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The half-orc gauges Ruthazek's intent to keep his word......then watches carefully as they pack up to depart. He finds it difficult to place trust in beings that radiate evil, even moderately; but he also trusts that Desna would not place them here were it not necessary.
While Kulik is suspicious overall, he finds no deception or deceit from the Gorilla King's actions or words. You also suspect that, while he is very much evil, in some of the ways that human culture considers such things, (he has no problem killing humanoids, but he doesn't go out of his way to or torture them), he also seems to follow a personal code, if a brutal one about being a sort of "true king" or chieftain might be the better word.
He will not break his word, but you also suspect that he holds the agreement to be with you (your party) alone, and would find it reasonable that once you are gone, (dead or simply leave), the agreement would be void, and he will likely return and claim the place as his territory. He could, however, be exceptionally good at concealing his motives and lies. . .
Having claimed victory in the battle of mettle and wits against the Garilla King's claim for dominance, the various apes that make up his army release the humanoid slaves they have taken, (a total of 24 once all have come to you), and begins to prepare to leave. Choosing to walk around their camp rather than through it to make your way back to the Society's field Lodge and find out just what to do with the freed slaves.
Now, where were we? Oh yes! Are any of you humans Pathfinders? Have you seen any recently? Do you know what this story of the Illaghri is about?
Most of them seem to be servants or common laborers, and none raise their hands or otherwise indicate that they are or where Pathfinders. It's also very likely, as most of them seem to be natives to the area, that they may not be overly familiar with the Pathfinder Society, perhaps only knowing it's name, if that. They don't seem to react favorably or unfavorably to it's mention, though.
A few of them, older natives to the Mwangi however, do approach, knowing something about "the Illaghri". "It is an old legend here. It is said that it has been told for generations amongst our peoples."
Another adds in, "The story does not tell us what the "Illaghri" is, or even where this name for the spirit came from. It has something to do with spiders, or perhaps scorpions, or even ticks. It's unclear, as no one has ever seen the Illaghri. It' all based on legends and the deaths that strike the area at odd times. According to the tales," likely meaning it is mainly an oral tradition, "roughly every generation, but sometimes two or three, it seems to vary greatly at random, "the Illaghri" appears, around the area now called the Military District, and over a short period of time, days, weeks, it's unclear, many people either die or disappear."
Another takes over, perhaps trying to explain it better to you, and filling in a few gaps. "No one is sure what this is. It is possible that it is nothing but a man, or individuals that adopt aspects of the legends every generation or two, kill people and then vanish or move on. Or a mythical beast that is only awoken every fifty or one hundred years. No one knows, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone still alive the last time it came."
"However, another part of the story is that sometimes, the victims do come back. Their bodies do, twisted and unnatural, attacking those that still live. Some say they are wrapped like mummies, but the one sign we have come to know is that when the Illaghri has returned, many, many tiny spiders seem to follow as well. Harmless, but alien here."
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Begus uses a bit of simple magic to get everyone's attention,"Attention, please!"He calls."As many of you have guessed, we are Pathfinders. We are pleased to announce that you are no longer the property of The Gorilla King, or of any other man or beast. You are now a free people."The gnome stops to let the words sink in."You are free to go anywhere you wish. You can stay here, but that would probably lead to you being attacked by the thinks that call this jungle home; If not he Gorilla King's forces. I suggest you come with us to a place of safety. From there, you can decide what your next steps in life will be." He finishes with,"This your first free choice, but make in quickly. We leave shortly."
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Dora will support the dialog with the former slaves. (also auto-aid +16)
Yes, please do hurry and all. We don't want any evil spiders or apes or whatever to get you. It would not look good if we rescued you only to have you eaten by beasts.
Dora listens to the story by the elders but still not much sure what to make of the line.
I never really cared much for spiders myself. But it sounds like we will encounter some as we search for the source of this mystery.
No spells to swap, she is ready to move onward when the group is.
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Trekking back to the city the long way, you deliver the ex-slaves to the Pathfinder Society who agrees to feed and house them, temporarily, while you go look further into the rumors of the Illaghri. Reporting in that the Gorilla faction is now leaving the area, and taking a short rest before you head out tomorrow.
Once you set out, you discover that the far side of the Military District is built into natural cliffs. Asking around, it seems that there is a single large cave in those cliffs, but it had been sealed long ago, and from various points through the district, you can catch a very good overview showing that it is still covered, though without a closer look, you are not certain that the large rocks are completely secure.
