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The staggered condition from the darkness finally abated, Peter simply says Our turn, focus fire guys! as he casts haste on Sentry, Hendric, Bristor, himself and Julian and then makes another Peter incase the death star changes targets.
Knowing the non-magical Vulpinal claws will fail against the incorporeal creatures they’re fighting, he orders them to instead heal them.
Only one Cassisian remains close to the action, illuminating the greatest threat, with the other 3 in various stages of withdraw to safer quarter.
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Finally free of the staggering cold, Bristor is eager to get in to the fight, but one more strategic step might help matters more, so he moves into what seems a good position and then casts judgment light. A cascade of colors erupts from him, basking everyone within 30 feet in rays of blue, white and silver light.
Only smiting matters:
Smiting: Silver light erupts from the caster, making allies’ weapons within the burst count as magic, the alignment her weapon is (Good in this case), and adamantine for purposes of overcoming damage reduction for 1 round per caster level.
Justice: Blue light erupts from the caster, revealing hidden and invisible creatures to all. The light outlines such creatures for 1 round per caster level, imposing a –20 penalty on Stealth checks on those creatures.
Purity: White light erupts from the caster, allowing each ally within the burst to attempt a saving throw against a single effect that allows a saving throw with a +2 sacred bonus on the roll.
Judgments: 2/6 activations
Boots of Speed: 7/10 rounds
Greater Bane: 14/16 rounds
Dimensional Hop: 32/32 5ft increments a day
Spells: 1st 6/7 ; 2nd 5/6; 3rd 3/6; 4th 2/5; 5th 3/4; 6th 1/1
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Having survived the tzitzimitl's eye laser, and just before she disappears and flies across the chasm, Archaememnon drops another quick-fused firebomb on the undying. *BOOM!*
The precisely placed barrage is danger-close, but it leaves her allies unscathed. Neither nemhain escapes the blast, but the tzitzimitl manages to contort itself - somehow - and avoids the worst.
Julian fires three ghost-touched arrows at the green nemhain. *Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!* Though the first misses, the others strike, the third arrow with devastating effect.
Bristor goes full-on disco fever, the half-orc Bee Gee bro erupting in a cascade of swirling blue and white and silver light. Like coke through a groupie's veins, Sir Hendric, Sentry, Peter, Julian, the gray cassian and the green vulpinal agathiaon are ready to boogie some smite through the long, dark night.
Not to be outdone by an inquisitor, Peter offers to really get the party started, giving a dose of speed to Bristor, Julian, Sir Hendric and Sentry - and snorting some himself for good measure.
He Kinko's a copy of himself and puts his small army of celestial minions to work.
Three of the cassisians execute a tactical withdrawal, while their brother in the forlorn hope courageously hold his daylight torch aloft. The vulpinal agathions play lay-on-handsies with the nemhains. One of them succeeds -spectacularly - against the glowing-yellow specter. The others can't quite get a grip.
Sir Hendric thrusts his lance into the green nemhain four times, coming within a hand's-breadth of slaying the undead creature.
Peter
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Bristor
Archaememnon
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In the daylight's rays emitted by the cassisian and several of the team's weapons, it appears Archaememnon's fireball had no effect on the tzitzimitl.
Spiteful but not stupid, the green-hued nemhain withdraws, slinking away to lick its wounds in the river of blood.
Maintaining its concentration in its defensive stance, the yellow nemhain lashes out again at the red vulpinal agathion with a spectral hand seething with eerie dark fire.
The yellow nemhain draws on its profane regeneration and the dark powers of the river of blood to restore itself.
Peter
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Bristor
Archaememnon
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Originating from somewhere deep within the tzitzimitl's corpus, you feel a deep thrumming vibration and hear a higher-pitched whirring noise, as of a great engine generating enormous power. The gargantuan skeleton cocks its crag-like skull to one side and direct a vacant eye socket at the summoner conscripting heaven's servants for service in his corner of hell.
Peter
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
--- Wynnreyell[/b]
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Bristor
Archaememnon
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Peter evokes a barrier to ward himself from the Tzitzimitl, unwilling to get blasted to death by eye-rays while he has magic to defend himself.
The sole remaining beacon holds, surveying the battlefield of people being hit by lasers and slay living spells, completely shocked that nothing has knocked it from the sky, while his compatriots have long since found spots to hide.
The green fox chitters excitedly, as its clearly winning, things are even running away!
It touchs Sir Hendric, salving his wounds.
The other two fox men see little recourse, with a giant thing still threatening them, and keep trying to touch the sickly yellow nemhain.
The red one also swiftly touches itself, for good measure, and steps slighty away from the thing hurting it.
Peter decides he needs to be sneakier, and moves so slowly in the barrier that no undead can percieve him as he casts greater hide from undead on himself.
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Wynnreyell's first arrow narrowly misses, and the arcane archer checks his windage, adjusting his aim. The next two arrows both find their mark, the missiles' good alignment dispatching the green-hued nemhain to contemplate its rejuvenation in several days...
