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"Hmm...lots of strange magical rocks in this place," Corona declares after studying the gem for a few moments. "But at least we found the other part of the key for that door!"
Noticing that it will take some mighty steady hands to actually remove the stone without breaking the thing that's attached to it, Corona backs up to give Merisiel plenty of room to work. She does give her a little encouraging pat on the shoulder, though.
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Merisiel stands before the gem and carefully tries to retrieve it.
With the gem in her hands, she hands it to Corona. Perhaps there is more about the gem that she doesn't know.
The gem is attached loosely to a stick, though no one seems to know what it is for. It also sheds light silently.
The Pathfinders return to the door in the east. The two gems seem like they would fit into the sockets in the door.
The Pathfinders don't know what the gems or the wand do, so they use them for the obvious purpose - slotting into the door. A portion of the tree carving opens to reveal a 4-inch-wide opening, 20 inches deep. At the back of the opening is a handle.
Merisiel spots another trap on the handle, and with a bit of Corona's magical help, disables it. Looks like it was intended to cut the hand off of anyone who opens the door. The door can then be opened safely.
Scorched earth and burned grass cover this round chamber's floor. In the center of the room stands a tall tree, its blackened bark seeping blood-red sap and its branches twisted and thorny. Glowing silvery runes circle the base of the tree. At the base of the tree lays a lithe, bronze-skinned man missing his left arm, a puddle of blood pooled beneath him. His right hand lies just inside the circle, and a single word is scratched in the dirt near his fingertips, “gretaak.”
You can tell that the man did not write the word in the dust.
The ceiling of this room rises in a dome to a height of 25 feet. The glowing runes fill the room with dim light.
"Can anyone explain this?" Merisiel finds herself stopped by an invisible wall around the tree, so she goes to the creature. Soon after she came to a conclusion that her healing potion won't be useful on it. "Seems like my job is done here, so I guess I'll just prepare outside until something hostile appears." She exits the room and hides next to the door.
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Bask moves in and encounters the strange invisible wall.
Not having any idea what it is, but worried that it chopped off this poor fellow's hand, he drags him away from the wall and uses his healing wand until he regains consciousness.
"Gretaak?" he tries if the man wakes up, but he makes sure Zarnel is near to translate.
Bask drags the man to safety. He does not quite regain consciousness from two activations of the wand, but the third brings him back.
"Huh? You're not Laktharis. Ow... is he gone?"
The answer comes in the form of a telepathic message to all of you from a source you cannot locate.
<Mortals, bow before the sacred heartwood tree. Touch the bark and utter the sacred incantation written in the dirt. Then retrieve my staff, leave the circle, and present it before me. Only then can I take corporeal form.>
Zarnel and Corona immediately walk toward the center of the room.
Bask and Merisiel may allow them to follow the directions (and help if they wish) or try to stop them.
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Zarnel feels his feet moving unbidden beneath him. It's like those times when he lets the infernal taint upon his soul come fully forth and he feels like another riding in his own body. He doesn't like it - not one bit. And knowing this is the result of some kind of demonic possession makes it all the worse for the holy warrior.
So for now he approaches the tree and speaks the word that was written in the dirt, a word he knows isn't Hallit nor Abyssal.
"No my friends, 'Gretaak' is not a real word," he grunts as his hand touches the tainted bark.
"But know this, Laktharis," he speaks into the air. "When you take your corporeal form, I, Zarnel the Torn, sworn to Vildeis, along with my teammates will send you promptly back to the Abyss." His statement is not a threat, merely a promise and a vow.
Bask manages to slow their allies' progress toward the staff, when a voice booms from above, though you still cannot see its source.
“I sense something familiar. You! You are one of the abominations. Has the one-eyed surgeon tracked me here? Are you his slaves? I will destroy him and all of his pawns, for I have advanced beyond the simple machinations of his lab! I am as far beyond demons as they are beyond you.”
"I am nothing like you!" Valais roars. "I will BREAK YOUR BODIES AND FEAST UPON YOUR SOULS!"
"Not like me, but you will aid me. Destroy the orc for me."
"I'm sorry, friends, but I cannot REST UNTIL YOUR FLESH IS RENT FROM YOUR BONES."
Round 1 - bolded may go
Corona
Merisiel
Zarnel
Valais
Laktharis
Bask
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"Valais, control yourself. You've done well so far, and you know you are not Evil. Laktharis is controlling me too, but see, I continue to fight it and will not allow him to win. Fight with us, not against us."
Knowing that the voice is coming from above, Zarnel draws a javelin from the quiver across his back in case the evil shows its face.
Merisiel came out from her hiding place and shouted, "Surely you won't want to do this. Don't make yourself regret later, please."
Valais listens to the Pathfinders' words and continues her struggle against the demon's influence.
She cannot shake free of Laktharis' control, but the fight is clearly taking a lot out of her. She does exactly what she is told, which only allows her to move toward Bask.
"I've no choice but to attack you UNTIL YOU ARE A STAIN UPON MY CLAWS."
