|
The brave goblin hums as they easily push open the door. Beyond that door is a foyer. The tapestry and upholstery are new and well made, filling the entrance with unexpectedly vibrant reds. An empty glass decanter sits on an elegant entry table nestled between the two south-facing windows. Three portraits painted by expert hands adorn the walls, each mounted below a plaque bearing a fragment of the Ardis Scholars' motto: "to learn, to understand, to embrace". The large door leading farther into the manor is sturdy and unblemished by the ravages of time.
Nothing immediately rushes out to slay the Pathfinders. Perhaps it's because of all that courage being bandied about?
Talos dances into the room and takes position behind the hellknight.
|
|
Alaric and Talos step into the room. The former heads towards the door, quickly checking if it's electrified. The latter takes a position several paces back.
Sun Fire Boom Boom and Jaqard follow a few steps behind, and it's the goblin who spots an interesting detail among goblin who spots an interesting detail among the paintings of the foyer: one of the paintings shows a woman who matches the description of the woman in Kistur's vision. And after some additional inspection notes the paintings are all signed by someone named Silvu Cioranu.
The hellknight opens the doors, revealing a great hall beyond the foyer.
Most of the floor tiles of the hall have been painstakingly repaired and waxed in an attempt to recapture the great hall’s lost splendor, although not its function. A few chairs neatly stacked in a corner next to a shattered blackboard covered in complex scripts and a portable lectern speak to the great hall having a more academic purpose.
Elegant marble columns support the ceiling, each fitted with six thin metal rods running through their entire height, and a massive spiral staircase leads to the upper floor.
|
|
The Pathfinders spread out about the chamber, looking around as all good Pathfinders do.
Alaric takes a look at the blackboard, Doctor Talos following along. At a glance it looks as if the notes on the blackboard detail complex formulas meant to predict planar interactions so they can be exploited for traveling. They’re difficult to decipher though, as clearly someone went at them like a rage-filled demon.
Meanwhile, Jaqard wanders about the northern section. He marvels at the columns, and notes the metal rods affixed to each. It's curious as to why the rods are there to begin with.
The spiral stairs, as far as Sun Fire Boom Boom can tell, spiral in an upward direction. He's pretty sure of that.
Talos flip a bright little scalpel into his hand and cleans his nails.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sun Fire Boom Boom bounces up and down excitedly "Oooh, the stairs bring the electricity all through the building."
Sun Fire Boom Boom pauses for a sec before reciting.
There once was a Pathfinder named Jaqard
Who was helped by the greatest of bards
They made a powerful squad
So if he knows about those Rods
Maybe we'll avoid the graveyard!
Inspoire Competence
(+1 Circumstance)
|
Alaric pauses where he stands. "This isn't good. Look here and here." His gloves hand motions to two points that only he may be able to see in the haze. "Seems the Ardis Scholars were predicting a weakening between the Shadow Plane and the Material Plane for the next two weeks in the area surrounding the manor!"
|
|
The Pathfinders make their way up the stairs, intend on finding the host of Ardis Manor.
Once they reach the top of the spiral stairs they see a room that is littered with scattered papers and dried bloodstains. A blackboard with a
few notations covers most of the western wall, but little else remains on the few workstations pushed against the wall. The bookshelves are barren, filled only with a couple of tomes damaged beyond repair. In the corner, a large and unusual device emits a hum almost too low to properly hear. A large trail of blood leads out of the room and into the opposing bedroom.
When Sun Fire Boom Boom enters the room a ghostly spirit appears. Its expression is one of surprise as it watches the four Pathfinders. A jumble of words, as if a collection of stream of consciousness thoughts fills the air. After a second they quiet down, becoming intelligible. "Oh my! I've never been able to communicate like this before! What a surprise."
The spirit bows, then continues. "I am Vilo, a close friend of the Cioraru family. What brings you to their household?"
Talos inspects the device but he's too distracted by the trail of blood.
