DrK's Gestalt Game IC

[Chambers]

Baervard

The dwarf kicks aside one of the knights arms as he steps over the twice dead corpse and gets in the face of the remaining Knight. "So that's not the real one?" He shouts past the knight towards Pergrimm and Nan, nodding towards the Spellweaver in the middle of the room. He chokes up again on his warhammer and swings it at the Knight, no subtlety at all to his blows.

Spoiler

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5ft step, Full Attack. Power Attack for -5. Current Attack bonus is +27 (+21 base, +2 from Bull's Strength, +3 from Inspire Courage, +1 from haste)

Haste Attack (1d20+22)[24]
Damage (1d8+33)[41]

Attack (1d20+22)[29]
Damage (1d8+33)[41]

Attack (1d20+17)[20]
Damage (1d8+33)[38]

Attack (1d20+12)[18]
Damage (1d8+33)[41]

Status
HP 135/136, 0 Temp HP
DR 5/--
AC 32 (31 base, +1 from haste)
F/R/W 21/15/21 (15/8/11 base, +3 morale all from Mass Conviction, +3 resistance all from Nightshield, +1 Reflex from Haste, +4 Will from Combat Focus)

Current Effects: Combat Focus (Fast Heal 4), Haste, Inspire Courage +3, Bull's Strength, Nightshield, Mass Conviction (100 minutes)

[DrK]

The spellweaver's blast of rainbow light douses Nan and Pergrim in various elements, fire, acid, lightning and then the coldball... Its an elemental onslaught that takes its toll on the heroes but cannot kill either.

The knight waits patiently before chopping at the troll ineffectually as he rumbles towards him! The narrow corridor preventing the tiger getting in as Baevard scuttles down in front Jeb, the massive troll happy to fight over Baevard's armoured head. The knight is skilled however as it fends off troll and dwarf alike with shield and sword but the troll's almighty power still ravages it with claw and tentacle battering it and rending it. *Seconds later a great hole blown in its chest as Alyssa hurls a great orb of holy fire at it wounding it heavily!

Spoiler: ouch

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Poison (4d20)[5][15][13][4](37) needs 4
HP damage 120

As the pair in the corridor battle the knight of Kyuss the other dwarf and the valkyire battle the invisible and magically protected Spellweaver. Pergirm slashing and chopping at the air but never quite finding the mark. nan more effective as her blow thrust and stab at the beast, with her witch sight on she can see it ghostly blurred form and the now 4 remaining images... a number that was about to be sorely tested! Even more so as a wave of crackling magical energy engulfed it as Amy threw her magic against the beast's and in a cascade of sparks numerous spells were destroyed accompanied by a great shriek of pain from the creature! Even more enraged as it becomes visible to all! Its last images cracking and shattering into motes of light.

Spoiler: VS lich

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3 Hits (1d5)[1] (1d4)[2] (1d3)[3] 1's threaten the lich (2d100)[60][23](83) with 1-20 missing due to blur

Spells nobbled: True seeing, Improved Invisibility, Mirror Image, Shield

The knight, too dead to know fear hacks equally at Baevard and Jeb. Eye stalks seeking to suck the life and brains out of the dwarf!!

Spoiler: knight

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Vs Jeb (1d20+22)[37] damage (1d10+15)[17] + (2d6)[3] evil
Vs Baevard (1d20+17)[24] damage (1d10+15)[17] + (2d6)[8] evil
Vs Baevard (1d20+13)[30] damage (1d4+9)[11] + (2d4)[3] INT
Vs Baevard (1d20+13)[31] damage (1d4+9)[13] + (2d4)[7] INT

The spellweaver hisses angrily before unleashing a world of magical fury as it brings forth the might of alien worlds upon the party. A swarm of blackened missiles peppering Amy and Pergrim, A single wave of the hand sending a wave of mental confusion washing through Nan's rage filled mind, the air distorts and warps around the melee members of the party as time itself bends to the creatures will. Finally another disc of force springs up around the creatures dessicated brow...

Spoiler: Lich magic fu![/roll

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Magic missile Vs Amy (5d4+5)[16]
Magic missile Vs Pergrim (5d4+5)[16]
Shield on self
Slow affecting Pergirm, Nan, Jeb, Tiger, Baevard WILL DC 23 negates
Quickened Confusion WILL DC 23 Vs Nan

[Mishkov]

Jeb deflects the blow from the knight and resists the magics from the lich. His pet is less lucky and is slowed by the spells. They continue to assault the undead knights.

Spoiler

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Sheet
Silver magic good aligned
Claw 1: (1d20+29)[45] for (1d8+19)[24] damage +1 for evil dazing blow DC25 fort vs daze 1 round after hit. DC14 for for (1d6)[5] primary then (2d6)[8] secondary dex damage
Claw 2: (1d20+29)[40] for (1d8+19)[25] damage +1 for evil dazing blow DC25 fort vs daze 1 round after hit. DC14 for for (1d6)[6] primary then (2d6)[8] secondary dex damage
Bite: (1d20+27)[32] for (1d6+10)[13] +1 for evil, DC14 for for (1d6)[1] primary then (2d6)[8] secondary dex damage

Tentacle 1: (1d20+29)[45] for (1d8+19)[20] damage +1 for evil. DC14 for for (1d6)[4] primary then (2d6)[5] secondary dex damage
Tentacle 2: (1d20+29)[44] for (1d8+19)[24] damage +1 for evil. DC14 for for (1d6)[5] primary then (2d6)[8] secondary dex damage

Tiger:
Silver aligned

Bite: (1d20+20)[21] for (2d6+15)[19] single attack
(tentacles attack as free actions)
Tentacle 1: (1d20+18)[38] for (1d8+15)[19]
Tentacle 2: (1d20+18)[26] for (1d8+15)[21]

Buff duration 5/12 (6/12 Evard's Menacing Tentacles)
Spirit Jaws 4/12

[infomatic]

"Clean living? Oh! I see. Because she's dead. I see."

