AC 26 (currently 30), touch 17, flat-footed 26
Fort +6, Ref +13 (+3 vs. traps), Will +5
CMD 20
HP currently 63/74 (usually 84/85)
Touch of good: 4/5; Hunter's Howl: 1/3
Effects: cat's grace (+2 to hit, AC, Reflex); -2 Con; Blessing of fervor (+2 to hit, +2 AC and Reflex saves); total +4 to hit, +4 AC
Jessamy ducks the blow easily and seeing her companions pressing the advantage abandons her defensive stance and concentrates on taking down their foe as quickly as possible.
Krojun hacks away, while chanting inspiringly!
for plus electrical damage!
for plus electrical damage!
for plus electrical damage!
Pirknok gives a mighty shout and continues to engage the foe!
Ensu pulls the other wand from his haversack and taps himself.
Jessamy's dagger makes a bloody mess of Mokmurian's knee bringing the giant to the ground where Krojun and Pirknok pounce separating his head from his shoulders and ending the tyrant's reign. His decapitated body spasms a few times, and then his head rolls over to face the party. Its features move mechanically and clumsily, as if being forced to move by massive invisible hands.
In a strangely accented voice, a voice that sounds almost human, he speaks somehow, his eyes flaring with a soul-searing emerald radiance.
At that, the voice laughs a cruel, mocking laugh that echoes and quickly fades as the head grows silent and still.
Pirknok blinks a few times as awareness of his surroundings returns. After ascertaining that everyone's alright, he breathes a sigh of relief and ponders the dead giant's words. "What do ya think he meant?" he asks no one in particular. "How kin killin' giants 'hasten his return'? Return from where?"
"I don't know. But that doesn't sound good (well, except where he said we were heroes!). It sounds like Karzoug wants to come back. Maybe we shouldn't kill anymore giants?"
Ensu moves over to Pirknok and taps him with a wand.
Then again.
"Whatever he meant, I think we might want to get out of here. After we look around for something to pay for our trouble..." he says while looking around.
for any knowledge of Karzoug.
Jessamy nods at Ensu's words, and quickly start looking around for anything that could be of use.
A careful search of the throne room uncovers a few things of value, namely a pair of engraved bone wands on Mokmurian himself and a large chest alongside the throne loaded with enormous gems and raw precious metals. Whatever magic was imbued in the giant's club appears to have been snuffed out with his cruel life.
Siolad practically dances with joy when Mokmurian falls. "YES! YES! We did it! We did it! We--"
He abruptly stops celebrating and starts coughing like mad. *ACK HACK KHACK HACK ACK KOFF*
"...I think I swallowed a bug..."
I'm down 2 Con and am at 104/118 HP. I think I'm fine.
Even though it was only minutes ago, the ancient halls of Jorgenfist already feel somehow brighter in the wake of Mokmurian’s defeat.
To the west, the hall ends at an immense bronze double door that bears a huge mirrorlike silver inlay of the ubiquitous sevenpointed star. This set of doors has no obvious hinges, handles, or locks, save for a single tiny star-shaped indention at the center of the larger mirrored star.
Conveniently, one of the hunks of adamantine looted from Mokmurian’s cache looks to be shaped perfectly to fit inside the indentation.
Jessamy holds up a hand.
"Wait a second! Let me make sure it's not trapped."
After looking it over, she tries the star-shaped adamantine key.
We can probably melt this down later and make something from it...
Jessamy's careful search uncovers that the door is secured with an arcane lock and that it's warded with a trap that will summon a deadly guardian is it's tampered with.
"Be ready, just in case this doesn't work," Jessamy warns.
She insert the apparent key and turning, hoping they're not faced with the deadly guardian.
Krojun readies an attack if something appears hostile!
With a *click* the chunk of metal slides into the indentation and turns smoothly and no guardians, deadly or otherwise, spring out to attack the party.
Numerous glowing crystal lanterns hang on fine chains from the domed ceiling sixty feet above, filling this circular room with bright light. The walls of the room are carved with more runes and sigils, while overstuffed wood-and-leather chairs and polished oak tables surround a thirty-footwide shaft in the floor. An enormous pillar dominates the certain of the room. This 30 feet wide by 50 feet shaft contains shelf after shelf of books, scrolls, and tablets.
The only ‘living’ occupant inside the chamber is a curious clockwork creature seemingly constructed of gold and bits of wood. It whirs to life when the party enters and smoke begins to pour from its joints. ”Greetings visitors”, it offers in a metallic monotone voice as it advances on the party, its limbs creaking and whirring. ”Can this unit be of assistance?”
