[e20 PF] And with strange aeons...

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Dang. Foxglove really isn't coming! Ooookay, that sucks. Well, the show must carry on! Anyone know someone who could fill in as a wizard PC? I'll NPC Thaddeus for a while, then swap him out until/unless Aldern comes back to play him.

Thorn waves her wand and is encased in shadows, disappearing with a large arm of the swarm inside with her. The shadows seem to have no effect ont he swarm, who you may guess don't need light to see on the Astral Plane. However, the magic of the shadows embrace protects the shadowdancer.

Thaddeus casts his spell, just as the rest of you slice and hack and arch and smite. Yet Thaddeus is affected by the power of the swarm, a power that even he seems to have never encountered before. In a brief moment while most of the party is destroying tentacles or shattering skulls, Thaddeus used his incredible intellect to contact the swarm directly.

It's a hive-mind! Controlled by some... giant mind. The parts... less than the sum... I can hold them, but you have to destroy... their great brain!

With a super-nova of Quickened Spellcasting he lets loose with a fantastic bolt of energy to sear off several of the creatures attempting to grapple Thaven, then a curved wave of scintillating flames to burn all those about to descend upon Xanfire, and finally one spell to affect the swarm itself. Space seems to warp in the Astral plane before Thaddeus' head. It's as if space was a sheet and he was pulling something through. An image made of thought-light is just visible in the miniscus of the warp, like a malignant brain of immense size. Thaddeus reaches through with his grip as if to grab the mind on the other end, and seems to electrify it with his touch. However, there is a backlash of energy, and everyone (Thaddeus, you, the Broken Eagles, the Swarm) are shocked through space in different directions.

The hive mind of the swarm is stunned or dead. Many of the creatures simply float there, either charred by Xanfire's Smite, or your weapons, or stunned by the effects of Thaddeus' spell.

START OF THE NEXT ROUND

You find yourself floating in space, surrounded by unmoving bodies of the swarm creatures.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

 

[Scott DeWar]

Looking around Hedron tries to find the mind of this "hive" or if not that, the two who were taken off by the creature hive swarm.

OOC: Was it mal and ?

if he sees what he is looking for he will exchange his weapon for a long sword and head toward it.

 

[fireinthedust]

OOC: I just realized everyone who is conscious is still falling. Basically it's your conscious mind (or animating force, I guess, for Golems(?maybe?) that causes you to have gravity: the Astral Plane forms around your thoughts, and it's an assumption you all have that there's gravity. So yeah: pick a direction. 1) Towards the roiling Astral-Storm as before 2) Away from the Astral Storm, back to where you came from 3) Towards one of the floating giant monolithic rocks. (Redundant term, monolithic rocks, but in fantasy it's good to be specific)

[sblock=Hedron Perception Check] You can easily see the following things:

1) All the other players still with us: Thorn, Rook, Xanfire, Mal. Everyone's pretty spread out.

2) You can see Thaddeus' limp form hovering among the other bodies.

3) You can see numerous of the formerly-swarm creatures regaining consciousness. Several are heading towards Thaddeus.

4) Gerhardt is nowhere to be found.

5) There's a Balor heading towards the party. He looks pissed.[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

Head toward Thaddeus- retrieve Thaddeus and re-join party.

"Balor at 3 o' clock, and he is looking for a social gathering to join. Like us.

OOC: I know that all cannot be done in one round, but those are my planned actions however long it takes. just let me know when i can act again.

 

[jackslate45]

Xanfire tries to stabilize himself from falling the normal way, but all he does is fling is arms around. When he things how badly he wants to stop falling however, he notices that he slows down and stops.

Quickly realizing that this could be what he needed, he "falls" towards his closest ally to prevent a 1 on 1 fight.

