Shattered Star: Into the Nightmare Rift

[CasualViking]

With the Shard of Envy in hand, you travel back to Magnimar. Some of you may wish to go off on other adventures, while other friends may wish to rejoin you.

In Magnimar, you seek out friends and contacts, and identify the green tower in your visions as Guiltspur, situated in the northeast of the Storval Plateau. Even if you go by ship most of the way, the last leg of the trip is still 150 miles of wilderness.

You can roll Intelligence checks - representing your diligence and scholarly contacts - to gleam more information about Guiltspur.

[In4Dimensions]

Back in the tunnels, in the room with the Doomsday Doors, something is happening. One of the Doors has not been securely locked. No Quippoth Lord would be coming through, but a smaller, more determined creature could. And one did. A few minutes after the party left the room, Ash stepped through the door. They’d been in the Far Realm for years, fighting for their life every second of it, and it’s a miracle that they’re still relatively sane. Recently, they’d felt tremors of power resonating through the Far Realm, and they traced the source of one to a long-forgotten rift that was just starting to open. Ash managed to slip through just in time, emerging into the real world. He learned that the party was going to Guiltspur to find the other sources of power. First, though, he’d need to secure a spot. Out of the group, the Android seemed the easiest. Ash tracked him to a hotel in a nearby town, and waylaid him a day later. He put up a good fight with his kinetic powers, but he was no match for the deadly Ash. Ash knocked out the android, dragged him into a ditch a ways away from town, took the strange shard of something that was hanging from his neck, and asked to join the party the next day, saying that the android had decided to leave. He was accepted without a hitch. In the following days, he spent much of his time at the local library, learning as much as possible about Guiltspur.

Ash’ll speak in dark red.

[Athaleon]

Valgar wasn't much of a scholar. In the daytime he gamely hung around while his companions did their research but by sunset he was back in the taverns, eating and drinking enough for ten men, and boasting enough for ten more—though he tried to make sure not to brag about his more recent doings.

[CasualViking]

Infodump:

Guiltspur is said to be cursed—a site
avoided even by the giants that call the
Storval Plateau home. The site is little more
than a strange green pinnacle of stone
protruding from the ground, but even this
is enough to send chills down the spines of
those who believe in the area’s curse.
Guiltspur is in fact a Thassilonian ruin, a
building buried under a massive lava flow
that blanketed much of the northeastern
Storval Plateau during the fall of Thassilon.
The building itself is said to have been a
combination laboratory and embassy for
strange, otherworldly allies of Karzoug,
the Runelord of Greed.
The place was little more than rumor
until recent years, when stories began
to emerge of an immense excavation led
by the blue dragon Cadrilkasta. These
stories tell of entire tribes of hill and fire
giants, enslaved by the dragon and forced
to painstakingly dig out the chambers of
buildings buried in the ground below the
great green spur.

[CasualViking]

You can roll K. Arcana re: Cadrilkasta.

Also, let me know if you have travel plans other than "foot-humping through 150 miles of rough wilderness".

[CasualViking]

More infodump:

DC 20 The blue dragon Cadrilkasta is a powerful
creature—a blue wyrm, by all counts, who
once terrorized the Hold of Belkzen. That
she was viewed by the orcs of Belkzen as
a blight and a monster goes a long way
toward establishing her notoriety—she is a
monster’s monster.
DC 30 Cadrilkasta had a large lair in Belkzen, but
abandoned it a few years ago and moved west
into the Cinderlands. She’s been sighted in
the vicinity of Guiltspur, and has recruited
hill giants and fire giants to aid in excavating
the ruin. Her reasons for this excavation
are unknown, although the fact that she
left Belkzen not long after exploring and
destroying a Thassilonian ruin there has led
some to believe she learned of a great treasure
supposedly hidden in the ruins of Guiltspur.
These same rumors speak of how after the
destruction of that ruin, the dragon seemed
to grow even more violent, to the extent that
the orc tribes of Belkzen still fear her return.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin couldn’t help but shake the strange feeling after their last fight of something being...wrong. It wasn’t until they got to the next town and began researching that he started to realize what it was. At first it was a slowly shifting understanding of just what he knew, focusing more on finding monsters and learning their weaknesses and less on miscellaneous crafts. Then it was a steady change of magical knowledge that culminated in a wyvern appearing on the second day outside of town and being friendly to the small kobold. Finally it was the flood of knowledge that came with knowing how better to summon in temporary aid versus transmuting random objects into beasts.
In a flurry of trades he adjusted his gear and got better situated for the coming fights. He didn’t feel entirely confident in his abilities but he figured through Apsu he’d learn the necessary tactics to best aid his comrades in this continued journey of theirs. He returned to the research and frowned when he was caught up, having heard of Cadrilkasta in passing and quickly finding the latest sightings of the misguided dragon. More to himself he mumbled ”I’m going to have to try and convince her to embrace Apsu much like I have even if I know it won’t work.”

[Athaleon]

"Beast like that? You may not get to honor your god before I honor mine," Valgar scoffed.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin nodded and said "It won't work but I wouldn't be a kobold if I didn't at least try. If she attacks first, which she probably will, then it can't be helped. But if there's a chance she'll turn away from Dahak then I'd hate to miss it."

[Genth]

The Red Storm had a grin on her features as their path was revealed. "Somethin' of a homecoming for me. Wonder if I'll run into any of the Quah when we take the fight to the Giants."

[Athaleon]

"What are the Quah?" Valgar asked. "And while we're there maybe we find out what your birth-name is, eh?" he added with a chuckle.

[CasualViking]

It's a nice day for flying. Warm and mild, with a light breeze.

Up ahead, you spot the fortifications surrounding Guiltspur. The ragged badlands split here, forming a wide valley that rises up to a higher plateau nestled amid the peaks. A wide ledge switchbacks up to this plateau, atop which a fifty-foot tall wooden structure sits. Beyond this structure, deeper in the valley, a green spur rises out of the cleft to tower over the landscape. The entire valley entrance has been blocked off by a twenty-foot-tall stockade built of tree trunks. A pair of fortyfive- foot-tall watchtowers flank an immense wooden gate at the eastern end of the stockade.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/adf9ae67-473f-4fdd-9ad7-10f7f4462fda/da21lkt-d5a0402b-87f3-44ab-80f6-77b62c0c9304.jpg/v1/fill/w_894,h_894,q_70,strp/guiltspur_by_bigrin42_da21lkt-pre.jpg

You're about 360 feet out when you spot the giants, one on top of each tower. Roll initiative; if you beat a 12, you act before the giants.

[In4Dimensions]

As the giants came into view, Ash started to smile wickedly. Finally, something to kill. That’s what Ash is good at, after all. Putting all of their focus into their telekinetic flight, they accelerated, until they had closed about a third of the gap. As Ash did so, they spoke an arcane word, flickering out of view.

Take the Run action. Move 100 feet closer to the giants.
Speak the command word to activate my item of Invisibility, which lasts for 3 minutes.

Initiative: [roll0]
Edit: oh come on

[Athaleon]

Valgar grinned as foes came into view, the first since the battle at the demon-gate. He couldn't make himself invisible as Ash did but he wasn't a sitting duck on the way in either, as he exerted his own abilities to distort the air around him even as he urged himself onward.


Initiative: [roll0]

What is the speed of the shared flight ability?
Speed is 45' if Valgar can apply his Pathwalker bonus to it, 25' otherwise.

Valgar makes a single move forward (straight towards the nearest tower) and manifests Greater Concealing Amorpha to gain total concealment.

[Rokku]

Iressa grins wickedly.

"Let us strike swiftly and ruthlessly, ja?"

She swiftly downs her mutagen before barelling toward the giants.

[roll0]

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin broke off from the group safely strapped to Garu once they were close enough to the site and the wyvern was able to use it’s slightly faster speed to greater advantage. He then summoned into the air a small gaggle of beings made of wind and mist that vaguely looked like elven angels. A passing knowledge of extraplanar entities would peg them as Bralani Azata. From each came a bolt of lighting toward the giant lookouts, simultaneously aiming to weaken the senties and the towers they opted to stand upon.

Draahzin Init: [roll0]
If you want different inits then Garu the Wyvern: [roll1]
Bralanis: [roll2]

Garu the Wyvern’s Actions
Run 60*4=240 feet towards the base, remaining some distance from the others so that we aren’t all in a line or anything convenient.

