|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
"Well then, I suppose that unless you're inclined to accompany us forward, I leave you to make your own way to safety, as the way back should be clear...and please tell your order not to be so quick to pick enemies next time."
The cultist nods and scurries out the way you came.
The secret door Shel found reveals a short hallway leading into a massive square chamber, its 30-foot-high vaulted ceiling supported by eight stone columns. Between them lies a sunken floor filled with treasure encompassing several piles of coins, ornate chests, art and trade goods, arms and armor, and even a gilded chariot. To the south stands a set of bronze double doors engraved with the image of a single eye. These doors stand open, but a shimmering field of faint blue light stands between them. In the chamber beyond, you can see a strange black vault in which a mysterious and horrific ritual is underway.
Guarding the room are several impressive creatures; six stony humans spread around the hoarded treasure, and a ettin with ghostly eyes in front of the open doors.
The spirits of the three concubines manifest, swirl around the three of you that are possessed and point a finger at the ettin.
"Zuberi!"
They then return to their respective items and imbue their wielders with power.
Spirit Powers:
Bauble: The warrior-woman’s rallying presence empowers each PC with a greater heroism effect, granting them a +4 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks, immunity to fear effects, and 12 temporary hit points for the next 12 minutes.
Shel: The sorcery of Akila’s spirit grants Shel the ability to immediately recall one spell of 3rd level or lower that they just cast once per day as if using mnemonic enhancer. In addition, she grants a protective ward to all PCs within a 10-foot radius centered on Shel which grants a +3 deflection bonus to AC and a +3 resistance bonus on all saving throws for 5 rounds.
Valdek: Meskhenet’s Staff—The power of Meskhenet’s spirit provides Vladek the effects of a death ward for 12 minutes. In addition, she grants fast healing 5 to each PC within a 10-foot radius centered on Vladek for 5 rounds.
|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
Vladek's eyes boggle at the eerie-eyed ettin.
"THAT'S Zuberi?!?"
Does Qadathra get the various spirit powers, too? Do they need to be activated or whatever, or have we just been blessed with them?
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
Eolowyn feels the rallying presence of the warrior-woman. She twists her wrist and activates her wand of gravity bow. She then puts it away in her belt pouch.
We went from talking to the cultist to opening the door. Do you mind if Bauble recasts the shield he had up before the first secret door before entering this room?
Bauble takes the following actions:
swift: Use arcane pool to enhance blade, +2/flaming
standard action to cast shield (if not already cast) or vampiric touch (if shield was cast)
move up into the room, using stealth to remain concealed, delay action to attack if approached.
|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
Vladek gives the ettin a shrewd look...then looks over at the treasure hoard.
"Impressive display, merchant - but you know what they say: The more your possessions, the more your worries!"
Using Shaper of Reality to increase my CL to 12th for that, allowing me to create 3 Large animated objects. The pile of coins has the Metal and Additional Attack properties, the chest has Grab, Constrict, and Augmented Critical (+1 threat range), and the chariot has Faster, Trip, and Augmented Critical (+1 multiplier).
Ranger 2/Rogue 10 | HP 85/99| AC 29/ 22(23) touch/23(24)flatfooted | Sneak Attack +5d6 | Resiliency 1/day F+16,R+22,W+13 ((1/day can reroll Will save)| Init. +10(+12)| Perc +19/24*(+21/26)| Evasion | Trap Sense +4 | Improved Uncanny Dodge
Shel takes a 5' step into the room, and stands next to Bauble. She knew her tiny knives wouldn't even scratch those things, so she decided to block them from her friends
Total defense this round plus the three to AC from the spirit bonus makes AC 34 this round.
"Bauble have FIREBALL. Can blast ritual! But Bauble hurt funny boxes and piles and Bauble like funny boxes and piles. How about Bauble cast pukey cloud!?!?"
@Naur: Shenanigans are abound here. The living monoliths are humans with all their abilities from their classes, the most dramatic ones from the Living Monolith prestige class. There's nothing special about the ettin apart from it being possessed. Swapping your arcana bonus for your local bonus results in you knowing that ettins don't have any special defenses (usually).
Vladek's animated grave goods lay into one of the living monoliths, with the chest getting a hold of him with its lid.