It takes about two hours to climb down there, but as you do, you see that some of the larger rocks appear to have been moved, just enough to possibly allow something to squeeze through of about your size. Anything larger would need to move more of the stones aside.
A yawning cave mouth opens in the side of a stony bluff, revealing only inky blackness inside, with perhaps a hint of a dim light source somewhere deep within. Shreds of dirty webbing hang from the entrance, billowing slightly in the faint breeze like tattered death shrouds, but are old and are no longer sticky.
You hear nothing from within, save for a slight whining sound as some of the wind makes its way into the hole.
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As you toss the stone, the light expands your visibility into the cave beyond, but it also seems to have awoken something deeper within.
A wide cavern opens beyond the entrance and extends deeper back into the bluff. More shrouds of tattered webbing dangle from ceiling and walls, and lie scattered among the dried bones of assorted creatures in untidy heaps upon the floor. Larger clumps of webbing hang from the walls, the shrouded forms of animals just visible within—small jungle deer, a large river turtle, a feral pig, and occasionally the more ominous shape of a humanoid form.
Suddenly a massive form rushes at you, literally shaking the ground as it moves. At first you think it is a gargantuan dragon, as it steps through the light, it is instead a primal beast, or at least it once was. Now the Crocodiles flesh begins to fall away, and all through it's wounds, you see what at first appears to be stuffing. But as it gets closer, you see it's many wounds are actually now home to thousands of tiny spiders and webbing.
It comes at you, and from a great distance snaps it's powerful jaws at Frag before anyone is really able to react, snapping him up into it's mouth as blood goes everywhere. It hunches back for just a moment, wrapping both of it's upper extremities around the warrior and slams both Frag and it's own gigantic body on the ground and begins rolling around to try to crush the life from him. As it does, multiple small spiders rush to cover Frag as well, and within a few seconds he is engulfed by their tiny bodies, almost making him seem to be made of shadow until many of them also get crushed under the giant reptilian undead.
......
ROUND 1
Begus ()
Undead Dire Crocodile (grappling)
Frag (-49, grappled, tripped), Jaggar (), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (), and Rathen ()
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Begus quickly chants words of magic, causing the other Pathfinders to suddenly speed up, or perhaps it is the world around them slowing down, one can not truly be sure, but it doesn't stop the giant undead crocodile from gobbling poor Frag up. Suddenly whatever weapons he had been holding fall to the ground, and he simply vanishes inside the massive beast.
Frag evidently doesn't taste very good, as the giant undead reptile almost immediately vomits up a spray of stomach acid and spiders that cover Kulik, but luckily miss everyone else who hadn't moved in closer yet.
Kulik, and most of the area around him are covered in thousands of strange tiny spiders, likely more than you have ever seen, much less in such a small area. He does manage to fight off both the poison and keep his mind clear. At least for the moment.
ROUND 1
Begus ()
Undead Dire Crocodile (<4>)
Frag (-79, blind and swallowed), Jaggar (), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (-4), and Rathen ()
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Dora gasps as Frag is sucked into the belly of the beast. At the sight of the spiders, her tactical mind takes control as she barks out directions.
Begus! See what can you do about that carpet of yucky spiders?
The rest of you, we need to get poor Frag out of that thing.
Chop Chop, people! Giant undead alligators don't just kill themselves,
you know!
Her rantings are inspiring +2/+2 atk/dmg (move action).
Lets see if we can at least light this thing up a bit
She waves her arms, causing Glittering Dust to settle on the head of the creature. (Will DC17 vs blind)
Rusty stands guard, ready to attack anything moving into his reach.
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-Posted with Wayfinder
"Fraggy stop swimming and joking around... leave the local wildlife alone!" Jaggar teases as he moves up to the front of the group to help out the grappled barbarian by striking what appears to be a swarm of spiders...
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Frag, suddenly caught inside a very unforgiving environment calls on the rage always just on the periphery of his blood, and his hands become savage claws.
Frag, shoving both clawed hands straight through the creature's abdomen, through the flesh, drags the claws apart in a wide arc, creating a gash wide enough for him to escape, though as he does, multiple spiders also cling to him, (not to mention the rotting stomach acid of the beast).
ROUND 1
Begus ()
Undead Dire Crocodile (<4> -43)
Frag (<3> -86), Jaggar (), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (<4> -4), and Rathen ()
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With quickened steps, Rathen moves toward the creature. He tumbles through its reach, working to put himself in a flanking position.
