Anok responds, “When the metal men attacked us, Ivvora’s spirit called through the hilt to her allies’ armaments. She protects us, even now."
"We will not be giving away our weapons,”[/b] he adds icily.
Medda nods. "I am afraid that while I trust you to lead us to a fair hearing, we do not trust the others in this place enough to give away our weapons."
As if triggered by the friction in the discussion, the chandelier hanging at the center of the office ceiling shudders and then falls to the floor, shattering. Atop the wreckage, a roiling wave of flesh gushes forward. Amid the fatty surge wriggle half-formed limbs and a dripping tumorous face. It appears quite angry.
Medda turns toward the new enemy. "Locals! Help me to banish this demon! Twinhorns! Stay back. Your weapons will be useless against it."
The translucent Kellid warrior, Anok, is an ectoplasmic being, is a manifested phantom. [Medium outsider(phantom)] His weapons and armor are translucent as well, so probably not something you could sunder or disarm.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
For what your scan tell you, Medda is a spiritualist. She’s part of this “new and edgy” type of spellcaster that use the mind for casting. They need to be calm to be able to cast most of their spells. As you can deduct, she is linked to the ectoplasmic being called Anok.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
These Kellids appear to be smaller than your typical Kellid brute. They seem quite agile, and their darting eyes appear to be looking for weaknesses in your defenses.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
The shapeless mass of quivering flesh in front of you is a Lemure, the least of devilkind. This one, however, looks larger and more advanced than most. What spark of instinct or memory lingers on within a lemure's semi-consciousness regularly shapes its features to mimic those of its tormentors or the tortured souls around it. Grotesque and useless, a lemure's features speak nothing of what it once was.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.
Mannak
Philoneus
Creslin
Jing
Drin
Mavin
Medda
Demon
Anok
Mr. Tiggles ran, skirting around the terrible, fleshy beast and stopped opposite of his master. Despite the disgusting look of the whatever this was, Mr. Tiggles struck at it with his talon.
Jing's scythe and Mavin's glaive cut the demon deeply, and it lets out a terrible, rage filled warble. Philoneus' spear barely penetrates the muck dripping off of the creature's hide. Similarly, the velociraptor's talons only come away with slime. Mannak's blade finds the beast's rubbery hide difficult to penetrate.
Medda concentrates on a spell and then moves to cover behind a couch.
The demon takes out its frustration on the closest of its threats: Jing. Fortunately for the warrior, the demon's claws cannot penetrate his armor.
Anok slams his translucent fists into the demon, though it only seems to bother the creature a little.
Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.
Mannak
Philoneus
Creslin
Jing
Drin
Mavin
Medda
Demon (-25 hp)
Anok
Mr. Tiggles ignored the slime that came off with its claws. Its master had given him orders, and this thing didn't seem too tough. The velociraptor continued its attack.
Mannak strikes at the demon with greater force and seems to penetrate the rubbery hide and staggers the creature. The dinosaur and Mavin both continue to struggle with the ooze and loose hide that protect the demon. Throwing his increased size and strength behind his swing, Jing crushes the beast's skull.
The fallen demon slowly begins to disintegrate into a rotting puddle. Medda and the other Twinhorns look upon you all with respect in their eyes.
"You fought well," Medda says. "I appreciate you now as fellow hunters of evil and trust you to not trick us, unlike the Blackros men. They came into our camp asking about Ivvora. We gave them shelter and told Ivvora’s story, but we would not part with the hilt. The next morning the hilt and the Blakros agents were gone. We tracked it here, to this building."
|
Looking at the group and then back at Drin before listening outside to see if there is any combat still taking place.
Drin and Mannak...It may be better if yall go out there and make sure everyone knows they agreed to come with us to resolve this theft.
Speaking softer to the group.
Were demons part of the defenses?
|
The crowd of guards, onlookers, and concerned citizens outside the Blakros Museum quiets as Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin approaches a woman clad in furs exiting the museum. “My Pathfinder agents tell me that you are Medda of the Twinhorn following, is that correct?”
“Yes, I speak for the following.” Medda glares at Nigel Aldain, “I have come to reclaim what is rightfully ours. His agents stole our most sacred relic after we refused to sell it. We have traveled through dangerous lands to claim it back, and still he refused—”
“My agents claim they bought it,” Nigel protests. “I’m not going to just give it to you because you stomp into my office demanding priceless artifacts.”
