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Salubri quickly pulls a rod out from his haversack as soon as he's surrounded, while Glen calls on divine powers to aid him in battle, and Guang does the same. Lurgh takes the aggressive path though, sending out a pair of fiery bolts that leave the ghoul dressed as Agosa heavily charred. The ghouls continue to swarm and surround the two aasimars, though they find it very hard to penetrate their tough defenses, only one of them managing to find a weak area on Salubri's armor.
Round 1
Ghouls!
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Prophet (-22)
Glen
Guang (-9)
Milo
Lurgh
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Black ghoul (-55)
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Careful to avoid the purple-people-eater and his red-eyed sibling, Glen moves in on the Agosa-impersonating, negative energy-channeling ghoul, imbuing his +1 keen adamantine elven curve blade with the bane power against the undead.
He brings his weapon down in a overhead swing, slicing at the creature from shoulder to belly. "Go to your eternal rest, undead servant of evil!"
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Not wanting to risk too much further attack, any of which, with a touch of ill luck might be devastating, Salubri closes his eyes for just a moment, allowing the both destructive and restorative energies to flow outward from him, engulfing the area in positive energy so as to eat away at the tethers keeping the Undead bound to this realm.
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Milo follows Lurgh, making sure to keep the big half-orc between himself and the undead creatures.
He starts to intone arcane words in draconic, as he holds his silver rod in one hand, and flames start to run up and down the other. Finally, he brings his two hands together, and the flames rush down the rod, and a sheet of fire erupts from the end, engulfing three of the ghouls, though washing around Guang without touching him at all.
fire damage (DC 20 reflex for half)
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Glen moves into the room, and quickly cuts down the ghoul cleric with one swipe of his blade, severing its head, as Lurgh takes care of another. The Prophet calls on the Dawnflower to fill the room with divine energy, and combined with Milo's blast of flame, they eliminate all but two of the remaining ghouls. Guang tries to knock the last two out, but the prove to be shiftier than he expected, though he easily dodges their attacks as well.
Round 2
Ghouls! Blue (-9), Green (-18)
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Prophet (-22)
Glen
Guang (-9)
Milo
Lurgh
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Black ghoul
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After eliminating the cleric ghoul, Glen moves over and ends the existence of one of the two remaining undead as Guang finishes off the last one.
Out of combat!
A search of the bodies turns up 6 +1 bracers of armor, a 1st level pearl of power, +1 breastplate, +1 heavy mace, and a pouch full of dust of illusion. Despite wearing Agosa's clothing, you don't find any other signs of his possessions on the cleric. On the other corpse with the caved in chest, you find a scroll of shield, a wand of resist energy (CL 3rd, 12 charges), and a wayfinder inscribed with the name Verit of Aspenthar. From your past experiences with ghoul, you also seem to think that if Verit’s body is not destroyed or blessed, he
will rise as a ghoul in the near future.
As you sort through the found gear and heal your wounds, you suddenly hear a booming voice coming from the stone idol in the room.
“Welcome, mortals, to the Land of the Dead and Domain of the Divs. By the mighty Ahriman, I welcome you. Know that you have violated the tomb of the Immolated Mirza, the august lord genie Verdizaam Charad. You seek that which the grave robbers took and will meet the same fate as them unless you turn back now and depart forever these holy chambers.”
“You mortals be brave, and the Immolated Mirza acknowledges your courage, foolish though it may be. Therefore, I offer you not certain death but a chance to succeed in your quest. Two ages have passed since I last walked the earth and two puzzles shall you pass before you do so again. If you win through, the goal of your quest shall be your salvation as well. Should you fail, your bones shall adorn my tent."
“So let us begin. I have ensured that you will be unable to leave until our little game is through. Remenber this, my little mice, for it may serve you again in the end. ‘Half past the new moon and twice the tides break, the sphinx feeds at the noon, and reclines in its wake.’”
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Once the fight with the ghouls is over, Glen examines the fallen Pathfinder and retrieves his engraved wayfinder. He draws his mug, creates ale, and offers a toast. "To the Pathfinder Verit of Aspenthar. May the joys of today be those of tomorrow. The goblets of life hold no dregs of sorrow."
"Prophet, is there anything you can do to prevent our slain comrade from becoming a ghoul himself? If not, we'll have no choice but to burn the body."
Glen works with the other casters to identify the magical properties of enchanted items the party recovers and stows anything no one wants to use in his handy haversack.
