There is scant time for the party to prepare before an enormous, multi-armed armored fiend undulates forth, like a siege tower of steel-girded flesh, topped with a SCREAMING iron-shod cranium.
Across the river from the Giant, shadows veil what lurks within the dark, imposing armor of these twin figures, though a sickly green glow spreads from their cores through open visors.
VC Besnik quaffs a potion and claims the airspace above Arnaut briefly, before ascending from the abyss to the north.
“If you sort that lot, I’ll scout the ground ahead for the relic.”
Arnaut
Marta
Rokgurn
Hamish + Seaward Gull
--
Pink
--
Jack
--
Green
Red
--
Omrax
, do something awesome!
|
When they get there she mutters, "Dang it! I'm not flying again. It just isn't right. Isn't there another way? Anyone have a scroll of monkeyfish or something I might be able to activate?"
”And they say I’m the dramatic one,” Arnaut whispers to Omrax, his hushed voice carrying easily across the unnatural river. ”You know what she needs? Well, besides a nap? And a medical exam to look for that stick up her rear? Or a vacation? And a course in how to appreciate good music and fine dining? But besides all that, I think we all could use some inspiration and hope. And maybe that nap.”
”Oh? But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?”
”It is the east, and it is disgusting.” Arnaut pauses to point at the smaller figures. ”Look, Marta! Graveknights! Your favorite! And they’ve found themselves a charnel colossus to be their friend - isn’t that the sweetest?” He pulls out the femur from his pack and leans on it with a showman’s flair.
Arnaut knows Graveknights have spell resistance and are immune to acid, cold and electricity. They also have channel resistance and are best attacked with magic weapons.
While the Warsworn has no spell or energy resistance, aside from that imparted by the usual undead traits.
Your pet cannot protect you. How close has he led you to death before? Flee now … while your wings have feathers and connect to the control neurons of your brain …
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"Cap'n! Some sort of unholy behemoth ahead!" Mr. Phips yells, as the lookouts up the crows next start shouting and pointing towards the strange tower of undulating flesh.
"I see 'er!" Hamish responds. "Tell the men to gird their loins! Well... perhaps don't tell Pete that... but the rest of 'em!"
He casts a spell, and the Gull immediately grows to its larger size, and you think even more cannon ports appear along the sides.
"Full sheets! Have at 'er!" He cries.
The crew give a cheer, as the ship lurches forward, sailing directly at the gargantuan monstrosity, raising slowly as it goes, intent on ramming right into it.
, for damage.
Hamish then, starts going upwards, away from the uncomfortable looking river of blood, hoping to get out of reach of the foes ahead.
Whisper takes a peek at the trio of creatures before him before darting back to his safe haven. He appears to be somewhat shaken for some reason.
Whisper would like to know if there is a way to permanently kill these Grave Knights.
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Rokgurn flies up and creates a bramble to slow down these undead monsters. He attempts to arch the trees above the river of blood beginning with the Graveknights and moving on to the Warsworn.
"You guys stay put. We will come to you."
@Yours is Mined - Inflicting psychological harm on my familiar is a PETA level offense. You have been warned. ;)
Arnaut bïtches to Omrax about Marta suggests steps Marta could take to improve her relationship with him.
The bard also casts judgement on the Pathfinders’ lastest opponents and girds them for battle with a rousing snippet from THE Bard’s Gnomeo and Juliet.
Marta prepares for the fight with some defensive spells. She knows protection from evil blocks attacks from a Warsworn’s spell-like abilities.
Hamish accelerates the enlarged Gull to ramming speed. The resulting collision throws the majority of the Gulls to the deck – a few top-men falling some distance from their lofty posts – though the tactic does full damage to the unholy behemoth.
There is another price to pay though, as the Gull sails within 5 feet of the river of blood.
Whisper would like to know if there is a way to permanently kill these Grave Knights.
Rokgurn then throws up a wall of thorns to impede the movement of all three abominations.
Interestingly, the Warsworn takes no damage and the Graveknights very little from being caught in the area of the brambles.
Pink advances out of the thorn walls, taking minor scratches, while drawing its bow.
It then takes a shot at Omrax.
