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Alis snaps her fingers and the grease covering Darvesch disappears. As he gets back to his feet, she touches him with the wand, healing his hand enough for him to recover his axe. When she hears Lureene's question, she looks up and notices that she still hasn't pressed the button.
"What? No–"
She jukes to the side, shoving Darvesch out of the way just as she sees the pendulum swing for their heads again. With a hard look blazing in her blue-violet eyes, she shouts, "PRESS IT!"
, Alis, Pendulum
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1027)
Well...I guess I would be upset too if I was stuck here too...waitaminute...
Without any further hesitation (except for a really swift prayer) she reaches over and presses the button in firmly.
Lureene doesn't feel the button click but far above, you hear the sound of ancient machinery disengaging. With a screech, the great bronze sheets covering the doorways retract back into the ceiling, the southern one raising a shower of sparks thanks to the dents Mal put in it.
He stumbles into the room, nearing falling over from the follow though of another axe-swing. "The HELL just happened in here? Everyone still–"
His nose wrinkles and his eyes meet the pool of blood. "Someone wring out a harem in here?!"
Darvesch grits his teeth and tries to bear the pain of his hand. "Can someone patch me up real quick, please? I need to continue what I set out to do. And don't touch the blood in that pool." After he recieves minor healing, he tries to see what lies on the other side of the door.
Alis sighs at Mal's colorful remark. "Other than Darvesch nearly losing his hand, we're fine."
She applies her wand to Darvesch's injuries yet again and the pain and stiffness finally fades, showing only minor bruising. "There, is that better?"
Pointing to the pool, she comments, "This place is modeled after a twisted version of a temple to Súmalya. That is a vampire's take on a purification pool. Which means the inner sanctum must be nearby."
As she speaks, everyone else files into the room and Darvesch stoops to use his door sight yet again.
Priyya frowns at the sight of the pool and puts a hand on Talvyra's shoulders to still her. "No sister, you don't want any of that blood."
She looks around the room and points to the two gowns she spies in the nooks. "If that's accurate, then we can anticipate at least two more vampiress priestesses within."
"Ellie!" Sasha gasps. "Your shoulder's all cut up!"
Alis slaps her forehead and shakes her head. "Oh and Lureene ran afoul of this room's trap too."
She moves over to her friend, and shake her head at the deep wound. Raising her gaze to meet Lureene's, she whispers, "Sorry," before using the wand upon her.
"Better?"
Lureene grimaces in pain as Sasha reminds her of the gash in her shoulder. That blade was of cold iron make, I am sure of it."It's OK, Sash, but I really hate this place!"
She nods in thanks as Alis heals her once again. "Yes, much better. Don't worry about it, 'Lis I should have acted faster."
If the little elemental at the side of the room could sigh, it probably would. With a shrug of indifference, it shuffles back across the room, straight thru the pool of blood and up the other side. It pushes its way past Alis until it is standing, dripping wet in the corner next to the one who summoned it.
As the others converse behind him, Darvesch concentrates on the door revealing a small, pitch-black room on the other side. Yet even though his scrying sensor cannot see more than about 10-feet, he doesn't need too. At the periphery of its sight, he can see another pair of door, these more ornate than any of the others in the complex. On their surface, they bear the likeness of a statuesque woman with a long, coiling serpent's tail, great feathered wings inlaid with colorful jewels in rainbow hues, and the long, tapering fangs of a vampire. Her eyes appear to be great green emeralds, her scales faced with what appears to be jade.
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1040)
Sasha's eyes grow huge and she grips the hilt of her rapier in one hand and yanks on Lureene's arm. "What the hell is that?!"
"Uugh! Lureeeene, your elemental just got blood all over me!"
Mal curls his lip and looks to Priyya as if hoping for her to make sense of things.
When she shrugs, he asks, "Uh... summoning problems, Ourson?"
Lureene tries very hard to keep a straight face, but fails miserably. She hides the grin on her face as best she can with her hand and replies, "Sash, I summoned that elemental...too bad i can't talk to it. It won't harm you."
She looks over at Mal, "Not really. Why do you ask?"
Mal opens his mouth to reply, but quickly frowns and closes it again.
No, you'll just end up with another headache...
Instead he turns to Darvesch and asks, "What do you see, Hellhammer?"
"Not much. A small room. A set of doors. A tall snake woman with feathers and vampire fangs. The decoration on the door, that is." Darvesch opens the door for the group to see for themselves.
"Okay. Here's the plan. I'm going to check to see if anyone or anything is on the other side. If I see anyone at all, I want everyone to take the time to prepare for battle. Once we're all ready, I'll open those doors, and, with luck, we can destroy Ieana." He says once the doors are open, and they are looking at the 10'x 10' room with the decorated doors.
