It Came from Hollow Mountain

Game Master DEREK LANE 127

I love it when the slaves work up their nerve. It makes their cries of futility and death all the more delicious.

Hatfield naively cautions his friends: "Uh oh, y'all. This creature's talkin' like they's got synesthesia. There may be nuance to they's words that don't 'translate' in a relatable way fer us."

"Zis may not be so, Gregory C. Hatfield. Zis creature sounds like it has existed since za original Thassalionian Empire. It remembers zings our peoples have long forgotten."

Nasir addresses the smoke.

"So what did you give Mozamer in exchange for za sacrifices? Zere must have been some deal, yes?"

"Zis may not be so, Gregory C. Hatfield. Zis creature sounds like it has existed since za original Thassalionian Empire. It remembers zings our peoples have long forgotten."

Nasir addresses the smoke.

"So what did you give Mozamer in exchange for za sacrifices? Zere must have been some deal, yes?"

The face in the smoke turns to stare at Nasir al-Rafik Kamal.

Diplomacy roll, please.

May we assist Nasir? If so:

Diplomacy Assist: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Hatfield opines: "Mozamer ain't all that reliable. He ain't even here." Suggesting, indirectly, that this creature would have nothing at all if it relied on Mozamer.

Diplomacy with Assist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Oh, I gave Mozamer so many things. So much knowledge. In return, he gave me sacrifices. It's been a while since I'd had a morsel. Or company.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Thinking to himself, Hatfield complains: "Aw, shucks! This creature is bored. How do I let muh friends know?"

To the creature: "So, uh, did, uh, Mozamer ever ask ye about, uh, yer, uh, y'know, yer dreams an' aspirations or whatnot? Must have been kinda monotonous here jus' waitin' on Mozamer--never knowin' when ye can express yer, uh, y'know, express yerself."

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+6

Thinking to himself, Hatfield complains: "Aw, shucks! This creature is bored. How do I let muh friends know?"

To the creature: "So, uh, did, uh, Mozamer ever ask ye about, uh, yer, uh, y'know, yer dreams an' aspirations or whatnot? Must have been kinda monotonous here jus' waitin' on Mozamer--never knowin' when ye can express yer, uh, y'know, express yerself."

Hmmmm. Human. You know nothing of monotony. Imagine 8123 years. Most of those, with nothing. Just... silence.

Did Ezranadir or Frantino recall what creature this is when they rolled Knowledge Planes earlier? Do they need a different knowledge skill?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 = 15

Ever the student of history, Frantino perks up when the creature says he's been here for over 8000 years. "A being such as yourself must have seen and heard so much, even though you also had to suffer through long periods of silence. What can you tell us about this place? What kinds of people used to live here? Your knowledge could help us fill in so many gaps in history. I know of an organization that would likely send dozens of historians and agents here in order to talk with you at length to write down what you remember. Would you be willing to participate in discussions like this?"

Frantino also tries to puzzle out what this telepathic creature is.

[dice=Knowledge planes]1d20 + 10 - 1 + 1d6

Knowing that he is a terrible liar, Frantino tries to keep his mouth shut and mind silent and let Roscoe do the negotiation.

APOLOGIES. I wrote a response to this, but it doesn't appear in the thread. I'm assuming the paizo bulletin board goblins ate it.

Both Ezranadir and Frantino recognize the thing to be an air elemental... of some sort. It's form is different than what both of them expect of an air elemental. The green and black smokey body of the elemental, plus its oily telepathic touch suggest a fiendish influence on it. Perhaps an air elemental from where the elemental plane of air borders the Abyss.

Frantino rolled high enough for two tidbits of information. What do you want?

Ever the student of history, Frantino perks up when the creature says he's been here for over 8000 years. "A being such as yourself must have seen and heard so much, even though you also had to suffer through long periods of silence. What can you tell us about this place? What kinds of people used to live here? Your knowledge could help us fill in so many gaps in history. I know of an organization that would likely send dozens of historians and agents here in order to talk with you at length to write down what you remember. Would you be willing to participate in discussions like this?"

Roll a Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge, or Spellcraft to keep it entertained. The above looks like maybe a Diplo or maybe a Bluff?

Frantino rolled high enough for two tidbits of information.

Frantino would want to know its resistances and any special attacks.

Roll a Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge, or Spellcraft to keep it entertained. The above looks like maybe a Diplo or maybe a Bluff?

Frantino would likely start asking specific history-related questions about events and historical figures in this area during the Age of Darkness and the time periods since then, as far back as the creature can recall.

Knowledge history: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 1 + (2) = 23

Hatfield will assist, if possible:

kn hist: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Whoo! :)

"That's a good point you raised about [some_esoteric_historical_mystery]. I bet this wise one has profound insights about those events."

Mozamer told me of much that has occurred since i was imprisoned here as a guardian.

