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

Game Master Silbeg

The Strong Brute throws his shoulder to the door, but is unable to make it budge. It seems this is a very well built door.

Gastidem moves the group to the entry of Dakang's quarters. "He is in there, but there will be guards." he says, as he moves out of the way.

Arturo opens the door, and sees a beautiful woman standing just in side the door, with a rather nasty looking spear in her hands (Picture on tactical) Behind her, is an almost identical woman.

"How may I help you, Stranger? The Eternal Dakang is not accepting visitors at this time."

roudi - if these aren't humanoids, and they are evil, they will very likely detect as such... Based on our discussions of that spell...

"Well, lovely lady, the eternal Dakang doesn't have a choice. Please tell him his presence is required in the garden, at the statue. Not requested... Required. We will wait patiently here, and escort him."

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Quickly, Jaender adds, "but our patience will not last long..."

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"I am sorry, sir. But we are not allowed to grant access to anyone without an appointment. The Eternal Dakang is in deep meditation, praying for the souls of all who are within these walls."

"To explain, we have evidence that Dakang is nothing but a fraud," Arturo says loudly enough to be heard anywhere nearby, hopefully also by Dakang, "And if he doesn't want us sharing what we know, LOUDLY, with everyone in this complex, he had best come and face his fate... NOW!" Arturo reflects upon his voice echoing through the corridor. Yes, his friend Lort would be proud - even if the half-orc spoke more loudly when only whispering.

"The crimes committed by the so called 'Eternal' Dakang are most egregious, my dear, I can assure you," Arturo says more calmly to the Aasimar, "It is in everyone in the temple's best interests for him to come out now and admit his atrocities.... everyone's interest but Dakang's that is. If you are truly the good people you claim to be, then you will want to see this man brought to justice also."

If she remains unconvinced, Arturo pulls the gnome closer, "Gastidem here has admitted as much to us when faced with the incontrovertible truth we uncovered - and also when threatened with the destruction of his drugs." Arturo cannot keep the look of disgust from his face at touching the little wretch.

Diplomacy, if required, assists appreciated: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

I'll roll an aid for my above contribution

diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

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"Fair maiden, something afoul is loose here in this temple. We have to see Dakang, and hear what he has to say for his defence." Roudantaimi says, keeping rather calm now.

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

The woman looks beautiful, disarmingly so. But many things have been not as they seem, so this could be true for these women as well, as Vox pointed out earlier. Be they aasimar or not, no one is above falling from grace. With Shelyn's blessing, Roudantaimi gazes upon these creatures, and sees if their beauty hides uglier soul, or if if they indeed are pure of heart.

Detect Evil (added holy symbol to equipment, deducting the cost in this chronicle)

Not evil. Nor is the woman standing behind her.

"Evidence? What evidence? I know for a fact that Dakang is a good man, and has been leading his flock towards enlightenment for years. The fact that the gnome is a drug-user is only evidence that he must pray harder for all of your souls, so please leave him in peace."

"Tell me, woman, have you taken the test of Koroda?" asks Arturo, looking for missing fingers. Assuming she has taken the test and has no missing fingers, Arturo continues, "Was Dakang or someone close to him standing at <the exact spot of the release trigger> when you took it? There is a foot-step there that disengages an ingenious metal trap that would otherwise numb your finger at the same time as it slices it off. I can show you... but I'd prefer to do so while Dakang hasn't the opportunity to flee. I have disabled the mechanism, and I would very much like to present him with the choice of taking the test again or admitting the evil he has perpetrated."

"You know for a fact that Dakang is a good man?" questions the youth, but his statement is obviously rhetorical. "We have proof that this Test of Korada or Kiss of Korada or whatever you would like to call it, is a ruse. As my companion, Arturo, has just explained to you."

"We would very much like to question Dakang on this subject, because it appears terrible things have happened to those living here because have been fooled into following a false belief... some have paid with their fingers while others have paid with their lives."

"On that topic... as you said, you know for a fact that Dakang is a good man... are you aasimars also followers of this Korada?

The brute glares at the women, his hands gripping his scythe tightly in anticipation, his muscles bulging as he kept his sometimes violent nature in check. His friends seemed to be trying the diplomatic tract this time around, and taking a threatening step or speaking in this condition would only make things worse. He remains silent, gritting his teeth at the delay.

"I have not taken the test. I have no need of verifying my faith. I have known Dakang all of my life. That trap sounds cruel, and I have seen the results of it." She waves to the other aasimar that you can see, who nods, and disappears, replaced by another aasimar, this one a male.

"Cassandra will check with Dakang, and let him know you would like to talk to him. You have my word that he will not flee. We will find you when he is done with his afternoon devotions."

You get the idea that unless you want to switch to aggressive negotiations.

