Even as the many-faceted prison spins and reconfigures itself, it cannot keep pace with the combined efforts of the Pathfinder Society. A refreshing breeze pours from the immense orb, restoring the agents’ will to fight.
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How much longer will this last?! For a third time, the fortress disgorges construct guardians from the walls to fend off the Pathfinders. Two mineral monstrosities emerge from the walls to defend the shattered sanctum. Each of the creatures has the head of a carnivorous dinosaur, an homage to Ayrzul’s sacred animal.
The pink bone golem appears out of the east wall, a horrific humanoid figure, a mass of calcified bones and skulls tied together with slick ropes of sinewy crystal.
The red graven guardian appears out of the west wall, a jackal-headed, brightly painted clay statue, animated and lurching forward, hefting a wickedly hooked sword.
(+2 underground, +4 mountains)
(+2 underground, +4 mountains)
During combat, a PC adjacent to the puzzle orb can attempt an Average Diplomacy check, Average Spellcraft check, or Easy Use Magic Device check to direct the Duke of Thunder’s wrath. If successful, a PC can cast one of the following spells as a spell-like ability, using her character level as her caster level and either her own Charisma or 20 to determine the spell’s save DC. She can use any of the spells listed in her own subtier or in a lower subtier. This ability can only be used once per combat, and any summoned elemental disappears at the end of the combat.
Subtier 1–2: cure light wounds, shocking grasp, summon nature’s ally II (air elemental only)
Subtier 3–4: cat’s grace, cure moderate wounds
Subtier 5–6: cure serious wounds, lightning bolt, summon nature’s ally IV (air elemental only)
Subtier 7–8: call lightning storm, cure critical wounds, summon nature’s ally V (air elemental only)
Between combats, Ranginori can impart his insights to one PC attempting a skill check to help free him. The group must decide which PC gains this bonus before she attempts a skill check, reducing the check’s DC by one step (e.g. from Average to Easy).
Haliban
Alden
Urien
Hector
---
Pink Bone Golem
Red Graven Guardian
---
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Theo & Fairbeaks
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Urien briefly sighs in annoyance as the guardian creatures being to form again, but smiles as a strangely refreshing wind washes over him and begins quoting a somewhat low-brow comedy skit that featured Gozreh and Caiden Cailean discussing drunkenly the Eye of Abendigo and its truly epic ability to break wind and whether or not that epic breaking of wind was in fact the last act of Aroden. As he gets to the punch line, he fires an adamantine arrow at the creature who appears similar to the one he previously shattered, hoping for another lucky shot.
Move: begin bardic performance (auditory)
Swift: arcane strike
Standard: attack the dinosaur-jackal headed construct (red)
Sorrina Westyr’s image manifests to the Pathfinders, standing before a floating metallic cube scribed with countless shifting glyphs. “We have done it! Now how to open this—”
A great crack interrupts the Master of Spell’s musings, as an immense three-eyed giant with skin like hewn stone steps through a tear in space, with an army pouring out past her. The giant bellows so that all can hear. “I acknowledge your strength, little ones, for you have angered my benefactor enough to send me. I and my warriors, the Daemon Prayers, honor it with unyielding death. Seize the Vault! Slay them all!”
Sorrina Westyr urgently pipes in. “We just need a few more minutes to secure our prize and escape. Hold them off as long as you can!”
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When Sorrina Westyr makes the announcement that the Untouchable Opal is secure, numerous gates open around the Vault and enemy forces pour through. In desperation, Ayrzul has called upon the earth yai warlord Ename, who leads a band of planar mercenaries known as the Daemon Prayers. She has long sought Ayrzul’s patronage, but his concern about her ambitions and asura allies kept him from using her before.
The Pathfinders rally to confront the enemy forces and may choose to prepare to face them around the Vault itself or outside it, depending on their strategy.
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At the sound of the Sorrina's call, Theo frowns... not that he wasn't already frowning. He is a little puzzled that the refreshing wind that blew through the caverns did not cause something horrible to happen, like every other bit of the comet's environment.
Still he takes advantage of the renewed vigor to refresh this protective spell on himself, and for Fairbeaks, even speeding the bird's footsteps if there's time.
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The broken stone tower at the center of the city resonates with an unnerving note as wind forcefully billows out as if it were some manner of alien pipe organ. Ice creeps around the entrance, and the howls of hunting predators ring through the surrounding structures.
The Daemon Prayers band draws its bloodthirsty members from the Outer Planes’ cruelest and foulest villains, and their reputation for cruelty has only grown over time. A cadre of oni keeps order and directs their subordinates’ rage in a productive direction.
One of the oni, a large exotically garbed giant clad in beautiful armor, roars, its tusks glistening and its eyes afire with murderous intent. It carries a massive greatsword in one long arm and a composite longbow is slung over its back.
The oni reaches one clawed hand into the ground and grabs a large, hulking, roughly humanoid creature of dirt and stone that explodes up from the earth, faceless save for two glowing gemstone eyes.
(+2 underground, +4 mountains)
(+2 underground, +4 mountains)
Urien
Hector
Snaggletooth
---
Red Oni ??
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil
Alden
Theo & Fairbeaks
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Knowledge checks:
Resistances --> SLA's --> Special Attacks -->Weaknesses --> Their Quest --> Favorite Colour --> movements
Urien begins to quote from a tien play that described how an idiot oni tried to bully a samurai only to find out the samurai was a disguised dragon, the play ending in "oni toe jam" with a finale of the oni character becoming blinded before the dragon resumed its true form and crushed him underfoot - the oni's last words "I didn't see THAT coming."