The thing continues to discuss ancient history, from its perspective locked down here for millennia. Of particular note is its experience of Earthfall (or what you think MUST have been Earthfall).

All of the craftsmen here in the Forges either committed suicide or were killed by Alaznist's legionnaires. I was surprised to arise and find nobody alive anymore. Just bodies. What a waste of mortals! Mozamer told me recently that Alaznist expected to sleep for thousands of years and didn't need any craftsmen here, anymore.

The smoke roils, as if in anger.

This is what I'm talking about. Alaznist. Didn't even bother to see me, much less take care of ME, her longest serving servant! I could've used a morsel or two or ten. At the least she could've told me I'd be here for thousands of years, alone. With nobody to talk to!

As the elemental speaks, you can tell its attention is wandering. Your inquiry about history has kept it interested... for a while.

The stairs descend to a low-ceilinged, deep-green marble chamber. What appears to be a nest of rags and furs lies in the northeast corner of the room. To the south, a short flight of steps leads up to a wall of iron bars set with a large gate that blocks access to a platform. A single altar of dark-red marble stands in this alcove, with what appears to be a large brass egg balanced atop it. The altar is decorated with a strange circular rune adorned with eyes.

Dont' forget the stuff in the corner.

While Frantino chats up the creature, Hatfild looks at the corner from a few feet away.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

While Frantino chats up the creature, Hatfild looks at the corner from a few feet away.

A search of the nest in the corner suggests the filthy heap had been Mozamer's bedding. It looks like the sinspawn took most of his gear with him when he went through the portal to Roderic’s Cove, but there are a few fragmentary notes about his studies left behind. They appear to be in Thassilonian and When Doc looks at them (while keeping an eye on the air elemental), he notices words like "portal" "pool" "activation" and such. More time is needed to learn more.

While the others distract the guardian, Roscoe helps with the search of the items in the corner.

stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Ayita notices the others searching the corner and moves closer to Frantino, focusing on supporting his conversation.

Why do you call me a "rune slave"? I never heard that term. When did that name start? What does it mean?

She asks other history-related questions, knowing that she has lots to learn in the field...

history check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Ayita notices the others searching the corner and moves closer to Frantino, focusing on supporting his conversation.

Why do you call me a "rune slave"? I never heard that term. When did that name start? What does it mean?

She asks other history-related questions, knowing that she has lots to learn in the field...

The face in the smoke looks at Ayita, hungrily...

That is what your people are, yes? The human slaves of the Azghat of Thassilon.

It goes into a treatise on the history of the Shoanti people, about how the origins of the Shoanti people can be traced back over 10,000 years to before Earthfall, to the Thassilonian Empire. They were enslaved by the runelords who trained them to become their warrior caste. After Thassilon's fall, the Shoanti struggled as best they could through the many hardships of the Age of Darkness. The Shoanti share ancestors with the Varisian, Ulfen, and Kellid peoples, and their language is a combination of all three, together with Thassilonian.

I once had a trifecta of sacrifices from Mozamer of a Varisian, an Ulfen, and a Kellid. Mmm. Wonderful!

While the others distract the guardian, Roscoe helps with the search of the items in the corner.

[dice=stealth]1d20+13
[dice=perception]1d20+15

This is definitely the nest of the sinspawn Mozamer. His writings and other things litter the corner. Although Roscoe knows he could learn more if he spent time reading all of the notes, he can tell at quick glance that there are many insights into the portal and how it functions.

GM Derek wrote:

Frantino rolled high enough for two tidbits of information.

Frantino would want to know its resistances and any special attacks.

Any information come to mind?

A single altar of dark-red marble stands in this alcove, with what appears to be a large brass egg balanced atop it. The altar is decorated with a strange circular rune adorned with eyes.

Can Frantino identify the brass egg or the rune that decorates it? If he manages to identify it, he'll bring it up in conversation with the creature to try to impress it with our knowledge and learn even more.

Knowledge arcana?: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + (4) - 1 = 18

"Wow, you most certainly are an amazing font of information. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, what should we call you?"

As soon as we can get a break in the conversation and before it grows bored, Frantino will interject, "We need to send a message to a scholarly organization in Magnimar so that they can send an expedition to interview you at length, please excuse us while we step outside to get an unobstructed line of effect in that direction."

Frantino would want to know its resistances and any special attacks.

It's resistant to everything, basically. Acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10. Special attacks: force fangs (enables it to have a bite attack), smite good, and whirlwind.

a large brass egg balanced atop it. The altar is decorated with a strange circular rune adorned with eyes.

The brass egg is odd. Likely it is a focus for the guardian air elemental. Perhaps its home. The circular rune is the symbol for Yamasoth, a qlippoth lord.

"Wow, you most certainly are an amazing font of information. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, what should we call you?"

