"Sort of undead, but not exactly," replies Liam quickly. "I'll explain later."
He attacks with Scion's Dagger.
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [6/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: xx
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
Katria doesn't wait to explain: "Yes, when a powerful spellcaster with a strong personality, a lust for life, and a remorselessly evil soul dies and is buried in a graveyard infused with eldritch magic, sometimes the worms that gnaw on the flesh of the decaying body gain its memories and magical power. The spellcaster’s soul is split apart to inhabit each of the individual chewing worms in so many fragments. It becomes a hive mind in the worms, which cling to the vague shape of the spellcaster's body."
Pulling out a scroll, Katria quickly rips it into shreds (wincing slightly as she does), and tosses the scraps into the air. As if they're caught in some breeze, they flitter and fly toward the warms, the edges cutting into it as flames flicker.
Ignoring the banter, Amelia knows that Koriana's Blade will cut through whatever it is.
The worm that walks avoids the worst of Katria's parchment swarm, but takes the full blast from both of Thanara's electric spells! The worms making up its body start to melt and pop, and as Liam and Katria stab and slice them, eventually not enough remains to sustain the creature's form. With a final echoing shriek, she collapses in on herself, a few worms twitching feebly as they die, and her malevolent spirit departing to the Great Beyond.
Liam looks around briefly at the many cages of insects. He doesn't take the time to try to figure out what the worm-caster was working on.
Though taking time to retrieve the gear makes sense.
Taldaris isn't here, and that's enough to want to move on.
"To the double doors at the end of the hall?"
Katria hesitates, wanting to explore a little more about what this worm woman was doing, but she also recognizes Liam's concern.
"Yes, we need to find Taldaris, and probably shouldn't linger too long," she says sadly.
Amelia shivers, "I don't want to spend more time here than I have to."
This room has numerous masonry partitions that turn the space into a maze. Slow-reacting smoke sticks fill the entire area with a haze of acrid cinders.
Liam's spell alerts him to the presence of numerous traps in these narrow halls, including glyphs of warding and pressure plates that would trigger the release of dozens of arcing blades to slice the unwary. There seems to be a clear path through these traps, but as you navigate it, a figure appears in the haze ahead. Its body seemingly made of iron, this shapely feminine form has wrists pierced by chains that end in curved blades. It stalks towards you with ill intent!
Before you can react, the being steps closer and lashes out with its daggers, slicing Liam twice!
Crucidaemons resist weapons that are not both good and silver. They are immune to acid, bleed, death effects, disease, and poison. They resist cold, electricity, and fire.
Liam is most pleased with his Find Traps spell. Seemed like it would be useful for a den of thieves and assassins.
However, as he navigates through the maze, he is taken off-guard by the appearance of the horrific creature. Fortune smiles on him the fiend misses several times.
Liam uses the stored potion in his Sipping Jacket as a swift action.
Then he casts Particulate Form defensively.
Finally, he begins Inspire Courage +3 as a move action. Although he can start it as a swift, he needed his swift for the Jacket, and still retains the ability to start Sermonic Performance as a move action.
"For Taldor and Princess Eutropia!"
Particulate Form gives the whole party immunity to Bleed, critical hits, and sneak attacks, plus Fast Healing 3.
Liam will use Divine Interference on any critical threat, expending one his two prepared Protection from Energy spells to force a reroll at -3.
Amelia senses the creature in the smoke, "I see you."
Stepping up she channels the enchanted blade in her hand and swings the longsword with deftness.
+2 more to all of Amelia's attacks and damage - Good Hope is still active.
Party buffs:
Good Hope +2 (morale)
Inspire Courage +3 (competence)
Particulate Form
Life Bubble
Communal Delay Poison
Liam's buffs on Amelia:
Magic Vestment (Armor +4, Shield +4)
Barkskin +5
Shield of Faith +4
Making Amelia AC 38.
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [5/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 17
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
"Ccrucidaemon!" Katria realizes with a start. "Oh, they're tough! Use good and silver weapons! Don't bother with acid, disease or poison, trying to make them bleed or killing them instantly! And they resist cold, electricity, and fire too!"
