Secrets in the Sands: Mummy's Mask by GM Apoc

Game Master Apoc Golem

Melech moves into the hallway. He can only barely see Idorii's back from the light of his sword. He raises it and lets out a growl.

Unlikely, but readied action to attack if anyone comes into range.

Sigrun stays back and begins singing.

Inspire Courage.

Before Ulysses can fire, Velriana's readied action goes off, and a bolt of pure force strikes him square in the chest--and then dissipates on his shield extract. From down the hallway, the gnome sees Velriana holding a wand. She huffs in disgust. "This is what I get for trusting that idiot."

As if to spite her, his shot lands true on Idorii and she takes the bolt in the side, hissing in pain as she backs down the hallway.

Before Melech can go, Azaz calls out the spidery words of magic as he reads from a scroll, and a large ball of fire appears directly under Ulysses.

Ulysses Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Ulysses does a "hot-step" and manages to dodge the burning orb. It roils and rolls in place under him, however.

Melech then steps into the hall to watch for trouble.

Khelru strides up into the hallway, seemingly unconcerned by the wounds on Idorii as he steps in front of her, quarterstaff at the ready. "I am sorry it ended up being you," he says to Melech, "but you never had any right to this temple. It is sacred to Nethys and belongs to His followers. You are the intruders here, I am afraid." He stands hunkered slightly, knees bent, clearly ready for a fight.

Idorii stands her ground as well, bleeding profusely but with her weapons up and at the ready.

ROUND 3
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (0 dmg)
Sigrun (34/34 hp)
Azaz (0 dmg)
Melech (49/49 hp)
Khelru (0 dmg)
Idorii (20 dmg)
[/color]

The scars on Ulysses's face and neck itch and burn as the flames crackle beneath him. He clenches his jaw against the fear, sees Melech ready to charge, and whispers to him, "Hold!" Then he stows his crossbow, pulls out his silver grenade, and tosses it down the hallway. (Aiming for the square I've marked. AC5, yes? 10' explosion radius.)

grenade (2 RI, -1 burned): 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 2 - 2 - 1 = 8
damage (B+P+fire): 1d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (1) + (1) = 8
ignites in ? rounds: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Then he steps back through the doorway, away from the fire, and so he can't be targeted by another spell.

spellcraft (-1 burned): 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 1 = 26

Quick Draw is awesome. Check this out.

Melech scoffs. "So you need to kill us? No. Don't try to justify your blood lust." He sheathes his falchion (move action), pulls out his bow (free), fires a shot at Khelru (standard), drops his bow (free), redraws his falchion (free), then steps to the side, out of the line of fire (free).

longbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You've got three people ahead of you in initiative. Sorry homie.

Ulysses Reflex: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 1 = 19

Ulysses once again dodges the flames of the sphere before hucking his bomb and dashing back into the next room. The blast is immense and spectacular, but two of the three manage to dodge the worst of it. Velriana takes a full round of pellets to the arms and face, and she looks pissed.

Velriana shrugs at the uselessness of her gifted wand, drops it, and raises her own at Melech.

A bright orange-red line of fire leaps from her fingers and blasts Melech square in the chest, leaving a painful scorch on his flesh. (10 damage.)

ROUND 3
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (8 dmg)
Sigrun (34/34 hp)
Azaz (0 dmg)
Melech (49/49 hp)
Khelru (4 dmg)
Idorii (24 dmg)
[/color]

Sigrun looks uncertainly at the gnome as he runs back in. Should they really be trying to kite them into here? There's nowhere to maneuver with this many combatants...

She decides to follow Ulysses' lead for now and steps up to the door, readying her battleaxe to smack somebody if they come through.

Maintaining Inspire Courage.

Azaz, having lost immediate sight of his first target, turns the flaming sphere toward Melech.

Melech Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5) = 9

Unfortunately, Melech isn't as quick to dodge the molten ball as Ulysses was, and his legs get badly burned. You're starting to get their moniker now.

