EbonFist's 7-26 All the Gods Below (Inactive)

Game Master EbonFist

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25 vs DC 30

Diazepane drank an extract of echolocation earlier, when we encountered the mist. I think that should still be up.

Daedîn eyes the room warily…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

…and, with a furrowed brow, points out on the south wall, nine of the stone blocks are merely panels arranged in a 3-by-3-panel matrix and there is a tenth panel in the west wall…

I have no detection ability other than Perception (which is also used when I’m tracking)…

Detecting of Chaos, Magic, and Deathwatch

Nadya has no ambient detection abilities, per se. She relies on spells and equipment as the situation dictates. For instance, she has Goggles of Night when she needs darkvision, but otherwise has normal human vision.

Nadya takes note of the room and its strange panels, once Daedin points them out.

"A most curious closet, and an apparent dead end. But all indications are that this should be the way to the god lab. Perhaps there is a secret door about somewhere?"

She casts Detect Magic then begins to examine the panels.

The panels do not detect as magical but Nadya detects magic under the floor.

The tenth panel on the side proves to hide a secret compartment that contains cloak of the bat, a bracelet of friends and a headband of mental prowess +2 (Wis and Cha).

There is also a metal switch at the back of the niche.

To be clear, the magic items behind the tenth panel and the magical ping under the floor are separate, or the same?

"Who wants to throw the switch and see what happens?"

To be clear, the magic items behind the tenth panel and the magical ping under the floor are separate, or the same?

They are separate. The tenth panel (and associated magical auras) is in the western wall, the other nine panels are in the southern wall and there is a magical aura under the floor.

"There is magic below the floor. It could be another magical trap." says Nadya. "Though it would be surprising to impose another level of security on this lab, but leave valuable magical items lying about to be easily found."

She pauses, then pulls out her notes from the owb library room. She scans through them silently for a moment, then speaks again.

"Ah. Here it is. 'To access the god lab, remember that when in the ethereal southeast, the lurker at the threshold shall be mine.' I believe there is a clue in this statement."

"The wording struck me strangely at the time. The 'ethereal southeast'? The ethereal is not present in any direction, it is plane that equally underlies all of our material world. Perhaps there is some clue on the ethereal plane in this spot that solves this puzzle? If my sense of direction does not fail me, we are at least now in the room farthest to the southeast of any we have visited in this complex."

"Remember also, in the same cubbyhole, we found these two magical spell scrolls -- one for see invisibility and one for true seeing. If we use one of them, it might allow us to see clue from the ethereal plane."

"Shall we try that?"

"Save the scroll"

Svetlana concentrates for a moment and calls forth an elf. When it moves, parts of its body dissolve into golden, crystalline dust, swirling without wind, condensing into winding, artistic coils of symbols and equations before reforming into flesh a moment later.

"Use your True Seeing on my companion"

Summon Axiomite
Axiomite uses True Seeing on Nadya - 9 minutes

Will keep the Axiomite for the duration of the summon

Diazepane will loiter.

”So…guessing I should wait to flip the switch? Just tell me when…”

All is revealed to Nadya's eyes by the otherplanar creature's spell. She sees that 6 of the panels are actually inscribed with ethereal runes.

She recognizes that they are written in Aklo and that they have the following meanings -

Panel 1: at the; Panel 2: threshold; Panel 3: mine; Panel 4: shall; Panel 5: be; Panel 6: the lurker

You can see the panels/runes on Slide 4.

Seeing the Aklo symbols on the panels, she casts Comprehend Languages to understand them.

"Ah. Is word puzzle." she says with a little chuckle.

With no further ado, she sets about moving the tiles so that they are in the proper order, reflecting the phrase from the research notes: 'The lurker at the threshold shall be mine.'

Panel order: 6, 1, 2, 4, 5, 3

This done, she reaches down and confidently pulls the metal switch.

Diazepane is dismayed at the speed at which Nadya solved that.

Could he ... not be the smartest person ever to grace the face of Golarion?

"Be prepared to cast Haste" Svetlana directs the Axiomite - loud enough for people to know to be ready if things go awry!

