Hal grimaces, "Poison eh? I have something that should alleviate the effects somewhat".
Hal casts Lesser Restoration on Breach
Gandel, with a wistful glance back at the firefly relief, begins to follow Karek, "We should stay together in case this cloud turns out to be a foe".
Gandel will stay behind the Dwarven Barbarian.
Hurgah also hurries after the purple cloud, confident that they are unlikely to encounter anyone friendly in this place.
Seeing that Karek is still badly injured, Hal calls upon Angradd again infusing Karek with healing warmth.
Cure Serious Wounds 3d8+8
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More or less, I'd say. The celestial spider was cast with the benefit of an Extend metamagic feat, courtesy of Donkor's divine fervor, so it would last quite a bit longer. However, time is progressing out of combat now so it would run out pretty much now anyways.I was going to suggest if there is a final instruction you would like to give the spider that there might be time to squeeze that in, but I keep forgetting nobody speaks arachnid (including the spider). So let's say he follows the party along for a bit and then gracefully pops out of existence with a final nod to Gandel.
The same is true of the Shazam clan, by the way. If Moonpate has a final instruction for those guys, let me know. Otherwise I'll have them continue to clog up the song tube and bang on Suekahn's sandwall until their duration expires.
"Third level down, then?" muses Donkor. "When I was in the Veinstone Pyramid, the third level down proved to be the bottom. It was there that we met the most fierce of the pyramid's guardians. . ."
Ever influenced by his death goddess, he let's the ominous thought hang in the air.
"But thus far, almost everything about Ahn'Sehlota has been quite different than the Veinstone Pyramid, from what I've read."
"Come to think of it, we're yet to see a single sarcophagus," the halfling notes. "What kind of tomb is this place?"
"Hopefully one that has the Pactstone so we can get out of here!"
A reluctant explorer to begin with, the Scarab has clearly had enough.
Hey! I wrote exactly that, but my post is gone.
(Though I did not prepare a map . . .)
I will re-draft. Nuts!
Post to follow.
A Physical Orientation
The Dune Squad is in a small rectangular chamber with three exits (no doors). The exits lead north, west and east. There is also, of course, a circular hole in the ceiling which leads to the now well-known transport tube above. There is, also, a bas relief carving set in the south wall depicting an Osirion firefly. This is the carving Karek, Donkor and Hurgah used to transform back to their humanoid selves.
Currently, the room is lit by Donkor’s light spell (on his phylactery) and Gandel’s dancing lights which he is scattering ahead of him.
The Three Exits
To the west is a short passageway that turns right, eventually heading north.
The north option leads to a set of gently sloped stairs that descends down. Breach has explored this way previously, at least briefly. He knows it leads to a very very large chamber which he proceeded to get quite excited about.
The east corridor heads straight east as far as can been seen.
The vapor cloud has elected to “escape” to the north. It is being followed by Karek, Gandel and Hurgah. It’s sorta like a low-speed chase scene involving golf carts with drained batteries.
Am I right that all three have their weapons out and are ready to brain whomever should materialize from the cloud?
Hurgah does not have his axe drawn. Instead, he is ready to grapple or bite whatever the cloud turns into.
"Third level down, then?" muses Donkor. "When I was in the Veinstone Pyramid, the third level down proved to be the bottom. It was there that we met the most fierce of the pyramid's guardians. . ."
Ever influenced by his death goddess, he let's the ominous thought hang in the air.
"Yeah, and maybe someday you'll actually tell us what went on in that pyramid." Although Xerissa can be overheard, she is speaking more to herself. There is a slight bitterness to her tone as, while she has come to really like the guy, she still feels Donkor has not been completely honest as to what he knows about what happened to her Father. She then moves on, eager to catch up with the others exiting the room.
Hal follows the purple cloud contingent on their low speed pursuit.
"Lydia. The Pactstone is likely the source of our problems. While I agree with Gandel that it can be studied it cannot leave this place intact if it leaves at all lest it fall into the wrong hands. In this I cannot compromise".
Gandel keeps his response to Hal's statement to himself. What you don't see won't hurt you my dwarven friend.
Beetle I believe that Gandel would seek to retrieve the Pactstone to give to the Pathfinder Venture Captain even if he has to trick Hal to do so.
What exactly will the Dune Squad do with the Pactstone, if they ever find it?
Beetle I believe that Gandel would seek to retrieve the Pactstone to give to the Pathfinder Venture Captain even if he has to trick Hal to do so.
-
A great comment for a segway to a potentially useful recap.Looting priceless artifacts is a fine Pathfinder tradition - for both profit and preservation for study. I think Gandel would be very interested in acquiring this Pactstone he has heard so much about.
Venture Captain Krenshar, on the other hand, does not actually know anything about a Pactstone. The actual mission was to help professor Hoffenburrow - anybody still remember him*? The Dune Squad was to delay the pyramid's construction long enough for the professor to arrive, and then sneak him inside. If you believe the Mithral Scarab, Hoffenburrow was not actually after the Pactstone - bonus points if anyone can remember what she claims he was seeking.
