As the others heal, Djorn and Aiden look about. Still shaken by the recent events, Djorn walks right by the door hidden in the wall. Thankfully Aiden spots it. Opening it is child's play, and soon eerie green lights bathe the pathfinders, burning all along the walls of this laboratory. A stained-glass window looms over an operating slab where the remains of a humanoid creature lie chained to the stone. Several tablets and other strange items lie atop the various tables, including a vial, a couple pieces of parchment and a large-sized bastard sword, with a hellhound-carved pommel.
Read Jistkan or Linguistics DC 25:
The tablets contain much about how to infuse constructs with fiendish energy and the war with Ancient Osirion, and their Div shock troops. One tablet details Jistkan plans to arm constructs with manufactured weapons designed to combat the latter.
He seems to recover a bit as he carefully studies the sword.
"Not bad. It's been enchanted to penetrate planar geometry such that it could harm extraplanar entities almost as well as any Prime." He gives the corpse on the slab a funny look. "It wasn't for you, was it? Doesn't seem like it would suit you...."
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Aiden walks into the room and looks around at the items. He whistles as he lifts the huge sword. He spots the vial on the table and lifts it up to the light. He shakes it for a moment, watching how it settles back. "Fire Protection, if I see this right."
I'm ready for the last encounter, which will happen upon your return to Corentyn. You will have rested, and will be at full on resources. I will try to run the fight as quickly as I can, but if you have any sessions in the first part of Game Day, you will be late.
Any rerolls, or attempts on the Jistkan text here?
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
Djorn gives the sword a few test swings but quickly realizes it's too large and unwieldy for him to use one handed. He shrugs and hands it back to the others.
"Seems like the theme continues," he comments, nodding toward the pommel, which has another animal like so many of the items they've found.
Content that there is nothing else to see here, he goes with the rest of the group as they leave.
With your exploration of the "Taldane" outpost done, you rest and begin the trek back to Khari, then ultimately Corentyn in the morning. Two days later, you arrive before the museum of history in the early evening.
The museum is dark and seemingly silent.
Perception DC 20:
Above you, an avian silhouette passes before the pale moon before fluttering into the museum's east wing through a crack in one of the building's windows.
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
"Looks like no one's home," Djorn says, sounding disappointed as they reach their destination.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Aiden approaches and tries to look in a window. "You think it finally got too hot for Zefiro? Maybe he got wise and left. But hopefully he left a note." He tries the door handle casually.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 17|HP: 39/39*|F +6*, R +4, W +5 (+2 vs Necr/curses/TNLs, +1 vs fear/conf)|Init +2, Perc +8|CMB +6 CMD 18|Deadspeaker 3/3, Ghostly Horde 1/1, Focus: ?? Gloaming, ?? Azrael, ?? Guidingstar, ?? Perun
FLASHBACK: One final act before leaving the ruins:
Nectanebo takes another curious look at the corpse on the slab, takes out his dragon skull again, and holds it over the corpse for upwards of a minute...
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
Djorn had been so intent on the door, he hadn't noticed anything unusual at the window.
"That might not be too odd. A building this big with a broken window would attract birds. It might have a nest up in the rafters. A small bird, anyway."
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
While Djorn thinks it odd that a museum would let birds in, given the delicate nature of some of the things inside, he knows that things break and a facility this large can't keep everything in top condition.
He follows the rest into the building, not particularly on his guard, though his weapons are always close at hand.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 17|HP: 39/39*|F +6*, R +4, W +5 (+2 vs Necr/curses/TNLs, +1 vs fear/conf)|Init +2, Perc +8|CMB +6 CMD 18|Deadspeaker 3/3, Ghostly Horde 1/1, Focus: ?? Gloaming, ?? Azrael, ?? Guidingstar, ?? Perun
Nectanebo tightens his coat around himself before proceeding...although once again, it's less obvious than it ought to be that his coat is not, in fact, doing that on its own.
