"Hrmmm. Thank you, Corona. Now, let's see what this is about."
Garduk pulls out a scroll of heightened awareness and casts it on himself (duration 10 minutes), then casts detect magic as well. Spellcasting completed, he approaches the statue and plucks the clay ball from the python's mouth.
The wave of corpses is relentless, but it isn’t as determined as the Pathfinders. After a tough fight, the wave falls apart, and the corpses lie still once again. “Good work!” says Calisro Benarry. With a sharklike smile, she says, “Let’s see what else dares to
stand in our way.”The Guard Mission was successful!
GMs, the Guard Mission Success condition on page 17 is in effect.
************
**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**
The voice of Ollysta Zadrian is a barely audible whisper, though she appears to be shouting. “Pathfinders! We’re nearly done clearing the evil from this area. Destroy your foes quickly, then gather together for a briefing.”
GMs, please wrap up Part 3 encounters quickly, applying the conditions on page 16.
Male Cleric 8 HP (67)59/59 | AC (24)21, T 12, FF 19 | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11 Wands: CLW: 31/50 Bless: 28/50 Prot Evil: 50/50ToG 5/6 Channel 5/10 | Divine Presence 8/8 | Nimbus 6/8 | Effects: 1 CON Drain, Shield of Faith +3 8mins, aid, Pain: -4 attack/skills/ability
"Find something interesting Garduk or just some old dried out ghoul eyeball stuffed in a statue again?" Hanlin jests, always one to try to keep the mood light.
"Did you all just hear Ollysta holler something about break time? I feel like I've hardly broken a sweat yet."
As Garduk puzzles over the ball it slips from his fingers, smashing on the ground. A piece of paper was hidden inside. Scrawled upon it is a note written in a strange language Necril
Ok, the other tables are wrapping up their combats, we are done, but don't have enough time to start an optional encounter. Just hang tight for a little bit and we'll move on shortly.
HP: 52/52 l AC: 17, T 11, FF 16 l CMD 18 l F +5, R +4, W +8, +10 vs. madness/confusion l Aging Touch (2/2), Knowledge of the Ages (3/4), Speed/Slow Time (1/1), Time Flicker (7/7 min), Time Hop (70/70 ft.) l L1: 5/7, L2: 5/7, L3: 2/5 l Init +5 l Senses: Perception +2
Female Human Oracle (Dual-Cursed) 7 | Active Conditions:
"I don't know, New Friends, should we trust anything we find inside of snakes?" Corona asks, looking unusually skeptical as the strange note is revealed. Yet she can't contain her curiosity for long and moves to peer over Garduk's shoulder as he peruses it.
"It sounds like we're making good progress," she adds, replying to Hanlin. "And even if we haven't fought hard yet some of the other groups might be really tired! So we should be ready to take their place if we have to."
The scroll contains the location of a relic within the Spire. You pass this along to your Pathfinder Society superiors.
The Guard mission success means you get assistance in your next combat. You can designate an enemy for them to help you with, just so you know for your next combat.
Ollysta Zadrian gestures the Pathfinders close and then speaks as loudly as is possible. “My friends, the clues you identified in the Catacombs have led to a remarkable discovery: The Whispering Tyrant has hidden some kind of relic deep within the Black Caverns. We don’t know its exact powers, but the information you provided makes it clear the relic would be a powerful tool in the fight against the Whispering Tyrant. It may also help us to clear away some of the Tyrant’s corruption from this place. As loath as I am to say this, we must split our expedition.”
She turns to Shevar. “Our illustrious friend is right,” Shevar says. “I will lead part of the expedition to the Black Caverns and retrieve the relic.”
“And I will lead the force to disrupt the ritual,” Ollysta adds. “But I must make it clear that whomever goes with me to stop this foul necromancy will likely be facing the greater challenge. While the Whispering Tyrant surely has guardians for this relic, he certainly has his most deadly forces set to protect the ritual.”
Shevar Besnik leads the way through the darkness for several hours. As the surface grows farther away, the air becomes increasingly cloying and stale. The sheer weight of the hundreds of tons of stone above is palpable. Hordes of lesser undead rise to stop the group several times on the journey, but they are no match for the Pathfinders and soon fall. Ahead, a dull red glow provides some illumination as the cavern expands, leading to the bottom of a deep chasm where a river of blood flows. A bridge spans the chasm in a low arc. This is it, says Shevar.
The walls are steep and are roughly 50 feet high.
