Zoli waits a few moments--as patiently as she's able to manage--and then walks over and puts a hand on both Ameiko and Xam.
"I'm glad you're OK now. What...what on Golarion happened?"
Xamarath goes on to explain what happened:
It turns out, when the stone giant army and dragon attacked Sandpoint, he and Ameiko helped lead civilians to safety beneath the Glassworks in the Catacombs. Once there, he moved to the Runewell to study privately in hopes of coming up with a trick to help the town. That’s when his father and uncle appeared. They demanded he return with them to their world. He refused, trying to explain that he has a life here. They said that he could bring Ameiko along, and keep her as his personal “slave.” They then forced the two to return to Thay.
Once there they forced Xamarath to tell him everything he had learned about Golarion and it’s people. They took a keen interest in his stories of Thassilon, and ultimately decided to study it themselves. While you were all in Runeforge, they were making their way into Xin-Shalast. They brokered a meeting with Khalib, who in turn negotiated with the strengthening Runelord. To show their goodwill, they offered Karzoug Ameiko as collateral, and used their magic to help breakdown her will and sense of self so that the sword Chellan could control her with ease...
All the while, they forced Xamarath to help them with their research, knowing his love for Ameiko would keep him in check...
While Xamarath speaks, Jeevika reviews the group's pile of loot for anything else useful; the recent encounter with the Red Wizards has convinced her that she needs to further stack the deck in her favor as much as possible. However, the Holy Vindicator also listens intently to what Xam has to say...
Shelyn Above, that's horrible!
After donning the Boots of Teleportation and the Cloak of Minor Displacement (provided that there are no objections), Jeevika perks up when she realizes that Xamarath likely spent several weeks inside Karzoug's citadel...
"Xam, I have some questions. Firstly, who or what else is left in that complex? We neutralized..." Jeevika says before listing all causalities on Karzoug's side.
"Secondly, how do we actually get to Karzoug himself? Alternatively, is there some way we can sabotage his return? He does not yet appear to be free..."
”I...I am afraid I do not know for certain,” Xamarath replies. ”Our research was limited to buildings and finds we made within the city down here. However, there was mention of ‘Leng Servants’ by Khalib, as well as his mention of beings he had called forth to serve him. Also, a being going by the name ‘Ceoptra’ seemed to carry as much, if not more, respect than Khalib...”
Ameiko steps forward and says ”I’m going with you. I want to bury a blade in that bastards heart for what he did to me!”
”Amei...” Xamarath begins, but she cuts him off.
”No! I’m doing this!” she insists.
He chuckles and looks to you all ”Looks like we are in...though, I have no idea how to reach Karzoug himself...”
___________
After thinking it over, Jeevika hands over everything she claimed from Ameiko. She also presents the +3 Punching Dagger the Varisian Rangers found back in the Vekker brothers' house.
"That's the best weapon we have for you besides ol' Angry Sword here. As for your missing gear, I think Eugeni has your ring and scarab. Meanwhile, Ryli has your headband. In my opinion, it might be best if you two exchanged headbands. Yours would augment Ryli's spellcasting, and hers is still very solid. However, again, that's just my opinion. If you feel otherwise, please talk to her."
"I can put my ring of wizardry back on. You may have your things back."
Zoli shakes her head as Ameiko's and Xamarath's stories unfold.
"I'm not sure what to say. Xam, no offense, but your family IS THE WORST!!!
"I'm sure we don't need to tell yall how risky this is, but if you're willing to help stick it to Karzoug and his gang then welcome aboard!"
Ameiko takes the dagger and says "Thanks," and seemed about to say more when she hears Zoli's words and her jaw visibly clenches. "I don't give a damn. That son of a b~### is going to pay...he's going to pay for everything..."
After some time spent in negotiation with the Skulks, the group is able to eventually trade the magical punching dagger for a weapon more befitting Ameiko's skill set.
