As I recall, Chloe has a handy haversack.
If you guys are interested in potions, they are available.
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Sarusa's light reveals the rapidly expiring form of the last of Qarxoosla's brood. The pathetic dragonling is has done its best to dig itself into the rich earth of the cave walls, but the wounds it had suffered what seems like months ago when you first entered the caverns seem to have been its undoing. The acrid tang of it's acidic phlegm wafts out toward you. The floor before it is a ghastly soup of bile, phlegm, blood, and rapidly expiring worms. With a last, shuddering breath, the drake collapses into its own fluids, whatever secrets it possessed dying with it. You are able to return to Galduria without further incident, your bags and pouches bulging with Qarxoosla's accumulated wealth.
Well, I'm definitely glad to see you four check in. Hopefully Karo will rejoin us as well. I'll send him a PM and see what's up. Also, you guys have found all of Qarxoosla's treasure hoard, and if you'd like to let me know how you'd like to spend it, we can take care of that in the discussion thread. Galduria is a Small Town so there's a 75% chance that you can find a magical item worth 1,000gp or less for sale. Any given shop can buy/barter up to 5,000gp in value. Spellcasting of up to 4th level is available without too much trouble. Once you guys get past Galduria, it will be very difficult to purchase provisions, so stock up now.
I'm trying to decide whether to try to speed this game up or look for some more people or put this game on a hiatus or maybe something else. I could do a large update and put you guys on the outskirts of Ravenmoor if people would rather do that. If those who are still interested in playing this game could check in within the next few days, I would appreciate it.
Karozekas translates the strange syllables for the group's benefit.
Well burdened with Qarxoosla's hoard, the party makes its way back to the lakeside cave mouth and the unexplored passageway. The air here is a bit fresher, the stench much more bearable, and the faint daylight beyond the low opening, combined with your new-found wealth leads to a not unreasonable sense of optimism. Unfortunately, the remaining passageway is dark, low and cramped, and burdened as you are, will be difficult to traverse in a quiet fashion.
אוי לך גנבים רצחניים, אז קדימה, לסיים אותי! בסופו של העינוי הזה אחת ולתמיד!
Draconic: Oh you murderous thieves, come on then, finish me, end this torment once and for all!
Lifting the dragon statues reveals that they are extremely light. By your keen senses of deduction, you can safely assume that they are silver plated and hollow. Karozekas discovers that the potions are of blur and protection from chaos. There is also an oil of bless weapon. There is an arcane scroll of alter self (CL3) and a divine scroll of remove disease (CL 5). There is also a fully charged wand of magic weapon (CL1).
The party presses deeper into the cavern and every few feet comes upon a filth-coated treasure, seemingly strewn about at random, perhaps in some fit of rage. All told, you find the following items: A set of six ivory dice (30gp) two silver plates and a silver noble's seal, all embossed with the same crest (60gp each, 180gp total) an elaborate set of crystal wind chimes (60gp) two ivory drinking horns banded in copper, bearing the same crest as the plates and seal (60gp each) an engraved golden scarab with inset lapis lazuli of Osiriani make (175 gp) a nice piece of unworked walrus tusk (45gp) a copper scepter with gold inlay (50gp) a porcelain mask (40gp) the following small, semiprecious gems:
136 platinum crowns, 1012 gold sails, 2712 silver shields, and 3540 copper pinches there are also three potion vials, two scrolls, and a wand At the back of the cavern, flanking what may have once been Qarxoosla's bedding down area stand two matching, three foot high, solid silver statues of dragons rampant, each weighing at least 10 lbs. (150gp for the matched set, or 65 gp each)
Sarusa senses nothing untoward from the left, and between her and Morin's keen eyes, there is no sign of danger. The left hand passageway opens into a small, low-ceilinged cave, littered with slender, yet flexible bones and overlarge, decayed and muck-encrusted fish heads, most likely the leavings of Locatha unlucky enough to be caught by the drakes. There are several ruined shell byrnies amid the debris, and buried in the filth, bones and rotting scales, Morin spies a fine rapier with a matching hilt and scabbard, tastefully decorated with copper filigree vines that flower into mother-of-pearl flowers.