Ahead in the chasm you see four undead figures. Red appears to be clad in ragged black robes and tarnished armor, this grim, headless figure and surrounded by an aura of menace.
The other three are skeletal creatures with a long, thin necks that seem to float above the ground. Their jaws are elongated, showing sharp, worn teeth.
DC17 Knowledge (Religion) For Red:
Terrifying reapers of souls, dullahans are created by powerful fiends from the souls of particularly cruel generals, watch-captains, or other military commanders. Sent back from the pits of Hell to sow terror and harvest new souls, dullahans return to the towns or villages they lived in as mortals. While their favored victims are evil men and women (or their living descendants) whose souls are destined for Hell, the dullahans have no qualms about adding innocents to their lists of victims.
DC17 Knowledge (Religion) For Yellow, Blue and Green:
When an especially jealous or greedy evil person dies, it sometimes returns as a gaki—a misshapen creature with a supernatural hunger for things of the material world. Mistakenly called “hungry ghosts” because of their ability to fly and turn invisible, gakis believe that if they consume the right material—typically meat, wine, blood, flowers, and souls—they can form a new body resembling their former mortal shapes. Its long, thin neck restricts how much it can eat, and the creature is perpetually starving. It prefers to consume evil creatures, believing it gains more sustenance from a sinful being than a righteous one, but it won’t pass up any mortal flesh. Some gakis believe they must consume flesh from demons or undead, and fixate on these creatures to the aversion of all others.
Dullahan Special Attacks are chilling blade (extra damage with slashing weapons), death’s calling (Increased crit chance against named target, kind of like a cavalier challenge), summon mount (self explanatory). No listed weaknesses.
Gaki Special Attacks are Blood Drain (drains blood if it grapples you) and a fear cone.
Garduk flinches as the undead horrors come into view. "Wonderful. You've got to give the Tyrant credit, when he raises an army of undead soldiers, he doesn't do it halfway. Such a waste."
With that, the half-orc clenches his oversized teeth and reaches out once again to the Great Beyond.
Summoned hound archon (augmented) | Perception +10, darkvision & low-light Speed 40' | mwk greatsword +12*/+7* (2d6+6/19-20) or bite +6* (1d8+6), slam +6* (1d4+2) | *Active: Aid, Mage Armor, Magic Circle vs Evil (constant) | *AC 25 *T 12 *FF 25 | HP 33+10/51 | *F +10 *R +7 *W +7; +4 vs poison, +1 vs fear | SR 15 |
A haze of smoke and the acrid smell of a cheap cigar announce the arrival of a large, dog-like, man-shaped creature in the cavern. He glances to his summoner, then turns back to face the dullahan. Clenching his stogie in his teeth, the hound archon scowls and stalks towards the undead warrior, drawing his greatsword along the way.
"Yer a long way from home, Bub. Time ta go back ta where ya belong."
Those within 5 feet of the river of blood (Hanlin and Reesa) feel a wash of negative energy as the river radiates bad juju. Please take 5 Negative Energy damage, DC19 Fort save for half
Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act
Bo Grel Reesa Hanlin (Delay)
Corona (Delay)
Garduk Magnus -13
Red
Yellow
Blue
Green
Summoned hound archon (augmented) | Perception +10, darkvision & low-light Speed 40' | mwk greatsword +12*/+7* (2d6+6/19-20) or bite +6* (1d8+6), slam +6* (1d4+2) | *Active: Aid, Mage Armor, Magic Circle vs Evil (constant) | *AC 25 *T 12 *FF 25 | HP 33+10/51 | *F +10 *R +7 *W +7; +4 vs poison, +1 vs fear | SR 15 |
I don't know if this would affect them, but I forgot to mention the hound archon's constant aura of menace (20 ft., DC 16) (Su) Hostile creatures must save or take a -2 to attacks, AC, and saves for 24 hours.
HP: 52/52 l AC: 17, T 11, FF 16 l CMD 18 l F +5, R +4, W +8, +10 vs. madness/confusion l Aging Touch (2/2), Knowledge of the Ages (3/4), Speed/Slow Time (1/1), Time Flicker (7/7 min), Time Hop (70/70 ft.) l L1: 5/7, L2: 5/7, L3: 2/5 l Init +5 l Senses: Perception +2
"These things look scary, New Friends, but you know what? I think I'd rather fight things that I can see," Corona remarks grimly as she finally gets her rear in gear and begins casting a spell that is now fairly familiar, conjuring a burst of bright light against the dullahan and gaki that face off against Magnus the Hound Archon.
