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This time, it looks like you're having some effect on the haunt. Valdrus's exorcism actually dissipates half of it while Briney, Lin Po and Ti Lan are able to quell them to make subsequent exorcisms easier. One more success should do it. (DC now 20).
Statuses:
Guzmord - Frightened 2
Aurelius - Frightened 1
Nic Nic - misses, frightened 0
Briney - frightened 1
Valdris - frightened 0
Panarug - frightened 1
The haunt turns their attention onto Valdrus and Nic Nic attempting to strike them with fear. (DC 20 will or be frightened)
It then attempts to force Guzmord and Panarug to strike themselves with surrounding debris as one of their actions. (DC 22 will to resist). Failure: debris +19, Damage 1d10+3 bludgeoning.
Everyone is up.
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The debris buffets Aurelius and it cuts his cheek just as he was beginning to get the hang of things. He brings his spear up to the sky, doing his best to continue his chant.
Just as he did so, the spirits appeared to have gotten a hold of one of his memories of being in the arena, bringing back a mortifying memory of a brutal slaughter of a cherished comrade. The fear in his eyes glossed over, as his performance began to falter...
"Spirits, we implore you... let us help you seek peace..." Aurelius began to beg, the memories starting to overwhelm him and causing his attempts at persuasion to fail critically
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Briney acts!
"Mighty Panarug so strong he kill self one hit!" somehow still managing to be impressed with the half-orc's prowess. He reaches into his chem kit tucked into a goblin-sized bandolier, and throwing some ingredients together by pouring on small bottle into another, frothes over a bubble-yellow fluid, pouring it down the witch's throat.
◆) Stride
◆) Quick Tincture @ Elixir of Life @
◆) Administer
"Okay now? Briney asks, the fallen comrade at head-height to him now, speaking as equals.
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As Granny fails to help Nic NIc slice the spirits, she feels a wave of fear roll over her, as she doesn't know how to rid herself of these evil spirits. She then realises that the spirits haven't been able to burn her or throw plates or bones at her, she breathes a sigh of relief and continues to attempt to slash at them in a rage.
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Lin Po and Ti Lan helps to make subsequent exorcisms easier. One more success should do it. (DC now 19).
Statuses:
Guzmord - Frightened 2, dying 2
Aurelius - Frightened 2
Nic Nic - frightened 0
Briney - frightened 1
Valdris - frightened 0
Panarug - frightened 1, wounded 2
Still waiting on Guzmord's turn.
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Aurelius continues to do what he thinks he knows best, but due to his mental state his efforts at tact and diplomacy come across more as pleading and begging, his efforts to subdue the spirits getting lost between mumbles...
When all else fails, he resorts to chanting his epic poems, hoping it will help either himself or his allies get through the thick of this mess...
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The spirits, doubling their efforts on Valdris, seem to have hit a nerve with their persistence, spooking the wizard once again! Yet, hit training, and long hours of study have him grasping at the facts of the occult of haunts and the like. Spewing these knowledgeable facts, the wizard makes his way towards Guz!
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Panarug slowly regains consciousness, with blood still pouring copiously down his face. Instead of treating it though, he climbs painfully to his feet, knowing that they need to take down the spirits quickly or they would all perish.
Again, he concentrates, beseeching the disturbed spirits to disperse.
.. but again, it seems to have done nothing.
The fear in him similarly refuses to be quashed.
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More aid is given reducing the DC of exorcism by 1 (18). Panarug is able to revive Guzmord. Aurelius feels less frightened. Nic may have been frightened but he stands tall, as a defiant goblin can.
Status's (as I understand them)
Guzmord - Frightened 2, wounded 2
Aurelius - Frightened 1
Nic Nic - frightened 0
Briney - frightened 1
Valdris - frightened 1
Panarug - frightened 1, wounded 2
Valdris is also able to dispel the rest of the haunt so combat is over. The conditions will fade in a few minutes and there is time to heal before going after the thief.