Draahzin’s Actions
Standard to summon [roll3] Bralani Azatas (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/azata/bralani) (in Wind Form) 50ft away.

Bralani Actions
Move to get in ideal positions so that they have Line of Effect on the giants and preferably some of them wooden buildings.
Standard to cast Lightning Bolt in 120ft lines. DC 15 for half damage. Just gonna roll 4, ignore the last ones if I don’t summon max.
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]

[Genth]

"Never did like a tower!" the Red Storm calls out to her fellows, giving her hammer a twirl as she starts to run before leaping and diving into the ground.

Enter the Vortex Stance, Earth Mode - so got 30ft Burrow speed. Plan is to burrow under the tower and wreck s**t from within

[CasualViking]

The lightning bolts hammer the western watchtower, shattering railings, the roof, the great curved alarm horn, almost destroying the floor, and wounding the giant stationed there. He bellows in anger and tosses a rock at one of the wispy air monsters: [roll0], [roll1]. The other giant blows a long, sad-sounding note on his horn.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash touches down, realizing that they can move faster on foot than in the air, and sprints towards the towers.

Run 120 feet closer to the towers.

[Gunhaven]

The three celestials further shift in position before letting loose three more bolts of lightning into the towers and accompanying giants. Draahzin and Garu, though, maintained their position until such a time that the kobold no longer had to maintain his concentration.

Garu and Draahzin will maintain their position. No point in forcing concentration checks.

The Bralani will move again and let loose another bolt of lightning. If only of them has been attacked then we'll continue attacking that one. DC 15 Reflex save again.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Athaleon]

Valgar followed Ash's example and touched down on the ground, bounding towards the enemy with all the speed he could muster.


Run 200' closer.

[CasualViking]

The damaged tower collapses partially under the onslaught of lightning. The well-singed giant tumbles down into the interior with a thunderous crash.

The other giant pulls a rope, and the gates swing open. There is a rumble like thunder as two giants charge out, mounted on their huge mastodon steeds.

[CasualViking]

Iressa flies closer, and the Red Storm burrows closer; this is the current distances (you are roughly in a line; distances are cumulative)

Gate (70') mastodons, Bralanis (50') Draahzin, Valgar (40') Red Storm (60') Ash, Iressa

[CasualViking]

From the keep, another 3 hill giants and a fire giant emerge.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash continues to close the distance.

[Athaleon]

Valgar laughed heartily as more giants poured out towards the group. "You're not so big for giants..." He focused his power again and grew back to enormous size, a terrifying shadowy silhouette shimmering from the obscuring power he'd manifested just before, and strode forward with axe in hand. "You come for me?! Eh?! Filth!"


Manifest Metamorphosis for the size increase to Huge, plus the two Slam attacks via Improved Metamorphosis.

Move up 50' (to get between allies and the mastodons if possible) and draw his axe.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin for his part maintained his vantage point atop Garu, nodding along at the supposed effectiveness of the new tactic. The Bralani meanwhile seemingly multiply in number before taking up positions behind Valgar and spread out enough that they won't be hit by any wayward area effects. For now they wait on any further attacks, seemingly okay with the defensive measure while they exist in this world.

Bralanis all use Mirror Image (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mirror-image).
B1: [roll0]
B2: [roll1]
B3: [roll2]

They then move to be between Valgar and Draahzin at varying angles/altitudes so that a line only ever hits two individuals.

[Genth]

The Red Storm continues to make her way beneath the ground, heading towards the remaining Tower.

[CasualViking]

Gate (70') mastodons, Bralanis, Valgar, Red Storm (underground) (30')Ash(20) Draahzin, (40') (60') Iressa


The two mounted giants charge at Valgar with their lances (20' reach). Giant 1: [roll0], [roll1]; Giant 2 [roll2], [roll3]. The remaining tower giants chucks a rock at Ash: [roll4] (remember, no dex to AC while running), damage [roll5].

Up by the keep, the hill giants man the ballistae standing outside, and fire at the wyvern: [roll6], [roll7]//[roll8], [roll9]//[roll10], [roll11].

The fire giant moves to the top of the ramp, where two more mastodons lounge about, and throw a rock at the wyvern as well: [roll12], [roll13]+[roll14].

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin patted Garu on his head and said "It was good while it lasted. It's time to move." The angels each laid a hand on Valgar and moved around in case they stuck around on this plane to better aid the Half-Giant and Wyvern.

Bralanis all use Cure Serious Wounds on Valgar. One of them (with 5 images) will move to form a vague wall in front of the kobold and wyvern while the other two (each with three images) will move to flank Valgar and await the opportunity to potentially attack again.

Total Healing: [roll0]

Garu moves down to the ground using two move actions *Moving 20ft behind Valgar*. Concentration check: [roll1] vs 16.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash sees the rock coming towards him, growing larger by the second. With almost superhuman reflexes, he draws what looks like a short, shiny metal rod with five different buttons on it, each with a different symbol on them: one has a sword, one has a pistol, one has a cone, one has a circle, and the final one has a dragon’s head. He presses the one with the sword, and a blade of energy shimmers into existence as he brings the sword up and over his head, trying to cut the rock out of the air.

I am assuming the giant is Large. If it’s Huge, my attack roll gets a further -2.
Parry and Riposte: When a creature makes a melee attack against you, you may expend your martial focus and use an attack of opportunity to attempt to parry that attack. Make an attack roll as if you were making an attack of opportunity, but for each size category the attacking creature is larger than you, you take a –2 penalty on this roll. If your result is greater than the attacking creature’s result, the creature’s attack automatically misses and you regain your martial focus.

Parry Anything: You may use your Parry and Riposte talent against ranged attacks and spells which require attack rolls as well as melee attacks. You still cannot make a retaliatory attack against the target unless it is within your reach. In addition, you may use Parry and Riposte in place of making a Reflex save against a spell, supernatural, or extraordinary ability you are aware of. If you succeed on this check, the effect is reduced as if you had the evasion rogue class feature.

Use Parry Anything to try to deflect the boulder: [roll0]
Edit: success



After slicing the rock out of the air, Ash continues to move forward, but at a slower pace. He then points his weapon at the giants and mastodons and presses another one of the buttons, the one with the dragon. The metal rod in his hand shifts, unseen parts rearranging the configuration of the weapon into a shorter rod with a wider mouth. A trigger button emerges from inside the rod, and Ash presses it, causing a massive jet of cold to strike anything in range.

Move 30 feet towards the giants and mastodons, then use Draconic Insufflation (I’m flavoring it as going through the weapon) as a 90-foot line, aimed towards wherever would hit the most enemies. Damage: [roll1] cold. There is no mention of a saving throw in the text.

[Athaleon]

Valgar caught a giant's lance on the haft of his axe and deflected it aside just in time as he stalked forward. Finally coming to grips with the enemy, he swung savagely with his axe even as he lashed out with armor spikes and steel boots.


Counter rolled in Discord. Expended a Psionic Focus to use as a free action.
Swift Action: Manifest Hustle to gain an extra Move Action.
Move Action: Use Psionic Meditation to regain Psionic Focus and Sanguine Barrier.

5' step forward and use Cornered Frenzy Strike on each of the giants and their mammoths:
(Valgar's AC lowered by 2 until his next turn)

Axe Attack: [roll0]
Axe Damage: [roll1]

Armor Spikes Attack: [roll2]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll3]

Slam Attack: [roll4]
Slam Damage: [roll5]

Slam Attack: [roll6]
Slam Damage: [roll7]



Axe Attack: [roll8]
Axe Damage: [roll9]

Armor Spikes Attack: [roll10]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll11]

Slam Attack: [roll12]
Slam Damage: [roll13]

Slam Attack: [roll14]
Slam Damage: [roll15]



Axe Attack: [roll16]
Axe Damage: [roll17]

Armor Spikes Attack: [roll18]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll19]

Slam Attack: [roll20]
Slam Damage: [roll21]

Slam Attack: [roll22]
Slam Damage: [roll23]



Axe Attack: [roll24]
Axe Damage: [roll25]

Armor Spikes Attack: [roll26]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll27]

Slam Attack: [roll28]
Slam Damage: [roll29]

Slam Attack: [roll30]
Slam Damage: [roll31]

[CasualViking]

Eastern Watchtower, red storm (90') mastodons, Bralanis, Valgar, (20)Ash, Draahzin, (30')(40') (60') Iressa

Between the freezing cold and the tornado of violence, both mastodon riders and their steeds are killed. The gate has slammed closed again. The red storm emerges underneath the eastern watchtower. Up by the keep, the giants busy themselves reloading their ballistas.