As such, the first the Dune Squad ever heard of a Pactstone was from the Mithral Scarab.** Lydia discovered the potential existence of the Pactstone from spying on Khymrasa and her Chelaxian allies before the Dune Squad arrived at the dig site. It was Lydia who began all this talk of ensuring the Pactstone does not fall into the wrong hands.
It was actually Halstadt Morgrym who first came up with the plan of destroying the Pactstone - a sentiment that Lydia certainly agrees with. As a Pathfinder herself, she was likely originally planning on acquiring it for the Society, not unlike Gandel. But from her perspective, you may recall, the key is that Khymrasa doesn't get her hands on it. Long story, slightly less long, she believes this will ultimately cause Osirion to fall under Chelaxian control. As such, I think Lydia could be persuaded wither way, likely siding with Hal.
---
*footnote: Hurgah was at one time under Professor Hoffenburrow's employ. It was Hoffenburrow who recommended to Venture Captain Krenshaw that Hurgah be assigned to the Ahn'Sehlota delay job.
** That's not entirely correct, Gandel briefly eludes to a Pactsone briefly very early in the game when he makes an insane Knowledge (history) check on the subject of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension. At the time it had no significance, other than it would be impossible not to metagame an interest given the adventure's title.[/smaller]
The violet vapor cloud reaches the stairs. But rather than float down them, it floats straight across, forcing the Dune Squad to follow below it. By the time the Dune Squad descends the stairs, the cloud is a good five feet off the ground.
Hurgah certainly remembers professor H. He's quite sad that the group has not yet made contact with him.*
Oh, and by all means, let's split the party again, now that we've been together all of two whole minutes.
*: Not really. Hurgah doesn't really do sad. Bu he'll certainly be glad to see him. And by glad, I mean not immediately harbor any desire to tear him limb from limb. Other prominent NPC's *cough*Sceptre*cough*, not so much....
“When I started this mission, I thought I was delaying the dig so Professor Hoffenburrow could retrieve a valued prize. Seeds, if you can believe it. Somewhere in that pyramid is a cache of preserved seeds of an extinct desert crop. Hoffenburrow believes the seeds have significant historic value and need to be preserved for future generations. The Decemvirate, on the other hand, has figured out that if the lost crop is recovered and re-introduced it could be worth a fortune, in the right hands. I’m sure they’re both right.”
Nice spot!
-
Well I meant bonus points as in "kudos".But what the heck, a hero point to Hurgah - he's gonna need it. Maybe put that on his character sheet somewhere.
After the Dune Squad descends the stairs, they reach an open archway leading to. . .
A huge chamber - by far the biggest the Dune Squad has come across yet. The massive chamber appears to be in the shape of a circle - at least the part that can be seen.
The floor is composed of what looks like a seamless pale white rock. It must be massive.
The giant circular room is unoccupied, at least as far as you can tell with your limited light. It’s so quiet you can hear the Dune Squad breathing.
As for the vapor cloud, it’s either fearlessly charging straight into the room, or fearfully fleeing from you. Either way it’s floating at a comically slow speed.
-----
The Dune Squad continues foreard, quickly falling into their favored defensive formation.
Which, for those of you who may not recall, as it has been some time, at last modification was this:
[cloud]
KK GT*
DS*HM
XA
MS MP
BS HR
*light sources
The cloud appears to still be slowly spearing north towards what might be the center of the room. It is unclear if it is racing away blindly to get to the opposite side or if it knows exactly where it is going.
As you advance, Karek and Hal report that with their darkvision they can spy two additional entrances to this great chamber - one to the east and one to the west. Like the one you passed through, neither entrance has a door, just a huge open archway facade.
Your booted footsteps echo like thunder in the eerie silence as you slowly cross the great floor of white rock.
The vapor cloud is slowing down!
No, it's not slowing - it's coalescing. The magic is ending!
The still enlarged Hurgah moves forward an to the right, so whomever is inside the cloud will materialize within his reach.
"Hello, hello!"
The cloud coalesces into a humanoid. . .
Then to what looks to be the shape of a human. . .
Then it shrinks down even further. . .
Whoever it is, they appear to be Gandel-sized.
It's a halfling!
And a strange looking one at that.
He's bald and wears leather armor. His armor is covered in what looks to be spikes. No, not spikes: gears, shrapnel and springs. Perhaps this halfing thinks he's a tinker gnome.
He's also heavily tattooed. In particular, his shiny bald head has a pair of rather strange glyphs imprinted on the temples.
Even before the halfling finishes consolidating, he already has his arms thrown up in a gesture of surrender. He is unarmed, but you can't help but notice he carries weapons. Intermixed with his various gears he's packing a dagger, a sap and a small morning star with nasty barbs on it.
"Easy! Easy!" the halfing shouts.
"I give up! I give up!"
He makes slight downward motions with his arms to try to indicate everyone should just calm down, but he is pointedly making sure he keeps his hands where you can see them.
