Dhastrach Orisialis's page

Dhastrach figures this is time to use his meager channeling powers.

Channel positive energy (heal): 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 4) = 18

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

"Invisibility again?" Dhastrach ponders, going over to Suussmaar to heal his wounds. "And more summonings are inbound. Brace yourselves."

Move next to Suussmaar, then cast Cure Moderate Wounds (replacing Bull's Strength) on Suussmaar.

CMW: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 4) + 7 = 16

"It might play tricks on you, archer. Minasako was a familiar face for the malevolent essence to use for its guile."

Dhastrach moves closer to Suussmaar, going down the stairs towards him.

Moved 40 feet, nothing else.

Facing no opposition, Dhastrach clears his throat and addresses the wayan through the layers of walls.

"I, for one, must place my deepest apologies. We had been given an understanding this mansion was desolate, void of habitants, and our initial findings supported these assumptions. Had we known you to reside inside would we have approached in a different manner. While our initial confrontation was brutal on both sides, a display of unnecessary and violent magic, I hope you can forgo this inconvenience and provide us an audience."

"And excuse my own lack of courtesy. I am Dhastrach Orisialis, a cleric of Nethys the Uncaring. We've been tasked by the Pathfinder Society, a guild based far from here in a populous city of Absalom, to investigate the rumors and legends the mansion of Hinojai possesses. We've been led here by curiosity, not malevolence."

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 Yeah... no.

Dhastrach dares not to anger the obviously strong magician. Instead, he quietly discusses the situation with his allies.

"We have not been tasked to evict the mansion's current residents, only to shed light on the situation. Discover what happened. To me this is beginning to look like the home of a reclusive, possibly eccentric, wizard."

"Furthermore, if this mansions truly is inhabited, we're trespassing. Negotiating with the wayang with our utmost apologies is the right way to go, in my humble opinion. Hopefully we'd be able to de-escalate the situation and approach in a more civil manner this time."

"Whatever the cause, the wayang is a powerful magic-user. To me it appears weird to protect this rather desolate mansion while they could just place powerful warding glyphs."

Dhastrach seems reluctant to confront the wizard a second time. He does not fear death, but it's still an uncomfortable experience.

With a struggle, Dhastrach gets up and inspects the damage done.

"Fortunately no permanent ailments," he mutters as he dusts his frozen wardrobe. After that he pulls out his own wand of cure light wounds and begins to patch himself up a little more. Repeatedly he utters the word "arcaenum".

Dhastrach is slowly getting healed, but he will not awaken on his own.

Dhastrach wheezes on the floor. Based on his appearance, it seems he is both burned and frozen. Imagine that!

Dhastrach was nearly at death's door (at -19 hp... thanks to boons and such, he dies at -20) because being rescued at the nick of time. The evil healing magic is very much appreciated, and slowly but surely he'll get to the pages of living.

Dhastrach soldiers on, moving past the ice storm, eventually getting back indoors, hiding around the corner. He looks at Darren with exhaustion and confusion, the dwarf's face frostbitten from the cold.

Double move, first 20 feet as difficult terrain, then normal movement.

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

The dwarf's ears ring as the scream makes his ears bleed. His whole body trembles in the shockwave. Sensing his body failing, Dhastrach starts moving towards Darren as fast as he can.

Just a double move to move a total of 20 feet. The invisibility purge moves with him, unfortunately.

Dhastrach moves only slightly inward towards Darren, and casts a healing spell on himself.

Move action towards the others, only so that the distance to Darren is 40 feet. Then spontaneous casting to replace procetion from evil, communal into cure moderate wounds.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (3, 7) + 7 = 17

Should have 34 hit points now.

"You are correct, Darren. We need not fight that creature on its hometurf."

Dhastrach follows Darren indoors and advises others to follow. He also wishes to maintain the Shield Other spell.