The guard in the eastern watchtower chucks a rock at Valgar, but somehow manages to miss.

[Athaleon]

Valgar finished off his nearest opponents, ignored the thrown rock and stalked closer to the gate, seemingly in no major rush to advance now that he'd had a piece of the enemy.


Move 50' toward the gate.
Probably should have done this at the start of the adventuring day: Manifest Share Pain on himself and the Psicrystal.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin nodded and said to his summoned companions ”That’s good. Let’s close the distance and get rid of that last watchtower.” With that Garu flapped off to be near the wall and out of sight from any future attacks while the small swarm of Bralani moved to blast the remaining giant in the watchtower with gusts of wind.

Draahzin continues to just direct the horde instead of using any actual resources.
Garu flies up to the wall with a double move and lands near the wall in such a position that he can’t get attacked.
Concentration, not that it matters: [roll0]

Bralanis all move to be within 20ft of the giant and use Whirlwind Blast against the giant and the watchtower. DC 17 Reflex for half damage
[roll1]

[In4Dimensions]

Ash leaps into the air and, now under the power of his flight, flies right up to the barricade.

Run action, moving 100 ft with my fly speed.

[Genth]

The Red Storm continues beneath the ground now, the sounds of battle above making it clear she needs to go further - so she heads for the stone walls, hoping to get in and do damage alone.

[CasualViking]

[B]Eastern Watchtower, Draahzin, red storm (10')Ash (10')Bralanis,(20')Valgar[B]

Maybe I should start using the map. I Haven't moved Red Storm yet.

[CasualViking]

Map link (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RkDs4VQhOsTspo_rdYvJR_XbHkzVCRNMhN9hYnC5zt0/edit?usp=sharing). If you want to have tokens instead of position arrows, go right ahead.

[CasualViking]

You see the last of the tower guards abandon his tower, moving down a hatch. On the top of the switchbacks, you see the other 3 hill giants reloading the ballistas. The fire giant and the mastodons are out of sight now that none of you are flying high above the walls.

[In4Dimensions]

At the base of the wall, Ash starts to rise up, floating just over the wall. They then press the button with the sword twice. The metal rod shifts again, morphing back into the sword setting, but with a trigger button on the bottom. Ash presses the trigger button, and the weapon’s internal circuitry glows, and a second later, it projects a beam of energy towards the giant nearest to Ash.

Fly 25 feet up, then use Vacuum Cut, targeting the giant closest to the wall.
Attack (v touch): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Inflicts 4 bleed damage.
On hit, expend Martial Focus to use Open Vein talent. Attack deals an additional stacking [roll2] points of bleed damage.
Edit: total 16 bleed damage.

[Genth]

With a sudden burst, Red Storm bursts out of the ground behind the catapults, hammer and shield out, grinning widely. "Hello, Boys." she says to the giants, laughing before she launches an attack, spinning around in a mad flurry of blows


Move to between the Giants on the Catapults
Swift Action to Switch to Elemental Flux Stance

Standard Action Cornered Frenzy Strike

Attack 1 on Lefty [roll0] | Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Electric [roll3] Sonic [roll4] Stance [roll5] Strike
Attack 2 on Lefty [roll6] | Damage [roll7] + [roll8] Electric [roll9] Sonic [roll10] Stance [roll11] Strike

Attack 1 on Middle[roll12] | Damage [roll13] + [roll14] Electric [roll15] Sonic [roll16] Stance [roll17] Strike
Attack 2 on Middle [roll18] | Damage [roll19] + [roll20] Electric [roll21] Sonic [roll22] Stance [roll23] Strike

Attack 1 on Righty [roll24] | Damage [roll25] + [roll26] Electric [roll27] Sonic [roll28] Stance [roll29] Strike
Attack 2 on Righty [roll30] | Damage [roll31] + [roll32] Electric [roll33] Sonic [roll34] Stance [roll35] Strike

[Athaleon]

On hearing Red pop up from behind the catapults, Valgar seized the moment to fly over the wall, counting on the other warrior to keep the ballots crews busy.


If Valgar can make it up and over with a double move he will do so.

[Gunhaven]

The Bralani continued their current task, flowing over the wall like a waterfall and towards the hill giant leaving the guard tower. Outside of the giant's reach the azata released another blast of wind towards their foe and then returned to the cover of the guard tower. Draahzin and Garu continue to wait it out outside, letting the temporary allies do all the actual work.

Don't fix it. Bralani will do a trio of Whirlwind Blast against that Hill Giant that's trying to abandon his post.
[roll0]

[CasualViking]

You slaughter the last of the giants; they are woefully underprepared, in tactics and prowess, to deal with the realities of high-level combat.

As Draahzin sends his elemental to check out the great spire and the excavations around it, you decide to check out the great wooden building. As you open the door, the smell of smoke, roasted meat and giant body odor rolls over you.

The wooden walls of this wide timber room are adorned with dozens of trophies, some of which seem to be still alive judging by their feeble twitchings and cries. The majority of the trophies are animals—bears, aurochs, giant lizards, and a few monsters—but here and there hang the mutilated bodies of orcs or humans. A great fire pit lies in the room’s center, forming a layer of smoke near the ceiling some fifty feet above, while additional torches guttering on the walls only add to the room’s foul scents. Slabs of dubious meat roast slowly over the central fire, while a balcony twenty-five feet above the eastern half of the room looks out over the hall.

As the doors swing open, the 6 giants seated at the tables call out to someone on the balcony; they don't immediately move to attack, but they check their weapons and keep their eyes on you.

General Stom! Outsiders are here!

OOC: At this point, you can choose to "interrupt the cutscene" and get a surprise round on the giants.

Up on the balcony, an armored, female fire giant stands up and addresses you in Common: "Greetings, outsiders. I have a proposition for you".

If allowed to, she continues: "You are clearly warriors of great prowess, and I have no interest in seeing the men under my command slaughtered for nothing. This place, this venture, is cursed with sickness and madness. If you kill Jubbek, the chief of giants, I will take the men under my command and leave in peace."

[In4Dimensions]

Ash has just begun to start crafting their giant trophy when they are interrupted by this “General Storm.” They figure that while killing is almost exciting, it would probably be wise to accept her proposition, and there was no honor fighting those who wish to surrender. With that in mind, they called out to General Storm in Giant. “I speak Giant if that makes this easier. Anyways, I will accept your proposal, though I cannot speak for the rest of my group.”

Sense Motive check to determine if she’s being sincere: [roll0]

[Athaleon]

"Sounds like a good deal for both of us," Valgar agreed with a knowing grin. "But what's this about a curse, eh?"

[Genth]

"Me, I prefer to just kill giants" The Red Storm says, giving the Fire Giant a wide, feral grin. "So I get what I want either way."

[CasualViking]

"The men grow sick while they dig near the spire. And Jubbek has gone crazy... quick to anger, even for a hill giant, and completely uninterested in leading his tribe. He still has a few giants loyal to him - or too scared of him to desert. And nobody has seen the dragon in weeks. She went into the depths somewhere, probably got herself killed. So, me and the giants with some sense left want to get out of here."

She is flushed and excited, but no part of her statement seems particularly stressed.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash files this information away, as it could indicate the presence of a Shard. They respond, again in Giant. “I have no quarrel with you. I only ask for a few of your smaller ornaments, such as a few beads. It will help me slay this Jubbek.”

[CasualViking]

The summoned creatures report back: There were 3 giants by the spire; they are dead now. A ramp leads downwards and into the spire.