Pergrim pauses for a few heartbeats while he considers that. "Well, yes, it does work that way too, but … Aha!" he cries out in satisfaction as the air before him ripples and the Spellweaver appears — still a bit fuzzy, but certainly more of a genuine target than it had been.


"Nttoma mottoretta oddehidaanigoo," he begins, no longer aware that he can't understand himself anymore, and swings his axe lazily.

Spoiler: rolls

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Full attack, pretty bad rolls
(1d20+25)[29] for (2d6+26)[34] and [roll]1d6 acid damage, concealment (1d100)[34] low is good
(1d20+20)[34] for (2d6+26)[35] and [roll]1d6 acid damage, concealment (1d100)[38] low is good
(1d20+15)[21] for (2d6+26)[33] and [roll]1d6 acid damage, concealment (1d100)[60] low is good
(1d20+25)[32] for (2d6+26)[34] and [roll]1d6 acid damage, concealment (1d100)[56] low is good

Spoiler: status

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CONFUSED
Greater Magic Weapon +2
Bull's Strength +4str
Haste +1 hit/ac/reflex, +30move
Inspire courage +3 morale hit/dmg/fear saves
Mass Conviction +3 morale saves
Incarnum Radiance +3 Melee to hit


HP 95/111
AC 26
Vs. Ranged: 27
Vs. Touch: 19
Vs. Incorp Touch:
Vs. Ranged Touch: 21 (22 vs. spells)
Vs. Traps: 30

Soulmelds

Feet: Impulse Boots (bound) Uncanny Dodge, Evasion [3E]
Head: Crystal Helm [3E]
Waist: Vitality Belt (Bound); +11hp/ess, imm to Con dmg/Drain [0E]
Arms: Lifebond Vestments (bound), healing at range [0E]
Soul: Incarnate Avatar 4E
Neck: Planar Ward [0E],
Hands: Mauling Gauntlets

Armor: 0E
Shield: 3E

[Toliudar]

Nan, unfortunately, seems to be in no condition to hear Pergrim's clarification. As the Spellweaver's magics dig into her mind, the shieldmaiden struggles to break free - to no avail. She tenses briefly, then the tip of her spear drops to tap the ground in front of her. Her eyes - already strange and reptilian in her current form - go wide and staring. A hideous babbling drips from her lips.

"Phaelignogam Benightment Hematherm Piciformes Juke Wall Apothegmatic Teinture Crescive Reprobate Inceptor Rimmer Argentate Conessi Luff Sustainment Offshoot!!"

Spoiler: Statblock

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Nan Aelbiorn
Female CG Human Bb6/ChampGwyn6/Bard12, Level 12, Init +1, HP 74/112, DR 4/-, Speed 40'
AC 29, Touch 14, Flat-footed 28, Fort +16, Ref +17, Will +15, Base Attack Bonus 12/7/2
Reach, Gr Fiendslayer Crystal +3 Longspear (Wand Chamber) +21/+16/+11 (1d8+12, x3)
+5 Str Adjustment Composite Longbow (40) +13/8/2 (1d8+5, x3)
Spiked Gauntlet +18/13/8 (1d4+3, x2)
+1 Mithril Chain Shirt, Animated +1 Heavy Steel Shield (+6 Armor, +3 Shield, +1 Dex, +6 Natural, +3 Deflect)
Abilities Str 27, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 20
Condition Endure Elements (from wand)
Alter Self (into troglodyte - +6 Nat Armour, Claws & Bite, Multiattack feat.)
See Invisibility
Resist Energy (Fire) 10
Mirror Image - 8 duplicates
Inspire Courage +3
Eagle's Splendour
Protection from Evil
Shield of Faith
Enervation - 1 level lost
Confusion

[Tombs]

Amy notices the terrible rippling in the aether around Nan and looks on in horror as the warrior loses focus on the world around her. Quickly, she calls a warning to Alyssa to make sure she's spotted the potentially deadly new threat then focuses again on unpicking the many layers of defence protecting the spellweaver.

Spoiler

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Cast Voracious Dispelling on the spellweaver (Dispel Magic, and he takes spell level in damage for anything that gets dispelled - I can feel his fear already).

Dispel checks:
(1d20+12)[22]
(1d20+12)[22]
(1d20+12)[19]
(1d20+12)[27]
(1d20+12)[13]
(1d20+12)[20]
(1d20+12)[18]

[Chambers]

Baervard

His animated shield swinging in front just in time, Baervard deflects all of the death knights blows and takes a moment to recover while Jeb and his pet tear the knight limb from limb. The hair on the back of his neck stands up as spell energy fries all over the lich from Amy's abjuration. "Well done lass."