He is still kneeling on the floor where he solidified.
"Crypt-Hugger!" Donkor mutters under his breath, the recognition plain on his face.
He reveals the halfling's name to the Dune Squad: "Xaven Neversword," and then addresses the halfing. "How on earth did you get here?"
"Sooron! Thank goodness. Explain to your people I'm on your side!!"
"Hardly," replies Donkor coldly.
"He's a mercenary."
Then with some thought he adds: "Useful, and the very best at what he does, but absolutely not to be trusted."
Donkor is of course following in his standard marching order. He does get a cure over to the still-gravely-wounded Karek somewhere in this mess. He will drop Grace to cast Cure Moderate Wounds.
That will bring Karek up to 68. Unless anybody else is wounded, Donkor will be good with that for now. Karek encourages the clerics to stay within channeling range.
Karek is ready flank whoever comes out of the cloud with the Reaver.
Ah, I see I'm late. Sorry 'bout that. Before this happens, I'd like to add a Lesser Restoration from Donkor to Breach.
"Hardly," replies Donkor coldly.
"He's a mercenary."
Then with some thought he adds: "Useful, and the very best at what he does, but absolutely not to be trusted."
I remember another member of this group who was useful, but not to be trusted. Last time we saw her, one of the devil monks saved her from a gruesome death. Someone had better give me a very good reason not to tear this one apart before the monks shows up to try and stop me, Hurgah growls, not taking his eyes off the halfling for a moment.
". . . Someone had better give me a very good reason not to tear this one apart before the monks shows up to try and stop me," Hurgah growls, not taking his eyes off the halfling for a moment.
"You won't get it from me, I'm afraid," answers Donkor. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn he's still working with Sceptre."
Then more softly, as though to himself, "I'm more surprised to find he's still alive."
"In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn he's still working with Sceptre."
"I never worked with that drake turd! We've just shared employers a time or two."
"This is total crap. I didn't do nothin!"
Despite not having a weapon drawn, the enlarged dragon disciple comes across very intimidating. His blood-shot eyes are firmly fixed on Xaven, as if he is contemplating which part of the halfling to tear into first.
"You are not really helping yourself here, mercenary. I doubt you are here to help us. That makes you either competition or an enemy - most likely both. So....I'm still not hearing a good reason to keep you breathing, and my patience is wearing very thin."
The little man stares up at the towering Hurgah, as bravely as he can. His hands still wide and open.
"Ah Kharachik* you, ya jofaquin!* I ain't gonna beg."
"Hell, I've died five times already."
Although his accent could use some work, Xaven is tossing out authentic orcish swears - something that questions the recipient's parentage and implies both cowardliness and an inability to perform sexually. And then it gets a bit offensive.
The halfling is talking tough, but he's quite fearful of Hurgah (and probably the Dune Squad in general). Some might call that fear simply being rational.
"Bah. He's scared. Why are we even messin' with this one? We need ta move; we ain't got time for this."
Xerissa turns to Donkor and quietly asks, "I don't suppose he's likely to have any info on Auraraun of the Lost Scroll?"
Sense Motive
Gandel is half distracted by the room itself and half paying attention to the conversation.
I will use my dancing lights to move both up and down, down to inspect the floor and up to attempt to inspect the ceiling in this room.
Sense Motive
"Speaking Orc? What self-respecting Halfling speaks Orc? Er, no offense Reaver. You'll die a sixth time if you don't explain your presence here right quick!" Hal hefts his axe into a comfortable swinging position.
Hurgah leans in, so his face is a few inches from Xaven's. His lips part in a grim smile that allow the halfling tomb raider a front row view of the pointy tusks that tore the still-beating heart from Deca-Jaws. Then Hurgah lets out a deep, rumbling chuckle. Tiny wisps of smoke curl out between the teeth, and Xaven suddenly feels like he is sitting too close to a hot forge.
"With such fine mastery of orcish curses, you are most likely familiar with the art of Radbraekh*. Before my tribe sold me into slavery, I witnessed our chief's head torturer spend a whole six days on a prisoner, before he finally died. I may not have his skill, but I promise you, you will wish for death many, many times over before I am done with you, and when it finally comes, you will beg Pharasma never to let your wretched soul return to Golarion ever again. Now, my companions asked you questions. Answer or bleed."
-
Xerissa turns to Donkor and quietly asks, "I don't suppose he's likely to have any info on Auraraun of the Lost Scroll?"
-
Rather than answer, Donkor simply shoots Xerissa a sharp looks to silence her, quickly turning his attention back on Crypthugger.---
[ooc]Please ensure you have posted if you have made this attempt.
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Yes he can. As Kenneth/Flamethrower/Karek has educated me, this is now a Knowledge (local) check. That is still going to take me some getting used to.Gandel is half distracted by the room itself and half paying attention to the conversation.
I will use my dancing lights to move both up and down, down to inspect the floor and up to attempt to inspect the ceiling in this room.
-
Can I get a Perception and Knowledge (Engineering) check for this? Gandel just might out show up the dwarves here.