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Rauf and Salissa (witha little bit of help) are able to discover the secret.
You find a stone structure with two entrances: one of the entrances has a great door sealing it shut, and the other entrance is partially collapsed and flooded.
This must be what the demons have been seeking.
Near the entrance a crate lies open, among its contents are a bronze bull pendant, an effervescent ampoule, and an emerald grasshopper.
Calisro steps up quickly in your wake. "The time is nigh. Here --- the Snapdragon’s quartermaster has been busy collecting what cold iron she can from the ship, she's melted it down, and worked it into these. You may need them where you are going!"
As Enava appears inside the temple with a snap of magic, the ever-existing hurricane fall silent. Outside, a calm descends on the island. An eye forms around it, though the new storm walls roil with malicious energy. A thick amber light illuminates the island and spills into the temple.
The Chthonic temple has been worn clean through years of exposure to the elements. In its center, a sanctuary sinks into the ground. At its nadir, Enava and Sharkskin lay out ritual implements like they’re preparing for surgery. Next to them, a wooden table serves as a replacement for an altar. Beneath the table lays an intricate carving of a Chthonic seal.
Enava’s face tips upward, and an expression of disdain follows. “Ah, guests,” she says. “No time like the present, then.”
“I won’t do this,” Sharkskin says as Enava reaches for her selected dagger. “I have—”
Enava pushes Sharkskin toward the table, cutting off xir statement. A stab of the dagger follows, aimed at xir heart. Xe turns away, xir arm hitting the weapon and causing it to clatter to the ground. Even with the worst of the blow prevented, the strike’s force cuts through armor. Blood wells from the wound. The first drop falls on the ground below.
The water rises.
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The floor of this vast temple steadily slopes downward. At its center, an inverted pyramid drops down another 10 feet. Four columns enclose a square, where a makeshift altar has been constructed out of a table. Under the altar, a seal craved into the rock cracks open, revealing the core of the island. The same sickly amber that rings the hurricane shines from within. Water spills out of it, flooding this chamber.
The demonic woman (Enava) stands in the center, lording over a terrified looking Nephilim (Sharkskin). Two other demons close in on you from the flanks.
"Now, how do we proceed? Perhaps you should approach and we can negotiate what will happen next?" Enava purrs.
She immediately disappears, only to suddenly reappear next to Dennis. "Or maybe I come to you, handsome." and surrounds the young fighter in a passionate embrace.
Purple Enava <embracing Dennis>
Dorgath
Red Demon
Ra'uf
Salissa
Dennis <grabbed>
Lootie
Orange Demon
Slipp
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Dorgath considers the "lady" but his scimitar appears with an unformed blade.
One of the lesser demons stumbles to the side of their mistress and suddenly vague warnings about impending doom and harm fill your minds...
Purple Enava <embracing Dennis>
Dorgath
Red Demon
Ra'uf
Salissa
Dennis <grabbed>
Lootie
Orange Demon
Slipp
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Seeing a succubus in their midst, Lootie plays a courageous tune!
Slowing the rhythm down, he dilates time around the demon.
Slow
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Dennis coils in response to being grabbed by the girl demon. He cries, "Ewww. Let me go! You're gross!" He immediately tries to wriggle free
Dennis feels it's definitely in his best interest to escape. And soon. He decides to try to frighten her first. "Look, Miss! If you don't let go of me right now, I'm gonna be mad. I might even have a tantrum. And you're gonna get poked. A lot!"
He hopes that scared her, but maybe not. He just knows he has to get away. He pounds on her trying to escape.
Hopefully free, Dennis backs away to get a clear shot at anyone approaching him again.
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Ra'uf moves under the protective branches of the tree and swings his axe through the foes.
◆ Step
◆ Strike vs. Purple
◆ Strike vs. Red
He cleaves through the minion and strikes the succubus on the backswing.
Critical Specialization - Choose one creature adjacent to the initial target and within reach. If its AC is lower than your attack roll result for the critical hit, you deal damage to that creature equal to the result of the weapon damage die you rolled (including extra dice for its striking rune, if any).
He then prepares to free any other embraced allies. (Since we have another grabber, he will wait for a Grab rather than reacting to the first damage.)
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
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Lootie starts the final performance and slows down the succubus. Dennis struggles and eventually pulls away (only barely!) from the amorous demon. She squeals at the spurned advance.
Ra'uf steps in and lashes out hard at the pair. Salissa fortifies the area and sneaks in a strong blast.
As the remaining demon closes in, you can see it stumbles a bit through the pews.
Purple Enava -54 damage <slowed 1>
Dorgath
Red Demon
Lootie <frightened 1>
Dennis
Ra'uf
Salissa
Orange Demon -34 damage
Slipp
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With three horrid foes before them, Slipp channels their inner troll.
"Begone!!!!!!!!!!!!!" they cry out, flames striking out from each of their eyes, with a third blast from between them heading straight for Enava herself.
Unfortunately the orange demon seems to unnerve the upbeat gnome a bit, and all their blasts are off target.