I am Boak-Hok, the Powerful, the Wondrous, the Spawn of Brimstone Horizons! I know much, but am sadly out of date on much information, due to my enforced guardianship of this altar. Runelords! Bah. They thought they were all that. But where are they now? DEAD. Gone. Their slaves run around with mortals, tattoo themselves, make friends with wolf-dogs. Their forges are cold and lost to the ages.

Hatfield will help Ayita and Frantino "distract" the creature so that the rest of the party can investigate the stuff in the corner.

assist: 1d20 ⇒ 10

"Great Boak-Hok, the Powerful, the Wondrous, the Spawn of Brimstone Horizons: What do you mean 'enforced guardianship?' What are the terms of your duties here?"

As soon as we can get a break in the conversation and before it grows bored, Frantino will interject, "We need to send a message to a scholarly organization in Magnimar so that they can send an expedition to interview you at length, please excuse us while we step outside to get an unobstructed line of effect in that direction."

Boak-Hok blathers on for quite some time. When Frantino interjects that the team is leaving, Boak-Hok stops.

Oh no, half-elven sacrifice, you and your fellow sacrifices are staying right here!

INITIATIVE!
Doc Hatfield: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Ayita: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Roscoe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Frantino: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Nasir: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Ezranadir: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
BOAG-HOK: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND ONE
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe:
BOAG-HOK:
Nasir:
Ayita:
Doc Hatfield:
Ezranadir:
Frantino:

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (38/38hp)||
Roscoe (45/45hp) ||
Nasir (52/52hp) ||
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (51/51hp) || **CURSED!**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (45/45hp) ||

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage

Boak-Hok’s cloud-like face focuses on Frantino.

A cold, cloying miasma of greasy darkness seems to descend upon you all, burning into each of you in the room. Only Yazhi is outside the room and area of this dmg.

Will DC16 half: 4d8 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 3) = 9 damage. Frantino takes an additional 8pts of damage.

IN ADDITION, each of you feels nauseous, your joints ache, you want to lie down and die!

Sickened: 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds. The previous Will save (if you make it) negates this sickened condition.

@NASIR - you take only half damage from this. A Will save further halves the dmg. Sickened doesn't apply to you.

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND ONE
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe: Will DC16, please
BOAG-HOK: spell-like ability on Frantino; spell-like ability on entire team, except Yazhi
Nasir: Will DC16, please
Ayita: Will DC16, please
Doc Hatfield: Will DC16, please
Ezranadir: Will DC16, please
Frantino: Will DC16, please

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (38/38hp)||
Roscoe (45/45hp) ||
Nasir (52/52hp) ||
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (51/51hp) || **CURSED!**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (45/45hp) ||

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage
SICKENED: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Ayita will save: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 10

will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Whew!

[dice=Ayita will save]1d20+4-4

Fail. 9pts dmg. Sickened for 1 round. Don't forget to state your action for this round.

[dice=will]1d20+8

Whew!

Saved! 4pts dmg. No sickened. Please state your action for this round.

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND ONE
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe: Will DC16, please
BOAG-HOK: spell-like ability on Frantino; spell-like ability on entire team, except Yazhi
Nasir: Will DC16, please
Ayita: failed Will
Doc Hatfield: succeeded Will
Ezranadir: Will DC16, please
Frantino: Will DC16, please

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (38/38hp)||
Roscoe (45/45hp) ||
Nasir (48/52hp) || -4hp
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (42/51hp) || -9hp **CURSED! SICKENED 1/1**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (45/45hp) ||

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage
SICKENED: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Ayita's action is to call Yazhi in (free) and activate (standard) the "spirit's gift" - stone - on Yazhi, so she has DR 5 / adamantine.

Ayita also draws her weapon.

Gregory C. Hatfield wrote:

[dice=will]1d20+8

Whew!

Saved! 4pts dmg. No sickened. Please state your action for this round.

Waiting to see what damage the party suffers. Life Link was on Ezranadir, Roscoe, and Ayita. Might not trigger on successful save.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 1 + (5) = 23

He smited me? Or is it smote me?

Will save: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 1 = 18

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 1 + (5) = 16

Frantino will spend two points of abjuration mental focus as an immediate action to put up a mind barrier, which will block up to 10 points of damage until the start of his next turn.

Expecting to be attacked, Frantino will cast shield. "He's pretty resistant to most standard energy types and he can turn into a whirlwind."

[dice=Spellcraft]1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1d6

He smited me? Or is it smote me?

He is smitten with you.

