It takes another 20 minutes and a lot of consultation between the Pathfinders in the lead, but they eventually escape the twisting tunnels.
A heavily worn set of stairs leads from claustrophobic tunnels into an eroded cavern studded with sand-scoured crystals that emit cool, faint light. The jagged foundations are all that’s left of metal walls—the fragments of which now jut from the wall like throwing knives. An immense, intricate, thousand-sided polyhedron made of sky metals floats within a tight series of binding circles. As blasts of air erupt from the polyhedron, the surface’s shattered facets regenerate before being blasted apart on another side.
The walls in this area are heavily damaged and only a few inches tall. The lighting here is dim, and the intermittent bursts of wind impose a –2 penalty on ranged attack rolls in this area.
The Pathfinders can explore the room and then attempt to either solve the puzzle orb or deal with the magic circles. You can use Knowledge (Arcana) to determine the properties of the circles or damage them at random. The following skills can be used on the orb: Appraise, Disable Device, Intelligence, Knowledge (religion), Wisdom, or Use Magic Device; or harder Knowledge (any), Linguistics, or Perception check. You can each make one attempt before ...something... happens.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
LN nonbinary aphorite occultist 2 | HP 17/17; mental focus 2/6; crystalline dust 1/2 | AC 21, T 12, F 19 | F +5, R +2, W +4 | Init +2 | DV 60', Perc +5; [reroll used]
Allanarion moves forward to study the circles.
Knowledge (arcana):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
(On my phone at the moment, if someone could move my token next to Moe.)
Allanarion is able to determine the functions of two of the circles.
The second (cyan) circle empowers the guardian creatures here, granting a +1 profane bonus on attack and damage rolls. Furthermore, these creatures begin each encounter with a number of temporary hit points equal to their Hit Dice (minimum 4). Oh, and by the way, there are guardian creatures... somewhere.
The third (orange) circle instills the fear of being buried alive in those who attempt to solve the puzzle orb; they must succeed at a Will save or gain the shaken condition until the end of the next encounter. If the character fails the save by 5 or more, they must succeed at a Fortitude save or begin to suffocate. With each round, he can attempt another Fortitude save to end the effect. This is an evil compulsion and fear effect, and although protection from evil does not protect against it completely, the spell does allow an additional save against the suffocation effect.
Note that you can reach all of the circles without having to move into the spaces they occupy.
Moe, Micah and Dora approach the orb. Knowing what Allanarion has shared, do you still want to try to unlock the orb? If so, make a Will save.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
No, there is nothing at this tier that will overcome Dora's immunities.
Each of the Pathfinders resist the visions of being buried alive that the magic circle tries to implant in their minds. This is a fiendishly difficult puzzle to crack, and you are glad that there are multiple groups of agents willing to work on this, but all three seem to be making progress.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
LN nonbinary aphorite occultist 2 | HP 17/17; mental focus 2/6; crystalline dust 1/2 | AC 21, T 12, F 19 | F +5, R +2, W +4 | Init +2 | DV 60', Perc +5; [reroll used]
What skill is needed to identify the creatures? Allanarion has the following, all at +8: Knowledge (arcana, planes, religion):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Allanarion turns to study the emerging creatures for a moment, but decides that their allies can handle this. They continue studying the magic circles, hoping to find a way to deactivate the the wards (and potentially weaken the guardians).
N (she/her) human brawler (wild child) 1 || HP 13/13 || AC 17/12/15 || Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0 || Perc +4 || Stealth -1 || Speed 30 || Init +6 || Active Conditions: Planetary Adaptation
"Come on, Thor! Let's let the smarties pants folks do their smart thing."
She pauses for a moment, centering herself, then moves up next to the creature, ready to hit next round.
N (he/him) stegosaurus || HP 9 || AC 20/14/16 || Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +1 || Perc +4 (low-light vision, scent) || Stealth +4 || Speed 30 || Init +4 || Active Conditions: none
Thor galumphs to flank with Moe, swinging his tail around to smack the creature.
Ruling is that you can use an action to work on the puzzle during combat, but the DC is higher due to distractions.
Moe calls on the power of his god before approaching the enemy.
Micah protects his eidolon and then asks it to prepare for an attack.
Torrin knocks the red statue to the ground.
Koli takes advantage of everyone swarming the statue.
Allanarion focuses on the circles more, determining many more of their properties.
Circles:
The first (yellow) and fifth (red) circles increase the other three circles’ hardness by 50% and heals them a number of hit points equal to the APL at the end of each combat; the warding circles do not protect or heal each other. These effects are cumulative increasing hardness by 100% and healing twice as many hit points if both warding circles are intact. This healing cannot repair a destroyed circle, however.
