Karzoug appears again, this time not bothering with banter. He targets Zoli with another spell, but she does not seem hindered!
Ameiko rushes forward screaming ”You’re going to die, like you should have already, you a*+@@*$!” and swings her scimitar hard through the mage. It simply passes right through him with no effect! He smirks and retaliates with an incantation. A disgusting green cloud appears, obscuring all sight of him and those within! Jeevika can be heard wrenching from the noxious odor within.
___________
Karzoug Initiative:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Eugeni Initiative:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 Jeevika Initiative:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Ryli Initiative:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Zoli Initiative:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 Ameiko Initiative:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Elthariel Initiative:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 Lorthan Initiative:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
You hear and see no sign of traps or activity on the far side of the door. Opening the door reveals an exquisitely decorated chamber containing thick carpeting on the floor, a flickering fireplace along the northern wall, and several large nests of fine furs and cushions.
Many of the furs on the floors here are quite fine examples of exotic pelts, ranging form snow leopard to yeti. In all, there are 20 pelts, each worth 250 gold. Also, a periapt of proof against poison that is fitted into a short hair pin is found amid one of the pelts.
Zoli hears nothing at either door, and she opens the single door. It swings slowly open, revealing a chamber that is stark and undecorated, entirely different from the rest of the structure. The walls and floor are stone. Two iron doors face each other across the room to the west.
As the door opens to its fullest, Zoli catches the sight of something floating soundlessly near the ceiling. A long, lanky humanoid creature with a face similar to that of a gulper eel seems to swim along through the air above, but it's eyes are intently focused on her...despite her invisibility.
A moment later, three whirling red vortexes appear and more monstrosities appear! These creatures are deadly, viscious bouquets of insectile claws sprouting from the body of these horrid, three-legged, multi-eyed beasts! One appears within the doorway, another somewhat beneath the flying creature, and a third behind the group in the hallway!
@Zoli: For the record, I haven't cast Air Walk yet; since we split the spell, its duration is much more limited, and it would time out if we ever took an extended break. I've only got two prepared.
Not liking her current position, Elthariel carefully withdraws to a safer spot.
"...How about we just let the melee folks handle these creatures?" she proposes to Lorthan as she quickly takes cover to avoid being targeted by any of her foes' exotic abilities. "Seriously, I just saw Zoli turn one of them into cold cuts."
Lorthan lunges forward and snaps his jaws onto the creature that appeared behind the group, but his fangs seem to fail to penetrate the creatures thick, chitinous armor. Chitinous plates that begin grinding together along with the creatures clicking their mandibles, creating a maddening cacophony of sound that forces the heroes to clutch at their heads in agony. Most recover, but Eugeni and Lorthan get a maddened look in their eyes, as do Olympus and Lion!
The creatures then begin lashing out with their claws, trying to rend Eugeni and Zoli to bits! Fortunately for them, their defenses prove adequate against their foes for now. However, the attack leaves Zoli open...and a black and red beam of energy blasts Zoli from above, where the floating creature is pointing at her. She immediately feels herself become sapped of life, similar to when she was in the embrace of the succubi in the Runeforge!
__________
HP: 155/155; Resevoir 18/19 Permanent Buffs: arcane sight, see invis., freedom of movement (ring) Daily Spells: Current Buffs:
Stats:
AC 35, T 15, FF 29; 50% miss chanceFort +15, Ref +16, Will +17; CMD 26; Perception +17
Eugeni roars as his intellect is drained away. His gargoyle body swells to giant size as he prepares to tear into the monster in front of him with manual force.
Activating my Power of Giants ability, that's it. Since there's not room for a large size creature there really, someone is getting shunted somewhere.
Ryli's form swiftly turns into that of a huge air elemental and rises above the rest of the party. With her long reach, she touches Zoli and bestows upon her a ward against negative energy effects and attacks.
@Thron: Would Zoli by any chance get a Fort save against whatever energy drained her? I seem to recall that most energy drain effects (sans Enervation) allow some sort of Fort save.
With her access to melee blocked (and Zoli effortlessly killing a foe every time she acts), Jeevika instead takes a second to use her Bit of Luck ability to maximize her chance of identifying her foes; these creatures seem to have some dangerous exotic powers about which she wants to know more. The Holy Vindicator also hides in Ameiko's shadow while she thinks.
