Secret of mana IC thread

[Ridai]

It takes a while to find what they are looking for, but given what information they have to find just that, it actually happened pretty quickly, as far as Thaum is concerned. Especially with the lack of any sort of roads. So all in all, Larimar did a splendid job, and Thaum lets him know as much as they go into the hidden bunker and find what may just be the Archon's laboratory.

Having his staff light up, Thaum looks around. "You appear to have located the proverbial needle in the haystack within about a day. Well done."

Naturally, he goes over to the alchemy table, looking at what exactly is brewing and what ingredients may still be present, such as Shade-aligned plants, or tools like a press or cast to shape the coins. Of course, that is only what Thaum expects to find. As he looks closer, the healer puts a sleeve of his loose robe over his nose and mouth. Standard improvised precaution. Not all fumes are visible and what may not harm a beastman might still do so with a human. Even if said human has been altered.

[WindStruck]

"I think we'd best be on our guard," Larimar says. The beast man could be coming at any moment. Or there could be guardians."

Larimar casts Light of Wisp to not only shed extra light around the room to see, but also to prepare unless some kind of shade-based creature were to attack them.

Then he looks around the room for anything of interest.

spot: (1d20+10)[27]

search: (1d20+4)[13]

[Alhallor]

The shadows are fleeting from both Thaum's staff that is now spreading light and from Larimar's body that similiarly is glimming.

There is definitely the means there to press this shade-aligned coins, but because you're mind was filled with the creation process you are sure that this isn't what is currently on the burner.

With Larimar taking a closer look to the bunker it seems that the trail they were following is here too… Together with a deep current from the ladder towards the heavy iron door, that seems like something (or several things) were dragged from the ladder towards the door.

With the light revealing a bit more it looks like the closets have some scratches and a bit of dried blood on them.

In contrast the chest looks immaculate.

[Ridai]

"Hm. A new project." Thaum takes a quick look around, opening the closets and chest, but they need to continue onwards soon. Ideally through the door.

[WindStruck]

Well if we were dealing with a beast man, it only made sense that the closets might get a bit scratched up, given their hands had claws. If the archon was handling something messy or unsavory, that could explain why there'd be bits of blood too..

That chest, however. That was really suspicious. No claw marks, no blood? It looked better than brand new. Almost as if it was never touched at all. It took a while for the cogs in Larimar's brain to process this, but as Thaum approached to open the chest, that's when it suddenly hit the Chobin. It was a trap!

"Thaum, look out!" he cried, diving at the blue-haired human, hopefully either stopping him from touching the chest, or at least moving him out of the way or knocking him over when something inevitably went off.

strength check: (1d20+1)[7]

reflex: (1d20+14)[24]

[Toliudar]

Coney

The older rabite has been lost in her own thoughts on the trip back into the wild lands, and down into the cave. She is curious, her nose working furiously, but feels foolish for once again having forgotten a light source.

When Thaum reaches for the chest and Larimar darts forward to tackle him, Coney jerks back instinctively. Not really knowing why she's doing so, she speaks with her magically-gravitas-ish voice: "STOP!"

She herself is somewhat surprised to realize that she was directing this neither at Thaum nor Larimar, but at the chest itself. Now what good would THAT do?

Spoiler: OOC

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Coney uses her Command SLA on the chest. If it's NOT a creature, well...it still stays stopped, I guess.

Will DC 16 negates, or else it doesn't do anything.

[Alhallor]

Opening the closets Thaum finds a lot of alchemical supplies. They are definitely a lot of alchemical raw materials and specialized equipment (all in all culminating in a full-blown masterwork alchemical lab with raw materials getting into at least 1000 Gold).

But the uninitiated could not find a purpose towards all of that.

