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Quzman disoriented and confused slashes with a vengeance at the monster in front of him.
Again, as in the first round, Quzman's scimitar fails to penetrate the exoskeleton, but the dagger finds its mark, drawing more black tar-like blood from the fiend.
Xulthos took out Eli and injured Quzman
Tyronel shot 2 arrows at Dumah but they bounced off the mage's armor
Dumah shot energy missiles that hurt Xulthos
The wolverine leapt up and clawed the fiend
Quzman wounded the fiend with his dagger
Ky tried to bite Tyronel but missed
Bahiyy Channeled Energy, healing everyone for 3[/ooc]
Ty reacts in horror as he sees his shots bounce off Dumah. "Sorry Dumah!" he shouts.
Knowing this might be his last chance to take out the threat before he loses control again, he aims carefully and fires two shots at the monster.
Attack One
Damage
Attack Two
Damage
Crit Confirmation
Damage
Miss chance
Dumah urges the wolverine to attack on!
Claw To Hit Damage
Claw To Hit Damage
Bite To Hit Damage
Wolverine miss chances: , , .
Bolstered by having seen his Magic Missile spell have some effect, Dumah focuses on his ring, allowing him to cast the spell yet again. Damage for the first missile, for the second.
Realizing that he is close to death and that the dangers are in the back away from melee range, Xulthos takes a 5' step to the right and casts defensively successfully and bright colored lights streak out and strike Quzman, Tyronel, and Ky.
We have it now! Attack on!Dumah calls out to the wolverine.
Claw To Hit Damage
Claw To Hit Damage
Bite To Hit Damage
Wolverine miss chances: , , .
With his arcane arsenal running low and knowing this behemoth from the lower planes has certain resistances, Dumah falls back to a tried and true tactic.
Force Missile Damage
With 2 of its strongest warriors stunned and blinded and basically out of the fight for 5 rounds and its charismatic leader prone and down to 3 hps, things look grave for the Sand Stalkers!
However, due to its dazzle effect, the wolverine's first claw attack missed, but the second claw hit, gashing more of the fiend, causing to scream in pain. Through pained breaths, Xulthos speaks:"I am the Angel of Desolation and Hosrseman of War, I cannot fail, cannot die, not like this, not now!"
Dumah's force missile then flies unerringly towards the creature and strikes it in his bulbous head, and it it appears it is only through sheer force of will that the creature still stands!
Dumah looks in shock as his energy missile fails to kill the creature. Xulthos looks up, its mandibles clacking, eager for the mage's blood, as it flies over the wolverine and straight for Dumah! Dumah braces himself for the attack, when suddenly and perhaps appropriately, the giant bug is smacked out of the air and crashes head first into the wall, with Dumah ducking for cover, as its black blood oozes from all of its wounds, never to rise again. When Dumah looks up, he sees the shimmering form of Bahiyy having just appeared, his mace risen triumphantly and marked with black blood.
In that instant, the party members, who are not blind, see specks of yellow light start to appear and rapidly multiply, as they form a wave of bright soothing energy that engulfs the party, akin to a healing Channel Energy. Immediately, Quzman and Tyronel regain their sight and stop drooling. Bahiyy and Dumah feel all of their maladies, including the effects of the Demon Fever disappear, as they regain their health and Constitution. In this euphoria of energy, the party swears it sees the ghost of Brebork smiling and bowing before the party, before the light dissipates. When it does, the former image of the room with a blue-stoned floor and pillars has disappeared and in its place is a natural cavern with rocks. You also notice Xulthos' body has been reduced to dust and blown away. In its place, lies a ring and an amulet. Finally, the ever present sense of evil the party felt before is gone and now only a sense of peace remains.
Dumah walks to where the dust of the daemon is swirling away and picks up the two fallen items. Praise Sarenrae! he says, drawing a deep breath for the first time in a while without coughing up blood.
He tilts his head at Bahiyy and smiles. And praise Abadar, and his champion Bahiyy! Well struck, friend.
I'll study these items later. For now, let's go and let the princess know that her town is now liberated and cleansed!
Dumah will slowly walk the natural chamber, making sure they aren't missing anything of note and making sure any items dropped are recovered. On the way out, he'll also check to make sure nothing else has changed as this room had. Perhaps there will be a better way out than the well.
Eli watches the form of Brebork fade and he falls to his kness, "Many thanks good friend, may you find peace with the Dawnflower." Rising he wipes a sentimental tear from his check. Turning he goes to Bahiyy and pats him on the back, "What a victory! You have earned your place with the Sand Stalkers for sure, and thank you for my life. If there is anything I can do for you say the word."
The party walks out of the natural cavern through a hole in the west wall of the crypt. It turns out the door was illusionary as well. The rest of the crypt is as the party remembers it, though not quite as ominous, as before. There is a feeling of serenity and peace to the place. Unfortunately, the entrance to this level is still through the chute in the well, but with the slippers of spider climbing and some rope the party is able to overcome the challenge. The party makes it to the surface and the red seal on the door is gone as well. When they make it outside, they see the villagers in front of the church in awe, many of them crying and praying. The party hears murmurs of "Did you see that light? It was so beautiful" and "Sarenrae's blessing be upon us forever!"