Standard action to "cast" Bit of Luck, which lets Jeeves roll all her d20s twice and take the better result between now and her next turn. Also taking a 5-foot closer to Eel Face so Jeeves can see and identify him.
”Demon Spider” = Derghodaemon. These brutal daemons personify death resulting from violent insanity, such as being murdered by a maniac or torn to shreds by a pack of rabid predators. These insectoid creatures roam the Outer Planes, scavenging battlefields and following the inevitable trail of violence in those hostile worlds. They hunt the weak and dying along the fringe of battles, feeding off their victims' suffering until they make their kill. Attacks from a derghodaemon often come from within a cloud of biting insects.
Brutish and low on intellect, derghodaemons find themselves serving as front-line fighters in fiendish armies. A derghodaemon stands 9 feet tall and weighs 800 pounds.
Special Abilities: Feeblemind Aura (Su) By grinding and clicking its mandibles and chitinous plates together (a free action), a derghodaemon can affect all creatures within 30 feet as if by a feeblemind spell. Daemons are immune to this effect, but all other creatures must make a DC 20 Will save to resist the effects. A creature that makes this save is immune to the effect for 24 hours. A creature that fails remains affected as long as the derghodaemon continues to maintain the aura and the subject remains within 30 feet of the derghodaemon. Once either condition ends, the victim of this effect can attempt a new DC 20 Will save once per minute to recover from the effect; otherwise, it can be cured by a heal , limited wish , miracle , or wish spell. A derghodaemon cannot use its spell-like abilities or rend attack in any round in which it uses its feeblemind aura. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Swarmwalking (Su) A derghodaemon is immune to damage or distraction effects caused by swarms.
Bonus Info - Defenses: DR 10/good; Immune acid, death effects, disease , poison; Resist cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 23
Jeevika 2:
”Eel Face” = Astradaemon. Believed to be creations of the Four Horsemen, astradaemons live out their existence in search of souls to harvest. These deadly creatures are ravening planar predators, openly hunting throughout the void for souls on which to feed. These voracious creatures are the personifications of death resulting from negative energy or level drain. Their vile touch drains life force from their enemies, and even perishing near them sates their thirst for life and souls.
Special Abilities: Devour Soul (Su) As a standard action, an astradaemon that begins its turn with a grappled opponent can attempt to draw out and consume the soul of its victim, killing it instantly. This ability only works on living creatures, which may resist with a DC 25 Fortitude saving throw. The save is Constitution-based. For every 5 HD of the slain creature, the daemon gains a +1 profane bonus on attacks, saving throws, and checks for 24 hours. This ability does not consume all of the soul, and pieces of it still exist after the daemon completes its feast (enough to be able to resurrect the slain victim normally).
Soul Siphon (Su) If a Small or larger living creature dies within 10 feet of an astradaemon, the daemon gains 1d8 temporary hit points and a +2 bonus to Strength for 10 minutes. These bonuses stack with themselves. Incorporeal undead and living spirits traveling outside the body (such as a person using astral projection or magic jar ) take 1d8 points of damage each round within the daemon 's aura.
Ameiko rushes back to Eugeni’s side, deftly deflecting one of the thing’s pincers, and slices at it with her blade.
After contemplating her options, Elthariel finally settles on casting Abundant Ammunition; she has four uses of that spell today, so she can worry about running low when she actually starts running low! Moreover, the odds are good that the group will be attacked before the first casting times out.
"Don't panic over the Feeblemind Aura; it's only temporary!" Elthariel hears Lady Jeevika say. Realizing that must be what's affecting poor Lorthan, the ancient ranger utters a small sigh of relief.
Ellie casts Abundant Ammunition as a standard action and stays put.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
"Gaaaaaggghhh!!" Zoli screams as she feels the life being sucked out of her.
Her face goes white as she flashes back to her horrifying abuse she suffered from Delvahine...but Ryli's timely spell helps Zoli stay steady.
She steps forward, swinging, her eyes filled with a rage she hasn't felt since she lost her mantle as Highlady of Righteous Anger. "That's. Enough. From. You!"
Zoli cuts another of the derghodaemon's down, while Lorthan roars in frustration at the noise, unable to advance to the foes and its source (Lorthan has no clear lane to reach any target to attack, especially full attack...)