Then, at the ominous greeting from the loud booming voice, Glen tries to recall anything he might know about Verit of Aspenthar, Divs, Ahriman, the Immolated Mirza, and Verdizaam Charad.
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Glen recalls that Divs are a race of fiends native to Abaddon that exist only to cause harm and destruction. Closely related to daemons and the other fiends of the Outer Sphere, many planar scholars believe them to be descended from the spirits of the first evil genies. Ahriman is the lord of the divs and considered to be a demi-god. He's unsure about the other names.
Not long after hearing the booming voice from the idol, you all hear the sound of grinding stone and a loud thud coming from the tomb’s entrance.
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A variety of statues and showcases of all shapes and sizes line this chamber. The sculptures are constructed of various kinds of stone or rusting iron, and the cases are covered in dust. A marble walkway leads a meandering path through the room and ends at a stone table at the far end upon which rest two items: the severed head of your old companion Agosa Agion— mouth and eyes agape in a rictus of surprise or confusion—and a silver chalice bearing the symbol of his deity, Sarenrae.
As you search the room, you take note of several of the displays, many of which contain ancient osiriani inscriptions that Salubri is easily able to decipher with his magical means.
This badly-rusted statue portrays a richly dressed bey on his knees, hands raised in supplication and eyes wide with terror. Graffiti has been carved into it with a chisel, curses and profanity. Its plaque says, “Sayit, Eater of Dung. Betrayal is a sharpened blade, coated in acid. Yet betraying the betrayer is sweeter than new honey. Roast in the Inferno, old friend. VC I”
This iron sculpture represents a bizarre monster. Its upper torso is that of a beautiful, cat-eyed, sharp-fanged woman, while the lower body is that of a lioness, identifiable as a lamia. A dozen arrows pierce its hide, and her face is contorted with agony. An inscription below it reads, “Larasesh the Languid, Star of My Sky and Delight of My Nights. I used to love her, but I had to kill her. VC I”
This stone box seems to hold a number of brown sticks. Closer inspection shows that they are ancient finger bones
A scattering of pebble-like teeth litters the bottom of this chest. Carved into the bottom of the box is the name “Hatmah abd Khohimin” surrounded by the word “FOOL” written dozens of times
The severed head on the table is clearly that of your old friend Agosa Agion, and is now dried and stiff with its brain cavity scooped out and the inside of its skull polished. The chalice is likewise recognizable as one of Agosa’s liturgical items. Both are filled with a single draught of some thick, dark red liquid with a spicy, seared aroma.
As you explore the room and mourn for the loss of your fellow Pathfinder, you once again hear the voice from before, this time coming from Agosa's skull. “Well met again, mortals. Your courage exceeds your wisdom. And the next riddle will address that deficit.”
“In a nation of godless folly, who is the greater fool? The follower of the empty god, unable even to protect its own, or the follower of an empty man, filled only with the knowledge of his own inadequacy?"
“Choose wisely, and we shall drink together to your choice: you the cup of your choosing, and I the other. For when we finally meet, one will make the drinker a lion and the other a craven jackal before him."
“Is it the accomplishment of man that emboldens his steps through his mortal journey or his faith in the unseen? Choose, and choose well, or choose not at all and face the stinging venom of your own folly.”
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Glen is filled with sorrow as he views the desecrated remains of his friend, Agosa. Steeling himself, he examines the thick, dark red liquid with the spicy, seared aroma filling the skull and chalice.
"It's some kind of blood spiced with thick wine and other unknown substances."
Glen reaches for the tankard at his belt, creates ale, and offers yet another toast to a fallen comrade. "Friend Agosa, may you be in heaven a full half hour, before the devil knows you're dead." He passes the mug around to his companions, so that each may take a drink. Then he pours the dregs on the floor as a libation to Agosa's soul.
Glen casts detect magic and scans the room, taking the time to identify any auras and to study any enchanted items. Then he scans the room again, detecting for the presence of evil.
He listens to the Prophet read the various inscriptions on and around the sandstone statue. "Perhaps these offer us some clue about how to proceed. If nothing else, they reveal the twisted mind of whoever defaced this statue."
If the party's examination of the room and its contents reveals nothing to cause further concern, Glen casts guidance and reaches for the skull. He drinks the mysterious substance.
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Salubri looks on with disgust at the scene, and the mockery of the sacred by this Mirza, if it is that same creature's voice that speaks to the Pathfinders.
Perhaps buying time before his choice, Salubri makes an effort to record a few notes in his journal, in particular the two riddles thus far. "Faith is not a matter of perfection. It is not the result of the journey, but the journey itself. It is a journey, not over an easy road, but through adversity, where it becomes the most beautiful."
