Xaven Neversword's page

"Ahgh! They're bombarding us with spells - run brother - run!"

The pair breaks into flight once more, racing out of the Pactstone chamber.
-----

Xaven and Hrokon are taking a double move this time. Xaven moves straight south 40 feet. Hrokon moves a number greater than that.

They manage to return to the firefly chamber, the room with the great open shaft in the ceiling. Xaven runs out of Speed shortly after entering, whereas Hrokon has enough to actually turn the corner out of sight. He turns left (east).

Xaven is 50 feet away from Halstadt. 65 feet away from Karek and 70 feet away from Gandel.

At this point, the entire Dune Squad can go. I'm not sure the order matters, and would encourage anyone to post. But if it does matter it's Karek and then Hal next, unless Hurgah or Breach come off delay.

"Yeah? Well apparently you people seem think that pact entitles you to seize my stuff whenever you want, use your magic to mess with my pal's mind and threaten us repeatedly. So excuse me if I don't want to stick around for more of your abuse. So no, I tried, but enough is enough, were not in this together any more. Now scram before I leap into the . . . leap into the. . ."

"Where did the flipping fire go?!"
-----
Moonpate's readied action has just been triggered - he now has line of sight to Xaven. I'll just need Phrip to confirm nothing has changed and he still intends to fire that last charge.

Donkor's readied action would likewise have triggered but it turns out that his target is out of range. Too bad, Donkor may have found the one foe in the entire adventure capable of failing that wand's save.

Also, I am treating Breach as having gone on delay - he can go whenever he wants this round. In the meantime, Gandel would be next.

"AhHh!! It's Beards! The jig is up!"

"Run for it old friend!" he says to Hrokon. "I'll hold him off as long as I can!"

"You!" he says looking at Halstadt nervously. "You just keep away or I'll dive in the fire - I'll burn us all."

That may not be as easy for Xaven to do as it sounds - Halstadt is interposed between Xaven and the ring of fire.

Initiative for Xaven in retreat with a +4 bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 4 = 13

OOC: Well he did try to oblige you, but his modifier will place him just before Karek.

Hurgah "I must break you" the Reaver wrote:

Hurgah gives the hysteric halfling a hard, cold stare.

"You know, I really liked you better when you were hog-tied and gagged. Keep acting up, and maybe we'll just go back to that arrangement."

Breach, wishing he could remove the halfling's head with his axe, merely shakes his own. "I think that's a GREAT idea, Reaver. I'm really tired o' hearin' his mouth run," he says as a matter of fact while staring down the annoying halfling.

-

Once more Xaven and Hrokon begin to edge away from the Dunesquad, this time headed south back to the Pactstone chamber.

"See ya toots," he says to Xerissa. "Bye Muscles," he says to Karek.

Karek checks for traps. Do the halflings see anything?

-

He then pulls out a strange-looking cone and places it to his ear, listening to the silence of the room, as though letting the walls speak to him.

Neversword then studies the archway further for a time before finally concluding:

"Naw, it's just a store room. You're good Muscles."

If no alarms are raised, Karek will enter.

-

Hal frowns, "It is the rate for filling up empty vials of potion that you did not have to produce or pay for Xaven. Remember you chose to not take compensation. Now, hand over that poison dagger, I don't think we can trust that you won't do something stupid with it, like kill yourself unnecessarily!"

"Why don't I just strip naked and give you everything I have while I'm at it."

Xaven flips Halstadt a rather obscene guesture and then turns back forward.

Hal will sigh and replace his axe in the loop through his bely seeing that his desires have been rebuffed by the party. He will then reach into his Handy Haversack and hand Xaven 100 gold coins.

"There, now we are no longer robbing you".

-

Xaven snorts at the paltry sum.

"Is that the going rate for potions these days? Time to give up alchemy, me thinks."

Xaven waves Halstadt off.

"Forget it Beards," he says, "We didn't come here for ordinary coins."

"You keep the weight. I'm here for the good stuff."

There is a brief pause of silence before the halfing pipes up again.

