The statues were made of strong, dense stone and seemed to be well preserved; if not magically. Qhude doubted whether he could even move one, let alone snap it.
Qhude gives the statue a resounding thump with the haft of his guisarme, observing the lack of affect before answering Ansha "I do not think so..."
"One of the tables from the cells, then?" Ansha suggests.
Ansha frowns as she mentally nixes that idea. "I guess we just have to keep an eye on our backs, then," she concedes reluctantly. She starts walking toward the door labeled Relaxation Chamber, cautiously opening the door only so far as necessary to see what is inside--after making sure there's at least a couple of people still with her.
As Ansha moves towards the door, Qhude gently stops her with a hand on the shoulder. He then stands before her to open it himself.
Tebati follows Qhude and Ansha toward the other door, making sure she is behind what will be the front line if there is danger within. Passing Akirra, she taps his bow. "Put that to use watching behind us for the plant creatures," she tells him, her gaze lingering a bit wistfully on the weapon. "My cousin used to be the one who stood ready with his bow," she explains.
Ansha arches an eyebrow at Qhude's gesture, but doesn't stop him from moving to put himself at the forefront of whatever the Relaxation Chamber holds.
Akirra is roused from his melancholy state by Tebati's comment. Huh? What? You want me to... really? he mumbles as he looks at Qhude before slowly unslinging his bow and holding it with a readied ease.
Jakob covers the rear with Akirra. "I'll keep you company. I dislike surprises."
The colonial readies his long spear, just in case.
Akirra is roused from his melancholy state by Tebati's comment. Huh? What? You want me to... really? he mumbles as he looks at Qhude before slowly unslinging his bow and holding it with a readied ease.
"Any arrows in our backs, we'll know where they came from," she says as she continues past. Despite the admonition, her expression indicates she's teasing -- mostly.
Qhude cautiously opened the door, revealing that much like the plant room, both doors on the south side led into the long, large chamber before him.
The "Relaxation Chamber" consisted of over a dozen hand crafted, wooden benches; large enough to lie down on. These benches surrounded a long, crystal clear pool of water. The floor of this chamber was not mosaic, but consisted of well polished wood. Two doors were set into the north wall, and two more set into the west.
Tebati frowns as she peers in over the shoulders of those in front of her. "Is it a fishery?"
"A bath house. We may have found the only murder-maze on two continents with indoor plumbing. No offence Akirra but your people were deeply odd. Mind you given their taste in garden decor I feat there is something nasty in the water."
Ansha murmurs the words to a cantrip to detect magical auras and briefly scans the room before heading toward the north doors. "I'm assuming the west doors lead out into a hallway--let's check this way."
Kieran does not suppress his amusement or his laughter at Jakob's remarks before moving alongside Ansha and, quickening his pace, reaches the western doors first. "How about I do the honors this time," the half-elf quips and, sword held firmly in hand, he opens them carefully, peering into what lies beyond them.
Ansha murmurs something in wry tones about men falling all over themselves around her.
Qhude follows the others into the bath house, brow still furrowed in confusion at the place. As Kieran moves to the Northen door, Qhude lags slightly and trails the tip of his guisarme through the water idly. Staring at the pool of water he looks for where the fluid comes and goes into the reservoir.
In response to Tebati's teasing Akirra offered, I assure you I would not, before realising her tone. Right.
To Jakob he offered a shrug and replied, This is not common in your time? And I can assure you that the garden did not look like that the last time I visited it.
Ansha chimes in over her shoulder, "A fortress that is both defensible and provides moderate amenities for its occupants seems to be beyond Jakob's ken. It's not exactly common in this day and age, but it's not unheard-of, either."
"With fresh water and the ability to grow crops inside, they could withstand a siege indefinitely," Tebati admits with grudging respect. "Why, then, did they leave?" She looks over her shoulder at Akirra.
Although they were wary, the group and their new, dazed companion moved through the baths without incident. The water was utterly smooth and inviting. Looking into it deeply, Qhude could not determine the source of the water. It looked like there was a finite amount inside the pool, to his eyes.
Opening the door to the north revealed another large chamber, well lit by ever-burning torches. It looked very much like a barracks; neat rows of metal-based, triple bunk beds were laid out with corridor space and chests for equipment to be stowed. The beds still bore linen and mattresses and in the corner of the room closest to the baths, a small pool of water lay, cut into an indent in the wooden flooring that lowered the flooring there by what looked to be two or three feet. By this pool of water, a kit of well-maintained washing apparatus lay.
