Magnus moves forward to examine the area where the concealed door is located.
Perception:
"This looks like the entrance here. How shall we proceed?"
Our new friend here is going to open the door under the firm grip of Astrid, right, friend?
Aukan will pummel this...Xanathon Aukan boasts, hefting his axe
Liam stays by Astrid's side, hoping that his mere presence and the fact that he is a great swordsman will aid Astrid (and the others) in intimidating him.
Yeah, he's gonna open the door. Then that Xanathon will yield before my blade.
The priest points down the corridor grinning.
Astrid puts him in a particularly painful armlock and marches him down the corridor... which seems to stretch on into the distance... you move forward again and the end of the corridor seems to grow no closer.
You keep pushing down the corridor but the end of it seems to remain in the distance.
Foul heathen magic! Aukan cries, and he smashes his axe into a nearby wall for punctuation.
The priest gurggles with laughter. Behold Cretia as he confounds His enemies...
Magnus indeed knows this is some sort of trickery! Cretia is a trickster god after all... He focuses on the ever stretching corridor. He looks and finds that the group have not moved far away from the secret door leading to this corridor.
He looks again and the corridor end is just 20 feet away. For him, the illusion is broken.
"Umm group...this is an illusion. The corridor is only 20 feet away. Concentrate and you can break the spells power over you."
Karl concentrates on the corridor and the new location of the door, disbelieving the illusion.
Liam, growing tired of this walking stops to try and figure this out. Magnus' suggest and deduction now makes thing clear.
Damn magical wizardry. cursing the magical effect that he has been victim to.
concentrating on the reality that was explained to him Liam tries to separate the illusion from reality.
Astrid closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. That breath stretches on into eternity for her, as she lets the spirits flow through and allow her to see clearly.
She then opens her eyes.
Looking down the corridor does little to dispel the illusion but looking away from it and then looking again breaks the charm.
You are faced with a blank wall but your certainty that there is a secret door there, coupled with the urgent struggling of the priest you have in hand leads you to carefully search and find it.
In this comfortable room, two low chairs are set around a small table, and a small desk is against the wall. The desk is bare, but there is a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table.
There is a door in the far side of the room.
Will speed things up tomorrow
Passing through the door you enter a richly furnished dining room. The table and chairs are of gleaming dark wood, and have been skillfully crafted.
Several paintings hang on the walls, depicting waves of grass below awesome mountain peaks. An exquisitely detailed tapestry hangs on the wall by the kitchen, picturing masses of Ethangarian riders storming through the army of some foe, and a crystal chandelier hangs over the table.
To the left there is an open door way that leads to private kitchen and small larder. The food seems to be of superior quality and the bottles of wine seem equally fine. There are also two kegs of beer here. The room contains a fine set of silverware and a fine set of China as well as an icebox, whose slowly melting ice keeps fresh various fish and cuts of meat.
Exiting the dining room and kitchen you move onwards opening a door to the west.
This room contains a large bed, a table and chairs, an open closet, a colorful map on one wall, and a large, glass paned window in the middle of the room’s west wall. Given the dimensions of the temple and its position you'd guess the drop from the window to the ground outside is not far at all.
However this all that you have time to take in...
A tall, gaunt, bald man is standing in the center of the room. He is clad in a black robe, and holds a gleaming black mace in his hand. He looks rather frail but laughs mockingly. One of my acolytes appraised me of your arrival, then he snarls, Poor miserable fools.
He seems content to let you take the initiative.
Passing through the first room Liam grabs the wine bottle taking a sip as he continues on.
He barely gets much further when the "motherload" of fine wine lies before him. He drops the bottle he was carrying and grabs a new one from the rack. he also snags some silverware along the way.
continuing on Liam tucks is loot into a pouch and barely has time to straighten himself up when he meets a new adversary.
At the enemy's boast, Liam give a cocky smile, Lets get 'em
Liam leaps to the initiative and advances to attack.
Liam's charge is a little awkward as he stumbles forward, his sword swing goes wide and nearly throws him off balance but the momentum he creates causes his shield to slam into the enemy.