Refusing the skull of his fallen faith mate, believing it to represent the empty man, he instead takes the silver chalice, an implement of his faith. "Rest easy, Agosa. I release you from your mortal charge, and take your burden upon myself, until I die or find someone better.", taking a drink from the relic cup.
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Milo curses at the site of Agosa's skull, apparently ritually prepared for something.
"Git." He mutters, apparently angry at Agosa. "Ain't helpin' no one like that."
He shakes his head and examines the 'trophies' around the room, the angry scowl on his face getting more pronounced as he goes. "Verdizaam Charad was a right carked knobbler." He growls.
He glances in the chalice, making the same conclusions as Glen, though doesn't touch either as the voice once more echoes through the room. "Some prig is just toolin' us now." He observes angrily, glaring around at the room in general.
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Guang is unbothered at the grinding noise from the entrance, only smiling beatifically. "Ah, so now we are locked in with evil? Or is evil locked in with us, perhaps..."
The smile disappears from his face in the next chamber, with the gruesome choice presented. Guang's normally amiable countenance turns grim.
"This is a false choice, between evil and evil. I will not drink from either. It is a desecration of both faith, and the dignity a life is due. You who taunt us with the body of one we previously protected, I reject your dichotomy, for there are always choices of kindness, and wisdom, and mercy before us."
Guang steps forward and closes Agosa's gaping eyes and mouth, but makes no move to drink. Instead he looks at the 'displays' with his lips pursed. "A madman fallen into evil. Even love was not enough to stay his hand, in his own words. Petty, corrupted, and doomed now to haunt this tomb, it would seem. You will have many lifetimes in which to work away your illusions, Mirza."
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Though the others abstain from the offer, Salubri chooses to drink the blood mixture in the chalice. The liquid tastes slightly spicy and burnt, and although not pleasant, he notices no ill effects or changes from the drought. Once he's finished it, the disembodied voice booms with laughter, "Hahaha, a follower of empty gods then I see. Fools! You will learn though."
The Prophet wipes the chalice off and stows it in his pack, before Milo torches the room and all of its repulsive relics, though the metal and stone statues still stand. With nothing else of note in the room, the Pathfinder move on to the next chamber.
The floor of this circular chamber is covered in a rich layer of cream and charcoal-colored sand. A magnificent, wavy pattern has been formed in the sand, the design and combination of colors creating a brilliant work of art. Shiny stones are scattered throughout the arrangement, making the pattern appear to be a splendid, if peculiar, star-lit sky. Massive granite statues of ancient armed soldiers stand at attention along the walls. The sand seems to gently slope towards the center of the circle, where you spot what appears to be a 3 foot diameter hole.
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"The new moon," indicating the large hole, "we are supposed to go half past, perhaps?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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The hole goes down a few more feet, I suspect it's some sort of trap in which you will be buried in the sand if you fall in.
Lurgh travels to the other side of the room and looks for any way to secure a rope.
I could make the rest of you fly, or I might have the strength to carry you over one at a time.
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It takes a few mintues, but eventually Lurgh is able to shuttle everyone over to the other side of the sandy pit and the Pathfinders are able to avoid it altogether and continue exploring.
This room is decorated to resemble the interior of a massive tent. Canvas hangs from the ceiling giving the illusion of a bivouac set up in the wilderness. The interior of this false tent is opulent in the extreme. Lush carpets and plump cushions cover the floor. Intricately carven chairs and divans are strewn about the place. The air smells of orange blossoms. A large brazier, its coals banked and glowing, stands at the back wall. A table stands next to it, an open map covering its surface. Silken garments hang on stools or peek out of chests and wardrobes. A pair of ornate scimitars hangs from the central post in the middle of the room. A covered doorway stands across from the entryway. For all the wealth displayed here, it seems odd that several hyenas are snarling and fighting at the foot of the central post, yipping and biting and hurling froths of drool around the room. They obviously smelled you coming, and all four turn to look as you enter. Suddenly, two of them transform into some sort of creature equal parts bone, leathery flesh, and blood-red smoke.
Round 1
Glen
Prophet
Lurgh
Guang
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???
Undead
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Milo
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Hyenas
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"Well done, Lurgh!" Glen applauds the half-orc.
Glen moves into room, about midway between the ghuls and his companions. He invokes the Accidental God and casts prayer.
He swiftly pronounces judgment .