The smelly elf squints into the back corner of the south-eastern room. "I uh... don't know. That corner looks dark. And I went to check it out and couldn't see anything. It's like magic or something."
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Studying the oddly dark corner Rayan's expression turns sour "Unfortunately I was originally scheduled for a patrol outside the city walls and have only prepared more....violent incantations. The closest I could come to conjuring light without time to study my spells would be a fan of flames." He touches his thumbs together, creating a fan shape with his hands out in front of him to illustrate what he means before shrugging and letting his hands fall to the side.
"It seems entirely too intentional for the darkness to conceal nothing, we should likely investigate, albeit carefully."
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Nahko removes his backpack, moving a few smaller items into his belt bouch. He follows Hootie Bell into the darkness, trying to infer from the shape of the darkness where the center must be; he tries to head straight for the source as best as he can. "I'll start lifting things that I find. If you see the darkness shift, call it out. That means that I've probably found the source."
He holds his backpack open in one hand, ready to drop what he finds inside if it fits.
Everyone digs into the corner of the room, searching through the stacks of waterlogged books both under and over the water level. It takes a bit, but with everyone's help eventually... Nahko Bear blindly shoves a book into his pack and then suddenly everyone can see!
Unfortunately, when anyone opens the pack the darkness resumes and it is impossible to identify the book.
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Now that there is no darkness Grix will look around in the corner looking for anything that the darkness might have been hiding. If he finds nothing he will assume that the book is what is being hidden.
Assuming the group finds nothing here and we have searched the entire lower level, Grix will say, "We finished looking and we find no fox. We go talk to the boy now. We bring the caged one too" Grix is frustrated that he was tricked and defended the boy at the beginning of the adventure.
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Nahko cinches the backpack tight around the book, ensuring that no darkness can leak out, then he shoulders the load. "I'll show this to Zarta when we get upstairs. I'm sure she can help us dispel the darkness and figure this out."
"We've got four pieces of this poem. Can anybody make sense of them?"
Nahko cinches the backpack tight around the book, ensuring that no darkness can leak out, then he shoulders the load. "I'll show this to Zarta when we get upstairs. I'm sure she can help us dispel the darkness and figure this out."
"We've got four pieces of this poem. Can anybody make sense of them?"
An odd thing occurs when Nahko Bear starts talking. Instead of hearing him speak, you hear what seems like 40 beings chattering gibberish from his pack. Every word he says is quickly drowned out.
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"Well this corner is clear!" exclaims Vraxam with a smile, turning back to the others. "Oh, good. You grabbed....whatever it was. What's that Nahko? Sorry....I didn't..."
Shaking his head, he frowns. "You know...why don't we just let Ms Dralneen take a look at the thing. She's pretty good with this stuff."
Turning back towards the upper level, he announces "Now that we've got that squared away, lets make haste! Can't let the doppleganger get free now."
Making your way back out of the deep bog takes a little bit of time. Once to the stairs though, everything finally gets a bit easier. Waterlogged and annoyed, the group makes its way back upstairs. The fey fishers greet them with a sarcastic heroes welcome.
Moving purposefully past and out into the lobby, the group heads upstairs to where they last saw the other Vermil.
The stairwell is tight and only allows single file. Hootie and Grix move up first and rush through the unlocked door.
As she opens the door and steps in, a shelf full of colored dyes and inks crashes down towards her. Stepping aside at the last second, it misses her by a hair. Looking into the room she and Grix see...
The group hears male voice yelling, "what are you fools doing! That's coming out of your pay!!!"
Quite noticeable is a crocodile snuffling through the writing desks. This normally would be extremely odd, but some of the rumors about Shane flash to your minds and remind you that he is quite an eccentric curator. In fact, a crocodile wandering around seems almost tame compared to the wild stories you recall.
Round 1
Kreighton Shane/Crocodile
Naneryn
Vraxam Uldar
Rayanoushyant
Grix Wolfguard
Nahko Bear and Kuti
Hootie Bell
Bold may Act
Grix's movement and accusations trigger a response.
Kreighton Shane's eyes go wild in fear and he crawls up the side of the room to the ceiling, scurrying like a spider. He speaks words of encouragement to bolster his allies. "Go get 'em critter!"
The croc takes the encouragement to heart and moves up, snapping at Grix.
The creatures gaping jaws snap down hard onto Grix's arm, holding him tight. Blood dribbles down his side from the damage. )
Round 1
Kreighton Shane/Crocodile
Grix Wolfguard (standard or move left, -6 HP, Grappled)
Naneryn
Vraxam Uldar
Rayanoushyant
Nahko Bear and Kuti
Hootie Bell
Bold may Act
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As Hootie rushes up the stairs, her instincts scream as she presses herself hard against Grix to avoid the trap. Springing back from her fellow pathfinder using her chest, she hears what seems to be Kreighton Shane berating them.