With certain celerity Nadya solves the code. Almost before anyone can react she pulls the lever and the floor disappears.

Only to reveal a layer beneath that includes a circle filled with arcane symbols and runes that covers the entire floor.

There is only an instant to take that in before there is a flash of light and the room disintegrates around them only for another place to take its place around them.

An acrid tang fills the air in this tall, lightless chamber. A series of metal rebar platforms connected by steel staircases descend in a counterclockwise spiral from corner to corner. A faint circle of amber light glows on the surface of the uppermost platform where you are standing.

We're on slide four (which is different from what slide 4 was yesterday. You teleported in on the platform at the top right.

there is a flash of light and the room disintegrates around them ...

"Noooooooo...."

... only for another place to take its place around them.

"....oh."

Anyone watch the Star Trek TNG episode where Barkley is terrified of using the transporter and described teleportation as being disintegrated and sent flying through subspace, and everyone looks at HIM like HE'S crazy?

---

We're on slide four

Putting Diazepane's icon on the platform, but he's going to spread his wings to fly before descending, and just float down rather than deal with staircase shenanigans.

Svetlana just narrows her eyes as she expects danger.

Axiomite still up for now, bit sure how many rounds have elapsed

Haste on the party - 9 rounds

it looks like there’s green liquid at the bottom of the stairs? How far down is it? Do we see any professors out for a swim?

Oh, teleportation brings up all sorts of metaphysical questions. Like, does it just destroy the person every time and create a new copy? And, if so, does that mean that the original soul (if you believe in such things) pass on to the afterlife and a new one get generated for the copy? Or not?

Nadya moved fast while solving the puzzle so we'll say this is the beginning of round 4 for the Axiomite.

There is, indeed, a pool of green liquid at the bottom of the stairs. You assume that it is the source of the acrid smell. You don't see any creatures in it. It is 120' down (each set of stairs is 30' down and across.)

Diazepane will spread his wings and descend slowly down the center, matching the descent of the rest of the party.

Seeing the liquid covering the floor, Nadya clucks her tongue.

”They have flooded basement. This is what happens when you have lab under ocean, yes?” she says with a wise shake of her head.

The priestess turns to Svetlana and casts Freedom of Movement on her.

”You do not need to be prophet to know that something must be down there.” she comments.

Since there is a counter going, I'm going to keep us in rounds, but I'll assume that everyone is following the leader, so feel free to move round by round and as soon as someone gets somewhere that may or may not be trigger something, we'll shift to initiative.

I think with our hasted speed I can cover the whole staircase in a round. Svetlana is planning on simply heading down the stairs looking for any obvious levers switches or controls.

Nadya will make her way down to the southwest landing, then cast Bless on the party and wait for developments.

Svetlana makes her way to the lowest platform in only a few seconds. A moment after she gets there telepathic message that sounds more like a searing cacophony of grinding blades and screeching insects than it does anything natural fills your minds.

“Filthy mortals! For far too long was I slave to lesser souls—those grease stains on the palms of beasts. No longer! Sweet, pitiless voracity! Yes, I have consumed them, and on the fruits of their panic I feed, and I grow, and I shall rise to heights of divine glory! Bow before a god reborn, or be the first of mortalkind to know your doom!”

A creature that looks like a majestic cross between a deformed hydra and a purple slime rises out of the acid, seemingly unharmed by it.

A thin purple fog roils out covering the lowest platform and much of the area around it, including 20' above and below.

Round 1, the BOLD may act
Anyone in the purple circle or entering it (it extends 20' above and below the platform, as well) must make a DC 20 Will Save.)
Diazepane
Plum Pudding
Svetlana
Daedin
Nadya
Kal'Ryon

“Filthy mortals! For far too long was I slave to lesser souls—those grease stains on the palms of beasts. No longer! Sweet, pitiless voracity! Yes, I have consumed them, and on the fruits of their panic I feed, and I grow, and I shall rise to heights of divine glory! Bow before a god reborn, or be the first of mortalkind to know your doom!”