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Slipp loses some of their mojo, but holds off most of the intruding thoughts. They miss so badly, in fact, that the orange demon seems weakened by the hope implicit in the failure...
The water continues to fill the inverted temple, completely submerging the central area. Sharkskin, still grievously wounded, crawls to the edge of the deluge.
Enava reaches out longingly to Dennis (as if to forget him) and then turns her widening eyes to the champion before her.
"Perhaps you then will succumb to my gifts..." She latches on and plants a kiss on the bloodhound's lips, her body writhing from the thrill of it all.
Purple Enava -44 damage
Dorgath
Red Demon -34 damage
Lootie <frightened 1>
Dennis
Ra'uf -10 damage <grabbed by Enava, drained 1>
Salissa
Orange Demon <stunned 1>
Slipp <frightened 1>
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Dorgath summons divine influence to panic the demons. It works quite well and the lesser demons whine in doubt of their own power. One waddles toward the growing pool and is poked by Dennis' eager spike as it flees.
Purple Enava -44 damage <frightened 2>
Dorgath
Red Demon -57 damage <frightened 2>
Lootie <frightened 1>
Dennis
Ra'uf -10 damage <suggested, grabbed by Enava, drained 1>
Orange Demon <stunned 1, frightened 3, fleeing>
Slipp <frightened 1>
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Salissa looks at the growing pool of water with dismay. "Sssomthing needsss be done to yon pool lessst it engulf usss. The pirate queen'sss sssacrifice ssstill livesss. Perhapsss my healing watersss can forssstall catassstrophe."
She hurries towards the water and pushes the fish demon out of her way.
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When the demons look frightened, Dennis says to Dorgath. "Nice one! They're just a bunch of scaredy-cats." Then turning his attention to Enava, he shouts, "You let go of my friend!" The youngster moves into position to get a clear shot at both enemies, and stabs Enava twice.
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The assault on Enava begins...
Lootie's wire strikes first, sizzling her where she sits. Dennis' righteous thrusts push her away from her latest paramour. Enava winces at the sudden rejection once again and seems to be contemplating...something.
Salissa takes on her prey nearer to the growing deluge as the confused orangish demon slips back through the pews towards the shaking walls.
Purple Enava -93 damage <frightened 2>
Dorgath
Red Demon -57 damage <frightened 2>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa
Orange Demon <frightened 2>
Slipp <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -10 damage <suggested but still willing, drained 1>
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Slipp's bolts fly but only into the quaking surroundings.
As the demonic seal in the center continues to crack, a great rumbling echoes from far beneath the isle. Even dulled by water and stone, it’s clear that something enormous tries to break out. Sharkskin continues to slowly move away from the rising waters, xir blood leaving a wispy red mix behind on the advancing waters.
Enava runs through her dwindling options and decides to step away from Dennis' poker and blink away again to finish off the nephilim and complete the ritual?
Purple Enava -93 damage <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -10 damage <still willing to be embraced but can otherwise act (see discussion), drained 1>
Dorgath
Red Demon -57 damage <frightened 2>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa
Orange Demon <frightened 2>
Slipp
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Dorgath smirks as the Succubus flees from him and his allies, but his grin is quickly replaced with concern as water continues to flow from the widening hole in the center of the temple. He quickly moves, hoping to finish off the demon with Sarenrae's holy scimitar
as he finds himself closing in on the previously fleeing fish demon, a fear grips Dorgath
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A more composed Ra'uf takes out his romantic frustration on one of the remaining demons.
The other one pushes off into the deep and takes a chance at hampering Salissa. It whips its dorsal fins around her as it retreats and fills her head with ways she will soon die!
Dorgath <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -10 damage <drained 1, frightened 1>
Red Demon -57 damage <frightened 1>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa
Orange Demon -30 damage <frightened 2>
Slipp
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Lootie's curious about our blue friend hanging near the water. He casts warp step to get near and tries to figure out his involvement.
"Hello my friend. I am Lootie Kriss, the world famous musician and Pathfinder. You may not have heard of me stuck on this island for so many years, but I hope you're enjoying my performance. I see you're avoiding the water flooding this chamber. Would you be able to help us stop it?"
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Lootie tries to parley the pit-born pirate.
Wounded and fearful of what is happening in the temple, xe responds though gritted teeth. "I don't know why she cut into me. I thought she was my friend and we were just... seeking treasure. But not this... I don't know how to stop such calamity!"
Dennis continues the assault on the demons, his first poke striking true but the second so off-the-mark that once again he instills hope in the pathetic wretch and stuns it.
Dorgath <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -10 damage <drained 1, frightened 1>
Red Demon -57 damage <frightened 1>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa
Orange Demon -60 damage <frightened 2, stunned 1>
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"'Twasss foolish of thee to trussst the likesss of Enava. Dorgath, pray use thine magicsss to mend our gullible friend'sss woundsss whilssst I attempt to dissscern the ssscope of Enava'sss treachery."
Salissa dives into the ever-growing pool of water. She creates a wooden dagger which she uses to slash at the fish demon as she passes.