The derghodaemon in the back of the group lashes out at Eugeni, and manages to claw away a piece of the stone gargoyle form away from his shoulder. Meanwhile, a swarm of diminutive copies of itself crawls forth from within it, and roils over Ameiko and Eugeni!
In the other chamber, Zoli hears a voice in her head, but is unable to make out what is said, other than the mention of a name she has heard before, "Khalib." It then lashes out at her, attempting to rend her apart. She is able to avoid it's attacks, but can feel a sickening tugging at her from within each time the creature's body comes near her.
Back in the hall, Ameiko grits her teeth at the disgusting feeling of the demon spiders crawling over her and beneath her armor, and delivers four painful looking slices to the creature with her blade.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
Out of the corner of her eye, Zoli sees Eugeni attempting to bite the daemon. "Um. Hey buddy, you feeling alright?"
With one concerned eye on her old friend, she shakes her scarf with panache and then leaps up, making four quick slices at the Eel-daemon.
"It's UNAGI TIME!"
Her first strike looks like an easy hit, but suddenly the eel daemon isn't there. With a wicked grin Zoli shifts left, and her next three strikes connect.
__________________
Swft: activate Reach scarf [1 min duration]
Full: make sushi
. . note, if it survived that, it should take 9 bleed at start of it's turn.
Elthariel scurries into the hallway and easily fires an arrow into the eye of the spider fiend. It seems that she knows how to really hurt these creatures. The ancient ranger then prepares to fire a finishing volley.
Sorry, everyone in the way. Lorthan's not smart currently.
Savage and bestial, Lorthan roars in frustration at not being able to reach his foes. However, as thousands of little creatures pour out, his instincts tell him he's got another weapon available. He opens his mouth and breathes out a cone of frigid air!
Cold DC 18:6d8 ⇒ (8, 8, 7, 2, 7, 4) = 36x1.5 vs the swarm Recharge:1d4 ⇒ 4
With a whistle, Ryli instructs Olympus to fly to the enemy that Zoli's attacking. He issues a keening cry and tries to grab it in his razor-sharp talons.
Frigid ice and cold washes over the rear of the group, obliterating the swarm but harming everyone there. The Derghodaemon lashes out at the most vulnerable foe it can, managing to only harm Eugeni one time.
The Astradaemon reaches out and takes Zoli by the throat, and againshe hears a voice in her head she doesn’t understand. Suddenly...she winks out of existence!
Zoli:
You find yourself on a vast wasteland under a rotten sky, a land perpetually cloaked in a cloying black mist and the oppressive twilight of an endless solar eclipse. There are forests of burning trees like living candelabras, and floodplains of salt and toxic sludge welcome visitors pressing through the gloom and the cold, cloying mists. Amid this desolation, all is silent save for the screams of mortal souls hunted for sport and the mad laughter of creatures feeding upon them. One such behemoth thunders nearby, a gargantuan monstrosity turns towards you and begins storming towards you hungrily! You tighten your grip on Wrathblade, prepared to fight to the death, when you are surrounded in a flash of light, and suddenly find yourself back in the room with the Astradaemon!
...but then she reappears a moment later! The Astradaemon snaps it’s head around in confusion!
__________
Eugeni Reflex:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 Ameiko Reflex:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 Derghodaemon Reflex:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Jeevika takes a moment to mend some of Elthariel's wounds. She then steps aside so that her friend can easily access the Astradaemon's room once she finishes turning the Derghodaemon into a pin cushion. The Holy Vindicator also whispers softly in Elven for Elthariel to take a step back.
Standard to cast Cure Moderate Wounds (exchanging Augury) on Ellie. 5-foot step to the south.
Just gonna wrap it up here...Zoli can finish the last one easily.
Zoli whittles the flying daemon down, but unlike most other extraplanar creatures you’ve faced, this one doesn’t vanish into nothingness...it’s body falls lifeless to the stone floor.
"Before anyone breaks out the Heals, I must stress again that this Feeblemind-effect is only temporary; Eugeni, Lorthan, and Olympus should be fine within a few minutes. Under normal circumstances, I'd Heal them in a heartbeat, but with Karzoug returning today, we need to be mindful of our resources," says Jeevika as she repeatedly slices and dices Astradaemon's head and torso into daemonic sushi.
She can't see Lion, so Jeeves has no idea that he was affected as well.