"Well my friends," says Arturo, giving up, "It sounds like now might be a good time to practice some meditation. I've heard that sitting on a hard floor is one way to become closer to achieving enlightenment... but then again, I've never much liked the monk who told me that. I've heard he's improved remarkably in the last few months or so since he stopped wearing his chains, but still..."

Arturo sets himself down upon the ground cross-legged and indicates first for Gastidem then his companions to do the same. After a few moments, he gets to his feet, "Everyone except Strong Brute, wait here!" he says, "I think we should do two things: make sure everyone in the temple assembles here to meditate until Dakang comes out and second, make sure no one goes into Wei's room or tries to kiss Koroda in the meantime! Strong Brute, I trust your muscles to help me if we get into a tight corner here, would you mind accompanying me?"

Arturo goes first to the garden and attempts to disable the lock on the doors leading there in order to prevent entry.

Disable device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

He also scrawls in chalk over the door, Until further notice from Dakang, you MUST NOT attempt the kiss of Koroda.

Arturo tries the same for Wei's room, taking extreme care not to actually enter the room or even look inside.

Disable device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Testing the door and realizing that it can still be easily opened, he tries again.

Disable device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Arturo then rushes to the library to see Miraya. Assuming she is there, he delivers an impassioned speech, explaining the situation, "... so, as you can see, Dakang truly does need to answer for his crimes. It is possible there is some explanation, but even if he wasn't behind it all and only knew about the trigger and willingly allowed the children of this temple to be maimed, then I doubt anything he could possibly say would forgive those actions. Can you help rustle up the temple's inhabitants? We are having a peaceful sit-in outside of Dakang's quarters."

I know sh*t could hit the fan at any point during those actions, and anyone in the party could easily persuade Arturo of a better course of action... but I think guarding Dakang's room and arranging for as many witnesses as possible would be a good idea at this point.

note, currently, the door to Dakang's area is closed. I've moved things around to where Arturo is trying to lock to door to the garden. While there, I assumed that the folks around the door rounded up the people in their rooms, so they are sitting around you... the curtain to the chapel has been pushed aside. Please confirm locations and we will move on.

Happy with that location. However, upon reflection, there are far too many entrances to the garden. Arturo won't lock the doors, but he will be there scrawling his message in chalk and he'll stuff a blanket in the thing's mouth as a warning for those who can't read.

Queue the Music

We'll continue this when I get back from lunch

I'm good, and that music totally gives me goosebumps. Can't wait to see what happens next!

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Also, sorry for splitting the party guys! I didn't want anyone to get hurt (mostly so we didn't get blamed for it).

Arturo and Strong Brute hear a door open, and then hear a horrible wretching sound, as the small creature that opened the door lets loose a horrible cloud of stench ([utl=http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/spells/stinkingCloud.html#stinking-cloud]Stinking Cloud[/url])

A similar thing happens from the chapel, as another small creature hops down from the balcony and does the same. There is also a sound of breaking glass from the chapel.

It is a spread, so as long as it can get there, it does. However, it has to count total distance. Jaender is just outside of the spread (I've marked the centers).

Einhardt, Sven, and Vox failed their saves. They are Nauseated. They only get a single move action, as they are hurling out their guts.

Ophiuchus, Jeander, Vox (Nauseated), Sven, Einhardt (Nauseated), and Roudi are up. Einhardt just stands out, and pukes out her lunch. She looks totally pathetic.

If you stay within the cloud, please make a fort save at the end of your turn.

Any chance of identifying these bizarre creatures? I've got knowledge (dungeoneering) +9 and knowledge (local) +10.

Any chance of identifying these bizarre creatures? I've got knowledge (dungeoneering) +9 and knowledge (local) +10.

Sorry, no. Kn: Planes

Roudantaimi jumps up, alarmed. He tries to look around, but sees just noxious green mist everywhere, and dark shapes here and there. Sounds of people coughing and vomiting. The gnome tries to push onwards, but the corridors are too crowded.

The gnome snaps a magic wand of Longstrider from his wrist sheat, trying to cast its magic to speed up his legs.
UMD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

"People, move out from this cloud! Roudantaimi shouts, realizing his attempt with the wand wasn't successful.

Move: Stand up. Swift: Wand from sheat. Standard: UMD

Why on earth we are congregated on the corridors?

Fort save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

The brute starts to vomit, looking at Arturo shamefully as he stumbles out of the room to try to collect himself.

Jaender stands up and runs down the hall to escape the growing, roiling stink.

I'm going to burn something...

stand up then move down the hall.... Need to get around a corner so I can burn something...

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The brute gets himself out of the cloud, and into the garden. The air smells quite a bit better in here, but he notices another of the little fat creatures getting ready to open the door that he failed on earlier. Obviously, thinks Sven, if I couldn't open it, they cannot.

