Besides there is something satisfying about using his adamantine toy to break things up. Making sure his axe is sharpened well, the takes a full bodied swing at the door near where it is stuck.
*bam*
Tusk shatters the stone door with a single mighty blow!
Beyond the shattered door, stands a ledge overlooking expansive fungi covering the floor of a massive vaulted chamber, with rivulets of fresh water dribbling in from tiny cracks. Wide paths have been torn out between the fungal growths, winding haphazardly between the giant stalks.
The uneven walls of the cave require a DC 15 Climb check to safely clamber down them. The ledge you are now on, as well as the ledge to the the north, are 60 feet up from the floor of the cavern.
A ladder adjacent to the door extends upwards to a third ledge twenty-feet above where you are currently standing.
A pair of giant ants skitter across the floor of the chamber. Infested with pale fungal growths, bulbous projections cover the ants' exoskeletons.
Tusk steps inside the door and makes ready to smack any insect foolish enough to come after them, guarding the access to the ladder should any of the players choose to try climbing. Then he has second thoughts and, suspicious that they might be poisonous, downs an antitoxin instead.
"I just hope these things aren't smart enough to pull us off this narrow shelf."
One of the giant ants (red) scrambles forward. Raising an antennae, it seems to catch a scent in the air, which it follows upward.
Move 5 ft., Climb 35
The other (blue) follows behind.
Move 20 ft. Climb 20 ft.
MAYHEM IN THE MUSHROOM CAVERN - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
PCs in bold may act
Ashtoret(Delayed) Meri(Delayed) Korum
Sarzuket
Goldur Round Two Tusk
Giant ant (red) (25 feet below ledge; 35 ft. above cavern floor)
Giant ant (blue) (40 feet below ledge; 20 ft. above cavern floor)
Male Half-orc Ranger 1 / Rogue 2 AC 15 {T:11/FF:14} HP 17/27 Init+5, Perception +6 {Trap Spotter 10'} | Fort +3, Reflex +6, Will +0
Korum nods in appreciation. "That's the plan." Pulling the sling from his belt, the ranger loads a stone. He gives it a spin before hurling it down at the giant insects.
"Think, maybe they are just hungry? I have an idea."
Tusk hurls a gallon of applejack (after taking a slug) to the floor below, hoping the sweet scent will attract the ants and keep them away from the group as they climb up.
"Think, maybe they are just hungry? I have an idea."
Tusk hurls a gallon of applejack (after taking a slug) to the floor below, hoping the sweet scent will attract the ants and keep them away from the group as they climb up.
As apple brandy crashes to the cavern floor, the antennae of the two giant ants twitch in response indicating their clear interest in the spilled substance.
Knowledge (nature) (DC 12):
Unless they are attacked, you expect the cider spirit to occupy the giant ants for Rounds:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7.
MAYHEM IN THE MUSHROOM CAVERN - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
PCs in bold may act
Ashtoret(Delayed) Meri(Delayed)
Korum
Sarzuket
Goldur Round Two
Tusk
Giant ant (red) (25 feet below ledge; 35 ft. above cavern floor)
Giant ant (blue) (40 feet below ledge; 20 ft. above cavern floor)
Male Dwarf Bard 5 | AC: 17/10/17 | HP: 40/40 | Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +7 (+2 vs poison/spells/SLA's, +4 vs performance/sonic/language-dependant) | CMB +4, CMD 13 | Init +1 | Perc +10 | Performance: 20/20
Knowledge (nature):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
”Good thinking, lad! Ants are attracted to sugar, even the fermented kind. Given their size I expect it would buy us a minute, perhaps less.”7 rounds.”So let’s not waste it!”
I can use Inspire Competence to give someone +2 to Climb checks, if we want to use the ladder.
kn nature, untrained:1d20 ⇒ 19(for the fun of it. He is untrained so I don't think he can hit that 12 legally).
"Yep, that's what I figured too. Don't know that much about bugs, but they love to get in my pie. Start climbing guys, and if you have more treats for them send it on down."
> A ladder adjacent to the door extends upwards to a third ledge twenty-feet above where you are currently standing.
Is it visible that on this ledge above, where the stairs lead? Some kind of door, passage, and so on?
