Shohiraj quickly checks the rest of the floor has been searched, then double checks that tripping the catch in the fireplace won't take her hand off or fill the room with poison gas, and then if all is well trips the switch.
Thestil keeps careful watch of outside the room as Shohiraj inspects and trips the hidden lever.
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The catch itself seems safe enough, so Shohiraj pulls the lever. The bed folds like an over sized accordion to the wall, revealing a large steel trap door in the floor. The door looks incredibly strong and hard to unlock, but a set of magical runes inscribed upon it may offer a key to its opening.
Looking over as Shohiraj activates the device, his eyes are suddenly filled with magical auras. Looking over the glyphs for a moment, he smiles.
"Allow me. And do remember the ease of this moment when you report back to your superiors in the Consortium"
Closing his eyes to concentrate, he mumbles a few incoherent phrases to himself. His hand begins to grow a crimson red as he waves it in circular motion.
As nothing seems to happen, the man blushes. Quickly he goes through the motions again. Suddenly, the glowing runes seem to dim.
"Did it say something about blood and Zon-Kuthon? I think I know what to do," Falth laughs mischievously as he pokes his finger with the end of an arrow. A tiny stream of blood begins to flow, so he drips it over the door.
Shohiraj steps back to allow Rataji to investigate the device "Seems like your skills are better suited for this one".
She watches Rataji at work, and raises an eyebrow when Faith steps in, but remains silent.
Erem,ay stands by watching Falth in his actions. "Not sure what I can do to help here."
"Falth, that seemed to help. The wards have loosened...need something more though..." Informs Rataji. "Shohiraj, perhaps you can take a crack at it now?"
Shohiraj nods to Rataji "of course, let me see what I can do" and steps up to the door, reaching for a sliver of metal that looks about the right size.
Zurnzal moves away from the door they had entered toward the newly opened stairway. About time. "Well done, Sho. Let's hurry and head on down. If that thing in the parlor wasn't lying to us, then we probably don't have a lot of time."
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The group descends the spiral stairs down into the basement. You are surprised by the sheer size of the facilities below. You work your way cautiously through a tangled network of halls, studies, and even artificial ecosystems. A combination of etched metal signs, sealed areas, and trial and error allow you to navigate the facility without extraordinary difficulty.
Listening at the next door , it is apparent that there are humanoids inside. You can hear sporadic muffled conversations.
As the team descends into the estate's underground network, Zurnzal produces a small vial from a pocket inside his cloak. He carefully removes the vial and pours the contents onto the glove on his left hand, then uses the cork to spread the fluid across his knuckles. With the application complete, he replaces the cork and stows the vial back in his pocket.
When the team reaches the next door, the half-orc listens intently at the door, trying to discern how many different voices are speaking in the next room.
Falth waves a hand over himself, and a shadowy streak appears in its path, covering his body from head to toe.
"Hey, orc," he says as he waves a hand over him as well. "As much as I like watching others suffer, this might help our chances."
This whole working as a team thing... What a joke.
With an arrow lined up in his bow, he waits for the others to be ready.
Shohiraj steps up next to Zurnzal by the door "looks promising" she whispers before scanning the door for hazards, and then listening intently to for anything beyond the door.
"Once you get the door open Shohiraj and we all go in I expect someone or something to confront us, most likely aggressively. If they attack us they forfeit the right to breath. We can sort out other issues afterwards.... OK lets do this."
As they stand outside the door, unknown entities awaiting them on the other side, Rataji takes a moment to prepare himself.
Muttering to himself in orcish, he passes his hand over his chest, resting it upon his heart. Then he quickly reaches out and touches Zurnzal's shoulder. A green light grows in his hand, and seems to encompass the half-orc's body momentarily, before dissipating.
"jupwI' no' constitution DechtaHvIS. ghaHvaD pol alive 'ej vISujlu'be'."
With a sigh, he mutters again, this time in the language of the greedy beasts. As he draws a crest before him, a shimmering, translucent shield appears.
"阻止攻擊的那些不幸的人們."
'Hopefully they report back to the Consortium how I've been a team player... Life is just not the same since my disgrace.' muses the enchanter.
"I do believe I'm as ready as I'm going to be. Depending on what we find, I'm inclined to agree with you Eramay. Though I do have a trick or two to potentially sway our enemies."
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The door appears safe to open.
The door slides open effortlessly. Fluid-filled canisters attached to the walls contain a range of small creatures floating in stasis. An overturned operating table has broken one of these containers, spilling viscous liquid across the floor. A much larger glass cylinder stands to the southeast, though it appears empty. Three figures in armored breastplates, carrying shields and silver warhammers stand at the ready They look warily at your sudden appearance.
