230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
"We will do our best to cleanse this curse," Sidi promises the man. "Now, let us get you and these men to safety outside the museum."
"Bah! Idols just things, things don't change men!" Selmy says, confident that he would know about such things. "We smash idols though. Easy. Let's go!"
I just noticed that I put a comma in the last spoiler, it should have read 'Linguistics (DC 15) or Read magic'.
My internet is a bit spotty this morning, so an update will be a little later than usual... I take it you plan to escort the scribes to safety then head towards the idols?
Saldak sticks very close behind Sidi as you escort the scribes out of the building. The portly man is still unable to look his co-workers in the eye and scarpers into the night as soon as he steps foot outside "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you..." You can still hear him long after you lose sight of him. The other two are a bit more subdued, they have started to regain their memories of what they did while cursed, and have decided to head for the nearest tavern.
With Selmy eager to smash some idols, you head towards the storage room Saldak had said they should be. On the way, you enter another large hall where a large placard above the entryway reads "Hunting the Beasts of Legend" in great block letters. This gigantic chamber is relatively free of mist, and darkness is held at bay by braziers of radiant light. Behemoths occupy these halls, great taxidermy nightmares such as a two-headed bear easily taller than an ogre; a great desiccated beetle, its carapace larger than the face of the clock tower of Absalom’s Clockwork Cathedral; a massive specimen of chimera, its jaws open in a mock roar; and an assembled skeleton of a tyrant lizard. The walls here are studded with strange masks, staves, spears, and other implements of long forgotten cultures, most likely used in ritual hunts of the beasts preserved here.
There is a feeling of unease in this room, what with the behemoths scattered throughout the hall and the events of the previous exhibit. You just can't shake the feeling that you are being watched.
Two of the masks on the opposite side of the room have started to crack since you entered the room. A stony outer layer is beginning to fall off, exposing a scaly underneath.
You may insert anything else you wanted to ask the scribes, or do before entering this hall at the beginning of your post.
What do you want to do in the hall? Please limit it to one round of actions. The map has been updated.
Male Human Swashbuckler(rondelero)7 HP 67 AC 27, T 19; FF 18, F +7, R +13, W +9, Init +7(+9), Perc +11
How many idols were there? Any more people in here? They might been changed....not good. Patros asks the scribes before they go. He wanders around the room, knowing there is a fight ahead. Don't like this....
I believe Black Crow has read magic prepared, so waiting for him to reveal what the book says.
"Nigel? Who's he? He's inside together with the idols?"
In the new room
Untir looks around, the hair on the back his neck standing. He quickly calls upon the divine power invested in him by his ancestral spirits to grant him sight of magic.
230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
Hall of Hunting the Beasts of Legend
"I do not want to cause fear," Sidi says as he eyes the great beasts, "but if these creatures animate like the ancient men, this may be a trying battle."
With his great club at the ready, he moves towards one of the storage room doors.
male Halfling U summoner 1 HP:9/9 | AC:13/13/11 | Fort: +2/Ref: +3/Wil: +5 (+2 vs. fear)| Init: +2 | Perception: +2
"Hey, Black Crow, mind if I take a look at those scribblings?"
The curious halfling steps directly next to the bard and stares at the writings on the cloth the Skald holds in his hands.
Linguistics:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
"Aha.. hm... he, that could come in handy". Dus looks at the others. "Seems like we were right to suspect those idols. This here is speaking about ...ill humors?... that 'invade men’s hearts by seeping into their mouths.' Guess that's the mist that changed our two friends here and the scribes we had to battle. There's also a ritual on it, a spell that should be able to free our friends from this curse, though we probably can only use it once.
When they enter the exhibit of the Beasts of Legends, Dus stares at the exhibits in this hall, still rememembering the undead suddenly walking against them in the hall before. Nervously he pats his eidolon on it's back, then immediately withdrawing his hand when the beast starts to growl at him. "Sorry, I forgot... I apologize."
