As the friends watch, the crystalline arachnid - seemingly oblivious to Eldar, Symon or anyone else who may seek to communicate - starts to burrow. Within less than a second and accompanied by a tinkling sound that is quickly muffled, it has disappeared beneath a pile of fresh rubble...
"Well...that was something! I sent a ..umm...friend forward to follow that orb-thingy. Maybe we should wait until he comes back with a report. What do you say?"
"It is always best to have the most information possible before advancing. I say we wait for your 'friend'."
"I agree. Rushing ahead without any form of information would be a blunder from us"
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Appearing to concentrate upon the shadows flickering in the passageway that heads to the north, Symon then turns to his friends and informs them that, ”The cavern to the north opens up to much larger cave… apparently there’s a river of magma but the way is not blocked to us, a rock bridge spans the lava – so that’s the good news. The bad news is that the cave is occupied – some kind of gaseous creatures, more than one of them, are floating above the magma… the orb fled beyond them… but then moved out of sight”.
I suggest we take a look down the other passageway and see if maybe we can get around those floating gas creatures. What do you all think?"[/b]
Luther waits.
"Well, magical aids expire after time as well as my extraplanar servants. As you scouts can determine their value, I will let you decide how we proceed. I will clank along in my plated armor."
"I will follow the direction you advise. This place is still very new to me"
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Drusellia says, "We should go soon. Use the magic while it is available. I recommend that we move forward."
"Ok, well then lets move forward then. Kaspar has told me what is there, but we need to be very careful...who knows if that other creature has returned with friends. Ok, lets go!"
Slinking into the darkness with his "friend", Symon moves forward to the big chamber with the floating gas creatures.
Heading to the north, following the guidance from Symon, the group move into an antechamber... the temperature rises even further as they draw closer to the glowing magma in the next cavern. Pale white and grey crystals cover the room in tightly packed formations, clustering in corners and around the central pillar.
...and in the glow of the cave beyond, clouds of green gas - somewhat out of place as they swirl around with an apparent sentience - move near the rocky ceiling...
Taking a moment, before moving into the main chamber, the group watch the gaseous creatures as they lazily move between the stalactites that trail from the roof of the cavern…
Galahad will take a cautious step into the chamber, hoping Eldar follows at his side.
Eldar follows. Doing the same. Shield in front. Slowly advancing into the chamber
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Symon keeps to one side and stays hidden along with Kaspar. His bow is ready to fire at any threat that appears.
Stealth:
Dru follows the others, keeping to the shadows.
As the group make their way into the chamber, the movement of the gaseous creatures seems to alter slightly... their movements, previously seemingly random within the heated air, become a little more deliberate... still swirling around out of reach, they seem to be tracking the movement of Eldar, Galahad and Drusellia...
...and, as the group draw close to the natural rock bridge across the magma flow, several significant cracks can be observed along the length its span...
"Be vigilent friends. We seem to have been noticed" he warns as they approached
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"I will see how this indirect approach works."
The elementals disappear.
Symon keeps to the shadows and holds his weapons at the ready if these creatures turn hostile.
"A cracking bridge over lava and sentient gaseous forms that may not have the best intentions for us. Pleasant place this Spire." Galahad stays at the ready for an assault from gas beings as he continues forward with Eldar.
With Eldar leading the way, the group – still attracting the interest of the vapours moving around the roof of the cavern – move onto the rock bridge. As the heavily armoured warrior places a foot on the rock arch, there is a disconcerting creaking sound… followed by a ‘splash’ of sorts and a plume of smoke as a chunk of stone falls from the bridge into the magma below.
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"The way is clear and safe. The bridge will carry us across, the structure is sound."
He begins to make his way towards the bridge to cross.
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Galahad nods to Eldar, "Then cross we shall." He crosses the bridge, steps still cautious despite Eldar's assurances.
"I guess we are a more cautious group. Eldar, you can fly for a bit now."
Luther moves across.
Symon creeps behind the others, his eyes glued to the floating gas blobs..while Kaspar watches out for any surprises in front of the group.
Moving with careful trepidation, Dru follows the others across the bridge.
"Ah yes..." he chuckles. A very odd chuckle. As he tests out the magic cast on him
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"Ah yes..." he chuckles. A very odd chuckle. As he tests out the magic cast on him
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...the very moment that Eldar's feet leave the ground, the lazily drifting clouds become angry tempests of boiling acid...
The closest of the beings, forming an almost humanoid shape as it dives towards the group, spews a torrent of aerosolised acid at what it perceives to be intruders... burning flesh and pitting steel, the acid in the air burns as it fills the lungs of thise bearing the brunt...
As the creatures come to life, Eldar simply lifts his shield, as the waves of acidic energy washes over him
"That is very rude" he states as he readies to attack the acid spewing clouds
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Not knowing what else to do, Dru settles for launching a fireball at the two closest to the ceiling.
Symon fires his readied arrows at the one near the ground.
Attack-ranged:
Damage (vital strike):
Sneak:
Drusellia's fireball lights up the roof of the cavern... pushing both of the gaseous creatures aside with its pressure wave... and then, truly taking flight, Eldar soars upwards and slashing into its foam-like form diminishes the closest of the creatures...
...whilst, from the shadows, Symon lets loose with an arrow... he strikes his target yet the arrow causes surprisingly little damage.
Galahad steps forward and launches into a series of spinning sweeps with his glaive, assaulting the ground level stalker.
Luther avoids poison.
He gives his blessing to his allies.
[+1]
Galahad’s glaive pierces the turbulent cloud several times… each time, rending a small amount of gas and diminishing the creature somewhat…
…and then, sliding towards Galahad, the creature buffets the fighter within its swirling gasses… and, feeling a sudden sting, Galahad realises that he has been burnt by powerful acids…
…whilst, up amidst the stalactites looming above the group, the gaseous creatures swirl around Eldar… again and again, semi-solid limbs crash against him… but, despite being surrounded, not a single blow penetrates the enigmatic warrior’s armour…
Symon fires at the one attacking Galahad.
Attack-ranged:
Damage:
Sneak:
He lashes out at those around him. Hoping to atleast end 1 of them
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Galahad easily avoids taking more damage and launches an assault back at the monster.
Simon's bolt fizzes through the gaseous creature... and, slightly deflected, drops limply into the magma. High above the rest of the fight, Eldar swings at the beasts... but, maybe unused to the absence of ground beneath his feet, misses wildly...
Deflecting all of the creatures blows, Galahad steps backwards and swings once more with his glaive... twice his weapon cuts fragments loose from the creature; wisps of vapour dissipating as the blade draws away...
Luther attacks with the thunder mace at the creature on Galahad.
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Luther, moving forward to stand with Galahad, strikes. The mace, heavy and sure in his hands, swings hard into the creature… and despite the coalescent form of the beast appears to do some damage… the second swing is far less accurate though.