Silbeg's Slayers: #3-21: The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

he is now out of melee range for all without a reach weapon, or the Enlarge person spell

"Still hiding from us? No matter .... look at those sparkly colors. What beautiful magic is this? Small man that talks to animals is this your doing? Making ugly things pretty again? That is fantastic." momentarily distracted by the cascading colors, Ophiuchus stands dumfounded. The combat portion of his brain, working independently from his conscious triggers his arm to fetch another javelin, cock his arm, and once again corkscrew his body and let fly.

Javelin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
image: 1d2 ⇒ 1

"Colors are so pretty."

Did Roudi's last shot hit / cause damage? If the blessed weapons seem to go through DR, then it's best to spend the standard action to reload.

Sorry, yes, Both Arturo and Roudi hit, soundly.

Ophiuchus throws his javelin, which pops the figment image of Dakang, rather than hitting him. (He missed, but barely)

Arturo, Roudi, Sven, Vox are up.

ok, nice. So there is hope for wounding it.
As it is very proper for a paladin to be shooting blessed bullets, and especially since the non-blessed ones have seemingly very little effect on the worm-demon, Roudantaimi begins loading the bullet into his pistol.

Standard: Reload

The youth can hear the shouting, excitement and disappointment in the next room as Dakang goes invisible and then (apparently) reappears. In a flash of excitement, Vox finally comes up with another plan of action and casts another spell.

I've never cast so many spells before, he thinks and the process of forging the magical energy from the ether is completed and the youth reaches out and pats Einhardt gently on the back.

Standard Action: Cast spider climb on Einhardt

"Einhardt, attack!" he says, signaling to wolf.

The elemental hovering in the air meanwhile, tries to slide closer to Dakang, swings, and then disappears.

Air Elemental: last attack before disappearing
attack(slam): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Einhardt moves back through the battle and, feeling her paws easily grasp the ground and stick with aspiring confidence, the wolf reaches the wall and ascends toward Dakang.

Einhardt has a movement of 60-feet/round, and a climb speed of 20-feet. Her paws are free, so hopefully she can bite and climb too. *token not yet moved*

I'll give Einhardt the attack... that makes sense.
The air elemental hits the demon ineffectively once more, as its spell runs out. Einhardt, not used to running across the wall, misses the demon.

Unable to flee, Dakang decides attack his way out. His closest target is Einhardt.
staff against Einhardt: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 (Spell Storing) Inflict Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6) + 4 = 15
Einhardt Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

attack #2 vs Einhardt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
bite vs Einhardt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Einhardt is hit with the staff, and foul energies flare from the staff, causing the she-wolf to yelp in pain. Then, the demon strikes again, missing with his staff, but connecting with a bite. The wolf is overwhelmed by her injuries, and falls from the wall, bleeding.

The Demon then steps up, looking at the windows behind him.

I am pretty sure Einhardt was at full hp -- according to my records she was, so I will go with that

Party is up!
Einhardt goes at the end of the stack, but ahead of Roudi

I was going to ask those Aasimars for another vessel of blessed water, but it looks like the coward is fleeing! No time then, fly true, my arrow!

"Dakang, you coward! Come and face your crimes," Arturo calls out, knowing that the man won't respond. Hoping he's guarding the wrong side once again, Arturo lets fly with an arrow.

Shortbow vs Dakang (hopefully flat-footed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Crit Damage vs Dakang, sneak attack: 3d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) + (5, 2) = 15

Not that it is like to matter, Arturo feints once more.

Bluff (feint): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

BTW - this is exactly why you should buy all of your arrows as cold iron

Arturo's arrow flies into the distracted Dakang... biting deeply, but not as deeply as the rogue had hoped.

I totally agree. Lort is kitted out (so is Xûll actually), but I keep forgetting my other characters. Knowing my luck, I would have rolled to use the silver ones instead. 1 = Alchemical Silver, 2 = Cold Iron... 1d2 ⇒ 1... yup. Of course, if we had someone who could pass a knowledge roll in this party... different matter!

What's a knowledge?

Jaender is out of words. The anger he feels is second to only his helplessness at defeating this enemy. He lets loose another pair of magical bolts, hoping to live to see a time when he can cast far more powerful spells, befitting his ancient linnorn bloodline.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5

spell penetration: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

ugh...

-Posted with Wayfinder

The brute whips the silver hammer around, aiming at the worm's foul head.

Silver Lucerne Hammer, rage, enlarge: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 23
Damage, rage, enlarge: 2d4 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 13

With that, the large man seems to deflate, all of a sudden looking weak and tired, his breathing heavy and ragged.

