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Brayne's eyes turn a deep black glow, but this time along with it, he transmutes into a bestial, more demonic form of himself. He grows slightly in size, his nails enlarge into bestial claws, and tiny spirit wisp appear in the shape of bats that circles his body. Without a thought, Brayne lashes out at the creature in front of him!
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Entering the portal, Fuzzfoot downs an elixir reducing his small size to an even smaller body. In a high pitched voice, he says "Smaller target!" Then he also takes a transformative mixture to make him more agile.
------
As the beasts emerge, Fuzzfoot quickly recognizes them. "A baphomet, charging at us! It is an advanced fiendish version of an auroch. And those other two are clearly minotaurs!"
Seeing the largest initial threat to be the baphomet, at least to his friends, Fuzzy mixes a bomb and tosses it at the large creature, using his precision to avoid splashing the others nearby.
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Caller of the Eastern Storm recognizes the 'bull' for what it is, "A bull of baphomet! It's a advanced fiendish aurochs. 'Ware its attacks: smite good, stampede, trample. It has no special defenses, but it might be resistant to some types of energy and spells."
Fuzzfoot adds, "It has no particular weaknesses, but it's strong as a bull!"
A glance at the bull-headed humanoids is enough for Fuzzfoot to recognize them, too. "Minotaurs! Their natural armor makes them as tough to hit flat-footed as when they're on their toes, em, hooves, but they're large, so it's pretty easy to hit them with a touch attack. They can attack with powerful charge, and their horns will gore you with even more damage."
Then the Shoanti brings his weapon to bear against the minotaur to the rear of the party, delivering a terrible wound to the creature.
Brayne, goes beast-mode, claws, teeth and wispy bat ripping into the bull of baphomet. Nothing but fiendish cold cuts remain, blood seeping into the sand.
Caller
Brayne
Nella
Fuzzfoot
Kulga
Lancyn
---
Red
Pink
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Hearing that the bull creature is likely to be resistant to fire, Fuzzfoot decides to try and help by slowing it down for the others. He quickly mixes a concoction of green slime and a brown honey-like substance, and swallows it down. A second later, he makes a funny face, hocks up a loogie, and spits it right at the creature.
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Fuzzfoot follows Kulga, and when he sees the large minotaurchugs an extract and spits a viscous liquid at the pink minotaur, entangling it in a green goober.
The red minotaur bellows a challenge at Caller of the Eastern Storm, and swings his greataxe and gores with his wicked horns.
The entangled pink minotaur roars and lays into Kulga.
Caller
Brayne
Nella
Fuzzfoot
Kulga
Lancyn
---
Red
Pink
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Lancyn sensing something is off requests Iomedae's aid and bolsters his arm with a bit of Divine Favor form the Inheritor.
Lancyn orients himself as his boots hit the ground only to be immediately assaulted by some unknown bovine. attempting to dive out of the way from its attacks Lancyn attempts to size it up.
Using his shield to deflect most of the blow the Paladin yells out "Are you the foul demons that befell the acolytes!?"
Lancyn steadies himself and begins to work his way around towards the Minotaur in pink garb. Moving in he swings his longsword aiming for the beasts gut.
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Stepping through the portal Lancyn appeals to Iomedae for her favor. Proceeding down the wadi with his companions, he's trampled by the bull of Baphomet, but he avoids the worst of the churning fiendish hooves.
After Brayne slays the bull, the paladin marches up to the pink minotaur and gives it a taste of his blade.
Caller
Brayne
Nella
Fuzzfoot
Kulga
Lancyn
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Red
Pink
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*Red Minotaur must make a DC16 Fortitude Save or be blinded (per the spell) from armor of Spell Storing*
Caller let's forth an audible grunt as the Minotaur's axe slams into him, and utters a three word prayer as the divine energies held within his armor activates in retaliation.
"Ati Feci Domoni!"*
*=Stay back evil![Celestial]
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With the immediate threat around him defeated, Brayne shrinks and reverts to his former self. He then follows Nella to assist Caller against the monster. As soon as he gets into sight, his eyes turn a deep black as he looks directly into the minotaurs eyes attempting to place a thought inside him. "Fall!" He growls monstrously.
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Fuzzfoot drops a bomb on the pink minotaur and Kulga finishes off the beast with sword and shield. Lancyn ensures the creature will never rise again.
The red minotaur shakes off the party's magic, drops his axe and dodges Caller of the Eastern Storm's melee attack.
Roaring its rage, the minotaur lowers its horns, attempting to gore the Shoanti oracle.