Alis nods to Darvesch. "Alright, go ahead."
With a nod to the princess, Darvesch opens the doors at the north end of the purification chamber. They open onto a small room, a short hallway really, that ends in 10-feet at another pair of doors. These are more ornate than any of the others in the complex. Their surface bears the likeness of a statuesque woman with a long, coiling serpent's tail, great feathered wings inlaid with colorful jewels in rainbow hues, and the long, tapering fangs of a vampire. Her eyes appear to be great green emeralds, her scales faced with what appears to be jade.
"Charelle," Alis comments in case it wasn't already obvious, "traitor of the high lillends..."
Lureene stares at the image of Charelle and her mind is taken back to a place she always tries to forget, but memories while they can be buried for a while, they have a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times…
She recalls many long hours talking with her Mother,studying basic things like history, mathematics, and other sundry subjects. Her eyes were that particular shade, she recalled, also her body was that lovely shaped….the look in her eyes was one of pride mixed with avarice as if her daughter was nothing but a prized jewel…
She glances down at her own body and sees echoes of her mother and why the demoness gazed at her so. She shakes her head in a futile effort to banish the memories; only looking at Alis helped to bring her back to the present.
Will I ever be free of her?
She responds in a whisper, ”Yes, she is a traitor…”
Darvesch touches the doors, asking Kahn to reveal what is beyond.
Theme: Destiny
Although he winces at the grating noise the doors from the purification chamber make when he opens them, Darvesch walks up to the next set of doors, Alis making no indication that she plans to check for traps. Holstering his axe, the dwarf places his hand on the doors and closes his eyes, concentrating on what lies beyond.
It takes a minute before he begins to see, at which point Lureene's bloody little elemental friend shrugs and returns from whence it came, none the wiser as to why it was disturbed in the first place.
Unlike on his previous attempts, this time Darvesch can see more clearly.
Silhouetted against a light in the background, you can see a cathedral-like chamber with two rows of stone pillars silhouetted against a bright light that is out of sight on the north-side of the chamber. Although it is difficult to see in the long shadows criss-crossing the room, there appears to be a shrine of some sort at the western end of the room from which flows a trough of blood running the length of the room before disappearing through bronze bars to the east. To the left of the doors, sits a dry fountain.
Yet what truly catches your notice are signs of movement. The light within moves about slightly as if being moved by someone out of view. You can also see two figures standing within, pacing in agitation, eyes aglow. One is a tall, beautiful woman with long, brunette hair. The other is the spitting image of Alexis. Both are clad in flowing robes of crimson satin embroidered with gold. The gowns cling to their figures as if the women were wet when they donned them.
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1055)
"Crimson satin robes embroidered with gold. Two women. A shrine and a river of blood. Someone moving a light near the back. One of the women look like Alexis, Alis.." he breaks his concentration, looking at Alis. "I'm sure it's not her. It couldn't be. It's either an illusion, or someone that simply looks like her. I'm sure of it." He looks to everyone. "Now's the time to prepair."
Lureene nods in response. "Yes, Darv, I agree with you. Alexis is NOT on this island." She reaches over to squeeze Alis' hand in comfort. "It is just another trick, designed to sow confusion amongst us," she whispers reassuringly.
Releasing her grip, she quietly chants a quick protective spell, and turns to Mal. "Ieana is probably assuming her shape for some reason. Can you tell if Ieana did actually pass through this corridor?"
Darvesch waits for everyone to finish preparing before he casts any spells himself. When everyone is ready, he casts divine favor and flames of the faithful, before immediately opening the door.
"I know." Alis whispers as she squeezes Lureene's hand. In a louder voice, she says, "This is nothing more than another of Charelle's tricks, possibly Ieana's too for all we know. While I would like to find out why Ieana did what she did, how she even knew of this ancient, unholy place, if we can't subdue her then I don't think I need to tell any of you what needs to be done."
She looks each of you in the eye, "Too many people have suffered too greatly for one person's obsession. Failure is not an option. We will end this!"
Lureene nods resolutely, and she pulls out a scroll and reads the words of a spell. Soon her form shifts and wavers in the dancing lights.
Once completed she clasps her locket, the only link to her father and murmers a soft prayer.
"I hope to survive this, so I may see you again Father. I know you need my help, please I hope I have the strength to follow through and find you. I love you, Father."
She then turns her attention to Darvesch as he opens the door, and awaits the conflict, and her destiny.
Spoken like a princess.
Priyya's aura grows in brightness as Alis speaks until a pearly radiance fills the whole chamber. "You keep talking like that, and Alíta may try to recruit you away from Lyria."
