GM Erich's 5-23 Cairn of Shadows (Tier 5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

The strange man looks forward in horror as the figurative noose tightens upon him.

Round 4 - Bold is up - Haste and Inspire Courage +2/+2 are up for all
Red -13 damage <grappling>
Tiny Pebble <mage armor, shield, expeditious retreat, clay skin, total cover, no haste>
Purple -36 damage
Igor <fly, mage armor, see invisibility, false life 13, shield, mirror image 3>
Notos <mirror image 5>
Malik
Elbe -18 damage <grappled>
Zzorn <antitoxin, antiplague, bear's endurance, armored vigor>
Paxal -2 damage

"It appears your goose is about to be cooked!"
Paxal calls out through the chain curtains to the cult leader. He unleashes another flurry of arrows at the panicked man.
+1 adaptive comp. longbow (deadly aim, haste, IC & PBS): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 23
piercing (DA, IC, & PBS): 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16

+1 adaptive comp. longbow (deadly aim, haste, IC & PBS): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 16
piercing (DA, IC, & PBS): 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19

+1 adaptive comp. longbow (deadly aim, haste, IC & PBS): 1d20 + 5 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 14
piercing: 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 18

Hasted attack...
+1 adaptive comp. longbow (deadly aim, haste, IC & PBS): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 22
piercing (DA, IC, & PBS): 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15

"Release me and this will not happen to you next," Elby shouts at the chain slave as she reaches out and touches Purple with her teeth. Repepatedly. With force.

Bite, Grappled, Power Attack, Bardsong, Haste, Smite: 1d20 + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 19
BPS Damage, Bardsong, Smite: 1d4 + 10 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 + 7 = 22

Bite, Grappled, Power Attack, Bardsong, Haste, Smite: 1d20 + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 27
BPS Damage, Bardsong, Smite: 1d4 + 10 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 + 7 = 23

Bite, Grappled, Power Attack, Bardsong, Haste, Smite: 1d20 + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 13 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 5 = 13
BPS Damage, Bardsong, Smite: 1d4 + 10 + 2 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 7 = 20

It really would be in your best interests to surrender. I doubt the Aspis are paying you well enough for this, and you haven't seen the Hangry fighter yet.

She casts Ear-Piercing Scream at him (Purple) again, because why not? It worked well enough once.

2d6 Sonic Damage and Dazed 1 round- DC 15 Fortitude save to negate Daze and half damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Round 2 of Lingering Performance

"I'm right here you know..." says Zzorn, wiping his blade on a fleshy part of the chain slave.

Yes, Zzorn, I know you are. I am sure this genteel Chelaxian man will be quite impressed when you introduce yourself.

I really do expect Zzorn to cut Purple in twain, if Purple is still standing when Zzorn arrives.

"Alright I'll go... grrr"

Zzorn picks up his torch and advances next to Malik. Seeing the man in purple, he introduces himself, "Hi there! I'm the brute who regularly enjoys a balanced diet, as per our bard's WONDERFUL introduction... if you TRULY work for a commercial consortium who does NOT use half-trained wizards as cannon fodder, you'll be dropping your weapons and gently putting down whatever you're holding just about now, YES?"

Move action to pick up torch; 70-ft move towards Malik.

I'm right here, literally chewing on the guy, and they introduce Zzorn as the "hungry fighter"? Elby wonders as she considers what chain slave will taste like.

Igor moves past Notos so that he can see the last remaining Chain Slave (Red). He gestures and throws a force bolt her way.

Force Missile, Intense Spells: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

I mean, she's right there, chewing on the guy, and they introduce me as the "hungry fighter"? have I put on that much weight lately? thinks Zzorn, looking at the disgusting mess the half-orc female is making with her bloody fangs...

"**Huuk!**" Zzorn utters, gagging at the sight of her, raising an index as if to indicate, 'one moment please, I'll be right with you'. When is stomach is mostly steady, he catches another glimpse of a piece of the man's ear hanging from her mouth, and another wave of nausea mounts within the sportsman. "**Huuk!!!!**"

Had to modify Paxal's turn a bit to give him a proper target...

