Jordan turns the woman into a human pincushion, but she still remains standing.
Round 2
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3
==============
???
Zhu Li (-5; 1 Dex damage) {Nauseated}
Jordan (-3)
Sahess (-38)
Arnaut (-42)
Ferocleus
Valicia Narikopolus (-108) {Blind}
==============
Zhu Li, unable to do much else, runs out of the swarms, shaking centipedes our of her clothes as she does so.
Sahess moves up, turns around, and breathes a cone of frost right on top of the swarms!
The draconic cold freezes all of the swarms solid!
”Oh for—!”
Ferocleus waves his arms around as a column of flame bursts up from the ground!
Valicia, glitter still in her eyes, scowls toward Ferocleus—and missing him by about a foot.
”I’m dying here! Could’ve used some healing!”
“You haven’t done anything for me.”
“What?!”
“And I got dibs on your gear if you die.”
“You little—!”
“Survive one more assault and maybe I’ll heal you.”
“Give me their positions at the very least.”
Ferocleus peeks around the corner.
”Armored one moved up—they’re about 20’ away from you to your right. The archer’s only taken a step forward from where he was before. Can’t see the Tian woman or the guy you were shooting at before.”
Valicia steps to the side as she aims roughly in Jordan’s direction.
”Now that is something I can work with. Pyrecat! A little help?!”
The blind archer nocks her arrows and shoots toward Jordan!
Valicia wipes the last of the glitter from her eyes as she draws her bow with intense focus.
Spellcasting resonates from the room where Ferocleus is before just stopping.
Round 3
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3
==============
Pyrecat
Zhu Li (-5; 3 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63)
Sahess (-60)
Arnaut (-42)
Ferocleus
Valicia Narikopolus (-108)
==============
Jordan’s first two arrows go right through Valicia’s head—and she is completely unaffected. The bard then adjusts his aim and his next two arrows lodge themselves in the woman’s chest and eye!
”Ha! Pyrecat, you owe me three platinu—“ Ferocleus begins to say before he is rudely shot in the chest by Jordan .
Round 3
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3
==============
Pyrecat
Zhu Li (-5; 3 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63)
Sahess (-60)
Arnaut (-42)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
|
"There's something in that vicinity. I can't see it, but I can sense it." Sahess indicates the orange circle, or thereabouts. "I'll try to smash it!"
She walks up to the doorway and lets loose with a swing that could shatter bone, chitin, or whatever else might arise. She's impacted by the inability to actually see, but the ground will be feeling that strike for a while.
The fabulous outline of an elven woman wielding a shortsword appears in the space Sahess swung at!
Zhu Li studies Pycerat with both Kirin Style and studied combat and moves up, drawing her rapier as she does so .
”Oh my—! Do you do anything else?!” Ferocleus shouts at Arnaut as he waves his arms madly.
Suddenly, right in front of Sahess appears a roaring curtain of air . Ferocleus then retreats further into the next room.
”Well that didn’t work...”
Pycerat then moves directly to the west , but when she does so she somehow ends up not directly in front of Sahess, but 15’ away directly in front of the passage to the next room. The elf then enters said room and retreats behind a wall.
Round 4
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3
==============
Pycerat {Blind}
Zhu Li (-5; 7 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63)
Sahess (-60)
Arnaut (-42)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
|
"Oh yes!" Arnaut replies cheerfully as he approaches. "Have you seen this one before? It's a real hit with the kids, so I think it'll be perfect for you!" A flick of the wrist sends a tiny bead of liquid flying towards the druid before splattering on the ground in a sticky mess. "Oh dear - I hope I didn't overexcite you," Arnaut says, one hand covering his mouth as he surveys the results.
Ferocleus, catching on to Arnaut’s obviously telegraphed attack, jumps straight up as the glue lands at his feet and he catches himself, standing in an awkward position as to not touch the sticky substance.
”Ha! You missed!”