Once there, he draws on the energy of the sneak to find a weakness to exploit, and attacks!
"Jaggar! If you can keep him occupied on the other side! We'll make quick work of this."
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Jaggar moves in to deliver a nasty strike with his Glaive, but has to leap a few feet off the ground to avoid being crushed by the crocodile's enormous tail as it sweeps towards him. It misses, allowing Jaggar to deliver his powerful strike.
Dora calls on her magic to try to blind the Crocodile, also boosting her allies as her magic comes into existence as a field of sparkling dust.
Kulik, his bow already ready, fires off a pair of arrows
It remains standing, and trying to kill you, well until Rathan slips in and guts it with his short sword. The enormous beast collapses, no longer "alive", and the spiders within it begin to quickly disperse throughout the area, but you notice that they very quickly seem to dissolve away into nothingness.
Them suddenly, from the distance of the cave, the edge of your rocks light, four more creatures begin to move towards you. These four beings look like vaguely humanoid shapes that have been mummified, but rather than being entirely wrapped in cloth, they are wrapped in some sort of webbing. Like the crocodile, you can see tiny spiders all throughout, and a soft, unnatural glow coming from their undead eyes. Each lumbers towards you, though not slowly like a zombie would, and each also carries, dragging it's head on the ground, a high quality flail. Besides their glowing eyes, the only openings you can see in the webbing are their particularly wide mouths, and hanging from them each has an abnormally long tongue, similar to what a frog's might look like.
ROUND 2
Begus () and Frag (-86)
Web Creature RED ()
Jaggar (), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (<4> -4), and Rathen ()
Web Creature PINK (), Web Creature YELLOW (), Web Creature BLUE ()
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"Do not close with them just yet, Frag.' Begus says with a crooked smile on his face. he walks up with the haste he cast before, and summons more arcane power with a few quick words. A familiar red pea shoots from the Gnome's outstretched hand and expands quickly and the explodes taking all those that face his into it's deadly embrace.
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Begus lights the room up just before Frag rushes off to his death. . ., ur, to glory. The blast of fire catches all for of the web-covered creatures, and if they are anything like the giant Crocodile you just faced, you can only imagine that thousands of spiders are cooking and scampering about inside without relief.
Whatever the thick webbing encasing the four creatures is, it appears to be flammable, and all four catch fire from the blast, though it doesn't seem to stop them from advancing.
Before Frag is able to charge it, the nearest of the bunch rushes at Frag with it's flail, wollopping him across the side of the face, but only seeming to piss him off further.
ROUND 2
Begus () and Frag (-94)
Web Creature YELLOW (-40)
Jaggar (), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (<4> -4), and Rathen ()
Web Creature PINK (-18), Web Creature YELLOW (-37), Web Creature BLUE (-37)
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Dora casts divine favor on herself then draws her bow as she urges Rusty forward, bounding up the dead croc to get a better look.
Quickly now, form ranks, support Frag to the north. Keep them burning, people!
She continues barking commands to inspire the troops (+2/+2 still in effect with haste).
Rusty readies to attack/trip any of the foes moving within reach.
vs creature lore?
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Dora moves up, pushing her mount to climb a top the fallen Crocodile's remains to oversee the new battle as Jaggar springs in engage one of the webbed creatures now on fire. His swing cuts deep, leaving the creature jolted, but still a threat.
Kulik also climbs atop the corpse, sending an arrow at the creature near Frag just as Rathen joins in, and between the two of them, it falls, lifelessly, and continues to burn.
The three remaining creatures, some sort of amphibian-based humanoid, now undead, and covered in old webs now caught on fire move to Jaggar, each swinging their flails, which surprisingly he avoids every single one. However, a rotting tongue shoots from one of their mouths, wrapping around Jaggar's torso. It does not seem to hurt him, although it creates a bridge for many of the small spiders who immediately cross it to jump on Jaggar. Within seconds Jaggar is covered in spiders, each trying to bite and feast on his living flesh. Each continues to burn from Begus's earlier burst of flame.
Frag in a fury, rushes at another of the webbed creatures, cutting it to pieces.
ROUND 3
Begus () and Frag (-86), Jaggar (6), Dora (), Boots (), Kulik (-4), and Rathen ()
Web Creature PINK (-52), Web Creature BLUE (-41)