Aroden maintains Inspiring Sword (it actually lasts 2 rounds now after a full-round action to activate, but he has nothing that is clearly a better option).
Search Posts
Aroden will indeed step next to Thawm, and use Inspiring Sword. 30' range, and you have to be able to see him.
Aroden moves up and uses Total Defense. He is not in the elevator.
Aroden calls forth holy power from his sword. in a 30' radius.
Aroden will cast before descending:
The demonic whispers remind Aroden of 'His' many, many failures and errors. They tell him that this mortal shell is doomed to fail as well. With effort, he turns his divine will to silencing those doubts. Bolstered by his magic, he succeeds.
"I might suggest, Thawm, that carrying that weapon is not in your best interest." The business with Soulshear reminds Aroden to talk to Sosiel.
Aroden will volunteer to take the first shift.
Aroden first goes to visit Horgus.
Then he goes to check on Jorah's accommodations.
If Jorah accepts a game, Aroden will listen to the dwarf talk, or just play in silence, as Jorah prefers. Then he takes his leave and goes to study spells, scribing Dismissal into the Blessed Book. Spells Prepared the Next Day: 0 (4): Read Magic, Detect Magic', Light', Open/Close
1 (6+1): Mage Armor, Shield, Burning Hands, Magic Missile, Feather Fall, Liberating Command', +True Strike 2 (6+1): Tenacious Shield, Burst of Radiance', Darkvision, Force Sword (2), Spear of Purity, +Tenacious Heightened Awareness' 3 (4+1): Haste, Heroism, Fireball, Dispel Magic', +Tenacious See Invisibility 4 (3+1): Dimension Door, Conjuration Foil, Tenacious Communal Resist Energy', +Arcane Eye 5 (2+1): Life Bubble', Dismissal, +Telepathic Bond ' are also Druid spells and so benefit from Yuelral's Blessing, and are CL10 now for increased duration.
If there is time back at camp, Aroden would like to try to learn Dismissal from the damaged spellbook found at Blackwing. This will take 1 hour to learn the spell and 5 hours to scribe it. He will use the new Blessed Book, so there is no scribing cost. The Spellcraft check is DC 20, and Aroden has a +16, so he should be able to Take 10 and make it. The question is whether he has 6 hours to spare. He would like to take at least some time to check in with Jorah and see how the dwarf is doing. If he can't find the time to add the spell, that's okay, he will prep other spells and get to that one when he has time.
Cecily continues her deep thinking. "Ghosts. When you explained my armor wand, that should protect me from ghosts, yes? What about my shield? That is similar magic. Perhaps we should rest." "Yes, the spells of Shield and Mage Armor will both protect against the touch of the spectres. With both spells on you, plus your agility, I imagine you would be well-protected."
"A pair of spectres lurk below. I would not suggest going down there unprepared. When we decide to go, Sir Tandyn should be in the Ghost Touch armor, and I can prepare a Force Sword to hand to him or Cecily. Or both."
"You see Ahmose, I have used the spell of Clairvoyance to overcome the bane of stealthy scouts everywhere - a closed door.
Based on the directions from Ahmose, Aroden will cast Clairvoyance and put the the sensor 15' east past the doors that Ahmose saw. Unlike other scrying spells, this spell does not allow magically or supernaturally enhanced senses to work through it. If the chosen locale is magically dark, you see nothing. If it is naturally pitch black, you can see in a 10-foot radius around the center of the spell’s effect.
"Rocks can melt and re-form with intense heat, as in a volcano. But originally, the first rocks would have come from the creation of the world. In the case of Golarion, that would be millions of years in the past. The followers of Torag teach that he created the world; I cannot say for certain if that is true. But I believe he has always had a particular fondness for rocks."
Aroden will prepare Darkvision into his open 4th-level slot, then cast it on himself. Spells Remaining: 1: Shield, Burning Hands, Thunderstomp, True Strike
2: Resist Energy (2) 3: Fireball, Clairvoyance/Clairaudience 4: Conjuration Foil, True Strike
No, Aroden is not going to cast Clairvoyance on a total guess of location. Nurah points to one of the doors in the planning room, marked as a storeroom on your maps, stairs leading downward into darkness await, ”Thelvihix is down there Dorek. I hope you’re ready. Maybe we should see if Soltengrebbe had anything helpful, before your reunion.” "I'd like to place the sensor in a room at the end of these stairs. Any ideas how I find out the distance?"
"Could we get a layout of the place from Nurah or Jorah?"
