Venturing in further, you come to a small room. Inside of it, are four strange humans, each attached to odd colored lines that seem to go directly into their flesh and attached to glass beakers, or what seem to be alchemical apparati. Once you approach, the Azlanti wake up, with a strange dead look in their eye, and begin to lumber towards you, not unlike a zombie.
The skeletons all come at you, ripping themselves from the odd tethers that hold to the walls. However, because you have forced them to bottle neck, only one can attack at a time.
Something in the end of the hallway begins to slowly start to glow. Or rather many small things. No more than a dim candle, you see the room displaying small round lights, less than an inch each, though they seem to cover nearly the entirety of a large metal table. Some flash in a repeating cycle, while others do not glow at all, and some remain glowing constantly. There is also a dull hum coming from the room, very hard to hear, though it seems to become louder at first and then remains at a certain level afterwards.
M Half Elf (HP 20/20 AC 17/ T 13/ FF 14, Init +3, Perc 6, F +6/ R +4/ W -1, CMB +5, CMD 18, Speed 20ft, Rage 5/5 rounds/day Fighter 1 Archetype Two Weapon Warrior / Barbarian 1
Grundle stops for a second...then feels his rage overtaking his senses. He wipes his mouth, blood trickling from his unknowing biting of his lip, and charges forward. "I'm sick of this crap!!!"
Knowledge (Religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Owyn sheaths his longsword and pulls forth his light hammer as he calls out "Bludgeoning weapons will break their bones faster than normal weapons! Switch weapons if you have any!"
Bryn, no one else can fight while you and Kesh are in the choke point. Fall back and let them come to us.
I think if we are a line of three there, it's still one of them and three of us ... that true DM Beckett?
If the line of Grundle, Owyn, and Daeven moves up 1 square, it will be 3 against 1. Where you are now, they could squeeze in for 3 vs 3. Also, if Keshra and Daeven switch places, everyone could try to attack, Daeven using his whip to trip and Bryn shooting into the melee from behind.
I'm assuming that Owyn and Grundle either Ready or Delay?
M Half Elf (HP 20/20 AC 17/ T 13/ FF 14, Init +3, Perc 6, F +6/ R +4/ W -1, CMB +5, CMD 18, Speed 20ft, Rage 5/5 rounds/day Fighter 1 Archetype Two Weapon Warrior / Barbarian 1
Yeah ready to do that thing I said once there's room.
If the line of Grundle, Owyn, and Daeven moves up 1 square, it will be 3 against 1. Where you are now, they could squeeze in for 3 vs 3. Also, if Keshra and Daeven switch places, everyone could try to attack, Daeven using his whip to trip and Bryn shooting into the melee from behind.
Well, just in case we're up...
As soon as a skeleton comes in range, Owyn will swing at it with his hammer.
Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Forming a line that allows you to attack with ease while forcing the enemy to bottleneck to get to you, you manage to dispatch them quickly with no serious injury to yourselves. Walking further into the next room, you encounter a chamber you have likely never seen anything even remotely similar, even in places like Numeria.
This fifteen-by-fifteen-foot room is constructed entirely of the same smooth-white material seen on the sphere outside. A single white pillar stretches floor-to-ceiling in the center of the room, and in a niche rests a smooth, white, hand-sized square covered in glyphs and runes similar to those on the complex’s front door. Many have begun to glow in various bright colors, ranging from green, to red, to yellow.
Spellcraft DC 30:
The strange square device likely controls something, but the knowledge of how to use it was likely lost forever.
Arcana/Religion DC 15:
This odd magical(ish) device seems to be some sort of blend of both arcane and divine magical theory. As far as you can tell from the runes, it seems designed to capture and destroy a soul.
Dungeoneering/Engineering/History DC 15:
Whoever built this place built it with technology from the long forgotten past. It's clearly Azlanti, and very advanced Azlanti at that, incorporating high magic theory with unknown technology. Deciphering small bits of the runes, as well as dating the statues and other things, you estimate that this chamber has not been used in over 8,000 years. Furthermore, there is no known record of an Azlanti settlement in the area, outside of this outpost, (which gives the area it's name). Lastly, whatever this odd box device is, it seems like it functions by consuming the users soul, utterly destroying it.
I'll be heading home from vacation soon. Once I get back, I should be able to pick this up and go a lot quicker.
