ep 109 22/3/4720 AR (to 8pm) - The Spires of Xin-Shalast

Spires of Xin-Shalast

Seoni & Valeros, missing Pathfinders

Leng Spider

Chris T.:Hiya Keelia, James 2 :)
Quillax:Hello? Are you getting this message?
Chris T.:yes
Quillax:Finally!
Hello!
Chris T.:Hello! Having a spot of bother?
Quillax:Was having a lot of bother :) Kept getting message saying I was not connected to the server and all sorts.
Chris T.:not good
Quillax:I disabled my new privacy blocker and a few others things and it seems to be ok now... (fingers crossed)
Chris T.:Fingers crossed. Technical issues have spoiled enough sessions for us.
usually mine!
Quillax:Hopefully no more for either of us today! Now we just have to wait for the others to show up and see where we end up heading and fighting :D
Chris T.:Did you find out anything about those super-lamia things?
Eldrin Ætherwood:Hello peeps
Chris T.:I thgink you guys spent most of the session I had to leave in the library?
Hiya jay :)
Eldrin Ætherwood:Hey buddy. Glad to be playing with you fine gentlemen today
Chris T.:Bless you
Claw:Hi all
Chris T.:Hiya James :)
Eldrin Ætherwood:Gday mate
Quillax:I feel mildly slighted Jay :D
Simon N. (GM):Hi all
Chris T.:Hiya Simon :)
Quillax:"gentlemen and lady"
Hi Simon :)
Claw:hi smn
Eldrin Ætherwood:Tell me of this sligthing?
Haha did my message not go through?
I said, And gentlelady if there is one present
Claw:(she prefers Queen of hell)
Chris T.:hehe
Quillax:Really, James, I prefer Queen of Everything :D
Claw:xd
Eldrin Ætherwood:It did say unrecognized command coz i put a / at the start of my sentence.
Quillax:(My computer is a little glitchy today, if I miss messages, that's why :D)
Eldrin Ætherwood:Lol Queen of everything? So every women ever then haha
Quillax:Ah, yes, avoid the / at the start, it tries to take the next words as a command.
Well, At the very least Queen of Everything within my bedroom :D
That's about the extent of my ruling energy today :D
Claw:erm, that didn't come out right >.>
Chris T.:Imay be a bit quiet for the first ten minutes as food has just been set in front of ,me.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Haha, that got r18 fast
Chris T.:butI'm here and watching
Quillax:Minds out of the gutters! The game has barely started.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Born ina gutter sadly. Can't get out at this stage.
Simon N. (GM):GM: OK last session you returned to Xin-Shalast. Drakhaien does a bit of scouting then announces his wife has Sent to him she needs him back home fast, he wind walks away.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Plus, i'm a Kiwi lad, we are all degenerates.
Simon N. (GM):I once had a group of all Australian & Kiwi 20-something blokes, yes that was quite coarse!
Eldrin Ætherwood:Hahaha, we have a vibrant vocab
Mostly swear words. Not real words.
Simon N. (GM):You've reformed in an old barn type building just north of the valley mouth, near the white X.
It's still daylight currently, about 3.30pm, 7.5 hours since you left Jorgenfist.
Sunset is about 5.40pm
Claw:hmm, ok, are the bird scouts still visible?
Quillax:(Remember they have superior senses to us, better sight, hearing, and such).
Simon N. (GM):Looking out the barn Claw can see a couple Kuchrima flying over the fortress, a third on the walls.
They have similar sight to Claw (eagle sight) as far as you can tell. :)
Eldrin Ætherwood:"what can you tell me of thier senses?"
" i need to be prepared fo what comes next"
Claw:"Ok, three like last time, but there will be more like last time"
Quillax:(Q is very tempted to see if she can long-distance stone shape and capture the one on the wall by the feet...)
Claw:(can you earthglide/walk close enough?
Quillax:(It would make a hell of a racket though.)
Not sure - Simon, can you remind me of the worked/unworked stone situation around us.
Claw:If we are going to trigger that group again, I suggest ducking into a building the sealing up the entrances (earthshape, etc) and try to take on a few down at a time
Chris T.:Do we intend to fight them or avoid them?
Claw:we tried avoiding them last time, didn't go well
Simon N. (GM):The city itself is worked stone inc paving, but the slave district to the east is buried under a lava flow (itself mostly buried under ice) that laps the eastern walls of the fortress.
You can earth glide in lava.
Claw:unless we can go over the lava and hope they don't see us :P
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin steps towards Quilax, hands clasped behind his back. "How many did you encounter last time"
Simon N. (GM):At points the lava is only 8' below the eastern ramparts, so easy for an earth elemental to climb over.
Claw:"3, 4?"
Chris T.:Can we find somewhere to fight them where their numbers can't be brought to bear?Or have you checked this out when I was away? Don't want to be a prig going over old ground.
Quillax:A dozen
Claw:there we're 12 in total i think
Simon N. (GM):Yup you were attacked by 12, 3 fell in the fighting.
Claw:@Chris thats why I was suggesting sealing up a building
Chris T.:cool, thanks
Claw:if we leave only one opening we can bottle neck them
Quillax:(We discussed about trying to lure one or two away, but we didn't solidify any plans.)
Eldrin Ætherwood:"hmmm quite the number. I have limited telportation on hand, of course the better i know the area, the higher likely hood of success, if you were looking for a way through"
Claw:the thing is if we hit on then the others will come to its aid
maybe if we could silence it
Simon N. (GM):Because the city rises to the north beyond the fortress you can see and could potentially teleport beyond it.