 

[Thaven]

The Astral Plane's gravity affects seem to hinder Rook less than the others; the magical wings affixed to his back allow him to fly on the material plane, and thus since he believes he can fly without hindrance, he continues to do so, making an attempt to fly toward Xanfire the cleric. "It seems as though our reintroduction may need to wait, my venerated friend," he said as he heard Thorn speak of the Balor.

[sblock=GM]
Cartaras: <"Is that a-">

Endoril: <"balor">

The two almost speak in unison within his mind.

Cartaras: <"Milord, you know as well as we do that you're not as well equipped to handle such a beast as you are others. Perhaps we should consider a strategic withdrawal...>

Cartaras: <Then we too must be ready.> [/sblock]
Speaking to no one in particular, though obviously not speaking to Xanfire, "Would you say the same if I were standing between this creature and the Emperor? Would you say such a thing if the Shining Light of the Inner Sea were behind me? Make no mistake, he is behind me; and I must stand fast, regardless of the outcome."

[sblock=GM]

Cartaras: <Then we too must be ready.> [/sblock]
Rook angles himself in front of Xanfire so that it will be he, and not the cleric, who absorbs the beasts' first strike and drinks a potion instantly doubling in size.

OOC: Rook drinks a potion of Enlarge (CL3). Endoril casts greater heroism, refreshing the duration and Cartaras casts weapon of awe on Rook’s main hand weapon. It sounds like the creature is a round away from being in range so buffing seems prudent at this time.

[sblock=modified stats]

For greater heroism (CL7), rage (CL7), enlarge (CL3), weapon of awe (CL7) on acid burst falcata

AC 17; Touch 14; Flat-Footed 14; +1 mithral chain shirt of heavy fortification
HP 358/360 + 7 temp
Fort +30; Ref +24; Will +21 (+5 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities ; DR 5/-; Immune fear ; Resist ; SR

Offense

Speed 30 feet (60 feet fly, average)
Space 10; Reach 10

Melee +36/+31/+26/+21 (2d6+35+2d6 holy+1d6 acid, 17-20x4+3d10 acid
adamantine and +36/+31/+26 (2d6+28+2d6 holy+1d6 shock+2d6 vicious, 17-20x4 cold iron)


Special Attacks power attack

Statistics

Str 38 (+14), Dex 21 (+5), Con 24 (+7), Int 7 (-2), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 7 (-2)

Base Atk +20; CMB 35; CMD 51;

Skills Fly +25, Knowledge (History) +12

[/sblock]
“Does your magic user have the ability to increase the speed of his allies? If so now is most certainly the time!”

 

[jackslate45]

Xanfire could hardly believe his eyes as this man appears, basically out of no where again.

"It seems it will yes. As of Thad, I am afraid I will have to do with the haste you so require."

Xanfire will remain "floating" it mid air, and will wait till everyone is gathered before buffing them.

OCC: Standard Action: Blessing Of Fervor on everyone once thorn gets close enough to cast it.

[sblock=Xanfire Astral Plane Stats]
HP 300
AC: 46/ T: 19/ FF 43
Init: +3 / CMB: +24 / CMD: 47
Fort: +22 / Ref: +14 / +27

Evil's Bane: +1 Ghost Touch/Holy/Spell Storing (Dispel Magic) (GMW: 42hrs) +34/+29/+24 1d8 + 14(+3 Luck) (15 Base + 5 Enchantment + 1 Focus + 1 Competence+ 9 STR + 3 Luck)
AC: 46 (10 + 14 (Mithril Full plate Armor: 9 Armor + 5 Enchantment) + 8(Shield: 2 Shield + 1 Feat + 5 Enchantment ) + 3 Dex + 5 Natural + 5 Deflection(Shield of Faith 42 21 Hours) + 1 Insight)

Evil's Bane: +5 Ghost Touch/Holy/Spell Storing(Dispel Magic) GMW :42 Hrs
Light of Iomedae: Inactive

Divine Bulwark: +1 Ghost Touch Determination (MW + 4 Enchantment) 1x: Breath of life < 0HP;
Divine Protection: MWK Mithril Shield (MV + 5 Enchantment)