Corona casts prayer to aid her allies.
Laktharis reveals himself and tries to magically hurl Zarnel at Corona.
The assimar, steeled against manipulation, resists the spell.
Round 1-2 - bolded may go
Corona (prayer, AOO?)
Merisiel (prayer)
Zarnel (prayer, AOO?)
Valais
Laktharis (20 ft. up)
Bask (prayer) and Salim (prayer, AOO?)
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As Valais moves past, Zarnel opts not to attack as he doesn't really wish to harm the innocent woman struggling for control of her own body.
He looks up to the ceiling just in time to see Laktharis appear. The holy warrior smiles as he says, "I warned you, demon, and now you shall taste Vildeis' wrath."
"Abide. No. Evil!" he declares as he looses the javelin at Laktharis.
But seeing the demon aloft, he reaches into his pack for a potion , preparing to drink it if the demon does not alight.
Zarnel allows Valais to pass unmolested and hurls a javelin at the now-visible demon. The pint embeds itself deep in its tainted flesh.
The man you saved looks up and says, "That is the one who did this to me! It steals men's souls and makes them its slaves! I tried using both ice and lightning to stave it off, but neither had any effect."
Round 1-2 - bolded may go
Corona (prayer, AOO?)
Merisiel (prayer)
Zarnel (prayer)
Valais
Laktharis (-26 HP, 20 ft. up)
Bask (prayer) and Salim (prayer, AOO?)
Salim looks confused, but does as commanded and tries to bring Valais down without hurting her.
Salim gums Valais and holds her in his mouth, though the position is two awkward to get his claws into her as well. Bask bops her on the head with the hilt of his scimitar.
Round 2 - bolded may go
Corona (prayer, AOO?)
Merisiel (prayer)
Zarnel (prayer)
Valais (33 nonlethal, grappled)
Laktharis (-26 HP, 20 ft. up)
Bask (prayer) and Salim (prayer, grappled)
Corona conjures a ward around herself and the two grapplers.
Valais shakes her head, and her eyes seem clearer. "I am free! Now I can ANNIHILATE ALL WHO OPPOSE ME."
The rogue drinks her potion of invisibility and moves into the room.
Valais chooses not to escape from the lion's mouth. "If
I fight on, Laktharis may JOIN ME IN MY HELLISH CRUSADE. I will hold out as long as I can." She takes as much of a defensive stance as possible while grabbed.
Laktharis shouts, "You will not be free for long, and your friends will join me in service. Now kneel before me!" The force of demonic magic is behind this instruction.
He then moves down toward the Pathfinders.
"You will not control me again AS I WILL DOMINATE YOU."
Round 2-3 - bolded may go
Corona (Will save, prayer, prot-evil)
Merisiel (Will save, prayer)
Zarnel (Will save, prayer)
Valais (33 nonlethal, grappled, prot-evil, total defense)
Laktharis (-21 HP, 5 ft. up)
Bask (Will save, prayer) and Salim (Will save if he understands Common, prayer, grappled, prot-evil)
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"Like Valais, I will not be dominated either," Zarnel sneers at the demon floating just above him. He doesn't bother moving but simply drops the potion at his feet. As the sturdy vial bounces on the stone floor it makes a small 'ting' sound, but Zarnel doesn't even hear it.
There's a roaring in his head as what he calls the Beast within himself breaks free. As it does, he simultaneously calls upon Vildeis to forgive him. Though until She does, he will accept the penance She exacts - the penance of Her Scars.
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With Valais free of her control, Bask gives her an apologetic look, and quickly commands Salim to target the demon. "Attack", he shouts in Osirion (after an emphatic "Good boy" for following his confusing instructions.
He then jumps over Salim's back in a practiced move to bring his scimitar down slicing through the demon.
For his part the celestial lion releases Valais, roars and attacks the demon.
Zarnel fights off the demon's influence, but is using more effort maintaining control than aiming his strikes.
Bask also has trouble striking the airborne demon as he tries to keep his mind clear.
Salim, free of any concept of language, can focus entirely on causing damage, and eventually finds the perfect place to rake one set of claws across Latkahris' stitched flesh.
Round 3 - bolded may go
Corona (Will save, prayer, prot-evil)
Merisiel (Will save, prayer)
Zarnel (prayer)
Valais (33 nonlethal, prot-evil, total defense)
Laktharis (-55 HP, 5 ft. up)
Bask (prayer) and Salim (prayer, prot-evil)
Having resisted the command to kneel, Merisiel takes a step beside and throws her dagger at Laktharis.
However, the command did distracted her, making her dagger less accurate. She sighes as her figure is revealed.
Despite being hidden, Merisiel still can't hit the demon.
Corona barely holds out against the demon's influence. She figures it has bones, and decides to shake them.
Laktharis keeps his bones from shaking too much.
Valais takes the opportunity to move herself out of the demon's line of sight.
Laktharis' wounds stitch together, and he tries to heal himself further.
"I will taste your angel's blood again once I have finished you all off."
