”Sure wish he had that Rod of Negation now, don’t we?” Vanyan smiles weakly, though it was a very funny joke, clearly.
”Well, if you guys want to back up, I’ll try to disarm it with magic. What’s the worst that could happen? A huge explosion that kills us all again?” Vanyan quips as he waits for others to move away.
And then he will cast Dispel Magic on the magical trap, after pinpointing the source with Detect Magic. He can cast the spell from 260’ away, but will go to 125’ just to be safe.
Dispel Magic Check
"I do not think much can actually go wrong this way. Hopefully it will work."
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Atium thinks that this trap has a command word to dispel it. So he tries.
I think we might know the command word to make the flames go away. Let me guess a few.
And so, 150 feet away Atium yells out,
He looks upon the 5 flaming "figures" to see if they retreat at either his command words, or Vanyan's dispel magic.
If those don't work, he pulls out the lung of Arazni and uses it to try and divine history/legendlore.
Oh! Another password possibility! Midnight Oil! If I controlled a fortification, I'd make my password - Midnight Oil.
I'd make my password - Midnight Oil.
Vanyan shrugs as his magics fail. "Well, I tried. It was like my bed was burning, couldn't figure out how to sleep," Vanyan tries to shrug of his failure.
"Well, not sure I have the best solution, but wanted to be sure..." he says, trying to figure out the best way forward.
"We tried magic, do we need to try flesh?"
How about if I go. Protect me from fire, and I can run down that distance quickly. I will use the Lung of Arazni to try and touch the flames. Touching them may allow me to know the password to disarm the trap for the rest of you. I can also take the beating. I hope.
Atium volunteers to run the distance. Looking to touch anything that pops up, so he can LegendLore it.
He prays to Arazni for protection and smarts.
Hey, Arazni. Hook me up. it's showtime and I have the lead in the carnie show.
DC 23 (maybe +2 if given owls wisdom beforehand).
DC 23 (maybe +2 if given owls wisdom beforehand).
I also have Indomitable will. I looked it up and Antipathy is an enchantment effect. @GM - Please advise if I don't get bonus.
Atium grits his teeth as the one beam hits him squarely in the head, and confusing him for a second.
Dc 23. Will reroll.
He shakes his head. Seeming to throw off the spell effect trying to scramble his brain. The Raven totem around his neck glowing with influence.
"That was great, *Wank!*! You're doing great! That was stellar. Are you shakra okay?"
Vanyan watches the lightshow from an area of safety, and while he thinks Atium has really done a nice job of setting off the trap, he will wait for others to go first...and only after casting Resist Fire 30 on himself.
|
With the trap's magic expelled you can advance safely. Excavated from the rocky soil, this dry moat is 20 feet deep. A huge pile of stones and dirt has been scraped into the moat near a gatehouse, creating a makeshift walkway.
The portcullis in this gatehouse is down, yet the iron bars have been hacked apart and wrenched aside to create an opening 10 feet in diameter. The Whispering Tyrant’s elite soldiers hacked at the iron bars with adamantine axes, chopping a hole large enough to accommodate the lich and his entourage. You can easily tell that many humanoid creatures passed through this mutilated gate. From the scraps of ancient cloth and globs of long‑decayed flesh on the torn iron, it’s clear that the intruders were undead. The relatively fresh and intact corpse of Kwenlyn Gavix, the halfling scout lies face-down in the muck here.
Kwenlyn’s corpse still bears her gear, which includes a Small +2 ghost touch mithral breastplate, a Small +1 keen greataxe, and a handy haversack containing a warm blanket and several lucky tokens, such as buttons, scarves, and polished rocks. The haversack also contains a scrap of paper with the lengthy pass phrase to deactivate Hammer Rock’s emergency wards.
"well of course now we find this," Tessenarin sighs.
”Thank you Atium. Well done.” Aishe thanks the man for triggering the trap that they might all get by. He waits for Atium to be healed of any injury before proceeding - this is likely dangerous.
He’ll investigate the area around Kwenlyn’s corpse for clues before moving on.
If little is learned, he’ll suggest the group goes room by room and building by building. ”No telling who’s here, or where they may be.”
Vanyan lets the trackers track while he does his thing: keeping an eye out for danger.
Perception
He will cast Fire Seeds now that they are in the Fort proper.
"This.... this cannot go unavenged. Let us be careful, search as we go"
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Aishe can tell little more of Kwenlyn’s corpse due to it being trampled by the horde of undead well after she was killed. A lot of his skin has been shredded and removed from her body as several bones are crushed.