Kreighton Shane is as eccentric as they come and the fact that he has a crocodile is no surprise except for one thing.
Hootie had done a task for this eccentric Kreighton Shane and received a bag of gold for her work. This Kreighton Shane's voice did not match the man in her memory and his movements were far too different.
Of course having a crocodile sic on you pretty much confirmed it.
"You're a fake and this time we have you caught redhanded!!!"
As you enter you all see...
This large chamber is crammed with desks and lecterns designed for copying scrolls and manuscripts. Along the north wall, a tall, broad shelf sags with sheaves of parchment, while near the exit to the south, a stack of ceramic ink jugs stands near wall-mounted racks of quills. Two bays of windows on the west wall offer an impressive view of the Lodge’s greatest landmark, Skyreach Tower, while the eastern windows overlook the library’s main stacks.
Quite noticeable is a crocodile snuffling through the writing desks. This normally would be extremely odd, but some of the rumors about Shane flash to your minds and remind you that he is quite an eccentric curator. In fact, a crocodile wandering around seems almost tame compared to the wild stories you recall.
The crocodile is currently grasping Grix with a nasty looking maw of sharp teeth.
“Kreighton Shane” has scurried up into the corner of the room where the ceiling and wall meet. The ceiling is 20 ft tall.
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Nahko moves into the room with Kuti in tow. He drops his backpack on the ground nearby, and tries to test his voice.
"Kuti, go get that crocodile!"
Nahko smiles, and looks up at 'Kreighton Shane' on the ceiling as he starts an incantation that draws on elemental fire, a small ball of flame appearing in his hand.
Nahko curses, causing yet another cacophony of voices, then moves another 10' away from his backpack, where he tries yet again to speak. "Damn spirits still blocking my voice?!?" he yells in question.
Flames as bright as a torch appear in your open hand. The flames harm neither you nor your equipment.
In addition to providing illumination, the flames can be hurled or used to touch enemies. You can strike an opponent with a melee touch attack, dealing fire damage equal to 1d6 + 1 point per caster level (maximum +5). Alternatively, you can hurl the flames up to 120 feet as a thrown weapon. When doing so, you attack with a ranged touch attack (with no range penalty) and deal the same damage as with the melee attack. No sooner do you hurl the flames than a new set appears in your hand. Each attack you make reduces the remaining duration by 1 minute. If an attack reduces the remaining duration to 0 minutes or less, the spell ends after the attack resolves.
This spell does not function underwater.
Kuti steps closer to the crocodile, ready to start attacking as soon as she sees an opening.
Hootie yells out a warning that Shane is not himself, literally. Then she waits until her allies have acted before doing anything else.
Vraxam dashes into the room confused as to what is happening.
Rayanoushyant, seeing the danger to his ally casts a spell to en-big-gen Grix and hopefully free him from the toothy maw.
Nahko darts into the room as well, starts to speak but is again interrupted by the screeching humanoids. He quickly drops the bag and steps off to the side, commanding Kuti to attack! Kuti darts into the room on his command and snaps her own jaws at the crocodile. She is rewarded with a bloody chunk of flesh for her efforts.
Round 1
Kreighton Shane (-0 HP) & Crocodile (-3 HP)
Grix Wolfguard (-6 HP, Grappled)
Naneryn
Vraxam Uldar
Rayanoushyant
Nahko Bear & Kuti
Hootie Bell
Naneryn & Hootie have actions still this round, I'll bot Naneryn once Hootie has gone if he still hasn't acted.
Nahko adds that the crocodile has no particular weaknesses or vulnerabilities to certain types of damage (aka, no DR). He also goes into detailed warning about the creature's death roll. That when grappling a foe of its size or smaller, a crocodile can perform a death roll upon making a successful grapple check. As it clings to its foe, it tucks in its legs and rolls rapidly, twisting and wrenching its victim. The crocodile inflicts its bite damage and knocks the creature prone. If successful, the crocodile maintains its grapple.
Hearing the sounds of battle, Naneryn attempts to discretely move into position and take advantage of the distractions. Elven feet falling softly, he slips up the stairs and takes a sneaky shot at the obvious threat from the crocodile.
vs.
The crocodile easily hears the rogue coming and notes his position. Naneryn fires his arrow anyway.
for
While the arrow flies with very dangerous intent, it does not strike the croc.
Naneryn misses with a poorly aimed arrow. Hootie very very carefully skirts around the edge of the room, staying at max range from the crocodile.
Kreighton Shane keeps encouraging himself and his crocodile, "yeah! get em good! Nom Nom Nom giant wet lizard critter!"
He then confidently skitters along the wall/ceiling and casts a spell, attempting to overcome Hooties will. "FLEE FROM MY MIGHT!"