Blue Guard
Green Guard
Falth - Shield of Faith
Zurnzal - Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance
XXX
Rataji - Shield
Eramay
Red Guard
Thestil
Shohiraj
Zurnzal rushes in and along the back side of the table, cutting off that route for the blue guard to attack.
Falth grins wickedly. "I see you..." He launches his readied arrow at the green-armored figure.
A sly grin crossing the mans face, he points a bony finger towards the surprised group.
"My, my, don't you all look chilly. Allow me to warm you up!"
As Rataji speaks, he curls his open hand and flicks his wrist towards the combatants with a snap. Two red lights swirl around his arm and soar into the room.
Eremay moves forward with sword drawn to stop the foes from attacking her companions... moving in front of Falths line of shot in the process and not really caring...
Shohiraj runs into the room, sliding across the table, setting Zurnzal up for his next strike, keenly aware she is exposing her back Lets hope we finish this guy off before those other two move in
Thestil stays in the doorway, and smirks slightly as she throws a dart at the closest enemy. The dart glows with a deep crimson hue as it flies.
Thestil creates eight psychic injections each day. She can activate one as a swift action, after which she can apply it by touching a creature as a standard action. The target takes a –2 penalty on Will saves and to its natural armor bonus for 2 minutes. When applying an injection, Thestil can attempt a DC 20 Sleight of Hand check to apply it without the target noticing; the target can spot the attempt with an opposed Perception check. If secretly applied, Thestil can choose to delay the injection’s effects until she triggers them as a free action while within 140 feet of the target. The effects of multiple injections do not stack.
This behaves like a normal dart but stores a dose of Thestil’s psychic injection. If she hits, she can choose to affect the target with her injection. The dart breaks after being thrown.
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As soon as the door opens, Falth lets loose a warning shot that barely misses its target. Zurnzal and Eramay race in as Rataji blasts the two closest guards with his scorching rays. Thestil's dart hits the nearest guard in the chin (green) and Shohiraj takes a quick flanking position. Out of the corner of her eye she spots a fourth figure nearly hidden behind the wall, it's Joliryn!
A strange whirring kicks in as you all enter the room, and suddenly a bizarre rune encrusted ruby gem activates in the southern wall of the room and begins to rotate in its socket as if it is scanning the room and then fires a sickly green ray at Eramay, weakening her slightly.
The guards mobilize efficiently, one steps to Shohiraj and swings his hammer hard in a low arc to drop her to the ground, while the other smashes her from above.
Regular Round - Bold is up
Green Guard - 23 damage and injected by dart
Blue Guard
Falth - (Shield of Faith)
Zurnzal - (Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance)
Rataji - (Shield)
Eramay - (need fort save)
Joliryn
Red Guard - 15 damage
Thestil
Shohiraj - (prone) 21 damage
Crystal Ray
Zurnzal steps forward with a short leap onto his left foot while his right foot remains behind him. Twisting at his hips, he brings his right foot forward in a long arc over the table to deliver a a series of two lightning-fast kicks to the body of the blue guard, while he aims his third kick at the guard's feet, hoping to send the guard sprawling to the ground..
"Hurry up and take these goons out to get Shohiraj up!" Eremay calls out at the Brawler "Caster! Take out their caster!"
Eremay moves up to attack the green foe...
... ...
Falth advances into the room with the same annoying, wicked grin on his face. "Looks like Joliryn decided to join the party. No big deal, just another target for a little bow I like to call Euthanasia," he says, imbuing his bow with evil energy against humans and aiming at the green guard.
Stepping into the room, Rataji stares down the enemies. "Worry not my foes, soon Pharasma will pass her judgement. Just wait till Falth stops toying with you."
A black cloud swirls around the human and spins outward, nearly filling the room.
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Falth solidly hits the guard. Zurnzal uses the scurrying Shohiraj to connect twice with his foe as well. By the end of it he lies on the ground too. Rataji dooms the battlefield with a cloud of despair. Eramay braces against the strength sapping ray, but cannot muster enough force for her scimitar attack.
Joliryn casts a spell to protect herself and steps out.
The final guard skirts through the table and lays into Eramay but she dodges all of the swings.
Regular Round - Bold is up
Green Guard - 42 damage and injected by dart
Blue Guard - (prone) 26 damage
Falth - (Shield of Faith)
Zurnzal - (Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance)
Rataji - (Shield, Aura of Despair)
Eramay - (1 ST damage)
Joliryn (spell?)
Red Guard - 15 damage
Thestil
Shohiraj - (prone) 21 damage
Crystal Ray
Shohiraj scrambles to smack the downed guard whilst he is on her level, while protecting herself from further attack.
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Shohiraj spins on her hip and finds the jugular on her prone foe.