Ophiuchus, Vox, and Jaender.

Actually it's poochie, vox, and Rudi... Jaender got up and moved... Simple typo!

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His stomach immediately seems to turn end over, twisting his bowels into knots as his quivering jaw and mouth spew forth a disgusting wet mass. The youth's feet shuffle and wobble beneath him and his eyes are watering as he stands even though his exact motion remains a mystery even to him.

The wolf whimpers pitifully, nearby but still so far out of reach to youth in his current condition, which makes him feel all the worse.

Vox and Einhardt stand up

gm looked on map can i see what caused that?

fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

You cannot see more than 5' into the cloud.

Just waiting on Roudantaimi now.

As an FYI - I will be playing 6-23 Darkest Abduction tomorrow from 9-3, so will not be updating during that time

Roudi acted already, stood up and tried to use wand. Good luck with darkest abduction... I suffered my first character death there :)

oops - you are right. Moving on

The dretch by the crypt door opens the door. For a moment, the hurling Strong Brute thinks he sees remnants of boards on the floor, and a trio of undead wielding what he thinks are nodachi behind the door... waiting. Then, the demon lets out a mighty noxious fart, and another stinking cloud is created.

Another dretch comes towards Arturo, and then attacks him, but misses horribly.
dretch claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

In the cloud in the chapel, the Slayers hear the scream of one of the halflings being slaughtered by a demon.

Arturo, then the supplicants (who all just stand up and hurl if in the cloud), and then the zombies.

Arturo steps closer to the doors (5ft step), making to go for the dretch's exposed flank. As the creature goes to defend its vulnerable spot, Arturo uses his momentum to bring his rapier up high and stabs down upon the creature instead.

Sigh, have to draw a weapon first. I'll do the improved feint next round. This'll just be color.

Before that, though, Arturo draws his (1=silver, 2=cold iron, 1d2 ⇒ 2) cold iron rapier (he knows its that or silver that is effective against devils or demions, but like me struggles to remember which it is, or even which of those a dretch is). (Move action)

Cold iron rapier vs Dretch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Arturo tries his best to keep his magically conjured lunch down.

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

The three ancient warriors make their way out of the crypt. They are wearing steel lamellar, and are wielding very ornately designed nodachi. They move towards the Strong Brute, but are not able to attack.

Jaender runs down the hallway, unwilling to run through the stench. He moves as fast as his little legs can carry him, and it is still not far enough to do anything useful yet in this sudden combat.

"Get out! Get out! Get out of there!" he screams to the idiotic peasants who seem like deer, frozen in a bright light.

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Oh, forgot to mention the results of Arturo's attack, which was a very wounded nasty, stinky creature.\

I do not see Jaender's token, so am recreating it, and moving it a double move through the hallway. Correct if I am wrong.

Ophiuchus, Vox, Sven, Einhardt, Roudantaimi are up.

The brute's stomach was still roiling, so he just bent over, hurling up any remnants from their meal as he tried to collect himself. His brow furrowed as he attempted to concentrate on something to settle his stomach, mainly inflicting lots of violence on these terrible creatures.

Strong Brute, did you want to move anywhere? Say anything? Pretty sure you're the only one that can see the three zombies.

The youth runs from the noxious cloud, hacking and releasing all manner of liquid from his lungs. He struggles to take each step but still manages to call for the wolf to follow.

Vox - move action to get out of the cloud
Einhardt - move action to get out of the cloud

Both are out of the cloud already - but are still nauseated. You could run around to get to the chapel from the main doors, or something else. Note: At this time, you do not know the peril that Strong Brute and Arturo are in.

Thanks for recreating me, I checked a bit ago and couldn't find myself, but wasnt able to post on account of playing in the pool with my niece, nephew, and daughter...

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Ack, didn't realize that!

As the brute hacks and coughs, he tries to shout out a warning to his companions. "Zombies and some weird demon-thing that spews out a poisonous gas, friends!"

Between hurls, the barbarian yells out about the threats, something that sickens him nearly as much as the noxious fumes the creature has created. His yells cause him to start heaving again. Even though it has been a good four hours septicemia he ate, the Strong Brute finds remnants of his last meal to throw up. The sounds he is making are pathetic, giving Arturo concern.

Make a perception check to see if you heard the bellow!

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Still hard to see, but at least the route is clear. There were screams from the chapel - screams of terror and screams of pain. And Strong Brute is shouting something about zombies. But Strong Brute is far from helpless himself, and in the chapel there were only local devotees. The paladin knows where he must be, and starts walking deeper into the poisonous fog.

Arriving into the temple, the fog gives a way enough for him to see the blood splattered around. Soon after, he finds the body of the halfling lying motionless, bleeding. And last, he sees the demon causing this. Divine fire lights in the gnome's eyes as he raises his pistol, the barrel pointing the demon between it's deep, dull eyes.