Seeing his allies succumb to the alien's curse he advances on it, playing out the length of his warhammer until he's holding it at the bottom of the handle. He grips tight with both hands and swings it around his head with a mighty whoosh of wind. "Your time has past a long time ago creature." He says before swinging the warhammer fast at the alien's head.

Spoiler

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Move + Attack. Power Attack for Full (-12).

Attack (1d20+15)[19]
Damage (1d8+50)[58]

Status
HP 136/136, 0 Temp HP
DR 5/--
AC 32 (31 base, +1 from haste)
F/R/W 21/15/21 (15/8/11 base, +3 morale all from Mass Conviction, +3 resistance all from Nightshield, +1 Reflex from Haste, +4 Will from Combat Focus)

Current Effects: Combat Focus (Fast Heal 4), Haste, Inspire Courage +3, Bull's Strength, Nightshield, Mass Conviction (100 minutes)

[Starbin]

Alyssa

Alyssa moved forward cautiously, until she could spot the creature in the corner of the room. With a wave of her hand, a muttered word of power, she asked Raziel for aid in cutting through the spell weaver's protections. Then, she cast a spell to rip away the remaining protections the undead beast had ... hopefully aiding her friends in the process.

Spoiler: Actions

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So, move forward slightly, cast assay spell resistance, then dispel magic on the spellweaver. Not sure if Confusion is a fire and forget spell, so it may not help our babbling friends, but hopefully it takes out the shield, armor and blur ... at least until the thing casts them again!

Dispel rolls:
(1d20+21)[35] - 11 = 24
(1d20+21)[39] - 11 = 29
(1d20+21)[23] - 11 = 12
(1d20+21)[36] - 11 = 25
(1d20+21)[22] - 11 = 11
(1d20+21)[35] - 11 = 24
(1d20+21)[26] - 11 = 15
(1d20+21)[40] - 11 = 29
(1d20+21)[31] - 11 = 20

Just in case

Spoiler: Status

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HPs: 84/84 (22 temp); AC: 18 (20 vs evil); F +8 / R +13 / W +14 (+2 vs evil)
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 2/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)
greater mage armor (10 hrs)
heart of earth (10 hrs)
prying eyes (10 hrs)
protection from evil (10 min)
Resist energy (fire), mass (110 min)
Haste (?) +1 att/+1AC/+1 Ref/+30 Move / extra attack
Inspire courage (TBD) +3 attack/damage, +3 saves vs Fear

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 11)

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0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (3+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (2+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 11)

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0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (3+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (2+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[DrK]

The second knight lasts mere moments longer than the first as Jeb unleashes all the fury of nature upon it. Tentacles crushing chain and plate as claws and bites rip and rend before the knight is no more... shreds of the creature were its been torn apart litter the floor in a disgusting manner. By the Spellweaver things are going less well. A pair of shimmering magical beams stream from Alyssa and Amy as the strange 6 armed creature suddenly stops blurring, the shield of force surmounting its head vanishing in a cascasde of magical sparks. Luckily the heroes in front of it cannot stop the creature, both Pergrim and Nan mutely dribbling and babbling insanely. Baevard rushing the monster but the massive hammer cannot penetrate the beast's magical wards.

THe Spellweaver hisses at the pair of casters that have so disabused it of its defences, multi-faceted eyes focusing on the terrifying druidic killing machine! Jeb can feel his innards beginning to melt and shift as his very blood slows getting wetter and thinner with weakness. Even as that happens a small orb of magical force flickers from each hand, 2 striking Amy and 3 striking Alyssa, seconds later the creature steps sideways, just out of sight or Jeb, Amy, the tiger and Alyssa.

Spoiler: Lich all alone

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Quickened magic missile (3d4+3)[13] Vs Alyssa, (2d4+2)[5] Vs Amy
Blood to Water Vs Jeb (2d6)[5] CON, Fort DC 27 for half

[Toliudar]

Nan

The reptilian form of the woman facing down the spellweaver is contorted with grief. tears well up and track down scaled cheeks, and the spear trembles in her grasp but does not leap to the attack. A thin trail of warbling sound escapes gaping lips.

[infomatic]

"Eh?"

Pergrim's eyes refocus … and then narrow in anger as he realizes what has happened.

"Oh, you'll pay for that, you will," he rasps at the spellweaver as it backs away.

Spoiler: actions

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Five-foot step, full attack on spellweaver, PA -5 Includes Inspire Courage, Haste, Incarnum Radiance, Favored Enemy

1. (1d20+25)[27] for (2d6+26)[33] and (1d6)[4] acid
2. (1d20+20)[36] for (2d6+26)[28] and (1d6)[4] acid
3. (1d20+15)[31] for (2d6+26)[35] and (1d6)[2] acid
4. (1d20+20)[28] for (2d6+26)[33] and (1d6)[5] acid

Spoiler: status

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CONFUSED, acting normally this round
Greater Magic Weapon +2
Bull's Strength +4str
Haste +1 hit/ac/reflex, +30move
Inspire courage +3 morale hit/dmg/fear saves
Mass Conviction +3 morale saves
Incarnum Radiance +3 Melee to hit


HP 95/111
AC 26
Vs. Ranged: 27
Vs. Touch: 19
Vs. Incorp Touch:
Vs. Ranged Touch: 21 (22 vs. spells)
Vs. Traps: 30

Soulmelds

Feet: Impulse Boots (bound) Uncanny Dodge, Evasion [3E]
Head: Crystal Helm [3E]
Waist: Vitality Belt (Bound); +11hp/ess, imm to Con dmg/Drain [0E]
Arms: Lifebond Vestments (bound), healing at range [0E]
Soul: Incarnate Avatar 4E
Neck: Planar Ward [0E],
Hands: Mauling Gauntlets

Armor: 0E
Shield: 3E

[Chambers]

Baervard

"Oh, you're not getting away from me!" Baervard growls to the alien as he steps forward. He chokes back up on his warhammer and looks back over his shoulder for a moment to see how Nan is doing. Not great...could be worse though. "Jeb, come around my side and lock him the corner." He says and then swings his warhammer at the alien.

