"If the daemon can teleport anywhere, then I doubt it is still in this place. But we should check the rest of it all the same." Keira replies to Ayeesha, ready to proceed once she finishes healing.

Don't have Knowledge: Nobility. Would Local work here to know who this Lady Andaisin is?
07:40, Today: Kyra rolled 19 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 4.  Know: Local.

Beril rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13.  know religion .
Beril rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6.  know local.

 Bireli did not recognise the name, not with certainty at least. He turned to the dominated Cleric.
  "Who is Lady Andaisin, who is she working with, where is she now? Spare no detail, I'll keep asking."

 The man was compelled to answer, in fact he wanted to answer, to please and be helpful to his master.

In reply to Beril (msg # 302):

Ayeesha tries to discern if the tubes are a danger that needs to be dealt with.

06:12, Today: Ayeesha rolled 11 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 7.  Knowledge Arcana +4.

The heroes stare at the charmed cleric, their eyes widening in surprise at the mention of Lady Andaisin. Despite their extensive travels and experiences, none of them have ever heard of this mysterious figure. Sensing their confusion, the cleric frowns and shakes their head in disbelief.

"You know nothing of Lady Andaisin?" they say, their voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and contempt. "She is the High Priestess of Urgathoa, the chosen scion of our goddess in Golarion. She is the mother of Blood Veil, the First Lady of Decay, Scion of the Plaguebringer, High Champion of the Lady of Graves, Destroyer of Riverwatch, Wielder of the Reaper's Kiss..."

The cleric's voice takes on a trance-like quality as they continue to rattle off Lady Andaisin's extensive list of titles, each one more ominous and foreboding than the last.

  "Oh that one..." Bireli responded feebly with an awkward chuckle.
  "We just call her Andy is all."

  He sighed deeply, clearly not as ready to laugh as he would have wanted. His gaze fell on the blackened patch where Figus had stood, and given his last breath. He had not know the man for long, a mere few hours really, but he seemed a decent fellow and certainly did not deserve to end like this.
  "I guess that answers the question 'who brought the plague'... I thought it was the quack doctor?"

 "Hey, you did not answer the most important: where is Andy now?" the kitsune suddenly snapped to his overwhelmed minion.

In reply to Beril (msg # 305):

Ayeesha turns from her examination of the tubes and its structural integrity and looks at Beril and his puppet before asking.

"Where would we find this "Mother of Blood Veil?  Could it be she is somewhere beyond those double doors?"

When the doctor is mentioned the cleric rolls his eyes.

"Doctor Davaulus is nothing more than an assassin forced upon us. His concerns about his contract are meaningless compared to the will of the Mother of Plagues."

He gestures towards the double doors behind him.

"Lady Andaisin spends her time in the inner sanctum communing with our goddess. She prays night and day that the plague will take hold of the city and end the pitiful lives of the unbelievers."

The cleric's voice takes on a fanatical passion as he continues and he starts speaking with more force and volume as if delivering a sermon to a crowded cathedral.

"The lives of the unworthy shall be converted into a divine offering to Urgathoa! The Blood Veil is a blessing from our goddess, a gift that will cleanse Korvosa of the weak and the impure. We shall not rest until the streets run red with the blood of the unbelievers, until every man, woman, and child in this city has been purified by the plague!"

He raises his arms towards the ceiling, his eyes wild with fervor.

"We are the chosen ones, the faithful servants of Urgathoa, and it is our duty to bring about her divine will. And we shall not falter, we shall not waver, for we have the strength of our conviction and the power of our goddess behind us!"

The cleric takes a deep breath, his chest heaving with emotion.

"I feel the goddess within me! I must pray at her feet and renew my vows to her!"

With that, he turns on his heel and strides towards the double doors preparing to burst through them so he can worship at the altar to his dark goddess.

Glad that his Shield was still active, Kraw swallows a potion (Protection vs Evil) and remarks "if anyone can get us past any damaging wards on those doors, it is he." He draws a silver dagger for his off-hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

In reply to Kraw (msg # 308):

All buffs still active, A fully healed Ayeesha follows on his heels ready to charge through the doors once they are open.

"Yes, I have a need to discuss my "Vows" with her as well!"

“Woppoppopp… wait up just a moment before you go kneel in whatever filth you call religion…”

 “You’re a cleric right— let’s see what good prayers you can lay on us. Anything beneficial you have, go ahead. Healing, wards, protection, blessings… lay it out. Just so that we’re better prepared to fight the daemon and vampires…”

 He purposefully didn’t mention fighting his mistress, as that would be the sort of things that pulls right at the tether connecting their psyche. He wasn’t going to break free of the enchantment on a technicality…

  “Then we can go together, and you can show us the route to your sanctum.”

