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Shohiraj manages to jam a few odd tools of her trade into the machine, causing it to issue forth an odd grinding sound, followed shortly by a small wiff of smoke as it seems to struggle to function.
Ready for a little bone-cracking action, Zurnzal moves forward and slams his deadly fist into the nearest guard, nearly slaying the man where he stands, but it's not enough to put him down for good. Seeing things not work out so well, the (elven) Mage begins saying a few arcane words then points just byond the party, when suddenly a strange necrotic cloud appears, both causing visibility to drop significantly and seeming to sap the vitality from all within it's area.
From somewhere beyond the fog, you can also hear the little cutthroat Joliryn cast a spell.
ROUND 1
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1-3 (), (), (-40)
Shohiraj ()
Zurnzal (-14)
Mage (-37)
Joliryn ()
Shohiraj's stomach heaves at the smell of the noxious fumes. All she can think of is getting out of the cloud. She hurls herself through the air, trying to get to where the cloud isn't along the wall. She spits out a bit of vomit and wipes her eyes from the watering.
Shrugging off the effects of the cloud, Falth takes the opportunity to try and escape.
Once out of the cloud, Falth readies to shoot his original target once they start casting a spell.
Thestil comes up behind Zurnzal and gently caresses his shoulder, and implants a psychic bond within him. Suddenly, a duplicate copy of himself appears a foot away.
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Falth sends two arrows flying at the mage hiding towards the back of the formation, both striking home with ease and drawing blood, as calls on arcane power to bend time's tethers in your favor. Eramay moves into to close, slashing at the nearest guard with her scimitar and Thestil weaves together a few words and gestures to try to break another guard's mind, forcing him to attack himself, but he seems much more mentally resilient than you might expect.
The strange device of magic and machine seems to react first, it's odd laser-guided gaze surveying the room before settling on Falth as it's main target and launching a dark purple ray at him., just before the three guards spring into violent action.
Two quickly draw and hurl throwing axes as they reposition themselves closer to the mage, while the one already engaged with Emaray swings his hammer and then takes a step back, hoping to join his allies and force you to move in.
Shohiraj manages to jam a few odd tools of her trade into the machine, causing it to issue forth an odd grinding sound, followed shortly by a small wiff of smoke as it seems to struggle to function.
Ready for a little bone-cracking action, Zurnzal moves forward and slams his deadly fist into the nearest guard, nearly slaying the man where he stands, but it's not enough to put him down for good. Seeing things not work out so well, the (elven) Mage begins saying a few arcane words then points just byond the party, when suddenly a strange necrotic cloud appears, both causing visibility to drop significantly and seeming to sap the vitality from all within it's area. From somewhere beyond the fog, you can also hear the little cutthroat Joliryn cast a spell.
Falth exits first, drawing his bow and standing ready to attack the mage at the first sign of casting, as Thestil calls on an illusionary duplicate of herself.
Shohiraj manages to hold down most of her lunch as she slowly makes her away around the room, just barely making it outside the cloud and past one of the guards watchful gaze.
ROUND 2
Falth ()
Rataji () <Fort Save>
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1-3 (), (), (-40)
Shohiraj (Nx3)
Zurnzal (-14) <Fort Save>
Mage (-37)
Joliryn ()
Eramay pulls out her Aspis badge, and yells across the room to the mage. "You there stop what you are doing or you will die." She is using her Challenge skill. Then she calls out to her team. "Watch your steps near each other." and activates her Tactician ability which activates the Escape Route Feat.
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Emaray boosts the party while also instructing them on a small trick that might help lead to victory.
The three martial guards make a formation before the mage, creating a shield wall, and all three shout in unison "For Glory!", each seeming to direct their focus on one of you, but do not otherwise act. Oddly, the guard that moves away from Shohiraj without seeming to leave an opening as she circles around to get closer to the enemy and rejoin her allies.
The Mage begins casting another spell. . .
ROUND 2
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1 (Challenge -> Zurnzal)
Guards 2 (Challenge -> Falth)
Guards 3 (-40, Challenge -> Shohiraj)
Shohiraj (Nx3)
Zurnzal (-14)
Mage (-37)
Joliryn ()
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Two of Zurnzal's slamming fists connect, leaving the guard lying still on the ground after a very loud cracking sound. Rataji begins to cast a spell <Invisibility> in hopes of keeping himself safe, and tries to make his way out of the blinding fog.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, Joliryn appears directly infront of Shohiraj only a moment before she strikes, her small kukri glowing with a dark energy.
