[PFS][PBP Gameday VI] 3-21: The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (1-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Daikyu: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Sosuke smiles as the arrow strikes home, draws and looses another. Muttering some obscenity as it strikes the wall nowhere near either image.

The worm-like demon, bleeding now, again clutches it's abyssal symbol, causing another image to appear and casting a spell. Sosuke, please make a will save.

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Initiative

Pa Us thanks Seidr as he is healed. 2 healed - 15/19 hp
He then waits for his comrades to act, hoping the twin enemy will become one again!
Delay

Vagantem sighs and thinks about throwing one of her Kukri at the horrible creature in the roof. But it is not weighted right.

"I need to get a ranged weapon." she murmurs.

LEaving the room she returns to the guards.

"He turned into a worm and is sitting on the ceiling. Do any of you have a dagger or two I can borrow? Or even a bow of some type?"

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Stay strong Sosuke! His spell is trying to make you afraid!" Tellerin's voice rings out in warning. Not wasting any time, he reloads his crossbow and fires again. If Korada wasn't going to descend to smite this imposter, he was going to have to do it himself the old-fashioned way.

L. Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12 Hope that breaks an image at least!
L. Crossbow dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6

In that case, don't forget your +1 morale bonus to the save from Bless, Sosuke!

Your time is at an end, demon! Tricks won't save you from justice!

Intimidate to Demoralize: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

"He turned into a worm and is sitting on the ceiling. Do any of you have a dagger or two I can borrow? Or even a bow of some type?"

The guards look horrified at the prospect of Dakang becoming a worm. "That's awful! What manner of abhorrent creature is he?" They look down at their weapons and then up at you. "Sorry, all we have are these spears." Great idea, but they literally only have spears. Perhaps one of your allies has a spare ranged weapon?

-----

Meanwhile, inside, Tellerin once again destroys the mirror image, while Seidr gives the creature a very intimidating look, causing it to shrink back a little. Shaken

Fialka, Sosuke, and Pa Us may act.

Will DC 14: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 16
Shaken
With the encouragement of his compatriots, Sosuke steals his will against the fearful magic of the demon. knocks another arrow and loses it.

"You can always throw a spear if they might lend you it. I doubt anything I carry would be of much use to you..."

Daikyu: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 6 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

|"But you may be a better shot than I!"

That's true, I forgot they could be thrown. If you'd like, one of them will hand you a masterwork spear.

Dunk it first!

Vagantem eyes up the spears.

"They will do. Dip them in the fountain boys and hand them over. I've got a worm to spit on them."

You can throw spears can't you? Range increment 20'

Yep, range increment 20ft. They dip the spears and hand them over. If you're taking all three, you'll have to spend a move action to stow one of them, or you can just take one in each hand.

I was thinking of holding two in one hand and one in my other, then aim to throw one a round - not doing a TWF multi-throw thing.

Sure, that sounds reasonable.

Holy Water Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 112d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 (or 1 splash)

Wondering if this is an Evil Outsider, Pa Us pulls out a flask of Holy Water, from the temple of Apsu, and tosses it at the man-worm.

Sosuke fires and misses while Pa Us hits the creature with a flask of holy water, the liquid sizzling into its flesh (It seems to do full damage). Fialka considers her options.

------

Dakang casts a spell, causing clouds of negative energy to spring up around himself, Pa Us, and Tellerin. Pa Us and Tellerin are wounded by the energy for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 damage (DC 16 Will save for half), and Dakang seems to be healed by it. He also causes another mirror image to appear.

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Initiative

Pa Us flicks his wrist and a wand pops out of its sheath into his hand, so he aims it at the worm-man, speaking a word of power and creating a big greasy spot around the creature, on the ceiling.
DC 11 Reflex save or 'fall'

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Dakang manages to keep his feet and fingers pressed firmly against the ceiling, preventing the grease from breaking his contact.

Sosuke is beginning to wish he dipped the whole quiver of arrows in the water, as he takes aim yet again.

Daikyu: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Vagantem heads back into the room and tosses the first of the blessed spears at the worm on the roof!

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 <-assuming they are not masterwork. Extra +1 if they are
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Tellerin screams in pain as the negative energy tears at him. He manages to hang on though, and reloads and fires his crossbow again in hopes of bringing this thing finally down.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 = 19
Light crossbow damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Are we... even hurting it? Its wounds just close right back up. Cups... should we grab who we can and run for it?

Vagantem, it took 40ft of movement for you to get back in the room, so I'm afraid you don't have an action left to throw a spear, though you do have 20ft of movement left if you'd like to get closer. Right now you are more than 20ft from Dakang (20ft horizontal, 20ft vertical). You may use that attack/damage roll for your next turn if you'd like. The spears are masterwork.