Spoiler

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5ft step, full attack. Power Attack for -5. Current Attack bonus is +27 (+21 base, +2 from Bull's Strength, +3 from Inspire Courage, +1 from haste)

Haste Attack (1d20+22)[41]
Damage (1d8+33)[39]

Attack (1d20+22)[28]
Damage (1d8+33)[34]

Attack (1d20+17)[36]
Damage (1d8+33)[38]

Attack (1d20+12)[23]
Damage (1d8+33)[39]

Status
HP 136/136, 0 Temp HP
DR 5/--
AC 32 (31 base, +1 from haste)
F/R/W 21/15/21 (15/8/11 base, +3 morale all from Mass Conviction, +3 resistance all from Nightshield, +1 Reflex from Haste, +4 Will from Combat Focus)

Current Effects: Combat Focus (Fast Heal 4), Haste, Inspire Courage +3, Bull's Strength, Nightshield, Mass Conviction (100 minutes)

[Starbin]

Alyssa

Alyssa frowned as the alien creature slipped out of sight. With no small amout of frustration and apprehension, Alyssa edged forward until she could see the spell weaver and cast her spell. With a wave and a word, she called upon the power to pierce the weaver's naturally resistant being ... then she let fly a beam of pure sunlight from her hand, trying to burn the thing down.

Spoiler: Actions

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So, move forward cautiously, cast assay spell resistance, followed by searing light. Not sure that the lich spell weaver is vulnerable to light spells, so I'll go with the d6 version.
Ranged touch attack - (1d20+7)[8], damage - (10d6)[35], Caster check vs SR - (1d20+21)[39]. No save
EDIT: ... that ... just ... figures.

Spoiler: Status

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HPs: 84/84 (22 temp); AC: 18 (20 vs evil); F +8 / R +13 / W +14 (+2 vs evil)
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 2/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)
greater mage armor (10 hrs)
heart of earth (10 hrs)
prying eyes (10 hrs)
protection from evil (10 min)
Resist energy (fire), mass (110 min)
Haste (?) +1 att/+1AC/+1 Ref/+30 Move / extra attack
Inspire courage (TBD) +3 attack/damage, +3 saves vs Fear
Assay spell resistance (11 rounds)

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 11)

Show

0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (3+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (2+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 11)

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0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (3+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (2+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[DrK]

The spellweaver ducks and weaves dodging some attacks whilst some of the party wilt and drool. Nan still looking confused as she warbles and weeps. Even as the alien creature smirks Baevard and Pergirm assault it, blade drawing deep cracks on its alien flesh, the massive troll stepping forward and clawing at it leaving a great rent The pair of female magicians follow things up, spells arcing and zipping through the melee but missing Alyssa's great beam of searing light just misses.

The spellweaver draws back, rent and battered but powerful death magic emanating from its form as it prepares to snuff the life from the party with but a single word before with a pair of massive cracks the rune hammer of Baevard slams down. There is a smash and a splintering sound as the creatures strange alien skull is crushed into fine powder before the entire underground tomb begins to vibrate and shake, a long drawn out death scream as the Spell Weaver's once immortal soul is drawn down to the dark places of the planes where there is no hope...

All save the stout dwarves are thrown to the ground as the ground trembles and there is a mighty rumbling and crashing from high above that seems to reverberate for an age. The dust raining down from the ceiling blinding and cloying. As the shaking stops Amy at the back can see the lake of the worms is no more... the magic sustaining this place shattered with the death of the ancient lich, a great crater like basin 50ft deep now filled with the dessicated remains of millions of bones of tiny worms... and worryingly the bones of a second (and now dead) massive worm!

Another visions hits you all before you begin to move around. The centre of the room spinning and melting into darkness as the air fills with strange and frightening whispers of a hundred voices speaking a hundred languages. Slowly the coalesce together into a single voice speaking familiar words. The Prophecy is born again. The Age of Worms is coming upon the world, the signs are here... Your sense spins as you perceive the world like a quilt beneath you. Undead legions of soggy worm infested corpses stirring all over the world. A demonic tree bursts from the heart of a city you don't recognise, a comet falls from the sky in a great mushroom shaped cloud of devastation. Another city wreathed in black smoke is gripped by shadows with long claws. A cackling man in a cowled hood attaches a strange unholy hand to the stump of his arm, black power flowing from it as they join.A city in a caldera of a volcano is consumed partially by fire...

As these scenes flash by they are accompanied by a crushing sense of certainty, as if you are seeing what has already come to pass. Yet finally whispering voices speak once more to you accompanied by a wave of blackness "The tripartite spirit once again becomes one and with its aid the mighty are undone" and then "one the eve of the Age of the Worms a hero of the pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead". These two clearly still to be realised...

Spoiler: Victory!

