Alaric tears his wraith in twain with his first swipe! It shrieks as the rest of it dissolves, before fading away entirely. He and Shredder work together to repeat the process on another, leaving only two ghostly foes to deal with.
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
Tere tries to hit the most seriously wounded wraith, threading an arrow through the packed front line and perforating it.
Male Gnome Sorcerer (elemental (air)) 5 AC18(T13,FF16) CMD 11| HP 38/38| F +5 R +4 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +2, Sense Motive +0 | (6/8 1st left, 3/5 2nd left)
Think you need to confirm that, Tere.
"Okay sure, stay engaged with the murder ghosts," Wrigsolar waddles back. Since he can't get up to the front line, he uses his Magic Missle wand.
Unfortunately, you can't crit them at all without a ghost touch weapon or similar effect.
Ēoswulf's killing blow is barely avoided as the wraith banks up. Two projectiles strike home, however, leaving it a hair from the Boneyard. Uncaring of their plight, the pair swipe back.
Blue vs. Ēoswulf:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Damage:1d6 ⇒ 2Con Drain, DC 17 negates:1d6 ⇒ 5
Red vs. Shredder:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Damage:1d6 ⇒ 4Con Drain, DC 17 negates:1d6 ⇒ 1
Round Four/Five:
Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2, Bless
Alaric -16 (-1 Con) Shredder -4
Khellek
Two Blades -9 (-4 Con, heroism)
Blue -46
Green Orange
Red -7
Tere
Ēoswulf -10 (-3 Con, heroism) Wrigsolar(mage armor)
(Heroism active, +2 to saves and atk)AC 22 (FF:21); Fort +7; Ref +8; Will +5 (extra +4 vs sonic & language)(extra +1 when surprised/flat footed (included in FF))(extra +1 vs evil outsiders); resist cold/4; ; Init +1; Perception -2;(+1 cmd vs grapple)
The scholar, voice going dry, continues to offer advice to his companions.
"See, they fall! Just as they did before the Shining Crusade. And just as Dr Jones puny work will before my mighty quill... I mean, umm. "
Keeps up inspire
This time he reaches out to Alaric to offer the blessing of the Crusade.
"And while dinosaurs might not have been the backbone of the crusade, I'm sure they would have been welcome. Strike now and let history show record what raw might can do against the dead."
Male Gnome Sorcerer (elemental (air)) 5 AC18(T13,FF16) CMD 11| HP 38/38| F +5 R +4 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +2, Sense Motive +0 | (6/8 1st left, 3/5 2nd left)
"Ha-cha-cha!" Wrigsolar launches another magic missile at Red.
Male Gnome Sorcerer (elemental (air)) 5 AC18(T13,FF16) CMD 11| HP 38/38| F +5 R +4 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +2, Sense Motive +0 | (6/8 1st left, 3/5 2nd left)
Its a first level wand that I have for this type of situations. I'm cool wit the charge
Wrigsolar doesn't mind using his wand, as it causes a potentially deadly threat to dissipate into harmless mist. You are free to tend to your sapped bodies and light injuries.
The coffin-like chambers the wraiths rose from don't look like much. Any scans for magic reveal that they were once quite powerful, but doesn't shed much light on what they did.
The true attraction is what looks to be the last room in this place. This fifteen-by-fifteen-foot box is constructed entirely of the same smooth-white material seen on the sphere outside. A single white pillar stretches floor-to-ceiling in the center of the room, and in a niche at the middle rests a smooth, white, hand-sized square covered in glyphs and runes similar to those on the complex’s front door.
DC 30 Spellcraft:
This cube is used to control...something. That's what some of the runes seem to imply, at least, but you can't figure out the particulars.
(Heroism active, +2 to saves and atk)AC 22 (FF:21); Fort +7; Ref +8; Will +5 (extra +4 vs sonic & language)(extra +1 when surprised/flat footed (included in FF))(extra +1 vs evil outsiders); resist cold/4; ; Init +1; Perception -2;(+1 cmd vs grapple)
Khellek admires the box, runes and glyphs.
spellcraft T10:10 + 12 = 22
"Oddly... these runes are beyond me. I think I'll have to focus my studies a bit more." sighs the scholar as he takes down a sketch of them.
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
Unable to contribute to the analytical effort, Tere looks for traps around the item. "If it can be moved safely, we should take it to Juliet Dias. She may know what it is."
GM C, you can make Tere's Perception check if one is appropriate.
Tere isn't aware of any traps on the pillar or elsewhere in the room. If he tries to pick up the cube, he finds it very light and able to be removed from its socket.
Who's taking the cube? I'll assume Tere unless anyone else tries to make a case against him.
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
Having established to his satisfaction that it's safe, Tere picks up the cube. "Let's get out of here."
Male NG Human (Ulfen) Barbarian/Rogue 4/1 | HP 44 | AC 24 T 14 FF 21; never flat-footed; +1 vs. traps | CMB +9, CMD 23 | F: +7, R: +7; +1 vs. traps, W: +3; +2 vs. charm and compulsion | Init: +3 | Perc: +7; +1 vs. traps, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | Rage: 17 rounds | Sneak Attack: 1d6 | Rage powers: Knockback, No Escape
All that for a cube? I'm sure it has great archaeological significance but... That won't save us from the onslaught beyond the walls. he thinks to himself
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
Without any other options, you head back to Juliet Dias. The mood throughout is grim as you surface, with workers running every which way to deliver the ammunition you brought to archers on the walls. It looks as if the attack has begun or will shortly. You are only able to watch for a few seconds.
