Grommesson beasts out in an excruciatingly painful transformation.
Thrassk nods. "It isss bessst to be prepared. We were warned thisss place isss dangerousss." He mutters a spell of his own. The dragon man becomes surrounded by several mirror images.
Then he casts another spell, shielding himself.
"Let'sss head in now?"
Argor nods. ”As usual, melee combatants to the front, Cladissa and myself just behind.”
Thrassk nods and begins to make his way slowly towards the courtyard.
As the melee boys enter the open area a sibilant female voice seems to come from the air around the Freaks, snaking its way into their brains without actually making a sound. ::“Ssssso many visitors! Sssso many people with weaponsss and murder on their minds. For yearssss and yearsss no one would visit Condria’sss garden. Ssssso many years. Ssssso lonely. But now you come in numberssss! With your spellsss and your ssswords of ssteel. It issss good that you have come, for now you shall never leave!”::
To the right side of the path, is a small ruined building. Age has conspired against this brittle structure, which must once have been a small chapel. The ceiling collapsed long ago, and huge gashes in the walls suggest that the rest of the place might topple to the ground any minute now. A bulky stone statue at the center of the building is difficult to make out from the causeway, but appears to be a giant serpent of some sort.
To the left side of the path is another ruin. So damaged are the walls of this roofless structure that the building’s original purpose is impossible to determine. Amid the rubble within stand five statues of primitive human men, Mwangi warriors by the looks of them. Each wears a simple grass skirt and bone fetish necklaces, and each also bears a considerable length of chain.
Initiative:
Snake thing 23
Mwangi Warriors 15.2
Party 14.8
The snake like statue in the ruined chapel begins to move. It whispers, "Forgive me, Kyalla. I wasn’t fast enough!" Then it speaks the words of a spell and disappears from sight.
On the other side of the path, the statues of the mwangi warriors also animate. Now that they are flesh it’s possible to see their elaborate full-body paint, including brazen white animal skulls painted upon their faces.
One of the warriors rushes out at Thrassk, screaming and whirling his chain. The warrior slams his chain into Thrassk's legs.
The chain destroys one of Thrassk's mirror images. The other warriors also rush forward, ganging up on Thrassk and Gianluca.
Once Thrassk is flanked, another warrior tries to strike him.
The chain bounces off Thrassk's scales again.
Seeing a large number of foes that could potentially be arrayed against them, Argor elects to conjure up some reinforcements of his own. After some words of magic, a portal opens up 10' in the air and five lantern archons fly through and assail the nearest foe, the one flanking Thrassk.
__________
"Beast cultists," Cladissa spits disdainfully. Her enchanted eyesight tracks the invisible stone snake unerringly. She throws a pinch of mica into the air, and an corresponding burst of glitter coats the invisible creature and possibly blinds it.
"There, keep that thing harassed so it doesn't cast any further spells," she advises.
[Dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+17
"Beast cultists," Cladissa spits disdainfully. Her enchanted eyesight tracks the invisible stone snake unerringly. She throws a pinch of mica into the air, and an corresponding burst of glitter coats the invisible creature and possibly blinds it.
"There, keep that thing harassed so it doesn't cast any further spells," she advises.
Cladissa targets one of the cultists towards the back that likely will not get immediately torn to shreds by Grom, Gianluca or Thrassk, and lays a retributive curse on him.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and attacks the nearest red warrior.
The divine passion of Arshea fills Gianluca and he spins with ferocious speed, swinging at every foe within 15'.
"Step aside or perish. The evil in your souls makes you tight and twisted. You cannot stand before one who can open to the Spirit of Abandon.
"Remember my friends, let your passion guide you. If these fiends attack, move with the grace of true desire."
____________
The snake like statue in the ruined chapel begins to move. It whispers, "Forgive me, Kyalla. I wasn’t fast enough!" Then it speaks the words of a spell and disappears from sight.
On the other side of the path, the statues of the mwangi warriors also animate. Now that they are flesh it’s possible to see their elaborate full-body paint, including brazen white animal skulls painted upon their faces. One of the warriors rushes out at Thrassk, screaming and whirling his chain. The warrior slams his chain into Thrassk's legs. The chain destroys one of Thrassk's mirror images. The other warriors also rush forward, ganging up on Thrassk and Gianluca. Once Thrassk is flanked, another warrior tries to strike him. The chain bounces off Thrassk's scales again.
Seeing a large number of foes that could potentially be arrayed against them, Argor elects to conjure up some reinforcements of his own. After some words of magic, a portal opens up in the air and five lantern archons fly through and assail the nearest foe, the one flanking Thrassk.
A barrage of laser-like beams of light slam into one of the Bekyars flanking Thrassk. His skin burns badly, but he remains in fighting shape.