At the general's orders, the giants produce bones, beads, dried ears and other trinkets from their bags and hand them to over.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash gratefully accepts the trinkets, and starts to craft a trophy out of them.
Craft a Reaper Trophy, changing my Favored Enemy to Giants. It takes an hour, and I’m assuming that I have that much time, but if we don’t, I’ll still get started on it.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin idly says "There's a ramp leading into the spire. There were three giants nearby but they've been slain by some other force. I'll see what all else they can feel for the remaining time they're here." With that he turns to the elementals and mumbles to them to finish their scout of the excavation area to help confirm these giants are the only ones here right now. While they work once more he turns to the task at hand and nods once, saying "I simply wish to find Cadrilkasta. I'll join everyone else if it means achieving that apparently complex goal."

[roll0]

[CasualViking]

As you descend the earthen ramps, the glow from the tower makes you slightly queasy. You wouldn't want to stay near it for too long. From don below, you hear fighting and laughing. As you round the corner, you see four giants, dressed as shoanti, fighting each other; it appears to be for show, but some of the blows are quite real.

A giant sitting on a large mammoth-hide throne spots you, and calls out to the fighters (in Giant): "Look! New sport. Entertain me!". But he doesn't make a move to get out of his chair, and the obese giantess lounging at his feet remains where she is, as well.


Through a combination of Stom's answers and summoned creatures scouting, you know the layout of the giant chief's chambers.

map link (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RkDs4VQhOsTspo_rdYvJR_XbHkzVCRNMhN9hYnC5zt0/edit?usp=sharing)

You have initiavtive.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash swiftly draws his weapon, switching it on to the default sword setting as they stride towards the giants. If it wasn’t clear from Ash’s aggressive gait, their glowing energy sword sends a clear message to the giants. As they see the giants’ eyes turn to them, Ash smiles a bit. They’ve got the giants just where they want them. Suddenly, Ash sweeps their sword around in a circle, trying to trip one of the giants and wound the rest.

All attacks are made against touch AC unless otherwise specified.
Draw weapon as a free action, then move 30 feet to the right (in between G1 and G2, closer to the top of the map, on the right side of the square). G1 and G2 get AoOs; if they take them, use Parry Anything to try and deflect them.
G1 AoO: [roll0]
G2 AoO: [roll1]

After I’ve moved, attack G1 using Improved Vital Strike.
G1: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]
Deals 4 bleed damage if it hits, which allows me to apply a (bleed) talent. I choose Leg Cutter, which knocks the giant prone if it fails a DC 22 Fortitude save.

If it fails the save:
. . . And Stay Down! gives me an AoO against it that deals 1 additional point of stacking bleed damage. It also prevents the giant from standing unless it succeeds at a DC 27 Acrobatics check. Seize the Opportunity treats this AoO as an attack action.
AoO: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
Because this attack did bleed damage, I can add a (bleed) talent, which will be Hurricane Strike, which lets me make an attack against everything in reach (G1, G2, G3, G4) at a -2 penalty.
Attack (it uses the same roll for all of them): [roll6] (it gets a +4 against G1, as it’s prone.)
Damage: [roll7]

[Athaleon]

Valgar didn't understand the words, but he assumed the giant chief was sending guards to attack them. "Hah! What 'warriors' would follow a lead-arse like you?"


Standard Action: Manifest Metamorphosis
Move Action: Shove G1

[roll0] vs CMD; if successful target takes 8 damage and is Battered.

[CasualViking]

Despite the grievous leg wound, the giant remains standing.

[Genth]

Red Storm stops for a moment, then her face darkens. "Oh, they are so dead." she growls, as she sees their offensive dress. With a sudden roar, she launches herself forwards, lightning crackling around her form as she moves forwards, bringing her earthbreaker around in a vicious swipe, the thing glowing bright with lightning

Previously - moved into Elemental Flux Stance: Air
Swift Action: Rage
Move Action, move next to G2
Standard Action, Eldritch Fang Maneuver

Attack: [roll0] Crits on 42 | Damage [roll1] Plus [roll2] Electricity [roll3] Sonic
Crit Chance [roll4]
Also, DC20 Fort Save or G2 is Blinded

[Gunhaven]

If the tactic isn't broken then why fix it? Draahzin pauses for a moment as he looks over the battlefield before ulimatly skirting around the huge Vargas. Once in a better position he calls in a pride of lions just to see if they're any better than angels in combat and has them gather around the fire giant for a good ole paw fest.

Move and then try and get in cover as best as I can. I don't need no stones, dagnabbit.

Take advantage of both my Minor Banner of the Warlord to give all allies within 60ft Outflank (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/outflank-combat-teamwork/). Also Monster Tactician gives them a teamwork feat I possess, or in this case Paired Opportunist (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/paired-opportunists-combat-teamwork/).

Summon in [roll0] Dire Lions (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/felines/cat-great/lion/dire-lion/) this time.

Summoned Monsters: Two Lions will be summoned next to the fire giant and then step over so that they flank, one lion will be summoned behind G1, and the fourth will be summoned behind G2 (if either exists). They all get that +4 Flanking, Augment Summoning, and the aforementioned feats.

L1 Bite Attack: [roll1]
L1 Bite Damage: [roll2]
L1 Bite Grapple: [roll3]

L1 Claw 1 Attack: [roll4]
L1 Claw 1 Damage: [roll5]
L1 Claw 2 Attack: [roll6]
L1 Claw 2 Damage: [roll7]

L2 Bite Attack: [roll8]
L2 Bite Damage: [roll9]
L2 Bite Grapple: [roll10]

L2 Claw 1 Attack: [roll11]
L2 Claw 1 Damage: [roll12]
L2 Claw 2 Attack: [roll13]
L2 Claw 2 Damage: [roll14]

L3 Bite Attack: [roll15]
L3 Bite Damage: [roll16]
L3 Bite Grapple: [roll17]

L3 Claw 1 Attack: [roll18]
L3 Claw 1 Damage: [roll19]
L3 Claw 2 Attack: [roll20]
L3 Claw 2 Damage: [roll21]

L4 Bite Attack: [roll22]
L4 Bite Damage: [roll23]
L4 Bite Grapple: [roll24]

L4 Claw 1 Attack: [roll25]
L4 Claw 1 Damage: [roll26]
L4 Claw 2 Attack: [roll27]
L4 Claw 2 Damage: [roll28]

I'll tackle any possible critical attacks on Discord.

[CasualViking]

The dressed-up hill giants decide to focus on the closest target, Ash, hoping to score easy favor with the insane chief Jubbek.

[roll0], [roll1]; [roll2], [roll3]
[roll4], [roll5]; [roll6], [roll7]
[roll8], [roll9]; (moved 10')
[roll10], [roll11]; [roll12], [roll13]

The fire giant roars in pain. Unable to bring his two-handed sword against the lion that has him in his jaws, he resort to fists. [roll14].

The obese giantess lounging by the throne gets up (G7), slowly. Three more fat concubines are looking on from the ledge to the east.

A sabre-tothed tiger pads into the room; Jubbek pats it gently.

[Athaleon]

Valgar waded into combat with the dressed-up giants, cleaving left and right with his axe, and slamming elbows and knees into faces as opportunities presented themselves.


5' step into the room, use Cornered Frenzy Strike.


Axe To-Hit: [roll0]
Axe Damage: [roll1]

Armor Spikes To-Hit: [roll2]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll3]

Slam To-Hit: [roll4]
Slam Damage: [roll5]

Slam To-Hit: [roll6]
Slam Damage: [roll7]



Axe To-Hit: [roll8]
Axe Damage: [roll9]

Armor Spikes To-Hit: [roll10]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll11]

Slam To-Hit: [roll12]
Slam Damage: [roll13]

Slam To-Hit: [roll14]
Slam Damage: [roll15]



Axe To-Hit: [roll16]
Axe Damage: [roll17]

Armor Spikes To-Hit: [roll18]
Armor Spikes Damage: [roll19]

Slam To-Hit: [roll20]
Slam Damage: [roll21]

Slam To-Hit: [roll22]
Slam Damage: [roll23]

[In4Dimensions]

Dodging the furious blows of the giants, Ash realizes that someone needed to slip past the guards and engage Jubbek. Seeing as no one else was doing it, Ash walks past the guards, leaving themself open to attacks, and approaches the lions in front of the second group of hostiles. They push the circle button on their weapon, and the handle shifts into what looks like a handheld cannon. Ash presses the trigger button, and an orb of purple electricity shoots out, landing in the middle of the giants. As they turn to look at it, a wave of electric energy explodes from the orb.