To the right, you are able to spy a faint light. And exploration reveals a low exit to the caverns, just high enough for the taller members of the group to pass through without stooping. Beyond it lies the small, rocky beach that you saw from above this morning. The central passage curves off to the left, beyond any of your vision, while a smaller sub passage lies hard alongside the lake-side opening.
It takes some time, but Morin is soon drawing handfulls of silver and copper coins from the muck. Most bear the marks of having been minted in Magnimar, Kaer Maga or Korvosa, but some seem much older, with obscure markings and cryptic languages beaten into the precious metal.
Your group manages to make it down into the flooded cavern, Sarusa's magic providing scant illumination in the sunken depths. Treading water, your feet do not touch the ground, and while the flotsam of the weedy depths winds serpentine about your legs, nothing attempts to drag you under. The halls are quiet but for the dripping of condensed moisture from the ceiling. Once you make your way to the passage, you find the soil to be damp and sandy, though it dries as you progress up a gentle slope into the hidden chambers beyond. The passage narrows to nearly five feet across and continues that way for a few paces before opening into a large, low ceilinged hall. Roots and stalactites brush the tops of most of your heads, while stalagmites, piles of weedy detritus, broken bones, and reeking offal make the ground difficult to traverse. Here and there amid the wreckage, there are glints of metal, and the hint of treasures hidden among the trash heaps. The hall branches to your left, right, and straight ahead, with several points where the ceiling has collapsed to create breaks in the passageway.
The rope snakes down and hits the water below with a soft splash. Light? Tekkis grins at Sarusa. Never had much of a need for it myself. He shakes his head with a sardonic sigh. I should probably take my armor off, but who want's to live forever? With a cheerful salute, he descends feet first, hand over hand lowering himself into the watery depths. Shortly after he calls up, The water's only ten feet down, but it's too murky to say how deep it goes. There's a passage to the northwest, but not much else that I can see.
Well, someone needs to go first, Tekkis shrugs. I guess that's me. The half-orc checks that he has a plug of gilweed close at hand, then prepares to jump down into the water.
Tekkis leans over and peers down into the pit. There's a pool down there, he offers. But I can't see any exits from up here.
Emboldened by the decisive victory over Qarxoosla and her drakeling brood, the party once again plumbs the depths of the lakeside bluff. The earth remains damp and the tunnels lightless but for the illumination of Sarusa's club, although an occasional gust of wind makes its way through the passage, stirring up a sharp stink in the stagnant air of the caves. Once again, you make your way to a large sink hole, forming a broken ceiling over a chamber of indeterminate dimensions which is floored by a pool of unknown depth. All is quiet except for the chittering of bats above you. There seems to be ample and sturdy stone around the pit, with many fine protrusions to secure a rope to, should one wish to go spelunking.
Sarusa: You detect a faint, evanescent aura from the worms. It fades even as you study it, but you are relatively certain that whatever these worms are, they did not originate on this plane of existence.
I'll go with whatever the rest of you choose Tekkis grunts as he stretches, shaking his shoulders under his heavy plate armor, but let's make a decision. He shakes his head at Sarusa though, Don't mention it. Just glad to have the rest of you along. That was a hell of a scrape. Sarusa: It is plain to see that the oozes contained tiny worms similar to the ones that were present in the drake you fought on the lake a few nights ago. Outside of a host, they seem to be falling still, perhaps dying in the open air. However, these do not seem like any naturally occurring parasites with which you are familiar. There is something otherworldly about them.
The cavern opening atop the cliff face still beckons, dark and foreboding. Felt like we'd been fighting since last year, Tekkis agrees. Well, he hefts his mattock, we going down, or calling it a day?