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND ONE
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe: Will DC16, please
BOAG-HOK: spell-like ability on Frantino; spell-like ability on entire team, except Yazhi
Nasir: Will DC16, please
Ayita: failed Will; calls Yazhi; activate "spirit's gift"
Doc Hatfield: makes Will
Ezranadir: Will DC16, please
Frantino: makes save; mind barrier 10pts dmg one rnd; casts Shield

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (38/38hp)||
Roscoe (45/45hp) ||
Nasir (48/52hp) || -4hp
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (42/51hp) || -9hp **CURSED! SICKENED 1/1**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (41/45hp) || -4hp

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage
SICKENED: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Frantino will spend two points of abjuration mental focus as an immediate action to put up a mind barrier, which will block up to 10 points of damage until the start of his next turn.

I was hoping that Frantino could put up his mind barrier as an immediate action before the spell hits us. However, since he hasn't gone yet he can't take an immediate action, therefore he'll be putting up his mind barrier as a swift action on his turn, which only costs one point of mental focus.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Nasir gets burned a bit from the miasma, but ignores the pain and moves up to defend his friends. He readies his sword to attack anything that comes within melee range.

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND ONE
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe: Will DC16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25; SUCCEED; DELAY
BOAG-HOK: spell-like ability on Frantino; spell-like ability on entire team, except Yazhi
Nasir:make save; moves; readies melee attack
Ayita: failed Will; calls Yazhi; activate "spirit's gift"
Doc Hatfield: makes Will
Ezranadir: Will DC16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11; FAIL; **SICKENED** DELAY
Frantino: makes save; mind barrier 10pts dmg one rnd; casts Shield

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (29/38hp)|| -9hp **SICKENED** 1/1
Roscoe (41/45hp) || -4hp
Nasir (50/52hp) || -2hp
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (42/51hp) || -9hp **CURSED! SICKENED 1/1**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (41/45hp) || -4hp

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage
SICKENED: –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

ROUND TWO

Boag-Hok looks curiously at Ayita.

Boag-Hok moves up to the iron bars on the edge of the altar... and FLOWS THROUGH THEM! It flies through the air along the ceiling, avoiding Nasir (who is obviously prepared to strike), until it is adjacent to Ayita and Frantino!

@FRANTINO Melee Touch Attack: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 = 17 MISS!

The fiendish air elemental then flies back, through the iron bars!

@AYITA @FRANTINO If you have a melee weapon out, you may AoO.

The ceiling is relatively low, only 10-12ft high. This allows it to fly over your spaces. This makes it adjacent to your squares for the purposes of Tumble Through Threatened Areas.

THE LONELY BOAG-HOK
ROUND TWO
—------------------------------------------------

Roscoe:
BOAG-HOK: Flyby Attack on Frantino; miss
Nasir:
Ayita: AoO? Sickened is over
Doc Hatfield:
Ezranadir: Sickened is over
Frantino: AoO?

BOLD may go!

STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir (29/38hp)|| -9hp
Roscoe (41/45hp) || -4hp
Nasir (50/52hp) || -2hp
Doc (48/48hp) || **POISONED**
Ayita (42/51hp) || -9hp **CURSED!**
Yazhi (51/51hp) ||
Frantino (41/45hp) || -4hp

CONDITIONS
-----------------------
POISONED: -1 wisdom
CURSED: -4 to everything but damage

@DOC - you said you were holding your action until all Saves were in. Please state your Round One action now. Of course, you are also welcome to state Round Two action also.

@ROSCOE @EZRANADIR if you'd like to come out of delay and attack before Boag-Hok in Round Two, you may. This becomes your turn in Round Two and your init order resets. This won't mean much for Roscoe as he's already ahead of Boag-Hok in init, but for Ezranadir this would mean he could come out of delay before Boag-Hok's turn and attack the elemental before it leaves the altar. This seems relevant, as Ezranadir can strike from distance with spells.

ROUND 1
• Seeing the creature flyby, Hatfield comments: "That critter sure has a pep in its step."
• Life Link: 5 HP to Ayita, 5 HP to Ezranadir; -10 for Hatfield
• Standard Action: CLW wand on Frantino: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
• 5-foot-step
__________________________________________________

ROUND 2
• Life Link: none
• Standard Action: CLW wand on Frantino: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
• Move Action: draw metamagic rod
• Seeing the HP barely dribble out of the wand, he taps the back of it like a ketchup bottle. "C'mon! I know there's a bunch o' healin' left in there."
__________________________________________________

• Wand count decremented

will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Roscoe just barely overcomes the evil elemental's tricks.

Trying one of his own, he casts ill omen on the enemy.

No saving throw but it is subject to spell resistance.

CL check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

[dice=will save]1d20+6

Roscoe just barely overcomes the evil elemental's tricks.

Trying one of his own, he casts ill omen on the enemy.

No saving throw but it is subject to spell resistance.

[dice=CL check]1d20+6

The spell doesn't seem to have any effect.

I already rolled your successful will save in the previous status post. So your will save roll (a 10 on the die) would be applied to your CL check. Which would still have not penetrated its spell resistance.