The stranger looks at Kiku intently, then nods. "Sterk som du er, trenger du hjelp. Jeg vil ikke la hjemmet mitt bli ødelagt av utlendings uvitenhet." he says, then points at the hilltop shrine. "Utfør dine seremonier. Jeg vil samle det jeg trenger for reisen og returnere kort tid." With that, he departs the way he came.
As Edgar studies the shrine, he sees that it is a somewhat sheltered flat stone with small hollows etched by many offerings. It looks as though people place an offering on the stone before offering up a quick prayer and then leaving. From the scratch marks and paw prints in the snow nearby, it looks as though the bears might feed on the offerings left here. With the strange giant still absent, there is time for an offering and a prayer as well should someone feel the need.
From the bear tracks, food offerings seem somewhat common, and the Pathfinders can see small carvings and other trinkets knocked aside in the snow.
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Kiku smiles at her companions and takes a deep breath to release tension. She jumps at Edgar’s revelation. ”Oh my goodness! I was so caught up trying to find the right thing to say. I didn’t realize.”
She thinks to herself as she finally puts the pieces together about how he knew so much. She then returned to her companion’s other questions.
”Um...he will come with us and help it sounds like. We have his permission to leave offerings. We should be nice to him, as he’s not very happy with us for ruining the seal.”
Kiku will take some of her food for the day and lay it down as an offering, kneeling down in the snow and praying.
”Winter’s Favored, please accept this small offering as a token of our gratitude. We are humbled by your magnanimity in allowing us to atone for our misdeeds. May the creatures of the snowy woods find sustenance in our gifts.”
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Hamish pats her on the back, "excellent work there and quick thinking with the spell." He pulls out the provided food for the day and places it on the stones before heading back towards the bears to check to see if they will recover on their own.
Assuming they are merely unconscious and not negative HP, he heads back to the sled to prepare to move out. He will eat personal rations to cover the reduction in food.
As the Pathfinders finish their offerings, the stranger returns. "Hvis du er ferdig her, har vi langt å reise,", he says gruffly. "Du kan ringe meg Ainamuuren." He heads towards the sleds, walking briskly through the packed snow and ice.
Their offerings placed, the Pathfinders make haste to the excavation site. Ainamuuren is a stoic companion, hunting only enough to feed himself as the short days turn into a long week and then another. Finally, after two full weeks of travel, the Pathfinders arrive.
The excavation site sits on a broad plain near the edge of the ice pack. A wide pit dug into the snow and permafrost exposes the top of an ice crystal formation that extends from the ground. A symmetrical series of icy channels are connected to the crystal, forming a geometric pattern marred in several places by digging. At the edge of the pit, several tents and tables have been torn apart, with papers and tools scattered everywhere. A dark, powdery dust lies in patches on the snow, forming a thin crust that seems to resist the wind.
Several humanoid bodies lie dead throughout the wrecked camp, but some still move! Throughout the pit, strange mummified humanoids claw and beat at the crystalline structure. As the Pathfinders watch, one breaks completely through the ice and releases a cloud of the dark dust along with another mummified creature. On the far side of the pit, cries for help can be heard from behind a barricade under assault by a pair of the undead - and a familiar hooting!
These are mummies, but of a different variety than most documented encounters. Like most mummies, they are immune to the same things as all undead (such as mind-affecting effects) as well as reducing the damage dealt by all types of weapons. They look to be coated in the same dark powder, known as blackfrost. Anyone the mummy touches becomes exposed to this strange poison found only in the far north. Additionally, these mummies look to deal cold damage when they strike an opponent, but are also likely to be highly flammable.
These are mummies, but of a different variety than most documented encounters. Like most mummies, they are immune to the same things as all undead (such as mind-affecting effects) as well as reducing the damage dealt by all types of weapons. These particular mummies likely have a chill touch to their attacks, forcing those they strike to resist the cold of the arctic or become slowed.
These are mummies, but of a different variety than most documented encounters. Like most mummies, they are immune to the same things as all undead (such as mind-affecting effects) as well as reducing the damage dealt by all types of weapons.
These are mummies, but of a different variety than most documented encounters. Like most mummies, they are immune to the same things as all undead (such as mind-affecting effects) as well as reducing the damage dealt by all types of weapons.
These are mummies, but of a different variety than most documented encounters. Like most mummies, they are immune to the same things as all undead (such as mind-affecting effects) as well as reducing the damage dealt by all types of weapons.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Edgar
Narika
Kiku
Yojimbo
Hamish
Shiro
Noke
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
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Kiku's heart races as she and her companions are thrown right into battle. She smiles and gives an well-needed sigh of relief as she hears Kuokei. Kiku's attention first goes to the seal itself.