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Salissa dives into the deep and slashes the demon along the way. As she nears the crack in the center of the temple, the still-blurry face of an even larger demon is starting to take shape far, far below, but rising ever-closer to the surface.
As the walls start to crack, the land-locked demon lashes its fins out at the champion and his mind fills with invasive thoughts of his imminent demise.
The waters continue to steadily rise - now filling the entire temple to a depth of two-feet.
Dorgath <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -22 damage <drained 1, frightened 1>
Red Demon -71 damage <frightened 1, 5 feet down>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa -7 damage <frightened 1, 10 feet down>
Orange Demon -60 damage <frightened 1>
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The shoony dodges out of the way. He quickly patches himself up and then swings twice at his enemy.
◆ Lay on Hands
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
He can't quite shake off his fear of these creatures, but he is still ready to defend Dennis (or any other ally who approaches).
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
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Dorgath begins to panic slightly as the water fills the temple. He yells over to Lootie, "Best we get him on his feet and ready for retreat! This water is going to fill the temple soon!"
He then takes a moment to study the suspected ritual site to better understand how he might stop such things from passing.
(+15-1w/frightened religion to recall knowledge/see what we can do to stop this water)
Regardless of what he learns, Dorgath focuses on his scimitar to lash out at orange as Rauf and Dennis have pinned it between them
He then begins to slowly make his way over towards the figure the succubus was attempting to attack before she was ended
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Slipp is able to sneak in a blast of fire and Dorgath follows up with the righteous blade. Ra'uf is unable to take further advantage of the sudden gang-up.
The demon below whips its tail at Salissa and tries to invade her mind again, before sinking to her level.
Slipp
-------------------
Dorgath <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -16 damage <drained 1, frightened 1>
Red Demon -71 damage <10 feet down on temple floor>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa -33 damage <frightened 1, 10 feet down on temple floor>
Orange Demon -93 damage <frightened 1>
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When everyone starts ganging up on the near enemy, Dennis shouts with glee. "Yay! A demon-killing party." He comments,"I love parties." Getting distracted, he adds, "My mama says I eat too much sugar at parties. She says it's the last thing I need." He shrugs, "I don't know about that. But I do know how to kill demons!" Focusing on the flanked enemy, the youngster poke-poke-pokes!
or
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Lottie peers over the pew down into the watery mess and snaps a half dozen missiles into the demon in the depths.
The fighter's first poke finishes the demon's day and Dennis traipses on to the final foe.
Slipp
-------------------
Dorgath <frightened 1>
Ra'uf -16 damage <drained 1, frightened 1>
Red Demon -92 damage <10 feet underwater on temple floor>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa -33 damage <frightened 1, 10 feet underwater on temple floor>
Orange Demon -112 damage <destroyed>
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Salissa silences the last demon in the deep and the air in the temple softens slightly. After a brief pause, the water starts to recede but the crack under the makeshift altar begins to widen again, albeit at drastically slower pace. There may, in fact, be time to repair it.
Sharkskin mutters sheepishly through heavy eyes. "I am sorry for what has transpired but I cannot be around for what happens next." Xe pulls out a small vial, quaffs it and races from the chamber at preternatural speed.
The bat-like face of a massive demon peers up from the depths, its piercing eyes pulling you to the brink of death!
Slipp
Dorgath
Ra'uf -16 damage <drained 1>
Red Demon -109 damage <destroyed>
Lootie
Dennis
Salissa -26 damage <10 feet down on temple floor>
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Dennis cheers when the last demon falls. "Yay!" Staring at Sharkskin across the room, "Wait! You were helping them? Why?" When xe runs away, Dennis calls out, "You're not brave. At all."
Dennis is too far away from the altar to look into the crack, but he readies himself in case something else comes through.
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Eando and Calisro trudge in through the water-logged entrance, carrying the water-tight chest you found in the wreckage of the Whippoorwill. They lug it to the pew nearest to the crack and heave it up to set it down.
"The rest of the Pathfinders have secured the island from the demonic blood-invasion. They have bought us some time. Here, this must be the focus of the island. Without it Enava had no chance of success..." Eando announces.
He opens the chest to reveal the lighting rod-shaped Forked Key and continues "We must cleanse it, though, it still radiates some hint of ill from all it has been through - from what it has protected."
The island shakes again and the crack widens. A guttural moan issues from the deep below.
"We haven't much of that time you spoke of, Eando." Calisro adds with a nervous smile.
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Dennis is excited when his faction leader, Calisro, along with someone else, brings in the large chest. "Can I see? Can I see?" He pushes his way through to get a good view.
When he sees the lightning rod, he gets excited. When he's told it needs cleansing, he slinks back into the small crowd. He admits, "I didn't get good grades in magic classes at the academy." He sheepishly explains, "I might've played hooky to train in the courtyard ..." He proudly says, "... but I got top marks in PE!"
However, as everyone excitedly gathers around the magic item, Dennis doesn't wanna be left out, "I wanna help! Can I?" He tries to recall one of the few magic books he actually read.