Vanyan crosses his arms, assuming that Vinas or Tess will be better spokespeople than himself.
Yeah. There's been times where I've been both. I guess. Right now, I'm in service to Arazni and she done got me working on taking out the Whispering Tyrant. If I remember the instructions right, I'm supposed to die to help blow up W.T. So, I'm not thinking that looting is in the tarot deck.
Atium tries his best, in his Atium way, to answer the ghost's question.
He looks to his friends, The instructions said we all volunteered to come here and die in the end to waste the Tyrant guy. Right? All of us?
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"We have come for justice. We have come for Good. You present to us a false dichotomy friend. We have come not to stand nobly and hold the line - and make no mistake, such a fate is noble indeed - but we have come to END the evil. If you hold weapons and armor that we may use and that you share willingly, we would appreciate it. What say you?"
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The ghostly spectre bows, "I am Captain Tsomar Trant. Myself and 217 Soldiers accepted our assignment here. We were to be the last line of defense against the undead." His face turns grim. "We knew the price of failure and held out for 19 days."
"When the Whispering Tyrant stormed the gates, I emerged to fight and fell under control of one of his Death Priests. I watched as the Tyrant shattered through the castle cellar’s floor, exposing an unknown set of stairs leading deep below Hammer Rock. He and the Army disappeared deep below."
Aishe nods, a grin at the corners of his mouth. For underground was where he shined.
"Let's follow then."
Vanyan listens, not to Tess who is being quiet, but to Atium and Vinas who are making paths with the undead. He follows as well, but only after sussing out the words of the ghost for dishonesty.
Sense Motive
In the underground, he wishes Aishe still shone, but apparently does not any longer. Vanyan keeps his eye out for danger.
Perception
Vinas also turns his preternatural senses towards the figure as he relates his story "Nineteen days is a noble deed, and we'll speak of it for years to come."
Vinas also follows, soaking in the setting as he goes.
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"The undead that went below bickered and seemed to be split into several factions. These factions are led by figures named Moloum and Aeonte—seem strongly opposed to each other. The central cathedral is the domain of Lyanthari, a scythe-handed undead priestess of Urgathoa who has repeatedly expressed obvious disappointment in the Whispering Tyrant since the lich’s departure."
"One of the Whispering Tyrant’s lieutenants seemed detached from the army’s mobilization and remained behind after the lich departed. A winterwight named Gildais. I met him when I broke free from my captors mental control and fled for the surface here. He may prove to be a potential ally in your cause. Before letting me pass the wight said something odd. “Good, it is a rare specter that remembers its old self and can control its own destiny.”
Atium wrinkles his brow.
Gildais. I know that name. I've heard it before. Some rich guy, who was dwarf tossed as a part of some bar fight? .....
Atium tries to remember the story he heard when he was in Vigil - before it's destruction.
No, that's not what happened to him, he wasn't playing a game of Dwarf tossing. Something else ---- Give me a few sands of the hourglass and I'll remember.
”Ah, oh. Quite the nest of vipers below. Thanks for the information.” he nods at the spirit.
”I’ve still got some fight in me yet today.” He suggests they continue down when folks are ready. ”I can hide our campsite when we need to rest if the enemy don’t get too close.”
“Good, it is a rare specter that remembers its old self and can control its own destiny.”
Vanyan asks his questions.
"Tell me, Tsomar Trant, can you escape your undeathly confines and find your way to Pharasma? Do you need help with such? Can you draw us a map of the below? Or guide us? You have already offered so much, but the need is great so I must ask."
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"I cannot join you below in fear of coming back under control of the Lich. But I can draw you a bit of a map of what to expect below. Beyond that I broke my control so I cannot help further."
Tsomar Trant grows quite solemn. "I do not wish to remain a ghost and wish to find my way to Pharasma. But, when taking command of Hammer Rock I swore that I would be the last defender to leave it. I saw the Whispering Tyrant’s minions carry off the ruined bodies of three of my soldiers: Karissa Drovenge, Torumard the Iron Mattock, and Zain Phelter. Until the bodies of these soldiers are returned to the surface (and, if transformed into undead, are destroyed), I am honor-bound to remain in Hammer Rock."