(For her part, Elthariel fills the creature's corpse with arrows.)
Once it's clear the daemon is dead, Jeevika searches the room.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
After a bit of time, the confused Lion's eyes seem to regain their familiar twinkle.
"Glad to see you back, little buddy" Zoli says, while stroking his head. "Why don't you ride in my satchel for a bit. If I need you, you can come on out."
After a couple of minutes, the debilitating effect of the daemons ends. As the group gathers, Ameiko visibly trembles as she looks at one of the cells in this prison. ”That...that’s where they kept me...while they broke me...”
She stares at it quietly a moment before turning and leaving the room. She heads to the room at the far end of the hall.
The thickly carpeted floor of this grand chamber is further strewn with expensive-looking throw-rugs and exotic furs. A nest of the same lies heaped in the center of the room, under a rotunda-like construction atop which a canopy of silks and gauzy veils adds to the chamber’s mystique.
Room A: This appears to be a personal shrine dedicated to the esoterica and philosophies of greed—the northern wall is decorated with an enormous golden Sihedron, before which sits a rune-carved altar.
Room B + C: These are two smaller, less extravagant rooms that have nests of furs as well, but appear to have not seen use in some time...
Jeevika finds that the altar (in chamber A) contains a hidden panel in which someone keeps three scrolls of resurrection, a scroll of commune, and a single enormous platinum key worth 2,500 gp. This key unlocks the doors to the cells in the adjoining prison. The gold of the Sihedron on the wall can be scraped away with an hour’s work, resulting in 1,250 gp worth of gold.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
Oooh, that reminds of a line from a the Thassilonian play The Grapes of Greed: "Spend an hour's work just to get one thousand two hundred fifty gold? What am I, a farmer?"
After a second, she allows, "...maybe it's funnier in Thassilonian.
"At any rate, I hope we don't need three scrolls of resurrection...but I won't lie that I feel a bit better with them.
"For now though, Jeeves, let's go invisible and keep on leading the way down that big hall."
After a few twists and turns in the hall, the group comes to another bend, which has a door on the right hand wall. The hallway continues on around a corner to the left.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
Zoli takes a moment to listen at the door, and to search it for traps.
Seeing no traps, but hearing something breathing, Zoli slips off her ring--becoming visible--and puts her finger to her lip to signal that she heard something.
Then she slips the ring back on and quietly opens the door...and then quietly closes it again.
Zoli reappears and motions to step back 10' from the door. Then she whispers:
"It looks like there's a Planetar in there. You know, the classic angel! I've never seen one in person but they were in, like, every frigging play for a few years.
.
"Which makes no sense...unless it's a trick, or it's been dominated...so someone want to have Dispel ready? I'm going to open it again."
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
Zoli quietly (re)opens the door (while staying visible) and says, "Hello! I am Zoli Tileani. What, may I ask, is a Planetar doing in the Halls of Greed?"
Magic radiates off the angel, but nothing beyond what you’d expect from one of its kind.
The angel turns, it’s tear stained eyes regarding Zoli and those beyond distressingly. It rotates it’s blade in its hand to a ready position, clearly about to attack!
Being rather hesitant to fight a powerful angel, Elthariel instead decides to relocate herself to avoid being in the apparent celestial's potential line of attack. She finds herself wondering if this whole thing is a trick. Regardless, the ancient ranger holds her fire for the moment...
Not wanting to ruin Zoli's diplomatic efforts, Ellie moves to the western wall and holds her fire for now.
HP 148, Luck 20, Panache 6, AC 48 (T 28, F 34) CMD 40 | F+18 R+28 W+19 (+5 6/day charmed life, +2 vs fear)| evasion, improved + uncanny dodge, reroll (save 1/day + any 1/scene) | Per+27 | Init+12
Zoli holds her hands up and steps a few feet forward. "Peace, friend.
"What makes you move to attack us? And what is the heartbreaking distress I see in your face? I know Karzoug and his minions are great tormentors. We are here to stop them!
"Will you speak with us, before moving to attack?"
The angel looks at Zoli with sad eyes, but they are also filled with determination. It tightens it’s grip on its sword and raises it in a military style salute, before a moment later hundreds of whirling blades of force appear bisecting the hall and doorway at an angle, right where several of the heroes are standing!
