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Elen joins the party appearing in her usual travel cloak – a cloak adorned in fine feathers of a slightly scaly texture that appear either dark grey, iridescent green or -- around the shoulders -- metallic fuchsia depending on how the light hits it.
Upon seeing the sewer muck however, she chirps once and the cloak turns into Wings of Flying. She applauds Muri and Underfoot’s aerial manueveurs. ”Are you going to rename her ‘Abovefoot’?”
She looks at the map and shrugs. "Look for a trident in the road?" she offers.
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"Hey, that's a great cloak!!" Muri pushes his right boot into Underfoot's side, establishing the X and Y axis, before he struggles to wordlessly indicate to her he'd also like to descend. "Down, girl." Words will have to suffice for now.
As the two circle the winged elf, the halfling nods approvingly. "We really are becoming Birdsong!"
"Are you going to rename her 'Abovefoot'?"
"Or Undertail?" Muri looks past Underfoot's rump, and smiles back at Elen.
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Closer inspection reveals the Circlet upon Underfoot's brow, master and commander of the new Cloak.
"I'm not a bird."
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"I don't know many dogs with wings."
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"You put a cloak on me. I'm still a dog."
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Muri pats Underfoot's mane, and doesn't push the pooch, unsure how aware she is of his precariousness.
"Are we almost there, Kort?"
Air walking and flying you make your way into Duskfathom. Aside from a metallic edge to the stink that you can’t quite place, Duskfathom feels like any other sewer. Major Kort struggles with the piecemeal map a little but with Muri’s help, is able to guide the party where they’re going. One air walk scroll is used, though you’ve only a few minutes left on it (long enough for this encounter for sure).
In the end, the jagged sewer tunnel extends for 100 feet from the nearest branch before reaching a roughly square subterranean harbor after a few bends. A stone stoop serves as the pier, from which is moored two long, black skiffs.
A pair of heavily cloaked ferrymen stand, one in each boat. One glances as you as your light sources pierce the room. The looming, horned, skeletal figure, clutches the long pole, a seething glow burning in its eye sockets. The other turns to ‘look’ at you as well.
They don’t immediately react beyond that.
While all daemons represent death in some fashion, thanadaemons, the Deacons of Death, represent the inevitable death through old age. Thanadaemons effortlessly work eerie skiffs along every pus- and bile-choked river in Abaddon, including the legendary River Styx. For the right price (typically 50pp or 2 gems worth at least 300gp each), a thanadaemon will even carry passengers on its skiff, yet those who travel with these fiends should beware - they frequently renegotiate the terms once they’ve got their passengers in dangerous realms.
One question for each five you beat the DC as usual.
- - -
Round 1
Kamari looks at the ferrymen and thinks to herself that she really should hit the books again.
"You two look like reasonable entities. No reason for a fight today. We just need directions, and maybe transportation."
-
Kort's mouth momentarily drops as he looks at the ferrymen.
Round 1, Init 18---> Delay to Init 16
AC = 25
HP = 104/104
Weapon Equipped = Chaldira's Hand
Condition(s) = None
AC = 32
HP = 118/118
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri remains in the back, hearing Kamari's words, initially quite diplomatic.
"We were told to visit here."
Elen and Muri support Kamari’s attempts to parley - and they succeed!
"... transportation."
Upon hearing that word, the creature shrugs, and holds out its clawed, bony hand for payment, and waits for a location to ferry you to.
Energy Drain (Su) 1 level Fort DC 21
Draining Weapon (Su) A thanadaemon’s energy drain attack functions through any melee weapon it wields.
Fear Gaze (Su) Cower in fear for 1d6 rounds, 30 feet, Will DC 21 negates. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.
Soul Crush (Su) A thanadaemon can crush a soul gem as a standard action to gain fast healing 15 for 15 rounds (this is a standard action).
- - -
We’ll stay in rounds for the moment. The party is up!
The Night Swan lowers her halberd but does not stow it. ”I do not make a habit of trusting daemons. But if the rest of you would prefer to pay our way, I will not press the matter.” She will simply wait and prepare for the daemons’ sudden yet inevitable betrayal.
Kamari looks to the more knowledgeable people in the group, shrugs, and digs into her haversatchel for some gold. She holds out a few coins.
"How much?"
It couldn't really be this easy, she thinks. Won't he ask for my soul or firstborn child soon?
Kort waits and see how much transport will cost, and let those with bargaining lips determine the price.
As he speaks in Abyssal, he will help translate as needed.
"It's typically <50pp or 2 gems worth at least 300gp each>" Kort explains to Kamari.
How much money does Kamari put in the bony hand, and where is the boatman to go?
The other too, puts out its hand.
Kamari pulls out the amount suggested by Kort and then doubles it.
