The Year of Our Lord 1437 Pathfinder RAW PBP (Inactive)

Game Master Michael Johnson 66

Defeating the diabolical stone golem and prismatic death trap ascends the Crusaders into a higher level of the Game of Mortals—the Sixth Level!

With the stone devil defeated, it is a simple matter for Quinlan to use mage hand to recover the remaining magic items from their pedestals, disarming the prismatic death trap and unlocking the pair of adamantine doors at the far end of the rainbow hall!

The green dagger is a dagger of venom named Viper’s Sting;

The blue jar of salve is a special salve of stone to flesh with 5 applications;

The indigo headband is a headband of mental superiority +2 [skill ranks in Knowledge (planes)]!

Zagathoth throws flamefang against the nearby wall before taking a deep breath then pausing for a moment to calm himself. As he finishes catching his breath, he picks up doomcrescent and returns it to its scabbard and then, almost begrudgingly, retrieves flamefang and stows it on his back as well.

"Good work," he says to his companions without much enthusiasm.

Huzzah! I don't have time to level right now but I'll try to get it done tonight before bed.

Ass kicked and names taken!

Lucius examines each item Quinlan retrieves and distributes them to people as they seem useful. "This is clearly destined for you brother." He says, offering Quinlan the headband. "Fox would you care for this dagger? You can use it to inflict a magical poison upon your enemy in time of need."

Anyone want the lightning sword?

The stone devil’s fire opal eyes are now free to loot as well.

Blessed art thou, noble Crusaders of the Catacombs! Blessed art thine efforts against the Antichrist! A mother's boon do I give unto thee!

The Holy Mother of God grants the adventurers the boon of immunity to ability damage the next time they would take ability damage!

With those words, the Holy Virgin Mother departs.

Johann transforms back to his normal self. "AMAZING! DID YOU ALL SEE WHAT I JUST SAW! THE BLESSED MOTHER!"

He sits on his haunches against the stone wall to rest for a spell. "THAT WAS QUITE THE BATTLE. YOU, FOX... WERE TERRIFIC. I TOOK A BAD BLOW, BOGA. COULD YOU AID ME?"

He takes off the corrosive amulet and looks at it. A marvelous piece of magic. Looks like a lizard...There are the scales... But that doesn't feel right. Johann begins to scrub on the amulet more, and the amulet has a slightly different feel than a lizard. It feel more like... Hmmm.

Johann puts it back on. He feels...different... he feels like...

"PSSSS---HISSSS!!"

In Johann's place, a huge snake, 20 feet long and 200 pounds, slithers over the the remains of the stone devil and curls around it.

Johann flickers his tongue in and out, taking stock of this rather strange feeling, elongated body.

<Gasp!> if I got muleback cords I could walk around with giant-ass Johann-snake draped around my neck... I could be the orcish ‘Jake the Snake Roberts’... lol

Jesus, you are Lord God, only son of the Father Almighty. Why in your holy name did you send me on a quest with these people?

Hey! Hey! This is neat. This is different. It feels so... cool on my skin as I slither around. Wait a minute. What did the Cardinal do to his hair?

Johann circles around the Cardinal 5 times before raising his head up to examine Lucius's hair. He accidently flickers his tongue into the Cardinal's ear.

Lucius' hand shoots up with remarkable speed for a man of his advanced years and catches the snake's tongue as it tickles his ear. Glaring at the snake Lucius is suddenly struck by the absurdity of the situation.

"Johann. Down!"

With a hiss hiss hiss that you take to be snake chuckle, Johann winds himself down and goes over to Boga and bumps his large head against the cleric's side.

In the secret sanctuary of the Antichrist, a magic alarm alerts the Evil One to the fact that the Rainbow Hall has been disarmed and the adamantine doors unlocked!

What!? How!? How is it possible!? That trap has killed every other band of interlopers that ever made it so far! And what of the stone devil!? Did they actually destroy it!?

Hurrying over to his crystal scrying orb, he angrily utters the dvinatory incantation...

Will save vs DC 21 please, Fox... and Perception checks to spot the scry sensor...

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Snake takes a break trying to ask Boga for healing as his scales begin tingle. Something is amiss. Someone is trying to look at them. But as he has no way of communicating this to the others, he goes back to hitting his head on Boga's chest.

Taking 10 for Lucius hits 26, which should be enough.

Lucius, distracted by Johann's strange behaviour, suddenly realises what has made the shifter so wary.

"The Antichrist spies upon us! Curse his foul name!"

Taking 10 for Lucius hits 26, which should be enough.

Lucius, distracted by Johann's strange behaviour, suddenly realises what has made the shifter so wary.

"The Antichrist spies upon us! Curse his foul name!"

He tries, but his crystal ball shoes only murky clouds and shadows that randomly change! Fox is too wily!

In Infernal: Damn it! SHOW ME THAT FOX!!

The adamantine doors at the west end of the hall resound with the rolling of tumblers...