Round 4
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3, Inspire Greatness
==============
Pycerat {Blind}
Zhu Li (-5 +13; 7 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63 +15)
Sahess (-60 +23)
Arnaut (-42 +13)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
As Sahess moves into the next room, she finds a single raised walkway above two five-foot deep trenches on either side of her, filled with a roiling smog. As she enters, the room itself elongates to impossible lengths as the way to the other side extends further and further!
Round 4
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3, Inspire Greatness
==============
Pycerat {Blind}
Zhu Li (-5 +13; 7 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63 +15)
Sahess (-60 +23)
Arnaut (-42 +13)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
Jordan moves up and casts haste.
Zhu Li then drinks an extract of universal formula to copy the effects of delay poison.
”Ferocleus, dispel this stupid thing!”
“Why don’t you do it?”
“Because I don’t know that spell!”
“You don’t know dispel magic? That is, like, spell #1—”
“I don’t care! Just get rid of it!”
“Well I don’t know what it is; I don’t deal with this kind of magic.”
”Well I don’t know what it either! But just dispel it!”
“Alright. It’s on you if I dispel one of your buffs, though.”
”Well would you look at that! It worked!”
“Perfect. Now let’s reapply what that guy dispelled earlier.”
Spellcasting echoes from the room beyond and Ferocleus steps out of sight.
Round 5
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3, Inspire Greatness, Haste
==============
Pycerat
Zhu Li (-5 +13; 7 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63 +15)
Sahess (-60 +23)
Arnaut (-42 +13)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
An archway opens into a wedge-shaped room, its outer wall bisected by a spherical chamber. Blackened, lightning-shaped streaks run across the walls and floors. In the middle of the spherical chamber floats an ebon gemstone with fifteen facets. Long chains forged from a strange blue alloy run from the center of each facet to the chamber walls.
Round 5
Field Effects: Good Hope, Inspire Courage +3, Inspire Greatness, Haste
==============
Pycerat
Zhu Li (-5 +13; 7 Dex damage)
Jordan (-63 +15)
Sahess (-60 +23)
Arnaut (-42 +13)
Ferocleus (-19)
==============
Sahess goes all-out at the two remaining people!
Sahess brings her blade down on Ferocleus and completely bisects the man right down the middle! She steps over and continues her assault upon the invisible Pycerat.
Pycerat falls to the ground—not that anyone but Sahess and Arnaut could tell.
|
|
"Right then," Arnaut declares with the same irritability as a Taldan lord being informed that the shipment of his favorite tea has been seized by pirates, "shall we repair the damage this miscreants have caused to our persons?"
"That's quite an interesting gem over there," he comments as he works. "Zhu, do you know what it might do? I'd hate to leave behind a potential tool we could use against The Tool Supreme." The disgust dripping from his words leaves little doubt who he is referring to.
The Pathfinders go back through the headache hallway and Zhu Li and Jordan crouch down above Valicia’s body, Zhu Li casts a spell from a scroll, and subsequently rips out one of the archer’s eyes and shoves it into her own skull!
The Pathfinders then go the only way to go.
The floor of this chamber is inlaid with giant circular mosaic of the four primary elements divided into quarters that swirl counter-clockwise. A brass plaque encircles the mosaic, engraved with a passage that reads: “The shortest year has five seasons of fire.” In the northwest corner, a short passage leads to a door.
Through the door in the short passage is a large cylindrical chamber divided into four distinctly colored areas.
The revolving elemental chamber empties into a broad, windowless hall. Half columns of marble flank the walls, and a carpeted path stretches towards the single exit: a curved stairwell carved of slick, gray basalt, the top of which cloaked in a dark shadow that cannot be seen through. In the center of the hall, atop a marble dais, sits perched a great copper-clad sphinx.
Everyone files into the chamber and as they do so, the sphinx rears its head and stares at the Pathfinders and crouches, ready to strike!
