|
"I'd rather not treat with Devils."
At this, Elena looks back. "I thought hellknights usually-?"
Suddenly, the imp appears and casts a spell on him! "What in the name of-?" she manages, unfortunately too late to stop it.
"It just cast Suggestion - a mind altering spell!" she warns, as yet unsure of whether it attained its goal.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hearing Elena ask something about hellknights, Elathras turns towards her and doesn't see the imp until it had cast something. Feeling some kind of fog try to encircle his brain, he shakes his head like a wet dog shaking off water.
Glaring at the Imp, he snarls. "I was going to tell them you're not trustworthy. Now all you've done is prove it to them."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Ah ha! Coercion!"
Axton points his finger threateningly at the imp. If it tries anything malicious, he casts daze on it.
”Right. Kill it.” Bharak said, hammer in hand and with lethal intent readily showing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sighing, "Well poo. I was hoping for at least half of Cheliax. That place is due for a fantastic overhaul and could use some proper leadership," she says with a shrug, grinning wryly.
.
Realizing the imp had tried to use a spell on him and Axton replied in kind, Elathras didn't wait to see if Axton's spell took effect. Instead he shifted his ranseur, taking Bharak's advice, chopping at the devil. "You should have just left."
Umazura watches the battle with interest. She catches sight of Elathras's attack - almost appearing as if it's in slow motion - which looks to be heading a bit wide of its mark. "Too strong. Let up a little," she whispers, the arcane energy flowing from her words as she watches with anticipation, curious if her magic was enough to alter the cavalier's attack.
Without a word, the dwarf ran forward and swung his hammer. He didn’t want to see what would happen if it had a chance to try and charm them again.
Hearing Elena's observation, Elathras turned, "It attacked first." Taking his eyes off the Imp he realized too late that he hit the ceiling instead of the devil. Hearing Umazura tell him to let up a little, he nods as he jerks the Ranseur's blade out of the ceiling. Smiling as Bharak hammered the imp, Elathras took Umasura's recommendation to heart and focused more on making contact with the devil. Thrusting the Ranseur at it.
You quickly dispose of the 'Suzerain', finding the only wealth he had on him was 113sp & a Scroll of Animate dead.
The is nothing else here besides the grandiose fantasies of a minor Devil.
Moving along to the corner.
C2. Elemental Guards
A thirty-foot-diameter, softly glowing circle of runes shimmers on the floor. What appears to be a single flickering flame burns with no apparent source of fuel in the middle of the room.
This circle once functioned as a potent trap that would summon a small army of elementals to attack any who attempted to enter the room, but the trap has decayed over time. Today, the circle of runes functions as a permanent and oversized magic circle against law (CL 15th)—a potent ward that the devils of this level cannot cross. A successful DC 23 Spellcraft check reveals the nature of the circle, and that at one point, long ago, it held a powerful creature of fire within. As such, this room could make an excellent place for the PCs to rest and recover—at least, once the guardians bound within the circle are defeated.
The fire in the center of the room is real, the result of a pinhole portal between this world and the Plane of Fire. It cannot be moved, and deals 1d6 points of fire damage to any who touch it.
You see two small Fire Elementals lurking near the flame, they surge to attack you but are unable to cross the circle of runes. You dispose of them easily.
What are you doing now? Only a few more rooms to finish this level.
"Fascinating!" Axton enthuses about the runic circle, but he can't see how he could learn much from it.
|
|
"Fascinating!" Axton enthuses about the runic circle, but he can't see how he could learn much from it.
"You're right, it is amazing!" Elena exclaims just as the group finishes clearing the embers of fallen elementals from their weapons. Excitement danced across her violet eyes just as sure as the flame in the middle of the room.
Captivated by the softly glowing runes, she kneels down near the circle, spreading her Varisian accessory skirt sideways over the floor, and tentatively traces her hand over it. "Let's see... according to this, this room was a prison for a very powerful being of ire once. Wait, 'Ire'? No... that's not right," she frowns and peers at an eroded spot. "Ah! The 'Phi' must have molten into the floor. A being of 'Fire' then."
