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upon hearing the words of the divination Garith utters a single syllable, S&@~
Well, I'm glad we didn't use the oil yet, this merits further investigation as to the nature of the dragon's return. If they have devices to corrupt the wardstones, and artifacts, there could be in the enemy's possession, similar methods for tainting souls...
Nasira, we may want to wait till the next day to do a thorough divining, as we have a shadow in the basement to kill sooner rather than later?
Shaking his head, "Yeah, that doesn't sound good at all. It sounds ta me like they've brought him back alive, and now he's on their side. Which would make the oil absolutely useless seein' how he's already alive. Blast it all! Their cheatin'! Stinkin' cheaters!" He punches his hand with his opposite fist.
Noticing Gareth is still in need of some healing, Maelchar steps up and uses one of his last few spells to aid his cousin.
Then one more on Gareth
"That should just about do you, Cousin... "
After determining that it is possibly a wasted effort to use the Oil of Life at this time and that more study and information is needed to proceed the group of heroes takes some rest and a chance to sleep. In the morning after ablations are finished they make their way back to the room containing the stairs leading down.
The dungeon lies about 40 feet under the citadel’s ground floor. The ceiling height averages to 20 feet, and demonic carvings and twisting runes decorate the walls. Numerous patches of pulsating, luminescent red lichen brought from the heart of the Worldwound provide dim lighting
throughout the dungeon, growing in patches along the walls and ceiling.
Descending the stairs you come to a set of double iron doors set solidly in the bedrock. The doors are locked but after some time Zeriax is able to get them open.
The walls of this chamber hold numerous dark, narrow prison cells. Around the main entrance stands an iron cage, with a cell door blocking entrance into the main vault. Desiccated corpses can be seen in some of the cells even from where you are standing as the bodies appear to have slowly starved to death.
The basement level has been tainted heavily by the demon presence and by spells granting it some differing planar traits.
Enhanced Magic chaotic or evil: Particular spells and spell-like abilities are easier to use or more powerful in effect on planes with this trait than they are on the Material Plane. Natives of a plane with the enhanced magic trait are aware of which spells and spell-like abilities are enhanced, but planar travelers may have to discover this on their own. If a spell is enhanced, it functions as if its caster level was 2 higher than normal.
Impeded Magic lawful or good: Particular spells and spell-like abilities are more difficult to cast on planes with this trait, often because the nature of the plane interferes with the spell. To cast an impeded spell, the caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell). If the check fails, the spell does not function but is still lost as a prepared spell or spell slot. If the check succeeds, the spell functions normally.
Whispers of Madness: Demonic spirits haunt the walls of the dungeon, and while their constant whispering never becomes loud enough to allow intelligible speech to be heard, the constant susurrus grates on the mind. At the start of every hour spent in the dungeon, non-chaotic-evil creatures must succeed at a 14 Will save to resist taking 2 points of Charisma damage as the whispering slowly drives them mad
The entire area as well is covered by the Unhallow spell:
First, the site or structure is guarded by a magic circle against good effect.
Second, the DC to resist negative channeled energy within the spell's area of effect gains a +4 sacred bonus and the DC to resist positive energy is reduced by 4. Spell resistance does not apply to this effect. This provision does not apply to the druid version of the spell.
Finally, you may choose to fix a single spell effect to the unhallowed site. The spell effect lasts for 1 year and functions throughout the entire site, regardless of its normal duration and area or effect. You may designate whether the effect applies to all creatures, creatures that share your faith or alignment, or creatures that adhere to another faith or alignment. At the end of the year, the chosen effect lapses, but it can be renewed or replaced simply by casting unhallow again.
Dimensional anchor: Forms of movement barred by a dimensional anchor include astral projection, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze, plane shift, shadow walk, teleport, and similar spell-like abilities. The spell also prevents the use of a gate or teleportation circle for the duration of the spell.
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As the doors open garith's gace twists with disgust. He whispers, [b]This place is thick with demonic Taint. Our foes will be pretected from us . The site empowers evil magics and makes ours more difficult to cast, as well as empowering death magic while Dampening the affects of light when used against the undead of fiends
ANd the voices in the walls will drive us slowly to madness
am i able to get any more info on shadow demons? I'd go for Special attacks
Typical shadow demons are CE medium outsiders (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar, incorporeal) with quick reflexes and instinctiveness (+8 init) that can see in darkness (darkvision and perception +20). Being made of shadows they are normally powerless in sunlight.
sunlight powerlessness: A shoadow demon is utterly powerless in bright light or natural sunlight and flees from it. A shadow demon caught in such light cannot attack and can only take a single move or standard action. A shadow demon that is possessing a creature using magic jar is not harmed by sunlight but if it is struck by a sunbeam of sunburst spell while possessing a creature the shadow demon is driven out of its host automatically.
As far as you know it has no other vulnerabilities.
"The creature, if it is truly a shadow demon, is susceptible to Sarenrae's light. When we find it, I will try to bring it forth to stagger the fiend."