Azaz moves forward and points his finger at Melech, and a ball of force strikes him unerringly in the chest. (2 damage.)

Now your turn goes off. Also Ulysses actually didn't need to make the previous Reflex save. the sphere only deals damage on Azaz's turn, not if you start your turn in the same square.

Khelru takes the arrow to the side with a grunt of pain. "Do not be stupid, man!" he growls. "When an intruder invades your home, you kill him or drive him off! You do not pour him tea." With a grunt, he yanks out the arrow and slams his staff into the ground. A blast of positive energy pours over his allies, stitching their wounds together. The wave actually rolls over Melech and even Sigrun in the doorway as well, but neither of them feel any of its effects.

"Velriana's little pact has nothing to do with me or Azaz. It's her affair. So far as I'm concerned, if you leave now, that will be the end of it. Her new friend does not scare me."

Idorii holds, uncertain what to do. She's clearly still badly injured.

ROUND 4
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg)
Sigrun (34/34 hp)
Azaz (0 dmg)
Melech (49/49 hp)
Khelru (7 dmg)
Idorii (19 dmg)
[/color]

spellcraft (-1 burned): 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 1 = 19

Ulysses dashes back into the hall, away from the fire, resisting the urge to cry out. Once there, he sees Azaz and Khelru standing together. He pulls out his final bomb and considers for a moment. Wish they were closer together, but this will have to do. He tosses the bomb at Khelru.

bomb: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2, 5) + 6 = 15

Sorry I haven't been including this: with inspire courage, it's 9 splash damage, DC16 reflex half.

The bomb blasts Khelru in the chest, scorching him hard and leaving him gasping for breath. Azaz takes the secondary blast directly to the face, scorching off his eyebrows and the side of his hair. The young man screams in agony.

Velriana, for her part, hardly even blinks. "We aren't driving them off, we're killing them, you spineless twit. Any more talk like that and I'll kill you myself. We have a deal with Dakota. You will honor it."

She then draws a scroll from her belt, reads it off, and touches Idorii--who instantly vanishes.

ROUND 4
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg)
Sigrun (34/34 hp)
Azaz (9 dmg)
Melech (49/49 hp)
Khelru (23 dmg)
Idorii (19 dmg)
[/color]

Still singing, Sigrun strides into the hall to face off against Khelru. She has no idea what all this is about who the temple belongs to; she only cares he attacked her friends. And if that b~!+* Idorii shows her face again, Sigrun's got an axe for her.

Battleaxe vs Khelru: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Seeing his partner on the verge of death, Azaz screams in Sigrun's face, his youthful features contorted with rage. "Get away from him, you b!#%!!!"

He twists his hand in an arcane gesture, ducking away from the bard's attempts to disrupt him, and touches the head of her battleaxe. Waves of electricity course through her arm, blackening her skin and causing the studs on her armor to smolder for a moment. Sigrun's muscles clench painfully as the spell courses through her. (10 damage.)

The flaming sphere continues to roll under Melech.

Melech Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4) = 12

ROUND 4
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg)
Sigrun (24/34 hp)
Azaz (9 dmg)
Melech (30/49 hp)
Khelru (30 dmg, disabled)
Idorii (19 dmg, invisible)
[/color]

Sigrun is in the only space Melech to reach to attack this turn. This is heartbreaking. Every turn is vital in this fight and I can't let that cleric heal, so I'm spending a hero point for an additional move action.

Melech runs faster than he thought he could in this bulky armor to fight alongside Sigrun. He sees Khelru barely standing and goes to finish the job.

falchion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
damage: 2d4 + 13 ⇒ (2, 4) + 13 = 19

Yeah, f&*~ you, cleric.

Melech charges in and with a fell swipe, take's Khelru's head clean from his shoulders. Blood erupts in an arterial spray, and Azaz shrieks in horror and impotent fury as he's coated in his lover's blood. "You f%*%ing monsters! I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!!"