ROUND 3
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1 (Challenge -> Zurnzal)
Guards 2 (Challenge -> Falth)
Shohiraj (-7, Nauseated to Round 5)
Zurnzal (-14)
Mage (-37)
Joliryn (+10, Keen Edge, )
From his position, Falth will full attack the mage.
"Hey! I'm the one that's supposed to..." Shohiraj barely gets half the sentence out before she pukes all over Joliryn's shoes. The rogue tries to get away, but with the combination of the magic and woman's blade, all she can manage is to stumble out of the way.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Thestil moves out of the cloud and mentally casts a spell, showering the area with a shimmering dust.
Eramay moves up and swings at guard 1. It's clear she's trying to make her way to the mage.
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Falth launches an arrow at the mage just as he begins to speak the first words of magic, hitting him solidly in the chest despite the other guards actively trying to protect him, which he then follows up with three further attacks, only one of which lands, leaving the mage looking very, very hurt.
Eramay moves in to attack another of the guards, but her scimitar fails to get through his defenses as Thestil moves clear of the fog and into danger and calls on her own power to sprinkle the enemy with sparkling dust.
Both guards step forward, flanking Eramay, though on attacks Zurnzal instead.
Shohiraj, still sick to her stomach steps back within the fog.
ROUND 3
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay (-15)
Thestil ()
Guards 1 (Challenge -> Zurnzal)
Guards 2 (Challenge -> Falth)
Shohiraj (-7, Nauseated to Round 5)
Zurnzal (-14)
Mage (-56, blind)
Joliryn (+10, Keen Edge)
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Rataji will cast telekinetic charge on the assassin and send him to base the mage.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Suddenly Zurnzal goes flying, taking an initial swipe at the Mage as he comes to land, not softly, but not outright falling just behind the now defensless Mage. Only a second later the Half-Orc brute literally tears the softer Half-Elf apart, sending PG-13's flying across the room. Poor guy couldn't even see it coming.
ROUND 4
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay (-15)
Thestil ()
Guards 1 (Challenge -> Zurnzal)
Guards 2 (Challenge -> Falth)
Shohiraj (-7, Nauseated to Round 5)
Zurnzal (-14)
Joliryn (+10, Keen Edge)
Seeing the mage fall to pieces, Falth changes targets to Joliryn.
Thestil pulls out her bladed belt, and with a whisper, it transforms into a falcata. She slashes at the guard in front of her. "Enough of this, let's end this nonsense!"
Eramay smiles at Joliryn, and says "Your next my "friend"." Challenge on Joliryn. She moves to her carefully avoiding the guard to move into flank with Shohiraj.
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Rataji will cast lightning bolt but hold until he is in his current location and then release it catching guard to and Jolyrin
-Posted with Wayfinder
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It doesn't take you long to mop up Joliryn's team, especially with her Mage dead and Joliryn herself severely wounded. Afterwards, looting their bodies and taking a look around, you find a great deal of notes and other research papers and clues you can apprehend. You also discover, the lab's secret codename, likely the first time anyone outside of this secret cabal has heard of it; "Slumbersun". These records go into little detail but suggest the lab has been in operation for at least 5 years.
As you wind their way deeper into the complex, word of the intruders spreads deeper into Slumbersun. Many of the facility’s defenses are designed more to keep creatures from escaping than they are to prevent others from entering. The only alternative route leads south into an artificial, forested habitat where the researchers breed and contain alien species for experimentation. Having to brave the alien bio dome in order to continue, you are assaulted by four alien creatures similar to dragons, though far, far weaker, and hardly a threat.
The deeper you go, the more bizzare and alien the experiments become, though each new location offers you a chance to steal more notes and research, culminating in Professor Kramolag's first and most advanced (living) specimen, some sort of hybrid of a mortal man and an Aranae. It's the battle of your decadent and vile lives, but at the end you are victorious.
Your return trip seems uneventful until they cross into Cheliax. Within an hour, a team of Aspis operatives led by a finely dressed Garundi agent named Amersanus Valacosti. He informs you that his team is to escort them back to Ostenso for debriefing and that they are to speak of nothing that they saw to anyone except Iaovin Ratarion.
As they approach the Aspis Building, members of Valacosti’s team teleport you directly into the Aspis Building and shepherd them to the Hall of Blades. He snidely you, asking probing questions and repeatedly reminding you that what you discovered is to be kept completely confidential—even with regards to high-ranking members of the Consortium.
For your service and compliance, he also assures you that you will be paid in full for your work, whether that’s in gold, favors, or the tearing up of pending bounties.
The End