Quillax:(btw using the Timeglass just in case that needs to be stated)
Simon N. (GM):You can see as far as the great spires below the carved head of Karzoug surmounting the Mhar Massif, 8 miles up the valley.
Eldrin Ætherwood:" i do have my owl, i could scout him ahead, for me to get a better sight of where we need to go. I could get us all there in an instant"
"what lies beyond.... Your guess as good as mine"
Simon N. (GM):I'll repost description of the city:
Claw:your owl will need to be careful, those bird guards saw through our cloud forms
Simon N. (GM):This tableau defies belief. A narrow mountain pass opens into a glacial
valley extending north and then turning to the west at the base of the
vast mountain at the far end. Filling this valley is an ice-capped city
of enormous proportions. The near end is mostly blocked by a huge
fortress of smooth black stone, with multiple towers rising from its
high walls. Exiting the bailey of this fortress is a massive causeway of
Simon N. (GM):gold that dominates the city as it travels down the center of the vale.
Enormous towers and spires of many-colored stone pack both sides
of the central thoroughfare, rising to prodigious heights and giving
the illusion that the road itself is a valley. The eastern slope of the
valley has been partially subsumed by an ancient glacial flow—nearly
a quarter of the city appears to have been so buried. That section is
Simon N. (GM):now little more than a great mass of ice, with the jagged angles and
peaks of ruined structures poking through its topmost layer here and
there. Where the valley curves slightly to the west, the structures, if
anything, grow even larger, becoming truly gigantic as they climb up
and over the rocky spur. At the far end of the valley, the city abuts
the lower slope of a truly massive peak. Yet the city builders appear
Simon N. (GM):to have taken no heed of this change in slope, for the great causeway
merely elevates at a steep angle and continues to climb the increasing
slope in a nearly straight line, transforming into an immense stairway.
Additional buildings cling precariously to the mountain face alongside
the causeway, growing even larger and more impressive as they ascend.
The gigantic buildings finally give way a few thousand feet above, but
Simon N. (GM):the mighty road continues to wend its treacherous way to just below the
mountain’s peak. There, a spired citadel looms, its size and proportions
truly magnificent. It, too, fails to summit the mountain—instead, its
topmost spires end just below the dominant face of a stern man,
carved into the peak of the mountain and surveying the city below.
The otherworldly quality of this strange panorama is further reinforced
Simon N. (GM):by the sound of the cold winds slicing across the high peaks, making
strange cries and shrieks in the ether.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"my owl is fey in nature, but for all other purposes looks to be any normal creature. Would these flying beasts know the difference?"
Chris T.:Mal well remembers the iron hard talons of the Kuchrima and is in no hurry to foght them again.
Claw:Can it look like a snow owl?
Simon N. (GM):You were warned by the nymph of an Occluding Field protecting the Spires, this likely prevents teleportation to the far end of the city, but you could teleport to closer areas on map.
Quillax:Problem is - we don't really have teleport. I've got one emergency dimension door...
Claw:"ok, lets try to teleport as far as we can then go from there"
Chris T.:good plan
Eldrin Ætherwood:" i have telport", Eldrin wrily smiles
Quillax:Q grins, "How nice to have another magic user in the group!"
Chris T.:"And nice to meet you properly at last ,Eldrin."
Eldrin Ætherwood:"sometimes, a blade needs it's friend in a little magic"
"same to you, Perhaps a drink when we get back is in order" A cheeky grin forming on his face.
Simon N. (GM):GM: You can see the golden road where it runs through the Temple Row on map after passing the shadow of a gigantic fortress at R.
Chris T.:She gives him the look. "I'm more than old enough to be your grandmother several times over."
Simon N. (GM):LOL
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin laughs to himeself in his mind thinking "i think she took that the wrong way"
Simon N. (GM):Malassandra is VERY well preserved! :p
Quillax:Q chuckles into her sleeve.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"i am 125, still young i know"
Claw:"Bloody old folk"
Chris T.::D
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin as per usual being sidetracked, face becomes more serious.
Quillax:"You don't look a day over 25, but let's focus."
Chris T.:"Shall we go find Kazoug?"
Eldrin Ætherwood:"Now, if we do want to move via teleport, i'll need all eyes on location, with agreement of where we are going EXACTLY, this will help make sure we don't end up in the sea"
".....not like that happens much..."
Quillax:"....I've got water breathing," Q offers with a grin.
Simon N. (GM):Temple Row
The exotic, cyclopean architecture of Xin-Shalast is
nowhere more apparent than this stretch of temples built
along the Golden Road where it meets the mountain.
Here were built the religious centers of Xin-Shalast in
a plethora of styles, shapes, and materials, with only
Simon N. (GM):two things in common: multiple towers and prodigious
dimensions. That the majority of these temples were
dedicated to Karzoug speaks volumes about the mindset
of his people and the philosophies of his entire nation,
yet here and there stood cathedrals dedicated to the
actual deities of Thassilon—Lissala, Minderhal, the
Simon N. (GM):Peacock Spirit, and even Desna. Intermixed with these
temples are darker, brooding structures and statues of a
singularly sinister mien—these were once shrines and
fanes dedicated to various demon lords and archdevils,
including such horrors as Mammon, Orcus, Pazuzu,
Rubicante, and Lamashtu.
Simon N. (GM):The Golden Road passes by these edifices before
climbing upward through the Rune Gates toward
the Spires of Xin-Shalast above.