She pulls out Dignity's Barb and imbues it with her mental power.
”Oh, joy…” Thanara grumbles at the announcement of its defenses. She points a finger at it and sends a green beam of energy at it!
Thanara strikes the fiend with a disintegration beam, but it resists most of its effects. Amelia moves in and lands a hit on the fiend, drawing its ire. It lashes out at her with its chained daggers, one attack slipping past her defenses.
Liam casts and draws Scion's Dagger. Some of his wounds close.
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [5/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 17
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
Katria unleashes a barrage of bolts toward the daemon , the missiles veering straight toward where its heart would be if it were a human.
Feeling the blessing of fervor, Amelia swerves out of the way of the beams flying from behind her and flurries the daemon.
"You're no match for me."
Katria shoots the daemon twice, then Amelia delivers four powerful strikes! The fiend falters, staggering back, then collapses and lies still.
"Onward!"
Empowered by his goddess, Liam is ready for battle.
Particulate Form is also rounds/level, like Blessing of Fervor, and it will continue to heal us while we move (Fast Healing 3, so let us know how many rounds pass). It's also a very nice defense against rogues and assassins.
With a quick swish, the blade heads back home into its scabbard. "Lets go. I'll lead with the blind sight."
The dandy takes point, hoping to avoid any ambushes.
Katria hurries to follow, unable to resist shaking her head at how lethal the group is. It's almost scary what we could accomplish. When I think of some of the stories of how powerful people have gone wrong, we have to remember to make sure we're doing this for Taldor, not to it.
The door opens onto a cell block with nine cells of various sizes. The interior of the cells appear blurred from outside, and sounds are muted, making it difficult to tell what, if anything, each one contains.
Suddenly, two of the cell doors fly open. Two creatures emerge from the first cell. They appear to have once been axiomites, but their soulstuff has been transformed into negative energy, leaving only a core of hateful calculus within an armored shell. From the other cell comes a petitioner with hundreds of names inscribed over the lines of script adorning his body. He wears a chain shirt and wields a barbed harpoon. You realize this is the same man you saw in your vision upon arriving in Axis.
"I am Thousand Names," he proclaims. "You have made a mistake coming here. Once I have killed you in Norgorber's name and taken your names for myself, I will be one step closer to enlightenment."
”I don’t think my name suits you,” Thanara taunts before sending wave after wave of lightning washing over the three foes.
Watching the peal of lightning fly from Thanara, Amelia follows the attack up.
She holds the shielded blade close to draw her opponent in, hoping to get it to overextend on her.
"Come on then, wouldn't it be nice to take the name of one of his apostates?"
Both of Thanara's spells falter against Thousand Names' spell resistance. The two corrupted axiomites are completely immune to the electricity!
Amelia steps up and lands a hit on Thousand Names, taking up a defensive stance.
"You will be judged," Thousand Names proclaims. He and the axiomites all focus their attacks on Amelia! The ranger manages to fend off all of their strikes!
"Someday. But not by you. For Taldor!"
Liam throws himself into fray, slashing at Thousand Names with Scion's Dagger.
”…well that’s not good…” she muses to herself when both her spells prove absolutely ineffective to anyone of the foes.
She decides to try a new tactic, and sends a burst of mind addling magic at them positioned to try and catch all of the bad guys…
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [5/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 17
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
Katria whips Dignity's Barb up and unleashes a barrage of bolts toward Thousand Names.
Dodging the attacks with grace, Amelia strikes back.
Liam and Katria focus their attacks on Thousand Names, perforating and piercing him with their powerful relics. Bleeding from several stab wounds and perforated with crossbow bolts, the petitioner groans and collapses!
The undead axiomites resist Thanara's attempt to confuse them. Amelia attacks one of them, landing three solid hits. The axiomite strike back, stabbing Amelia with their acidic swords.
