Alamn step in or I will ..
.Summon...destroy
Back away and prepare
Do not like Balator. He is no Vraxel.
It is what it is.
Alamin looks wearily at both Balator and Randtam, A pox on willful Wizards and a curse on sutbborn swordsman. Enough, both of you! Play nice or I will sic Uuranx on your hides.
Randtam, finish your preparations and let's be on our way to Caliphas. I'm not sure what we are supposed to do there, but the trail of the Way clearly leads in that direction.
Balator takes the lead and scouts the trail/road ahead.
Balator heads down the road to Caliphas. He knows that the road following the edge of Avalon Bay will run through two cities, Thrushmoor and Vauntil, before depositing the group at Ustalav's capital- Caliphas.
The road is well traveled so he does not expect any hostilities, but one can never be too prudent....
Alamin finds a moment alone with Uuranx during their travels. Her face is creased with concern and worry-Uuranx, my friend, I am anxious for our companions. I fear the recent events and their exposure to the madness they create may have unhinged their minds somewhat. Neither has the holy faith burning withing them and without that divine shielding I'm not sure how their psyches will hold up.
It is possible their bickering is the first sign of their minds being set adrift. Once adrift, who knows what influence they may be subject to.
Keep an eye on them just in case. I fear our darkest trials still lie ahead and any splintering of our group would be catastrophic in a moment of need.
He then takes a more somber tone. "Yes Alamin, we have been facing some mind altering foes. I shall be vigilant."
The road narrows as it passes between two hillsides topped with skeletal trees looming to the east and west. Just ahead, a stone bridge spans a wide, fast-moving stream with stone sentinels in stag-antlered helms guarding each end.
A headless figure astride a dark horse with flaming hooves stands in the middle of the bridge. Clad in ragged black robes and tarnished armor, this grim, headless rider is surrounded by an aura of menace which reaches out from the bridge. You think you can almost see sparks fly as its aura clashes against those of Alamin and Uuranx.
A deep, rough voice booms out:
He looks at you expectantly.
"Looks like some tiny heads on his belt."
"A headless thing, with nearly a dozen heads. It is both amusing and horrifying at the same time, is it not?"
"And it claims to greet us but in its next breath it warns and threatens us. So I will accept your greeting as poor as it is and reject the rest."
"If you want the Raven's Head come and get it."
draws sword
So it is. I had hoped this would be your response. Your heads will be a fine adornment to my steed. Come Shenaleure.
He sets his heels into his steed and slowly canters forward towards the party. His hands come free from the reins and begin to swing a chain with a massive flail head at the end that bursts into flame and smoke.
The form chuckles throatily, I will enjoy this. You lot...probably not so much.
Action order: Alamin; Balator; Randtam; Foe; Uuranx.
Alamin quickly casts blessings of fervor on the party:
With this blessing, you call your allies to move forth and empower them to conquer and become victorious. Each round for the duration of this spell, each of your allies can choose one of the following bonuses for that round at the beginning of its turn (their choice).
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
On the headless thing:
As Balator wades into melee he gets a whiff of the toxic smokes emanating from the flail and steed.
His first swing clanks harmlessly off of the headless' stout plate armor, with the second connecting and doing some damage. Balator's third blow is a mighty strike, but the headless seems to ignore much of the damage.
NOW you meet your end Balator!
The headless flails away at Balator:
While his steed also lashes out at him:
While Balator engages the rider and his steed a trio of foul-smelling wolves with rotting flesh appear out of nowhere on the flanks and attack the remaining party members; snapping and trying to trip.
Randtam
Alamin
Alamin
If trip total is greater than your CMD you are knocked
The character is lying on the ground. A prone attacker has a –4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow). A prone defender gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.
Standing up is a move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
If bitten
~Randtam Bot; moments before the wolves attack~
Summon Bralani Azata
Randtam summons a poised looking elf-like archer, his eyes swirling with vibrant colors and silver-white hair the color of a lightning strike.
The newly summoned ally launches a volley of arrows at the headless:
But the arrows clang harmlessly off of the rider's stout armor.
