The party eventually makes their way out of the unholy temple, back to the slaver's den, and finally through the Qanat and back to the surface. Lugging behind them is a captured Othine Dalanse, who is presented to the Twilight Talons for questioning.
The pathfinders' actions reach far and wide, as the Three-Eyed Jackals cult's undoing seems to have dire implications for other cults throughout the Inner Sea region. Most of the following weeks are spent just telling everyone what happened, and being questioned about what they saw.
Those weeks pass eventually though, and the Pathfinders (or those that stick around Katapesh at least) are greeted by a heartwarming sight: Othine Dalanse, the very same that stabbed them in the back, eventually is restored to her former self through the aid of Lotus' de-conditioning, and her thanks are accompanied by her outmost support in whatever you require.
While she still has Twilight Talons duties to attend, you are certain whenever you visit Katapesh, Othine will make sure to thank you back somehow.
Finally got to the end! About to get chronicles sheets in order. Apologies for the delays that ocurred, I realize now I may not have been ready to handle the size of a Module, as work and real life get more in the way the longer the adventure goes on.
I'm glad to have finished it tho! So uh, I'm gonna need from each of ya:
Player Name
Character Name
PFS Number
Slow or Regular track
Faction
Day Job Check
Ejtehah approaches the altar and smashes it with a flurry of strikes as strong as adamantine - the unholy ritual piece is broken in half, as negative energy suffuses the room and seems to spiral into Ejtehah! The shifter resists with all his might, but the energy proves too strong for his constitution and he falls unconcious from the ordeal - however, Betty is right behind to catch him as he falls.
The gunslinger witnesses one last visage in the negative energy as it leaves the room and goes up the ceiling. Amidst the green and black energy, she sees the visage of a human woman with her mouth hanging completely ajar, as if torn open forcefully past its limits, and with fangs the size and shape of a hyena's. The visage looks Betty dead in the eye and screams-"You will die, maggots! The three jackals, once hurt, will follow your scent and hunt!"-the scream being audible to everyone. As the spirit dissapears and Ejtehah regains conciousness, you see Ukkramak's body start to gradually rot away, as if somehow linked to the altar in ways beyond the mundane.
The group is able to then surmise this was some kind of spirit infusing the whole hideout with its power, and by finally breaking the altar they have freed the temple, as well as the lands above, of its influence. Some cultists die fighting, other escape, while others surrender, as if reconsidering their position immediately after the spirit is gone.
Will do a brief 1-day pause as I get Chronicles ready! Feel free to put in a final message before I wrap it up
Ejtehah recognizes the basics of the altar, despite his unfamiliarity with unholy rituals. As he inspects it, the evil magic seems to draw him in, but he knows better and keeps his distance. From what he gathers, it seems the altar has a direct connection to some evil spirit, who is probably not far from where they are at.
The altar has unholy runes covering it all around, which seem to match one of the scrolls found on Ukkramak, but the pattern does not make sense to the shifter.
Ejtehah detects magic around the room and finds two large sources: the first one being Ukkramak herself, who seems to be wielding some magic items with an assortment of auras. On the other hand, the shifter would detect a strong necromancy aura around the altar, seemingly spiraling out and suffusing into the walls.
Upon closer inspection, Ukkramak has a potion of barkskin and a magical scroll in her backpocket, and is wearing a magical hide armor and a minor phylactery of some kind.
The group wails on Ukkramak, first with a dagger to the face, and then in a blitz of claw, fang and talons! The gnoll priestess falls to the ground, and curses with her dying breath-"Damn you...intruders...Lamashtu take all you hold dear..."-before dying.
The Pathfinders are left alone in the chambers of the priestess, and a heavy air hangs over their spirits.
Betty would find the corner of her room contains a stone altar dedicated to the Mother of Monsters, Lamashtu. The altar contains a well-carved statue and a stone bed for which to lay sacrifices in.
Ejtehah manages to stop the spell, rending a piece off Ukkramak's face! She quips-"Lost the die roll, I see. Perhaps I should switch tactics"-looking intently away from the battle and to the corner of her room.
