Listening intently, I hear that the charau-ka is still moving and needs another dose of sharp steel. Stabbing into the darkness again, I try to finish it off. "Die! You monkey-freak! Die!
|
Round 7 continued
Rowena stabs into darkness, crowing as she skewers the last of the charau-ka lurking about. Die indeed!
Zaghigoth directs his swarm to rip apart the serpent. Fangs bite and claws rend before the spell dissipates. Zaghigoth also stabs with his spear, trying to find his target in the dark but unable to make contact. He nearly drops his spear in the process.
Hskoro listens intently to the sound of retreating charau-ka. Suddenly he darts forward. There's a lurch as he nearly pitches himself into a tarpit, but the near miss brings him to the edge of the area of darkness and he launches himself at the ape-man trying to escape past the human newcomer, Liliana. He buries his spear into the ape-man's back and suddenly that charau-ka's not going anywhere.
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
=======
Hskoro Perception
Hskoro
damage
Oshok'arr
damage
"Aha, snake! Look around you. We have slain all the other evil doers and you will be following them in a few seconds. Say your prayers to your evil god, and tell them Krolmnite the Twice Blessed of Smiad the Glorious, and Iomedae the Inheritor sent you to meet them!". He swung twice at the snake.
attack
Damage
Miss chance, high is good
attack
Damage
Miss chance, high is good
The magical darkness interfered with his attacks.
A bit surprised by the sudden death of the ape-man that stood in her way, she smiles to the one who killed it and listens for sounds that indicate which enemies are left. She decides to target the large snake by hurling flames at it using her produce flame spell, assuming it's still where it was before the darkness set in.
.
Quinta again tries to target a spell despite the murk of darkness.... and fails utterly.
"I have got to master dispelling!" she sighs, dejected.
|
|
Round 7 continued
Foes vanquished and suddenly free to move around, Liliana strides forward into the zone of darkness, looking for more enemies. She was sure there was a giant snake out there somewhere... She moves past Hskoro who stares back warily but allows her to pass. Ahead, she hears a frustrated hiss - the snake! She focuses herself with a prayer and hurls a flaming strike at it. Briefly the shadowed forms of the others are illuminated, including the snake, but the strike falls short.
Quinta tries to pin it down with a spell as well, but the darkness is really frustrating everyone's efforts.
Equally, Krolmnite charges forward with mighty swings of his axe, but is thwarted as the snake hides in the darkness. You get a sense of its bulk sliding past in the darkness.
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
Senses out questing for sounds that might indicate enemies still alive I carefully move towards the spot I have last seen Krolmnite. Rapier in hand I'm ready to take on any of the charau-ka that crosses my path.
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Round 8
Rowena gropes about in the darkness, having also to contend with charau-ka bodies sprawled on the ground. However, with her acute senses and by calling out to each other she makes her way through the blackness to Krolmnite's side. She has her rapier out, ready for any further trouble.
Zaghigoth takes a deep breath, sensing that the worst of the trouble is over. He calls out in his deep voice, "Hmm, is everyone still here? Anyone hurt? Can't see a damned thing! This darkness is magical I say, let's try to find the edge of it where we can see what's what."
Quinta's self-proclaimed bodyguard, the nagaji Hskoro, gathers his wits and follows Liliana to place a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Hey! Who are you? How did you come to be here?"
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
=======
damage
"Can anyone track that snake through this darkness? That evil needs to be put down, so it can't hurt any other goodly creatures!"
"I'm afraid I was lucky enough to get this far and find you, Krolm. I reckon we're not going to be able to search for it until this darkness is gone and by then it'll be long gone. I understand your desire to cleanse the world of this evil, but I don't think there's much we can do about it right now.
"We have to find it!" Quinta insists. "It said it's going to whatever evil priest instructed Raogru! It'll carry tales and warn them we're coming!"
"Oh, I know we have to find it, but I'm afraid I am not going to be much help in doing so. But I'll give it another try. Everyone please be quiet." Focusing on my all senses, I try to find a trace of the snake, be it smell, taste or sound: and this time I am fairly certain I know where it is. "That way, come on!" Pointing the way, I start off after the snake, rapier in hand as I follow the faint sound of the snake's scales on the stony floor.