Move 30 feet, provoking AoOs from the guards, and then spend 3 spell points to use Destructive Blast with Selective Blast (not including the sabretooth so that I can get my prey casting bonus), CL/d4, Explosive Orb, and Shock Blast. G5-10 are within the radius.
Damage: [roll0]
Reflex save for half, Fort save or be dazed one round, both at DC 22

[CasualViking]

Valgar slaughters the giants within reach;

AoO vs. Ash: [roll0], [roll1]

G5 ref [roll2] fort [roll3]
G6 ref [roll4] fort [roll5]
G7 ref [roll6] fort [roll7]
G8 ref [roll8] fort [roll9]
G9 ref [roll10] fort [roll11]
G10 ref [roll12] fort [roll13]

[Genth]

As Valgar's blows decimate the Giants around her, the Red Storm howls in annoyance, and leaps into the air, lightning crackling around her as she charges through the air to strike at the Chief, still in the air, a veritable tornado of hammer and blade

Swift action switch to Enter the Vortex, fly into the air and Raging Hunter Pounce Jubbek (G6), still flying

She will eat AOOs, but will use her own to add +4 Shield Bonus. Her AC right now is 32

Attack 1 Klar [roll0] Crits on 41 or better| Weapon [roll1] [roll2] Electric [roll3] Sonic
Attack 2 Klar [roll4] Crits on 36 or better| Weapon [roll5] [roll6] Electric [roll7] Sonic
Attack 3 Klar [roll8] Crits on 31 or better| Weapon [roll9] [roll10] Electric [roll11] Sonic

Attack 1 Earthbreaker [roll12] Crits on 39 or better | Weapon [roll13] [roll14] Electricity [roll15] Sonic
Attack 2 Earthbreaker [roll16] Crits on 34 or better | Weapon [roll17] [roll18] Electricity [roll19] Sonic

[CasualViking]

As the Red Storm blows into him, Chief Jubbek tries to backhand her lazily with his morningstar, but after she hits him, he draws back and sends her tumbling with a mighty wallop.

(as rolled in discord) 50 damage, 20' of knockback, Battered until the end of Jubbek's next turn, fort save DC 19 or staggered 4 turns.)

[Athaleon]

Valgar yelled another challenge to Jubbek as he smacked Red back towards him. "Time to get out of your chair Jubbey!"


Jumped the gun a bit with this.

Move up to G4 and Vital Strike him.

To-Hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Reposition attempt, because why not? [roll2] to push him south.

Swift Action to recover Cornered Frenzy Strike.

[Gunhaven]

The fire giant got the pleasure of having the back claws dig into it from the lion that had dug into it as the two cats continued their best to tear into the giant. With a nod more to himself than anyone else Draahzin began to pull out pieces of armor from his bag while staying safely tucked away from any actual danger.

Draahzin: Pulls out one suit of Large Living Steel Scale Mail as a full round action.

Lions: The one that grappled the giant might as well try to keep grappling it.
Grapple Check: [roll0] (18 base, 2 Augment Summoning, 4 flanking, 5 circumstance bonus for already having it grappled)
If successful then bite damage: [roll1]
Rake Attack 1: [roll2] (I included the penalty for the grappled condition already)
Rake Damage 1: [roll3]
Rake Attack 2: [roll4]
Rake Damage 2: [roll5]

Hurt at 43/76. Full Attack on the Fire Giant, though.
Bite Attack: [roll6]
Bite Damage: [roll7]
Grapple if Lion 2 failed to maintain: [roll8]
Claw 1 Attack: [roll9]
Claw 1 Damage: [roll10]
Claw 2 Attack: [roll11]
Claw 2 Damage: [roll12]

[CasualViking]

The explosion of energy catches most of the giants square on, and a lot of damage is done. The lions tear apart the dazed fire giant. But the smilodon circles around Jubbek's throne and seizes one lion between its jaws. Jubbek roars, and smashes the other lion into dust, before getting out of his chair, approaching Ash and casually smashing a giant knee into his face (Ash takes 29 damage and is battered).

One giantess tosses a rock at Valgar and just barely manages to bounce it off his armor. Another approaches the melee; the other two stand dazed at the energy explosion.

[CasualViking]

As she flies backwards, Red Storm flies right into a bearhug by the last of the "Shoanti" giants (Grappled by G4).

[In4Dimensions]

As Jubbek lashes out at Ash with his knee, Ash rapidly switches their weapon back to sword mode, parrying the blow and delivering a deadly counter-attack.
Use Parry Anything; rolls in Discord. Jubbek takes 25 damage along with 15 bleed damage.

Ash’s response to Jubbek’s attack had drained them of focus, leaving them open to unblockable attacks, so they moved back just a bit and unleashed a simple energy bomb while regaining some clarity of the situation.

5’ step back, then spend 2 spell points to use a CL/d6 Explosive Orb, centered where it hits giants 6-10, again excluding the cat to gain the CL bonus. Damage (DC 22 Reflex save to halve): [roll0] magical bludgeoning. Use a swift action to activate my Mystic Focus feat, spending a spell point to regain martial focus.

[Athaleon]

"Hah! Now that's the spirit!"

Valgar stalked further into the room and brought his axe up in a wicked arc, attempting to sweep the head off the giant holding Red in a bear hug.


Move Action: Move around to the north as per the map and Shove G4
Touch Attack: [roll0]
Damage: 8 & target is Battered

Standard Action: Vital Strike G4
To-Hit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

Would Bull Rushing him away break the grapple? If so,
CMB: [roll3] to Bull Rush it into the south wall.

Swift Action: Recover Cornered Frenzy Strike.

[CasualViking]

The giant holding Red Storm has his hands full, and ducks too slowly; Valgar takes his head clean off.

[Genth]

"GOOD BLOW VALGAR! NOW FOR THE CHIEF!" Red Storm yells, rushing in for another wide-ranging strike, ducking under blows as she moves.



Swift action change to Elemental Flux Stance (+4 Dodge, +2d6 Electric Damage)
Move to bottom-left of G6's corner, using AOOs to increase her AC (36, CMD 39)

Corner'd Frenzy Strike against G6 and G9

Attack 1 vs G6 [roll0] Crits on 41 or better | [roll1] Weapon [roll2] Electric [roll3] Sonic [roll4] strike
Attack 2 vs G6 [roll5] Crits on 39 or better | [roll6] Weapon [roll7] Electric [roll8] Sonic [roll9] strike

Attack 1 vs G9 [roll10] Crits on 41 or better | [roll11] Weapon [roll12] Electric [roll13] Sonic [roll14] strike
Attack 2 vs G9 [roll15] Crits on 39 or better | [roll16] Weapon [roll17] Electric [roll18] Sonic [roll19] strike

[CasualViking]

Straining with visible effort, Jubbek just barely hits Red Storm with his counterattacks. But he does hit, and drive her back with a wet, crunching sound as his morningstar connects.

35 damage from the AoO (AC 41). 78 damage from the Bloody Counter (resolved before your attack, AC 36), 5' knockback, Fort save 19 or dazed 1 round, staggered 4; if passed, staggered 1 round.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin frowned as one lion returned to Elysium while the other was barely holding on and in it’s own grapple. His frown grew when he saw several opportunities for teamwork to be a thing as he finally got on Garu and, together with the suit of armor, moved to a better position to observe the battle. He landed behind Valgar and called out ”A few opportunities had presented themselves! When you cut deep take advantage of the opening!” He then replaced the lion with fresh new faces in the form of Bralani once more. Together they blasted their lightning into one of the concubines, the chief, and his pet tiger.

Might as well get Garu in on this, too. Also don’t forget y’all, when you confirm your crit you also give everyone threatening that enemy an AOO. We also all have a +4 on AOO attacks.
Draahzin
Attempt to use a free action to mount Garu: [roll0] vs 20 Ride, otherwise Move action.
Standard after Garu moves: Use even more Summon Monster shenanigans to get [roll1] Bralani like I should’ve done in the first place.

Garu]
Move to the area just above Valgar’s top-right corner.
Standard: Breath Attack to Zap G9 and G7 when it’s just about to turn around Valgar.
DC 15 Reflex to take half of [roll2] Lightning Damage, recharges in [roll3] rounds.