The cleric frowns at Beril.

"Of course, of course. It's just that I already used my blessings for today. I have a bit of healing I can use but that's about it."

Without waiting for further instructions he begins casting a simple healing spell.

"Mmmh... if I didn't know you cannot lie to me, I'd wager you were bluffing."

 "Tell us now where exactly your mistress is, who she is with, and what wards are in place. Also we want to know what other exits there are to this compound."

 With the vampire bribed into leaving, and the daemon vanished with the corpse of an ally, he was not ready to let an other of their enemies go...

someone can take the healing, or cancel that last clw wand charge

In reply to Beril (msg # 312):

OOC: Kyra and Alpha could use some healing spells. I was hoping for at least a bless spell or something, but healing is better than nothing.

In reply to Kyra (msg # 313):

Ayeesha looks to her companions and asks.

"I have two CLW and one CMW potions.  Who needs them?"

The cleric finishes his spell and then touches himself healing up the bruises and broken bones he got from being thrashed by the tentacles.

"There we are. Now I'm better able to help!"

He seems a bit more animated, or at least he doesn't seem to be suppressing as much pain now as he considers Beril's words.

"Lady Andaisan, of course. I don't know her past before her time but it is said she was once a noblewoman before being reborn within the cult. Her beauty and charisma were immediately known and she was definitely a favorite of the goddess and so she quickly rose to power deposing the last leader in a bloody coup. From there she grew our numbers and built a secret temple in Vyre where we worshipped for many years. Then not the long ago she brought the cult together claiming she had gotten a vision from the goddess and that we were to move to Korvosa to corrupt it from within. I know she partnered with various other agents like the Red Mantis, necromancers and even a vampire but she kept most of her dealings to herself. Our job was to either assist Dr. Davalus in observing the effects of the blood veil or working down here to continue to increase its potency. For some reason it wasn't affecting those with strong native Varisian blood and that seemed to be one of our primary targets as Dr. Davalus especially was upset that it was impacting foreigners more than the natives.

There are no wards or traps on the door or chamber however be careful as the inner sanctum is a holy place to Urgathoa and any disrespect to the goddess there might warrant the wrath of the goddess herself.

To my knowledge there are no other exits. Just the elevator."

In reply to Ayeesha (msg # 314):

"I'm good now, thank you."

On hearing what the cultist had to say, Kyra can't help but feel a bit worried about walking into the inner sanctum. "Wish we could get this Lady Andaisan to come out instead."

OOC: Maybe our new friend could tell her some story to get her out? If not, I don't have any other ideas besides charging in.

In reply to Kyra (msg # 316):

"I want to end this while my buffs are still active. So, Iam a strong advocate of the charge in now strategy."

Kraw nods. "Fast entrance means less time to react. Agree with Ayeesha."

Beril nodded.

 He cast a spell just before the doors opened.
On top of the nine tails behind him, there now was an array of five golden fiery wings.
The lot was fluttering about giving him the air of an archangel of light.

  “Too much?” he asked

Cast Shield of Wings

Opening the doorway reveals a hallway that leads into a 100' long tunnel. At every step the party can feel a presence observing their passage and yet there are no signs of magic or places where a spy could observe them in hiding. The reek of burning wax wafts down the hall and there is a whisper of voices that scratch at the back of one's mind.

At the end of the hallway it opens into a circular chamber rising into a high dome. Seven basins jut from the walls, ensconced within evenly spaced alcoves that circle the room. Each is filled to the brim with a unique liquid corruption—blood, bile, milk, or other unidentifiable fluid. Each fills the air with its own distinct reek, creating a noxious, eyewatering
bouquet. Upon the floor around each basin lie several small, empty metal boxes, each carved with images of skulls. At the room’s center, rising from a wide pool of crystalline water, rises a golden statue of a sight both erotic and horrifying. The statue is that of a beautiful nude woman, human above the waist, but below this the figure is nothing more than a skeleton.

In the center of the room waiting for their arrival is none other than Lady Andaisin. She is beautiful and pale with black hair and ornate black armor with an elaborate cape carrying a giant scythe.



“And so you have found your way to me, hopeful heroes. Know that you stand before the architect of your city’s death. You call this sending blood veil, yet I know it as the gentle kiss of the Pallid Princess. Your reward shall be great—choose of the seven scourges to become one with the goddess. Those who drink, I shall only cripple, leaving you alive to enjoy her as she quickens inside your flesh. Those who abstain are fools, not fit to house the divine gift. You may prostrate yourselves at my feet and I shall make your end all the more swift for it. Swifter, in any event, than this delightful end your lovely queen has enjoined me to create!”

