[PFC] GM Granta's Beyond Azlant Ridge (low) (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

"I knew something was strange about them. Seemingly oblivious to the dangers about them. What is this evil spirit you speak of?" Garn ask gruffly.

I'm back!

With Garn's help, Nerisiel coaxes Arletta out of hiding. "Who are you? You don't seem like you've been charmed like the rest of the archaeologists. Are you here to stop the evil spirit?"

"We are Pathfinders. Here to find you all. Would you help us with exploring? As has been said, there is a puzzle we could use some assistance with."

"They have been charmed. By who or what? and how bad is it?"

"And does it have anything to do with that big terrible snake I saw in the ghost vision?" Leena chimes in.

Miriel comes to join the discussion, and with graceful movements sits down on her knees near Arletta. "As my companions have stated, we are sent by the Pathfinder Society, to examine what troubles have been preventing timely messages from the expedition. After our arrival, we have been perplexed by the condition and unresponsiveness of the archaeologists. If they truly are charmed, our responsibility is to remove the enchantment in whatever way possible. Is this evil spirit behind their condition? We also discovered a mysterious disc, can you enlighten us on their nature?" Miriel says to Arletta.

"I don't know how to remove the enchantment; mine just disappeared when I touched the white sphere. I do know something about the discs, though!" Arletta pulls one out of her pack. It gives off a soft, magical glow. "The spirit wanted us to collect four of these. When I found this one, I hid it from my companions. Perhaps you can figure out what to do with it."

It is affected with a light spell, and she doesn't have anything else of use to say or do. Who carries the disc?

"hmm so I would surmise there is something trapped here that wants to escape. It needs the discs to unlock its prison.. So disappear with the discs and thing remains trapped or will golem face smash his way in eventually? Miriel you take the disc for now I think. Should we mention having found the discs to Julianne that we are taking them back to Nantambu for safe keeping and seeing what that triggers? I am unsure of our next move?" says Nerisiel looking to the group for other suggestions

"We should try to find more of these discs. Any idea where more could be? That golem seems pretty determined to get through that wall. I have a feeling if anything is behind it, keeping the discs or not will be irrelevant."

"Where else might we find more? We seemed to have searched the whole place. Except the room the golem is trying to get into." Pausing briefly, he continues. "I am not comfortable speaking to Julianne. They are under some enchantment. Unless we haul them one by one to touch the sphere. Like what Arletta did."

"It might prove quite problematic to force anyone to touch the sphere. They are most likely to fight back, and if the enchantment is sophisticated enough we might well face a group of violent archaeologists if we try to aggressively move one of them. I'll take the stone, but I would prefer we tried to seek more of the artifacts before trying to wrestle the misguided scholars", Miriel says and takes the stone disc from Arletta.

Effectively, you have two options: defeat the monster or reseal its prison by correctly placing each disc in its slot. And you haven't missed any discs yet, so don't waste time searching.

Whatever you choose to do, the next step is the golem bashing down the door. In character, you can tell that it is about to happen, but not exactly when. That means no round/level buffs, but do anything else you wish to prepare. And this can be a very difficult fight, so I strongly suggest getting your ducks in a row, including positioning your icons.

"I guess we better put this shiny disc back in its hole and get ready for whatever happens. Is anyone still hurt?"

@Leena: Which slot do you want to put the light disc in?

Icon placed.

"This golem looks like it is about to be done with the door... Get into position people, anything could be behind it!" Amiri holds her sword ready and waits.

Would I be able to ready an action to rage, 5ft step, and swing if something gets within range of me?

"If we deduced the previous one as void, this could well be sun. The light could be brighter, so moon isn't completely out of the question, but I'll put this to sun if nobody objects. Aid me here", Miriel says to her companions, and tries to Place the disc to the sun hole.

After getting rid of the disc Miriel stands next to the golem, opposite side from Amiri. "Well, wildling, we are going to challenge this evil spirit. Prepare in your way, I prepare in mine," she shouts over the golem's pounding. Miriel draws her weapon, and stands almost motionless, her head bowed. "I am peaceful. I see beauty in others. I live my life as art", she quietly recites the tenets of her goddess over and over again.

"Until we find a brighter disc it will do for the sun I dont think I have much more song to give today but I stand ready" Nerisiel stands with a whip in one hand and a mithral dagger in the other

Although he does not show it, Garn's heart is filled with trepidation. For such a large formidable golem to be attacking, it's foe must be formidable indeed. He withdraws a scroll from his scroll case and uses it to lay an enchantment on Snowball to increase the effectiveness of its attacks.

"I have exhausted my magic although I can still take on an animal form. Let's see what foul creature the golem will reveal before I determine what form would be best."