Astrid attempts to hold Liam back as he charges, but curses as he slips away. "Liam, you idiot, this is the High Priest of the god of trickery! Don't trust your eyes!"
You will face my blade Fiend! Bow before my Battle Spirit!
Aukan charges at the man attempting to grab him in a chokehold!
Karl prays aloud to Frey, and raises his hands a flame like radiance descends upon the man.
Liam charges in and smashes the man in the face with his shield, to which the priest just laughs, even as he is knocked back a few feet. Karl's fire pours over him like rain but while the carpet is left smoking, he and his robes are untouched.
Aukan pounces on the man, grappling him and gets him in a choke hold only to find his neck as tough as brass and as unbendable as iron!
Magnus holds back for now.
The priest snarls and swings his mace over one shoulder at Aukan.
for
Party up... And perception rolls please as well.
GAH! Tricks! Aukan bellows and he leaps to attack the Priest once more, this time drawing his axe!
Magnus casts detect magic and examines the room, as well as the figure before them.
Xanathon radiates with magic... his whole being and weapon. Something is not right here
Liam dances around the priest striking with his blade aiming low to attempt to slice his leg and possibly drop him to his knees
After the leg slice, Liam takes advantage of the situation and smacks the priest in the chin with his shield.
Karl again mumbles a prayer to Frey as he holds the holy symbol around his neck, and a Spiritual manifestation of a Mace appears next to Xanathon and attacks.
The attack crunches home but seems to leave Xanathon unphased.
He snarls, takes up his mace and attacks Liam.
for bludgeoning damage and poison damage.
Next Round.
Knowing this foe is a follower of a trickster god, Magnus again attempts to disbelieve what he is seeing.
That's a tricky one (no pun intended).
Let's just say Magnus is convinced, Xanathon is no illusion nor is his combat prowess.
Karl waves his arm and moves the Spiritual manifestation of a Mace next to attack Xanathon again.
Akan swings his axe
-Posted with Wayfinder
Astrid continues to stand back, taking in the battle. Finally, she roars, "You idiots! It's obvious we can't hurt him! We have to retreat before he kills us all!"
The woman warrior is right! I am soul and body are beyond all your ability to harm! Yet here is a riddle for your feeble brains! The answer to your defeat lies deep in the earth yet high in the sky.
There is the large window would likely be a short drop into the street level at the rear of there temple that could serve as an emergency exit.
Liam takes all of this into account, Astrid may have a point, especially when she called us idiots, she does say that unless she really means it. (well except for Liam)
I'll keep him occupied, the rest of you make your escape.
with that Liam tries to draw Xanathon's attacks onto him.
Liam tries to use hus shield to shove Xanathon back away from the group.
Perception:
Seeing the large window as a possible escape route, Magnus cast a bolt of fire to shatter the glass and allow his comrades a means of escape.
"Quick everyone, out the window
Retreat! Hell! Aukan responds, planting his feet firmly...you can tell the half ogre isn't really keen on fleeing a fight.
As Liam fights hoping to give the others time to escape, Aukan! get out of here! and take that Tapestry, there is a map we could use on it.
Xanathons response is to laugh again in that low sinister chuckle that bears witness to his confidence in your lack of ability to hurt him or Cretias' designs.
Xanathon swings hard at Aukan.
for damage and poison damage.
Aukan growls deep in his throat...a growl that turns into a bestial howl of rage!
RAAAAAAAGHHHH Aukan disengages and snatches the Tapestry (if he can) and he leaps out the window...
Magnus rushes to the window as well and jumps to the ground below.
Tearing the tapestry from the wall Aukan jumps out the window!
Karl heads through the window, as well.
Look out below!
Astrid also leaps through the window, though not before shooting a venomous glare at Xanathon and growling, "I'll see you later."
Once everyone is out, Liam takes a step back, you are lucky that on this day, the greatest swordsman this side of the river has chosen to give you a few more days to consider surrender.
with that Liam makes a dramatic and acrobatic leap out the window.
As Liam backs up saying his cliche monologue, he misjudged the distance to the window. and mid sentence he backs out the window falling onto his back outside.
looking at the group he quickly gets to his feet, Hurry before gives chase.