Behind the temples, on the west side of the road,
stretches an area of residences for the clergy and lay
workers, huge storage complexes to hold the temple
Simon N. (GM):tithes and supplies, and various private shrines and
amusements claimed by the hierarchy of one temple or
the other.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin, smiles, appreciating the dry humor
Claw:"Claw simply points at the golden road "over there"
Chris T.:M says a praayer to Lissala as we pass
Eldrin Ætherwood:"ok" Eldrins eyes narrow, then close as he begins his spell incantation. "are we ready?"
Claw:Claw nods
Chris T.:Nods
Eldrin Ætherwood:
Teleport
7th Level Conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 10ft.
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous
This spell instantly transports you and up to eight willing creatures of your choice that you can see within range, or a single object that you can see within range, to a destination you select. If you target an object, it must be able to fit entirely inside a 10-foot cube, and it can't be held or carried by an unwilling creature.
The destination you choose must be known to you, and it must be on the same plane of existence as you. Your familiarity with the destination determines whether you arrive there successfully. The GM rolls d100 and consults the table.



Familiarity
Mishap
Similar Area
Off Target
On Target




Permanent circle
-
-
-
01-100


Associated object
-
-
-
01-100


Very familiar
01-05
06-13
14-24
25-100


Seen casually
01-33
34-43
44-53
54-100


Viewed once
01-43
44-53
54-73
74-100


Description
01-43
44-53
54-73
74-100


False destination
01-50
51-100
-
-




Familiarity. "Permanent circle" means a permanent teleportation circle whose sigil sequence you know. "Associated object" means that you possess an object taken from the desired destination within the last six months, such as a book from a wizard's library, bed linen from a royal suite, or a chunk of marble from a lich's secret tomb.
"Very familiar" is a place you have been very often, a place you have carefully studied, or a place you can see when you cast the spell. "Seen casually" is someplace you have seen more than once but with which you aren't very familiar. "Viewed once" is a place you have seen once, possibly using magic. "Description" is a place whose location and appearance you know through someone else's description, perhaps from a map.
"False destination" is a place that doesn't exist. Perhaps you tried to scry an enemy's sanctum but instead viewed an illusion, or you are attempting to teleport to a familiar location that no longer exists.
On Target. You and your group (or the target object) appear where you want to.
Off Target. You and your group (or the target object) appear a random distance away from the destination in a random direction. Distance off target is 1d10 × 1d10 percent of the distance that was to be traveled. For example, if you tried to travel 120 miles, landed off target, and rolled a 5 and 3 on the two d10s, then you would be off target by 15 percent, or 18 miles. The GM determines the direction off target randomly by rolling a d8 and designating 1 as north, 2 as northeast, 3 as east, and so on around the points of the compass. If you were teleporting to a coastal city and wound up 18 miles out at sea, you could be in trouble.
Similar Area. You and your group (or the target object) wind up in a different area that's visually or thematically similar to the target area. If you are heading for your home laboratory, for example, you might wind up in another wizard's laboratory or in an alchemical supply shop that has many of the same tools and implements as your laboratory. Generally, you appear in the closest similar place, but since the spell has no range limit, you could conceivably wind up anywhere on the plane.
Mishap. The spell's unpredictable magic results in a difficult journey. Each teleporting creature (or the target object) takes 3d10 force damage, and the GM rerolls on the table to see where you wind up (multiple mishaps can occur, dealing damage each time).
Chris T.:hmm
Simon N. (GM):GM: OK looks like your best bet is the T in Temple Row...
Eldrin Ætherwood:"here we go"
Quillax:Q moves closer and readies a produce flame in case they meet anything nasty when they appear
Claw:Claw draws Gorvak just incae
Simon N. (GM):GM: Eldrin casts from an upper storey window which gives overlook to the Temple Row, so counts as 'very familiar'...
Eldrin Ætherwood:Ok shall i roll or you?
Simon N. (GM):rolling d100
(
64
)
=64
on target!
Eldrin Ætherwood:oh it says gm
Simon N. (GM):yup
Eldrin Ætherwood:'Yus"
"see, i knew that would work, had no doubts...... Nope not a one."
Chris T.:hehe
Simon N. (GM):You arrive on the raised golden highway. The wind, much stronger here, whips at your clothes. The colossal spires below the mountain summit loom close over you now.
rolling d6
(
2
)
=2
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin seems to be lost in memories when he was in the middle of the sea
Mage Armor
1st Level Abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a piece of cured leather)
Duration: 8 hours
You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. The target's base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action.
Simon N. (GM):Nothing immediately attacks you, though the fortress R on the mountainside to south shows clear signs of habitation, as does the vast Sihedron temple K to the east.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"time to get ready" A blue hue surrounds Eldrin as he armors up magically.
Claw:"lets get off the street"
Simon N. (GM):Are you heading straight up the roadway towards the Spires above you (where it says Rising District)?
Chris T.:"Do we explore or keep our eyes on the main prize? Everything we kill will make Karzoug stronger..."
Quillax:Q looks around for a quick place for them to hide.
Claw:Claw heads towards the nearest alley
Chris T.:M with them
Simon N. (GM):Buildings to north are most crowded/best cover.
You can see cloud giants on the walls of R
Chris T.:eek
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin lightly moves to a darken corner
Claw:we landed on the T right?
Simon N. (GM):yes
Claw:ok, so Claw will head north to find an alley
Simon N. (GM):GM: You hurriedly move down from the stepped/tiered golden road into the Entertainment District.
out of sight of the fortress & temple.
Quillax:Maybe alley opposite of O?
Simon N. (GM):rolling d6
(
2
)
=2
Still not been spotted, and it's clear the city, which coulld easily hold 250,000+, is largely empty.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin whispers "is this the furthest you've been?"
