Kikinnin rushes forward and strikes with Eldgammel at the remaining halfling, that falls into a pile of snow too, just in front of the indeed still invisible Kythel.
With the servants dealt of, the group can fall back and check the rooms to the south of the entrance as they intended.
This large chamber is thickly carpeted. The walls bear remarkable scenes of sylvan forests that seem almost lifelike; the leaves on the trees seem to move in a gentle breeze, and now and then the half-seen shapes of cavorting fey can be glimpsed out of the corner of the eye. Wicker folding screens stand throughout the room, along with padded chairs, dressing tables, and some discretely hidden chamberpots.
The longer you study the walls here, the more it becomes obvious that there are numerous nymphs and satyrs frolicking just out of sight.
The wall scenes are product of permanent images spells.
The four chamberpots are of carved obsidian from local mines and gilt in gold and silver. The servants keep them immaculately clean. Each one is worth 250 gp.
Pegs line the walls and clothing racks stand on the floor of this high-ceilinged cloakroom.
Three dwarf-sized cloaks (one of which is quite a bit nicer than the others) hang on pegs here. Each cloak is emblazoned with a stylized symbol of a volcano.
The symbol of the volcano is the logo for Garthûn Imports.
A long coat hangs on one of the racks-this one bears an exquisite embroidery of a flying kingfisher clutching a scroll in its beak. You have seen this symbol before in a letter received by Kazmojen.
The symbol is from a messenger service based in Kingfisher Hollow called "Kingfisher Sendings."
A search of the nice cloak with the volcano symbol finds a hidden inner pocket, in which are kept 5 cp, 5 sp, 5 gp, and 5 pp-all minted with the Last Laugh markings.
"Um...m-maybe Maxim kn-knows what's g-going on with these th-things..." is ultimately all that Marigold can offer in relation to the Mysterious Snow Halflings. Upon realizing that they now seem to have total run of the ground floor of the estate, Marigold is quick to help the others peek into the rest of the southern rooms.
[Hmm...pretty. But it just looks like this is a guest room or something; nothing important.]
[Hey...that kingfisher symbol...we've seen that before! Someone wrote to Kazmojen and stamped it with that same symbol, remember??]
Maxim follows JJ back towards the others, when they arrive he finds his Bror poised over a pile of snow and Marigold suggesting he might be able to solve whatever has them stumped;
'As if by magic Lil' Miss... Now what conundrum's got ye all vexed?"
The gun-mage stoops to examine a handful of the slush;
"Ah-huh. Looks like someone been using Simulacrum magicks. Makes an illusory duplicate o' any creature. What was it appearin' as?"
Inside the lavish den and privy, Maxim once again pauses with an admiring eye;
"Hell's Teeth. Images made permanent. Simple effect, but darn powerful magicks at work here. Reckon might have to git myself a place like this... Course got some plans fir buildin's an' such."
Entering the cloakroom, the gun-mages gaze falls upon a trio of cloaks;
"Gods be darned. That's the emblem o' Garthûn Imports...'
Kikinnin settles his nerves for a moment, before assessing the first floor's remaining unchecked doors. The floorplan is becoming set in his mind, with three sets of stairs giving them access to the second floor, where the pick is sure to meet the ore.
The black beard secures the two doors in the kitchen first, then heads back into the dining room to set eyes upon the room himself.
"We should head up from the stairs in the kitchen. They'd expect to hear noises coming from the two kitchen staff."
"Ah-huh. Looks like someone been using Simulacrum magicks. Makes an illusory duplicate o' any creature. What was it appearin' as?"
"Halflings. Cook and maid, by the looks of them."
"Gods be darned. That's the emblem o' Garthûn Imports..."
Kikinnin scowls. "We have another Xoden Nightshieldslag?" He holds his tongue, for fear of speaking too loudly. The taste in his mouth regarding Ike Iverson, and that betrayal...
The black beard looks to the blond beard, and stares intently.
Maxim meets the holy warriors stare, a dawning realisation spreading across his weathered features;
"Hell's Teeth... Always knew Uncle was a rogue... bein' a merchant it comes with the territory. I got to hope that he's in attendance on account o' a lucrative deal. Can't see him bein' interested in anythin' other than the shine o' the coin on offer..."
The gun-mage taps his pistol handle in frustration;
"Iffin' it transpires he's betrayed my trust, an' in doin' so betrayed us all, then he'll face a reckonin'..."
He gestures toward the three cloaks, his voice flat;
"Them there cloaks. Fancy one'll be Uncle Adrick. Other two most likely his bodyguards Daxavalt an' Kerg. Tough beards all three."
When Kikinnin approaches the doors in the kitchen, they open alone without the need for him to push them.
The walls of this room are thick with wooden shelves, each bearing dozens of jars, metal containers, and baskets of food and cooking utensils. Against the southern wall is a large wooden and metal trunk, almost large enough for a person to lie down in.
The trunk is cool to the touch. Within are cuts of meat, dairy products, and other perishable foodstuffs. The inner walls of the trunk are plated with sheets of blue ice, a rare form of magical ice that never melts and can be worked like iron. The interior of the icebox remains at a constant 20°F.
