The Shipwrecked and the Vaults of Madness

Game Master chavamana

GM says it stacks. Faith can indicate in the next post if he cast it pre door opening (which I'm very cool with.

The feel of the subaudible hiss strengthens as the outer door closes, enclosing the group in the pressure lock. The inner door isn't locked but it takes more force to push open the doors.

Two serpentfolk statues made of iron dominate this octagonal chamber, standing guard next to a wide staircase descending to the north. The stairway appears to be lined with iridescent snake scales, pulsing and moving with eerie life of their own. Along the south walls, directly to your left and right, twin tapestries made of the same iridescent snakeskin shift and billow with the same rhythm.

The air fills with the sounds of hissing snakes as a giant severed snake's head floats between and slightly behind the iron statures in the pulsing stairway. Its eyes are milky and blind, but a huge forked tongue constantly tests the air for fresh scents, flanked by fangs dripping virulent poison. Below the neck, rather than tendons or muscle, numerous serpents thrash like tendrils of torn flesh. The blood that drips from the severed head sizzles as it hits the ground acid burning through the floor.

Please make a DC 30 Will save vs mind-affecting compulsion insanity effect or be confused for 1 round. If you fail against this effect, you will have to roll against the effect until you succeed.

Juliver Will save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Countersong (anyone can use this in place of their Will save): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Pakshee: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Sasha: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

"Blessing of Destruction," Faith gives Zaine a blessing as well, before the door opens.

Tulip Confusion: 1d4 ⇒ 3 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Aine Confusion: 1d4 ⇒ 3 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Faith Confusion: 1d4 ⇒ 4 1:Aine, 2: Tulip, 3: Zaine: 1d3 ⇒ 2 Faith rolled his own.

Sasha shudders at the rise in the maddening hiss as the door opens, almost immune to the nasty area effect. She tumbles into the room, pulling out the adamantine machete the group got in their jungle travels rather than her normal sawtoothed blades.

"Okay, you big head. I think I'm doing the world a favor by killing you."

That's a challenge.

Zaine fires one shot at the beast. The shot blast through the neck blasting out the top of the severed eye, completely removing one of the milky eyes. Were the herald a little less epic it would be downed in the single shot.

Tulip is confused. And bites at her own armor as if she were being attacked by ants. Tulip takes 15 hp.

A presence speaks in your mind in accented Azlanti. 'the last time you came blessed by the gods and dripping in the best magic and machines your empire could boast and you only managed to separate body from mind, do you really think such a group as yours can do any better'

'i recommend you all retreat and fear the rise of the serpent'

Mass Suggestion: Flee; Will DC 22 to resist
Caster Level check re Zaine's SR and Aine's Spell: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22 ~ Aine and Zaine are unaffected

Juliver seems stunned by the maddening hiss of the multitude of heads. Quietly, not in reverence but still awed, "That is a herald of a god." (Bardic +3 hit and damage, will linger for 3 rounds if she is unable to maintain)

The iron statue near Sasha turns on the ranger, one heavy blow getting through.

The other moves up and (1d20 + 28 ⇒ (14) + 28 = 42) slams a heavy fist into Tulip. (Tulip takes 2d10 + 16 ⇒ (4, 2) + 16 = 22 and will automatically attack the golem if she remains confused.)

"Bad big snake, no more mind talk, no more mind talk spells." Telepathic silence... which means no more witty reparte from the herald and he must make a check to cast any more spells

"Ah, Hell." Áine mutters to herself at the first glimpse of the horrific creature. And then... she stabs herself with an arrow. (Aine takes 10 damage.)

"Well, that's quite a...." Faith's eyes unfocus. He starts to mutter -- almost but not quite under his breath.

"Her burden of things walking out Her burden of things walking out Unearth my Nina Unearth my Nina God forbid a vaguer feat Notion of shell mock me Say the sparrow wants a morbid arrow Here's a quarter; that's the one I want Maybe I'll buy the whirlwind That always keeps me yearning Her sitter's down there mourning Her burden of things walking out Her burden of things walking out Unearth my Nina Unearth my Nina"

Juliver Will vs suggestion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23 No flee
Juliver Will vs hissing: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29 1d4 ⇒ 3 self stabbing
Pakshee Will vs suggestion: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38 No flee
Pakshee Will vs hissing: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31 no more confusion
Sasha Will vs suggestion: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 No flee

Sasha hacks at the statue with the adamantine machetes, utilization of the correct weapon working in her favor.

Zaine takes careful aim at the head and fires. The musket booms and thunder rolls. The bullet smashes through the other eye, blowing the thing's noxious brains out all over the floor.

"Herald of a god? Never killed one of those before," Zaine says thoughtfully.