The enemy's healer is permanently out of the picture. It would be a rousing success, but then two things happen to snatch the sense of victory out of the party's minds.

First, Idorii appears over the corpse of her fallen comrade and takes a suprise swing at Melech. Despite catching him off-guard, she isn't able to hit as cleanly as she'd like. (6 damage; you have been so F'ing lucky in this battle with these s$$%e rolls.)

Second, that damned ankhat returns, forming out of the ground behind Sigrun to flank with Idorii. If any question remained in your minds whether Velriana was in control of the creature's keystone, that doubt has now vanished. Its bulbous "fists" swing at Sigrun, and one of them slams hard into her back. (9 damage.)

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (9 dmg)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (19 dmg)
[/color]

Ulysses's brief moment of hope at seeing Melech finish off Khelru is dashed against the wall when the ankhat reappears (hope brains everywhere!). He doesn't know how they can win. Having nothing else to do, he searches his belt and his bandolier frantically for something, anything that he might have missed that could help.

And, wouldn't you know it, here is another bomb. How did he miss these extras? (Alternatively, who or what is intervening in this fight to create bombs where there were none?)

Hero point for another damn bomb. One left.

He decides the how doesn't matter and tosses the bomb between Melech and Sigrun, aiming for Idorii.

bomb: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2, 5) + 6 = 16

Oh no. With cover, that might not hit. If it doesn't hit, I'll spend his last hero point to make it hit. Dammit. Either way, 9 splash damage, DC16 reflex for half.

Yeah, you'll have to spend the last hero point if you want it to hit. Her AC is boosted, currently.

When Melech decapitates Khelru, Velriana actually barks a laugh. "Such cruelty! Were you not defiling my god's temple with your mere presence, I might offer you a job."

Ulysses must begin to wonder if there isn't a divine hand in this affair (certainly not the hand of Nethys, but someone's) because not only does he find another bomb, but Idorii sees it coming, dips to the side, and the bomb bounces off the wall beside her without exploding to hit her in the chest, then explodes. The concussion shatters multiple ribs and scorches her face and chest, knocking her back and into unconsciousness. She bleeds steadily from multiple wounds.

Azaz somehow manages to duck the worst of it, but he's barely on his feet. Yet the mad hate has not left his eyes. As futile as it clearly is, he's going to go down fighting.

When Idorii goes down, Velriana grunts in disgust. "Useless. Dakota! Wherever you are, get your sorry ass in here and help! We had a deal!"

When there is no immediate response, she growls in frustration and casts a spell, weaving her hands and uttering an incantation. Suddenly instead of one Velriana, there are six.

She steps back a few feet, looking increasingly panicked and frustrated.

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (13 dmg)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and dying)
[/color]

Sigrun looks a little unhappily at the headless Khelru. Maybe she's wrong, but it seemed like he might have been reasoned with, especially in his precarious state. It felt like an execution, not a victory. She looks pitiably on Azaz, then at the ankhat battering her. If Velriana really is controlling it, maybe they can stop it by stopping Velriana? Besides, the idea of killing Azaz right now makes her stomach turn a little.

The bard tumbles away from the ankhat, trying to reach Velriana without provoking a response from the elemental.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

She moves up to Velriana and lashes out with her battleaxe.

Battleaxe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Sigrun isn't quite able to avoid the ankhat's reach. And yet, for whatever reason, it chooses not to attack her, staring with its eyeless face as she tumbles away. Whether lucky or something else is at play, the bard moves in and strikes the wizard.

Sigrun just knows that should have put a serious hurt on Velriana; that strike went right to the neck. Unfortunately, she guessed at the wrong image, and her target poofs out of existence, leaving the wizard unscathed.

Azaz backs up and thrusts his wand out at Melech. The slayer braces for more lightning, or fire, or force missiles--but instead, a jet of greenish-brown, slippery liquid sprays all over his flachion.

