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Hello everyone and welcome back. Today we're opening up with another rest because the buffs ran out again and I want to be ready for the boss fight ahead. This also lets me showcase what is perhaps my least favorite mechanic in Wrath of the Righteous.
Let must just zoom in here. Do you see it yet?
For some reason, the game has it set that you can only rest once in a 24 hour period. So the last time we did this, mid last update, we got to rest for 9 hours. Because of this inexplicable limitation, we now have to camp out for twenty four hours to get the same amount of rest that 9 gave us not 15 minutes ago.
Why are we resting twice in 15 minutes? Because spell slots are a bullshit system that I hate. I will not be accepting questions at this time. And, no, toggling off "use recommended rest period" also does not work. The engine itself, for some reason, will not let you rest twice in 24 hours.
Time Passed: 1H 0M
"I stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine. If we do that, we'll get along just fine. Agreed?"
"Keep away from me. We don't have to touch hands - that's for weaklings. If you have a problem with me, grab your sword and try to get rid of me. I can tell you want to, so come on!"
Time Passed: 23H 0M
Moving on, we head through the door and down some stairs.
This demon does not take praising Iomedae well.
Savamelekh: "Here you are... huddled together like a herd of animals... pitiful monsters, not human or demon. Even tieflings are less defective than you! But I, your master Savamelekh, can make you better, stronger. I can satisfy your hunger, starvelings of the dark... Submit to me!"
Mongrel: "No! We are the descendants of crusaders! Trusting a demon would be a betrayal of their memory!"
Savamelekh: "Hosilla."
Hosilla puts down the Mongrel who denied Savamelekh.
Hosilla: "Well? Who is the next 'descendant of crusaders' who values old legends more than their life?"
Savamelekh: "Beasts... monsters in human guise... reveal your true nature! This is the sweet, wholesome flesh of a righteous aasimar! Eat, 'underground crusaders'! Eat the flesh of the crusader from above! Find your true strength!"
The mongrels are greedily cannibalizing the Aasimar. If you are, somehow, not aware - Aasimar are the descendants of celestial beings, usually angels or devas, who mate with a mortal woman. So Savamelekh is corrupting the mongrels' souls by having them eat basically sanctified flesh. All those mindless mongrels we fought as encounters in this very dungeon had the same thing happen to them.
As they eat, an infernal glow overtakes their bodies.
The first time this happened, I thought I had skipped something. But no, as soon as that ends, you're standing in front of Savamelekh for no reason.
Your companions writhe in agony: one clutches at their head, another doubles over. You feel saliva pool in your mouth. The metallic tang awakens hunger in you. The hunger turns to rage. This winged filth dares to try to bind you to its will? It dares to tempt you with the sweet scent of meat, untainted by corruption! The wretch must die! Die! And still the clarity remains with you. Somewhere deep down, beneath the veil of rage and anger, you sense the light trying to break through.
There is no mechanical benefit to selecting Demon here. In fact, it makes things a little harder in a couple places later on. Lisbeth is also not a ragelord. So...
[Requires Angel Mythic Path] [Seize the light hidden within you]
By sheer force of will, you master your rage, and, almost in response, warmth suffuses you from within. Warmth and joy from a simple realization: you can win. You can save these people. The power of Heaven bolsters and guides you. Its light breaks free and, enveloping the mongrels, grants them the gift of blissful oblivion. Lowering your gaze, you see a scarlet stain on your chest — the wound has reopened, and instead of blood pouring forth, you see only radiant light!
Bolt of Justice posted:
Level: 6
School: Conjuration
Spell Effect: You release a powerful stroke of energy that deals 1d6 points of holy damage per caster level. The target needs to make a successful Reflex saving throw, or become prone.
If the target is evil, the spell instead deals 1d8 points of holy damage per caster level. The target needs to make a successful Reflex saving throw, or become prone and suffer a -2 penalty to AC, attack rolls and saving throws.
If the target is an evil outsider or an undead creature, the spell instead deals 1d10 points of holy damage per caster level. The target needs to make a successful Reflex saving throw, or become prone and suffer a -4 penalty to AC, attack rolls and saving throws.
