Hefting the axe in his hand, Baeden acknowledges the weapon from Zoreck… and smiles when Zoreck asks that he try not to cut himself, ”I can handle myself thank you… the roads between Zel-Argose and Dae-Argose aren’t all that safe, despite the protection promised by the Coteries – if I couldn’t handle a blade, my business wouldn’t have lasted the year”.
The statuary and the writing within the temple is unlike anything the party have encountered before… the figures represented by the large statues are remarkably smooth and their features are indistinct, and when Baeden is asked about them, he shrugs, ”This temple is old… really old… and it’s only recently that Lomrick discovered it… and the gate contained within it. If I had to guess, I’d say these statues were gods worshipped in the ancient times of this world… long dead gods”, Baeden shivers involuntarily.
Whilst the group examine the murals, Andretta smiles weakly at Drancis, ”It’s okay… I’ll be fine… Stepping through that gate – it doesn’t seem to agree with me”… and then, ”Better than the alternative though…”
The majority of the doors leading from this grand chamber are closed… however, one to the north is slightly ajar… and the more perceptive of the party notice sounds of movement from within the room.
As she examines the murals, Astraea grows visibly excited. With her nose practically pressed up against the murals to account for her cracked and clouded vision. "This was, uh..." she starts, then bites her lip and thinks a moment. "...Right, so... I think... these murals are kind of an account of a people who worshiped... star-spirits...? The star-spirits guided them- their culture, I mean- through technological and spiritual advancements over the millenia... and eventually to creating a gate to another world."
"Fascinating..."
It seems meant to be. Ever since the incident that defined her life's path- the falling star- she has felt the guidance of the stars. Perhaps the star-spirits these people worshiped are the true power that call to her. She continues to stare at the murals for a time, lost in reverie, even with the sound of movement within the room growing louder and louder...
Rikkan points ahead, 2wanting to be sure the others heard the sounds he heard in the room. "Could be trouble," he whispers as he inches closer.
Drancis gives her a reassuring smile. "I know what you mean about that gate! Not my favorite means of travel..."
I wonder whether she was affected by the Gate the same way we were?
He glances up at the murals and makes a note to check into them further. On hearing the noises in the room he nods, whispering softly. "Careful, they may have set a trap for us here."
While the others check the surroundings, Illonna looks with concern towards Andretta. Should the woman consent, she'll quickly check over her for anything that she can do to ease her fatigue.
Illonna, examining Andretta, discovers that not only is their friend badly disoriented, she also has signs of an elevated temperature. She has little time though, to consider the implications before things take an unfortunate turn... the movement in the room to the north, is from a pack of the same lupine creatures that came through the gate with the klaven...
...as one of the creatures howls, Baeden freezes, "Warbeasts..."
Illonna draws her sword and concentrates on utters a prayer to Ragathiel.
Rikkan quickly drinks his Shield extract, knowing the warbeasts were going to coming fast at the group.
Drancis glances back at Illonna inwardly relieved he did not have to get too close to her. As he had talked to her earlier, all he had been thinking of is how stunningly beautiful she looked...
When he hears the cries of the warbeasts, he immediately sets BR down and then starts to pull the aether around him, his hair flying about his head as of its own free will.
Astraea hears the warning about the warbeasts. She still has little idea what they look like, but she is sure they're bad news. Eager to bolster her allies' chances, she prays to the stars- or the star-spirits the people who built this temple worshiped, perhaps- for a blessing.
Locke steps past his friends and plants his feet in front of Drancis with blade drawn. He takes in a deep breath and begins his raging chant anew.
"FOR KURGESS!!!"
Zoreck draws his sword and pistol, moving toward the sound of the alien warbeasts. As he turns the corner, he sees that beasts are still behind a partiall-closed doorway. He then stands his ground, pointing his pistol at them, ready to pull the trigger as soon as he has a shot.
Bounding from the northern room, three beasts - similar to the wolf-like creature that accompanied the attack of the klaven through Garsilt gate - rush towards Zoreck... howling... growling... and salivating...
