Turngut misses both of his attack and then gets struck by his friend Nalia once again.
Calia darts over to Nalia and lays her hand on her shoulder I'll heal you next Turngut! Holy power from Nalia's blade flows outward into Calia as she cure serious wounds Nalia .
Initiative Order Round 4
Poppo (11 Damage)
BobE
Shadow Possessed Dunwar (42 nonlethal)
Nalia (1 Damage)
Turngut (53 Damage)
Calia
Poppo is once again able to nonlethally strike Dunwar!
BobE you're up!
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What are you doing? Don't heal Nalia until she is back in her right mind! Beatrip, get Nalia's attention. Dont kill her!
BobE bows his head and holds out his hand. A skinwraith appears and attacks dunbar.
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/undead/skinwraith
About time, you little hussy
A skinwraith suddenly appears behind Dunwar but is unable to grapple the elf. Beatrip flanking with Turngut slams twice into Nalia, blood gushing from the nose of the lady warrior.
The tentacles from Dunwar's back try again to collide with Nalia and Turngut but this time both tentacles miss. As Beatrip slams into Nalia, Calia looks terrified at the phantom and BobE What are you doing!? She's not well! Whats your solution kill your friend?!
Everyone can go
Perhaps the sister's at the convent didn't teach this fact. Maybe Nalia happened to be daydreaming on the day that her training master went over what never to do to an orc. Perhaps she ignored the warnings about a cornered and wounded orc and considered them myths. Today however, all those errors come crashing down on Nalia as the already scarred and traumatized orc next to her is wounded, shaken, confused and now uncertain of friend vs foe...
<Turngut rages>
RRRrrrRRAAAaaarrrhgh!!!
Eyes going wide with non-recognition, Turngut howls savagely and grabs the closest thing to him that is causing him pain.
Turngut gets a +5 to CMB to maintain grapple. CMB to maintain grapple = +16 (+18 with dan bong).
If maintains grapple can: 1) pin, 2) damage, or 3) move
Armor spikes do additional damage on successful grapple check.
If both hands are not free, take -4 to CMB check.
Neither can move (outside of the grapple)
Both:
- Take a -4 to Dex
- Take -2 to all attack and CMB checks except to grapple or escape a grapple
- Can’t take any action that requires two hands
- Can't take AoOs, can't use stealth (but if they do become invisible, they gain +2 to CMD against the grapple).
Magic:
- Can’t cast spells with a S component (there is some variations on this rule, but no errata to change it)
- All materials must already be in hand
- Must succeed at a concentration check in order to cast the spell (DC 10+grappler's CMB+spell level), failure means they have lost the spell
Pinned:
- Can’t move
- Denied Dex bonus and takes additional -4 AC
- Can’t cast spells with a S component. Conc check as above.
Poppo growing desperate, swings his boarding axe, still non-lethally against the shadow inside Dunwar. He then tries to add in an acid splash, but alas, he can’t seem to concentrate in the shadow world.
Listen! Attack the shadow creature! Not each other! The little halfling roars.
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Nalia comes out of a fog into the not so friendly embrace of her friend Turngut. Instantly she knows what she's done against her will as she is feeling the life being squeezed from her. She shuts her eyes and prays to malphas for healing for Turngut, not making a sound or a struggle, like a limp rabbit in a hounds mouth, hoping he'll drop her for more interesting things to smash.
Nalia finally comes to her senses and tries to strike the corrupting creature but misses her attack. Then is suddenly grappled by Turngut.
Let her go you big buffoon! Take out the thing on Duwnar! she says laying her hands on the orc healing him
Initiative Order Round 6
Poppo (11 Damage)
BobE
Shadow Possessed Dunwar (52 nonlethal)
Nalia (24 Damage)
Turngut (25 Damage)
Calia
Poppo is able to land yet another attack but Beatrip nor the skinwraith are able to do anything to the creature. BobE does a small heal for the group.
The shadow creature moves out of the kill box and attacks Poppo and the Skinwraith landing both of its attacks The tentacles then wrap around both Poppo and the Skinwraith. The Skinwraith seems unaffected by whatever affect the grapple seems to have on others.
You begin to hear whispers in your head after you are grappled. Kill them, kill your friends. Make a will save DC 18, on a success you are fine, on a fail you must attack attack your nearest ally.
It releases both the skinwraith and Poppo from its grasp.
Everyone can go!
The tendrils finally get to Poppo, he turns and takes a swing at the nearest ally, Beatrip! A wild look in his eyes!
Turngut continues to look at Nalia with no recognition in his eyes, but he lets her go anyway. Tapping his heels on the ground, he activates his magical boots and dive-tumbles past Dunwar to get into a flank.
Once in position, he cocks his fist back and spins it a few times before sending a huge uppercut at Dunwar (cue Popeye music).
Turngut cautiously releases Nalia then tries to to acrobatics through a square threatened by the shadow possessed elf. Unfortuantly Turngut isn't quite able to dodge Dunwar's attacks and he is struck and subsequently grappled .
You begin to hear whispers in your head after you are grappled. Kill them, kill your friends. Make a will save DC 18, on a success you are fine, on a fail you must attack attack your nearest ally if possible since you are still grappled. If you pass you are still able to strike Dunwar but unfortunately does not knock him unconscious.
Nalia clearly shaken by being possessed to attack her friend and comrad Turngut cant seem to land a hit that would not cause harm to Dunwar. She then knits together some of her wounds with magic.
Seeing Turngut take a big hit Calia darts over and again lays her hand on Turngut .