"Battle will be easy, we can beat anything!" Selmy says with a grin. "Dus can free me from Curse? Me like that. Not want to be like this forever. Like to smash though." He grunts as he follows the others and prepares for the next challenge.
Yes, uncurse me please. This mist-taint is amusing, but being locked into a -6 Intelligence is less fun.
Untir looks at Selmy with concern at the request. "I understand this is not easy for you, but there is only one casting of this. Saldak says there is someone else inside when the curse unleashed, this Nigel. He might need the help of the magic more, considering he has been trapped in here longer. Could we wait first until we know the condition of that man?"
"Dekko over here lads. I think I see the source of our problem," as the Black Crow points to the masks on the wall. "Although it looks like two of them are cracking. I wonder if that's because we broke two of the workers free or if it represents our pals Patros and Selmy here?"
"The only other person here is the chief curator, Nigel." Saldak says to Patros before looking to Untir "He was with the idols, yes… like I said, he was taking stock of all the new pieces when the mist appeared." One of the other scribes clears his throat "There's also the watchmen, both Maldroog and Sheg were on duty tonight because of the new acquisition..." Saldak stammers and looks abashed for forgetting the guards, but otherwise ignores his coworker and continues to answer Patros' questions "I don't know how many idols there are exactly... I only saw one, but there must be more to do all this."
Nigel is the chap your venture captain sent you to help and try to convince to be friendlier to the society ;)
Before the party leave the offices, Untir notices a weathered leather scroll tube on one of the shelves. Inside you find three scrolls that are quickly identified as a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of false life, and a scroll of dispel magic. Saldak doesn't seem to mind in the least if you take them.
Untir has an auto success on the perception, and I assume someone cast read magic.
--Now--
Thanks to the Black Crow's eagle eyes no offence the party look across the room in time to see two of the masks, obviously misclassified at some point, start to crack. Moments later two blackened, bat-winged fiend’s heads burst free in a shower of dust and stone shards. Tentacles dangle from their chins and scalp and their fanged mouths hang agape as they flap about trying to gain their bearings.
230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
Sidi will accept false life if nobody more fragile wants it.
Sidi draws a javelin from the leather quiver on his back as he moves toward the flying demons. He grunts as his muscled arm draws back and releases, sending the shaft toward the enemy.
Sidi's throws the javelin powerfully, but his aim is slightly off, and the projectile clatters harmlessly against the far wall. The creature locks eyes with its would be attacker and hisses at him through rows of sharp teeth.
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 1 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Know. Planes to Identify creatures
Selmy growls low in his throat as the flying bat-winged heads appear, then rushes forward and launches one of his air blasts at one of them. Roaring in anger as he does.
Click - accessing botting protocol for Dus Grassbrow - whirr - error - no protocol found - fallback scenario - initiate generic reasonable assumption protocol...
Dus aims his crossbow and punctuates Selmy's blast with an bolt. His Eidolon prowls forwards and readies itself to attack when the creatures get close.
You recognise the creatures as Vargouille. Vargouilles are not natives of the Material Plane but can often be found there nevertheless, occupying graveyards, ancient battlefields, or anywhere one can find remnants of death and decay. These hideous monsters come from the fiendish outer planes, where they flop and flap through strange and haunted skies in constant search of fresh souls to torment. In these nightmare realms, vargouilles play a role similar to that of a raven or vulture, although they augment these roles with a malevolent delight in causing pain and anguish that no scavenger bird could ever hope to match.
You know that their shrieks can cause paralysis and the they reproduce by 'kissing' their helpless prey. The resulting disease is quite horrific, and after several days, the victims head falls off and flies away as a newly born Vargouille.
Selmy roars forth and sends a blast of angry air that buffets the creature violently against the wall and Dus attempts to pin it there with a crossbow bolt. While the bolt doesn't have the intended effect, it does sever a tentacle causing the creature to hiss in pain and anger. It looks thoroughly beaten up and angry.
Meanwhile, the Black Crow's fingers hover over the strings of his guitar, standing ready to blow the party's minds with a most excellent riff.