Cladissa targets one of the cultists towards the back that likely will not get immediately torn to shreds by Grom, Gianluca or Thrassk, and lays a retributive curse on him.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and attacks the nearest painted warrior. His meaty hack and brutal backswing slice the warrior's head clean off his neck.
The divine passion of Arshea fills Gianluca and he spins with ferocious speed, swinging at every foe within reach. "Step aside or perish. The evil in your souls makes you tight and twisted. You cannot stand before one who can open to the Spirit of Abandon. Remember my friends, let your passion guide you. If these fiends attack, move with the grace of true desire." Gianluca's whirling blade slices across each of the remaining warriors, wounding them grievously.
Thrassk tears into the wounded warriors between him and Gianluca.
He bites one, and tears open another with his claws.
================================
More spellcasting comes from somewhere further into the ruins, out of sight.
A bestial roar of tremendous volume rips through the air from further into the ruins. A huge ape, easily dwarfing Gianluca and Grommesson, charges on to the path. It looks like a horned gorilla with fur the color of dried blood. The beast lopes down the path with startling speed, rapidly closing with the ongoing combat.
The warriors shift positions, guarding each other's backs as they continue to fight. All four of them focus their attacks on Thrassk.
Under assault from all four warriors, the one cursed by Cladissa manages land a hit on Thrassk. The warrior grunts in pain as his own weapon rebounds on him, wounding him as he wounded Thrassk.
Cladissa moves a few steps forward, staying in the protective area behind the melee combatants. Seeing the giant gorilla arriving, she eyes it with her other major hex, trying to freeze it in place.
The Archons all hover away and around the ape, unleashing their barrage on it.
__________
Seeing a massive new threat, Argor reaches out with his magic and attempts to contain it.
The ape easily shake's off Cladissa's hex. It growls under the stinging assault of the archons' light beams. Argor tries to grasp it, but fails to grip the mighty creature.
Out of control, the beast who is Grommesson roars and attacks the nearest warriors.
The beast's falchion hacks two huge gashes into the nearest warrior. The mwangi is left barely standing.
Thrassk steps back and breathes fire all over the mwangi warriors.
The badly wounded cultist goes down in a column of greasy smoke, while the other three are badly burned.
Gianluca swings twice at the injured cultists before him, attempting to drop them.
__________
More spellcasting comes from somewhere further into the ruins, out of sight.
A bestial roar of tremendous volume rips through the air from further into the ruins. A huge ape, easily dwarfing Gianluca and Grommesson, charges on to the path. It looks like a horned gorilla with fur the color of dried blood. The beast lopes down the path with startling speed, rapidly closing with the ongoing combat.
The warriors shift positions, guarding each other's backs as they continue to fight. All four of them focus their attacks on Thrassk. Under assault from all four warriors, Thrassk's defense is overwhelmed. The Bekyar cursed by Cladissa manages land a hit on Thrassk. The warrior grunts in pain as his own weapon rebounds on him, wounding him as he wounded Thrassk.
Cladissa moves a few steps forward, staying in the protective area behind the melee combatants. Seeing the giant gorilla arriving, she eyes it with her other major hex, trying to freeze it in place.
The Archons all hover away and around the ape, unleashing their barrage on it. Seeing a massive new threat in the ape, Argor reaches out with his magic and attempts to contain it.
The ape easily shakes off Cladissa's hex. It growls under the stinging assault of the archons' light beams. Argor tries to grasp it, but fails to grip the mighty creature.
Out of control, the beast who is Grommesson roars and attacks the nearest warriors. The beast's falchion hacks two huge gashes into the nearest warrior. The mwangi is left barely standing.
Thrassk steps back and breathes fire all over the mwangi warriors. The badly wounded cultist goes down in a column of greasy smoke, while the other three are badly burned.
Gianluca swings twice at the injured cultists before him, attempting to drop them. He drops one with his first slice, and a wave of beneficial magic spreads over the Pathfinders. The second cut cleaves a bloody gash in wounded warrior, but does not kill him.
================================
Argor and Cladissa see a large snake creature with a human-like face slither out behind the ape. She casts a spell and a five magic missiles fly out to strike Gianluca.
The giant ape steps forward in an apparent rage claws at Thrassk, trying to bite him as well.
Thrassk fends off one of the ape's clawed paws, and forces the creature's slavering jaws back. The ape manages to get a grip on the dragon man's throat, inflicting massive damage and nearly achieving a hold on Thrassk.
The remaining mwangi warriors step toward Thrassk and attempt to capitalize on the ape's attack.
The hexed warrior strikes home again, wounding himself further in the process. Thrassk is enduring, but appears to be bleeding badly.
