Howdy Folks --
Okay, here's a brief review, for those who didn't take notes, regarding what your new 'ally' Magoun remembers seeing the last time he was here -- and he doesn't expect the major playerss to have changed much. (For Gorvak and Isaku's reference, Magoun is evidently a half-human/half-fiend monk, who was encountered riding Ravool, an abyssal dire tiger, a feline terror about 30' long and weighing about 3 tons...who has his own reasons for being here. As there were two fine Kn(Spirits) checks made with respect to Magoun, Orion and Jon may feel free to review the 'half-fiend' template in the back of the Monster Manual if they wish -- assume that Magoun is ~10th level. And you can also review the Dire Tiger, and the Fiendish template, with respect to Ravool...)
The hebi-no-onna herself, Magoun refers to her as 'the witch', probably has just base abilities only -- might have one extra level of sorcerer, but no evidence of 8th level spells...so she is effectively either 14th or 15th level.
Her slaves -- as discussed, a 'slave' will be either a creature with class levels, in which case the creatures base CR + class levels will total to a number 2-5 lower than the hebi-no-onna's level -- or else the slave slot will consist of some small number of lesser creatures such that the EL (encounter level) of that group reaches a similar level, for instance if a CR 6 creature, two would be EL 8, 3 would be EL 9, 4 would be EL 10, 6 would be EL 11, 8-9 would be EL 12... Anyways, his estimates (which he is fairly confident in) are that the witch has the following in her 'slave slots':
1) ~3 dark nagas -- more sorcerers, of much less power (CR 8 IIRC, 2 = EL 10, 3 = EL 11) -- her 'apprentices' so to speak.
2-3) ~2 hannya -- probably shaman levels -- the witch's 'healers' and 'spiritual advisors', also known to be adept at handling serpents.
4) Her "commander of the guard" -- a wang-liang -- the most skilled of her slaves in terms of combat, perhaps samurai or sohei levels, or maybe fighter levels, or some combo.
5-8) 4 rokuro-kubi -- all fighters, they are quadruplets, all with similar skills and feats, all use katanas -- one of these is evidently Magoun's lost love, enslaved some number of years ago. Magoun's overriding interest (obsession) is in liberating his lost lover and her sisters, and taking them back to the jungles of the south, outside the borders of the Empire. The four sisters are the witch's 'elite guard'...they take orders from the wang-liang, though they resent it due to their essentially chaotic natures. Magoun thinks they would quickly turn on their 'mistress' if given the chance -- though they might simply bolt for freedom instead -- and he thinks his presence might be able to influence their behaviour. (He admits they are devious, cunning, and untrustworthy -- but what can you do?)
9) 4 tsunos (CR 6 IIRC, 2 = EL 8, 4 = EL 10), also primarily useful as guards -- the tsuno take orders from the wang-liang as well, and although more powerful physically than the rokuro-kubi, are less talented in terms of feats and skills. They probably would take orders from the wang-liang even if not enslaved, however.
10-11) 2 yuan-ti halfbloods -- probably ranger levels.
There might be other slaves -- and it is possible that one or more of the hebi-no-onna's slaves have died since Magoun's last visit -- but that is what he remembers from a quick look around previously.
Note that Magoun expects nothing for any efforts he makes on your behalf -- the ONLY thing he is truly concerned abbout is the liberation of his lover and her sisters -- but he is willing to cooperate in any plan which seems to have a reasonably high chance of success. He is fairly confident in your party's capabilities, though he is also fairly respectful of the witch's powers as well, and those of her minions. He has some magical powers of his own due to his fiendish parent, but he feels most of those powers would not be exceptionally helpful against these opponents -- with the possible exception of his ability to touch for a Poison or Contagion effect. (He can, for instance, prepare such a touch spell effect, then move amongst the enemy, letting his first use of his combo Trip/Defensive Throw/Great Throw also release the touch effect.)
Magoun will do his best to recall the layout of 'the pit', which was about 15-20' below the surface of the ground if he remembers correctly, from what he saw of it. He appears to have a pretty good memory for a fairly short glance...
As solitary individuals, the hebi-no-onna and the wang-liang might be fine targets for scrying, as would the rokuro-kubi, as Magoun provides their names if asked. (They all sound alike, probably draconic in origin, which many of these snake-creatures speak.)
Oh, one other thing -- the area under the 'force walls dome' seemed to be a bit warmer than the surrounding area, sort of a greenhouse effect, and in the pit it was actually warm and moist even in the winter -- as serpent-folk of various sorts, the hebi-no-onna and the bulk of her slaves prefer warmth to cold, and may have settled in this location for that reason, whether the warmth is magical or natural, it is nonetheless comfortable for these creatures. The wang-liang and tsuno, of course, would be perfectly comfortable out in the snow, but the rest probably wouldn't pursue much into the winter weather... The jungles would be much more to their liking, but perhaps the hebi-no-onna does indeed have some reason to be far from the southern jungle herself.
That is all for now... -- Ernie III / DrakaraGM