"Your ugliness tarnishes this beautiful temple, and you must be removed. You creture, must die!" No roses. No offered surrender. The demon has already killed, and will kill again. Unless I kill it first!

Move + draw weapon. Smite Evil. Attack
Pistol, PBS, Smite, DA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 + 4 - 2 = 13
Eternal hope reroll
Pistol, PBS, Smite, DA: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 + 4 - 2 = 17
Damage, PBS, DA, Smite, FA: 1d6 + 1 + 4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 17
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 37

I calculated the evil outsider damage into the smite damage. The dretch gets an AoO since Roudi makes his attack adjacent to it. Smite gives also AC 22 vs. it

Fort save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

I have done my best to keep up, but I must confess I am a bit confused. It looks like we are spread out over three areas. Focusing on my area, what is bad? What is Roundi attacking? I want to attack that..

Moving into battle Ophiuchus does his bet to aid his small friend. "Coming small man that speaks so many languages. I will kill evil with you."

Heavy Flail +1 + Divine Favor: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Flail Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

As Roudantaimi fires, he lets his guard down for a moment, and the vile little creature attacks him. The foul thing's claw slashes the noble paladin's cheek right before a bullet hits it square in the chest. In a puff of brimstone and flatulence, the creature is gone! As in not there... no body, as if it were summoned
AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 100 claw damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ophiuchus hears the bark of Roudi's gun, and moves in. He finds nothing to attack, but is saddened by the slashed corpse of a halfling youth.
I will use your attack roll as your fort save, and you save.

At 1300CDT, I will 'bot' Vox and Einhardt.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Jaender hears the call of strong brute and shakes his head.

if only my legs were longer!

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Is the halfling still alive? Could Ophiuchus have healed him?

The halfing is dead -- the dretch used a coup de grâce. Plus, Ophiuchus had to double-move there.

Vox: Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Einhardt: Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

The youth turns to his wolf, both of them sporting a disturbing shade of green to their complexion. "*urp* Einhardt, follow me! We have to find and save the Strong Brute! *urp*"
The two move quickly towards where they hear Sven's voice.

The dretch next to Arturo attacks with clar, claw, and bite. The first claw hits, though the other attacks go wide.
claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 44 for: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
claw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 14for: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 10for: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The other dretch comes out of the cloud, and gives the Strong Brute an evil look (Cause Fear as an SLA) To add insult to injury, Sven's already distressed guts turn to jello, and he becomes frightened. He knows he must flee the vile little thing, lest it feast on him alive!
Strong Brute will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

At this point, two of the stinking clouds dissipate. (Shown on map)

Arturo is up, then the supplicants, and then the zombies...

Arturo thanks the gods for the clearing of the air. He feints, as before, but is able to spend a little more time with this one than the last (since he already has his blade in hand). A dart to the left and the creature immediately suspects Arturo is going to hit him high as before. Understanding how dim-witted the dretch he faces is, Arturo instead actually goes for the left.

Arturo bluff (feint): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 (Move action)

The off-balance dretch (I assume) leaves itself exposed as expected, and the nimble rogue doesn't hesitate to make the most of the opportunity.

Cold Iron rapier vs Dretch (no dex): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage, sneak attack: 1d6 + 4 + 2d5 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (2, 4) = 15

If Arturo drops the dretch...

Arturo steps towards the ailing Strong Brute (5ft step), "Are you alright, my friend? Come, we have bigger foes to slay!"

I've already moved, the assumption was only regarding the speech.

Arturo feints left, and then attacks left. He easily hits the thing... and before he can even complete the thrust, is left with a cloud of foul smoke surrounding his blade. The stench persists, making him wonder if his rapier will ever be the same.

The first zombie moves up to the Strong Brute and Arturo, swinging its two-handed blade with all of its might, squeezing the hilt hard.
CLEAVE vs Strong Brute: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 slashing damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
CLEAVE vs Arturo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 slashing damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
The mighty swing of the zombie's blade cuts deep into to the two friends, opening up mighty wounds.

One of the other two moves up next to the rogue, and with a mighty overhand swing, carves into the Varisan's shoulder, dropping him... bleeding.
Attack vs Arturo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19slashing: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

The other moves up to the Ulfen, and delivers a similar overhand chop. That potentially felling blow is deflected by the helmet of the Strong Brute only at the last second!
Attack vs Strong Brute: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Crit confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 slashing: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

The entire party hears the screams of pain from the two, and know that the situation is dire.

Ophiuchus, Jaender, Vox, Sven, Einhardt, and Roudantaimi are up.

Note - Strong Brute thinks that he is fasted than the zombies, and sees a broken window into the chapel. Unless the dretch moves first (which it doesn't) this is where he has to run... the only "safe" place!