Ezren keeps a wary eye out with the help of Archibald riding on his shoulder as he moves through the fog with his companions.
Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
"Has the fog cleared or is it just dark in here? I have no idea!" The wizard chuckles to himself. "I believe that means I should carefully follow the person in front of me."
Ezren isn't entirely wrong. The mist does seem slightly less dense than before as the magic begins to fade, but it's still hard to see... except... is that a light? Yes, absolutely -- a red glow starts to suffuse the mist. It gets brighter and brighter, taking on the appearance of a crackling fire in the shape of a sword, held by a dark, winged figure approaching through the fog.
Holding a burning scimitar of fire aloft as she nears you, a pale-skinned female figure wearing revealing, dark leather armor, with hair nearly as red as the glow of her weapon, long, segmented horns, blood-red bat-like wings, and a long, reptilian tail floats above the ground with powerful strokes of her wings, blowing the mist around in swirling vortices.
DC 17 Knowledge (planes):
This is a succubus, a type of demon dedicated to seducing mortals into depravity. As a demon, it is an evil outsider, and most demons have immunity to electricity and poison, and resistance to fire and cold. Many demons have the ability to summon other, lesser demons.
"So your pathetic powers allowed you to penetrate my disguise, elf? It will do you no good. These catacombs will be your grave, and I will hunt down your allies who led you to this place. Your hearts will make fine sacrifices to Lord Shax. With the ritual complete, I shall usher in a new age of Darkness on Magnimar! Know defeat, fools, and despair!"
With that, the catacombs are plunged into even deeper darkness, only those with darkvision still able to see the partially-obscured figure of this demon.
I included the figure of the other demon on the map so that if any with darkvision step forward, you'll be aware of it. None of you can see it presently. I've added yet another outline on the map for the darkness spell. Right now, all of you are in it. Please look up the rules for darkness and follow them -- concealment, difficulty moving, etc.
Oh, and by the way, gloves are off. She is incredibly pissed off at you, and will not hesitate to kill.
If you own a Player Character folio, or a Pathfinder T-shirt, you can get a reroll if you bring/wear them to a game. For play-by-post, we generally just accept if you own such a thing, you get a reroll. Rerolls get a bonus equal to the number of GM stars you have, if any.
Ezren weaves a spell to try to eliminate the darkness, but it is too powerful to dispel.
Ezren can take a move action as well if you want.
The succubus turns and strikes out at the cleric of Sarenrae, still apparently harboring hatred for that faith. Two strikes with the flame blade and one with a claw, totaling 23 damage to Kyra.
She then steps back into the mists.
A moment later you hear the voice that 'Lex' was using previously. "Stugbu, help me! She had me possessed, but she fled my body to attack you! Please come defend me!"Stugbu, please make a Charisma check. If you make a 13 or better, you realize that this is a trick. Otherwise, the charm leads you to believe that 'Lex' is somewhere in the mist and needs your help.
Male Chaotic Good Half-Orc Warpriest 9/Bloodrager 1 | HP 85/85 (rage: 100/115; 7 non-lethal) | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 (rage: -2) | CMB +13, CMD 24 | F +16(19), R +9, W +14(18) | | Init +1 | Perc +10 SM +8 | Speed 40' |Fervor 9/9 |Bloodrage 16/16 | Blessings 7/7 | Sacred Weapon 9/9 | Sacred Armor 9/9 | Active Conditions: Haste, Delay Poison, Defending Bone (45/45) |
GM Paladin wrote:
OK, with the cleric on your back you are at medium encumbrance, though that probably won't make much difference considering you have full plate armor.
Yes, I believe that's correct. Since I'm playing the Warpriest pregen I haven't built him from the ground up, but he is a half-orc (normally 30' speed) with full plate who is listed at 20' movement. So I don't think carrying her has any additional effect. And, in any case, as soon as it's Tull's turn he will (free action) drop her.
Male Chaotic Good Half-Orc Warpriest 9/Bloodrager 1 | HP 85/85 (rage: 100/115; 7 non-lethal) | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 (rage: -2) | CMB +13, CMD 24 | F +16(19), R +9, W +14(18) | | Init +1 | Perc +10 SM +8 | Speed 40' |Fervor 9/9 |Bloodrage 16/16 | Blessings 7/7 | Sacred Weapon 9/9 | Sacred Armor 9/9 | Active Conditions: Haste, Delay Poison, Defending Bone (45/45) |
Just to clarify, is this "darkness" or "deeper darkness"? You mentioned deeper darkness above, but perhaps that was just a figure of speech?
Also, Tull can't see around the corner just yet, but since he has darkvision, assuming that the darkness isn't the deeper variety, he'll hopefully go around the corner and whack at something when his turn rolls around. But I see two red icons on the map. Is one of them the (transformed) prisoner guy and the other a new demon? Or something else? Or we just don't know?