No stairs are visible in the chamber. There is a ledge to the north that has a door that you may be able to see. There is the ledge to the west, which the party presently occupies, that has a ladder that leads upwards to a third ledge above. From your vantage point, you cannot see where the ledge above leads or any features, such as a door or passage, that may be on it.
Male Half-orc Ranger 1 / Rogue 2 AC 15 {T:11/FF:14} HP 17/27 Init+5, Perception +6 {Trap Spotter 10'} | Fort +3, Reflex +6, Will +0
"Well, anything beats waiting here. They can't be the only two of 'em in here. Wait long enough and their friends 'r bound ta show." Korum heads to the stairs.
"Well, anything beats waiting here. They can't be the only two of 'em in here. Wait long enough and their friends 'r bound ta show." Korum heads to the stairs.
There are no stairs here, only the ladder. Unless Korum wishes to accelerate his climb (which requires a Climb check), it will take him two rounds to reach the top of the ladder, which opens onto the ledge 20 feet above.
The giant ants below remain occupied with the sweet beverage.
Anyone wish to do anything while Korum climbs?
Upon reaching the top of the ladder:
The ledge provides a better view of the cavern, but does not lead to any exit or passage.
You may attempt a Perception (DC 20) check. If successful, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
You discern a secret door has been carved into the side of the cave wall.
Meri and Goldur, however, realize that it, too, also contains a secret door.
If you open this other secret door:
You see that it opens into a chamber that holds a large bed, a wardrobe, and other bedroom furniture.
A fresco on the north wall depicts distinctly Osirian ruins on a mountain peak, recognizable as one the party passed on their journey to the Gallery of Wonders, though the weather has eroded the foreign ruins nearly beyond recognition.
Any PC may attempt a DC 12 Knowledge (geography), DC 14 Knowledge (history), or DC 16 Knowledge (local) to identify the ruins. If successful, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
The ruins are known as Forlarn Peak. A recently unearthed legend claims that the infamous serpent priest Atanes once summoned a magical bridge of darkness across the Inner Sea, planting its northern end in a small fortress atop a peak in the Aspodell Mountains.
I will also take Perception checks from any PC who wishes to make one.
Tusk heads on into the room and takes a look around, though he never has been good at looking for things. There was the time he lost his shoes on the front porch for a day.
The female elf opens the door and the party is immediately bombarded with the sounds of... a party, one filled with revelry and debauchery.
Dozens of whirling, twitching humanoids fill the massive chamber, dressed in outlandish costumes. Masked derros madly waltz about, ducking in and out of the light shed by a few battered candelabra. Others wave banners of tattered cloth or whirl feeble, guttering torches, their dim light an unnatural blood red. Some mites wind between the derros’ legs in a chaotic mimicry of peasants’ country dances, while other intoxicated mites awkwardly gather dirty plates and goblets from tables. Goblets, likely toppled during the revelries, lie in pools of some unusual black mixture.
More creatures crowd an elevated gallery at the chamber’s east end and appear to be a mockery of an orchestra, each musician vying to outdo his fellows in thunderous cacaphony.
A handful of human bodies lie sprawled among the dancing creatures in the middle of the room.
Knowledge (local) (DC 16):
The corpses are members of Andoran’s Lumber Consortium. These merchants wer likely snatched from caravans in Aspodell Pass.
Each of the deranged creatures dancing and flopping on the dance floor seem barely aware of their surroundings, let alone your presence. Fifteen pale blue humanoids with bulging white eyes, wild hair, and four-fingered hands revel alongside an additional ten squat humanoids with puffy, blue faces like those faced earlier.
Approximation of mob making merriment now on revealed on Map.
Knowledge (local)(DC 13):
The pale blue humanoids with bulging white eyes and wild hair are derros, sadistic creatures that dwell deep underground. Descended from mysterious fey that once dwelt deep underground, the derros lust for the comforts of the surface, yet the light of the sun causes them to blister, burn, and die. Derros often abduct surface dwellers to perform hideous experiments on them.
Knowledge (local)(DC 11):
The squat humanoids with puffy, blue faces are mites, also known as mitflits. These creatures are traditional enemies of dwarves and gnomes and are particularly fond of spiders, centipedes, and other vermin. Descended from even smaller fey, the mites are among the most pitiful and craven dwellers of the dark. When their distress and anger boils up enough to overcome their natural cowardice, the creatures engage in short-lived bouts of bloody vengeance.