Dhastrahc moves 4 squares to the right, and that's his entire round. 20 feet movement speed in difficult terrain means he is slow. He does move his invisibility purge area accordingly, since it moves with him.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Dhastrach manages to avoid most of the pain.

"You're right, this incorporeal emanation is merely an illusion!" With that, he casts invisibility purge. (35 ft radius emanating from Dhastrach)

Linguistics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Dhastrach follows Garduk, nodding to his assessment on the message on the wall. He moves close to the wizard.

Once the creature appears, Dhastrach draws his magic warhammer and slings it at the creature with his powers.

Hand of the Acolyte (+1 warhammer): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 241d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Never did Dhastrach intend to spend that much time, since they can do a much thorough investigation of the cause of death later once the mansion has been fully searched. A full disection of the body is a bit too much, but the most important bit was the blood sucking. Ultimately, the dwarf wanted to know whether the man killed himself and hanged himself, or he was killed by other means and left to hang.

Furthermore, Dhastrach possesses an ability called lorekeeper under the [u]knowledge domain[/u]. Using it he could learn something about the man, but most likely just basic information about his race.

With a stoic expression Dhastrach finishes what he started. He joins the others in the next room (A15). The dwarf isn't apologetic about using so much time in with the dead body.

"One thing's for certain. Nothing here is specifically hunting for us. If we find a hostile force, it is most likely dormant and/or unaware of our presence."

What language is the word LIARS written in?

"This place holds clear signs of ransacking. I'm more and more to believe this place has been looted by scoundrels in the past. It is doubtful anyone would have taken ceremonial weapons during an evacuation."

Dhastrach makes a casual search of the room (mere minutes, this time), and advices others to do the same. He will not lead the investigation, however, knowing his old eyes are no match for the keen senses of a young adventurer.
Perception AID: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Confident to get to the bottom of this mansion's mysteries, Dhastrach decides to take the corpse down for an autopsy. (This is just to exhaust the possible answers the body might bring.)

Once content with the investigation, he proceeds to the northern door of the dining room.

Token moved.

Dhastrach nods and chucks a rock at the hanged corpse. He doesn't expect a response.

"What I'd wish to know is if the dead person hanged themself or was hanged by someone else. This place looks peculiar for such an occurrence, unless one wishes others to see them dead at the center of the house."

"Still remarkably barren. Looters would have avoided this room, yet there's nothing worth of taking."

Detect Magic + Spellcraft check to determine if some spell took place here?
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

"Something dreadful is an awfully vague expression," Dhastrach remarks and marches inside the room, confident, "I am already observed by unknown forces from the Dark Tapestry, whatever is in this room doesn't top that."

The dwarf walks confidently into the room with his warhammer drawn. Token moved.

"It is odd this room is so barren. Either it has been already visited by looters years ago, or people left this place in haste. Regardless, we won't find anything of intrigue here. Let's move on." Dhastrach moves to the north-eastern door.

Dhastrach rushes behind Darren to not him wander too far from himself to keep the shielding spell ongoing. He waits for others to climb over the rocks before trying himself, as his armor hinders him quite a lot.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 2 - 5 = 16

Surprising even himself, Dhastrach manages to pull his own weight through the obstacle.

Dhastrach catches his warhammer in a glorious fashion, and puts it away. He pulls out his wand of cure light wounds and begins to heal himself first before getting Darren back to normal.

CLW from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 To Dhastrach
CLW from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 To Dhastrach, 14 hp healed
CLW from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 To Darren
CLW from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 To Darren
CLW from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 To Darren, 13 hp healed

Do I get some information out of the Hungry Fog with my previous roll, or do I need a new one? If so, there's a new Dungeoneering rolls behind the spoiler.

Dhastrach certainly doesn't appreciate the damage Darren redirects, but he is content that this is precisely the reason to cast these abjuration spells; to keep the fighters standing for longer.

Thinking that even an incorporeal ooze can be hurt with a magic weapon, he draws his enchanted warhammer and launches it from his hand from afar.