Claw:"yes
Chris T.:"By a long way."
Claw:@smn whats the time?
i.e. past dusk?
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin nods, looking towards the city.
Simon N. (GM):Bit before 4pm, 2 hours to dusk
Claw:"hmm, do we want to push on while its still daylight? or hold off and move forward under cover of night?"
Simon N. (GM):You're in the Entertainment District - "The spectacular architecture
of the northern part of this district remains largely
intact, while the southern portions have been buried
under a tide of unnaturally fecund lichen growth" - lots of lichen around you.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"depends, you said these things have senses beyond ours, does this include the cover of night?"
Quillax:"They have at least Eagle Sight."
Claw:"not all of them, giants don't"
Quillax:"I do not know of their DarkVision but assume they have high perception."
Eldrin Ætherwood:"if we stay hidden, i can scout my owl forward,. Eldrin looks at his owl fondly. "don't worry, i can alway bring him back if he shoud fall.
Claw:"good idea, try sending him northwards"
Simon N. (GM):Beyond the temple district the road climbs up to the Spires (just added map)
Claw:can we/the owl see if the builds are occupied?
buildings just accros the road*
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin looks to his owl, hand under it's beak. Telepathically he tells him "look ahead, north, look for anyone about, any openings for us to slip through, and be as silent as you can. You'll be my eyes and ears"
Simon N. (GM):GM: You send the owl to scout the Spires? The wind is very strong so it will struggle.
Eldrin Ætherwood:I'd like to keep him below raveging winds, and closer to building height to see if we can move through buildings and streets as cover.
Simon N. (GM):spires map scale 1 square = 100 feet, on big map 1 square is 750'.
Eldrin Ætherwood:Basically moving from cover to cover as if on a hot day in Texas, and running from shade to shade
Simon N. (GM):OK you send the owl low flying north.
Give me a DC 12 Athletics check for the owl :)
Quillax:Q will touch the owl with Guidance
Gives 1d4 extra :)
Eldrin Ætherwood:I can see through his eyes up to 100ft, after that it's owly's way he chooses.
Simon N. (GM):owl has -4 STR per PHB
On a 2 or less will take damage
12+ to succeed
Eldrin Ætherwood:Yup. I'd like to keep him low enough to glide through as eyes
Sure
Eldrin looks to Quillax. "He said thank you' :)
Simon N. (GM):guess I'll roll
rolling d20
(
20
)
=20
LOL
Eldrin Ætherwood:" i can't promise this will work guys, but it's a start i suppose"
Chris T.:yay
Eldrin Ætherwood:Sorry, i didn't know you were waiting for me
Simon N. (GM):The owl returns after 20 minutes, feathers a bit ruffled but looking smug.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"owly! Good boy, whta did you find?"
Simon N. (GM):Owl: "The citadel is hollow inside, ramps lead up to the interior" (GM: It's a lot like the Eyrie in Game of Thrones).
Eldrin Ætherwood:Can't believe my owl crit loool
Chris T.:afk 1 min
Eldrin Ætherwood:I relay this info to the group
"hollow inside ramps leading into the interior from what Owly says"
Claw:"any of it enhabitited? are we going to get attack when we leave the road?"
inhabited*
Eldrin Ætherwood:"owly?"
Simon N. (GM):"THE TEETH
These structures of cut alabaster rise on squat bases
to pyramidal peaks 400 feet high"
Chris T.:back
Simon N. (GM):Owl: "Past the Teeth, the western towers also seem abandoned. I spotted a sheltered path that leads from them up the mountainside to the Citadel. That would be my recommended means of approach."
Claw:"hmm, ok, I suppose we head to the west towers assuming that he didn't find anyone there?"
Chris T.:soundsgood
Simon N. (GM):Owl: "I suffered a terrible headache during my scouting. Only my iron will was able to overcome the Magics of the Arch-Sorceror and return to bring you this Boon of Knowledge."
Chris T.::)
Claw:"ok, lets move up at dusk, the we can rest if needed in the west towers"
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin listens and nods. " it appears we are the safest up the mountainide, Owly has been my scout for years, couldn't of done it without him" Eldrin looks lovingly at his Owl he has known for 120 years
Simon N. (GM):west towers - These three spires have intricate facades with
hundreds of arches and balconies. Each stands 1,300
feet high, and the three surround a walled compound.
path - This winding path climbs from the harridans’
compound to the runelord’s citadel. It rises 1,000 feet
over its meandering course, providing the only direct
Simon N. (GM):land access from the city below that doesn’t involve
mountain climbing in the face of the terrible winds.
Chris T.:"When we get closer to the towerts I will detect if they have supernatural inhabitants pehaps unseen by mortal eyes."
Simon N. (GM):GM: You settle to rest for a couple hours...
rolling 2d6
(
3
+
6
)
=9
rolling d100
(
51
)
=51
rolling d4
(
3
)
=3
Eldrin Ætherwood:Is this a short rest?
Simon N. (GM):(yes you can SR). As dusk is falling, a patrol of three flying cloud giants passes over your position... everyone roll Stealth, need 3+ successes to be un-spotted
Quillax:Any bonus from Mal?
Claw:rolling 1d20+2
(
1
)+2
=3
Eldrin Ætherwood:
15
Stealth (+5)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Chris T.:rolling 2d20
(
17
+
7
)
=24
9
Simon N. (GM):it's not a save
Claw:-.-
Eldrin Ætherwood:
11
Stealth (+5)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Advatage
Claw:I assume 1 is auto fail?