There is something very odd about the sheets. They seem to be freshly washed and almost entirely free of dust; as though only laid out very recently.
Shut doors in the west wall led out, presumably out into another corridor. The group looked into the barracks from the doorway.
You think you can sense the faintest presence of something invisible holding itself still within the chamber.
Ansha frowns as she takes in the sight of freshly-changed linens. "Akirra, this place doesn't still have a caretaker, does it?" she asks, advancing into the room and idly tugging the sheets back on one bed with her staff. "Maybe an unseen magical servant?"
Qhude remains by the pool as the others move to the bathroom, before looking up at Ansha's words. Already uneasy and wary he needs not alter his demeanour, but waits for Akirra's response.
In response to Tebati, Akirra responded cryptically, There were those amoung the Order who disagreed with what we were doing here. Some wanted to use the things locked away bere as weapons. The Order took measures to see that that did not happen.
To Ansha he shrugged his shoulders I do not remember. The mind wipe... but it is possibleyes.
Once again, Ansha sweeps this new room with sight attuned to magical auras. "This seems like one of the last places to be heavily defended...but who knows," she murmurs.
Ansha detected two magical auras in the room. One seemed to be an aura of faint Conjuration at the far end of the chamber. The other was a Moderate aura of Conjuration; emanating from a point in the centre of the room and on the ceiling.
Ansha moves toward the center of the room, peering at the ceiling. "Conjuration magic--either creating or summoning something. Maybe a bit like that wax apparatus?" she says.
Turning to his companion "Kieran, could you check over the chests? See if we could see them opened?"
Nodding in agreement with Qhude's suggestion, the half-elven rogue moves forward, looking to Ansha for any warning in case there is a threat of a magical nature in the room. Making his way to each chest, he checks them one after the other, first for any mundane traps and then for their locking mechanisms before proceeding to fiddle with them in order to get them open.
[ooc]Bwhahahahah![ooc]
Joy, more summoned. Still could be worse. I would hate to try to clear this place against any kind of unified defense plan. Your people built quite the deathtrap Akirra. Just wish we knew why."
Ansha and Kieran were caught utterly by surprise as somewhere on the north wall, unbeknownst to the group, pressure was applied to a section of the interior wall. This section indented in slightly under the force pressing on it; and the room immediately reacted.
From slots cunningly disguised on the floor level of the metallic bunk beds, tripwires lashed out at those within the room before disappearing into the slots once more. Kieran was not knocked over by the tripwires as Ansha was; but they were not the real danger. Five large, green-scaled snakes with thick, muscular bodies were summoned the moment the trap had been triggered, hissing and flexing as they prepared to strike.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Qhude-
Jakob-
Ansha-
Kieran-
Tebati-
Akirra-
Snakes-
Snakes- 21
Tebati- 16
Kieran- 15
Akirra- 11
Ansha- 11
Qhude- 7
Jakob- 5
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Ansha and Kieran immediately found themselves in peril as the snakes slithered forward with alacrity. Kieran and Ansha were immediately beset by a snake or two, while a fourth and fifth attacked Qhude and Akirra through the doorway.
Kieran was badly wounded by one snake that near tore-open his neck before he warded it off, only to be bit in the leg by another snake which immediately began to wrap itself around it, constricting his flesh and adding intense pain to the wound that already bled profusely.
Tripped up moments before, Ansha was in no position to really defend herself from the snake attacking her. Her lithe form was swiftly bitten as the snake took advantage of her prone state in order to start crushing her ribs with its agile, tough form.
Qhude's armour held against the snake assaulting him; caught by surprise the Bas'o was nevertheless unharmed as the snake's teeth caught on his leather.
Although Akirra suffered a wound to his ankle from the snake's fierce bite, he was able to forcibly kick it off him as a pure reflex action and prevent it latching onto him, despite its best efforts.
The assault had been swift and fearsome. Kieran was weak and fighting for his life and Ansha was not in a much better situation...
"NO!"
The Oracle's cry slides into layers of Sylvan as fresh power reinforces limbs and spirits.
Completely caught off-guard by the trap in the barracks, Ansha goes down in a spray of blond hair. Quickly beset upon by a snake, she wheezes for air as it compresses her ribs. Can't...breathe!
