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Rokgurn thinks for a moment trying to recall if he has seen any plant life in the necropolis.
"I should be able to teleport us all out of here. I remember a tree near the smashed carriage on the hill. That should do."
"There are a lot of other options including using the luck blade but this one seems the simplest to me."
@GM Otha - Rokgurn should be able to use his Menhir Savant abilities to transport the party through the tree found in the necropolis to anywhere (on the same plane) to a tree of the same species. He can essentially cast Transport via Plant seven times a day but it is a supernatural power and not a spell. Considering the size of the party it will take a couple of trips back and forth for Rokgurn but that is not an issue considering how often he can use the power.
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Rokgurn teleports you back to the tree with the crashed hearse. No sooner than you appear there, the party is rocked by an explosion as you are hit simultaneously with both fire and unholy energy…
”MURDERERS! THIEVES! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT SCUM OF THE EARTH COMMON TOMB RAIDERS! I WARNED YOU! YOU KILLED MY SISTER! I FELT HER DEATH…YOU WILL LIKELY SLAY ME TOO, BUT I WILL TAKE AS MANY OF YOU WITH ME AS POSSIBLE!”
You see your old incorporeal and ghostly friend, Cadimus Adella once again, this time with vengeance in his eyes, floating 5’ from the ground, just 15’ away…
Combat! The Final Encounter: Round 1 - The bold may post!
Jack (-21 + ?)
Tim (-3 + ?)
Daathiel (-11 + ?)
Rokgurn
Yuri
Alie (-4 + ?)
Vladek (-4 + ?)
Qadathra (-4 + ?)
Cadimus
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@GM Otha - Our party will have to walk/fly back to the crashed carriage and then teleport through the tree. This has no meaningful impact on this combat and is just a slight correction. More importantly I do not see the enemy on Slide 8. Are we actually all on Slide 2?
Rokgurn attempts to dodge the blast in his air elemental form and with a feat of aerial acrobatics he is able to escape the effect completely.
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Yuri & Rokgurn evade the blast but unfortunately, Alie gets the full blast effect…she then hastes the party…
Yuri springs into action, with repeated strikes of his dorm dergar which strikes three times; it would’ve struck a fourth time but the nature of this ghost blinks in and out of existence (50% hit chance); Yuri also notes that while inflicts great damage, it’s not as much as it would deal to a blood and guts creature (incorporeal, half damage)…
Combat! The Final Encounter: Round 1 - The bold may post!
Jack (-21 + ?)
Tim (-3 + ?)
Daathiel (-11 + ?)
Rokgurn
Yuri
Alie (-64)
Vladek (-4 + ?)
Qadathra (-4 + ?)
Cadimus (-53)
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Rokgurn activates a rune and then taps the entire party trying to protect them from any future flames before bugging out.
Resist Energy, Fire(30) is up on the party (except Yuri due to superstition).
@GM Otha - The scale on this map is one square is equivalent to 50 feet although I think from what I am seeing is that we are defaulting to the standard 1 square is equal to 5' for simplicity sake.
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Jack's danger sense worked as well as it usually did and he managed to avoid all of the damage, but his attention turned toward his griffin who wasn't nearly as fortunate and let out a cry of pain. He glared at the ghost and pulled the ghost touch bracers out of the bag. Tim backed away from the fight as Jack was doing something different than their usual tactics.
Jack's eyes briefly dimmed and instead of flying into a mindless rage when struck, his anger took a much more calculated form as he touched his harvested occultist implement and made a rapid gesture towards the ghost, biting out furious words along with it. "Cease this and be still!"
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Vladek semi-miraculously bolts out of the way of the worst of the hellfire in a momentary blur of surreal afterimages!
He counters with a nasty trick of his own, one he's never tried before - for not even ghosts and their magic are exempt from the ravages of Time!
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Vladek cast a spell…
…and Cadimus could not resist it, eyes burning in rage at Vladek…
Qadathra sends fire of his own at Cadimus…
…and it scorches the ghost fully!
Cadimus then floats 5’ towards Jack, saying, ”Back off, my fiery little fellow…”
…but his eyes go wide in surprise as his touch fails to penetrate Jack’s defenses…
Combat! The Final Encounter: Round 2 - The bold may post!
Jack (-21)
Tim (-63)
Daathiel (-41)
Rokgurn
Yuri
Alie (-64)
Vladek (-34)
Qadathra (-34)
Cadimus (-78; expended)
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Yuri steps forward and swings his might dorn-dergar four times at the ghost...and thrice it smashes into Cadimus with devastating effect even at half-damage...