Thrassk roars in pain as he tears into the warrior blocking his path to the ape.
He literally rips the man into shreds, before stepping forward through the pile of gore.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and slashes the nearest warrior.
Argor continues to reach out with his mind and magic, attempting to restrain the ape, all the while his conjured Archons continue to blast away at it.
__________
Cladissa shakes her head at the ease of which the ape was able to throw off her ice hex. She then winces as Thrassk is mauled by the beast, but a tight smile grows when she sees the invisible snake slide in behind. She throws a pinch of mica into the air with a quick chant. The air around the snake woman and the ape bursts into glittery particles that settle into their eyes and outlines their forms.
The naga is blinded by the spell, but the red demonic ape thing shrugs it off effortlessly. Argor's grapple is likewise impotent against the giant beast.
"Hold your blade, Gianluca! It may just be reacting per orders against unwanted intruders! Noble Naga, we do not come here with malicious intent. We seek to put an end to the misdeeds of other miscreants who have trespassed into this sanctuary. If you continue to assail us, we will be forced to defend ourselves further, but if you wish to speak peaceably with us, then call off your minions!"
Gianluca steps up a bit, and uses his Argent Knight's Banner on the demonic ape creature.
With a blazing slash of his huge sword, he smites the beast a vicious wound. All the Pathfinders feel some relief as a burst of healing spreads out from Gianluca to wash over them.
"Hold your blade, Gianluca! It may just be reacting per orders against unwanted intruders! Noble Naga, we do not come here with malicious intent. We seek to put an end to the misdeeds of other miscreants who have trespassed into this sanctuary. If you continue to assail us, we will be forced to defend ourselves further, but if you wish to speak peaceably with us, then call off your minions!"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+24
"Sor....sorry. Not...in...contr....AHgh!" Tears of sadness continue to pour down the naga's face as she prepares to strike again.
Argor and Cladissa see a large snake creature with a human-like face slither out behind the ape. She casts a spell and a five magic missiles fly out to strike Gianluca.
The giant ape steps forward in an apparent rage claws at Thrassk, trying to bite him as well. Thrassk fends off one of the ape's clawed paws, and forces the creature's slavering jaws back. The ape manages to get a grip on the dragon man's throat, inflicting massive damage and nearly achieving a hold on Thrassk.
The remaining mwangi warriors step toward Thrassk and attempt to capitalize on the ape's attack. The hexed warrior strikes home again, wounding himself further in the process. Thrassk is enduring, but appears to be bleeding badly.
Thrassk roars in pain as he tears into the warrior blocking his path to the ape. He literally rips the man into shreds, before stepping forward through the pile of gore.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and slashes the nearest warrior. He cuts down the remaining mwangi with little trouble.
Argor continues to reach out with his mind and magic, attempting to restrain the ape, all the while his conjured Archons continue to blast away at it.
Cladissa shakes her head at the ease of which the ape was able to throw off her ice hex. She then winces as Thrassk is mauled by the beast, but a tight smile grows when she sees the invisible snake slide in behind. She throws a pinch of mica into the air with a quick chant. The air around the snake woman and the ape bursts into glittery particles that settle into their eyes and outlines their forms.
Argor recognizes the snake woman as a guardian naga. "Hold your blade, Gianluca! It may just be reacting per orders against unwanted intruders! Noble Naga, we do not come here with malicious intent. We seek to put an end to the misdeeds of other miscreants who have trespassed into this sanctuary. If you continue to assail us, we will be forced to defend ourselves further, but if you wish to speak peaceably with us, then call off your minions!"
"Sor....sorry. Not...in...contr....AHgh!" Tears of sadness continue to pour down the naga's face as she prepares to strike again.
Gianluca steps up a bit, and uses his Argent Knight's Banner on the demonic ape creature. With a blazing slash of his huge sword, he smites the beast a vicious wound. All the Pathfinders feel some relief as a burst of healing spreads out from Gianluca to wash over them.
===============================
The naga casts a spell on herself.
The glitter disappears from her body, and she is invisible to most of the group once again. She the slithers behind cover of one of the nearby walls.
The ape roars in fury at Gianluca.
The ape grabs G, biting and clawing him furiously. Though he struggles against it, Gianluca can not escape it's clutches.
Amid all the chaos, Cladissa suddenly smells a new creature's scent near her. It's coming from near Gianluca but she can't see anything.
Thrassk steps forward to the ape. "Let him go!" he roars before attacking the oversized gorilla.
Argor again focuses his magic on the elephant sized ape ahead of them, attempting to restrain it at last while the archons continue to batter it with beams of holy radiance.