Free action to step 5ft closer to the enemy, Move action to draw +1 warhammer, standard action to fling it with hand of the acolyte.

Magic weapon vs. Incorporeal, 0-50 hits: 1d100 ⇒ 38
Hand of the acolyte, +1 warhammer (magic, bludgeoning): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 171d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Dhastrach wakes up from his stupor and finds the group in immediate danger. He tries his multitude of knowledge to determine what kind of apparition the fog really is.

Knowledge base check: 1d20 ⇒ 16 Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature at +9 (total 25); Planes and Religion at +10 (total 26).

Dhastrach sees no point in advancing during the night, as he and Garduk are likely the only persons to naturally see in pitch black darkness. He votes for resting indoors and approach the mansion early in the morning, just like Suussmaar.

During his morning prayers, he wishes his deity for spells more suitable for mansion spelunking. He prepares spells he doesn't intend to use himself, and afterwards casts multiple spells on Darren Lars. Dhastrach insists Darren wears the platinum ring as well.

"Keep close to me and don't run off on your own. The shielding spell will cease to function once you dwell outside 40 feet of my location."

Dhastrach casts imbue with spell ability on Darren Lars, granting him the ability to cast fallback strategy twice and cure moderate wounds once (both using Dhastrach's caster level (7) to calculate things). Dhastrach also casts shield other on Darren.

Dhastrach snorts. "All this knowledge was readily available within the chronicles? How was our dear venture-captain Amara Li not on par with this?" He seems almost angry, although his facial expression doesn't give that away.

"While written word is superior to the word of the street, not all is written. These people might have more up to date information about what is going on around the mansion."

"And it is my possession the power to survey the mansion and its surroundings from afar. I would prefer to approach this mission with extensive investigation."

Dhastrach has Clairaudience/clairvoyance as a spell-like ability. While not immediately helpful, it can be used creatively to see what happens there at some points of time.

Dhastrach listens attentatively to Carrick's backstory.

"Your upbringing geared you towards the faith, it seems. From an outside perspective it doesn't seem like a free choice to join the ranks and end up as a charismatic leader's henchman. Given any other circumstance in your youth would you had a whole different story. I fear you are easy to assume leadership to others and follow them without any consideration." The dwarf comments with a neutral tone that can easily be taken as a scolding, or perhaps a direct insult, even.

"It is mayhaps advisable to always consider your actions and emotions, whether they are your own or merely a projection of others."

----

Finally reaching the shores and promptly continuing their journey to Nagura, Dhastrach gets his journal ready. He notes the surroundings and the town's significance. "If one would ever decide to build a straighter road between the larger cities, this town of Nagura would wither and cease to exist. Or, at least, become a much smaller rural, agricultural village. I don't see much other reason than to be a hub, and that's not a recipe for longevity." Dhastrach writes down his remarks, his upcoming book about geographical economics.

The dwarf turns to the group, and clears his throat as if that would have a positive effect on his voice. "We are to find lodging for the night, and start our investigations slowly. Our journey did take weeks, and the haunted mansion is not going anywhere. Before we even speak of this Hinojai, we should make acquaintance with the locals. People tend to be much more forthcoming when accustomed. Besides, I doubt these people have a grasp of the Taldan language. Tian, perhaps." He looks at Garduk.

Dhastrach doesn't mind long voyages by sea, and will gladly stay secluded during the entire trip. He doesn't object to intermittent queries, and has a tendency to offer to advice and wise words to those who seek them. But he is all about knowledge, so exchanging tidbits of history, arcana, or pretty much anything gather his attention.

While on the ship, Dhastrach contemplates a platinum ring in his hands. "To one whose life is most deserving of protection," he mumbles to himself, but loud enough for other Pathfinders to hear, "I offer this ring for the duration of our mission. With this I can provide ample abjuration magic to protect from injury."

That's [u]shield other[/u].

