Cladissa moves up quietly, bringing up her detect magic before she gets too close for anyone inside to hear. She studies the entrance for magical auras, then pauses to examine the vines for signs that they might be the tendrils of a plant creature.
If it appears clear from the outside, she'll climb up the side to hang just above the entrance. She'll test the air for any creatures within 30' of the mouth of the cave and relay anything she finds back to the group with her telepathy (if they're within 100').
Argor waits patiently outside while floating behind the others.
There are no magical auras on the opening. The vines appear to just be local jungle growth, the same as everything else you've been passing.
Cladissa is nearly overwhelmed by the stench coming from the caves. It smells like a disgusting mixture of sweat, musk, and waste. She smells multiple humans and similar but more animal scents. Apes? Monkeys? Hard to say with so many scents overlapping.
After hearing this telepathically, Thrassk casts a few defensive spells. Then he flaps his wings and flies up to the ledge, gripping the stone just out of sight of the entrance.
Looking down to Gianluca and Grommessson, Thrassk motions for them to come up. Once they are on the ledge outside the cave entrance, Thrassk asks quietly, "Ready to go in?"
::Oh yeah!:: Gianluca replies.
He flied up to the ledge but then lets his wings fade away, taking on the Stance of the Silver Crane.
Argor joins the others, hovering up behind them at the cave entrance. ”Let us proceed. Kyalla’s Life may depend on it.”
Cladissa casts cat's grace on herself and has Cole lend her some luck on her saves before she falls in line with the others in preparation.
::Gianluca, you and Grommesson should lead the way. Thrassk, you can stay close to Argor and myself in case something slips in behind us:: she suggests mentally.
She stays clinging to the cliffside until the frontline warriors pass beneath her, then she sticks her hand out expectantly. The broom she had left nearby in the jungle leaps to life and flies straight to her outstretched hand.
She then flies inside, hovering a few feet away from Argor.
Initiative:
Cultists (2) 15.3
Cultists (1) 13
Party 11.2
??? 11
Grommesson climbs up and leads the way, followed by Gianluca and Thrassk, then the casters. Almost immediately the tunnel opens into a wide cavern that has a smooth stone floor and rough walls. A mess of vines hangs from the forty foot high ceiling, stretching from wall to wall.
The cultists immediately race to block the way deeper into the cavern, holding their spears at the ready. They screech and howl like angry primates, baring their sharp-filed teeth.
Argor works some magic, and a burst of golden light washes over the cultists to the front. ”Try not to harm the ones that were within that light. I have addled their minds and attempted to confuse them!”
__________
Cladissa targets the clear-headed one with her ice tomb hex.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and charges along the wall. Then, he drops down in front of the cultists gripping his falchion in both hands and slashes at the one on the left.
In order to bypass the confused front line, Gianluca again sprouts his wings. He flies over the heads of the cultist--compressing where needed to weave through the vines--and takes a swing at one fo the inner cultists, attempting to send him hurtling backward.
________________
The cultists immediately race to block the way deeper into the cavern, holding their spears at the ready. They screech and howl like angry primates, baring their sharp-filed teeth.
Argor works some magic, and a burst of golden light washes over the cultists to the front. "Try not to harm the ones that were within that light. I have addled their minds and attempted to confuse them!”
Cladissa targets the clear-headed one with her ice tomb hex.
The warrior breaks free of the ice as it forms, screaming angrily from the patina of frostbite which spreads across his flesh.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and charges along the wall. Then, he drops down in front of the cultists gripping his falchion in both hands and slashes at the one on the left.
When you take a full-attack action while wielding a two-handed weapon, you can choose to reduce the damage by 1/2 to gain a +4 shield bonus to AC and CMD until the beginning of your next turn. The reduction in damage applies until the beginning of your next turn.
Since you didn't make a full attack it's not even an option for you this round.
Grommesson cuts deep into the man's gut with his swing, leaving a nasty wound.
In order to bypass the confused front line, Gianluca again sprouts his wings. He flies over the heads of the cultist--compressing where needed to weave through the vines--and takes a swing at one of the inner cultists, attempting to send him hurtling backward. Gianluca slices the man diagonally across his whole body and sends him flying into the wall. Only his fanaticism keeps the cultist warrior on his feet.
Thrassk enters a killing rage and flings himself forward with a snap of his wings. He slashes out with his magically enlogated limbs to shred the flash frozen cultist.
