[GD XI] Redelia's Race for the Runecarved Key (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

After the interaction, the Duchess slips out of the corner room with the note and out of the warehouse undetected.

---

"They had a request from a rather strange partner," she tells the group, retrieving the note. "Perhaps their involvement in the auction was used as a diversion?"

"Shards," Falling Rock curses softly in Shoanti when he sees the note that Lady Gabrielle found. "The Sihedron of the ancient Thassilonians. Rilke, Cazic, and I know far more about that symbol than we ever wished to. Well, two of us do, anyway," he continues in Taldane, with a sideways glance at the insatiably curious oracle. "Anyone using that to sign a note is trouble--big trouble--whether or not they actually have any legitimate reason to use it."

These three PCs played through the Shattered Star AP, and handled the artifact itself, so would recognize it easily.

The last of the attendees are shuffled into the Cathedral of Abadar and the crowd eagerly await the beginning of the auction. A portly man takes to the stage, and with a voice like a foghorn declares, "The auction is open!" which sets off a hum through the crowd as people start jostling for position and readying their auction bidding paddles, as though they were cutlasses with which to defeat the auction itself.

Falrig Sneve looks around at the readied crowd with a broken resolve and shakes his head. "Too much competition and too rich for my blood. Fold!"

Before the bidding can get underway Maiveer Sloan calls out, "I don’t have the funds on hand, but let my organization put down credit on the key! I can have the extra funds in a few months and you know we’re good for it!" The auctioneer purses his heavy lips in sympathetic understanding but the proctor interjects, "The rules state this auction would be a fast sell only with coin in hand."

"Sir! I protest!" Maiveer pleads. "I have been victimized and robbed - and though I make no issue of it now I protest that I would have had the coin had it not been so! The rogues, robbers, and conspirators sit right under this very roof and gain from this injustice!" The proctor, having none of it, simply replies, "Contain yourself sir, or the church will have you removed."

Once it becomes apparent that there will be no further distractions or drop-outs, the bidding then begins with fury, paddles being thrust into the air representing thousands of gold at a time. Kresch Vaor is the first to reach her limit as she calls, "Bah, too much for an old key. Proctor, I’m out. Have one of your clergymen transfer my deposit to my personal account."

Though you might have thought the distractions and interruptions were over, you’re proven wrong when a group of toughs barges in and heads straight for Dymal Rinks. "Oi, Rinks! Minvandu wants a little word with you," the ringleader explains with a grim expression. Rinks begins to protest, but two burly half-orcs simply grab an arm each and pick him up and start walking out. As much as some of you might desire to get involved, you know that it would likely jeopardize your whole mission - so for now, you opt to not get involved. On the way out Minvandu’s chief legbreaker pauses and turns to the proctor. "Sorry about this interruption, bit of confusion needing to be dealt with and all. Whatever deposit Rinks tried to put down on the auction belongs to our employer, Mr. Minvandu. I’ll send someone around later to collect it, after the boss has a few private words with Rinks." Rinks is then dragged out of the auction house, kicking and screaming.

The auction begins again in earnest and the number of bidders continues to thin as The Duchesses, distant and mysterious as always, silently signal their desire to tap out. They quickly exit the premises.

Doctor Landis starts to make another offer and then seems to decide against it - some concern playing at the back of his mind no doubt. He lowers his hand, and simply gestures that he’s cut himself off by waving his hand across his throat.

With only Pathfinders and Lady Kaddren remaining in the bidding war, the atmosphere gets tense - it is clear that Lady Kaddren is determined to win. Yet as she is about to bid another breathtaking sum, a runner presents her with a note which she quickly reads. After, she grimaces at the assembled crowd and in a threatening tone says, "This time, you got lucky. From here out, you might want to watch your backs." Then she turns to the proctor and tells him, "You can close my bids out" before tucking the note into her cloak and storming out of the cathedral.

