In a swirl of bright light a tall thin man in a robe of midnight blue and wearing a mask of platinum appears as if from nowhere. The mask is polished smooth and lacks any decoration, adornment or apparent eye or mouth holes. Behind him stands a massive, muscular angel with sweeping wings of pure white bearing a flaming greatsword.
Venture Captain Antonius Gallonica, Viscount of Lionsguard, Master of the Order of the Gate and High Priest of Razmir the Living God casts his perfectly smooth face around the assembled Pathfinders and the ruined dungeon.
You called me here for this Sorrina? The concerns of the Living God go beyond that of one small part of a relatively minor planet of a single plane of existence. Still, I can afford you a little time from my other duties. Perhaps a connection to the plane of positive energy might assist.
With that he sweeps out his arms and invokes his most powerful of magics. Before him a point of light appears, it swirls and begins to grow and grow until a massive circular disk of light sits hovering in the air. Within can be seen an infinite expanse of pure bright light.
He turns to the angel standing behind him. You shall be our bridge, begin.
The creature bows its head, its face barely betraying the anger and fury it feels at being compelled to this place but conflicted as it is here furthering a worthy cause. It drives its sword into the ground and steps into the threshold of the Gate. Positive energy flows into it and from it down into the blackened bones of the Catacombs. The strain is evident as any energy, taken in too great a measure, can be harmful, even that giving life. As more and more light pours through the Planetar it screams and silently explodes into motes of light.
I trust that is sufficient help Sorrina he says before disappearing.
I do indeed remember that. I seem to recall there were a couple of minor incidents that had to be, err, hushed up. Nothing serious of course.
Spoilers for Race for the Runecarved Key:
I may have accidentally prismatic sprayed a bunch of level 8 mook guards thinking there were an actual threat rather than set dressing for the encounter. Also the two of us may have obliterated an entire encounter with mid level bad guy gnoll rogues with back to back chain lightnings.
Also, we wont kill Torch but he may be relocated to the Turtle Pond to join the Red Raven, Tancred Desmire, the Empress of Round Mountain and one of Baba Yaga's daughters.
Antonius weaves another greater invisibility spell around himself and flies over the buildings to get a better look at the creature, assuming it hasn't been turned into a lawn ornament.
If it has not been turned to stone and is not slowed he will quicken a glitterdust at it, DC24 will save.
If his clenched fist is still active (it lasts 18 rounds) then he will use a move action to direct it to the attack. It can fly 60' and attack which should be well within range.
SR Penetration:1d20 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 19 + 4 = 36 Attack, heroism, haste?:1d20 + 41 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 41 + 2 = 50 Damage:1d8 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 It deals physical damage so is subject to DR but does force a DC34 fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round
Antonius rolls twice on his knowledge checks using Investigative Mind, here you go in case it makes a difference. Also, how long since the encounter with the assassin? It will determine if haste or improved invisibility are still active.
Knowledge:1d20 + 39 ⇒ (19) + 39 = 58
Be carefull all, these things are dangerous, they are poisonous, can grapple with their tails, seize control of your magic are immune to electricity and can resist many energy types.
Antonius looks over the turtle. Avoreal, could you dispel your enchantment so we can then secure the assassin and her prize? Perhaps the rest of us can stand ready to secure her?
First however, let us remove her freedom of movement. With that Antonius intones a quick spell, looking to strip her protective magic away.
Antonius uses a targeted dispel magic, specifically looking to remove freedom of movement. If he is successful he will ready a Greater Shadow Conjuration to duplicate Chains of Light which should immobilise her and prevent any form of dimensional travel. Greater Shadow Conjuration allows a DC29 will save followed by DC29 reflex save. If she passes the will save there is still a 60% chance she needs to make the reflex save. He slots his orange ioun stone for the dispel before replacing it.
Antonius flies invisibly over the buildings and directs the fist to attack the assassin.
Fist, Heroism, Haste:1d20 + 41 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 41 + 2 + 1 = 59 Damage:1d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
DC34 fortitude save or she is stunned for 1 round.
Can we see the Key on the assassin? Is it possible to use the steal maneuver to retrieve it? If so Antonius will quicken a pilfering hand spell, CMB, heroism, haste:1d20 + 19 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 19 + 12 + 2 + 1 = 43
@Duhwoo, you may need to rethink, dimension door ends your turn after use sadly
I believe the assassin was blinded by glitterdust so takes a -4 on acro if she doesn't have blind fight. She also takes a -40 penalty on her stealth. She can make a new save at the end of her round, DC24 will
Antonius drops down and across from the flying bone devils. I have had enough of this. He raises both hands, lightning gathers between them and then explodes outwards in all directions, tearing at the enemy.