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As the spirits subside and fade away, Nic Nic falls exhausted on the ground. "Nice Granny, you struck them all with great force, your knives were sharp, your pots hot. No spirit can stand in your way." Nic Nic will take the congratulations for vanquishing the spirits, smiling and shaking the hands of everyone.
"Time to make a pot of tea, yes?" she says as Panarug starts to heal the injured.
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At the mention of more "tea" Briney's face contorts into an expression of involuntary disgust!
While Panarug tends the wounded, Briney searches the area for as to the whereabouts of this "thief" - perhaps the forest spirits will direct him to one?
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As Briney goes about searching for clues, Nic Nic watches him as he fingers the ground. She smiles and empties the tea leaves in a spot that Briney has not yet searched, then makes a trail of tea leaves that leads to a big tree.
With a hop skip and a jump, Nic Nic quickly makes her way back to the group, who are under the watchful eyes and healing touch of Panarug.
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There's no reason not to wait until everyone has healed up at this stage. Briney's search for clues is very fruitful.
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After running around in circles chasing Nic Nic's tea leaves - gross! - Briney suddenly jumps is surprise as he discover's something else!
"That's Odd" he begins "Through the grasses here - paw prints on longshanks!?! - come come, Briney follow!" indicating that he can easily assist anyone who wants to be Lead Tracker.
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Nic Nic almost drops the pot, fortunately regaining it before it hits the ground, as she hears Briney call from the forest edge. Quickly, tea pot in hand, she runs over to Briney. "OK, what's the fuss, you found something." She looks down expecting to find tea leaves but stands back in astonishment. She puts down the pot and carefully brushes aside the tops of the long grass.
After a moment walks slowly forward, then jumps in the air. "Ooooooh, you found the tracks alright Briney. Wees up against a clever foe, probably something like an elf, see it walks like it's got 2 legs, but it's disguised its feet with paw prints. Or are they really paw prints." The goblin chef, stops and thinks, she thinks really hard, but doesn't come to any other conclusion. Instead she rushes back to the camp, and starts to pack her things ready to go after the 'elf'.
"Come on Briney's got a lead, wees gotta follow the tracks, see I'll show you over here." she says as she rejoins Briney in the long grass.
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"You've got a good eye, Nic Nic." Panarug bends over to examine the tracks that she has discovered.
"I suspect these are tracks of the pious kitsune who stole the lantern. The kami spirit who inhabited me briefly showed me a vision of the kitsune stopping in a clearing, pulling out the lantern from his bag and placing it on the ground reverently. He then extracted a book from the same bag and eagerly went through it before performing some incantations. While he seemed to have good intent in his actions, I hope he does not inadvertently damage the relic in his eagerness. Lead on Nic Nic."
As he travel though, he calls forth Fharan his familiar who has been hiding in his backpack, handing over a small vial. "Keep this close to you. We might need it." The stoat has rather dextrous hands and takes over the vial with little difficulty.
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"Perhaps we could speak with them? Maybe get some information? Perhaps we could ask them to help us study it?"
Valdris, looks at the others before rolling up his sleeves in preparation for talks.
"I also agree with Panarug's statements a while ago. We need to make sure whatever this artifact is, that it isn't damaged from whatever this kitsune does."
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Still a little shaken from the last encounter, Aurelius takes a deep breath and ponders taking the lead. ”I could attempt to impose a good impression on the Kitsune. How bad could it be? Clearly there hasn’t been any ill intent so far, and the artifact could be more of a problem than the spirits or the kitsune!” the taldan pointed out.
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Panarug nods, agreeing with the rest of the party. He then steps out carefully, but not make any sudden movements until he is certain that he has gotten the kitsune's attention.
"Holy Pharasmin, we do not mean to disturb you in your studies, nor do we mean any hostilities." He turns around briefly to make sure that indeed none in the party has made any hostile gestures, before turning back to the kitsune. He then gestures to the lantern.