HP 129/129 (inc. +28 from transmutation focus; base 101)
AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21, CMD 25
Fort +15, Ref +10, Will +12
Speed: 30 feet
Inspiration (Knowledge/Linguistics/Spellcraft checks): 0/7
Mental Focus: 24; Abjuration [4/4]; Divination [4/4]; Evocation [2/2]; Illusion [4/4]; Enchantment [4/4]; Transmutation [5/6] (refocusing rod)
Resonant powers (+2 saves; +1 Perception, low-light vision; +2 Charisma checks; +4 Con; 20% miss chance; +1 damage to spells/focus powers)
Cape of the mountebank 0/1; gloves of arrow snaring 0/2; Dignity's Barb Crit No.: 17
Spells/day: 1st [][][][][]; 2nd [][][][][][]; 3rd [x][][][][]; 4th [][][][][]; 5th [][][]
Wands: Scorching ray 0/17; lightning bolt 0/19; magic missile (CL 5) 0/47; magic missile (CL 5) 0/29
Effects: heightened awareness
Katria turns her attention to the undead axiomites next, unleashing another barrage of bolts. Most scatter somewhat wildly as she moves with haste, but one slams right into the axiomite's chest.
Liam will step into a flank with Amelia if he can, and try to take down one of the undead axiomites - focusing on the one that Amelia already hit.
Taking the extra attack from Blessing of Fervor. AC is 37 with the +1 from Amelia's sword. Immune to Sneak Attack, Critical Hits, and Bleed due to Particulate Form, plus Fast Healing 3. Dagger is +5 Ghost Touch Mtihral.
Hearing the blows ring off of her enchanted buckler and defensive wards, Amelia twirls and strikes the nearby survivors of her ire.
With several critical hits, you quickly dispatch the axiomites, which dissolve into particulate dust upon their destruction, leaving their gear behind.
When you get a chance to peer into the cells, you can see that three contain prisoners. One is a male petitioner. The second is a bizarre creature that has a conical body topped with four tentacles tipped with pincers, tubes, and a tentacled, spherical head. The third is a regal inevitable made of metal and wood that sits patiently in the center of its cell. You recognize him from your visions, and there can be no mistake as to his identity. This, at last, is the subject of your quest--the legendary First Emperor Taldaris himself!
Liam sheathes his dagger. He takes a look at the first two prisoners, having no idea what the tentacled creature is.
He kneels to the First Emperor and bows his head. "Emperor Taldaris. Taldor has need of your guidance. I am Liam of Kozan. My comrades and I have received the help of many of your friends in finding you.
General Ohalia.
Lieutenant Fanalyx of Sayashto.
Lord Squire Saip of the Order of the Eaves.
Qarit.
Iphalt-C.
Councilor Jolumulk.
It is through their assistance that we are here before you. Now I will see about freeing you from your cell."
He then searches Thousand Names, looking for a set of keys.
Liam finds the keys on Thousand Names, and he unlocks Taldaris's cell. "I thank you for rescuing me," the inevitable says in a strong but soft voice. "Long have I languished in this cell, but no more. You say Taldor has need of my guidance? Tell me, what transpires in my empire of old?"
Where to begin?
What does he know of Taldor?
How far back must we fill him in?
The Even-Tongued Rebellion? The apparently falsified lineage of the royal family? The death of Aroden? The lack of a male heir, the proposed legislation, and the Exaltation Day Massacre? The not-quite-death of Stavian III?
Liam decides that this is really Katria's job...
Katria decides to tell him.
"The empire is in trouble, Grand Prince," she says, her voice awed, though that starts to fade as she continues her recitation. "We are in the midst of a civil war, caused by your eventual successor, thousands of years later, Grand Prince Stavian III. His only son died, leaving his daughter as the obvious heir. But that posed obvious problems, even though Eutropia -- whom we work for -- is more than capable. The Grand Prince, however, objected, and caused a massacre. That led to ... well, you may need some background:
"After you died, the empire prospered for many years ... then the Terrasque destroyed Oppara and ravaged the nation, which was the first great catastrophe that set up the current situation. ... And then the Sixth Army of Exploration was the next great catastrophe, when it was lost in the Mwangi Expand. ... You could say that led directly to the Grand Campaign, against Qadira, and from there the Even-Tongued Conquest, when many of our farthest provinces seceded. And of course, then Aroden died a little more than a century ago. That caused obvious religious problems, as I'm sure you can see, but also led to other ripples, like the Eye of Abendego and similar catastrophes. Oh, and Tar-Baphon, of course. ... So, as you can see, we need your blessing for the Mantle of Kings, to Eutropia can take the throne."
