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Bedisa and Dexter are able to strike a powerful chord as they make their pleas. She walks from around the pylon and faces the group fully.
"Of course, we have the time to speak. Be at ease...perhaps talking would have changed the course of this day. What words do you have for the leader of your opponents." she says as her words grow more solemn.
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"You are quite correct. This is beneath all of us...it may not be so simple though but we may not all have to die today. I do wonder if it is so simple to change one's ways though especially after coming so far." Lady Arodeth replies to The Rouge Rogue while looking over the machinery within the room.
"I did quite a bit of research on the Pathfinder Society before this day. I believe both of our causes have strayed from the passive and we all have blood on our hands in some way. Is that not true?" she scoffs not quite taken by Derkhans plea.
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"No, I suppose he did not sacrifice others. Our bloodshed and our desire to help others puts us on even ground, it seems..." she says softening on her ire for the Pathfinder Society.
"If I even manage to fix the Sky Key controls, the questions is what comes after." she thinks as she hops down to look at the control panel.
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Dexter provides advice, that initially seems to get an incredulous look from Lady Arodeth but she starts to consider.
"Yes, the world will take a massive amount of cooperation to fix. If Aroden lifted Absalom from the sea perhaps together, we can do similar. You may be winning over what remains of the Harbingers after this but what of the rest of Golarian." she thinks aloud as she begins to work on the console, her face growing grim but determined as she ponders over the readings.
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The Rouge Rogue initially sours her attitude but the others begin to ease her into the importance of the time left.
"I cannot be rushed or we will all die! But...my role here is important as are yours." she says as her voice begins to crack.
“I have learned something of these controls, and I fear the damage my Heralds and I have inflicted in our zealotry has damaged your Sky Key. It now acts less as a projector and instead like a bridge… And a bridge must be anchored at both ends. For any of you to return now, something—someone—must remain behind or else the path home will collapse. So this is where we must part and take on differing tasks." she looks up point to the door that exits the chamber.
“I have earned this fate. As I said before, I can think of no finer way to die than in the fiery cataclysm that spurs on Lord Aroden’s journey to divinity. It will never be enough to make up for the blood we have shed here, Pathfinders, but know that I truly regret what I have done here today.”
After saying her peace she stays silent and continues to work on the controls.
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The group heads out of the vault, passing other slightly confused Pathfinders as the images of Arodeth emerging from the machines are no longer hostile.
As they reach the surface they see less anchors than before but spot one nearby. As they rush into the square where the mage is working as temporal storm strikes down. The bolt of green lightning shatters the fountain and spews the grey water around the plaza.
Cat immediately notices the puddle closest to the group is not what it seems, it is living.
This is a gray ooze. Their origin is unknown but they utilize their transparent bodies to lurk in wet areas to consume any poor creatures that step into them.
As with other oozes, they are immune to critical hits and flanking. They are also not affected by poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, or stunning. Their corrosive bodies can damage objects they are struck with.
This specific type of ooze also shirks off damage from Cold and Fire based attacks.
"Have you come to prostrate yourself before Gad Gemple, the heir of Aroden? It seems even the temporal energies here seek to test you before you are able to speak to me. Quickly, deal with this incursion!"
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N Small outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (–1 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref –1, Will +3
Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks earth mastery
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13
Feats Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +1, Climb +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Languages Terran
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Earth Glide (Ex)
A burrowing earth elemental can pass through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. If protected against fire damage, it can even glide through lava. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other sign of its presence. A earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing earth elemental flings the elemental back 30 feet, stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC 15Fortitude save.
Earth Mastery (Ex)
An earth elemental gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are touching the ground. If an opponent is airborne or waterborne, the elemental takes a –4 penalty on attack and damage rolls. These modifiers apply to bull rush and overrun maneuvers, whether the elemental is initiating or resisting these kinds of attacks. (These modifiers are not included in the statistics block.)
With a rumbling grinding noise, the small figure turns and slams a fist into the column.
, if hits,
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As the group surrounds the ooze, it lurches upwards to face any of the attacks head on. As splashes of acidic ooze splash about from the assault it holds firm in place until the final blow from The Rouge Rouge.
Gad shakes his head and immediately powers down the anchor.
"The heir of Aroden cannot die here in the same way as he did. You have proven yourselves so let us escape quickly!"
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The asteroid looms impossibly large overhead, and the air grows stiflingly hot as the world itself begins to rumble. High overhead, the dome of green energy shudders, twists, and finally shatters, and Pathfinders’ bodies begin melting into flowing particles as the world slips away.
Just as quickly, you stumble as Bloodwatered Meadow coalesces beneath your feet, as it does for countless other Society agents. The wildflowers bob lazily in the wind, and nothing but a few still bodies stand as testament to the bloodshed and struggle of the past five hours. Kreighton Shaine, looking several years older, staggers to his feet and gives a nervous chuckle before climbing up a small knoll and waving his arms for the crowd’s attention.
“What we have all witnessed here today has been a remarkably journey that included sights no living soul on Golarion has witnessed. The Sky Key has allowed us to walk among the serpentfolk and Azlanti, gazing upon several of the greatest events to shape Golarion and the region that would one day become the Inner Sea. Let the catastrophe that we witnessed and narrowly escaped humble us and teach us so that we might find value in preserving the messages and wisdom those lost people may have left behind for us to discover. I think we all have some responsibility to remember those who passed so that our modern world can exist.
“You have all observed great things and have notes to share. This much is certain. But for now, let us… let us simply take a few days to reflect. The Society, I imagine, will send agents to collect your notes and interview you about your experiences. Until then, find your families and loved ones, as I know I shall. Failing that, find some passion that ties you to the here and now, and embrace it.
“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your unrivaled accomplishment!”