CL vs. SR (Dullahan, If Applicable):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 CL vs. SR (Gaki Green, If Applicable):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Male Cleric 8 HP (67)59/59 | AC (24)21, T 12, FF 19 | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11 Wands: CLW: 31/50 Bless: 28/50 Prot Evil: 50/50ToG 5/6 Channel 5/10 | Divine Presence 8/8 | Nimbus 6/8 | Effects: 1 CON Drain, Shield of Faith +3 8mins, aid, Pain: -4 attack/skills/ability
Fort DC19 vs River:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Hanlin snaps out of his distraction and steps away from the blood water as it bothers him. "Ick, that stuff just feels evil."
He calls upon the powers of good and holy juju to combat it, sending a powerful pulse of Iomedae's power out from the center of the undead group. "How you like them apples!"
Garduk yanks a miniature shovel out of his pouch; he growls, "Pudota reikään!" and mimes digging with the shovel.
A square pit, 30 feet deep and 10 feet on each side, opens up under the dullahan (light blue square shows the area; not bothering with the gaki because it can fly). The surrounding area slopes into the pit as well.
"Don't get too close to the edge!" Garduk barks a warning to the hound archon, then draws one of his wands of magic missile.
Create Pit:
Garduk casts Create Pit. The dullahan must make a DC 18 Reflex save to jump to safety, otherwise it falls into the pit; any creature ending its turn on a square adjacent to the pit must also make a Reflex save with a +2 bonus to avoid falling in. The pit is outlined in light blue.
Summoned hound archon (augmented) | Perception +10, darkvision & low-light Speed 40' | mwk greatsword +12*/+7* (2d6+6/19-20) or bite +6* (1d8+6), slam +6* (1d4+2) | *Active: Aid, Mage Armor, Magic Circle vs Evil (constant) | *AC 25 *T 12 *FF 25 | HP 33+10/51 | *F +10 *R +7 *W +7; +4 vs poison, +1 vs fear | SR 15 |
Fort:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
"Nice spellcastin', Bubs!" the celestial dog-man calls to Corona and Hanlin. "Glad ta see that somebody around here knows what side they're supposed ta be on!"
The archon gives a curt nod at Garduk's shouted warning, then launches a full attack, his swings more targeted than his first wild blow, then steps away from the pit and the disgusting blood river.
(Magnus's attack is against the dullahan if it makes its save to avoid falling into the pit, otherwise he takes the 5' step first and attacks the green gaki.)
Male Cleric 8 HP (67)59/59 | AC (24)21, T 12, FF 19 | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11 Wands: CLW: 31/50 Bless: 28/50 Prot Evil: 50/50ToG 5/6 Channel 5/10 | Divine Presence 8/8 | Nimbus 6/8 | Effects: 1 CON Drain, Shield of Faith +3 8mins, aid, Pain: -4 attack/skills/ability
Magnus the Hound Archon wrote:
"Nice spellcastin', Bubs!" the celestial dog-man calls to Corona and Hanlin. "Glad ta see that somebody around here knows what side they're supposed ta be on!"
"Hrm, you look a bit familiar... you don't happen to play poker do you?" Hollers out Hanlin as a particular painting flashes in his mind.
CG | Celestial Sorcerer 9 | AC (16)12/12/10 | HP 74/74 | F+8,R+7,W+9 | SR 14 vs. Spell cast by evil outsiders or with evil descriptor | Resist acid 10 & resist cold 10 | Init.+2 | Perc+3 | SenseMotive+1 | Darkvision 60' |
Reesa casts Bless on the group, figuring that would account for more damage than one of her meager destructive spells. She takes a 5’ step to the north, trying to get away from the lava river. If someone would be so nice as to move me.
Male Cleric 8 HP (67)59/59 | AC (24)21, T 12, FF 19 | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11 Wands: CLW: 31/50 Bless: 28/50 Prot Evil: 50/50ToG 5/6 Channel 5/10 | Divine Presence 8/8 | Nimbus 6/8 | Effects: 1 CON Drain, Shield of Faith +3 8mins, aid, Pain: -4 attack/skills/ability
No saves vs the Holy Smite for Green and Blue? Also, it wasn't completely clear the creature types from the knowledge checks. These are all undead correct?
"HA! Time to press the attack men!" Hanlin marches ahead, shield in hand. He lets out another holy blast from his tattooed palm, enveloping the undead in scorching righteous energy.
Assuming they are indeed undead I'll channel to harm undead.