Caller
Brayne
Nella
Fuzzfoot
Kulga
Lancyn
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Red
Caller of the Eastern Storm swings his weapon at the red minotaur. Cursing, the Shoanti moves back out of the way, so one of his comrades can fell the beast.
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Kulga moves around the rock face, past Lancyn, and enters the side ravine next to the minotaur but underneath the reach of its greataxe. The bull-headed humanoid tries to gore her with its horns.
Having dodged the minotaur's horns, Kulga bashes into the minotaur with her shield, a mighty blow that shoves him back against the ravine wall behind him and knocks him prone.
Fuzzfoot lobs a bomb onto the minotaur, avoiding the dwarf.
Caller
Brayne
Nella
Fuzzfoot
Kulga
Lancyn
---
Red
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Caller of the Eastern Storm pulls a piece of flint and a pinch of silver dust from his spell component pouch and chants a mysterious Shoanti mantra. A brilliant flash of shimmering light engulfs the minotaur, frying it like a rack of ribs on the grill.
After the fight, you find the Sarenites several hundred feet farther down the passage. The
Dawn flower’s priests have also just defeated a group of minotaurs.
Once all of the Sarenites have safely returned to the Material Plane, Scion Lady Xerashir of House Shamyyid speaks, "Thanks you, Pathfinders."
"Someone must have tampered with the magical foci we used, causing the spell to fail. When we completed the ritual, a gateway formed that drew us into that Abyssal realm. As the portal closed behind us, I could see a woman’s silhouette as she tossed something through the portal and grimly intoned, ‘My sister’s memory earns you mercy.’"
"It was this," she reports, holding up a silver holy symbol of Sarenrae, stamped with the word ‘Oppara,’ and notched as if by a blade. "This style only saw use in Taldor by hidden congregations, including one that reactionary Opparan officials tried to stamp out about six years ago."
Scion Lady Xerashir of House Shamyyid regards you with a thoughtful gaze, "Was there not a prominent leader in the Society who lost a sister in that incident? A pasha who went rogue? This alone may not be evidence of her involvement, but whoever sent us to the Abyss seemed to want us trapped, not killed."
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Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin is busily receiving reports and dispatching teams from near the gates of the Grand Lodge. It is there that he meets with you.
"We've received some troubling news from the Puddles. The Muckruckers—a volunteer force of guards watching over the district—have reported that Fort Tempest has suddenly fallen silent, and a strange black flag is flying over the fort."
"Despite the Muckruckers’ concerns and observations, nobody has stepped up to investigate what’s happened. I suspect that while most of Absalom has been watching the Cairnlands to the north, an enemy force has silently taken over the secondary fort that oversees the Puddles district. Whatever has happened in the fort, the First Guard can’t spare forces to look into it."
As you struggle to recall what you can about Fort Tempest, Ambrus Valsin answers your unasked question. "The fort has a rather poor reputation. In recent centuries, being stationed there has become an unofficial punishment for guards throughout the city."
"Your job is to lead the Muckruckers into the fort, find out what’s happened, and provide aid as necessary. They look up to you as heroes; don’t let them down."
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A half hour later you find yourselves leading the Muckruckers toward Fort Tempest
Except for a tattered black flag waving over the fort, initially nothing looks out of place as you catch the fort in your view. However, as you—with the Muckruckers in tow—get closer,
Black Echelon operatives open fire using crossbows to deter any attempts to retake the fort. You're going to have to lead the Muckruckers through enemy fire.
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To expedite play and increase the chance we can finish the Grand Lodge faction mission, I'll present all the obstacles at once. In your post, please indicate for each obstacle the skill you're attempting or ability you're using.
Once everyone's responded, I'll indicate the party's results at each obstacle and for the overall encounter.
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Suddenly, dozens of hidden enemies within the fort open fire on your group!
Quick Reflexes: DC17 Reflex save
Survival Instinct: Initiative check (DC20)
As arrows rain upon you and the Muckruckers, you must lead your allies away from the killing field.
Predict Attacks: DC24 Sense Motive check
Zigzag: Hard Acrobatics check
You must pick a route that doesn’t leave you exposed to focused fire.
As a Shadow: DC24 Stealth check
Optimal Route: DC27 Perception check
Running from cover to cover, you must coordinate the Muckruckers so they don’t just rush to their death.
On My Mark: DC27 Diplomacy check
Go Go Go!: DC24 Intimidate check
Broken wagons and other barriers block your way to the fort.
Break Through: Combat maneuver check (DC24)
Dismantle: DC20 Disable Device check
The gates are closed, so climbing the wall is the only option!