"Can we have a return trip, too?" she asks.
"Kort, can you explain where we need to go or at least point it out on the map?"
Kort will explain where they need safe passage too.
You are at the location you planned to investigate. Not sure where you want to go honestly...
The two cowled figures collect their coinage - withdrawing it deeply into their robes. They wait for a destination and passangers.
Kamari looks at the map and listens to Kort's explanation until she realizes they've arrived already.
"Oh. Um. I guess we need information, too. Have you seen..." Kamari does her best to explain what Taldoris might look like.
"We'd like to go where he went."
"Wait, did someone say were were at Lost Silhouette already?"
Not a person search service, merely a delivery service, they look at Kamari blankly. They begin to hoist their staves...
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For clarity, a few points that might be helpful as my last post was a little rushed.
- Taldaris is believed to be beyond these doors, somewhere inside this complex.
- The two ferrymen are just that. They’ll transport someone or something to a destination for a fee.
- The ferrymen have been paid for a journey, but have not been given a destination.
- They will be disappointed, but they will ferry out to a destination and back without any of you going along. They've been paid afterall.
- Er, I’ve run out of things on the list, but let me know if you have any questions or I’m still unclear.
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"You know what? I think we just need to try out those doors and go through there first. Why don't we send these ferrymen far away and we can explore here at our leisure? Here, Kamari...send them to Axis. Without us." Kort points on the map a location for Kamari to send the ferrymen, sans passengers to go. "We paid for the trip...so send them."
If and when the ferrymen are gone, Kort will move to the doors area and examine the area for magic and traps.
Perception
Muri resists the divine urge to slay both daemons outright, willing to lower the resistance on the path leading into Lost Silhouette. Sorry, Chaldira! I would like to end this evil here and now, but it may bring the entire fortress down on our heads, and prevent me from continuing to serve you! I will strike deeper into the heart of this evil.
Kamari picks a random point on the map far away and sees if the ferrymen will depart. She'll be careful to ensure no one is in the boats before sending them on their way.
The ferrymen, clearly disappointed they're not bringing someone they can shake down for more cash later, nevertheless depart. They won't be back for hours.
You are alone with a pair of double doors. They do not appear to have a lock, such is the confidence of the residents that their reputation will protect them.
Those of you air walking will lose your altitude soon, next couple minutes or so.
”Do tell them to feel free slaying any froghemoths they find on the way or back.” Elen suggests as the ferry demons depart.
She hangs silently in the air waiting, waiting for the Major's verdict on the door.
When it's clear that Kort is satisfied with the lack of safeguards on the double doors, Muri and Underfoot swoop in and open them. The halfling does look over his shoulder, making sure he's not left two thanadaemons unguarded on his six.
The halfling and hound wait just on the inside of the doors for the rest of Betony to enter. Once in, Muri turns back and closes the doors.
Kort will draw and drink a potion of Barkskin (+5 to AC for 150 minutes) when the doors are opened. He will also renew his See Invisibility.
"Okay, let's see what we got here."
You open the doors and find yourself in a large foyer, with doored hallways extending east and north - but it’s the central chamber that gathers your attention foremost.
This large room contains several metal tables with a plethora of straps for binding creatures. Arrays of torture implements and surgical tools hang from carefully ordered displays along the west wall. More than 100 maps of different worlds and cities hang from the eastern wall.
Three figures are currently working over a fourth, strapped to one of the tables. It’s Wyssilka… Wyssilka the Failed (image). Wyssilka wails in her high shrill voice as they cut into her. She looks at you as the doors open and screams, ”Save me!”
Shadows veil what lurks within the dark, imposing armor of the three figures. They straighten up from their work and draw their swords (image).
Undying tyrants and eternal champions of the undead, graveknights arise from the corpses of the most nefarious warlords and disgraced heroes - villains too merciless to submit to the shackles of death. They bear the same weapons and regalia they did in life, though warped or empowered by their profane resurrection. The legions they once held also flock to them in death, ready to serve their wicked ambitions once more. A graveknight’s essence is fundamentally tied to its armor, the bloodstained trappings of its battle lust. This armor becomes an icon of its perverse natures, transforming into a monstrous second skin over the husk of desiccated flesh and scarred bone locked within.
- - -
It’s Wyssilka… Wyssilka the Failed (image).
Kort looks at the three jerks who hate awesomely arted clowns.
Know (Religion) -
Round 1, Init 22
AC = 25
HP = 104/104
Weapon Equipped = Chaldira's Hand
Condition(s) = None
AC = 32
HP = 118/118
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
"First daemons, now graveknights. This place is home to many kinds of evil." The question is no longer what kinds of evil they'll face in Lost Silhouette, but how many. Muri decides that the graveknights are a lesser form, though formidable. He engages Red first.