A flurry of arrows, bolts and slings rip apart the remaining blob, resulting in another explosion of acidic goo that Sarusa and Tekkis are fortunately far enough away from to avoid. The sounds of the lake waters lapping against the shore below once more comes to your ears. The wind runs through the cliff-side grasses and the sky lightens as the sun threatens to break through a thin patch of clouds above. All is quiet and still, aside from your heavy breath as you recover from the arduous combat you have braved.
Doodle doodle do, I'm waiting for Corbyn and Chloe to do stuff. Chloe, you're still within 30' of the blob, even outside the entangle effect.
I'm visiting family this weekend, and probably won't have time to post a game update, but hopefully I should have something up early next week once everyone else has posted. Thanks as always for playing.
Karozekas fires another arrow at the blob.
Between it and Morin's sling stone, the blob explodes in a shower of acidic ooze, splattering Chloe and Tekkis.
Despite the spattering, Chloe manages to make her way free of Sarusa's grasping plants, while Corbyn revives Plod with the aid of a healing draught. The ornery druidess wades in and smashes her club into the remaining blob, while Tekkis looks at her, unsure what to do. Should we keep swinging, or get out of the way?
GM Screen: Tekkis at 7 hp B2 at 13 hp
Morin's slingstone and Karozekas arrow pierce the foremost blob by turns, and though it nearly falters, the sickly, yellow ooze pulses on, closely followed by its undamaged counterpart. While Chloe makes ready a ranged attack, Corbyn rushes to the aid of Plod. Sarusa enters the grasping thicket of her own devising, managing to avoid becoming entangled herself. Tekkis hears Morin's shouted warning and nods, grunting as he stands. The ooze closest to him takes that opportunity to attack,
but is unable to harm him through his thick armor. Tekkis backs away from the ooze, but pauses, seeing Chloe prepare her crossbow. Not leavin' you here with those things, he growls as he hefts his mattock and stays to defend the young healer. For their part, the blobs sludge forward, both draw close enough to attack, though only the injured one does so.
It strikes out at Chloe with a disgusting pseudopod, smashing her with its filth.
Between Karozekas and Corbyn's parting shots, the final drakeling crashes to earth, leaking its lifeblood out onto the grassy cliff. Morin and Sarusa send stones at the horrific afterbirth of Qarxoosla's death, and while both hit the closest blob with a ghastly, gelid series of plops, the damage appears to be minimal as the putrescences ooze their way toward Chloe and Tekkis. Fortunately, Chloe's healing revives Tekkis to the point where he can attempt to extricate himself from the clinging vines.
On his second attempt, the doughty half-orc is able to rip away the vines that tangled about him and his mattock in the short time of his repose.
GM Screen NOPEEKINGIMEANIT!:
Brainworms averted. Tekkis at 12 hp Blob 1 @ 14/19 hp Blob 2 @ 19/19 hp Unfortunately, the disgusting blobs have drawn close enough to engulf Tekkis in the sickly yellow miasma of their presence.
Tekkis stirs as Chloe's healing returns him to the land of the living. What's happening? he gasps out. Did we win?
entangled condition: Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 12:
This is definitely some sort of ooze. Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 17:
This ooze looks to be a Boilborn, living wounds that carry contagion and disease within them. Usually they carry Leprosy, but there are as many types of boilborn as there are diseases. Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 22:
In their death throes, boilborn explode covering everything within 10 feet in a highly acidic, disease-ridden soup. Knowledge (Dungeoneering) DC 27:
These particular boilborn are so virulent that anyone within five feet of them runs the risk of becoming infected with the disease they carry. As you all take notice of the sickly yellow blobs, a fine mist seems to fill the air above Qarxoosla's carcass.
gm screen:
The blobs, easily two feet in diameter, slip out of Qarxoosla with sickening, plopping sounds, and are immediately entangled in Sarusa's spell. They struggle towards Chloe.
