GM MattMorris Cradle of Night (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

Hekk makes it to the other side and takes a blind shot into the blurry contents of the cloud.

To hit bardiche, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 = 22
Damage bardiche, enlarged: 2d8 + 19 ⇒ (2, 2) + 19 = 23
miss chance, low misses: 1d100 ⇒ 15

New saves against Hold Monster are a full-round action. You guys are good.

Leo moves to LeGuin and gives him the Gift of Will. "Kurgess says to get in there, big fella!"

Uses a free to action to maintain stare.

LeGuin will save uses my modifier (+20) instead of his own.

-3 attack rolls and Will saves for the baddie
+5 damage on first hit against him.

Heartened by Leo, Leguin moves into the cloud and gets close enough so he can see the aberration and attacks.

Will save 1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Fort save 1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Attack 1: Power Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
dmg 1: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 +5 from Leo's stare = 26

Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
crit dmg: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 51 total on a crit, if this thing takes them.

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 21 Yikes!

Just shy of a crit, Brian. Two hits form Aryas, miss from Hekk. 61 damage so far, for 178 total. Enemy is looking pretty ragged. Branson is up.

Affected?: 1d100 ⇒ 76 Not affected!!!!

Branson will 5' step (to flank)and swing away at the creature...

Fist Hit: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 25
Fist Damage: 1d3 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + (3) + 1 = 7 the 1d6 is fire damage, +1 twice per round

Fist Hit: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 24
Fist Damage: 1d3 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + (3) + 1 = 6 the 1d6 is fire damage, +1 twice per round

If either hit...

Fist Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Let's say you stepped before LeGuin attacked, and the resulting crit will take out the creature!

The shadowy creature crumbles, and the illusory cloud dissipates, leaving you free to examine the room. As the creature dies, the circle of pulsing light on the floor fizzles out.

A strange collection of what are likely offerings sit gathered around the room. The hoard includes a +2 kukri, a ring of the ram, thin leather boots of speed, a cloak of arachnida, a platinum carving of a night hag with sapphire eyes worth 3,500 gp, 12,450 gp, and 310 pp.

Reminder description of the room: This large chamber has several carvings that jut from the stone walls, casting erratic shadows around the room. These carvings have all been badly chipped, and the frescoes between them smashed. Four obsidian pillars reach a domed ceiling sixty feet overhead. A circle of pulsing purple light is inscribed on the floor between them, with a fist-sized stone resting at its center. The broken remnant of statues stand in alcoves to the north, flanking a pitch-black pool.

Hekk sniffs disdainfully at the tiny kukri, but having missed half of the fight running through the corridors, he eyes the boots appreciatively.

"We're lucky it wasn't wearing these. Hey, Leo, could you clear me after that mess? And that pool, can you clear that too? It looks real nasty."

Leo produces a metallic spider from his bag and sets it running in small circles.

"Here, Hekk, my boy. Hold onto this and answer these questions as quickly as you can. Just say the first thing that comes to mind:

1) Did you come to this plane of existence to do evil?
2) Have you ever zapped anyone?
3) Have you ever had any negative thoughts about me, Leopold R. Bibbard?"

Regardless of Hekk's answers, Leo will grant him the Gift of Will, because he just loves the big guy so much.

Aryas sighs.

“This was an unbelievably strong creature! You are all still affected by the darkness that somehow was changing us and I really want to get rid of it because it somehow is darkening my soul! I am not really knowledgeable and do not know much about magic so is the stone there or anything else of importance here?“ he says and starts casting detect magic.

Leo produces a metallic spider from his bag and sets it running in small circles.

"Here, Hekk, my boy. Hold onto this and answer these questions as quickly as you can. Just say the first thing that comes to mind:

1) Did you come to this plane of existence to do evil?
2) Have you ever zapped anyone?
3) Have you ever had any negative thoughts about me, Leopold R. Bibbard?"

Regardless of Hekk's answers, Leo will grant him the Gift of Will, because he just loves the big guy so much.

Hekk stands up tall and straight and answers

"Yes
YES
No"

"Thanks, Leo, I'm ready to tackle the world now. Though I could use a rest. To tired to do the berserker thing much more and I keep missing because of it."

with a fist-sized stone resting at its center. The broken remnant of statues stand in alcoves to the north, flanking a pitch-black pool.[/ooc]

"Is that the Cradle of Night?" Leguin asks, pointing at the stone.

"It could be. I hope so because that would mean we succeeded in our mission. Er, or will if we bring it back. How can we tell?"

"Well fought all."

The stone matches the description of the Cradle of Night that LeGuin remembers. It's likely that destroying the stone would remove your corruption, though the means to do so aren't immediately apparent.

Any thoughts on destruction methodology...

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"I doubt it will be the easiest thing to destroy."

kn arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"I'll bet the recently deceased could have told us, though probably unwilling. Wait, maybe the creature is not dead yet. Should we awaken it and ask?"

In all earnestness he adds, "It might be willing if you promise to clear it, Leo."

Aiyana (your caligni friend) or the cloaker you met might be able to give you more info on that, or you could ask the Pathfinder Society when you return to the surface.

Aryas is astounded.

”It does look special but that it’s so powerful is unbelievable!! How can this thing make me beautiful again?? I think we should ask Aiyana!!“ he says eager to eradicate the shadow taint on his soul.

But then his impatience and lack of wisdom gets the better of him!

”Let me take it for a moment!“

He grips the stone.

Can I umd it to make my taint go away?

umd : 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Kudos on the UMD crit!

Aryas reaches out a hand to the Cradle of Night, and performs certain religious observances that protect him from the orb's magic.