Move: Begin Bardic Performance (audible)
Standard: Glitterdust (DC 17 Will save)
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Urien recognizes these creatures and recalls some useful information about them. He utters an incantation and tosses some ground mica dust at them. A 10ft-radius cloud of golden particles covers the oni and the earth elemental and everything in the area. The elemental doesn't seem to notice or care, but the oni roars with rage flailing about with wild swings of his greatsword.
Urien
Hector
Snaggletooth
---
Red Oni ??
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil
Alden
Theo & Fairbeaks
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Snaggletooth the rhamphorhynchus knows exactly what these mercenaries of the Daemon Prayers are, and he recalls a few things about them.
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Hector recognizes this particular type of oni, and recalls a couple of things about earth elementals. He targets the sparkling elemental first, thrusting his rapier between the cracks of its rocky skin.
The oni takes to the air, putting some distance between itself and the Pathfinders, and wipes the ground mica dust from its eyes. Switching to the Common tongue, it snarls, "You got lucky, punk. But now you've made me angry. Crush them, Mudpie!"
The earth elemental steps away from Hector, draws back both fists and punches. Hector easily parries the first blow, and both rocky fists miss the swashbuckler.
Urien
Hector
---
Red Oni ??
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Alden
Theo & Fairbeaks
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Theo swears in tian, at the sign of the oni. Growing up in Goka, he is well familiar with the reputation of such creatures, if not this particular kind.
Still, flying, it is out of his reach, so he trusts that Haliban can deal with it, as he moves in to attack the elemental, calling to Fairbeaks as he goes.
, for damage (minus DR).
Fairbeaks hears Theo's command, and leaps into action, trying to work his way around to flank the elemental. Unfortunately, it can't quite get all the way there... but does get close enough to take a peck at it.
, for damage (minus DR).
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Theo curses at the oni and then turns his anger toward the earth elemental. As the ranger gets close, the creature slams him with a giant fist. He clubs it once with his silver tetsubo, and then Fairbeaks crashes his massive proboscis into the elemental with a resounding crunch.
Urien
Hector
---
Red Oni ??
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Alden
Theo
Fairbeaks
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After a quick target assessment of the oni, Haliban nocks a pair of arrows in his bow and looses them at the airborne ogre. Those his third shot misses, the first two don't.
Ignoring the arrows buried in its chest, the oni's eyes narrow in concentration, assessing its tactical options. Then it nods, and a slow grin crosses its monstrous face.
Urien
Hector
---
Red Oni ??
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Alden
Theo
Fairbeaks
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With flail in strong hands gripping it, Alden resolutely marches forward right into the chaos of melee as he attempts to position himself at the near rear of the elemental.
Leaving his companions far better suited to handle the floating Oni..
"Mudpie? Your name is mudpie? Such a well chosen name for one such as you!!" he derides the creature.
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Like a well-oiled bucket of sheet metal, Alden tanks up to the earth elemental. The creature looks down at him over one shoulder and bellows up at the flying oni.
Ninlil summons an angry thundercloud around the oni's giant derriere. The creature seems unaffected by its flashes of lightning. It laughs when the magic fails to threaten it. "Ah, little sky creature, your stormy disposition doesn't frighten me!"
Urien
Hector
---
Red Oni Ogre Mage
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Alden
Theo
Fairbeaks
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"Once upon a time... " Urien continues his tale about the Big, Bad Oni and Little Red Riding Bard. Strange, but oddly inspiring anyway.
He snatches a trio of shafts from his quiver and draws back his shortbow. Only the second arrow hits, but it's a perfect shot. The oni plummets to the surface with a dull, but resounding thud, its eyes bulging wide in shock and awe. Then its eyes droop, as it falls unconscious.
The earth elemental swings his fists in giant circles, a little display of Aucturn razzle-dazzle.
Urien
Hector
---
Red Oni Ogre Mage
Pink Earth Elemental ??
---
Haliban
Ninlil & Snaggletooth
Alden
Theo
Fairbeaks
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Theo grimaces, as the elemental wallops him once again, even his hard dwarven head starting to ring a little from the blows.
He grits his teeth, and attempts to pummel the thing right back, swinging his studded club in wide arcs.
, for damage (minus DR)
, for damage (minus DR)
"That thing going to get back up?" He calls back over his shoulder as the oni plummets to the ground, remembering what Ninlil's familiar said a moment before, about it regenerating.
Fairbeaks seems unhappy that his foe seems to be all rock, and no meat...
But, ever the optimist, he continues to peck away at that hard shell, hoping for a chewy center!
, for damage (minus DR).
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Theo takes a deep breath, and frowns towards the sounds of more approaching foes.
"This is getting ridiculous." He growls, as he digs out his wand... frightfully low on power.
He starts using it, until it sparks and stops functioning entirely.
"Let's find the guys in charge. Maybe the rest'll bail." He adds with a scowl, as he tosses the now useless wand away.
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Hector, Theo, and Urien use their wands to heal the party's injuries.
Rummaging through his rucksack, the ranger notices the scroll of remove curse, and he wonders if it might help overcome Alden's predicament.
Theo looks up at Ninlil and Hector, an eyebrow raised in question.