When it finally comes towards the chest Thaum gets it open halfway but get's tackled to the floor from a cautios Larimar and instead of opening fully the chest follows Coney's stern demand and stays halfway open. There is no sudden licks of flame, the chest also doesn't come to live and attempts to bite anyone, but there is a small needle shooting forth, where Thaum's hands used to be if Larimar would not have been there. Coated with a purple substance.

Inside the chest are 6 bags, 2 of them filled with coinage, 4 with easily traded gems, together with 6 vials, 2 containing a sirupy green substance, the other 4 filled with a slightly glowing red substance.

[Ridai]

From the depths of the swirling azure cloud emerges an "Oof!" on the way down, Thaum's hair slowly settling on his face after hitting the floor. Unable to see at the moment, the healer just assume that the well-aimed tackle was, indeed, a necessary maneuver, regardless of most likely being equipped with the tools to deal with a trap's aftermath.

"Thank you, Larimar, allow me t-" And a few "pfft" sounds follow as Thaum tries to free his face from the mess of slow-motion hair that inevitably made their way everywhere, including his mouth.

Finally getting back onto his feet, vision returned once more, Thaum pats off the dirt (with added magic to leave his robes clean). "Ah. In the business of poisoning as well, I see," he says, looking at the telltale colored fluid on the needle. The content of the chest is surveyed for a moment, but there are more pressing issues than identifying magical items.

"Perhaps this should be left for a later time. A door is in need of investigation." Said door is Thaum's next target. After checking with the rest of the team to not get tackled quite so soon again.

[Toliudar]

Coney

The clear and present danger of the poison needle seems to sharpen Coney's mind.

"Yes, absolutely. Let's finish our look-see first!"

She steps back from the door, the better to support without getting in the way.

[Alhallor]

The heavy iron door seems to be just that. A heavy iron door. There is nothing to be heard from the other side, which would mean that it's quite thick. Larimar finds a kind of mark there, that seems to indicate a certain manufacturer, though who specifically can not be discerned. It has a handle and doesn't seem to be closed. Despite it's heavy looks, you don't need more than a hearty push to let it swing open, probably because of some kind of mechanism that keeps the door easy to move.

Thankfully they are no more traps around this particular door, though what you see next is shocking. You see several glass containers, filled with blue or green hazy liquid. The bubbling of the containers almost drowns in the sight that you have to witness. There are several body's inside the containers of monsters. One is filled with something that looks like a giant brain with a beak, tentacles sprouting out of the lower halves. Another is filled with a mass of eyes and mouths, another one…

The creatures all seem to not be dead, but to be sleeping, after a row of containers, there is another heavy iron door. Aside from the containers the room seems to be empty.

Spoiler: Updated map

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Welcome to Umbrella corp.

[Ridai]

The archon clearly has kept busy. Better to keep the obvious observations on the inside, especially now. Given the chest, Thaum would not put it past the archon to have a trap to wake up and free the creatures. Should they not be invaluable specimen, that is. It can be hard to tell where the lines with those high in will to experiment and low on morals are.

Much like with the chest contents, the tubes shall have to wait for later examination. Call it Altenan mage professional curiosity or wishing to see if these, somehow, are vicious transmutations that may need to be reversed. Either way, weary looks to the tubes are cast as Thaum walks along the wall to the other door, not wanting to test how much the creatures may respond to sound.

[Toliudar]

Coney

Peering through the door as the others move forward, Coney is less circumspect than Thaum in her assessment. She murmurs a quiet "Ew."

Coney intones her standard "I wonder what THAT is" magic. Rolling cautiously through the doorway, she looks around with a growing look of horror on her ears face.

Spoiler: OOC

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Coney casts Detect Magic in the other room, then looks all around in the Umbrella Corp room to pick up the strength ad nature of various auras.

Nice!

[kinem]

"Good catch, Larimar."

When he sees the strange monster containers, Ken does a double take. He knows by now that he should expect to be surprised by what this strange land holds, but still he thinks, Well I didn't expect that!

What could this be?

