Hajar smiles at the thought of having more Rovagug worshippers to slay
He casts Shield of Faith on his brother and then
This way then. and with Tempest raised he attempts to move through the door.
See those footprints going in to the door? Someone is home. I think we should knock first. Paige says, obviously kidding.
Bartan walks over to the door, pulling out another card and starting to tear and bend it into some intricate tools.
=> The Locksmith (Lawful Neutral, Dexterity)
When he pulls out the card, Bartan blinks, almost not believing his eyes. "My friends, this is a great sign indeed. The Locksmith will guarantee that this lock does not vex me."
Bartan successfully picks the stone lock, which appears to have seen frequent use recently.
Paige opens the door.
The walls of this long vault are lined with wide alcoves. In several are stored numerous crates, barrels, and containers. At the western end, three alcoves contain workbenches and tables strewn with complex alchemical equipment, while a fourth at this end contains a crude cot, several ratty blankets, and a chest. At the far west end of the room is an immense mound of bones and empty carapaces from enormous insects and spiders. A single torch in a sconce gives off fitful light to the room. There is another door to the east.
"Yazi, my lady, if you'd please check that chest for traps?"
Paige walks to the door and listens against it... I'm surprised we didn't find anyone in here. The tracks say this room is used alot. Mabe we should set up an ambush...
Hajar enters the room and begins looking for the presence of evil....
The chest is not trapped, and unlocked.
It holds a collection of anatomy scrolls containing detailed diagrams of a brain pictured in quarters, the inside of an eye, a bisected heart, and a bisected kidney, all labeled in Qadiran. They might be worth something to the right surgeon.
Under these papers lie a score of crystal vials containing various astringents and antiseptics. Once again, a Heal check would have to be used to determine their effectiveness.
Several other marked potions lie at the bottom of the chest.
You get the faintest of evil auras at one of the tables. The lingering aura here means someone has recently cast a powerful evil spell.
Several of the papers on the table appear to be scrolls of the magical type, their script unsettling to your eyes. Several cups of foul water are stacked on another table, glowing like smoke to your augmented vision (unholy water).
You hear what might be low moans of pain coming from the other side. Multiple voices.
If yazi tells Paige about the vials she will help
Quickly this way... hisses Hajar to Khayal and the others.
As soon as they gather, he attempts to burst through the door and into the next room.
Khayal moves quickly to his brother's side. Ready for his signal.
The astringents and antiseptics can be used to aid Heal checks, each providing a +2 circumstance bonus to a single treatment provided to a single individual.
Hajar throws open the unlocked, untrapped door, and you see...
Six granite columns, badly chipped and damaged, encircle a large room swept clean of debris and dust. Metal rungs riveted into each columns support a thick wooden table propped up against it. Five of the tables have massive, naked gnolls on them. Their limbs have been unnaturally enlarged, the new skin still tight over the flesh. All have a still-healing wound on their foreheads, and various cuts on their bodies. Leather straps hold down the gnolls to the makeshift tables.
The sixth table-column holds a cage-like structure with a complex device set in a weighted metal base. The medieval torture device extends a swiveling, jointed appendage of unfinished iron inscribed with jagged runes. Mounted to the end of the appendage is a burnished steel facemask with clamps and bands that appear as if they were meant to be strapped over someone’s head. Centered in the forehead of the mask, a half-inch-wide drill bit faces inward toward what would be the wearer’s face. The bladed bit connects to gears and spindles that lead to a crank halfway down the metal arm. To the east, a large stone door sealed with chains and iron bars stands in the wall. Bloody footprints go back and forth everywhere on the floor.
Next to the southernmost newly-created Unchosen gnoll is a wiry man with a slight stoop and bald pate. He dresses in a thick, leather work-smock, heavy gloves, and covers the lower half of his face with a leather doctor’s mask. He also carries a tool belt filled with chisels, scalpels, and other sharp quasi-surgical implements, which he wears draped over his shoulder like a bandoleer.
Seeing the adventurers, the human says "Ah, more patients! Excellent. But I'm afraid I'm still working on the current batch for the new King. You'll have to wait your turn. They call me Madfang, by the way. But I prefer the Holy Ascensioner." He lifts a still-bloody cleaver.
At the sight of the new humans, the beasts on the tables roar in confusion and wrath, struggling at their bonds.
only one?
ROUND ONE
Init:
|
Stepping into the room Yazi's mind stalled. She could face a lot of things, even giant bugs. But this... abomination of the healing arts, sacred to her goddess... this perversion... needed to die. Painfully.