"Leena, now might be a moment for the wand's magic. Please my friend, could you give everyone an enchantment?" Miriel says, momentarily pausing her meditation.

"Okay! I'll try to start when the door is almost done, this magic won't last long."

If anyone has belts of strength already, Leena will prioritize them last.

Leena was able to tap everybody in time. And the grab on Snowball just failed because of that buff!

Maps

Round 1
Effects bull's strength

• GM -
  
• Nerisiel - 12 damage
  
• Miriel -
  
• Amiri -
  
• Garn -
  
• Snowball - 10 damage, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -

With a final blow, the enormous iron golem 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.

The three tails lash out at Garn, Nerisiel and Snowball. Two of the scaled limbs slap their targets around, but fail to coil around the Pathfinders' bodies.

Everybody is up. The last two discs are marked on the map. And this rule doesn't come up often, so I'll remind everybody: the serpent is big enough that you can move through its square without having to roll Acrobatics, though you still provoke an attack of opportunity.

know planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"be careful those tails can redirect magic. Make the Xacabra a cadaver blow the Risk I'll grab a disc"

Begins a short blast of inspire courage and edges forward

Delay until after Miriel. Hoping she will 5ft in for a flank :)

"THE BIGGER THEY ARE, THE HARDER THEY FALL!" Amiri screams as she winds up and lets loose on the primordial evil before her.

Go grab the discs, we'll keep it busy! Miriel calls out to the rest of the party. She steps to the side to distract the snake from Amiri's attacks. "Wait, the flail! It was used against snakes! Hey, snake, stop the slow dance with the metalhead! Recognize this? For Shelyn!" Miriel shouts at the gargantuan creature, drops her blade and draws the mysterious flail hitting the beast with all her might.

"AH! It's that thing! From the ghost dream!" Leena yells. Hearing Miriel's command, she gulps and charges forward, ducking low to try and avoid the monster's attack.

Maps

Round 1
Effects bull's strength, inspire courage +1

• GM - 14 damage, 1
  
• Nerisiel - 12 damage
  
• Miriel -
  
• Amiri -
  
• Garn -
  
• Snowball - 10 damage, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -

Nerisiel warns her fellow magic users to cast their spells defensively, then begins a rousing rhyme. Miriel plants her feet and swings at one of the tails, but feels her blow deflected a few inches from the scales.

Amiri's blade finds a missing scale, but she can't get enough force behind the swing to fully capitalize on the opening, as the creature seems to resist her weapon.

Leena rushes into the prison cell, easily dodging the tails along the way.

Garn and Snowball are up. Somebody may bot them if no post within ~20 hours.

Sorry long day at work today.

I'm going to have Garn wildshape into a form to assist in getting the discs.

Garn turns and gestures to Snowball to attack to distract the beast. He himself concentrates and his form melts and morphs into that of an eagle!

Separate posting so that can get his stats up in the stat line.

In his eagle form, Garn takes flight, weaving around the giant monster and the golem.

Despite the imposing monstrosity facing him, Snowball obediently steps up to the monster and tears into it with fang and nail!

Maps

Round 2
Effects bull's strength, inspire courage +1

• GM - 14 damage
  
• Nerisiel - 12 damage, -3 CON
  
• Miriel - 12 damage, -1 CON, grappled
  
• Amiri - 12 damage
  
• Garn - -4 CON
  
• Snowball - 10 damage, -2 CON, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -

One of the tails swipes at Garn as he flies past, but can't reach high enough to catch the eagle. Snowball catches one of the tails with his claws, then bites down on it, but can't pierce the tough hide.

The tails swing back and forth, catching Miriel and Amiri; only Snowball manages to jump over the flailing limbs. But most troubling, one of the tails wraps around Miriel.

Everybody is up.

Leena reaches down, levering up one of the stone discs. "Hooof! I'm glad we found that strength stick!" With that exclaimation, she moves around the wall, getting ready to dash back through the doorway.

Garn swoops down towards the remaining stone disc, landing beside it. He then reaches out and scoops it into one of his claws.

Snowball, not quite understanding why its attacks are not getting, resolves to try harder and continues tearing into the monster.

"Oh Desna thats too tight thats too tight" Nerisiels voice increases in pitch and the last words come out as a squeak. She carefully begins to cast a spell to help her fellow elf

"Varyavanië", Miriel again calls divine power to close her wounds. "Let go of me, you overgrown piece of surrealism!" she shouts at the snake-creature and tries to furiously wiggle free of the grip. The shaking makes her black hair lose its pins and transform the neat hairdo into a wild mess resembling a dark dandelion.

remember those who drank from the fountain gain a +30 insight bonus on checks made to escape a grapple.