Randtam narrowly avoids being bitten, but is knocked to the ground by the wolf.
Alamin easily defends against the wolves bites, but is helpless against their trip attacks and is knocked prone.
Uuranx action!
Use Rod of Quickening for Haste, +2 bonus from Alamin
attack headless thing with falchion
hasted attack
last attack
-1hp
Uuranx will also need a DC 22 FORT save for the smoke as above.
Action sequence: Alamin, Balator, Randtam, Foe, Uuranx
Alamin stands to her feet taking two AOO:
but her defense is stout!
She lashes out with her scimitar:
The two cuts severely wounding the foul creature.
staggered 2 rounds
~Randtam bot~
Randtam casts wall of force separating the wolves from melee.
The wolf bites Randtam but he is still able to get the spell off and a wall of force energy now separates the wolves from their would be prey.
~Azata bot~
Changes tactics and fires 3 arrows at the headless' steed:
Scoring one minor and one major hit!
~Azata bot~
Haste attack
Another minor hit!
The headless and his steed continue their assault on Balator:
activate touch of rage 1
attack headless with falchion
hasted attack
last attack
-1hp
Balator and Uuranx continue their assault on the headless which begins to show signs of damage.
Headless appears unperturbed at the fight he is slowly losing-You are stout foes, there can be no doubt. It will make it all the sweeter when your skulls are added to my collection!
After snapping and scratching at it ineffectually, the 3 wolves race to get around the wall of force.
Feel the wrath of Sarenrae's holy sun!
A burst of positive light energy errupts around the rider and his steed, washing over Uuranx and Balator but leaving them unharmed.
Alamin casts holy smite:
plus blind for 1 round; DC 18 Will.
The headless chuckles darklyYou'll have to do better than THAT priestess....
~Azata bot~
The otherworldly elf continues to fire arrows at the black steed:
Scoring two more hits!
~Randtam bot~
Randtam delays his action, waiting for the wolves to round the edge of the wall of force before he unleashes a devastating blast of magical fire on them.
DC 19 REF
The wolf that Alamin had previously damaged goes down, but the other two race towards Randtam and Alamin; both badly burnt.
sorry, now 2 saves
Balator action, then foes, then Uuranx.
"I'll give you better than that, you headless filth!"
Balator's massive attack leaves the headless in a pretty sorry state, but somehow it fights on!
Trying to land a blow on the nimble Balator:
Uuranx up
Strike with falchion
hasted attack
last attack
Alamin, Balator, Randtam bot, Azata bot, foes, Uuranx
Alamin moves up to engage the headless.
Randtam, use the summoned on the wolves!
But she can't find her footing and her blade slaps harmlessly off of the stout armor of the headless.
~Randtam bot~
Randtam continues to blister the remaining wolves with flame.
Scorching ray
One of the rays connects finishing off another wolf.
~Azata bot~
The summoned fires away at the final wolf.
Dropping it as well with three arrow strikes.
-61hp
Balator's last massive strike is enough to bring down the headless, felling it from its equine perch. The armor crashes to the ground - empty; whatever malevolent force that previously occupied it has been driven out and hopefully destroyed.
Riderless and seeing the ghoulish wolves similarly vanquished the maleficent steed shifts and vanishes from sight.
***end of combat***
Anything of interest left behind?
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The fallen creature's gear consists of:
+2 full plate
+1 flail
amulet of natural armor +1
ring of protection +1
and a silver medallion bearing an engraved skull with two gray, burned-out ioun stones for eyes. Small openings line the coin’s outer edge.
Is the coin trapped?
It doesn't appear trapped, but there are several small openings along the coin's outer edge. As you fiddle with it, you are able to turn the skull's head and can just make out the faint markings of some type of runic symbols on the inner plate.
You realize that you can turn the symbols about to align with the openings in several different positions and sequences. Somehow, however, the interior runes seem to need to be activated by...something; and then the disk would have to be place into....something.
Probably a good idea to hold on to this item.
Can Randtam decipher any of the runic lettering, or have any knowledge about the activation.