Barek swings his fist at the Yeth hound, hoping to put it down for good. Then he moves to draw the second one's attention from Seldon.
As Selena is running away she might as well head back to the area where Nualia was and start identifying the items there. As such she moves will great speed down that direction.
Chapel of Lamashtu - Round 1 - concluded
Tunder, his bow tied to his waist, is able to retrieve the weapon, and load it.
Barek slugs the south side hound. His blows combined with Mirela's rapier wounds take that dog out of the fight. The pugilist then turns his attention to the other dog, ready to take it next round.
End of Round 2
As the hound slumps to the ground, a grinning Mirela nods at Barek and yells "Great teamwork Barek!" Glancing over and seeing Seldon in a precarious spot, Mirela springs from atop to the platform to engage the second hound.
Coming up on the hounds flank, Mirela scowls as she strikes at awful creature with alarming accuracy "Leave him alone you beast!"
Seldon will delay, pressing his bow into the creatures jaws and trying to ward off it's fangs.
With the ounce of bravery still in his mind, he flees with Selena ahead of him, his fear addled mind still knowing protection in numbers.
Chapel of Lamashtu - Round 2
23 Seldon
20 Mirela
20 Orik (panicked 6 rounds)
15 North Hound
12 Barek
7 Tunder (panicked 6 rounds)
4 Selena (panicked 6 rounds)
Mirela slips in behind the dog that is atop Seldon, and stabs out with her rapier. Nearly defenseless from behind, the dog is easily skewered on the end of her pointy stick it's attention turned back to her but blood gushing from a wound in it's backside.
Seldon holds off the snapping fangs of the creature just long enough to get his starknife loose. The upward thrust of the holy blade is not enough to penetrate the icky hide of the yeth hound however.
The dog, it's attention now turned to Mirela, bites the young rogue hard on her sword shoulder for 9 dmg, almost knocking her from her feet, but at the last moment Mirela recovers her balance.
Seeing it bite Miri, Barek grabs the hound's head roughly by the back, and before it can react, he lands a devastating punch right into its neck. A loud crack is heard and the hound goes limp. Barek tosses the hound's body against the wall and its head bounces and lolls at an unnatural angle.
"You ok, Seldon? Miri? Where did the others go?"
"Nîdh! That hurt..." Seldon groans, picking himself up from the ground. He stares upward at the towering sculpture of Lamashtu. "Make sure the others are safe. I will do what must be done here."
Seldon will upend the braziers and sweep the ash and bone off of the altar. He lights four candles, feebly flickering in the smokey red chamber, and sets them on the marble altar, which he douses in holy water before sprinkling a magic circle in silver dust. Tearing his eyes from the statues glowing blades, he begins to read from his Eight Scrolls, casting consecrate .
"Watchful goddess, Dark Lady of the Crossroads,
and wisdom hard-won. Drive out the treacherous Lamashtu
and let Thistletop nevermore be a place of sacrilege.
I call on the Night Monarch, Nightspear, Sorrowbrand,
on the stars in the sky and the song in the spheres.
Sanctify this cursed place. Mára mesta, alla'Desna."
Tunder is eager to kill the hounds that scared him so. He takes aim with and fires.
Iona (Hvy Crossbow): Silver Bolt, Magic Weapon
to hit Damage
Still panicked from the howl Selena continues to run back towards the location that Nualia was hoping that she will be safe further into the complex and away from the hounds.
Following Selena...
After the frenetic running her adrenaline slows and she can start thinking again. Orik is with her but the others are still back at the temple more than likely. Not wanting to face the hounds again but figuring she has to she turns to Orik. I hope the others are alright. Lets get back to them but take it slowly first. I also want to grab the magic items in the room. I can identify them later once we all meet up again.
Detect magic to be the items then return upstairs hoping the hounds haven't decimated everyone.
Chapel of Lamashtu - Round 2 - concluded
As the flying evil hound turns on Mirela taking a large bite from her sword arm, Barek steps up next the creature and delivers another walloping blow that cracks the neck of the yeth hound. Throwing it's slumped form against the wall, Barek checks on Miri and helps Seldon to his feet.
Down the next level, Orik and Selena recover the magic items found from Nualia, trying to determine the dweomer and ability of each item in turn.
Seldon begins a ritual meant to sever the link of Lamashtu to this place. His chanting and ritual quickly begin to set all the others at ease.
End of Combat
Tunder takes the time to make sure the beasts are fully and totally dead. "Can we go now?"
Tunder dismantles the yeth hounds, making sure they do not rise again; his impatience flaring to cover his embarrassment at being overcome with fear.
Orik asks her a small favor, "I want to make sure that she is dead, you detect magic and start trying to figure out what the items are, I will be taking her head." Once that grisly task is taken care of Orik keeps the head until at the library. He throws it in a corner and then leads Selena back to the temple.
