6 ranks +3 trained +2 int
"It would seem the scrags were hungry; the corpses are all locathah - probably the missing members of Kolokshora's tribe."
Mauro is surprised to find no enemy in the room, but comes to a quick conclusion: "There is no witch here nor any obvious servants of hers; leave this cyclops for now. Rather, let us get back to the hunt ..."
Asher nods in agreement.
[b[]This poor wretch will keep. The best thing we can do for him is kill the witch![/b]
✦ Nal-Shakar: Ocularum Prison (area L12) * ˚ ✦
The cyclops only responds with deference and outright fear. Becky thinks the party will need to approach him with a diplomatic hand for any real conversation
Asher and Mauro decide the group should continue to seek out the witch, so they hustle to the next flight of stairs to ascend. The group leaves the cyclops chained up and helpless.
Becky frowns when both Mauro and Asher suggest leaving the poor cyclops and instead blindly pursuing the witch. Still, such a big creature could prove dangerous, even when blinded. Plus, it hadn't answered her questions, possibly because it was frightened.
"We'll come back to help you later," the bard promises, again both in Common and in Azlanti.
.
Here we gooooo! No retconning actions now. (Music)
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
The party proceeds up the stairs, sending the skeletal servant up first, followed by Mauro, Asher, Becky, Talath, Crispin, and lastly Huntress.
As you all ascend, your eyes are greeted with natural light You see a colossal device of jeweled, copper-lined globes, steel rings, and dazzling lights. The contraption — an elaborate orrery — rises from an octagonal dais at the center of the tower peak. The instrument surges with phantasmal depictions of constellations and cosmic phenomena. Periodically, a lens pauses, briefly concentrating the light of some distant star upon one of the glowing glyphs circling the perimeter of the massive orrery. Around the room, windows twenty-five feet tall and five feet wide allow a spectacular view of the crater lake outside. The copper plates forming the dome of this chamber form a mechanical iris engraved with arcane sigils.
However, the tower is not empty. Standing in the room, you see an absolutely revolting humanoid. Her elongated face is sunken and twisted like a melted candle. Her mouth is far too large for her face and it curves upward unnaturally into a drastic grin, revealing yellow pointed teeth. She stinks worse than the scrags and you have to consciously steel yourself against her presence. A cloud of crimson vapor reeking of fresh blood floats on either side of her. You also spot a familiar-looking hag eye ooze along the western wall.
you hear her awful voice, "Annoying insects like you all are better dead!"
(in addition to the Horrific Appearance) to take half of cold damage.
Round 1
(Suit of Enchanted Eelskin, Freedom of Movement)
(Necklace of Air Adaptation, Freedom of Movement, False Life 16 temp HP, Water Breathing, Protection from Evil)
(Freedom of Movement, Water Breathing, Touch of the Sea)
(1 damage, Freedom of Movement, Longstrider)
(2 damage on Asher, Freedom of Movement, Gravity Bow, Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party Buffs:
Becky withstands the hag's preternatural ugliness, turning her eyes from it only briefly. Maybe that's why the hag picks her for its next attack....
Becky starts to shiver and then shake uncontrollably. Tears leak from her eyes only to freeze before reaching her cheeks. Her breath seems to catch in her throat, and for a moment you can see its steam pass her lips. A moment later, those same lips are tinged blue and are chapped. Then the bard manages to suck in a ragged breath, and, though she's still shaking lightly, it appears she's survived whatever attack the hag threw at her.
vs DC 17
+5 Occultist +2 Con+1 Trait+2 Resistance
Asher steels his mind and soul.
Asher steels his mind and soul.
[Dice=Fort Save]1d20 + 9
[dice=Fort save] 1d20 + 3;
Here we gooooo! No retconning actions now. (Music)
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
the party comes up the stairs and struggles with the disgusting sight of the sea hag. She's absolutely repulsive and Crispin, Talath, and Asher all go weak in the knees, taking Strength damage.
Because she's a sea hag, you assume she has the ability to gaze at you with an evil stare, giving you the feeling of impending doom. You've also experienced her horrific appearance, which you recall all sea hags possess (although somehow Helekterie is even more repulsive.)
Sea hags are resistant to magic.
These nasty blood clouds have the ability to sense blood within 60 feet and can drain the blood of their victims with a melee touch attack, dealing Constitution damage! Draining blood also bolsters how much damage they're able to take.
