Three more magical bolts hit, causing the fiend to grimace. Unfortnately no one else is able to hit.
Round 4
Malfeshnekor turns to face Quinion and unleashes his fury with teeth and claws, ripping apart another of the heroes (45 dmg total). "It's been so long since I've fed!"
The barghest looks noticably damaged, but still has much life to it.
Quinion is dead. PCs turn.
Rhianni:
You don't have any knowledge of its characteristics, but from what you've heard, you're pretty sure the greater members of this type of creature are extremely powerful.
I'm going to be very mercenary here: if we lose our last melee fighter, I agree that it's time to run. Until that time - open fire! Rhianni, if it comes to running, would you please Grease the area between us and the barghest?
"One more time!" Lym shouts, hurling another arcane bolt at the barghest. "One - more - time!"
Rhianni hurls another missile from her wand, despite her panic she manages to let them know such a beast can be beaten. From her position just outside the door, she watches as the missiles strike the creature.
MM 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 As a free action continue Bardic Performance 4 of 9, +1 attack and damage, +1 on saving throws against charm and fear to allies within hearing distance.
"No Praxim, run. We'll shut it in there again, Lym can lock the door after I've shut it. After all that's what kept him locked in before." shouts a terrified Rhianni as the beast has only Praxim and Vuvo as direct opponents.
Yes, unfortunately he's a bit of a gonna too, if we can find a way to kill the BBEG, then we can get back at it. Guys if you want me to try and go in get Quinnion, then I can use a Vanish and hope that the beast doesn't have see invis. If it does, then let's hope Rhianni has a sister, cos she will be dead if the barghest gets an attack.
Mind you not sure she'll do it in character, having seen the devastation reeked by Mr Barghest.
No. I hadn't seen that. I don't know how I missed that post. There's only one thing left for Vuvo to do.
Vuvo takes a 5 foot step back then runs for the door and on to freedom with his head low and tail between his legs.
Praxim lets the despair, both natural and artificial fill him and his features as Rhianni closes the door, leaving the remains of Markum and Quinion on the other side with the beast.
Just to be sure we're all on the same page... the door closes with the surviving adventurers on the outside, with Malfeshnekor still inside, hmm? ;) Also, Lym removes the key from the lock and pockets it.
Sounds good to me, we can't let the thing out, it'll cause havoc. We can do the open the door and fire at it on the inside, see if we can weaken it enough to rid the world of it, but I doubt that'll work.
We need to prepare better if we're going to leave and come back. Of course, if Malfeshnekor manages to bust out now, we're going to have a running battle all the way to the exit... Play on!
Shocked by the loss of their companions, an ashen faced Rhianni withdraws from the door, watching it, her readied grease spell live in her hand which crackles with raw magic. She turns to Lym, "If he does, try and burst through, then this may slow him down a bit." She waits pensively as she maybe about to find out if she can run fast enough away from what's inside.
What the best we can do to buff Praxim, I'm think Prot Evil as this beast is obviously not nice. Maybe even a reduce person, then he adds his smite defence, which will increase his AC by 2+1+2...but we need more ... any ideas welcome... add a bit of a boost to stats, maybe wisdom and dex to boost AC by another 4. Maybe throw in a scorching ray.. or False Life ... If Rhianni goes in under vanish, she can use CLW on Praxim too to help keep him up. It presumes Praxim is willing to go toe to toe with the thing for a couple of rounds. Lym keeps the wand of MM, until Rhianni comes out. More thoughts welcome.
I'm a bit shy on buffing spells just now. I have Expeditious retreat, See invisibility and Shield left, and I am not sure right now which of these can be cast on others. I still need to assign my wealth, so I could invest it into some useful goods -- provided our friendly DM does not call foul on that?
I guess it depends if we can get back to town and return, or we leave and hope to take it out later when we're a little more powerful. Now Rhianni knows it's here, despite her glass-like and uncombat-like nature, would think you can't leave something like this still around. I wonder what Praxim thinks.
Praxim's waiting to see what Malfeshnikor does before thinking anything. He's not going to leave this thing alive for some goblin five years from now to let loose.
