[AP] Iron Gods by GM Rutseg

Game Master Balacertar

"If we had that many explosives Zzvkgrogk, I think we could solve a lot of the problems here in the Scar... The problem is, from the little I understand, we'd need a lot to do any kind of damage. Shame we didn't find more of that cylex we used back in Scrapwall." Ruha contemplates how much easier it would be if explosions could deal with the horrible Dominion monstrosities rather than her fists.

She steps up to join Yambul at the eastern door and ready the pepper for use.

”Yes, we *could* make things go *boom*, but also that route is dangerous even for one as smart and skilled as I am,” Rhoreen smugs and disagrees. ”But maybe we’ll find enough explosives to test even my skill if we keep looking.”

She waits at the east door.

Applying the pepper you quickly manage access to the eastern chamber.

M11. Portal
The polished floor of this chamber is decorated with a complex symbol etched into the stone. The symbol has been stained an ochre hue and depicts an unnerving tangle of tentacle shapes. At the far end of the room sits a low platform of dark brown metal supporting a one-inch-thick pad of yellow glass.

A group of four ugothokras cling to the walls and quickly move to jump over you. Their spray and blood is nasty, but you have fought with so many at this point they are no more of a challenge for you. With swift, lethal precision, you dispatch the urgathokras without hesitation. Blades and strikes cut through the twisted creatures, ichor splattering across the ochre-stained floor as the urgathokras fall one by one, their screeches quickly silenced

The eldritch symbols etched into the polished stone seem to twist and writhe, reflecting the brief but brutal clash. As the last urgathokra collapses, a hush fills the chamber, broken only by the faint hum of the yellow glass pad on its metal platform.

Zzvkgrogk sighs in relief when all the urgathokras are efficiently dispatched.

Yeaaah~~~~ZZVKITH!

Know Arc or Dungeon DC 20: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 19 + 2 - 1 = 24

He opens his mouth as if to cheer, but suddenly becomes solemnly quiet.

”YEaaaahh – that etched symbol is the Dominion symbol for the Dark Tapestry itself…”

Do we know what the Dark Tapestry is?

As the last ugothokra falls, Rūha glances at the yellow pad and symbols "Speaking of explosives. Whatever this is, and I doubt it's a stage where the little spider monsters conduct performances, it seems like something it would behoove us to destroy from a safe distance."

No applicable knowledges.

"Dark Tapestry?"

Knowledge(Dungeoneering) v DC 20: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

"Well, our hunt for the Dominion has certainly stayed on scent. If the Dominion wants to pay respects to their overlords, then the Dark Tapestry might have eyes, even here."

The android turns to the kasatha. "The Dominion of the Black is what we fear to know, but can confront. The Dark Tapestry is what we can never know. At least, not for long. Once your sanity abandons you, what can your mind really retain?"

"Revion and I were hunting agents of the Dominion. Their very existence is a risk to humanity, should they ever bring the Tapestry's Gaze upon Golarion..."

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 21 + 2 = 28 Know (Arcana)
1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 21 + 2 = 43 Know (Arcana) with Detect Magic

Rhoreen ponders, casting Detect Magic, and looks around. She thinks heavy thoughts. Smugly.

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 21 + 2 = 28 Spellcraft

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 21 + 2 = 41 Know (Planes) - Dark Tapestry

Rhoreen will explain what she from the spoilers above, and will also elucidate about the Dark Tapestry.

Anyone want to give her an aid with the Spellcraft?

Don't have detect magic, so not sure I can Aid here

”There are great godlike beings that are able to survive in the vast cold void of space -- so alien our gods have do not understand them.” Zzvkgrogk begins elaborate on Calliope's words. ” There are Outer Gods and the Great Old Ones –” he shudders, ’ beings of immense power – unimaginable power of raw chaos so great none here are able to control it – and those who try wind up insane. It seems our hive hosts are trying to call their attention to our little corner of the universe… whatever we’re dealing with down here must be stopped – and they’re almost certainly insane.”

He continues. ”There are legends that the Dominion of the Black has connections to a planet called ‘Aucturn’ that serve as emissaries and heralds to these Great Old Ones. Legend has it that they reside among the darkness between the stars, sustained by the very forces that drove them insane… Have we come too late? Are they already among us? Could this be a teleport pad between our world and the Void?”

Zzvkgrogk inspects the device to see if can be disabled.