Unveiling his deep cloak, Dhastrach reveals his charcoal black skin. Furthermore to deviate himself from the dwarven norm, he lacks all hair. No beard, no brows, no hair. He moves about with a stern, almost stone-like facial expression. His armor of choice, a typical full plate armor accompanied with a buckler, is almost always donned, keeping his other scars hidden from view.

His face, as previously described, is entirely black as night. On closer inspection one might see deep scarring on his skin, as if he had had his entire skin burned to crisp. How he still walks on this land borderlines a miracle.

"Greetings to all fellow agents," Dhastrach declares in a nonchalant yet not uncaring tone, his voice excessively deep and raspy, "I go by the name of Dhastrach Orisialis. You may have heard of my name in some opus' I've procured on my voyages, such as Taldor — A Hideous Affliction — The Story of Decadence and Genetic Degeneration and Your Little Stronghold — 101 Common Errors in Designing. No? Regardless, I hope we will have a fruitful journey together." He doesn't even break a smile, keeping his frozen frown.

"Tian Xia," he mutters with his deep, raspy voice, "home to those whose native language I have yet to study with my long years. I do inquire you, Garduk, to teach me once we are not obliged by our society's missives."

"You are on the right track there, Carrick. Most hauntings are manifestations of perpetual, strong emotions left behind by those have died in dramatic circumstances. There are methods of purposefully establishing hauntings to turn away unwanted eyes from the site. Perhaps it is merely guarding some object of power. But all this is mere speculation, hopefully illuminated by local knowledge once we arrive."

"But I am getting ahead of myself. I have a humble servant of Nethys, the uncaring. In my case, though, I am to believe there has been put some effort in my wellbeing by my patron. Reasons are left in the shadow, and I am to forever search my reason to exist. Joining the society to travel and seek more knowledge of magic and all things wondrous seemed to be in favor of my deity. I am well suited to provide healing and protection. Dying isn't pleasant and tends to hurt a lot, and I don't necessarily wish it upon anyone else."

Dhastrach gracefully declines the offer to have some tea. He likes his drinks cold.

She has two different auras too, but they aren't properly explained anywhere. Subject to GM discretion, oh the fun.

Once the threats had been neutralized, Dhastrach had established a formal expedition. They could now gather notes in peace with no interruption or fear of ambush, and thus he writes on and on and on about the architecture of the gallery in meticulous detail. He searches every nook and cranny for anything worthwhile the Society's interest, making sure they don't miss anything.

Perception Take 20 on everything (stonecunning): 20 + 3 + 2 = 25 We've got time, and if need be Dhastrach can prepare Create Food and Water. The team did travel there for three weeks, so staying for only a part of a day seems like a waste, don't you think?

On their way out, Dhastrach wonders about the trap. "Should we rreactivate thiss? It would deterr scavengerrss and otherr intrruderrss frrom pillaging the ancient site. Furrtherrmorre, I think we should scout the surrroundingss of thiss entrrance ass well."

"Rright, we need to ascerrtain the elf's abilitiess... specifically, what materrial or type of element she is susceptible to," Dhastrach says with a calm tone. He takes his cold iron warhammer and once again delivers a fearsome blow, hoping to end the creatures days.

Cold iron coup de grace: 3d8 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) + 9 = 19

Dhastrach begins looting the elf's body, and also examine what the elf really is.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Don't forget Protection from Evil! All but Shardra got it.

Will save vs. fear: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 = 26
Will save vs. channel: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 2 = 18

Will save (vs. fear): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Will save (vs. channel): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"Puny," Dhastrach comments, casting a protective spell before advancing while taking his magic warhammer to his hands.

Cast protection from evil, communal. Shardra ran away, so Dhastach can only give Lazlo and himself 2 minutes of duration. Azkadellia gets 3 minutes.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25 vs. spell I think?
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 I quickly opened the spoiler and saw the DC was 26, and thus quickly closed it.

Dhastrach winces as the blast shatters his eardrums. "Stupid trrapss," he curses, proceeding to open the door only to see a welcoming committee.

