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Nella recognizes what the four new types of undead are. "They're Black Echelon agents, lesser brethren of the three Black Echelon operatives at their rear . Their attacks are the same--sickle, claw, or darts--but weaker, including the toxicity of the poison on their darts."
With a *snick* she releases her wand of bless from her spring-loaded wrist sheath into her hand, activates it, and moves toward the steps leading down from the wall to the courtyard below.
Nella
Caller
---
3 Black Echelon Operatives
4 Black Echelon Agents
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Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
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Caller summons forth divine energies once again to destroy the undead, "Fiti Obath!"
Caller casts Burst of Radiance. DC 15 Reflex Save. Targeting the middle corner, all should be affected.
As the magical burst takes effect Caller turns to Nella and smiles... then he moves forward to confront the enemy.
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Caller of the Eastern Storm lobs another burst of radiance at the clustered undead, wounding all of them, blinding most, and leaving the rest dazzled by his brilliance.
The Black Echelon horde rolls forward like a silent tide, the blinded creatures moving slower than their dazzled lifeless brothers, bumbling into masonry walls and stumbling down stone steps.
Nella
Caller
---
Maroon Black Echelon Operative
Pink Black Echelon Operative
Red Black Echelon Operative
Green Black Echelon Agent
Orange Black Echelon Agent
Purple Black Echelon Agent
Yellow Black Echelon Agent
---
Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
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The four Black Echelon agents collapse, destroyed by Caller of the Eastern Storm's burst of radiance.
Brayne shuffles along the top of the wall and casts guidance on Kulga.
Muttering something about importance of a dwarf's quadriceps' and hamstrings' girth being more important than their length, Kulga scurries across the wall and leaps over the battlements and onto the stone steps. As she prepares to stick the landing, the pink Black Echelon operative lashes out at her with its sickle.
Feet firmly planted once again, Kulga bashes the undead creature with her shield. The Black Agent operative tumbles down the stairs and into the wall at the base.
Nella
Caller
---
Maroon Black Echelon Operative
Pink Black Echelon Operative
Red Black Echelon Operative
---
Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
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The four Black Echelon agents collapse, destroyed by Caller of the Eastern Storm's burst of radiance.
Brayne shuffles along the top of the wall and casts guidance on Kulga.
Muttering something about importance of a dwarf's quadriceps' and hamstrings' girth being more important than their length, Kulga scurries across the wall and leaps over the battlements and onto the stone steps. As she prepares to stick the landing, the pink Black Echelon operative lashes out at her with its sickle.
: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 = 7; 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Feet firmly planted once again, Kulga bashes the undead creature with her shield. The Black Agent operative tumbles down the stairs and into the wall at the base.
Nella
Caller
---
Maroon Black Echelon Operative
Pink Black Echelon Operative
Red Black Echelon Operative
---
Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
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Fuzzfoot, still the size of a cabbage patch kid, hurries along the top of the wall, getting closer to the action.
Nella tosses a flask of holy water at the pink Black Echelon operative lying at the bottom of the stone staircase. The liquid burns through the creature's exposed flesh, ending its un-life.
From the bandolier of divine flash-bangs on his chest, Caller of the Eastern Storm snatches another grenade and hurls a burst of radiance at the maroon and red Black Echelon operatives.
The two remaining Black Echelon operatives lurch toward the steps up to the wall, following the scent of fresh meat.
Nella
Caller
---
Maroon Black Echelon Operative
Red Black Echelon Operative
---
Kulga
Brayne
Fuzzfoot
Lancyn
|
"Whew...that went better than I thought it would," Nella admits as the Muckrackers swarm into the reclaimed fort and swiftly set about reclaiming it and replacing the Black Echelon's banners with their own. "And Caller, that's a fine bit of magic you've been using against these jerks - I might have to take a page out of your book and ask Shelyn to grant me a bit of the same, next time I have a quiet moment to commune with her."
Satisfied that their job at the fort is done, Nella puts her hands on her hips and looks around at her companions. "Alright! There's still work to be done, at least a little bit - let's get to it, shall we?"
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Amenopheus and Tahonikepsu, leaders of the Scarab Sages faction, busily review brittle scrolls in the Pathfinder Society’s Starhall as they search for forgotten weapons of war that might be turned to Absalom’s defense. Amenopheus steps away to meet with you as you approach.
The Sapphire Sage carries a weathered scroll marked with silvery ink. "As you know, rebuilding our ancient order has been the main priority of the Scarab Sages, but we also take a keen interest in wondrous technology from the past and how those discoveries could benefit the present. This isn’t the first time Absalom’s fallen under attack, and there are untold defenses secreted away beneath centuries of new construction. Tahonikepsu and I have recovered several promising leads that—"
Tahonikepsu interrupts without looking up. "Amenopheus! This scroll speaks of a ritual that turns Absalom’s walls into living fire and its streets into carnivorous sand! Such potential! What a sight to behold!"