Unless someone objects, he quaffs a potion, cleans his paws and goes to work.

KnowEng: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 19 + 2 - 1 = 31
DisableDev: 1d20 + 24 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 24 + 4 = 45 epicks, gtr. animal aspect (raccoon)

Rhoreen also knows about the Dark Tapestry.

Hyrsek eyes the twisted symbol on the floor with a hard glare, his grip on the rapier tightening. He mutters under his breath "The Dark Tapestry? Hum, this is getting even more complicated. I am going to have to ask for some extra money for this job"

Zzvkgrogk thinks he can break the teleportation, but doing so without incurring into a dangerous situation, an arcane burst or maybe a teleportation to the void. Arcane guidance would be needed to do so safely.

Intelligence: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

"Hey Zzvkgrogk, before you trash that thing, aren't we supposed to go through it? Muikui said the hidden core is behind the portal."

"That said, before we go galavanting off into this hellscape, I'd like to search the rest of this complex... and maybe freshen up." he suggests wondering if others feel the same. He make no offer to Hyrsek, though he considers it.

"Hey Zzvkgrogk, before you trash that thing, aren't we supposed to go through it? Muikui said the hidden core is behind the portal."

IntDC12: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 1 = 8

"Oh? Hrm... I don't trust that Muikui. He didn't tell the whole story -- my gut tells me that he's holding out on something important. But I can't safel without the assistance of some arcane guidance."

"And yes, now that you mention it, I could use um...," he looks around at those coated in flechette spray, "a bath and some rest. Yes. That. Also, we should clear out this compound so nothing insane can lock us on one side or the other."

Damn that Muikui.

Rhoreen sniffs her armpit, and then realizes that Zzvkgrogk is very, poignantly right.

"Yes, that is a good plan," Rhoreeng nods, thinking about clearing out the local scum before heading towards the Dark Tapestry for who knows what. "Yeah, Yambul. Explore, then freshen up. I could use it."

Rhoreen is happy to follow Yambul to the next area.

"I think Maukui was telling the truth that they wanted the AI core. Not much sense in pretending around that part. But whether this portal leads to the core or to something else entirely is another story. It could be that they simply wanted us to clear out the threats they didn't want to fight, and then to take ourselves out of the picture by going through this... teleportation pad." Rūha crosses both pairs of arms "It may be we need to go through, but let's leave that option for last."

As everyone seems to agree, Yambul moves up to the next doorway and readies to jump in once it is opened.

Rūha joins Yambul, ready to deal with the next unpleasantness that shows itself. She waves the pepper.

After a short discussion, the group decides to follow into the northern direction.

M12. Plasma Pits
The air in this fifty-foot-high chamber is searing hot and stinks of ozone. Roughly twenty-five feet wide, about seventy-five feet long, and narrowing briefly at the center, the walls of the room are plated with crocodilian hide. Two huge glowing pits dominate the center of the floor, the air above them rippling with heat and sizzling with short sparks of electrical discharge.

This area has extreme heat.

The pits themselves are 40 feet deep and the walls can be scaled with great difficulty (DC 25 Climb).

"Whew!" Yambul takes a reflexive step back from the blast of heat. "How do we get past this?! This room is crazy. I can't climb those walls!"

He stops and thinks a moment, "Can we just fly through? I do have a potion, and could easily carry folks across. We'd have to be quick though, before the fly expires..." (It will only last 5 minutes - so we should have a backup plan to get out just in case.)

Rhoreen reminds Yambul that she has her own flying, tyvm, and does so ever-so-smugly.

1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 22 + 2 = 39 Know (Engineering)

Rhoreen also casts Detect Magic because one never knows. Not even Rhoreen knows. Imagine that? When she doesn't know something.

Rhoreen will explain what she thinks...even as she waits for an Engineering aid.

"Yambul, while I appreciate the offer, we will need a way back as well afterward. And if there are any other surprises on the way it'll put us in a precarious position to have you carry us." Ruha inspects the very hot room in case there are any hidden controls or other means to modulate the conditions within.

Perception: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 2 + 10 = 41

"Floating above what amount to starship engines doesn't exactly fill me with confidence either."

Khalia looks across the room at the entryway waiting for them. "I like Yambul's idea. The denizens of this ship had to come and go through here occasionally, right? Otherwise, they would only need one entrance to service it. Maybe? Should we observe the pits, to make sure they don't fire up while we try to cross over?"