Thrassk's rending teeth and claws nearly end the cultist, who appears to be shaking in terror after the assault.
================================
The wounded and intimidated cultist steps forward with a scream of defiance, stabbing at Thrassk with his spear.
The leaf-shaped blade pierces Thrassk's scales, leaving a shallow stab behind.
Once of the confused cultists starts digging his spear into his own thigh, two more babble incoherently, one stabs his fellow cultist and the last wildly charges Gianluca, barely missing him with an angry thrust.
The remaining cultists focus their attention on Grommesson and Gianluca. Two stab at Gromm, while four more team up on Gianluca.
As the cultists charge, Gianluca whirls, slashing four of them on their approach. In return, three of them slam their spears through Gianluca's defenses, piercing him from all sides.
Cladissa floats ahead on her broom and takes a position along the wall. She sees an opening, so blasts a full bolt of lightning across five of the cultists.
The vigilante’s wild attacks allow him to block his foes’ counterattacks. He gains Power Attack as a bonus feat. If he already has the Power Attack feat, he can immediately swap it for another feat for which he qualified at the level he chose Power Attack.
When he takes an attack or full attack action, if he uses Power Attack on every attack to make melee attacks that use his Strength bonus on attack rolls, he gains a shield bonus to his AC until his next turn equal to his penalty on attack rolls from Power Attack. This bonus applies only if he actually takes that penalty on at least one of the attack rolls.
”A good choice. I will fly further in to try and target the ones not mind-addled,” Argor says with a wink to Cladissa as he passes by. Meanwhile, Adrenia moves within reach of the heads of Gianluca and Grommesson.
__________
As the cultists surround him, Gianluca again lets his wings fade. He spins around, swinging at every foe within reach. As he does, the Honeyed Hand glows with a terrifying divine light.
As he does he hollers, "Grommesson, my brother in glory, look out to your right!"
______________
[/spoiler]
The wounded and intimidated cultist steps forward with a scream of defiance, stabbing at Thrassk with his spear. The leaf-shaped blade pierces Thrassk's scales, leaving a shallow stab behind. Once of the confused cultists starts digging his spear into his own thigh, two more babble incoherently, one stabs his fellow cultist and the last wildly charges Gianluca, barely missing him with an angry thrust.
The remaining cultists focus their attention on Grommesson and Gianluca. Two stab at Gromm, while four more team up on Gianluca. As the cultists charge, Gianluca whirls, slashing four of them on their approach. In return, three of them slam their spears through Gianluca's defenses, piercing him from all sides.
Cladissa floats ahead on her broom and takes a position along the wall. She sees an opening, so blasts a full bolt of lightning across three of the cultists.
Two of the three are caught off guard, and dance the electrocution dance, while the third avoids the worst of the shock.
Beastmode hacks into the cultist next to him with his falchion.
Transformed Grommesson cleaves the man clean in half with two expert blows.
”A good choice. I will fly further in to try and target the ones not mind-addled,” Argor says with a wink to Cladissa as he passes by. Meanwhile, Adrenia moves within reach of the heads of Gianluca and Grommesson.
As the cultists surround him, Gianluca again lets his wings fade. He spins around, swinging at every foe within reach. As he does, the Honeyed Hand glows with a terrifying divine light. As he does he hollers, "Grommesson, my brother in glory, look out to your right!"
Thrassk steps forward and continues to kill the cultists surrounding him.
================================
One of the confused cultists attacks Thrassk, a second stabs himself, a third babbles incoherently while the remainder continue to attack.
Hit, Miss
The unconfused cultists continue to attack Gianluca and Grommesson as well.
Argor moves to a position to send his own bolt of red lightning through the cultists.
Cladissa moves to stay behind the fierce engine of destruction that is Thrassk and throws a glitterdust on four foes who are threatening Gianluca and Grommesson.
Gianluca opens his body to the Host of Delection, shouting, "Arshea, let your Honeyed Hand lay low these cultist, and may your passions sooth our souls!"
With that, he makes a mighty swing toward one of his remaining attackers. If it hits, a wave of healing, honey-colored light pours over his allies.
_____________
One of the confused cultists attacks Thrassk, a second stabs himself, a third babbles incoherently while the remainder continue to attack. The unconfused cultists continue to attack Gianluca and Grommesson as well.
