Male|Paladin 8|hp 74/74|AC:26(28) T:12(14) FF:25(27)|CMB+13,CMD24|Fort+12, Ref+9,Will+12|Init:+1, Perc:+0| conditions:none |7 of 9 layhands used|deflection bonus of +3 Human Paladin 8
Leprosy, you say? Well, I will scrape it off.
Orst takes a cheap looking book perhaps something with a legal title and uses it to scrape the green icker off.
"What a nasty business to get into!"
Hearing Daedin's suggestion, "Yep, time to see what is causing all this trouble through the mirror."
You remove the hazardous viridium, and take the book.
Returning to the mirror frame, you find that you can replace all of the fragments that you have found and complete the mirror. When you have done so, the reflection in the mirror changes. Your reflections stand in another room. Bookshelves line the walls of that other room - it would seem to be a hidden section of the library.
The room revealed in the amber mirror-glass is not one you have seen before.
When Daedîn touches the mirror, the world turns upside-down and inside-out for a moment. Then you all find yourselves in the hidden room.
In the centre of the room, two staircases descend to a lower level set six feet below the main floor. A glass railing like the ones in the rest of the library encircles the lower level. A large mirror is inlaid into the floor on the lower level and surrounded by bookshelves set into the walls, with standing mirrors in the corners. On the upper level, fragments of broken mirrors sparkle in the aisles between the shelves, and in the corners, folding screens partly conceal more private spaces.
"Daredesuka? Rubī fenikkusu wa doko ni arimasu ka?" voices call out, echoing, multiple, all asking the same thing.
Tien:
"Who's there? Where is the Ruby Pheonix?"
The voices belong to the librarian. But she is multiple. There are many copies of her - and it is hard to know which, if any, are real, and which are mirror images. She holds in her hand not a book, but a razor-sharp 2-foot long mirror shard. Her glassy eyes are filled with rage!
You'll note that each of you has emerged at a different point - just as the Mirror of Translocation in the main library was shattered into fragments, so too is its counterpart in this room, so you emerge from separate fragments (Dresden and Murphy emerge from the same one, perhaps because of their special bond).
What is the librarian?
Knowledge (Planes) DC20:
You face four soulsliver fragments. These creatures are extraplanar shapechangers native to the Plane of Shadow. These four are changed somehow from the typical members of the race.
DC25:
Soulslivers can change shape to appear as any humanoid reflected in a mirror. When copying a creature, they can emerge from mirrors to attack physically. They can move between mirrors, even tiny fragments of mirror are enough.
DC30:
Soulslivers are vulnerable to sonic attack.
DC35:
Upon destruction, soulslivers explode into shards of jagged glass that can cut to ribbons anything nearby (20' radius death throes).
Male|Paladin 8|hp 74/74|AC:26(28) T:12(14) FF:25(27)|CMB+13,CMD24|Fort+12, Ref+9,Will+12|Init:+1, Perc:+0| conditions:none |7 of 9 layhands used|deflection bonus of +3 Human Paladin 8
"What is this ... a world of Doppelgangers?" "A warning, fiend, whatever trick you are playing, I am going to end it." "Come at me and you will get my sword!"
Orst doesn't have any of those skills. This will be the highlight of his pathfinder career, chopping up little old lady librarians. Let the heroic ballads pore forth...
Human Scarred Rager 2 / Two Handed Fighter 3 / Living Monolith 1| AC17 T7 F17 | HP 69/81 | CMD:21 | F:+14 R:+2 W:+8 | Init:+-1 | Perception: +0 | Ka Stone 3/3, Rage: 15/15 | Active Effects: bless, fatigued, rage ,-
Tien:
We are after the Ruby Phoenix to!! What do you know!? Why are there so many of you!
Kett screams in Tien as he charges forward, growing in size and bulk with every step. With an overhand chop, Kett applies the empirical method to finding the real image.
Standard Action Attack; Furious Focus, Ka Stone, large silver taiaha +1 (hammer), Overhand Chop, Power Attack, rage, two handed attack:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 damage:3d8 + 25 ⇒ (4, 8, 1) + 25 = 38
Daedîn edges forwards and opens fire. The angle is tight, but the second arrow seems to be on target; and at the last second, the librarian(s) uncannily dodge! However, the arrows clips a mirror image, which shatters and vanishes.
Kett emerges from his row of bookcases. His massive hammer comes down...
In all cases where you target a librarian who has mirror images and might hit, I will roll. A '1' will hit the true creature.
image?:1d6 ⇒ 6
The hammer smashes a mirror image.
"Daredesuka? Rubī fenikkusu wa doko ni arimasu ka?" The librarians repeat their refrain; each has the same, identical voice.