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|
Round 8 continued, Round 9
You grasp about in the dark, trying to confirm the location of the giant snake so that you can put an end to it. Quietly you listen, and it's Rowena with the sharp senses of her elven heritage who calls out: "I hear sounds of slithering, that way! To the west!" A moment later you hear an answering shout from Yekskya. "Something big just moved past me! It has to be the snake!"
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
======
Enough of this...let the night hunter find the prey in darkness, I say...
The gnome moves in the direction the others instructed, keeping his sword held high.
Quinta likewise staggers after the others, muttering angry words under her breath.
"They could have fallen for it, I could have saved them from themselves, but noooo.... They had to go and be stubborn. And now they're all dead. Not my fault, surely...."
Feeling the hand on her shoulder, Liliana says "I'm a friend, can we please handle the introductions after killing the giant snake?"
She moves carefully to the west and hurls another flame towards the snake or rather where she thinks the snake is. After having hurled her second flame, she mutters under her breath "This is not going well".
.
|
|
Round 9 continued
As a group you decide that this giant snake needs to go down. Zaghigoth takes a step near it, summoning a creature to his aid. Liliana listens out for it, and sends a flame strike in the snake's direction. She watches the flames disappear into the darkness, unsure whether they hit the target, but she's skeptical.
Quinta is perhaps remorseful at the way the parley with the charau-ka turned out, while Krolmnite stumps after the snake. His sword is held ready, expecting at any moment to come on the retreating serpent.
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
Quinta stops running, concentrates, and starts to chant. The singer's voice reaches out beyond Golarion, into realms ethereal and luminous....
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|
Round 10
You cast about in the dark for the damnable serpent, but it seems to have pulled a disappearing trick. Krolmnite following Yekskya's calls and what he hopes is the snake's trail, finds the edge of the darkness effect. Zaghigoth completes his spell and summons a dire bat to the party's aid, while Quinta begins her own summoning incantation.
Initiative
25 - Yekskya
19 - Chu-tok
18 - Rowena
15 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
14 - Hskoro
9 - Liliana
8 - Nkechi
6 - Quinta & Sssss
5 - Krolmnite
========
Quinta completes her incantation, and casts about for the snake's trail. She is deeply relieved when the group comes to the edge of the darkness effect. Even while she is looking for the giant reptile, she calls out in the language of scaled creatures.
The air swirls, darkens, then brightens, and a giant ant appears. Antennae twitching, the giant insect lowers its head to the ground and casts about for the snake's trail before it starts scuttling off.
(blindsense)
Liliana continues to move carefully to the west, hoping to find the edge of the darkness area and listens once more for a sound that betrays the serpent's location. She thinks she hears it and hurls her third flame towards that spot. "Not again a miss, this is really disappointing." she mumbles.
|
|
Round 10 continued
The hunt is on. Zaghigoth's bat flutters about the ruined temple complex, and Quinta completes her spell to summon a giant ant. As she does so she calls out to other serpents hiding in the area, asking for help to find the giant snake. She doesn't immediately receive a reply, but the bat and ant quickly home in on the snake. It isn't hiding as much as it is trying to quickly retreat from the fight, heading around the tar pools towards the entrance. The bat swoops in and settles on the snake behind its head, its weight pinning the snake down. Powerful incisors sink into reptilian flesh, and the bat feeds. Soon, the snake stops moving altogether.
You take a few minutes to catch your breath, make certain no further attacks are imminent, and take stock. As the party emerges from the magical darkness, you see that everyone is accounted for, though many of you bear wounds from the fight with the charau-ka. Most significant, you seem to have picked up a new ally, the human woman in red armor with a penchant for fireballs.
After some time, the magical darkness is dispelled, allowing you to explore the complex more thoroughly. The upshot of your epic battle is you seem to have cleared the charau-ka from the area, from this part of the ruined city at least. Your explorations confirm this, as well as uncover some loot.
A stone coffer holds a collection of recently scavenged relics pried from the ruins. They include scrapings of gold inlays, semiprecious stones, ivory carvings, and pieces of decorative wrought-metals. Jumbled within the rest of the loot is a set of figurines in the shape of golden lions. In addition, across the curved walls of this part of the complex coils a sculpture of a massive, decapitated skeletal serpent formed from thousands of blackened bones pasted to the stone with tar. A single glittering eye winks from the serpent's severed head, and you can now see that the eye is a large moonstone pasted into the tar.