All raged out, friends.

Ar least you're unchained bud! Speaking of, your non rage HP total is 30, not 18. Temporary HPs are so much nicer than a con boost during a rage! Actually, Silbeg has you down for 12 more damage than you do, so it may be 18 after all (but at least it isn't 6!)

Seeing his target out of range and possible about to flee, the nagaji pulls out his crossbow and loads it.

"Just a minute while I load ... this ... bolt ... in .... here. Urgh, why did I buy this infernal contraption? Must have been made by people that hate to kill evil things in a timely manner. Who has time to just load these bolts while evil worm guy with many images is about to pop out a window. I wonder if I shouldn't just run outside and shoot him when he pops out."

Full-round action, load crossbow

As soon as the gunpowder and blessed bullet sit firmly in the muzzle of Roudantaimi's gun, the gnome points the weapon to Dakang, and fires. No time for snarky remarks, he just wants to put an end to this creature's evil.

Pistol, PBS, DA vs. touch: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 21
Damage, PBS, DA, blessed bullet: 1d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 4 = 11

The youth hears the unmistakable yelp of Einhardt hurt and in danger, and he rushes back into the room to help the wolf. Without thinking of his own safety, Vox approaches and casts a healing spell on the animal.

Move Action: move 25-feet, ending beside Poochie (and I assume Einhardt is beneath Poochie) *token not yet moved*
Standard Action: cast cure light wounds on Einhardt

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Einhardt, get out of here! Get to safety!" he yells as the wolf awakens.

Roudantaimi's gun cracks, and the bullet lands truly. The demonic worm shudders, and collapses. The Slayers then make sure that the demonic cleric never will rise again, so that he can never torment and corrupt the occupants of the Temple of Empyrial Enlightenment again.

(combat over!)

"Huzzah!" Jaender squeals, kicking the dead demon in its worm head for good measure.

"Lets get this mess cleaned up, finish recording these statues and get out of here. It will be too soon if I never come back."

"Oh... Let me get that for you Arturo - don't you have a librarian to check on?"

"Indeed I do!" a cheery Arturo nearly sings, "Well done, my friends. This temple has been freed from its oppressor. Now, see if you can find out what went on. I'll go... check the library. Again."

Arturo skips off down the halls, calling out for Miriya.

As the team is cleaning up, Hamada comes around the corner from the kitchen... sobbing. "She's... she's.... dead!"

(Note, the kitchen is where Jaender found (and left) Wei)

"Hammy-Da, was it? What is wrong? Who is dead?" Arturo has a sinking feeling that Miriya didn't make it, "And how did she die? I guess we'd best find out where she is also!"

Arturo draws his rapier and prepares to take action after Hamada spills the beans.

Jaender feels a pit growing in his stomach. He never thought anyone else would try to go in the kitchen, and now feels guilty he didn't speak up sooner.

"Who went in there? What happened?"

"I... we... Ziya and me... ran into the kitchen to escape the smelly demons... and... then... we saw Wei hanging there..." He continues to sob. "Then, we saw the knife on the table... and she grabbed it, and plunged it into her chest! Why did she do that? Why?"

He collapses against Arturo, completely overwhelmed with grief.

"It seems as though we have one more evil at least to eradicate from this place..." Jaender says, grim faced. He leads the way to the kitchen, and then casts detect magic from the threshold of the door.

As the brute slowly recovers from the ordeal, he nods to Jaender, eager to finish the business at hand of cleansing this temple of its corrupting occupants. He gently calls out to the wayang, "Hold a moment, Jaender...let us restore our strength before we proceed."

Assuming someone will CLW Wand me.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Crummy Rolling, and 6 charges burned.

As Strong Brute makes to go crazy with the happy stick, Arturo puts a hand on his shoulder, "I suspect we may be traveling back through the Tapestry very soon. Perhaps we had best save the charges on our personal equipment and allow the Society's clerics to heal us instead."

The thrifty rogue favors Strong Brute with a sly wink.

"More evil. I thought that we are done with this place. Come, let us free these innocents and cleanse this place of the last remnants of evil. Not a shred will I leave here if I have to tear this place down brick by brick. Now where is my flail. I just dropped it but it seems to have skidded away. Excuse me please." on all fours, Ophiuchus begins to crawl around, bumping into the dead that lived and are dead again, and winding up behind Vox.