Wide-eyed with shock, Amenopheus warily turns to look back at his colleague. "To say nothing of that being more dangerous to our citizens than to the invaders, the city patched up that glaring problem several years ago after the Decklands almost leaked it to our enemies."
Tahonikepsu visibly deflates before she grabs another scroll and voraciously continues her research.
"As I was saying, we have identified a more promising and ancient defense described by—and perhaps built by—the wizard Beldrin centuries ago. This so-called ‘Gulgamodh’ is a weapon that lies buried beneath a fountain in the Precipice Quarter. I ask that you identify it, locate it, and activate it for use in the battle to come."
Amenopheus gives you a key and a yellowing map with a location called the Titan’s Fountain marked on it. According to the sages’ old texts, Gulgamodh is buried beneath the fountain, and the key should help the bearers access the weapon.
---
Amenopheus’s directions are clear and lead you to the run-down, partly collapsed fountain plaza. A curious ten-foot-tall fountain stands at the center of a plaza in the Precipice Quarter. Shaped like a giant fist and built from steel that hasn’t become tarnished despite its apparent age, it looks almost as though some titan of old had punched its fist through the ground.
When you approach the plaza, the key starts vibrating gently, and glowing script appears along the fountain’s surface.
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Caller, who appears much more comfortable with the use of written text than his general demeanor would imply, boldly tells the group, "In the tongue of the gods and their servants, the inscription says... 'Here lies Gulgamodh, aegis of Absalom. When the city needs Gulgamodh, open the locks and call it forth with true and honest intent', Who this Gulgamodh?"
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Kulga pores over what stories she knows of Absalom's early days, hoping to spark some inspiration in someone else's mind.
She smirks as she easily points out the buttons and mechanisms that "some fool manling thought was hidden. Pah! Shoddy stonework at best."
One thing she knows full well are the proper ways of requesting the aid of creatures bound to you by oaths. She might not know the specifics of Gulgamodh's binding, but the framework she devised should suffice.
For removing extraneous pieces of construction, she turns to precisely applied brute force!
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Kulga recalls a great deal about Gulgamodh. "Gulgamodh once quietly stood over the district, but centuries ago, an earthquake destabilized its foundation and caused the entire statue to descend into an expanding sinkhole that the neighborhood later filled as part of an urban beautification initiative. Only the automaton’s right arm remained aboveground, and because Gulgamodh had been deactivated, it has remained trapped there since. Two hundred years ago, an architect who didn’t understand the arm’s significance constructed a fountain that integrated the arm into its design, and the locals started calling it the Titan’s Fountain."
Having impressed everyone with her sage-like knowledge of the construct's lore, she goes to work like a busy beaver on crack.
The dwarf directs the removal of the parts of the fountain that aren’t part of the original construction. Then, she points out several hidden buttons and mechanisms that can free Gulgamodh, and finally, Kulga improvises a phrase that encourages Gulgamodh to activate.
With an ominous, thunderous groaning of metal and earth, Gulgamodh starts tearing itself free from the ground!
As Gulgamodh activates, three mercenaries emerge from the shadows of the nearby alleys.
Two of them are half-orcs wearing masterwork chain shirts and equipped with masterwork composite longbows. Masterwork falchions are sheathed across their backs. The third figure is an elf, wearing no armor but also carrying a longbow. A cloak hangs from her shoulders.
The elf speaks, "Surrender your pet golem, Pathfinders! Now."
"Yeah," says one of the half-orcs. "If you cooperate, an old friend of yours might owe you a favor, if you know what I mean... "
|
Having been a little familiar with the scared face human, Brayne attempts to negotiate purely out of his own interest, ”Look here, clearly we have the leverage, if who I think it is wants our secrets perhaps there could settlement somewhere down the line. The city is being attacked, we need ambled bodies, additionally the golem is clearly knowledge not yet discovered.If he wants the creature, he’s going to need something extremely good in favour for m.. us as a bargain.”
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Led from Misery Row by agents of Liberty’s Edge, most of Absalom’s slaves have cast off their chains to contribute to Absalom’s defense.
----------
The gathering clouds momentarily part as a beam of sunlight shines upon the Ascendant Court, heralding the return of Sarenrae’s holy warriors and the arrival of a small host of celestial guardians. These reinforcements rally alongside the paladin Ollysta Zadrian before dispersing to aid Absalom.
-----------
Warriors wearing the colors of a dozen or more noble houses course through Absalom’s streets, lending their strength directly to the First Guard. Numerous well-known aristocrats—previously thought to have fled before someone convinced them otherwise—appear at major sites and intersections to help coordinate the war effort and rally the citizens.