When the group is ready, they steel their nerves and return the next day to Karzoug's stronghold. As they cautiously make their way to the top of the ramp once more, they see the field of battle has not changed. The massive piles of bodies and gore remain, the double doors still hang ajar with the large single door closed to their left.
After activating her daughter's Ring of Invisibility, Jeevika sneaks forward while keeping her senses peeled for anything dangerous or interesting...
She eventually returns to the group and reports something she saw.
"...I think I see a throne room to the west; how about we start there?"
As the rest of the group moves forward into the next large hall, you are suddenly greeted by the sight of a man in lavish green and golden robes, wielding a burning glaive. His face and arms are embedded with glistening gemstones. It is a face you have seen several times before, and it is now turned to regard you with disdain and contempt.
Karzoug.
"And so the fools have found me. I must applaud your tenacity. You are much more persistent than the worms I thought you to be. You are more like hungry maggots in your endless squirming and writhing to get to the death that awaits you at the core of your fate. I am that fate, maggots. I am your death!"
He turns his gaze to Xamarath, his eyes burning with a profound hatred. "Starting with your treasonous filth!" he snarls before pointing a finger at the red robed mage. A green beam of energy shoots forth and hits Xamarath directly in the chest!
"AAAGGHHH!!!" he cries out as his body begins to turn to dust!
"Xam!" Ameiko cries out in terror!
"Amei...I...I lo-" is all me manages to stammer out through the pain before his body falls away into dust and ash, his gear collapsing around his remains!
Zoli yells, seeing Xamarath crumble.
She takes Wrathblade and attempts to plunge it through the image's heart.
Zoli sinks her dominant weapon into the image, causing it to dissipate!
Zoli blinks and grins when her thrust causes his image to dissolve.
"Hungry maggots, indeed! Karzoug lived within one of the greatest literary renaissances of Avistani history, and that's the best he can come up with. Humph."
Then, seeing the raw pain on Ameiko's face, she walks over and puts a hand on her old friend's back. "I'm so sorry."
Jeevika blinks, and a precious diamond suddenly materializes in her hand...
"...I can trying bringing him back?" Jeevika offers gently. Being a priestess of Shelyn, she feels morally and religiously obligated to try; Xam's literal last words had been...
Ryli stops herself from calling in an ally from the First World when she realizes it's an illusion.
"How long will that spell take?" Ryli asks softly. "I wonder if we shouldn't press on, since it's little trouble to invite this one to ride the Wheel -- I can even control some of its spinning to ensure he comes back in a close approximation to his former life."
"If Lady Shelyn answers my request, three seconds," replies Jeevika. "Using a more traditional and reliable Resurrection spell, roughly half an hour. However, if Karzoug can just appear out of thin air, I'd rather we be somewhere safer for that ritual."
Jeevika studies the diamond and then Ameiko.
"Thoughts, Ms. Kaijitsu? I'm open to either course of action. Bringing your love back via my faster method isn't... guaranteed, and I have no qualms with pressing forward and continuing to bleed Karzoug. However, if you want me to try, I will try. Either way, I'm sure Ryli or I can reunite you and Xam."
Ameiko just kneels there a moment, trembling as she holds Xamarath’s ash covered robes in her hands. ”I’m going to kill him...”
She stands and begins collecting Xamarath’s things. ”We find him. Now. And then we kill him. Then we can bring Xam back,” she growls.
After putting away her diamond and carefully helping Ameiko collect Xam's gear and remains, Jeevika activates her daughter's ring and moves to scout out the throne room.
After a few long moments, she returns and reports her findings.
"I think the throne room is clear. Near the southwest of the room is another hallway. I didn't immediately notice anything dangerous there."
Zoli nods. "Agreed. Let's go."
As they walk Zoli adds, "Jeeves, I appreciate your willingness to scout--and that ring makes it handy--but I'm nervous about any of us being alone in here, especially with Karzoug's ability to scry on us.
"Why don't we go together going forward?"