OOC: Knowledge (arcana) (1d20+16)[22]

He also casts detect magic.

[Alhallor]

When Thaum enters the room and get's towards the other door, the creatures inside the tanks don't move much. They float around in they're fluids, some twitch slightly, like they are dreaming, then and again there is a blubbering heard when and a trail of bubbles float through the tanks only to disappear at the top.

There are slight sounds coming from the next door, but they are not easily discernable.

Spoiler: Coney, Ken

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When you scan the room, it seems all of the tubes are indeed magical and have a magic aura around them. They are strong in abjuration and seem to be mostly the magic of the Dryad, interwoven with some magic of Luna. After concentrating on a while, it seems creature 3 and 4 are also spellcasters of sorts.

Spoiler: Ken

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With your knowledge of magic, you are pretty sure that the creatures are under some kind of stasis spell, that keeps them sleeping and docile. The magical effect seems to be concentrated on the tubes however, which would mean if they are out of it, they may awaken. You are also Pretty sure that if they get out somehow they will be weak and disoriented at first and in a bad shape to fight anyone.

Spoiler: Larimar

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1. That seems to be a Grell. You heard they live Underground and can paralyze with they're tentacles.
2. A Gibbering Mouther… These are weird things whose tactic seems to be to spit acidic stuff at everything that moves and then eat it. As far as you know they're hunger can't be satisfied.
3. That seems to be an Umber Hulk. A brutish insectoid thing, also at home underground.
4. You can't remember anything about a thing that looks like that.
5. That looks like an insect-folk they are hunter gatherers in the Nevarl desert and are mostly friendly.

Spoiler: Map

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Numbered the creatures for ease of your checks. Can I interest you in our Combat data?

[Toliudar]

Coney

Astonished and a little disturbed at the sheer volume of work and ingenuity that went into something so fundamentally forked up, Coney blanches and quietly retreats into the other room. She hopes fervently that the others follow her lead.

Now she understands the desire for a big metal door, although she seriously doubts that the door would protect anyone from that group, if they got loose and didn't kill each other first.

[WindStruck]

Intuitively sensing something bad beyond the door, Larimar gets some of the magic items from his bag. He'll cast Mirror image on himself using a wand. Expeditious Retreat from his own magic reserves. Then shield from a scroll.

[Ridai]

Seeing as this may unfortunately become violent soon, Thaum imbues himself and his companions with additional protections, delivered by the waters of Undine.

Spoiler: Actions

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Thaum casts healing lorecall on himself, then mass conviction on everyone (+4 morale to saves, 90 minutes), and mass shield of faith (+4 deflection AC, 9 minutes).

[kinem]

Seeing that the others are taking precautions for battle, Ken does so as well. He draws his sword and casts Greater Magic Weapon and Burning Sword on it.

He tells the others "From what I know of such magics, the sleeping monsters should be at a disadvantage if it came to a fight soon after they woke up."

[Alhallor]

Larimar hears that the sounds behind the doors Change slightly, though it's still undiscernable. After a short gesture the curios little cockatrice retreats for now.

After opening the door and storming in, you see two more Cabinets filled with something. Before them float another two grell, ready to attack. Far more threatening seems a large werelion, you have seen his face before, it's the one that Miguel has shown you after melding the amulet a bit: Archon Megralras. He looks at you, one hand holding one of these exploding pumpkins you have obtained yourself, ready to throw it. His muscles almost seem ready to burst, his claws are enwrapped with magic and gleem in a sinister foreboding green.

He stands before a blood-splattered table with nothing currently on it.

Jahn raises his voice as soon as he does your weapons wrap in flames.

Spoiler: OOC and map

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Ze Archon. As usual your position is a suggestion. It's also your turn and Jahn gave you +3d6 fire damage to your weapons. Good fight.

[Ridai]

Trouble is afoot. And when it is, the blessing waters flow, as they are wont to do. Thaum disperses the usual aid in the light rain of droplets.