Three small bunk beds are crammed into this room, along with a single table with two small chairs.
Nothing of relevance is found here.
Kythel uses the Mindlink to speak with Juraan and also approaches Maxim whispering essentially the same question, "Have you any magics that can cut off the other stairs preventing escape? We don't want any of them fleeing from us if we have them all together. I can Web at least one of the exits".
Maxim nods at Kythel's question;
"I can fill one o' them stairwells with a solid fog. Can't see through it, an' slows up movement. Will only last fir 9 minutes I reckon, but best doin' it when we're up there, blockin' our way out an' theirs..."
The gun-mage's jaw clenches;
"Listen. Based on the magicks we seen so far in this place. Someone here is a darn powerful wielder o' the arcane. Most likely Lady Rhiavadi hersel'... Might be we'll need to run more than they will..."
"Excellent, you block one way with fog, I will do another with webs. If we must retreat, we will not which way to go as we shall control the kitchen stairs.
Then Lady Rhiavadi should be the main target for all of us. Bring her down first no? If a powerful wielder she is then our spells should not target her mind as she will likely shrug them off but her physical being". Kythel shares the though in the Mindlink as well.
Marigold continues to somewhat-quietly pad along with the rest, peering around as more doors are opened.
[Seems as though there's pretty much nothing of interest to us here on the ground floor. Time to take the stairs?]
For Maxim's benefit, Marigold then switches to actual speech. "Either th-that or they h-hired someone to d-do the p-place up. M-maybe they have a w-w-wizard on staff...so y-yes, we need to b-be very c-careful when we g-go up."
Kikinnin considers their way forward. He speaks quietly, keeping Maxim involved. "Kythel's right. You give a rat his run, you won't be able to get all of the nest, once you start snaring. The fog's one way of covering one set of stairs, do we have a way of sealing up the other?"
The black beard seizes upon a distant memory. "Didn't we have an ally ready for our call? Tiluklatl? We could set him to guard one of the set of stairs, for rats that run."
"We might just need all the allies we can afford for this reckoning."
When it's been decided, one way or another, Kikinnin readies to climb the stairs, painfully slowly, knowing he's the one to give away the ghost for the noise he makes. He can only hope that taking to the stairs from the kitchen, they'll mistake him for a halfling beating pots and pans. Casting another spell of Silence won't do, this time. They have to be at their full wits.
The black beard will petition Abadar for Eldgammel's true might.
Through the Mindlink, I will web the stairs in the foyer. I will also head up that set of stairs as I can pass through through the webs if I need to retreat back that way.
Kythel will web those stairs and head up that way as well this way at least we will have one of us firing a spell from a different angle.
The cleric climbs the walls again staying off of the stairs.
"Ok, then I will remain in the hall to make sure no one escapes. Looking at the dinning room stairs" offers Juraan.
Both Kikinnin's and Kythel's stairs end in a very similar room.
This foyer is thickly carpeted, and furnished with a wooden table and two chairs.
In both cases, two doors access rooms in the tower, while another richer door access rooms in the central area of the manor.
.
Through the Mindlink, Kythel describes what he sees to his allies.
I will listen at the inner door as that seems the most likely to lead to some action, still on the wall.
Perception
JJ has been hanging round the entrance to the kitchen eyeing up the piles of snow slowly melting. Figuring that Kikinin can handle himself, he follows the quiet Kythel up another set.
"[b]
Maxim administers magics upon JJ and himself, then with a solemn nod to the young warrior he departs up the stairs after his Bror...
Upon reaching the summit (and presuming no-one else is following) Maxim invokes the solid fog fills the stairway.
Sneaking up the stairs behind the invisible priest, JJ tries to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Upon seeing that the group will be splitting up to cover both sets of stairs that they've found, Marigold considers her options...and decides to follow Kikinnin and Maxim.
"At l-least if *we* m-make a bunch of n-noise, m-maybe it'll distract from you t-two," she whispers to JJ and Kythel. "All of m-my m-magics are l-limited so I'll w-wait until a f-fight is n-nigh and then c-cast them," she adds.
Once the group is ready, Marigold does her best to be silent as she accompanies the two dwarves up the stairs...
From the base of the stairs, before heading up, Kikinnin starts cloaking himself and others in magical protections, gifts from his God.
First, he cloaks himself with Abadar's Protections, against all things Evil , and against Fear itself
Next, he becomes more ruddy in the face, his beard appearing more oiled, as another magical boost comes to bear.
Turning to Marigold, Kikinnin places a hand on the halfling lass's shoulder, infusing her with the power of his God to resist all incoming attacks of magic. "Let's keep you standing."
Lastly, he jabs Maxim. "Don't be too reckless. A little reckless, sure."
The double doors maintain the black beard's attention, for the look of importance. He listens for the sound of voices, either coming from behind the double doors, or behind one of the two doors to his sides.
Kikinnin keeps a mental ear cocked, hoping the stealthier stair boys will indicate wordlessly when they should push forward.