Spell interrupted! Everyone is up! Lotus can remake her turn Ukkramak (-42)
Ejtehah starts his onslaught, biting off a piece of Ukkramak's leg and then slashing her left eye. She screams in pain but manages to dodge the other strikes! The priestess takes a step back and starts chanting a prayer-"Mother of Monsters, speak to their souls, chaotic at their core!"-her form doubling again in front of the shifter. She casts a spell, hoping her illusory form or agility shaves off the strike that could stop her.
Provoking from Ejtehah. If not hit:
The spell affects the minds of Ejtehah, Cat, Betty and Awkin!
Apologies for the break, got things mixed up and stopped getting reminders/notifications
Betty stabilizes the dying Othine, while Awkin's Cat goes to town on Ukkramak. The giant tiger goes for a big bite to pin her down, but her form dissipates as if intangible - the illusory double vanishing away.
This doesn't stop Cat however from going for two big claw swings and tearing two big wounds on the gnoll priestess's chest. She screams in pain and says-"Beast! You would dare attack the servant of your mother? You will learn your place!"-to Cat. The tiger seems a bit confused, seemingly able to understand her.
Final Combat! Round 3
-----------------------
Ejtehah
The group advances forward, surrounding Ukkramak! She snarls at Cat and Ejtehah, saying-"Looks like the zoo has come to play."-as she prepares to cast a spell defensively on both Ejtehah and Cat. The vanguard's pressure is too much however, and she gives up on the spell so as not to open herself up to a hit. With a click of her tongue, she backs away and reapplies her illusory double, her illusory copy mimicking her exactly and blending in with her own form.
Ukkramak resists the suggestion spell, snarling-"That won't work on me, you honey-tongued scum!"-getting ready to attack the kitsune. Betty fails her attempt at stabilizing Othine, covering her hands in blood.
Final Combat! Round 2
-----------------------
Tenibri, Ejtehah
Lotus' escape leaves her open, as Ukkramak swings, but the elusive kitsune manages to use the table to avoid it! Her falchion swings deep into the table, and with enough force she is able to pull it out. The mesmerist takes this chance and shoots a strong bolt right in her shoulderblade! Meanwhile, the in the passageway, Awkin drops a burst of blinding light on both enemies, but both of them manage to cover their eyes just in time to avoid being blinded. The holy light still sizzles their skin though!
Othine reels in pain, and advances towards Betty - this time, aiming to cut her stomach open with a thrust. The unholy energy suffusing her sword aids her aim, but her strength has left her...she collapses into the ground, and drops her longsword. The remaining yaenit, seeing this, thinks to themselves and ponders escape - doubt fills their unholy eyes, as they see Ejtehah unharmed and holding a strong, flawless stance.
They step back from the shifter, and aims their falchion at Betty - they conjure up a portal back to the Abyss inbetween them and Ejtehah, but before leaving says-"Know that I will be back for your head - this is not over!"-as they dissapear into nothingness. That leaves Ukkramak alone, who frustrated from her allies falling and escaping, roars-"Enough! I do not need them! I can finish this alone if I need to!"-pouncing on Lotus!
She jumps into the air, her double form making her attack hard to read, and plunges her falchion right through the gut of Lotus, piercing clean through! Her eyes gleam as she cackles-"Yes! Yes! More blood for the mother!"-as she starts flicking her blade and making arcs of blood around her
Final Combat! Round 2
----------------------- Tenibri, Ejtehah
Ejtehah tears into the other yaenit, but this one adeptly dodges two of the blows, and is weary of the claws that seems to tear through its demonic skin. Betty, on the other hand, takes a more distanced approach and shoots Othine right in the ear!
She screams in pain, her head ringing-"You b$*%$! I will flail you alive!"-getting ready to advance and retaliate.
@Lotus: To clarify, since Lotus is cornered, she cannot 5-foot step into a space no within Ukkramak's reach. She will provoke if she shoots. Asking just in case.
Final Combat! Round 2
-----------------------
Awkin, Lotus, Betty (-16), Cat
Othine (-35, surged justice), Ukkramak
Tenibri
Red Yaenit (-27)
Ejtehah
Ukkramak's will bends, and the alluring voice of Lotus beckons her to drink the black milk. Without a second thought, she drinks the bucket, and immediately starts throwing up. She quickly recovers, however, and curses at Lotus-"Fox-b@&~#! I cannot fall by the mother's own teatmilk, for I was born in it!"