Simon N. (GM):no
Claw:rolling 1d20+2
(
8
)+2
=10
Quillax:rolling d20+4
(
12
)+4
=16
rolling d20+4
(
7
)+4
=11
rolling d20+4
(
16
)+4
=20
Eldrin Ætherwood:"i have a magical hut for us to stay in if you would feel safer/"
Simon N. (GM):AFAIK Mal in heavy armour has disad, Quillax timeglass advtg
Chris T.:yup, rolled 2 dice
lowest was 7 +2 for dex
Eldrin Ætherwood:"Nothing can enter unless i wanted it to"
Simon N. (GM):Claw & Eldrin no advtg or disad
Quillax:I misread that as roll 3 times :D
Simon N. (GM):Give me your totals please
Claw:xD
Eldrin Ætherwood:Ah ok. Flat 15 then
Chris T.:9
Claw:3 :/
no adv for being a barb?
Quillax:16
Simon N. (GM):You are hiding out in a ruined building. The giants have Passive Per 17 but disad as you're hiding so DC is 12
Sadly Claw is answering a call of nature out back when the giants pass overhead... :p
(no barbs don't get advtg on stealth!)
Claw:o yea, thats only on saves :P
Simon N. (GM):The giants descend around him, hefting their massive clubs.
Claw:Claw draws his other two hander
Simon N. (GM):(in giant) "Allo allo allo, what's goin' on 'ere then?!"
LOL
Chris T.:hehe
Simon N. (GM):The giants see Claw draw Garvok
Claw:In Giant "fortress inspection!"
Simon N. (GM):ok roll init - the rest of you are inside an old casino type building
Claw:rolling 1d20+2
(
20
)+2
=22
Eldrin Ætherwood:
19
Initiative (+5)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Chris T.:Do we hear anythuing?
Simon N. (GM):claw DOES have advtg on init :)
Claw:rolling 1d20+2
(
14
)+2
=16
Simon N. (GM):Yes PP 20+ you hear the commotion
Quillax:rolling d20+3
(
14
)+3
=17
rolling d20+3
(
16
)+3
=19
19 for Q
Claw:I'll tke the first one :P
Chris T.:rolling 2d20
(
14
+
6
)
=20
16 initiative
Simon N. (GM):rolling d20
(
12
)
=12
GM: OK Claw you win init, are you attacking or talking? The giants have landed around you.
They are wearing bronze plate-type armour, AC 18 not much use vs you :D
They have spiked mauls.
Claw:"I'm gonna give you boys one chance to run away, if not, i'm gonna make you wish you'd never interupted my pissing!"
Simon N. (GM):roll intimidate very difficult - DC 25
Claw:>.<
Can I use str instead of cha? :d
Simon N. (GM):ok
GM: Is everyone else heading outside?
Chris T.:Can we hearthe debate?
Claw:urm, i think i get +10 on this then, is that right smn
Simon N. (GM):Passive Per 20+ you hear them, like I said
Quillax:Q is going to see if Claw can intimidate his way out :)
Chris T.:Ah, no good to me then
Claw:if its cha then its +6
Simon N. (GM):STR +10 yup
Eldrin Ætherwood:Same, i'm listening from insaide
Quillax:If he doesn't, she'll jump to the rescue
Claw:(prof - 1cha
Simon N. (GM):Or +17 if Intimidate proficient
Quillax:(James, Simon said you can use STR)
Chris T.:Unless the otherstell her I guess M would go outto help
Claw::D
rolling 1d20+17
(
20
)+17
=37
Quillax:Q holds Mal back for a moment.
Claw:xD
Simon N. (GM):Quillax can alert the others & they follow her outside
Chris T.:who! Nice :)
Simon N. (GM):The fearfull giants take a step backwards, cringing as Garvok flares to life.
Claw:That was a better crit than a Fireball ;)
Simon N. (GM):Giant: "Forgive us, Champion of Wrath. We meant no disrespect." (in giant)
Eldrin Ætherwood:Eldrin turns to Claw. "ya know, this whole thing would be a lot easier, if you just did that everytime"
Claw:Giant: "I will let you off this one time, now leave"
Simon N. (GM):2nd giant: "Lord Claw of the Iron Peaks, we are honoured by your presence."
Claw:Claw nods
Simon N. (GM):The giants nod, cringeing, and fly back up.
Quillax:"When a Giant has to pee, you leave him be," Q whispers to Mal as the giants fly away
Chris T.::D
Simon N. (GM):Emerging from the casino, you see them flying south towards the fortress at R
Quillax:Q grins at Claw. "Nice."
Chris T.:"They will give a report I'm sure. Weshould move."
Quillax:"Agreed."
Claw:"Its nice to be shown some respect, however they will know that we are here now, we had best hurry"
Simon N. (GM):It's getting dark now, sun has just set though not full dusk yet
Chris T.:"Let's move."
Simon N. (GM):GM: You decide to move fast before a few hundred giants come looking for you...
Claw:Now THAT would have been epic, Claw getting a crit on that and cowing a whole city of giants
Simon N. (GM):Heading north-west in the north shadow of the great golden roadway, you climb up to the alabaster 'teeth' of Xin-Shalast.
400' high white pyramids, their ancient entrance arches stand empty and forlorn.
Eldrin Ætherwood:"This place is massive" Eldrin looking impressed
Simon N. (GM):You head west to the western towers, each 1300' high. From Quillax's recollection these are the Towers of the Harridans, the Lamia High Priestesses of the Runelord. No sign of life.
