal dais. The top of the main platform is tiled in black marble, while the octagonal dais is a striking white, and the ring that separates them is tiled in red.
Something evil is watching you and succeeds at Stealth to perform a surprise round, during which you think you heard some magic words being spoken, and then a humanoid-looking creature takes a five foot step to come out from behind the statue of Nethys.
Round 1
17 Deseri - may post action retroactively
15 Enemy - coming up next
14 and less - everyone else after enemy turn.
Deseri is the only one who beats the enemy's initiative after the surprise round (yes really, I rolled all your initiatives in the spoiler, do you still want me to keep doing that? :D). Deseri may post her Round 1 action retroactively.
Then the enemy acts. A ghostly looking hand materializes in the air in front of Turel and tries to touch him. At the same time, you hear magic words from the creature.
(Roll the two separately.)
The creature's image can be seen on the battle map.
Draped in rags and hunched over on goatlike legs, this creature possesses a featureless face, save for a large eye ringed by fangs.
Aghash divs have DR 5 that is penetrated by cold iron or good.
Aghashes embody the evil eye, a curse granted by merely witnessing these embodiments of ruin and misfortune. Terrifying, haglike beings, aghashes wander deserts of the Material Plane spreading doom with their gazes. These wretched creatures hold nothing sacred, taking particular pleasure in bringing vain and arrogant mortals, particularly spellcasters, to ruin. Ragged and filthy, an aghash moves with a staggering motion. Its hoofed legs bend like those of a goat, giving its emaciated frame an obscene, jerking gait.
All divs exhibit some manner of compulsion, and aghashes' is to despise beautiful mortals. If given a choice between attacking two different opponents, an aghash always chooses the most physically becoming foe. Such is their loathing—or, perhaps, jealousy—that an aghash might stalk attractive foes, delighting in afflicting them with curses that sap their Charisma or otherwise undermines their charm. With its spectral hand ability an aghash can deliver curses from a distance, leading some victims to believe they've been afflicted by a disease or cursed by the gods themselves. All the while, the aghash lingers nearby, delighting in the suffering it has caused.
An aghash stands between 5 and 6 feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds.
While demons exist to destroy, devils yearn to corrupt and control, and daemons seek the death of all things, the foul beings known as divs strive to ruin and despoil all things created by mortals. Spawned from corrupted genies exiled to the accursed depths of Abaddon, divs harbor an ancient hatred against all mortalkind, doing all in their power not simply to destroy but also to torment all that lives. Patient and vicious, divs seek to spoil all things beautiful and joyous, dooming their victims to existences full of frustration and suffering before succumbing to lengthy, painful deaths.
The most ancient of myths claim that divs were the aides and architects of numerous magical and forgotten mortal empires in an age of wondrous and mysterious antiquity. During this unfathomably ancient time these masters of creation served as helpful genies, allied to thankful and gracious masters. However, this bond with mortals soon frayed, as generations of the shorter-lived races ebbed and f lowed like ripples in a puddle, forgetting the oaths and respect their forbearers gave divs; some began to abuse and neglect their otherworldly allies, while others merely turned away from genies to rely upon and extol the creations of mortalkind. As the contributions of geniekind were ignored and the deities celebrated the rise of their mortal creations across the worlds, many of the ancient architects rose in rebellion against mortals and the ancient deities who shepherded them. In turning from the paths of inspiration and creation, these genie rebels fell under the sway of a power of destruction known as Ahriman, who granted them not only the vicious might to avenge themselves against mortalkind, but also twisted forms marking them as paragons of depredation, havoc, and ruin. Thus did first divs come into being.
Ever since, divs have arisen from the spirits of the most nefarious and spiteful evil genies. Rather than returning to the Elemental Planes upon their destruction, these foul genies find their way into the claws of Ahriman, a spirit of annihilation who has haunted geniekind since the earliest days of creation. Having forged a realm upon the ruined hinterlands of the foul plane of Abaddon, Ahriman uses the innate corruption of that realm along with his own immortal evil to inspire wickedness in the souls drawn to him, warping such profane spirits into div servitors of a variety of terrible forms. Indifferent to the genie race from which the soul hailed, the Lord of the Divs sees only the evil within and grants it an abhorrent shape particular to the vices that brought the genie to his domain. What emerges from Ahriman's grip is a dreadful new fiend, an enemy of mortalkind and the deities of good, a hateful spirit given a form with which to wreak its revenge. The dark god's touch leaves behind nothing of the individual genie that once was—only hatred, entitlement, and vengeance remain.
Although as varied in form as any of the more pervasive fiendish races, divs often demonstrate the pride, affectations, and tastes of geniekind, drawing them toward desert realms, ancient sites, and opulent displays of power. Yet for all their varied powers, most divs prefer using mortals to foster the dooms they envision, manipulating those they hate to become the masters of their own destruction. Nothing pleases a div as much as seeing a powerful mortal squander everything she's built to end up poor, faithless, and resentful. Divs also treat genies with spite and hatred, eagerly slaying them or working them into their degenerate plans.