Special attacks:
Pounce: full attack on a charge
Sprint: Once per minute for 1 round the shadow's fly speed is 240
Shadow Blend: During any conditions other than bright light a shadow demon can disappear into the shadow as a move-equivalent action effectively becoming invisible. Artificial illumination of light spells of 2nd level or lower do not negate this ability.
Feeling the chill of the evil wash over her and her friends, Nasira casts a charm of protection over them all.
"The foulness of this place is uncanny" - Zeriax offers through clenched jaws, his mind fighting off the whispers in the air.
Attuning his senses to magical auras, the monk surveys the area.
"Garith, Nasira, the corpses of these poor around us... Do they offer any threat? Should I advance towards the gate?"
The very walls and air of this place are tainted with evil yet the corpses themselves do not radiate any more evil than the air around them.
"We are in danger here... many fell magics, a taint...whispers of the mind, and a weakening of the good. Ingrained it feels as if in the very walls."
Pakak will share what he knows, or what he doesn't...
"It's an unnhallow spell at work..."
As he looks around, "You're not kiddin'. Kinda reminds me of the bad ol' days," he states plainly, nary a grin to be found.
Zero a. Picks the lock on the gate in front of the. Waiting anxiously for some hidden force to descend upon them. However it seems this area is cleared for now.
After opening the gate, Zeriax doubles back to the left, his senses in full alert as he scans all the alcoves, and then the room in hi path.
Pakak chants and attempts to dispel the effect of the unhallow
Wioth the gate opened Zeriax moves quieter than a shadow. As he moves forward he scans the bodies of the dead looking for signs of movement, signs of unlife, signs that some malignancy is waiting for him. to his relief though nothing manifests before him. Was this due to nothing being there or that they are unable to perceive the shadow that is Zeriax.
Meanwhile Pakak identifies that which is partially corrupting the basement. It is a massive evocation of evil incarnate. Focusing on the words needed and the power within himself Pakak recites the litany required to end the unhallow effect. As the last nuance of arcane power leaves him the air around crackles with energy. The unhallow effect seems to withdraw from the released power momentarily before reverting back to full effect with no diminishment.
Pakak frowns, "I am not powerful enough. I am sorry friends"
Pakak considers, and then remarks a run, "Enough defeatism... I must remember that the gods of light are with us as well, and I must know that they trust my magic for a reason!"
As the unhallow starts to come back Pakak growls in frustration as he unleashes more power behind the incantation. Suddenly it seems a burst of light shoots through the dungeon as the unhallow spell is dispelled...for now!
Pakak wipes his brow, but smiles as the unhallowed nature of the place at least has been removed.
"At least one fell working on this place is undone. Hopefully that will buy us time."
Zeriax this room looks like it was once were the jailers were stationed to keep an eye on the prisoners. It is empty now that all of the prisoners are dead. You do not see any mattresses or other furnishings that would indicate that they slept down here so you can assume that they went back up into the citadel when they were off their shift.
After checking one side, Zeriax doubles back to the other, doing the same.
It is impossible to deny that the heavy ambiance has been relieved somehow. He had heard Pakak's strong words, as the dwarf intoned his mighty magical powers. With a smile of recognition, the monk plods ahead.
The area to the south looks the same as the one to the north. This is the area where the jailers congregated. Outside of that here is nothing else of note currently.
perception fail
location
Listening at the door to the east reveals nothing on consequence so Zeriax continues to open the doors exploring more of the dungeon. What he sees peeking around the door makes him shudder as a long passageway extends past multiple prison cells before ending within a barred chamber to the east. An alcove along the south wall includes another set of iron doors leading south, while opposite this a barred gate provides access to another set to the north. The shudder is that he sees a trio of tormented souls guarding the hall—spectres formed from the souls of crusaders who underwent particularly vile rituals designed specifically to transform them into these creatures upon death. Each appears as a horribly mangled human paladin with limbs broken in multiple places, and they reach out to suck the life from any living creatures. The closest spectre is only 10 feet away!
Nasira
Maelchar
Pakak
Zeriax
Morgrym
Sir Garith
spectres
Zeriax immediately doubles back around the corner, signaling to his companions with 3 fingers, and whispering - "Spectres..."
While not able to detect that Zeriax was there, the open door was enough of a sign for the spectres to investigate. Floating down the hallway only 1 of them is able to make it past the door and see warm fleshy bodies just waiting to be sucked dry.
G or M
The spectre reaches out with a mangled arm touching the sturdy paladin on the chest. Underneath his armor Garith can feel the life being sucked out of him as the skin chars and blackens.
flat footed touch attack for plus energy drain
Garith need a DC 16 fort save or suffer 2 negative levels.
LE Medium undead (incorporeal)
darkvision
Aura: unnatural aura: animals will not approach unless a successful handle animal at DC 25 forces them to get within 30 feet. Otherwise they panic and flee away. For every 5+ over the DC you get to know 1 more thing.
Nasira raises her holy symbol and calls out for the Dawnflower's blessing.
Maelchar provides the basics to all as he creates a lucerne hammer and imbues it with lead blades.
"Blast! Deaders!" the dwarf yells, swinging his hammer again and again at the undead.