As Lucius starts to hand the indigo headband over to Quinlan, Boga shuffles his feet and loudly clears his throat, "Brother Lucius, our good friend Quinlan already has a headband. Plus, the subject of the various planes our Lord has created has intrigued me for some time. I would greatly appreciate the honor of wearing this headband and serving the Lord with the knowledge and guidance it imparts." He extends his hand, taking the headband, and placing it delicately on his head. "Ahhh. A perfect fit..."

Boga smiles as he begins to see and understand the mysteries of the planes far better than he has ever comprehended. Almost as a sign of God's approval, the Holy Mother appears before Boga and the group. Boga falls to his knees, listening intently as shee speaks. Upon hearing her words, he faints and falls to the side, overwhelmed by all the signs and miracles he has witnessed so recently. Lost in his mind, he feels as if he is floating, drifting in the comforting embrace of his God. The pleasure is so great he is filled to bursting and passes out.

When he comes to, he is horrified to find a great snake banging his head upon his chest. Quickly, he scrambles backward, "What is this? I am embraced by God, waking only to find myself in the Garden of Eden with the snake?"

Boga was out for the sensor. No perception roll...

Once Boga clears his head, he realizes he is confusing his inner with his outer reality. The snake is shocking, but once he understands that the snake is Johann expressing his continued blessings from God, he relaxes. "Bear... I mean Johann, I did not know you had more than one shape. This is a most unusual blessing from our Lord." "Unusual... My understanding of our Lord and his ways is clearly lacking. O Lord, bless me with wisdom. Guide my thoughts and understanding."

At Johann's prodding, he notices the wounds still on his body. "Here. Take some of the blessed wine and be healed."

Healing Wine: 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 7, 1) + 10 = 23 Most of the way...

"I am injured. Zagathoth is, too. Bear, I mean, Johann and Zagathoth, feel the blessed, healing light of our Savior." If anyone else is injured, they can gather round as well

Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3 hmmph, minimal

EDIT: Oops! Of course, Lucius is injured.

Boga turns to Lucius, "Clearly you are still in need. Here, my brother, take of the blood of our Savior."

Healing Wine: 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 4, 7) + 10 = 29 Almost right on! 32 total for Lucius

Johann curls about Boga and head butts him again in thanks... "HISSSSS!!!!

Hmmm. Hard to make a snake anything but scary. Guess it is inherent.

Johann slithers over to the adamantine door to the west. He flicks his tongue out to taste the air... and his eyes take in the door. He nudges it ever so slightly just to see if it swings freely.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Snake Johann nudges the adamantine doors and they quietly swing inward slightly, opening a dark crack of the chamber beyond, and releasing a musty draft that smells faintly of decay...

Since nothing deadly jumps out to grab him--- honestly, what would want to grab a giant snake--- Johann pushes the door open the rest of the way and looks within.

I should ask Fox to tie a sunrod to my tail. It's dark in there.

Pushing the great metal doors open wider, Snake Johann reveals a dark chamber beyond, another ossuary in which the skeletal remains of Romans long dead are heaped against the walls and in the corners...

Something stirs in the darkness...

The lights from the Crusaders’ sun rods and magic weapons illuminate a female centaur at the center of this chamber! She seems to awaken from slumber as the lights fall upon her, and shields her eyes... A rattle of chain can be heard as she stirs, and one of her hooved forelegs can be seen to be bound by a shackle and short length of chain to an eye ring fixed to the center of the chamber floor...

Fearfully, in Itialian: Are... are you going to sacrifice me to one of your demons!?

Boga shakes as he looks upon the prisoner, "Is there no limit to the evil we find in these catacombs? Sacrifices, demons, prisoners waiting to be sacrificed..." He crosses himself without thinking as he replies in Italian to the centaur, "Oh, no! Absolutely not! Let us take a look. Perhaps we can set you free."

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24 Any traps?
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29 Does she seem sincere?

Boga shakes as he looks upon the prisoner, "Is there no limit to the evil we find in these catacombs? Sacrifices, demons, prisoners waiting to be sacrificed..." He crosses himself without thinking as he replies in Italian to the centaur, "Oh, no! Absolutely not! Let us take a look. Perhaps we can set you free."

Any traps? Does she seem sincere?

Bluff 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16... Boga smells a trap!

Oh, thank the gods! I am rescued! Come... let me embrace and kiss you, noble heroes!

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Lucius is too old and wily to be easily deceived by such a sight. "Hold a moment Brother." He says, raising a hand. "It is more usual to offer your rescuer an embrace after you are freed. Now tell me." The Cardinal levels his gaze on the centaur, something deeply compelling in his eyes.

"What are you really?"

Using Discern Lies :D because no-one lies to the Inquisition! (Will DC19 to resist)

Lucius is too old and wily to be easily deceived by such a sight. "Hold a moment Brother." He says, raising a hand. "It is more usual to offer your rescuer an embrace after you are freed. Now tell me." The Cardinal levels his gaze on the centaur, something deeply compelling in his eyes.