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Atium listens to the ghost.
Zain... that's a cool name..... I'll bring up his body just because someone with a cool name like that deserves an honorable burial.
Also, What on Golarion is an Iron Mattock? Is that some soldier slang Urban dictionary? Does it mean he's gotten lots of women pregnant? Or does it mean that people have hit him in the carrot and peanuts and he doesn't buckle into a whimpering ball on the floor?
and when Vanyan mentions being able to create some fairy ring or pocket fairy place, Atium rolls his eyes. thinking to himself. Of COURSE Twinkletoes has an "in" with the fairies. I pegged it right when we got out of those coffins in the BoneYard. I pegged it this whole trek. Twinkletoes knows the fairies. That sparkle box he uses had "fairy magic" written all over it. The dude is a fairy friend.
Atium allows others to make the decision on where to rest, but gives a head nod at the Aishe's hidden campfire place as being more manly. But he doesn't give a verbal vote.
Vanyan will follow Aishe to a quiet spot, then open up a gate to a parallel plane for delights offered by the fey, and he’ll even let Atium enter after suitable apologies have been made.
In the morning, Vanyan will spell up and be ready to return and help Trant get his comrades.
Aishe examines Vanyan’s mushroom circles and nods. He casts Hide Campsite anyway, so even the mushrooms are invisible from more than 10’ away. ”Layers.” he says simply as he clambers into Vanyan’s extra dimensional comfort and gets some rest.
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Retreating for a the evening Aishe and Vanyan set up a hidden campsite, out of sight of the mysterious fey jungle and possible undead forces in the vicinity.
In the morning you return to the Keep and make you way to the cellar stairs. In the cellar this broad landing allows for considerable traffic.
Aishe suggests checking the east, then the voices to the south, then the western cluster for completeness before delving further. Still, he's comfortable with wherever Vinas and Atium lead.
His crossbow is out and ready.
Aishe prepares himself for the day by casting Aerial Tracks , Bloodhound , and Longstrider, Greater.
As the door is opened, he'll also cast Protection from Evil on himself. He's expecting all hell to break loose once they get into combat, so he wants to be ready.
"We will do all we can to bring much deserved rest. You have my word."
Vinas, eager to move, follows Aishe's masterful lead.
Vanyan will magic himself up accordingly, and then be ready to go.
Perception
Vanyan follows along, afloat and alert.
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Sturdy square columns support the vaulted ceiling twenty feet above the stone floor in this storeroom. Alcoves in the northwest and northeast corners contain jumbles of lumber, stone, and iron. Near the east wall is a heap of desiccated corpses, most still wearing armor and tabards with the flag of Lastwall.
Although originally built by the dwarves to serve as a general-purpose room for storage, sleeping, and simple crafts, the architects of Hammer Rock dedicated this vaulted chamber to storage of iron ingots, lumber, pitch, and similar supplies. The past weeks’ campaigning has significantly depleted the stores.
Three giants are shifting the remaining materials into the northern alcoves to clear out space, and a pile of magic-blasted knight corpses against the eastern wall awaits proper sorting. These giants are a towering, lean figure is hairless and has smooth, milky white skin. A scythe gleams in the giant’s hands.
As Vinas opens the door they turn their attention first to the door then to a squat bleached out gnome, who quietly plays and retunes a trio of summoned drums. The gnome begins cycling through various soft drum beats from across Avistan. "You know, I once tried to embrace musical traditions as a means of staving off the Bleaching, yet the more I explored other cultures’ music, the more I noticed underlying, predictable patterns that connected them all. Rather than inspire me, these similarities reinforced a depressing lack of novelty—seemingly proof of the world’s limited creativity."
Aishe nearly shoots the bleached gnome, so ready is he for hostilities.
"Ah. Oh." he mutters quietly. He wisely waits for one of the talkers to talk. He wonders who will go first and set the stage? Atium, or Vinas, or maybe even Tessenarin!