@Garn: Correct, move action to pick up a disc. And yes, the golem sets a flank.

Maps

Round 2
Effects bull's strength

• GM - 14 damage
  
• Nerisiel - 12 damage, -3 CON
  
• Miriel - 8 damage, -1 CON, grease
  
• Amiri - 12 damage
  
• Garn - 7 damage, -4 CON
  
• Snowball - 10 damage, -2 CON, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -

Her performance exhausted, Nerisiel frees her hands, then conjures a slick coating around Miriel's armor. The paladin quickly takes advantage of the aid and slips out of the serpent's grasp.

Garn gets bounced around a bit by one of the tails, but remains free and picks up one of the stone discs. Snowball claws the the xacarba again, but still can't pierce the thick scales.

Leena picks up the last disc, and moves into position for a sprint back to the other room.

Amiri is up. If she doesn't post within the next ~20 hours, somebody please bot her.

Seeing as her balde is nowhere near as effective as she would hope, she admits to herself that slotting the disks is the only way forward. She does her best to make her way to a slot to help the others.

Maps

Round 3
Effects bull's strength

• GM - 14 damage
  
• Nerisiel - 12 damage, -3 CON
  
• Miriel - 14 damage, -1 CON, grease
  
• Amiri - 24 damage
  
• Garn - 7 damage, -4 CON
  
• Snowball - 18 damage, -2 CON, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -

The xacarba helps Amiri get to the wall a little faster than intended--and head first--but the barbarian does stay free of the tail and make it to the wall.

Nerisiel dodges the attack completely, while Miriel and Snowball suffer another blow from the angry creature, but they at least escape the coiling grip.

Everybody is up.

"Gang WAY!" Leena yells, dashing through the doorway to the far wall.

Double move.

Which disc does Leena and Garn have respectively?
Leena, you seemed to have left the disc behind. :)

Leena has a really bright disc, brighter than the light one. Garn has a sparkly disc that twinkles with a dim light.

"Leena, that is the brightest of the disks we have seen, let's put it in the 'Sun' slot!" Amiri calls out, squatting low and ready to hoist her companion into position.

"You might want to take the moon out first Leena provide the heals please" Nerisiel edges towards the wall and pulls out her healing wand and uses it on her self

Garn as the eagle, clutches the sparkling disc in one claw as he weaves around the giant golem and the monstrosity, flying towards the last slot.

Snowball, oblivious to the conversations about the sun, moon and stars, continue tearing into the monster. However, none of its attacks seem to be getting through. He snarls in frustration.

Maps

Round 3
Effects bull's strength

• GM - 14 damage
  
• Nerisiel - 5 damage, -3 CON
  
• Miriel - 14 damage, -1 CON, grease
  
• Garn - 7 damage, -4 CON
  
• Snowball - 18 damage, -2 CON, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -
  
• Amiri - 24 damage

Nerisiel backs up to the safety of the wall and heals herself from a wand. Garn flies in with the other disk, weaving over and around the thrashing tails, while Snowball furiously--and futilely--fights the xacarba. Leena barely ekes by, but in the end she does make it safely into the room, and Amiri lifts her up to the "SUN" slot.

Miriel is up. If she hasn't acted in ~20 hours, somebody please bot her.

@Amiri: It's enough for me that Leena and your actions overlap, they don't need to time up exactly. So you will have your full turn free next round.

"Varyavanië", Miriel calls her goddesses, her wounds again closing under the flickering divine power, which then dies out with a quiet, pleasant ting. Miriel, seeing that all the disc carriers got past the creature, finally moves to join them. She dodges the three swinging tails on her way to help Garn. "We'll put you in a basket and nobody's going to charm you out again with a flute, you slithery weirdo!" she taunts again. "Garn, now together, dear friend" she says to the eagle-formed druid.

Maps

Round 4
Effects bull's strength

• GM - 14 damage
  
• Nerisiel - 5 damage, -3 CON
  
• Miriel - 18 damage, -1 CON, grease
  
• Garn - 7 damage, -4 CON
  
• Snowball - 25 damage, -2 CON, greater magic fang
  
• Lena -
  
• Amiri - 24 damage

Miriel heals some of her wounds, before backing away from the xacarba as carefully as possible--but it's not enough, and she suffers another blow during the retreat.

Left alone, Snowball takes the full brunt of the serpent's ire, but successfully dodges most of the damage.

Everybody is up.

"Just..a...sec..." Leena placates Amiri, raising her holy symbol as she moves up to her taller companion. A burst of positive energy washes over the party, parting to either side of the fiend before them: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10