All of the other bidders now gone, the auction proceeds until only one Pathfinder table remains in the running. "Going, going, gone! And sold to Table Five with the red coloured paddle for a final price of forty thousand gold pieces! Table Five, please send one representative to the front of the room to claim your prize!"

A seasoned half-elven Pathfinder who identifies himself as Omrax the Bold strides up to collect. Just as the auctioneer is about to hand Omrax the prize, a tremendous flash of light and smoke appears behind the auctioneer and the very fabric of reality is sliced open! Seconds later, a black-robed figure steps through the rift and pulls a jagged black-bladed dagger across the auctioneer’s throat, sending a shower of blood into the screaming crowd of bidders. The remorseless assassin snatches the Runecarved Key and in a fit of mad laughter bursts into dozens of shadowy black forms, each fleeing from the cathedral in a different direction!
______________

Table GMs, begin Act Four!

Suddenly an ear-piercing whistle sounds. Without warning, the stained glass windows of the cathedral simultaneously shatter inward in a colorful barrage of flying glass.

You need to each pass a DC 19 reflex save or take 36 points of damage from glass shards.

Eight sinister figures appear, clearly trying to prevent you from following the fleeing figures with keys.

(there are many more sinister figures, this is just the batch close to you)

The party is up. Please roll your saves, place your token in the red box, and then take your turn.

Reflex: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Sir Hendric expertly dodges the glass shards.
"We are under attack!"

He will summon his horse from his armor, mount up, draw his lance, and as a swift action use Greater Tactician to share Coordinated Charge and Lastwall Phalanx.

Coordinated Charge is pretty neat; if any of us charge a foe, any other PCs can charge that foe as an immediate action.

And if you do charge a foe, remember that Sir Hendric's banner gives you a +6 morale bonus to hit on charge attacks.

Lastwall Phalanx is a +1 sacred bonus to saves and AC against evil foes per adjacent ally with the feat - and everyone has the feat now.

Reflex vs DC 19: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

“I’d ask how they’re going to pay for all those windows, but then I remembered who’s tacky church we’re in.” Arnaut stands, shakes the sparkling dust from his hat, and claps twice. The sound echoes off the stone walls and ceiling, growing with intensity at the same rate with which the performer’s face is darkening. “My loving fans,” he intones with a deep, rumbling voice, “Is this any way to act? Does this bring me joy the same way I bring joy to you? No? Then bow down and pray I am feeling merciful as well as fabulous today!”

Swift action to start Dirge of Doom performance (and everyone’s conveniently within 30 ft of Arnaut), and standard action to cast overwhelming presence on Yellow, Pink, Red, Orange, and Blue (Will 32).

"Our" fleeing figure, what was its path after it grabbed the key? Lady Gabrielle is going for the Key is why I ask. She Perceives at 51 with Skill Mastery if one is needed to follow our figure.

Reflex with evasion: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (11) + 35 = 46

Reflex with evasion: 1d20 + 23 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 23 + 1 = 32

Falling Rock barely even notices the flying shards of glass as he lunges at a foe with Skyfall.

Attacks light blue/cyan with Power Attack, Furious Focus, Greater Vital Strike, and Lunge (10 ft reach, -2 AC). If that foe goes down, Cleaving Finish on green.

+5 impact impervious merciful adamantine earth breaker: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (13) + 36 = 49
Damage (B): 3d6 + 35 ⇒ (5, 5, 1) + 35 = 46 plus Greater Vital Strike: 9d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 5, 1, 3, 2, 3, 5) = 31 plus Merciful: 1d6 ⇒ 6 = 83 nonlethal

Cleaving Finish: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (1) + 31 = 32
Nat 1, so miss. Swift action to use second chance strike hunter's trick.
Cleaving Finish: 1d20 + 31 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 31 - 5 = 31
Damage (B): 3d6 + 35 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) + 35 = 43 plus Merciful: 1d6 ⇒ 2 = 45 nonlethal

Reflex, evasion: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37

Rilke shakes the shards of glass off her and sighs. "Seriously? I mean, this is more interesting, but not smart."

