Fandral takes advantage of the devil's momentary distraction to strike. The strike is true, unfortunately, he is cut by the long barbs that sprout from every inch of the devil.
Old Man Henderson fires his longbow with deadly accuracy. His holy arrows cut through the devil like a hot needle through butter. One of the arrows goes through its eye.
The giant barbed devil hisses in frustration.
Combat! Round 1.
Victoria, Holly, Iskar, Zaas
Twinhorns
Devil (-155 hp)
Holly (-4 hp) (heightened awareness)
Old Man Henderson (life bubble, delay poison, flame arrow, circle vs. evil, see invisibility, shield, gravity bow [79/100])
Fandral (-24 hp)
Brutus (Shield)
Twinhorn Wolverine Green (-4 hp)
The force missiles melt ineffectually as they strike the devil.
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"Really quite rude sir. We were having a conversation." remarks Iskar, as he strolls across the room. Inspecting the foe before him, he starts giggling to himself. Looking the creature over as he traverses the expanse, his laughter increases in volume with each step.
Finally stopping, he points at the beast. "So, let me see if I get your plan. Drop in unannounced, beat us senseless, alone, and run off with the dagger?! Not only are you severely outnumbered, you are outmatched sir! Would have done you some good to watch our tactics before charging in. We just took down two beasts that were three times your skill!"
With a snort, Zaas lumbers around to the opposing side of the foe. "Anyone know what this thing is?" he inquires.
Gnashing at the air in front of the devil, his intent seems obvious.
Iskar overestimates how intimidating he is being to the infernal creature. She ignores him and, noticing Zaas trying to flank her, takes a swipe at the drake. She rends long furrows across his scales. The eidolon, however, snaps nothing but air between his jaws.
Medda takes advantage of the beasts momentary confusion to move away from the reach of its claws. "Twinhorns! Fall back. You cannot defeat this demon." As she says this, she becomes pale and her eyes take on a sunken appearance.
Anok grows in size. The giant specter swings its ghostly armaments at the creature, but the blows fail to connect.
The kellids and their wolverines withdraw to the periphery of the study, although the creatures great reach allows it to tear at them as they leave.
The creature finally gets its bearing and turns its baleful gaze at the only creature in the room to do meaningful harm to it. He steps forward and grabs at Old Man Henderson with its large, taloned hands. The devil's talons pierce into Henderson, and the beast lifts him up and pulls him into a deadly bear hug, a dozen spikes impaling him in the process. The archer falls limp as spikes emerge from his back. Confident that he poses no more of a threat, the infernal monster drops his body to the ground.
"Focus on the demon!" Medda calls to you. "I will save your man."
Combat! Round 2.
Party Up!
Twinhorns
Devil (-155 hp)
Status
Holly (-4 hp) (heightened awareness)
Old Man Henderson (-73 hp, dying, unconscious, prone) (life bubble, delay poison, flame arrow, circle vs. evil, see invisibility, shield, gravity bow [79/100])
Brutus (Shield)
Zaas (-24 hp)
Twinhorn Green (-20 hp)
Twinhorn Wolverine Green (-33 hp)
Twinhorn Wolverine Blue (-29 hp)
It takes the Mountain two strikes (and the blessing of Shelyn) to fell the devil. His arms are torn for his efforts, but the creature fades away into a foul smelling smoke.
The Twinhorns just stand there staring at him. Anok scowls at him.
Holly (-4 hp) (heightened awareness)
Old Man Henderson (-53 hp, prone) (life bubble, delay poison, flame arrow, circle vs. evil, see invisibility, shield, gravity bow [78/100])
Brutus (Shield) (-30 hp)
Zaas (-24 hp)
Twinhorn Green (-20 hp)
Twinhorn Wolverine Green (-33 hp)
Twinhorn Wolverine Blue (-29 hp)
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Rushing towards Zaas, Iskar smiles. "You've seen better days my friend." Drawing a wand of his own, covered in strange planar inscriptions, he taps the injured friend.
With each tap, the shadowy holes shrink. Satisfied, Iskar turns to their new companions. "Yes, as he said. Shall we see to your needs with the museum curator?"
Medda nods and approaches the Pathfinders. "You fought well. Clearly, you are no friend of evil."
Anok scowls slightly less and grudgingly gives you all a nod of approval.
"Take us to your leaders," Medda says. "I wish to speak with them about this theft. And what it means."
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The crowd of guards, onlookers, and concerned citizens outside the Blakros Museum quiets as Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin approaches a woman clad in furs exiting the museum. “My Pathfinder agents tell me that you are Medda of the Twinhorn following, is that correct?”