As he ponders it, he feels strength and vitality surge through him!

There's not any activated abilities, but we'll say that excellent check allows you to handle the Cradle without further corrupting yourself. (Normally there are saving throws involved.) You also gain fast healing 9 and +4 profane bonus to Strength and Constitution while you possess the orb.

Thanks GM!!

Aryas suddenly feels very strong.

"Oh ... oh ... this feels really good somehow! I mean I feel stronger! But ... but my taint is still here! We should go and visit Aiyana!! Let us do it!" he says and looks at the others expectantly.

Hekk looks a bit reluctant.

"But there are more foes to face, though I suppose the mission is to return with the orb, not clear this place out. Well, OK, I am getting a bit tired and I like to put forth my best effort when I fight."

Aryas thinks for a moment.

“Well, there are innocent people suffering because of these shadows. We could also really clear this place to be sure that control is given back to the just rulers of this plane of existence. That also what Aiyana would you want!“

We should not tarry. We need to remove this artifact. Those who remain are of no consequence.

I agree with LeGuin. Let's get this cradle thing taken care of. Maybe other officials will come and clean up this area. Or maybe they'll send us back."

Tathane watches Aryas for a bit. "So that thing makes you feel stronger? That seems kind of strange. Is it somehow pumping more dark energy into you or something? I don't know much about magic. I mean, I can barely get this thing to work" Tathane waves his invisibility wand in the air. "Maybe one of you guys who does magic knows more."

"Away with us then!"

Aryas is a little concerned now.

"Ehh ... Tathane ... dark energy?? I .. I think that is ... I do not know!! Should we leave it here then?" he asks.

"Don't worry, Aryas. If we can deal with thetodaemons, se can deal with a little shadow energy."

"We'll just get you clear once we get back topside. You will experience no untoward side effects, or I'm not a blood brother to the Lyrune-Quah."

Aryas nods at Hekk and Leo.

“Thanks guys!!! What would I do without you!? What?! Let’s go then!“ he says relieved.

Is the plan to head out the way you came in?

Good point. those ballistae are waiting for us. shall we try the tunnel to the north?

We can go back the way we came but were there other obvious options that we're not remembering now?

Aryas scratches his head.

"Oh guys, I am really not the smartest person! So let us do whatever is best! You decide!!" he says with blank look on his face while going through his blonde hair.

I'd like to take that tunnel to the north. Any objections?

Leguin slaps Hekk's back and says, "Lead the way!"

Hekk heads on over to where the tunnel was and realizes that it is not an exit to the outside world but just leads to more rooms.

The tunnel I thought was an exit on slide 19 just led to a closed in area on slide 20. So it does look like we do have to go back past the Ballistaes.

I can drop another invisibility sphere on us when we get close.

"OK, then, lets leave. I suppose we will have to wipe out the guards on the way out or we will get plastered."

IC Hekk does not know that Leo can hide them, and, perhaps, he would prefer to fight his way out of there.

Thanks for the patience! Back from ramming around for most of July. Let's put a bow on this!

With the Cradle of Night secured, you head back through the interior of the Forsaken Fane. With many of the Forsaken defeated, the journey is quiet.

Until you reach the great hall, that is. A gigantic snake with a woman's head squeezes out from a passage opposite you. The shadows around her twist and detach from the walls, forming almost-human features.

"So Veilisendri has fallen? Then the orb must pass to me! You won't live to seize my prize, intruders!"

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Black
Tathane
Red
LeGuin
Leopold
Hekk
Aryas
Blue
Branson

The snake-like creature casts a spell and its form shimmers, becoming difficult to track with attacks.

Casts displacement.

Map

"YES!" Hekk belts out without context, though you can probably guess what he is excited about.

know religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Don't know about the snake thing, but that other thing is a shadow. Not one of your normal ones, but something they call a greater shadow. It will literally suck the strength right out of you and are devilishly hard to just with normal weapons being all cloudy."

Tathane, want me to cast daybreak arrow on your ammo, and you can hit the shadows?

I'm going to delay Tathane so we can get movin'

The red shadow flickers toward you across the room, then slips into the large central pillar, out of your sight.

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Black (displacement)
Red
Tathane
LeGuin
Leopold
Hekk
Aryas
Blue
Branson

Map

I think Leo is gonna delay. Was there any opportunity to clear negative levels? Branson, do you have anything for that?

We've not stopped, we're still chugging along! Whenever we get a night's rest, I can learn whatever spells are needed to heal everyone up. There may be material component costs, but no need to pay for the spellcasting itself.

Aryas looks at the shadow and moves forward!

”Come on guys!! We have this!" he says.

Aryas starts his crane style to fight defensively while attacking.

Swift action crane style:
AC while fighting defensively vs. melee attacks: AC 34, Touch 30, FF 19.
To hit / damage calculation: +1 Adamantine Ghost Touch Scimitar: +14 (1d6+7 18-20/×2) (To hit: BAB +8, Dervish Dance Dex +6, +1 enhancement bonus, Weapon focus Scimitar +1, fighting defensively -2 / Damage : +6 via Dervish Dance feat and +1 enhancement bonus

Primary attack, fighting defensively : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 231d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
blur <20% miss : 1d100 ⇒ 70

Flurry attack, fighting defensively : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 191d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
blur <20% miss : 1d100 ⇒ 7

iterative : 1d20 - 5 + 14 ⇒ (7) - 5 + 14 = 161d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
blur <20% miss : 1d100 ⇒ 79

ASF, 5%, low fails: 1d100 ⇒ 33
Hekk casts a shield spell and rushes forward to see if he can deal with the snake guy, trying to avoid the thing that sucks awesomeness.