Combat! The Final Encounter: Round 2 - The bold may post!
Jack (-21)
Tim (-63)
Daathiel (-41)
Rokgurn
Yuri
Alie (-64)
Vladek (-34)
Qadathra (-34)
Cadimus (-146; expended)
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Jack arched an eyebrow at Cadimus, glanced down at the old ghost touch bracers that Jack now possessed instead, and pumped in the remainder of his arcane pool. "Bold strategy for someone who was already disarmed." With that, Jack started smacking and backhanding the ghost with the old armor in Jack's hands.
Jack arched an eyebrow at Cadimus and pumped in the remainder of his arcane pool into his sword to deal with the ghost's intangibility. "Stick em with the pointy end." With that, Jack avoided his amusing idea and stuck with what worked.
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With Daathiel's magical assistance, Jack's Aldori sword strikes Cadimus successfully three times...you can see the ghost grimace and his spirit waver...
Combat! The Final Encounter: Round 2 - The bold may post!
Jack (-21)
Tim (-63)
Daathiel (-41)
Rokgurn
Yuri
Alie (-64)
Vladek (-34)
Qadathra (-34)
Cadimus (-178; expended)
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While the ghost is able to withstand Vladek’s spell, the combination of magic missiles from Qadathra and Alie, do him in…
As the last of the bolts hits the incorporeal spirit, Cadimus shudders and then begins to slowly fade…his eyes burn hatred and anger before turning sad and doleful, as he murmurs, ”You have won…you have killed my sister and defiled my family’s tomb…I have failed her and my family…at least I may go to my rest now…if he lets me…”
Combat Over! Pathfinders Victorious!
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Jack was not in the happiest of moods now that they were done adventuring. "Stupid quest. Now all that's left is turning over the stupid relic and 'proof' and then we can cause all sorts of issues in Taldor. There are already other senators who are not a fan of Eutropia. If there's someone to rally behind, things could turn quite ugly."
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You fly over the walls of the Necropolis, happy to be free of the place, and start the long trek back to the Lion Sleeps Inn. It is an uneventful journey for a couple days; upon arrival, oddly enough, you seem many of the regular patrons…
”Papa!” the two sisters cry as you enter the inn with them. They run to a very stunned father who clearly cannot believe his eyes. He looks to you, stuttering, ”H-h-how? Wh-where? I am forever in your debt!” He cries happily as he hugs his daughters tightly, blubbering loudly…
As the other patrons and barkeep look on the scene with varying emotions, you notice Hanoris Dellum make an appearance coming down the stairs. Smiling, he says, ”You found the sisters? Most excellent…I trust you were equally successful in fulfilling my request as well?”
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Jack was not in the happiest of moods now that they were done adventuring. "Stupid quest. Now all that's left is turning over the stupid relic and 'proof' and then we can cause all sorts of issues in Taldor. There are already other senators who are not a fan of Eutropia. If there's someone to rally behind, things could turn quite ugly."
Hearing Jack's comments about the political machinations in Taldor, Yuri gives a confident laugh. "Come now - whatever moldering documents we've found buried in this obscure tomb in an obscure corner of Taldor - I mean sure, they are interesting as far as such things go - but you can't really be concerned that anything we've found here might be of much interest to the high and mighty, beyond our patron that is. A bit of genealogical research to suit the fancy of another dilettante with too much time and gold on his hands. But the fate of the Stavian and his crown? Oh it's hard to imagine that anything much could upset that apple cart!"
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"Yes, Hanoris. We have uncovered proof that Stavian I was the bastard child of Grand Prince Micheaux and your relative Lucretia Adella. We have the document of his birth record.
As well, we have recovered the sword Infensus Mucro. These are yours by the terms of our contract."
Daathiel does not actually have the sword of course, but he looks to Jack expectantly.
"Hanoris, I would be careful with how you handle this truth. There are many who would kill to keep it a secret. I will file a report of our findings with the Pathfinder Society, but I don't know if our esteemed leadership will also try to cover it up.
I think the truth deserves to be told. If I can convince the Society to reveal this discovery, then the truth will be out there and you will be a bit safer in going public."
Whisper is quick to offer up his advice.
"Perhaps staying silent is best on this matter. Position in society is more important than truth and I agree with Yuri that little is likely to be done to change the political order proof or not."
"Much has been accomplished on this quest. We have uncovered proof of what has happened and have returned a heirloom of significant historical and magical value to our patron. We have also been able to save the lives of the two sisters and clear out an ancient tomb of unspeakable evil. I say leave it at that."