Ejtehah, however, tears into the blue-clothed demon, and quickly makes them regret jumping into the fray besides the shifter. Othine on her part takes the snowball to the chest, and she cries out in pain from the cold projectile. Othine breaks the thin ice covering her skin, and moves forward to attack Betty! She changes her prayer from defense to offense, saying-"Mother of Monsters, give me strength to smite down your foes!"-her longsword glowing in an eerie light. She plunges it deep into the gut of the gunslinger, and cackles madly as she twists the blade. (16 points of damage!)
Tenibri sees the blue-clothed demon step forward to wail on Awkin, but seeing it injured so much, decides to direct 4 magical missiles at the demon, taking it down unerringly. He yells to Awkin-"I'm running out of spells here!"- and keeps his defensive position. In the middle of the combat, the red-clothed demon decides to cast a spell on Ejtehah, trying to land a spell, but the shifter's offensive is too aggresive, and he backs into Othine's body and stumbles, losing the spell.
Final Combat! Round 2
-----------------------
Awkin, Lotus, Betty (-16), Cat
Othine (-29, surged justice), Ukkramak
Tenibri
Red Yaenit
Ejtehah
Final Combat! Round 3
-----------------------
Awkin, Lotus, Betty (-16), Cat
Awkin's advice fills the halls, as he recites Pathfinder expeditions similar to these ones that ended in triumphant finales! Suddenly, the vigor hangs in the air as three creatures peer over the hallway, weapons at the ready. Two yaenit demons, led by Othine Dalanse, the Pathfinder you rescued, decked in heavy armor, charge at you!
The ex-pathfinder yells-"You fell for it, sheep! I am the jackal mother's kin, and I will fight to defend her always!"-but her face soon turns sour as Betty, expecting this outcome, launches a lightning right at her face! The woman just barely dodges the lightning, her arm singed from the partial hit. But the injury slowly starts healing back, her flesh tinted in unholy energy. She manages to reach Betty, but does not have enough time to follow through with an attack.
Ukkramak, on the other hand, stands up from her previous spot, and walks eerily towards the door, getting in the middle of 'Gnarlpaw' and the rest of the group. She smirks and says-"Bad idea, going in first, impostor."-the effect accentuated by her double form. Tenibri conjures up a pit below the demon's feet, and makes one of them fall and scream on his way down. He chuckles and takes a defensive position on the back corner.
Finally, the two demons cackle madly, and both of them jump into the air, instantly appearing in your midst! Their magical ability to teleport making you instantly surrounded and separated! The one that was following you earlier says-"Your luck has run out, sheep. You're outnumbered!"
Final Combat! Round 1
-----------------------
Awkin, Lotus, Betty, Cat
Othine (-10, fast healing), Ukkramak
Tenibri
Blue Yaenit (-6), Red Yaenit
Ejtehah
Final Combat! Round 2
-----------------------
Awkin, Lotus, Betty, Cat
The party, as of this moment, would normally only suspect Ukkramak to fight in this finale, seeing as she is alone in her chambers. However, Betty's intuition from hours ago pays off: she has noticed Othine, the Pathfinder you entered this dungeon with, and the demon that was tailing you earlier, are nowhere to be found.
Fearing the worst, and hearing footsteps approaching from the south hallway, Betty readies her lightning bolt.
The group hangs a few seconds before the entrance of the priestess' chambers, and eventually the door hangs ajar from the wind - revealing a thin gnoll priestess with her magical falchion ready, her skin glows with a shimmering light, and she declares-"You have reached the center of the lion's den, intruders. Allow me to show you how mistaken you were to step into my den."-she sees Ejtehah, and with a flourish, creates a double of herself right alongside her.
Her voice doubles in amplitude and says-"You are outnumbered, sheep."-and cackles madly.
Gnarlpaw would be able to grab one of the buckets easily - the foul substance reeks of being spoilt, and its black uniform color is sometimes dotted with a green that seems to be pus.
Awkin, Cat and Ejtehah get closer to the creature, and are able to maneuver correctly to avoid her grasping bites, keeping the light close to her face.
