"You fall into my trap, seer-person. Now there is no escape for you." Snaggletooth says as he closes for the attack. As he strikes, he thinks, "now you no hurt my friend"

minor- shift to Q16, riposte strike on S2, 19, if hit, 8hp damage and set up interrupt. if miss, Snaggletooth will use Nasty Backswing on S2, crit! 34 vs AC, damage is 6+5+10+3= 24hp, so either way, he is damaged, just whether the 19 was good enough for the riposte. Let me know which it is when you update, Rev.

After he stabs the Seer, Snaggletooth smiles a little bit. "Now there no place for you to go." unless he has a teleport power we haven't seen yet, he is due for a OA if he tries that Warp Orb spell again or tries to move out of the threatened area.

Snaggletooth - I can see that you have posted, I just can't see the post itself. I'll update again as soon as the gremlins go away.

With a word, Caine urges himself on, determined that this will not end here for him.
Caine's bonus healing from inspiring word (2d6=6) Surge +6. Caine heals 20hp.

Proving his point, he makes a seemingly reckless attack against B3, opening himself up to destruction, but quietly leaving an opening for Leo to take.
Brash Assault v B3 (on hit, Leo gets free melee attack with CA if B3 attacks Caine) (1d20+12=21, 1d8+6=11)

Dazed, the berserk cannot realiate, but Leo holds himself ready to grab the next opportunity that comes his way.
B3 can't attack, he's dazed.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe
Leo - 23(25)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied; +2 to defenses to start his next turn (second wind); taking 3 ongoing necrotic
Brujo - +2 defenses to start of his next turn (second wind)
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

Now you come to mention it Snaggletooth...

"Jaka wux thric ouith sia thurirl.."

The whispered words fade to a frustrated silence as Snaggletooth's attack lands in empty air. With an insolent look at his diminutive assailant, the seer vanishes, only to reappear behind the kobold.

For your information, the Riposte Strike would have missed. Nasty Backswing would clearly have hit (being a crit and all).

The allied seer concentrates for the time being on removing the berserks.

"They will attack until they fall. They cannot help it," he calls warningly to Leo and Brujo, beset amongst the creatures. This time his attack is enough and the berserk falls.

Warp Orb (Ref) - on hit target is dazed. (1d20+17=23, 1d8+6=14)

The renegade seer looks with loathing on Snaggletooth and sends another warp orb in his direction before moving towards Perigia and grabbing the amulet lying at her feet.

"Mine!" Minor action to pick it up.

Warp Orb (Ref) - on hit target is dazed. S2 v Snaggletooth (1d20+17=29, 1d8+6=12) 12hp damage to Snaggletooth and he is dazed (se)

Leo shifts to flank the last berserk with Brujo and slices with his longsword into the tainted flesh before him.
Bolstering Strike (on hit, Leo gains 2 temp hp) (1d20+13=26, 1d8+5=8)

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Brujo - +2 defenses to start of his next turn (second wind)
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied; dazed (se)
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe
Leo - 22(24)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied; +2 to defenses to start his next turn (second wind); taking 3 ongoing necrotic

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

ARE YOU EFFING SERIOUS? HE'S GOT A WIZARD'S ESCAPE? CRAP! Well, at least he is now focused on me and not on Perigia. Dagnamit, Rev, I thought I had him. I thought it thru and set him up, waiting for him to shift away. Oh, well. Better luck next time.

20 hp

"Didn't think I'd need to use this on someone like you... But I guess I got no choice"

Avalanche Strike 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15; Damage 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 5, 2) + 6 = 21. Until the start of next turn, any attacker gains a +4 bonus to attack rolls against Brujo.

Brujo goes for a big strike and misses!

Sorry Snaggletooth. He can only do it once in the hour of his greatest need. This seemed to be the hour.

Brujo, backed into the stairwell can only wait in horror as his attack not only fails, but leaves him perilously vulnerable to the last berserk. He can scarcely believe it when the creature swings and the greatsword hits only stonework.