"Though I think some of us have now reached the point in the expedition where we're all more interested in just getting out of here alive."

"Hey muscles!" he says turning to Karek. "You seem to be the leader of this crew, which way now?"

Breach just shakes his head and rolls his eyes. "Bah. He's bluffing. He loves himself too much to kill himself. Ya know it to be true, Neversword. We're not gonna kill "your boy", but we're all gonna need those vials if we're ta get outta here. Because it breaks down like this: If one of us dies, then we all die. And that includes you. So no matter where you run, or how far you travel, you won't be free unless we all escape outta here alive. All those riches you think you're gonna see? - well, you won't. 'Cause you'll be dead. So stop being daft and help us get outta here." He looks him straight in the eye as he speaks, a look of absolute calm about him. "So you can either kill yourself and get nothing, or, you can help us and live to rob for another day. Which sounds better to ya? Hm?"

-

"You're right then dwarf, if it's true the only way out of here is back through those stone tubes, you'll get our potions - even if I have to force feed em down your throat."

"Now let's go," he turns and starts walking north, studying the corridor ahead.

"Hrokon, you'd better stay close to me."

Xaven looks to Xerissa and then to Hal, unsure if he's being played.

"Last chance, I'm gonna count to three. . ."

"And if my boy ain't walking and talking like himself, we're all gonna regret it."

OOC: You should all feel free to help Gandel make a decision. I am aware Karek has a readied on Xaven (who in turn may also have a readied action)

Using his best psycho voice, Xaven says:

"Let. . . him. . . go. . . now!"

He seems rather upset, both hands gripping whetever it is he plans to stick himself with.
-----
Just a little free action chit chat.

Xaven has removed a “foreign object” from his armor. It looks like a razored spoke or perhaps a gear. He sticks it between the fold of his armor – as though he means to stab himself in the stomach.

He’s also craning his head around madly trying to see who is doing what in the press of bodies filling the corridor.
-----
Neversword may have just taken a readied action to do “X” when “Y” occurs...or maybe he just went on delay.

Initiative for a concerned Xaven:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"What the hell!?"

"Beards!" he screams at Hal, "You promised!"

Xaven is already partway up the north corridor and cannot actually see Hrokon or Halstadt.

". . . Yeah, I suppose I would."

He thinks.

"Maybe the half-elf girl's words are bad karma."

Then he thinks some more.

"But if it's all the same to you death priest, I'm still gonna find us a way out of here. You can thank me later."

As the group approaches the archway, Hurgah signals a hold. Pointing through the arch, he turns to Xaven and asks "All right, Champ. What do your tomb raider instincts tell you about this?"

The diminutive Xaven takes Hurgah's invitation as an opportunity to muscle himself to the front alongside Gandel.

"I believe this is what we call the front door. We're already inside. You turkeys came in through the back. Nice job."

"We should assume this pact magic stuff was meant to be a pretty closely guarded secret by just four people." He points to the artwork on the archway to show exactly just who he means. “They don’t want just anybody turning themselves into an un-killable collective. It's a private affair."

"On the other hand, If they were going to be that thorough, they would have trapped the back door as well, no? You all wouldn't have been able to follow me into this chamber when I was in gaseous form."

"This rooms gotta be defended, but my gut tells me it's not the archway."

He makes a military-like guesture with his hand and says,

"Clear!"

"Master Moonpate is correct Xaven. Your suggestions are welcome but you nor your Half-Orc ally are in control here. Deal fairly with us and we will deal fairly with you. Now, time runs short. We must find a way to draw our foe out before the Khyrasma sends in more fodder for his bloody count".

"For that," says the chatty little man, "It looks like we have an ally in the Sand Sage. I don't know why yet, but he's working awful hard to keep Khymrasa from sending people in."

"The turban's up to something..."

"Witnessing your clear inability to follow rule number one, is why I have trusty rule number two:"

"Keep the clerics close at hand."

"OK kiddies! Listen up!"

"It's kinda important that none of you die, right now."

"So I need you to all to learn to follow Xaven's Rules for pyramid survival. . ."