Praxim nods, briefly laying a hand on the doors. "You hunted well, friends, though our preyed proved stronger than we could have believed. Rest easy now in the embrace of your gods."
Yep, time to get the womenfolk out of here. His goodbyes said, Praxim takes the lead, making sure the women stay close but behind him.
We gonna move on and leave the big baddie trapped at Thistletop or are we gonna get stuff together to take him on and maybe die in the process?
Once back at Sandpoint, Rhianni is very relieved and after taking a day to clean up and make herself feel more like a woman again. She says, "I must return to my work for the next week, though I've enjoyed our adventure and hope our destinies will cross again so that good may prevail. It is with great sadness we have left our friends corpses in Thistletop, our victory over one evil has left another. Time to return to my carsd and take stock of the future. Let us meet at Rusty Dragon in 5 days time. Give us time for reflection and regather our strength. What say you?"
If the others agree, Rhianni goes back to her fortune telling booth to earn more money. Perform Oratory 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 and/or Profession(Fortune Teller) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Tomaru had not even made it into town before hearing of the tragedy at the glassworks. He learned that, in a fit of infighting the Kaijitsu’s were known for, Lonjiku, the patron and owner of the glassworks, was killed by his cuckold son Tsuto in a most gruesome way with the aid of some goblins. Tomaru’s own father had worked at the glassworks and had been killed as well.
What was supposed to be a homecoming turned into a settling of affairs. He visited Father Zanthus, Sherriff Hemlock, and Ameiko Kaijitsu, who was technically his new master. They all spoke of a group of heroes that had saved the day at the Swallowtail Festival, brought Tsuto to justice, and were now off clearing the forest of goblins to insure the safety of the town.
Praxim numbly agrees to Rhianni's suggestion. He aimlessly wanders through town for several hours. He arrived in town, and within minutes was fighting beneath the glassworks, so has never really taken the opportunity to see beyond the Rusty Dragon. Alas, he doesn't see any of it now, either. He moves to the coast and stares out over the ocean waves. The night is truly late before he finds his way back to the Rusty Dragon.
OK at the meeting in the Rusty Dragon, I assume we'll discuss the next things we're going to do etc. It may well be in theree we meet Tomaru ... so Rhianni isn't going to know much about what to do next, it is up to those who might know better...If we're going onto the next AP - Book 2, then maybe GG can recruit another skill type character who can deal with traps?
Tomaru does not get a chance to meet the companions until the morning. Knowing of his desire to thank them, Ameiko points them out for him.
"Greetings. I'm Tomaru. My father was at the glassworks and I wanted to thank you for all that you did. It's too early to buy you a round, but I'll be most pleased to do so later."
As an aside, Rhianni whispers into Praxim's ear. "What's he talking about, what happened in the glassworks?" She smiles at the newcomer bowing her head, "Thank you sir, can I interest you in a reading?" she bring out from her pocket an ornate and welll worn set of cards, harrow cards. "Just a few silver pieces, that's all."
"The goblins and Ameiko's brother killed everybody there. Bringing them to justice is why we went to Thistletop in the first place," he whispers back.
Louder to Tomaru, he says, "No thanks are necessary, friend. You have my sympathies on the loss of your father." He goes grim for a moment, then continues. "Alas, Lym here is the only one of that number who yet lives, as I did but a little fighting in the very end, and Rhianni did not join us until we pursued justice at Thistletop."
Forgot to give a description
At first glance, Tomaru looks the part of your average Desnan priest, if there is such a thing, but then his features catch you. It's obvious that he isn't full blood varisian, but he's not of any of the common mixed blood types. Tomaru wears his hair in a knot on the top of his head, suggesting Tien as the other side of his ancestry. The combination is exotic and attractive on him.
"Oh! Well none can know their own fate. I would still be honored if all of you would dine with me this evening. We can toast the memories of your lost members then, and, if are not against the idea, speak of adding more to your numbers."
Disappointed at the man's rejection of a card reading, Rhianni smiles at the thought of a free lunch. "I'd certainly like to take you up on your offer, this evening is fine if my friends are of the same mind?"