Quillax:Q relays that information in case anyone else finds it interesting :)
Simon N. (GM):rolling d6
(
5
)
=5
Chris T.:As we pass close by Mal extends her senses to detect the presence of undead or demons/devils within.
Quillax:We've dealt with Lamia High Priestesses in that town near the dam that nearly collapsed...
Simon N. (GM):There seems to be activity in the Entertainment District behind you, but you are unmolested as you reach the sheltered path and begin the final ascent to the Pinnacle of Avarice...
GM: You are now over 26,000 feet up... everyone roll a DC 13 CON save (Mal's bonus applies), Claw has Advtg, or take an Exhaustion level from the thin air & freezing cold of the extreme heights.
Chris T.:rolling 1d20+17
(
11
)+17
=28
Claw:Goliaths ability goes up to 40000
I'll roll anyway
Eldrin Ætherwood:
12
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Claw:rolling 1d20+17
(
15
)+17
=32
rolling 1d20+17
(
19
)+17
=36
Quillax:rolling d20+15
(
16
)+15
=31
Eldrin Ætherwood:Mals bonus?
Chris T.:+7
Quillax:Mal gives a +7 bonus to saves if you are within range of her.
Simon N. (GM):says 20,000' in Volo's for Goliath
Eldrin Ætherwood:Man i was 1 away, haha, with a +10!
oh it does?
Im saaaaaved
Thanks mal
Claw:huh, your right, I do apologise Simon
Chris T.:welcs
Eldrin Ætherwood:Love Paladins
Simon N. (GM):You all pass ok?
Chris T.:yup
Claw:yep
Eldrin Ætherwood:Yep
Simon N. (GM):At least the path the owl discovered keeps you from being swept off the heights, even if the air is a bit thin.
Above strange stars shine in the night sky as you continue your ascent...
Chris T.:Time for night goggles?
Eldrin Ætherwood:"i think they could of built it a liiiiitle higher"
Chris T.:(This is the place Mal visited once thousands of years ago?)
Simon N. (GM):She only visited the city below
Chris T.:okay, thanks.
Simon N. (GM):& it was quite a lot different
7 Runelords pre-Karzoug
Chris T.:She's slept since then :D
Simon N. (GM):Something seems to be resisting your ascent - likely the Occluding Field the nymph spoke of.
This field feels like an invisible force, almost
like gravity.
Chris T.:Not quite what it's meant for but Mal tries a cleansing touch on the invisible barrier.
Claw:"anyone else feel that?"
Eldrin Ætherwood:"Anyone else feel kind of heavy"
Simon N. (GM):The sensation also causes intense vertigo, as if gravity’s direction had
suddenly changed to be behind the character attempting
to approach the Spires of Xin-Shalast. Worse, once a
minute, the field pulses with invisible force that creates
wracking, blinding pain...
Chris T.:"arrgghh"
Eldrin Ætherwood:"yeah, i feel it, feel like i've drunken to much cheap tavern wine"
Simon N. (GM):Roll DC 15 CON and DC 15 WIS saves (Mal bonus applies)
Chris T.:rolling 2d20
(
5
+
11
)
=16
Eldrin Ætherwood:
11
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
12
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Chris T.:22 and 27
Quillax:rolling d20+22
(
10
)+22
=32
Eldrin Ætherwood:18 19
Claw:rolling 1d20+17
(
18
)+17
=35
Quillax:rolling d20+23
(
15
)+23
=38
Claw:that was con
Quillax:Q's ok on both
Simon N. (GM):CON save to avoid taking 8d6
points of psychic damage (this damage bypasses all forms of
damage reduction and energy resistance) and a DC 15
WIS save to avoid taking 1d4 points of Wisdom drain as
f lashes of an alien world rip through your mind, leaving
madness and fear in their wake (this is a mind-affecting
Simon N. (GM):effect).
Claw:rolling 1d20+10
(
2
)+10
=12
Quillax:She'll try to touch anyone with Guidance who wants the extra D4
Claw:o, wait, plus 7 from Mal, I succeed!
Simon N. (GM)::)
Any fails?
Eldrin Ætherwood:Yeah mal is a life saver
Quillax:Nope
Simon N. (GM):Guidance does not affect Saves BTW
Quillax:Ah, I always forget that!
Simon N. (GM):it affects 1 ability check (& requires Concentration)
Quillax:It's just ability checks, yes
Simon N. (GM):GM: You are about 3500' from the summit. at speed of slowest 60'/round = 600' per minute so roll again at 2900' 2300' 1700' 1100' and 500'...
unless you want to turn back?
Chris T.:10 saves?