She glances up. "Which makes sense, as I think that flame is the smallest possible, yet very real, gateway to the plane of Fire itself! To find it still functional after all this time... I mean, we probably shouldn't touch it. But still!"
And down again. "And the runes themselves! I think they still work like a Magic Circle against Law, covering most of the! So any devils summoned to here wouldn't be able to enter. If we're ever in danger from a devil, we could just stand in it and be safe! We can probably set up camp in them if we have to. Isn't that great?"
She stands up and realizes everyone is staring at her during exposition prime. "I-I mean, ah..." she blushes and coughs. "Sorry... that's just, um, what I think it does. I'm not an expert, definitely, and maybe I got a little carried away there... We should probably be more worried over why they even have an elemental gate here along with both a plane to hell and a laboratory presumably for making monsters out of people. No matter how impressive the feat of magic, that doesn't excuse what a horrible place this must have been. Or still is, arguably."
"I think that's most of the floor aside from the ship and the room with the unfathomable pools of water," Elena says, consulting the drawn map. "Though there is a big unexplored gap in the center of it still. I'd suggest heading there next to make sure no surprised come for us from there."
”Don’t be embarrassed on your knowledge. None of it makes sense to me, but if there is even a chance that this room will keep us safe from devils, then it’s alright in me book. So aye, let’s move on, knowing that we have a path of retreat if needed.”
Seeing the Imp impaled on Elena's spear Elathras gives an nearly imperceptible shrug in the armor. "Possibly, but would it have been worth the cost the devil would have wanted us to pay?"
---------------
Wiping the soot from his gauntlets, Elathras wonders if the two fire elementals were the servants the Imp was speaking of. Turning as Elena kneels beside the circle and begins to explain it's components. Pleasantly surprised as she explains the 'ring of fire' he raises an eyebrow realizing she seemed to be blushing. Not really sure why, he bites his tongue as she continues about searching south.
Nodding in agreement "Yes that makes sense. The southern stairs here, then the boat." As they move forward he steps near Elena, nodding back towards the circle. "That was impressive understanding of Elemental Portals."
|
|
As they move forward he steps near Elena, nodding back towards the circle. "That was impressive understanding of Elemental Portals."
The priestess looks up at the hellknight and seems to search his face for something. Eventually, she smiles. "You seem sincere - thanks for that. Can you keep a secret? Don't tell anyone, but I'm actually a bit of a bookworm!"
As they keep walking, she tucks away the map in her belt pouch and her moment of mirth gradually fades. "Truth be told, I try to hide it. There's this... prejudice among many outsiders that devotees of Shelyn are airheads, only concerned with art. They don't take it very well when they're confronted with evidence to suggest otherwise; it probably lowers their view of themselves. I've grown to try avoiding such confrontations over time as much as I can. 'Leave me to my solitude and I'll leave you to your ignorance', father used to say... well, back when he was sober."
C7. First and Second Thassilonians
A pillar stands at either end of this wide room. The northern pillar is carved with the image of a beautiful woman wielding a ranseur. The southern pillar depicts seven robed men and women, their features eroded with the years. Each of them holds one segment of the seven-pointed star. Strange runes are carved into the floor.
The runes are in Thassilonian and ask, “Does true power lie within the one or the many?”
A DC 25 Knowledge (history) reveals that the northern pillar depicts Alaznist, the Runelord of Wrath, while the south pillar shows the seven original runelords after they sundered the Shattered Star. The runes pose a question that was meant to remind Alaznist’s followers that the key to their power as the heirs of Thassilon lay in following one ruler rather
than seven.
C8. Gatehouse
This oddly shaped room retains some of the trappings of its former glory. Remarkably well-preserved tapestries hang at the back of alcoves above stone benches. Both depict a mountain with a woman’s face carved into the peak above an immense bridge that crosses the ocean below, while at the mountain’s base rises a strange city. A single stone pillar stands in the middle of the room, the image of a seven-pointed star with a hole in its center carved into its north face. A brass portcullis
stands to the west, barring entry into a hallway leading beyond.