Know (Local)
Vanyan would also go with shooting things, but will give others a chance to engage in dialogue first. He will draw his staff of ice while trying to figure out what time of giants they face and what might be used against them.
Vinas lowers his head a bit at the sight of the giants, Blood will surely flow here.
"Then perhaps you do not range far enough, 'there are other worlds than these'."
Knowing full well that he and his shieldmates aren't exactly diplomatic in their comportment, Vinas starts gently, but directedly, "What brings you here now to this grim task?"
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Vanyan knows these giants to be Tomb Giants. Tomb giants are an entire race of humanoids who have given themselves over to necromancy, and in so doing have gained sinister powers. These giants are born as the living agents of undeath, and they show great skill in creating all manner of undead creatures—even from their own kind. They prefer enclosed spaces and caverns as lairs and often choose to live in crypts among the bodies of the dead. These giants have no compunction about living among undead, but are circumspect about their own safety and well aware that many undead horrors are hostile to the living.
They are a secretive race and go to extraordinary lengths to pursue and capture anyone they catch spying on them; such intruders often end up as raw material for the giants’ creation of further undead.
Tomb giants often seek to continue their existence after death by becoming undead themselves, usually seeking transformations into sentient and corporeal monsters like liches, mummies, or vampires.
These tomb giants seem to follow the lead of this bleachling gnome. The gnome looks down at his gray hand in disinterest. "This 'transformation' is a new existence of living death I suppose. What is it you know of these other worlds?" He yawns and the watchful giants begin to get twitchy as he shoos them away momentarily. "They are so predictable. The giants like to kill, dismember, and reanimate intruders. It was neat at first but is quickly proving to be boring. The Whispering Tyrant broke through here and went below. Left this area to the giants, he said." The gnome says matter of factly. "I would hurry along, I can only hold them back for so long before they may stop listening to me." He goes back to beating a soft melancholy tune on his drums.
Interesting.
Vanyan will explain what he knows to the others, uncertain whether to attack or not.
Nonplussed by the answer, Vinas (even if it would be considered rude) checks the gnome's aura for the taint of evil.
Aishe suggests, "No need to kill everyone we meet. Let's move on."
He feels they have bigger fish to fry. Maybe on the way back.
With a grunt, Vinas agrees to move on...
Vanyan glares at the giants as he leaves, hefting the fire seeds in his hands. I’ll find a use for you, don’t you worry.
Vanyan will follow the goon squad.
If everyone else agrees, Aishe will nod to the gnome and close the doors. He'll gesture to the doors immediately to the west. "That looks like a small cluster of rooms, like a guard post."
He readies his crossbow.
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The small cluster of rooms are access to the cellar and larders. This low, square room served as the main entrance to the castle’s storage area for provisions. It also served as an office for keeping inventory, as ledgers on one shelf attest. The tomb giants halfheartedly ransacked this room searching for survivors, but soon realized there weren’t any. Bags of flour, potatoes, and onions set out to prepare the day’s food rations are badly charred but still edible.
Originally serving the dwarves as a forge and armory, these two rooms underwent considerable renovation during Hammer Rock’s construction to serve as storage for food and drink. The Radiant Fire did not destroy the food in these areas outright. Instead, the beverages have all begun leaking out of disintegrating barrels, whereas the dairy products are curdled and the meat has a metallic taste. The giants living on this level don’t mind the flavors.
Vanyan looks around before entering...
Perception
...and if there are no dangers nearby will enter to be sure he isn't missing anything.
Given a moment by himself, he will wet his finger in his mouth, then paste it into a pile of spread flour, and write a quick note in big letters on the chopping block.
After that, Vanyan steps back to admire his work. See? This is what I missed out on when I was a Pathfinder. Being able to leave my mark.
That accomplished, and if there is time, he will return to the artist's table and post another, smaller message.
"Atium smells like poop."
He admires that too, assuming that Atium can't read. And then he is ready to move on.
Aishe chuckles at Vanyan's note in the flour. He waits for others to chime in, but when the silence settles, he walks to the southern doors. Crossbow at the ready, he gestures for the front line to open 'em when ready.