As a flaw of their spiritual reshaping, each type of div has a strange weakness that compels it to act in a certain way, such as always attacking the most beautiful opponent, bargaining to learn a secret, or avoiding the color red. Although the wisest know and tell of these weaknesses, every div is aware of its compulsions and avoids being entrapped by them while also plotting ways to exploit opponents who think it vulnerable.
Everyone may act. Deseri may act twice, because she also has a retroactive action from before the creature's Round 1 action.
Hearing Ra-Khefer's bellow, Kito rushes forward so she can see what they are fighting. Upon seeing the hand, she shouts "Watch out, that hand has still got a curse on it!"
As she gets out her dagger, she adds "Cold or cold iron needed for the Agosh! Most energy attacks don't work and the thing can teleport!"
With that, she begins casting a spell.
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The normal quiet manner sets in as the group moves further into the temple. Keeping her silence until they enter that spacious room and she seeing that twisted creature. That history lesson she remembers well and that horrid abomination has haunted the edges of her nightmares for years.
Yelling at pretty much the same time as Kito,
Steping through the others and just into the room. After yelling her warning Deseri twists her hands and points at the Aghashe. Be good and don't move. A line of translucent black jets from her fingers and tries to twist around the Aghashe's shadow. Not looking away but yelling anyways, [bigger]Aleris! Harmose! If your Gods gives you holy magics now is the time to use them
Polux moves forward to interpose himself between their opponent and his group's casters and archers - "Stay close" - he urges.
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Turel made the save and feels no effect. Spectral hand is a bit unclear on how separate it is from its spellcaster, but I'm gonna rule that it can hold charge while the caster casts another spell, so it is still charged with the curse.
Both Qari and Aleris hit and deal full damage with their respective attacks. The aghash cries out, "بشر اللعينة ! كيف تجرؤ تجرح لي !"
Added a symbol on the map at the spectral hand's location.
Turel - double move
Ra-Khefer - double move
Kito - cast enlarge
Deseri - cast shadow trap
Polux - double move
Qari - hit for 10hp
Aleris - hit for 7hp
Harmose - cast bless
I think that's everyone. Aghash turn.
Injured and roaring from the damage, the div takes a five foot step back from Ra-Khefer's melee range (toward Turel, but not enough to get in his range), and casts a spell. It disappears in a flash of whirling sand.
The aghash is nowhere to be seen.
Everyone may act. Combat is not over. One round's actions only.
Twisting and looking around, Where did it go? Pausing for a moment to take a breath and call her protective thing back up, I really should have a better idea of what this thing is... Note to self do not tell the others that.
Kito finishes her spell. Seeing that Polux is right there with a cold iron weapon already out, she targets him with it.
Fearing what might happen next, she immediately casts see invisibility and looks around for the Div.
Kito shouts a warning "Watch the hand, it should travel back to the creature!" She then repeats herself in Auran.
Turel watches closely for any appearance of the otherworldly creature as he moves off the raised platform and closer to the spellcasters.
Polux smiles as Kito enlarges his frame to massive proportions - "Thank you" - he nods - "You're safe now" - he adds, adjusting his position slightly, and readying an attack if the creature presents itself.
Qari readies another attack, waiting to blast the creature once it reappeared.
RTA minus one if not within 30'.
Damage minus one if not within 30'.
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Deseri - cast spirit shield
Aleris - ready longbow
Kito - cast see invisibility
Turel - move + delay
Ra-Khefer - delay
Polux - ready melee
Qari - ready blast
Harmose - may act retroactively
Enemy turn.
The spectral hand zooms through the southern exit and goes out of view. The aghash does not come into view.
Everyone's turn. One round actions only.
Harmose retroactively casts guidance on Qari, and then this round casts it on Polux.
Qari follows the spectral hand for 30', after hearing the discussion from the others about it following its master. If the Mage pops back into sight, she blasts away.
RTA with Guidance minus one if not within 30'.
Damage minus one if not within 30'.
"Protect Harmose, since he is the one this creature is most likely to target." Kito says as she moves to Turel's side. She casts Guidance on him once she is there.
Turel nods in reply to Kito and moves off next to Harmose.
A few steps take Deseri over to Harmose and taps Turel on his arm.
Harmose is blissfully unaware of what Kito said, and wondering why everyone is suddenly coming near him.
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Moved Qari in the direction of the hand as requested.
Harmose - cast guidance
Ra-Khefer - delay
Qari - move + ready blast
Kito - cast guidance
Turel - move + delay
Deseri - cast guidance
Aleris - move + ready longbow
Polux - may retroactively
Enemy turn.
The aghash steps back into view at the southern entrance. The pool (D2a) is in the way of charge maneuvers.
Qari's readied blast hits (and is exactly within 30' so point blank works) and the genie-demon roars in pain at the freezing energy. Since there are so many readiers and delayers I will give them a chance to act now -- Ra-Khefer, Turel, Aleris, Polux are up before the enemy acts. 31hp damage to the aghash so far.
Harmose is startled by the revelation, but there is that spectral hand, aiming right for him. "මා ? මට ඇයි? එය හිටපු අපබ්රංස හෙළා කරනවාද? එහෙම නැත්නම් හුදෙක් වංශවතුන් ?"
Turel sees the spectral hand hovering close by the spellcasters and moves to strike at the hand, hoping to if not destroy it then distract it in some way.