Over the years, researchers have been fascinated with the Vampiric Mist's Research has shown a vampiric mist’s body is composed of a semisolid red mist similar in consistency to thick foam. The vampiric mist does not have a Strength score, and it cannot manipulate or wear solid objects. This form grants it the amorphous defensive ability and allows it to move through areas as small as 1 inch in diameter with no reduction to its speed. The creature can speak in a hissing voice. A vampiric mist cannot enter water or other fluids and is treated as a creature two size categories smaller than its actual size (Tiny for most vampiric mists) for the purposes of how wind affects it.
Becky and Mauro manage to keep their nerves in check, but the young bard begins to shiver violently from an unknown source! Whatever happened looks like it hurt her. The magic users in the party are experienced enough to know whatever happened to Becky was not a traditional spell.
.
Helekhterie casts something. "Obnoxious fleas!" she cackles in her horrible voice, "you're in my domain now! Aha ha ha ha!"
After Helekhterie casts something, the blue cloud flies perfectly through the air and bites Mauro.
Round 1
(21 damage, Suit of Enchanted Eelskin, Freedom of Movement)
(Necklace of Air Adaptation, Freedom of Movement, False Life 16 temp HP, Water Breathing, Protection from Evil)
(Freedom of Movement, Water Breathing, Touch of the Sea)
(1 damage, Freedom of Movement, Longstrider)
(2 damage on Asher, Freedom of Movement, Gravity Bow, Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party Buffs:
Important Stat changes: -4 Strength Crispin, Talath, Asher; -2 Con Mauro (both reduced with rest)
Bold may act!
vs dc 16
+5 Occultist + 1 Wis+2 Resistance +2 hedgehog familiar
Ok, I have protection from evil up courtesy of Talath, so, "Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects, such as charm person, command, and dominate person. This saving throw is made with a +2 morale bonus, using the same DC as the original effect. If successful, such effects are suppressed for the duration of this spell. The effects resume when the duration of this spell expires. While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target. This spell does not expel a controlling life force (such as a ghost or spellcaster using magic jar), but it does prevent them from controlling the target. This second effect only functions against spells and effects created by evil creatures or objects, subject to GM discretion."
I am guessing this effect is a compulsion created by an evil creature, so
vs dc 16
+5 Occultist + 1 Wis+2 Resistance +2 morale+2 hedgehog familiar
vs dc 16
6 ranks +3 trained +2 int
As Mauro is holding his Ranseur (a reach weapon), he gets the AoO on blue cloud.
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
Damage is Magic and Piercing
Also, there is a possibility that the blood drain attack misses. My Temporary Familiar is a protector and has combat relexes (can take AoO in a surprise round) and bodyguard (can use AoO to defend it's master. A successful Bodyguard attempt would push my AC vs touch to 16 (10+2 dex +2 Deflection (pro evil) +2 aid another (bodyguard)
vs DC 10 aid another
6 bab +3 dex
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Mauro pauses to assess the situation before he acts...
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
Mauro seems to shake off whatever the sea hag tried to throw at him and strikes the red cloud as it flies into his area of attack! All of the damage seems to go through, however, the cloud is still alive to make its touch attack!
Round 1
(15 damage, injured)
(21 damage, Suit of Enchanted Eelskin, Freedom of Movement)
(Necklace of Air Adaptation, Freedom of Movement, False Life 16 temp HP, Water Breathing, Protection from Evil)
(Freedom of Movement, Water Breathing, Touch of the Sea)
(1 damage, Freedom of Movement, Longstrider)
(2 damage on Asher, Freedom of Movement, Gravity Bow, Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party Buffs:
Important Stat changes: -4 Strength Crispin, Talath, Asher; -2 Con Mauro (both reduced with rest)
Bold may act!
"Don't call us fleas, you...you...copepod!" Becky feels her awesome insult likely hit hard against the aquatic hag! Remembering that she and her friends are in a life-or-death struggle, she refocuses and tells her comrades a bit about vampire mists to initiate her Naturalist power.
"Vampire mists! Vulnerable to fire, resistant to non-magical attacks! They'll drain your blood if they touch you!" She then scampers west next to the skeleton to give her friends on the stairs more room to spill into the chamber.
"Be careful. She cast Murderous command on Mauro. He might attack whoever is nearest for a moment! Luckily only the once though."
Crispin casts Haste the party. Not really concerned about losing strength, even though he has little to lose. :(
Mauro roars as he steps up to attack the witch!
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste -5 iterative
Meanwhile his skeletal warrior moves to her flank and claws at her...
+6 bab +2 str + 1 haste
+2 str +3 occultist
It's possible both Mauro (and/or his skelebot) may get a chance at an AoO this round. Either on the witch casting, or on mist red closing...
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
+6 bab +2 str + 1 haste
+2 str +3 occultist
Mauro will use an immediate action and his last point of Necromantic Focus to pull it back up at full HP.