Shel inches cautiously into the room, as Torvald blesses the party with Erastil's celerity.
Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Buffs: Blessing of Fervor (except Naur)
_______________________________
Bauble, Eolowyn
Living Monoliths (blue: 34 damage, grappled)
Naur, Shel, Torvald, Vladek (animated chest: grappling)
Ettin
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
Eolowyn rapidly fires arrows at the single human she can see. Not sure if normal arrows would do the trick she uses her durable adamantine arrows.
Firing at white with Haste, BoF (+2 on attack rolls), Multishot, Rapid shot, Deadly aim, Favored Enemy, Assuming Evil (damage only), using adamantine arrows
Bauble ignores Naur's request, having way to much fun hacking down monoliths. Bauble is not what you would call a brilliant tactician. Cunning, maybe,
but not wise. He chooses the extended spell from the Blessing of Fervor
He casts an extended Elemental Touch defensively (auto success at +18 - do we get a bonus on that from the heroism? Also, does the extended bonus from the blessing of fervor increase the chance of missing the concentration effect?) and calls on electricity as the damage type.
To Hit:1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 10 + 9 = 35, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Hasted To Hit:1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) + 10 + 9 = 33, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered. 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Spell Combat To Hit:1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (6, 3, 4) + 10 + 9 = 32, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered. 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Iterative To Hit:1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 19 - 5 = 32 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) + 10 + 9 = 32, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered. 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Bauble makes short work of another monolith, and the surviving ones continue their assault.
Attack v Bauble:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26<-Takes an image Attack v Coin Pile:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 CMB v Chest:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11I wonder if they sacrificed their luck as well to attain immortality...
Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Buffs: Blessing of Fervor (except Naur), Haste
_______________________________
Bauble, Eolowyn
Living Monoliths (blue: 34 damage, grappled)
Naur, Shel, Torvald, Vladek (animated chest: grappling)
Ettin
|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
EDIT: Forgot blessing of fervor bonuses. Qadathra, the chariot, and I take "+2 attack/AC/Reflex," and the chest and coins take "extra attack."
The man in the blue collar continues to take abuse from his employer's wealth...
Ranger 2/Rogue 10 | HP 85/99| AC 29/ 22(23) touch/23(24)flatfooted | Sneak Attack +5d6 | Resiliency 1/day F+16,R+22,W+13 ((1/day can reroll Will save)| Init. +10(+12)| Perc +19/24*(+21/26)| Evasion | Trap Sense +4 | Improved Uncanny Dodge
"Naur, send me over next round. I'll try to distract it until the rest of you make it over," Shel asks, hoping for the teleportation magic to get her into striking range.
Torvald ducks under a swing of the monolith's massive falchion and skewers him with his spear.
The pile of coins bashes the grappled monolith into submission while the chariot brings the fight to the ettin. The chest still has its actions.
Despite the choas of the battlefield, Naur's three rays hit their mark, and the ettin collapses to the ground. A ghostly presence whirls up from the fallen giant and flies south, shattering the shimmering blue field blocking the entrance to the ritual chamber.
|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
Ranger 2/Rogue 10 | HP 85/99| AC 29/ 22(23) touch/23(24)flatfooted | Sneak Attack +5d6 | Resiliency 1/day F+16,R+22,W+13 ((1/day can reroll Will save)| Init. +10(+12)| Perc +19/24*(+21/26)| Evasion | Trap Sense +4 | Improved Uncanny Dodge
Seeing a path open up on the right side of the room, Shel double moves right along the wall, following it as it turns south, making a beeline for the southern door.
Would someone move me please? With Haste, I should be able to move 80', I think
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
Eolowyn moves closer and fires a single arrow at the nearest enemy
Firing at green with Haste, BoF (+2 on attack rolls), Deadly aim, Favored Enemy, Point Blank Shot
To Hit:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) + 10 + 9 = 27, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Hasted To Hit:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) + 10 + 9 = 25, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered. 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
Iterative To Hit:1d20 + 21 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 21 - 5 = 24 Damage:3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (5, 4, 3) + 10 + 9 = 31, DC 18 Fort save or be staggered. 9 points of precision damage, second to last die is fire damage, last die is shocking damage.
hp 68/76 Ac 24 T 15 FF 19 (incl +3 from Barkskin)| Init +9 (+4 in forest / +2 underground) | F+10 R+15 W+6 (+2 vs enchantments +3 vs evil outsiders, evasion)| Perception +16 (+4 in forest, +2 underground, +2 vs humans&undead, +6 vs evil outsiders) | Reroll 1/1
"Naur and Vladek, that silence, is that a good thing or not? Who is brave enough to open that door? Bauble?"