Round 1
=================
Jordan
Arnaut
Sphinx
Sahess
Zhu Li
=================
|
|
"Um..." Arnaut quickly decides not to comment further on his fellows ripping out their own eyes and replacing them with ones from dead people. Note to self - stay far away from Zarta.
"Andrexiel, we really don't have time for this," Arnaut says with a disapproving scowl. "Now, you've not done a great job of guarding the tower so far today - perhaps your spirits are low because you haven't had any new riddles lately? Here, I've got one for you: Why is a raven like a writing desk? Well, the obvious answer would be that they both start with the same 'rrr' sound, but I think we can go further into the comparison - they both often hold feathers, both commonly made of organic materials, and both are signs of intelligence among the common folk. The better question, though, is how is a raven not like a writing desk?" He carries on, conversing at the sphinx in a surprisingly lilting tone.
The sphinx bobs its head side-to-side as it listens to the bard, making it clear that it's heard these riddles before.
Round 1
Field Effects: Good Hope
=================
Jordan
Arnaut
Andrexiel, the Copper Sphinx
Sahess
Zhu Li
=================
Jordan begins his performance and shoots at the sphinx.
Andrexiel looks annoyed at the man who attempted to control it and crouches down like a cat as she leaps toward the bard!
Round 1/2
Field Effects: Good Hope, Haste, Inspire Courage +3
=================
Jordan
Arnaut (-79)
Andrexiel, the Copper Sphinx (-62)
Sahess
Zhu Li
=================
And, quite pathetically, the great Copper Sphinx falls to the ground. The Pathfinders heal up as needed and ascend the staircase into the darkness.
*
Atop the stairs, the unnatural shadow disperses, emptying like a river of gray swirling fog into a tremendous, circular atrium. The fog collects along the perimeter of the room, hovering no more than a foot above the ground. The remainder of the floor is exposed. Its surface appears slick and glasslike. Light from below penetrates the translucent surface, giving off a faint, eerie glow. The walls too appear made of the same, glassy substance. They climb almost twenty feet, then curve inward into a shadowy metal dome. Pinholes of light twinkle on the surface of the dome ceiling, giving it the appearances of the night sky. A shifting array of scenes twist and dance across the surface of the murky windows, depicting scores of people and places in dozens of realms throughout Golarion.
However, there is one image that catches your eye most: two handsome human men—one with a bow, another with a horn—a Tian woman with a rapier, and a heavily-armored nagaji stand at the top of a stairway that seems to descend down into darkness as they look off at something out of view of the image. It is you all.
A lone figure stands in the center of this room. Her face is covered with an ivory mask, featureless except for pale, pupil-less white orbs lined with jade where her eyes should be. Its surface is inlaid with complex patterns of runes and upon its left cheek rest three, blood-red, crystalline tears. Dozens of silver rings pierce the perimeter of the mask, and it is hooded with a bristling mane of peacock feathers. Besides the mask, she wears a gown of peacock feathers, porcupine quills and shimmering plates of scintillating opalescent abalone. The woman stares off at the windows, as still as a statue.
|
|
”Some folks are so rude,” Arnaut mutters, loudly bemoaning his fate, and the fate of every artist, to be misunderstood. Every tap of his wand is accompanied by either a tale of woe or a scathing review of a critic - and the sphinx opened quite a few cuts and gashes on the poor bard.
——————————————
Below, the bard studies the woman for a moment before shifting his attention to the window in front of her.
”Fascinating. These appear to be images of exploits of various Pathfinders. And it’s in real-time too - look, there we are about to descend the steps into this room. Perhaps she is a chronicler?”
If none of his companions object, Arnaut calls out to the woman. ”Well met, watcher. Tell us, what do your keen eyes see regarding one former Venture-Captain Adril?” He watches her fingers and torso carefully - no use trying to read a face under a mask like that.
As Arnaut studies the woman standing before him, he cannot get a read on her for the life of him—this woman is a complete mystery.
