"No time like the present. Shall we approach now? Sorry that I'm going to be a little slow due to the damned thorns in my feet and legs." Helaku hobbles up toward the structure.
"I agree. Let's look over the place in the light of day. No telling what undead might be bolstered by the darkness."
Reflex:
Reflex:
Reflex:
Reflex:
"Onwards, then. Who knows what we'll be walking into. Everyone, be wary." Ambrose saddles up and loosens his blade in the scabbard. He offers a hand to Helaku. "I'm sure Smoke could handle both of us for the ride to the lion."
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The Ghostlord's Demesne
The Thornwaste is a real pest. It seems like everywhere you go jagged shrubs shroud the landscape. By the end of the four days that it takes to cross the wasteland, most of you have been hobbled at one point or another by the thorns and briars. Leonar seems to have no trouble with the terrain, and Smoke and Ambrose are fortunately encased in armor which helps to ward off the thorns. Helaku seems to have more trouble, Cayenne pulls up lame, and Shaylar and his companions have similar troubles.
Bizarrely, as you approach you can make out dozens of translucent lionlike shapes flying and capering about the massive lion's head and body. The shapes sometimes even pass through its stony surface to emerge in a different spot.
A flash of lightning tears across the eastern sky as the stone lion stares into the approaching storm. A good time to get under cover! You approach warily, experience telling you to be prepared for some type of ambush. However, you don't see anything stalking you outside, and your eyes find it difficult to pierce the impenetrable gloom outside.
You bring the horses under the stone head of the lion; that should at least provide some shelter from the elements, flanked by massive stone paws. A worn stone path leads between the great paws to a low stone ramp, which climbs up to an impressive archway in the lion's chest. Two basalt statues of skeletal lions facing each other on either side of that arch, as if passing judgment upon those who travel between them.
It's not until you take your first steps up the stairs leading into the structure that you sense the first signs of danger. A rumble of thunder is echoed by a throaty rumble from within. Suddenly a massive reptilian shape bursts from the darkness. At first glance it could be a dragon, with wings, horns, and glistening purple scales. Yet its serpentine body is borne by six pairs of strong legs and it fairly seems to crackle with energy and dark malevolence. It stalks down the steps and spits a bolt of lightning at Leonar! The rest of you scatter and draw your weapons.
This huge monster, easily identified by its six pairs of powerful legs, is a behir. It's conjectured that they are distantly related to blue dragons, especially since both employ a powerful lightning blast breath weapon. However, this specimen seems different from the norm. Perhaps it is tainted with fiendish blood? In any case, it will be immune to electrical attacks and in addition to its breath weapon relies on its terrible bite and powerful grappling.
This huge monster, whatever it might be, has been fiendish blood running through its veins. It seems to be a powerful type of outsider, called to this plane, perhaps even born here. Like other devils, it has resistance to most types of energy attacks and mundane attacks, and likely has spell resistance too. Expect it to have magical attacks as well.
Initiative
27 - Helaku
25 - Shaylar
22 - Leonar
20 - Aleste
20 - Varanthian
11 - Ambrose
========
Aleste Reflex
AR
AR
AR
Shaylar Reflex
SR
SR
SR
Aleste Perception
Ambrose Perception
Helaku Percept
Leonar Percept
Shaylar Percept
Fang Percept
Dapples Percept
Cayenne
Fang Reflex
FR
FR
FR
Dapples
DR
DR
DR
electricity damage
Ambrose init
Helaku init
Leonar init
Shaylar init
Aleste init
Reflex
Leonar casts Produce Flame and tosses a blast of fire at the monster.
RTA
Damage
Helaku shares the information about the behir and his suspicions that it may be something more though he doesn't have the understanding to be more specific. He casts haste while he waits to see if anyone else can tell more about the monster.
The Ghostlord's Demesne
Surprised by the sudden appearance of the reptilian monster, I am too late to shout a warning to the others and watch in helpless anger as a bolt of lightning strikes Leonar. In retaliation, my hands move quickly as my bow sings its deadly song and arrows hurtle towards the beast.