Finally, the gnoll creature tires and retreats back to the corner, shivering in pain. The group is able to move forward and get to a door Ogtemt assures-"This where Ukramakk lives. She dangerous"-before retreating back to where you came from, clearly afraid.
The group faces the entrance to what might be the finale of this gruesome trek into a deranged temple.
The group heads forward, deeper into the dark cave armed with 3 ioun torches - soon, the light reveals a chained female grotesque gnoll that recoils against the light.
CW Grotesque:
Her body is bloated and barely keeping together from the amount of fat and blood filling her, growing to the size of a big horse - she has three rows of lactating breasts, which ooze out black ichor like tar. Her mouth hangs ajar as if permanently dislocated from trying to eat too large food. Besides her, buckets of that tar-like milk are filled and smell rotten.
She struggles against the chains keeping her held back, trying to get to you and blocking the way forward. However, the 3 bright lights seem to physically hurt her: with her eyes closed, she recoils ever so slightly. Ogtemt says-"We need to stun her with the light! Those with the lights, get close to her face!"-as he takes a steps back and grabs Gnarlpaw's leg out of fear.
If you get close:
You see the grotesque visage of the creature, and as you get near, it tries to bite your head off! You keep in mind the position of the chains to avoid it, but the smell, the sight of her, and her feral attitude might make fear get the best of you and miscalculate the distance. (DC 15 Will save to ignore effect. Failure could result in a gruesome ending!)
The group makes their way forward, with Ogtemt quickly appearing behind you at "Gnarlpaw's" request. He murmurs-"Up this ways, good friends. But be very wary - before we reach the high priestess, we will pass the Black Milk Mother. She is as feral as they come, and her hunger won't ever be quelled."-he says as he pulls out a torch from a leather fanny pack.
He does his best to ignite it with a flint and stone, but it seems too wet to catch flame, and he gnaws at the torch's head out of frustration. He mentions to "Gnarlpaw"-"We needs light to pass the Black Milk Mother. Tons of it - not just 1 torch or 1 spellsies. We use light to keep her back, eventually knock her out, and pass through her. After her is the high priestess."
Betty looks back at the previous room where the party exited from, but finds no trace of the fiend that was following you. The hyena pups are pudgy little creatures that currently waddling around Ejtehah in search for a teat of some sort.
The grueling combat around the blood pool comes to an end, as Betty hits the midwife with a snowball, freezing her left arm completely. The numbness and freezing is enough to drop her guard for a second, and the will-protected Cat takes the chance and pounces on her.
It tears her to shreds, despite her durable skin, and she drops dead at the base of the blood pool, unable to even curse you with her dying breath. The party is left injured, and Ejtehah has a total of 6 hyena pups with him - they look to be around 3 months old, blinded completely until they can open their eyes, and with several deformities growing.
If you decide to go forward, there are two tunnels - one to the north and one to the east.
The midwife takes the shot directly to her shoulder, this time the bullet making her bleed from the hit. She directs her floating kukri to continue attacking Lotus, the magical blade making a long gash along her back. (6 damage to Lotus!)
She then turns her attention to the flying magical tiger besides her. She lays on Cat with a flurry of three slashes - the first one is blocked by his paw, but she follows it up with a shank to the stomach and a slash to the tiger's eye. (28 damage to Cat!) With a smirk, she turns her gaze back on, trying to make the flying tiger desist its advance. She cackles and says-"There, kitty - time to take a catnap."-as she licks its blood of her kukris and looks at it intently.
(Ejtehah and Cat need to make DC 12 Will save or fall asleep.)
Awkin would notice that the demon that let you pass beforehand is looking intently at the fight, gripping their scimitar as they wager your strength and the choice of stepping in and join the temple's defense. They are still unsure, but they lick their tongue in anticipation, eyeing both Awkin and Tenibri at the back.
The midwife effortlessly dodges Lotus' dagger and says-"You are but fools walking into the lion's mouth. You will never reach the high priestess!"
Ejtehah rescues another couple of pups from the blood pool, but this time the blood seeps into his nails and enters his bloodstream - suddenly,
Ejtehah finds himself unable to articulate thoughts well. 4 points of Intelligence damage! Down to 8 INT for Ejtehah. All party members seem to have resisted the sleeping gaze of the midwife, but she stands mostly uninjured in the ceiling, albeit a bit scared at the giant flying tiger that just came right to her face.