"An elven clerric of Lamashtu? I've seen everrything."

Off to the holidays. Expect a post from me next Monday.

"Sounds good," Dhastrach says, pleased with his colleagues' resourcefulness.

"Such a shrrouded past you have," Dhastrach comments to Lazlo, "but onto the point, I'm fine with Shardra's plan, although I find going out to the open caverrn a needlesss rrisk."

Dhastrach marvels about the Torag's shrine, writing down notes, and wondering why the derros and mites have not laid waste there. Fear of divine intervention, maybe?

In the kitchen Dhastrach again writes down everything he sees, hears, and smells. The cacophony makes the dwarf make detailed notes about them all. "Most curriouss. Thiss all suggestss the derrross down below in the hallss arre in fact in a hallucinatorry state. We could easily blow them if my assumptionss of theirr currrent fighting condition arre corrrect."

Moved token.

Dhastrach gets a move on after locking the wounded people back in the room, ordering someone to leave a light source to them. Then he heads over to the corridor, and then right, stopping at the first intersection. He goes over to the door and opens it.

Combat's over, I suppose?

Dhastrach grabs his warhammer in two hands and gives a powerful blow to the blind, stumbling mite.

[dice=Mwk cold iron warhammer + BS + "invisibility"]1d20+8+2+2[/dice] vs. flat-footed
Damage (bludgeoning, cold iron): 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Once the mites have all left the pathfinders, Dhastrach thumps the warhammer on the floor, still holding the handle. He turns to look at Shardra.

"I suppose we could leave them herre in this rroom and lock the doorr, and come get them once we get back," Dhastrach says, rubbing his chin, "we can't securre theirr prrotection otherrwise. We alrready have Torvic the Dazed to babysit."

"Pitiful pestss!" Dhastrach curses, as they pile up on him. Feeling that these mites are not the ordinary, run-of-the-mill types, he casts a strengthening spell.

Defensive casting (Bull's strength, DC 19): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

And so he feels much stronger.

"Morre of these pestss?" Dhastrach says, irate, "let's devastate these miserrable crreaturress out of existence."

Dhastrach flicks his warhammer to his hands and flings it at the burnt mite (or another if the yellow mite falls).

Hand of the Acolyte (mwk cold iron warhammer): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 281d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Heal (male dwarf): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Heal (chelish man): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Let me take a look," Dhastrach says, and gets over to the two remaining patients. He loans Azkadellia's dagger, thanking first, and attempts to restore the two into operational condition.

"Torvic might have something to tell uss. Do you, Torvic?"

"Storrage forr torrturre subjectss..." Dhastrach says grimly, letting his sentence drift as he get closer to the male dwarf. "Who arre they? Otherr explorrerrss snatched by the despicable mitess?"

Dhastrach examines the people warily, trying to determine if they are somehow possessed, and hostile. If they appear docile enough, Dhastrach attempts to perform impromptu surgery to aid their condition

Heal? Knowledge (nature)? Profession (surgeon)?

Is the door wooden?

"Thiss could be a storrage," Dhastrach ponders, "do I use brrute forrce, orr do you have something else in mind?"

If anyone approves bashing, Dhastrach will attempt to force the door in. Take 20 to Strength checks, totals 22.

At the time I posted there was only one door visible; the one we didn't take.

"The gallerry endss herre," Dhastrach declares, "we werre tasked to explorre the gallerry and itss wonderrss, not some massive caverrn beyond it."

Dhastrach turns back and heads to another door, repeating the same procedure as before.

"It would extend my combat abilitiess, so it iss a welcome prroposal," Dhastrach answers, "if the situation givess such a choice. Crramped corrridorrss arre a norrm, afterr all."

He then moves over to the door, quickly examines is, and then opens it if he detects no threat.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 (+ stonecunning?)

I'll be attending a local gaming convention this weekend, and will be unable to post during that time. If need be, bot me.