With the effects from Helaku's spell speeding up my movements, I draw another arrow and send it towards the monster.
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The Ghostlord's Demesne - Round 1
Helaku dodges, anticipating another blast from the behir. He casts a spell to hasten his allies - taking this beast down as fast as possible seems to be the best defense.
Speeded up, Shaylar retaliates for the lightning attack on Leonar by snapping off several arrows in quick succession. His bow sings a deadly song as two arrows sink deep. It makes for a big target so the elf's third arrow hits as well, but it bounces off the monster's scaled hide. Fang growls at the enemy but holds his ground.
Leonar, rattled by the jolt of electricity, summons a ball of fire and hurls it at the beast. His aim is true, but just as the flame is about to hit flesh, it dissipates into thin air!
Aleste rushes up to one of the skeletal lion statues and takes cover, sparing the briefest of glances at it to make sure it's not going to come to life and attack him. He draws one of his vials and hurls it at the enemy. On contact it bursts and engulfs the monster in flame. It's been wounded and seems enraged, but you somehow sense the attack hasn't done as much damage as it should have.
The behir thunders down the stone steps and lays into Ambrose. The Lion of Brindol puts up a brave defense but one massive claw reaches out and rakes across him, slashing armor and flesh alike. And another claw! Finally, it bends its head and snatches the cavalier in its jaws!
At the sight of the monster, the horses bolt into the coming storm, apart from Smoke. The warhorse rears up in challenge, ready for a fight.
Initiative
27 - Helaku
25 - Shaylar
22 - Leonar
20 - Aleste
20 - Varanthian
11 - Ambrose
========
Leonar CL check
Aleste
damage
V bite
damage
V claw
damage
V claw
damage
V grapple
Drawing on all of my skills and years of training, my hands move in a blur and a hail of arrows flies towards the monster
4 charges gets me to full on the dot.
As the creature closes in, Ambrose raises his shield, studying its movements.
He was not prepared for what the beast had to offer. He cannot contain the yell of pain as its claws rend his armor and split his flesh. For all of his wounds in combat, these rakes were among the worse he has experienced. Just as he is centering himself from those blows, the jaws snap around him and he can feel their incisiveness punch into his flesh as well. He feels himself lifted off of the ground in a blur, trying to regain his composure. He twists his arm around to get his blade in the best striking position he can and lays into the beast three times with the sword, spurred by Helaku's magic.
Bastard Sword: (haste, grappled)
Damage: plus cold
Bastard Sword:
Damage: plus cold
Bastard Sword (haste):
Damage: plus cold
Attack 1 Confirmation:
Extra Damage:
Attack 3 Confirmation:
Extra Damage:
HP: 42/79
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The Ghostlord's Demesne - Round 1 continued
Ambrose struggles against the vice-like grip of the creature's jaws. The weight of the teeth grinding against his armor is intense, but he jabs forward with the long blade of his bastard sword again and again. Striking at the neck and throat, he scores two good hits. The monster doesn't seem inclined to let him go just yet. More alarming, it seems to just shrug off the cold magic of Ambrose's frost blade.
Initiative
27 - Helaku
25 - Shaylar
22 - Leonar
20 - Aleste
20 - Varanthian
11 - Ambrose
Leonar throws another gout of fire at the beast.
RTA into Melee
Damage
Much more cautious after his death in the last battle, Helaku casts greater invisibility and moves to separate himself from the others so that catching him in an area of effect will be difficult.
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The Lion's Walk - Round 2
Helaku is reminded by recent events of his mortality. He summons magical power and turns himself invisible. He shuffles towards one of the lion edifice's massive stone paws, where he guesses there is less risk of being squashed by the huge monster. He finds himself standing near Fang, and the wolf's ears angle towards him, vaguely aware of the sorcerer's presence.
Shaylar's hands are a blur as he sends a blinding hail of arrows at the foe. All hit, but all apart from one bounces off its incredibly tough hide. That arrow seems to have made an impression, and the thing's tail lashes violently as it scratches at it with one of its many legs.