"Rule number 1: if it's shiny, don't touch it. If it's dull don't touch it. And if it moves, don't %&$^ touch it. In fact, if you have pockets, you might want to stuff your chubby hands in there for the duration. I'll let you know when you're needed to hit something."

Seemingly becoming more comfortable that an attack on his person is no longer imminent, Xaven somehow rolls up the enchanted glyph he's been standing on, as though it were a blanket. He then puts the folded glyph it back in his pack.

"Hurgah, please secure that assassin's rifle and any other useful adjuncts you might find. I am sure we will need the extra firepower soon enough."

-

Xaven turns to the other hafling, "Yeah, you guys are so much better than me."

He then turns to Hrokon, "When this is over, me and that sanctimonious squirt are gonna have words."

"Now that Sceptre has been dealt with we should continue to explore this complex. Suekhan is simply too mobile for us to deal with at this point, as we move forward perhaps we can find a better spot to face him. Besides, if we accomplish our goal and get out we leave him trapped here and his presence becomes a non-factor".

-

"Looks like whatever it is I kinda need you guys to hurry up and get to it."

"Just watch out for teleporting fiends, okay?"

With a new round starting after Sceptre goes, I'll feel less guilty about having Xaven finally answer Hal.

He pulls himself right up to Xaven and Hroken. "You two damn fools whisper louder than a dwarven wedding party. On my honor no harm will come to you from us if you attempt to bring us no harm".

-

"But something tells me you don't have much control over the incredible shrinking fire belch. And I know you don't speak for the death priest."

"You shouldn't trust the death priest by the way," the halfling adds. "That advice you can have for free."

Meanwhile Xaven and Hrokon continue to talk (seemingly ignoring the incomprehensible dwarf trying to advise them):

“You’re not hearing me buddy," says Xaven. "It’s not that simple. I can’t just vamoose with you.”

“Why not?”

“If any of these jokers walks into a trap or gets beheaded by the fiend upstairs, I die too. Like it or not, I’m their new official babysitter.”

“What!?”

“I’m serious – I work for them free of charge. Got my employee badge and everything.”

The half-orc considers his comrades words and then concludes:“. . . But not me.”

“Right and they’re gonna try to use that. But don’t worry, I got me a plan.”

“Oh great.”

“It’s simple. If they kill you, I’ll commit suicide. Total deterrent.”

“Oh that’s a plan, alright.”

Suddenly Hurgah dashes off and lets loose with a cone of fire. When he does Xaven’s eyes widen in surprise and he adds:

“Hold it a second - -“ Xaven's voice drops off into a whisper once more.

Reading the spoiler below requires a DC 15 Perception check for anyone in the Firefly room. I.e. Not for Xerissa or Hurgah.

"I promised you'd taste the fires of vengeance, assassin, and you're not done yet!

-

"And I thought your breath was bad."

"Hey, hey there Muscles!"

"You're standing on an exploding glyph - you mind?"

The halfling makes a motion with his hands as if to usher Karek to take several steps back.

"But that was totally different! Back then my team was totally trying to screw you over."

"Beards and I," the halfling says, answering Breach as he motions to Halstadt, "were thinking we'd play gang-up on the teleporting fiend and then sort out the rest later - ain't that right Beards?"

"Hrokon, you just simmer and keep your butt down. The Dune Squad and I are 'besties' now and they're even twitchier than you."

Then he adds in a quieter voice:

Gandel will shout out to Hurgah, Pate and Hal, "The halfling is free!"

-

Jail Break

Breach and Xerissa take note as the strange pale tracings of lines that are slowly flowing along the floor ahead of them finally reaches the chamber beneath the tunnel shaft, the spot where 'Team Polymorph' is located.

But the bizarre phenom sliding along the floor – whatever it is – is not after Team Polymorph. It’s target is Xaven.

The strange collection of eldritch lines glide underneath the halfling, aligning him at its center.

“That away girl!” cries Xaven as he rolls over on to his front. “Now you gotta do it! Go ahead!”