"You want to stop what you're doing over there, and deal with us."
Amazed that she has managed to keep up her wardrobe all this time, Elen wonders if the clown also has Sleeves of Many Garments.
She glowers at the clown’s antagonists. ”Come, now. How bad could her performance have been?”
Channel Destruction (Su): Any weapon a graveknight wields seethes with energy, and deals an additional 3d6 acid damage.
Devastating Blast (Su): Three times per day, the graveknight may unleash a 30-foot cone of energy as a standard action. This blast deals 8d6 points of acid damage (Reflex for half).
How to kill it is a serious inquiry, because they do linger…
In death, the graveknight’s life force lingers on in its armor, not its corpse, in much the same way that a lich’s essence is bound within a phylactery. Unless every part of a graveknight’s armor is ruined along with its body, a graveknight can rejuvenate after it is destroyed. A typical suit of full plate graveknight armor has hardness 10 and 45 hit points, though armor with enhancements or made of special materials proves more difficult to destroy. Merely breaking a graveknight’s armor does not destroy it; it must be ruined, such as by being disintegrated, taken to the Positive Energy Plane, or thrown into the heart of a volcano.
- - -
Muri plucks his string and tries to drop an opponent. He hits twice, and wounds it instead.
Wyssilka screams, ”I am saved! I am saved!” in her high shrill voice. One of the knights nearly ends her right there, but they decided you are more dangerous than her shrieking - though maybe less annoying.
The first casts a spell, haste! And they are all speeded up. The other two move into positions where they each unleash a powerful cone of acidic fury at the party. You are all hit twice.
Reflex DC 22 for half
Reflex DC 22 for half
They await your response.
Reflex
Reflex
Round 1
Kort etches and singes, but stands resolute in his response: Flame Strike, catching all three.
fire/holy (DC 18 reflex for half)
He moves back to make room for others.
hp: 139/139
AC: 28/17t/23ff
Saves: F11/R16/W14 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/10 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/4 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 3/11 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*2,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/8 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
5: 1/4 used (CLWM*0,FlStr*1,TruSee*0,MassStoneskin*0)
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+7+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Round 2, Init 22
AC = 25
HP = 82/104
Weapon Equipped = Chaldira's Hand
Condition(s) = None
AC = 32
HP = 118/118
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri is understanding of the graveknights' answer. It's their nature, and proof they're something to rage against. "You're not calling for help yet. Our Professor's Fire should be enough warning to you to surrender, but you won't, will you?"
The halfling continues his assault on Red, switching targets to Green should the first graveknight succumb to his injuries.
Underfoot also retreats back across the doorstep, snarling at Green's proximity.
Round 1
Kamari avoids the cones of acid and then tumbles quickly past blue before stabbing him. She wonders if he'll be awed by her prowess. She also wonders if they shouldn't just kill the clown again.
Menacing Swordplay (Ex): At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, when a swashbuckler hits an opponent with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, she can choose to use Intimidate to demoralize that opponent as a swift action instead of a standard action.
Canny Tumble (Combat)
Your acrobatic prowess distracts your foes.
Prerequisite(s): Dodge, Mobility, Acrobatics 5 ranks.
Benefit: When you use Acrobatics to move through an opponent’s threatened area or space without provoking an attack of opportunity from that opponent, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus on your next melee attack roll against that opponent and that opponent is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, as long as you make that attack before the start of your next turn.
Bleeding Critical (Combat, Critical)
Your critical hits cause opponents to bleed profusely.
Prerequisites: Critical Focus, base attack bonus +11.
Benefit: Whenever you score a critical hit with a slashing or piercing weapon, your opponent takes 2d6 points of bleed damage each round on his turn, in addition to the damage dealt by the critical hit. Bleed damage can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal skill check or through any magical healing. The effects of this feat stack.
Hero Points 1/3
#/# daily uses remaining
Panache 6/6 - 1 used, 1 gained
Arcane Pool 3/3
Pearl of Power 2/2
Determination from Armor 1/1
Swordmaster's Flair blue scarf 1/1
Winged boots - 3/3 minutes
Princess's tear brooch - 18/18 HP available
Koriana's blade gemstones
White - Magic missiles 1/1
Pink - Mind-affecting spells 1/1
Black - Negative energy 1/1
Green - Poison 1/1
Prepared Spells
Level 0 (4 per day)
Dancing Lights
Daze
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation
Level 1 (4 per day)
Fallback Strategy
Shield
True Strike
Vanish
SR
SR -
Oof! I need to practice those barrel rolls. No time like the present..