You also inspect the charau-ka bodies. Most have nothing of value, but the high priest Raogru did seem to have some interesting possessions. Particularly, his snake-skin hide armor and his large warmace. You also find a clay flask.
Soon enough, you feel it is time to move on. That insane charau-ka, Raogru, mentioned another spellcaster here in the Tazion. And you've yet to find any clues that reveal the location of the lost city of Saventh-Yhi
+2 hide armor
+1 heavy mace
1 clay flask, elixir of fire breath
2 figurines of wondrous power (golden lions)
"You, newcomer! Were you sent to assist the holy warrior, Krolmnite the Twice Blessed? Or did you simply observe my fighting style and were inspired to action? Whatever the case, I welcome you to my merry band of warriors. We appreciate your helping defeat the evil cultists!". THe gnome smiled broadly, quite proud that in his mind, he has a new follower.
A slight smile hovers around the corners of my mouth when hearing Krolmnite's boastful words, but there's also this uneasy feeling in the back of my mind where I'm equating red armor like the newcomer is wearing with the preferred style of gear of the Red Mantis. Then I remember that the gnome paladin can tell if someone is evil and I sheathe my rapier, reassured that the newcomer is not an immediate threat. "Hello there. Welcome and thanks for your help. I'm Rowena. And contrary to his words, we're not Krolmnite's band of warriors. We just let him think he is our leader. And who might you be? And how did you end up here?"
After the dire bat makes short work of the fleeing snake, Zag approaches the winged beast and reaches out to it, dragging a light touch across its furry head.
"Thank you, night spirit," he murmurs to the conjured companion. "Retreat to the wilds beyond and be well." With a wave of his hand, the bat vanishes to fly the nightskies from which it came.
As soon as the bat dissolves into the aether, Zag immediately turns on his booted heel and marches off in the direction from which he had previous heard Oshok'arr's frightened calls. He wrenches his shortspear in his grip and wears a mask of sheer determination, brow furrowed in focus as he marches out of the area, not quite yet giving himself time to speak with any of the others.
"Yeah, disappointing, pleased to meet you, all of it," Quinta says, turning her attention on Liliana. "Hi. I'm Quinta. And like Cat said, who are you?"
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A Look Across Tazion
As you explore the ruined temple more closely and introduce yourselves to the newcomer in your midst, Zaghigoth rushes back to the temple entrance. There, just outside the half-orc finds Oshok'arr. She honks in greeting, and you notice her thumb spikes are bloody. Nearby, the bloodied and trampled bodies of two charau-ka lie sprawled in the dirt.
As the rest of you pile out of the temple, you look across the ruined city. Looking north, the ruins are dominated by a large mound of vegetation. Yet, from your perspective you can detect something more substantial beneath the vines and foliage, a tiered stone ziggurat. An Azlanti monument?
Turning to look ahead to the east, through the trees and across dark pools of water you see a squat stone tower. Across this expanse you keep a sharp lookout for charau-ka reinforcements, but any left in the city must for the moment be laying low.
Finally, to the south you spy through the dense brush a single, massive stone ruin. You can pick out rings of crude stone columns. As you watch, a flock of birds takes flight - something there must have disturbed them. Taking in the details, your wizened guide Nkechi muses, "Somewhere out there is the key to finding the true path to the city of Saventh-Yhi. We have come far. But where now?"
"We could bravely march through the city, and cast out any dragons or demons that we find inhabiting this place. They would sing songs about exploits for years!"
Zag exhales deeply in relief when he sees Oshok'arr in good health, and strokes the side of her head in praise upon seeing the mangled bodies before her. "I should have known better than to think you would be in trouble," he says. "Come, let us return to the others."
Upon coming back with the dinosaur, Zag introduces himself to Liliana properly. "Zaghigoth Stormbile, or just Zag. I serve as vessel for the spirits of these jungles, I say. This is Oshok'arr, one such spirit, I am thinking. You wield flame well."
When he sees the jungle and dense vegetation covering the ziggurat, Zag remarks, standing next to Oshok'arr, "Hm. See how it reclaims. It is strong."
Zag raises an eyebrow to Krolmnite, but closes his eyes and smiles lightly. This gnome was beginning to grow on him, for as different they were. "We have two options, Twice-Blessed. That is one. The tiger would stalk and watch, the elephant would march and trumpet. Either way, none make prey of either beast."