Leonar hurls another ball of fire at the monster. It arcs up and then down, landing just at its feet.
Aleste uses his hastened abilities to drink an extract. He then lobs a bomb at the side of the creature. It explodes to great effect, bringing a satisfied smile to the alchemist's face.
The monster presses its attack against Ambrose, its jaws closing with inexorable pressure. Then with a quick scoop, it gulps down the cavalier into its iron guts!
Initiative
27 - Helaku
25 - Shaylar
22 - Leonar
20 - Aleste
20 - Varanthian
11 - Ambrose
=========
Aleste RTA
damage
Varan
damage
Protected from view by the greater invisibility Helaku casts another spell and a feeling of ennui descends over the fierce creature.
Suddenly, Ambrose finds himself a meal. He twists and writhes and turns within the beast, completely overcome by the sheer experience of it. Not in the right mind to think, all he can do is lash out wildly with his limbs, perhaps to find an escape, but mostly in a dim attempt to deal as much damage to the creature from within before succumbing.
CMB:
HP: 24/79
Leonar casts Flame Strike on the beast.
Damage
DC 19 Reflex for half.
"Dear Lady Ehlonna, please grant Ambrose the strength to break out of that monstrosity and guide my arrows to slay it before he succumbs!"
With a quick prayer to my goddess, I unleash another hail of arrows at the behir
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Lion's Walk - Round 2 continued
Crushed within the suffocating confines of the monster's stomach, Ambrose tries to find a way out of this latest predicament. If only he had a short blade to hand to cut his way out! He tries to haul himself back up the creature's throat instead, but the going is too slippery to find purchase. From the outside, the creature looks a bit ill from indigestion at eating a fully-armored meal.
Round 3
Helaku is still shrouded in invisibility. He casts another spell and grins as he can see the magic affecting the monster despite its spell resistance. Its neck arcs and its head hangs low as a brooding torpor hangs over it.
Shaylar continues firing a hail of arrows at the monster. Many bounce off its hardened scales, but two bite especially deep into its vitals. At the same time, Leonar unsleashes a flame strike that also bursts through its weakened arcane defences to burn its side. The creature collapses with a heavy crash that covers you all in a cloud of dust and stone chips. The corpse lolls on its side, revealing a bulge in its chest where Ambrose must be.
As the beast finally falls, I toss my bow back onto my back and rush forward, drawing my sword as I move closer. As soon as I am close to the bulge in the corpse's chest, I start hacking furiously right next to it in order to help Ambrose escape from a grisly death.
Leonar stands back and watches Shaylar chop away at the remnants of the beast.
Helaku looks on with concern, "I hope Ambrose is not the next of our band to fall. Do you feel him moving around in there Shaylar?"
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Shaylar steps to where the corpse of the monster has tumbled down the steps in a heap. He draws his enchanted longsword and with a practiced eye slices into a vulnerable area beneath the large scales protecting its chest. He cuts slowly and deliberately to avoid bringing any more harm to Ambrose. Eventually, he creates a sizeable tear that penetrates to the creature's gullet, and there you find Ambrose Harrowfield.
The cavalier's absolutely coated in stinking bile and what may even be the monster's last meal, but he's alive. Shaylar extends a hand and helps him to climb out. As you work, spectral lion shapes whiz overhead, disappearing into the stone edifice.
The steps lead up into a large chamber with rough-hewn walls and a domed ceiling rising fifteen feet overhead. To the north is heaped a large amount of crushed nettles and briars, arranged in some sort of nest, while to the south lies a massive mound of bones. The area smells strangely musty and acrid.
Helaku casts fly before heading up the stairs. He keep a little behind the others, but watches and istens as we move forward.
Leonar starts using his CLW wand to heal himself.
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
Ambrose emerges from the beast gasping and flailing, struggling but eventually finding his footing. He coughs and sputters, wiping ichor and blood from his face. After regaining his composure he lets out a long sigh, palm massaging his temple as he stands askew. "That...was the worse experience of my life."