The fourth (purple) circle increases the difficulty of all the PCs’ checks to solve the puzzle orb by one step; a Hard skill check DC instead increases by 20% (round down).
The circles can be broken with Disable Device checks as well as damage.
Circles have hardness and take half damage from energy effects other than sonic.
He also recognizes the creatures as celedons, constructs with no subtypes. Three questions.
Dora ignores the fighting and keeps working on the puzzle, but doesn't make any progress.
Dora, Will Save:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
She brushes aside the feeling of dread the puzzle causes.
Thor slams its tail into the fallen statue. It works!
The creature on the ground begins to sing. It sounds like it would be very inspiring, if you were a living statue.
The standing statue moves in, getting bitten once for its troubles. it takes a swing at the eidolon.
LN nonbinary aphorite occultist 2 | HP 17/17; mental focus 2/6; crystalline dust 1/2 | AC 21, T 12, F 19 | F +5, R +2, W +4 | Init +2 | DV 60', Perc +5; [reroll used]
Questions: Weaknesses? DR/hardness? Energy resistances/immunities?
Allanarian shares what they know about celedons as they attempt to break one of the circles. They start with the cyan circle, which is empowering the guardian creatures.
Disable Device:1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 1 = 20
Unless they have to be done in a particular order, in which case, I do that instead.
HP 24 (-0) | Mods: None | NG Male Ifrit (Native Outsider) 3 | AC/Tch/FF 18/13/15 (-1 Shooting Crossbow, Boon v. Crit?) | CMD: 15 | F/R/W +4/+5/+3 (Mods in Profile) | Speed 30ft | Level 1 Spells 4/4, Summon Monster 7/7 | 2 Star Reroll 1/1 | Perc: -1 (Darkvision), SM: -1 | Init: +3
Micah waits on the orb a moment, "Ponya and I will distract this one. You all finish off the others or work on those magic circles. I can help with the orb in a few."
He casts a magical spell, creating a sticky surface under the nearby foe.
The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
With a foe at his feet and the ruined wall between them only a few inches tall (assuming I read the descriptive text above correctly) Moe decides to take advantage of the opportunity and strike!
N (she/her) human brawler (wild child) 1 || HP 13/13 || AC 17/12/15 || Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0 || Perc +4 || Stealth -1 || Speed 30 || Init +6 || Active Conditions: Planetary Adaptation
"Move over, boy," says the brawler as she smacks the statue on the ground, trying to shut it up.
gladius, flanking with gang up, prone:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 for slashing:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
She takes a step into Thor's place, as the dinosaur moves over to flank with Torrin.
N (he/him) stegosaurus || HP 9 || AC 20/14/16 || Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +1 || Perc +4 (low-light vision, scent) || Stealth +4 || Speed 30 || Init +4 || Active Conditions: none
Thor shuffles sideways and continues to beat up the grounded statue.
LN nonbinary aphorite occultist 2 | HP 17/17; mental focus 2/6; crystalline dust 1/2 | AC 21, T 12, F 19 | F +5, R +2, W +4 | Init +2 | DV 60', Perc +5; [reroll used]
Allanarion attempts to disable the purple circle, to make solving the puzzle easier for Dora.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
N (she/her) human brawler (wild child) 1 || HP 13/13 || AC 17/12/15 || Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0 || Perc +4 || Stealth -1 || Speed 30 || Init +6 || Active Conditions: Planetary Adaptation
Koli urges Thor forward to flank with Torrin again. (double move, provokes) She moves up past Allanarion near the orb (if the pink square is an available space without hurting herself, she'll go there to hit the construct. If not, one space back and "help" with the orb.).
dice rolls and stuff:
roll:1d20 ⇒ 14
+5 for Perception
+6 to hit the construct (flanking) for slashing:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
LN nonbinary aphorite occultist 2 | HP 17/17; mental focus 2/6; crystalline dust 1/2 | AC 21, T 12, F 19 | F +5, R +2, W +4 | Init +2 | DV 60', Perc +5; [reroll used]
Allanarion mutters to themself in sing-song Celestial as they continue to work on the purple circle.
CG male human (Chelaxian) warpriest of Cayden Cailean 2 | AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 | Hit Points: 8/17 | Init +3; Senses Perception +1, Sense Motive +1 | Languages: Common | Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4; +2 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting effects for 1 hour after drinking alcohol | Blessings: 3/4
N (she/her) human brawler (wild child) 1 || HP 13/13 || AC 17/12/15 || Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0 || Perc +4 || Stealth -1 || Speed 30 || Init +6 || Active Conditions: Planetary Adaptation
N (he/him) stegosaurus || HP 9 || AC 20/14/16 || Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +1 || Perc +4 (low-light vision, scent) || Stealth +4 || Speed 30 || Init +4 || Active Conditions: none