Bralani
All of them will use Lightning Bolt against G9, G5, and S. Reflex Save vs 15 to take half damage. And then heck, they might as well all scatter with their 100 feet of fly speed (the black B* will be the initial spot. Now they're all as high up as they can be, but about 15' from the ceiling).
B1: [roll4]
B2: [roll5]
B3: [roll6]
B4: [roll7]

[In4Dimensions]

As Red starts her charge against Jubbek, everything seems to move in slow motion for Ash. Her flight, Jubbek’s weak counter-attack, and then the blow from his morningstar where Ash could hear the sickening sound of Red’s bones cracking. The second she hit the ground, Ash’s hand was already glowing with red magic, and after sliding out of Jubbek’s morningstar range, they placed it on her chest, knitting her bones back together and clotting the blood that was pouring out.

5-foot step back, then use Cure on Red Storm. Resuscitate lets me heal characters who have died for less than one round, and Life-Saving Cure automatically heals them to 1 hit point, unless it would otherwise be higher.
Healing: [roll0]
Then use Mystic Focus to regain my second Martial Focus.

[CasualViking]

Two of the giants fall to the breath weapon; The Bralani hammer Chief Jubbek (and his little cat too) with lightning bolts. One giantess approaches, her hands outstretched to grab Ash, and is promptly slaughtered by Ash and Valgar.

Jubbek steps up to strike at Valgar; He manages to bruise him a bit, but with a resounding CLANNGG! and a strained expression, Valgar parries Jubbek's powerful swing. Ash rushes in to yank Red Storm back from the cold hands of death. And Vlagar, Draahzin and Red Storm are up.

[Athaleon]

Valgar seized an opening and struck out at one of the concubines as it tried to grab Ash, but suddenly found himself on the back foot as Jubbek pressed the attack. The giant chief shoved him off-balance, and he only just managed to parry the deadly morningstar in time. Regaining a bit of momentum and composure, Valgar hacked savagely at the giant in return.


Counters rolled in Discord; expended Psionic Focus on both.

Move Action: Recover Sanguine Barrier and one Psionic Focus
Free Action: Recover the other Psionic Focus with Hypercognitive Focus
Standard Action: Vital Strike

To-Hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Swift Action: Recover Shrug It Off
Free Action: Manifest Vigor using Martial Power
Free Action: Attempt Bull Rush on Jubbek:

CMB: [roll2]

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin ushers Garu to withdraw from the chief, slipping off the wyvern’s back halfway. The Bralani then proceed to zap the group once more with feeling, congregating in the air as they wait to see what still stands. (Assuming that doesn’t kill the chief:) Finally Draahzin says ”I have to work on my timing, I admit. Let’s try and stop that, chief” and emblazons the chief’s morningstar with Apsu’s holy symbol as it briefly starts to move against the giant’s will.


Garu
Withdraw out of reach of the area.

Draahzin
Concentration Check: [roll0] vs DC 16
Attempt to use a free action to dismount Garu at the appointed spot: [roll1] vs 20 Ride, otherwise Move action.
Standard Action (if he’s still alive): Cast Animate Object (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/enhancement#toc11) on the Chief’s Morningstar. Spend 2 points so that I don’t have to worry about concentration. DC 23 Will Save to negate the effect, DC 23 Reflex Save or lose round to it bucking around.


Bralani
They’ll all fly around and at the ideal point blast the three remaining enemies while doing their best to avoid allies. They’ll end up hovering above the SE platform afterwards.
All of them will use Lightning Bolt against G8, G6, and S. Reflex Save vs 15 to take half damage.
B1: [roll2]
B2: [roll3]
B3: [roll4]
B4: [roll5]

[Genth]

Red Storm gasps as her body knits together, getting to her feet with face still bloodstained. She pants, still badly injured as she eyes the battle, pulling herself into a ready position.

FRA to Regain Maneuvers, Threaten within 15 feet, but isn't going to try and attack Jubbek again.

[CasualViking]

Every fiber of Valgar's prescient senses scream at him what a monumentally terrible idea it was, and it takes every ounce of his skill and power not to be ignominiously smacked down by Jubbek. But he perseveres, and exploits the opening that Jubbek left in his defenses to cut the already severely wounded chief down.

Around him, the Bralanis cut down the smilodon and the last of the voluptuous giantesses down with their lightning bolts.

The door in the southern wall of the tower slams open, and 3 hill giants enter, taking up a trained warrior stance. You notice immediately that each of them is missing an arm. They survey the carnage and freeze in their tracks.

[Athaleon]

"You want some too?" Valgar asked through gritted teeth, with blood still trickling down his face. He drew himself up to his full, considerable height as he brandished Skalathrax, still slick with gore from the giants' chief. "You can still walk away. Tell 'em, Ash."


Attempt to Intimidate the newcomers:
[roll0] assuming Valgar is Huge to their Large.

Move + Free Action: Recover Sanguine Barrier and both Psionic Foci.

Standard Action: Ready action to Vital Strike the first one that comes within reach if they prove hostile.

[In4Dimensions]

As Ash sees the newcomers enter the room, they switch off their sword. ”Like my friend said. You can lay down your weapons and leave, and we won’t do a thing to you. Attack us, though, and you won’t stand a chance. Really, the choice is up to you.”

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin for his part looks at the fallen Giants' weapons even as more enter the room. The Bralani float down to the heavily injured Red Storm and patch up the worst of the wounds before looking at the other injuries and seemingly judging who needs it the most.
Healing Red Storm [roll0] and judging who gets the next block of healing.

[CasualViking]

The giants toss down their clubs, and back out of the room, carefully watching you all.

Treasure: Chief Jubbek has collected an astonishing amount of clutter over the years, some of which is actually rather valuable. The giant’s treasure is spread out over areas B8b and B8c as detailed below.
The walls of area B8b are festooned with objects, some of which still twitch now and then, such as his staggering collection of severed troll limbs. A long alphorn leans against the northern wall. Beneath several layers of filth and dirt, this instrument features fine gold filigree work depicting rocs in flight, and is worth 450 gp. A scrimshaw mastodon tusk of very high quality depicting mountain scenes hangs on the southern wall—this item is worth 750 gp.
Jubbek’s throne is a relatively foul piece of furniture—the entire thing reeks of sweat and filth, and several bits of leather and fur used to create it were only partially preserved. A poorly hidden pouch on the side of the throne (Perception DC 15) contains 4 potions of cure serious wounds as well as 200 gp.
Jubbek’s sleeping cavern (area B8d) is a mess as well, but several minutes of searching the area are enough to uncover the following unusual or valuable objects: a Small mithral dagger, a Medium +1 handaxe, a selection of long iron bars all bent into knots, a massive silver tankard etched with rams attacking stirges worth 300 gp, an iron bottle
containing an elixir of love, a mummified horse’s head with a silver tooth worth 25 gp, a masterwork manacle attached to a wooden beam covered with 54 tiny notches, two huge kegs of cider that taste eye-wateringly bitter (successful DC 14 Fortitude save upon drinking to avoid being sickened for 1 hour), and a suit of half-plate horse barding scattered around the place in pieces. No fewer than 21 pots of honey (a favorite snack) lie amid 43 empty and shattered pots. One of pots of honey contains an undiscovered “prize”—a mummified dwarf ’s finger that still wears a ring of minor spell storing (currently containing web and shocking grasp).
The bulk of what Jubbek considered his real valuables is kept in the large dented chest in area B8c. The chest isn’t locked, but a 900 pound rock sits atop it—requiring a Strength score of 15 to merely push it off the top. Inside the chest is a trio of exceptionally high quality furs worth 400 gp each, an average-locked iron box welded to a long chain (break DC 28) that contains three bags of 1,000 sp and a bag of 1,002 gp, a stout iron bound chest with a rod of enemy detection thrust through the latch where the lock once was (this chest contains seven gold-plated dwarf skulls worth
200 gp each), a huge jug with a silver handle worth 200 gp, a cider keg brimming with copper coins (4,319 cp in all), a +3 arrow of ooze slaying, and a small cork box containing a rolled-up scroll of heal tucked into a ring of protection +4 that simply doesn’t work for evil creatures (in fact, when worn, it turns an evil creature’s finger a nasty shade of green).

On Jubbek himself, you find Large-sized Breastplate +3, heavy wooden shield +2, Strength belt +4, Morning star +1, and, lashed to his weapon, the Shard of Wrath.

