Seeing the evidence of demons and undead in the temple, and hearing Gastidem tell about a great evil, made the bodyguards wonder what's going on. Despite not liking the obvious answer, the bodyguards cannot deny Valador's words. It's now obvious to them something's off about their leader.
The bodyguards discuss their options, but decide they don't want to fight their old master. "We will not fight with you, but we'll not stop you either. Instead, we'll show you something else."
The party's escorted to the chapel and one of the bodyguards asks them to gather around the font. The expressions on their faces are a mix of confusion, doubt and anger. "Only creatures with celestial blood can activate this fountain. Mast... I mean, Dakang... He doesn't ever do it. I can now guess why..."
"Place your weapons in the font," one of the bodyguards says, and waves her hands over the font while mumbling some words. The fountain fills with divine water from which blossom several perfect lotuses, seemingly out of nowhere, "The fountain flows with blessed water. Korada will aid you in your confrontation with the deceiver."
To demonstrate the effect of the fountain the lead bodyguard places the sharp of her spear in the fountain. When she removes it from the font a small hue covers the spear's tip. "Dakang's currently in his room. He's probably aware of the things you know, but I doubt he'll expect your attack if you go now. So go."
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Nice... this should help a lot, if we're dragged into battle...
Valador smiles and extends a hand to the lead guard.
Thank you, friends. I apologize for the trouble our visit has brought you. Hopefully we can make amends by purging the filth from your temple and setting things back to their proper order...
I'll do my best to avoid harming or killing your master, but unfortunately from what I sensed earlier... I doubt he'll leave us much choice.
After shaking hands with the guard Valador looks to his comrades.
Shall we be off now?
The lead bodyguard shakes Valador's hand. "One of us will remain here while I go to the corridor. We'll cover the exits so Dakang can't run away. I don't wish to fight him, but if he runs we'll slow him down."
"You keep an eye on Gastidem," she says to one of the other bodyguards, who nods and goes back to the bedroom the gnome's in.
After issuing her commands to the other bodyguards the lead bodyguard takes her position in the corridor.
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Oliana is ecstatic to finally be able to harm the creatures they've been pitted against, and dunks her quiver and her bardiche both into the fountain, before returning them to their place on her person. "It's too bad you can't dunk your talons and beak in the fountain," Oliana jabs at the bird on her shoulder.
"Onward then, Val," she replies bow drawn, arrow set. She follows the group, meaning to provide ranged support should they need it.
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Before departing Valador coats his sword in the fountain before propping it up on his right shoulder.
Right...
Taking point, he proceeds out the rear of the chapel and into the door on the right, into the previously unexplored hallways of the temple. He briefly stops at each door along the hall and slowly opens each one to peek inside. He then comes to the last door...
Only one more door...
His hands tighten upon the hilt of his sword as he takes the handle in hand and waits for his companions to get into position behind him.
Alia casts Protection from Evil on Oliana while Valador proceeds out of the chapel and into the door on the right.
Valador stops at every door, sneaking a peek at what's behind them, and eventually reaches the last door. Here he waits for his companions. When they've all joined Valador at the door, he opens it.
This spacious chamber contains a simple bed, a writing desk, and an enormous armoire. A Spiral of Korada is drawn along the north wall, but the drawing is made up of several small marks resembling double-headed arrows. A short stairway leads up to an archway blocked with a heavy curtain.
Dakang sits at his desk when the party enters his room. He notices them enter and turns to face them. "What are you doing here? I didn't invite you, did I?"
While speaking Dakang stands up from his chair. "I'm sure we can talk about whatever is bothering you."
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Valador positions himself in the center of the room, sword still propped upon his shoulder ready to be sent down on someone at a moments notice.
Look... I'm not in the mood to sit here and beat around the bush, so please, do all of us a favor and spare us any lies you may have prepared for us. Surrender yourself over to us so that you may face the judgment of those you've wrong and be delivered punishment...
If you refuse, you can face our judgment instead. Either way, your days of preying upon this temple are over. What's it going to be?
Valador remains on guard, ready for combat at any moment.
Valador's words leave no room for discussion, and Dakang seems to understand. "Very well, boy. In that case, prepare yourself."
Dakang keeps his distance from Valador, who has his weapon readied, and something no one could've predicted happens: Dakang's head explodes.
With the head of his human disguise gone Dakang's true form is revealed: a giant five-jawed worm. The head of the worm now pops out from between the human shoulders, the worm's main body still inside the human's.
Making use of the confusion that follows the exploding head, Dakang quickly grabs the quarterstaff that's on his desk. "You sealed your own fate by coming here!"
Round 1 - Turn progression:
Oliana
Espada
Alia
Tsongre
Valador
Dakang
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What the f&#~ is this thing!?
Having felt the density of Dakangs evil earlier, Valador knows this foe is not to be taken lightly.
Surround him and be on your guard!
He cautiously moves towards the creature and strikes towards it, focusing on his defensive form rather than offense.