Reaching over to Mal, she touches him on the arm and a shimmering field of protective energy flashes over him. "For luck," she smirks, "since she's brought us this far after all."
She also walks up to Sasha and gives her a light punch on the arm. "That's for insurance. Not having anyone mucking around inside that crazy skull of yours. Besides," she winks, "I want to see what you can do with that bow you claimed out from under me. Just make sure to leave the vampire b1tches to me. That goes for the rest of you too!"
Sasha laughs at the punch, "I bet your head's a lot scarier than mine. Don't take too long with those floozies though or I might get bored."
She takes a look at Lureene, looking blurry and holding her locket and says, "Aww, don't you go fading out on me El. With all the reward money I'm sure Alis is going to pay us, I'm going to get some boots made out of Ieana's tail! HAHA!"
She gives her a big hug, and whispers, "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe..."
Lureene returns the hug and chuckles quietly, still somewhat distracted. "I wonder if her tail is BIG enough for two pairs of boots. I think I would look pretty DAMNED sexy in a pair of boots like that!"
"Tch–" Mal shakes his head at the women's antics.
At least morale's good. Hopefully their focus is too.
He looks towards Darvesch. "Ieana definitely came thru here. Smells like the better part of a day ago, definitely before the vamps did."
He touches the same spot on his arm where Priyya tapped him and his hand lingers for a moment. Then, in a primal tongue, he chants a few words of power, and his skin takes on a hard, leathery texture. He also shudders with the power of his totem animal, the lion, and his thews ripple with strength at every step.
"Little Sister, watch our backs." He nods to Darvesch, "Let's do this!"
With a silent prayer to Kahn, and a few words of spellcasting, Darvesch's axe bursts into flame. With a powerful push, he shoves open the great doors, ready to meet his destiny head on.
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DR 5/cold iron, SR 13, ER5: Cold Fire Shock
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ER5: Acid Fire Shock
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Darvesch shoves the doors open revealing a cathedral-like chamber. Judging by its decor, this area must have once been a significant temple dedicated to some vile god. To the west, a few steps lead up to a shrine presided over by a ten-foot-high statue of a seductively beautiful, fanged elven woman, with a pair of scintillating, feathered wings. Instead of legs she possesses a serpent's tail. She looms over a glistening altar of blood-red stone that seems to weep blood into a trough below; this trough of blood runs the length of the room before disappearing to the east through a set of bronze bars in front of a wide opening in the wall that drops away into darkness. Stone pillars support the roof 25 feet above, and two dry fountains sit opposite each other against the walls in the middle of the room. Three large alcoves, one to the south and two to the north, contain complex wall carvings. The entire chamber feels unnaturally cold, and now and then strange disembodied whispers slither through the air.
Upon your entry, the two vampiress, who have been pacing back and forth in agitation, glare at you, their eyes burning with a hateful green light. The light that keeps shifting around comes from the western alcove in the north wall. There, you see a somewhat familiar figure making notes in a floating grimoire with her right hand while her left traces along inscriptions in the walls.
The woman wears a familiar-looking green robe belted about the waist by a belt tooled with a number of runes. Over these form-fitting robes, she wears an ornate, bluish-black, hooded mantle trimmed in white and embroidered with silver. The mantle is fastened in the center of her breast by a large, oval amethyst. Hanging from a green choker at her throat, you see the sparkle of a platinum medallion, as well as a ring upon each hand.
Seemingly oblivious to or unconcerned with your arrival, the woman pivots in place and begins reading the eastern wall of the alcove she is in. As she turns, you spy beneath the hood of her mantle a circlet of exceptional make, partly hidden by her long, brown hair.
Upon seeing the face, there is no mistaking that it is Ieana. However, she looks different than you expected. Although there is now a great serpentine tail in place of her legs, her face and hands do not appear scaly like when she was impersonated by the vampires earlier. In fact, were it not for the inherent danger of the sitution, she appears a great deal softer in her countenance than she did upon The White Pearl and there is a look of almost sadness or perhaps resignation on her face. Only her eyes look changed, now yellow with vertical slits for pupils, yet also seemingly weary with exhaustion.
The taller vampiress with the dark hair regards Darvesch's flaming axe and the rest of you coldly. "What callous blasphemies this night has seen..."
The one who still looks like Alexis nods. "Agreed. First these children dare strike at the Dread Lady Charelle's sacred consorts, then that rebellious slave we find defiling our lady's most holy sanctum."
"Aye, and now this unwashed filth dares to tread here. The small one at least should know better."
From the north side of the room, you hear a familiar voice call out. "Slave? Such a severe word. Such a scornful word, and yet ironic considering that should this so-called slave say stand-aside, you most certainly shall acquiesce. So similiar to this hapless wizardess you are."