Then, several things happen almost at once.
A large rock smashes a hole in the main palisade wall, and moments later a horde of screeching, chattering ape-men start to plunge through it and into the camp. In the distance, their horrible champion — a four-armed gorilla, fifteen feet tall and causing the ground to shake with each step, intelligently scans his troops and roars at them, causing the ape-men to devolve into a frenzy.
From the terraced dig site, light erupts from the sphere, violent in its intensity. The charau-ka give it a wide berth, but it doesn't seem to deter them from engaging the Pathfinders. Everywhere you look has almost instantly devolved into a brawl. Your side is putting up a fight, but many stand to be cut down.
At the same time, Tere falls like a puppet with its strings cut. He doesn't respond to any cursory shakes or healing magic, he has no pulse or breath, but he seems alive...somehow.
As if you didn’t have enough things to attend to, one band of charau-ka zero in on you amidst the fighting. They seem to have put down the last group they were fighting. A quartet of warriors, a female in chieftain’s garb, and her pet tiger approach as if stalking their prey.
Two Blades lands a telling blow, but the ape-man's fervor for battle keeps it up.
The massive ape-like creature tears forward a short distance. It doesn't do so out of interest for your puny forces, however; that's just where its path of destruction takes it. At least a dozen Pathfinders and an Aspis agent or two are sent flying or crushed into the dirt by its four-armed assault.
Male Gnome Sorcerer (elemental (air)) 5 AC18(T13,FF16) CMD 11| HP 38/38| F +5 R +4 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +2, Sense Motive +0 | (6/8 1st left, 3/5 2nd left)
Wrigsolar wiggles his fingers and a burst of glitterdust poofs onto the monkeys.
Marked Monkey men need to make a DC 16 Will Save or be blinded!
Shredder has surprisingly little success with the tiger, but still manages two good swipes. Wrigsolar's spell devolves the charau-ka's formation into a shrieking frenzy.
While two struggle and fail to get dust from their eyes, their fellows join in the shrieks, more out of lust for battle. They hit Two Blades, once each with club and rock.
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
From within the underground chamber comes the curiously muted thud of metal on stone, growing louder. A shadow falls over the party as one of the great colossi emerges, the dust of ages falling away from it. Its head turns slowly from left to right in a scan of the battlefield.
The chieftain shrieks something at her tiger as it struggles with the dust. Alaric can't translate the Druidic right now, but it sounds like a reprimand. She starts casting a spell.
Juliet Dias tears past, supporting a wounded man who doesn't look as if he should be going so fast. She barely spares a glance at the massive monolith. But she does notice. "Did you unearth that thing? Don't explain, guide it at that big gorilla if you know how, otherwise we're all dead!" She speaks quickly, then hauls her ward further out of the fray.
(Heroism active, +2 to saves and atk)AC 22 (FF:21); Fort +7; Ref +8; Will +5 (extra +4 vs sonic & language)(extra +1 when surprised/flat footed (included in FF))(extra +1 vs evil outsiders); resist cold/4; ; Init +1; Perception -2;(+1 cmd vs grapple)
The scholar, seeing the massive form emerge from the doorway, scaddles out of its way.
"Friends, just as civilization has swept before it the savage world, let us sweep these savage apes before us."
Then gulps "And pray the colossus that has emerged behind us is friendly."
Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage
As the scholar moves, he is already taking Bessie off his belt, in preparation for some more target shooting.
The charau-ka's general sees something worthy of its attention! It bounds in your direction with leaps befitting a gorilla, turning its enemies and allies alike to pulp with each impact.
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
Male Gnome Sorcerer (elemental (air)) 5 AC18(T13,FF16) CMD 11| HP 38/38| F +5 R +4 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +2, Sense Motive +0 | (6/8 1st left, 3/5 2nd left)
Wrigsolar rushes forward an unleashes a blast of electrical energy.
Alaric is slower to start off than Shredder, but still dispatches a battered charau-ka. Wrigsolar quickly follows suit.
The last ape-man standing and blind shakes enough of the dust from its eyes. His fellow, looking apprehensive but not about to back down while the general is anywhere near, tries to smack Ēoswulf to no avail.
Rolls:
Red Club vs. Ēoswulf:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15 Damage:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Red Club vs. Ēoswulf:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22 Damage:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Male Elf CORE Fighter/1 Rogue/4 Shadowdancer/3 HP 55/58 AC25|T 18|FF 19 CMD 26* Fort +7|Ref +14|Will +6*/+8* vs. enchantments Init +6* Perc +14/+16 vs. traps Low-light, darkvision|Sense Motive +9
The colossus takes two steps towards the four-armed giant, drawing back one arm. A fist the size of the gnome smashes into the Champion with a crack of breaking bones that echoes through the surrounding jungle.
The monolith lands an incredible blow! Despite the obvious damage the massive ape has taken, it smiles as it spits out blood - this will be a fight to remember after it wins!
Down on the ground, the priestess completes her summoning, bringing another feline into the fray. Seeing the dire straits her allies have gone down, she causes plants to uproot themselves and wrap around everyone present.
I don't have time to put down the new cat, but if you'd like to attack it it's just west of Orange. Also, everyone in the burst can make a DC 14 Reflex save against Entangle.