Once an ornate salon, this room now stands empty—the devils haven’t figured out how to raise the portcullis yet, and simply use the route through area C7 to reach the rooms beyond.
The tapestries both depict the city of Xin-Bakrakhan at its height (Knowledge [history] DC 25 to recognize).
An examination of the pillar reveals two points of interest. First, the hole in the middle of the Sihedron carved on its side is triangular, not circular.
Second, as a successful DC 25 Knowledge (arcana or history) check reveals, the Sihedron is presented with a point straight down rather than straight up—an unusual departure from how the image is normally displayed. If an appropriately shaped tool is wedged into the triangular hole (such as the brass crank from area C5), the star can be rotated.
What are you doing now? You can aid another on these roles.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Looking upon the remarkable depictions, Umazura allows the magic to flow from within, in an attempt to aid herself into possibly learning something about the art.
As she walks up to the first pillar, she delicately touches it as she studies it methodically. Once complete, she then moves to the other one and takes a moment to study it as well. "This is fascinating. Looks like the time I put into studying Thassilonian history has actually proved to be in my favor," she says, grinning. "Now the northern pillar with the lone woman upon it is none other than Alaznist, the Runelord of Wrath; and the southern one with the seven individuals are none other than the original Runelords. The original Runelords, I might add, after they sundered the Shattered Star. And as you can see, they pose a question in Thassilon. It reads: 'Does true power lie within the one or the many?'
"Now the question's purpose was to remind Alaznist's followers where true power lies. Which, as far as she was concerned, lies with 'one' ruler, not seven." Looking back upon the pillars, "Truly fascinating. To be a Runelord...," she leaves the thought unspoken.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then making her way to the gatehouse, she catches sight of the tapestries but nothing comes to memory about the depictions upon them. Shaking her head in frustration, she moves on to the pillar in the center of the room. Looking curiously upon it, "Now that's odd. It's all wrong. It's facing the wrong way." As she studies the triangular shape within the rune, she remembers the brass crank they found in a previous room. Turning to the others, "The brass crank? Which of you possess it? I believe it belongs right here and I believe it can be used to rotate the rune back in its proper position. Of course, whatever event that might or might not trigger is unbeknownst to me. Probably wise if we prepare ourselves for 'a worst case scenario' if you will," she suggests matter of factly. "Always good to be prepared," she says with a smile.
Raising an eyebrow as Elena shares about secrets, bookworms and devotees of Shelyn. Elathras, not being very familiar with religion, had only interacted with a few priests of Abadar. They had all been scholars or accountants. Most of the people he had met in the pathfinders that weren't martial had seemed like scholars to him. He had assumed Elana was one as well. As she finished talking, he chimed in. "Your father sounds very wise." Smiling, "And believe me, I understand about people making assumptions and underestimations."
-------------------
As they enter the wide room with the statues, Elathras approaches the pillar carved in the shape of the beautiful woman. While Umazura explains what they had found. Elathras reaches up and tugs at the ranseur, "Just in case it's like this one." Then moves over to the seven robed figures shrugging, he tugs at the seven different segments of the pointed star.. "Just checking."
Eventually following Umazura into the gatehouse he looks around, not remembering who picked up the brass crank.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"I have it!" Axton announces, because why not? Trusting the others to be "prepared" as Umazara put it (but who can ever be truly prepared for the arcane wonders of the ancients?), Axton tries to insert the crank and turn it.
|
|
As she finished talking, he chimed in. "Your father sounds very wise." Smiling, "And believe me, I understand about people making assumptions and underestimations."
"He was, yes. Nowadays, it's more like... well, it's not important now," The priestess shakes her head and takes a slight grin. "But what's this you speak of? 'Underestimatations?' of you? In what way would someone ever underestimate a Hellknight such as yourself?" she asks, evidently curious, and not at all sure if she should take that seriously.