Barek watches Seldon perform his rites. He looks down and sees the scales on his arms have mostly flaked off, but he can still feel them on his neck and face. And his tongue still feels funny. "Sssstay here. I'm going to go find the others."
It takes him several minutes, but Barek finds Selena and Orik down in Nualia's chamber. "What happened? What did you find?" Be walks with them back to the temple.
Gripping her wounded arm, Mirela decides to wrap it in a makeshift sling to promote healing. Scowling at the dead Yeth hound, Mirela kicks it lightly muttering "Damn dogs." Glancing over at Barek, the young tumbler smiles slyly "We make a good team, you and I. Those mutts didn't stand a chance."
Pulling up beside Seldon as he begins the rites of consecration, Mirela looks over her shoulder towards Barek "You check up on the others downstairs, I'll keep Seldon company."
Seldon folds his arms, apparently satisfied as the sculpture's flaming blades begin to flicker, wavering out. He gives Mirela an appreciative nod, smiling softly. "You two saving my hide is becoming all too regular of an occurrence." he muses, brushing the ashes from his hands. "Thanks."
spellcraft checks as requested:
breastplate success
bastard sword success
medallion fail
After finishing with the magical detect Selena grabs the 3 items that appear to her as magical and heads upstairs with Orik. She does hand Orik the sword as all of it would be too much for her to carry. On the way to the chapel she runs into Tunder. Glad to see you. Are the others holding up okay and have they gotten rid of the dogs? that howl sent a shiver down my spine and all I wanted to do was get away from them as fast as possible.
Would you mind carrying this for me as this breastplate is quite heavy to haul around. I don't know how you guys manage to carry all of this stuff.
Once in the chapel with everyone else Selena will bring up the magic items. I did not search the entire area downstairs nor did I search the room that Lyrie was in but I did detect some magic auras. There were 3 of them. The sword that Orik is holding and the breastplate that Tunder is carrying. The sword seems to be sharper than usual alloing one to wield it better while the breastplate is enchanted to provide a modicum of protection greater than a standard breastplate. this medallion is also magical in nature but I can't make out exactly what...
Selena stops talking as she looks around and feels the wholesome change in the area. ...what happened here? this place smells better or something that I can't put my finger on.
"I've cut off the altars connection with the abyss. We can breathe easy now. Thistletop is ours." he says, with a weary grin. He reaches for the medallion. "If I may?"
With the chapel secure, and the magical loot from Nualia recovered, what do you choose to do next?
Barek looks over the breastplate Selena found. "Nice."
"Fine work indeed." Agrees Tunder.
Orik chooses not to say anything about him running, nor does he add anything to the decision making unless asked specifically.
He simply stands alert at the door ready to act if he hears anything, acting the part of the mercenary protector.
Very well done Seldon. I would not say it is a place I would call home but your efforts have doen much already to make this a better place. The location still leaves a lot to be desired along with the fact that there is a tribe of goblin carcasses up top. I am Ll for calling it a night here in the temple and in the morning find some cleaner air while we see about getting Thorn raised. What about the rest of you? What are your thoughts?
Selena ponders the amulet. That is quite the powerful trinket then and one that should be put to good use.
"If we're making back to Sandpoint we should try to find Tobin's remains. I would like to stay and investigate this place further, but the immediate danger has passed..." with that, the elf moves to investigate the unexplored south area.
Orik wonders if there is anything of worth in the room that could be pillaged, especially those two kukris on the main statue. Are they actual weapons or just pictures?
Since there does not appear to be any threats coming, he walks around the room looking for wealth.
"There are other dangers still present here, like that squid creature I saw in the caves as well; nevertheless, I am dead tired and we need to get Thorn attended too." Drawing forth the small dagger in her possession, Mirela shrugs while adding "I also need to hawk this thing, which I may need to do in Magnimar if we can't find a buyer in Sandpoint."
Selena stays where she is in the now cleansed temple and waits for the results of the searching by everyone else. She is not that good at searching for hidden areas, or moving silently to explore other dark areas, and she is tapped for spells at this time. Taking out her bedroll she lays if carefully on the ground. Looking at it slowly she shakes her head and goes towards Orik and Barek who have remained close by. I was wondering If you gentlemen would do a lady a favor. There are a few bedrooms to the south and I was hoping that you guys would be willing to move one of the mattresses into the temple here if that is where we are spending the night. I would prefer something softer to sleep on then just my sleeping bag. If you would be so kind I am sure that Miri would appreciate the gesture as well.
Hoping that the men are agreeable to such a notion Selena goes about using her bedroll as a curtain in the northern alcove of the temple area to create a more private area for Miri and herself. Not that she doesn't trust her new companions but a lady does need some privacy.
When Miri talks about the dagger Selena pipes up. I may be able to use some of the contacts I met before with my father. I will have to be careful though so he does not find out about my current whereabouts, but I should be able to get top value for that item in Magnimar. If you are so inclined to let me try once we get around to selling it that is.