Just Darkness, but the obscuring mist is still up (it lasts 5 minutes and you've not been taking that long) so you still have that to contend with even if you have darkvision. On the other hand, it means she can't sneak attack you, since her sneak attack is based on Core rogue which is shut down by concealment. Kyra would have had to take an additional 3d6 damage if that weren't there. The two monsters are ones that you will see, albeit imperfectly through the mist, if you step forward (since you have darkvision).
Forgot to include this in my last post. Here's the initiative order, bold may go:
"No, me not believe you any more! Me may not be smart but me not totally stupid! Stugbu know that you bad guy...or girl!"
With a quick check to make sure Kyra is not mortally injured, the big paladin strides forward into the darkness and mist, his sword up in front of him in a defensive position for now.
You see that something has joined this creature in her fight. This emaciated figure looks like a horned human skeleton smothered within a bone-tight hide of slimy leather. It is carrying a long spear. Since you don't have Knowledge (planes) but do have that bonus regarding demons, devils, and daemons, go ahead and make a Knowledge (religion) check.
Internal Alchemist 8 HP67/67 Fast Healing 4/4 | AC 20, T 12, FF 20 Uncanny Dodge| Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +5 | Init +2 | Perc +12, 60' Darkvision, Bombs (13/13) Fly (8/8) Effects: Ant Haul
Luurg watches the flaming sword and woman step back into the mists "Hey dare, you ain't gettin' away dat easy!" He follows in after her and thrusts his spear in her misty direction.
Man, can't catch many breaks on my attack rolls lately it seems. I'll also be away from a computer for the next couple days so bot me. This attack roll is in my character sheet with appropriate mods on it. Luurg also can roll vs light fortification for his goblin boon, also can ignore one sneak attack or critical on him per day based on a feat. He can fast heal 5hp twice per day as well.
You see that something has joined this creature in her fight. This emaciated figure looks like a horned human skeleton smothered within a bone-tight hide of slimy leather. It is carrying a long spear.
"ਇਸ ਧੁੰਦ ਤੋਂ ਛੁਟਕਾਰਾ ਪਾਓ, ਮੈਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਰਫ ਦੇਖ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ," the succubus says to the lesser demon.
"ਜਿਵੇਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੋ, ਮਾਲਕਣ" comes the reply, and the creature concentrates, while holding its spear out defensively to ward off the half-orcs. Suddenly, the mist vanishes.
Abyssal:
"Get rid of this mist, I can barely see them."
"As you wish, mistress."
Quick check on buffs -- does anyone have Protection from Evil up?
Ember | HP 57/57 (fast healing 1) | NOW: AC 26 t 20 ff 21 | AC 22 t 20 ff 17 | F +7, R +12, W +10 | | Init +5 | Perc +10, darkvision 60 ft | 60 ft fly | B. Perf. 19/19 | Spells 1st 6/6 2nd 4/4 | Active cond.: Mage Armor
Kyra steps back and begins casting ‘summon monster II’.
You can't 5-ft step in darkness, so you would have to take a move action, which would delay your summoning spell. I will let you start casting it as a standard action, and complete the summon next turn with a standard action, leaving you with only a move action next turn. Do you want to do that, or stay in your current location and cast normally?
Ember | HP 57/57 (fast healing 1) | NOW: AC 26 t 20 ff 21 | AC 22 t 20 ff 17 | F +7, R +12, W +10 | | Init +5 | Perc +10, darkvision 60 ft | 60 ft fly | B. Perf. 19/19 | Spells 1st 6/6 2nd 4/4 | Active cond.: Mage Armor
GM Paladin wrote:
You can't 5-ft step in darkness, so you would have to take a move action, which would delay your summoning spell. I will let you start casting it as a standard action, and complete the summon next turn with a standard action, leaving you with only a move action next turn. Do you want to do that, or stay in your current location and cast normally?
stepping back a caster reflex. ;-) Then she casts defensively without move.
You're not actually threatened at the moment, but then Kyra wouldn't know that since it's dark, so casting defensively makes sense. Fortunately you have no problem holding the spell.
Archie can smell but that doesn't give you targeting on them. Sorry, that's the breaks. You can use an area effect spell like grease or fireball, though, since Archie will be able to tell where they are and where your friends are, and you remember the layout of the hallway well enough.
Yeah I was pretty sure that wasn't good enough to count as line of sight. Not a problem. I had some confusion about the fire. You said they are resistant to fire but ooc I thought a succubus and other demons were generally immune to fire. I'm happy to just act according to what you said my knowledge check revealed, though, and will do so next round unless I misunderstood something. It's fine if my knowledge check misled me because these are unusual demons or something of that sort.
How long have you been concentrating? If this is the second round, you determine there are four creatures in the area of your spell, and their intelligence scores are 8, 14, 14, and 16. If this is the third round, you are unable to determine anything from the most intelligent creature, and one of those of middling intelligence is thinking, Must kill for the mistress... must despoil, destroy, rend, rip flesh, eat entrails, force their own guts down their throats until they choke, tear their ears off, poke their eyes out, break their fingers, smash their toes, ram red-hot pokers in their... -- you get the idea. This mind is concerned solely with obeying the commands of the one who summoned it and causing as much death and pain as it can.