"We'll need someone dextrous or good at crafting to repair the seal and reactivate it."
And then the mummys.
"Watch out, everyone! These mummys aren't normal! Their attacks are empowered by cold and will slow you down if they hit you."
Kiku holds her staff and spins it in ever-faster circles as she chants.
"Desna, Song of the Spheres, grant us your agility and quickness for just a few moments. Haste!"
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Glancing towards the broken seal, Edgar quickly agrees. "Kiku's got the right idea."
"Ah, but they are highly flammable! Doesn't do me much good...but hopefully at least one of you can create fire? They lack minds to affect sadly...and don't touch them if you can help it. You're liable to get sick."
Moving around the edge, Edgar quickly summons up a blast of air beneath the green tinged mummy.
As Edgar's spell lifts the mummy into the air, it also draws out more black dust that whirls through the air before settling into the surrounding area. The mummy doesn't seem injured by the blast of air, but the fall back down worsens its structural integrity somewhat. Kiku and Noke both chant furiously, magic weaving through the cold air to mix with the cries for help coming from across the excavation pit.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Edgar
Narika
Kiku
Yojimbo
Hamish
Shiro
Noke
Red
Blue
Green (-8)
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
The mummies are caught by surprise by Narika's fiery blast...
...but one manages to avoid the worst while the other suffers a badly scorched face. As Shiro and Hamish plunge into the fray, they attract the attention of several of the creatures. The scorched ones step towards the monk and attack...
...but neither can match Shiro's flowing movements and leave only black marks in the snow. The fallen mummy rises to its feet and moves towards Edgar with unnatural swiftness, the dust on the ground swirling around it into a black cloud that engulfs the caster...
...but he holds his breath as another mummy steps closer to Hamish and swings its arms with incredible speed...
...and batters the bard around badly. A similar black cloud surrounds Hamish, and the dark powder coating the mummy's hands leaves black marks where it struck, but Hamish is able to shrug off the effects. Another mummy steps towards him and also strikes swiftly...
...and the young bard almost crumples beneath the onslaught, but still he fights on! The last mummy races towards the spellcasters in the back, seeking to extinguish the source of the flames as it strikes at Narika...
...catching the halfling by surprise and leaving a black mark on her clothes as the toxic dust swirls around her and Noke. From the center of the pit, two more mummies burst through the ground and begin clawing their way out of their icy grave. Ainamuuren ignores the mummies and heads for a section of broken rune, calling ice from the air to repair some of the damage.
Round 2! Bold may act!
Edgar
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo
Hamish (-49, Heroism)
Shiro
Noke
Red (-16)
Blue (-33)
Green (-8)
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Black
White
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
Through the sheer strength of his determination, Yojimbo shrugs off the effects of the blackfrost as he cuts into the mummy - but his blade does not cut as deep as he feels it should.
As Shiro strikes at the mummies, he suddenly feels all his training and focus abandon him - he has broken his vow of peace!
If a monk knowingly and willingly breaks his vow, his ki pool is reduced to 0 (as if he had spent all of his ki points) and he cannot replenish his pool or use abilities that require ki or a ki pool until he has redeemed himself. Redemption requires a recommitment to his vow accompanied by an atonement spell. After the redemption, the monk's normal ki pool (without the bonus from the vow) returns. If he upholds the previously broken vow for a full month, his ki pool regains the additional points from taking the vow, and he can decide whether to continue with his vow or forgo his vow without penalty.
Peace: The monk must strive to attain peace and may only use violence as a last resort. He can never strike the first blow in combat. If attacked, he must use the fight defensively action or the total defense action for the first 2 rounds. He must always give his opponent the option to surrender, and cannot purposely slay another creature that could reasonably be influenced to flee or join a civilized society as a productive member (obviously this excludes many monsters).
Even without his ki, Shiro is still a formidable opponent. Landing both mummies on their backs in quick succession, he cuts the first one twice - though the mummy's wiry frame absorbs some of the damage.
As Edgar takes flight, a child-sized construct of scrimshaw'ed ivory appears and bites his ankle with jaws much too large for such a tiny face. The heavy little thing keeps the witch from flying away, grappling him by the ankle. The mummy also swings at the witch...
...but his sudden change in velocity catches the undead off guard and it misses horribly. Hamish retreats to his companions, unhindered by the mummies's chill touch.
It's some type of construct, but not a common one.
It's a tupilaq, a construct of ivory and scrimshaw. Like most constructs, it is immune to mind-affecting effects and poisons - but it is not immune to magic like some of the more common golems. A tupilaq's creator can inscribe a spell onto the construct as a complex scrimshaw, which the tupilaq can use as a spell-like ability. Erasing these scrimshaws prevents the tupilaq from using the spell and also drives it into a murderous frenzy. The construct's ivory composition makes it incredibly resistant to slashing and piercing damage.