Male Half-Elf 36007-6 Brawler 1 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | HP 4/11 | F +2 R +4 W +0 | Init +2 | Acro +4 | Intim +4 | Dipl +5 | Perception +6 | Know (Dungeon) +6 | Unarmed strike +4(+5 AOO,+6(+7AOO) Confirm Crit)/1d6+3 | Whip +5 1d3+3 NL (trip/Disarm + 5)
Daeven wipes his brow from the hard, yet monotonous work of dispatching those monstrosities. Then he begins to inspect the strange room ...
Dungeoneering:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
"This is clearly Azlanti ... Aslanti at it's peak I would say. This looks like a combination of high magic and technology I have never scene. I would say this chamber has been dormant over what, seven, eight thousand years. And what's really odd guys is I don't think there has ever been an Azlanti settlement in this area.
"And I probably should have said this first, but the odd box device here seems to function by consuming your soul ... utterly destroying it ... anyone wanna try it out, fire this machine up?!"
"Umm no thanks. Why would there be something here from people that have never even lived here before?" Bryn looks around not wanting to touch anything after hearing that his soul could be taken and destroyed by the objects in the room. "Heel, Kesh... Don't touch anything either"
Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Owyn steps into the room as he says "Be that as it may, we don't know for sure that touching this device automatically activates it. And besides, Juliet said that whatever we find down here may be the key to saving the people here. We have to at least try."
As he finishes, Owyn will cast Detect Evil on the room.
If the device is not evil,
Owyn takes a deep breath as he mutters "Iomedae, give me strength..." and reaches to pick up the glowing cube.
M Half Elf (HP 20/20 AC 17/ T 13/ FF 14, Init +3, Perc 6, F +6/ R +4/ W -1, CMB +5, CMD 18, Speed 20ft, Rage 5/5 rounds/day Fighter 1 Archetype Two Weapon Warrior / Barbarian 1
Grundle knocks Owyn's hand aside from the cube. "Look, some of us ain't got much soul to lose. I'd be in more trouble than is worth it to let one o' you get hurt...the Pathfinders don't take too kindly to me much anyways. If anyone's touchin' it...I am!"
Grundle puts both hands on either side of the cube and tries to lift it up.
Male Half-Elf 36007-6 Brawler 1 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | HP 4/11 | F +2 R +4 W +0 | Init +2 | Acro +4 | Intim +4 | Dipl +5 | Perception +6 | Know (Dungeon) +6 | Unarmed strike +4(+5 AOO,+6(+7AOO) Confirm Crit)/1d6+3 | Whip +5 1d3+3 NL (trip/Disarm + 5)
"Uh ... I was kidding ...", says Daeven as he steps back equally amazed and horrified that two of his companions are fighting over grabbing the soul sucker. Mostly he's just glad he isn't one of them.
As Owyn and Grundle begin to try to take the box out of each other's hands, smacking or pushing the other's out of the way, (not unlike a certain magical ring. . .), suddenly there is a massive crashing sound outside. Voices can be heard shouting as if in battle.
The small box begins to send out small blackish purple sparks. Currently it is not harmful, but it's kind of creepy, sending the hair on the back of your necks up the same way a ghost (or voice in the darkness) might.
Are you sure you really want to do this? Remember my warning in the other thread.
M Half Elf (HP 20/20 AC 17/ T 13/ FF 14, Init +3, Perc 6, F +6/ R +4/ W -1, CMB +5, CMD 18, Speed 20ft, Rage 5/5 rounds/day Fighter 1 Archetype Two Weapon Warrior / Barbarian 1
Grundle? Hah! Oh yes...he wouldn't back down...especially if Owyn's not!
M Half Elf (HP 20/20 AC 17/ T 13/ FF 14, Init +3, Perc 6, F +6/ R +4/ W -1, CMB +5, CMD 18, Speed 20ft, Rage 5/5 rounds/day Fighter 1 Archetype Two Weapon Warrior / Barbarian 1
An ugly Half-Elf Fighter/Barbarian and an Aasimar Paladin no less...fun!
Ok, I'm back home now. I tried to warn you. . . I'm sorry guys/gals. There is no save for this. I'll speak to you in private about PP and the like.