Stugbu and Luurg need to make will saves as well, if they want to, and if they fail a DC 20 or choose not to resist, describe your surface thoughts to Uzziah in a spoiler.
Male Chaotic Good Half-Orc Warpriest 9/Bloodrager 1 | HP 85/85 (rage: 100/115; 7 non-lethal) | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 (rage: -2) | CMB +13, CMD 24 | F +16(19), R +9, W +14(18) | | Init +1 | Perc +10 SM +8 | Speed 40' |Fervor 9/9 |Bloodrage 16/16 | Blessings 7/7 | Sacred Weapon 9/9 | Sacred Armor 9/9 | Active Conditions: Haste, Delay Poison, Defending Bone (45/45) |
Tull will cast Bull’s Strength on himself and move up behind his half orc brethren. (Can someone move me? On phone). I think there’s no room for him to attack, correct?
The flaming blade strikes out at Stugbu, finding a gap in his armor and burning him painfully. It slashes across his face, sending him staggering back a step, before demonic claws rip into him. 20 fire damage and 3 slashing damage to Stugbu. This is assuming your AC and touch AC are as displayed in your status. The succubus then steps back into a niche in the wall.
Stugbu was in Total Defense from his last move. Sorry, didn't update the AC in his status for that, but he was on AC25 and AC15 Touch. Think that means he only takes the first lot of fire damage for 12hp.
WILL vs. Detect Thoughts:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Stugbu thoughts are pretty straightforward. Me stop bad lady and demon. Me not let them hurt any more of Dawnflower's friends!
Ignoring the painful, burning strike to his body and with little regard for his own safety, Stugbu steps up in between the succubus and the demon and turns his righteous anger towards the evil Avalexi. "You trick Stugbu! That not very nice!"
Flame blade hits touch AC, so yes, he only takes the first hit.
Avalexi hisses in pain as the holy power of Stugbu's faith injures her badly, but grins cruelly in return. "Oh dear, my poor child, I'm so very sorry your fee-fees were hurt! Should we kiss and make up?"
Internal Alchemist 8 HP67/67 Fast Healing 4/4 | AC 20, T 12, FF 20 Uncanny Dodge| Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +5 | Init +2 | Perc +12, 60' Darkvision, Bombs (13/13) Fly (8/8) Effects: Ant Haul
Luurg has prot evil active.
Luurg looks on as Stugbu and the woman go toe to toe. "I gut yer back Stugbu! Spear verses spear time!" He lunges at the new creature with 'ole leafy'.
Luurg's spear stabs right at the demon's heart, but its thick, slimy skin absorbs much of the impact. Luurg vaguely recalls that some naturally magical creatures like fey and lycanthropes have resistance to weapons not made of a special material, and suspects that may be the case for these as well.
The creature responds by pushing aside his spear and lunging forward to snap at the alchemist with its teeth. Attack vs. 27 AC, 8 damage to Luurg. After it sinks its teeth in, the succubus snaps, "ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਮੂਰਖ ਹੈ!" and the lesser demon responds by using its claws to attack Stugbu. 2 attacks, both hit AC 23, 16 damage to Stugbu if that hits.
Its grin dripping with half-orc blood, it raises its spear again, daring anyone to approach.
Male Chaotic Good Half-Orc Warpriest 9/Bloodrager 1 | HP 85/85 (rage: 100/115; 7 non-lethal) | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 (rage: -2) | CMB +13, CMD 24 | F +16(19), R +9, W +14(18) | | Init +1 | Perc +10 SM +8 | Speed 40' |Fervor 9/9 |Bloodrage 16/16 | Blessings 7/7 | Sacred Weapon 9/9 | Sacred Armor 9/9 | Active Conditions: Haste, Delay Poison, Defending Bone (45/45) |
At the start of Tull's turn, he uses War Mind to give himself a +1 insight bonus to attack rolls for 1 round.
Quickly, Tull calls upon the power of Desna-Gorum to protect him from these foes. Using 1 point of fervor to swift action cast Shield of Faith on himself, increasing his AC by 2
Stepping forward, he attempts to vanquish the nearest foe.
Tull steps up and attacks the demon, whose slimy skin deflects some of the damage.
Luurg, I forgot that you need to make a reflex save when attacking this creature. If you fail a DC 18, Luurg's weapon takes 1d8 ⇒ 8 acid damage. If this amount of damage is greater than the weapon's hardness, it gains the broken condition. Tull would also need to make a save, except that his steel greatsword has hardness 12 and no amount of damage from this ability could get through its hardness.
Well, you now get Tull's thoughts too, so he needs to make a new save, but you don't get anything new from the demons, since one made the save and the other is still thinking about how it wants to kill you all.