Tulip bites the iron golem in confused retaliation. Damaging the statue depiste her teeth not being shielded by adamantine, however not managing a good enough hold to keep the ancient golem still.

Absently, Juliver stabs herself with her rapier, watching as the blood flows down her leg to the carpet. (Bardic +3 hit and damage, will linger for 2 more rounds)

Another blow gets through the flurry of blades Sasha has, but not quite as hard as the last.

The other golem (1d20 + 28 ⇒ (17) + 28 = 45,1d20 + 28 ⇒ (15) + 28 = 43) pummels Faith. (Faith takes 4d10 + 32 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 6) + 32 = 47 and will automatically attack the golem if he remains confused.)

"No more mind talk from the bad snake." Pakshee comments, then she glares at the golem beating on the red-head. (Sasha is granted protective luck and anyone attacking her has to roll twice and take the worser.)

Áine blinks, as the pain in her thigh has apparently jolted her back to reality. She grimaces, glaring at what is left of the head for just an instant before turning her attention and her limited supply of adamantine tipped arrows on the large iron statues. Utterly destroying the one damaged by Tulip.

"Hiss and hearse? That doesn't make any sense!" Faith shakes his head to clear it, and smacks himself in the forehead with his palm. Or he would if he wasn't wielding Eroeme. He smacks himself in the forehead with the pommel of Eroeme.

No one is confused.

Second verse, same as the first... only with slightly less adamantine machete damage.

Zaine takes careful aim at the head and fires. The musket booms and thunder rolls. The bullet smashes through the other eye, blowing the thing's noxious brains out all over the floor.

Zaine reloads, blasting the remaining iron golem.

Tulip moves up and chomps the same golem - this time everyone hears the painful scrape and puncture of bone through metal as she grabs on solidly.

The grappled golem (1d20 + 28 ⇒ (5) + 28 = 33,1d20 + 28 ⇒ (18) + 28 = 46) one heavy blow solid enough to overcome Tulip's armor. (Tulip takes 2d10 + 16 ⇒ (2, 6) + 16 = 24 unless Zaine wants to and succeeds in Ride-checking against the attack.)

Pakshee bustles over and lays a healing hand on Faith. (Faith heals 3d8 + 15 ⇒ (5, 2, 6) + 15 = 28.)

More arrows, carefully placed to keep Tulip un-punctured, enough to break apart the golem.

"I ... that's much better," Faith says.

Faith casts, heals, and moves to check if there are any more dangers in the room.

Once the group has had a chance to heal up and regroup (Tulip remaining her magically enhanced size (About 20 minutes has passed since the fight against the temple guards outside the entrance)), they are able to move down the disturbingly undulating serpentine stairwell. It exits in a hallway lined with small doorways, however just past them the group can make out, in the darkness, a larger hall.

The hiss of snakes and serpents echo from that larger hallway.

Ahead, in the darkness, thousands of vipers and serpents writhe across the floor of the hall. Eight columns bearing the carved images of coiled serpents wrapped around them stand before alcoves in the walls and support the thirty-foot-high ceiling above. More snakes wiggle free of the gabs in the carvings' eyes and mouth to fall and join the squirming mass below.

As you move forward, just a few feet, to get a better handle on the serpentine clogged hall, a four-armed woman whose body turns serpentine from the waist down. She holds fiery blades and whips, but not in actively aggressive way. With a cheery smiles, "Adventurers!"

"I love adventurers, they have the best toys." She looks over the group, "Oooo. A tyrannosaurus. I would love to make her over to come home with me."

Zaine pulls the hammer back on the musket.

"I consider myself forewarned," Faith says to the snake woman, almost managing to keep a neutral expression on his face.

... the GM can't count. Re-looking at the picture, she does have 6 arms not 4.

"Awww, don't be like that, all prickly and cantankerous," the marilith says, "Do you know how boring it can be around the strong, silent, religious types? Even when you can get them to talk it is all, the will of his slithery diviness, we shall rise to the surface and gain dominence over the soft-skinned one, blah-blah-blah."

She twirls two of the four fiery blades, the light forming a halo around her hands, "Tell me that you are more interesting than that."

"I think you will find us quite a bit more interesting...however briefly." Áine comments. She purses her lips, then continues affably enough, "You know, if you find the silence boring, maybe you're working for the wrong side here." Áine leans over to touch Sasha's shoulder and whisper something in her ear

"We are more interesting, by far," Faith agrees with Áine. "I agree with my colleague. You should join us, as we are less boring. I personally am strong and religious, but rarely silent. I know at least three bawdy drinking songs."

Faith thinks for a moment. "That's a neat trick with the swords. Much more impressive than this little dagger--" He holds up Eroeme. "--probably."

He peers past the woman. "That is a lot of snakes."

