Black Tom |
With joint efforts, you put the last undead to rest , earning 160 xp each.
Looking around the room, you notice that the floor and walls around the door are scorched.
Spellcraft 26:
There are a number of empty potion bottles lying around.
Perception 20:
Beyond the door there is a small octagonal room. A low stone altar, its sides carved like coiling snakes and its top carved to resemble a yawning viper’s maw, sits in the center of this room. The walls of the chamber are carved with images of anthropomorphic serpents using strange, pointed megaliths of stone to work great feats of magic - transforming an army of humans into zombies, calling down flaming bolts of lightning from the stars, or parting the waters of the sea to dash human ships upon the exposed rocks of the seabed below. This final image seems to have been recently cleaned of dust, and several lines of text have been made more legible via the application of inks and perhaps blood.
Knowledge (geography) 20:
Knowledge (history) 20:
Knowledge (nature) 25:
Numerous Aklo carvings remain on the walls, but only those near the carving of the receding tides are legible.
Hrakar Orcbane |
Perception check:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Hrakar checks the walls and the room for a time, drawing his conclusion:An heathen temple. Would that we could put it to the flame! It's good we were able to give peace to the captain's remains. I think we should burn his corpse anyway. The less is left of these abominable things. The better."
Ralf Pennywhistle |
Ralf goes into a trance as he looks around.
Using Focused Trance 3 times + take 10:
Know (geography) = 36
Know (history) = 35
Know (nature) = 35
"By gar, these are really ancient carvings indeed. They must date back to the time of Old Azlant. It looks like an ancient race of serpentfolk had an empire here on the Shiv -- that's where these scenes are taking place."
He also uses his Translate charm in order to read Aklo.
Black Tom |
Aklo:
Empower the Four Sentinel Runes with the Blood of a Thinking Creature Tempered by the Kiss of a Serpent’s Tongue.
Anoint the Tide Stone with Waters Brought from the Sea in a Vessel of Purest Metal.
Invoke the Lord’s Sacred Name to Wrap His Coils around the Sea Itself that He Might Lay Bare What Lies Below and Cast Down Your Enemies on the Waves above.
Smaller carvings near the legible inscription depict serpentfolk splashing blood on curved runes carved on upright stones before a red mountain, and then holding venomous snakes against the blood that they might lick the stones, pouring water onto a pyramid-shaped block of red stone from a bowl, and standing before the pyramid of stone with arms upraised and mouths agape as if shouting to the heavens as a bolt of lightning arcs up from the stones into the sky.
Knowledge (geography) 15:
Sam "Torch" McQuarry |
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Torch picks up a couple of the potion vials, then tosses them aside with an oath. "These were Ieana's," he growls. "I remember them from the Jenivere." He looks around at the carvings, then over at Ralf. "An 'ancient race of serpentfolk,' eh? Think that fits the definition of a 'serpentine demon who wore a Varisian's skin'?"
Aerys D Mavato |
"Then what was she doing here, other than discarding her lackey, the captain?" Aerys wonders aloud, her voice still growling with anger at the remembrance of the treacherous two who shipwrecked them here. "Do you think this ritual is significant?" she bends over and points at the depiction carved into the walls, then slowly moving her fingers over the runic writings, she reads slowly translating. She reads the words from the Aklo spoiler.
"Is this what she sought, a ritual? but where are these stones and the red mountain? and what is all this that lies below the sea?" The woman looks very puzzled, he head leans to her right as she sighs deeply, "I wish I knew the answer?" however after a few moments her eyes brighten and glint in the magical light of Geliks's button. "But if this wasn't what she came here for, she might still be down here? There might be more we can do to exact our revenge?"
Ralf Pennywhistle |
Ralf uses his last trance to figure out where the mountain is. (Know Geog = 35)
"Well, isn't that a fine kettle of fish. Looks like these snake fellas would do some kind o' crazy blood sacrifice at that reddish mountain on the southeast shore. All kinds of queer talk about smashing ships on the ocean floor."
Hrakar Orcbane |
"While it's surely interesting that the varisian strumpet possibly is a snakelike monster but I think we have better to finish checking these caves. She may still be lurking here after all. If she's not we'll make sure to do a through inspection of the mountain depicted in the mosaic"
Sam "Torch" McQuarry |
Torch nods, but as he leads the way to the next cave entrance (assuming there's nothing else to find in this chamber), he frowns in thought. "It is worth considering - how much is our vengeance worth? I'm certainly not inclined to let Ieana get away with everything she's done, up to and including destroying the mind and life of Captain Kovack, but at the same time, if we have the lighthouse here and we can repair it easily, are we willing to commit to risking our lives out at the mountain instead of just waiting for rescue?" He glances around at the rest of the group. "To be clear: I am willing to make that commitment. But are the rest of you?"
Hrakar Orcbane |
Hrakar thinks for a moment then answers:"We have a duty to the rest of our people. We finish searching down here, we go back and we bring them to the cannibal's camp. Then we go searching for Ieana. That's a pretty simple plan but it will do. She's not getting away if I can prevent it, but we need to give the others a way to escape this island nontheless"
Maestro Gelikugel Aberwhinge |
Gelik is not an educated gnome. He doesn't read the weird language, and he can't decipher the carvings. After listening to the speculation, he adds, What's a serpentfolk, and do I need to add a fear of them to my growing list of things that frighten me? If this were a classic adventure story, Iena would be deep in these caves - a serpentine ghoul-demon with a penchant for explaining her master plan before we end her curse of undeath with maximum violence. Unfortunately, nothing on this island is unfolding in a particularly storybook fashion. I should add that this "all snakes, all the time" motif is really starting to bum me out.
