Connor shrugged. ::It was worth respect, anyway.:: he said over Selvan's Net. He and Hero went to the western door. Hero, do the usual. Connor told his other self.
Psicrystal Perception (taking 20) = 26
It is a small (very small) room that looks like it might have once been a small office, it leads back to the jail area.
Connor walked into the room, going immediately to the next door. Hero kept up with the larger person. ::All clear in here.:: Connor told the others. He quickly took a look at the next door. ::This one should lead to the "prison room" Hero saw earlier.:: Connor added.
Connor's torch sputtered out. Reaching automatically for another one hanging from his backpack, Connor came up with only empty air. "Uh-oh. We're out of torches." he said. Connor twisted the signet ring on his hand so the crystal light would shine. ::I've got my ring and one sunrod left.:: he reminded his friends, putting the light on the western door. ::I know some of us can see in the dark, or almost-dark, but I like places to be well-lit.:: Connor looked at the rather costly ring on his hand. I'm going to need more of these as well. he told himself.
"Hold on," Sam said digging Tenfa's gem out. With a spark of will he causes it to start glowing. "Gotta keep refreshing the effect but it'll help out until we find the Snowcoat fella."
"Oh! My! So that's how that works..."
Area 4 is the small office that was for constables (it appears the even smaller office was probably for the head constable). Area 5 is a prison cell (as Hero reported earlier).
The southern door is locked.
Connor decided to check the southern door first.
Not wanting to wait, Connor decided to unlock the southern door so Hero could take a look inside.
Room 6 appears to be a bare barren room. There's what might once have been a privy with a chamber pot in the corner, but it's long since collapsed into termite eaten wood and shards of ceramic.
The room has a somber feel.
::End of the line, here. Hero doesn't see any other doors in the next room. He says it feels "somber", somehow.:: Connor sent through Selvan's Net.
Connor stood up, turning away from the door, and got out his map maker's kit again. Sketching in the next few rooms, he looked up at the others. ::My time sense is a little off down here where the sun doesn't shine, but I'm thinking it's about sunset up above. I think we've had enough today, between the balls of light, the noble's room, and the vault room. So I think we should start to set up camp. Now,:: Connor "said", showing his chalkboard to his friends, ::we can either go back to the center room, or just the water-source room north of here. Both have the same number of doors - three, although the central room has an unknown door to the south. Tenfa said south of here might be the living quarters. So we'll do that tomorrow morning, continuing our clock-wise exploration. I don't know about you, but I could use the rest.:: Connor rubbed the burns he had received from the balls of light the night before. ::Or some healing, if you can do it, Selvan.:: Connor asked Selvan.
::What do you gents, and lady, think?::
"sounds good to me."
"We closed the portal so more orbs shouldn't keep wandering out. Exterminating the remainder shouldn't be too hard to hunt down," Sam says.
::The center room, then. It might be less defensible than the water room, but it has more avenues of retreat as well.:: Connor decided.
----------------------
After moving to the center room , and taking the time to move the copper ingots from where he had stacked them, Connor started setting up a camp from his backpack. He put his signet ring in the center of the room, propping it up with various stones and rocks, keeping the light on the ceiling. In place of a fire. Connor thought to himself.
After several minutes he motioned to the psicrystal on his shoulder. ::This time, I'm telling Hero to keep watch with us.:: Connor told the others. ::He doesn't sleep, and he doesn't seem to "set off" the balls of light, so I'm going to have him at the periphery, walking in circles. I'd also like to take first watch, so I can get a full night's sleep.:: the young Humavian requested.
----------------------
The night is uneventful, everyone get's a full night's rest.
The second thing Connor did in the morning, after centering and focusing himself, was manifest another astral construct as he sat cross-legged on the stone floor.
This silvery-transparent mannequin of a winged Humavian stands shorter than a Halvavian. It is ready to move by silent command from its master.
Craft (Sculpting) check:
A result of 20 to 29 creates a construct that looks like an accurate portrayal of that creature type.
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft. (Average)
(only if changed to attack) Melee slam +2 melee, 1d4+3 damage
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 12 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (One option from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A, taken twice)
Fly (Ex)
Utility (Ex) (2x)
"I dub thee 'Torch bearer'. Now if we just had a torch. Instead of the 'astral army' I think I'll be less free with the mindpowers today." he told the others. The astral construct beat its' wings and flew over to the southern door. Connor got out his trail rations and waterskin to break his fast.