Rhoreen scans the area but finds no magic aura. The heat is fully technological on its source.

If you decide to fly over, please provide a Fly check (if carrying someone, take into account encumbrance penalty -6 for a heavy load, -3 for a medium one)

Know Engineering Aid made automatically.

He looks at Rhoreen just as surely as she looks at him when their minds simultaneously reach further understanding.

"Yambul, while I appreciate the offer, we will need a way back as well afterward. And if there are any other surprises on the way it'll put us in a precarious position to have you carry us."

"Ohohoh, I have my own means of flying also, but even so I'm with Rūha. I think it is a bad idea. We'lls all get roasted, and we'll never get the smell of singed hair out of our heads. Besides, some of us do not fly that well."

He looks directly at Yambul before continuing.

"Plus -- these plasma pits reverse gravity," he explains. "If you do fall you'll end up in that -- " he points to the rippling air with heat sizzling with short sparks of electrical discharge. "Too bad we don't have an antitech field."

”Reverse gravity? I dunno that I like the sound of that.” Yambul shakes his head, ”Anyone screws up in there, and you’re burned to the bone for sure.”

”I think there are other rooms we can investigate. Let’s do and come back to this. Maybe we’ll learn something, or find an off switch.”

There's a room to the southeast, and I think there was another hall back further which we hadn't gone into yet. Let's save the burn-y room for later.

Did Ruha spot any controls, activators that would cause the pits to torch us while we're going through, or secret ways to avoid the pits in the room?

"Going to check the other rooms is fine by me, but if this hallway is intended to protect the way in deeper, it probably has controls on the other side somewhere. Short-circuiting it entirely would be the easiest way past." Rūha looks over to Rhor "Do you have something that might work?"

We could fly across, but it would be good if we had a dimension door or something as insurance.
Otherwise, good to go check out the room to the southeast!

Khalia is content to mark the way forward, and wait until they're well prepared to cross over. She waits until others move, and she falls in line.

"Plus -- these plasma pits reverse gravity," he explains. "If you do fall you'll end up in that -- " he points to the rippling air with heat sizzling with short sparks of electrical discharge. "Too bad we don't have an antitech field."

Rhoreen nods as Zzvkgrogk explains exactly what she was thinking.

”That’s what I was about to say,” Rhoreen says, following Ruha and Yambul to the next area. ”I could probably find a way around the nasty effects, but not sure about all of you. It seems dangerous to try right now. For your safety, we should look around.”

Moved on map to where I think we’re going next, but if not, feel free to move me to the correct spot.

Rūha looks around but she sees nothing akin to controls "Those alien things we saw, they were flying, so they just probably just fly over taking the gravity into inversion in consideration" Hyrsek comments as you ponder the room.

Opening the way to the southeast, you find another corridor and another door by the end that opens into the "prison".

M7. Fleshcells
The walls of this chamber are covered with crocodilian hide. The chamber itself consists of three roughly octagonal rooms with thirty-foot-high ceilings. Five ten-foot-square cages, the bars made of pale green and pink material, hang from the ceiling on cables of twitching chitin.

Four neh-thalggus guard this chamber, although without any prisoners to guard at the moment.

The brain collectors attack you at first sight with an array of different spells.
Lightning bolt vs Yambul, Rūha, Hyrsek, Zzvkgrogk (DC 16 for half): 7d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 3, 5, 6, 6) = 28

Acid arrow vs Rūha (touch, flatfooted): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Acid continuous damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Acid arrow vs Yambul (touch, flatfooted): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Acid continuous damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

1: Rūha, 2: Yambul: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Both are splashed by acid arrows, while the Kellid also feels his body getting rigid.
Will DC 16 vs hold person

Khalia: 25 damage
Rhoreen: flying 10', mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, overland flight 11 h, filter mask, -2 Con drain, -1 Int drain
Rūha: mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Yambul: 5 damage, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Hyrsek: 12 damage, 3 Wis drain, 5 Con drain, 1 Int drain
Zzvkgrogk: 2 Int damage
Round 1: Neh-thalggus, Zzvkgrogk, Hyrsek, Khalia, Rūha, Rhoreen, Yambul

Lightning Bolt Reflex: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15 (heroism) vs DC 16 for 28hp

"Ow!" he cries out at the acid arrow burrowing into his flesh after the scorching bolt!