Channel to Harm Undead 30' burst: Will Save DC23, Ignore Channel Resistance:4d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 5) + 8 = 23
With what he considers to be the largest threat eliminated, Bo begins to pick off the remaining undead. Seeing that Grel is out numbered, the monk begins on the right bank.
Shooting YELLOW until is dies, then BLUE, then GREEN
Garduk blinks as the dullahan's arrow-riddled corpse falls to the bottom of the pit.
"Hrmmm. That's one way to do it."
He barks out the command words for his wand - "Maaginen ohjus!" - and two ice-blue darts appear in front of him before speeding into the green gaki (or blue, or yellow, depending on which is still standing).
HP: 52/52 l AC: 17, T 11, FF 16 l CMD 18 l F +5, R +4, W +8, +10 vs. madness/confusion l Aging Touch (2/2), Knowledge of the Ages (3/4), Speed/Slow Time (1/1), Time Flicker (7/7 min), Time Hop (70/70 ft.) l L1: 5/7, L2: 5/7, L3: 2/5 l Init +5 l Senses: Perception +2
Female Human Oracle (Dual-Cursed) 7 | Active Conditions:
As much as I hate to point it out, Burst of Radiance is only a 10-foot radius burst so it wouldn't have gotten Blue & Yellow at all. Unless of course there's some other effect in play that I'm unaware of!
"Oh! Happy to help!" Corona cheerily calls out to Magnus as she moves forward a bit, stopping next to the nasty-looking river of blood. She gives the Yellow Gaki a rather unnerving stare as she invokes some bad juju of her own against it.
Corona casts Ill Omen against Yellow; on the next 2 d20 rolls it makes, it must roll twice and take the less favorable result.
Fort vs. River Juju (DC 19):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Male Cleric 8 HP (67)59/59 | AC (24)21, T 12, FF 19 | Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +11 Wands: CLW: 31/50 Bless: 28/50 Prot Evil: 50/50ToG 5/6 Channel 5/10 | Divine Presence 8/8 | Nimbus 6/8 | Effects: 1 CON Drain, Shield of Faith +3 8mins, aid, Pain: -4 attack/skills/ability
GM Ietsuna wrote:
Thanks Corona. It is kind of academic at this point but for future reference I will try to remember. You all are shredding them.
Bo drops Yellow then moves on to Blue.
Garduk tosses a couple of missiles into Blue and Magnus wails on Green.
Combat Round 3 - Bold May Act
Bo
Grel
Reesa Hanlin
Corona
Garduk
Magnus -13
Blue -59 (Dazzled 4 rounds)
Green -53 (Dazzled 4 rounds)
You missed Hanlin's post above, which probably would have ended the round if resolved before Bo's arrow onslaught. Also I think the confusion on the radiance vs holy smite was the area affects on the board. The large purple one was smite, the smaller one was radiance.
Male Dwarf Druid 8 (menhir savant) | HP 62/62 | AC 23/10/22 | F+9 R+4 W+12 | CMD 23 | Init +1 | Perc +17| Active Conditions: Resist Acid 10, Barkskin, GMF, Heightened Awareness, Wild Shape (DR 5/evil)
Grel will bid an arcane magic user to use a wand for him. In my animal forms I require some extra protection.
Wand of Mage Armor.
Grel shifts in form finally into a big black cat. Something unsettling about it the way the ears are pointed and the eyes red. As he pats around now, small gouts of flame puff when his paws hit the ground.
Medium panther with Infernal template from Planar Wild Shape.
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.
HP: 52/52 l AC: 17, T 11, FF 16 l CMD 18 l F +5, R +4, W +8, +10 vs. madness/confusion l Aging Touch (2/2), Knowledge of the Ages (3/4), Speed/Slow Time (1/1), Time Flicker (7/7 min), Time Hop (70/70 ft.) l L1: 5/7, L2: 5/7, L3: 2/5 l Init +5 l Senses: Perception +2
Female Human Oracle (Dual-Cursed) 7 | Active Conditions:
"Wh-"
Corona stares at the spot in the river of blood where Shevar fell, as though expecting him to simply pop up again like the whole thing were some big practical joke.
After a few painful seconds the reality and gravity of the situation finally seems to hit her and she looks over at the rest of the group.
"Not everyone is going to get to go home after this are they, New Friends? Maybe not any of us."
Her expression is determined...but also, sadly, resigned.
"But we need to keep going on. On and on, on and on and on..."
She looks up at the top of the ledge, where the bridge lies. "We need to get up there, New Friends. But I can't fly and I can't climb too good without a rope."