They attack, slashing with their mirror-shards and shoving you backwards.
acrobatics (red):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13Red provokes an AoO from Kett
red shove vs Daedin:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Daedîn is pushed backwards and bruised. DC 14 Will save needed.
if you fail:
You are trapped in the mirror fragment that you emerged from. You may attempt another save (same DC) as a free action at the start of your next turn. If you succeed you emerge in the nearest empty square and may act normally.
Daedîn makes acrobatic maneuvers to avoid AoOs, moving 15' NW and firing at the red sliver...
(Not sure here, may be doing it wrong; in a similar situation awhile back, another GM had me roll three Acrobatics checks so I'm guessing I need that here...2 to get by red and one to get thru the square by orange?)
Orst. the librarians have an ability called 'Knockback' - they can replace one melee attack per round with a bull rush that does not provoke AoOs. Their full attack routine is two 'sword' attacks plus a slam,
Daedîn your previous GM was in error.
core rulebook, p.180 wrote:
Moving out of more than one square threatened by the same opponent in the same round doesn’t count as more than one opportunity for that opponent.
You only need one acrobatics check, but it's a check to pass through red librarian's square and you did not succeed. You provoke an AoO and your movement ends. You may take a standard action after the AoO if you wish.
Male|Paladin 8|hp 74/74|AC:26(28) T:12(14) FF:25(27)|CMB+13,CMD24|Fort+12, Ref+9,Will+12|Init:+1, Perc:+0| conditions:none |7 of 9 layhands used|deflection bonus of +3 Human Paladin 8
My mistake, these are tough old ladies. I wonder if that will make the telling of this adventure any better. "Yeah, but they were tough old ladies who were really pushy."
"Anyone know what these things really are and if they have any weaknesses?"
Naruhito slashes at the librarians.
image?:1d6 ⇒ 4
The samurai destroys a false image.
Dresden moves to help the ronin, and attacks!
image?:1d5 ⇒ 5
And another image is shattered and destroyed.
Orst hits...
image?:1d4 ⇒ 1
...the true 'librarian' who screams in rage at the blow! Instead of blood or ichor, shards of glass fall from the creature where it was hit.
Murphy goes to help Orst. The animal bites down on...
image?:1d4 ⇒ 2
...a false image, shattering it.
The gnomish pathfinder emerges from the bookshelves, and seeing Kett wounded and in melee he moves to give a flank. Double move, and assuming hammer is drawn.
Daedîn attempts to dodge past the librarian(s) but finds the creature's reactions too quick, and is cut badly for his trouble. He focuses on fending off further attacks.
Kett swings his peculiar weapon, smashing...
image?:1d5 ⇒ 3
...two of the false images. iterative attack misses, but is close enough to destroy a mirror image.
The librarians shout out their refrain, in mounting anger: "Daredesuka? Rubī fenikkusu wa doko ni arimasu ka?"
Tien:
"Who's there? Where is the Ruby Phoenix?"
They press their attacks.
red mirror shard vs Daedîn:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 red mirror shard vs Daedîn:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 red shove vs Daedîn:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Daedîn you appear to have at least 3 ranks in acrobatics, giving you +6 AC on total defence. Also applies to your CMD.
Kett is slashed and shoved backwards, then the librarian moves to block off Deldri and escape the flank. Kett, DC14 Will save please.
if you fail:
You are trapped in the mirror-glass of the railing around the lower level. You may attempt another save (same DC) as a free action at the start of your next turn. If you succeed you emerge in the nearest empty square and may act normally.
Naruhito is hit and pushed backwards. DC14 Will save please Naruhito
if you fail:
You are trapped in the mirror-fragment that you emerged from. You may attempt another save (same DC) as a free action at the start of your next turn. If you succeed you emerge in the nearest empty square and may act normally; the librarian will move into the space you vacate.
Orst is slashed and pushed backwards. DC14 Will save please Orst
if you fail:
You are trapped in the mirror-fragment that you emerged from. You may attempt another save (same DC) as a free action at the start of your next turn. If you succeed you emerge in the nearest empty square and may act normally; the librarian will move into the space you vacate.
Combat round 2 / 3
Daedîn (-30hp)
Kett (-31hp; DC14 Will save needed)
librarians (red 3; orange 4; yellow 3; cyan 2, -12hp)
Deldri Naruhito (-8hp; DC14 Will save needed)
Orst (-15hp; DC14 Will save needed)
Dresden Murphy
The bold may act!
Again, I'll resolve all round 2 actions before the round 3 actions. If Orst or Naruhito fails their saves, the librarians will move into their spaces.
concentration, Deldri:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 Bless is up - no AoO. Hoewever Naruhito and Orst are not in range of the spell.