...as the fastest of the beasts leaps, a shot rings out from Zoreck. There is a small spray of blood but the beast's charge is not stopped... hardly slowing at all, it leaps...
...and, following quickly behind, another two of the creatures bite at the Numerian's ankles...
As one of the beasts latches on to Zoreck's leg, he feels a savage pain... far more debilitating than there should be for the seriousness of the injury...
As the warbeasts charge Zoreck, a loud cracking sound echoes around the chamber... and then, a thin column of intense light bisects the eastern doors... as, with an accompaniment of creaking, the entrance to the temple opens. Silhouetted in the light, but difficult to make out in the brightness, there are multiple figures standing at the door...
Locke dashes forward in time with his fercious chanting to stand at the side of his companion, his blade sings crimson as it comes down on top of one of the warbeasts.
...with a single blow, Locke ends the warbeast's existence at the end of his blade.
Rikkan moves to the square just north of Drancis and throws his bomb at the southernmost beast.
RTA with PBS and Precise Shot
Fire Damage
"Guys, we have more company!" Drancis calls out as he holds onto the power surrounding his body.
Zoreck holsters his now-empty pistol and grips his sword with both hands, which he brings down onto the warbeast he'd just shot.
Astraea hears Drancis's warning and is vaguely aware of the light at the far end of the chamber. She feels her way around to the south, trying to keep low and at least mostly hidden until she can see the new arrivals. Just to be safe, she mutters a prayer under her breath and casts a spell of protection...
Slashing downwards, Zoreck feels the jarring sensation up his wrists as his blade strikes bone and then, in a flash of light and smoke, the temple fills with the stench of burning fur... yelping in pain, the second of the warbeasts recoils...
...and then, bleeding and burnt, the beasts retaliate...
As the doors clank open, three klaven - all wielding spur rifles - rush in... and directed by Maulvorge, who is still very much alive, move to positions behind the towering columns of the temple. And then, with a whining noise as their weapons fire and reload, the klaven fire upon the group...
...each of the fired spurs clatters harmlessly against the architecture of the room...
Trying to move past the beast, and dodging the incoming fire, Zoreck attempts to finish off the warbeast he's fighting.
...and curses loudly as his blow is deflected by the beast's thick hide.
Zoreck's blow, as powerful as ever, is deflected by the bony spurs across the beast's flanks... still feeling the jolt of the attack, the warbeast snarls ferociously and gets ready to pounce once more...
Drancis looks down at the Klaven leader Maulvorge, marking him in his mind. He then reaches forth with his mind...closing the Aether around the warbeast in melee with Illonna...
Rikkan moves 10' to the right and again throws his bomb at the southernmost beast.
RTA with PBS and Precise Shot
Fire Damage
Locke contiues his chant and attempts to attack one of the beasts again, but his swing goes wild.
Illonna goes in alongside Zoreck, attacking the beasts.
Astraea breaks from cover and moves closer to the Klaven. Positioning herself in a place where she can just see the two behind the pillars, she decides to give a particular new ability granted to her by the stars a try...
Attempting to lift the most damaged of the warbeasts with his mind, Drancis tries to wrench the creature upwards... and backwards at one of the klaven riflemen.
...but somehow the force of his mind cannot defeat the brute strength of the warbeast. Fortunately, Rikkan - with another accurately placed bomb - and Illonna's blade arm are there to end the threat of the bestial attackers...
...whilst, moving around the southern side of the plinth, Astraea calls on the influence of the stars - there is a sudden nova of fire around the southern pillars... and then, running towards Astraea, the two klaven are aflame...
...with smoke billowing behind them, the klaven fall upon Astraea... savage bone spurs on their wrists slashing at the unprepared oracle.
...whilst, at the other side of the temple, the other klaven within Maulvorge's troop charges Zoreck... who easily fends off the initial blows with his blade.
With the warbeasts slain, and his troops committed, Maulvorge moves into the temple... and, fixing Rikkan with his eyes, the klaven commander tries to stop the ratperson throwing his incendiaries...
Will
Rikkan pulls his Cognatogen and drinks it down, seeing a real threat with Maulvorge. He then moves 15' forward, just north of Illonea.