Valsin interjects, “Nigel, let us listen to her story and decide how to proceed. Medda, tell us about this relic. Why is it so important to you?”
Medda takes a deep breath. “Over 900 years ago, a powerful warrior named Ivvora came into our camp. She spoke of an angel named Vildeis who guided her hunt for a great dark evil she called Eshimka. Several of our scouts had recently disappeared, later found ripped into pieces. The elders insisted that we help banish this evil and ensure the safety of our following. They laid a trap for the evil spirit, luring it to our sacred standing stones on the winter solstice. There, Ivvora and the great dark evil, Eshimka, fought a mighty battle that raged for hours. Just as the night was darkest, Ivvora dealt Eshimka a telling blow, digging her dagger deep into its flesh. The creature tried to escape, but it only snapped off the blade and then collapsed on the center stone. The elders finished their ritual and destroyed it completely.
“Ivvora rested with us for the winter before departing to eradicate more evil from the world, but not before leaving us the hilt of her weapon.” Medda withdraws a bundle of bloody cloth from her bag, then unwraps it to reveal a small hilt with a bloody fragment of black metal. “She told us to bring the hilt back to the standing stones every year at the winter solstice to keep evil away. We’ve had to travel for so long to retrieve the hilt, I’m afraid we won’t make it back in time for the solstice. Please, let me leave now.”
Ambrus Valsin contemplates Medda’s story for a moment, then nods, his brow furrowed. “Nigel, you should send for the Blakros agents who ‘obtained’ the hilt and hear what they have to say. Medda, I’m going to send as many Pathfinder agents as you deem necessary to travel with you and your following. I want to ensure we return this relic to its proper place.” Nigel starts to protest, but Valsin cuts him off. “Nigel, you wanted my help; you are getting it. I’m helping you fix a mistake your agents made. As for your museum,” Valsin takes a moment to survey the heavily damaged museum, ”I’m told most of the damage was done by your own security, not Medda and her following.
“Pathfinders, prepare to head north to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords.”
|
|
“My Pathfinder allies, thank you for bringing us much needed support,” says Medda, the Twinhorn following’s spiritual leader. She stands beside Anok, her phantom and constant companion. “After the orc ambush sapped our supplies and strength, we pushed north to our winter home. We are only hours away from the stone circle and our encampment—if we are going to make it there by midnight, we need to press on. Once there, we will use Ivvora’s hilt to perform our time-honored ritual and keep evil from our lands.” Medda produces the small hilt of a broken weapon with only a fragment of its black metal blade remaining. “Let us move. There are dangers in these ancient woods: orc raiders, bears that topple trees, and worse. Stay in groups and don’t get lost.”
As the Kellids and Pathfinders reach the top of the hill next to the Twinhorn encampment, they notice splashes of blood and the occasional corpse dotting the landscape. Medda raises her voice, calling, “My brethren, our families are under attack! Secure the camp and drive back any who oppose you. Pathfinder allies, join us in defense of our home!” The landscape opens into a burned hillside where blackened trees stand like lifeless sentinels. A crude blockade shields the entrance to a natural cavern.
The battered barricade threatens to collapse soon under the repeated beating of five shambling forms in varied states of decay. Upon the arrival of unprotected, living prey, they turn their attention from the cave and begin to move toward you.
Skeletons are the animated bones of the dead, brought to unlife through foul magic. While most skeletons are mindless automatons, they still possess an evil cunning imparted to them by their animating force—a cunning that allows them to wield weapons and wear armor.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
Zombies are the animated corpses of dead creatures, forced into foul unlife via necromantic magic. These undead are slow and tough, and will attack until destroyed, having no regard for their own safety.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.
Skeletons (green, blue, yellow)
Mavin
Creslin
Zombies
Philoneus
Mannak
Drin
Jing
Mavin catches her glaive in one of the small, charred trees.
The more fleshy of the walking dead shamble slowly toward you.
Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.
Skeletons (green, blue, yellow)
Mavin
Creslin
Zombies
Philoneus
Mannak
Drin
Jing
|
"Undead," Philoneus muttered with a scowl. He'd seen this horse and pony show before. Noting the fleshy ones in the back, he pointed at the purple zombie for Mr. Tiggles. "Mr. Tiggles, attack!"