While the priestess always maintains a breezy contempt for wickedness and hubris, she becomes particularly vexed by blasphemy, and this slimy tentacle monster’s pretensions to divinity particularly stick in her craw. But what really pushes her over the edge is being called ‘filthy’ by a ball of purple goo. That was just rude.

”Just new reason to hate Nidal.” she grumbles as she prepares to act.

Everyone remember your buffs. We are Hasted and Blessed, Svetlana has Freedom of Movement, Nadya should still have True Seeing. Which I’m guessing doesn’t penetrate the purple fog?

Diazepane should have echolocation, and vertically, he should be at the same height that Svetlana (or whoever's first) is.

"We've got company!" he yells.

Knowledge: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Arcana/nature +24, planes/local +21, others +9

Bomb, RS, PBS: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 2 + 1 = 20 vs touch
Cold, PBS: 7d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 4, 6, 2, 6) + 8 + 1 = 38 plus DC 24 Fort vs staggered
Force, PBS: 7d4 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2) + 8 + 1 = 24 plus DC 24 Reflex vs prone

Bomb, RS, PBS: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 2 + 1 = 16 vs touch
Cold, PBS: 7d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 6, 1, 2, 6) + 8 + 1 = 34 plus DC 24 Fort vs staggered
Force, PBS: 7d4 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3) + 8 + 1 = 25 plus DC 24 Reflex vs prone

Bomb, RS, PBS, iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 27 vs touch
Cold, PBS: 7d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 2, 5, 3, 3) + 8 + 1 = 29 plus DC 24 Fort vs staggered
Force, PBS: 7d4 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3) + 8 + 1 = 31 plus DC 24 Reflex vs prone

We are all Hasted if that matters - didn't see it in your sums :)

The mist does not block vision at all so there are no penalties to see or hit it, but Diazepane and Svetlana need to make Will Saves. And yes, the Haste bumps Svetlana up in initiative order.

Much to Diazepane's dismay every single one of his bombs misses, though the splashing cold as they shatter in the acid causes it to hiss and the goo to crystalize.

He knows why as he realizes some facts about it.

Round 1, the BOLD may act
Anyone in the purple circle or entering it (it extends 20' above and below the platform, as well) must make a DC 20 Will Save.)
Diazepane
Svetlana
Plum Pudding -22HP
Daedin
Nadya
Kal'Ryon

Will 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

The Hellknight steps forward and lunges!
Will trigger Smite chaos on speculation, let me know if it is - has not been factored in!

Good/Lawful/Adamantine/Magic/PA/Hasted
Attack 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 21 + 1 = 42
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 23 + (5, 3) = 36
Crit? 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 1 = 37
Add Damage 1d10 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 1 = 37
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 23 + (5, 6) = 35
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 1 = 34
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 23 + (3, 1) = 30
Crit? 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 1 = 30
Add Damage 1d10 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 = 15
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 23 + (4, 3) = 31
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (5) + 22 = 27 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

The Axiomite casts a spell down into the melee!

Empowered Orders Wrath

Damage 5d8 ⇒ (3, 5, 7, 8, 4) = 27 x 1.5 = 40 Damage
+Dazed
DC 19 Will for Half damage and no Daze

All of my attacks above should be +1 due to haste, and also vs flat-footed touch since the monster hadn't acted yet, although I don't suppose it has much DEX.

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

"This is a Variant Immortal Ichor, a creature created from the lifeblood/vital fluids of a deity!

It has regeneration negated by Good, is amorphous and an ooze, has damage reduction against slashing damage and fire, is immune to acid, bludgeoning, electricity, mind affect effects, and piercing. It is vulnerable to cold and a being that receives spells or abilities from a god can renounce their deity to acknowledge the Immortal Ichor as its deity to solidify it and make it more vulnerable. But that creature would lose those abilities and have to atone to get them back."

Pardon my ignorance, but is there something that makes the bombs miss, or does it just have super high TAC?

It just has a super high deflection style AC all around. So high, in fact, you didn't hit its flatfooted AC, either.