"We've got a set of double doors. I'm assuming there's a grand room behind them. If you've got the same set at the top of your stairs, try listening in for a moment, then give us a sign for moving in."
He hopes JJ and Kythel are taking a cautious route, but he won't hesitate to rush in at the first sign of noisy trouble.
1st Level- Divine Favor, Grace, Hero's Defiance, Liberating Command,
2nd Level-
3rd Level- Dispel Magic, Holy Whisper
4th Level-
Putting your ears to your respective doors you overhear the racket of multiple voices talking each other without being able to distinguish any voice or conversation in particular.
After some seconds listening and just by when you are going to back your ear, there is a sudden silence. It lasts a few seconds before everyone breaks in a common "Cheers! Cheers!"
Then, the silken voice of Lady Rhiavadi breaks the silence as she welcomes her honored guests and shares her chilling vision of the future "More than three centuries ago, the demodands sent a few of their kind to our reality," she says. "Disguised as humans, they mated with humans and other denizens of this plane. Most of their spawn were stillborn, but a few survived. They in turn mated and produced the next generation with demodand blood. As the generations passed, all obvious traces of their demodand ancestry faded away. Today, we recognize this sacred lineage by an invisible birthmark: the sign o Carceri!"
There is a silence and at this point it is clear Lady Rhiavadi is showing something to the ones present at the hall "We call these honored descendants 'the Shackleborn,' and their sacrifice is the key to unlocking a portal to Othrys, the first realm of Carceri. There, demodands and countless other fiends have languished for near-eternity. In Cauldron, we have found more Shackleborn than anywhere else in the realm, and in Cauldron, we have the perfect conditions for the ritual of planar junction."
Again there is a tense silence and you hear some strange brushing noise followed by metallic dangling "For the past several years,the Cagewrights have labored in secret to build thirteen soulcages to drain the life energy from the Shackleborn. These soulcages hang from an artifact called the Tree of Shackled Souls—the device that gathers the life energy needed to unlock the prison doors of Carceri. All of the preparations are now complete. The Shackleborn are safely in our hands and ready to give their lives to change the world forever. All that remains is the ritual itself, and it is already underway."
There is silence followed by a sudden burst of crackling fire "Once the ritual is complete, Cauldron won't be the same quiet little burg it is today. It will be the font from which the darkness gushes forth a roiling pit filled with doom and despair for our enemies. Almost immediately, fiendish armies will sweep across the land and lay waste to surrounding territories, enslaving the weak and carving out new dominions. Naturally, we expect resistance on all sides, and that's where you come in."
A different voice speaks up, someone you have never heard, it has an animalistic touch "All eyes will be on Cauldron," he chuckles. "We'll have their worst fears to toy with."
"Precisely," replies Thifirane. "As kings raise armies to confront the legions of Carceri, your slavers, merchants, mercenaries, spies, and assassins will methodically search for weaknesses from within, soften their resolve, and convince them that their only true choices are to yield or die. And there is one group in particular that has been nipping at my masters' heels for far too long. Your organizations have tangled with them before... you know whom I speak of I trust that, as your first services to the Cagewrights, you can see to these meddling gnats with all possible haste."
Maxim nods with a wry grin at his fellow dwarf;
"I'll try Bror. Might be tough dependin' on what an' who we find in their..."
He returns the holy warrior's magicks with some of his own;
"Bolstered Surabar, reckon yer thews will be tested... Best I bolster 'em too. Sterk als een stier! .
He then draws his double-barrelled pistol and follows in his
Via Mindlink, "I assume we are the gnats referred to, shall we make a dramatic entrance?"
"All eyes will be on Cauldron. We'll have their worst fears to toy with."
It's the chuckle that gets him.
"We move now."
Kikinnin sizes up the doors. If they're the kind that slide open of their own accord, Kikinnin grips Eldgammel like a zealot, and moves into the room, marking every head he sees as an inevitable enemy.
Expecting that everyone has taken the time to weave their protections and bolsters, Kikinnin enters the conversation on the other side of the door, wordlessly. He'll let his Axe do the talking.
He fully expects to see JJ entering at the same time he does.
Kikinnin makes a beeline to the first foe he can engage.
Kikinnin steps into the room, and speaks a single word, something foreign to his own ears, but reassuring as he assumes it's Abadar Himself using his vocal chords to utter it.
"JJ, kick in the door, I've a spell to cast".
Use a Hero Point - Recall Spell - Cone of Cold
Cone Shaped Burst Reflex Save 1/2 DC 19 - - Any creature that fails its save is partially encased in ice, reducing its speed by half.
JJ, horrified at what he is hearing, and glad to be there tries the door, and if it is locked, provides said boot!
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Good luck! Meerthan's mental encouragement echoes Kikinnin's words. With the mental order you storm the doors ensemble, opening into a grand ballroom.
The floor of this grand ballroom has black, lavender, and ivory tiles that spiral in toward the center of the room. Directly above the spiral's core hangs a dazzling crystal chandelier lit by magic flames. A tapestry hanging on the north wall has a dark symbol stitched into it. The symbol resembles an eye impaled on an upward-pointing arrow. Beneath the tapestry stands a narrow table covered with a magnificent arrangement of crystal wine goblets, each one filled with some sweet vintage. A semicircle of seven black chairs faces the tapestry and the table of goblets.