Divine Presence: 20 Rounds
Aura of Menace: 20 Rounds
Touch of Good: 13 Uses
Touch of Glory: 13 Uses
Channel Good Energy: 5 Uses (10d6, can choose up to two targets to not receive healing)

Spells Prepared(4/7/7/6/6/6/6/5/5/5, +1 slot 1+ for Domains DC 20+ Level CL 21)
0 Detect Magic, Stabilize, Light, Create Water
1 Divine Favor(d), Divine Favor x2, Protection from evil x2, Comprehend Languages, Shield of Faith, Shield of Faith
2 Bless Weapon(d), Grace, Lesser Restoration x2, Spiritual Weapon x2, Weapon of Awe, Resist Energy,
3 Prayer(d), Prayer, Wind Wall, Dispel Magic x2, Magic Circle Against Evil, Magic Circle against Evil
4 Holy Smite(d), Divine Power, Blessing of Fervor, Spiritual Ally, Death Ward, Magic Vestment (Extended), Magic Vestment (Extended)
5 Righteous Might(d), Quickened Divine Favor, Cleanse, Breath of Life x2, Commune, Greater Magic Weapon(Extended) ,
6 Undeath to Death(d), Dispel Magic (Greater), Heal x2, Owl's Wisdom(Mass) x3
7 Holy Sword(d), Restoration (Greater) x3, Extended Blade Barrier, Extended Planar Adaptation
8 Holy Aura(d), Quickened Divine Power, Quickened Spiritual Ally, Quickened Blessing of Fervor, Discern Location, Dimensional Lock
9 Gate(d), Heal Mass, Quickened Cleanse, Quickened Righteous Might, Energy Drain, Miracle

Other Items
2 Spell Pearl of Power x4
Gate Spell Component
Winged Boots
90,000 gp in Diamond Dust

To Buy:
Spell Focus for Holy Aura, Diamond dust for Miracle. Both at Temple
[/sblock]

 

[Thaven]

Rook seemed surprised as the spell was triggered (once Thorn got in range.) He had no idea that clerics possessed such power. "Truly, noble Cleric, you are a marvel."

Rook brandished his large blades and glared at the Balor Lord charging headlong into them. As he readied himself for the bloodbath that was to follow he had only three words to speak: "For the Emperor."

[sblock=modified stats]
For Blessing of Fervor (CL20), greater heroism (CL7), rage (CL7), enlarge (CL3), weapon of awe (CL7) on acid burst falcata

AC 17; Touch 14; Flat-Footed 14; +1 mithral chain shirt of heavy fortification
HP 358/360 + 7 temp
Fort +30; Ref +24; Will +21 (+5 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities ; DR 5/-; Immune fear ; Resist ; SR

Offense

Speed 30feet (60 feet fly, average)
Space 10; Reach 10

Melee +36/+36/+31/+26/+21 (2d6+35+2d6 holy+1d6 acid, 17-20x4+3d10 acid
adamantine and +36/+31/+26 (2d6+28+2d6 holy+1d6 shock+2d6 vicious, 17-20x4 cold iron)


Special Attacks power attack

Statistics

Str 38 (+14), Dex 21 (+5), Con 24 (+7), Int 7 (-2), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 7 (-2)

Base Atk +20; CMB 35; CMD 51;

Skills Fly +25, Knowledge (History) +12[/sblock]

 

[fireinthedust]

Everyone looking at the Balor: please make a Perception check.

EDIT: Actually, it's quite clear that the Balor is racing towards THADDEUS(!!!! emphasis for clarity) Not the rest of you.

 

[jackslate45]

Noticing the path of the Balor, Xanfire's guess couldn't have been more wrong.

He focus a little bit, and starts "falling" to protect Thad and Hedron from the slaughter they will see. once close enough, he focues to slow down his "fall"