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For the vision Knowledge (arcana)(history)(religion)(planes)(geography) can all help

In destroying the alien lich you have attracted the eyes of the Gods and gained their attention!
Each of you has some fate points. These are one use re-rolls of a d20. Once used they are gone for good.
Amyhas 2
Pergrim and Nan have 3
Alyssa, Jeb and Baevard have 6
(Equal to the number of visions you witnessed)

LEVEL UP!
Loot...
2 knights: 2 sets of Full plate +1, two heavy shields +1, 2 Unholy longsword +3
Spellweaver: Robe of resistance +5, Ring of force shield, Rod of Fury +2, Rod of Extend, Circlet of charisma +6


Artwork:
Jade statue of a dragon (1000gp), A huge black pearl (2000gp), Platinum and diamind necklace (3000gp), Tryptich of Kuluth Mar in its prime (6000gp)
Giant Spellbook of strange metal and runes that dance and move on the surface....
What now? Are people wanting to press onto the Part 7 of the Age of Worms?

[infomatic]

Pergrim leans on the sword over the crumpled foe, still trying to clear his head of both the visions and the lich's sorcery.

"The vision was longer that time," he mumbles. "I'd thought this creature was causing them, but it's dead."

[Mishkov]

Jeb grimaced and assumed a more pleasing form, a half-orc this time. As he looks upon the ruins he mutters, "This is most unsettling, perhaps a greater lingering evil lasts upon this land. Though perhaps that itself is the knowledge that the archmage's companion was seeking. We need to return, this is a grim omen though there is also cause for celebration in vanquishing this temple. I will rest a little easier knowing we have cleared this scourge from the lands."

[Chambers]

Baervard

"Don't worry, it's just a tremor!" Baervard shouts as the earth shakes. He knocks some alien bone of his warhammer and walks over to Nan. "Be at ease, lass." He says and places a hand on her shoulder, healing energies passing from him to tend to her wounds before spreading out to everyone else. "It'll pass." When her adled mind rests itself he turns walks towards the death knights and nudges their armor with a boot.

"Just like the others then. Foul looking, but I know a craftsman that can break them down and use that magic for better uses. The visions though..." He says and shakes his head. "We're still missing one Archmage's friend. Think there's any place we haven't checked here? I'm not keen to linger but I'd care less to leave him to whatever fate befell him."

Spoiler

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Baervard will burn Righteous Might for Cure Light Wounds, Mass. He'll also use a charge from his Wand of Lesser Vigor on Nan.

Nan heals 11 HP and everyone (including Nan) heals (1d8+11)[16] HP.

Status
HP 136/136, 0 Temp HP
DR 5/--
AC 32 (31 base, +1 from haste)
F/R/W 18/11/14 (15/8/11 base, +3 morale all from Mass Conviction)

Current Effects: Mass Conviction (100 minutes)

[Starbin]

Alyssa

Shoulders slumping with relief, Alyssa leaned against a wall as the spell weaver disappeared and the vision ended. She looked around the room, gazing at her companions, impressed again at their skill in the magical and martial. The spell weaver had been a mightly opponent ... and one that most likely still 'lived' somewhere, if it had completed the transformation to walk the path of the ever-unliving.

She turned to her companions, her mind back on busy. The temple had been shaken to the core by the monster's death, and a great spell had been broken, but that did nothing to answer the mystery of their original mission. With a whistle, she called forth the eyes she had kept at bay to avoid losing, then whispered to them, "Search the temple and the area within the ring. Return if you find anything alive or animated. Otherwise, return in thirty minutes." The flying eyeballs flew of in search of whatever might remain.

To the others, she asked, "Do any require or succor or healing? If not, we should sweep the remains of the temple to find Balakarde before we journey back and share what we have found with Manzorian and Agath."

Spoiler: Actions

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Nothing yet but looking for any remaining loot / beings / victims / information ...

Spoiler: Status

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HPs: 84/84 (22 temp); AC: 18 (20 vs evil); F +8 / R +13 / W +14 (+2 vs evil)
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 2/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)
greater mage armor (10 hrs)
heart of earth (10 hrs)
prying eyes (10 hrs)
protection from evil (10 min)
Resist energy (fire), mass (110 min)
Haste (?) +1 att/+1AC/+1 Ref/+30 Move / extra attack
Inspire courage (TBD) +3 attack/damage, +3 saves vs Fear
Assay spell resistance (11 rounds)

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 11)

Show

0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (3+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (2+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 11)

Show

0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (3+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (2+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[Tombs]

Amy is thrown to the ground in the quake, and stays there for a long moment as the vision ravages their minds and it all goes quiet. Finally she climbs wearily to her feet and leans against the wall to steady herself.

It seems that the gods agree that the destruction of that creature is long overdue.

At Alyssa's offer of healing, she'll step over.

If you wouldn't mind - I have several injuries which could use your attention. Thank you.

[Toliudar]

Like most of the others, Nan is thrown to the ground with the explosion. Her mind reels with the vision, at once seeming released and hemmed in by the dark vision. She glances up to Baervard with clear gratitude. She drifts back into her natural form, and the extent of her injuries become apparent. The dwarf's healing almost immediately begins to take effect, soothing the seared and frozen flesh. Her normally strident voice is barely above a whisper.

"You are kind beyond my deserving. Thank you."

She rises wearily, her mind still spinning from the vision.