Hero crawled over with Connor's signet ring, the cone of light playing across the shadows made by the columns in the room. ::You know,:: Connor "said" between bites of food, ::we could do that one room to the west before going south. Just to make sure, since we're already here.::
Sam yawned and scratched idly at a scab.
"We've been all over this place and not found even a tuft of fur," he grumbled, Connor's decision making had taken care of them pretty well thus far. The kid had plenty of insight to throw around. "I'm beginning to think the errant kitty got ate outside."
::Let's get through this city today then. Maybe Snowcoat Senior had a sixth sense to avoid the balls of light.:: Connor replied. As he finished collecting his stuff into this backpack, he asked, ::Did we ever get a proper name for this place? So we can tell some Halfling above and have them actually take us seriously, instead of dismissing our report as fantasy?::
---------------
Connor knelt by the southern door in the room, shooing the astral construct to fly above him. He inspected the door.
::Hero,:: Connor echoed through Selvan's Link, ::I'm going to have you do the usual here. My little ring isn't enough light for me, but I don't want to strike the last sunrod until we're ready to leave this place. You can see anywhere, so you look for traps for us.::
Psicrystal Perception (taking 20) = 26
::Yeah, sooner we are out of this city, the better. It's been pretty much a waste of time.::
"Aww, am I the only one having fun?", Alys asks with pretend disappointment as she opens her eyes from meditation, "We don't really know if it is until we checked every last room.", she materializes her soulbolt and loads a new glowing bullet into the chamber.
Another one of those stupid down staircases boss, gonna be a bit... About ten minutes of grumbling about short legs and giant cliffs ensues. Holy crap boss, gonna take me an hour to survey this thing. I can't sense any limits. Another hour passes, and then another half hour. Finally Hero comes back over the link. You sure you gotta come down here boss? There's a big ol cathedral like room, a dozen or so giant pillars with carvings on them. 30 ft up to the ceiling. There's a corpse down here, looks recent. Glad I don't have a nose. Whew. There's also four balls of glowy light, you're favorite type. Three of the little bitty guys, and one bigger than anything I've seen down here so far, he's like, bigger than those gnolls you were hanging out with. About the size of a wagon! Just getting around him makes me sick to my stomach, and I don't have stomach! There's some doors leading off, a long hallway, and what looks like a giant chunk of busted out wall. There's something in the broken out wall that stops the glowy things, one of them keeps trying to go down the area where it's busted, and getting shocked.
::Going to be a while.:: the young man told his friends. ::Hero's found another corridor going down.:: Connor spent the next hour-and-two-thirds writing a few more points in his journal about halfling traps and godling humor. He also stretched his wings for exercise in the larger room, checking his pinfeathers.
------------------------------
Connor let out a particularly descriptive epithet involving large land mammalian vegetarians and the aftereffects of extra-spicy meat by-products fed to such animals. Find out if that corpse could be our man-cat and then hide just far enough away you can still see them all. he mentally told Hero.
::Okay, big trouble.:: the Humavian told the others. ::The down stairs opens up to a very large chamber with at least four balls of light. One larger than any we've seen yet, Hero says it's as big as a wagon. There's also a recent corpse on the floor, I'm having Hero check that out to see if it's our Snowcoat. But there's something weird in a hole in the wall on the far side, something keeping the balls of light out.::
Connor checked the buckles on his backpack. ::We've got to check the corpse - it could be our quarry. Plan A - I make three more astral constructs and we attack like we did before in the portal-slash-vault room. I should be able to slam two or three balls of light before the constructs fade out. But that larger one is a real threat. I hate to think what the backwash of its' death explosion is going to be like, with that size. It's another single-file corridor, so we need our best ranged attacker up front. I can make another construct to be a 'blocker' between the large orb and our front-line person, but it won't last long. If the wagon-sized ball of light can squeeze into the corridor, we've got to back up before it explodes.::
Connor opened the southern door to send the first construct ahead while he waved his hands, making more constructs. His fingers fluttered as if on a potter's wheel, shaping clay into containers.