Melech Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Melech manages to keep his grip on the weapon--for now. But it's coated in grease, and constantly tries to slip out of his grip.

You will have to make a Reflex save, DC 10, at the start of each of your turns to avoid dropping the weapon. If you drop it, you have to make a successful Reflex save to pick it up.

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (13 dmg)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and dying)
[/color]

Melech's falchion is suddenly very difficult to hold on to. With a growl, he drops it and grabs the flail from his belt. The battlefield is littered with his weapons. Better take care of Azaz now so he can't keep doing this. He steps forward, studying the man for weak points as he goes, then takes a swing at his head.

flail (+6 hero point): 1d20 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 6 = 19
damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Dammit. I really feel like every turn is critical. I had planned to use the hero point to attack Velriana twice but I can't do that if Azaz is in my way. Ugh. Spending it to make that a 19 to hit. And now the hero points are gone.

Melech dispatches Azaz with the same brutal efficiency as his lover, caving his skull with the flail. One of the young man's eyes pops out and dangles disgustingly from its socket as blood pours liberally from all his orifices. The wand clatters uselessly from his limp hand. He stands for another second, his remaining eye twitching spastically and pouring tears of blood, before he finally collapses.

Velriana snorts. "Thank you. I'd have had to put him down myself. I only let the little s#$~ stick around because Khelru insisted. You've shown me how badly I needed to clean house. I thank you. Ankhat!" She points at Melech and Sigrun. "Kill them!"

The ankhat...

... doesn't move.

It stands, staring at the party and Velriana with its featureless face for several seconds, then vanishes into the ground. It does not reappear. Velriana screams in frustration. "Get back here, you little twit! Do as I command!"

Despite her fury, the ankhat does not answer her summons. What on earth is going on...?

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (13 dmg)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and dying)
[/color]

Ulysses moves forward, drawing his crossbow and loading it.

Velriana, sensing the danger she's in, rushes away from Sigrun (provoking an AoO). From around the corner, Sigrun can hear her muttering an incantation.

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (3 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (29 dmg, dead)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and dying)
[/color]

AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Images: 1d5 ⇒ 1

This time, Sigrun's axe actually manages to bite flesh, leaving an impressive cut in the wizard.

ROUND 5
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (13 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (29 dmg, dead)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and dying)
[/color]

Sensing fleeing prey, Sigrun gives chase and swings again at Velriana with her axe, never letting the song die in her throat.

Battleaxe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Images: 1d5 ⇒ 1

Holy crap!

Melech gives chase, but isn't quite as fast as his quarry. Damned armor!

The ankhat has yet to show itself again. Finally this battle is turning around!

That is, until Ulysses hears muttering from nearby, and suddenly his limbs become sluggish and begin to stiffen.

Ulysses Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

To his horror, Ulysses can neither move nor speak. His eyes dart frantically about for the source of the spell, but he can't turn around and the spell didn't come from in front of him. From nearby, light footsteps step up to the alchemist, padding quietly. "Man, you have been a tough nut to crack, Ulysses. You don't even have it on you, do you? I'll bet you don't. That's why I like you, you're smart. Maybe not as perceptive as you'd like to think, but definitely smart." It's that damned voice, the one who was speaking to Velriana! Dakota, did she call him? He's sure he's never met anyone named Dakota, so why do they sound familiar?

And then it hits him. Because the voice he recognizes doesn't belong to anyone named Dakota.

A man steps into view around him, pulling off the familiar gray robes of a historian to reveal a long leather duster over a shining mithral shirt glowing with magic and a master-crafted leather whip. Filibus Malfestri--or is it Dakota?--gives him an apologetic grin. "Don't beat yourself up over the whole not seeing it. I'm really, really good at this. It's why the Aspis Consortium sent me. See if I could get in close, steal the Vulcan Solution off you. But you don't have it, do you? Well, they'll figure it out. I'm glad I didn't have to kill you guys. I'd have been pretty bummed."