Cracks in the Wall: DC24 Climb check
Use Rope: Ranged attack roll (DC24)
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Fuzzfoot uses his Quick Reflexes to duck and cover!
Despite his training in acrobatics, the halfling instead tries his hand to Predict Attacks, making sure to avoid being where he thinks the arrows will fall.
Moving as quiet As a Shadow, Fuzzy tries to keep hidden from the enemy.
Leading the others is a little less inside Fuzzfoot's comfort zone, so he tries to simply get them to Go Go Go!
Large obstacles are a pain to go around, but sometimes a little work and you can just Dismantle the thing.
[ooc]OVER THE WALL
The gates are closed, so climbing the wall is the only option! [/dice]
While many figure halflings are natural climbers, that's one area Fuzzfoot Hogan has never been stong at. But maybe if he can Use a Rope, he job will be much easiler.
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Kulga spends quite a bit of time grumbling about dead weight as they approach the fort, and when their enemies turn out to be prepared for them, it only blackens her mood further.
Kulga's battle-honed reflexes serve her well, and her shield is up at the first thrum of a bowstring!
Unfortunately with a horde of too-talls around her, she's unable to get a clear enough view to direct them properly.
Kulga's not afraid to take a few wounds, but being shot from afar is no true battle, so she sees nothing wrong with finding a safe route hidden from her foes' eyes.
Kulga's brusque, and frankly disinterested, style isn't enough to shepherd the Muckruckers by herself.
Even Kulga's mighty strength doesn't have quite enough leverage by herself to batter the wagons out of the way.
But after a practiced toss of her rope, scaling the wall should be a cinch!
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Surprise Volley: Caller moves with cat-like reflexes to avoid the incoming volley of arrows... or tries to.
Run for Cover: Caller attempts to read the enemy's actions.
Safe Route: "Let's go this way!"
Coordinated Movement: "Move NOW if you want to live!"
Obstacles: Caller attempts to smash any barriers that block his path.
Over the Wall: Caller drinks the POTION OF FLY(ing) and will ferry as many people (18 Strength, current light encumbrance) back and forth and/or carrying up the rope in order to secure it in place.
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Caller of the Eastern Storm, Fuzzfoot, and Kulga lead the rest of their Pathfinder team and the cohort of Muckruckers through the hail of Black Echelon missile fire.
When suddenly, dozens of hidden enemies within the fort open fire, you survive the first surprise volley thanks to the quick reflexes of Fuzzfoot and Kulga.
As arrows rain upon you and the Muckruckers, Fuzzfoot senses where the deadly missiles will strike, and he leads you and your allies away from the killing field.
Kulga takes over and leads everyone along a concealed route that doesn’t leave you exposed to focused fire.
Caller of the Eastern Storm directs the team through the kill zone, running from cover to cover, coordinating the Muckruckers' movement, so they don’t just rush to their death.
Fuzzfoot takes charge when you near the walls, and he directs the reduction of the minefield and other barriers blocking your way to the fort.
You finally reach the walls, but the gates are closed, so climbing the wall is the only option. Fuzzfoot and Kulga employ ropes to scale the walls. Caller of the Eastern Storm draws a potion of fly, in case it's needed, but the halfling and the dwarf have the situation well in hand.
Thanks to the efforts of these valiant heroes, the Pathfinders take no damage, the Muckruckers take only light casualties, and the enemies gain no special advantage.
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You clamber onto the fort’s ramparts with the Muckruckers in tow. While the Muckruckers split off to secure nearby buildings and protect your flanks, you must deal with undead in the courtyard.
Black Echelon operatives guarding the courtyard immediately attack. You spot seven of the them, four of which do not look like the operatives you faced earlier in the Forae Logos.
Nella
Caller
---
3 Black Echelon Operatives
4 ????
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Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
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Thankful to count the quick and agile among her team for this outing, Nella does as she told as the group makes their way into the fort - stepping where they step, dodging when they dodge, and being as quiet as she can. By the time they finally scale the ramparts and pull themselves up onto the wall, she's a little out of breath but feeling optimistic about their chances.
"That was harrowing but I knew we could do it! Good job you guys; the rest of us would've been pincushions without you," she whispers as she takes a look around...and spots the welcoming committee down in the courtyard below.
"These guys look different! Watch out for their ____ attack!" she warns as she quickly produces one of her many wands and grants the party a blessing with it. Then, she hustles along the wall towards the stairs, trying to put a little masonry between herself and the enemies' gaze.
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