Clicking her heels (haste), she shoots once at everything threatening her companions, just to make sure they don't try anything sneaky. Attacking right to left in order. Up to GM for where extras go if necessary.

(Haste attack. +5 adaptive, distracting, greater impervious, limning, seeking composite longbow, with deadly aim. 19-20 crit threat, +4 on crit attack)

attack 1: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (13) + 32 = 45 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (1, 1) + 18 = 20 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3
attack 2: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (15) + 32 = 47 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (7, 9) + 18 = 34 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3
attack 3: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (2) + 32 = 34 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (4, 1) + 18 = 23 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2
attack 4: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (20) + 27 = 47 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (6, 5) + 18 = 29 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
>attack 4, crit: 1d20 + 27 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 27 + 4 = 40 for damage: 4d10 + 36 ⇒ (10, 1, 9, 4) + 36 = 60 (total 93)
attack 5: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (2) + 27 = 29 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (3, 5) + 18 = 26 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
attack 6: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (3, 10) + 18 = 31 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3
attack 7: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (10, 5) + 18 = 33 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 6
attack 8: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (6, 2) + 18 = 26 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2

will saves, dirge of doom: 8d20 ⇒ (7, 4, 14, 16, 4, 6, 3, 18) = 72
all are shaken
will saves, overwhelming presence: 5d20 ⇒ (1, 7, 19, 17, 10) = 54
these five are all overwhelmed.

Falling Rock obliterates (nonlethally) light blue and severely injures green.

Rilke gets a hit on each enemy, with a second on green. Orange, who got hit really hard (crit) by Rilke, is dead. Green is also unconscious.

dark purple -37, shaken
blue -25, shaken, helpless
red -30 shaken, helpless
light purple -34 shaken, helpless
yellow -39 shaken, helpless

Lady Gabrielle, I've drawn in an arrow, but the construction of the scenario is such that hurrying ahead of the team won't accomplish anything. The next part can't start until this one is done.

Cazic and Lady Gabrielle still to act.

Reflex Jump: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42 + 2 vs death + 1 vs enchantment/evocation/necromancy/illusion

Cazic points her entwined serpent staff at the shaken dark purple (assuming it is still up) and they take a couple magic missiles: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9.

Got it! I'll still have Lady Gabrielle be in a hurry, so to speak.

The Lady daintily reaches into the neckline of her gown, and flings a tiny disc the size of a hair accessory at the still-lucid Lissalan (the dark purple one)!

Swift action to enter Crane Style, she'll fight defensively from here.

first shuriken, flurry, enemy has cover: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (6) + 31 = 37 for one damage plus some extra dice, no particular reason, must be an Aristocrat thing: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 1, 3, 6, 1, 1) = 22

if that drops dark purple and ends the encounter, she'll move 30' to follow the Key-napper.

if that doesn't drop dark purple, or that doesn't end the encounter and she needs to attack the rest of them, she'll click her heels together and...

flurry shuriken, cover as appropriate: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (15) + 32 = 47 for one damage plus: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 1, 1, 4, 5, 5) = 29
haste shuriken, cover as appropriate: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (12) + 32 = 44 for one damage plus: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 5, 3, 6, 1, 4) = 32
iterative shuriken, cover as appropriate: 1d20 + 32 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 32 - 5 = 33 for one damage plus: 8d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5, 1, 2) = 32
second iterative shuriken, cover as appropriate: 1d20 + 32 - 10 ⇒ (7) + 32 - 10 = 29 for one damage plus: 8d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3, 1, 6) = 23

She'll start with Yellow and go counterclockwise for targets. AC rises to 38, 46 if any of these attacks land (Offensive Defence), and another +5 against the Lissalan still in her way. Finally, she takes a 5' step.

ki -1 or -2/13. boots of speed -0 or -1/10. charlatan's cape -1/3 from earlier.