...And as you can see, they pose a question in Thassilon. It reads: 'Does true power lie within the one or the many?'Now the question's purpose was to remind Alaznist's followers where true power lies. Which, as far as she was concerned, lies with 'one' ruler, not seven."
"A somewhat arrogant point of view, I'd say. It's also a rather illogical answer to the question she asks. After all, how can one person by themselves ever have more strength than that same person along with six equals? They can't," The Shelynite speaks up after listening to Uma's knowledge with rapt attention. "Yet something tells me the other Runelords each thought among similar lines. Perhaps if they hadn't been so divided, things would have turned out better for them - and worse for us, so I'm rather glad they didn't!"
Elena looks between the inverted Sihedron star, the missing handle and the porticullis which the Devils never managed to open. She shrugs and looks in the direction of said contraption expectantly. "Are we taking bets that the handle operates the gate?"
... Axton tries to insert the crank and turn it.
Smiling as Elena's speaks of her father, Elathras, pauses realizing how open she had been with him, he felt the least he could do was tell her the truth. Giving a weak smile he answers. "Only the other Hell knights, they thought I was too soft. That's probably why they let me join the pathfinders. So I would be very far away from the rest of the order."
---------
Turning, Elathras watches Axton lifts the crank and begins to insert it inot the slot.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Grinning, "Personally I would say it does operate the gate but I've no desire to place any form of wager upon it. I shall pass. Try Elathras or Bharak. They strike me as two who would have no qualms on throwing their coin away frivolously," she says, grinning wryly as she shoots a wink toward Elena.
.
The star can be rotated; turning it 180 degrees so the bottom-pointing star points up causes the portcullis to grind and shriek as it rises.
The passage leads to another door. .
C10. Anteroom
Three doors and corridor open off of this small anteroom. A fountain made of green stone on the north wall still provides a constant flow of water.
A successful DC 15 Perception check reveals a long, thin key made of pale green crystal (actually Noqual) inside the fountain. This is the key
to the clockwork in area C5—it’s worth 500 gp.
Both Bharak & Axton hear a whisper in their minds, telling them to attack their friends. They both ignore the feeble magic.
Two Imps emerge from invisibility having cast the Suggestion spells.
The party may now act. The Imps have had their action.
|
|
"Only the other Hell knights, they thought I was too soft. That's probably why they let me join the pathfinders. So I would be very far away from the rest of the order."
"You mean they were looking for an excuse to be rid of you, for not being heartless enough? That's horrible!" Elena says, amusement now replaced with revulsion. "Though i'm not sure why I'm surprised with how they also teach you to hide being wounded..." The Shelynite shakes her head and musters a warm smile. "Well, their loss, I'd say. I'm sure we all think you're a boon to the Pathfinders! Right, everyone?" she asks the others, just as Axton fiddled with the key.
She looks back at Umazura just as the portcullis opens, exactly as predicted, and winks back at her over the betting discussion. "Pity. I was planning to wager a nice dinner for when we get back. Rations and field cooking are nice and all but I believe succesfully braving the dangers here warrents some celebration. I suppose there's always next time."
Knowing how valuable the handle was, she took it back out of the sihedron statue as the group left.
"Great. More devils to fight. And here I was, worried we wouldn't meet today's quota," Elena responds at the imps' ineffective sneak attack, rather deadpan. She does a quick prayer and touches Elathras' shoulder. "For luck," she says softly.
Raising an eyebrow at Elena's disdain for the order, they were called 'Hell Knights' for a reason. Whatever their faults they had trained him to kill monsters, and that could be a good thing. Not sure how to respond as she smiled and tried to get the others to join her Elathras gave a non-commital shrug, "Um thank you?" Attempting to turn the conversation from his upbringing, he gestured towards the Axton's fiddling, "It looks like it fits."
----------------------------
Chuckling at Elana's 'quota' comment, Elathras raises his Ranseur. He had to admit, hell knight or no, he did enjoy killing devils. Feeling the effects of her prayer tingle down his spine, Elathras felt 'lucky.' Shifting his feet he slashes at the imp on the left, while keeping an eye on the Imp on the right, hoping it would come within reach of his blade.