Are we... even hurting it? Its wounds just close right back up. Cups... should we grab who we can and run for it?

The creature is bleeding. You have clearly done significant damage to it.

Vag continues to move into the room, getting right under the odd worm.

Take heart Tellerin. Pain is all too real, but it only tempers our resolve!

Healer's Way: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Fialka continues to ponder possibilities. The demon holds tight to the ceiling through the grease while casting another spell. His mirror image persists.

Pa Us, please make a Will save.

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Initiative

Pa Us looks over his shoulder, before mouthing: Me?
Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

The cleric's spell begins to cloud your mind, but you manage to shake it off. You make take your turn as normal.

Pa Us frowns: "What the...?", and tosses the second vial of Holy War at the spidery-worm-man.
Holy Water Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 72d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 (or 1 splash)

Sosuke draws and looses a fourth arrow.
Daikyu: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Frustration clearly evident on his face as he continues to miss.

Can't believe I forgot to buy a Wand of Magic Missile ><

Unable to help much at present, Fialka waits to see if the false priest calls upon his powers of trickery to duplicate himself before hurling a candlestick from the table at him, hoping to at least strike the illusory double so their allies can strike true.

Readied action, if he uses copycat again, Cast Telekinetic projectile to attack

Telekeinic projectile: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 for damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

He's already copycat-ed (his last for two rounds). I'll just count this as an attack this round, rather than a ready.

The vial of holy water thrown by Pa Us impacts next to the demon, splashing the glimmering water onto his flesh with an audible sizzle. Sosuke's arrow misses both the demon and the illusory double. The chair mentally thrown by Fialka, though, comes close enough to destroy the double, leaving only Dakang. Miss within 5 -> Image destroyed.

Seidr and Tellerin may act.

Seidr's comment comes just in time to bolster Tellerin's wavering commitment to the fight (and the healing certainly doesn't hurt either!). He gives her a grateful nod and a tight smile.

Otherwise, he keeps up his assault, loading another blessed bolt in and firing it at the abomination on the ceiling.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
Light Crossbow damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

I think Pa Us is still fairly hurt after the last Mass ILW (at least -5 from that), so disregard if I've misunderstood.

Growing concerned that this demon still seems able to put out wave after wave of evil into her comrades, Seidr chants a quick blessing and pours healing magic into returning strength to Pa Us.

CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Vag throws her spear.

"Fall down and fight like a reasonable... worm." she sneers.

Rolls above to hit 20: damage 9

Pa Us was at 15/19 hp ; last heal was +2 by you, Seidr ; now at full health again

Pa Us feels Seidr healing him again, and calls out his: "Thanks!"

Now badly bleeding from a new spear wound, Dakang emits a burst of negative energy that seems to close up his wounds a little, but does nothing to you. Not a spell. He looks like he's on his last legs.

1d6 ⇒ 2

He then climbs down the wall to the corner of the room, what's left of his human flesh beginning to ripple.

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Initiative

Sosuke urges his mount forward as he lets his bow fall, he draws his katana and swings at the demon, while his wolf bites at the fiend.

Mwk Katana: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 15 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 plus Trip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Pa Us uses his long elastic arms to strike out at the man-worm as it climbs down.

His wand of magic still in hand, Pa Us takes a step up to the worm thing, imagining it is not a great idea as this will probably erupt in a wave of worms or such... and hits it twice with his knees, putting strength into the blows.

The more melee inclined members of your party gladly advance as the creature desperately scrambles down the wall, hoping to escape. It dodge's an opportunistic attack from Pa Us, and two more from the onrushing samurai and his mount, but is unable to dodge all of Pa Us' quick flurry of blows. As the Suli's knee connects, the deceitful priest stumbles backward and slumps to the ground, unmoving.

Out of combat! Well done finishing it off this round, otherwise it would have burrowed away.

Looking around the room, you find some holy texts of Korada, which you suspect are the books missing from your catalogue of the library. Dakang also carried a very finely-crafted quarterstaff.

What will you say to the rest of the worshippers, now that you have defeated their priest?

Also, sorry that was such a slog. That priest is built very defensively, but was essentially entirely out of offensive ability at that point (the tactics specifically say he only uses his channeling (which he was nearly out of) for healing, and he had spent all of his offensive spells and SLAs already, so he was basically down to his quarterstaff if he wanted to hurt you. It's a good job you didn't fight the aasimar, or he would have been warned by the noise and cast spider climb and shield of faith before you came in; this battle never would have ended.

Seidr will bring in the aasimar guards to see what was masquerading as their leader, hoping that they will vouch for the Pathfinders' good intentions.