[Athaleon]

"Bastard had people nailed up here," Valgar spat as they looked around, unconcerned for now with loot. "If we find any still alive, heal 'em so I can pull 'em down. I'll put any animals out of their misery, if they're too dangerous to let 'em go."

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin for his part was busy returning the armor he had pulled out to his bag before he began the task of looking at the various armors and weapons that were scattered about, judging them for what would be suitable to animate for the next battle. Assuming no one wants any of it he starts gathering up pieces and tossing them into his bag. While he does so he mutters to the celestials that were summoned "If you could take things back I'd offer you some memento. As it stands simply aid us in securing this area before you, too, return home." In a louder voice to address the rest of the group the kobold calls out "An unexpected boon with another shard. It'll probably be more useful for one of you types that don't hide in the back. Should we head back to the giantess with tales of our victory?"

Garu gets into one of the pots of honey and starts enjoying the post-battle treat.

[CasualViking]

Other than the troll limbs, a few vultures pinned to the wall seem to be alive still. Also, an unusually large Cloaker (Knowledge: Dungeoneering); and quite a few giant hands and arms (those are clearly not alive, though).

[In4Dimensions]

Ash walks over to the Shard of Wrath, and proceeds to cut it free from the morningstar with their energy sword. After inserting one of their ioun stones into it, they turn to face the rest of the party. ”Do any of you want this Shard? If not, I’ll hang onto it.”

They then find the badly hidden potions; Ash takes one of them and leaves the rest for the rest of the party. Next, Ash wanders over to the chest with the rock on it, and cuts the rock to bits. Ash opens the chest, disregarding the magic items for the moment, and gathers up all the coins. It takes them several trips, but Ash finally brings all the coins into the room with the rest of the party, and starts sorting them into even piles, one for each member of the group.

[Athaleon]

Valgar euthanized the long-suffering birds with a few desultory axe-strokes. "You can keep that one. What can I use here?" he mused out loud. "Maybe the spell-storing ring, if I can make it work. The shielding ring is nice, but eh, maybe Red should take it. The chief's mace is a poor companion to Skalathrax here, but no one ever said "I wish I didn't have a backup weapon."


Nothing really stands out for Valgar to call dibs on.

[Genth]

Red Storm frowns, evidently annoyed at something. "Take whatever pleases you. I don't care."

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin shrugged and grabbed the belt to put on Garu, saying "We probably need to scout out further, right? Anyone object to the elemental route again or does anyone else have a suggestion?" As he waited for a response he adjusted the weapons, armor, or other miscellaneous items he could animate in the future and got back on his Wyvern so that they could report their success to the Giantess.

[Athaleon]

"It's worked so far. Might as well keep doing it," Valgar said with a shrug.


If there are no objections, Valgar will take the +1 Large Morningstar and +4 Ring of Protection.

[CasualViking]

As you go back up the ramp and approach the hall, you hear giant voices arguing loudly. The gist of it seems to be that not everyone is happy with General Stom's plan to leave the valley.

Later, the elementals report that a vertical shafts leads deeper into the earth; it leads to a large dome-shaped room. They were assaulted by giant metal scorpions, and only one escaped. There are four tunnels leaveing the room, but three of them are collapsed.

[CasualViking]

As you enter the hall, the shouting dies down. "These ones killed Jubbek", general Stom shouts. "Would you like to try them yourself?". She glares at the giants assembled in the hall. You notice that several of them are missing their hands, one particularly pathetic individual has had his tendons cut and can't even stand. These are not fresh wounds either.

[Athaleon]

"Your general has a lot more sense than your old chief. I'd listen to her." Valgar said with sincerity.

"Ash, you better talk to 'em in case they don't know Common."

[In4Dimensions]

"Your general has a lot more sense than your old chief. I'd listen to her." Valgar said with sincerity.

"Ash, you better talk to 'em in case they don't know Common."
Ash sighs, then addresses the collected giants in Giant. ”Look, guys, we’ve had a very busy and tiring day. You should listen to General Storm, as she knows what she’s doing. I can help with healing if any of you need it; I can’t do anything about missing limbs, but I can stitch up wounds. Okay?”

[CasualViking]

The giants start filing out of the hall. General Stom and the hobbled hill giant are the last to leave. "As promised, we have left treasure behind. This was all Jubbek's stuff. There's some coin in one of the rooms too. I don't know that the tunnels beneath have actually been cleared out."

Strewn around the hall, you find an incredibly dirty but very fine rug worth 600 gp, a masterwork pike, three +3 crossbow bolts jammed into a doorframe, a pair of sable gloves worth 150 gp, a tapestry depicting humans vanquishing giants that is covered with foul graffiti in charcoal worth 200 gp if cleaned, a Medium +1 breastplate, and a scroll of spell resistance unfurled and used as a knife target.

Later, as you check out the rest of the building, you find an empty guardroom with a stair leading down, a mostly empty pantry, a room with three singed chairs, a table, and piles of skulls and bones on the table, and beer stains all over; in this room, you also find an iron coffer with two bags containing 1,000 sp each, a smaller leather bag containing 500 gp, a black iron weather vane depicting three pigs chasing a troll (the eyes of each creature are made of jasper and the whole item is worth 275 gp), a dented church bell worth 40 gp, and an uncut piece of violet garnet worth 400 gp. Heaped on the shelves are Large lances and clubs, pieces of Large hide armor, and various Medium weapons looted from orcs and Shoanti. Most of the weapons here are mundane, but a +2 thundering klar sits on the bottom shelf. In the tool room, other than large-sized excavation tools, you find a rod of metal and mineral detection.

[Athaleon]

"Not a bad haul," Valgar declared. "Make a man rich back home, but that's not what we're after. Do we head down now, or rest first? I could do either."

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin hums in thought as he sticks to the back while following along. He nods and says "We can transfer it afterwards...The elementals stated they found some metallic scorpions in a dome with a tunnel leading out of it. They all died, which means it's close to our goal. I'd say rest after that battle, unless our resources are spent now."

[Athaleon]

"Works for me. Just hope we don't run into anything nasty in between." Valgar gave a shrug and casually cracked his neck in anticipation of the next fight.

[CasualViking]

As you make your way through the subterranean halls, you get a sense of the place: The tunnels intersect a small number of vertical towers fashioned out of green, glowing metal. The ancient towers of Guiltspur. Everywhere, you see the traces of Jubbek's psychotic rule: Hands nailed to walls, chutes leading to filthy punishment pits, his pet tiger's stash of giant bones....

Eventually, you come to a set of crude iron doors, blocked by a huge boulder. Valgar rolls the stone away, and you open the door. The room beyond has no floor or ceiling; 25 feet into the shaft, churning clouds of blue-green clouds obscure further view. Upwards, the chamber continues for 25, gradually tapering into a point.

[Athaleon]

"No imagination, that chief," Valgar muttered as they passed more nailed-up hands. He looked around the room before stepping out into the thin air.


Perception: [roll0]

If he doesn't see anything, and nothing happens when he sticks his head into the room to look around, he will switch stance to Unbroken Stride to walk 5' out.

[CasualViking]

Not much happens as Valgar steps into the air; nothing rises from the shaft or drops down from the vaulted ceiling.

[Athaleon]

"Seems all right so far, Valgar confirmed to the others. "Can't share this spell, I'm afraid. If anyone else needs flight it's up to you again Ash."

[In4Dimensions]

Ash muttered sarcastically “It’s always up to me, isn’t it?”, but a quick gesture, and the party could fly. Ash flew over to Valgar and strained to make out any shapes in the mist.

[roll0]

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin simply rode on the back of Garu but didn't turn down the safety net in case something terrible happened. Motioning towards the cloud the kobold says "Should we interact with that cloud? I could have Garu here breath some lightning onto it and see what happens."

[CasualViking]

At the mere mention of lightning breath, the fog in the shaft.....continues to swirl lazily.

[Athaleon]

"Better save it for now. Sometimes a cloud is just a cloud," Valgar said with a shrug. "That looks like the top, so unless there's a way out up there, we're going down."


Flying up to the top of the room and inspecting the ceiling: [roll0] Perception

[CasualViking]

The ceiling seems to be carved rocks, with no seams or holes.