The glowing spectre on the floor coalesces into some kind of alien rune, a circle of glowing lines and patterns glittering along the floor. It begins to emit a menacing throb of light and sound.

“No, you gotta do it! Do it hard.” The halfing cries as he grits his teeth, thrusting his bound hands in front of him “Don’t worry bout me – just let her rip!”

The glyph explodes! A geyser of firelight and manic energy cascades in a tight radius around the halfing.

Damage from mobile glyph of warding: 6d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2) = 13

Xaven cannot make a Reflex save as he has the helpless condition. He takes full damage.

The rope that imprisons Xaven also takes 13 points of energy damage - enough to shred 6 inches of rope thickness. The rope is obliterated in the explosion, or at least enough of it is. Xaven quickly throws it off of himself.

Xaven is suddenly free.

Though with Breach, Lydia, Donkor, Karek and Gandel almost upon him, that might be a matter of perspective.

"Cut me loose! Cut me loose!"

"Hrokon! Get your bony green ass down here now!"

No actions from Xaven.

"Arrr--rrgh!"

"By the Gods Sceptre!"

"What the hell are you doing!?" the halfling demands as he spits out the blood from nearly biting his tongue in half.

Despite having a truly awesome Reflex save, Xaven auto-fails his save as he has the helpless condition. He takes the full 23 points of damage - or rather the pool does.

"Don't I know it!"

"But I can't stab you in the back," he adds. "Your back, is my back!"

"So why don't you put me to work for you. Let me go save my pal before he gets his head chopped off. I take out the demon you guys can't handle. Everybody wins."

"Dammit! The halfling is right, we must defeat this fiend together before he reaches his ultimate goal. Half-Orc! Jump down the shaft and get away from that Fiend! I will heal your wounds and you can face him with us at your back!"

-

"MMMmmph!! MMMPH!!"

"mmmmMMMPH!

Hal halts the procession and interrogates Gandel further to answer Karek's question. Xaven though does not know who the Portalman is, at least until Morgrym describes him.

"Piece of cake. We gave him a beat down. He clearly didn't want us to go through the freshly dug tunnel so we took that one. You guys leave that for us?"

OOC: Recall that Donkor's divinely-crafted tunnel was left in place.

Xaven gives Halstadt a look of surprise and for the briefest of instants, actually shuts up.

Perhaps he is stunned to see the cleric is not a money-grubbing hypocrite as he expected. Or perhaps he is just surprised to see the dwarf is so foolish as to leave his gear behind.

In any event, Halstadt uses the halfling’s own armor straps to bind his hands and feet in front of him. He then dumps all of the halfling’s equipment in a pile a good seven feet away from him, including his (unopened) backpack. It sits in a heap in the middle of the floor.

Moonpate then joins in providing Halstadt with a gag and blindfold. The halfling does not resist. But just before the blindfold goes on, he looks to Halstadt and says:

“You know what? Should our positions ever be reversed, I think I’ll remember this and return the favor.”

“I’ll guess I’ll just have to hope Rhokon finds me before Suekahn does. Cause I won’t have much of a chance against him like th—“ The halfling’s voice is cut off in a muffle as the gag goes in next.

Don’t hesitate to let me know if I’ve got any of those details wrong. In particular, let me know if someone wants to knock him out as Moonpate describes. Or perhaps this ear stuffing. I’ve seen softened candle wax used.

And where to next?

"An aggressive action would be less than wise at this time Halfling".

-

"You know what?" he adds. "There's some mithralic cord around my belt I use for tripwire. Try that. It's tough enough to hold Mr. Ugly over there." He looks up at the hulking Hurgah.

"Just do us all a favor and keep out of my backpack, okay?"

". . . And between you and me and these wide wide walls, I think he's got something going on the side. He seems pretty uninterested in treasure."

Xaven smiles coyly at Donkor and then answers Moonpate.

"Yeah, he's upstairs somewhere, I would think."

"Glad to hear someone here is a pragmatist."

"So what do you wanna do then? Rendezvous our two groups and coordinate a strat? After the bastards gone we can go our separate ways and everything that entails - no strings attached."