"Yes, yes. In a moment, Vilo. First: did you observe the incident that caused this?" He points at the blood.
|
|
"What cause this? Bugbear marauders!" Vilo says angrily. "We didn't have any warning, the bugbears appeared out of nowhere. We realized
something was wrong only when we heard Anaton's cries from downstairs. Adelana ordered Revecka to put the laboratory in lockdown. When she returned to join the fight, she was wounded and left for dead."
The spirit studies Talos for a moment, coming to a conclusion. "Revecka is stable though. Will you help? If so, I can take you to her."
Talos nods. "Yes. I am definitely a real doctor."
Along the way he tries to confirm with the ghost… "So, there were four of you. Is that correct? How did you die?"
|
|
"Oh, I've been dead for some time now," Vilo says, leading the group in. He rounds the bend, addding, "I swore to protect the Silvu Cioraru's daughters after he disappeared, and I take my oaths seriously!"
As they enter the hallway they see a living quarters opposite the one they came from, a beautiful bedroom adorned with deep greens accentuated by a few golden decorations. The only surviving painting adorning the wall is made in typical Ustalavic style with dark colors and just a hint of light. A blood trail ends next to an open metal case containing medical gear near the bed.
They also see three creatures in the midst of looting the chamber.
|
|
A filthy amalgamations of human and bird, resembling feral humans with wings, talons, and mouths full of sharp teeth, they are harpies. Collectively they turn their attention to the surprise visitors. One of them, who had been riffling through what looks to be a medical box, says, "This treasure is ours. You can't have it. Go away now or you die."
Talos strokes his chin. "Hmmm." He produces his surgically-clean shortsword. "I've never dissected a harpy. Surely your vocal cords are a wonder to behold. Are they spongy? Elastic? " A needle-like rapier appears in the other hand. "Now hold still; you're in for a few moments of pain, but I simply must cut open your throats to have a look."
|
|
The good doctor shows his true bedside manner by drawing a sword, a gesture universally understood as 'let's have a fight'. The harpies oblige.
A harpy who had been hidden in a corner moves confidently out into the middle of the room. And begins to sing the most captivating song...
ROUND 1
Harpy 1 - Sing (1 Action remaining)
Jaqard - TBD
Harpy 3 - TBD
Alaric - TBD
Talos - TBD
Harpy 2 - TBD
Sun Fire - TBD (Reaction)
|
|
Jaqard steps forward, delivering on his promise with a strike thoroughly stuns the harpy!
One of the harpies moves from the southeast corner, releasing a concetrates blast of sound that rolls through Alaric and Sun Fire Boom Boom.
ROUND 1
Harpy 1 - Sing + Spear (Stunned 3)
Jaqard - Flurry
Harpy 3 - Sonic Screech
Alaric - Reflex + Go
Talos - Go
Harpy 2 - TBD
Sun Fire - TBD + Reflex
Talos's skin lights up as the nanites in his body energize; the cascading shadows make his rictus grin even more frightening.
Critical Success Your marshal's aura increases to a 20-foot emanation, and it grants you and allies a status bonus to damage rolls equal to the number of weapon damage dice of the unarmed attack or weapon you are wielding that has the most weapon damage dice. When you or an ally in the aura critically hits an enemy with a Strike, that enemy is frightened 1.
Success As critical success, but your aura's size doesn't increase.
Failure You fail to enter the stance.
Critical Failure You fail to enter the stance and can't take this action again for 1 minute.
Burning with cold light, the doctor dances into the room and stabs at Harpy 2's throat with his needle-like rapier.
|
|
Alaric steps into the room, dust kicking up all around him as fire begins to crackle in his gloved palm. "Ignite them all."