"Archon Megralras, I believe you have explaining to do in regards to a certain water temple."

Over his shoulder is a tiny Undine, looking rather peeved at the Archon, pointing with index and middle finger at her own eyes, then at the Archon.

Spoiler: Surprise!

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It's recitation!

Spoiler: Active group spells/effects (as far as I know)

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Dragonfire Inspiration, +3d6 fire damage to weapon attacks
Mass conviction, +4 morale to saves
Mass shield of faith, +4 deflection to AC
Recitation, +3 luck to attacks, saves, AC (not on Thaum)

Larimar only
Mirror image, Expeditious retreat, Shield

Ken only
Greater Magic Weapon, Burning Sword

Thaum only
Healing lorecall

[WindStruck]

"Let's not blow the situation up bigger than it has to be," Larimar adds, eying the werelion's pumpkin.

"You are aware the Dark Lady you once served is no more, yes? This foolishness needs to stop, because even Luna is scared of what you are doing."

Spoiler: ooc

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should we make.. social rolls?

[Toliudar]

Coney

Coney feels very comfortable chatting from the doorway.

"Having said all that, we apologize for barging in. No one answered when we knocked. We very much respect the dedication and skill you've brought to this work, and have come a long way to learn more about you and your ideas. I've got some terrific tea in my pack. Perhaps we could go back to your office area and share some terrific stories?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Yes, this will almost certainly not work, but we DO like to do the talky-talk before we do the killy-kill whenever possible, right? Coney is taking a full round action to do this.

Taking ten on her diplomacy check (thanks to Naberius), Coney gets a 33.

[kinem]

Sword in hand, Ken prepares himself for battle, though it might yet be avoided through the diplomatic skills of his companions.

OOC: swift: Blademage's edge
Ready an action to cast Whirling Blade if hostilities break out.

[Alhallor]

The Archon who was just ready to throw his pumpkin is shortly stopped by various accusations and promises of tee. He sneers.

"I won't explain anything to you! And if you think I only serve one mistress you are surely mistaken! All are going to fear me, with the power that will let me be the next Beast King! And the only tea will be the one I'll make out of your bones!

He throws his exploding pumpkin, Larimar who was ready for the movement was a tad to slow and instead of hitting the pumpkin his arrows flys straight through two fingers of the archon nearly scraping the pumpkin.

Spoiler: OOC all

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Reflex save against 15 or take (7d6)[17] fire damage. You are all in the Explosion.

Spoiler: OOC Ken

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Something is doing two attacks against you that you can't see. It hits your Flat-footed AC (which should still be substantial thanks to all the buffs)
Attack 1: (1d20+12)[25]
Damage 1: (2d8+5)[12]
Attack 2: (1d20+12)[21]
Damage 2: (2d8+5)[15]

After the Explosion one grell fly's towards Thaum and try's to hit him with one of his tentacles.

Spoiler: OOC Thaum

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Attack: (1d20+5)[23]
Damage: (1d4+1)[2]
If you hit make a Fortitude save against 10 (a 1 is still a failure) or be paralyzed for (2d4)[6] rounds.

The other grell fly's forward but doesn't act.

Spoiler: OOC Coney

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at the corner of your eye, you see that monster 2 seems to have awakened slightly and looks at you with his many eyes.

Jahn circles around the grell to spread out more and hits the advancing Grell. Splitting him in two.

Spoiler: Jahn attacks

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Activate Snowflake Wardance.
Attack: (1d20+20)[32]
Damage: (1d8+4)[6], + Mountain Hammer (2d6)[4] + Fire Damage (3d6)[14] + Viscious (2d6)[11] Backlash (1d6)[3]

Spoiler: MAP

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The battle Begins. The battle begins

[Toliudar]

Coney

Coney looks sad as Megralras utterly rejects an offer of conversation. Clearly, there was a great mind at work here, twisted though the goals may have been. She hunkers down as best she can to minimize the effects of the pumpkin blast.