Antonius moves down and across, he is looking to get as many enemies as he can into a 30' radius spread. He has 40' blindsight so he can target things in the cloud. If the devils have a way of seeing him while invisible and mind blanked then he will provoke. He then defensively casts stormbolts, he cannot fail the concentration check. I leave it up to you to decide what he can get in a 30'r spread but it looks like I should be able to hit all of the bone devils unless the ones behind the walls of stone have a roof.
Feel free to take them in any order, I don't think I can fail on a regular bone devil. The spell deals 19d8 ⇒ (2, 7, 3, 7, 2, 2, 2, 7, 5, 2, 6, 4, 2, 5, 7, 8, 3, 2, 4) = 80 electrical damage and forces a DC34 fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. If these are the devils from the attack in the temple some may already be damaged. Stunned flying devils will fall.
Meanwhile the giant fist continues to pummel the unfortunate cultist.
Attack, heroism, haste:1d20 + 41 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 41 + 2 + 1 = 50 Damage:1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 DC34 fortitude save or stunned for a round. Depending on the outcome I may have a quickened spell or a free action to shift form with shapechange.
Antonius is benefitting from both greater invisibility and mind blank, I am not sure how the bone devils can see him. The entire party is benefitting from life bubble so sadly the cloudkill does nothing.
With a wave of one hand Antonius engulfs the invisible assassin in an explosion of light, highlighting her for all to see.
Turning to the cultist he mutters, oh, I don't think so and casts a second spell creating an enormous mailed fist which promptly punches him in the face.
Via telepathy, We have another enemy round the corner here, some sort of cultist trying to use a scroll. I will deal with this one, capture the assassin, alive if possible.
Swift action to cast quickened glitterdust at the assassin, DC24 will save or blinded, her invisibility is negated regardless. She gets a save to clear the blindness at the end of each of her turns if affected. Standard action to cast clenched fist at the cultist, it is a medium range spell.
Clenched Fist attack, heroism:1d20 + 42 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 42 + 2 = 58 Clenched fist damage:1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 If it hits it forces a DC34 fort save or be stunned for 1 round. If he saves then he also need to make a concentration check for damage dealt.
Antonius rises up to the height of the roofs to see if he can get a better idea of who is chanting.
Just a move action for now, the rest of my actions will depend on whether or not I can see the spellcasting enemies. I have both see invisibility and echolocation active.
I am a little unclear on the situation. You said that we could hear the sound of spell casting all around but I don't see anything on the map for that. The assassin seems to have vanished, it isn't clear which direction he went in from the map and there seems to be some sort of huge statue thing off to the right. Is that an active creature?
Icy Prison is a level 5 spell. I have Spell Perfection for it which allows me to apply a single metamagic effect to it without raising the spell level. Quicken spell makes it a swift. So that is a standard action to teleport and a swift for Icy Prison, with my move I wave at him while rising 15' in the air out of melee reach.
If Antonius can see the thief from where he is he will simply greater teleport as many of the group as he can reach into range of them.
On arrival he will then cast quickened Icy Prison at him forcing a DC35 reflex save or rendering him encased in ice, helpless and taking 19 cold damage per round. If he saves he is instead entangled and taking 19 cold damage per round. The spell lasts for 19 minutes. It blocks line of effect and he can break the ice with a DC34 strength check as a full round action.
Desert giant is only large, not huge. Can I get a sense of what sort of penalty is involved? Is the assassin targetable on my next turn? Vars made his roll above, assuming it stands?
With barely a thought Antonius shifts form again, transforming into a tall, slim, red skinned giant. With a wave of his hand he casts a spell, quickening everyone's reflexes, before heading off after the assassin at speed through the crowd.
Antonius takes the form of a desert giant as a free action. They have a base land speed of 50'. He casts quickened haste on as many of the group as he is able to reach, increasing his speed to 80' and providing a +10 bonus on his checks.
Move action: Move up to the obstacle
Standard action: Follow the crowd Sense Motive, heroism, speed bonus:1d20 + 29 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 29 + 2 + 10 = 51
I may be missing something but how can you take the full round action to attempt both checks if it takes a move action to move up to the challenge? If both are an option this round I would definitely try it so here is a CMB check just in case it is an option CMB, haste, heroism, speed bonus:1d20 + 14 + 1 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 + 2 + 10 = 37
With barely a thought Antonius takes the form of a rock troll, still concealed behind his illusionary façade.
Planes, roll twice:2d20 ⇒ (3, 18) = 21 +39
I assume a 57 is enough to know pretty much anything about bone devils?