Heading a little further into the fort you peek your head into a couple of the buildings.
The first appears to be a posturn. These unobtrusive entrances allow for small numbers of soldiers to enter or exit the castle. Their iron-banded wooden doors were badly damaged by the Radiant Fire and crumble to ash and splinters when Atium opens them.
The next building appears to be a Temple to Iomedae. The ashes of charred tapestries lie along the interior walls of this temple, though the eleven stained glass windows that depict an angelic woman are intact and merely discolored. Built into the northern gate, this temple is a fortified keep in its own right. The windows depict the 11 holy Acts of Iomedae. Atop the altar lies a +3 holy silver longsword that the castle’s defenders were slain too quickly to take up.
Vanyan steps back and lets the person who should have the holy blade have the holy blade.
”Ah yeah. They don’t teach stuff like this in Pathfinder school. We’re taught to surrender such objects to the Decimvirate, who knows what happens to them. But now, we get to put that to good use,” Vanyan comments and will follow others to the next area.
He is flying 10’ off the ground when he can.
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Upon seeing the temple, Vinas visibly gasps. "And lo do I see the fate of all in the ashes of the faithful."
He stops in front of each station, naming her acts as he goes, " Nakorshor'mond, the witches, Segruchen the Iron Gargoyle, the Second Battle of Encarthan, Erum-hel, Heart's Edge, the Undenying Light, the Black Prince, Basilov, the ruling of Kantaria, and.... and the Starstone."
He reverentially reaches for the sword, trusting that it's not a trap.
He looks at the others, "May I?"
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Atium shrugs. It's not a warhammer. It's not even shaped like an item to bash and sunder and break things. Atium's facial expressions and body language show that he's not interested in it.
I could care less. But, that thing looks like a hunk of cheese placed on a dead-fall trap for some mouse to find.
And when Atium said, "he could care less". The back of his mind harkens back to when the village weirdo Al Yank (short for Yankovic), would correct them for not using the phrase "care less" right. Because-- to say you "care less", actually infers that you care - at least a little. Atium hates when Weird Yank would correct his grammar.
Atium moves into position to engage any and all enemies that emerge from the buildings.
Aishe checks for traps before Vinas claims the blade.
"Let's go clockwise here, what do you say?" Vanyan points to the closest top unexplored area. He will follow the party there.
"Aye. Let's go."
Atium follows Twink's suggestion.
he haversack also contains a scrap of paper with the lengthy pass phrase to deactivate Hammer Rock’s emergency wards.
I bet when we get a breather and can read that scrap of paper. The password is gonna have Midnight and Oil somewhere in the secret code. I know it. Those are cool words to use. Plus it would have meant I was right, even though I didn't stop the trap.
Atium moves. He looks at things, but expects actual threats to jump out and try to maul him first.
Spying Vinas coveting the sword and picking it up -- seeing the gleam in the paladin's eye
I bet that sword doesn't see the scabbard for a week. Oh, Hey--- I see stairs going down. We are going to ignore those for right now. Right? Check out this 80 by 40 building to my right?
Aishe nods at the clockwise maneuver and begins to clean up after the group as they proceed.
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The next four buildings are all connected barracks. Spanning four rooms connected to the curtain wall, the various barracks include considerable space for storing food, ammunition, and armor, while also housing several hundred soldiers.
To the Southeast is a large stable. This large stable could easily accommodate dozens of horses, although it is empty now and its wooden dividers are shattered. Dozens of blackened horseshoes are scattered across the stone floor. A faint, fearful whinnying echoes in the air from deeper within.
"That ain't right." Aishe suggests. He doubts any horses could still be alive in there, so he prepares for the worst, readying his crossbow.
"That ain't right." Aishe suggests.
"Ayep. That can't be a real horse. Gotta be something else...something scary," Vanyan agrees with some worry, but then looks at The ShakraSmita, Vinas' new holy sword, and takes heart.
That blade will handle it.
Vinas grips his new blade and heads in to see what awaits, expecting some kind of nightmare.
"Clearly this is a trap. but I wonder if someone can protect us from fire? It seems that might be prudent here."
"We have faith and steel... and maybe a little magic." It's not fire protection, but he casts, Protection from Evil.
Atium had spent time working as a ranch hand at the Dotort Ranch. This was just prior to his life changing trip to Rosslers Coffer months ago. He'd worked with quite a few horses that he knew had been trained specifically to head to HammerRock and it's Stables. Seeing the burned horseshoes fills him with dread and sadness. He doesn't care much for most humans. Lots of humans have died recently. But horses, they are generally better than humans and hold significant weight with him.