Svetlana leaps into action despite seeing Diazepane's very uncommon lack of success.

She also manages to dial in how to strike the creature with all three of her first strikes hitting and the very first would have struck something vital if there was something vital to strike. It is so potent that it even shakes the creature's confidence.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

It does not seem as harmed by that spell as the axiomite would like.

"How dare you touch, let alone attempt to harm a being so much your superior that you are as a mote of dust in a blazing inferno!"

It moves out of reach of Svetlana then reaches out mentally. The stairs from the third to the bottom platform shake, subtly first then more violently until they are wrenched entirely free and cast into the acid, slipping beneath the surface to disappear.

Round 1/2, the BOLD may act
Anyone in the purple circle or entering it (it extends 20' above and below the platform, as well) must make a DC 20 Will Save.)
The stairs with the big red line are gone. Anyone who has not placed themselves on the map may place themselves on any of the platforms but once you're on the map you can't use the stairs between the bottom and next highest platform.
Diazepane
Svetlana
Plum Pudding -143HP
Daedin
Nadya
Kal'Ryon

To clarify— (a) the platform Nadya is on is still in place, but the stairs from it are pulled down, and it’s about 60 feet to the floor. (b) did Nadya notice any adverse effect to Diazepane or Svetlana from the fog?

Daedin or Kal’ryon, if either of you would like an Align Weapon to make your weapon Good, just whistle, otherwise Nadya will likely make her own attack.

Diazepane will step out of the fog, and throw two more bombs - but more carefully. Just the main attack and the hasted attack.

Frost Bomb, PBS, haste: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 1 + 1 = 35 vs touch
Cold, PBS: 7d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 3, 5, 4, 1) + 8 + 1 = 31 plus DC 24 Fortitude vs staggered

Frost Bomb, PBS, haste, hasted attack: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 14 + 1 + 1 = 36 vs touch
Cold, PBS: 7d6 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 3, 2, 4, 5) + 8 + 1 = 32 plus DC 24 Fortitude vs staggered

Let's goooo

Confirm: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 1 + 1 = 30 vs touch
Extra Cold: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Alchemist bombs only add 1 die on a crit, so if the second attack is a crit, it's 37 cold total (pre-weakness).

15 splash cold on a miss, 15 cold next turn on a hit (sticky).

Thanks, Nadya, but Daedin’s bow already has the Holy attribute, perhaps Kal’ryon can use that…

Sorry, thought I posted this last night…

Daedîn takes a crack at this ‘superior’ creature…

To hit: Base/Dex, Magic, Weapon Focus, Bracers of Lesser Archery, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Deadeye Bowman, Haste
Damage: Magic, Strength, Deadly Aim, Holy

Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 = 21
Magic/Cold Iron/Good Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 6 + (6, 5) = 29
Magic/Cold Iron/Good Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 + 6 + (5, 5) = 22

Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 = 22
Magic/Cold Iron/Good Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 + 6 + (1, 3) = 19

Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 = 34
Magic/Cold Iron/Good Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 6 + (4, 4) = 26

Longbow (Haste): 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 19 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 = 30
Magic/Cold Iron/Good Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 + 6 + (4, 6) = 23

You are correct, Nadya. The platforms are all in place, only the stairs between the lowest two have been ripped away. Svetlana made her save and you don't see anything strange about Diazepane...yet...Mwhahahahaha...*coughcough*

Diazepane dials in his target the second time, creating immortal pudding pops and causing it to shriek in pain, indignation and fury.

Fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

It's titanic Fortitude leaves it unphased by the lingering effects.

Daedin has the same uncharacteristic misses as Diazepane did only seconds before with only one of his arrows striking home. Unfortunately, it passes completely through without doing any lingering damage. (it's immune to piercing.)

Round 1/2, the BOLD may act
Anyone in the purple circle or entering it (it extends 20' above and below the platform, as well) must make a DC 20 Will Save.)
The stairs with the big red line are gone. Anyone who has not placed themselves on the map may place themselves on any of the platforms but once you're on the map you can't use the stairs between the bottom and next highest platform.
Diazepane
Svetlana
Plum Pudding -217HP 44 next turn.
Daedin
Nadya
Kal'Ryon

"...a being that receives spells or abilities from a god can renounce their deity to acknowledge the Immortal Ichor as its deity to solidify it and make it more vulnerable. "

Nadya snorts a sardonic laugh at this.

