Flush with battle-purpose, Iacobus barrages the troll further with blow after blow.
Though he abhors doing so, Finch raises his scythe to join in the attack.
The finally holds the line and their defense is solid, with blows raining down upon the creature from Corentin, Sasha, Galor, and Iacobus. The troll finally falls to the ground, its body covered in numerous wounds.
The wounds on the creature appear to be slowly knitting themselves back together.
"!" Iacobus proclaims
"See how the creature's flesh knits!" He clarifies as he points.
"We should gather our wounded and escape while we can."
"Do we have oil? I have heard that trolls cannot recover from flame. Put it to the torch!" Sasha says, leaning heavily against the nearby wall.
The group quickly lights torches and continues to pound on the troll, burning its wounds and ceasing the regeneration process. The creature finally stops moving and the room is quiet.
"I'm okay," Sasha insists, though it is clear that she is not. She has a jagged tear across her legs where the trap caught her and her pants are soaked with blood. She leans heavily against the wall, trying to keep her feet.
"I heard sounds from above us. I fear he may be fleeing."
Deciding he doesn't have time to find his axe in the fog Corentin quickly heads back upstairs with dagger at the ready to have a look.
After the troll seems to be completely dead Bellanie moves to Sasha and whispers "Sorry." before turning back to the others. "Ok you all stay put. Let me have a look see and make sure there are no further dangers."
Bellanie will slink off back up the hall once the mist has cleared trying to be as quite as possible and keeping an eye out for any further traps.
Embedded into the floor of this chamber is a ten-foot-diameter granite emblem of a faded gold and white longsword. Four passages lead out of the chamber in different directions. A portcullis blocks the southern exit, and a sturdy wooden door leads west. A ladder in the southern corner of the room leads upward to an open trapdoor, and a small chest and decrepit bookshelf face one another from opposite walls.
Taking a cursory search of the bookcase reveals little of value, only the mostly destroyed pages of Iomedae’s holy text, Acts of Iomedae, and several other weathered scriptures.
Moving over to the chest, Bellanie finds it untrapped and unlocked, and inside she finds a half empty vial of a thick liquid, another vial with a shimmering liquid inside, 50 feet of silk rope, a disguise kit (with 6 uses remaining), a set of thieves’ tools, a noble’s outfit, a signet ring bearing an image of a domino mask, and coins totaling 237 gp, 155 sp, and 55 cp.
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A good find. Johan notes. I am glad we did not retreat and leave it for others. Anyone know what the ring means or to what family it might belong to? He moves over to the emblem on the floor and examines it. Then using a sack to hold the sword he lays the blade on the faded gold and white longsword to see if anything might happen. While the sword is on the ground he will wash the hilt, pouring some water on it and then scrubbing it with a the sack. Unless something interesting happens he will then put the sword away.
The symbol on the ring bears a resemblance to that of Razmir.
After several minutes the burning sensation in Johan's hand and arm begins to subside, leaving him weakened by the ordeal.
Placing the sword on the ground does not seem to do anything out of the ordinary, but Johan is successful in rinsing off the hilt of the blade, removing any possible residue.
After passing off the loot for the others to look over, Bellanie moves to the western door and gives a listen.
Listening to the door, Bellanie hears nothing but silence coming from beyond.
Bellanie also checks for traps having seen the damage they did to Sasha, then cracks the door open to take a peak not hearing anything on the otherside.
Pointing at the ladder Corentin says, "That must be how he got back up into the church. We can look about here or try and pursue him."
"What a thoroughly unpleasant encounter. When we have more time, we should probably deal with the body and not leave it to rot here." Finch says, uncomfortable at the sight of the dead troll.
"Does anyone recognize this symbol?" He asks, at the sight of the ring. "I've never seen anything like it."
He focuses and listens for the whispers of magic on the wind amongst the gathered items.
Finch focuses on the items that were discovered in the room, using a minor spell to reveal any hidden magical auras. The signet ring and the noble's outfit both radiate magical energy. Surprisingly enough, the two vials do not.
Sasha shrugs, not having any idea who the symbol might represent. "We should be pressing on," she suggests.
"That symbol calls to mind a cult I've heard of. Someone called Razmir...claims to be a living god. I don't know too much about it though."
All is quiet as the party searches through the room. The smell of burnt wood filters in through the trap door from above, and you are sure that the ladder leads to the Plague House above. The symbol on the floor is obviously a representation of the Iomedean faith, matching those you've seen several times before in Trunau.