The injured creature flies up and towards its two assailants, gnashing it's rows of razor sharp teeth and looking hungry. The other one takes a more measured approach, it flies towards Sidi and lets out a horrifying shriek that rattles through your bodies and shatters the windows.
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 2 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros(barkskin) Black Crow( ) Dus(mage armor) Eidolon( ) Sidi(barkskin) Untir(longstrider) Selmy( )
Orange (-15)
Blue ( )
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 9/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING Fortitude saves each DC 12 or be paralysed for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6 rounds.
The arrow from Patros' bow flies through one of the creature's eyes, it's wings go limp, and it crashes silently to the table below. The table cracks slightly under the impact, and the creature lays there utterly motionless. Gosh, I thought it would take longer than that! Nice shooting :)
Damage to table:2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 2 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros (saved, barkskin) Black Crow( ) Dus(mage armor) Eidolon( ) Sidi(barkskin) Untir(longstrider) Selmy( ) Orange(dead)
Blue ( )
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 9/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING Everyone, except Patros, needs to make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or be paralysed for 6 rounds.
Untir feels the shriek pounding deep into his soul, threatening to paralyse him in numbness. Somewhere from within, he pulls out a deep resolve and pushes out the unearthly attack.
Glaring at the remaining creature in pent-up fury, Untir moves towards the creature and calls upon his ancestral spirits, all which flies straight at it and swirl around it.
evil eye: -2 to attack for 7 rds, will DC15 to reduce to 1 rd (unless it is immune to mind-affecting effects)
230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
Fortitude:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Sidi grimaces as the creature's scream tears at his soul. "I have faced far more terrifying men than you demons."
He reaches over his shoulder and throws his second javelin nearly straight vertical at the bat-winged head.
Selmy and Untir manage to just about shake off the creeping numbness of body and soul induced by the terrible shrieking, while Sidi shrugs it off with barely an issue. Perhaps put off by his slightly stiffened limbs, Selmy is unable to replicate his previous success, and the blast of air just misses its target. The reverse is true for Sidi, however, and his javelin tears a gaping hole through one of the creature's wings.
Untir's spirit ancestors swirl around the creature, but it seems largely unperturbed by their presence. Much more concerned, it would seem, with the corporal concerns of a ripped wing.
Will:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 2 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 9/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING Black Crow, Dus, and Eidolon need to make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or be paralysed for 6 rounds.
Click - accessing botting protocol for Dus Grassbrow - whirr - error - no protocol found - fallback scenario - initiate generic reasonable assumption protocol...
Fort Save (Dus):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 Fort Save (Eidolon):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
The creature's shriek borrows deep into Dus's soul and his limbs begin to stiffen. He stands frozen in the middle of reloading his crossbow, one hand on crossbow bolt and staring unblinking at the dead demon on the floor. His Eidolon, on the other hand, shrugs of the effects and prowls impatiently, looking for an opportunity to pounce.
Eidolon readies an action to close the distance on the creature as soon as it drops low enough.
The creature's distended mouth opens wide and it swoops down upon the helpless figure of the Black Crow. With such an easy target, the flying head has no trouble sinking its row upon row of razor sharp teeth into the guitarist's shoulder. Fortunately the Black Crow's purple leather jacket prevents the teeth from sinking too far, unfortunately it does nothing to stop the poison he can feel burning through his veins.
On the bright side, once bitten, the numbness subsides and the Black Crow can move once again.
Dus' Eidolon immediately closes the distance and prepares to strike now that the creature is low enough.
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 3 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros(saved, barkskin) Black Crow(-2hp) Dus(paralysed 5/6, mage armor) Eidolon(saved) Sidi(saved, barkskin) Untir(saved, longstrider) Selmy(saved) Orange(dead)
Blue (-6hp)
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 8/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING The Black Crow needs to make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or you can only be healed with magic if the spellcaster succeeds on a DC 20 caster level check.
So it's now 5ft above ground, i.e. all melee guys can go? Fantastic...