Antonius regards the bone devils with cool contempt. You are in violation of the Treaty between her Infernal Magistrix Queen Abrogail Thrune and your Dark Lord Asmodeus. As Signifier of the Gate I command you to depart this place at once. Here, let me help you along your way.
With that Antonius intones a spell, electrical energy surges up around him, hissing and spitting. With a gesture he sends it exploding throughout the room striking at every enemy it can reach.
Antonius casts Stormbolts hitting all of the bone devils and dealing 19d8 ⇒ (7, 8, 2, 8, 8, 4, 3, 1, 6, 7, 6, 1, 2, 6, 4, 6, 3, 2, 5) = 89 electrical damage and stunning the targets for 1 round. A DC34 reflex save halves the damage and negates the stun. He casts defensively and he cannot fail the check with +31 concentration.
With another gesture Antonius vanishes from sight and then promptly rises up out of the way.
Antonius casts quickened greater invisibility and then moves. Mind Blank means he cannot be seen with true seeing or see invisibility although blindsense or blindsight will still pick him up. How high is the ceiling in the chamber? Can he get over the walls of stone?
I am afraid we are going to have to borrow this. When the Duchesses return you can tell them that they have the compliments of Maiveer Sloan and if they want it back that they should feel free to pop by the Bronze House and he will discuss the situation with them.
Given Shifty's announcement do we have time for this? We don't want to get locked out of the auction.
We know that you have been involved with them. Better to come clean with us now and avoid unfortunate entanglements with larger mercantile interests in the city. Work with us and I am sure I can put some business your way. he says.
Antonius will renew his freedom of movement using a level 3 spell slot
Gliding forward Antonius smiles at the man, Greetings Master Landers, we have urgent business with you on a most pressing and private matter. Might we come in and discuss it, it wouldn't do to be talking about these issues out here on the street.
Illegally gotten coin, like all the stuff we took from the Aspis caravan. How does this woman keep her job? The blackmail material she has to have on the Decemvirate must be truly damaging...
Antonius simply smiles and nods his head, Of course captain, you can rely on us.
Floating towards the door he calls out, Should we be getting on gentlemen, we wouldn't want to keep Windun waiting now would we?
Via telepathy, Do we have a plan? Sweet talk our way in, see what's going on, put a stop to it? Maybe not quite as explosively as with the wererats?
How long have we been going so far for buff tracking?
From the stands Antonius applauds Duhwoo's performance.
Via telepathy, The crowd seems to be enjoying your performance, try to drag things out a bit longer. Don't worry, if the beast kills you the power of Razmir can restore you...well as long as it doesn't digest you...
Via telepathy Vars, you are supposed to be entertaining the crowd, trying to force it to stand there like a poleaxed cow isn't very entertaining...or sporting...
It does appears that you cannot run a masterpiece and a bardic performance at the same time. There is an FAQ forthcoming, but in the typical fashion is delayed.
In fact, we were told this explicitly by John Compton at Paizo Con.
We have been waiting for the FAQ on how masterpieces actually work for 2.5 years. It has 435 faq clicks. I have stopped holding my breath waiting for it.
Antonius reaches out and places a hand on Vars, he mutters a spell and a soft blue glow envelops him. He draws out a short thick white oak wand and taps him with it before finally drawing out a scroll. He mutters the words which glow bright green, as the light fades and he touches Vars a third time you can see the words remain bright and new on the page.
You are now blessed with the power of the Great God Razmir, go forth and achieve victory in his name he bellows for the benefit of the crowd and with a knowing wink and a wholly sincere smile to Vars.
Bluff:1d20 + 41 ⇒ (2) + 41 = 43
Ok, buff sheet updated. CL18 heroism, CL7 air walk and freedom of movement. FoM takes a level 3 spell slot to avoid using the last charge on his wand, the scroll takes a 5th level spell slot and is not expended.
Antonius smiles at the idea of Vars taking on the monstrosity on his own. If you are willing to face the test then who are we to stand in your way? However, I do note that Duhwoo has also been anxious to unleash that blade of his, perhaps the two of you could face it together?
If you find yourself in need of assistance then please just shout and we will be there. In the meantime, perhaps I can provide a little assistance before you are hurled into the teeth of the beast...
Antonius offers to cast Heroism, Air Walk and Freedom of Movement on Vars and Duhwoo.
For some reason I cannot select my token on the slide, I keep getting either the box or the map. Can someone move me into the seating area please.
Via telepathy, This sounds concerning, it looks like someone is trying to disrupt the auction. Do we want to run down this lead or head back to Sheila to see who else she wants us to strongarm? Personally I would rather neutralise whatever was done at the cathedral.