To punctuate her command she swipes the air with her scythe and the statue begins to cry a pale white liquid. The torches lining the room flair wildly and the party can feel a wave of dark oppresive energy wash over them. Ayeesha begins to shrink, Alpha drops his spear as his hands turn from hands back into paws and his legs bend him back down to walk on all fours. The magical armor protecting Kraw and Kyra shatters and the feathers circling above Beril are blown away.

The cleric standing in front of them suddenly shakes his head and the turns back on the party with a snarl on his face, "I'm sorry, Mistress, they clouded my mind. I promise you it won't happen again though. My life for the Pallid Princess!" he roars as he brandishes his own scythe towards the party.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 320):

Free actions: Rage, Use Harrow point to increase DR to 4.

"He has that much right!"

5' step and double slice the cultist in our way.

07:20, Today: Ayeesha rolled 31 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 17.  Raging GS attack +14.

07:20, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 5.

07:22, Today: Ayeesha rolled 25 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 5,4.  Raging GS attack +14 damage2d6+16.

Kyra decides not to waste time on banter and start casting her most powerful remaining spell instead.

Black Tentacles on upper-right corner of T36, to catch her but allow our frontline to close in melee safely from the south.

08:07, Today: Kyra rolled 17 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 5.  Black Tentacles grapple.

Bah. Moving back left 30' after casting. We are a nice target for an AoE effect bunched up like this.

Kraw launches himself to W-29. Spinning as he lands, a dagger quickly finds a point between the ribs of the cultist.



00:51, Today: Kraw rolled 29 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 15.  Acrobatics to avoid AoO.

00:51, Today: Kraw rolled 27 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 14.  Dagger attack, flanking.

00:50, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+5 with rolls of 1.  Dagger damage.

00:50, Today: Kraw rolled 13 using 4d8 with rolls of 2,2,4,5.  Sneak stab damage.

Hit AC 27, did 19 damage

 The cultist had run his course. It was a shame, but it was to be expected.

 Bireli focused his attention on the priestess, or whatever title she held. Such opponent was bound to be covered in magical protections, so he may as well start by taking those down.

 He walks around Ayeesha and clears a line of sight to the priestess, and points a finger at her. He quickly mumbled in his lingo "S'gonabe a Nawp!"
 A claw of disruptive magic shot forward, scratching at the matrix holding her spells in place, aiming to dispel them.

Move to V28, cast Dispel Magic

Ayeesha steps forward and cleaves through a cultist standing in front of her with ease. The cultist falls to the ground, lifeless.

Kyra reaches into the pits of magical ether and inky black tentacles begin worming out from the stones in the floor and wall of the corner of the temple. They flail around looking for a target but for some reason every time they get close to Lady Andaisin they seem to slide right on by without ever noticing her presence.

Kraw rushes forward navigating around the central pit to threaten the high priestess.

Beril's claw slides past a few spells before landing on an enchantment on her weapon. The scythe that she wields flares a sickly green for a second and then the aura is shattered and the glow reduces, but does not go away completely.

Alpha follows Kraw into the room looking to threaten Andaisin as well but unable to quite make it to land a bite.

Lady Andaisin takes a step forward...and upwards. As if climbing an invisible staircase she begins rising up into the air above the pool of liquid. Kraw takes a quick stab with his daggers but she parries them with her scythe as she continues her upward climb ending up floating 15' above the pool.

"Now... FALL to your knees before your goddess!" Her command carries with it a supernatural weight that threatens to buckle the heroes legs and compels them that there is nothing in the world more important then dropping to the ground this very instant.

OOC: Everyone must make a DC 20 Will save or have to fall to the ground.
Just to recap, Beril dispels a Greater Magic Weapon spell, the Black Tentacles dont' impact Andaisin because she is protected by Freedom of Movement, and she is Air Walking 15' into the air. She takes an AoO from Kraw but he only hits AC 22

With an acrobatics check you could stand on the edge of the fountain to get enough vertical distance to land a melee attack. It will be a DC 17 as it is narrow (+15) and wet (+2). Failing by < 5 means you lose your balance momentarily and lose an attack. Failing by > 5 means you end up in the pool.

You can also attempt a jump attack which would be a straight acrobatics check where every 4 you get adds +1' to your height so it would be DC 20 to hit her but there is no penalty for failure.






This message was last edited by the GM at 15:02, Wed 29 Mar 2023.