Snarling as she ground her teeth together in anger she stomped over to the man to introduce him to his King's axe.
Hearing the perverse human's voice, Bartan rushes toward the door, placing a hand on his cards and pulsing them with cold fire.
Hajar follows behind Yazi, attacking the Red Unchosen gnoll
hearing Yazi axe-whoosh something in the next room Paige rolls her eyes. How many gnolls are IN this place! With a twirl she transforms into a vicious little desert dog and lopes full speed toward the room, giving Khayal a little yip to let him know she's comming up behind him. Ah the freedom of animal form! she thinks to herself with an inner smile
Khayal steps up to the purple gnoll unleashing a series of blows.
Khayal attacks the helpless Unchosen gnoll on its' surgical table, only half his blows cutting into the beast-man's flesh. It remains alive even as the human slices at it with his blades. Hajar follows suit on the other Unchosen , doing similar damage. Paige transforms and scurries into the room. Bartan follows, his arcane energies flashing from his hands.
"Ahhh! A difficult specimen!" Madfang cries out as Yazi's greataxe hits him. "I think an aggressive treatment is called for!" The human retaliated with his well-honed cleaver.
But the madman misses.
The Unchosen gnoll behind Yazi breaks free from his bonds and lunges at the first person he sees, arms and claws outstretched.
The other Unchosen gnolls strain at their bonds, growling and snapping.
one more
ROUND TWO
Init:
Khayal simply slits the throat of the adjacent gnoll.
The Unchosen gnoll on the table expires.
Paige-dog leaps atop the red gnoll-monster, no doubt humiliating him as she lands atop his belly and attacks the mad scientist along side Yazi at eye level... for
Bartan five-foot steps foward, pulling out a harrow card.
=> The Carnival (Chaotic Neutral, Wisdom)
He then breathes deeply to center himself, then casts a spell and hurls the card at the evil alchemist, despite his friends being in his way.
plus
Bartan's playing card manages to score the mad doctor, and snow covers the man's upper chest and shoulder.
"No one appreciates an artist while he's working." Madfang snarls, and backs away from the incoming adventurers. Despite heavily bleeding and his frozen shoulder, the man moves back across the table, and against the far wall.
The newly-created Unchosen gives Yazi something else to think about as it fully attacks her.
Another Unchosen snaps its' bonds and lurches up off of the surgical table. The other Unchosen roar and struggle to free themselves as well.
so close
A little short-haired dog jumps on top of the Unchosen on the leaning table, yipping at the doctor. The gnoll tries a bite at the dog.
The little dog yips in surprise as her leg barely escapes the gnoll mutant's razor teeth...
Hajar attacks the Red Gnoll
Hajar moves to engage the Black gnoll and attacks it.
Yazi kills the Unchosen gnoll on the table with her first hit. She turned and struck the first freed Unchosen in the room . The large gnoll roared in response, his eyes going red. Hajar followed-up, going around the table-column to also strike at the Unchosen on the floor.
ROUND THREE
Init:
Bartan steps forward, pulls another harrow card, centers himself, casts shocking grasp and throws the card at the alchemist, the card weaving around his allies once more. When the card hits the man, he turns green for a moment, looking like he may vomit all over the big gnoll next to him.
=> The Sickness (Neutral Evil, Constitution)
plus plus
Hajar continues his assault on the unchosen
The paladin kills the Unchosen battling Yazi .
The mad doctor limps up to the massive door to the East in the room. Reaching down, he pulls a hidden lever, and six locks pop open simultaneously and the door opens by itself. "Come, my masterpieces - time to fight!" Magfang calls out to the Unchosen in the room. He pondered next to the door. "I wish I had an assistant for these long sessions. Someone with curves and a compliant attitude. I could make one, of course..." The doctor disappears into the blackness of the next room.
The Unchosen move to comply. The others continued to struggle at their bonds.
nope
nope
The newly freed Unchosen moved quickly to attack the humans .
But the gnoll missed the human.
Bartan's playing card just missed the gnoll standing on top of the fallen gnoll.
Paige lopes up to the door which the doktor has just disappeared through. She then turns a dance like a coyote spirit guide of some kind, casting badgers ferocity Yazi and Hajar (the closest to her).
After this, she places her shoulder against the wall in a ready stance, and peers in. If anything comes through this door they will get a bite in the pants, whoo-wee!
miss
Khayal charges the gnoll to the north.
His swing not as true as it could be but carried with the extra force of the charge it seems to connect.