As Seldon explores the area to the south of the chapel, he finds the door opens into 5 ft of stairs descending, ending in a door. That door opens to reveal a long room with a bank of 6 cells on the southern wall. Each cell has an iron door. The rest of the room is obviously a torture chamber. A rack sits against the far wall, an iron maiden stands to the north, and a fire pit smolders below the spiky cage dangling from a chain in the ceiling to the east.
Besides the 6 cells, there is a door on the west side of the room, and another on the west side.
"Gods above, you don't mean to sleep in the temple, do you?" the elf shudders, his deep grey eyes staring at Mirela as if she were mad. "Under that terrible statue? Let us at least make for the bedrooms. Much more comfortable, and much more defensible..."
Stepping into the torture chamber, Seldon wrinkles his nose in disgust. Assuming the cells are empty, he will search the topmost room for Tobin's remains.
The altar in the chapel held fragments of bones and ash mixed together These would've been the remains of the old priest, which had already been mostly consumed in the fiery ritual that Nualia prepared for her adoptive father's remains.
In the prison, the cells are indeed all empty.
Eyes widening at the thought, Mirela shakes her head unequivocally "Desna save me, sleep here?! No no no, I meant that we should get back to Sandpoint and sleep comfortably at The Rusty Dragon." Shaking her head bemusedly, Mirela teases "Sleep here... honestly Seldon, I may be a little impetuous and sometimes, but I'd never suggest something that barmy."
Looking back at the others, Mirela shrugs though "If we're going to stay here, and I hope we don't, then yes... let's by all means head for the bedrooms at the very least."
"I second sleeping back in Sandpoint. Or if we can't make it back, then out under the stars. Anything would be better than in this unholy goblin den."
"Sanpoint or under the stars." agrees Tunder. He begins walking back upstairs and out of here.
IF there is time then Selena will vote to get back to Sandpoint and see what they have to get Thorn raised. Then we can figure out if we need to leave in the morning to Magnimar.
If we do make it back to Sandpoint then is it possible for Selena to scribe a scroll if there is enough time before bed as well. Looking at scribing a scroll of Bear's Endurance for 2*3*25*.5*.95=71.25gp
After Seldon is able to recover the few remaining bits of bone from the unholy altar, the party sets out back towards Sandpoint, the mule carrying the body of their fallen companion.
They get to the rope bridge connecting the goblin fortress to the mainland, and Orik warns them of the loose rope. Stopping to secure the bridge again, the party leaves Thistletop behind uneventfully.
They scratch and fight their way through the Nettlewood without incident and soon find themselves back on the Wild Coast Road headed back to the village of Sandpoint. At the road, Orik announces he won't be joining you on the road back. Instead he is headed north to Riddleport to visit his father, Saul Vancaskerkin, who has started a gambling business of some kind up there. He shakes hands with the group gruffly, and sets off down the road alone, as he started.
The sun starts to fade in the west as the party moves towards their adopted village. The heavily traveled road is unlikely to be a problem, but have the choice of stopping and camping, or continuing on after dark for 2-3 hours to get to the village itself.
We should also have Stomper with us.
Barek waves as Orik departs. "Still don't really trust him, but he held to his word in there. Guess he got mixed up with the goblins by mistake."
As night falls, Barek says, "Well, what do you think? I'm all for pushing on to Sandpoint. At this stage, I'd be happy with a warm place to sleep and a good meal."
Selena sighs and lets out a yawn. Let's push onward and get a good bed and meal for the night. Hopefully there is a room still available at the inn.
Good luck Orik and may you travels be quick and the road clear to your destination.
With a farewell wave to Orik, Mirela adds "Well, he was fighting alongside us in a pinch. Between him and Lyrie, it's clear that Nualia wasn't particularly good at inspiring loyalty among her comrades." Shrugging, Mirela sets off towards Sandpoint "No matter, let's get going. I could use a hot bath and a warm meal after all this nonsense... we'll have a few hours on the road in darkness, but we're also probably the most dangerous thing on the road at the moment, so we needn't worry."
"All the great pilgrims of Varisia travelled by starlight. They say the goddess would light up the Stair of Stars to guide her faithful through the night." Seldon will stroll alongside Mirela, pointing out all of the constellations in the night sky to pass the journey. He seems to be in high spirits, glad to be on the road again, and does a poor job of hiding his disappointment as they reach the town so soon. "Let us to the temple. Right away."
Too tired for much talking onteh final leg home Selena does not join in the revelry that Seldon is providing. Head dipped down and feet plodding along Selena does her best to just keep up with the group and not fall behind. As she moves along she thinks wistfully of her cart and horse and the relaxing nature of riding versus having to walk by foot.
Tunder goes to the cathedral.