She steps into the doorway.

"I'm afraid our friends behind us are waking up."

To try to keep the fight one directional - at least for a while, Coney glances back and fills most of the room behind them with thick, roiling fog.

Spoiler: OOC

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Reflex save vs pumpkin: (1d20+10)[26] includes +2 from recitation - thanks, Ridai!

Move action: move to P25 (I have moved her on the map)

Standard action: Coney casts Solid Fog, centred on U14.

[kinem]

Talk about a hot-head! Ken tries to dodge the blast of fire from the exploding pumpkin.

OOC: Reflex (1d20+17)[28] vs DC 15 for half damage

As soon as combat breaks out, Ken casts his readied spell, hurling his sword at the grell that moves to attack Thaum; the blade instantly returns to his hand.

OOC: Cast Whirling Blade
Attack (1d20+20)[25], damage (2d6+17)[25] + (4d6)[15] fire

Ken is then struck by an invisible attacker, but the second attack on Ken misses.

After the enemies attack, Ken tries stepping forward and defensively casts Fell Weaken Ring of Blades, thinking to make his invisible attacker pay a price for proximity.

OOC: I assume it doesn't count as a Weapon for Dragonfire Inspiration.
Damage (1d6+9)[14] plus a living creature takes a -4 penalty to Strength for 1 minute.

Spoiler: Ring of Blades

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This spell conjures a horizontal ring of swirling metal blades around you. The ring extends 5 feet from you, into all squares adjacent to your space, and it moves with you as you move.
Each round, at the beginning of your turn, and also when you cast the spell, the blades deal 1d6 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum +10) to all creatures in the affected area.
The blades are treated as magic, silvered, and slashing for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

OOC: Ken hp = 37/57, AC = 28 (flat-footed 24)

[Ridai]

As much as his allies benefit from his spells, Thaum does not as much, unable to evade the worst of the explosion, along with the creature's attack. He feels the small wound prickle and go numb, but fortunately it does not spread.

The prospect of the creatures in the tubes waking up, however, is rather unfortunate. Pushing his shield into the grell, Thaum quickly casts a droplet over to Ken before withdrawing to the door, despite it leaving him open to the numbing tentacles. Without further ado, Thaum closes the door after Coney fills the room beyond with fog, to shut in as much noise as possible. And perhaps slow whatever monsters that do get out of their tube down.

Spoiler: Actions

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Since the grell succeeded on its save vs Thaum's aura, the grell (and only that grell) is no longer subject to the aura.

Swift Cure Wounds on Ken, healing (1d4+27)[30] HP. Excess becomes THP. Doesn't provoke AoO due to Shielded Casting.

Move from N17 to P18

Move instead of Standard Close the door.

[WindStruck]

Larimar takes a few steps to the side to get a clearer shot on the archon and fires three arrows at him, all fiery and blessed by Luna (sort of). At this point he was just retaliating. Maybe the werelion might consider their words after he was softened up a bit.

Spoiler: ooc

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5 foot step "south"

attack1: (1d20+17)[34]
damage: (1d6+4)[8] + (3d6)[10] fire + (1d6)[3] nonlethal

attack2: (1d20+17)[20]
damage: (1d6+4)[9] + (3d6)[8] fire + (1d6)[4] nonlethal

attack3: (1d20+12)[20]
damage: (1d6+4)[5] + (3d6)[9] fire + (1d6)[5] nonlethal

One last question: Is the archon a humanoid? Or a magical beast?

[Alhallor]

Jahn is able to bring down the advancing Grell.

The room behind you is filled with thick fog, thanks to Coney's spell, you hear something shatter, but you aren't able to see what shatters. (1d5)[4]

Ken skillfully throws his blade at the Grell that is attacking Thaum, nearly defeats him, but it's still able to (barely) float.