Untir continues glaring at the creature, again seeking the help of his ancestral spirits to continue to harass it, making it less aware of attacks coming its way.
evil eye: -2 to AC for 7 rds, will DC15 to reduce to 1 rd (unless it is immune to mind-affecting effects)
Sidi: I forgot to post about the false life. Untir would have cast it on you earlier when we found the scroll. You get 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 temp hp.
Yes, the poor thing needs to get in melee range of you guys to attack. Now if y'all had been a bit nicer and failed your saving throws, the lil' guy wouldn't be in such a bad position ;)
Untir draws the creature's attention as he circles the room, and the flying head removes its grip on the Black Crow's shoulder. As the two beings stare at each other, the ancestral spirits whirl around the creature and blur its peripheral vision. While the creature is distracted, Patros springs up onto the top of the adjacent crate and easily manages to deliver a terrible slash on its back. It hisses in pain, causing its unnaturally long tongue to slap the Black Crow across the face as the musician slowly regains use of his body.
Will:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 3 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros (saved, barkskin) Black Crow(-2hp) Dus(paralysed 5/6, mage armor) Eidolon(saved) Sidi(saved, barkskin, false life)
Untir (saved, longstrider) Selmy(saved) Orange(dead)
Blue (-13hp, evil eye -2 AC 7/7)
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 8/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING The Black Crow needs to make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or you can only be healed with magic if the spellcaster succeeds on a DC 20 caster level check.
230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
Sidi moves after the descending demon, climbing onto a crate in order to swing his massive club at the hovering beast.
Climb:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Move 5 ft + 20 ft move used to climb 5 ft
Towering above the creature, Sidi's powerful swing only misses the flying head by a whisker. The creature had turned around to face its previous attacker and, despite the distraction of the spirits, manages to notice Sidi and dodges just in time.
Technically you also have a bonus for being on higher ground, but you still just barely missed.
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 3 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros (saved, barkskin) Black Crow(-2hp) Dus(paralysed 5/6, mage armor) Eidolon(saved)
Sidi (saved, barkskin, false life)
Untir (saved, longstrider) Selmy(saved) Orange(dead)
Blue (-13hp, evil eye -2 AC 7/7)
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 8/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
PENDING The Black Crow needs to make a Fortitude save (DC 12) or you can only be healed with magic if the spellcaster succeeds on a DC 20 caster level check.
Sorry, Sidi, I was wrong about the higher ground bonus... Arg, thinking in 3D hurts my brain.
The vargouille easily dodges the Black Crow's clumsy swing, and Selmy's anger gets the better of him as he throws another blast of air wide. However, Dus's eidolon manages to reach up a tear away several of the creature's vestigial tentacles, causing significant damage.
Surrounded and seriously wounded, the vargouille hisses in pain and fear as it glances around at its many foes. In a moment of desperation, it attempts to fly up and over the Black Crow's head and away from danger.
Fly check, 90° turn|15:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Withdraw action to avoid AoOs
____
COMBAT TRACKER - Round 4 - Bold may post - Map ------------------------------------------------------------
Knowlege (Planes) to identify creatures
Patros(saved, barkskin) Black Crow(-2hp) Dus(paralysed 4/6, mage armor) Eidolon(saved) Sidi(saved, barkskin, false life) Untir(saved, longstrider) Selmy(saved) Orange(dead)
Blue (-18hp, evil eye -2 AC 6/7)
ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT Bless +1 to attacks and saves vs. fear 7/10. These are flying creatures, their current height from the ground is indicated under their tokens. Ceiling is 50' high.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to query your action economy there, Patros. In the first round you had your bow out and in the second you drew your sword and attacked. I assumed you must have dropped your bow (as a free action) to draw your sword (as part of the move action) in order to make the attack in time. Is there something I'm missing? I hope so, because with the critical hit, you've basically pinned the monster to the wall, which is kind of cool :)
edit: Actually, never mind. The crit is cool and the vargouille was unlikely to make it through the round anyway. I'll hand wave the action economy this time, but please be a little more specific in the future. ;)
Thanks to his increased strength, Patros draws back his bow further than he has done ever before, and the arrow flies out with incredible speed and force. The arrow hits the fleeing vargouille in the side, flying clean through and pinning it to the wall 20ft in the air. With the new exhibit securely in place, the room falls silent yet again.