Berserk v Brujo (AC) (1d20+18=22, 1d10+4=13)

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied; dazed (se)
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe
Leo - 22(24)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied; +2 to defenses to start his next turn (second wind); taking 3 ongoing necrotic
Brujo - +2 defenses to start of his next turn (second wind)
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

"Okay... way too close"

Erik dashes back across the chamber to hunt down the seer. His slayer's song plays loud in his head, and he prepares a defense opening strike to give advantage to his allies. Erik's luck, however, seems to have run out, and his blade is pushed aside.

Move Action: Move to L15
Standard Action: Guiding Strike vs. S2; 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 vs. AC for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 damage and on a hit, S2 takes a -2 penalty to AC and grants combat advantage to all until TEOMNT.

Perigia takes a step back and frowns at the seer. "Feel the cleansing flame," she says as she casts her spell. Shift to L18, casts Scorching Burst on S2. 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 vs Ref to hit. 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 fire damage.

Neither Erik nor Perigia can make any dent in the Seer's defenses, but the lackey has better fortune.
Lackey v S2 (AC) (1d20+14=32)
Only does 6hp damage alas, but every little helps.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied; dazed (se)
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe
Leo - 22(24)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied; +2 to defenses to start his next turn (second wind); taking 3 ongoing necrotic
Brujo - +2 defenses to start of his next turn (second wind)
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

depending on Caine, but Snaggletooth will move up to flank the Seer with Erik or the lackey, whichever square is still available. and then the sneak attack! riposte strike on S2, 29, for 6+5+7+3= 21hp damage and set up interrupt if he attacks me.

I have to go out for a couple of hours, but if Caine hasn't posted by the time I get back, I'll roll for him.

Snaggletooth - you are dazed and can't do all that. Would you like to revise? You can keep the rolls, but would have to lose the CA and SA damage is you wanted to throw a dagger instead.

Caine sizes up the situation and realises that the most urgent need is to pull the remaining berserk out of the bloody rain. With a sudden jolt, he remembers an old tactic. Charging the seer, he hits and with a shout of triumph, attracts the attention of the berserk. Lured beyond any possibility of escape, the creature moves out of the blood rain, at last offering Brujo and Leo the chance to attack it freely.

Luring Withdrawal. On hit, targets another enemy within 5 squares and pulls it 3 (Cha mod due to Bravura presence).
1d20+13=19 (v Fort). 1d8+6=7 hp damage to Seer 2

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Snaggletooth - bloodied; dazed (se)
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 22(24)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied
Brujo - +2 defenses to start of his next turn (second wind)
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

rackin' frazzin' idiotic yeah, go a head Rev, throw my magic dagger at him- standard deft strike move two closer to him and use my attack roll for 8 damage (1d4+4). save=11 vs dazed. (I hate dazed!!)

Snaggletooth's aim is sure and warns the enemy seer that nothing has been forgotten or forgiven.

Nodding grimly, the allied seer moves closer and sends a warp orb towards his erstwhile ally and bloodies him.
1d20+17=30 (Ref); 1d8+6=10 damage and S2 is dazed (se)

Unable to respond in combat, the now wild-eyed seer drops the amulet over his head and clutches it.
S2 now has +3 to his defenses and the powers of the Dreamstone amulet. These are, admittedly, not very useful to him at the moment.

Leo sees his chance and takes it. Moving to flank with Erik, he hacks at the berserk with surgical precision.
Bolstering Strike 1d20+13=30; 1d8+5=9, Leo gains 2 temp hp to slightly offset the ongoing necrotic.

1d20=11 - save v ongoing necrotic.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Brujo
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 21(23)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

Still at 20hp

"Well might as well keep this going"

Fey Step to K13; Scimitar vs B2 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

1d1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 cold

"Hey you didn't forget me, did ya?"

Brujo steps through the air and reappears just where B2 least wants to see him, and unleashes a bloodying blow on the tragic creature.

An attempt to retaliate meets with utter failure.
1d20+16=20 - blech.
And I'm a womble. I completely forgot to divinely challenge him for Leo. Ah well. Next time, little berserk, next time.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 21(23)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied
Brujo
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding; bloodied

Cannot save v blood damage while still in the zone.

Perigia decides to go back to what she does best and casts Magic Missile at S2 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 vs. Reflex, 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 4) + 5 = 11 force damage.