He shakes his head, trying to get the stink of the creature's innards out of his nose, off of his hair, but realizes that it is a futile attempt and gathers up his sword. "Good work killing this beast," he acknowledges. "Thank you, Shaylar, for cutting me out of there."
"Good shaman, might I get some healing from that wand of yours?"
After preparations are complete, Ambrose readies himself to take the lead into the lair.
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
HP: 57/79
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With caution Leonar and Ambrose make their way up the steps and into the monster's lair. It stinks. There's a messy carcass in one corner, probably it's last meal. The two take time to effect some healing magic.
Helaku is nowhere to be seen. He floats up the stairs and steps lightly onto the landing. The sorcerer looks around the chamber for any clues, but nothing springs to mind.
Shaylar follows the lion shaman and Lion of Brindol, sword drawn. He takes a guarded stance, eyes sharp for any trouble. Fang hovers on the steps, clearly reluctant to go any further. The wolf growls every time one of the strange leonine apparitions appears.
=======
Shaylar Perception
Leonar moves to the front of the party and starts looking for anything out of sorts.
Perception
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Leonar moves to the front of the group, looking around for anything out of sorts. Nothing stands out, but then at the last moment his eyes alight on a large bracelet, a simple string of seven night-black pearls. It rests at the edge of the monster's bedding. The pearls look extremely valuable, but the item has an unholy air about it.
As the druid bends closer to examine it, he notices something else. A faint breath of wind seems to be blowing the dust along the floor. He traces the movement to a bare wall at the back of the chamber. There must be a passage behind! He gropes about, and finds a hidden latch. With a sigh, a large panel along the wall slides open. Behind it yawns a long, ten-foot wide hallway that seems to slowly curl upwards as it disappears into the darkness.
Helaku speaks to Leonar as he bends, "If you wish me to look at it, I can. But perhaps we should explore the passage first." Helaku looks and listens as the passage is revealed.
Even though being inside a structure may make the bow a less ideal weapon, I switch out my sword for my bow again, as it is still my weapon of choice. Laying a hand on Fang's neck I whisper soft, reassuring sounds at the wolf, trying to ease his frayed nerves.
Ambrose pats Smoke on the side of the neck. "I'm sorry my friend, but it looks like you will need to wait here for us." The knight doesn't find this lair to be a particularly safe or pleasant place to leave the steed, but it seems to be the only location.
Readying his blade, Ambrose strides up to the passage Leonar found. He hoists his shield and peers up into the darkness. "Shall we?"
"Ug, you can just feel the evil coming from those black pearls. I'm not even sure I want to touch them, to tell you the truth. Maybe we can leave them until we explore the passageway."
Leonar scans for any traps or anything str age as he looks in.
Perception
"Very well. Let's leave them and continue."
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The Lion's Path
You move on. Summoning light you move into the twisting tunnel, Ambrose taking the lead with blade ready and Leonar following close behind, alert for any traps or mischief. Shaylar coves them with his bow with Aleste and Helaku brings up the rear, invisible and treading as silently as possible. Fang follows, but the wolf seems to find this structure strange and unnatural.
You only penetrate a few paces into the tunnel when the spectral form of a lion emerges at a pounce from one of the tunnel walls and charges towards you! You can make out few details apart from its outline, it seems bathed in a cold blue light and somewhat insubstantial, much like the leonine forms that you had seen prowling around the outside of the edifice. This one though seems wholly focused on you.
Initiative
24 - Helaku
12 - Shaylar & Fang
10 - ghost brute lion
9 - Leonar
5 - Aleste
3 - Ambrose
========
Shaylar Perception
Ambrose Perception
lion stealth
Ambrose init
Helaku init
Leonar init
Shaylar init
lion init
Aleste init
Helaku pulls out his wand of magic missiles and fires one off at the ghostly lion.
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Lion's Path - Round 1
This lion bounding at you looks like a type of incorporeal spirit known as a ghost brute. Perhaps not as powerful as the ghost of an intelligent being, but still dangerous. Since it has no terrestrial form, it is difficult to hit properly without the aid of magic.