As Grundle and Owyn fight over the box, suddenly they both stop, their faces displaying a look of stunted horror. the space near them is filled with a strange black lightning. At first it just zaps everything nearby, paralyzing both Grundle and Owyn, but then it forms the likeness of two electrical arms that grasp each of them by the head, lifting them a foot from the floor. a second set or arms formed from that dark electricity plunges into their chest, dragging out their souls and sucking it into the box.
Only seconds latter, it releases their lifeless, soulless bodies to the ground with a loud thump, leaving Bryn and Daeven to look on with horror.
From behind them, the suddenly see a pulse of white light from outside the temple, bright enough to light much of the area inside for just a moment. They hear the sounds of battle, and a loud crash then ends with wood being splintered and sundered. It sounds like something just broke through the camp's outer wall. And just after that, all that can be heard is the cheer of the odd ape men.
With nothing else to do in here at the grisly sight, you respond to the immediate threat outside. Just as you emerge from the door, you see a flying bolder fully mashing a hole in the palisade wall, and moments later a hoard of screeching, chattering ape-men plunge through it and flood the camp. In the distance, their horrible champion—a four-armed gorilla, fifteen feet tall and causing the ground to shake with each step, intelligently scans his troops and roars at them, causing the ape-men to devolve into a frenzy.
A small wave of the Charau-Ka rushes through, and immediately rushes to the nearest people. The charau-ka are limber, shrieking creatures with the basic shape of an enraged monkey. They walk upright like a human and carry clubs (or any object they can throw) in their hands. They are vile, vicious, brutal, and intelligent, and most (especially these charauka) are devout worshippers of the demon lord Angazhan.
They are incredibly fast, making great leaps and able to grab hold on things with both hands and feet. The nearest defends are put down quickly in their weakened state. As sworn, the Aspis agents fight along your side.
Wow... I shall never fight/argue with anyone over any device that is labeled a Soul Destroyer... they can have it while I move to another room.. A few dungeons over. haha. Sorry guys. :(
"Kesh.. Stay close."Bryn looks around at the current fray going on in the compounds courtyards. Finding a target, he fires an arrow at the nearest Charau-Ka.
Bryn:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Damage:1d6 ⇒ 6
Kesh is holding her action to stay close and defend Bryn
I wouldn't worry too much. I hate killing characters, and there is something built into this one just in case. I do hate that they have to sit out for a bit though. Worst part of a TP,. . ., I mean a character death, in my opinion.
Male Half-Elf 36007-6 Brawler 1 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | HP 4/11 | F +2 R +4 W +0 | Init +2 | Acro +4 | Intim +4 | Dipl +5 | Perception +6 | Know (Dungeon) +6 | Unarmed strike +4(+5 AOO,+6(+7AOO) Confirm Crit)/1d6+3 | Whip +5 1d3+3 NL (trip/Disarm + 5)
"What the hell ... what was that room even for? Who leaves a soul sucker lying around ... what the hell!", stammers Daeven as he runs out, "I was just kidding!
Once up top
...
Where are the aspis, I don't want to run up to them and have to absorb all the attacks if the aspis are back with us, but if there are "friendlies" with the monkeys I will charge up ...
To avoid to much confusion and DM rolling, I was just going to lower the number of enemies a bit and dialogue that the Aspis (and other camp defenders) take one down here, fire an miss there, takes a crit to the face down by the wall, as we go on, and mostly focus on what players I have left.
The camp defenders and handful of Aspis agents attempt to attack the monkey-men, a few have makeshift shortbows or spears, but others simple throw rocks or whatever they happen to have on hand. The Angazhani Champion begins to try to lift another bolder lodged into the earth. Using all four arms to begin to dig it out and lift, it strains it's muscles, planning on launching another missile into the camp and knocking out the tower, and the archers in it. One of the ape-men charges into the fray leaping onto a one of the Aspis agents, beating him to death brutally with it's club and paws.
The other two begin to bound towards you, leaping onto the tree or onto crates as they move. Once they get closer, each pulls out a brick-sized rock and flings it at you.
"A critical hit means that you roll your damage more than once, with all your usual bonuses, and add the rolls together. Unless otherwise specified, the threat range for a critical hit on an attack roll is 20, and the multiplier is ×2.
Exception: Precision damage (such as from a rogue's sneak attack class feature) and additional damage dice from special weapon abilities (such as flaming) are not multiplied when you score a critical hit."
