Qatala leads the way through the barren, blasted landscape of the Worldwound. About a half hour into the journey, the group begins to notice a red hue to the air. Before anyone can remark on the change, Ser Ilivan slides from his saddle and hits the ground with a grunt.
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Maruka sees Sir Ilivan slump to the ground in front of him, and sees Valyssa's face turn sinister. Looking at Wei, he sees also that his demeanour has changed.
Trouble brews he thinks. Rageweed, it has to be be. No other substance that I know of can have such an effect.
Companions! This devilish haze is caused Rageweed. Qatala, listen to me! Wei and Valyssa have inhaled these devilish spores and are under demonic influence. Do not get close to them for their anger will not be restricted by the fact that we are allies!
Half the party begins to hear their companions whisper about them, while the other half is a bit confused by what is happening. Zavita and Maruka identify what is the likely culprit. They think that calm emotions, protection from evil, or any other effect that will completely prevent the pollen from touching the skin will negate the effects of the pollen (such as Life Bubble). The pollen that landed on Ser Ilivan, Zavita, Wei and Valyssa has begun to germinate, and you can see small red vines start to snake across their skin. Meanwhile Ser Ilivan, who had previously fallen from his horse is now sobbing in the fetal position.
I need another will save from everyone who failed the previous one, DC 18.
And I'll need a 3rd will save from anyone who failed the first two. DC 18.
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Zavita! This is beyond my skill to master. Curse it, but I have not prepared spells for this eventuality and was not expected to encounter this wretched weed today. We must make haste. Their veins are starting to expand with rage-filled pollen
Maruka notices Sir Ilivan sobbing on the floor Get up man, and if you can help, then do so. You do your profession little justice today!
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It takes a moment for Zavita to come to her senses.
Damn Rageweed She curses as she grabs for her silver Ankh, and spins in a circle. She begins to mutter under her breath. A white line forms in the air, as if coming from her holy symbol. She stops spinning and pushes the line away. Bring those under the effects of rage weed here to me
This spell should last us until we get out of the area of the spores, just keep close to me.
The magic circle should be fine. If it runs out before you are out of the spores I'll let you know.
You march on for about 15 more minutes when you come to the entrance of a large cavern. As you approach, you spot several gigantic wasp mounds. Proceeding further, thousands of wasps pour forth from the nests and accost your party!
The swarms beat you to the punch and swarm over the party.
Each of you takes the damage above on your turn. I also need a DC13 fort save or you nauseated for the round, as well as a DC 13 fort save vs. poison. Other than that, Pathfinders are up!
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Maruka curses that the swarm seems to target him as he feels barbs penetrate all over his arms, leg and scalp.
The relentless swarm proves too much for Maruka, and he slips to the floor, vomiting onto the grass as the poison flows through his bloodstream.
Nauseous with pain, Maruka tries to crawl as far away from the swarm as possible.
Wei, Valyssa and Maruka feel their reactions slow as the poison burns through their veins. They take 1 dexterity damage from the poison, and I need another fort save.
Wei chucks an alchemists that singes the swarm and sets it alight! Meanwhile Zavita lets forth a blistering cone of flame that takes a solid chunk. However, an errant gust of wind blows the worst of the flames to the side.
While all this is going on, Ser Ilivan is keeping his distance yelling encouragement and advice (some more helpful than others) to the group.
Yes, thats it! Burn the wasps! That is one of the best ways to deal with these creatures.
I need the same two saves from Wei and Maruka.
Wei - poisoned, 4 rounds left, -1 dex fort save vs poison, fort save vs nausea
Valyssa - poisoned, 3 rounds left, - 1 dex
Maruka - poisoned,-1 dex, 4 rounds left, fort save vs poison, fort save vs nausea
Zavita
Quatala
Blue Swarm - 6 damage
Yellow Swarm - 5 damage
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Once again Maruka feels the barbs penetrate all over his skin Why do they seem so intent on attacking me? he thinks.
From deep within, Maruka finds the mental strength to overcome the nausea and rise to his feet.
Despite the pain, and a feeling that he has lost some of thre dexterity in his finger, fire flies from Maruka's fingertips, splayed out in a cone and aimed at the swarm
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes
A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips. Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action.
The blue swarm of wasps shifts and moves, avoiding the worst of the burning hands. However, the swarm is severely diminished by the spells. Wei steps out of the other swarm, and seeing that the blue swarm is singed and blackened, chucks the alchemist's fire at the insects. The vial hits the gound, spraying potent flammable liquids all over the swarm, igniting on contact with the air. After a few moments of inferno, the flames disperse and the swarm is gone.
The remaining swarm persists in their harassment of Wei, once again enveloping him.
Mean while, Ser Ilivan continues to yell advice.
Wei! Don't stand in the swarm! Keep your distance from them! Hurry and finish them, the demons are getting farther away!
Wei - -1 dex, fort save vs poison, fort save vs nausea
Valyssa - poisoned, 2 rounds left(need another fort save), - 2 dex
Maruka - 1 dex,
Zavita
Quatala
Blue Swarm - dead
Yellow Swarm - 5 damage
Pathfinders are up!
