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Ketill lobs his bombs, and clears out the two babbling ghosts closest to him. Kellan gets a swipe, which is enough to make her snap out of her trance.
---
Kellan
(Vayu)
Swayaah - Fascinated (2)
Ilvan - Fascinated (5)
Zen'yr (invisible) - Unaffected
Ilya - Unaffected
Ketill - Unaffected
---
Goggle-gobble (10)
---
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Unfazed, Ilya tears apart the last ghost.
With the demise of the last Allip, the level is clear of anything immediately threatening (counting out the Basilisk, that is). The pit in the room with the large skeleton is the upper terminus of an impressive feat of Azlanti magic—a narrow stone shaft almost half a mile deep. The Azlanti words for 'up' and 'down' are scribbled near it, and seem to operate the platform that hovers over the shaft.
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"See?" Ilya asks Zen'yr. "No need to scorch your allies. Just punch or kick the enemies."
Ilya begins carrying Vayu and the other stone people out of the dungeon, to someone who can restore them to flesh.
That evening Ilya heads to the dojo she built on her land in the River Kingdoms, and teaches the students she's gathered about the various combat styles she's adept in.
"When faced with an enemy far away, assume the way of the dragon and leap forward, delivering a single but powerful attack. When faced with an enemy in front of you, become a bastion of stone while channeling the dragon's rage into your flurry of blows. Watch me demonstrate this, and practice."
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"Well done, my friends. I still want to find the a$$|-|0le who decided to put a basilisk behind a barrier. They need to meet Talon."
Once we've returned to the surface and returned poor Vayu to his fleshy self, Kellan puts on her most scandalous outfit, goes into a local pub, and dances for the drunk patrons until they all pass out. They seem to enjoy it VERY much.
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"Wha... it's over?" Swayaah wipes the drool off her
face. "Oh man. Let's get out of here. We have plenty of statues that need identifying. And we should help Vayu, as well."
Back in town, Swayaah and Ilvan spend their time investigating who the other victims were and their families. She also tries to learn about those two seductresses who almost scrambled Kellan's brains.
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After a day or two of the party leaving Vayu standing next to their table in the bar, using him to hold their drinks and hats... they finally find the cheapest source of Stone to Flesh.
When the spell is cast the entire bar goes silent as everyone waits to see if Vayu survives the ordeal.
And Vayu crumples to the floor dead...
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Vayu dons the helmet as a move action... then turns and fires.
Double Barrel Shot 1 - Don't forget cover
[dice=Ranged Touch Primary Attack + PB - Double Barrel w/Cover]1d20 + 15 + 1 - 4
[dice=damage + pb + cold]1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1d6[dice=Ranged Touch Primary Attack + PB - Double Barrel w/Cover]1d20 + 15 + 1 - 4
[dice=damage + pb + cold]1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1d6
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Went ahead and updated Kellan to level 11 while I had the time. She gains two feats, Improved Critical (scimitar) and Knowledgeable Spellcaster (planes) as her most exciting updates this level.
Knowledgeable Spellcaster
Your vast knowledge of opponents lets you more effectively
cast spells on them.
Prerequisites: Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, local,
nature, planes, or religion) 5 ranks, caster level 7th.
Benefit: When you select this feat, choose one Knowledge
skill in which you have at least 5 ranks. When you succeed
at a check with that Knowledge skill to identify a creature’s
abilities and weaknesses, you can learn one less piece of
information in order to gain a +3 bonus on caster level
checks to overcome that
creature’s spell resistance (if
any). If you have 10 or more
ranks in the selected Knowledge
skill, you can learn two fewer
pieces of information to increase
this bonus to +5.
Special: You can take this feat multiple
times. Each time you take this feat, you must
select a different Knowledge skill.
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---
Another visit to the temple, where the clerk greets Swayaah with a friendly Ah, I see you're using your new opportunity well. How is our group of most faithful customers doing these days?
When she sees the body of Vayu, she answers, Oh... I'll bring out the forms then. Can I perhaps interest you in our special resurrection plan? You get a free pluche tiger on the tenth resurrection!
Some extensive paperwork later - the clerk apologizes for the 'new regulations in the fortress' and something about an 'audit trail', the body of Vayu is scooped up and taken to the main shrine.
...you see, there's an upside to everything. He won't be having any trouble with kidney or gall stones anytime soon. Vayu wakes up to the sound of clerics making small talk.
----
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Returning to the emerald spire, the long descent gives ample opportunity to think about the horrors that may lie below. The name Nhur Athemon has been a bad omen in the Garden level, and there is still no sign of the missing Wizard Tiawask...
---
Once activated, the elevator disk comes to rest at the bottom of the shaft after an incredibly long descent. Here, wide stairs descend to a broad foyer. Two huge stone double doors loom at the far end of the room—an ancient inscription is chiseled into them. Arches to the east and west reveal side halls flanking the one leading to the doors. A red light flickers in the darkness beyond the western arch.
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"So, Ketill, what do you have for us today?" Ilya asks as the party enters the new level.
As she waits for an answer Ilya takes her wand of mage armor and taps herself with it, creating a field of force that surrounds, and will hopefully help protect, her body.
"I've had the enhancement on my cloak improved, by the way. It's now as resistant as can be."
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Swayaah looks about the town, watching everyone's habits. She's glad most of the petrified victims seem to be alright. Some of them are retired adventures, or they were captured slaves sold to a sadistic master who turned them to stone for fun. Most of them aren't malicious, and she's quick to tell the nastier people to skip out of town, this is her domain. Stay out!
Back in the spire, Swayaah pets Ilvan and sighs. "Well, this is it. Let's get searching." Ilvan hoots as Swayaah gets low to the ground and starts looking for danger.
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Zen’yr goes on a small shopping spree, after getting her last stipend from her foray into the strange Emerald Spire complex. She has a drink, as she is unsure if she may be the next victim of the horrors of what lies farther down.
She meets back at the top of the spire, and greets those she has risked life and limb with.
Hello all, I hope the time has been well for you., as she lets the fluffy pet Ilvan on the head. I’ve grown quite fond of you Mr. Fluffy
She straightens her chain shirt, and the contents of her handy haversack.
Ready as I will ever be
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While Ketill and Ilya discuss the finer points of Alchemy etiquette, Swayaah burps loudly. "Oh man, that was good. A little sweeter than I remember. You didn't spike these, did ya?"
Ketill notices one vial of Barkskin and one vial Heroism are already empty.
"I just want a vial of greater false life. For Ilvan's sake."
Ilvan hoots as Zen'yr pets him. Ilvan sniffs the potion, pauses for a bit and patiently waits for Swayaah to pour it down. He manages not to spit it up, either.
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The hallway has two side hall.
At the end of the northernmost short hall stands a carving of an armored Azlanti woman. Her left hand holds a thin, curved longsword aloft. Her right hand has a star-shaped depression at the center of the open palm. A star-shaped crystal embedded in the depression emits erratic flickers of brilliant red light. The corpse of a human woman in mustard-colored robes lies near the statue.
At the end of the southernmost hall stands a statue of an ancient Azlanti warrior, her hands positioned as if casting a spell. Her left hand is held palm out, revealing an empty, star-shaped depression.