Finally she takes a few breaths, trying to mentally reassure herself she hit all the most important points of the last 5,500+ years , and the proper citations.
Amelia nodded, She knows her stuff.
Liam suspects that Taldaris may not be fully on board with Princess Eutropia's claim, so he will explain,
"Just as Aroden placed his trust in Arazni, Iomedae, and Milani, and bestowed power on them, so too were the Senate ready to place their trust in Princess Eutropia."
For whatever faults he might have had, Aroden appreciated powerful and capable women - an argument that Liam hopes resonates with Taldaris.
Taldaris listens to Katria's spiel. Once she has finished, though, he seems fixated only on one thing. "A princess aspires to the throne of Taldor?" Taldaris says dumbfoundedly. "In all of history, there has never been a... woman emperor before."
Taldaris stares at you for a few moments, and you can almost see the wheels in his head turning. As an inevitable, that expression might actually be literal. At length, he nods. "Very well. Since elevating myself to this new form, I have met many leaders of myriad genders. Aside from antiquated tradition, I suppose there is no reason that a woman cannot be emperor--apologies, empress."
The First Emperor looks at each of you in turn. "I shall accompany you out of this place, but only so long as you agree to bring those who captured and imprisoned me to justice. You have already defeated Thousand Names, but the commander of this prison, the Secret Shade, still lurks nearby. Beyond the shadow, there is a third being--Hamal Kai, a hyrakume whose many eyes make her an impeccable spymaster. You must also recover my halberd from wherever they have stashed it. The agents of Norgorber must be made to see the consequences for disrupting the order of Sayashto. Compromising now would only embolden our enemies."
"I believe we have encountered part of this Hamal Kai before. At a campaign rally for a candidate for the Sayashto Councilor of Gates, we saw floating eyeballs."
The eyes don't give off any magical auras--they appear to actually be floating eyeballs! Katria remembers the initial vision you received upon arriving in Axis showing a flabby, purple hand with a yellow eye in its palm. These eyes look similar to that one.
Thinking hard, Katria recalls reading about strange aberrations called hyakumes. These mystics of malevolence have bodies dotted with numerous eyes, and they can send those eyes out on missions, watching through them. It is likely a creature such as this is observing the proceedings at the campaign rally...
"Incorporeal undead such as shadows can be challenging foes to face, but I will do my best."
"Your Majesty, I will face those who imprisoned you. I hope you are not expecting a trial for them, and that you will be contented with their destruction. I will also recover your halberd."
Liam looks to Katria and Amelia for concurrence on these points.
"Your Majesty, do you know where we might find this Secret Shade? And what do you know of the two others imprisoned here?"
Liam does not release the other two right away, just in case Taldaris has a warning about them.
Katria frowns a little at Taldaris' initial reaction. That antipathy toward women is a large part of what caused this current civil war in Taldor, which she thought she had made clear. Still, at least he seems to realize his way of thinking is long outdated, and is willing to adjust. That certainly trumps many other so-called leaders.
She shakes her head to clear her idle thoughts as Liam looks to her and nods in agreement.
"I do not know where the Secret Shade makes their lair, but it cannot be far," Taldaris says. He turns his gaze on the other prisoners. "Likewise, I do not know who these two are."
"I am Imaro," the imprisoned petitioner says. "I made the mistake of delving too deeply into knowledge that was not meant to be known. They are trying to extract that knowledge from me now. I just want to get out of here."
The strange conical creature speaks in a buzzing voice. "My name is Alzem, and this is not my body! I'm really a tiefling, honest! I got too close to this thing's cell and somehow it swapped minds with me and fled with my body! I need to escape and get my body back!"
Liam will open the other two cells.
"Go free. I cannot help you escape this place or get your body back, but I wish you good fortune and freedom in the name of Milani the Everbloom.
Where we must go now is likely to be dangerous. If you wish to remain here, I can try to escort you to safety after I have completed my tasks."
Liam will move into the next room and look around.