He grits his teeth as he heads further in.
Vanyan will let the goon squad go in first, then follow up.
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Vinas and Atium approach inside the stables to disturb whatever presence is inside. The souls of the panicked horses coalesced into a powerful death coach that pulls an ironclad war chariot rather than a carriage. The chariot is empty except for shifting shadows. The horses attached to the chariot intermittently utter whinnying wail.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
➤ Aishe
Chariot
Atium │
Vanyan │
Tessenarin │
Vinas │
Conditions = Aerial Tracks (1/10h, 200’r), Bloodhound (1/10h, scent, +8 perception +4 survival with scent), Longstrider Greater (1/10h, +20’ base/+10’ fly)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Cold Iron, Silver Blanch Bolts =55/60
Cold Iron, Ghost Salt Bolts = 30/30
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Bolts = 30/30
Javelins, MW = 18/18, Javelins = 18/18, Spears = 12/12
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +16/+11/+6/+1, Dex +7, Magic +2, Focus +1, (Deadly Aim -5, Rapid Shot -2) Damage: Dex +7, Magic +2, (Deadly Aim +10) Critical: 17-20 x3 DR: magic, cold iron, silver, good
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Graveward Shirt = 2/2 Protection from Evil (11m)
Headband = 2/3 Fly (+15, 8min)
Vambraces = 1/1 (immed, deflect arrows)
Cap = 1/1 (re-roll mind-affecting)
Improved Iron Will = 1/1 (re-roll will save)
Inspired = 1/1 (free, until end of next turn: +10’ base move; +1 move or swift action; +4 AC, attack, skill, ability checks; confirm all crits)
Ranger Focus = 5/5 (sw, +6 attack & damage)
Ranger Luck = 2/2 (re-roll my or enemy attack roll)
Lay on Hands = 1/1 (sw/st, 4d6)
Grit = 5/6
Shield of Law = 1/1
Spells (caster level 10, concentration +14, DC 14+)
1) Alarm, Keep Watch, Liberating Command
2)
3)
Aishe steps closer, though it doesn’t really give him a better shot. Thankfully nothing short of total cover/concealment block his steady aim. He opens fire on the lead horses to put them out of their misery! (Well, you know, attack the coach.)
As usual, he prays to Abadar for power on his last shot!*
(PB)
(PB, holy)
(PB)
(PB, holy)
(PB)
(PB)
(PB)
(PB, holy)
(PB)
(PB, holy)
(PB)
(PB, holy)
Vanyan is not surprised by the horror within. He tries to help as best he can.
Know (Religion)
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Vanyan knows this to be a death coach. Fearsome phantasmal carriages pulled by ghostly horses, death coaches appear without warning to collect and carry off unwilling mortal souls to the afterlife, slaying their victims first if need be.
An incorporeal undead with no known weaknesses not resistances to spells. Able to sense life and collect souls of slain victims within its carriage.
Aishe sends a barrage of bolts through the decayed wooden walls as they nearly shatter the remaining essence of the death coach.
The horses whinny in pain as the incorporeal coach phases right through the walls and flies into the air at Aishe. The Coach's doors open wide as a ghostly light
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
➤ Aishe
Chariot
➤ Atium │
➤ Vanyan │
➤ Tessenarin │
➤ Vinas │
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Vanyan says what he thinks about the foe.
"...the most important thing is not to get hit by any deadly attacks that will kill you outright," Vanyan says, crossing his arms after making a very good and wise point. Now that he's warned the party, surely they would avoid any deadly death attacks. If they decided not to avoid the deathly death attacks, Vanyan had warned them, and so it was on them.
Just checking to see if I should prepare a round... :)
vs DC 24 for
Round 1
Vanyan will offer a Heal spell upon Aishe, so that his next volley might win the day/night.
And Vanyan will fly out of sight. He doesn't want to be next.
Atium comes running in and raging. Shakra Bull!
Swinging his warhammer to smash down on the incorporeal horses.
You are dead horses. Go to the Boneyard. I've been there- it's got nice pastures... the funky moon is disturbing, but the grass is greener.
Atium smashes down.
Tessenarin begins singing and gives Vina, Atium and Aishe Acid and ghost touch on their weapons.
He then pulls out a wand of magic missile to try to get it to work.