This silvery-transparent mannequin of a winged Humavian stands shorter than a Halvavian. It is ready to move by silent command from its master.
Craft (Sculpting) check:
A result of 30 or higher creates a construct that looks like a specific individual (Connor).
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft. (Average)
(only if changed to attack) Melee slam +2 melee, 1d4+3 damage
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 12 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (One option from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A, taken twice)
Fly (Ex)
Utility (Ex) (2x)
This wingless human-like creature is made from a silvery-transparent material. It stands shorter than a Halvavian, its' right hand and arm ridiculously larger than its left.
Craft (Sculpting) check:
A result of 20 to 29 creates a construct that looks like an accurate portrayal of that creature type.
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
(only if changed to attack) Melee slam +1 melee, 1d6+5 damage with Power Attack (Ex) and Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 10 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (Two options from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A)
Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Power Attack (Ex)
Utility (Ex)
This wingless human-like creature is made from a silvery-transparent material. It stands shorter than a Halvavian, its' right hand and arm ridiculously larger than its left.
Craft (Sculpting) check:
A result of 10 to 19 creates a creature that is recognizably similar to the desired creature shape.
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
(only if changed to attack) Melee slam +1 melee, 1d6+5 damage with Power Attack (Ex) and Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 10 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (Two options from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A)
Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Power Attack (Ex)
Utility (Ex)
::What do you want to do?:: Connor asked the others on Selvan's Net as his hands sculpted the ectoplasm appearing in front of him. ::And Reaghar,:: he added, ::don't forget about your Vigor mindpower. Those up front could use the extra vitality in case a 'death explosion' hits them.::
"Well for one I don't want to introduce myself to our big friend, looking like this," Alys puts her fingers on one of her tattoos and wills it to release its power to close her wounds. "And then I still have my new trick to try out, if it works, I should be able to cause a lost of damage."
Anything on the ceiling we can shoot down to fall on em?"
::Just your typical tall ceiling. There's a lot of columns, according to Hero. Halflings appear to build tall, even underground. Otherwise, we'd all be walking bent over.:: Connor replied.
REcieving the percieved image of the area from connor in his mind Selvan shrugs. "Fill the cooridor with death. Force it to come into our line of fire. No point in endangering ourselves more than necessary."
Moving into position and pulling out his wicked long warpick he prepares to cover the door.[/ooc]
Connor decided to "see" Reaghar's mindpowers himself through Selvan's Net, and manifest Vigor.
[dice=Psicraft check (DC 20) to "see"]1d20+11[/dice]
[dice=Psicraft check (DC 15 + power's level) to "understand"]1d20+11[/dice]
The successful olfactory result was similar to Reaghar: harsh, like a Strix, with a hint of boiled leather from the armor the man wore.
--------------------------------------
::I'm beginning the attack.:: Connor told the others as they began to enter the long stairway. The young humavian followed Alys, with Selvan behind him.
Connor moved the astral constructs down the stairway, two of them flying while the others scurried down the steps. Using his psicrystal as a talking relay, Connor moved the constructs into position around two of the floating balls of light. He had the ectoplasm change to attack as soon as they could make the flank on each of their targets.
Sam took longer to get the hang of it but the pain of his wounds faded to the edges of his mind.
--------------------------------------
"Ready for trouble," Sam said, heat rippling around him.
The two constructs flank the first small elemental, and then slam it from each side. Each only hits once, but the two hits are enough to detonate the elemental.
This causes the other elementals int he room to become agitated, and they begin zooming around, looking for something.
The larger one moves to the center of the room. Small tendrils of negative energy lash out, filling the room.
Reaghar will buff himself with Vigor and Offensive Prescience when the other party members get a-buffin'.
First round, he will ready a shot at the first elemental to come in range. He will move up prior to that if the front line shifts.
A blob of ectoplasm appeared in front of Sammark, turning into an astral construct on the stairs. It faced outward, towards the open room where purple lights flickered and made fast-moving shadows dance across the walls. Connor mentally gave it the commands of protecting the first person in the line, as well as obeying any vocalized commands from any of them.
::Making a blocker. Just tell it to move if you need a clear line of sight.:: Connor informed the others. Hero, get to cover as long as you can still see the balls of light. Hide behind a pillar or something. Connor told his other self.
