With both Shriezyx within her reach, Fancy pummels the nearer of the two.
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Carmina moves to attack the shriezyx but the creature armor easily defeats her attack. Carridan and Fancy have no better luck in being able to hurt the shriezyx with their attacks, but fortunately Yamyra is finally able to put the nearly-dead one out of its misery.
Carridan feels the poison still coursing through his veins.
"Master Carridan, if ye could kindly be moving about 5 feet to yer left, I can be shooting this last one till it dies a'fore tendin' to yer wounds." Growled out the dwarf when he realized he didn't have a clear shot at the beast.
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Carridan and Fancy are both able to throw off the effects of the shriezyx's poisons while Gared manages to wound the creature further. The shriezyx ignores the rest of you to focus on the entangled druid, and proceeds to savage him terribly with its multiple claws and bite! You see the shriezyx toss the unconscious druid to the floor in a crumpled heap.
Horven curses under his breath as Carridan goes down. He quickly continues to cut through the webbing.
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Carridan collapses beneath the fury of the chamber's savage defender with a pained grunt.
HP: -4/36
AC: 17 (10 T / 17 FF) (includes entangle penalty to dex)
CMD: 16
F/R/W: +8/+4/+9 (includes entangle penalty to dex)
Wild Shape used: 0/1
Storm Burst used: 0/7
CLW charges used: 1/50
Spells Prepared:
Orisons (4): create water, detect poison, know direction, purify food and drink
Level 1 (3+1+1*): faerie fire, magic stone, obscuring mist*,
Level 2 (2+1+1*):
*domain
Ongoing Effects
bull's strength (Fancy): 5/10 rounds, 1/4 minutes
produce flame: 2/4, 2/10 rounds
entangled
stabilized
Horven takes a step forward to Carridan's side . He slips a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds out of his bandolier and pours it down the druid's mouth.
Gared cried out as the druid collapsed, desperately continuing his barrage.
The dwarf called out to Carridan. "Get behind me! No time for heroics, ye just be runnin' as fast an' careful as ye can!"
Carmina's eyes go wide when the shriezyx that seemed so harmless manages to drop Carridan to the ground in a matter of seconds. Intent on defeating the beast before the same happens to her, she launches a supernaturally quick flurry of slashes and bites towards the shriezyx.
Fancy pummels the remaining Shriezyx.
Carridan coughs and sputters as Horven pours the life-saving draught down his throat. As he comes to with Gared shouting at him, Carridan's shoulders slump. Still tangled in the sticky, stupor-inducing webs, he's sure the creature would gut him if he tried to stand, let alone crawl away, wrapped up as he is. Writhing, he grunts, "I don't think I can get- nnnngh!- away, Gared!"
Feeling helpless, he does all he thinks he can that doesn't risk his life outright. From his position on the floor, he reaches out and strikes the remaining shriezyx with the flames still curling around his hand. And as before, just as soon as these ones fade, another tongue of fire springs to life in his palm.
HP: 7/36
AC: 17 (10 T / 17 FF)
CMD: 14
F/R/W: +8/+4/+9
Wild Shape used: 0/1
Storm Burst used: 0/7
CLW charges used: 1/50
Spells Prepared:
Orisons (4): create water, detect poison, know direction, purify food and drink
Level 1 (3+1+1*): faerie fire, magic stone, obscuring mist*, produce flame, shillelagh
Level 2 (2+1+1*): bull's strength, fog cloud*, gust of wind, hold animal
*domain
Ongoing Effects
bull's strength (Fancy): 6/10 rounds, 1/4 minutes
produce flame: 3/4, 1/10 rounds
entangled (-4 Dex, -2 to hit)
prone (-4 to hit, -4 AC vs melee / +4 AC vs ranged)
Gared swore and began reciting prayers to Old Deadeye under his breath as he took careful bead and continued his assault.
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Horven steps forward to help bring the druid back to consciousness. Once awake again, Carridan proceeds to scorch the shriezyx further and he is soon joined by Carmina and Fancy, pummeling the beast further with fist and claws. This, coupled with Gared's arrow barrage, tears several gaping wounds into the shriezyx. It takes a feeble swipe at the druid gashing him again, but it looks like it barely is able to move here judging by the wounds it has sustained.
Gared growled as the thing struck Carridan again, and his arms we beginning to ache from the magically hasted assault and fighting against the stick webbing, but the dwarf did not falter.
Horven loads another bolt into the crossbow and fires at the shriezyx.
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Gared's arrows strike the shriezyx, the third one penetrating its hide. The thing collapses to the ground and twitches briefly before Horven steps forward and finishes it off.
After taking a moment to catch your breath, you finally are able to peer inside the chamber. The room shines with a golden light emanating from crystals embedded in the domed ceiling. The entire dome is painted in reds and golds depicting the glory days of ancient Thassilon and remain as pristine as if the pigments were just laid. An altar shaped like a seven-pointed star sits in the center of the room—a smaller seven-pointed shape has been carved into the center of this larger block of stone. Sitting in one of the star’s arms is a shard of black metal.
Horven looks over the altar for any other nasty surprises.
"Who'd like to do the honors?" Horven asks. "I wouldn't use your bare hands though, if it's anything like that last shard."
"Uhh... a little help- please?"
Weakened from poison, entangled in webs, and having dropped his sickle when the shriezyx laid him low, Carridan is well and truly stuck as he languishes on the floor. "P-please?"
The dwarf moved over to Carridan as quickly as he could with the webs still ensaring him, pulling out his wand as he went, muttering prayers to erastil as he called on the healing magic.
"Ye, fought bravely, Master Carridan. Here, we'll be havin' ye up in no time."
The dwarf pulled out his own dagger and began cutting through the webbing.