HP 52/88
AC 27 (29 w/ shield raised)
Resistance: Mental, Slashing 4, Acid, Fire, Harm 5, Own and Allies Alchemical Splash damage 3
Spells (1) 3/3 (2) 3/3 (3) 3/3 (4) 3/3
Focus Points 2/3
Infernal Detonations 1/1
Hero Point 2/3
|
|
Dust begins to swirl as Alaric's power manifests. Meanwhile, Talos blurs forward to strike at a weak point in a harpy's flesh.
The shriek that follows from the harpy is terrible. It washes over the Pathfinders in a disorienting wave!
It follows up the shriek with a swipe of its wicked looking claws, aiming to disembowel Talos.
(likely x2)
ROUND 1
Harpy 1 - Sing + Spear (-17hp, Stunned 3)
Jaqard - Flurry
Harpy 3 - Sonic Screech
Alaric - Step + Aura (-36hp)
Talos - CRIT
Harpy 2 - Shriek + Claw (-57hp)
Sun Fire - Go + Reflex & Fort save
ROUND 2
Harpy 1 - Stunned (-17hp)
Jaqard - Go + Fort save
Harpy 3 - TBD
Alaric - TBD + Fort save (-36hp)
Talos - TBD + Fort save
Harpy 2 - TBD (-57hp)
Sun Fire - TBD
+1 circ. vs disease, poison, radiation
|
|
Sun Fire Boom Boom's bounces get a lot less excited after the harpies retaliate.
Still he manages to conjure up horrible nightmares for Harpy #2
Death Emotion Fear Illusion Mental
You create a phantasmal image of the most fearsome creature imaginable to the target. Only the spell's target can see the killer, though you can see the vague shape of the illusion as it races forth to attack. The effect of the killer is based on the outcome of the target's Will save.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes 4d6 mental damage and is frightened 1.
Failure The target takes 8d6 mental damage and is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The target is so afraid it might die. It must attempt a Fortitude save; if the target fails, it dies. On a successful Fortitude save, the target takes 12d6 mental damage, is fleeing until the end of its next turn, and is frightened 4. This effect has the incapacitation trait.
Sun Fire Boom Boom follows up by snapping off a shot from his shortbow at #1.
Counter Performance
Trigger You or an ally within 60 feet rolls a saving throw against an auditory or visual effect.
Liberating Command Trigger: an ally is grabbed, immobilized, or restrained.
Lose the Path
Trigger A creature(Enemy) in range Strides.
Blood Vendetta
Trigger A creature deals piercing, slashing, or persistent bleed damage to you.
(Spell DC 26)
|
|
for and Frightened 1
A momentary panic falls over the harpy targeted by Sun Fire Boom Boom's dire illusion, but it's not enough to kill the creature outright. The arrow the goblin fires manages to clip the other harpy though.
Jaqard manages to land a solitary blow, once again taking the breath away from his foe.
The third harpy lets out another primal screech and begins furiously clawing at Jaqard.
It manages to rend flesh, though most of the assault is dodged by the nimble monk.
ROUND 2
Harpy 1 - Stunned (-44hp, Stunned 1)
Jaqard - Flurry (-18hp)
Harpy 3 - Strike
Alaric - Go (-36hp)
Talos - Go
Harpy 2 - TBD (-68hp)
Sun Fire - TBD (-48hp)
|
|
Alaric draws a line across the room with his hand. the ember from his gloved palm ignites as a wall of flames springs up underneath the harpy's feet.
HP 52/88
AC 27 (29 w/ shield raised)
Resistance: Mental, Slashing 4, Acid, Fire, Harm 5, Own and Allies Alchemical Splash damage 3
Spells (1) 3/3 (2) 3/3 (3) 3/3 (4) 2/3
Focus Points 2/3
Infernal Detonations 1/1
Hero Point 2/3
"How resilient! Are you a normal harpy? I'll have to look inside."
|
|
Through Alaric's will a blazing curtain of fire erupts from the ground, flaming licking and crackling in the air.