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Watching Kulga work is fascinating, so much so that Fuzzfoot forgets to help. Then, seeing an opportunity to jump in and realign the sigils, he manages to make a small contribution to the cause.
Following Brayne's lead, the halfling chimes in. "Yeah. And it better be quick and it better help defend this city...."
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Not to be left out, Fuzzfoot applies his own skills to the task of activating Gulgamodh, realigning the giant construct's glowing sigils and schematics, even as it's already beginning to heave itself up from where it's been buried.
It appears that Brayne's diplomatic savoir faire, even with Fuzzfoot's help, isn't enough to turn away the trio of thugs.
The elf shakes her head, "You're all quite charming, but I'm afraid we can't take no for an answer. It's not personal; it's just business." She holds her hand out. "Come, quickly toss the the key, and no blood need be spilt."
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Kulga
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
2 Half-Orcs
---
Lancyn
|
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Nella sighs. "Look around - this city seems to be on the verge of turning into a war zone. Do you really want to waste time here with us when you could be doing something more useful or taking shelter somewhere? If it'll keep you from getting into trouble with your boss then tell him you tried and we roughed you up or something."
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Fuzzfoot tosses a bomb *Kaaa Booom!* When the flames and smoke clear, the elf and her half-orc henchman stand charbroiled and more than a little ticked off.
"Oh, it's on now, hobbit!" The elf steps to the side and a little closer to Fuzzfoot, releasing a powerful bolt of electrical energy, blasting him and some of companions, before crashing into the buildings beyond. "All you had to do was hand over the key, and all this unpleasantness could have been avoided. But nooooo, you just had to stoop to violence."
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Kulga
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
Red Half-Orc
Yellow Half-Orc
---
Lancyn
|
|
Seeing that the one of the Orc is unharmed (Red), Caller decides to take on this foe one-on-one, while the other members of the group fight the Elven wizard.
*Move (difficult on stairs) and attack (Red).*
Caller lets out a war-cry and moves towards the nearest orc, "Arrgghh!"
,
*OoC: Caller is -4 on hit points.*
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Kulga hesitates, considering her options.
Red can't help himself, he's compelled to approach Brayne. He steps away from Caller of the Eastern Storm and moves past Kulga toward the half-orc oracle.
The yellow half-orc draws a bead on Fuzzfoot.
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Kulga
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
Red Half-Orc
Yellow Half-Orc
---
Lancyn
Caller of the Eastern Storm takes a whack at the red half-orc as he responds to Brayne's command.
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|
Caller of the Eastern Storm delivers a bludgeoning to the red half-orc as he moves away, and Kulga chops at him with her waraxe as he passes her, a blow that would have felled a lesser foe.
When the half-orc stops in front of Brayne, Kulga steps behind him, bashing him with her shield and cleaving him in two with another mighty overhead swing of her waraxe.
Lancyn hesitates, considering his options.
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
Yellow Half-Orc
---
Kulga
Lancyn
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Although he is a large learning rod he seems to dodge himself slightly out of the way to avoid some of the electrical currents coursing through the air.
Thinking about his current options and wondering which one of the two, the elf or the half orc, is the more dangerous opponents Lancyn moves to intercept the half-orc and brings his Longsword to bare.
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Lancyn dodges the worst of the lightning bolt, then advances on the surviving half-orc. The paladin's longsword slash is wide, and the thug evades his blade.
As Gulgamodh begins to emerge from his grave, his giant hand flails round the fountain. Luck be a lady, and the massive fingers don't land on top of Nella and Kulga.
Lancyn
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
Half-Orc
---
Kulga
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Fuzzfoot pulls the pin on another grenade and lobs it at the elf, while drawing a healing draught. Once again, she's engulfed in flame.
"Shock and awe, hobbit, shock and awe!" The elf steps up to the nearby building to get some cover and a clear shot at Fuzzfoot. She looses another lightning bolt, coursing through the halfling and the cleric before crashing into the stone walls of the fort.
Following the tremendous sturm und drang of the thunderclap, sudden and complete silence prevails around the elf. All sound is stopped, conversation is impossible, and no noise whatsoever issues from, enters, or passes through the area.
Lancyn
Fuzzfoot
---
Elf
---
Brayne
Nella
Caller
---
Half-Orc
---
Kulga
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"Whooooa!" Nella yelps as the giant statue's hand comes flailing past and nearly knocks her and Kulga flat on their backs.
She's not so lucky versus the elf's lightning though and emerges from the experience sporting some considerable burns.
"Hah...that's good, but you can't finish us that easily," Nella gasps as she begins another spell. "In fact, I think you need to take a time out and quit while you're ahead! Fall!"
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