Whisper refrains from speaking about the Wish spell contained within the sword itself. Such magic is powerful but can have unintended consequences even if the user is careful with its use.
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Jack watched as the others gave their warnings first before producing the requested sword. Reluctantly, he offered the hilt to their patron with a warning of his own. "The crown's agents have ears and eyes everywhere and they are probably already aware of this quest of yours. This is potentially volatile information and I'd hope that I don't need to spell out how something volatile is regarded. It would be in your best interests to live a quiet life. Otherwise, it will likely turn into a quick life."
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Hanoris Dellum’s face lights up as Daathiel hands him the certificate of birth…
”Fear not, I know how secretive this information must be…”
…but his eyes glow with obvious delight as Jack presents him with the sword. He puts away the certificate as he takes the proffered sword.
”Infensus Mucro! I had thought it lost forever! But you have found it, along with proof of the Adella royal, albeit illegitimate, line. You have done more than even I imagined…and as we agreed, you are free to keep any other treasures and relics from my family tomb that you might have found while searching there…
“Thank you once again my friends, now I must away. Good fortune follow you!”
Hanoris Dellum bows curtly and then heads upstairs…
You rest at the inn for a night or two, the innkeeper granting you free room and board in celebration of your return of the Manvale sisters…
You report your findings to your superiors among the Pathfinders and while they welcome the artifacts and detailed information you have discovered and brought forth, they worry about the implications of the illegitimate birth leaking…
Months later, you hear of a proclamation that Stavian III calls news leaked of his illegitimate birth a malicious falsehood and any offered “proof” clever forgeries, threatening to bring the power of the throne down on the heads of any implicated in its dissemination. He claims it is obviously an attempt by Qadiran agents to fan the flames of enmity once again against the noble Taldan Empire…
The Grand Lodge denies all knowledge of said information and sends you on a diplomatic mission to Tien Xia until the situation de-escalates…which it eventually does…
Congratulations! You have successfully finished The Tomb of the Iron Medusa! You earn 3 XPs!
For the retrieval of Infensus Mucro and the birth certificate, you are awarded 2 Prestige Points!
For rescuing the Manvale sisters and slaying the Iron Medusa herself, you are awarded an additional 2 Prestige Points!
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Hanoris Dellum’s face lights up as Daathiel hands him the certificate of birth…
”Fear not, I know how secretive this information must stay…”
…but his eyes glow with obvious delight as Jack presents him with the sword. He puts away the certificate as he takes the proffered sword.
”Infensus Mucro! I had thought it lost forever! But you have found it, along with proof of the Adella royal, albeit illegitimate, line. You have done more than even I imagined…and as we agreed, you are free to keep any other treasures and relics from my family tomb that you might have found while searching there…
“Thank you once again my friends, now I must away. Good fortune follow you!”
Hanoris Dellum bows curtly and then heads upstairs…
You rest at the inn for a night or two, the innkeeper granting you free room and board in celebration of your return of the Manvale sisters…
You report your findings to your superiors among the Pathfinders and while they welcome the artifacts and detailed information you have discovered and brought forth, they worry about the implications of the illegitimate birth leaking…
Months later, you hear of a proclamation from Stavian III calling news leaked of his illegitimate birth a malicious falsehood and any offered “proof” clever forgeries, threatening to bring the power of the throne down on the heads of any implicated in its dissemination. He claims it is obviously an attempt by Qadiran agents to fan the flames of enmity once again against the noble Taldan Empire…
The Grand Lodge denies all knowledge of said information and sends you on a diplomatic mission to Tien Xia until the situation de-escalates…which it eventually does…
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Congratulations! You have successfully finished The Tomb of the Iron Medusa! You earn 3 XPs!
For the retrieval of Infensus Mucro and the birth certificate, you are awarded 2 Prestige Points!
For rescuing the Manvale sisters and slaying the Iron Medusa herself, you are awarded an additional 2 Prestige Points!
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"Perhaps staying silent is best on this matter. Position in society is more important than truth and I agree with Yuri that little is likely to be done to change the political order proof or not."
Vladek shoots the spirit a dark glare.
"Rokgurn, have a specialist look over your bird; it sounds as if certain of us may have felt Asmodeus's presence in that place more deeply than others...."
”Papa!” the two sisters cry as you enter the inn with them. They run to a very stunned father who clearly cannot believe his eyes. He looks to you, stuttering, ”H-h-how? Wh-where? I am forever in your debt!” He cries happily as he hugs his daughters tightly, blubbering loudly…
Vladek keeps his distance, but his countenance has changed dramatically.
He addresses the family with a gentle, but quite noticeable, smile. "What did I tell you?"