As the last shadow disolves, Bel'Tanis sheathes his scimitar and is next to Khrondak in a flash, offering whatever help the taller Shoanti might accept.
"I hope that's the last of them. Are you going to be alright, Iron Forged?"
"As you command, sergeant," Scoria says to him, slinking off into the side passage in stealth, trying not to let the minor sapping of her strength influence her. If Nualia wasn't down here, then it was a sure thing that she was gone from Thistletop.
Khrondak leans against the wall panting. He grabs Bel'Tanis by his shoulder and smiles. "I will get by, Bel'Tanis" He then laughs out loud. "Gorum's blessing is upon us again. No more of those foul creatures! Hah!" He then steps forward to pick up the earth breaker; it is still heavier than usual. He presses his hands against his chest and whispers a prayer in Shoanti; as he does so, his muscles grow a little. He looks at Scoria and justifies his decision. "I know you were also touched by the shadows, Scoria, but you still look like yourself. I, on the other hand, am still lacking much of my strenght. I need it back to fight by your side." He places his hand on her shoulder for the first time, repeating a gesture done many times before with Thaddeus and Bel'Tanis. "Tomorrow, I can help you, if you still need it." He then looks at Midori. "Thank you for the potion, Midori Masaki. It could have saved my life."
"I am ready to move on."
"I'm not much of a direct fighter, so I do what I can. I'm glad I could help."
What few walls remain bear detailed and impressive carvings of incredible treasuries filled to overflowing with coins, gems, jewelery and other items of value. To the east, the walls depict a towering mountain, its peak carved in the shape of a stern face just above a great palace. Below, the side of the mountain's valley cradles an immense city of spires.
In the sloshing waters lie shattered urns, smashed chests, rusted weapons and armor. The most impressive item is a large coral encrusted helm that is nearly 5 feet across, and its full face guard bears an expression of rage and fangs. The helm appears to be made of gold.
Bel'Tanis, obviously comfortable and maybe even soothed by the water, carefully wades in and begins hauling everything within the large, churning pool out to the drier parts of the collapsed chamber for the others to sort through.
"I don't know what all this is, but it looks pretty old." He thunks the large helmet onto the floor with a dull clang. "I mean, I'm no historian, but coral like that doesn't grow quickly."
With the threat apparently dispatched, Thaddeus comes back to his pleasant and amenable self. He is wowed by the art of the chamber, drawn to discern what he knows of it from his studies. His kindred spirits with Matthias spark up again, "Matthias, what do you make of this scene? I am drawn to the age this hearkens from."
Scoria looks through the waters at all of the smashed urns and chests, timidly putting her feet in. "...perhaps we can salvage what remains in here." The gold helmet in particular looked like it would be worth a small fortune - getting it out of here, that was the dilemma.
For now, she wades through the shallow waters, gathering up whatever valuables were there amongst the debris.
"Definitely Thassalonian, but I need more context."
Midori, too, will examine the runes, with (most likely) as much success (or lack thereof) as Matthias.
"Perhaps we should make copies of these symbols. There are students of such in Magnimar and, so I understand, in Sandpoint as well. Someone there, more learned, can make more sense of this"
Bel'Tanis grins at Scoria as she wades into the churning pool with him to recover some of the items. "Hey! See that, Scoria? The water's not so bad, right?" He looks up at Thaddeus and Matthias then, "You've mentioned that word before but I don't really remember why it was important. Who are these Thassalonian people? Are they around any more?"
Matthias smiles and assumes a professorial pose. "The Thassalonians were one of the great ancient empires, a sprawling land whose borders included most of Varisia. They were ruled by wizards of immense power known as Runelords and erected many of the great monuments you see scattered across the land today. Their empire fell tens of thousands of years ago, and we're still learning more about them everyday. This place, for example, will be a treasure trove to those scholars who follow us. As for those remaining, well, we are. Varisians, Shoanti, Azlanti, all races lived among Thassalon."
"Not the Chelaxians", Khrondak corrects Matthias.
As you begin to explore the room and start searching around the tide pool, the coral encrusted gold helm begins to move and it appears to contain a large hermit crab.
Thaddeus
Bel'Tanis
Khrondak
Matthias
Midori
Scoria
Giant Hermit Crab
Matthias sees the movement from the corner of his eye and turns his head suddenly. "Great Spirits! It's a crab!" Matthias barks a word and points as a ray of fire erupts from his finger! for fire damage!
Khrondak observes the narrow space available for the party to maneuver in and refrains from rushing forward to attack the crab, leaving the way clear for Thaddeus, Bel'Tanis and Scoria. He hangs in the back with his back to the chamber's corner walls, and shoots a bolt of fire over his allies
Scoria glances at the crab only once, before stepping out and heading back the way they came, rushing through the passage in order to get to the other side. It was a tactical decision, giving others room to be able to attack the hermit crab. She draws her temple sword as she goes along, appearing on the other side of it, ready to attack.
"Actually, the Thassalonians were an offshoot of the Azlanti..." She starts int lecture mode just as the crab suddenly attacks.
"Aaa!"
She will take a shot at the crab with her shortbow.
for
Thaddeus is disrupted in his conversation with Matthias, by the large creature in the helmet. He watches Scoria run off to the other hallway, and the others used what they can from a distance, but he waits until Bel'Tanis moves in first. He knows the man often hits better and harder than he does, so he will instead standby as backup.