"The hills are alive, with the sound of music," Elen chants as she pirouettes overhead.
for
for
Hits: 42/84
Current AC: 35
Current Saves: Fort: +11; Ref +10; Will: +7, +9 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak), Con Loss
(Normal) AC: 22 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge)
flat: 18 (ring +2, nat armor +2, mage armor +4)
touch: 24 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +6, Dodge +1)
Crits on 19-20
CMD = 30
WandofMageArmorCharges = 11/50
Wand of CLW: 13/50
Resolve = 5/8
Challenge = 4/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
The Night Swan is caught off guard by the first blast of acid, but is ready for the second.
She rushes forward and swings in a powerful arc so as to strike both of the undead knights.
HP: 120/151
AC: 34/13/33
Saves: F15/R15/W16 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness, cleave
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+23[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+10[/dice] damage.
Major Kort calls down holy fire upon the undead foes heroically overcoming their normal resistance to such things. Edelmira clips both graveknights, tickling their armor. Kamari avoids their blasts, and just barely slides into flank - stab! Elen swoops in from above, hitting blue and red - the two most wounded. She even feints successfully! Muri starts with red, and shifts to green as red falls - thanks in part to Elen’s inspiration.
vs DC 18 for 27hp fire/holy
vs DC 18 for 27hp fire/holy
vs DC 18 for 27hp fire/holy
They take their lumps as best they can, though you can see some of their more minor wounds start to heal up… (fast healing or regeneration 5).
As Elen gets close to Wyssilka the Failed, she shrieks, ”I… I know you! We were enemies! Oh… woah is me! Waily! Waily! Waily!” she begins crying out most piteously.
Blue steps into flank with green and the pair do what they can against Edelmira.
(acid)
(acid)
(acid)
(acid)
Round 2
Inspired by Elen, Kamari takes a confident 5' step forward so that she might reach both green and blue before they get to the Night Swan again. She starts with green and then will switch to blue once green falls.
Round 2
Kort steps to shoot at blue (if switching to green, ignore cover benefits to green).
to hit; (+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
hp: 139/139
AC: 28/17t/23ff
Saves: F11/R16/W14 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/10 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/4 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 3/11 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*2,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/8 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
5: 0/4 used (CLWM*0,FlStr*1,TruSee*0,MassStoneskin*0)
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+19+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+14+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+7+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Round 3, Init 22
AC = 25
HP = 83/104
Weapon Equipped = Chaldira's Hand
Condition(s) = None
AC = 32
HP = 118/118
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri continues to hound the graveknights from anear afar, plinking at whichever is suffering the least after Kort's barrage.
The Night Swan takes a gamble and steps out of the flank, betting on Elen’s inspiration being enough to let her finish dropping one of the graveknights surrounding her before they can strike back at her again.
HP: 54/151
AC: 36/15/35
Saves: F15/R15/W16 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness, poetic inspiration
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+23[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+10[/dice] damage.
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””I… I know you! We were enemies! Oh… woah is me! Waily! Waily! Waily!”
”Don’t worry. We won’t kill you while you’re helpless. Now do be quiet.” Elen suggests to the halfling puppet clown puppet .
for
for
Hits: 42/84
Current AC: 35
Current Saves: Fort: +11; Ref +10; Will: +7, +9 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak), Con Loss
(Normal) AC: 22 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge)
flat: 18 (ring +2, nat armor +2, mage armor +4)
touch: 24 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +6, Dodge +1)
Crits on 19-20
CMD = 30
WandofMageArmorCharges = 11/50
Wand of CLW: 13/50
Resolve = 5/8
Challenge = 4/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
Major Kort thumps bolts into blue, even critting once, but he does not quite chop him down. Edelmira thumps green twice, bringing it to its knees, though her third strike goes over the head of the remaining blue. Kamari beats down blue again, and again, until the dented armor lies broken on the ground and the creature destroyed. Elen and Muri may save their efforts, or turn on Wyssilka if you wish.
Wyssilka the Failed very nearly shrieks again, but instead only piteously cries and wails softly. Very softly as the party turns their attentions to the halfling clown.
Kort takes a few moments to heal, not rushing over to the killer clown from outer Kazuhn City.
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
While he does this, he thinks about the ramifications of seeing Wyssilka 'alive' again.
Know (Religion) -
Major Kort is sure, but you all suspect, this is Wyssilka's afterlife. You remember, perhaps, the undying devotion the little halfling had to Norgorber. This is her eternal reward.
Kill her here and she likely subsumes into the plane - gone for good.
Though injured from the torture they were inflicting, it's clear to Elen who's nearby, that Wyssilka is healing a little.
Kamari keeps her rapier out and approaches Wyssilka the soon to be subsumed.
"No funny business, clown. Explain in 60 seconds or less why we shouldn't just kill you again, which will take less than 60 seconds."
Kamari knows she's much better with a silver tongue than a tongue lashing, but she doesn't have the patience for the fool.