With the beasts felled Illonna swings around and sees Astraea stranded with klaven across the room. She quickly rushes to the oracles aid, delivering a charging stab to one of the shocktroopers.
Locke seethes with his own chanting and the assault on his allies. He dashes forward, past the Klaven fighting Zoreck and on to the leader of the creatures. With a powerful swing he attacks Maulvorge.
Drancis feels his heart constrict as he sees Astraea assaulted. He moves forward and gathers the aether around his mind, sending it at the far-most Klaven warrior banking it off the column behind it as if it was a billiard ball.
...and, as Illonna and Locke charge the Klaven attackers, battle is truly joined beneath the vaulted ceiling of this ancient structure...
Dodging a brutal blow from one of the soldiers as he rushes past, Locke rushes onwards towards the Klaven leader, Maulvorge... bringing his blade upwards with the strength of both arms behind the weapon, he cuts through the bone carapace of the klaven - and, slicing backwards, dyes his sword a crimson red...
Illonna, seeing Astraea's plight, charges towards the pair of klaven attacking her - but, slipping at an inopportune moment, the one-armed paladin misses... Also realising Astrea is facing two klaven on her own, Drancis focusses his attention towards the south of the temple - using the pillars of the temple to ricochet his attack, he strikes... dust pours from the upper detailing of the column as the pressure wave hits it and then, tumbling forwards, the rearmost of the klaven is struck. Crashing to the floor, the klaven does not get back up...
With the warbeast down, Zoreck turns to charge at their leader, but is intercepted by another klaven. With a scowl, he shouts, "Just...DIE already!!!" ...and then tries to run it through with his sword.
Savaged by the klaven's claws, Astraea panics; even as one of her attackers falls and Illonna appears to help her, she can't help but feel that she has gotten vastly overconfident in her newfound abilities. She hops away from the creature and presses a hand against the worst of her wounds, channeling healing energy into it.
Zoreck’s blow strikes the klaven that had charged him… but, despite the immense power in the attack, it doesn’t slay the creature…
Retaliating, the badly injured klaven still lands two heavy blows on Zoreck... the strength of the initial punch further exacerbated by the sharpness of the jagged claws. Illonna fairs a little better, dodging both clumsy blows against her... but Locke, having enthusiastically charged the klaven leader, finds himself isolated and very much under attack...
Locke roars in defiance against Maulvorge and attempts to cleave him in two.
Locke, roaring in a fury at the klaven, slams his sword downwards... striking the bone carapace, the blade cuts through Maulvorge's natural armour... and, as Locke wrenches it loose, the klaven looks at Locke with eyes as dark as void - and then down at the savage wound... which starts to pump a vivid crimson as the dying klaven falls backwards...
Drancis' eyes widen in shock as he sees Maulvorge sliced nearly in two. When did Locke grow so formidable with a blade?
He then concentrates his strange powers and sends a wave of concentrated air into the other klaven battling Illonna.
Rikkan pulls his dagger and moves to engage the nearest klaven.
Repeating his trick from previously, Drancis attempts to rebound his attack from the far pillar again... but this time he fails to take into account the curvature of the column and the shaped blast of aether dissipates harmlessly.
"I...said... DIE!!"
Reeling backwards, the klaven is badly wounded by an increasingly furious Zoreck... but, somehow its will to survive keeps it fighting a little longer.
Having healed the most grievous of the wounds inflicted by the klaven, Astraea retreats further... entrusting Illonna to stop the savage creature from following her. And, although Illonna's blow is woefully inaccurate, the klaven does focus its attention upon its sword-swinging opponent.
...whilst, on the verge of collapse, the other klaven continues to claw at Zoreck.
...the klaven's savage blows prove too much for Illonna though - the second claw slamming into her chest and plunging her into a dark unconsciousness.
Drancis' heart leaps into his throat as he sees Illonna fall again. He once again sends an aether bubble at the Klaven who dropped her.
Rikkan swings the masterwork dagger at the closest klaven.
Attack
Damage