The hedgehog has 4 AoO's to use for defense (Combat reflexes + 16 dex).
vs DC 10 aid another
6 bab +3 dex
vs DC 10
vs DC 10
vs DC 10
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
Mauro's hedgehog bone puppet aids the occultist in resisting whatever might have happened. His skeleton also swipes out, but the claws seem less effective.
Becky trades insults with the hag and points out the vulnerabilities of the vampire mists. No doubt Ramona would be impressed by Becky's quick recovery. Mauro joins Becky in the verbal sparring, taunting the hag about her failed magical attempt. His jab misses her by inches, but the second two land their mark, stabbing into her disgusting, emaciated flesh. The skeletal servant claws out against Helekhterie but misses. Crispin identifies the spell Halakhterie attempted to cast on Mauro was Murderous Command and casts Haste on the party!
Perhaps excited by all the potential blood, the red vampire mist flies perfectly over to Asher, Talath, and Crispin! The mist reaches out to bite Talath!
Round 1
(34 damage, injured)
(18 damage, injured)
(21 damage, Suit of Enchanted Eelskin, Freedom of Movement)
(Necklace of Air Adaptation, Freedom of Movement, False Life 16 temp HP, Water Breathing, Protection from Evil)
(Freedom of Movement, Water Breathing, Touch of the Sea)
(1 damage, Freedom of Movement, Longstrider)
(2 damage on Asher, Freedom of Movement, Gravity Bow, Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party Buffs: Haste
Important Stat changes: -4 Strength Crispin, Talath, Asher; -2 Con Talath (both reduced with rest)
Bold may act!
Talath takes a slight step back, retrieves a scroll, and then casts the spell, directing another Desnan starknife into battle!
Asher feels a wave of nausea come over him and feels his limbs weaken. Surveying the room, he quickly formulates his attack plan.
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
Talath retrieves a scroll and casts Spiritual Weapon, attacking an enemy! Meanwhile, Asher unleashes a rain of arrows at the vampire mists! The first arrow plunges into the red mist and it falters, losing altitude quickly, hitting the floor with a wet splat! The blue vampire mist is hit with the other two, the second arrow hits it as it also loses altitude as if Asher just wanted to showcase his ability to hit a moving target. It also hits the ground with a wet splatter, making an even bigger red mess.
The yellow hag eye ooze jiggles forward 5 feet and its disgusting body attempts to slam into Becky, but runs into the wall's corner instead!
enraged, Helekhterie screams at Asher, "Those took weeks! How dare you destroy my art!" She takes a five-foot step away from the skeletal servant and pulls out a potion. She pops off the cork top and downs the liquid in thirty gulps.
Round 1
(34 damage, injured)
(51 damage, very dead)
(21 damage, Suit of Enchanted Eelskin, Freedom of Movement)
(Necklace of Air Adaptation, Freedom of Movement, False Life 16 temp HP, Water Breathing, Protection from Evil)
(Freedom of Movement, Water Breathing, Touch of the Sea)
(33 damage, dead)
(1 damage, Freedom of Movement, Longstrider, Spiritual Weapon)
(2 damage on Asher, Freedom of Movement, Gravity Bow, Magic Circle Against Evil)
Party Buffs: Haste
Important Stat changes: -4 Strength Crispin, Talath, Asher; -2 Con Talath (both reduced with rest)
Bold may act!
Talath directs the spiritual weapon to strike the Oogly Hag!
And then pats Asher on the shoulder to give him a Bit o' Luck, courtesy of Desna!
"Oh no! My strength has been drained. What ever shall I do?" Crispin says dryly. Stepping up to see the Hag eye Ooze and casting Scorching Ray
.
Becky, where shall I hit the hag?
Becky, where shall I hit the hag?
With the vampire mists slain, Becky switches the focus of her Naturalist ability to the hag herself. She's a little slow, however, as she first lets out a frightened "Eek!" as the hag eye ooze squashes itself against a wall in an attempt to squash her!
"In the head or any other critical area!" the bard yells. "She's resistant to spells, though! And I thinks she's an oracle!"
Being the warrior that he is, Asher understands how important luck is in battle. He nods grimly at Talath and Becky.
Let's roll them holy bones. Let the goddess grant us her favor.
Mauro takes a step forward to a good attacking position and grimly continues to hack at the witch. A mental command has the skeleton delay for a second and then pursue the hag...
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste +2 naturalist
7 str* 1.5 +2 Champion spirit +1 enhancement
+6 bab +5 str +1 enhancement +1 haste -5 iterative
+6 bab +2 str + 1 haste +2 naturalist
+2 str +3 occultist
Mauro will use an immediate action and his last point of Necromantic Focus to pull it back up at full HP.