Best to prepare myself for his attack and counter accordingly...
Oliana shoots an arrow at Dakang, but arrow ends up stuck in the ceiling.
"Tsongre, distract him!" she instructs her avian companion. Tsongre doesn't get Oliana's instructions, and stays on her shoulder.
Espada expends one points from her arcane pool to add an enhancement bonus to her bastard sword. She moves up next to Valador and swings the swords at Dakang. "Valador, if you move up to Dakang's other side while I move a bit more east, we can flank him next! I could also enlarge someone, is that a good idea?!"
Alia delays while Valador cautiously closes the distance between him and Dakang. Valador swings his sword at Dakang, but the sweat in his hands almost makes teh sword slip from his hands. As a result Valador's attack misses horribly.
Oliana's arrow misses and her attempt to instruct Tsongre to do something fails. Espada moves up next to Valador and swings her sword at Dakang. Her sword cleaves through Dakang's flesh, and cuts deep into the worm itself.
"Argh!" Dakang yells when Espada inflicts a major wound to him, "You'll all die for this! Your bodies will be mine!"
Dakang moves to the corner of the room and concentrates on a spell, which he casts defensively. Valador's the only one in reach, but can't find an opening in Dakang's defense while the spell's being cast.
As the spell's finished feelings of fear and doubt start to cloud your mind.*
Round 2 - Turn progression:
Oliana
Espada
Alia
Tsongre
Valador
Dakang -15 HP
*
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Do it! Valador yells back to Espada before he shifts to Dakangs right side.
We've backed him into a corner... now is the time to finish him, no time for restraint... Ragathiel, guide my hand and lend me your strength!
Valador tightens his grip as he shifts his momentum and brings his sword over and down onto Dakang, placing the force from his body into the blow while channeling his divine connection to his deity.
Silence and feel the judgment of a REAL Empyreal Lord! he screams to Dakang.
In addition, while smite evil is in effect, the paladin gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) to her AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the paladin targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect.
The smite evil effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time the paladin rests and regains her uses of this ability. At 4th level, and at every three levels thereafter, the paladin may smite evil one additional time per day, as indicated on Table: Paladin, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level.
It looks like Dakang's about dodge Valador's attack, but the wall he moved up against prevents him from properly dodging the paladin's mighty attack.
Valador rips open Dakang's belly, leaving the worm inside the body with a huge wound. "Argh! How come you're hurting me this much?!" Dakang exclaims, the panic he feels evident in his voice.
Round 2 - Turn progression:
Oliana
Espada
Alia
Tsongre
Valador
Dakang -28 HP
Oliana shoots another arrow at Dakang, but the arrow also ends up stuck in the ceiling.
"Distract him, Tsongre!" she tries again, but Tsongre still doesn't get Oliana's instructions.
Espada, holding her sword with one hand, casts Enlarge Person on herself. She instantly start growing, becoming twice her actual size. Making use of her training in spell combat Espada attacks the same round. She swings her large bastard sword at Dakang.
Alia's scimitar connects, and tears open part of the worm's head.
Oliana misses, and Tsongre still doesn't get what Oliana want him to do. Espada's large sword passes over Alia's head without a problem, but barely misses Dakang.
Despite being cornered Dakang attempts to cast another spell. He takes a defensive stance and concentrates. And again there's no flaw in Dakang's defense while he concentrates on his spell.
A wave of negative energy washes over the party, inflicting light wounds to all. Only Alia manages to resist some of the damage inflicted. Strangely the spell seems to have the opposite effect on Dakang, and the wound inflicted by Alia's scimitar heals up completely.
Round 2 - Turn progression:
Oliana -4HP
Espada -4 HP
Alia -2 HP
Tsongre -4 HP
Valador -4 HP
Dakang -28 HP
Valador's attack inflicts another massive wound to the worm in Dakang's body.
The body itself is clearly about to fall apart, and the worm lets out a terrifying sound much like a scream.
Round 2 - Turn progression:
Oliana -4HP
Espada -4 HP
Alia -2 HP
Tsongre -4 HP
Valador -4 HP
Dakang -40 HP
Alia and Espada both miss their attacks.
Oliana drops her bow, figuring she'll try melee instead. She moves past the giant Espada while drawing her bardiche, and swings the weapon at Dakang. "Espada! You can still hit him over our heads, can't you?!"
"Come on Tsongre, distract him!" Oliana tries once more. Tsongre doesn't get what Oliana wants him to do.
The worm sheds Dakang's body, devouring most of the flesh in the process. As it devours the flesh some of the worm's wounds heal.
The worm then tries to burrow itself, but the party chose a good location to confront Dakang: the stone floor prevents the worm's escape. Though it's probably not visible, the worm panics. When it tries to concentrate on a spell it fails horrible, and accidentally lowers its defenses.
Round 3 - Turn progression:
Oliana -4HP
Espada -4 HP
Alia -2 HP
Tsongre -4 HP
Valador -4 HP
Dakang -35 HP
Despite the worm's lowered defenses Oliana misses the worm.