"I could keep going. But, as Ahmose suggests, it might be wiser to regroup, rest, and prepare new spells. I believe I can learn some of the ones from Aravashnial's spellbook that had been beyond me. Dismissal could help if Chorussina is adept at conjuration. As could a Magic Circle. There is a level below, where Thelvihix is? Possibly Chorussina as well? Given a knowledge of the layout, I might be able to cast Clairvoyance for some information. I do have that spell ready."
Spells remaining, not counting newly-gained slots: 1: Shield, Burning Hands, Thunderstomp, True Strike 2: Resist Energy (2) 3: Fireball, Clairvoyance/Clairaudience 4: Conjuration Foil, Open Slot, True Strike
Focusing his divine power, he tries to shake off the evil power of the Nabasu.
His protective spells expired, he dons his chain shirt again.
"Nocticula is the demon lord of Succubi. Incredibly evil and clever. Succubi are all about temptation, deception, and manipulation. If you know you are dealing with one, it is best to assume that they are trying to trick you and that you aren't good enough to tell what their game is. Very few mortals are capable of seeing through the lies of a Succubus. I'd sooner believe a Schir, Brimorak, or Babau that claimed it had seen the light than believe a Succubus. Because, again, they are all about subtle manipulation and are better at it than just about any other demon.
"I cannot yet cast the spells required to purge the Corruption Forge. Dispel Evil and Dispel Chaos. I can instruct Sosiel to prepare such spells if possesses the ability."
"Yes, Dorek. Deskari was driven back the Abyss but was not destroyed.
Aroden looks annoyed but only says "There are many gods of which we might speak."
"Thank you, Jorah.
Aroden's level-up:
Aroden's taking one of those bottles of ale. He goes to the liquor cabinet, takes a bottle, and takes a modest-sized swig. Not a sip, but not a challenge to Jorah either. Just drinking alongside him. "Jorah. That was well fought. Do not mistake me; I had never intended to ask you to fight your kin. But you struck blows against the minotaurs and that wasp. And we held up our end of the bargain, keeping you safe from Staunton should he have wished to kill you." He thinks for a minute. "I don't know why you chose to follow Droskar or why you chose to renounce him. I simply wish to say to you that I am well aware that if we break faith with you, you will have every reason to seek vengeance. And so I will make every effort to keep my word, and to not make promises that I cannot keep." "Now, before we were so rudely interrupted, I had a question.
"I would seek to send you to our camp, handing over your weapons to the officers for safekeeping for the comfort of the troops. I will let them know that you have chosen to surrender and your word of honor is to be respected. You will be given food and shelter, and not bound in fetters. Is that agreeable?"
Aroden moves adjacent to Thawm. If the wasp is still up after Thawm's Fireball, he will target it.
Aroden will move, potentially provoking an AOO from the Babau.
He will go to the square east of Tandyn and cast Dimension Door, bringing himself, Tandyn, and Irabeth to the east side of the room.
Unfortunately he cannot bring their swords along (as they were dropped), but he has a pretty useful one for one of them to use once they are upright.
Aroden calls upon his bonded item to cast Haste.
Nurah is too far away to affect, and Thawm benefits from the spell less than he does. He then draws his sword and steps towards the Babau.
"Clerics can cast many of their spells without a divine focus. So that's not a decisive factor.
"Dorek, please stop.
Tandyn, I see little need to confiscate his weapons. In the case of a weak-minded or stupid foe, it might serve to remove the temptation for them to make a lethally bad decision.
As soon as Dorek pulls out his rope, Aroden interrupts him.
"He surrendered. Nurah did not; she was pummeled unconscious and taken prisoner against her will.
"Treating defeated foes with honor and grace offers a path forward that humiliating them does not." Aroden will naturally try to judge the dwarf's intentions. He wants to trust the surrender, but he is not a fool.
Aroden moves up to the dwarf. "You have made a wise decision. We seek the Sword of Valor. Do you know where it is?"
Aroden takes a step and uses INSPIRING SWORD. "You are outnumbered and surrounded. Yield and we will be merciful. We can protect you from Staunton."
Aroden moves into the room and readies to hit the next foe attempting to cast a spell (including using an SLA) with a Magic Missile. Readied Action:
"We should move on to the next room. Is everybody ready?" Aroden suggests that Nurah and Irabeth wait with him, out of sight of the interior of the room. He will use Open/Close on the door once everybody is in position. Communal Resist Fire has 2 more encounters to go.