"That very relic you are studying is what we are seeking. You see, we are from the Pathfinder Society, and that item has been acquired by our Venture-Captain. The kami of the forests have guided us her, so it seems the spirits intend for us to find it. I trust that a servant of the Lady of Mysteries would not have taken the item just on a whim - it must be for some holy purpose. Perhaps related to the undeads and haunts that have plagued us. Perhaps if we come together, we can find a collective solution?"
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Rubbing his ribs where Nic Nic poked, Briney accuses with his Dogslicer "Thief!" then suddenly remembers that he has to talk his way out of this one, and sheathes his blade in a show of peace "Briney - I've come to bargain!" stating plainly his name and intent, letting his non-threatening demeanor do the lion's share of the non-verbal communication, and backing Panarug's (true but overly verbose) play.
His toothiest grin shining through, the uncannily short goblin beams, hands on his hips and chest pointed confidently outward!
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((Yes - Hero point to Valdres))
The kitsune is impressed with Briney's demenour enough to listen to Panarug. He says his name is Dorobu and tells you he is a noble warrior and servant of Pharasma. He also tells you that during the kami’s absence, a slow but steady stream of undead has been emerging from this region, likely animated by restless spirits left unchecked by the missing kami. The kitsune has dutifully destroyed these monsters, but he saw an opening to permanently stop their rising when he sensed the kami’s return. Dorobu stole the kami’s prison and returned it to its formerly warded site, but is worried that releasing the kami would lead to more trouble with the undead in the area and possibly jeopardize the kami’s spirit. Though he was rather set in his ways when he first gained the relic, the regular onslaught of undead has made him more willing to listen to an alternative solution.
He offers you the relic asking if you have a better idea of how to use it against the undead.
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"You're saying there's a kami trapped inside the lantern? Then I say that it is only right that we release it." The idea of a kindly spirit being imprisoned for goodness how long chafes at Panarug very much.
"Perhaps the kami, when released, would have an answer against the restless deads. Where is this formerly warded site of the kami's?"
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We're sitting in it Dorobu replies. And .. yes ... if the kami is released, it should have sufficient power to put these restless spirits to .... erm .... rest.
But .. there seems to be a ... block ... to the release at the moment. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
((More diplomacy or Religion or Lore(Pharasma) checks would also help))
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"That Valdris" the goblin points to the wizard, who seems like he would know what to do "he smart" adding "for longshanks"" exchanging a quick glance with Nic Nic and forgetting that this Dorobu is not a goblin for a minute, having empathized with his characterization as a "thief" "And that" pointing to Aurelius now "is great warrior - you safe with him, yes" continuing around "And last but not best, is Guz and Nic Nic slash Granma: we be in charge here" figuring that the kitsune has already met the witch, he declines a similar introduction...
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The kitsune gives a toothy grin. Sure ... I'd like that. The sooner we can put all these undead to rest, the better I'd like it
He looks about and sees a group of undead in the distance. Leaving the book, lantern, and bag, he heads off to deal with them.
About fifteen seconds later, another group of undead entered the clearing from the opposite end that the kitsune left in. One of them is large, flanked by two medium ones.
Initiatives:
((Please place yourselves on the new map))
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Briney breathes deeply, taking in all the moving parts and assembling a four-dimensional jigsaw in his head that includes the giant skeleton in each iteration...
"That's enough!" he decides, and drawing his Alchemist's Fire Bomb, chucks it at the dooming undead abomination, and bone permitting, sets it unto glorious fire!
◆) Devise a Stratagem
◆) Draw Bomb
◆) Strategic Strike w/ Lesser Alchemist Fire @ (17)+7 = 24 @ plus 1 persistent fire (no splash teammates)
Briney jumps up in down in circles facing each of his five teammates in turn cracking himself up with infectious if verging-on-maniacal laughter!
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Panarug quickly pulls out some ointments to salve Aurelius wounds. But finding himself unexpectedly and, more importantly, uncomfortably close to the looming large skeletal figure, Panarug draws back, keeping the trees to his back for protection.
He then sends his spirits to harass the large skeleton, hoping to send a wave of righteous fear in the undead.