This wingless human-like creature is made from a silvery-transparent material. It stands shorter than a Halvavian, its' right hand and arm ridiculously larger than its left.
Craft (Sculpting) check:
A result of 20 to 29 creates a construct that looks like an accurate portrayal of that creature type.
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
(only if changed to attack) Melee slam +1 melee, 1d6+5 damage with Power Attack (Ex) and Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 10 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (Two options from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A)
Improved Slam Attack (Ex)
Power Attack (Ex)
Utility (Ex)
Selan waits as the more distant minded worked on shooting the foes.
Under Hero's observations, Connor directed the astral constructs to each take a swing on a single smaller ball of light, trying to destroy one, rather than just hit whichever orb was closest.
-----------------------
Another small elemental detonates as 2 and 4 hit the same elemental, 1 and 3 miss completely.
The large elemental finally moves closer into the center of the room, and see's all the juicy life force in the hallway. It zips forward and a pulse of black energy floods down the hallway, reaching 30 ft down. Even as it does, Reaghar blasts it his disrupt ability, tearing off a small bit of it's energy.
"There you are!" Alys calls out with pain in her voice as she raises her mind bold, and the glowing bullet springs into the chamber, to be fired at the giant ball of energy. She focuses and another bullet starts radiating energy just before being fired as well.
Alys's shot blows a nice chunk out of the ball of energy, but the second passes through the same area, meaning it actually misses hitting the ball, since it passes through an area where there is no energy anymore.
Sammark fires an energy ray, pumping power into it.
Unfortunately, the ray burns past the elemental, then slams into the roof. Grunting, Sammark treks back up the hallway to avoid the elemental.
The small elemental, now attacked and alerted to the constructs, lashes out at the northern one.
But it misses horribly.
The larger elemental reaches out after the retreating Sammark with a tendril of energy, but can't get off an AoO due to the cover provided by the construct. Annoyed by the construct, and the damage it's taken, it lashes out with a bolt of energy at the construct.
The construct is ripped nearly half apart by the two bolts of energy, it's structure torn into shreds that are still plopping wetly to the ground as it struggles to maintain it's structure.
Reaghar modifies his personal pattern (+1 dodge to AC), making himself harder to his since he is now basically on the front line. He takes another shot at the construct.
"We should back it up" he says, moving back 3 spaces.
"Excellent plan." Alys remarks holding a shot ready until everyone backs up.
::You don't have to tell me twice!:: Connor replied through Selvan's Net to Reaghar. As he turned to squeeze past Selvan, Sammark beat him to the spot, forcing Connor up the stairs practically to the central room's southern door. Connor kept his ring's light as a beacon for the others, his mind flashing with telepathic talk with his psicrystal, ordering the astral constructs to keep attacking the balls of light.
Connor's left hand went up to one of the jewels on his uneven necklace, calling forth the power in the stone.
::If you've got any healing, Selvan, you should probably use it now! We could all use some repair after that wave! Can you use your Net, or do you have to be touching us?:: Connor asked the elfavian.
--------------------
Two of the constructs had managed to surround the smaller ball of light.
While the others rushed to the larger light orb and began swinging. The grounded astral construct swerved to the other side of the large ball of light, turning and attacking when opposite the fifth construct at the doorway. The flyer just attacked as soon as it got close enough.
A large garnet crystal came around the corner, making speedily for Alys, who had been left behind by the male half-Strix and the Wingless. Reaching the woman's boot, the psicrystal crawled up until it reached her shoulder, where it began poking and prodding until it found a tattoo. Hero activated the psionic tattoo as soon as it found it.
Sam spends a moment catching his breath and recenters himself quickly. He would need to better at this meditation if he wanted to survive.
Selvan concentrates on Alys, as she seems to be the most heavily wounded, and readies an action.
Alys fires at the creature, hitting it once and tearing a chunk of energy out of it.
The two flicker, and then Alys reappears where Selvan was, and Selvan appears where Alys was.
Just as Selvan blinks into a new position, the large elemental detonates.
Selvan is slammed against Reaghar by the blast, he is left staggered, but still conscious. "Unh... I have to touch someone to heal them.. but I don't have to touch them to evacuate them."