Hold Person Will: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 13 (heroism) vs DC 16 and held

Having already expended his iron will, and not wanting to spend a hero point, Yambul freezes in place for the moment, slowly smoldering and his hair ruined by the blast.

ReflexDC16: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

”Aaahhhh!” Zzvkgrogk shrieks. ”Shoot them! Shoot them again and again!””

Zzvkgrogk steps back and casts Haste on his companions and Hyrsek.

+1/+1 Attack/Damage, extra attack on a full round action, modes of movement +30 feet

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Rūha dodges much of the lightning bolt but still finds herself suddenly splashed with burning acid. Nevertheless, she realizes with Yambul temporarily incapacitated she'll need to hold the line until he recovers. She moves in and taps into her connection to the future to summon the idea of a zero cannon into her hands and fire off a wave of ultra-cooled vapor. (1 Ki to cast dragon breath - 60ft line of cold. DC20 Reflex halves. Passing through all but blue.)

Zero Cannon (C) damage: 11d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 6, 6, 2, 3, 1, 2, 4, 3) = 42

The ephemeral concept evaporates as soon as it appeared.

Round 1

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 21 + 2 = 26 - Know (Planes) - Rhoreen confirms what she knows about the foes (not resist fire, right?)

Rhoreen casts Fireball and then moves back 30’. She will aim it to get as many as possible and not hit her allies.

10d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 4, 1, 5, 3, 1, 2, 6) = 37 fire damages vs. DC 20 reflex for half
1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 4 = 18 SR

SR check for Rūha's dragon breath: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

As a full round action, Yambul tries to resist the hold.
Hold Person Will: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21 (heroism) vs DC 16 and is free!

Yambul is badly hit by the bolt and then frozen on place.

Zzvkgrogk spills his hasting infusion over the party and you all start to move faster!

Rūha vs SR: 2d20 ⇒ (7, 16) = 23 +11
Ref DC 20: 3d20 ⇒ (14, 9, 6) = 29 +6
Rūha's mystic coldness take the Neh-Thalggus unaware, and only the last one on the row has time enough to cover from part of the freezing coldness.

Rhoreen vs SR: 3d20 ⇒ (14, 8, 19) = 41 +15
Ref DC 20: 4d20 ⇒ (11, 7, 6, 8) = 32 +6
Rhoreen fries the aliens with a well placed fireball that none of them sees coming.

Yambul fights the magical bonds and breaks free!

Ref DC 16: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Hyrsek covers himself and cautiously gets closer to stab at the first alien in line, thanks to the haste, he reaches there with ease.
Acrobatics (tumble): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Frost rapier vital strike+haste: 1d20 + 19 + 3 - 4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 19 + 3 - 4 + 3 + 1 = 37
Piercing damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1d6 + 3 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 + (4) + 3 + 8 + 3 = 28
The tiefling dodges below the pincers and strikes true causing the final wound on the beast that collapses to the floor.

Khalia does something heroic!

The closest alien creates a sheet of grease below Yambul, causing an obstacle on the entry way.
Ref DC 14 vs grease or get prone

The black one creates another lightning bolt that crackles all through the room and part of the corridor.
Lightning bolt vs Yambul, Hyrsek, Khalia, Zzvkgrogk (DC 16 for half): 7d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 2, 5, 3, 6) = 29

The last one creates magic missiles that impact one after another over Rūha.
Magic missiles: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 4) + 4 = 16

The acid arrows keep burning on Rūha and Yambul.
R acid: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Y acid: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Green: 107 damage, unconscious, dying
Black: 79 damage
Pink: 58 damage
Blue: 37 damage
Party buffs: haste
Khalia: 25 damage
Rhoreen: flying 10', mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, overland flight 11 h, filter mask, -2 Con drain, -1 Int drain
Rūha: 42 damage, mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Yambul: 45 damage, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Hyrsek: 26 damage, 3 Wis drain, 5 Con drain, 1 Int drain
Zzvkgrogk: 14 damage, 2 Int damage
Round 2: Neh-thalggus, Zzvkgrogk, Hyrsek, Khalia (x2), Rūha, Rhoreen, Yambul

He takes the 5hp of acid arrow damage, ”Oh, that burns!”