Argor moves to a position to send his own bolt of red lightning through the cultists.
The shaken cultists sizzle and pop as electricity streams through them. One falls to the ground, smoking and dead.
Cladissa moves to stay behind the fierce engine of destruction that is Thrassk and throws a glitterdust on four foes who are threatening Gianluca and Grommesson.
All four of the cultists shriek as their eyes are pasted over with glitter. They try to blink the magic away, but are clearly blinded.
Gianluca opens his body to the Host of Delection, shouting, "Arshea, let your Honeyed Hand lay low these cultist, and may your passions sooth our souls!" With that, he makes a mighty swing toward one of his remaining attackers, taking off the man's head. A honey colored wave of light bursts from Gianluca to wash over the Freaks.
Beastmode hacks two more of the cultists with his bloody falchion.
Thrassk steps up, ignoring the blind cultists in order to attack the still sighted one.
His red teeth and talons flash out once again, and another cultist drops to the floor. Thrassk then lashes out sideways and opens the blind cultist next to him with a claw.
================================
One of the confused cultists stabs himself with his spear howling in rage and confusion the entire time. The other two lash out blindly at Gianluca and Grommesson. Gianluca easily sidesteps the spear aimed at him. The Golden Hand tries to parry the attack on Grommesson as well, but the cultist's crazed angle of attack tricks him. Beast mode howls as the cultist thrusts his blade into the transformed Pathfinder's thigh.
On the boys' other side, the unensorcelled cultists take advantage of the distract provided by their blind and confused brethren. They step forward and each thrust twice at the Pathfinders.
Now that there are only two cultists screaming, more sounds become apparent in the cavern. From the narrow passage to Grommesson's left is coming the howling and screeching of what sounds like a menagerie worth of primates. From the larger passage behind Argor is coming a faint chanting in a deep, alien voice.
Thrassk continues his blood rage, stepping forward and shredding as foes present themselves. His magically elongated limbs seem to be everywhere at once, forming a cloud of death around him.
Two more cultists fall to his attacks, leaving on three standing.
Grommesson chops first to one side, and then the other with his huge sword, trying to keep up with Thrassk and Gianluca.
Another cultist goes down in a spray of blood.
Gianluca slides beside Grommesson, swinging twice.
If he hits, another healing wave of honey-colored ecstatic energy washes over Grommesson in particular.
_____________
"There sounds like more primates coming down this corridor. Though true apes or degenerates, I've no idea. Argor, do you have a wall spell handy?" Cladissa announces, trying to decide her next spell to cast.
”I have a variety of means to seal that passage,” Argor says. Once the final cultists fall, he refers to his Spellbook and changes a spell allotment, then places a hand on the cave wall. He works some magic and shapes the stone into a sealed passage.
_________
Seeing Argor open his spellbook to rearrange his available magics, Cladissa nods to him. "Good. In the meantime, I'll dissuade them from coming through that way."
She points her finger at the corridor after drawing some skunk cabbage from a lined pouch at her waist. After an arcane phrase is spoken, the narrow passageway fills with a bank of yellowish, noxious vapor.
One of the confused cultists stabs himself with his spear howling in rage and confusion the entire time. The other two lash out blindly at Gianluca and Grommesson. Gianluca easily sidesteps the spear aimed at him. The Golden Hand tries to parry the attack on Grommesson as well, but the cultist's crazed angle of attack tricks him. Beastmode howls as the cultist thrusts his blade into the transformed Pathfinder's thigh.
On the boys' other side, the unensorcelled cultists take advantage of the distract provided by their blind and confused brethren. They step forward and each thrust twice at the Pathfinders.
Now that there are only two cultists screaming, more sounds become apparent in the cavern. From the narrow passage to Grommesson's left is coming the howling and screeching of what sounds like a menagerie worth of primates. From the larger passage behind Argor is coming a faint chanting in a deep, alien voice.
Thrassk continues his blood rage, stepping forward and shredding as foes present themselves. His magically elongated limbs seem to be everywhere at once, forming a cloud of death around him. Two more cultists fall to his attacks, leaving on three standing.
Grommesson chops first to one side, and then the other with his huge sword, trying to keep up with Thrassk and Gianluca. Another cultist goes down in a spray of blood.