.
Both Bharak & Axton hear a whisper in their minds, telling them to attack their friends. They both ignore the feeble magic.
Axton turns to Bharak at the suggestion and has a hearty chuckle.
"Ha ha! Can you imagine?!" he jests as he turns and fires his crossbow at the nearest imp.
”One thing I can’t stand is anyone messing with me head.” Bharak growled as he moved against the imp that dared try to charm him. He didn’t even want to think of what might have happened if the magic had worked.
Umazura drops her weapon and pulls out a javelin before launching it at the nearest imp.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Axton sees his bolt hit and bounce off his target.
Bharak wounds one badly.
Umazura watches her javelin bounce off harmlessly.
Elthras creates a cooling breeze with Elena's magical aid.
Both the Imps vanish again.
What are you doing now? Both Imps are invisible.
Narrowing her eyes, "Well... now what?" Umazura asks as she proceeds to pick up her scimitar.
|
|
"Quickly. Spread out and block the exits!" Elena says, resolutely, as she begins casting a spell.
As part of the spell, she traces the rough outline of a wolf. Should she finish and the imps do not attempt to attack her casting it, which should reveal them, rhe image if filled airh a myriad of colours that coalesce into an actual, celestial canine
"Two imps are hidden here, invisible. Find them by tracking their scent," she whispers to it, hoping perhaps the imps would not hear as leans close while she pats it. The wolf nods as if understanding perfectly and begins sniffing out the pair.
"Blast!" Missing the imp, Elathras curses as they disappear. Wondering silently what Umazura had said aloud, Elathras pauses when Elena tells them to spread out; wondering what the point would be. But as the wolf manifests he gives a toothy grin and quickly moves west down the hallway to the top of the stairs. Moving slow but keeping his fauchard ready to attack.
"Bloody annoying this is." Bharak said, as he strained his eyes and ears for any sign of them.
Atop his shoulder, the rat Intrepid also begins working its little nose to try and identify the location of the invisible devils.
The creature can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location.
A creature with the scent ability can follow tracks by smell, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). This DC increases or decreases depending on how strong the quarry’s odor is, the number of creatures, and the age of the trail. For each hour that the trail is cold, the DC increases by 2. The ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. Creatures tracking by scent ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.
*********
Meanwhile, Axton shoulders his way forward. His instinct is to grab his wand of burning hands and employ a scorched earth policy down the hallway that the imps are likely still occupying, but he judges that with their immunities, his fire will likely not be useful.
"But perhaps a 'bedazzled earth' policy could work," he muses before casting color spray down the hallway.
|
|
Honestly, it might not work, but it's the best I have at the moment. My reading of it is that it can simply take move actions to move up the hallway in front, and if at any point during the move the imps are within 5ft of Wolfy, Scent would passively pinpoint them. In a fairly narrow hallway, that would be fairly effective. Though the other reading is that it takes a move action each time to try a 3x3 grid centered on it, which would have very limited use indeed. I guess a hybrid between the two is taking a move to start sniffing and then a move to move normally for the detection to work during that move.
However, even it it fails to find them, they'd know we have a way to hunt them down and it might be enough to simply convince them not to mess with us in the future.
Umazura attempts to recall what she can about Imps.
The Summoned Wolf snaps at something in the air close to Elena, but misses.
The two Imps have darted closer and attack with their stings. One went for the summoner, the other for the one who hurt it!
The party may now act.
.
|
|
Elena hisses in pain as she's stung by the imp, but it appears to affect her less than the much sturdier dwarf! ...Somehow.
She faces the one that struck her and points at it. "Marley, fetch!"
The celestial wolf glares at the devil and glows with divine energy!
Meanwhile, Elena drops her spear and draws the silvered mace to strike.
"Blast!" seeing the imps materialize near his fellow pathfinders, Elthras curses and hustles back up the hallway. Stopping near his previous location, he thrusts with the ranseur chipping the wall behind the dodgy little imp.