Certain that Mr. Tiggles understood, Philoneus strode forward 15 feet. At the end of his move he cast Produce Flame, causing a small fireball to appear in his hand. He chucked it at the orange skeleton.
Mr. Tiggles spurred into action on his master's command, charging forward at almost top speed and passing by the orange skeleton to reach the purple zombie.
Once there, Mr. Tiggles tried to do what he did best.
Philoneus immolates one of the skeletons, which falls to the ground in a pile of charred bones. The velociraptor bounds past to the fleshiest of enemies and tears away some of the rotting flesh.
Drin and Mannak stand ready while Jing advances.
The two remaining skeletons converge on Mavin. One slashes ineffectually against her armor, but the other grazes the side of her head and comes far too close to cutting the flesh of her neck. The furthest zombie lurches suddenly toward the velociraptor--not differentiating animal life from sentient life--and nearly bowls the dinosaur over. The other zombie retaliates with a swing of its bloated arm, but it fails to do any harm.
Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.
Skeletons (green, blue)
Zombies (red [-2 AC], purple -2 hp)
Mavin (-1 hp)
Creslin
Philoneus (Tiggles -8 hp)
Mannak
Drin
Jing
Mannak swings his sword into the ground, tossing clods of dirt and dead leaves into the air. Creslin fires a bolt into a zombie, though it does not penetrate far into the moist, spongy flesh. As the dirt falls back to the ground, there is nothing left of Mannak's skeleton but a pile of cracked and shattered bones and a rusty blade. Mavin steps forward and sweeps her glaive through the middle of the last skeleton, causing it to collapse in a pile.
Philoneus-bot moves forward and tosses the last of his flame, unfortunately it veers off course. Drin attempts to aim a ray at one of the undead, but it strikes a tree.
The first zombie slams the dinosaur ineffectually, but the second one slams its rotting arm into his shoulder. A crack can be heard and the velociraptor hisses in pain.
Combat! Round 3. Bold may act.
Zombies (red, purple -6 hp)
Mavin (-1 hp)
Creslin
Philoneus (Tiggles -18 hp)
Mannak
Drin
Jing
Drin fires his ray just to the left of his intended target. Creslin manages to graze the zombie's rusty armor. Mannak obliterates another undead with a powerful swing of his sword.
The velociraptor tears into his foe with a frenzy. His teeth catch on its armor, but his talons shred the rotting flesh and destroy the zombie. All that is left is an armless torso that languidly bites at the air until the negative energy animating it fades.
The Twinhorn kellids hiding in the cave emerge from behind the barricade.
"Thank you!" shout several of the men and women as they approach you.
"You are honorable warriors!" exclaims one man. "Our following is under attack from dark forces. You should meet with our leaders in the camp."
"Thank you," says another man, "However, we need to beg you for yet more favor: the risen dead here came from the standing stones and still more pour forth. Head to the stones and hold them back while our camp rallies."
Opting to let better equipped Pathfinders deal with negotiations, you head in the direction of the standing stones.
The clearing on the riverbank features a circle of standing stones with a large stone altar at its center. A shadowy tear floats above the altar, so dark that what little light shines from the stars seems to become trapped inside. Eight large tendrils of inky darkness coil around the menhirs as if keeping the stones in a stranglehold. Other tendrils lick out from the shadowy rift as if tasting the air.
Combat? Round 1. Bold may act.
Mavin (-1 hp)
Creslin
Philoneus (Tiggles -(18) hp)
Mannak
Drin
Jing
???
Three skeletons dripping blood rush out of the darkness between the standing stones. Two head down the trail toward Mannak and Mavin. A third crashes through the dense woods, appearing just beside Philoneus. A fourth undead--a skeleton wearing armor and wielding a greatsword--strides purposefully out of the darkness and toward the barbarians.
This armored skeleton stands in a battle-ready pose, its weapon held high as cold blue light shines in its eye sockets.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
These bloody skeletons are coated in a slick layer of blood and gore, infused with negative energy. This gore allows the skeleton to reform and heal itself.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.
Mavin (-1 hp)
Creslin
Philoneus
Mannak
Drin
Jing
Bloody Skeletons
Skeletal Champion
???