In the same moment Talos strikes out with sword and rapier, ending the life of one of the harpies. And then he jumps through the fire!
plus 3d4 persistent fire
ROUND 2
Harpy 1 - Stunned (-55hp, Stunned 1, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Jaqard - Flurry (-18hp)
Harpy 3 - Strike
Alaric - Wall of Fire (-36hp)
Talos - Kill! (-16hp, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Harpy 2 - DEAD
Sun Fire - Go (-48hp)
Talos's artificial skin melts and bubbles but it doesn't seem to bother him. The flickering flames add to the eeriness of his smile before they die out.
|
|
Sun Fire Boom Boom taunts the harpies with a particularly loud and repetitive song.
"Roast Chicken! Roast Chicken! Roast Chicken!"
Critical Success The target takes a –1 status penalty to Perception checks and Will saves for 1 minute.
Success The target takes a –1 status penalty to Perception checks and Will saves for 1 round.
Critical Failure The target is temporarily immune to attempts to use Goblin Song for 1 hour.
Sun Fire Boom Boom then continues his assault on the harpy emotions.
Counter Performance
Trigger You or an ally within 60 feet rolls a saving throw against an auditory or visual effect.
Liberating Command Trigger: an ally is grabbed, immobilized, or restrained.
Lose the Path
Trigger A creature(Enemy) in range Strides.
Blood Vendetta
Trigger A creature deals piercing, slashing, or persistent bleed damage to you.
(Spell DC 26)
|
|
The harpies, who are themselves very accustomed to screeches, shrieks, and wails, are unperturbed by the goblin song.
But the magical fear hits home all the same, their eyes going wide as it takes home in their minds.
The burning flames catch easily on the feathered form of one of the harpies as it recovers from the strike delivered by Jaqard. It steps back and lashes out at Dr. Talos with a clawed hand.
ROUND 3
Harpy 1 - Strike (-80hp, 3d4 Persistent Fire, Frightened 1)
Jaqard - Go (-18hp)
Harpy 3 - TBD (Frightened 2)
Alaric - TBD (-36hp)
Talos - TBD (-28hp, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Sun Fire - TBD (-48hp)
|
|
Jaqard unleashes a flurry of strikes, with only one managing to make contact with the wily harpy. It's enough to briefly take the wind out of her though.
The harpy steps out of the burning flames, positioning itself to focus on the foe standing between it and egress from the manor: Dr. Talos.
x2
ROUND 3
Harpy 1 - Strike (-80hp, 3d4 Persistent Fire, Frightened 1)
Jaqard - Go (-18hp)
Harpy 3 - TBD (-43hp, Frightened 1, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Alaric - Go (-36hp)
Talos - Go (-50hp, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Sun Fire - TBD (-48hp)
Talos turns his melted face to #1 and gets to work.
Talos then drops his shortsword. "I pray to no god but the flesh." He quickly wraps a bandage around his arm:
|
|
Alaric gives a nod to Sun Fire. "Thanks for the healing, I feel much better." Reaching out for the Harpy Alaric creates a connection and slowly pulls it back into the wall of flames.
HP 70/88
AC 27 (29 w/ shield raised)
Resistance: Mental, Slashing 4, Acid, Fire, Harm 5, Own and Allies Alchemical Splash damage 3
Spells (1) 2/3 (2) 3/3 (3) 3/3 (4) 2/3
Focus Points 2/3
Infernal Detonations 1/1
Hero Point 1/3
|
|
Alaric tries to pull the remaining harpy through the flames, but it manages to resist his magic. As a consolation prize, Sun Fire Boom Boom heals the hellknight. The arrow the goblin releases finds it's mark though, adding to the increasing number of wounds.
ROUND 4
Jaqard - Go (-18hp)
Harpy 3 - Strike (-85hp, Frightened 1, 3d4 Persistent Fire)
Alaric - TBD (-36hp)
Talos - TBD (-50hp)
Sun Fire - TBD (-48hp)