HP: 62/63
0th - Detect Magic, Read Magic, Create Water, Purify Food & Drink
1st - Produce Flame, Hide from Animals, Faerie Fire
2nd - Sickening Entanglement, Burst of Radiance, Soften Earth & Stone
Making my way over to Zag and the iguanodon, a smile lights up my eyes as I pat the dino on the back: "Oshok'arr, glad to see you're okay."
Turning my attention to Zag, I continue: "Zag, how about some of that magical healing from that wand you're carrying. Think I've been dinged up a little."
Turning to Krolmnite first, Liliana replies "Thank you, brave paladin. I am Liliana. I'd be honoured to travel with you. I found myself alone in this jungle and I'd feel much safer if I could travel with a party." Turning to the others, she says "Don't be put off by the armor I'm wearing, I found it after I had prayed to the goddess for help. I'm a cleric of Sarenrae and if any of you need healing, I'd be happy to be of assistance. "
The others members of the party also introduce themselves to Liliana. The nagaji Hskoro, who had tried to speak with Liliana earlier during the fight, merely introduces himself as Quinta's protector. The aged Mwangi, Nkechi, introduces himself as the party's jungle guide. Yekskya, another Mwangi, merely describes himself as an archer and that "he's been around for a while." What a large group you have become!
Once you've had an opportunity to heal yourselves and feel ready to move on, Nkechi suggests exploring north towards the vine-covered ruin. Along the way, you pass by several large pools. They look to be filled with dank water, but a few bubble and steam. You suspect that they may just be tar pools with a covering of rain water.
Every so often, you hear hoots and cries from various quarters of the city. They may be charau-ka, monkeys, or something else completely. However, you spot no more enemies as you trek north through the ruins.
After some time, you eventually reach the tremendous mound. A few minutes' examination confirms suspicions that underneath the dripping leaves and vegetation are the remains of a multitiered stone ziggurat of Azlanti construction. The temple must be incredibly old, as it looks like the entire structure has been slowly sinking into the earth. Only the top few levels are still visible.
A broad set of broken and uneven stairs leads up to a cavernous chamber. You also note that some of the vegetation has been disturbed, revealing paths where someone or something has used the vines to climb up to the top of the ziggurat.
Zag regards the ancient structure suspiciously. He wrinkles his nose and looks over to Cat and Yekskya. "I am remembering the last time we went into some old ruin in the jungle...abominations and atrocities, I say." The druid takes a disgruntled look onto his features, already displeased with the prospect of undead and aberrations and other twisted perversions of nature and material oblations unto dark deities. His calloused fingers grip tightly the haft of his shortspear and he puts a hand on Oshokarr's side. The preparation makes him think of Shiv, the crocodile that had joined him on the island those months ago and did good work in crunching the bones of the horrors both above and below the earth. He betrays his look of consternation for a moment, wondering if his scaled friend was continuing to protect the island from such madness.
"Well, no need to go stumbling into the dark," Quinta says.
The performer whistles, and three orbs of light swirl into being, floating ahead of the group and into the ziggurat's interior.
"Shall we go in first, and climb up later?"
"I say we boldly stride into the temple. There is no telling what ancient enemies remain in there! It is our duty to protect innocents from whatever dragons and demons may be lurking in there!"
"Yeah.... Right," Quinta says, giving Krolmnite a Look.
"Given it's an old building, though, I think we should keep an eye out for traps and deadfalls. We might not all qualify as innocents, but I'd like for us to stay in one piece."
"I will follow whatever road you think is the best to take. However, moving in with caution is best as I'm sure some nasty creatures will have moved in. Is there anyone among you who can detect and remove traps? I could ask the goddess to help me find traps but I haven't prayed for that spell yet which means I would have to rest first."
"Not so rash, brave paladin. Striding boldly into ancient structures is very likely to get us into trouble. As Quinta just pointed out, traps and deadfalls may very well be in our way. I, for one, have no intention to run blindly into a pit or some such nastiness when there's a chance I can spot such things with a little bit of time and careful searching."
Turning towards Liliana a smile creases my face as I continue: "Spells are good, so it might be a good idea to pray for such assistance the next time we rest. For now, looks like it's on me to find us safe passage through this place."
Stepping up closer to the entrance of the ziggurat, I scan the doorway and peer into the darkness beyond, looking both up at the ceiling and down at the floor before turning my attention to the walls.