Drifting as far off the ground as the tunnel's ceiling would allow (not much), Helaku has good line of sight of the spectral lion. He pulls out his wand of magic missiles and sends one at the enemy. The bolt of force hits the lion square in the chest. You think it may have wounded the ghost creature in some way.
Despite the cramped quarters, Shaylar takes aim with his favoured weapon. He snaps off two quick arrows as the lion rushes towards you; both hit, somehow absorbed by the ghostly figure.
The lion bounds up and takes a swipe at Ambrose. Fortunately the cavalier has time to twist out of the way. The lion's paw misses him and disappears into the side of the tunnel.
Initiative
24 - Helaku
12 - Shaylar & Fang
10 - ghost brute lion
9 - Leonar
5 - Aleste
3 - Ambrose
========
Shaylar ranged
damage
Shaylar ranged
damage
lion
damage
Leonar delays to just before the lion's next action, wanting to see what luck the group had in taking it down.
"Ghosts?! is all Ambrose has time to say before the spectral lion is upon him. Fortunately, sheer surprise allows his reflexes to takeover and he steps away from the phantom paw. In response, he does all that he knows to do - slashes as it with his blade.
Bastard Sword:
Damage: plus cold
"Well, it looks like I can hurt it, if not as much as I would like to. Guess I'll just have to step up the number of arrows and kill it a little, bit by bit, just like a colony of fire ants."
With that thought I unleash a rain of arrows upon the ghostly lion.
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Round 1 continued
Leonar holds back, staring at the spectral lion that seems half engulfed by the stone wall. Aleste holds back as well, owing to the confines of the tunnel.
Despite being attacked by the ghost, Ambrose doesn't shrink back from it. Instead he lunges forward with his sword. The magical blade does seem to connect with the ethereal entity after a fashion, slicing off a wispy portion of its outline. It doesn't seem to react to the blow in the same way as mortals, but you reckon it's done some damage at least.
Round 2
Initiative
24 - Helaku
12 - Shaylar & Fang
10 - ghost brute lion
9 - Leonar
5 - Aleste
3 - Ambrose
Helaku flies in a short circle, well back from the lion and uses the wand to send another shimmering ball of force toward it.
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Round 2
Helaku pulls out his wand and sends a shimmering missile at the lion. It seems to connect with the ghostly lion, eliciting an enraged roar.
Shaylar fires a quick arrow at the spectre. It's form wavers a bit as the arrow passes through it and clatters off the far wall, you're not sure if it really felt that attack. [/ooc] 2 points damage. [/ooc]
Initiative
24 - Helaku
12 - Shaylar & Fang
10 - ghost brute lion
9 - Leonar
5 - Aleste
3 - Ambrose
========
Shaylar ranged
damage
lion
damage
Ambrose steels himself and slashes at the ghost lion again, noticing that his last blow at least did something to the strange foe.
Bastard Sword:
Damage: plus cold
[i]"In Ehlonna's name! I need something to damage that monster something seriously. Now it's turning into a war of attrition![/i/]
Despite my inner monologue, I keep up the rain of arrows, figuring that enough little bits of damage will hurt the spectral lion in the end.
Stuck for real options to damage the beast, Leonar calls a Flaming Sphere into existence to try that.
Damage
DC 17 Reflex for no damage.
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Round 2 continued
This seems a strange spirit creature, straddling both the material and spirit worlds. It takes another swipe at Ambrose. A chill touches his heart at the ghost's attack, but it doesn't seem to have caused any damage. The ghost brute seems to be pointedly refraining from attacking Leonar.
Leonar however has no such qualms and summons a flaming sphere that engulfs the beast. It writhes in the flames, but you're not sure how much they are actually affecting it.
Tucked down the tunnel, Aleste holds back for fear of accidentally harming those ahead.
Ambrose continues to slash at the lion, his frost blade hissing as it makes contact with Leonar's flaming sphere. Somewhere between the two the blade makes contact with the lion.
Initiative
24 - Helaku
12 - Shaylar & Fang
10 - ghost brute lion
9 - Leonar
5 - Aleste
3 - Ambrose
======
lion
damage
lion Reflex