Igor zaps the chain slave as Notos tries her trick again (to no avail). Elbe strains to reach the magus and clamps down hard with her bite. He falls to the ground from the toothy onslaught allowing her to take a quickened bite on her captor. Zzorn races through the grasping chains to reach the final melee only to see Paxal follow him and fire a final arrow into the chain slave, thus ending the short reign of Lord Maravan as keeper of the Cairn Of Shadows.

purple save vs scream: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Zzorn reflex save vs chains: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 221d8 ⇒ 5
Paxal reflex save vs chains: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 171d8 ⇒ 3

Combat Over
Red -44 damage <unconscious>
Tiny Pebble <mage armor, shield, expeditious retreat, clay skin, total cover, no haste>
Purple -61 damage <dead>
Igor <fly, mage armor, see invisibility, false life 13, shield, mirror image 3>
Notos <mirror image 5>
Elbe -18 damage <grappled>
Zzorn <antitoxin, antiplague, bear's endurance, armored vigor>
Paxal -2 damage
Malik

--------------------

The shadowy essence that surrounded Lord Maravan before his untimely demise spirals back into the item that rolls from his outstretched hand. This appears to be the obsidian obelisk artifact that Golbrier told you about.

Almost forgot blur on bite: 1d100 ⇒ 45

Elby will use something other than chains to bind Red. She doesn't know if this type of creature can be redeemed, but she will not allow it to be slain while helpless. The Korvosan authorities will know what to do.

If Purple is not truly dead (unlikely at this point), she will similarly bind him, use lay on hands to keep him from dying (thwacking him for nonlethal to end any struggle if necessary) and bring him to justice as well.

Malik walks over to the obelisk, and looks at it. He doesn't touch this one, though. Not even with a 10 ft pole.

He looks back up at the chains. "This place needs to be undone. Any ideas?"

Tiny Pebble hauls Igor around the long way using his Earth Gliding abilities so as to avoid the trapped bridge.

"Yes, I can see that no one wants to touch that evil artifact. Do not worry there is a spell for that but I will need a minute."

Before his spell preparations he asks Tiny Pebble to stay away from the artifact for now but to gather all the other loot from the bodies.

@GM Erich - I am assuming that Prestidigitation will not be sufficient to carry the obsidian obelisk artifact but that an Unseen Servant will be.

He turns to Malik.

"I can see no way to destroy such a venerable site. For now the leader has been defeated and the place truly undone."

Paxal withdraws two blunt-tipped arrows from his quiver and holds them in one hand like giant chopsticks.
I got this.
He carefully picks up the small obelisk with the chopsticks and stares closely at it.
Interesting little thing. I wonder what it does.
He holds the obelisk out for the others to take a closer look.

Does he have any ledgers or papers on him?
Paxal asks as he nods at the dead leader.
I am to return to Zarta with any secrets of their techniques...
Whatever that means.
He adds under his breath.

@Igor Unseen servant would work to carry it.

The obelisk is difficult to handle so gingerly by arrow-shaft. Although it likely holds power over this prison you are in, its true secrets will have to be discovered by others more powerful than you.

In addition to his gear, Paxal finds what looks like a spellbook but it contains detailed notes on the arcane uses of torture, shadow, and pain, and no actual spells.

Zzorn hands over a handkerchief to Elbe while regaining his breath, "There, you still have **Huuk!** a little bit of Lord Maravan on the corner of your mouth..."

Opening a non-descript worn-looking pouch at his belt, he utters a command word and the bottom of the pouch opens to reveal a transdimensional space. "There, Paxal. You can deposit the big bad item in that pouch for transport. It should elude all authorities should that come into play..."

Zzorn similarly offers to transport other objects from the other Pathfinders should they wish to avail themselves of his magic pouch.

Opening Zzorn's Pathfinder Pouch via command word, and closing it back once the obelisk and any other items from his fellow Pathfinders are in; maximum 10 pounds...

As Zzorn seems willing to carry the Obelisk Igor does not bother with his spell preparation. He does send Tiny Pebble to scout above the main chamber (via Earth Glide) to see if there is any additional rooms to explore.

Igor turns his attention to the so called Lord of this place.

"What a poser! He does not even have an actual spell book. Bah, when I saw him with a rapier I knew he could not be serious about his magical pursuits. Clearly a dilettante."

Clearly Igor does not think much of the Magus class.

I'll be glad to get out of here. This place and these beings give me the creeps. I wonder if anything will happen when we walk out with the Obelisk?

It is pretty obvious she wants to get out of this place and on her way back to Absalom.

With the help of his bodyguard, Zzorn makes sure to help all the 'Telendraks' to their feet and assist them in exiting the cairn.

I think once we leave here with this little obelisk, Malik, the undoing will be done.