“Yes, I speak for the following.” Medda glares at Nigel Aldain, “I have come to reclaim what is rightfully ours. His agents stole our most sacred relic after we refused to sell it. We have traveled through dangerous lands to claim it back, and still he refused—”
“My agents claim they bought it,” Nigel protests. “I’m not going to just give it to you because you stomp into my office demanding priceless artifacts.”
Valsin interjects, “Nigel, let us listen to her story and decide how to proceed. Medda, tell us about this relic. Why is it so important to you?”
Medda takes a deep breath. “Over 900 years ago, a powerful warrior named Ivvora came into our camp. She spoke of an angel named Vildeis who guided her hunt for a great dark evil she called Eshimka. Several of our scouts had recently disappeared, later found ripped into pieces. The elders insisted that we help banish this evil and ensure the safety of our following. They laid a trap for the evil spirit, luring it to our sacred standing stones on the winter solstice. There, Ivvora and the great dark evil, Eshimka, fought a mighty battle that raged for hours. Just as the night was darkest, Ivvora dealt Eshimka a telling blow, digging her dagger deep into its flesh. The creature tried to escape, but it only snapped off the blade and then collapsed on the center stone. The elders finished their ritual and destroyed it completely.
“Ivvora rested with us for the winter before departing to eradicate more evil from the world, but not before leaving us the hilt of her weapon.” Medda withdraws a bundle of bloody cloth from her bag, then unwraps it to reveal a small hilt with a bloody fragment of black metal. “She told us to bring the hilt back to the standing stones every year at the winter solstice to keep evil away. We’ve had to travel for so long to retrieve the hilt, I’m afraid we won’t make it back in time for the solstice. Please, let me leave now.”
Ambrus Valsin contemplates Medda’s story for a moment, then nods, his brow furrowed. “Nigel, you should send for the Blakros agents who ‘obtained’ the hilt and hear what they have to say. Medda, I’m going to send as many Pathfinder agents as you deem necessary to travel with you and your following. I want to ensure we return this relic to its proper place.” Nigel starts to protest, but Valsin cuts him off. “Nigel, you wanted my help; you are getting it. I’m helping you fix a mistake your agents made. As for your museum,” Valsin takes a moment to survey the heavily damaged museum, ”I’m told most of the damage was done by your own security, not Medda and her following.
“Pathfinders, prepare to head north to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords.”
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“My Pathfinder allies, thank you for bringing us much needed support,” says Medda, the Twinhorn following’s spiritual leader. She stands beside Anok, her phantom and constant companion. “After the orc ambush sapped our supplies and strength, we pushed north to our winter home. We are only hours away from the stone circle and our encampment—if we are going to make it there by midnight, we need to press on. Once there, we will use Ivvora’s hilt to perform our time-honored ritual and keep evil from our lands.” Medda produces the small hilt of a broken weapon with only a fragment of its black metal blade remaining. “Let us move. There are dangers in these ancient woods: orc raiders, bears that topple trees, and worse. Stay in groups and don’t get lost.”
As the Kellids and Pathfinders reach the top of the hill next to the Twinhorn encampment, they notice splashes of blood and the occasional corpse dotting the landscape. Medda raises her voice, calling, “My brethren, our families are under attack! Secure the camp and drive back any who oppose you. Pathfinder allies, join us in defense of our home!” The landscape opens into a burned hillside where blackened trees stand like lifeless sentinels. A crude blockade shields the entrance to a natural cavern.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
For every 5 that you beat the DC, you may ask for one piece of information from this list.
Three armored undead warriors turn their attention toward you. They leave the trapped Twinhorns in the cave and rush toward you with incredible speed.
A smaller, naked and emaciated undead drops to all fours and lopes slowly toward your band.
A giant skeletal being with an empty rib cage turns and approaches you on long, bony legs. It pauses and gazes at you with its eerie, empty eyes. You feel your mind slipping.
01–25 Act normally
26–50 Do nothing but babble incoherently
51–75 Deal 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand
76–100 Attack nearest creature (for this purpose, a familiar counts as part of the subject's self)
Combat! Round 1
Party is Up!
Enemies
Everyone is pending a Will save vs. DC 19 or become confused.
'On my way." mutters the creature. Scurrying towards the oncoming foes, he finds his way to the southern skeleton. "You shall not pass!"
Holly and Fandral spring forward, slashing and stabbing at the armored undead warrior. However, the shadows in the dim light trick their eyes and neither weapon connects. Two of Old Man Henderson's arrows manage to strike the giant, skeletal being. The bones smoke where the holy arrows struck, but its face remains inexpressive as it strides forward.