Morin quickly gashes Qarxoosla as she pumps her wings to gain the sky, although with Tekkis fallen and the large drake wary, he is unable to strike as precisely as he would wish. Morin:
You neglect to pick up your bow as you exit the entangling plants. Karozekas fires another arrow, narrowly missing the remaining drakeling. Chloe sacrifices some of her remaining life-force to stem the flow of Tekkis' wounds, and then attempts to heal him further with a spell. Corbyn fires another pair of arrows, and his first finally hits the mark, piercing a weak spot in Qarxoosla's underscales at the base of her long, sinuous neck. This last wound proves too much, and the mother of drakes wings hitch and flutter, vainly trying to keep to the skies, before they fold and perish, and the mighty beast plummets to the ground. gm screen:
The horse-sized drake crashes to the ground and bursts apart like an overripe fish. A foul miasma of rot and decay immediately engulfs the area as her last living child flees through the air. Perception DC 15: Qarxoosla's carcass is wriggling with thousands of tiny worms, and amid the burst organs and shattered bones, there are a pair of tiny, pulsating pustules, striving to free themselves.
Between the twining grasses and Qarxoosla's lashing tail, Morin is unable to land a telling blow with either of his blades. Meanwhile, Karozekas sends an arrow into the chaos of the melee. While his aim is true, a last minute hesitation to avoid sinking an arrow into Morin sends the shaft bouncing off Qarxoosla's scaly hide. Chloe's healing energy bathes the group once more, soothing their hurts, though some remain. Corbyn does his best to track the rapid darting of his airborne foe, but between his rage and pain, his shots fly far wide of the mark. For their own part, Gellig and Sarusa manage to work together in tandem, and when her amphibian companion's powerful tongue dazes their opponent, the scowling druidess crushes its skull with her heavy club, splattering the earth beneath with a mess of wormy grey and red pulp. GM Screen:
Tekkis swings mightily at Qarxoosla, but the blow is unable to penetrate the mother of drakes hide.
Q Rolls:
Qarxoosla's lashing tail is unable to harm Tekkis, but the entangling plant life keeps him still enough for her powerful jaws to crush the flesh between his neck and shoulder, dropping him to the earth. With her tormentor dying at her feet, Qarxoosla releases a hideous bellow of rage and triumph before taking to the sky.
Corbyn's opponent follows its mother into the skies with a mocking hiss.
The burning mucus is too much for Corbyn, who in his anger is unable to exact revenge on the drake that murdered poor, noble Plod. Tekkis Rolls:
Meanwhile, Tekkis swings mightily with his mattock, piercing not one but two drakelings and pinning them both to the ground, dead.
Meanwhile, Sarusa chokes up on her Shillelagh and succeeds in braining the drakeling between her and Gellig. The small dragonette shakes and shudders on the grassy sward between them before hissing out, with a bit of fight left in it.
Plod's slayer charges Corbyn, bringing teeth and tail to bear against
The drakeling between Sarusa and Gellig turns its attention from the ineffective amphibian and towards Sarusa and her magic club.
Perhaps this is the runt of Mother Qarxoosla's litter, for its attacks fare no better against Sarusa than they did against her croaking companion. With two more of her children dead at Tekkis' hands, Qarxoosla's rage knows no bounds.
In her fury, her powerful jaws are unable to savage the warrior, but her striking tail nearly brings him to his knees.
Thanks for checking in Corbyn, and go Sarusa!
The remaining drakeling proves to be too elusive for Sarusa's grasping plants, but is unable to land a solid strike against Tekkis.
The murderous drakeling who slew the noble Plod, having suffered Corbyn's arrow once, takes wing, and coughs up another ball of acidic phlegm, splattering Corbyn and Karozekas. DC 12 Ref for half and to avoid entanglement. GM Screen:
Meanwhile, the other remaining drakeling strikes at Gellig once more.
For her part, Qarxoosla focuses on the slayer of her young, striking out at Tekkis with all her might.