He peers past the woman. "That is a lot of snakes."

"Small but very poisonous ones." The marilith chimes in, cheerfully, she sighs dramatically as she takes in the tattoo on Faith's cheek.

"I'd love to travel with you," utter honesty in her voice, "I'd give it less than a week before your goddess turned her face from you, then we could go about finding a nice challenge and destroying it utterly."

She considers, "Is that the offer on the table?" Her smile says she knows it doesn't, but it would be grand.

"I'd love to travel with you," utter honesty in her voice, "I'd give it less than a week before your goddess turned her face from you, then we could go about finding a nice challenge and destroying it utterly."

Faith returns her smile. "You have such conviction, yet you are fundamentally mistaken. I would show you that there is another path. My goddess wants results, not mindless obedience," Faith says. That last sentence coming across as though it's something he has repeated often.

"I am open to this, if my colleagues agree."

"Faith, you really should start carrying literature on you. Might speed these conversion attempts along," Zaine says.

Faith nods. "Yes," he agrees. "But I cannot rely upon literature alone. The good fight must not be limited to the literate."

"The snakes are not real." Áine glances at Faith, "We would love for you to be able to travel away from here. And to travel with us." she continues to the Marilith, "as long as you can also agree to do your best to at least try not to do evil, mean and nasty things to those we come across. ... Maybe reserve those for the ones who do such things to others. ... and utterly destroy them? Like the serpentfolk who have been apparently keeping your here. Has it been a long time or did you just arrive? Would you like to destroy them?" Áine does seem to be genuinely curious, especially about the last point.

The marilith laughs, "Try not to do evil?" She shakes her head, "I have never tried to do evil. And don't get me wrong, I quite like have Ydersius in a state where he unlikely to demand I work on his goals rather than my own but that ship has sailed."

"I've been given the goal of not allowing you to proceed so that Vyr can finish his ritual." She waves one of her hands holding a whip and a wall of whirling blades appears behind her.

"Unless you want to all leave as a group. That would fulfill my current required goal and you all would get to live."

"She's not there. It's an after-image." Áine says, "Not sure where she's gone to...yet." and she touches Faith while simultaneously touching a wand in her quiver.

"Has talking ever worked?" Zaine asks, probably rhetorically. "Since we got shipwrecked, I can think of one time it did, and I think that was more due to Faith's bear-like handsomeness than anything."

He sighs, bringing up the musket. "Get me something to shoot, would ya?"

The marilith's voice is wry, "I am very certain that I'm around... somewhere." She does a flourish with the fiery whips which has no effect other than the fiery flourish.

"We are all leaving in a group," Faith says, "but we will be proceeding to interrupt that ritual. The choices we make define us. Do what you must."

This seems like a good time to remind the GM that Faith has the Blind-Fighter feat, so he wouldn't lose his Dex bonus to AC on any hypothetical attacks from invisible people.

"Does anyone have something to disrupt the Blade Barrier, are we going to magically step past it or just go through it?" Áine asks, as the carpet moves above Pakshee to cover her as best she can, looking around for the Marilith.

The perceptive in the group do not sense the movement or breathing of invisible foes, although the slither and scales of the snakes which Aine insists are not real are distracting. Tulip also doesn't indicate she smells invisible foes.

"F!#* it," Zaine decides, and digs his heels into Tulip's flanks, spurring her across the room.

Áine shrugs, "Everyone else ready?" she asks, glancing around at the others briefly before looking to slip between the slashing blades herself.

"I'm ready," Faith says.

Áine shrugs, "Everyone else ready?" she asks, glancing around at the others briefly before looking to slip between the slashing blades herself.

The marilith looks with amusement as Aine flies up and starts to go past her to get to the barrier of whirling blades. She sighs, "Too bad, it would have been good fun to get out of here."

Disarm vs Aine: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36

The burning whip lashes out and almost steals Aine bow from hand. "Plus you seem interesting. It's a pity that I can't let you bother Vyr. What is left of the boss's sanity really does want a change."

Initiative?

"And won't he be surprised to see us?" Faith asks genially.

"And won't he be surprised to see us?" Faith asks genially.

"Well, yes." The marilith smiles, "but, unlike me, he doesn't like surprises."

Áine cocks an eyebrow in an oh, really expression, drifting back and up on her carpet out of apparent whip range, at the same time designating the six armed snake woman as her quarry, "You're a tricksy one, I'll give you that. Too bad you're not willing to renounce your ways and let yourself abandon the dreary boredom of these prison walls here, it could've been fun."
everyone gets a +1 Favored Enemy bonus to hit and damage against the Marilith for 4 rounds

Sasha moves up, both of her swords ready, cautiously staying just a tad out of reach.