Perfect, Zzorn. Hot potato into the pouch!
*Plop.*

Paxal gives a chuckle at Igor's comment.
Haha! Yes. Quite the dilettante.
A magus! Of course! I was wondering what class he could have been. Casting spells, yet wielding a rapier. *Facepalm*
I don't think I've ever seen a magus with a rapier, though. Usually longsword, I think.

Paxal then turns his attention to the Tome of Secrets. He flips through the contents, closes it, and gives the cover a pat.
I believe this is exactly what Zarta was looking for.
He tears a large section from Maravan's gaudy velvet cape and wraps up the tome before stuffing it in his pack.

He pulls out a fresh cigar and lights it with a few puffs.
Let's haul the dead outside and burn them on a pyre.
Notos, you're good with flame, right? Maybe you can offer these poor souls a kind prayer while they burn on their way to Pharasma's Boneyard.
He gives her a wink.

He then squints at Elbe as she approaches, her mouth surrounded with fresh blood.
He points at his lips to give Elbe a hint.
I think you got a little something here.

Just like home. Whatever I do, I am still just a woman.

As before, Tiny Pebble finds absolutely nothing beyond the few feet of stone that surrounds the chambers but empty nothingness. This is clearly not any "underground" that he has experienced before.

As Zzorn closes the Pathfinder pouch with the obelisk safely tucked inside and exits to help the Telendraks, the walls of the chamber start to shift and buckle. The hanging chains start to rattle in place and a large crack forms next to the river of inky darkness, filling in with the tarry substance. Increasing in intensity, your plans of any further exploration are cut short and it is all you can do to escape out the front door and back to the surface a dozen feet above.

Turning back to watch the devastation unfold, you see the burial mound convulse and sink, as the area beyond the archway becomes a flat
sheet of obsidian and is covered over by the collapsing dirt around it.

Zzorn stares dumbfounded for a moment, then hastily checks the pouch, releasing a small amount of dark smoke. Inside, the obelisk is gone - leaving only a thin pile of pepper-black dust.

"Huh... sorry friends... this... 'Pathfinder Pouch' did not... perform as advertised... LET'S GET OUTTA HERE!!!"

After escaping the collapsing structure, Malik looks back and smiles.

"A welcome finale."

Elby looks back at the site of their last mission. "I won't be sad to see the last of that place, but it's not going to look good for the Society for us to leave another ruin behind us."

Igor and Tiny Pebble escape to the surface with the others.

"Well all considering that was a job well done. Objective found, enemies destroyed, captives rescued, place fully looted and no seriously injured party members."

Elby looks back at the site of their last mission. "I won't be sad to see the last of that place, but it's not going to look good for the Society for us to leave another ruin behind us."

"You are a mystery wrapped into an enigma, dear Elbe! your ability to care about what looks good or not is definitely impacted by whether you are currently in a battle or not! HA HA HA HA HA!"

"Well all considering that was a job well done. Objective found, enemies destroyed, captives rescued, place fully looted and no seriously injured party members."

"My thoughts exactly. The goal was to prevent the Onyx Alliance to get their hands on this, and they didn't, so the Blakros family can sleep tight, whatever they were afraid of. Plus, we got ourselves a near army of Telendraks ready to regale our historians with tales from the Nidalese tribal period. Nice... Good times I say!"

Elby blinks coquettishly.

Charisma: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

The effect is somewhat spoiled by the gore still around her mouth.

"Well, we should have also brought back the artifact, but ... I don't think it getting destroyed - I hope - is a bad thing.., Malik chips in once more. "I'm willing to forego my payment; if whatever we just experienced never happens again.

Golbrier warily reappears from his craggy hiding place and greets your return with relief. "That was interesting exit. I'm not sure if others will notice but we best get you out of Nidal. I can sneak you safely to the town of Albatross, where a fishing boat will get you out of the country via Nisroch Bay. My thanks to you all for your bravery."

-----------------------------

The debrief at the Grand Lodge (some weeks later) concludes the mission a success with the shadow obelisk out of the way and Golbrier Frosh and the Whispered Song as potential new allies in the country. Much will be learned about the history of the area and horselords of ancient Nidal from the prisoners you rescued.

Freeing the living prisoners brings particular favor to those in the Liberty's Edge while securing Telendrak's knowledge and Lord Maravan’s "spellbook" suffices to satisfy the Dark Archive (for now).

End of Scenario

What!?!
Paxal blurts in surprise.
The obelisk is gone!?!

Well, I'm with all of you. Let's get the hells outta here. We did what needed to be done. You are all wonderful companions. It was an honor to have been a part of your team.