It's some type of construct, but not a common one.
It's some type of construct, but not a common one.
It's a tupilaq, a construct of ivory and scrimshaw. Like most constructs, it is immune to mind-affecting effects and poisons - but it is not immune to magic like some of the more common golems. A tupilaq's creator can inscribe a spell onto the construct as a complex scrimshaw, which the tupilaq can use as a spell-like ability. Erasing these scrimshaws prevents the tupilaq from using the spell and also drives it into a murderous frenzy. The construct's creator can also place a portion of a creature's body inside the tupilaq's mouth to make it seek that target to the exclusion of all other creatures.
Round 2! Bold may act!
Grey (Grappling)
Edgar (-14, Grappled)
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo
Hamish (-49, Heroism)
Shiro
Noke
Red (-32, Prone)
Blue (-33, Prone)
Green (-8)
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Black
White
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
Edgar pops out of the construct's jaws into the air!
Round 2! Bold may act!
Grey
Edgar (-14, Move action only)
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo
Hamish (-49, Heroism)
Shiro
Noke
Red (-32, Prone)
Blue (-33, Prone)
Green (-8)
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Black
White
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
Mindful of his vows, Shiro strikes defensively with his sword. He pulls the legs out from under one mummy, but the other is too quick to dodge his second swing. Even on the ground, the first undead creature is an elusive target and manages to avoid all but one cut of Shiro's blade.
Stepping away from the mummy, Narika points at the creatures threatening Edgar. Once again fire blossoms...
...and while the little creature is nimble enough to avoid the worst of the blast, the mummy is not so fortunate.
Shiro's distractive tactics seem quite effective as both mummies near him move closer and attack (one having to stand first and the other's movement hampered by the wall somewhat)...
...and while one creature makes contact, Shiro shrugs off the cold and poison. The mummy harassing Edgar steps closer and attacks, but the cloud of dark powder has dissipated and it swings more slowly...
...and both attacks hit, leaving the witch battered and unconscious as poison burns his skin. The mummies that were threatening Hamish turn their attention to Ainamuuren, racing towards him with unnatural speed and swinging angrily. The last mummy turns its attention on Yojimbo, but it too has lost its cloud of black dust...
...and though it leaves a mark on the phantom's ghostly form, Yojimbo resists the additional effects of the attack. The buried mummies dig themselves completely out of the ground and look around hungrily.
With a roar like a blizzard, Ainamuuren becomes a whirling snowstorm and whisks himself away from the excavation pit before returning to his solid form. "Disse skapningene er dine allierte gjør! Fjern dem som jeg kan fortsette å reparere runen!" he yells angrily.
As Edgar falls, Kuokei takes flight. Hovering near Kiku, he holds a stick in his feet and hoots urgently. A scrap of parchment under one talon reads, cure moderate wounds. With its target unconscious, the tupilaq vanishes from sight.
The heat from fireball, while intense, should be fleeting enough to not cause lasting damage to the ice rune.
Round 3! Bold may act!
Grey (-11)
Edgar (-64, Bleeding Out (-2/16), Flying, Poisoned)
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo (-21)
Hamish (-49, Heroism)
Shiro (-21)
Noke (Flying)
Red (-23)
Blue (-33)
Green (-41)
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Black
White
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
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Kiku gives Kuokei a quick nod and a smile. "You are going to get so many treats after this." She takes the wand in her free hand.
She drops her staff and begins raising a fist in quick circling motions, the speed picking up with each rotation. "Ragathiel, General of Heaven, grant us your zeal so that we may defeat evil. Contagious Zeal!"
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Hamish, bolstered by a bit of the phantom's zeal to fight and pissed at the giant's lack of courage, steps forward and pulls his flail. He begins yelling a rousing speech, "PATHFINDERS! Today may be the day we meet our final judgement. It may be the day we fail and fall to this scourge. But I will tell you one day it will not be... it will NOT BE THE DAY WE SURRENDER AND FLEE! Stand fast and hold the line, protect our sorceress and she will make quick work of these abominations."
He hollars to Noke, "I'll take that spell you meant for Shiro earlier if you can still cast it, it'll help me protect the true powers behind me."
Watching the little construct go poof he yells to the group, "next time the construct bugger pops up, get something on it so it can't disappear again... and uh I'd take some healing if anyone has it available."
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Edgar - Haste
Narika - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Kiku - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Yojimbo - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm), CZ (+2 Hit/Damage, +4 Fear)
Hamish - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm), CZ (+2 Hit/Damage, +4 Fear)
Shiro - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Noke - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Yojimbo's fiery blade cuts deep into the mummy's torso again and again and again - but the dust from the mummy threatens to poison him...