Raviaza smiles, "The good guys always think that seven on one is a fair fight." She shrugs, flourishing with her whips, "It's ok, I'll make it a tad more fair." She motions and four demons appear in the hallway, most near Pakshee and the final one right next to the archer.

The new demons attack. Teeth clatter harmlessly on Faith's armor but both Aine and Pakshee get bit. (Aine takes 4d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 4) + 10 = 21 and Pakshee takes 8d4 + 20 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3, 1, 4) + 20 = 41.)

"Eroeme, show me true," Faith says, as the player re-read the weapon description and looked up true seeing.

Sacred Armor as a swift, and Faith moves to and attacks the marilith, wherever she is

Faith moves forward, and attacks....

I think marilith are humanoids, so I'm including the +2 to hit, +2d6 damage from Eroeme's bane. GM note: mariliths are evil outsiders not humanoids.

Despite it not being the ideal target for the ancient weapon, it scores a nasty wound across the marilith's torso.

Tulip advances thirty feet directly toward the marilith.

"Okay, lady. You're dead."
That's a challenge

Zaine blasts the marilith. It isn't as impressive as the quick shots against the avatar, but it is a nasty bullet wound.

Juliver hops off the carpet and goes to support Pakshee while commenting, "The toad demons are no way as nasty as the marilith!" Bardic +3 to hit and damage

Pakshee, not the idiot she appears, curses herself with protective luck, taking a step out of flanking.

Áine shrugs, "Sorry Ravi. We offered you a way out." she continues, "Besides, we try to be good, not suicidal."

"And you encourage that sort of behavior?"

Áine growls in annoyance at herself for not being out of range of the toad demons attack. She lets loose a fusillade of cold iron tipped shafts into the creatures face, but the tough toad demon remains upright and fighty.

Sasha darts in, both blades drawing blood. The blows nick scales from the demon. The marilith's AC is reduced by 2 until the start of Sasha's next turn.

One of the demon's whips strikes out, wrapping around one of Sasha's wrists and knocking the blade out of her other hand.

At the same moment her tail slaps out, almost catching Faith in its coils.

The three hezrou on the far side take full advantage of the situation and attack the cannibal healer. Thanks to her curses only a few attacks score blood. (Pakshee takes 8d4 + 1d8 + 30 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 3, 2) + (3) + 30 = 49 damage.)

"At a certain point, of course, we will have to rescind our offer and simply kill you," Faith says, as he enthusiastically attempts to kill the marilith.

Raviaza laughs, even as the ancient weapon scores several wounds in her serpentine tail. "I truly believe that we were already at that point, good to know that I have options I don't need to use."

Tulip closes the rest of the distance to the marilith and almost chomps her. However, the nimble fire blades deflect the tyranosaurus's jaws at the last moment.

Zaine takes careful aim and fires a single shot. The shot hits but isn't quite as devastating as Zaine's bullets often are.

Juliver gamely charges in and attacks the toad demons, however it seems that Pakshee's curse is affecting the pathfinder as not a single wound appears on the toad.

Pakshee takes a defensive step back and carefully heals herself. (4d8 + 16 ⇒ (2, 7, 4, 5) + 16 = 34)

Faith inclines his head, and says, "it would be ruder to imply otherwise than simply to kill you in straightforward mayhem."

Áine appears mildly surprised that the toad demon took her arrows to the face and still stands. She fires again dropping the toad demon, then moves opposite of Tulip and 20' from Raviaza. In the remaining barrage of arrows, only a single one hits the marilith, but it is a devasting blow that blows through the woman's torso.

Sasha quickly draws her adamantine machete, using that with her remaining sawtooth blade.

The three hezrou on the far side continue to batter at Pakshee.

Between Tulip's frustration, Zaine's bullets, Faith's dagger and Aine's arrows (in a moment later) the remaining hezrou are quickly dealt with.

Although she has fallen, the marilith's whirling blades remain. And they are not an illusion.

The writhing snakes and hissing do disappear with Raviaza's death.

Raviaza is carrying 4 +1 flaming daggers and 2 +1 flaming unholy whips.

"At least you are now free." Áine comments to the departed demon, then to the rest of the group, "I know we are trying to do this all quick and all, but I don't think this spell lasts too long," she looks to the bloodied Pakshee for confirmation, "Are you guys okay with waiting it out or shall we heal up again after we pass through?" she bites her lower lip looking a little guilty, "and sorry for leaving you back there, didn't mean to leave my position, I just...did."

"Waiting and healing is fine by me. She made it sound like our ultimate foe is right through there, so we might want to refresh our various enchantments as well. In the meantime, I'm taking one of these whips."

Zaine claims a whip.

Strike that. No claim on the whip. *sigh*