You may can breathe normally but can not move or speak. You may attempt a new Will save on your turn as a full-round action, DC 15.

ROUND 6
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC, paralyzed)
Velriana (22 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (29 dmg, dead)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and stable)
[/color]

Filibus?! What the devil?

will: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Yeah, we're gonna need to do something about this will save.

Everybody poo-poohs Iron Will, but hey, a +2 to your saves is a +2 to your saves.

When Sigrun and Melech round the corner, they see a small dagger now floats around Velriana's head, dipping and darting about. She juts out her wand and utters an incantation. Sigrun goes in to make an attack of opportunity, but the floating dagger darts in and disrupts her attack, forcing her to back off while Velriana casts.

A brilliant burst of flame explodes from her wand in a cone that engulfs both Melech and Sigrun. (11 fire damage, Reflex for half.)

Melech Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Sigrun Ref: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Sigrun manages to duck the worst of it, but Melech takes a fire bath. Velriana sneers at the duo.

The ankhat has yet to show itself again. Finally this battle is turning around!

That is, until Ulysses hears muttering from nearby, and suddenly his limbs become sluggish and begin to stiffen.

Ulysses Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

To his horror, Ulysses can neither move nor speak. His eyes dart frantically about for the source of the spell, but he can't turn around and the spell didn't come from in front of him. From nearby, light footsteps step up to the alchemist, padding quietly. "Man, you have been a tough nut to crack, Ulysses. You don't even have it on you, do you? I'll bet you don't. That's why I like you, you're smart. Maybe not as perceptive as you'd like to think, but definitely smart." It's that damned voice, the one who was speaking to Velriana! Dakota, did she call him? He's sure he's never met anyone named Dakota, so why do they sound familiar?

And then it hits him. Because the voice he recognizes doesn't belong to anyone named Dakota.

A man steps into view around him, pulling off the familiar gray robes of a historian to reveal a long leather duster over a shining mithral shirt glowing with magic and a master-crafted leather whip. Filibus Malfestri--or is it Dakota?--gives him an apologetic grin. "Don't beat yourself up over the whole not seeing it. I'm really, really good at it. It's why the Aspis Consortium sent me. See if I could get in close, steal the Vulcan Solution off you. But you don't have it, do you? Well, they'll figure it out. I'm glad I didn't have to kill you guys. I'd have been pretty bummed."

You may attempt a new Will save on your turn as a full-round action.

ROUND 6
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Dakota (0 dmg)
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC, paralyzed)
Velriana (22 dmg, 4 images)
Sigrun (15/34 hp)
Azaz (29 dmg, dead)
Melech (24/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and stable)
[/color]

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Sigrun's song dies in her throat and she coughs hoarsely. "I... I can't... I don't have any more--" She stops in mid-sentence and her eyes light up. "Wait! That was the keystone! Melech, keep her off me!"

Sigrun rushes into the alcove and studies the keystone, trying to sort it out. "Gods-cussed hieroglyphs," she mutters. "Why can't it be in modern Osiriani...?"

She focuses her magical sense on it and casts identify on it.

It won't take all three rounds like it normally would, but it will take a full round of study next round and a standard action to identify its properties with Spellcraft the round after, combined with an opposed Charisma check, to wrest control of the ankhat from its current owner.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Ulysses can take care of himself... Ulysses can take care of himself...

Melech sneers through the pain of all the wounds and burns he has taken this fight. This conniving piece of s#$$ woman will not beat him. He moves up in her face, takes a guess at which Velriana is the real Velriana, and swings his flail at her head.

flail: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
images: 1d5 ⇒ 1

Velriana clearly should not have placed her trust in that spell. The last three attacks went through. Yet she gives Melech a smug look as he swings, still for whatever reason completely confident that her magic will save her.

She still has that look as your flail comes down on her dome and cracks it. She drops to the floor twitching as she bleeds from multiple orifices, that smug look frozen on her face as she slowly bleeds out. (Unconscious and dying! The Scorched Hand is defeated! Only one more thing to do...)