You quickly recognize the symbol in the tapestry as the Carcerian sign.
The first occupants that strike your attention are the couple of guardians at your doors.
South, next to JJ, a couple of babau demons look mischievously at the young man as he opens the door.
Southwest, next to Kikinnin, a couple of dwarven guards turn towards you. They are Daxabalt and Kerg, Adrick Garthûn's personal bodyguards.
The dwarven merchant sits at the first chair from the left. The snowy-haired, snowy-bearded dwarf wears his usual black leather half-mask with a translucent black gem set into the eyehole. Maxim remembers still the story of how he lost the eye in battle. His good eye is crisp blue, like a frozen lake, and has a pale complexion. When his eyes sit on you he smiles fondly showing all his teeth are made of gold.
The next one from left to right is a sensationally handsome young boy with short black hair and creepy yellow eyes. He wears a spiked full plate and carries a heavy shield adorned with a one-eyed mask symbol which most of you recognize as the symbol of Norgorber. He wields a black heavy mace with a black, skull-shaped head. By his side, and very close to him is a gaunt half-elf with long white hair clad in black robes.
You recognize the handsome man as Khyron Bonesworn and the half-elf by him as his close companion Melagorn Thureq. They are part of a group known as the Necrocants leading the Scarlet Brotherhood assassins guild. Rumors say the 26 years old man ambitions to rule the city of Sasserine and bring Norgorber to a new height in the region.
You know Norgorber is also known as the Reaper of Reputation or the Father Skinsaw. A major Neutral Evil religion that concerns about Greed, Secrets, Poison and Murder.
Next in the semi-circle sits a half-elf woman with such a pale skin that it is clear she has been dead since earlier than any of you was born. She has a long black hair with a silvery-white stripe running through it. Her alabaster-white visage is now a twisted mask of utter contempt, and her eyes burn crimson. She wears an elegant but tattered black gown and silvery-gray bracers studded with red blood stones. She seems to wear a strange cloak made of shadows.
You recognize the cloak of shadows is in fact a dread wraith like the one you fought at the Cathedral of Wee Jass, allied with Ike Iverson.
Next sits a tiefling fat in all the wrong places, his bloodshot eyes are sunk deep into the folds of his face, and his lower jaw sports a pair of stumpy, four-inch-long yellow tusks. He wears a gold ring on one tusk and a black platinum ring scribbled with silver runes in the other. He hides his bloated body beneath elegant purple robes threaded with gems.
Afterwards sits a dour young woman standing barely 5 feet tall, with a slender build and wavy red hair. By the description given by Jil you recognize she must be Velior Thazo, the Jester and guildmaster of the Last Laugh.
At the end of the chairs half-circle there is a towering blue-haired man dressed in blue robes. You recognize him as the half-orc mercenaries commander that put down the fire at Minuta's Board with a single spell.
Finally, in between the chairs and the table full of wine goblets, stands Lady Thifirane Rhiavadi. The 37 old woman strikes for his fine breeding and the elegant yet elaborate black gown decorated with arcane glyphs stitched in silver thread that she wears. The dress has a strange asymmetry to it, the latest fashion among the noblewomen of Sasserine, no doubt. A bizarre hairpiece holds her golden-brown hair up above her neckline, and around her neck hangs a pendant shaped like a tiny silver cage. But more disturbing than that, you find her changed from your previous glimpses of the powerful Lady during the Demonskar Ball, a living large eye is grafted to her forehead.
And if that was not enough of a pack, a large construct guardian, made of wood and iron stands vigilant by the northern set of doors.
You do recognize the construct as a shield guardian. A special type of golem forged to defend a powerful caster. They have DR 5/adamantine and are immune to all types of magic unable to bypass Spell Resistance, except for fire spells to which they are vulnerable, cold spells which heal them and spells able to shape wood, which can slow them. They are tied to an amulet, the wearer of which is able to command them, including the activation of shield other to transfer damage suffered to the golem. This binding also provides them with the ability to store a single level 4 spell, and they have fast healing 5.
Everyone is surprised by the doors opening except for the guards who where on alert.
Marigold is the first one to react, and then the dwarves attempt to intimidate Kikinnin, but they fail as the sacred ratcacher knows no fear. Upon seeing Maxim their expressions relax as they smile "You should have let us know you were also invited to the meeting"
The demons are not that nice to JJ as they talk intimidatingly on his head Away mortal, this is not a place for you. Despite his invisibility they seem to eye also at Kythel as if they were seeing him.
But used to slay demons, JJ feels the menaces as void and unimpresing.
AC = 33 (PfE)
HP = 160/160
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel +4 Holy (Divine Bond)
Condition(s) = Aura of Greater Courage(Immune to Fear, 10' radius), Protection from Evil, Eagle's Splendor(+4 Cha), Bull's Strength(+4 Str)
Smite = 5/day (+8 to hit, +13 to damage, +8 deflection bonus to AC when used.)