Haleen, Samir and Amir, Zastoran, the cook and serving girl, and of course, Garavel and Princess of Almah are outside ready to congratulate the party. "Food and merriment for all! Long live the Sand Stalkers!" The party is overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion and cheers. In the distance, Undrella waves to all of you and flies back to the tannery.
That night, as any excuse is valid, there is a feast in the party's honor, where food and wine is served. At the conclusion of said feast and in front of the party and all the caravan members and Haleen and Undrella, Almah addresses the crowd: "There is much to give thanks for this night. First, to my right-hand man, Garavel, for selecting such excellent warriors to liberate Kelmarane." The crowd applauds, while Garavel acknowledges the Princess but deflects all the gratitude to the party, as he sits back down. Almah continues: "Second, to all of you, who decided to give up your trades in Katapesh and took a chance and accompanied a down-trodden merchant princess, hoping to liberate a village none thought was worth the effort or the risk, yet we have proven them wrong! I shall never forget your loyalty." More applause and cheers follow. And finally, no matter how many times we do it, it never gets old, we thank the Sand Stalkers, for their resolve, courage, and skill in accomplishing the unattainable in light of impossible odds. Our heroes, our champions!" The loudest cheers of the night are reserved for the party. "There is a financial reward of 500 gp each and in my title as Princess, I name you each “Knight Protector of Kelmarane”! More cheers...."Now, I ask for a moment of silience for the fallen, who could not be with us this night but whose spirit accompanies us always!" After the moment..."Now, the time for rebuilding comes, we will return Kelmarane to its former glory and make it a center of commerce and culture, as it was in years before. I welcome the Sand Stalkers to remain in the town as its rightful heroes and help us rebuild. I grant you Wharfmaster's Manor as your home, while in town. Whay say ye?"
Bahiyy smiles at Dumah's and Eli's comments, "yes, thanks to Abadar. It was a great work of all of us to rid this city of all the evil inside." He takes a deep breath as all the tension evaporates. "Maybe it is time to help this city. I cannot see what is in the future, but we could benefit for some calmer times."
"Thank you your Highness, you are most generous. I greatly appreciate the opportunity you made available to Kyra and myself. I do not presume to speak for my friends, but I would be honored to work with you to rebuild this town as it should have been without the gnollish infestation."
Turning to Garavel, "I believe this shall even our debt, caravan master.", as he hands the reward to him. "I am now beholden to no man. I only wish Kyra had been able to free herself before her rebirth with the Dawnflower."
As the seasons start to pass, Dumah will find time to pull each of his companions aside. He'll take them a short way into the desert and cast his new array of helpful spells on them and some of the old ways they may have not seen yet. He wants each of them to know what it is like to have the spell effect on them so the first time they experience it, it won't be in the middle of life or death combat. He'll cast spells like Enlarge Person and Cats Grace and let them attack some catci to get used to the sensations. He'll cast Mount and Fly so they can feel what it is like to maneuver with the spells and know what it feels like when the spells are about to wear off (he'll have Feather Fall ready just in case).
He will also reek havoc in the desert with some of his offensive spells for them. He wants them to be able to see how big of an area they scorch and understand how much or how little control he has over them.
If any of them seem uncomfortable after one go around, he'll do it for as many days as they like to make sure they can continue to work together well under pressure.
”Hail the Sand Stalkers!” The cheers flow over the party members, as they marvel at the crowd of revelers gathered in Kyra’s Place. Hard to believe one year had passed since the last time the party heard the celebrations of the 8-10 merchants/villagers intent on rebuilding Kelmarane. Much work had been accomplished in the past year and the village’s population had ballooned to 500 souls, attracting merchants and warriors eager to test their prowess in the Battle Market. And today was the 1-year anniversary of the Liberation of Kelmarane from the Kuldis gnoll tribe led by Kardswann, a janni corrupted by the fiend Xulthos. But the party had defeated both menaces, suffering their own personal losses, and their fame was spreading through the region. The revelers in the packed tavern were overcome with emotion and joy and Kyle was busy keeping everyone’s drinks filled. In the corner, April, the precocious child, sang a tune that kept many of folks entertained. The party smiled at the fruits of their hard efforts. In the corner of the tavern, Abdallah Chiq’ri raised a glass of wine in the party’s honor. The new abbot of the Church of Sarenrae had met the party a few weeks after the liberation, when he was assigned the task of heading the congregation of worshippers in the village. His sermons, as well as those of Bahiyy when he occasionally preached in front of Abadar’s Shrine, provided the village with emotional and spiritual peace. He also appreciated very much the party's monetary contributions in Brebork's name to the Church.