Perched near you, on a throne of carved alabaster, sits an ill-proportioned woman of elven descent. Her gaunt features are masked with thick layers of white ceruse makeup. Pale linen robes shroud her armored form. She is visibly enjoying the revelry of her degenerate followers in the center of the room.
Knowledge (local or nature or religion) (DC 17):
This woman appears to be the product of a union between an elf-maid and a mysterious creature of fey nightmare.
Female nightmare creature elf cleric of Lamashtu 2
The powerful woman emanates fear!
All PCs must succeed at a DC 14 Will save or become panicked. Those that succeed are shaken for 1 round. This is a fear effect. Perception, Lady:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
The woman does not appear to be aware of your presence.
Male Half-orc Ranger 1 / Rogue 2 AC 15 {T:11/FF:14} HP 17/27 Init+5, Perception +6 {Trap Spotter 10'} | Fort +3, Reflex +6, Will +0
Local vs DC 16:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Local vs DC 13:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 Derros?! I think Imma enjoy crashin' this party!
Local vs DC 11:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 And o' course they got mites with 'em.
Local vs DC 17:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 'N some kinda fey babe! She may have to be the first ta go!.
Will vs DC 14:1d20 ⇒ 17{Shaken}
The ranger pushes past the others into the chamber. "My invitation musta got lost." He hefts his battle-axe. "Don't worry, I brought enough fer everyone."
Oh, these dancers are derro and mitflits. Both are descendants of evil underground fairies. Both of them are very out of it. Well, it's obvious... - Ashtoret whispers.
Will:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Brr, what a nasty lady.
Ashtoret touches the sacred symbol of the Pale Princess, finds some inner peace in this, and instead of succumbing to panic, raises his hand and says the word "ОСЛЕПНИ".
"What trickery is this!?" The woman mutters to herself as her world seems to go dark.
Then, an evil grin forms upon her face. "It would seem that we are not alone! Well, if darkness has come ushering in the night, then allow me to usher in the nightmares!"
BALLROOM OF DOOM!- Surprise Round Cont'd!
PCs in bold must attempt DC 14 Will save or become panicked (shaken on success) and then may take a move or standard action
Lady (blind or deaf?)
Ashtoret
Sarzuket
Servants
Meri
Korum
Tusk
Goldur
Sarzuket momentarily has a really weird vibe upon looking at the gaunt woman, but dismisses the phantoms of his imagination and casts bless on everyone.
Casting bless -- Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.
Tusk skips into the room, hoping to take advantage of the surprise, and does the old one-two on the dangerous looking lady.
The Lady readily avoids the blade strikes, which instead connect with the back of the alabaster throne.
Merisiel the Pregen wrote:
Nope! Meri says quickly as she bolts from the room as hast as her legs will take her.
Really only two directions to flee: 1) into the ballroom or 2) into the bedroom.?:1d2 ⇒ 1
Double move
Goldur Twinthunders wrote:
"Well how's that for coincidence! We're looking for someone matching your description. Lady... Morilaeth, wasn't it?"
"Why, yes," the woman replies, as she turns to face to the sounds of the intruding Pathfinders, giving them a full view of her unsettling presence. "I most certainly am!"
She uses her frightful presence as a free action, but it does not seem to affect the party.
Suddenly, a second image of the frightful woman stands next to her!
“You will dream of me!” Ladies Morilaeth declare in unison as they unleash a wave of negative energy showing no care for the lives of the nearby servants.
Negative energy channel (Will save DC 14 for half):1d6 ⇒ 3
Two of the servants (blue and red) collapse to the ground.
BALLROOM OF DOOM!- Round One Begins!
PCs in bold may act Party Buffs:bless, inspire courage
Lady (blind; copycat) Ashtoret -3 HP (Will save (DC 14) to half damage) Sarzuket -3 HP (Will save (DC 14) to half damage)
Mitflit Servants
(blue) -3 HP
(purple) -1 HP
(red) -3 HP
(yellow) -1 HP
Meri (panicked)
Korum -3 HP (Will save (DC 14) to half damage)
Tusk -3 HP (Will save (DC 14) to half damage)
Goldur -3 HP (Will save (DC 14) to half damage)