She trusts to Fialka's learning to help eradicate the taint of Sifkesh from their rituals and markings, and instead spends her own time on speaking with the people, healing any self inflicted wounds that she can, and making certain that they know there is a place for them outside of the monastery if they wish it.

Pa Us asks any who know exactly what the worm-man is, even the Aasimar: "I doubt this is a benevolent creature, it will help explain the deceit".

The aasimar guards are truly horrified when they see Dakang's true form. The thank you for exposing the foul being, and promise to vouch for you to the rest of the temple's residents.

I forgot none of you had identified it.

When Pa Us asks them about the slain creature, they apologize, but are unable to help. "I'm sorry, we're guards, trained for defense" one of the aasimar tells you. "None of us have any particular education in these matters. You might ask Miriya, though. She spends so much time reading in the library, she may have learned something about them. "

When you find Miriya, she is reading a book in the library, just like the last time you saw her. She is willing to come look, recoiling at the site of Dakang as she cautiously enters his chamber. "Oh, how horrid! I've heard of these, but never expected to see one myself. That's a vermlek demon. They inhabit the bodies of humanoids, wearing their skin like armor. Poor Dakang must have been a real priest at some point, but this certainly explains his unnatural longevity." She quickly turns to exit, but her attention is caught by something in the room. "More books! Why were these hidden away in here?" She stands flipping through the books, suddenly oblivious to the demon corpse in the corner. "These tomes on Korada; they're different than what I've read. I think he must have altered the others."

As words spreads through the temple, the remaining worshipers are shocked and horrified, but also grateful that you have exposed Dakang's heresy. They vow to spend their lives unraveling Korada’s teachings from Dakang’s perversions. They invite you to stay for as long as you'd like before departing, and welcome any future visits by the Society.

That's the end, folks. Primary success condition was to provide a description of the techniques carved into the walls of the meditation room and their performance of these techniques, create or discover a comprehensive catalog of the books remaining in the temple library, sketch of the temple gardens after the overgrowth has been pruned back, and take rubbings of each sarcophagus within the crypt. Looking back, it seems that you have done all four, but any you haven't yet you can go back and do now that Dakang has been defeated. The secondary success condition was to defeat Dakang, so mission accomplished!

I'll get chronicle sheets posted soon, probably tonight. I'm also happy to answer any lingering questions you may have about the story.

Pa Us wonders if Miriya spends all her time in the library, or if she ever goes out for a drink...

Victory! Thank you

Thanks for picking this up for us so we could finish!

Thanks so much for picking this one up!

Tellerin gives out a tired cheer as the vemlek finally falls. As he looks around and sees his allies whole and relatively healthy, he gives them a grin "I was afraid for a moment, but... we did it! Somehow, we did it?" He rubs at his eyebrows sheepishly "This is going to make quite the story to tell."

----

After helping to explain things with the guards and the other occupants, Tellerin announces that he plans to stay, at least for a little while. His excitement over getting the true history of this place from its occupants (now that Sifkesh's influence is lifted) is palpable. With boisterous thank yous to all of his allies for keeping him safe from the suicide trap and the other dangers, he bids them a temporary farewell.
Over the next week he takes prodigious notes, cleans up his rubbings of the sarcophagi, and interviews every single person still living here. By the time he's done, he has quite the story tightly stored away in his head. With a pep in his step, he heads back to Absalom to begin the telling!

Agreed, thanks for picking us up and doing a great job with the conclusion of the scenario Dennis! I really enjoyed this one as a whole (though drawing out the first half was a bit troublesome from a role-playing standpoint!).

I'm wondering about that Gastidem guy. Was there something we missed? Did he really just 'appear' in a sealed off demiplane? Did he escape afterward?

You're welcome, all. Thanks for bearing with me as I got up to speed, and for being a fun group of players.

As for Gastidem: the story as I understand it is that there are quite a few people living in the demiplane, mostly folk who were brought in (intentionally or unintentionally) by Hao Jin when their home was stitched into it, or the descendants of such. Dakang was feasting on the remains in the shallow graves of a battlefield that Hao Jin brought into the tapestry, thus was trapped there inadvertently. About 300 years ago he stumbled upon the abandoned temple that had been gifted to Hao Jin by the nation of Tianjing (I think you learned about that in your mission briefing). He found a disguise and thought to corrupt the temple to worship his demon lord, who is a lord of heresy. Over the last 300 years other folks living in the plane have drifted by, some deciding to stay and worship 'Korada'. Most of the people at this temple now were born there to others who wandered by sometime in the last 300 years. Gastidem was a more recent wanderer, who impressed Dakang with his viciousness when he arrived about 12 years ago and was allowed to set up shop.