"Tripartite? That's three, right? Three people that come together to stop the what-have-you? Maybe we need to figure out who they might be."

[Starbin]

Alyssa

As she waited for the eyes to return, Alyssa nodded to Amy and spoke a few words and touched her shoulder with a symbol of Raziel. A soothing glow suffused the woman and washed away some of her pain.

"Anyone else?"

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Burning wind wall to spontaneously cast cure serious wounds: Healing - (3d8+11)[30]

Spoiler: Status

Show

HPs: 84/84 (22 temp); AC: 18 (20 vs evil); F +8 / R +13 / W +14 (+2 vs evil)
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 2/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)
greater mage armor (10 hrs)
heart of earth (10 hrs)
prying eyes (10 hrs)
protection from evil (10 min)
Resist energy (fire), mass (110 min)
Haste (?) +1 att/+1AC/+1 Ref/+30 Move / extra attack
Inspire courage (TBD) +3 attack/damage, +3 saves vs Fear
Assay spell resistance (11 rounds)

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 11)

Show

0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (3+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (2+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 11)

Show

0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (3+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (2+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[DrK]

Climbing up and out of the Temple burdened with the weights of gold, the artworks and the magical treasure takes some time. THough its easier now that all the small Kyuss worms you can see are destroyed and melted away to dust. With the loss of the lake of Worms you can see that the crater marking the birth of Kyuss is deep, maybe 100ft or so at its deepest point.

Reaching the surface the upper levels have been devastated and when you step out into the plaza its like an earthquake has struck. The great stone spire atop the ziggurat lies shattered having fallen from its perch to fracture into a dozen pieces. Each side of the ziggurat is riven with heavy fractures. Even the great obsidian ring has cracked, an passage some 8ft wide now formed in the cracked ring. Although with the death or worms, the fall of the spire and the destruction of the ancient and evil undead Spell weaver there is little threat left here. The ruins now similar to one a of a dozen ancient ruins dotting the Ameido Jungle.

Spoiler: destination

Show

Are you resting for the night (to heal and level up) or using the greater teleport scroll that the Archmage gave you to return Magepoints straight away?

HERE ENDS CHAPTER 7 "THE SPIRE OF LONG SHADOWS"

[DrK]

The night passes peacefully as Amy summons another small cottage that comfortably accommodates everyone in relative comfort. An evening of considering the destruction of the spire and what they had achieved as the jungle chirps and squeaks around them. The morning dawns and in some way it seems brighter than you expected with the sun blazing down on the lush jungle that seems to have crept over the edges of the ruins overnight as it waiting for millennia to reclaim the ruins.

THe morning begins with a reading of the scroll that Manzorian had given you. A crackle of lightning and a swirl of light taking you back to the central square of Magepoint in a great flash of light. A sound of light violin music coming from the door of the All Seeing Eye... THe square pauses as everyone pauses to look at you all. One of the men in a tight fitting red jacket smiling...



"Welcome back! I am surprised you have returned so swiftly. If the Spire was too dangerous I understand."

[Mishkov]

Jeb, having taken the form of a treant that morning, stumbles towards the man, his bark creaking and leaves falling towards the side. He retorts in a low rumbly voice, "The only thing I don't understand is why none had dared clear that evil from the land before us. We must speak to the archmage quickly. Things may be more dire than we knew."

[Tombs]

Amy fades into the background, unsure if she'll be welcome at these discussions.

[infomatic]

"And how might you understand, anyway?" Pergrim can't help but rise to the bait a little. "Been there, have you? You don't have worms crawling out of your eyes, so I'll guess not. It was dangerous, and deadly, and we lost one of our comrades in prevailing, so I'll thank you to save your guff for someone else.

"Now, unless you can see us to the archmage, excuse us while we find someone useful."

[Starbin]

Alyssa

With a small smile, Alyssa stepped forward, placing a hand on Pergrim's shoulder and patting Jeb's trunk.

"He could not know what evils we endured, Pergrim ... and Jeb, not all are blessed by the light that shines within your heart.

Sir, we have brought cleansed that place of evil, although not without a frightful cost, as my companion has said. Please, do not dally ... we need to speak with the Archmange immediately." Smiling all the while, Alyssa waited patiently to meet with Manzorian and share their tale.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Diplomacy - (1d20+12)[29]

Spoiler: Status

Show

HPs: 62/62; AC: 12; F +8 / R +13 / W +14
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 3/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 12)

Show

0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (4+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (3+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 12)

Show

0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (4+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (3+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[DrK]

The man smiles, please come into the All Seeing Eye, Manzorian is waiting for you. Entering the pub the atmosphere is warm and relaxed with bards playing and the Lady Celeste weaving around ensuring all are happy. In the roped off area in one corner you can see the Manzorian just finishing a large breakfast but he stops and rises waving you forward. "Ah my brave companions. It has been some days and you are not the same brave group that set out but you truly are victorious group that have returned. I saw that the spire had shattered and feared the worst but hear you stand victorious. Please sit, enjoy my hospitality and Celeste's cooking and tell me of what you found in the Spire?"

[Starbin]

Alyssa

Bowing in respect to the archmage, Alyssa joined him as the others gathered round. "Yes, sir, you are correct - we who journeyed forth are changed ... in more ways than one. I must apologize first, however. We were unable to find your friend, Balakarde, nor any signs that he indeed made it into the temple itself. However, what we did find were the ancient generals and servants of the mad worm god, as well as his mentor down the dark path ... an undead spell weaver!"