Peter
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Bristor
Archaememnon
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"For Honor and Justice!"
The cavalier's battle-cry resonates through the hellish cavern as he Challenges his foe.
AC is 42 against the tzitzimitl due to Champion shield enchantment and Haste. Will use Snake Style or Mounted Combat against the eye beams.
@GM - Sir Hendric took 30 damage, then got 11 temp HP from Aid, then got healed for 11 by a Vulpinal. So he should be at -19 (+11 temp); effectively -8 unless the Aid were to be dispelled.
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When Peter sees the tzitzimitl turn its lethal gaze upon him, the mystic theurge immediately throws up an emergency force sphere that shields him from the blast of the deadly beam.
Julian looses a trio of arrows from his blessed, ghost-touched shortbow. With some inspiration, one of the arrows finds his target, eliciting a silent shriek of deathless pain from the glowing yellow nemhain and briefly short-circuiting its profane regenerative powers.
Archaememnon fans her manicured claw-tipped fingers and fires for effect. The double barrage of arcane bolts slams into the insubstantial nemhain, its incorporeal defenses useless against the deadly dragon disciple's magic assault.
Shifting her position slightly, Archaememnon casts a worried glance at the tzitzimitl. She gets the distinct impression the gargantuan skeleton notes her location, its eyeless sockets piercing all illusions, somehow able to see things as they truly are.
Peter
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Bristor
Archaememnon
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Taking a heartbeat to orient himself after the dimension door, Bristor gazes up at the towering undead behemoth. “I’ve seen and killed bigger.”, he boasts. He channels divine energy into his falchion, giving Greater Bane Undead and then does a full hasted attack.
Extra full BAB attack from haste:
Crit Confirm for Attack #1?
Judgments: 2/6 activations
Boots of Speed: 7/10 rounds
Greater Bane: 13/16 rounds
Dimensional Hop: 32/32 5ft increments a day
Spells: 1st 6/7 ; 2nd 5/6; 3rd 3/6; 4th 2/5; 5th 3/4; 6th 1/1
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The cassisian floats over the battlefield, shining bright as daylight. While the red vulpinal agathion treats its own wounds, the green one heals Sir Hector. Then the red and orange celestial foxes try to lay a hand on the glowing yellow nemhain, and the red vulpinal agathion succeeds.
Then Peter leaves his arcane bomb shelter and flies to Bristor, opening a door to a passage through another dimension, ushering the half-orc through it and following him out the other end, emerging on the far side of the tzitzimitl.
His heavily enchanted falchion, bane of the undead, gripped in his long arms, the inquisitor swings back and forth, back and forth, striking the gargantuan skeleton twice, his first cut slashing deeply into massive bone and flashing a brilliant healing surge of lifeforce through his wounds.
Sir Hendric bellows a war cry, issuing a knight's challenge to the tzitzimitl, then he spurs Sentry into a charge. As horse and rider close with their foe, the skeleton leans down, jaws crashing shut on the cavalier with a thunderous
The gargantuan monster's cavernous mouth misses the courageous cavalier's skull by a mere carefully-coifed hair's breadth, its foul, grave-scented breath washing over the man. Skill and luck combine to spare him - this time.
Sir Hendric's lance pierces deep into colossal bone, delivering a terrible wound to the tzitzimitl.
The yellow nemhain is determined to eliminate the red vulpinal agathion.
Peter
Bristor
Sir Hendric
---
Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Archaememnon
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The red vulpinal vanishes, vanquished by the sick hued yellow Nemhain.
Peter looks at Wynn and pleads in elvish, gesturing at the hulking monstrosity before the pathfinders Dago han! Dago han, Wynnreyell! Dago han!
Bring it down Wynnreyell
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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.
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Wynnreyell tries to avenge Olysta Zadrian's sacrifice by lighting up the glowing yellow nemhain. *Thwap! Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!* Three of his ghost salt-blanched arrows strike the undead specter, ripping wispy tears in its incorporeal form.
Then the tzitzimitl, its wounds already closing, healing fast before your very eyes, lashes out at Sir Hendric with an enraged roar, so crazed and over-confident that none of its wild swings connect with the lucky cavalier in super-kevlar.
The gargantuan sack of bones absorbs even more energy from the river of blood.
Peter
Bristor
Sir Hendric
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Green Nemhain
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl
---
Julian
Archaememnon
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"Ollysta!"
Sir Hendric thinks back to his ill-fated battle against the Shemhazian alongside Ollysta Zadrian. We did not fall in vain that time, and she will not have fallen in vain this time either.
He says a silent prayer of thanks to the Inheritor as the attacks of the tzitzimitl glance off his armor or are deflected by the sacred protection of his Champion shield.
The cavalier attacks the monstrosity with his lance.
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The lifeless corpse of Ollysta Zadrian drifts to the ground, landing gently on her back near the north end of the bridge spanning the deep cavern.