But things were not as cheery as the villagers believed. The Gnoll King still lived and his plans of uniting the gnoll tribes on an all-out attack of the region had not been deterred yet. Quzman had reported on his patrols with Ky (who had grown immensely during the past year) that gnoll attacks were increasing in the recent weeks, as if testing the village’s defenses and there was genuine concern on behalf of Garavel and Princess Almah that the Gnoll King was up to something. Tyronel had put the unit of guards under his command on high alert for this reason. However, for this night, the Princess and Garavel were dressed in their most elegant fashions, deciding to focus on the celebration of the event. The party was also showcasing their new armors, weapons, and vests, all magical creations courtesy of Dumah and Bahiiy. Dumah, in fact, had recently returned from his sabbatical in the Grand Library of Katapesh, where he had spent many hours researching during the past few months. So this celebration was the first time in a long time the Sand Stalkers were officially all together again. The night passes with much celebration and reveling and drinking. Undrella even joined the event, showcasing her new cuisine skills. She had become an accepted member of the village, as she had kept her word that no villagers or their livestock would be harmed.
In the morning, much of the party is hung over, when they are awakened by Jakri, the village’s messenger boy. Princess Almah and Garavel urgently need to speak to them at the Palace!
Ty hasn't received a call like this from teh Princess in a long time. Back to work, he thought to himself.
Walking to the location of the Princess, Ty was attempting to shake off the final bits of a headache he had from the celebration of the night before. Arriving at the locale, he nodded at his friends, also gathered for the meeting.
The Princess’ manservant greets you at the door and escorts in you into the palace, past the administrative wing, to the study, where he leaves and closes the door behind him. Inside are Garavel , Zastoran, and Princess Almah. You immediately notice a covered white sheet draped over a body lying on an oaken table. Garavel, pointing to the body, speaks: ”This is Hadir, one of the guards. He was found this morning in an alley behind the Guildhouse. He was obviously murdered. But that is not what worries us. Zastoran..” The elderly man speaks, ”I examined the body and poor ol’ Hadir was struck from behind, with what appears to be a curved blade, right between the shoulder blades. Very neat strike. Also there was some cauterizing around the wound, so the blade may have been real hot. Inside the body’s mouth, I found this.” He hands the party a rolled up miniature scroll. When they unroll it, it reads as follows:
Actions have consequences. The Gnoll King is not pleased. Send your heroes to the 1-mile marker outside of Kelmarane tonight at midnight. Failure to comply will result the death of 2 villagers by tomorrow morning.
Garavel looks at the party with concern. ”Nobody in town knows of this but us, we cannot risk causing a panic in town. What will you do?”
Clearly it is an ambush. Perhaps preceeded by a vain attempt at bribery. Unless, of course, they are drawing us out of town so they can conduct mischief while we are away. Since we cannot keep watch over the entire town with certainy, I would say we should try and attend the ambush outside of town. Here in town, we should take steps to safeguard any valuables, as well as additional targets for assassination.
Eli enjoyed the night of revelry, once again together with all his new friends. As April sang he reflected on all that had taken place since he left Absolam so far behind. The tavern was doing well, and he could now speak of Kyra, Jarvin, and Brebork without being overwhelmed with grief. His friendship with Kyle and April had grown strong and Eli though of them as his Katapeshian brother and a niece.
He had returned to Solku once shortly after the Sand Stalkers cleared the village to find Raza and her family. It was hard to share with them the loss of her father, but he took comfort that, with his trade goods returned to them, it would all work out in the end. When he left them he promised if they needed anything they should come find him in Kelermane.
Dumah was back from his studies, and Eli thought the lad look much wiser. Ty and Quzman had done a great deal to keep the village safe and Eli knew in is heart that with there vigilance, the community was safe. Bahiyy and Abdallah had also become great conversational companions for Eli, and he often invited them to lunch at Kyra's Place to dine and chat about religion, history, and philosophy.
It had been a splendid party and in the morning Eli's head felt the after effects of the fine Taldan wine he had specifically imported for the event. He was tempted to shout the messenger boy away upon hearing the early knock at his door, but once hearing the summons he informed Jakri he would be right along. Once washed and dressed in clean cloths again he quickly set off for the palace.
The body disturbed Eli and the note even more so. He swallows hard as he thinks about another person dead because of him.
"It seems we have no choice in this. We can not allow the people here to be harmed and it seems the Gnoll King has a grudge with us. Quzman, what can you tell us about the area around the mile marker? Is it the perfect spot for an ambush against us? How can we put the odds in our favor?"
I understand that you don't want to raise a panic, but I think we need to make sure certain members of our community are alert. We don't have to discuss the murder and the threat. We can simply tell a chosen few that with the anniversary of the liberation, we are concerned about reprisals. Anyone we know with a background in warfare or spellcasting can be told to be on guard, sleep with weapons nearby and be suspicious. If any ask about the group of us, we can just say we'll be outside of town patrolling to try and prevent anything potential threat from getting close.
After Eli's question to Quzman, Dumah will add Can we establish a signal fire that we could see from the mile marker in case this is an attempt to draw us away?
"Alright, this thread is directly aimed at us. But just running in there, I have a bad feeling about it. First of all, with this thread, we should establish, if any villagers are missing. At least it tells us, that one or even more serve the Gnoll King. We should be aware, that he knows we are here, and probably prepares for an ambush." Bahiyy seems clearly uncomfortable just going where someone orders him to go, on the other hand there is the thread of possibly more deaths.