The party begins to make their way into the museum, where they soon spot a hint of light emanating from one of the libraries in the eastern wing. Sensing trouble, the pathfinders begin to cast spells, or take a few steps back and attempt to slink into the shadows.
Qiang opens the double doors into the room; filled with bookshelves, display cases and most notably two large tables pilled with manuscripts, the focus of the pathfinder's attention nonetheless rests on the five figures standing at the ready. Two Corenthynian guards along with two figures in hellish-themed breastplates and stern looking helms have their weapons drawn and begin moving towards you as a figure in the back begins to weave the first few syllables of a spell. They do not seem to have spotted Aiden, Esh or Waki.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
Are those Hellknights? Knowledge, Local:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Aiden quietly activates his spring-loaded wrist sheathe and then twists the wand that shoots into his hand. Unfortunately, nothing happens and he curses. He bursts from the shadows to rush into the room and hurls a barbed net at one of the men in the hellish-looking armor.
Spellcraft to ID Esh's spell:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Aiden identifies the infernally-armored ones as Hellknight armigers, or "hellknights-in-training" as his net sails through the air and unfurls perfectly around the man.
With a shout of "Stand down! In the name of her Imperial Majestrix!", one of the guards launches a javelin at Aiden.
Javelin vs Aiden:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
The javelin whizzes by Aiden, and Esh is thankful he is unseen for the time being. However, the woman at the other end of the hall snarls: "You motherless cretins, the other one turned invisible!" Turning to address you, she adds: "We have found evidence of your conspiracy to spread false information within the realm. Master Balinger will die slowly for his treachery. You however, will be a perfect warning to those who would dare defy Chelish law, as you did when you sneaked that whore away."
A reference to part 1 for those of you who do not remember.
She stares at Aiden witheringly, and he feels as if she is cursing him!
Aiden, give me a will save vs Evil Eye, DC 16.
Meanwhile, the armiger uses his greataxe to cut open the net.
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
"Strange...I'm feeling pretty good after defying Chelish Law last time. I think I'm going to keep going with that tradition," Djorn replies.
He'll deal with her in a moment. Time to clear out her lackeys first. He Focuses on the Corentyn Guard with the green tinge to his equipment and takes a step closer before flinging a javelin and dart at him.
Javelin plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus minus 2 Weapon Fighting:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 29
Javelin Damage plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus:1d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 7
Javelin Crit? plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus minus 2 Weapon Fighting:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 23
Javelin Crit Damage plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus:1d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6
Dart plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus minus 2 Weapon Fighting:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 28
Dart Damage plus Point Blank Shot plus Focus:1d4 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6
Focus gives him a +2 to hit and damage against the opponent he designates. His weapons are cold iron, if it matters.
She doesn't need to see you cast. Hearing you works just as well. And after reading a little more on nets, allow me a little retcon.
After considering his options, the armiger reaches to his belt and grabs a potion, which he drinks. And suddenly, he begins to grow before Aiden's eyes as the bounty hunter himself begins to feel weaker.
-2 to all saves Aiden.
The Corenthyn guard's chest is transfixed by Djorn's javelin, before getting hit by a dart. While not down, the man does not look like he could deal with such an onslaught again. The other hellknight grunts and also reaches for a potion in her pocket. She too begins to grow, as she shifts closer to the Pathfinders.
Nectanebo strides into the room, coat billowing in appropriately dramatic fashion. He looks around...and spots, a few strides down the room, a display case holding the mangled skeleton of what must have been some hapless Chelish or Rahadoumi 'penitent'.
"Fancy some retribution, poor soul?" Nectanebo calls out to the skeleton, as his coattails begin to billow against the breeze from the doors, looking like beckoning fingers. "Happy birthday."
With that, the skeleton punches its way out of its case, and begins taking its revenge out of the gigantified Hellknight's backside!
Question: Did the armored "knights" grow unusually fast/immediately, or are they in progress of growing per the usual full round? Assuming they are full sized per map. Waki does not have spellcraft, so just going by what he sees or not