Bel'Tanis' surprise as the helmet shivers to life is obvious as he falls back a step. Drawing his scimitar as he rushes back in, he does his best to make room for someone else by trying to push the creature further back into the flooded chamber.
HP: 27/27
AC: 16 (11 T / 15 FF)
Resistances: Acid (5), Cold (5), Electricity (5)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+2/+3 (+1 vs fear)
(+2 vs evil descriptor)
daylight uses left: 1/1
Ongoing Effects
Mathias your ray veers off and somehow misses the large creature.
Khrondak is a bit luckier as his bolt slams into the crab scorching it.
Midori your arrow harmlessly bounces off the helmet.
Bel'tanis you rush up and try to push the creature back, but it is too strong for you to move.
Matthias frowns, knowing his spell selection is all but exhausted. Instead he pulls a light crossbow from his back and loads it.
Thaddeus you slam into the crab and manage to push the creature back farther into the tide pool.
The now enraged creature strikes back at Thaddeus. The lashes out with two large claws.
Both of the creature's large claws slam into Thaddeus ripping off chunks of flesh.
Matthias sees the beast cut into Thaddeus and shudders. He shoulders the crossbow and fires, hoping for a hit!
"Sergeant, get back!" Scoria shouts to him, stepping up and attempting to stun the creature with one fist, bringing her blade up with another.
After seeing Thaddeus take such a pounding from the creature, Bel'Tanis readies his shield, steps in and maintains a defensive stance as he tries to slip his scimitar through to the crab's flesh. "Thaddeus, fall back! I'll hold it here. See if Iron Forged can patch you up!"
HP: 27/27
AC w/ shield: 20 (13 T / 19 FF)
Resistances: Acid (5), Cold (5), Electricity (5)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+2/+3 (+1 vs fear)
(+2 vs evil descriptor)
daylight uses left: 1/1
Ongoing Effects
fighting defensively
Khrondak invokes the curative magic of his ancestors; his hand starts glowing, charged with divine power. He rushes down the chamber avoiding the crabs claws, and touches the sergeant to discharge the healing spell.
Thaddeus is pale and wobbly on his feet, his legs almost buckling from the injuries. He is relieved at Khrondak's healing touch, but fears it may not be enough. "Thank you Brother Iron-Forged, but I must step back and recuperate briefly." With that, he backs away cautiously, so that he might take a small respite.
Matthais, Bel'Tanis and Scoria all of your weapons bounce of the golden helmet shell.
Khrondak heals the worst of Thaddeus's wounds.
The crab continues to flail away, this time at Bel'tanis.
The crab manages to score a hit bypassing Bel'tanis's defensive stance.
Seeing Bel'tanis take a blow this time has Scoria striking again, trying to stun the crab once more and give the others an advantage against the creature.
Matthias cranks the crossbow up again.
Scoria, your sword bounces against the helmet causing no damage to enraged creature. However your fist manages to land a blow on the crabs weaker flesh.
Thaddeus uncorks and drinks the life replenishing fluids within the container. Once refueled, he moves back up to help, stopping right behind Bel'Tanis, and beside Khrondak. Next chance he gets, he will try to slip in to place an resume combat.
Khrondak takes a step back to get out of the crab's reach, and shoots another fire bolt.
Bel'Tanis grunts in frustration as his scimitar just bounces harmlessly off the crab's helmet-shell again before he fades back a step to let one of the other fighters in to take a swing.
HP: 16/27
AC w/ shield: 20 (13 T / 19 FF)
Resistances: Acid (5), Cold (5), Electricity (5)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+2/+3 (+1 vs fear)
(+2 vs evil descriptor)
daylight uses left: 1/1
Ongoing Effects
fighting defensively
Khrondak your firebolt slams into the crab scorching it, but it continues to fight on.
Bel'Tanis your scimitar bounces off the gold helmet with a dull thud.
Seeing Bel'Tanis and Thaddeus back off, the crab goes for Scoria.
One the claws slams down on Scoria ripping flesh.
The ripping claw of the hermit crab slips past her defenses, the stonemason gasping as her stomach is torn up, dripping blood on the floor. She pulls back a few feet, putting up a defensive guard with her sword while pulling her last curative potion out with her free hand - hopefully it would keep attacking her, giving the others time enough to damage it further.
Midori sighs and once more begins an inspire courage performance.
Inspire Courage (Su): An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Matthias fires again! for damage!
Seeing his luck in attacking is zero, he re-slings the crossbow on his back.
Seeing the crab make short work of his friends, Bel'Tanis casts his shield aside, steps back up to the crab, and brings his scimitar arcing around with a savage, two-handed swing.
HP: 16/27
AC: 16 (11 T / 15 FF)
Resistances: Acid (5), Cold (5), Electricity (5)
CMD: 17
F/R/W: +5/+2/+3 (+1 vs fear)
(+2 vs evil descriptor)
daylight uses left: 1/1
Ongoing Effects
power attack (-1/+3)
inspire courage (+1/+1)
Thaddeus follows suit with Bel'Tanis, in regaining his ground toward facing off against the creature. He grips his glowing white blade in both hands and swings for the parts of the creature sticking out from that ridiculously oversized helm.
Both Thaddeus and Bel'Tanis are inspired by Midori's music and strike the creature inflicting wounds but the creature still lives.
The crab reacts to Bel'Tanis and Thaddeus strikes against it. And now attacks them.