Lay on Hands = 12x (6d6, 7d6 if Greater Mercy)
Channel Positive Energy = 6x (6d6, DC 22)
1st Level- Divine Favor, Grace, Hero's Defiance, Liberating Command,
2nd Level-
3rd Level- Dispel Magic,
4th Level-
"The young boy in the armor? He worships a god of murder."
Kikinnin shudders as he sets eyes upon the strange pale woman. Unsure of her potential threat, he marks her for further study, later.
"The slobbering red-eye wears the Kingfisher symbol."
Kikinnin finds his breath slowly passing across his vocal chords in a strange tone, a reflexive uttering against the blasphemy that dares occupy Cauldron behind luxurious doors. He doesn't move forward, only speaks a single word of reproach.
Realising he really doesn't want to get caught between the two demons, JJ readies Alakast as he sneers at them. "Surabar!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
As his eyes set upon the handsome young man who Kikinnin had identified as a priest of murder;
"Purdy boy who worships murder is Khyron Bonesworn and the pale half-elf is his partner in slaughter Melagorn Thureq. They call themselves Necrocants..."
"Manikin o' wood and tin there is an Arcane Guardian; a wizard's golem. Resistant to damage that ain't adamantine an' all types of magic, exceptin' fir fire spells to which they is vulnerable. Cold spells heal them... It's tied to an amulet, so wearer can command 'em, and heal quicker. Reckon this 'un's bound to Thifirane's amulet..."
Ignoring the grinning bodyguards, Maxim invokes magics to effect the villainous gaggle at the back of the room;
"Glitterstof!"
Marigold's Surprise Round
[Watch out, that half-elf is a vampire and that's a dread wraith masquerading as her cloak!] Marigold broadcasts through the mind link as the doors swing open. Though she'd normally use this moment to bolster her companions and herself, she also realizes that now is likely the only time their enemies will be clustered up so perfectly and vulnerable to offensive magics...well, except the golem.
She conjures a burst of holy power, centering it on the Lady Rhiavadi herself...
Marigold's Round 1
Now quite obviously visible and likely to be subject to a lot of incoming unfriendly fire, Marigold swiftly steps over to the nearby corner where she can get a better view of the door where JJ and Kythel are. She calls upon Sarenrae to grant herself and the rest of her allies - if possible - the gift of fervor, granting them extra power for the battle ahead.
And then, mindful of what Maxim has shared, she reaches deep down and calls upon her own fantastical power to bring forth another spell. This time, she conjures a bolt of lightning that first strikes Lady Rhiavadi and then arcs outward to the majority of her retinue - golem and babau demons excluded.
______________
Realizing that she can't really see JJ or Kythel to target them with her beneficial spells she instead opts to conjure a ghostly ally to attack Daxabalt, who happens to be closest to the door.
______________
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As he opens the door, Kikinnin emits a single word of reproach for what is being conspired against Cauldron. The word is powerful anathema enough that Khyron and Melagorn lose their temper sickened by the obnoxious idea, while the vampire Mhad is as well disturbed and damaged by the holy power, her shadowy cloak slightly suffering as well.
JJ shouts at the babau demons, while holding Alakast high, ready to strike anyone coming close.
Quickly identifying the Necrocants he has heard of during his trips to Sasserine, Maxim conjures a myriad of glitter over the heads of the congregated villains. Still sickened by Kikinnin's obnoxious word of goodness, the vampire half-elf Mhad fails to avoid the glitter to enter in her eyes. All the other ones are covered in the bright dust, making it difficult for them to disappear.
Marigold pops out of invisibility drawing down holy power over your enemies. The red babau, the dwarven guard known as Kerg, the Necrocant adventurer Melagorn, and the Jester Velior Thazo are blinded by the holy power, the Jester specially suffering, revealing its outsider nature. The rest of the assistants are no lesser evil, and though they resist better they are still damaged by Marigold's divine power.
Grabbed to the wall, Kythel extends his hand holding in it a small crystal. Focusing on the crystal the Pharasmite starts to drain heat in the room removing the life force of the villains that freeze in extreme cold, the dwarven guards, the Necrocants and the mercenaries Commander skin being covered in frost. Kythel finds out the Jester Velior Thazo spell resistance blocks the coldness, while he beats the magical protection of the Commander and the babau demon. With an impressive move ducking behind their chairs, both Adrick Garthûn and the vampire Mhad evade the full power of the spell. Kythel becomes visible.
While the cold runs through the room, Marigold is still holding her hands towards the cabal. You can see sparks of magic running up from the tip of her fingers to her shoulders. The patch over her eye is burst away letting you see her flaming eye roaring. With a burst of energy she channels all the rage of Occipitus into the room, lightning bolts roaring around Lady Thifirane, with little space to hide. Daxavalt, Kerg, Khyron and Melagorn fall to the ground all dead and smoking. Surprisingly Adrick Garthûn and the vampire Mhad evade the bolts and emerge unscathed as well as the Jester Velior Thazo whose spell resistance Marigold fails to break. Vervil Ashmantel seems to resist most of the electricity, while Thifirane and specially, the mercenaries Commander, suffer large damage.