Vinas adds nothing to the scene, unsure of what drives Vanyan still. He nods at Aishe and joins him. Once Vinas gets the nod, he opens the door.
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Opening the door leads to quite an unusual sight. Decorated with elaborate scrollwork along the tops of the walls and a tall relief carving of a dwarven citadel along the north wall, this chamber has eight sturdy columns, three battered tables, and several old chairs.
This general purpose living space has served as a dining hall and break room for most of Hammer Rock’s occupation. Three of the eight tables that stood here still remain, with the others having been scrapped for fuel and space. The relief carving depicts the sky citadel Koldukar before it was overtaken by orcs.
Normally reclusive due to its horrific visage this slim figure’s proportions are wrong, and its disturbingly long arms end in claws, save for an oversized, boneless index finger. Kneeled beside this create are a pair of two more tomb giants.The smaller figure seems to be winning at a game of chance and dice much to the giants dismay as you wander in, several dozen skulls belonging to dead crusaders, which serve as gambling chips. "Come now, one more round. I am liking this game. Look at all you taught me. Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the night. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." The creature offers up an inspirational quote that seems to get the tomb giants laughing.
They all turn as you open the door. The two giants reach for large looking scythes as the smaller creature quickly stands to intervene. "Whoa, now. Everyone calm down." He holds both thin arms out wide. "Everyone seems awfully eager to fight." He notices the gleam for blood in Vinas and Atium's eyes. "And I thought these giant's thirst for blood was insatiable." He laughs. "What say we leave this to a game of chance?" A frail looking finger wiggles down toward the cards and dice. "A game of Old Chimera, played with a trio of die and a deck of Harrow Cards. One of you will play representing your group, myself and one of these fine, upstanding giants to represent their own." He points to himself. "Whoever runs out of tokens first has to pay up."
Vanyan only offers a mostly audible scoff at the idea, and readies for backlash. He’ll wait to see what others say as he’s not a gambling man. Iomedae wouldn’t approve.
Vinas takes a step back.... and casts a spell, weapon of awe. If Vanyan isn't going to try shenanigans, then Vinas IS.
Aishe moves into position, all his spells already in place. He eyes the opposition, "Ah. Oh. You've the wrong folk if you think we'll trust you."
If everyone continues to just stand around staring at each other, he'll take a potshot at 'fingers' to start things off.
(holy)
Seeing things beginning to get real, Vanyan withdraws his Staff of Ice and offers a Cone of Cold into the room as he floats by the doorway.
"Bout time we put this game...on ice."
Cold Damage vs. DC25 reflex for half
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The giants stand in awe at Vinas' weapon. Aishe takes aim and sends an arrow into the Rawhead's arm, pinning it to his ribs. The rawhead looks down in pain. "Well, that is a bit disappointing."
Vanyan sends in a cone of frigid air into the trio.
The rawhead has such a frightful presence about its demeanor as its gangly body begins to blur.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Rawhead │
➤ Vanyan │
➤ Tessenarin │
➤ Vinas │
➤ Atium │
➤ Aishe │
Tomb Giant (Red)
Tomb Giant (Green)
Round 2
Will vs. DC 23
Vanyan doesn’t seem too scared, and unleashes another Cone of Cold into the room before the brute squad moves in. He will move back a bit after the blast. He will put the staff back into this magical glove.
cold vs. DC 25 for half
[ dice]1d20+9+2[/dice] vs. DC10 to aid
hp: 118/118
AC: 23/19/15
Saves: F9/R10/W18
Broken Lightbox: 0/1 used
PoP 2: 0/1 used
PoP 1: 0/2 used
GlitterYourFace: 0/2 used
Extend Metamagic: 1/3 used
Babbling Tongues: 0/14 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder's Flight: 0/14 used
Staff of Frost: 4/10 charges left
Ice storm (1 charge)
Wall of ice (2 charges)
Cone of cold (3 charges)
[spoiler=Blessing of MuthaAraznin' Fervor]
With this blessing, you call your allies to move forth and empower them to conquer and become victorious. Each round for the duration of this spell, each of your allies can choose one of the following bonuses for that round at the beginning of its turn (their choice).