The Azlanti Ziggurat
For a few minutes you debate how begin exploring this ediface. Most of you favor a direct approach, up the stairs and into the heart of the structure. Your guide Nkechi, however, notes the tracks scaling the walls of the building. "I suggest we try to lay claim to the top level of the ziggurat. Something's been coming and going here, and from up there we'll have a clear view of any charau-ka reinforcements coming. I will go up there, I care not for the dark energies I feel from the belly of this place." He points to the nagaji, Hskoro, and also to Yekskya. [b] "You will come with me, nagaji. You are a good climber, and my old bones might need a boost. And you - archer. We may have need of your bow. Yekskya quickly nods assent, but Hskoro objects. [b] "No! I must protect Quinta. Where she goes, I must go too." He takes a protective stance beside her, an obstinate glare on his reptilian face.
Cautiously, with Rowena checking ahead for traps, you scale the steep steps up to the first level of the pyramid. Quinta's lights bob along beside you, and as you approach the opening they quickly illuminate the space. Within, almost half of the cavernous chamber surrounds a smaller, inner structure. The ceiling has collapsed in some places, and a tangle of vines, mosses, and other plants grow in the thick mud covering the floor.
Along the far side of the chamber, lies an entrance into the inner structure. Across from that are a couple stone doors. Another pair of stone doors stand together along the right-hand wall.
All this you take in in a moment. What you notice next is the noise, and that you are not alone. A furious buzzing echoes from all over the chamber, and you spot several large wasps, as large as hounds! They seem to be industriously gathering mud from the floor, yet when they notice your presence they start thrumming angrily. It becomes clear that they don't take kindly to intruders. You only have a few moments to react before these wasps take action themselves.
Initiative
29 - Rowena
21 - wasps (5)
19 - Hskoro?
19 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
18 - Krolmnite
6 - Quinta & Sssss
3 - Liliana
=========
wasp init
Krolm init
Liliana init
Quinta init
Rowena init
Zag init
Hskoro? init
"Guys, looks like we've got incoming!" In one fluid motion, my rapier is in my hand, ready to strike at any wasp attacking me. Making shooing motions with my other hand I slowly move straight ahead, while keeping an eye on the wasp to my right. "Don't mind us, we're just passing through."
With a flick of her wrist, Quinta frees her whip -- and she starts to sing, the harmony curling around the other members of the group.
Anticipating a battle, Liliana readies her scimitar to strike the first wasp that enters her reach.
Status: 48/54, spells: orisons: Detect magic, Purify food and drink, Resistance, Stabilize level 1: Burning hands, Command, Command, Detect evil, Remove fear level 2: Produce flame , Hold person x2, Resist energy x2 level 3: Fireball, Create food and water, Prayer, Searing light.
Round 1 - Combat? Oh yes!
Rowena sidles up to the nearest wasp, simultaneously shooing at the giant insect and with the other angling for a swift strike with rapier. The angry droning grows louder, and with honed half-elven instinct Rowena decides to force the inevitable confrontation by plunging her thin blade into the wasp's thorax. It is a precise strike, not enough to kill the wasp outright but certainly enough to make it very mad.
All the wasps are mad! Through some means of communication, the wasps begin swarming towards you. The first wasp leaps up and swiftly stings Rowena. Another joins in, and these things hurt. Other wasps dive towards your group, and Zaghigoth and Oshok'arr
each beat back another bug. However it's Krolmnite who's surprised as a wasp latches on to his shoulders and a stinger drives through his armor.
Hskoro leaps up the stairs, brandishing his spear. He stands ready to defend Quinta.
Initiative
29 - Rowena
21 - wasps (5)
19 - Hskoro
19 - Zaghigoth & Oshok'arr
18 - Krolmnite
6 - Quinta & Sssss
3 - Liliana
wasp 1
damage
sting
wasp 2
damage
sting
wasp 3
damage
sting
wasp 4
wasp 5
Fort
The gnomish do gooder swings his sword twice against the wasp.
attack
Damage
attack
Damage
"By Cayden's ever-full glass, that hurts!"
Pain washes over me as the wasps' stingers find their mark and two big red welts appear on my arms. Gritting my teeth I continue to attack the first of the wasps. But the poison is stronger than my body can handle and I can feel I'm losing some of my nimbleness and precision, my arms starting to feel a bit numb as the poison courses through my veins.