Ieana looks in your direction, holding forth a glowing staff ice crystals visible in the air around it. Her face belies none of the vemon that her sibilant voice does. "Yes? Surely you scaleless monkeys have no semblance of a conception of the mystery that caused the sky to fall so many ages past. What business do you seek in this place? Speak swiftly, I am on the cusp of discovery the likes of which your kind should never solve..."
Perception DC 15 (everyone): You notice that Ieana flinches slightly as a hooded cobra slithers up over her shoulder, its forked tongue brushing her cheek. From the shifting under her robes and in her long sleeves, you can only guess that it is not the only such serpent upon her form.
Image: Ieana... the Naga?
Sense Motive Checks:
MAP: Z-Temple of Charelle, (Round 1060)
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"Ieana. It's taking me all my willpower to hold myself from splitting you with my axe where you stand. But, I'll give you once and once only, to surrender. You must be held accountable for the crimes you have committed. Rather than slaying you like the serpent you are, Justice must be invoked. You must be tried and convicted. You can come with us now, and accept this. Or, you can force us to be your judge, jury, and executioner here and now." Darvesch announces his intent clearly, readying himself for anyone to come near to attack.
"Son of a delver.." Darvesch curses under his breath when he makes a realization..
Alis looks at Darvesch, gauging by his tone that he just reached the same conclusion that she did.
Something or someone is possessing the wizardess. But who...what?
Lureene focuses her attention on the true threat in this place...Ieana. She knew from past experience Ieana was a very powerful spellcaster and it was her job to try to neutralize her spellcasting as best as possible.
She focuses her gaze on the serpent lady and concentrates her own spell, ready to counteract whatever Ieana should choose to throw at them first.
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"Surrender?" A thoughtful look crosses Ieana's face. Nearby the two vampiresses glower at their present situation. "I am certain that you are sincere, yet what justice do you suggest in exchange? Your surrender reeks of slavery. The same injustice for which I seek vengeance upon these simian usurpers..."
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"Oh, how much more noble for you serpent filth to deign yourselves worthy to enslave others. Those who crawl in the dirt in their bellies were born to serve! You should wish to be found so worthy, infidel!"
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Ieana waves her hand dismissively and the tall, dark-haired vampiress screams out in pain, falling to her knees. "So we slither you say? How much more sublime to raise up, than to be birthed standing and then supplicate oneself?"
Ieana's eyes glow with an eldritch blue lights as she gazes at your group. "Surrender," she mutters... "Surrender and disappoint sovereign Qingu?"
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"Who are you?" Alis asks incredulously. "What was worth killing so many to reach an island where none would have willingly follow–"
"Yarzoth."
Mal tenses for a moment, expecting to see some ancient spell detonate in their midst. "What was that?"
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Ieana gives the towering warrior a withering gaze. "Your princess requested my name, and I gave it. Such is the nature of civil discourse, you slow-witted savage. I always expected that the more slightly statured, female members of your species would reign supreme over your males, it seems my supposition has been supported."
Ieana, or Yarzoth rather returns her gaze to Alis and continues, "The reason for my sojourn is simple. After countless centuries, Qingu, my dread sire, saw fit to choose me as the vessel of his rebirth. No, not in the sense of something so prosaic as an offspring, I speak of the very quintessence of the soul, the–"
"Dread, beautiful Charelle, severed your 'god's' head even before she rose to her current station. She has only grown in power in the ages since, you are a fool!"
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Yarzoth sighs, and with a crook of her finger, the tall vampiress is wracked with pain. "Nonsense. You serve your false god, and I serve great Qingu. I would have suspected the likes of you would understand passionate devotion, it seems I was mistaken."
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Before any of the rest of you can react, the tall vampiress breaks free of Yarzoth's spell and charges her, leaping over the channel of blood with blinding quickness. A blade concealed within the red sleeves of her gown appears in her hand and she executes a masterful strike straight at Ieana's heart!
Recognizing that Ieana/Yarzoth is attempting to cast a powerful protective spell, Lureene attempts to counterspell it, but her mastery of the arcane is insufficient to disrupt the more powerful caster's spell.
no
Perception DC 20+2-2 unfave, good hope
Spellcraft DC 20
fail
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The vampiress' blade seems poised to strike Ieana's breast, yet it is not a gasp, but rather the scrape of metal on a sheer surface that greets your ears. The tall vampiress stands frozen in surprise as the possessed half-woman/half-serpent rises up on her tail to look down at her thru a shimmering, translucent veil of force, before casting a baleful gaze at Lureene.
"So be it," she says, "if violence is all you simians savor, curse the stars that saw you set sail upon the same vessel as I..."