Grease Reflex: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 3 = 24 (heroism, haste) vs DC 14 for no fall

Lightning Bolt Reflex: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 3 = 34 (heroism, haste) vs DC 16 for 14hp

Auto succeed at the acrobatics check (DC 10) to move out of the greased area (in case there’s some in front of me) at half move. Then he moves to the next opponent, tumbling the last little bit to avoid the AoO. The speed from haste ensuring his closure this round to either blue or black - whichever is standing on my init.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 = 24 (heroism) to avoid AoO on last five feet.

He swiftly studies his opponent, and swings!

Chainsaw: 1d20 + 18 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 6 = 37 (hero, studied, haste)
damage S: 3d6 + 19 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) + 19 + 3 = 32 (studied)

Ruha steps in toward the blue neh-thallgu and delivers a sharp jab in an attempt to disable it before Yambul arrives to deliver the killing (?) blow. (Stunning fist on blue; On hit, DC23 Fort or stunned 1 rd. Yambul's after Ruha, so I figure if it gets stunned that'll be some bonus sneak damage)

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 Unarmed damage (B): 1d10 ⇒ 7

ReflexDC16: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

Zzvkgrogk steps up and shoots at black, blinding adjacent creatures save his companions. Precise bombs

rtchrtchrtchrtchrtchrtch!
Laser++, Blinding Bomb: 1d20 + 18 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 18 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 35 Touch, -DeadlyAim, -Semiauto, Haste
for Damage: 1d6 + 5d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + (2, 1, 2, 2, 4) + 7 = 19 Zzvkgrogk Special, Deadly Aim

Fort save DC 19 on direct hit or be blinded 1 minute, creatures in splash area are dazzled for 1 minute.

Laser+: 1d20 + 13 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 13 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 23 Touch, -DeadlyAim -Semiauto, Haste
for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Deadly Aim

Laser+: 1d20 + 8 - 2 - 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 2 - 2 + 3 + 1 = 22 Touch, -DeadlyAim, -Semiauto, Haste
for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Deadly Aim

Haste
Laser+: 1d20 + 18 - 2 - 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 18 - 2 - 2 + 3 + 1 = 23 Touch, -DeadlyAim, -Semiauto, Haste
for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Deadly Aim

Crit?: 1d20 + 18 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 18 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 28 Touch, -DeadlyAim, -Semiauto, Haste
for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Zzvkgrogk Special, Deadly Aim

"Die!!!!" He shouts at the brain collectors.

He means it.

Round 1

Sauced with ysoki infusion, the android takes aim and fires through the fray at Fuchsia in the back.

Einior...: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 18 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 6 = 12 piercing, magical damage
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 6 = 13 piercing, magical damage Manyshot

Einior...: 1d20 + 13 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 27 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 6 = 11 piercing, magical damage

Einior...: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 21 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 6 = 13 piercing, magical damage

Rapid: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 22 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 6 = 11 piercing, magical damage

Haste: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 22 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 6 = 17 piercing, magical damage

Round 2

Reflex Save v DC 16: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21 Evasion!

Khalia can feel the nanites beneath her skin like a silky lightning rod, and she obeys their sudden shifting to lean away from the strike within milliseconds of its emission.

She continues to assault Fuchsia.

Einior...: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 25 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 6 = 18 piercing, magical damage
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 6 = 12 piercing, magical damage Manyshot

Einior...: 1d20 + 13 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 15 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 6 = 11 piercing, magical damage

Einior...: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 21 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 6 = 18 piercing, magical damage

Rapid: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 29 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 6 = 15 piercing, magical damage

Haste: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 27 for
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 6 = 16 piercing, magical damage

Round 2

Rhoreen double moves into the room, trying to stay out of the way of splat spells.

With over human precision, Khalia puts four arrows at the alien on the back. The last arrow is just enough to bring it down for good!

Yambul tumbles through the grease and reaches his target without retaliation, sawing true, spilling blood all over.

Rūha is there too, but fails to connect with her punch.

Fort DC 19: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Zzvkgrogk blinds the black alien, his special landing just on the head and bursting it. The alien collapses to the ground, and the ratfolk redirects his other beams to the blue one that burns and barely survives.

Khalia finishes the job with a double shot!

Combat is over!