Round #1:
Arnaut
Marta
Rokgurn
Hamish + Seaward Gull
--
Pink
--
Jack
--
Green
Red
--
Omrax
, do something filthy sick!
|
"Graveknights have the following special abilities: __________!" the aasimar warns his companions.
Jack activates his winged boots, flies up and toward the action, and starts a bardic performance of his own, harmonizing with Arnaut to inspire greatness in Marta and the Gull.
Pink projects a 30’ cone of acid which hits the Gull and Marta.
Jack calls, “A Graveknight’s melee weapons do additional acid damage, they can also squirt out a 30’ cone of acid from their face … Oh shut-up, Arnaut! Someone might have missed it.”
“They can also summon an unholy mount, are hard to kill permanently and can control other undead.”
<beat>
“Nobody’s a dhampir, right?”
The greatly inspiring bard then takes to the air and harmonizes a duet with Arnaut.
The Green Knight attempts to push through the thorn wall.
It succeeds, moving 5’ and taking a few more scratches.
Red then takes on the Gull.
Round #1/2:
Arnaut
Marta
Rokgurn
Hamish + Seaward Gull
--
Pink
--
Jack
--
Green
Red
--
Omrax
, bring it!
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Standing atop the bridge and fighting his way across, Shevar turns to the expedition. Despite the dire situation, he smiles. “Don’t lose hope, Pathfinders! Keep fighting on! We must stop—” he begins, but the words catch in his throat. Without warning, an undead monstrosity materializes behind him. In a swift and cruel motion, the beast lashes out with a jagged spine of bone, piercing Shevar’s heart. The creature lifts the venture-captain’s body and carelessly drops him off the bridge into the river of blood below.
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The wave of acid shoots out of the thorns, and the crew instantly duck behind the gunwales, or the mast, or dive below decks. The acid splashes up against the metal reinforced sides of the ship, doing little more than making those same metal plates just a little bit shinier.
High above, Hamish waves his cutlass around with gusto, his slightly demented mind not quite fully grasping the danger of the beast his ship attacks. You realize he's holding the blade backwards... he does too eventually, and casually flips it about, as if nothing were amiss.
He utters a quick spell, hastening the attacks of those down below!
Despite the creatures fearful appearance, the crew don't seem to care either! The jaunty tunes of inspiration and the one touting their greatness, seem to have taken hold quite well, and the tiny sailors seem highly motivated!
A brace of harpoons fire off from the forward guns, and you see cannons firing both starboard and forward, though the aft and port-side cannons are strangely silent.
"Man the hooks!" Mr. Phips yells, as you find out why!
Crews of sailors sporting small grapnels rush out, both fore and aft, lobbing their spiked weapons at the behemoth. You suddenly realize that the winches, normally attached to the harpoons, are now hooked up to the grappling hooks, and running around the masts at the front and back of the ship. More crewman start winding both sets, suddenly pulling in opposite directions, as if trying to split the creature in two.
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for damage plus sonic.
( )
, for an additional damage.
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”I must say, that’s a fascinating use of vibrato there Jack,” Arnaut comments with professional interest. ”Though it does...” Whatever the bard was going to say is lost as Arnaut’s voice catches in his throat. ”Shevar!” he bellows as the venture-captain’s body plummets limply though the air. As the minstrel plunges into the river of blood (heedless of the danger), a mournful keening begins to echo off the canyon walls - not trying to harmonize with the other two voices, but providing a poignant descant.
Marta and the Seaward Gull both evade the acid splash.
Arnaut, Hamish and the Gull *shrug* off the frightful presence, as does Omrax thanks to the Inheritor’s Grace.
Jack appears a little stirred but not shaken after his encounter with the Warsworn.
The sea shanty singing summoner then ✨casts haste, as his ship’s company go to War!
Every one of the Gull’s attacks hit, dealing permanent, devastating and fatal damage to Tar-Baphon’s Undead War Machine.
Omrax calls down a holy smite, and looks forward to setting an example of what to do after suffering a minor setback.
A loyal Arnaut inspires greatness and adds virtuoso performance to his inspire courage. The bard then decides to follow Shevar Besnik’s bloodied corpse into the Red River!