Alyssa proceed to share with Manzorian all that they had seen and learned, recounting in great detail the various visions they witnessed, the evils they fought, and the final foe.

Spoiler: Visions - for any that wish to review what we learned

Show

Spoiler: 1st Vision

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As you close with 50ft of the solid ring the air shimmers and warps in front of you.. Like an oily stain spreading across water the image unfolds hundreds of feet high wide and tens of feet high wavering in the jungle sky.

Within the shimmering image you see man resting upon a great green stone throne. Wearing ornate plate armour a glowing black circlet rests upon his brow - both armour and circled adorned with silver symbols of a scythes and overlapping skulls.

Expanding further the image explodes outwards revealing the throne to be atop the ziggurat in the shadow of the strange pointed spire, the spire gleaming with white light and floating at its zenith a slowly rotating black stone trapezoid shaped monolith hanging in the sky. Around the ziggurat you can see the city in all its glory, streets paved in white and black mosaic stones, buildings painted with similar colours and designs to the figure upon the throne.

Thousands of figures are gathered in front of the ziggurat in the large plaza, part of where you now stand. They all face the figure upon the throne, arms raised, their cries a rhythmic chant that reverberates in your chests. As the cries rise in pitch washing like waves upon the monolith that seems to glitter ever more darkly the figure rises to wave an answering hand back to the throng but his words are lost as the vision fades away, vanishing like mist leaving only the now silent ruins and ominous black stone wall...
- Armor appears to be Flan in origin, the dominant people of long ago
- People are chanting Kyuss
- Words on the ring are old scholl Nerull
- Draconic runes read "Kyuss forever bound" over and over
- Ring looks like legendary construct, created when a host of elves and eladrin sacrificed their lives to create a magical boundary to trap a terrible evil.
- Ring blocks teleports and scrying, and will destroy undead that cross it.

Spoiler: 2nd Vision

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Upon defeat Nezzarin first knight of Kyuss

The strange stain in the air wavers and then grows solid. The peak of the spire above trembles and is restored to all of its unholy glory and affixed to the fork like tines is a fifteen foot tall, three foot thick trapezoid shaped pinnacle of black rocky, 5ft wide at the base it gradually broadens to 10ft at the peak. The monolith of stone shimmers and vibrates with waves of horrible energy and something strange, alien and horrible writhes and struggles within almost visible through the barely opaque stone.

Suddenly a brilliant red wall of scales fills the sky and there is a terrible crunching noise of stone shattering before the colossal Red Dragon is winging away to the North the spires shattered peak left behind and the strange black stone monolith clutched in its claws. As the dragon retreats into the clouds the vision fades...
- The shapes in the monolith are worms arranged in the shape of an enraged face
- The dragon Dragotha - an ancient red dragon of legend that is now a dracolich of near legendary powers though no-one know where it lairs or what it desires
- Nezzarin (Kyuss Knigt we defeate) was a General of Kyuss's legions, one of 4. Being close to Kyuss when he ascended turned him into a unique form of undead warleader standing ready to lead the undead legions of his new god king

Spoiler: 3rd Vision

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As the binder/mage steps across the threshold the flecks of dust left from the dead fly up in a spinning vortex that soon shimmers and wobbles in front of you all. The library seems to judder as you see it as it was centuries ago... A human man appears sitting at one of the desks now occupied by the worms. He is bold and dynamic looking with a great mane of black hair and sharp piercing eyes. A strange grey skinned humanoid with 6 long spindly arms stands at his shoulders obviously both are deep in thought. The man and creature study a collection of worn and pitted bronze discs. Faint etchings adorn the plates and seems as if alien figures and runes writhe and twitch at the behest of some sinister and alien will. The grey creature holds up three of the discs, a fourth hand point and obviously linking something together and a look of comprehension, ambition and something darker blooms in the man's eyes...

Spoiler: 4th Vision

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The ruins of the room and bodies and blood splatters fades away to be replaced by a torture chamber. Wailing victims - elves and winged eladrin - hang by barbed chains from the walls. In the foreground stand 2 figures. One is the handomse man you recognise from the first visions as Kyuss, dark haired with strong intense features dressed in flowing robes with a strange executioner's mace at his waist. Beside him is a strange tall thin creature, humanoid in form though insectile in character with 6 long arms. Its eyes are hollow sockets containing pin pricks of dark blue glowing evil and rotting flesh barely covers its long limbs and bones and festering wounds can be seen beneath its moth eaten robes. THe creature wields a long green crystal rod in one hand, a cruel hooked rod in another and with two more hands presents an ornate golden box to the young and mortal Kyuss. Opening the box the young Kyuss retrieves a pair of blood splattered tongs and extracts a writhing green worm from the box, as he views the worm the sullen expression turns into a smile of evil triumph that presages woe for all mortals for millennia to come. Holding the worm he turns to one of the captives, the worms biting fronts parts stretched out eagerly.... Before the first of the Kyuss spawn come to be the vision fades and the room returns to its current state. Bodies, flames and wreckage all that are left. The Temple eerily quiet around the exhausted and battered party.

- Kyuss is holding what must be the first kyuss worm (burrows into brain and rise as a spswn)
- The creature is an undead (probably loch) spell weaver (alien other planar spell casting monstrous humanoid). Generally aethiest and capable of arcane wonder.