Julian looses three more ghost-touched arrows from his enchanted bow. *Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!* Two of the arrows shred the glowing yellow nemhain, the projectiles good-alignment causing additional torment and suppressing the undead spirit's profane regeneration.
Archaememnon casts a powerful spell almost certain to shatter each of the gargantuan skeleton's bones and slay the monster, but the behemoth's formidable protections from spells prove an insurmountable barrier.
Turning quickly to the yellow nemhain to vent his frustration, the dragon disciple hurls five arcane bolts of force at the wispy specter. The barrage of magic missiles obliterates the undead creature. It will be days until the evil of the Gallowspire rejuvenates it.
Outraged by the malicious murder of Ollysta Zadrian, whose poster hangs above his bed back home, Sir Hendric unleashes his fury against the towering tzitzimitl. Four thrusts of his magic lance strike true, piercing bone like toothpicks through martini olives. The tzitzimital opens its gaping maw, releasing a death rattle resonating with hate as it crumbles to the floor of the Black Cavern.
Peter
Bristor
Sir Hendric
Wynnreyell
Julian
Archaememnon
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The foxes quickly get to work, healing Peter's allies before they return home
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During the lull in the battle, while the shocked Pathfinders mourn the epic and tragic loss of such iconic leaders as Venture-Captain Ollysta Zadrian and Shevar Besnik, Peter has the presence of mind to start treating the wounded, mindful that these might not be the last foes the heroes face within the Gallowspire. Much of the Black Caverns have yet to be explored...
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Peter sighs with a heavy heart We’ve lost too many today, Shevar and Ollysta just being the latest… Their deaths will not be in vain. The living will triumph over the dead, and Tar-Baphon will be finally destroyed… The crusade continues! Lets find out what we can use to stop him while we’re here. Peter nods at Hendric.
After the healing, he prepares some of his most powerful remaining wards, to explore the depths, casting false life, freedom of movement, greater hide from undead, and Echolocation, heightened awareness and finally extended arcane sight before venturing forth. He also puts up a death ward on Hendric.
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Bristor gathers everyone around and casts telepathic bond again. “Peter, you were right. The creatures here can be smart, so let’s speak telepathically.” He will also take a nip from the flask at his hip, embuing him with a little extra heroism and also cast see invisibility again.
Judgments: 2/6 activations
Boots of Speed: 7/10 rounds
Greater Bane: 13/16 rounds
Dimensional Hop: 32/32 5ft increments a day
Spells: 1st 6/7 ; 2nd 4/6; 3rd 2/6; 4th 2/5; 5th 2/4; 6th 1/1
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Sir Hendric does not know whatever it is.
"Ollysta Zadrian will be avenged. As will Vigil."
The cavalier uses the wand to heal himself.
He reactivates his wand of Heightened Awareness. Then he stows his lance in the magic scabbard and gives a scroll to Archaememnon. "Good Hope. Even in a place like this."
He draws another scroll for himself to use. "Moment of Greatness, should I have a chance to use it."
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Peter sees the confusion on Hendric’s face. You might be wondering why I didn’t attempt to bring Ollysta back into our fight. The creature that slew Venture-Captain Ollysta Zadrian was a wyrmwraith, and that those slain by wyrmwraiths typically rise from the dead as wraiths. However, it is clear that Ollysta is not undergoing this transformation. Ollysta died protected and enveloped by Sarenrae’s light, and her soul believes that it has reached the proper end of its life. As such, Ollysta’s soul should be allowed to rest in eternal glory.
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The team makes its way up and out of the deep chasm and assembles at the north end of the stone bridge near Ollysta's body. Her expression is one of a righteous warrior satisfied with a noble death.
Entering the chamber in the northwest corner of the Black Cavern, you discover a series of rooms lined with shelves, each with a small metal plaque and a name. Atop the shelves are crowns, diadems, and headgear of rulership with staggering diversity.
Each time Tar-Baphon conquered a new land or gained an alliance, he collected trophies, some of which he placed here.
Discovering nothing otherwise remarkable in this area, the team proceeds to the area in the northeast of the cavern.
The stone doors to this chamber are decorated with a stylized skull wearing a horned headdress marked with arcane symbols. Oppressive dread radiates from the walls like waves of heat.
Enhanced with arcane sight, Peter's glowing blue eyes pick up powerful magical auras emanating from both of the doors into the southwest corner of the room. Both portals are marked with arcane runes.
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Julian's an investigator whose professional training included trapfinding, and he knows that he can attempt to disarm a trap, even a magical one.
He realizes this symbol of death hasn't been triggered by seeing or identifying it. And he knows that if he's successful, he'll disable the device. But if he's unsuccessful, well...
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Peter uses Bristor's telepathic bond to communicate with his team Good job Julian! Lets make you sneakier until you get into position for our next assault.
Peter casts invisbility on Julian. The casts see invisibility to keep track of the trapfinder.
He also activates his own ring of invisibilty incase their next foe isn't undead.
He to telepathically talk with continues with the team, Positions everyone for our maximum force entry.
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