"Decision, decisions..." things Erik as he looks back and forth between the berserk and the seer.

He finally settles on the berserk, thinking that with the monster gone, the seer may simply give up.

Standard Action: War Song Strike vs. B4; 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 vs. AC for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 damage and on a hit, B4 grants CA to everyone and any ally who hits B4 until TEOMNT gains 3 temp HP.
Move Action: Shift to K16.

Thoroughly un-nerved perhaps by the attempts of the plagued creatures to grab the amulet from her, Perigia's usual sure aim deserts her.

Erik on the other hand, finds inner harmony again and lands a further blow on the berserk.

Even with every possible advantage, the last lackey can't manage a hit, unfortunately, and the bloody work is left to others to complete.
[1d20+16=20[/ooc]

Giving Rad chance to post on his own behalf, but Snaggletooth post at will unless you feel that Caine's actions may impact on yours.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 21(23)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied
Brujo
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding; bloodied; granting CA to everyone and anyone who hits him gets 3 temp hp to the end of Erik's next turn
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally

I have to have a flank to be effective so whichever is unoccupied M16 or L15 will be my destination. I prefer M16, as I want to finish off S2. riposte strike on S2 (+14 vs AC, 31 to hit with 4+5+10+3= 22hp damage and set up interrupt) if Caine takes that square, then its L15 and same rolls on B2

"Death will be your freedom." Snaggletooth thinks as he strikes.

Seeming to read Snaggletooth's mind, Caine moves tactically to provide flanks on both the berserk and the seer. Methodically, he strikes at the seer, hoping to finish the deluded man.

1d20+12=24. 1d8+6=13.

"I geou duulo wux"
Literally "I will free you"

The dreamblade whispers in Snaggletooth's hands as he moves, strikes and prepares a further attack in case of retaliation.

"Help him home, if he will not seek redemption in life" cries the allied seer, curiously echoing Snaggletooth's own thought. Another blast of blue energy flies across the room.

Warp Orb v S2. 1d20+17=19 - misses.

"I can choose for myself. Get away!" screams the clearly doomed man, pushing his staff into Erik's gut and sending a forceful blow of blue energy into the bard.
Twisted Staff. 1d20+14=30 v AC. 1d8+6=12hp damage to Erik and he is pushed one square.

Leo concentrates and strikes at the berserk, hoping, if nothing else to end the creature's obvious pain. Thanks to Erik, another of the paladin's wounds closes over.
1d20+13=23; 1d8+5=9

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Brujo
B2 - under Brujo's Aegis of shielding; bloodied; granting CA to everyone and anyone who hits him gets 3 temp hp to the end of Erik's next turn
Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 24(27)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied

Erik rolls his eyes once again at the allied seer, who's only been seeking his own redemption for all of 1 minute.

"Quit talking, you fool. You don't have any room to speak about redemption yet!" yells Erik, through gritted teeth, as his wounds are starting to become a bit more than he can bear.

Tired and aching Brujo swings again

Scimitar on B2 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23; 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Brujo's scimitar is the last thing the berserk sees. With no sound at all, the aberration falls, leaving only the dazed seer still standing.

MAP

For the rest of the encounter, whenever Erik hits an enemy, they grant CA to him and his allies until TEOMNT.

Perigia - bloodied
Erik - bloodied
Lackey - now an ally
*Caine - 23/56hp (second wind used)/0AP/0 Inspiring Word; bloodied
Snaggletooth - bloodied
Seer 1 - now an ally
Seer 2 - still a foe; bloodied; dazed (se)
Leo - 24(27)/60/0AP/1 Lay on Hands/9 surges; bloodied
Brujo

"I grow weary of this, seer," says Erik in an uncharacteristically cold voice.

He takes a step forward and points his songblade threateningly.

"My little companion over there was willing to give you mercy. Your lap dogs are dead. This is your last chance. Stand down...now," says Erik with finality.

Move Action: Shift to K16
Standard Action: Intimidate vs. WILL; 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Perigia frowns as he looks around. "Time to fish you off," she says to the remaining seer. Casts Magic Missile at the seer. 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 vs. Ref to hit, 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10 force damage.