Iskar begins to slowly grow larger as Zaas rushes forward.
The skeletal being points at the bowman and a ray of necrotic energy strikes him. He feels his strength draining away.
The undead knight advances upon Fandral and swings his greatsword. The knight swings his sword in a mighty arc that encompasses both Holly and Fandral. Both blades are easily dodged, however. The undead warrior facing Zaas swings his blade and tries to bite the eidolon. Zaas' scales rebuff the attack.
The emaciate humanoid draws closer. Even in the darkness, those near can see its eye sockets are empty and trailing smoke. As they meet its gaze, they feel their souls weakening.
Combat! Round 2.
Party is Up!
Large Skeletal Being (-69 hp)
Blue Undead Warrior
Red Undead Warrior (-2 AC s/p Cleave)
Purple Undead Warrior
Black Emaciated Humanoid
Fandral (Fortitude DC 18 or take negative levels)
Holly (Fortitude DC 18 or take negative levels)
Zaas (Fortitude DC 18 or take negative levels)
Old Man Henderson (-11 STR penalty, Fortitude vs. DC 16 for only -5 STR penalty; minimum STR score = 1)
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.
Fandral flips over the rotting knight and stabs him from behind. Old Man Henderson struggles to pull back the tight string on his powerful bow, but he manages two powerful shots on the giant creature. The second shot takes the creature in the center of its empty chest. There it strikes something mystical and the bony giant collapses in on itself and disappears.
Combat! Round 2.
Brutus, Holly, Iskar, Victoria, Zaas
Large Skeletal Being (-137 hp, destroyed)
Blue Undead Warrior
Red Undead Warrior (-2 AC s/p Cleave)
Purple Undead Warrior (-13 hp)
Black Emaciated Humanoid
Holly (Fortitude DC 18 or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 negative levels)
Zaas (Fortitude DC 18 or take 1d4 ⇒ 3 negative levels)
Old Man Henderson (-11 STR penalty [18 rounds])
Victoria (Fly)
"You'll be next." growls the beast as it shakes off the assault. Turning to its current foe, saliva dripping from it's jowls, it smiles. "You however, get first dibs."
Diving at the undead thing in a see of teeth, claws, and horns, it tries to destroy the bones.
Unhindered by the darkness, Zaas claws and snaps at the undead warrior in front of him. He comes away with a mouthful and a single paw full of undead flesh. Iskar finishes growing and strides to the battle line, axe at the ready.
Holly's soul is weakened as she meets the empty, smoking gaze of the foul creature behind the warriors. However, it does not stop her from striking at the enemy in front of her with all her fury. Brutus joins her in battle, slamming his shoulder into the off-kilter undead.
There is a flash of light as lightning streaks across the battlefield. When your eyes clear, the warrior engaged with Zaas looks partially charred. The emaciated emissary of death in the back of the pack appears wholly unaffected . It hobbles forward and rises on two legs. A withered finger points at those engaged in battle, "Your twisted souls, I will take. I see! I see! Your sins are not hidden. Drink them. Chew them. Vomit them back."
The warriors' empty eye sockets flare with blue fire as one, and they push their assault. Even bolstered by the hatred in its heart, the warrior cannot land a blow on Fandral. The undead warrior in the red tabbard strike a lucky blow with its greatsword and then takes advantages of another fortuitous moment to bite his neck. Zaas takes a single hit from his opponent.
Combat! Round 3.
Party Up!
Large Skeletal Being (-137 hp, destroyed)
Blue Undead Warrior (-39 hp)
Red Undead Warrior (-68 hp)
Purple Undead Warrior (-13 hp)
Black Emaciated Humanoid
Brutus (-37 hp)
Holly (1 negative level)
Zaas (-28 hp)
Old Man Henderson (-11 STR penalty [18 rounds])
Victoria (Fly)
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Feeling part of his being sucked away, he shudders. "What the...Quit that!" howls the half-orc. Turning towards Zaas, he grumbles ancient words of arcane. Drawing a heart in the air between them, a translucent red light forms linking the two.
Iskar shimmers in the same light as a pulse travels from him to the eidolon and seems to mend its wounds. Returning his hand to the axe, he bellows "Return to the grave!"
Shrugging off the assault again, Zaas growls. "You wait your turn wretch!"
Turning back to his current assault, he bites at the beast. Overzealous in his attempts, both claws catch air as he follows up with an attempt to stab the creature with his horn.