Larimar's arrows fly towards the Archon and every single one is able to hit him, but it seems the arrows alone aren't that effective, thanks to Luna's Blessing and the fire that Jahn added, he's still damaged, but it seems he slightly regenerates his wounds.

Jahn takes a graceful step, gets towards and skewers the Archon.

Spoiler: Jahn attack

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(1d20+21)[31]
Damage: (1d8+4)[7] + Foehammer (ignore DR) (2d6)[6] + Fire (3d6)[10] + Viscious, (2d6)[7]; Backlash (1d6)[6]

The grell who bearly is able to float, gives Thaum a weak slap

Spoiler: Grell AoO

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(1d20+5)[21]
Damage (1d4+1)[2] if hit, make a Fortitude save against 10 or be paralyzed for (2d4)[5] rounds.

Then he takes a 5-foot-float and unleashes a torrent of tentacles against Larimar!

Spoiler: Attack against Larimar, so many tentacles...

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1.A(1d20+5)[21]
1.D(1d4+1)[5]
2.A(1d20+5)[12]
2.D(1d4+1)[4]
3.A(1d20+5)[15]
3.D(1d4+1)[2]
4.A(1d20+5)[10]
4.D(1d4+1)[2]
5.A(1d20+5)[11]
5.D(1d4+1)[3]
Normally that thing has 10 attacks, but it's half-dead, that's why I reduced it.
If you get hit (in this case a 20 just counts as a hit) make a Fortitude save against 10 or be paralyzed for (2d4)[7] rounds. If you get hit multiple times it's just increases the DC by 1 (2 hits it's a DC against 11, 3 is 12, etc...)

The invisible attacker still Pummels Ken with something that may be fists. Your spell hits it, but you can't say how damaged it is.

Spoiler: Attack against Ken

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Still hit's your flat-footed AC.
Attack: 1(1d20+12)[30]
Damage: 1(2d8+5)[14]
Attack: 1(1d20+12)[19]
Damage: 1(2d8+5)[16]

Seems like you are hardier than I thought!

The Archon quickly moves his claws before getting hit by Jahn's attack! He grunts and retaliates in kind, both with claws and a viscious bite!

Spoiler: Attack against Jahn

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Claw Attack 1: (1d20+20)[33]
Claw Damage 1: (2d6+8)[16]
Claw Attack 2: (1d20+20)[38]
Claw Damage 2: (2d6+8)[16]
Bite Attack: (1d20+13)[28]
Bite Damage:(2d8+13)[23]

Spoiler: Jahn, Thaum, Ken

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Your armor get's uncomfortably cold.

Spoiler: Map

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It's getting cold in here.

[Ridai]

Several issues are coming to the forefront. There still is the invisible attacker, but now also the creeping cold and the horrible mauling Jahn has to endure. Thaum surrounds those near him and himself with an insulating layer of ethereal water to protect against any cold that may soon become a problem, soon after heading further into the room to be in reach of all his companions once more, healing some of Jahn's wounds, not having the time to weave a full spell.

Spoiler: Actions

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Thaum didn't natural 1 the save

Move from P18 to M23

Standard Mass resist energy (cold) on everyone except Jahn because Jahn is too far away

Swift Close Wounds on Jahn (1d4+27)[31] HP healed


HP tally
Coney 51/59
Jahn 54/73
Ken 53/57
Larimar 40/48
Thaum 35/56

Spoiler: Active spells/effects

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Dragonfire Inspiration, +3d6 fire damage to weapon attacks
Mass conviction, +4 morale to saves
Mass shield of faith, +4 deflection to AC
Recitation, +3 luck to attacks, saves, AC (not on Thaum)
Mass resist energy (cold), 20 resistance against cold damage (not on Jahn)

Larimar only
Mirror image, Expeditious retreat, Shield

Ken only
Greater Magic Weapon, Burning Sword

Thaum only
Healing lorecall