The crocodile, inspired by the confident 'nom nom nom' sounds, attempts to instinctively roll, taking his tasty treat to the ground for easier devouring.
Grix is snapped down to the ground and with a sickening thud his head slams into the hard floor. Eyeballs rolling back into his skull he passes out unconscious.
Round 2
Kreighton Shane (-0 HP) & Crocodile (-3 HP, grappled)
Grix Wolfguard (-17 HP, Prone, Unconscious)
Naneryn
Vraxam Uldar
Rayanoushyant
Nahko Bear & Kuti
Hootie Bell (Will Save DC 15)
Bold may Act. Kuti and Rayanoushyant will be sharing a square with an unconscious large Grix, but that won't effect them unless he wakes up.
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Nahko murmurs quickly, words in the Druidic cant that rush past people's ears without recognition. A ball of flame appears in his hand, lighting up Kreighton's office like a torch.
Nahko keeps one eye on the fallen Grix, though, mentally urging him to rise. I can stem the bleeding from over here, but it'd be better if you could! Spidey-Kreighton's crawling the ceiling and somebody's got to stop him soon!
Flames as bright as a torch appear in your open hand. The flames harm neither you nor your equipment.
In addition to providing illumination, the flames can be hurled or used to touch enemies. You can strike an opponent with a melee touch attack, dealing fire damage equal to 1d6 + 1 point per caster level (maximum +5). Alternatively, you can hurl the flames up to 120 feet as a thrown weapon. When doing so, you attack with a ranged touch attack (with no range penalty) and deal the same damage as with the melee attack. No sooner do you hurl the flames than a new set appears in your hand. Each attack you make reduces the remaining duration by 1 minute. If an attack reduces the remaining duration to 0 minutes or less, the spell ends after the attack resolves.
This spell does not function underwater.
Kuti sidesteps the unconscious Grix, wanting to be out of the warrior's way when he wakes up.
The cat nips at the crocodile again, this time sinking in her teeth and swiping at the reptiles tough skin with both claws.
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Frowning as his companion falls, Vraxam moves forward. 'This beast keeps it up, none of us will survive!' he considers. "Someone get him off the ceiling please!"
Standing behind the cheetah, he takes a deep breath. "Earth, Water, Air and Fire, Lone me your might!" he calls out as a sputtering cone of blue light limps slowly from his outstretched hand.
His cheeks immediately turning scarlet, he mumbles "Sometimes I just get too excited...give me a second to recharge."
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"Luck of Desna's illegitimate Goblin son!" Rayan shouts as he steps back from Grix's unconscious body. Quickly cataloging his remaining options Rayan decides to launch one of his two remaining sets of force missiles towards Kreighton Shane. "Get down from there impostor! We are not so easily fooled by your illusions!"
Grix's prone body doubles in size. Whether from that magic or his own stern nature, his body does what it is supposed to do and stops leaking fluids that shouldn't be leaked.
The smelly elf pulls another arrow back and readies to let loose at the croc in case his allies step out of the way.
Vraxam moves up and really shows his might... as in, this might hurt? His little light show at least appears to pain the croc a little bit.
Rayan's force missile slams into the impostor like a stinging slap to the face.
Nahko works his druidic magic and forms a small ball of fire in his palm. Watching Kuti take another chomp that misses, a simple word of encouragement aids her following claws that both connect. Large scratches appear on the beast's belly.
With his allies moving out of the way, Naneryn looses his arrow.
for
The arrow slams into the crocodile's side.
Hootie's bow goes 'twang' and her arrow clips Kreighton's arm. Blood drips down to his palm but he does not seem excessively concerned.
Continuing his encouragement, Kreighton weaves a small spell and tells a simple joke to Hootie. "Here is one for you since you seem to like that bow. Time flies like an arrow... fruit flies like bananas." He smiles at his own humor and the magic attempts to force a laugh from his audience. As an afterthought, he speaks a word and his cloak flutters around his body as a distraction.
The crocodile drops his limp but really big meal, worryied more about the nipping and clawing ball of furry fluff attacking his side. It's jaws and tail snap towards Kuti.
and
Both maw and tail miss the deft little kitty. The pathfinders can feel the tides turning as they prepare their next actions.
Round 3
Kreighton Shane (-3 HP) & Crocodile (-12 HP)
Grix Wolfguard (-17 HP, Prone, Unconscious)
Vraxam Uldar
Rayanoushyant
Nahko Bear & Kuti
Naneryn
Hootie Bell (Will Save DC 16)
Bold may Act.
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Glancing towards Hootie, he mumbles "It wasn't that funny..." and steps towards the disguised figure.
"I recommend you quit while you can. Surrender and this will be easier on you!"
Drawing in the ambient static around him, the small man focuses it tightly on his extended finger. A bolt of light erupts from the digit and streaks towards the beast clinging to the ceiling above.
Kazaaap!!!