Naruhtio attacks...
image?:1d4 ⇒ 3 image?:1d3 ⇒ 3
...and two false images are shattered.
Dresden helps out the samurai, resorting to both fangs and blade...
image?:1d2 ⇒ 2
...blade destroys the last false image, and fangs find a home in a true librarian; at least, as 'true' as any of these creatures are.
Murphy helps the paladin...
image?:1d3 ⇒ 3
...destroying a false image.
Combat round 2 / 3
Daedîn (-30hp) total defence Kett (-31hp; DC14 Will save needed)
librarians (red 3; orange 2; yellow -8hp; cyan 1, -12hp)
Deldri
Naruhito (-8hp)
Orst (-15hp; DC14 Will save needed)
Dresden
Murphy
Daedîn's defence holds out as he keeps a librarian occupied.
Deldri is pushed against the glass railing, but avoids entrapment. I rolled the save, since failure might've changed the librarian's actions.
Kett is badly slashed by the librarian's jagged mirror shard.
Naruhito suffers another cut and is pushed against the mirror fragment. DC14 Will save needed.
Orst avoids any injury but is pushed back.DC14 Will save needed.
Combat round 3 / 4
Daedîn (-30hp)
Kett (-58hp)
librarians (red 3; orange 1, -34hp; yellow -8hp; cyan -12hp)
Deldri (-4hp)
Naruhito (-25hp) (DC14 Will save needed)
Orst (-14hp) (DC14 Will save needed)
Dresden Murphy
The bold may act!
Active effects: bless (not on Naruhito or Orst).
Hit point tracker updated to include damage from successful shoves in previous round as well as this one. Each causes 4hp damage as well as forcing a save if you are adjacent to a mirror or reflective surface..
Naruhito resists the strange power of the mirror-librarian and replies with tien steel; his blows rain down, shattering the librarian into pieces that explode outwards!
death throes damage:2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5
Naruhito and DresdenDC12 Reflex save for half damage.
This is a 20' radius burst, but the bookcases protect Murphy and Orst, as well as the other librarian fighting them.
Combat round 3 / 4
Daedîn (-30hp)
Kett (-58hp)
librarians (red 3; orange 1, -34hp; cyan -11hp)
Deldri (-4hp)
Naruhito (-25hp) (DC12 Reflex save needed)
Orst (-14hp) (DC14 Will save needed)
Dresden (DC12 Reflex save needed)
Murphy
Human Scarred Rager 2 / Two Handed Fighter 3 / Living Monolith 1| AC17 T7 F17 | HP 69/81 | CMD:21 | F:+14 R:+2 W:+8 | Init:+-1 | Perception: +0 | Ka Stone 3/3, Rage: 15/15 | Active Effects: bless, fatigued, rage ,-
A single tear of gratitude runs down Kett's cheek and mixes with the frothy blood coming from his mouth as Deldri endangers himself to deliver desperately needed healing.
Been debating on what I might be able to do other than total defense again...I'll try a conditional move, if that's OK...
Daedîn will delay to see the results of Kett's attack...
If Kett destroys the orange sliver:
Daedîn will try another acrobatic move to try and get past the red sliver without an AoO, going 15 NW' (to the square north of the bookcase to his left...
Acrobatics:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
...and if successful, go into a defensive posture. (aka Total Defence)
If the orange sliver is still standing:
Daedîn will stay in a defensive posture. (aka Total Defence)
Deldri risks attack to mend some of Kett's wounds.
Orst strikes back against the librarian. 14hp damage is correct - I missed the Knockback damage off the tracker earlier. Each Knockback does 4hp damage whether or not the Will save succeeds.
Dresden moves across the room. Meanwhile Murphy snaps at a librarian, biting her but not managing to pull her down.
Kett strikes...
image?:1d2 ⇒ 2
...destroying first a false image, and then a 'real' librarian, who shatters in a storm of glass shards!
Dresden. Deldri, Kett and Daedîn take death throes damage:2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8. DC12 Reflex save for half damage; evasion applies.
Rolling for Daedîn because failure staggers him. Reflex, Daedîn, cover:1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 = 24
Daedîn escapes the confines of the bookshelf at last.
The librarian that had been harrying Daedîn does not follow the elf, but instead moves to the mirror fragment that Daedîn emerged from, and disappears into it as if diving into a pool of water!
The other remaining librarian continues to battle Orst.
Daedîn moves 30' east keeping his eyes open for any reflection that the librarian might jump out of...and then goes back into his defensive posture. (Total Defence, my old friend...)