Then uses it (CL5)
"In the name of the Inheritor, I condemn thee to a final rest and banishment from this realm!" Vinas declares a smite as he rushes forth to attack it. He hears the warning about it's touch, but does not heed it:
THREAT
for and
Conditions = Aerial Tracks (1/10h, 200’r), Bloodhound (1/10h, scent, +8 perception +4 survival with scent), Longstrider Greater (1/10h, +20’ base/+10’ fly), Song (acid and ghost touch on weapons)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Cold Iron, Silver Blanch Bolts =50/60
Cold Iron, Ghost Salt Bolts = 30/30
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Bolts = 30/30
Javelins, MW = 18/18, Javelins = 18/18, Spears = 12/12
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +16/+11/+6/+1, Dex +7, Magic +2, Focus +1, (Deadly Aim -5, Rapid Shot -2) Damage: Dex +7, Magic +2, (Deadly Aim +10) Critical: 17-20 x3 DR: magic, cold iron, silver, good
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Graveward Shirt = 2/2 Protection from Evil (11m)
Headband = 2/3 Fly (+15, 8min)
Vambraces = 1/1 (immed, deflect arrows)
Cap = 1/1 (re-roll mind-affecting)
Improved Iron Will = 1/1 (re-roll will save)
Inspired = 1/1 (free, until end of next turn: +10’ base move; +1 move or swift action; +4 AC, attack, skill, ability checks; confirm all crits)
Ranger Focus = 4/5 (sw, +6 attack & damage)
Ranger Luck = 2/2 (re-roll my or enemy attack roll)
Lay on Hands = 1/1 (sw/st, 4d6)
Grit = 4/6
Shield of Law = 1/1
Spells (caster level 10, concentration +14, DC 14+)
1) Alarm, Keep Watch, Liberating Command
2)
3)
Aishe reels from the attack and can scarcely breath for the pain in each and every joint, muscle, and organ. He eyes the creature before him, and focuses on it (swift for +6 att/dam) before attacking. As usual, he prays to Abadar for power on his last shot!*
”Ghost touch huh? Good one Tess.” Aishe remarks pleasantly - certain now that this ghostly visage is going down to the might of the party.
(PB, focus)
(PB, holy, focus, acid)
(PB, focus)
(PB, holy, focus, acid)
(PB, focus)
(PB, holy, focus, acid)
(PB, focus)
(PB, holy, focus, acid)
(PB, focus)
(PB, holy, focus, acid)
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Vanyan heals Aishe as the man barely holds onto his own soul. Atium bull rushes right through a rotting wall as he leaps at the coach, his hammer sweeping through the incorporeal form, shredding through it.
tessenarin's song seems to pull a bit of the ghostly essence off of Atium's hammer as it attaches to several of your own weapons. As they attach he sends a small magical missile into the spirited being. "You suddenly hear a voice from the north. [b]"Curse my luck! You are all inept." A ghostly creature is little more than a dark shape with two flickering pinpoints of light where its eyes should be drifts out of the barracks wall from the north. This undead has the form of the halfling Kwenlyn Gavix, whose body you found at the entrance, trampled by the dead.
Se swoops in through the air, hovering just above the ground as she grabs ahold of Tessenarin's back.
Vinas and Aishe quickly bring down the Death Coach as their ghostly touch weapons burn through the incorporeal form with ease.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Aishe
➤ Atium │
➤ Vanyan │
➤ Tessenarin │
Kwenlyn Gavix
Vinas │
Vanyan tries to discern what's going on with the halfling.
"Bruh? Why you mad?"
Know (Religion)
]"Curse my luck! You are all inept."
Still raging and having the aspect of a bull, Atium doesn't like this mouthing off from a dead halfling.
What The Frozen Tundra (WTFT)? Child please.You don't know anything going through that tiny halfling brain.
Short, Dead YOU happens to have it's body lying beyond those walls.
Awesome, Smart, and badass as hell *me* is standing in a spot that happens to be 500 feet farther than where your broke ass body fell down.
So I think the WHOLE FORT knows who the inept one really was!
He beckons to the ghost of Kwenlyn -
If you wanna see ectogooo smashed out of your pint sized body, COME GET SOME.
Atium puts down the fiersome helm and stands ready to attack this snot nosed punk halfling.
Tessenarin then shoot another volley of magic missiles at this thing.
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Vanyan discerns that the little halfling is now a Dread Wraith. An unholy transformation created upon her death. Incorporeal and powerless against direct sunlight. When a dread wraith kills its victim they rise again as a spawn.
Atium begins trash-taking, though his intimidation doesn't seem to have any effect as it claws at Tessenarin's back. Tessenarin fires off small wave of magical missiles into the halfling.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Aishe
➤ Atium │
➤ Vanyan │
Tessenarin │
Kwenlyn Gavix
Vinas │