Looking mildly incredulously at Horven, Yamyra coughs ostentatiously before adding "Don't you dare suggest we simply grab it up without examining the local carefully first."
Noting that Gared has Carridan well in hand, she puts her own word to deed, she calls upon her magical talents, limning her vision with any dweomers present.
Carmina had just opened her mouth to suggest they grab the shard up without examining the local carefully first, but seeing Yamyra's reaction she decides that it may not be that good of an idea. "Well, I already have one shard, so you can decide amongst yourselves who takes it. After Yamyra has made sure that the altar won't come alive and eat us all, of course."
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Other than the magics illuminating the room, the chamber holds little else of interest. As for the altar itself Yamyra gets the sense the altar also serves another purpose here but unfortunately that eludes her. The altar is otherwise harmless.
The shard itself radiates an overwhelming aura of magic but the exact one cannot be determined. Yamyra is unable to concentrate further on the Shard lest she lose consciousness.
"I cannot determine the nature of the dweomer infusing it, but it is almost undoubtedly what we were sent here for." Yamyra opines, rubbing her temple at the incipient migraine. "Horven, Gared; perhaps one of you could tell us what kind of metal it is composed of? If I recall correctly, certain metals were deemed particularly conducive to specific schools and effects of magic."
"I'm not making any promises," Horven says, looking over the shard.
Gared patted Carridan on the shoulder and helped the man to his feet once they were both free of the webbing. "The poison didn't do too much damage, ye ought to be feelin' better after a day o' rest. Let's see if we can't get ye there as soon as possible." The dwarf moved to Horven's side and did his best to help the halfling.
Horven relays the information to Yamyra.
"What happened when ye found the first shard?" Gared asked the others.
"Multiple things," Yamyra replies, "Thassilon possessed an understanding of magic which was both bizarre and yet curiously implicit by modern standards."
"Not entirely surprising as I strongly suspect that much of modern arcane theory is derived ultimately from what came before & the only civilization we know to predate Thassilon is Azlant." Sighing, she continues, "The first shard," she hesitates, looking slightly askance at Carridan before forging ahead. "The first shard possess fairly potent Illusory magics, but it also takes a heavy toll upon it's bearer's psyche. Unprotected, the bearer is afflicted with an irrational sense of self-importance. From what I have gathered in my studies & research, each of the recognized schools of magic was associated with a particular emotional drive, a negative drive. What may be popularly considered sinful impulses."
"I need to research more, but I suspect that there may be a relationship between the materials used in each shard and the school they are associated with."
"I wish I could make that simpler to understand, Gared," Horven says. "Oh, wait, I can though it lacks a bit of polish: It makes you go crazy. Natalya was a bit nuts when we found her with the first one."
"That's what I just said, isn't it?" Yamyra looks over at Horven, a smidge hurt.
Horven sighs. "That is what you said."
He turns to face his fellow halfling. "I was just trying to put it into layman's terms. I wasn't trying to detract from what you said or make it less important."
Carmina had fished her own shard from where she kept it during Yamyra's history lesson, examining it idly while the others talked. "But maybe, when the magic is powerful enough, it might be worth it to go a bit crazy for it," she says in an off-hand remark, seeming to be talking more to herself than to anyone else in particular.
The dwarf's brow furrowed and shook his head, his eyes not leaving the metal."Thank ye both. I think I can be taking it at least as far as the manor if Carmina has been able to carry that one around as she is." The dwarf pulled out his many-tool and fashioned it into a pair of tongs, and looked to his companions with questioning expression.
Horven hands Yamyra's dagger back to her and gives Gared a nod. "Our business is done here and I think it's time we head back. I'd rather not see this place again. Leave it to whomever still dwells here."
The halfling's expression becomes somber. "If this place served any benefit, it's proven that my current skills are less than adequate. All I was able to do in that fight was keep Carridan from dying. While I know that's a good thing, that's far from carrying my weight and being as responsible as the rest of you."
Horven heads to the door and waits for everyone else.
Carridan groans as he rises with Gared's help, brushing the lingering strands of webbing from his clothing once he's up. "Well, you were certainly right about them not liking fire." He rubs the back of his head sheepishly then turns to the shard, shifting uncomfortably and patching a few more of his wounds with his own wand as he waits while the others study the strange metal object.
---
"Uh, well, Horven-" Carridan scratches his beard then shrugs, "I mean, I would say it was a very good thing that you saved my life."
He then looks to Carmina questioningly, "You carry the shard that this Natalya had before? I don't mean any offense, but is it something about your heritage that allows you to carry it without being driven- er, well- crazy?" He cringes slightly as he asks the question, not wanting to upset Carmina again but also hoping to better understand the shards.
"I said unprotected." Yamyra sighs, shaking her head slightly. "If we can transport this to the Pathfinder Lodge, Venture-Captain Heidmarch should have a means of inhibiting the malign effects."
"Well, we should probably go see her then. I don't think we have a lot of reasons to stay here for much longer."
Carridan's brow crinkles as Yamyra chastizes him. He starts to respond, then sighs and shakes his head, turning to join Horven by the door. He mutters quietly, "I heard what you said, no need to be so rude about it. sigh What am I doing wrong?!"
"I ask myself that often, Carridan."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Gared blocked out the conversation, gritted his teeth and steeling himself before grabbing the shard with his many-tool and wrenching it towards his open pack.
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As Gared grabs the shard and puts it into his pack, nothing appears to happen at first. However as you all prepare to leave the shrine, Gared finds himself looking around him and then down at his clothes...
The rest of you see the dwarf fighting the effects of what looks like a severe case of nausea.
"Gared, are you okay?" Horven asks, concern creeping into his voice.
-Posted with Wayfinder