Ejtehah resists the vile ichor and rescues two pups from pool and moves back as Awkin recites to inspire the whole group. The midwife concentrates and that same feeling of numbness courses through your body, this time being strong enough for you to fall down!
DC 12 Will save from everyone except Ejtehah and Cat (not fear nor charm, just a sleep effect) or fall asleep!
Clicking her tongue, the midwife declares-"Sorceresses! You shall die first!"-as she fires a bolt of negative energy that hits Betty square in the chest! (DC 17 Will save to halve 10 damage. Failing causes Betty to be sickened for 3 rounds). Not leaving Lotus alone, the spiritual kukri behind her continues to assail her, making a long gash on her right leg. (6 points of damage to Lotus!)
Tenibri inspects the situation and gathers things are dire, with Cat and Ejtehah not being able to reach the flying enemy. He resists the numbness, and with a wicked smile, asks Awkin for permission to cast a spell on Cat to make him fly! You can assume he casts it if Awkin agrees.
Round 2: Combat!
----------------------------
Midwife (-3, reduced)
Betty (-5 or -10, Will save pending), Lotus (-13), Awkin (-12), Ejtehah, Tenibri, Cat (-13)
Everyone is up! (DC 12 Will save pending from everyone except Ejtehah , Cat and Tenibri)
As soon as Ejtehah steps into the pool to rescue a pup, the foul blood seeps into his toenails and tries to infect him with disease! (Two DC 14 Fortitude saves please!)
Lotus and Betty, however, immediately adapt to the flying creature and retaliate with ranged shots - Lotus' crossbow errs to the side and misses, but Betty's stone discus just barely manages to hit her leg, leaving a long gash.
The group advances forward to the next alcove, and finds within a shallow wide pool filled with bloody ichor. Scattered around the blood pool, a group of newborn pups walk clumsily around, getting their bearings and unable to walk properly.
The sight is both gruesome and creepy, but your interest is cut short as a woman's voice fills the chamber and her body manifests from thin air - clad in purple robes, she declares-"Welcome to he birthing pool, intruders. I have been watching from afar, listening intently. Your farce is at an end, "Gnarlpaw", and company.-her head immediately contorting and growing fur, showing instead of a human's face a jackal's.
She brandishes two kukris and immediately you sense your bodies go numb from her mere sight. She flies to the elevated ceiling of this chamber, up to 30 ft. in the air, and with a wave of her hand, makes blood gush out from Lotus' stomach! Behind her, a spiritual kukri magically floats, and unsheathes from her back, swishing back and forth in a playful manner.
The group of cultists and the demon look Gnarlpaw with doubt in their minds, about to make a decision that might cost them their lives. The three humanoids take a step back and say-"We shall say we were out patrolling. If your body ends up nailed to the wall, we won't be to blame."-as they exit the room.
The demon is uneasy and nervous, but with a sly smirk adds-"I shall remain here and be ever vigilant to your advance, you sheep. If you fall down and die I want to be there to see you suffer."-with a cackle. He takes a step to the side and ushers you in.
"Gnarlpaw"'s threat seems to have some weight to it, as the three cultists clad in black robes hesitate, looking amongst themselves for an answer. One of them asks-"Do you aim to replace Ukrammak? I haven't particularly liked you, Gnarlpaw, but you are better than that cruel b@$&!."-taking out his scimitar.
The demon at the middle of the room, in rage, yells-"Traitors! You would turn away from Lamashtu's chosen? The mother annointed her and her only, not this flea bag!"-taking out his falchion. Another cultist adds-"We looked up to her! But look at the past few months - she's changed, ever since she communed with Ankhazu! She is as cruel to us as she is to our victims!"-before the group devolves into arguing.
In this arguing, the group can intervene however they see fit.
The party makes their way towards the cage room, in which the find a gnoll demon similar to the one at the entrance, and three men clad in black robes - all four individuals turn to look at "Gnarlpaw", their weapons and spells ready.
The demon whispers-"The priest comes when the alarm is raised...What is your business here, Gnarlpaw?"-brandishing his falchion.