Spoiler: 5th Vision

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Even as the last of the undead die the lake shimmers and the fountain in the chamber seems to flow across the floor of the chamber, green worms and water slowly swirling and forming a complex city map. Your view changes into a birds eye view of the city of Kuluth Mar at the height of its glory. The streets are empty as thousands of citizens gather in a great mass in the central plaza surrounding the spire where you are now standing. Suddenly a foul energy spills from the spire sweeping outwards in a great spiral of foulness felling the living like a great scythe cutting through wheat. With each mortal felled a sense of wrongness grows, a potent yet evil force growing and pulsing as each soul stolen is drawn into the Spire of Long Shadows and absorbed by the strange black monolith that lies balanced atop the spire's fork. As the energy builds around the peak a shimmering image of a colossal humanoid figure, its body composed of millions of writhing worms begins to take form atop the spire, its arms raised in a triumphant pose... The pose begins to change to one of rage and the beast unleashes a soul wrenching cry of fury. The massive humanoids shrinks slowly pulled into stone monolith at the Spire's peak imploding with a horrific wet burst of soft green worms. In an instant the city is quiet save for the bodies of the thousands of dead that begin to seep and decay into the plaza around the ziggurat. The thousands undulate and shift as the worms rain upon them, the now dead spawns of Kyuss rising in their thousands...

Spoiler: 6th & Last Vision

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The centre of the room spinning and melting into darkness as the air fills with strange and frightening whispers of a hundred voices speaking a hundred languages. Slowly the coalesce together into a single voice speaking familiar words. The Prophecy is born again. The Age of Worms is coming upon the world, the signs are here... Your sense spins as you perceive the world like a quilt beneath you. Undead legions of soggy worm infested corpses stirring all over the world. A demonic tree bursts from the heart of a city you don't recognise, a comet falls from the sky in a great mushroom shaped cloud of devastation. Another city wreathed in black smoke is gripped by shadows with long claws. A cackling man in a cowled hood attaches a strange unholy hand to the stump of his arm, black power flowing from it as they join.A city in a caldera of a volcano is consumed partially by fire...

As these scenes flash by they are accompanied by a crushing sense of certainty, as if you are seeing what has already come to pass. Yet finally whispering voices speak once more to you accompanied by a wave of blackness "The tripartite spirit once again becomes one and with its aid the mighty are undone" and then "one the eve of the Age of the Worms a hero of the pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead". These two clearly still to be realised...

- The dead rising are the Spawn of Kyuss rising
- The great tree is the physical manifestation of a demon lord named Malgarius
- The city in the volcano is the city of Cauldron that was partially destroyed 80 years ago
- The city shrouded in blackness is filled with Istivin, a place long haunted by haunted spirits

She would look to her companions for any details that seemed fuzzy, but once the tale was done, she sighed and leaned back. "What now, m'lord? I fear your comrade was correct ... that the signs point to a great cataclysm coming ... and perhaps our actions have set dark events in motion ..."

Spoiler: Status

Show

HPs: 62/62; AC: 12; F +8 / R +13 / W +14
Turn undead 6/6; Smite spell 3/3

Active effects
celestial brilliance (18 days)

Spoiler: Divine Spells (CL 12)

Show

0 (6): detect magic, detect magic, light, light, amanuensis, message
1 (7+1): protection from evil, protection from evil, shield of faith, shield of faith, divine favor, lesser vigor, lesser vigor, burning hands
2 (6+1): resist energy, resist energy, consecrate, lesser restoration, lesser restoration, remove paralysis, detect thoughts
3 (5+1): dispel magic, dispel magic, remove curse, mass resist energy, wind wall, searing light
4 (4+1): restoration, spell immunity, death ward, undead weapon bane, holy smite
5 (4+1): disrupting weapon, flame strike, wall of magma, true seeing
6 (3+1): heal, undeath to death, bolt of glory

Spoiler: Arcane Spells (CL 12)

Show

0 (4+1): caltrops, silent portal, silent portal, prestidigitation, acid splash
1 (6+1): lesser orb of fire, lesser orb of fire, true casting, true casting, shield, shield, mage armor
2 (6+1): alter self, scorching ray, scorching ray, seeking ray, seeking ray, levitate, web
3 (5+1): fireball, fireball, greater disrupt undead, greater disrupt undead, greater mage armor, stinking cloud
4 (4+1): resilient sphere, assay spell resistance, orb of fire, heart of earth, summon monster IV
5 (4+1): prying eyes, firebrand, empowered fireball, wall of stone
6 (3+1): empowered firebrand, lingering flames, acid fog

[DrK]

Manzorian leans back in his chair pulling forth a plain wooden pipe from his robes before with a flick of his finger it lights with a puff of purple flames. Puffing slowly, a trio of smoke squares flying up and above your heads as he waves across a round of drinks. "I am most concerned about these visions and these dark prophecies."

A hand rubbing lined eyebrows he sighs heavily. "Maybe this explains with information I was able to unearth continuing my research into that rogue Balakarde. I do not believe he ever went to the Spire. I know him, he would not have left such a creature in its state of undeath. Though I am impressed with your prowess in destroying such a threat and destroying the seat of Kyuss's power. He takes a sip. "Balakarde is ever troublesome and I believe he journeyed east towards Alhaster, seeking a powerful witch and noblewoman named Lashonna. I believe he suspected that he she knew much of the rise of the Worm God..."