5 each con and wis
Simon N. (GM):5 more saves
5x2 = 10 yes
Chris T.:con
rolling 5d20
(
16
+
16
+
10
+
12
+
5
)
=59
all good
wis
rolling 5d20
(
9
+
7
+
19
+
4
+
10
)
=49
all good
Quillax:rolling 5d20
(
17
+
6
+
19
+
15
+
19
)
=76
Claw:rolling 5d20+17
(
6
+
11
+
10
+
20
+
8
)+17
=72
Con
now Wis
rolling 5d20+10
(
1
+
5
+
3
+
14
+
14
)+10
=47
Eldrin Ætherwood:
13
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
17
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
27
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
17
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
22
Wisdom Save (+7)
Eldrin Ætherwood
21
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Eldrin Ætherwood:
30
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
29
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
19
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
29
Constitution Save (+10)
Eldrin Ætherwood
Claw:forgot the +mal, but i think i'm ok anyway :P
Eldrin Ætherwood:Those are wihtout +7 so i make all 10
Simon N. (GM):Claw you rolled a 1 on a WIS save
Claw:boo
Simon N. (GM):Claw rWIS rolls 1 5 3 14 14
Quillax:rolling 5d20
(
15
+
20
+
2
+
5
+
3
)
=45
rolling 5d20
(
9
+
10
+
18
+
16
+
7
)
=60
Q's ok on both sets
Simon N. (GM):If Claw WIS bonus is +10 then he has 2 fails
actually the 5 is a fail too
Claw:I have +10 on Wis, then +mal
Simon N. (GM):ok +17 then, but 1 is auto fail
(at least IMC)
Claw:ofc
Simon N. (GM):rolling d4
(
2
)
=2
Claw takes 2 temporary WIS damage
Claw:k
Eldrin Ætherwood:A barb with Wisdom +10? Holy hell how di you do thta
Claw:esilience feat
Wis
Eldrin Ætherwood:Impressive
Claw:I wanted to avoid being mind controllde :P
Eldrin Ætherwood:That's a fair reason haha
Simon N. (GM):Eventually the path levels off and you stand before the Spire of Avarice, Claw has a bit of a headache (unless anyone can use Lesser Restoration?)
Claw:Its bad enough that I kill my own team with fireballs xD
Eldrin Ætherwood:Critballs
Chris T.:not on my list toiday :(
Simon N. (GM):The Pinnacle of Avarice: Hundreds of 50-foot-tall arches around the
Pinnacle’s base allow access to its ground
floor, which is a huge circular room that once
held the Great Runewell at its center. The runewell shifted
into a small dimension between the Material Plane and
Leng called the Eye of Avarice, leaving only a 200-footdiameter
Simon N. (GM):polished stone circle on the f loor surrounded
by 16 immense pillars that rise up like the legs of a
spider to support a central column that itself extends
all the way up to Karzoug’s personal chambers more
than 2,000 feet above. A spiraling ramp wraps around
the outer circumference of the lower 16 pillars up to the
Simon N. (GM):central column, continuing up its length and giving the
central column a look akin to an immense screw...
Quillax:Q taps Claw with a lesser restoration (or two?)
Eldrin Ætherwood:I'm a wizard, ill leave divination to the holy men
Simon N. (GM):Then you see three immense horse-sized spider forms moving towards you from the outbuildings north of the Pinnacle (about 80' off) - a strange voice in your head: ~You - you do not wear the Sihedron. You not serve Karzoug?~
Claw:Claw says to Eld "As a barb I leave all of the magicy stuff to you squishys
Simon N. (GM):Q heals up Claw (only takes 1 LR AFAIK for temp dmg)
Claw:Thanks Keelia ;)
Eldrin Ætherwood:"only squishy if you can hit me ;)
Simon N. (GM):Leng Spider https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lovecraft/images/e/e1/Leng_Spider_%28Paizo%29.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190826044902
Chris T.:Has Mal heard of these strange guardians?
Claw:My to hit is plus 20
Simon N. (GM):Mal recognises them as Leng Spiders.
Quillax:We've come across Leng Spiders before
Eldrin Ætherwood:I mean i can warp reality lol
Chris T.:dangerous?
Simon N. (GM):v dangerous, esp ones this big.
Claw:"Oh lovely, these guys again....I hate bugs"
Quillax:Psychic spiders. Nasty bastards
Simon N. (GM):Another voice: “Our
enemies, those from Leng who play at aping your
vexingly symmetrical appearances, have returned
to this world to honor an ancient alliance with the
recrudescent lord.”
Quillax:From Leng dimension
"We do not serve him."
Q calls out.
Simon N. (GM):A third voice: "You will act as our executioners—
enter the pinnacle above and destroy the denizens
of Leng you find within. You must also
destroy the Leng Device."
Quillax:"What does the Leng Device look like? How will we know it?"
Simon N. (GM):The spiders twitch their Probosci at Quillax's words. They are now about 40' away.
Claw:afk a sec
Simon N. (GM):"We know little about
what the device is, aside from the fact that the denizens
were called upon by Karzoug to aid in its creation over
10,000 years ago, and that its destruction will distress
our enemies in a way we anticipate to be
quite pleasing."
Quillax:"Anything that pisses off Karzoug seems like something that would please me also."
Chris T.:Mal nods at this]
Simon N. (GM):"Good"
Eldrin Ætherwood:"Q, how close are we to this Karzoug?
Simon N. (GM):One spider seems to be musing to the others: "These pawns will be useful. They can penetrate the next field as we cannot."
Claw:back
Quillax:"Depends," Q says. "He could be in that tower. His meat puppet could be. He could be elsewhere all together and this is just a base."
Simon N. (GM):A spider turns to Eldrin. "Karzoug remains within the Eye of Avarice, the entry to which is in the pinnacle above."
Eldrin Ætherwood:"perhaps i'll save my big gun for when we are a little closer"
Claw:"then thats where we go,onwards and upwards!"
Chris T.:"You ,mentioned wards?"
Eldrin Ætherwood:"Hmmm sounds close, suppose i better use this now...l"
Chris T.:Malasks the spiders.
Simon N. (GM):The palpitations of their pedipalps
and nightmarish mouths might be interpretable as approval.
Quillax:(If it's a buff, hold off on it - we've got a couple of rounds to go)
(rounds being levels :) )
Eldrin Ætherwood:8 hours
Buff
'Eldrin starts concentrating and muttering incantaions under his breath"
Simon N. (GM):"The outer lair of the Occlusion Field excludes humanoids from this plane Golarion, the Cage, who do not wear the Sihedron - although not you, apparently. Likewise the inner field excludes those of us from fair Leng who do not wear Karzoug's device."