If the target is a demon lord, an evil dragon or a lord of undead (a powerful undead creature like liches, undead dragons, nightshades and similar), the spell instead deals 1d12 points of holy damage per caster level. The target suffers a -4 penalty to AC, attack rolls and saving throws. It also needs to make a successful Reflex saving throw, or become prone.
Lisbeth just used a level 6 Mythic ability from the Angel tree. Normally you don't get access to level 6 Mythic abilities like this until the middle of Act 4. Using the demon option would have just had her direct her rage at Savamelekh and he would get spooked and run off.
Savamelekh: The demon convulses in pain when the light reaches him. "What are you? Destroy this vermin!"
In a single blow, she knocked out the poor afflicted mongrels, stunned Savamelekh, and scared him enough to send him packing.
Just as a reminder, you all did not vote for the angel path where we could do this sort of shit on the regular.
Hosilla: Hosilla points at you. "She's already wounded! Wenduag — kill!"
Oh no. I'm totally surprised by this. Who would have expected the woman who was acting shady was really in league with demons? Anyway.
Wenduag takes a step forward. "I no longer serve you, you bitch! Not you, or your flying monkey! I always fight with the strongest side."
Lann emerges from the shadows, nocking an arrow in his bow as he moves. "What'd I miss? A dramatic showdown?"
"Oh it's you. Perfect."
I'll give you a guess how this goes. Hosilla is not nearly as hard as the Champions we fought before, let alone the water elemental.
Legitimately less than 10 seconds later
Hosilla is hidden behind Seelah's gigantic shield.
Wendy shoots Hosilla unceremoniously after the latter summons... two Quasits. Sure, okay.
Quasits aren't exactly a difficult encounter. Less than a second of focused fire kills them.
Before we move on, this is something that makes me laugh. Zenic would have worshipped Urgathoa, goddess of the undead among other things. You see, the game likes to occasionally make calls regarding your chosen god and...
The Path Not Taken posted:
Some lines from Urgathoa's sacred text float into your mind, as if of their own volition. You can make a great marinade for aasimar flesh using honey and pomegranate juice... To make the meat even more tender, roll it in breadcrumbs before frying...
I can't promise to show off every alternate dialogue with god choice, because this text dump localization file is extremely long. But this jumped out to me while I was scrolling through. Anyway, this next dialogue is gonna take up the majority of the update. Wendy and Lann both have a lot to say to each other.
"Keep telling yourself that, Lann. There is always a choice. They could have chosen to die, but now they're going to live and become stronger! I know that from personal experience."
Lann turns to her, his face twisted in fury — the lizard half is snarling, the eye narrowed. "Shut up!" The words come out like a growl. "You're not just a traitor! You're a monster! The young ones, they believed your stories, and you lured them to a demon and watched them eat human flesh!"
"I was trying to make them strong! What have you done for them? What were you doing while I was looking for ways to bring strength to our tribe? You're useless, Lann!"
"I led by example! I trained. I tried to become stronger so I could go to the surface and maybe do something worthwhile with my stupidly short life! And I will do it, if Lisbeth will have me. I might be the one to bring our whole tribe to the surface! But you... Why would you want any power that turns you into a monster? These young guys and girls, they trusted you, and they were turned into mindless animals, ready to eat corpses at a demon's command!"
"I went through the same ritual as them, and I didn't become an animal. I conquered my anger, the anger that has been building and building in every one of us for decades! Unlike you, I have no intention of just lying down and politely accepting death! I will rise above all this, while you'll still be stuck with your pride, chewing on rats!"
This is going to be an incredibly involved conversation. And this is entirely why I split this update away from the previous one.
[Inspect the wound on your chest]
The bleeding, deep wound on your chest is gone, like it was never there in the first place. The skin is totally smooth and unmarred.
Sighing loudly, Lann whispers: "It's gone... It was just there, and now... it's gone. It's got to be some kind of demonic trickery. You need to have a cleric look at that."
"Ha! As if you know anything about demons and their powers! Some dark force cast its gaze on her and chose her from among all others. There is magic inside this uplander that is beyond your meagre understanding, and all you have to say is, 'Go see a cleric'? You're pathetic, Lann!"
I really hope every time she checks the wound, she isn't baring her chest. Nobody needs to see half-elf boobs that often.
"Lann, how did you find your way here?"