Round #2:
Arnaut
Marta
Rokgurn
Hamish + Seaward Gull
--
Pink
--
Jack
--
Green
Red
--
Omrax
, do something cool!
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Marta shakes her head in bewilderment as the ship takes down the behemoth in one sally and gives it an accusing look.
"I am beginning to think I'm superfluous here."
Determined to get in at least one good lick, she activates her bane ability against undead, moves up to the edge of the river unhindered by the thorns, and takes a shot at the green graveknight with her spear.
+25/1d8+6d6+33 Long Spear Power Attack [crit x3; P; brace, reach]
+ +
But this time it is a spell that foils her efforts as her spear gets deflected by the thorny underbrush.
"Aaagh! Blasted weeds indeed!
While making a statement suggesting she needs a little love too, the wall of thorns confounds Marta’s attempts to spear her prey.
To his horror, Arnaut discovers VC Besnik’s body is beginning to dissolve in the River of Blooooood!
👸
The *glowing* pink graveknight waits to take revenge on the living.
Round #2:
Arnaut
Marta
Hamish + Seaward Gull
Rokgurn
Jack
--
Pink
Green
--
Omrax
, time to make beautiful music together.
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Rokgurn moves back and spends his turn dispelling the Wall of Thorns.
@Yours is Mined - As we disagree about how Wall of Thorns functions I will simply dispel it to facilitate game play. It seems to me that you are disregarding the RAW of this spell and providing RAI that favor the enemy so this seems to be the most prudent course of action at this time.
Whisper is protected by total cover of his Familiar Satchel so he should be immune to the game effect of the Frightful presence.
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Jack peers at the graveknights through the wall of thorns.
Still inspiring greatness in Marta and the Gull, Jack inches closer to the man 'o war and casts deafening song bolt at the pink undead monster.
With a sweep across the strings of his air guitar, the bard plays a resounding power chord full of distortion and overdrive. The three notes become tangible bolts of arcane energy that shriek across the battlefield.
Rokgurn dismisses the Wall of Thorns.
Jack answers the age-old question, ‘if Jack played air guitar in a dark cavern below a corrupted forest, would anyone hear it?’
out of Pink.
Free of the thorns, Pink takes a 5’ step and attacks Omrax with its blade.
+
+
Meanwhile, Green takes a 5’ step, draws its greatsword and unloads a gout of acid on Omrax, Jack and the Gull.
Round #2/3:
Arnaut
Marta
Hamish + Seaward Gull
Rokgurn
Jack
--
Pink
Green
--
Omrax
in any order.
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Drenched in graveknight acid, guitar hero Jack sweeps his arm around in a Pete Townsend whirlwind, ripping another power chord from the ethereal strings of his imaginary Gibson Les Paul. His phantom Marshall stack pulses, sending three more bolts of sonic destruction at these undead abominations, targeting the pink one first, and then shifting to the green one if he can.
HIs song reaches a crescendo, stilling inspiring Marta and the Gull to new heights of greatness, his voice bestowing discordant sweet vibrations to the weapons of all his allies.
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Stepping closer to her allies, she once again unleashes a bane infused series of spear attacks on green.
+ +
+ +
+ +
If this hits Marta mutters a word and gives the spear an extra jab after the initial impact and casts a DC 21 forceful strike with a CMB of and for of force damage.
"Well now, that is more like it!"
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Glowing with holy light, Ollysta pauses for a moment to rally the Pathfinders. “This will be the hour of our glory, Pathfinders! We strike against the Whispering Tyrant!” She turns her gaze to a spectral dragon circling overhead. The dragon unleashes a wall of negative energy, dissolving Pathfinders where they stand. With steely resolve, Ollysta charges toward the dragon, running on the air. “By Sarenrae’s light, begone!” she cries, as her longsword connects with its wispy form. A gaping hole appears in its chest as holy energy burns away its corrupted body. The dragon rounds on Ollysta, tearing into her with an onslaught of teeth, claws, and razor-edged wings. Ollysta’s wounds are mortal, but the paladin isn’t finished. Her sacred longsword is just as unrelenting as the dragon’s attack. With a triumphant blow, she decapitates the dragon. Its body collapses into a ball of purifying light. The same light envelops Ollysta’s shattered form. As her strength fades, expression of pure serenity crosses her face. With a sigh, she closes her eyes for the last time. She drifts to the ground, landing gently on her back.