"I have not lived 48 years and given birth to 6 children in order to worship pile of goo." she scoffs, then draws a card from her deck as well as her Greater Metamagic Rod of Reach. She holds the card high and levels the rod at her foe.

"Return to whatever pit of ooze spawned you, false god! May Pharasma have mercy on whatever passes for your twisted soul!"

Crackling holy energy lances down unerringly at the creature with a crack of booming thunder that reverberates off the walls of the chamber.

Casting Destruction. Fort Save DC 24. 140 points or Successful Save: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 6, 2, 6, 3) = 24

Spell Resistance, if needed: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 2 = 33

The Hellknight continues!

Good/Lawful/Adamantine/Magic/PA/Hasted - Lunge (-2 AC)
Attack 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 21 + 1 = 28
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (10) + 23 + (2, 6) = 41
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 1 = 29
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 23 + (2, 5) = 38
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 = 25
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 23 + (3, 6) = 33
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

Attack 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
Damage 1d10 + 23 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 23 + (3, 2) = 36
+Intimidate 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25 to Demoralise (shaken) vs 10+HD+WisMod

The Axiomite casts another spell down into the melee!

Empowered Orders Wrath

Damage 5d8 ⇒ (6, 2, 8, 4, 5) = 25 x 1.5 = 37 Damage
+Dazed
DC 19 Will for Half damage and no Daze

"I was ancient when Pharasma coalesced from cosmic mud! You will beg to grovel before me!" it replies to Nadya.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Yet, the power of Nadya's spell puts the lie to its claims. It gives a final shriek of indignant rage before dissolving into a purple puddle floating atop the roiling green acid.

Busy day today, I'll post the aftermath tomorrow.

As the quasi-divine gunk is incinerated to motes of black dust in a gout of holy fire, Nadya calmly begins to put her implements away.

”Oh, I’m sorry, you said something?” she asks sweetly.

Assuming no one goes swimming in the boiling acid, soon after the god ichor is slain, you hear the low thrum of powerful pumps and the level of the green liquid starts to go down.

It is a bit of a slow process, though after ten minutes the thousands of gallons of liquid have been pumped out of the chamber.

Although barely perceptible amounts of greenish, glistening acid cling to a few surfaces here and there, this bunkerlike laboratory is surprisingly intact. The room’s steel workstations appear sterile but are arranged messily, with blocky metal desks overturned and chairs flung askew, as if any workers here fled in a panic. To the south is a tiered platform supporting a large vat that is sunken into the floor. To the west is a heavy, riveted, industrial-grade door.

Nadya ties off a rope on the platform where she stands and lowers herself to the floor once the acid has been drained away.

”I’d say Professor was melted in the acid by the “god” in a moment of the world’s most poetic justice, but ridiculous ooze god acted like we were first creatures it had seen. It said we would be first of mortal kind to meet our doom at its… well, not hands. You know what I mean.”

She scans about the room, and checks her boots to see if she has acid or god on the soles. Then she catches the eye of Svetlana and points to the door.

"Interesting door" Svetlana wanders over to the door and looks for an opening mechanism

And opens it

"Could the professor have changed into the ooze god?" Diazepane wonders.

I'll assume that we'll let Daedin check the door for traps first.

I assume it’s the default, just keeping the thread moving :) Also assume we’ve nailed the bbeg so we’re probably safe :p

Daedîn walks up to the industrial sized door to check it out, murmuring, ”Let’s hope this beast of a door isn’t locked or trapped…it might be a doozy to pick…”

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (19) + 25 = 44

…if he finds it locked or trapped, he’ll attempt to unlock or disarm it…

Disable Device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (9) + 28 = 37

…before opening it…

Kal stands aside, looking at the pristine blade in his hands wistfully.

Hello darkness my old friend...