Lann offers a vague shrug. "I just kept going until I found it. You can find a way into anywhere if you try hard enough. And besides, I also remembered some of this traitor's stories. At least some of them were true. But that doesn't matter now! We need to tell Sull everything! And then we need to get out of here."
"'We'? You think you're the one going to the surface with them? Isn't that sweet?"
Seriously, this is a large temple. It's about as straightforward as you can possibly get. If it weren't for the rubble in the middle of the chapel, you'd be able to get through it in about a minute.
"So you've been serving Savamelekh this whole time, Wenduag?"
"Better to serve a strong master than to eke out an existence in a dark hole with no hope. I am of the neathers, our lives are short, but we are hardier than humans. I realized a long time ago that I was capable of more than this life offered, and I follow whomever is the strongest. You..." Wenduag's eyes gleam. "You scared Savamelekh. Hosilla has fallen. Now I wish to serve you."
Lann looks at Wenduag in disgust. "I thought you were proud of your heritage, but you're willing to crawl on your belly before anyone who's even a little stronger than you. You say you didn't become an animal? What a joke! Only animals pledge their allegiance to whoever has the sharpest teeth! But what am I saying? Even cave spiders are loyal to their mother. You're even lower than that."
Wenduag laughs. "Oh, so now you think you know everything about me! You're one of the best hunters in the tribe, it benefited me to ingratiate myself with you, so I acted in a way that pleased you. And Lisbeth will get the Wenduag that she} wants to see. I'm willing to do anything to get out of this hole!" Wenduag's laughter cuts off sharply. "And you're willing to do anything too, don't try to hide it. I know you, Lann. I've had time to study you."
"I'm going to the surface only because my time has come to leave. Lisbeth and the other uplanders are in danger, they need all the help they can get. But I'm only risking my own life, see the difference? I'll do whatever the crusade asks of me, but I'll never be like you!"
"Why didn't you try to stop us from going inside the Maze? You knew we might uncover your secret."
"Savamelekh is always in need of new servants. You'd make as good a servant as anyone else. And then..." Wenduag bursts into laughter. "Once you'd gone missing in the Maze, not even the redoubtable Lann would've dared look for you."
"But then why did you come with me to look for the sword?"
"So I could kill you quietly if you found it, and stop you taking it to the village, you idiot! I would have told everyone that you got caught in a cave-in. But then the uplanders showed up and I had to change my plans. I don't regret what I did. I met you, Lisbeth. Just say the word and all the neathers will be yours. I'll bring them to you if you take me with you!"
It's a wonder anyone chose Wendy for their first time because she's so blatantly evil here, that not even evil characters would realistically want to take her on. She's just demonstrated she betrays people at the drop of a hat.
"What exactly are you planning to do with the mongrels?"
"What you saw here. They will become stronger. They will be an army unlike anything ever seen before on Golarion! Our lives may be short, but while we live, we are faster, deadlier, and harder to kill than most. I am offering you an army, an army that will win you land, power, and everything you desire."
"An army of cannibals? Are you insane? You want to turn them from rational beings into rabid beasts that only want to kill! They will be slaves, and you will be their slave driver. Is that the kind of power you're so desperate to gain?"
"I went through the same process they did. The beast raged inside me. My mind was foggy. But I have an iron will, and I never back down. I snatched victory from the jaws of insanity! If there are any individuals worthy of becoming my officers among those neathers, they will be able to do the same."
"You said you went through the same ritual. Does that mean you ate human flesh too?"
"Yes." Wenduag holds your gaze. "Hosilla found me in the caves. I was lost and hungry, and she offered me a choice: die as a nobody, or live and gain the power to change everything. Savamelekh tore off a piece of an aasimar priestess's thigh. A big, juicy piece, more meat than I'd ever received in the tribe." Wenduag laughs. "That was the first time I knew what it was like to be happy, to have a full belly. I swore to myself that it would always be that way."
"Then the madness and rage took over. I came very close to turning into an animal, no better than the weaklings you saw in the Maze. But I am strong. I mastered myself. I brought myself under control. I fell, so that I could rise again!"
Lann looks at her in disgust. "You should have chosen death. Dying's better than living like... that."