As the halfing heroically controls the electrical power, her ally of force materializes behind one of the babaus offering a flank to JJ, and lashes out at the demon, damaging it once with its whip of pure force.
Vervil Ashmantle is the first one to react "Ah! You were so valuable once to remove the slaver competence, but I guess it is about time for you to disappear forever!" The tiefling brings his hand to a pouch and scatters a bunch of diamond dust all over his body, his skin suddenly hardening and taking the appearance of stone, while with his other hand he casts a quickened spell and duplicates himself into images.
Either for the arcane words or because of the material and effects, you recognize Vervil cast stoneskin on himself.
He steps to the side to avoid the center of the room while pointing towards the southern door "Do not let them in! Kill them!"
The babaus do not need more detailed orders, they feel the smell of Surabar blood and step to the side to have a full view and attack at a distance with their longspears!
The blinded babau cannot find JJ, while the other one is easily dodged by the young man.
Daxavalt and Kerg exhale. Dead at the southwestern door.
The blinded half-elf vampire grumbles aloud while you see some of her wounds fast heal "I did not came here to fight your battles Thifirane! As I told you my single concern is to destroy the Order of the Silver Dream before they give me chase" unable to see she draws a remarkably keen kama while she rubs her eyes and calls some kind of ritual "Children of the night, come to protect your master!" the glitterdust falls out of her eyes while her shadowy cloak starts to float waving over her head.
What Mhad made was to use a vampire power called the children of night a swarm of rats or bats will soon appear.
Feeling the close life in the tower, the cloak of shadows floats towards the south and traverses the wall to engage JJ who was readied for an enemy approach. Alakast strikes true, but the incorporeal nature of the creature and not being an outsider makes the hit cause just mild damage.
Skillful, JJ reacts quickly and avoids the ghostly hand that tries to grasp his heart.
Vervil Ashmantle: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (120/120)
Mhad: rounds
As the opening volleys in the battle are fired, Maxim's eyes are drawn to Ashmantle;
"The fat hellspawn has cast stoneskin an' mirrored images upon hisself! Adamantine an' naught else'll hurt him!"
The gun-mage then sacrifices a spell to imbue one of the barrels of his weapon with Flaming Burst enchantment.
He then shifts forward and levels his weapon toward Lady Rhiavadi evoking more magic:
"Bliksemschicht!"
:
A bolt of lighting streaking from his pistol toward their "host"
:
As the wraith floats through the door, trying to puts its cold, dead, incorporeal hand around his heart, JJ glares, swinging Alakast into a whirling frenzy of activity.
"Kythel, this puppy wants to play. I think you might be better at his game than me though, and I'm pretty sure your lady might want to have words with him."
He calls out as he steps into the door way to deal with the demons, quickly, hoping the priest will be able to handle the dead critter.
Alakast, scenting demons, slams into them, swirling in a holy blur of demon destroying energy.
+12 to hit and damage from FE
+2 to hit and +2+2d6 to damage from evil outsider bane.
Total +14 to hit and +14+2d6 damge vs the demons.
JJ goes first for the badly wounded demon, then for the other one. If he manages to drop them both, any remaining attacks will go against the wraith. Though his bonus to hit and damage will be reduced as the +14 from bane and FE won't work against it.
AC = 33 (PfE)
HP = 160/160
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel +4 Holy (Divine Bond)
Condition(s) = Aura of Greater Courage(Immune to Fear, 10' radius), Protection from Evil, Bull's Strength(+4 Str)
Smite = 5/day (+8 to hit, +13 to damage, +8 deflection bonus to AC when used.)
Lay on Hands = 12x (6d6, 7d6 if Greater Mercy)
Channel Positive Energy = 6x (6d6, DC 22)
Kikinnin marks the vampire for the true death, his eyes focusing on very little other than the undead that dares show its face in Cauldron. He shows little regard for the shield guardian as he enters the room.
"Cauldron's not yours, you black souls. Light's finally shining on you. For the rats you are, we won't blame you if you scatter."
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You witness how many of Thifirane's wounds disappear, absorbed by her amulet, and magically transferred to the nearby golem.
Half the damage done to the amulet owner is transferred to the Shield guardian golem provided that it is within 100 feet distance.
The vampire jumps to the front avoiding the crackling electricity bolt that crosses the room from Maxim's gun slightly damaging Thifirane, and accordingly the golem, but failing to break through the spell resistance of the other two attendants in the line of shot.
JJ steps into the room dancing with Alakast in his hands, striking the first babau like a ball that explodes upon the might of his blow. Following the steps of the dance the blonde strikes the other babau with the other end of his staff, only to turn again and burst the creature in a myriad of flesh remains. If that was not enough, he throws himself towards the incorporeal but despite Maxim's heroism, he fails to strike.
Marking the vampire for death, Kikinnin throws himself into the fight, avoiding completely the golem, who is still trying to react to the sudden entry. Eldgammel cuts through the undead like if it was cheese, exactly how Pocca taught him years ago, and only its enormous vampiric resilience holds her together "Agh! You will pay for this offense mortal!"