"What are you really?"

Using Discern Lies :D because no-one lies to the Inquisition! (Will DC19 to resist)

Will save 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 fails!

Uh... I’m definitely not a lamia... haha!

Heeding Lucius' warning, Boga stops. "Everywhere we turn, there lies another enemy to God. Why are there so many? How can there be so many? How do so many stand against God?" Boga clears his head with a shake and looks toward Lucius.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 Anything unusual in the room? Besides a chained centaur!?

Heeding Lucius' warning, Boga stops. "Everywhere we turn, there lies another enemy to God. Why are there so many? How can there be so many? How do so many stand against God?" Boga clears his head with a shake and looks toward Lucius.

[dice=Perception]1d20+16 Anything unusual in the room? Besides a chained centaur!?

Boga detects pin points of unholy hellfire flickering in the eye sockets of a few of the fully intact, armored skeletons lying amid the general bone piles in the corners...

”What is Lamia?” Zagathoth asks in broken Italian as he holds doomcrescent at the ready.

"A creature of the evil one." Lucius responds, "They come in many forms. Although I believe this creature - she could not lie to me in this." He shakes his head. "This is a trap though. She evades my questions and seeks to mislead us."

Is this the only way onwards? Can we go around/shut them in etc or do we simply know its a trap and have to go in anyway?

"Hisss..... hisss....."

Johann moves back and forth in place, waiting for the battle to begin.

Not a trap if we expect it... someone with a ranged spell blast her or the skeletons.

This does appear to be the only way onward...

LEVEL 2 OF THE DEEPER CATACOMBS

The party is at the entrance to the chamber marked #8 on the map...

Boga gasps as he spots the hiding skeletons, "A trap!" He grabs Lucius' shoulder and carefully starts backing up. He moves his head close to Lucius', but rather than flicking out his tongue, he whispers "Notice the light in the skeletons' eyes. Careful!" He waves his hand vigorously behind his back to attract the attention of the others and points back the way they came.

As Boga retreats, he carefully eyes the "centaur".

Planes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 What is she, really...

Planes: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

"She seems nice, definitely not an evil monster waiting to rip us to pieces."

Realizing her deception isn’t working, the “imprisoned centaur” allows the illusory disguise to fade, revealing her true form—a beautiful woman from the waist up, with the centauric lower half of a lion! The shackle and chain also vanish...

If you will not come and embrace me... then I shall come to you, and steal a kiss! Hahaha!

As the lamia reveals her true form, four skeletal champions arise from the corners with a rattling of bones and rusty mail! They draw rusty longswords from moldy scabbards...

As if the lamia and four skeletal champions weren’t trouble enough, a pair of dark shadows rise up from the floor to either side of the lamia! These whisper unintelligible threats...

A lamia, 4 skeletal champions, and 2 shadows! Should be a challenging fight! I’ll generate initiatives...

INITIATIVES:
QUINLAN 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
CARDINAL LUCIUS 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
COBRA JOHANN 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
SKELETAL CHAMPIONS 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
LAMIA 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
ZAGATHOTH 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
OGON FOX & ORPHEUS 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
SHADOWS 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
BOGA HAND OF JAN HUS 1d20 ⇒ 16

CRUSADERS VS LAMIA AND UNDEAD! ROUND 1!! FIGHT!!

ZAGATHOTH!
CARDINAL LUCIUS!
QUINLAN!
BOGA, HAND OF JAN HUS!
OGON FOX & ORPHEUS!
LAMIA!
COBRA JOHANN!
SKELETAL CHAMPIONS!
SHADOWS!

EEEEEEK!!

I will post a pic of battle mat when I get home from work, probably tomorrow, but for now: Crusaders begin just west of the double doors leading to area 8; lamia is basically at center of chamber 8, flanked by the 2 shadows, and the 4 skeletal champions are in the four corners, one in each... Hope that helps!

Quinlan looks around as if expecting even more enemies to materialize. "Right, because a Lamia and some skeletons wouldn't have been hard enough. Let me see if I can even the odds a bit."

Quinlan gestures at one of the shadows with both hands and speaks a familiar incantation.

Command undead, burn AP for DC 20 will save.

Zagathoth steps to block the open door (standing outside the room, not in it) in order to take advantage of the natural choke point it provides. Raising doomcrescent above his head, he readies himself to bring it down on any enemy brave enough (or foolhardy enough) to come within his reach.

readied attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, for: 2d4 + 13 ⇒ (2, 2) + 13 = 17

Quinlan looks around as if expecting even more enemies to materialize. "Right, because a Lamia and some skeletons wouldn't have been hard enough. Let me see if I can even the odds a bit."

Quinlan gestures at one of the shadows with both hands and speaks a familiar incantation.

Command undead, burn AP for DC 20 will save.

Will save vs DC 20 command undead 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 fails! One shadow is under Quinlan’s control!

Remember the Holy Mother’s boom... Might come in handy for this battle!