"You're saying I should have died that day, Lann? But then who would have listened to your feeble jokes? Who would have showed you the best caves for hunting?" A predatory gleam appears in Wenduag's eyes. "Who would have made you a man?"
"I would have been fine without all that. And without you. Your death will make the world a slightly better place, Wenduag."
"Look, Lisbeth, isn't our Lann sweet?" Wenduag's words drip with venom. "Look how his eyes blaze as he speaks of murder! And we were so close, too... Tell me, what do you think he'll do to you if you fail to live up to his precious ideals?"
I don't want to say the cannibal spider-cat girl has a point, but Lann was quick to turn on Wendy the second she stopped being who he thought she was.
"What did your service to Hosilla entail?"
"It was simple. I lured those I deemed worthy into the Maze. To the rest I told stories of the horrors of the Maze, making them stay away. It all hung in the balance when the cave walls shuddered, and many of the young ones decided that the time of their great exodus had come. I had no doubt that Hosilla would dispatch a dozen young neathers easily — but what would become of the Maze if all the tribes poured in?"
"So, when Lann ran off looking for the angel's sword, I went after him — not to help him, but to make sure that the sword never reached Neathholm. It's a pity that you got involved and stopped me from killing him... but then again, the evening gong has not yet been struck."
"You sicken me."
"I've heard enough."
"Then you know which one of us you need. Take me with you and I will give you an army of neathers."
"Don't fall for her empty words. Wenduag despises everyone but herself. As soon as you show any weakness, she'll betray you just like she betrayed us."
A lot of those questions above were under the broad heading of "questions for Wenduag." Thankfully that's the majority of the discussion. Now we can start winding down.
"Why do you want to come with me, Lann?"
Lann rubs his forehead, right in the spot where the skin and scales meet, and catches his breath. "Up there on the surface, the crusades are still going on, right? Since I'm a mongrel, that means I've got crusader blood in my veins. You could say it's my destiny, even... Anyway, I'm ready to do my duty. And, all of you crusaders get rations, right? With vegetables? I'll be killing demons and be well fed for doing it — that's not life, that's a dream come true."
"I'm sorry you trusted Wenduag instead of me, and that you didn't show the Light of Heaven to Sull. But she can be very persuasive — she honed her skills on all of us in the tribe! I'm asking you — believe me when I say that I won't let you down. I have nothing to lose down here apart from my chief's distrust and my friendship with the giant roaches. I'll do whatever the crusade needs."
"The angel deemed you worthy of his power, not just his sword, to light the path in the darkness, so I can trust you too. Seems fair to me."
"Are you really that desperate to go to the surface, Lann? Why didn't you run away before? You know why: the uplanders will never accept us. Don't pretend you're going for food rations. Then, why? For death? For glory? If it's death you seek, you're sure to find it."
Lann calmly stares Wenduag down, his fists clenching. "Maybe I'll be able to find something on the surface that you can't get down here: a way to help the mongrels. A way to stop our tribes from having to follow scum like you."
"Why do you want to help me, Wenduag?"
"You think I'm just a freak from the catacombs... but neathers are faster, stronger, and tougher than you uplanders. Take me with you and I'll build you an army of neathers! I'll lure them out of this hole, we'll round them all up — every last tribe — and perform the ritual. And then..."
Her cat-like gaze is locked on yours, her pupils blown wide. "You will be a power to be reckoned with on the surface! Many of the neathers will be no better than the mindless beasts we encountered in the dungeons. But there will also be those who can overcome the fog and be like me. I will lead them into battle and you will command us all!"
"You trusted me from the beginning and hid the angel's light from that idiot Sull. Keep listening to me and a glorious future awaits us! Just don't become too reliant on Heaven's light." Wenduag smirks. "Remember what happened to the angel who wielded it before you.
Despite how this appears, Wendy is not the patently evil option that she appears to be. She will not betray us because as powerful as demons can be, we are smart and fight with cunning. Savamelekh is a very high level demon and we sent him packing with a fraction of our potential power.
Likewise, Lann is not the straightforward good choice he also appears to be. Both are extremely powerful combatants, and both are willing to offer advice if you ask. Wendy's advice is very pragmatic, while Lann's is more in keeping with his Lawful Neutral nature.
Also it's extremely easy to get stuck in a romance with Lann because you were nice to him. If we choose to romance Wendy, then it'll be something we explicitly start and express interest in.