Spells: 1 (6+1): Shield 2 (5+1): Resist Energy (2), 3 (4+1): 4 (3+1): Conjuration Foil, Dimension Door, Open Slot, +True Strike (S); spontaneous Spell Immunity (P)
Aroden moves towards the battle. "I predict that we shall triumph over the demons of Chaos! By our might of arms and by the power of My will, they shall fall before us."
Aroden resists the minotaurs' evil spell.
Aroden sees a vision of great success in his future.
He moves up a bit and casts Spear of Purity, targeting the nearest half-fiend minotaur.
Aroden casts Haste on the party.
"Spear-demons hidden behind the walls!" Aroden calls upon his Righteous Medal of Clarity and casts Burst of Radiance
Aroden will likewise cast Shield, then Open/Close on the door.
Spells Prepared:
1 (6+1): Shield (2), Mage Armor, Burning Hands, Magic Missile, Thunderstomp, +True Strike (S); spontaneous Endure Elements (P)
2 (5+1): Resist Energy (2), Burst of Radiance, Darkvision, Spear of Purity +See Invisibility (S); spontaneous Bear's Endurance (P) 3 (4+1): Haste, Heroism, Fireball, Communal Resist Energy, +Clairvoyance/Clairaudience (S); spontaneous Protection from Energy (P) 4 (3+1): Conjuration Foil, Dimension Door, Open Slot, +True Strike (S); spontaneous Spell Immunity (P) Mythic Power restored to 2/2. Aroden casts Extended Heroism on himself as well as Darkvision, Mage Armor, and Extended See Invisibility (all 1 full dungeon). He casts Extended Communal Resist Energy. He is CL8 for this (base CL8, +1 Yuelral's Blessing, -1 Negative Level), so he can get 8 targets. The party plus Nurah and Irabeth. It will last 3 encounters. That expends the Lesser Metamagic Rod of Extend for the day. "Irabeth. We have not yet encountered Staunton Vhane, but I believe we are getting close. Would you wish to accompany us to deal with him once and for all?"
"You know what they say - a good mage will last a h-hundred years, a good lock will last a thousand." Aroden looks lost in thought. A mere hundred? A good mage can last far longer than that. The Last Azlanti, five thousand years as an immortal human and nearly as long as a god. Or His reflection in the other place and time, rotting in a throne of gold.
When Tandyn explains his plan to move the troops inside the citadel Irabeth shakes her head, ”I don’t think that’s wise. In the courtyard our numbers give us the advantage if their leadership decides to leave the Citadel proper. But we give that up if we divide the army into teams to try and hold the courtyard and the interior. But we will follow your orders if you think that’s the best move, but I must protest.” "I think Irabeth has the right of it. Let's not split our forces." As the group gathers for supper, Dorek glances around at his companions, his brow furrowing. "...You k-know, I've been wondering - if the W-worldwound was closed tomorrow, and all the d-demons were gone from the f-face of the world, what would you d-do?" There is not a second's hesitation. "Find Arazni. Help her." There is great pain and sadness in his voice. "I would seek to find Arazni and aid her in the ways that her deity could not. Give her the explanation that she is owed. Restore her to life if she is willing, release her if she wishes, or let her be as she is. Then bring the forces of the Mendevian Crusade to Lastwall, with whoever will follow me. Lastwall thinks Tar-Baphon is contained forever by the Great Seal. I have had... I have had cause to doubt this. I would seek information about the actions of the Whispering Way and then formulate a strategy." "And after that? Even more mistakes to correct. Mistakes? Well, bad decisions, true, but maybe they were the least bad of all options. At least so it was believed. Sometimes there are many paths that all lead to ashes, and you must choose the ashes that fertilize the soil for new growth." "But no, Dorek, I do not believe that I will ever be able to lay down my sword. With the power that I have been given, there is much good that I could do, and much that needs to be done."
Aroden is starting to run low on spells, and is weakened by the demon's power.
Spells Remaining:
1 (6+1): 2 (5+1): 3 (4+1): [s]Haste, Heroism, 4 (3+1): Depending on the time, he may scribe some more spells before turning in.
"Thank you, Thawm."
"Our wards against fire are expiring," notes the wizard.
"How are you holding up?" "Good enough, my friend. I have been through worse. It is true that I feel somewhat weakened by the demon's power, but even so I am far stronger than I was but mere weeks ago. The power that the Wardstone explosion infused us with is extraordinary."
"We should probably head back to camp. The demon's power affecting Cecily will take hours to wear off, but she will be significantly weakened until it does."
|