Eldrin Ætherwood:
Foresight
9th Level Divination
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a hummingbird feather)
Duration: 8 hours
You touch a willing creature and bestow a limited ability to see into the immediate future. For the duration, the target can't be surprised and has advantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. Additionally, other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target for the duration.
This spell immediately ends if you cast it again before its duration ends.
Chris T.:"So we should be able to pass them freely?"
Simon N. (GM):"Yes"
Chris T.:"Thank you."
Simon N. (GM):"You have already passed the field that should have excluded you. Most odd."
Eldrin Ætherwood:"i prefer to see what's coming ahead of time"
Chris T.:"We are resolute in our persuit of Karzoug."
Claw:"where is the next field?"
Simon N. (GM):"Good."
The spiders point towards the arches into the Spire.
"Go in there. Go up. Find Leng Device and destroy it. Kill those of Leng who assume Bipedal locomotion."
Claw:Claw nods and starts to walk towards the arches, Gorvak drawn]
Chris T.:Mal is rready
Simon N. (GM):The spiders seem very satisfied with their recruitment efforts. "These four are unusual. They should do better than the last ones."
Quillax:"Last ones?"
Claw:"and what happened to them?"
Simon N. (GM):(quitting around 6.15) "I was not talking to you, Fleshskin... Yes a party some time ago. Not long. Pathfinders - Seoni their leader. Pathfinders. And Knights of Lastwall. They had stolen Sihedrons. They came to kill Karzoug they said. We encouraged them in. But they did not return."
"They wanted power. To fight Runelord Zutha, they said. Immaterial."
Quillax:"That may be useful information to us, thank you."
Simon N. (GM):OOC last you heard Seoni, Harsk, some other senior Pathfinders were in Lastwall east of Varisia opposing Gluttony Runelord Zutha.
Chris T.:Maybe we shallfind this useful information as well as deal with Karzoug?
Claw:OOC didin't we kill his campion and steal his sword?
Chris T.:oh :)
Quillax:"Alright, let's go have a look at this next field."
Simon N. (GM):Another spider: "Good. Hurry on."
Quillax:OOC - we've killed a couple champions and stolen a lot of swords :D
Claw:Claw charges ahead, eager to find something to kill!
OOC we still need to get the greed one back, its still bothering me
Simon N. (GM):GM: Leaving the spiders outside the Spire, you step through the nearest archway. The vast interior space is empty but for the central pit and the stairs winding up to the chambers high above.
Chris T.:Up we go then :)
Quillax:OOC - returning the sword to Clank would make him very happy
Simon N. (GM):GM: You have a two thousand foot climb... the effect of the Occlusion field has ended, and there is little wind here so you could fly (though rem Wind Walk is a minute to change form). If on foot you'll need to make an altitude CON save again.
Chris T.:Could M fly us up one at a time on Thunder?
maybe not Claw :)
Claw::P
Simon N. (GM):That would take long enough I'd still want CON saves
Chris T.:I'm game to risk a con save
Simon N. (GM):The spiraling ramp wraps around
the outer circumference of the lower 16 pillars up to the
central column, continuing up its length and giving the
central column a look akin to an immense screw.
Claw:Same
Eldrin Ætherwood:Can i see the peak?
Chris T.:"Stay close."
Simon N. (GM):OK, 2nd check so CON save DC 14 please, Mal's +7 applies
Chris T.:rolling 1d20+17
(
19
)+17
=36
Simon N. (GM):The corkscrew enters the upper chambers 2000' up, about 200' below the top of the Spire.
Chris T.:"Quite a view."
Eldrin Ætherwood:" i could portal us closer. I leave magical reserves for movement especially"
Claw:smn Keelia is asking about air elemental, I assume she wants to skip the Con save
rolling 1d20+10
(
15
)+10
=25
y Con save :P
Simon N. (GM):Q can turn into air elemental & be fine yup
Claw:woops, that should have been higher, nvm
Simon N. (GM):After a good half hour's climb, the seemingly infinite stone ramp finally comes
to an end. A massive pair of golden double
doors stands to the north, while a smaller golden
door to the west allows an alternative route onward.
Intricate carvings on the walls evoke images of Xin-
Shalast in its heyday, accented with vibrant paint
Simon N. (GM):and inlaid gems here and there. The highly polished
floor consists of a checkerboard pattern of gold and
black tiles, while the entire place is brilliantly lit by
what appear to be dozens of bejeweled everburning
torches in equally decadent sconces.... You have arrived. :)
GM: OK want to finish up here, I'll post a map for next session
Claw:cool, thanks for the game smn
Eldrin Ætherwood:Sure
Simon N. (GM):odd not having any fighting again! :D
Guess you're playing it smart >:)
Chris T.:Yes, thanks Simon, guys
Stay safe all
Claw:I got a crit minus the fireball fort he first time since getting the sword ^^
Quillax:"OK, we've had Pathfinders of some renoun that came in with Stolen Sihedrons to get 'power'. They could be dead, turncoats, or psychically enslaved, so keep an eye out. Assume everything in here wants to kill us all and that it's probably got friends."
Q can take Air Elemental form. Claw can rage fly.
Q takes AirE form and hovers around Mal and Thunder (and Eldrin if Thunder can carry 2)
rolling d20+22
(
15
)+22
=37
Simon N. (GM):see you all 4pm next week
Chris T.:see youall next week :)
Simon N. (GM):OOC you cut out a ton of stuff in Xin Shalast, made sense though!
A party could easily spend weeks exploring the city, but that's not your mission.