Perigia's bolt misses, but Erik's words are powerful enough to make the second seer nod slowly. His staff falls to the ground and he put his hand in the air.

"I don't love any of you the better for this, but I'd rather live. For now at least," he concedes grudgingly. His hands close protectively over the amulet at his neck.

The blood rain continues to pour down and both seers and the lackey look expectantly at the party.

Out of Combat. You have earned 800XP, bringing you to 10,680 and Level 7. You cannot take advantage of your new encounter power until you've taken an extended rest, but you can update hp and surges now.

Erik heaves a sigh of relief and the tough exterior melts away.

"Someone tie him up please....and tell me what's going on. I haven't known you all very long, but I had no idea you were all so mixed up in this. I thought it was just happenstance, the fortunes of fate, that brought you to me on that road. I suspect there's more to it than that, isn't there?"

I believe Caine is the most hurt, yes?

Everyone is bloodied, including Brujo (he isn't bloodied on the list and should be).

Snaggletooth ties up the 'bad' seer with his rope, using a special kobold double reverse knot to make sure he is secure. He cuts up part of the seer's robe and shows it to him. "For now, you not gagged. If I tired of hearing you speak, I put rag in your mouth."

Then he quickly goes over to Volnath's body and searches it for the artifact. He also folds the arms and closes the eyes of the body. He proceeds to do the same for the rest of the corpses. search, fold, close eyes, to show respect for dead. He looks at Leo and nods as if to say, 'is this right?'

He brings the artifact to Leo. "This belong to your church. You protect it until we get it back."

He looks at Perigia and says, "I not know story about sister. You explain to Pretty Man so he not confused." Snaggletooth smiles. "I go talk to new friends."

Then he goes over to the good seer and the lackey and sits down on the platform with them. assuming S1 stays where he was at end of combat "You did right thing. We protected innocents from spellplague monsters." He notices their looks of confusion. "Not berserkers. Volnath promised Dreamer's power to control magic sickness,yes? Power yes, but control? Ritual summon Dreamer to this world, right? What Dreamer do here? Some your fellow believers say he make more magic sickness. Make everyone get magic sickness. Create monsters out of animals, very bad. Dreamer not make everything better. He just want to come here and need people here to let him in. That not god. Gods not need people help to come here. Only bad things need people help. So you help us stop bad thing. Now you start on path of redemption." He looks at their eyes and says, "I know magic sickness hurt you. I not know how to fix that. I not wizard or healer. But I know that doing right thing is the path to redemption. Once you start doing right thing, it become easier. Next thing you know, it first thing you want to do, not the second or third. Then you know you redeemed. If you have trouble knowing what right thing to do is, get friends who know right things. They help you remember to do right things. Most important to only hurt bad people who are trying to hurt others. If someone hurt innocent person to do their 'right' thing, it not true right thing. I learn that much." He smiles at them. "I not perfect. I get angry, say dumb things, get tempted to take other people's stuff. But I also try to do right thing every day. That how I get to be famous hero, not bad kobold thug."

"If you come with us, I try to find people who know how to treat magic sickness. Maybe they make it hurt less. What you say?"

Snaggletooth's care for the dead turns up an interesting find. Volkanth was wielding an intricately worked longsword as well as holding the relic you all sought. None of the other equipment catches his eyes, although the cloaks worn by the dead are all of good quality and deeply hooded.

+2 lifedrinker longsword

Leo gratefully and reverently takes the relic as Snaggletooth offers it to him.

"We must return this to Mother Bartha. Margant must be reburied within a time limit as well."

The seer and lackey listen carefully to Snaggletooth's explanation of the process of redemption and finally the seer speaks.

"I am Caksusa. This is Jervace. My bound colleague is Rishi. I give you our names as a symbol of trust.

I trust because I must. We have no other choice now. The ritual is broken. Volkanth came to us from his beloved. She saw the Dreamer and showed Volkanth the path. The relics were meant to be rejoined. This place was built when the Spellplague came and was intended, always, to bring the flaming gift into the world as a blessing, not the curse it is. We are all - we were all - friends of his. We were brought together by what we saw as our misfortune in being spellscarred. He gave us hope. You have taken that from us and your promises must be made good.