A part of Zarnel recognizes the familiarity of the demon's touch. The rest objects strenuously, and two furious cuts from his greatsword are enough to drop the demon to the ground.
The moment Laktharis dies, his remnants rapidly decompose while colorful spirals of planar energy crackle and swirl around his corpse. A similar burst of violet energy rises from Valais’s kalavakus parts and joins the planar maelstrom around Laktharis’s body. The energy swirls into a small vortex before collapsing on itself and vanishing completely. Thurl’s notes fly off of the demon’s body and scatter about the room.
As Laktharis falls, Valais breathes heavily and thanks the Pathfinders for their help. “He’s gone, I don’t hear him whispering in my ear any longer. Perhaps that is the answer? Perhaps we must track down the other demon Thurl used to build my body and destroy it. Whatever happens next, thank you for keeping me alive. I hope Thurl’s notes will help us.”
The man you rescued, who now has time to introduce himself as Kitarlo, excitedly listens to tales of the Pathfinders 'adventure, Thurl’s experiments, and Valais’s transformation. He speaks directly to Valais.
“Your story intrigues me. I can ease your mind, but I cannot help you this moment. There is one possibility I know of, but it requires access to a very special library. In Heaven, there is a place called the Great Library of Harmonious Scripture, which, among other things, contains a record of every sacred ceremony that has ever been performed. A contact of mine owes me a favor; perhaps with his help we can get you the information you need to restore yourself, body and soul. Of course, your way also seems to work, though it requires much more violence.” He eyes the corpse of Laktharis. “What will you try first: hunt down and slay the other demon whose body is incorporated into yours or seek the help of archons, whose procedures can take many years to navigate?”
Valais’s eyes flit between the celestial being and the demonic corpse, and then land on her fellow Pathfinders. “You’ve helped me face what has happened to me as no one has before. I trust your wisdom. What do you think I should do?”
[b]"Valais, you are not a paladin of my order, so my edicts do not govern you. But were it me, I would chase this other demon down to the ends of Golarion. My Oath to Vildeis requires it," Zarnel states solemnly. He covers his eyes with one hand for a moment, then touches his scarred breastplate. "One part of my Oath to Her says, 'Evil does not rest, so good cannot either. I will not be complacent, but rather seek out evil to oppose.' See no evil; abide no evil," he finishes quietly. "But you must follow your own heart in this matter."
Bask is hesitant to disagree with his noble ally, but he does so all the same. "I am no scholar or theologian, but it seems to me Valais that hunting down this other demon is embracing the rage that has infected you. This heavenly lead seems a way to reject it."
Kitarlo approaches the staff and examines it carefully. "This also has Abyssal taint upon it. I know a ritual to cleanse it, but do not have the strength myself to do so, so I will need to instruct you if you intend to purify it."
Once you return to Starrise Spire, Venture-Captain Jorsal is eager to hear what progress you’ve made locating a suitable site for the crusade’s new fortress. Ollysta Zadrian speaks with Valais before addressing the Pathfinders.
“I’m happy to hear that Valais’s mind is clearer; she seems happier than I’ve even seen her since we recovered her from Thurl’s laboratory. You’ve given her real hope, something she has lacked recently. Thank you.”
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Corona considers the two paths that stretch before Valais, as well as the counsel that both Zarnel and Bask have already offered. "New Friend...I think it depends on how long you think you can wait. Hunting down the other demon might be faster and maybe it'll feel more satisfying in the short term, but...I dunno. Getting the resources of Heaven itself to help sounds like a really big - and rare - deal. I think you should take advantage of it, if you think you can hold on as you are a little while longer."
"As far as the cleansing ritual goes, um, we should probably try and purify it before we take it anywhere - just in case," she adds.
Corona's historical knowledge is enough to help Kitarlo with the ritual, but she cannot understand the rest of the process.
Bask consults some notes he was carrying and takes care of the religious aspect of the ritual.
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Zarnel is able to handle the fancy wording of the ritual. None of the Pathfinders quite has the magic down, but the combined effort of everyone is still enough to remove the corruption from the staff.
Valais sees that the Pathfinders are as torn as she is about her next set of actions, though they lean toward trying the library. I will consider your recommendation, but I need time to contemplate the problem," she says, losing herself in thought for much of the return trip.
Back at the lodge, Jorsal listens to your report. “Congratulations on making contact with such a powerful celestial ally. Kitarlo’s plan to gain Heaven’s aid could work, but archons often have larger concerns than a single mortal soul. Azatas have good intentions, but they always not reliable. I would hate to get Valais’s hopes up.”
“Ah, but now is not the time to fret about the risks in Valais’s future. Now is the time to celebrate the fact that she has a way forward, and that the Worldwound has lost a powerful demon that was tricking and exploiting innocent Sarkorians. Thank you, Pathfinders. May the Dawnflower’s light illuminate your path.”
In the coming months, Valais’s condition continues to improve. With only one demonic essence to counter, she enjoys the relative quiet within her mind. Though her dreams are still sometimes nightmarish and violent, she is hopeful, and she believes that she will one day fully recover.