[Athaleon]

"Onward through the cloud, or downward it is, then. Are you all with me?"

[In4Dimensions]

Ash responds with “I sure am.” and starts to fly into the cloud.

[Gunhaven]

If there's no immediate danger then Draahzin follows along through the cloud.

[Athaleon]

Valgar followed the others without another word.

[CasualViking]

https://i.ibb.co/rpdH2B3/silent-halls.png

Ash drops down into the mist, and you ll follow him. You drop down into an ancient library; This vast circular chamber rises up to a height of sixty feet, a
dome-like room with walls that may have once been smooth but are now riddled with cracks and fissures. Twenty-foot-high curving stone shelves fill the room, leaving a circular area open in the center. Iron double doors lead out of the room in the four cardinal directions. Splashes and splatters of blood mar the floor here and there, and two huge leathery mounds lie heaped in the middle of the room.

Ash seems lost in thought as the party drops down behind him; but as two large bone scorpions festooned with skull trophies scuttle around the shelves to attack you, he snaps out of it and participates in the entirely one-sided stomping that follows. The creatures are too large to maneuver, and far too lame to pose much of a threat in a toe-to-toe fight.

He sees the library as it was during Thassilon’s height—a vast repository of knowledge stretching from floor to ceiling, its shelves holding thousands of books, scrolls, maps, and grimoires. Eager Thassilonian students and wizards mill about the floor below or float up to replace or retrieve books, when suddenly, the dozens of men and women stop and turn to stare hatefully at the PC—and the closest face is the PC’s own! The books in the room suddenly writhe and fly off the shelves, opening up and spilling forth foul black mists and coils of corrupt secrets that should never be known. The mist and coils engulf the wizards and students and crush them to pulp. An instant later, the vision passes and the room appears as it actually does. The PC must succeed at a DC 15 Will save or be shaken for 1d12 minutes (this is a fear effect).

A few objects of value remain on the shelves of this room—they aren’t hidden, but some sit on higher shelves than can be easily reached from the ground.
These include four thin silvery metal plates that contain magical writings—these are sturdy cold siccatite plates that function as spell scrolls—a scroll of ice storm, a scroll of wall of ice, a scroll of cone of cold, and a scroll of polar ray. Once used, the “scrolls” become nonmagical but are still worth 25 gp apiece.

Another shelf holds a series of metal tablets edged with silver clasps that contain etchings of the internal organs of a whale of prodigious size (measuring nearly 500 feet from head to tail); the tablets are worth 250 gp in all.
Three round jars sealed with silver contain baby aboleths preserved in embalming f luid (each jar is worth 50 gp), while fragments of a chuul’s shell sit on another shelf. closer examination of this skeleton reveals a pearl of power (5th level) embedded in one of the shell’s claws; the pearl can be pried out with ease.
Finally, one shelf near the center of the room contains 29 enormous bone scroll rollers, some of which are 6 feet long. The contents of these scroll rollers have long
since turned to dust, but five of the smaller ones are bound in silver and gold and worth 400 gp each.

[CasualViking]

A short trip down the corridor brings you to a hexagonal room. In each of the six corners, a statue stands atop a dais—each is of a six-foot-tall woman dressed in
a short robe and wielding a silvery sword. The statues have four wings (the lower pair of each being small and atrophied), and have no faces whatsoever.

*DC 35 Knowledge (Religion) check
*Who is first to enter?

[Athaleon]

Valgar stepped forward cautiously, keeping a wary eye out for any sign of a trap or ambush.


Manifest Defensive Precognition before going in, using his Pathwalker recovery ability.

Perception: [roll0]

[CasualViking]

On each statue, a magic mouth appears, and says: “Welcome to the Hall of Arcane Wonder. Please treat all exhibits with care and respect, and do not attempt unsanctioned interactions within. Enjoy your visit!”

The statues are wielding longswords made of a shiny silvery metal; They appear to be actual swords.

[Athaleon]

"What the hell is an 'unsanctioned interaction', eh?" Valgar seemed scarcely less suspicious though they seemed to be in a museum, of all things. "Suppose they mean 'don't touch anything'." He kept his axe ready as he slowly stepped towards the center of the room.

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin makes a note of the items but doesn't take anything right away. He honestly didn't trust the jars to not break given the fact he's carrying around enough steel in his bag to armor a small squad of kobolds. He squinted at the statues while remaining safely strapped to Garu, muttering to himself "Should really learn about other deities at some point..." He gave them a shrug and added loud enough for the others to hear "That sounds right to me. Probably something like the statues animating if we disturb the museum. He was already thinking of doing the latter as he said it, not quite willing to get off the wyvern to properly investigate.

[roll0]

[CasualViking]

The statues remain inanimate - for now.

Through the southeast opening, you see another hexagonal room; this one is half buried under a wall of hardened lava, including the hindquarters of a gray stone statue of a faceless sphinx. The sphinx sits atop a two-foot-tall dais. Shallow shelves have been carved into the side of the dais, in which sit various objects that appear to be of an oracular nature—crystal balls, censers, and the like, many of which have fallen from their alcoves to crack or shatter on the stone floor.¨

Through the southwest opening, you see a large circular dais. On top of it is a massive stone object; by the jagged edges, it looks to be a fragment of something even bigger.

The doors to the south stand closed.

[Athaleon]

Valgar walked to the southeast room and squinted at the artifacts on the shelf and strewn about the floor. "Some of this stuff might still work. But if they're just dead baubles there's no need to wake the statues by picking 'em up."

[CasualViking]

As Valgar approaches the faceless sphinx statue, he suddenly feels as if the room were spinning around him while the sphinx statue grinds to life and turns to faces him. He feels the faceless gaze hold him motionless while the world crumbles away to be replaced by the vastness of space. The certainty of a singular malevolence looming behind the stars themselves, a darker dark amid the blackness, fills his mind, along with a myriad of strange and horrific secrets. An instant later, the room returns to normal, and he remembers only that he stood before an entity known as the Crawling Chaos.

Also, DC 15 Will save (Supernatural effect). Just getting the roll over with: [roll0]

The divination tools once on display around the edge of the dais include long-spoiled or ruined spell components for various divination spells, along with several other objects that retain some value even today. Among these, your uncanny adventurer's senses discern a dented mithral font worth 900 gp, a handful of strange dice carved from a titan’s bones (worth 500 gp as a set), a silver diviner’s rod (worth 200 gp), a curious metal orb set with tiny jet stones (worth 180 gp), and a cracked crystal ball.

[CasualViking]

The next chamber hums with an unsettling noise, for at its center churns a great ball of fire. The sphere measures ten feet across and hangs in the center of the chamber, periodically sending short tendrils of fire out as if tasting the air around it.

[Athaleon]

"Still works all right... Stay back from this statue," Valgar mumbled as he backed away in a slight daze. "And there's a ball of fire in the next room. Anyone know what it is?"

[Gunhaven]

Draahzin had a fairly comfortable grasp on extraplanar entities and shared what he recalled about giant balls of fire and the dangers they could present. Without actually seeing the room he couldn't entirely confirm his hunch that it could attack any given area within the room. As for the current room the kobold maintained his distance from any of the objects lest he makes one move on accident and triggers any sort of warning or defense system that might be present.

Know Planes [roll0] +8 if it's a monster.

[In4Dimensions]

Ash rejoined the rest of the group, head ringing from some sort of spell, but holding a pearl of pose for their troubles. [roll0]

Ash looked at the flaming sphere and racked their brain for what it could be.
Spellcraft: [roll1]
Know:Arcana: [roll2]



How do Pearls of Power interact with Spheres?

[CasualViking]

The sphere of flames is a delayed blast fireball spell that has somehow been “paused” at the instant of detonation. The fire is very real, and anyone standing
within 5 feet can feel the heat radiating from it as if from a bonfire. The fact that the fire still roils and flickers despite being frozen in time is very curious.

The pearl of power...uhm....it allows you to exhaust it instead of spending a spell point, but doing so caps the CL of the effect at twice the spell level of the pearl.

There's something about the faceless angels and the faceless sphinx, but Draahzin can't quite pin it down...

[Athaleon]

"Is the fire safe?" Valgar asked impatiently. "Lets not linger anywhere near this statue. Maybe it wasn't just the Shard driving that giant mad."