If you fail us now, our friend and our hope have died together. How can you help us?"

He looks at Perigia and says, "I not know story about sister. You explain to Pretty Man so he not confused." Snaggletooth smiles. "I go talk to new friends."

Snaggletooth wrote:

He looks at Perigia and says, "I not know story about sister. You explain to Pretty Man so he not confused." Snaggletooth smiles. "I go talk to new friends."

Perigia nods at Snaggletooth and then turns to Erik. "My younger sister Fia is infected by the spellplague," Perigia explains. "She was infected while fleeing from Thayan slavers. The Spellplauge changed her somehow, turned her into a monster that the Thayans worship as some sort of god. Apparently she is tied in with these people, although w did not know it until just now."

"Perigia...I had no idea. I'm very sorry if this could've saved your sister, but I don't think it would have been the right way. I think it's more likely we would have ended up like these monsters here."

"Even if it could have," Perigia says, "It's not what Fia, the real Fia, would have wanted."

"I grateful, Cak-susa, that you realize that ritual not what it seem. Fire-lady's sister was going to hurt people. Volkanth maybe wanted to help you, but at what price? It hurt much when you find out you put hope in wrong place. Will you and Jer-vace come with us, go to big mean lady? She mean, but good. She big person in Leo's church. If she cannot help you, then I go with you and we find someone else. Other people live with magic sickness. We can find them and find out how." Snaggletooth's eyes alight with promise as he talks with the former cultists. He truly believes that help is right around the corner. Then he looks straight at Caksusa and says, "Or if you not trust us, then you free to go own way. We not stop you. You help us stop big bad thing from happening here. You good person. As long as you not hurt other people, you can go and find cure or treatment. But I speak truth, you did right thing today. So today is good day. Today is day of redemption. You come with me on my path, or make your own. Choice is yours."

Rev and anyone who cares about the converted cultist subplot:

Caksusa looks doubtful at the mention of Kelemvor, and Jervace laughs bitterly.

"If the old b%!~& that runs the monastery is still in charge, she's the one who booted me out in the first place. Thanks, but no thanks."

Caksusa nods in agreement. "We're pariahs. That's the point. There is nowhere for us to go. The Spellplague changed everything and we don't even know what we are any more. Those berserks you just killed used to be like us, but it ate into their bodies and souls. Volkanth and his promise gave us hope we could change. Learn to control the power. We can't erase it, so we have to live with it and either turn into monsters or try to find a way. Redemption isn't as easy as you think."

More practically, he adds. "Look, there has to be some reason this place was built. Maybe we've got it wrong, but there is someone buried here and the blood is falling, just as she promised. How do you know the Dreamer is anything other than what Volkanth said - a benevolent being who can help us?"

Rishi laughs sardonically and clutches the amulet.

Snaggletooth

On a practical note, I'm going to assume that everyone is taking a short rest while this is going on. Erik's healing is going to mean you need fewer surges to get back to full strength.

Once you've decided what you're doing, you'll have to make your way out - including finding a way past the beholder zombie, lest you have forgotten.

Spending 2 surges.

Caksusa looks doubtful at the mention of Kelemvor, and Jervace laughs bitterly.

"If the old b###@ that runs the monastery is still in charge, she's the one who booted me out in the first place. Thanks, but no thanks."

Caksusa nods in agreement. "We're pariahs. That's the point. There is nowhere for us to go. The Spellplague changed everything and we don't even know what we are any more. Those berserks you just killed used to be like us, but it ate into their bodies and souls. Volkanth and his promise gave us hope we could change. Learn to control the power. We can't erase it, so we have to live with it and either turn into monsters or try to find a way. Redemption isn't as easy as you think."

More practically, he adds. "Look, there has to be some reason this place was built. Maybe we've got it wrong, but there is someone buried here and the blood is falling, just as she promised. How do you know the Dreamer is anything other than what Volkanth said - a benevolent being who can help us?"

Rishi laughs sardonically and clutches the amulet.