Jeevika and Ameiko lead the way into the following room. The interior of this dazzling chamber is awash in golden light—it shines from every gem, every strip of gold, and every silver-inlaid wall carving, creating a kaleidoscope of color and riches. The checkerboard pattern on the floor is interrupted in a twenty-foot-wide path from the northeastern doors to a throne on a dais of onyx to the southwest by a path of what appear to be countless rubies, forming a “red carpet” of sorts to the throne itself. This throne, if possible, makes the rest of the chamber’s extravagance seem pale and poor, for it is made of shining gold, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, and draped with shimmering, glowing furs from unrecognizable creatures.
While most of the group looks at the room in awe, Ameiko seems to be experiencing a strange, numb trepidation. She looks at the throne and you can see her hand tighten it's grip on her scimitar.
"Damn."
Part of Eugeni's mind begins to calculate the approximate value of the opulence before him, while another notes his companion's distress.
"Ameiko? Is all well with you?"
Ameiko just keeps staring at the throne. "I sat on that damned chair for a long time, acting as the Runelord's mouthpiece. Slave to his damned sword. Watching as he grew nearer and nearer to his goal..."
Ryli frowns at the opulence. "It doesn't look that comfortable," she says softly.
She stays alert to threats with her echolocation spell running.
Eugeni grunts. "Then let us find the bastard and put an end to this quest which has so consumed our lives these past years. I for one am ready for retirement."
Jeevika briefly borrows the Orange Prism from Ryli and casts Lighten Object on her armor to maximize her stealth.
"...It's actually only been about seven or eight months, Eugeni," says an invisible Jeevika. "I didn't find anything of note in this room, so I think we can carefully continue along."
Jeevika briefly borrows the Orange Prism from Ryli and casts Lighten Object on her armor to maximize her stealth.
"...It's actually only been about seven or eight months, Eugeni," says an invisible Jeevika. "I didn't find anything of note in this room, so I think we can carefully continue along."
[dice=Stealth (Lighten Object, Invisibility)]1d20+34+2+20
[dice=Perception]1d20+34
"Of course, you are correct. Forgive me. It has certainly felt like years."
Eugeni floats along in Gargoyle form behind the priestess.
From a back chamber, you hear Karzoug's voice once again! "You insolent wretches will fall one by one to my magnanimity! Burn you fools!" and words of magic can be heard briefly before a single orange bead of energy flies toward the group, erupting into a massive ball of flame!
Zoli huffs. "And you, my friend, are no more than an image. You're still trapped, and you'll stay trapped until we end you for good! So there! Pbbbbbt!!"
Zoli runs through the air, getting close but not quite reaching him.
Meanwhile, just in case, Lion crawls into his familiar satchel.
Lorthan moves up and breathes a blast of cold at the wizard, taking care to avoid catching Zoli in his cone.
Karzoug looks at the approaching halfling with contempt. ”Bothersome pest. You are nothing to me! Less than nothing. Be gone!” before weaving a spell and unleashing it upon Zoli! The plucky halfling’s body begins to twist and reform, and suddenly she shifts and contorts down into the form of a hairless mole rat!
...for but a moment! With a flash of light, she reappears in her previous spot in her normal form!
Karzoug arches an eyebrow and snarls. ”An insignificant wretch such as you has been named a champion of some pathetic deity? How the standards have lapsed in this age...but not for long...”
Ameiko charges forward as fast as she can to close distance!
__________
Much like Ameiko, the invisible Jeevika begins booking it over to Karzoug; she ends her movement just behind a wall so the Runelord can't directly target her with his spells. However, the Holy Vindicator decides to be extra cautious and hides herself in the shadows of the wall for good measure.
The feeling of almost turning into a naked molerat is an odd one, but it doesn't slow the Lil Highlady.
Zoli closes the rest of the distance and swings.
Zoli’s blade again passes through the image, scattering it as leaves in the wind. As the group gathers, they find themselves in what appears to be a makeshift bunk room, with a trio of desks. All the drawers and surfaces are empty, however.