The woman speaks, her voice mesmerized yet hypnotic, and her gaze never leaves the windows about the room.
“Well Adril, you have found me at last. I see you have once again manipulated the members of the Society into performing your dirty work. I congratulate you on your ingenuity. Well played. Now that you’re here, you may as well reveal yourself to your pawns.”
The Pathfinders stare at the woman in stunned and confused silence. Before they have a chance to even react, they all see a sight that they never have before: the ioun stones spinning around their heads—the eraminho stones—rapidly slow their orbital speed until they just stop. The humanoid-shaped stones drain of color, turning a dull gray, before one by one clattering to the ground.
Each stone, one after the other, spews forth an etheric mist. The mist coalesces into a humanoid form next to Sahess—a form very familiar to you all: a fully-armored Adril Hestram stands at attention, a massive hammer in his hands and his eyes dead-set on the mysterious woman.
“And so it begins, Shemis …Endgame.”
The etheric mist, however, does not dissipate. One by one the mist from each individual stone gathers next to the Pathfinder who bore it, in turn coalescing into similar humanoid forms—the forms of Adril Hestram. And Adril Hestram. And Adril Hestram.
Every Adril Hestram spins the hammer in their hands before gripping it with white knuckles, looking at the woman with sheer murder in their eyes.
Round 1
Field Effects: Good Hope
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Yellow
Zhu Li
Arnaut
Blue
Shemis
Orange
Purple
=================
Sahess slices at the Adril near her, opening a horrid gash upon the man’s face. Her final strike, however, manages to bounce off his armor—as is its intended purpose. That Adril Hestram glares at the nagaji in anger, the lighthearted kindness previously shown to you all by this man—or even a facsimile thereof—is completely absent from his eyes—all that remains is pure, unadulterated rage.
Round 1
Field Effects: Good Hope
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Yellow (-78)
Zhu Li
Arnaut
Black
Shemis
White
Purple
=================
Round 1
Field Effects: Good Hope
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Yellow (-78)
Zhu Li
Arnaut
Blue
Shemis
Orange
Purple
=================
The Adril by the stairs watches as the six Jordans run away. The Adril grits his teeth as he rushes the archer and takes a swing at one of the archers.
The Adril swings violently at Jordan, hitting the bard in the head with his hammer—only to have the bard vanish as he hits one of the illusions!
Round 1
Field Effects: Good Hope
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Yellow (-75)
Zhu Li
Arnaut
Blue
Shemis
Orange
Purple (-78)
=================
|
|
"Why Adril, what a pleasure to see you again," Arnaut says with a deadpan expression. "And look, you even brought all your friends. Oh wait, it's only you here." He takes a step back and tosses an extra-glittery handful of dust at a pair of ex-ioun stone inhabitants.
*
*
*
Purple vs Arnaut
The two Adrils cry in frustration as the glitter gets into their eyes!
Zhu Li drinks her extract of arcane sight and studies the four Adrils .
Zhu Li sees that none of the Adrils themselves radiate magic, but that one of the is carrying far more magical items on his person—the one right next to her !
Zhu Li then enters Kirin Style.
The Adril that was next to Arnaut listens intently and discovers the location of the not-very-subtle singing bard and kicks off his back foot, Lunging forward and sweeps his hammer at the bard, but its shaking fear at Arnaut’s music causes it to grip his earthbreaker a bit too far up the handle and the hammer comes within an inch of the Shelynite’s face , whooshing past with severe force!
Shemis’s gaze finally breaks from the windows as she looks over at the scene unfolding before her.
”Doppelgangers. No need to use illusions to mask your location.” As she speaks you’re unsure as to whether she’s stating an observation or if she’s actually praising the ex-Venture-Captain.
Shemis waves her staff and utters a deep incantation as her form blurs and she begins shifting and wavering within three feet of her location, but the woman does not move.
The Adril next to Zhu Li claws at his eyes in anger as he moves toward Shemis!