"I not familiar with good religion ceremonies, but I know lots of bad ones and flowing blood is always bad sign. If no want to come with us, that your choice. You go do what you want. You want to stay here, that your choice. I not make it for you. Big mean lady not only person who we ask for help, just first one. You come with me and I find you help. I make promise. But you not have to come with me. If you stay, you must find new way. Dreamer is bad thing who want to come here. If you try to summon him again, then we come back and kill you, like Vol-kanth and others. I not make threat, I just speak truth. And if it not us, then it someone else. Only way to live is to help others. All other paths lead to death. But if you think staying here, studying old things will help you, then stay here. Just don't do bad things. I not know much about magic sickness. I not healer or wizard. But if you come with me, I find somebody who know about sickness and how to live with it. That my promise to you. But if you no like that path, choose your own. But you not get artifact to complete bad ritual. Stop thinking that. Dreamer is false hope. You not control him, if you bring him here. He control you, you become slaves. That why staying here bad idea. Better to go some place else. Get away from Dreamer. Stay here give him another chance to get you. But choice is yours. We have to go, return artifact to big mean lady. Try to stop us, and you suffer old friends fate. (He points to the dead cultists) You come with me, I take you out of here and back to real world. This place stink of bad dreams and false hope."

Rev

are you sure that the tunnel is the only way out? the compulsion effect would make navigating it in the opposite direction (attacks will, forces you to walk back down to ritual room) extremely difficult. There has to be another way out. Or a way to turn off the effect. Otherwise the cultists would never leave. Perhaps a secret door leading to Volkanth's private suite or elsewhere in the complex. Perception=26, and if you need it, Diplomacy=15 to convince the cultists to come with him.

Caksusa listens and finally nods at Perigia and Snaggletooth.

"My head's telling me you're right. My heart isn't so sure, but I believe you're sincere."

He laughs suddenly and slightly hysterically.

"Today was supposed to change the world for us. That part's right at least. Not the change I was expecting mind you... we were going to free the Dreamer and move through the world offering a golden - well, blue - future to everyone. Now, we're going to wander the world with a kobold. Well, I am ..."

Caksusa's laughter breaks into genuine hysteria. "I'm following a kobold to redemption! I don't believe I said that."

"Snap out of it." Jervace goes to Caksusa and shakes him. "It makes as much sense as anything I've heard in the last few months and more than most. What about you, Rishi? They don't look like they're joking about killing you if you try again."

Rishi's face is expressionless as he too nods.

"The stars will not re-align for another year," he comments sourly.

"The Dreamer will have to find another way through. There will be one. Follow this dragon's dropping if you must, but keep your promise and let me go. I want none of this."

Caksusa calms himself enough under Jervace's ministrations. "We need to close the roof. That cuts off the compulsion in the tunnels."

To answer Snaggletooth's question, the compulsion operates only when the obersvatory roof is open to the night sky, as is presently the case. It can be closed again with a lever under the left hand staircase.

Snaggletooth

Erik grows even more weary of listening to the villains complain, but sets his sword to humming its Song of Rest for the benefit of the entire party, even the newly acquired members.

"I'll take care of the roof."

Erik will flip the switch and then return to the rest of the party.

"Now...what about that monstrosity we passed over before. Should we finish cleaning this place out or leave it be and hope it eventually rots with nothing to do and no master to command it?"

"What monstrosity?" Caksusa sounds genuinely curious.

"It dead thing with many eyes, and one big mouth." Snaggletooth says with a shiver. "I not want to fight it, but I not see another way. Maybe new friends know monster, can talk to it, maybe let us by?"

Rishi looks up.

"It's one of the zombies behind the panels by the bridge of scythes. The madman told me about them. I didn't believe him. I thought it was just a story. And no, you can't reason with it. It was big and evil and intelligent when it was alive. Now it's dead it'll just be big and evil."

Caine slumps against a wall, "I just need a rest."

How many surges do I need to spend to reach max hp?

Commander Caine - with Erik's bonus, you need to use two surges to regain max hp. You will then have 4 surges left. You have used all your dailies except Encouraging Stance.

Caine heaves a sigh of relief.

"I would personally like to see it taken care of, even if we have to come back when we are at full strength. If nothing else, we should at least seal this place off."