Dakota keeps talking in a low, conversational tone as he whips out a length of cord and begins binding the alchemist. "Not really my normal scene, the whole infiltration thing. At least, not as deep as I went with you guys. Usually I just slip in, take what I was sent to get, slip out. You didn't keep the Solution on you though. Smart, but unfortunately all it did was buy you time. The Consortium wants that formula and they're very good at getting you to talk. Not pleasant either. I feel bad about it--kinda ended up really liking you guys--but a job's a job, you know? Should have just given them the Solution in Tephu, and this never would have happened." He pauses, then gives Ulysses a playful grin. "That's where you hid it, isn't it. Hah. Pretty clever. I bet it's in the Grand Library somewhere, yeah? Nice. Well, they'll get it out of you regardless." He steps back to admire his work.

"Not bad. Now to get us out of here."

You now have the Pinned condition. If you get free of the paralysis, you will then need to attempt an Escape Artist or CMB check against his CMD. Note that the Pinned condition lowers your Dexterity significantly.

ROUND 7
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Dakota (0 dmg)
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Velriana (40 dmg, unconscious and dying)
Sigrun (10/34 hp)
Azaz (29 dmg, dead)
Melech (13/49 hp)
Khelru (49 dmg, dead)
Idorii (35 dmg, unconscious and stable)
[/color]

will: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Holy crap.

Fili-- Dakota's mention of torture gives Ulysses increased motivation to free himself. He closes his eyes, takes several deep breaths to calm himself, then ... suddenly, he knows that he has control of his body again. But with Fil-- Dakota still there, he lays stock still, waiting for his moment.

Melech doesn't even wait for Velriana's body to hit the ground before he turns and runs back in the direction of Ulysses. He knows something has happened; Ulysses should have come around the corner by now.

He rounds the corner at full speed and ... can't quite process what he sees. He thinks he sees Ulysses tied up on the ground and Filibus standing over him, looking far more well-equipped and confident than the Filibus they know. But that couldn't possibly be right. He finishes his dash right next to Filibus, flail reluctantly held at the ready.

"Filibus. What is this?" He doesn't take his eyes off Filibus, but the fact that Ulysses hasn't moved at all in the past few seconds doesn't escape him. He raises the flail more threateningly, towering menacingly over the smaller man. "Filibus. Explain yourself. Now."

The man Melech knows as Filibus sighs. "It's Dakota, actually. Dakota Johnson. And no, I don't think I will. It's too time consuming to do twice." He draws the whip from his belt. "I know you're not gonna let me just take him, so I won't even ask. Really didn't wanna have to kill you."

The whip lashes out lightning-quick and wraps around Melech's ankle, and suddenly the floor is the ceiling as he comes crashing down onto his back. All the air rushes out of his lungs and he has to force himself hard to breathe. Then Dakota utters a statement that completely chills him: "Ankhat, disable him please. Leave him alive."

The ankhat rises out of the ground behind Melech and swings one bulbous fist at him, smashing into the grounded slayer's chest. (4 nonlethal damage. I rolled minimum, you lucky duck.)

ROUND 8
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Dakota (0 dmg)
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Sigrun (10/34 hp)
Melech (13/49 hp, 4 nonlethal, prone)
[/color]

escape artist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

BOOM. I'll wait to be sure that succeeds before continuing.

Ulysses struggles against his bonds, absolutely sure that he has found a way out of them. Unfortunately, he just made them tighter. He slumps back down, defeated.

"SIGRUN! Do we have it?!" Melech screams.

Holding turn until Sigrun responds.

Sigrun glances up momentarily from her reading. "Need more time! Not as easy as it looks, you know!"

Come on, come on... Is... is that...? Yes! I think that's it!

"Almost got it! Hold on a little longer!"

Full round action to study. Next round Sigrun can try to take control.

Okay. Buy her time. Okay. Um. How? This thing will put me down if I try to stand up.