From Bellanie's vantage point she can see that the walls of the adjacent chamber are pocked with skull-sized cubbyholes, each containing a single brass or clay urn—some long since shattered or dented, others still intact. A lightly colored stone statue depicting a burning chariot wheel occupies the northwest corner of the room.
While Bellanie scouts ahead, Iacobus and Finch examine the items found, trying to determine their properties. After several minutes they are able to share their findings with the group.
The vial of thick liquid contains one application of sovereign glue while the other vial contains two applications of universal solvent. The ring is a rare item used by the Church of Razmir to allow them to pass as holy men, a Razmirian Ring of Seeming and the clothing is a Quick Runner's Shirt.
Price 7500 gp; Aura strong aleration; CL 11th; Weight < 1 lb.
This platinum and gold band is set with an ivory sigil of a mask of Razmir. These rings are typically crafted for, and used by, the upper ranking members of the followers of the Living God. Twice per day, the wearer of the ring can sacrifice a memorized spell or spontaneous casting slot of the like level to replicate the effects of a cure light wounds, cure moderate wounds, or cure serious wounds spell. By spending two of the level appropriate slots the wearer can cast lesser restoration, neutralize poison, cure disease, or remove curse. All spells remain touch spells and any variables are based on the caster level of the wearer.
Use of this item by any character with a deity that grants access to divine spells or domains disconnects that character from their domain and spellcasting powers until the caster benefits from an atonement spell. Any paladin that does not follow the Razmirian faith immediately loses all class abilities.
Construction Requirements
Cost 3750 gp
Craft Wondrous Item, cure light wounds, planar binding - lesser, life pact.
Seeing no imminent threats Bellanie's curiosity drives her forward. Stepping into the room she looks around.
While Bella investigates the other room Corentin takes a moment to recover his axe. Sheathing his dagger he takes a moment to appreciate the weapons heft in his hand before taking guard duty at the corner in case their foe returns.
Moving into the room, Bellanie quickly scans it for anything out of the ordinary or interesting...
At first its nothing, maybe something to do with the lighting in this underground area, and then she spots it. In the corridor between her and the southern doorway is a shimmering field, which she isn't properly able to identify. It is almost as if the air itself was solid. Even stranger is the fact that suspended in the field are several items, levitating in mid-air. She stops dead in her tracks as the solid "air" begins to quiver, moving slowly towards her.
Johan has seen a creature like this before, as they are not unheard of in the subterranean tunnels of his homeland. This is a gelatinous cube and they can be especially deadly. To be touched by one runs the risk of being paralyzed and potentially engulfed and eaten.
Realizing that she cannot maneuver for a shot without opening herself to an attack, Sasha settles for finding a more advantageous position within the chamber. "Bel, lure it this way!"
Hearing the calls of alarm Corentin moves back into the room.
Bellanie shakes her head "I'm not going near that thing!" she says in disgust as she tumbles away from it.
Realizing she was standing next to a giant quivering cube of goop, Bellanie tumbles back into the main room as the rest of the party stands their ground and waits for the creature to fully come into view. The creature slowly slides forward, its movement remenicent of an inching slug. As it squeezes its bulk through the doorway the wooden door sizzles and smokes, its frame instantly burning away from the contact of the obviously acidic nature of the creature.
Johan is the first to attack, blasting the cube with two arrows which penetrate into its body, slow down, and begin to dissolve away as they remain inside the gooey form. Corentin swings his axe at the creature, slashing into it just as Iacobus pummels the ooze with two solid punches. However, as his fists connect the warpriest yells in pain as the acidic nature of the thing eats into his flesh, leaving it blistered and burned.
Corentin cuts at it again with his axe and then steps back.
"Make use of the narrow halls. Keep your distance and surround it."
Bellanie backs up "How do we kill it? It's a big blob of goo are weapons even effective against it?"
Johan sinks another pair of arrows into the blob like creature as it continues to slide its way through the opening where the door used to be. A final strike from the chevalier's axe is enough to cut a wide gash in the semi-solid exterior of the ooze, causing a rush of fluids to spill forth from the wound as the thing slowly deflates into a jelly-like puddle on the floor.
"Is everyone alright?" Corentin asks, careful to avoid scorching his boots in the acidic remains. "Interesting companions this orc shared his home with."
Sasha nods her agreement, relieved that they did not have a tougher battle.
Bellanie nods and cautiously approaches the goo pile, checking that it's acidic nature has subsided before rumaging through the goo.