"Young man, can you help me? No I am not acting like your beloved wolf, I am merely looking for my holy flail. Have you seen it? Mr. Hairylips, did you take it? You seem to take lots of things that don't belong to you. Like all that money you stole from those old ladies when they were doing their stretches in tight pants. Personally I like a fit woman, but many young nagaji liked a plumper version. Always chasing chubby women. We called them young nagaji that liked to chase chubby women. Like a duck to bread they would run after them. Ahh here it is. Ready."

A flail falls onto Ophiuchus' head from seemingly out of nowhere.

damnit! Lost a post!

The team makes their way into the kitchen, to see the halfling , Wei, calmly swinging on his noose. Under him, the woman, Ziya, was killed herself, though the knife is nowhere to be seen.

Roudantaimi uses his detect evil, but no evil remains in this place. Perhaps, he thinks, by killing Dekang, you have already started the process of healing, though not without a terrible price.

The drench killed Xifen, and the haunt here has killed both Wei and Ziya. Jaender shudders osnce more, realizing that but for the grace of his god hhe could have done that to himself as well.

The brute shakes his head in dismay at all the senseless violence and despair, wondering how many lives this Dakang had ruined before the party had come along. At least they had finally cleansed this place of its evil, and it could begin the slow process of healing...assuming it even remained open.

While the team make sure the kitchen is secure, Arturo continues on to the library, calling, "Miriya? Miriiiiiiiiya?" as he goes.

I'm not entirely sure what I'll do when she finally answers, but at the very least I think the poor woman deserves a goodbye kiss. Yes, that's it, just a kiss and we'll be on our way.

On the way, Arturo starts humming a tune to which only he knows the lyrics...

How do you solve a problem like "Miriya?"
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find the word that means "Miriya?"

At each mention of her name, he finds he was singing aloud. Slightly embarrassed, the rogue puts his head down and makes haste to the library.

Arturo find that Miriya is hiding in the library, under her desk, crying. When he asks, it is because she is so afraid of what was happening.

Anyone else you all want to talk to, please do so before Monday... we'll wrap this all up by then

The brute calls out to all within range, "People of this temple! Your high priest has been exposed as a sham, a fraud. A person hell bent on using your suffering for the sake of pursuing perfection as a means to his terrible ends. He is now dead, as are those who aided him. Perhaps this place may be what it desires...where one can go to try to improve one's self. However, the way Dakang taught is not the way to go about this. This one implores all of you to search deep within yourselves, and determine how this temple shall proceed from this day forward."

Jaender checks his list of tasks given to the group, and makes sure that everything is complete.

He then goes over his notes, making sure to document everything that has happened so that he doesn't leave any details out when giving the report.

Finally, he goes back into the garden to make sure that the narcotic plant is completely destroyed, gleefully breathing fire on all of it. While there, he flags Arturo down to make sure that the wicked statue has been completely disabled.

"Is there anything else we need to make sure doesn't kill anyone here? What about that statue that nearly took Vox's head off?"

I think we are done here... Its been a while and I am now out of time to go back and re-read everything. Honey-Do list here I come!

"Miriya... it is over now," says Arturo, thoughts of seduction fled from his mind, "There was too much death, yes, but the evil Dakang is over. You and your friends will be safe now. You will have time to meditate upon the real Korada. When I return to where we came from, I will see if I can convince our Master of Spells to send some true Clergy of Harmony to aid you in proper worship... if you think that would help."

Arturo leaves when it seems appropriate. To alleviate the sadness, he covers a rubbing parchment in charcoal, drops his pants and rubs his butt all over it. Want a rubbing, Aram Zey? Contemplate this one a while and try to figure out what it is.

The brute sees the true artwork that Arturo is engaged in, and decides it is probably best not to ask. He was a simple man, and there was obviously some complex thought put into such a wonderful work.

Before they start to leave, Roudantaimi looks for Master Zhuang.

"My offer still stands, you can leave with us if you so wish."

The serenity of the temple has certainly been broken now, but the gnome does not want to emphasise that.

@Arturo

"Thank you, Arturo. I wish I had your optimism, but I think at least the worst times have passed. I will continue my studies, here, and maybe I can help restore us to the true path of Korada."

@Roudi
diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
"Master Roudantaimi, I believe you are right. But how will I return with you? You are the first we have seen in a long, long time from outside the Tapestry."

"Ta-daa!" Roudantaimi produces Zadrian's amulet from his pocket, presenting it to Zhuang with a big smile. "This helps you to leave the tapestry with us. Or so my lady Ollystra says. But I trust her, she's a nice lady and a glorious leader. Anyway, the amulet is your ancestor's heirloom. So what say you, leave this place and see the world a bit?"