Black: 111 damage, unconscious, dying
Pink: 110 damage, unconscious, dying
Blue: 127 damage, dead
Party buffs: haste
Khalia: 25 damage
Rhoreen: flying 10', mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, overland flight 11 h, filter mask, -2 Con drain, -1 Int drain
Rūha: 42 damage, mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Yambul: 45 damage, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Hyrsek: 26 damage, 3 Wis drain, 5 Con drain, 1 Int drain
Zzvkgrogk: 14 damage, 2 Int damage
Round 2: Neh-thalggus, Zzvkgrogk, Hyrsek, Khalia (x2), Rūha, Rhoreen, Yambul

Rhoreen enters the room flying over the grease and finds nothing but empty jails.

ReflexDC16: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Zzvkgrogk slides through the doorway on the grease, rushes to the nearest dying alien and lops off a limb. He holds it aloft gesturing ahead with it and exclaims ”Good work Zzvkith! Let us forge onwards – after we make sure these collectors are dead and loot this place!”

He also distributes the healing during the remaining haste.

CLW: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 6, 6) + 5 = 28

Percept: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 2 = 32 Beautiful shiny stuff

”Damn spell chuckers do a lot of damage don’t they!”

Yambul also lines up for healing, and hands the healer another wand.
CLW: 10d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 3, 7, 6, 8, 7, 1, 5, 1, 2) + 10 = 53

He stands guard while the others search. While standing around, he suggests, ”There was a door we skipped. I say we go back and investigate, before we rest.” He thinks for a moment, ”It is after all nearer the exit anyway.”

"Yes, that is the 'onwards' I meant. But first, we must make sure these bars are not made of Skymetal or... chainsaw chain."

Ruha gets some healing in as well.

CLW Wanding x9: 9d8 + 9 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 1, 6, 6, 3, 2, 6) + 9 = 42

"You can say that again Yambul. I wouldn't mind a couple magical wards against lightning or acid..." Ruha brushes droplets of acid off her shoulders. "I think on the way back we're likely to cross paths with Maukui. And I expect we won't be too happy after we crossed his friend. Though to be fair, she probably shouldn't have been puppeting the bodies of people close to us."

She spends a moment to search the room first.

Perception: 1d20 + 21 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 21 + 10 = 48

While others heal, Rhoreen casts Detect Magic and searches the area. She will hope to find something to do with that area that is difficult to bypass, but is not hopeful about it.

1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 2 = 27 Perception

When the room is complete, she is happy to entertain Yambul's offer of rest.

CLW: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 8) + 4 = 26

Khalia relaxes as the healing brings her to full health. "I am not adverse to resting, but I want to remain on the premises here. To prevent more coming and going. The two ways forward I see are through the portal, and across the vents. Those ways promise confrontation, to be sure. If we want to return to the entrance of the Hive, clear the previous door, then rest, we need to make sure Maukui and the kyton are not nearby."

The search on the prison area does not bring any item or information of use, nor any aura of interest.

You trace back to the initial section of the Hive. There you make it to the valve you did left close. However, that flesh valve is different than the others. It oozes a small amount of translucent pale orange slime that has left what appears to be chemical burns along the seam and in a puddle on the floor.

Khalia: -
Rhoreen: flying 10', mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, overland flight 11 h, filter mask, -2 Con drain, -1 Int drain
Rūha: mage armor 22 h, heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Yambul: heroism 190 min, barkskin 190 min
Hyrsek: 26 damage, 3 Wis drain, 5 Con drain, 1 Int drain
Zzvkgrogk: 2 Int damage

Yambul stands by the door, ready to enter. When the door doesn't easily open, he notices the goo. "Oh. That looks nasty. Maybe the door is sick? Anyone have a hanky?"

He waits for smarter folk then himself to figure it out.

Rhoreen sniffs the air around the orange slime.

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 21 + 2 = 42 Know (Nature)

"Stomach acid. I'd know that smell anywhere. Mostly from that time I tried to eat some undercooked hyppogryph meat. I'll never make that mistake again," she notes, unsure how and why stomach acid might be here.

"Anyone have any good theories?"

She thinks on it: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Int check - why acid?

"Well this place is quite biological already, it wouldn't surprise me if it has a digestion... chamber?" Ruha grimaces, her forehead furrowing "If we open it, I'd say do so from quite a distance, in case it starts regurgitating anything. Of course, I'd be alright leaving it alone too. Unless there's a way in deeper through the, uh, proverbial sewers."