Pirknok eyes the thing suspiciously. "What kinda assistance?" he asks, both eyes narrowed and one hand on his blade.
”This unit, Designation: Librarian, is caretaker, sorter, and assistant for guests and visitors performing research within the library”, the construct explains in its tinny voice while turning to gesture at the enormous column of lore. It turns but falters and nearly topples as the joints in one of its spindly legs lock briefly but it quickly recovers.
“Which volume of lore would you like this unit to retrieve for you? There are currently 24,491 volumes, scrolls, pamphlets, and unbound manuscripts available. Please indicate your wish by author, title, subject, or date of acquisition by the Therassic Monastery.”
"Do you have anything about Karzoug? Oh, or any magic books" Jessamy asks, hoping she might finally get some answers -- or maybe a tome that can help he be stronger or faster or something.
The clockwork takes a moment to parse Jessamy's request.
"Processing... Subject: Karzoug... Subject: Magic Books..."
"There are twelve articles relevent to your search. Would you like this unit to retrieve them for you?"
Pirknok nudges Jess in the side. "This is weird," he whispers quietly. "Ya think it's some kinda trick or something?"
Siolad is too awestruck by the sheer volume of books to formulate an immediate response.
"Processing... Subject: Karzoug... Subject: Magic Books..."
"There are twelve articles relevent to your search. Would you like this unit to retrieve them for you?"
"YES!" The elf mage suddenly blurts out. "For the love of all that's holy, yes!"
"Hold please."
The construct approaches the base of the pillar and suddenly lifts high into the air as if suspended on unseen ropes. One by one it pulls the heavy tomes from their shelves. A few minutes later the librarian descends and returns to the party, the books stacked neatly in its hand-clamps.
A Sculptor’s Guide to the Fleshpots of Xin-Shalast
Lord of Wealth: Karzoug’s Trade and Conquests
Tributes of Vadan, with Accountings and Predictions
Whispers from Leng: A Guide to the Beyond
Spires of Gold—The Rise of Xin-Shalast
Karzoug: Lord of Lords and Master of All
The Face above Xin-Shalast—A Lord in Primal Stone
A Traveler upon the Golden Road
The Golden Legion: A History of Auric Fleshworks
Life’s Price: Speculations on Interplanar Soul Trade
The Link between Nourishment and Life Eternal
Primal Magic: Boon or Bane?
"I think it's magic of some sort," Jessamy whispers back. "It doesn't really seem very giant-ish to me, though. But make sure we don't offend it because it seems pretty helpful."
"Can we take these with us?" Jessamy asks the magic librarian. "Oh, and do you have any books on heroes?"
"Warning: Removing articles from the library is not recommended."
"Um..." begins Pirknok, pausing when Jess makes her other request. "Do ya have anythin' about um... how killin' giants could help Karzoug come back from... uh... wherever it is he is?"
Ensu just stares at the clockwork construct, his mouth agape. His little gnome eyes seem to glow with brightness.
When the clockwork construct returns with the books, he walks up to it and in an almost reverent voice says, "You are amazing, simply amazing. Your creator was a great tinker, I am sure. Do you have any scrolls on Healing massive wounds?" he asks after a few moments.
"You know, I guess we could probably close that door and I doubt we'd be bothered... We could stay here and recover while we read the books. We probably should have a guard set up just in case, but it might be tough to get back in here again."
"It might also be hard to get out if they realize we're still here," the dwarf points out. "Specially if we aren't allowed to kill 'um," he adds with a grumble.
"Oh. Yeah, I guess that's true," Jessamy replies, disappointed her idea wouldn't work.
The construct 'looks' Ensu's direction.
"My creator- *ERROR: INFORMATION DAMAGED* Apologies, information on my creator is unavailable at this time."
"Clarification: Do you require documentation on the process of healing grievous injuries or enchanted scrolls storing healing magic?"
"Both." Ensu says.
Krojun stares openly at the mechanical librarian.
”There are no scrolls containing healing magic available at this time. There are four articles available containing information relevant to your search on the process of healing and anatomy. Would you like this unit to retrieve them for you?”
"Yes, please" Ensu says, frowning at the lack of scrolls.
"Excuse me, Librarian... why shouldn't we remove books from this library?" Siolad asks, scratching his head.
"Enchantments placed on the library suspend the materials in time preserving them. Removing the contents of the library from this space would undo those protections. The results would be irreparable."
"Ah--if we remove them, they'll crumble to dust." The elf nods.
"So I guess we read really fast, then? Or should we go talk to Conna first?"