Gelik follows Torch, as is his wont.
Aerys D Mavato |
"I like you ideas Hrakar, and as for these serpentfolk well, they are just big snakes. Well that and they can obviously write and draw. Apart from that what have we to fear. We have got so far, we can go on further and escape this island, of that I'm sure." says Aerys optimism in her voice, confident of the way ahead. With a flick of her hair she points forward, "Lead on then Torch, if that's your way." She gathers herself together, sword and shield ready, a smile on her face, twinkles in the magical light.
Black Tom |
Continuing your explorations clockwise you enter another cave. Faint carvings are just visible on the eastern wall of this cavern.
Aklo:
There is nothing else of interest in the cave, except a passage leading onwards into another cave, which probably connects with one of the ledges in the pool room. Bones lie strewn about the floor of this cavern. The grisly remains appear to have been gnawed upon so that they are cracked and jagged.
A lacedon, busy trying to find some remnants of marrow in some bones, looks up as you enter.
Roll for initiative.
Aerys D Mavato |
Aerys steadily moves forward to strike at the undead before it can gain its footing. She slams her sword down hoping to make a devestaiting blow.
Longsword power attack 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 1 = 13
Longsword power damage 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9
Black Tom |
Hrakar and Aerys destroy the ghoul before it can react. 80 more xp for you.
There is nothing more than a bunch of gnawed bones in the cave. There is one passage to one of the ledges overlooking the pool in the round room and another exit sloping downwards.
Moving on, you enter another cave. A cavern ledge leads down to a small sandy beach in this large cave, the majority of which is taken up by a sloshing pool of seawater.
Unless you want to go swimming to explore the pool, there is only one other exit, a passage that slopes slightly upwards.
This passage also connects to one of the ledges in the pool room, but more importantly it leads to another cave, where three more ghouls await you.
Roll for initiative, and I'll get you a map.
Aerys D Mavato |
Aerys fights her way through the cave, hoping to aid Torch as he is overwhelmed. "See me you damn creatures of death, your time is up!" Squeezing past Torch and using her balance to good effect, she uses her shield and sword to pass the ghouls, fending them off as best she can, before striking at one with her full force.
Move to K,27, AC 21 vs AoO (Mobility)
Longsword power attack 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 1 = 10 attack ghoul at J,28
Longsword power damage 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
Anyone wanting to follow into the battle, Aerys may very well have taken all the AoOs, so you should be safe if both ghouls attack her on the way through.
Sam "Torch" McQuarry |
Torch grunts under the assault, and though he sways, the ghouls only force him back a step or so before he rallies. Torch is still at 11 hp - he's not in danger of dropping quite yet.
Hoping to find some room to maneuver, Torch tries to carve his way through one of the ghouls in front of him to an open space beyond. Full attack on the ghoul in J29. Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10, damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7; cestus attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11, damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4.
Ooof. Dice roller is loving us today...
Maestro Gelikugel Aberwhinge |
I shouldn't have looked at the map. Now I'm confused. First, it looks like there are four Geliks. Probably because he's just that cool. Anyway, I'm guessing I'm the one in J32. Are the black squares walls? I doubt I can get around, but I'm going to try to move into melee and stab something. Whenever he gets into the fight, the following happens:
Stabbing closest baddie 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
damage with super-spear1d6 ⇒ 2
Aerys D Mavato |
Aerys managed to fight off the effect of the bite and tries to plange her sword into the undead's side.
Fortitude 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Longsword power attack 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 1 = 14
Longsword power damage 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6
Sam "Torch" McQuarry |
Torch feels the wash of healing run over him; it helps to bolster him against the relentless assault of the undead. As soon as he sees a chance to retaliate, he takes it.
Scimitar attack (on J29 again): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10; cestus attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13, damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4.
Black Tom |
Sorry guys, you killed them all. Will have to hit you harder the next time. :P
Torch and Aerys cut down their opponents and then Hrakar finishes off the last ghoul. Panting, you hear footsteps approaching.
At the far end of the cave (actually I think only Hrakar is able to see her clearly) there appears another rotting woman in a torn dress, with long ears, bestial teeth and a long tongue that twitches nervously.
She's a ghoul too. I'll get the map up when I get home, but don't drop out of initiative just yet.
Maestro Gelikugel Aberwhinge |
Gelik can't see a thing, so he can't target any of his spells. He decides to stick close to Hrakar, the man giving out positive energy waves. He does so with his move action, delaying his standard action until he gets jumped by anything slimy with a long tongue - in which case he stabs:
spear 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage 1d6 ⇒ 6
Aerys D Mavato |
Suddenly plunged into darkness, Aerys panics shouting "Where's she gone? Let's get out of here until we can find a way to see!" her eyes strain through the darkness, seeing nothing. With her mind racing in fear, she stays put listening for sounds that might aid her but she can't make sense of what she hears, so she feels her way along the cave wall back out of the cave.
Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
Move 10ft towards the entrance if possible
Sam "Torch" McQuarry |
Torch adds his voice to Aerys': "Agreed! Fall back! Fall back!"
Also moving as far back toward the entrance as possible. My sword still has light on it as far as I know - it's a half hour duration - so I should be able to see as soon as I get beyond the darkness' area of effect.