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
Conditions = Aerial Tracks (1/11h, 210’r), Bloodhound (1/11h, scent, +8 perception +4 survival with scent), Deadeye Lore (1/11h, +4 survival), Longstrider Greater (1/11h, +20’ base/+10’ fly), Protection from Evil (3/11m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Cold Iron, Silver Blanch Bolts =60/60
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 +17/+12/+7/+2, 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 = 1/2 Protection from Evil (11m)
Headband = 3/3 Fly (8m, +24)
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 = 4/4 (sw, +6 attack & damage)
Ranger Luck = 1/1 (no, 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 11, concentration +15, DC 14+)
1)
2)
3)
vs DC 23 or fear effect
Aishe is momentarily uneasy, but it passes quickly as he steps into the room (5’ step). He focuses on the nasty gambler and unloads his crossbow. He prays to Abadar to guide his last shot.*
(holy)
(holy)
(holy)
(holy)
(holy)
Unable to cleanly close distance, Vinas steps into the room to provide a block on Aishe. He summons more of his power as he directs his righteous anger on the rawhead.
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Vanyan sends a cone of cold into the rio before retreating back out into the hallway.
Chilled and quite slow Aishe unleashes a deadly volley into the gambler.
Two of the bolts hit right into the rawhead's face and neck, killing it on the spot.
Vinas blocks the path as his angelic aspect causes the tomb giants to momentarily question what is happening.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
Vanyan │
➤ Tessenarin │
Vinas │
➤ Atium │
Aishe │
Tomb Giant (Red)
Tomb Giant (Green)
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"Atium smells like poop."
Atium looks into the room and squints at the smaller writing. Whether he is able to read of not, he long ago knew two things. Number one, what his name looks like when written. Number two, all the ways to write down bad words and anything related to toilet humor. Poop is one that sounds like it's written.
You know, Twink, that poop is something some of my animal totems use to claim land. Their space is marked by scent, and where they poop is where they are.He doesn't look offended, at Vanyan's scrawl.
***************************
As the fight gets started, Atium looks upon the enemy.
Fearful presence. 23
Improved Iron Will - Reroll
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Tessenarin begins to sing as Atium, Vinas and Aishe's weapons burst with magic.
Atium rushes across the floor as he charges into the room, tossing chairs and tables out of his way. The pair of tomb giants meet Atium halfway with scythe's in their hands.
Both scythe's slit into Atium's arm with deadly accuracy.
──────────
BOLD: GO!:
──────────
➤ Vanyan │
➤ Tessenarin │
➤ Vinas │
➤ Atium │
➤ Aishe │
Tomb Giant (Red)
Tomb Giant (Green)
Vinas closes in and swings at the northern giant, hoping to give Atium some serious back up:
, but misses!
Round 3
Vanyan flies in, putting away the staff as he does. He comes just in time to see Atium really leading with his face.
"Protect your face, Atium!" Vanyan tries to help, and casts Produce Flame and tosses one at the bottom giant.
touch to hit;
fire damage. (1/17 used)
[ dice]1d20+9+2[/dice] vs. DC10 to aid
hp: 118/118
AC: 23/19/15
Saves: F9/R10/W18
Broken Lightbox: 0/1 used
PoP 2: 0/1 used
PoP 1: 0/2 used
GlitterYourFace: 0/2 used
Extend Metamagic: 1/3 used
Babbling Tongues: 0/14 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder's Flight: 0/14 used
Staff of Frost: 4/10 charges left
Ice storm (1 charge)
Wall of ice (2 charges)
Cone of cold (3 charges)
[spoiler=Blessing of MuthaAraznin' Fervor]
With this blessing, you call your allies to move forth and empower them to conquer and become victorious. Each round for the duration of this spell, each of your allies can choose one of the following bonuses for that round at the beginning of its turn (their choice).
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.