And barely manages to hit the man through his thick armor!
As he moves, the Adril pulls out a small axe that he chucks where he last saw Shemis—which just so happens to be right where she is currently. Unfortunately for him, the axe goes wide, missing Shemis by several feet, but the axe’s path curves around her like a boomerang and returning to Adril’s hand —unfortunately the blind man catches the axe by the head of the axe, but he thankfully wore his metal gauntlets, so he’s just fine. He drops the axe to the ground as he returns both of his hands to his earthbreaker.
The last of the Adrils—the one with a massive wound across its face—moves up and swings at the singing Shelynite! The man swings toward Arnaut’s head but the bard dodges just in time, but Adril’s attack still manages to hit him in the gut! His next two swings go wide as they completely miss Arnaut.
Round 2
Field Effects: Good Hope, Dirge of Doom
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Yellow (-75)
Zhu Li
Arnaut (-25)
Blue {Blind}
Shemis
Orange (-5) {Blind}
Purple (-78)
=================
Sahess full-attacks.
The Adril next to her slumps to the ground before his skin shifts and his beard slump back into his body, revealing the form of a gray-skinned creature with a noseless face and a narrow head.
Sahess steps over and redirects her attacks at Blue.
Jordan starts Inspire Courage, steps back, activates his boot, and full-attacks!
That Adril Hestram similarly falls, his shape morphing back into the form of a similarly gray-skinned creature as the one Sahess felled.
Round 2
Field Effects: Good Hope, Dirge of Doom, Inspire Courage +3
=================
Sahess
Jordan
Zhu Li
Arnaut (-25)
Blue (-39) {Blind}
Shemis
Orange (-98) {Blind}
=================
|
|
"Naughty, naughty boy, Adril, using doppelgangers to hide yourself," Arnaut clucks disapprovingly and shakes his head in disappointment. "Or are you even here, or cowering behind a table somewhere again?" Putting the large, angry, armored form of Sahess between him and the closest Adril, the bard pulls out a long peacock feather and a pair of fruit tarts. "Thankfully, I came prepared - naughty boys need their punishment, don't they?" He snarfs down the tarts and throws the feather at the further Adril.
Adril Hestram—the real Adril Hestram—begins laughing hysterically as Sahess slices down the last of the traitor’s body-doubles. Shemis saunters forward and kneels next to the man.
”Checkmate.”
Shemis stands up straight and looks at you all.
”As foreseen, you arrived. Thank you for bringing this traitor to the Society before me. His reign of terror ends today. I must convene what remains of the Ten in order to determine the course of action for Adril Hestram. I have been watching your efforts, Seekers. And while you all would rather further the selfish causes of the factions of the Society rather than ensure the safety of the Society’s leadership, you have proven loyal Pathfinders nonetheless, and you will be rewarded for your efforts. Now, please excuse me, there is work to be done.”
Shemis returns to the center of the room, gazing toward the windows.
*
Eventually, high-ranking members of the Society—Ambrus Valsin, Eliza Petulengro, Drendle Dreng, etc.—arrive in Skyreach to restore order amid the chaos wrought by Adril Hestram. Eliza meets your gazes and smiles.
”Thank you.”
Individual: The PC deals no needless damage to the Decemvirate’s property and steals none of the valuable relics held within the Sanctum of the Ten. Success from: Arnaut, Jordan, Zhu Li.
Group: The PCs activate the osprey figurine and send it to take some sort of alert to Osprey of the attack. Fail
Group: The PCs prevent Adril from slaying Shemis. Success
Grand Totals:
Jordan: 12
Sahess: 11
Zhu Li: 12
2: Recover Valicia’s eye without triggering the contingency. Success
2: Host Aistor Garislog’s psychic essence in order to bring it back to Almas. Success
2: Keep the intelligent sword from revealing Prince Stavian’s betrayal to its master (the king purportedly slept with Vothuemont’s wife) to non-Sovereign Court PCs. Success