After Cazic's magic missile, purple is at -46 HP.

Lady Gabrielle's second shuriken hits, leaving the enemy at -69 HP, and still standing. She throws another, which takes it down.

The cultists all being incapacitated, the team runs after the assasin they can see. They leave the cathedral and look around, spotting their target (auto-pass on perception check).

They find a crowd in their way!

(start of chase scene; I'll post the rules in the discussion thread)

(The scenario is very specific that only the assassin goes in the surprise round, so I'm going to rule that Cazic's ability does not apply. This is going to be ridiculously easy for all of you no matter what)

The assassin tries to shove her way past a fruit cart.
str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
but it does not work.

Round 1:
Falling Rock
Lady Gabrielle
Cazic
assassin
Sir Hendrick
Arnaut
Rilke

You need to move through the crowd. Suggested skills are sense motive or overrun.

Falling Rock, Lady Gabrielle, and Cazic may go. Please read the rules in discussion (which will go up in a few minutes) carefully.

The Lady quickly determines the thief's path based on the general mood and gawking of the citizens in the area, then races to give chase...

Currently at 30' movement... Sense Motive at 57 with Skill Mastery.

As a veteran of plenty of crowded gatherings consisting of much more chaotic movements, she flows through the crowd as naturally as a river, without hesitation or harm.

Falling Rock bellows at the crowd to get out of the way, and barrels through those who don't react quickly enough.

CMB to Overrun: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (20) + 29 = 49

The Shoanti runes for "avalanche" that he has tattooed across his face and chest--and engraved upon the mithral armor covering those parts of his body--appear to been well chosen!

He won't be attempting to do a full-round action on any of the cards revealed so far, as he is an absolute brute on one option and utterly hopeless on the other. :D

By the way, you can move forward by 2 instead of 3 if you pass both... :)

Lady Gabrielle and Falling Rock both move forward successfully.

Cazic clicks her heels and begins to fly swift.

Trying B to move forward three:
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (20) + 36 = 56
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 - does fly matter?

I think you need to try both things on the same card, so Sense Motive and Overrun for the first one.

Rilke is correct. I'm assuming that you do not want to try to overrun, so you can move forward one. Flying would have let you automatically pass the check, but only to move one card.

Cazic also moves forward one card.

The assassin takes out a scroll, does something magical and disappears.
It is not metagaming but reasonable to realize she must still be on the same square.

The entire party is now up.

"EVERYBODY MOVE!" Rilke shouts as she dodges through and over the crowd.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Overrun: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

Falling Rock doesn't take the time required to command his winged boots to fly, but proves surprisingly nimble despite his heavy armor as he rushes down the alley.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37

Lady Gabrielle glides through the bustle and into the alleyway, a blur of green chiffon and bright red hair as she hops onto a set of barrels and takes to the air, kicking off of cracks in the walls and launching off of windowsills to flow through the alley's blockages. She tucks her head a curls her body together for a brief moment as she tumbles into an upper-floor corner apartment, passing through someone's sitting room and out through their bedroom to return to the scene, doubling back the moment it appears she is actually ahead of the thief.

Thanks to Skill Mastery, Acrobatics at 54 and Escape Artist at 49 to move through two cards and onto the grey card.

OK, the chase ended as soon as Rilke ended up on the same card as the assassin. I'm setting up the map, and then the rest of you get a turn on the combat map. I'll post again when things are ready.

other bad guys init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

OK, ready to go. Everyone but Rilke is up now.

Can any of you see the invisible foe?

Sir Hendric cannot automatically see invisible foes at the moment, but he will try Perception as a move action to spot the foe.

Perception: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (14) + 35 = 49

Since a few of us are sporting 30+ Perception modifiers, we should be able to at least hear the thief, and likely pinpoint their location when we're within 30', based on the invisibility-vs-Perception chart. Lady Gabrielle herself is Perceiving at 51 right now and she's coming from the opposite side of the action after doing her Parkour Queen thing earlier.