Gellig manages to handily avoid the assault, but Tekkis is not so lucky, and is battered and crushed by the jaws and tail of the furious Mother of Drakes. The stalwart half-orc manages to withstand the damage, but it is plain to any observer that the next blow to land may very well do him in.
Locations:
Chloe: O 65 Karozekas: Q 67 Morin: R 68 D1: R 64
Plod: J 75
D5: H 68
Sarusa is in the correct spot
Karozekas spell fizzles as the writhing plants disrupt the normally smooth motions of his spellcasting. Morin is temporarily held up by the bush he was hiding in previously, but manages to extricate himself and prepare for melee. Chloe sends a wash of healing energy, but is unable to reach Plod or Gellig with it. One of the remaining drakes tries Tekkis' armor again
Corbyn avoids Sarusa's writhing vines and sends two arrows at Plod's slayer, the second of which finds its mark, eliciting a howl of rage and pain. Tekkis lays about himself once more, striking mighty blows on Qarxoosla's children, though they stubbornly cling to life.
Sarusa's spell flashes around Qarxoosla, Tekkis and one of the remaining drakelings, but all shrug off its effects. Gellig strives mightily, but is still unable to wound his opponent.
Thanks for the heads up Morin. I'm hoping to have a post up later today.
Corbyn's arrows sail harmlessly past Qarxoosla. Tekkis hefts his mattock and grunts, swinging at the drakelings that harry him.
His attack bursts through the first drakeling and towards the second but is unable to pierce the creature's scaly hide.
DC 17 Sarusa then imparts purpose to the teeming life of the nearby plants and grasses, causing them to reach and twine about those who trod upon them while Gellig tries without success to strike the young drake above him.
The drakeling that pursued the noble steed known as Plod swooped in, intent on sampling the flesh it planned to eat. Plod's hooves did little to persuade it otherwise, although he did strike a mighty blow.
Between the foul beast's slavering maw and lashing tail, poor Plod does not stand a chance, and drops to the earth. Meanwhile, the drakeling between Corbyn and Tekkis easily evades the grasping plants about it and joins its brethren in the assault on Tekkis, flanking the stalwart half-orc with its monstrous mother.
Despite its tactical advantage, it is unable to penetrate the half-orc's thick armor. Another drakeling strikes at Gellig, annoyed by the frog's impertinent attack...
...but only manages a glancing blow with its tail. Finally, Qarxoosla herself, seeing the horrendous damage to her progeny caused by the armored hulk known as Smalltooth, unleashes her full fury upon the warrior.
Where her children's smaller teeth failed, she succeeds, biting through the metal plate to wound and gash the thick muscles of Tekkis' shoulder.
There there, I'm sure this won't result in the party's untimely death. So, what squares are the center / boundaries of your entangle?
Yeah, at minimum it looks like you'd get Tekkis, which probably isn't a huge deal, and Morin, who can probably make the save anyway.
Hey Sarusa, what's the DC on your entangle? And what's the area of effect?
Karozekas lands the tanglefoot bag on Qarxoosla and while the sticky resin coats her powerful hind legs well, she does not appear to be tied to the earth.
The two newly arrived drakes fly down, charging Tekkis.
Despite their combined efforts, only one penetrates the half-orc's thick armor, and even that results in nothing more than a glancing blow.
Plod makes a break for the trees, coming dangerously close to actually running! Menawhile, Corbyn's arrow sails harmlessly past Qarxoosla.
GM Screen:
Spit Timers: hp:
As Plod trots away, one of the drakelings screams, unwilling to allow its dinner to escape. In a looping route, it flies into the trees to harry the faithful beast of burden, weaving in and out of the thick branches with relative ease.
As for the mother of drakes herself, she swoops in low to land before Corbyn, Karozekas and Tekkis, snapping at the offending elfin arcanist and lashing at Corbyn with her tail.
Shortly thereafter, Morin emerges from his hiding place and sinks a feathered shaft deep into Qarxoosla's breast, who screams in rage at the diminutive sailor's effrontery.
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