As Thifirane finally reacts, a contingency spell triggers automatically. A faintly shimmering magical sphere emanates from her surrounding all the chairs area.
The globe is a powerful abjuration, lesser globe of invulnerability, that protects everyone around 10 feet. It is a static protection and will remain immobile.
The Lady starts yelling crazily "Who let them in!? Kill them! Kill them all and the Cagewrights will reward you!"
Grasping the silver cage pendant hanging from her neck she orders "Shed your protective flames and defend the door! Do not let them in!"
Taking a pinch of diamond dust from a pouch and sparkling it over her body, her skin suddenly hardens becoming akin to stone.
Either for the arcane words or because of the material and effects, you recognize Thifirane casts stoneskin on herself.
Then, the large eye on her forefront opens wide and a ray of black energy springs from it targeting Kikinnin.
The black energy hits Kikinnin, ignoring his loyal shield and armor and opening dark wounds on his skin. She then walks back wading through the chairs and past the Jester and the blue haired mercenary "I pay you well for something! Protect me Blue Duke!"
This ray is very similar to the rays of the beholder that attacked you some months ago and took Terrem.
Vervil Ashmantle: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (120/120)
Mhad: Children of night in r6
Thifirane: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (140/140)
Kythel casts a spell and targets the wraith seeking to injure JJ and empowering the spell with the Rod at his disposal.
He then calls upon the last of his reserves to duplicate the same feat once more, using the Pearl of Power to do so! This time targeting the Vampire and Empowering that spell as well with the Rod.
Empowered Searing Light Ranged Touch vs Dread Wraith - Damage
Empowered Searing Light Ranged Touch vs Mhad - Damage
Knowledge Arcana - Once again, Kythel's lack of formal training prevents him from understanding the tactics employed by the foes...
Kikinnin looks over the vampire's shoulder, while the third eye stabs him from a distance. Grimacing, the black beard turns back to Mhad. "If you're not fighting her battles, why are you standing between her and us?"
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Kythel tumbles through the wall like a real spider while he draws an empowering rod, just barely escaping the clutch of the wraith. From his new position in the stairs gap the pharasmite shots a ray of searing light that strikes true in the wraith, the bright light causing more damage than expected.
The sudden flash of light seems to consume the shadows of the creature that is no more once the ray light disperses.
"No! Hate! I will not leave you alive dwarf! This is personal now!" the vampire responds to Kikinnin inquiries while he partially resists the ray damage.
You have heard about an order of monks called like that. You think they might be looking to cleanse vampiric influence, but you cannot recall much else about them right now.
The blue haired man frowns while some of his wounds naturally regenerate "Mind no worry my Lady. Your loyal servant will defend you from these rattlers and mongers" The man foot slowly separates from the ground as he takes flight while drawing a heavy greatsword.
In this process his body starts to grow, his face retorting, two horns growing from his head, keen jaws from his mouth and his braided hair getting longer as he shapechanges into the giant ogre whose face you spot at Xoden's crystal ball months ago. Flying just over the Jester's head, and touching the ceiling with his own, the Blue Duke's large greatsword menaces everyone 10 feet around.
You think the Blue Duke is in fact an ogre mage, an evil spirit known as oni that has possessed the body of a giant. They have spell resistance and regeneration (blocked by acid or fire like trolls). They can fly and use some magic, like cone of cold.
The Jester Velior Thazo frowns as Zarn Kyass flies over her head, she braces her steel shield securing it in her arm. Still blinded she casts a cure spell to heal herself.
Showing authentic weapon mastery she makes a quick movement and a morningstar is suddenly found in her free hand.
"Oh boy. I told you conspiring against power is not good for business" Adrick Garthûn frowns while he takes his shield from the side of the chair and braces it to his arm before drawing his dwarven axe "Side with us Maxim. We will get the tax exemption we discussed. Vhalantru has agreed to it. Gartûn Imports will be the most prosperous Emporium in the region without need for smuggling any more. As my only heir, you will own everything one day"
Obeying its mistress, the shield guardian in the door immolates itself in thin and wispy flames that shed coldness and a blue light. The creature moves his arms over Kikinnin's head, as if willing to set himself in the middle of the door, but not finding the space to.
Vervil Ashmantle: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (120/120)
Mhad: Children of night in r6
Thifirane: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (140/140)
AC = 33 (PfE)
HP = 151/160
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel +4 Holy (Divine Bond)
Condition(s) = Aura of Greater Courage(Immune to Fear, 10' radius), Protection from Evil, Bull's Strength(+4 Str)
Smite = 4/day (+8 to hit, +13 to damage, +8 deflection bonus to AC when used.)
Lay on Hands = 12x (6d6, 7d6 if Greater Mercy)
Channel Positive Energy = 6x (6d6, DC 22)
"No! Hate! I will not leave you alive dwarf! This is personal now!"
Kikinnin senses an impending retaliation the likes he's never experienced before. His blood quickens, and he moves to strike a single time, before the vampire has a chance to answer.
Marigold's Round 2
[The Lady's transferring her injuries off to her golem,] Marigold broadcasts through the linking of minds. [And the Blue Duke's an ogre mage! He'll resist spells and his wounds will heal unless you burn him with fire or acid like a troll!]