OK, Lady Gabrielle, Sir Hendric, Rilke, and Arnaut locate the enemy without even needing to use a move action. I looked up the DCs for perception with invisibility and distance The rest of you may assume you know roughly where the enemy is from an ally telling you. Unless you can actually see the enemy, you do need to deal with concealment, so roll 1d100 when you attack, high is good. I've put the enemy's token on the map, since you all know what square she's in.

edit: actually, Falling Rock just barely can locate that way, too.

With a sense of where the thief is located, the Lady swiftly approaches. Swift to enter Crane Style, then double move.

Falling Rock has +31 perception in urban terrain, +35 with Gabrielle's tea ceremony.

Now that the party has caught up to their fleeing foe, Falling Rock commands his boots to grow wings and flies closer. He wants to ensure that he can easily catch up with the enemy once Rilke lights them up with her limning bow.

Standard to activate winged boots, move to fly 60 ft. (armor training allows full speed movement in his armor).

Cazic advances 60 ft in flight as a move action.

Can any of you see the invisible foe?

Cazic has blindsight 30 ft for living creatures only.

If I can see them, make a knowledge Arcane/Dungeoneering/Nature/Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 if applicable
OR
Religion: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22 if I can see and appropriate.

If living and my knowledge doesn't reveal immunity to mind-affecting, they get a Gift of Madness DC 28 Will for 12 rounds of confusion.

The assassin is a tiefling.

will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
(confused for 12 rounds)

Cazic drives the assassin temporarily mad, as well as moving in closer.

Lady Gabrielle and Falling Rock move in closer.

Sir Hendric and Arnaut?

Arnaut slides off Sentry’s hindquarters as the two of them and Sir Hendric catch up with the others. “Darling… please don’t take this the wrong way…” he pants, brushing white horse hair from his clothes, “…but I hope we never have to do that again.” He does his best to collect the hair in his hands, then tosses the pile carelessly over his shoulder. The orb of white fur flies through the air, then abruptly reversed course and zooms over the cavalier’s head to explode all over the unfortunate thiefling.

Casting glitterdust (Will 24).

g will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Fail

The tiefling is blind, confused, and visible as a glitter shape. (no concealment now)

oops, I forgot something...

When the glitterdust lands, a contingent spell goes off, and the cultist disappears and reappears, still covered in glitter.

Cazic wonders what she was thinking...

Ah, look at that, a clear charge lane...

"For honor and justice!"

Sir Hendric charges.

He will make it an unarmed strike instead of the lance, hoping to take this thief alive. And no Challenge this time since I know it is possible to kill with NL damage if you do too much.

He rides and drives a knee into the face of the thief.

Charge/PA IUS: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (13) + 31 = 44
NL Damage: 2d3 + 52 ⇒ (2, 2) + 52 = 56 +9 Str, +7 horse's Str, +10 PA, for +26, doubled for Spirited Charge makes +52.
Free Trip Attempt from Mighty Charge: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (11) + 31 = 42

The assassin falls prone and babbles incoherently.

The whole team is up.

It is really to your benefit to deal with this enemy quickly, team.

I imagine Falling Rock and Rilke have more than enough nonlethal damage. I'll have Lady Gabrielle go fto retrieve the key after they act.

Rilke will shoot blunt arrows until the assassin falls over.