Initiative Order Round 7
Poppo (11 Damage)
BobE
Shadow Possessed Dunwar (52 nonlethal)
Nalia (20 Damage)
Turngut (23 Damage)
Calia
Poppo manages to land his attack on Dunwar but hardly any of the damage goes through.
BobE does another small heal while his skinwalker tries to grapple Dunwar but yet again is unable to. Finally as Beatrip slams once into Dunwar and black shroud pulls itself out of the elves body and disapears into shadows. Out of initiative, still make that will save Turngut to see if you damage an ally. Dunwar is completely unconscious but besides looking pale as ice his condition is stable.
Sorry a bit of a mistake on my part, Poppo attacked Beatrip but she still does enough to take down Dunwar.
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Breathing hard, and still looking a little wild eyed, Nalia looks around at all of the party.
[b]What the heck was all of that? Turngut, are you ok? That creature took me over, same as it seemed to have taken over Dunwar. What are we doing in this place? Can we look over Dunwar and see if we can get us out of here? Is this another door to the west?[/dice]
From BobE's planes check he know's very little about this creature. He doesn't even know its name, but knows that it infects those who have a weak will and faith with Malphas. On the other side of the room is a magical dark blue magical barrier. Eight pressure plates cover the floor in various places in this room. Calia insists that Dunwar will be fine but you're not sure from your heal check Nalia.
Retcon round 6:
As Turngut tries to dash through, he takes a bash from the black tentacle. Normally, his rage aided brain is resistant to mind control, but in his shaken state, he succumbs to the tentacles commands.
Poppo gives Beatrip a funny look, I'm sorry Beatrip, I don't know why I did that, or maybe I thought I had more control than that?
Still a little confused by his own actions, Poppo gets back to business. Poppo turns to studys the pressure plates trying to figure out how they relate to the blue portal.
Before the battle is over Turngut strikes the skinwalker but only deals five damage to it. You can give me a knowledge engineering or knowledge arcana. BobE isn't quite sure what the pressure plates do. BobE thinks Dunwar will be fine but looks completely exhausted.
Current PC HP
Turngut - 28 Damage
Poppo - 11 Damage
Nalia - 20 Damage
BobE - 0 Damage
Beatrip - 8 Damage
Calia goes around and heals the injured.
PC HP After Healing
Turngut - 9 Damage
Poppo - 3 Damage
Nalia - 3 Damage
BobE - 0 Damage
Beatrip - 0 Damage
Without the distraction of Dunwar and the strange shadow that possessed him you are able to analyze the runes. It is my task to what Malphas wishes of me. If that is to go with you then it shall be done. Calia says as she watches over Dunwar.
Poppo stares at the runes on the arch and the ones on the pressure plates.
The humming of the runes is consistent and they do not hum in any particular order.
Turngut looks sheepishly at Nalia, Poppo and Dunwar. Turngut sorry. He stammers, not sure what else to say to those that he tried to beat up, either on purpose or under mind control.
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I think we all went a little crazy there. Me most of all!! I'm sorry I attacked you but I'm glad it had to be you as at least you can take it. I'd have felt terrible if I'd killed Calia or BobE in my crazy rage. I would have thought I'd be able to control my mind better than I did. It terrifies me that I was so weak....
Poppo looks around as Turngut and Nalia apologize for losing control, he gets that goofy smile on his face. But it is clear he's focused on moving forward. He looks at the first ruin on the arch, finds the associated ruin pressure plate.
Here goes nothing, or maybe everything!
He steps on the pressure plate.
Then just as he is stepping he has another thought, What if the plate chooses a destination?
As Poppo steps on the pressure plate the matching runes on the pressure plate and above the door begin to glow a deep purple.
Poppo proceeds to check both theories. He walks to the next ruin and steps onto it.
Nobody move!
As Poppo steps off the first rune both the rune on the door and pressure plate stops glowing. When you step on the next pressure it does not glow on the door or the plate.
Poppo face drops into an immediate frown.
Well that did work like I thought.
He steps off the other pressure plate.
Everyone can move just don't step on the plates.
Let's just wait a minute, Nalia and Calia, maybe pray they light back up.
He sits on the floor and eats a shadow orange from his shadow pouch.
Yeah I think you are right Nalia, but all the lights are off now.
Poppo puzzles for a moment.
Unless?
He goes and stands on the first plate again.
As Poppo steps on the first rune again both the rune on the pressure plate and the matching rune on the door glow a deep purple. I'm not really one for solving puzzles. Calia responds And as this is meant to be a test I doubt he would just give us the answer.
Poppo gives Calia a sneer, Well I mean, asking shows trust and reliance doesn't it; maybe that's the test.
Turngut go stand right there. Poppo points to the second ruin's pressure plate.
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BobE focuses on caring for his friends and asks beatrip to patrol the perimeter looking for threats.
I think you are onto something only.. how many people do this trial at a time. If the challenge is usually done my one person, then any solution which requires more than 1 cant be right. Poppo why dont you try jumping on the runes in order?
Happy to have someone tell him what to do again, Turngut nods awkwardly at Nalia, then steps away and onto the second rune.
Oh! OK, Hoppo. Turngut stand very carefully.
Turngut stands on the next rune and both the pressure plate and matching rune above the door glow.
Poppo instructs everyone, one at a time to step on the ruins in order.
Nalia stand there, Calia stand there....
Everyone stands on the pressure plates in order but you find that their is one pressure plate left and no one else to stand on it.
One short -- I was afraid of that?