The small humanoid scowls at 'Gnarlpaw', and says-"You backstabbed us, Gnarlpaw! You..."-pausing to ponder a thought for a few seconds, before continuing-"smart gnoll!"-getting closer and patting "him" in the calf.
"You knows were the midwife is, through this east passage and in the birthing pool."-answering the "gnoll". To Betty's question, he replies-"Slaves be in their cages and birthing. Cages are on the east, on your way to the midwife, and birthing happens right through this door."-motioning towards the double door to the north.
He smiles, showing off his crooked yellow teeth that sparsely fill his mouth-"I be Ogtemt, hired fighter for this temple. I also helps with the...what they call it? Logisthenics."-motioning to the table in the middle of the room, which seems to lay rest for tons of maps and portrait drawings-"The cult has likes 10 demons withs them, Ukrammak summons them from the bellies of slaves she captures, and the strongest come from the Black Milk Mother."-scratching his head, catching a tick and eating it.
Ejtehah tears through the pregnant woman's flesh in no time, leaving a pool of blood behind. At the sight of this gruesome carnage, the small guy drops his weapon and whispers-"By Shax's lying tongue! You guyses are monsters..."
He raises his squeaky voice and says-"Whoa whoa! No needs more violence towards Ogtemt! What you want?"-whilst slowling getting up with his hands raised up
Ejtehah slashes at the runt's legs as he jumps off. Cat on the other hand proves to be the more fearsome beast, as it bites, grabs onto the strange large creature and rakes it apart! It's pliable hair hardens suddenly, however, and the tiger ends up with many quills embedded on its flesh. 12 damage to Cat!
Lotus giggles and with a wave of her hand, makes the club-wielding climber fall flat on his back! Betty takes the chance and shoots at the creature, piercing its arm. He yells out-"Ouch! You bastards, you killed Bombo! Who the f@$~ are you?"-adding a swear in Undercommon. Betty does not know exactly what the creature is, but she is sure it is not a gnome or dwarf. Finally, the black-robed woman raises her hand towards Ejtehah and yells-"Mother of Monsters! See your son before you! Beckon him to your cause!"-as the shifter feels his head with clouding insanity.
Ejtehah - Will save DC 13 or be confused for 1 round!
Combat: Round 2
------------------
Ejtehah
Othine, Lil Guy (-25)
Tenibri, Lotus, Betty, Awkin (-12), Cat (-13)
Cultist
Ejtehah moves in, effortlessly dodging the large creature's maw in his advance. His claw leaves a slash on the little creature's face, who snickers-"You're good, dino. Too good to face alone!"-as it strikes the shifter with his mace. The strike is not enough to pierce the shifter's defenses, but the small guy takes his chance and scampers up the wall, sticking to the roof and climbing to the other side, leaving him hanging upside down 25 feet high.
Provoking from Ejtehah!
Othine on the other hand chants a quick prayer to mend Cat's wounds.
Combat: Round 1
------------------
Ejtehah
Othine, Lil Guy (-9)
Tenibri, Lotus, Betty, Awkin, Cat (-12)
Bombo, Cultist
Not sure what happened to the tokens, but got them all back
Ejtehah barrels through the door and hears a loud crack behind it, as if a solid log just cracked in two pieces. Inside, the group finds a table and three creatures - one woman, heavily pregnant and clad in black robes. The other is a squat, pale-skinned humanoid with milky white eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
Finally, right besieds Ejtehah stands chained a large creature with four legs and a gaping maw, currently gnawing at what seems to be a human thighbone. It's chin is bloated like a frog and multiple hair strands line up along it back. With a scream, the small humanoid cries-"They have comes! They killed Vashturi! Now we feast, Bombo!"-heeling the creature to attack you.
Combat: Round 1
------------------ Ejtehah
Othine, Lil Guy
Tenibri, Lotus, Betty, Awkin, Cat (-23)
Bombo, Cultist
Cat throws the demon in the air, catching it once again with its bite and ripping its head off in bloody carnage. Betty finishes off the last demon with a well-timed shot to the head, and the body of the schir falls to the pit lifeless.
The last krenshar is distracted for only a brief moment before Othine slashes it down, killing it. This leaves only the krenshars at the bottom of the second pit, which the group is free to finish off.