The crystal ray blasts at Rataji but misses and the other guard slams the floor next to Shohiraj.
Regular Round - Bold is up
Crystal Ray
Green Guard - 42 damage and injected by dart
Blue Guard - (unconscious) 55 damage
Thestil
Falth - (Shield of Faith)
Zurnzal - (Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance)
Rataji - (Shield, Aura of Despair)
Eramay - (1 ST damage)
Joliryn (spell)
Red Guard - 15 damage
Shohiraj - (prone) 21 damage
Zurnzal steps forward and shouts at the guard standing in front of him. "Hey! Your boots unlaced!" Whether or not the guard falls for the juvenile trick is unimportant to the half-orc, however, as he slams his own boot into the guard's kneecap, delivers a blow to his gut with his left elbow, the rakes his fingers down from the man's forehead and across his eyes, hopefully blinding him temporarily.
Falth smiles as the guards foolishly swing at Eramay and Sho. "Don't they realize when they're outnumbered and outskilled? What a joke." He aims at the guard wearing the red beret and fires off two black arrows, one of them striking him between the eyes.
Shield, huh? Aid us or them though?
"Joliryn, are you friend or foe?" Rataji inquires across the battlefield. "I suggest you weigh your answer carefully!"
Drawing in a deep breath, he draws an archaic symbol in the air, awaiting her response.
Seeing Falths arrows whiz by her head and most likely striking the red guard in the head Eremay takes a 5ft step towards Joliryn and strikes at her if she still resists reasoning with the group...
... ...
... ...
"YIELD! or you will fall where you stand!" Eremay says to her knowing the group can stabilize her after combat if need be.
Thestil points at Joliryn and mutters
Traitor! You're standing in the way of my Ascension!
She throws another injection dart!
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Joliryn ducks under the injection dart. Both of Falth's arrows strike true, the second one impaling his forehead and dropping him instantly
Before the other guard could react, Zurnzal snuffs out his agency as well.
Rataji offers a challenge to Joliryn, and seeing the guards fall, she drops her guard.
"Well, Zurnzal, you can certainly still throw a punch. Nice shooting, tiefling. Rataji, Shohiraj, it has been... far too long. You will have to introduce me to your new playmates. Now, I suggest we get out of here before that ray shreds you all to pieces."
And she then retreats around the corner.
Regular Round - Bold is up
Crystal Ray
Green Guard - (unconscious or dead) and injected by dart
Blue Guard - (unconscious) 55 damage
Thestil
Falth - (Shield of Faith)
Zurnzal - (Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance)
Rataji - (Shield, Aura of Despair)
Eramay - (1 ST damage)
Joliryn (Shield)
Red Guard - (dead)
Shohiraj - (prone) 21 damage
"Glad to hear you still know which is the right side to be on, Joliryn. Now would you mind telling us what you're doing here?"
Shohiraj flips to her feet, nodding her thanks to Zurnzal, and then sprints over to Joliryn, deliberately moving so as to test the halflings relaxed demeanour.
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Joliryn lets Shohiraj pass freely (with a smile even). The ray targets Eramay again and drains her strength harshly.
Joliryn shouts "Quickly, around the corner! It can't target you here!"
"Well it is a surprise to see you all here. What has it been, a year since the Grand Lodge Affair? Yes, well, I have a feeling I am here for the same reason you are. To gather information on this place. Although, I seem to have taken a bit of a different method to secure it. But brute force is always another option. Sometimes, it can even be fun. And I guess we have no choice now."
She looks for a bit at the two wounded, then points to the downed guards.
"I think those fools out there have healing potions. Here take this though, the ray won't fire on you if you have it on. Each of the guards has one too."
She unlatches and hands one of you a copper medallion from around her neck, which has an etching of the manor above and a sunset on it.
A single claxon begins ringing in the distance.
"Damn, the facility is alerted now. Do whatever you have to do here quick. We won't have much time before they lock every room... or worse."
Eremay moves as best as she can towards the safe location looking weaker than before...she keeps some scrolls wedged in her belt to prep for the upcoming danger...
"Where to now?"
"Damn," Zurnzal curses as he gets to a safe location in the room and alarms begin to ring out. You had ONE JOB, he thinks, cursing himself for not taking more care to prevent anyone from activating the alarm.
Shohiraj takes the amulet proffered by Joliryn with a quick "thanks", before heading out and stripping the bodies of anything useful - throwing an amulet from the first body back towards Eramay. "This will go quicker with two, and I hope no-one minds if I drink a potion or two" she says with a slight smile.
On her way back she eyes up the crystal, looking if there is any way to disable it you never know if we need to head back this way in a hurry, we might not get amulets for everyone