__________
The beast who is Grommesson steps up and slashes at the ape. The beast remembers which direct the snake slithers .
Argor again focuses his magic on the elephant sized ape ahead of them, attempting to restrain it at last while the archons continue to batter it with beams of holy radiance.
__________
[dice=Grapple]1d20+19
** spoiler omitted **
Grommesson's slashes open wide cuts in the ape's thick hide.
Cladissa steps forward a few paces and targets the ape with a powerful spell.
Fail
Pass
The ape stiffens for a moment, then its eyes glow red and palpable waves of rage throb off of it before it throws off the enchantment. Its beady pig eyes focus on Cladissa with deadly intent. It lets off a roar that shakes the hedges and leaves everyone's ears ringing.
The naga casts a spell on herself. The glitter disappears from her body, and she is invisible to most of the group once again. She the slithers behind cover of one of the nearby walls.
The ape roars in fury at Gianluca. It grabs him, biting and clawing the honeyed hand furiously. Though he struggles against it, Gianluca can not escape it's clutches.
Amid all the chaos, Cladissa suddenly smells a new creature's scent near her. It's coming from near Gianluca but she can't see anything.
Thrassk steps forward to the ape. "Let him go!" he roars before attacking the oversized gorilla. He tears into the giant, flinging arcs of gore with each blow. The attack is so ferocious that the ape appears to be temporarily taken aback.
Argor again focuses his magic on the elephant sized ape ahead of them, attempting to restrain it so Gianluca can escape, while the archons continue to batter it with beams of holy radiance. The archons continue to give the ape multiple small burns, slowly wearing it down.
The beast who is Grommesson steps up and slashes at the ape. The beast remembers which direct the snake slithers off in. Grommesson's slashes open wide cuts in the ape's thick hide.
Cladissa steps forward a few paces and targets the ape with a powerful spell. The ape stiffens for a moment, then its eyes glow red and palpable waves of rage throb off of it before it throws off the enchantment. Its beady pig eyes focus on Cladissa with deadly intent. It lets off a roar that shakes the hedges and leaves everyone's ears ringing.
Gianluca tries to slither out of the thing's grip so that he can bring his sword to bear again.
Despite his best efforts, he cannot break the hold the ape has on him.
================================
The naga pops back into sight around the corner of the ruins ahead.
She spits a stream of black poison at the Golden Hand.
The poison misses him, as the ape jerks him around. It splashes harmlessly on to the stone.
The ape flings Gianluca over his shoulder, as is if the huge golden man weighed no more than a rag doll.
X10 = 40'
Gianluca soars through the air to smash into one of the ruined walls behind the ape, before falling prone. Then the ape ignores Thrassk and Grommesson to charge past them, straight at Cladissa.
Both men manage to get in an attack on the creature, injuring it further as it passes.
Another invisible humanoid figure appears from the ruins behind the ape, where it had been hiding in the shadows. At first glance it appears to be a woman with wild hair and a longbow in hand. She darts past the ape before releasing an arrow in mid run at...
Cladissa.
and
The arrow sizzles with lightning as it sinks into the witch's flesh. After firing the woman becomes visible. She runs a bit further, before pivoting near Argor. Now it is clear this is no woman at all, but some kind of monster. Her face has serpentine features, and her hair is nothing but a mass of wiggling serpents.
Argor turns towards the new threat, and immediately recognizing her anatomy, keeps his eyes focused low near her body on the floor. He then attempts to bind her in his magic as the Archons continue to blast the ape.
__________
”A Medusa!” Argor calls out. ”Do not look her in the face! Keep your gaze averted!”
Thrassk hisses as the ape ignores him. "No! You won't hurt her!" He leaps on to the ape's back like a pouncing cat, leading with his talons.
Both claws tear through the thing's hide to expose the vertebrae of its neck. Thrassk bites down on the ape's spine and rips a mouthful of bone and nerves out with sickening crunch. He rides the ape's body to the ground, leaping gracefully off as the monstrosity collapses, dead.
Cladissa hisses when the arrow removes some of the artificial vitality bolstering her. Then, horrifically, the gigantic ape focuses its ire on her and charges up to her. Thankfully, though, the stalwart warriors at her side successfully bring the beast down before it can do her harm.
Argor's warning about the medusa behind her is just in time to prevent her from spinning around and facing it. Her mind works, deciding to try to deal with the naga instead, that maybe she can help it.
She clambers over the corpse of the giant ape and targets the naga with her Ice Tomb hex, hoping to put it out of the fight for the moment.
"Don't resist this! It will prevent you from further attacking us, and we can free you!" she pleads before throwing the hex.
"Not...my...choice..." the naga replies as she fights off the hex. "Kill her!" she suggests, staring at the medusa.