Melech cranes his neck so he can see Fil-- dammit!-- Dakota clearly, then studies him. "Okay. Look, man, you obviously want something. Maybe I can help you. I'm only doing this s+&+ for the money, and he's not paying me that well anyway. We shed blood together. Let me help you."

bluff (+1 ST): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24

Dakota frowns, his brow furrowed as if confused. "Want? I want to get paid. And I don't really do the whole 'partner' thing. I like you, which is why I'm not going to kill you. But I just don't trust you. Meaning no offense--I don't trust anybody. Comes with the territory. Industrial espionage is not a 'team player' kind of career, you know?" He considers Melech for a moment. "Tell you what. Just so I don't rack up your healing bill, I won't have the ankhat clobber you into unconsciousness."

He touches Ulysses, and the gnome disappears from sight.

I didn't actually state this before, but all the commands that were given to the ankhat, both by Velriana and now by Dakota, have been in Ancicent Osiriani. So only Ulysses has understood them.

In Ancient Osiriani, Dakota says, "Ankhat, knock Melech unconscious if he moves before I leave the building. Otherwise do not touch him."

The ankhat looms over the slayer, "fist" raised, but does not swing down, simply waits.

ROUND 10
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Dakota (0 dmg)
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC, pinned)
Sigrun (10/34 hp)
Melech (13/49 hp, 4 nonlethal, prone)
[/color]

spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Jesus g&&&!*n skydiving christ. What does Ulysses see? Is he still in the hallway or somewhere else?

Also, Melech speaks Ancient Osiriani. :)

will: 1d20 ⇒ 19

The gnome vanishes from sight--but only for a split second. His panicked mind battles frantically against the hostile magic, and the invisibility flickers and vanishes.

Dakota huffs indignantly. "Why can't I ever get the easy jobs?"

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25

Sigrun blinks. "Oh. Okay. Yeah!"

She focuses on the keystone, channeling some arcane power into it, trying to wrest control of the ankhat.

Missed an important step in the process before. Now the ankhat gets a Will save. Fingers crossed!

The ankhat's fist over Melech's head wavers...

Sigrun whoops and runs out of the alcove. "I don't have complete control of it, but I've got a shot! Quick--how do I say 'attack' in Ancient Osiriani??"

Melech thinks for a moment, then he and Ulysses say "hujum" simultaneously, Ulysses a bit more confidently than Melech.

Sigrun yells, "Ankhat, hujum Dakota!"

Dakota's eyes dart from Melech to the curving hallway, and you can see the realization dawn on his face. "Ankhat, met Sigrun!!" he cries with sudden desperation. You can't see the battle of wills, but you can feel it, as a sort of thick, tingling sensation in the air, almost crackling like lightning about to strike.

Both have the same Charisma bonus so it'll be a straight d20 roll to see who the ankhat follows.

Sigrun Check: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Dakota Check: 1d20 ⇒ 3

The energies course back and forth between their minds, neither quite able to push back against the other for several moments, until finally with a bellow Sigrun shoves back against Dakota and with a noisy, invisible burst, the energy releases momentarily and the ankhat turns its attention at Dakota.

With a gasp and a growl, Dakota says, "You brought this on yourself. Could've taken the easy way."

His whip snaps out at Melech, lashing across his chest and tearing open flesh. (6 damage. 3 damage away from unconsciousness.)

The ankhat vanishes into the floor, and rises out of the stone behind Dakota, bringing down its bulbous fist to slam the... what is he? Bard? Assassin? Whatever, it attacks Dakota. He tries to duck away from the attack, but it manages to slam him hard in the side. (7 damage.)

ROUND 11
BOLD may act.
[color=green]
Dakota (7 dmg)
Ankhat (0 dmg)
Ulysses (32/32 hp, +4 AC)
Sigrun (10/34 hp)
Melech (7/49 hp, 4 nonlethal, prone)
[/color]