"Now, now, let's be fair," Xaven shoots back at Lydia. "I also raid tombs for money."

He flashes a smile at the half-elf.

Karek, silently appraising the halfling until now, and apparently ignoring the room! speaks up. We god a few good cracks ad'im. Karek volunteers.

"Glad to hear! Hate to think we're doing all the work round here."

Whad's da plan?

"Why? You want in?"

"And you, halfling. Focus on answering questions, instead of asking them. So - you encountered the cowardly fiend too. When and where was this?"

-

First in what I call the ground level in a corridor shaped like a semi-circle. Then a second time in a room with four-pillars. He waited for me to remove a trap for my party and then appeared with a banana grin and said 'Thank you'. One of our group blasted him pretty good though and he vanished. A platinum says he has a way to heal up."

"You get any good hits in? My guys are working on a plan to deal with him."

"I am here based on an authority much greater than any secular ruler could ever dream to be. You think any of us fear a half orc? Your bravado is misplaced. You have given us no cause to kill you but certainly we should tie him up and leave him, we do not need him interfering with our goals here".

-

The halfling continues to slowly step back from Hurgah, but he has no more room to go. Another step and he'll walk backwards into Karek.

"As tombs go, this place is getting more crowded than the Malhitu Bazaar in Sothis. Who else came in here with you? Those devil monks?

-

"But we did bring in a ton of cannon fodder," he answers as he takes a step back from Hurgah. "Our employer had a ton of labor just sitting around after unearthing the place so we convinced her to put them to use."

Seeing the half-orc's deadly stare, Xaven adds more: "But most of them have been cut down. A bunch by that monster trap you guys left behind and a number from a teleporting demon that has a thing with counting."

"Is Rhokon here?" he asks.

-

Hurgah leans in, so his face is a few inches from Xaven's. His lips part in a grim smile that allow the halfling tomb raider a front row view of the pointy tusks that tore the still-beating heart from Deca-Jaws. Then Hurgah lets out a deep, rumbling chuckle. Tiny wisps of smoke curl out between the teeth, and Xaven suddenly feels like he is sitting too close to a hot forge.

"With such fine mastery of orcish curses, you are most likely familiar with the art of Radbraekh*. Before my tribe sold me into slavery, I witnessed our chief's head torturer spend a whole six days on a prisoner, before he finally died. I may not have his skill, but I promise you, you will wish for death many, many times over before I am done with you, and when it finally comes, you will beg Pharasma never to let your wretched soul return to Golarion ever again. Now, my companions asked you questions. Answer or bleed."

The halfling is clearly shaken by the terrifying giant. Nevertheless, he seems to bear up well.

"Sure. What else do you want to know? I got nothin to hide. Unlike you types, I reckon. I smell Pathfinder."

"The dwarf wants to know why I speak orc? First it's called Orcish. Second, my best buds a half-orc, one every bit as big as you, and if you guys make the mistake of burying me in some corner of this tomb, he'll never stop comin for you."

"So back off!"

"Speaking Orc? What self-respecting Halfling speaks Orc? Er, no offense Reaver. You'll die a sixth time if you don't explain your presence here right quick!" Hal hefts his axe into a comfortable swinging position.

-

"I'm raiding the frickin place! What do you think I'm doing? I got an employer whose paying me to clean out the traps and undead guardians - same as you."

Then a sly look plies across his face. "Only my employer's got a permit to lawfully acquire. I'm guessing that ain't the case with you lot, is it now. . .?"

The little man stares up at the towering Hurgah, as bravely as he can. His hands still wide and open.

"Ah Kharachik* you, ya jofaquin!* I ain't gonna beg."

"Hell, I've died five times already."

OOC: Neversword means to say more, but my guess is that's about as far as I think he's gonna get. If I'm wrong, let me know and he'll continue, he certainly sounds as if he's got more to say. But if actions are going to be performed, let's roll for initiative.

"In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn he's still working with Sceptre."

"I never worked with that drake turd! We've just shared employers a time or two."

"This is total crap. I didn't do nothin!"