"Alright, I've made my decision."
"I hope we're not taking this girl with us. She'll sell us to the first demon she sees."
"If we're befriending monsters in order to fight the demons, why not join forces with the strongest of them? Isn't that the rational choice? They're both equally hideous — neither of them will improve the aesthetics of our little band."
"Come with me, Wenduag."
Lann shakes his head. "You're making a mistake. If some priest ever winds up down here, I'll ask him to pray for your soul. But I doubt it'll help you."
Wenduag's eyes gleam with triumph. "Who cares what you think? The mistress has made her choice." She turns to you. "Lann knows too much. He must die."
"You're right. I know everything. And I also know where I'm not wanted. So I think I'll just go and have a chat with Sull."
"Leave while I'm still in a good mood, Lann."
"If this is you in a good mood, then maybe I'm lucky we're parting ways now."
Even if we attacked him, he would dodge it. Nor is Lisbeth the sort of person who would do that.
Lann runs off.
"He got away. Don't worry, Lann, I'll get you!" Wenduag turns to you. "Wait here, mistress, I will bring Sull and the other uplanders. We'll make sure everyone knows that Lann failed to save anyone and fled like a coward."
Chief Sull: Chief Sull appears flanked by mongrels. The journey has taken its toll on him — his breath is labored and the sweat is dripping from his bloated face. "What... what'sish?"
Anevia gives a low whistle. "Well, I'll be damned... Turns out old Hulrun isn't as crazy as we all thought... There really were demons down here! I should've listened and sent a patrol down here, damn it..."
From the top...
"You said you were in charge of reconnaissance for the Eagle Watch, Anevia. How could you miss a nest of demons beneath Kenabres?"
Anevia sighs. "Yeah right, like it wasn't enough that I sniffed after every damn shadow in the city. Everybody knows the stories about the demons living beneath the streets of Kenabres — those tales are as old as the crusades themselves! I messed up, but you fixed my mistake, so... thanks."
"How's your leg?"
Anevia winces slightly but forces a smile. "Better than yesterday. Worse than the day before. I'm not gonna die, don't worry!"
"The maze was full of dangers, but we dealt with them."
Wenduag crosses her arms. "I sensed that the Maze was an evil place. And so it was. There was a demon sitting right in the center of it, with spells to dull our minds — we barely managed to overpower him."
"When we reached the cultists' lair, that's when we saw Lann. He ran like the coward he is, abandoning the young ones to be mauled by the demon."
Chief Sull: Sull looks at the unconscious mongrels laid out on the ground. "Yesh... Lann ish too hashty. Will we survive if we listen to people like him? No. Lann ish not one of ush. He doesh not undershtand our path. You undershtand Wenduag. You saved ush."
"Always thought you were a decent sort. Respect."
"You need to look after the young mongrels."
"They're out for the count, but when they wake up, Chief, you'll see that these experiments have made them stronger. They survived. They're warriors now."
Chief Sull: "As long as they can hunt. The resht can wait. Uplander, and you, Wenduag, you saved them. That'sh what mattersh. We will help them from here. But if they want to go up to the shurface... I don't know if I there'sh anything I can do to shtop them."
"It's time to get out of here."
"I'm going with the uplanders, Chief. The Maze holds no more secrets now. I have to go further."
Chief Sull: Sull heaves a sigh. "Hmph... You alwaysh had to go further than everybody elshe. But what can I do? Go on then, but make shure to come back to ush somehow. But where are you going? Where'sh the way out?"
"I think I've worked it out." Wenduag searches Hosilla's body and shows you some papers and a key. "If there's a key, there's a door. If there's a letter, then it was intended for someone."
Anevia's eyes quickly skim over the letter and she passes it to you. "Those cheeky sons of...! This is all the information on the cultists in the city — their meeting places, passwords, their secret hideouts. I think we should show this to whoever's in charge of Kenabres right now. As soon as we get back to the surface, we'll find out what's what!"
Items received: Cultist's Dispatch
We'll meet Minagho next time.
And just like that, we're through the first dungeon of the game! 
Just dozens more to go.
Right. Let's move on.
End of Prologue
Encyclopedia Golarionnica
Cultist's Dispatch