Oliana tries again, and this time hits her target. "Now, Tsongre, distract him! Or it! I don't know!"
However, once again, Oliana's intentions aren't clear to Tsongre.
Round 3 - Turn progression:
Oliana -4HP
Espada -4 HP
Alia -2 HP
Tsongre -4 HP
Valador -4 HP
Dakang -35 HP
Espada realizes swinging her sword over her comrades' heads proves to be more difficult than anticipated, and misses the worm.
Valador's unvocalized wish nearly becomes reality, but the damage he inflicts on the worm just barely falls short. The worm is, however, disabled.
With a martial cry Alia swings her scimitar at the worm and cuts off its head.
After the fight you go and ask the bodyguards to take a look at the worm. The lead bodyguard is able to identify it as a vermlek: "It's a demon that can take over a human's body... Dear Korada, why did we believe such a monster...? We'll help you inform everyone in the temple about this..."
Once you have unmasked Dakang, the remaining worshipers are grateful and vow to spend their lives unraveling Korada’s teachings from Dakang’s perversions. The worshipers allow you to remain at the temple for as long as you like to complete any of your ongoing investigations into the temple and Korada’s true faith.
The inhabitants of the temple gladly help the party with cataloging the library, also eager to learn more about Korada's true faith from the books. The books refer to Korada’s holy city of Vantian the Unshuttered, which continually crumbles into the sea of Ishiar while residents continually rebuild on the far side of the city. The books also describe the double-arrow symbol of “celestial silence and contemplation” to be drawn over the mouth and eyes of adherents of Korada.
By taking his time and using his knowledge of religion Valador is able to conclude the following: None of the rites or symbols described are actually connected with Korada. There is no such “symbol of celestial silence and contemplation.” The double-arrow symbol is sacred to Sifkesh, demon lord of heresy and suicide. Drawing this symbol over and across the mouth and eyes would resemble stitching, and Sifkesh is depicted with eyes and mouth stitched shut.
To complete their task of accurately sketching the original plan of the garden, the party must significantly prune back the overgrowth to see how the original beds were designed. It takes them some time, but they manage to finish the task before dinner time.
Zhuang, who initially wasn't sure about Valador's offer, agrees when Valador once more approaches the man and offers him to come to the real world. "I will have to read up on some more true information about Korada, but I assume your world has its own library?"
"Take care!" Di Duang says. "thanks for revealing what Dakang truly was! Our lives will no longer be affected by his perversions!"
The lead body guard walks up to you and bows. "I apologize for ever doubting you. We're all in your debt."
When you're all ready to leave everyone of you steps (or flies) into his or his planar eddy. Zhuang holds Valador's hand when the latter steps into his eddy, and moves to the real world along with Valador.
Once back in the Society you are greeted by the Society's master of spells, Aram Zey. "Three of you returned early! Please tell me you managed to complete the mission!"
Zey lets out a sigh of relief when you tell him the mission's completed, and you relay all the information about the temple to him. He's surprised to hear about Dakang and his perversions, and glad all of you survived.
"We'll send someone else inside the scroll to give the inhabitants of the temple some more books detailing accurate information about Korada, and help them get rid of the false information. It's the least we can do for them. Thank you for all your efforts, Pathfinders! The Society has learned a great deal about this kind of temple because of you!"
Looking at your stat block, Valador, you indeed don't have a skill you could use for a Day Job check.
But here is how it works, copied directly from the Guide To PFS Organized Play:
"Step 2: Day Job
Not every Pathfinder works for the Society full time. Some are trained artisans, professionals, or performers and earn extra gold on the side, between missions. During these times, you can attempt a trained Craft, Perform, or Profession check to see how much extra money you earn— this is called a Day Job check. In the Pathfinder Society campaign, you may make one Day Job check after the end of each adventure. Certain Vanities (Pathfinder Society Field Guide 60) allow you to further modify your Day Job rolls, or even let you use skill ranks from other, more specialized skills like Heal or Sleight of Hand as Day Job rolls.
Permanent bonuses from equipment, feats, racial bonuses, and traits affect your Day Job check as they would any check for the rolled skill, but temporary bonuses such as those granted by spell effects, other than crafter’s fortune, do not contribute, as the duration over which the Day Job check is made is undefined and represents a longer amount of time than a spell’s duration would permit the bonus to remain. You may take 10 on a Day Job check, but you may not take 20 nor can you aid another.
In order to determine how much money you make as a result of a Day Job check, consult Table 5–1. Add this amount to the Day Job box on your Chronicle sheet."
This scenario made it very clear to me that spending that 1 extra trick on Attack is totally worth it. Definitely something I'll keep in mind when my ranger gets a companion, and something I'll keep on my druid's roc.
I got that, and I'll keep it in mind ;)
Tuesday I'll leave for vacation and I'll return end of July. I'll likely start some new scenarios then^^