Going to ghost Valyssa since she seems to have nothing she can do vs. swarms and really just needs to make a poison fort save.
Zavita and Maruka once again unleash gouts of flame from their hands on the swarms. Luck continues to not be with them however, as the swarms shift around the flames, avoiding the worst of it. After the flames clear, the swarm is very singed and barely maintaining cohesion, but still there. With Wei having run away, the swarm moves towards Qatala.
Need nausea and poison saves from Qatala. The swarm is almost dead and the pathfinders are up!
Wei - -1 dex,
Valyssa - 2 dex
Maruka - 1 dex,
Zavita
Quatala - fort save vs poison, fort save vs nausea
Yellow Swarm - 23 damage
Whoops, forgot to post that.
Valyssa, I rolled a fort save for you in the previous post, which you passed. So no need for a save this round, and feel free to perform whatever actions you deem appropriate.
I updated the damage for the extra alchemist's fire damage. The swarm is on the verge of collapse.
Wei - -1 dex,
Valyssa - 2 dex
Maruka - 1 dex,
Zavita
Quatala - fort save vs poison, fort save vs nausea
Yellow Swarm - 27 damage
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Zavita begins to feel light headed, and falls to the ground, her shawl begins to glow as the healing light replenishes her vitality. She wakes back up a moment later and says a prayer to Sarenrae. Her hand begins to glow the with the same light as her shawl, ans she place it to her chest so the healing energy can enter her body.
Zavita-24/54
Wei-23/27
Valyysa-34/35
Maruka-26/34
Qatala-28/32
Maruka unleashes yet another gout of flame. When it clears, all of the wasps either lay charred on the ground, or have dispersed. After the swarms are defeated, Ser Ilivan compliments the group on their deft handling of the wasp swarms.
The group easily picks the tracks back up, and follow them into the canyon. Ser Ilivan seems troubled during this final portion of your pursuit, and he eventually speaks up.
You all...you have proven yourselves to be brave and good. Seeing myself reflected by you, I am ashamed. I have realized I am no longer fit to serve in the Crusade. I have seen too much horror and am a broken man. When we make it back to Nerosyn, I plan to resign my commission and find another way to do good in this world. However, in the meantime, I will do all I can to assist in rescuing those soldiers.
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Wei lofts a feathered brow as Ilivan speaks.. "I'm sorry to hear that, man. I hope you find the redemption you seek and a chance to turn your life around. Looking for a way to do good is a step along that path. Until we get to Nerosyn though, we are relying on you to do the best you can... Do you think you're up to that?"
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While tending to her wounds and the others conditions, Zavita over hears Sir Ilivan and Wei, she interjects her own thoughts on the matter. Sir knight, a mans past is what a makes a man today. Use those past experiences to avoid like wise situations.
She stops to think for a moment before continuing. A man can be broken, just as a sword. And like that sword can be repaired, so can a man. Both will wear the scars of what was once broken, but when they are reforged, they are usually done so stronger than before. My dear comrade, no, my friend, I have a feeling you can rebound from this. It may just take some time.
Zavita-51/54
Wei-23/27
Valyysa-34/35
Maruka-31/34
Qatala-28/32
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I am ready, Maruka says, although those confounded wasps have really brought my mood down. Maruka turns to Sir Ilivan There is no shame in being broken, Sir Ilivan, for it is only when you truly have to put the pieces back together do you realise the complexity of you. There is a brave warrior within you still, I sense it. Listen to your inner voice for a lack of courage killed more ambitions than any lack of talent ever did
Maruka stamps on a wasp buzzing around his feet Move quicker
Perhaps I can find some measure of peace someday. But it will not be as a crusader. How can I protect people when I am unmoved by their suffering? When I would rather ride by and ignore them, rather than stop and attempt to render aid? But Qatala is right, we should make haste. Every moment reduces the odds that any of the soldiers are still alive.
The party mounts up, and continues to follow the trail for another fifteen minutes. A dry, narrow gulch follows a dried-up creek bed appears to have been the site of numerous battles. Rusted weapons, broken arrows, and the occasional skull are strewn about the landscape. The walls of the gulch narrow, creating a natural choke point.
On the other side of the narrowing, you can see a group of crusaders, bound, kneeling on the ground. The group is flanked by a pair of dretches. Overseeing the group, 20 feet in the air, is a fel beast. It appears to be a minotaur, with hooves and sword wreathed in flame. The creature breathes ash and his eyes glow blood red.
When the party approaches, he speaks You mortals are so foolish. Always willing to throw more lives away to save those that are already lost. Come, save your compatriots if you can, or die if you can't With that, he casts a spell, then begins walking into the air, leaving fiery footprints lingering behind him.
Wei - -1 dex,
Valyssa - 2 dex
Maruka - 1 dex,
Zavita -
Quatala -
Dretch 1 -
Dretch 2 -
Big Bad - Air wlak active, 20 feet up
Maruka and Valyssa are up!