Thankful that her arms are not pinned, the elf frantically gropes for something with which to fight back with one hand. She tugs at the snake's coils in vain with the other, desperate for even a slight reprieve from the crushing pressure.
As the snakes appear from the aether Qhude was taken by surprise, unable to react as Kieran and Ansha are beset. As blood flows he lets the mantle of heat take over, discarding his guisarme to take the battle to a more primal arena. Using his armored leg as a lure, Qhude let the snake lunge again, batting away it's jaws with his free hand before bringing his rope-wrapped fist down unto the ophidian's spine...
Akirra is caught unaware by the sudden appearance of the snakes, having his attention focused behind the party. The pain of the snake's bite jars him to action. Stepping away , Akirra rapidly fires two arrows at the offending serpent ...
...before dropping his bow and drawing his sword with lightning speed .
You recognize the snakes as Constrictor snakes. While non-venomous they are renowned hunters; fast, strong and tough. Able to slither, climb and swim and exceptionally acrobatic, their preferred killing method is to latch on and constrict a foe to unconsciousness; before eventually devouring their victim whole.
Despite the brutality and sudden nature of the large snakes' attacks, Kieran manages to stay conscious, albeit barely. Still, the half-elf knows it is only a matter of time before he falls, especially considering the fact that one of the snakes has wrapped him in its coils and the pressure will soon be too much. Weak though he is, he attempts to escape the creature's tightening grip, but to no avail.
Akirra drops his bow, draws his sword and swings at the offending snake...
Akirra acquitted himself well in his first combat encounter for untold thouands of years. Instinct took over and he near cleaved the snake in half; its form fading as the magics that summoned it dissipated in response to the physical trauma.
Qhude was quick enough to catch the snake with his gambit, but only with a glancing blow that lacked any real force or centre-line power behind it.
Jakob's cry Blessed the delvers while Ansha and Tebati looked for an opportunity to help...
As soon as the snake in the eastern doorway evaporates, Tebati wraps her fingers around her holy driftwood. "Shimye-Magalla," she beseeches, "place the one I touch in the eye of the storm." Her spell cast, she slips past Akirra into the room, leaps onto the bed, and touches Kieran between the coils of the snake.
Still struggling against her serpentine bonds, the enchantress begins to weave her free hand in the gestures of a spell. She incants the old Elven words between wheezed breaths, and finishes by breathing in the face of her captor. A spray of lights, shimmering with each color of the rainbow, proceeds from her lips to catch the snake full in its face.
Ansha was rewarded for the panicked effort and struggle against the serpent's coils in order to manage to cast the spell- the illusionary pattern instantaneously knocked the snake unconscious, leaving Ansha free to get to her feet.
Meanwhile, Tebati was able to throw herself onto the bottom bunk of the bed, slide along the clean sheets and desperately deliver her protection spell to the struggling Kieran.
Akirra and Ansha had handled a snake apiece, but they had already proven to be quite deadly foes; worthy of the title of predator.
Round 2-
Ordered Initiative-
Snakes- 21
Kieran- 15
Akirra- 11
Tebati- 10
Ansha- 9
Qhude- 7
Jakob- 5
Active Effects-
Sanctuary on Kieran- DC16 Will to attack.
Map-
Notes-
Red dot denotes grappled, blue circle denotes prone, red circle denotes incapacitated.
Action-
An unseen force slowly uncoiled the snake from around Kieran's body, as the bewildered snake attempted to squeeze him to death. Its confusion was matched by its partner on Kieran's opposite side; who found itself unable to follow through on an attempt to finish the swashbuckler with a bite.
Not noticing or caring about its fellow reptile's difficulties, Qhude's attacker darted at the Bas'o; sinking its fangs into his arm and starting the process of latching onto him. Unfortunately, the pugilist was well versed in such brutal close quarters fighting. Even as the snake started to coil around his arm, Qhude drove his shoulder down and slammed his arm into the door frame- the snake took the full brunt of the brutal impact and released Qhude's arm, its body bent awkwardly.
Ansha disentangles herself from the incapacitated snake and stands, giddy with adrenaline after another way-too-close call. Her gaze lingers on the snake's coiled form in dread and fascination, still visibly muscular even when relaxed. After a moment, she tears her gaze away and turns to see how the rest of the party fares in the ambush.