(+5 adaptive distracting, greater impervious limning seeking composite longbow, with deadly aim. 19-20 crit threat, +4 on crit attack)

attack 1: 1d20 + 32 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 32 - 4 = 38 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (7, 2) + 18 = 27 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3 plus stunning fist (Fort DC 30)
attack 2: 1d20 + 32 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 32 - 4 = 42 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (10, 10) + 18 = 38 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 6
attack 3: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 27 - 4 = 37 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (7, 7) + 18 = 32 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
attack 4: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 27 - 4 = 26 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (3, 6) + 18 = 27 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 5
attack 5: 1d20 + 22 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 22 - 4 = 34 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (8, 1) + 18 = 27 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2
attack 6: 1d20 + 22 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 22 - 4 = 28 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (4, 4) + 18 = 26 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
attack 7: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 17 - 4 = 29 for damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (10, 9) + 18 = 37 plus acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Falling Rock closes with the tiefling and (assuming they're still moving) brings down the hammer on them.

+5 impact impervious merciful adamantine earth breaker: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (11) + 36 = 47
Damage (B): 3d6 + 35 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) + 35 = 41 plus Greater Vital Strike: 9d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 3, 5, 6, 6, 5, 2) = 41 plus Merciful: 1d6 ⇒ 3 = 85 nonlethal

After Rilke's fourth arrow, it is clear that the tifling assassin has taken enough damage to take her down, but instead of subsiding into unconsciousness, she pulls herself up into a crawling position, lifts her head, and spits out angry words at you.

[b]"For ten thousand years we have slept, awaiting this day. Think not that you shall take it from us. You and I are merely pawns in a far greater game with a far greater purpose. In the name of the mouthless mistress to whom all fates are known, I damn you and all your descendents! Lissala, take my spirit to pay for my vengeance!"[b]

She then draws her own blade across her throat and dies.

You have a feeling that something really bad is about to happen. You have a little time in which you can do something first. We are out of initiative, but with very little in game time.

I'm going to assume that Lady Gabrielle acts as she described and moves over to the dead assassin and searches for the key. She eventually finds it in a handy haversack.

"There we are," she comments, before tossing the haversack itself to Sir Hendric to be stored for later. She considers the thief's final words, then looks around. "Perhaps Lissala was listening. It is suddenly quieter here, as if we are suddenly inside an opera house. Perhaps she will make a personal appearance?" she wonders.

"Do not speak so lightly about meeting gods. Especially her," Falling Rock chides quietly, making a Shoanti warding gesture before regripping his weapon firmly. He looks around warily, trying to spot the trouble he can sense coming.

Perception: 1d20 + 35 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 35 + 4 = 47

Cazic ponders:
Spellcraft to explain the dying cut scene ... Spellcraft: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (2) + 30 = 32 +4 to identify magic items.
Use Magic Device if that fails to teach her something ...UMD: 1d20 + 47 ⇒ (10) + 47 = 57 +4 to identify magic items.
Knowledge (Religion) if both come up blank ... Spellcraft: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

Rilke casts Barkskin on herself and waits for something to happen.

"At least she knew how to execute a proper death scene," Arnaut comments as he catches up with the rest of the group. "Suspense, drama, a little monologue before killing one's self in an incredibly bloody fashion - I wouldn't give it a standing ovation, but certainly applause-worthy." Somehow, the bard's trivialization of the thief's curse and death fills his companions with hope and optimism.

Casting good hope.

Cazik realizes that there is no mechanical explanation for the assassin who should have been confused and unconscious being able to curse you and commit suicide. Blame Lissala, somehow.
It was necessary for the plot, so I had to make it happen somehow.

All around you, portals begin opening, and strange creatures stepping, oozing, flying, or otherwise making their way through.

Near you, a very large creature steps through a portal. This towering, three-tailed, six-eyed beast seems like three runebacked serpents partially melded together into one body.

Knowledge planes checks can ID the creature. Even if one person does very well, others are invited to roll if trained to see if you can get more information.

A large image of the enemy is available on a later slide in the maps.

Falling Rock: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Sir Hendric: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Rilke: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Arnaut: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Lady Gabrielle: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (5) + 25 = 30
Cazic: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Cazic: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Cazic: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
enemy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Falling Rock, Lady Gabrielle, and Cazic go before this creature, but are welcome and encouraged to wait for info from IDing it first.