”This...this was his room. His and his father and uncle...” Ameiko mutters.
Beyond, the next room contains a pair of outrageously sized beds, each over forty feet long, which lie against the far wall of this enormous chamber. A towering stone table flanked by equally oversized chairs sits in the center of the room.
Zoli grins as Karzoug's image fades away again.
"And stay out!" She hollers.
Turning to Ameiko, Zoli touches her arm says, "I'm sorry. It wasn't fair."
As they walk through the gargantuan bedroom, a thought occurs to Zoli. "Hey, we're pretty sure he uses Sihedron items to scry on us, right? What would happen if we tucked them all in a bag of holding? Maybe we could stop him from dropping in like this? Should we try it?"
Given how the Swashbuckler has disrupted Karzoug's image twice now, Jeevika finds herself wondering if Zoli's attacks are actually hurting the Runelord somehow...
I certainly hope so. Otherwise, he can just wear use down with alpha strikes.
"That would be a bad idea. If we put all the Sihedron items in a Bag of Holding, we would likely die because kill field, Zoli," Jeevika reminds her friend. "I don't think Karzoug is 'scrying' us normally; I've seen Grandmother scry before, and I don't recall her being able to toss powerful magic through the sensor..."
"I wonder if they left anything behind. Going by their Sending to Mr. Silva, I believe they left faster than intended..." Jeevima murmurs as she gives the room a search.
"We've heard that, but do we know where it is and isn't in effect? Are we even sure it's real? I wonder.
"I mean, you're right that scrying doesn't normally let one appear and start casting spells...but could he find us if he couldn't scry us?"
"The kill field supposedly covers this entire area. Both Queen Svevenka and the Skulks - two independent and most likely trustworthy sources - verified its existence. Those powerful Red Wizards also seemed to think it necessary to wear the Shiedron bling. As such, I'd advise against taking it off; I don't see it ending well."
The invisible Jeevika continues searching the room. Surely, the Red Wizards left something behind in their haste...
"As for how Karzoug is appearing, I'd ask Mr. Silva. The arcane is his forte. That said, I am rather o... experienced. Perhaps..."
"I believe his appearances have been the result of thinning points between dimensions through which Karzoug is able to act, see, and appear. They are not images. His return is imminent. Possibly today."
"Wonderful," Ryli says as her hooves stomp the ground in a bit of agitation. "Is there a way we can predict where he'll appear?"
"Not that I know of."
After carefully searching the bedroom, Jeevika notes that this area is also essentially a dead end.
"There seems to be nothing here, so let's make the most of our time and keep advancing south."
As the group advances, Jeevika keeps her eyes and pointy ears peeled for any signs of Karzoug manifesting again...
Rather than staying in front, the invisible Holy Vindicator sneaks along the walls, hiding herself in the shadows.
Zoli shrugs. "Okay then, I guess we better hustle!
"We have the hall off the throne room. We have that hallway we skipped, off the hall where we rescued Ameiko, and one door from back there as well.
"Jeeves, I don't think any of us should scout solo with Karzoug able to pop out of nowhere, but I'm happy to scout a bit with you. Let's try the throne room hallway first.
"Oh, and I wouldn't mind a couple taps from a wand. I guess I'm a bit scuffed up after those last few fights."
With that, Zoli slips on her Ring of Invisibility (taking off her Ring of Resilience) and leads the way down the throne room hallway.
"...Are you sure? You dodged that Fireball (?) like a champ, and your sword outright ate that other spell Karzoug cast on you," says Jeevika.
"Let's explore the hallway south of the throne room first; it's the closest by. You and I can stay ahead of the others," proposes Jeevika.
Gargoyle Eugeni stalks behind the others, his double form scanning the hallway for danger.
Ryli clucks her tongue and Olympus follows along beside her as she stays with the group. She keeps her senses extended and will shout out if anything lurks within the range of her echolocation.