...and he coughs as the blackfrost gets into his ghostly lungs. As Shiro puts one on its back, another mummy tries to resist Noke's hex...
...and stumbles slightly as it takes hold!
Round 3! Bold may act!
Grey (-11, Invisible)
Edgar (-64, Unconscious, Bleeding Out (-2/16), Flying, Poisoned)
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo (-26, CZ, Poisoned)
Hamish (-49, Heroism, CZ)
Shiro (-21)
Noke (Flying)
Red (-23, Prone)
Blue (-33)
Green (-41)
Yellow
Purple (Misfortuned)
Brown (-45)
Black
White
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
Realizing her fireballs shouldn't harm the icy rune, Narika sends another flying at the mummies...
...and every mummy cries out in anguish as the heat sears their flesh, leaving them barely standing. As the tripped mummy stands back up and moves towards Shiro, its partner attacks...
...but Shiro is too quick and the boots are too flashy! As several of the mummies converge on the other Pathfinders, one swings at Hamish...
...and fells the young bard, though the blow does not seem as terrible on closer inspection. The rest converge on Yojimbo...
...and while only two blows strike, they are almost enough to send Yojimbo back to the Ethereal Plane. The dust swirls in the air around the mummies...
...but both spellcasters breathe through their sleeves and avoid the worst of the poison. Meanwhile, the newly-emerged mummies shamble quickly towards Shiro - one moving around the desk and another charging right past it...
...but though both come close, Shiro ducks and weaves out of the way with intuitive grace. With the mummies occupied elsewhere, Ainamuuren returns to the rune and repairs more damage. Kuokei hoots again and takes off for the other side of the pit, rejoining someone on the other side of the barricade. Near the center of the excavation, yet another mummy bursts through the ice (though it is still partially stuck).
Round 4! Bold may act!
Grey (-11, Invisible)
Edgar (-54, Flying 10 ft high)
Narika (-15)
Kiku
Yojimbo (-54, CZ, Poisoned)
Hamish (-68, Unconscious, Bleeding Out (-10/14), Heroism, CZ)
Shiro (-21)
Noke (Flying 20 ft high)
Red (-23)
Blue (-33)
Green (-41)
Yellow (-57)
Purple (-57, Misfortuned)
Brown (-45)
Black (-57)
White (-57, Charged)
Orange (Digging out)
Ainamuuren
Archeologists
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Watching the man fall, knowing the telltale signs of an impending meet up with Pharasma, Edgar opens his coat for a moment. "Allen! I know it's cold, but help Hamish!"
Looking at the numerous foes and allies beneath him, Edgar takes a deep breath. "Lady of Graves, bless me once more with your cleansing light."
Pointing downward, a blast of piercing white light shoots down from the heavens and wells up inside the man before slamming into the ground and exploding outward.
Link to Spell
This spell causes a wave of positive energy to spread from a point you designate, damaging foes vulnerable to positive energy and bolstering living creatures. Each creature damaged by positive energy in the area (such as undead) must succeed at a Will save or take 1d6 points of damage, plus 1 point for every 2 caster levels (maximum +5). Haunts manifesting in the spell’s area also take this damage.
This spell does not heal creatures healed by positive energy; such creatures instead gain a +2 bonus on saving throws against death effects, energy drain, negative energy, and effects directly caused by haunts. This bonus lasts for 1 round.
This spell functions like positive pulse, except that the damage dealt increases to 3d6 plus your caster level, and the bonus on saving throws increases to +8.
Casting something, he reluctantly flies out of the comfort of Edgar's Robes, Allen looks towards Hamish. "The Lady of Graves is not ready for you." he advises
Flying away from the undead and down, the tiny bird pecks the man softly with it's beak. A bright energy shoots out and into Hamish's prone form.
You can touch a living creature as a standard action, healing it for 1d4 points of damage plus 1 for every two cleric levels you possess. You can only use this ability on a creature that is below 0 hit points.
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Eyes rolling back into his head as the cold and bludgeoning attack slams into his body, Hamish drops like a sack of potatoes. As the life-force that sustains him trickles out, a bird's gift of health stems the quick parade to death and his breathing steadies.
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Edgar - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Narika - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm), CZ (+2 Hit/Damage, +4 Fear)
Kiku - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Yojimbo - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm), CZ (+2 Hit/Damage, +4 Fear)
Hamish - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm), CZ (+2 Hit/Damage, +4 Fear)
Shiro - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)
Noke - Haste, IC (+2 hit/Damage, +2 Charm/Fear)