Combat over! Only Cat has been damaged - 23 damage.
Schir climb:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 Fall damage i forgot:3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2) = 7
Tenibri casts a pit below the deranged hyenas and is able to trap two of them, the other snarling at Othine. As he steps closer, however, he sees the Schir from the previous pit climbing and halfway up, smiling devilishly at him.
At the front of the battle, the demon fights back at Cat! It slashes both of its legs, and bites a good chunk of meat off its face! (23 damage to Cat!)
Ejtehah rushes in and shreds through all three monstrous hyenas! He bites one and lifts it off the ground, cleaving his claw right into their stomach. Then, with the other claw, takes out the one getting ready to flank him with ease.
The last one looks at him scared, about to run away, but the shifter sommersaults into a double pounce, slamming the creature on the ground dead.
Awkin inspires the party and Cat pounces on the demonic gnoll at the front! It adeptly dodges the bite, but gets two claws to the chest and is held in place firmly by the tiger. It howls in pain and screams-"Beast! You will bend the knee to my corruption!"-the earth beneath them shaking.
Out on the south side of the room, Betty starts hearing footsteps get louder and louder, as eventually their source pops out of a side entrance! 6 overgrown hyenas join the fray. Initially, the beasts act like animals of their kind, but that soon changes once they growl. They growl at Cat, and their faces' skin peel back automatically, revealing the skull beneath and providing a bone-chilling sight. Othine pushes up and gets in front of Betty, saying-"I won't let them get to you, little eagle!"
Betty approaches the building and hears something coming both the main doors and some kind of entrance off to her right, kind of going around the temple. Behind the front doors, she hears footsteps for a single creature, probably bipedal. Around the building however, she hears howls as if beasts have been unleashed and are quickly making their way over.
Finally, the double doors open and what comes out is a spawn from the Abyss itself - a gnoll body covered in entropic energy, as if the air itself refuses to stay still around it. Its fur throughout its whole body stands on end like flame tongues, dancing in pure chaos. Additionally, its body seems to be scraggly, covered in multiple black scars that ooze out foul-smelling tar, and its eyes glow crimson red and can be seen from a distance easily. It wields a longsword covered in that same black tar and howls-"The Temple of Lamashtu welcomes you, meat! What nerve have you to-"-but Awkin is ready for it to come.
Ejtehah rends through the last remaining Schir as well, leaving only the schir at the bottom of the pit howling and promise of reinforcements weighing heavy on the pathfinder's minds.
Tenibri waves his hand and magically manifests a pit right below one of the schir's feet, making it fall to its depths quickly. It howls from the depths, saying-"Damn you sorcerer! You'll see!"-as it tries to use an incantation of his own. The magic creates a portal right above the pit, and through it Tenibri sees infernal flames and multiple schirs trying to reach out.
One of them manages to pop its head out of the portal, but the magic fizzles out suddenly, leaving only the severed head behind, which falls to the depths of the pit as well.
Combat: Round 1
------------------
Betty, Awkin, Lotus
Green Schir
Othine
Tenibri
Blue Schir (-30)
Ejtehah
The group goes on the offensive immediately, with another shot piercing the hide of the schir at the front, followed immediately by Lotus' crossbow shot. The bullet digs deep into the flesh of the demon, but the bolt bounces off mostly harmlessly. Meanwhile, Cat lunges forward to pounce on the schir at the back, completely wrecking it beyond recognition. Despite its claws not rending demon flesh effectively, it manages to pummel through with raw strength and
The schirs go on the offensive, as the one with a direct line of charge to Betty does just that, like a goat in frenzy. Its horns stop just before the gunslinger, however, her mage armor blocking the attack. The schir howls-"Spellcasters! Your blood tastes all the sweeter!"
I believe Betty's armor currently would be 19, only having Mage Armor and not Shield up. Still a miss, but wanted to double check.
Othine enters into melee to provide flanking for Ejtehah, and goes to slash the schir, yelling-"This is nothing! Not even the Abyss can stop liberators!"-her sword triking true, but unable to make any lasting harm.
Combat: Round 1
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Betty, Awkin, Lotus
Green Schir
Othine
Tenibri
Blue Schir (-26)
Ejtehah