The hedgehog has 4 AoO's to use for defense (Combat reflexes + 16 dex).
vs DC 10 aid another
6 bab +3 dex
vs DC 10
vs DC 10
vs DC 10
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
Becky continues to point out Helekterie's strengths and vulnerabilities to her allies. Mauro and his skeleton inch forward, focusing their attacks on the hag herself. Her moldy rags offer little protection and her emaciated fresh rips open with every slash. She screams in pain. Then, before she has time to recover, Talath's spiritual weapon cuts into Helekhterie's neck, and by the luck of Desna, she's dead! With her eyes wide open in disbelief, Helekterie's corpse crumples to the ground... One might imagine Desna smiling down, as the defiler of this place has now been eliminated.
However, the fight isn't over yet, as Crispin moves to relieve Becky from the hag eye ooze's slams, throwing fire at the ooze! The gelatinous body seems to melt with the exterior layer crisping to a golden brown. The ooze jiggles unsteadily, as it's unable to take the heat! Asher follows up with his deadly aim and the ooze breaks apart into a gross puddle, dead.
Taltah, completely surprised he actually hit something in combat, performs a weird never-before-seen dance....
"Thank you Desna for your blessings and favor assisting us in this great battle!"
With all the threats apparently eliminated, Becky takes a moment to watch Talath's victory dance...which looks vaguely familiar to her. Then, realizing she's still badly wounded from the hag's horrific initial attack upon her, casts a cure moderate wounds spell on herself.
✦ Nal-Shakar: Helekhterie’s Sanctum (area L13) * ˚ ✦
The party paws through the dead hag's belongings and finds several items of value. On her, you find spellguard bracers, a wand of air breathing with three charges, a wand of expeditious retreat with 26 charges, a spell lattice, and 185 gold pieces. There's an empty vial on the ground from when she drank - it appears to have been a potion of fly.
Becky spends some time looking at the dead hag and contemplating her abilities. Becky thinks she may have been an oracle. You don't recall seeing an oracle in Talmandor's Bounty, but there are a few in the Akkiti-Skah tribe led by Skalorah (including Ookra, who's currently in Talmandor's Bounty with Kalikk.) The blind youth would probably be able to tell you more if you discussed the details.
Without any immediate threats, the party is able to leisurely look around the observatory. A colossal device of jeweled, copper-lined globes, steel rings, and dazzling lights fills this room. The contraption—an elaborate orrery—rises from an octagonal dais at the center of the tower peak. The instrument surges with phantasmal depictions of constellations and cosmic phenomena. Periodically, a lens pauses, briefly concentrating the light of some distant star upon one of the glowing glyphs circling the perimeter of the massive orrery. Around the room, windows twenty-five feet tall and five feet wide allow a spectacular view of the crater lake outside. The copper plates forming the dome of this chamber form a mechanical iris engraved with arcane sigils.
The metal spheres and crystal orbs of this orrery float freely through the air, some serving as intricate mounts for lenses that focus concentrated starlight on a series of illusory glyphs orbiting the perimeter. The orrery is a powerful artifact, however, is no longer perfectly accurate. You think it would be impossible to move the orrery without destroying it.
(1,750 lbs) This immense brass, bronze, and crystal orrery models Golarion’s solar system as it was in the Age of Legend. If consulted for 10 minutes or more, the orrery grants a +5 circumstance bonus on Knowledge (geography) checks to navigate or to answer questions about outer space. Once per month, it can be used to contact alien minds on far-flung worlds—this works identically to the spell contact another plane
"I'm most concerned with the cyclops and the room it's in. We should make sure it's health is in good order and see what he knows about this place and how he came to be here."
Becky examines the orrery in depth. "Ah, yes! Hmmm...interesting. Yes...yes. Two extra planets? Huh--maybe they existed back when Azlant was destroyed." When Becky discovers the orrery's ability to contact other plane she takes a couple of quick steps away from the otherwise fascinating device, temporarily put off by the otherworldly attack the hag hit her with earlier.
Eventually, the bard reacts to Talath's comment about the cyclops. "Yes--the poor thing's blinded, but he might have some information about the hag or our missing colonists," she conjectures. "He likely won't be able to fend for himself, but...maybe we can work out an arrangement where he uses his muscle to help out around Talmandor's Bounty in exchange for food and shelter."
"Action: Usually none. In most cases, a Knowledge check doesn’t take an action (but see "Untrained," below)."
Eventually, Becky turns her attention to identifying the various magic items the hag possessed. The bracers and first wand totally befuddle Little Miss Know-It-All, but the youngster takes her time to examine the second wand and spell lattice more closely.