Eolowyn positions herself a bit to the side and in front of the door.
Bauble casts extended fly (courtesy of the nice BoF spell) and swoops into the room looking for a door to open. I don't believe there is a door to open. There was a barrier and it is gone now.
Beyond the now shattered barrier, you can see a large chamber carved from black basalt and white marble. On the far side of the chamber, behind a wall of iron bars, sits an uncouncious wizened old man in front of three long, human-shaped bundles, with a glowing green gem ain his lap. Odd looking dust is scattered on the floor around the bundles. The spirit that inhabited the ettin swirls around the body of the wizened man. With a silent scream it soars high through this arched chamber before diving back into the man’s toothless maw. In an instant, his body begins to wither, appearing to age even further, if that is possible. In sections, his flesh turns to sand, his hair to dust, his bones to ash. He crumbles before your eyes, leaving little behind aside from the riches and wealth that he valued above all else.
Vladek, Bauble and Shel each feel a pull in the spirit-bound objects towards the three bundles.
Naur is fairly certain that the dust on the floor was part of the now disrupted ritual, and that it strangely enough seams to have been powered by conjuration magic of the healing sub-school.
|AC 18, T 18, FF 15|HP: 85/85|F+9, R+12, W+13 (+4 vs death,+2 vs gaz/poi/elc/chm/cmp,+1 vs Tran/fea/cnf/aci/cld/fir/glyph)|Init +7, Per +26|CMB +7 CMD 20 (+2 vs grp)|15/15 Fly, 1/1 Lev, 1/1 Spx, 1/1 SoR, 3/3 Blt, 1/1 Wng
"Anticlimactic," Says Vladek in response to their vaunted archfoe's pathetic final moments.
It doesn't take much to figure out what's in the bundles, and Vladek rests the enchanted staff he was given atop one of them.
After some convincing, part of which is bursting Baubles bubble about how nice it would be to have her hang around, Bauble quickly drops Kamillah's item on the remaining corpse.
When the items are returned to the bodies, the spirits of the concubines leave the objects and return to their forms, allowing them finally to find peace. Each one smiles in appreciation as they pass from this world.
With the looming threat of Zuberi dealt with and the concubines layed to rest, you search the chamber. The ash pile where Zuberi once sat contains a myriad of magic items (all on your chronicle sheets), and a side room holds several ancient scrolls and treatises, mostly pertaining to defunct business transactions.
Reporting back to Venture-Captain Balentiir, you learn that Osirian officials quickly moved in and secure the tomb. Balentiir heralds you as the heroes of Sothis and plans a grand party at the Sothis Pathfinder Lodge in your honor. Many influential and powerful Sothis citizens attend, and you are encouraged to regale the crowd with your tale of finding the concubines and then rescuing them once more.
Meanwhile, the Followers of Almaut (not completely destroyed by this debacle) recede into hiding once more, at least content that Zuberi is dead and not once more the power-hungry maniac he was in years past.
And that was The Echoes of the Everwar arc! Feel free to make whatever bombastic speeches to the movers and shakers of Sothis if you want to.
I need dayjobs from all of you for part 4, and just to make my life easier when filling out your chronicle sheets, please write your entire info block with it (PFS#, progression etc).
Bauble casts fly and puts on a performance swooping around and showing how he thrashed the cultists and all the other 'bad guys'.
He also, very excitedly, produces a few fireballs so they can personally see the many explosions the party used, leaving out the part that Naur cast most of them. Hopefully he does not singe anything important.
Perform dance:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
The odd little fellow is a bit too dangerous to be entertaining though. But the breaking point is where he shows them the Pukey Cloud and a few of the spectators are caught in the fringes. I'm afraid Bauble's time in the lime-light might have been cut short.