---COMBAT OVER---
The party quickly searches the room for any further surprises, but find little of interest. With the room secure, the pathfinders decide to move on to the storage room in order to end this curse once and for all. Opening the door, you find a simple room of unadorned stone with boxes and crates piled floor to ceiling, allowing room for only a few small corridors between these towers of dusty, mothballed exhibits. It is otherwise empty. However, you do hear mad cackling coming from the adjacent room.
Untir looks around the party, ready to fix any wounds that the party has received. However, other than Black Crow who only carries a scratch, everyone looks fine. "Huh. That went much better than I expected. Black Crow, let me look at that."
Black Crow, do you have a wand of clw? If not, Untir will use his on you. Just roll the amount healed, and I'll take off the charge.
Once done, Untir pulls out another wand and activates it on himself to heighten his awareness. (Activate wand of heightened awareness. Will dismiss in combat to get +4 to initiative.)
---
Hearing the cackling in the room, Untir thinks to him, Well, this does not sound good. He pulls out another wand and activates them on Patros and Sidi, granting them protection from evil.
Activate wand of protection from evil twice on the two frontliners. GM, I'm assuming we get the time for a couple of rounds of buff before we enter. If not, priority is on Sidi with lower AC. I'll lay more if GM allows more rounds for buffs, but duration is only 10 rounds, so the more is buffed, the shorter the duration for the 1st recipient.
protection from evil:
First, the subject gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves. Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures.
Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects, such as charm person, command, and dominate person). This saving throw is made with a +2 morale bonus, using the same DC as the original effect. If successful, such effects are suppressed for the duration of this spell. The effects resume when the duration of this spell expires. While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target. This spell does not expel a controlling life force (such as a ghost or spellcaster using magic jar), but it does prevent them from controlling the target. This second effect only functions against spells and effects created by evil creatures or objects, subject to GM discretion.
Third, the spell prevents bodily contact by evil summoned creatures. This causes the natural weapon attacks of such creatures to fail and the creatures to recoil if such attacks require touching the warded creature. Summoned creatures that are not evil are immune to this effect. The protection against contact by summoned creatures ends if the warded creature makes an attack against or tries to force the barrier against the blocked creature. Spell Resistance can allow a creature to overcome this protection and touch the warded creature.
Male Human Swashbuckler(rondelero)7 HP 67 AC 27, T 19; FF 18, F +7, R +13, W +9, Init +7(+9), Perc +11
That can't be good....everyone ready? This will likely get ugly.... Patros says, a hint of a feral grin on his lips. He tightens his grip on his blade and readies to enter the room. He looks back to the rest of the group. Let's go... he says as he enters the room after everyone has had a chance to prepare. Waiting for everyone to get reafy then heading in...
Whatever is going on in the other room, someone seems to be enjoying it immensely. Apart from the occasional pause for breath, the cackling is constant and there are no signs that it will be stopping anytime soon. It looks as if there will be plenty of time for the Pathfinders to prepare themselves before entering the room. As such, Untir takes the opportunity to sort through his supply of wands, providing his fellow pathfinders with magical assistance while Patros waits impatiently with his hand hovering over the door knob.
@Untir: Feel free to do as much buffing as you want, just let me know who and in what order ;)
230524-17 | Male NG Human (Mwangi) 2 |HP 12/22 (24) | F +4 R +3 W +2 (+4) | AC 14 T 11 FF 13 | CMD 16 | Init +1 | Perc +4 SM +2 | Speed 40 ft | Bloodrage (1/6) | Active Conditions: ---
Sidi moves to Patros, his club slung over his shoulder. "I am ready."