Now realizing that there's nothing for it, Marigold braves entering the room herself and adopts a defensive position as she attempts to cast...
...and maybe manages to do it, finally conjuring a blessing of fervor for herself, Kikinnin, and JJ for certain.
She then directs her Spiritual Ally to harry Vervil Ashmantle in the hopes of at least removing some of his mirror images, if nothing else.
With a speed only available to true heroes, Kikinnin interferes in the action decapitating the vampire with a single slice of his axe. The corpse suddenly becomes a mass of gas, which brings you memories of the Stormblades story of how they defeated Drakthar and how Ryan found a way to permanently kill the bugbear vampire.
As Marigold enters the room the Shield guardian attempts to slam at her.
But its arm entangles with the door and hits the frame with resounding strength.
The halfling prayers are responded, bringing fervor for all the Cauldron Watchers but Kythel who had to retreat back previously.
The whip ally made of force manages to disrupt one of Ashmantle's mirror images.
The slaver grimaces displeased at the fallen babaus "It is a pity Kazmojen did not kill a few of you. Everything would be easier now"
Performing defensive arcane movements he casts baleful polymorph on JJ trying to transform him into a pig.
With his other hand the tiefling casts another quickened defensive spell. Then he steps inside the shimmering magical sphere.
That was a quickened shield spell.
The gas cloud left by Mhad starts to flow towards the northwestern door, passing below the construct legs and disappearing through the door frame space.
Vervil Ashmantle: shield
Mhad: Children of night in r6
Thifirane: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (140/140)
In addition to the ken that Marigold had imparted, Maxim notes what
"Our darned hostess Lady Thifirane has invoked a lesser globe o' invulnerability! Wards all those within 10ft o' her... Ware! Their girdin' themselves 'gainst our openin' volley! This could be the long haul..."
The gun-mage shifts to his right looking daggers towards his Uncle Adrick;
"I'll deal with you Uncle... Yah picked the wrong side in this transaction o' death old man!"
Pistol drawn he levels it at the golem before him as he is inspired in recalling a spell to burn their foe .
Uttering the words of power he cautiously brings his arcane spell to bear
Gloeiend Straal!"
His pistol erupts as two beams of flame spiral into the towering shield guardian:
:
JJ winces as the horrid magic wafts over him.
As he feels his form start to shift, he also feels the celestial blood within him surge, burning and fighting the transformation. With a shout of triumph he
casts aside the wicked spell and glares at the mage.
Striding forward he strikes at the evil Oni.
+2 to hit and damage from FE (evil outsider)
+2 to hit and +2+2d6 damage from evil outsider bane
Alakast swings and sings, eager to remove the stain of further evil outside influences from the material plane.
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Maxim steps back, away from the golem hands and protected by the wall, and going past the limits of a normal being, recalls a heroic spell that he shots at the Shield guardian. Both rays strike powerfully, but you sense the blue flames around the shield guardian absorb part of the hit before the wood burns!
Rejecting the tiefling's refitting, JJ throws himself forward for combat, the Blue Duke slashing at him fast as he approaches.
Despite his fervor, the blade cuts deep before the young man manages to deliver a solid blow on the flying ogre.
"There is nothing you can do to stop the planar junction!" touching her amulet Lady Thifirane orders the shield guardian "Kill the dwarf that destroyed the vampire!" she then points with her eye at Kikinnin and shots another ray from below the flying Blue Duke's legs.
The woman smiles with satisfaction as she sees her ray bursts directly on the dwarf's head opening ugly wounds.
All this happens while she makes arcane gestures with her hands with a pinch of quartz dust. A solid transparent impassable surface materializes just in front of Marigold and Kikinnin when she ends her spell.
You recognize either the spell or the material component as a wall of force. Mater and spells cannot cross it, not even incorporeals. Only gaze attacks and teleport spells can go through. Dispel magic cannot remove it, a mage's disjunction is required, although a disintegrate spell immediately destroys it, and it could be broken by spell or weapon damage (hardness 30 though so adamantine does not deal full damage).
If all that fails, the barrier will naturally disappear after 1 round per caster level.
Vervil Ashmantle: shield
Mhad: Children of night in r6
Thifirane: stoneskin DR 10/adamantine (140/140)
Knowledge Planes DC 19
Spellcraft DC 16
Spellcraft DC 20
Kythel moves back to the doorway, unfortunately, once again, his lack of spell recognition hampers his tactics.
Mindlink "What is this barrier?"
He grimaces and calls upon the last of his reserves to attempt to damage Lady Thifirane as she was his first target when considering how to handle this strike while the group was still downstairs.
Kythel recalls Flamestrike and targets her shifting the cylinders 10' radius to also target the Ogre Mage.
Damage
Kikinnin stares daggers back at the three-eyed witch, strategizing while setting himself against the inevitable attacks from the shield guardian, on the witch's orders. He thinks at those who can understand his mind.
"We're going to need this Wall pulled down. JJ and Kythel against the five? That's not going to go well, for long."