Jack, Marta and Omrax mop up the Warsworn’s mooks with compelling displays of power.
Unfortunately, with there are no more agents of the Whispering Tyrant to take notice.
Or are there?
While you heal up and perhaps mourn the loss of Lady Ollysta Zadrian, the *glow* of the Red River shimmers off the shadowy spirits of the slain graveknights, which drift up and north-east, past the corner of a cavern decorated with a carved skull massive enough for you to make out the horned headdress and stylized gag it sports.
💀
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Jack flies up through the chasm to the upper level of the Black Cavern, following the shadowy spirits of the graveknights. He peers inside the chamber.
"The carved skull with the durag and ball-gag depicts Tar-Baphon as the godhead of the Whispering Way, an Inner Sea cult which seeks to transform every man, woman and child on Golarion into undead."
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Hamish digs into his bag, and pulls out the somewhat crumpled hat from earlier.
He tosses it to Marta. "Get on."
At the same time, the Seaward Gull sails up beside her, Mr. Phips giving a salute.
The captain then flies up to the top of the chasm, after Jack. The ship soon to follow, once Marta is onboard.
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Marta catches the hat deftly and gives the man a quizzical look. She puts it on and nothing happens.
"Is this supposed to do something? Perhaps there is a command word or did you just want to make me look silly?"
Which is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Of course, with Arnaut showing off, the hat is really unnecessary anyway (provided it gives flight).
|
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Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury raises a banner, calling out to the expedition’s medics. “Pathfinders, the brave heroes leading the charge need your help. They cannot be allowed to fall before the Whispering Tyrant’s servants! Come with me, and let us tend to their wounds so they may fight on!”
The party ascends from the chasm to approach the reliquary of the Whispering Way.
The open doors of this chamber are also carved with the same Skull-and-Gag sigil.
From the doorway, Jack notices one of the flagstones on the chamber’s floor juts up higher than its fellows. However, one will need to get closer to investigate.
Inside, there no signs of the spirits of the undead you fought in the River Valley of Blood, or any other opponent.
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As usual, Marta has Hamish top off her ioun stone with a shield spell from her wand right after the battle.
"Easy enough to avoid, but if there is one there may be others. Let me take a look."
Marta lowers her head to the floor and looks for other oddities in the room. But for now she does not enter.
Jack’s ✨detect magic spell lights up the gagged skulls on both open doors like Crystalhue Trees.
Vengeance’s martial artist doesn’t believe the proud flagstone in the inner chamber’s floor is connected to any traps. However, she knows she’ll need to get closer to see what why it’s been uplifted.
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Rokgurn enjoys the quick party teleport by Arnaut. He winks at the bard.
"Generally I need a tree handy to move that quickly. It was an exciting experience."
He turns to just Jack and nods.
"No. It is not good. But what can you expect around here?"
He tops off his Heightened Awareness from a wand and then attempts to renew his False Life from another wand. He then puts his toys away.
Whisper stays protected in his satchel.
"Chirp."
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Hamish looks at Marta oddly, when she seems to not realize the honor she was being offered...
"Some folks just ain't meant for the captain's chair." He finally says, taking back his hat. "Or acting captain's chair."
He takes up his position on the Seaward Gull, and the boat circles around and makes its way to the top of the ravine.
When Jack points out the flagstone, the captain looks thoughtful.
"Might be pressure... but might be booty!" He says. "Perhaps something hidden underneath?"
"Either way, not going to learn anything hiding over here!"
"Mr. Phips, prepare the grapnels for salvage!" He calls to the ship.
He doesn't seem to be paying any attention at all to possible dangers.
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Marta stands up and glances at the skulls.
"Could be that they are the real trap. The flagstone doesn't seem like trap material to me, though I could be wrong. Perhaps a diversion? I think I should go in first and see if anything springs, though I could use someone standing at the door in case something happens ."
Marta also casts a heightened awareness from her wand in preparation.