Gianluca slides beside Grommesson, swinging twice. He kills one of the cultists and wounds the other, then a healing wave of honey-colored ecstatic energy washes over Grommesson.
"There sounds like more primates coming down this corridor. Though true apes or degenerates, I've no idea. Argor, do you have a wall spell handy?" Cladissa announces, trying to decide her next spell to cast.
"I have a variety of means to seal that passage,” Argor says. Once the final cultists fall, he refers to his spellbook and changes a spell allotment.
Seeing Argor open his spellbook to rearrange his available magics, Cladissa nods to him. "Good. In the meantime, I'll dissuade them from coming through that way." She points her finger at the corridor after drawing some skunk cabbage from a lined pouch at her waist. After an arcane phrase is spoken, the narrow passageway fills with a bank of yellowish, noxious vapor.
================================
The last cultist screams and attacks Gianluca.
Despite his bravado, the man is clearly unnerved by seeing all his companions cut down over the last thirty seconds. He misses badly.
Argor completes his alteration of spells, and then flies over to the small passage. Once there, he places a hand on the wall and begins working his spell, coaxing the stone to flow out and towards the other wall and seal off the passage entirely.
Now that there are only two cultists screaming, more sounds become apparent in the cavern. From the narrow passage to Grommesson's left is coming the howling and screeching of what sounds like a menagerie worth of primates. From the larger passage behind Argor is coming a faint chanting in a deep, alien voice.
....
"There sounds like more primates coming down this corridor. Though true apes or degenerates, I've no idea. Argor, do you have a wall spell handy?" Cladissa announces, trying to decide her next spell to cast.
"I have a variety of means to seal that passage,” Argor says. Once the final cultists fall, he refers to his spellbook and changes a spell allotment.
Seeing Argor open his spellbook to rearrange his available magics, Cladissa nods to him. "Good. In the meantime, I'll dissuade them from coming through that way."
The last cultist screams and attacks Gianluca. Despite his bravado, the man is clearly unnerved by seeing all his companions cut down over the last thirty seconds. He misses badly.
Argor completes his alteration of spells, and then flies over to the small passage. Once there, he places a hand on the wall and begins working his spell, coaxing the stone to flow out and towards the other wall and seal off the passage entirely. As his spell completes, whatever was down the passage is sealed in with Cladissa's fumes to slowly suffocate in a hell of stench.
The beast who is Grommesson roars and tries to eviserate the last cultist with prejudice.
Thrassk flaps over and bites the man from behind Grommesson, helping to take him down.
With the last cultist seemingly dealt with and their flank sealed off, Cladissa moves tentatively towards the large passage.
"Is that a blade barrier I see?"
As Cladissa moves forward, she does indeed see a blade barrier blocking the passage ahead. An immobile, vertical curtain of whirling blades shaped of pure force slash back and forth across the tunnel.
::An effective barrier, but not insurmountable. We can regroup, heal, and make additional preparations while the barrier separates us. Or, we can press the attack. I can dimension door Thrassk and either Gianluca or Grommesson to the other side of the barrier without harm:: she sends mentally.
Then she calls out, "Excuse me, you behind the barrier: can you hear me? I don't suppose you've any interest in surrendering? We've made short work of your cultists. Perhaps we could come to some sort of terms? If you would give us Kyalla unharmed, we can leave you in peace so you can continue your efforts to turn yourselves into monkeys and apes."
Argor flies over to see what it was Cladissa had seen. ”So it would seem. It appears we are dealing with someone who fancies them self a practitioner of the Art. Let us see if they are skilled enough to match powers with us. I don’t think waiting is an option, as Kyalla’s life could hang in the balance,” he says before beginning to work at unweaving the magic of the barrier.
Adrenia, meanwhile, uses Argor’s wand to heal Gianluca a bit.
Cladissa looks with a flash of irritation as Argor attempts to dismiss the barrier. "Okay, so no on the dimension door. I had thought we might use it to protect ourselves while the fighters do their thing."
”And then if they urgently need our aid, it still could hamper us, darling,” Argor says pleadingly, trying to maintain focus on his magic. ”I don’t want to send them into battle and risk themselves on our behalf. We need to provide them with arcane assistance.”
Argor's term of affection again snaps her out of the moment and her head whips around toward him.
That's going to take some getting used to, she decides, then refocuses on the mission.
The beast who is Grommesson looks angrily at Thrask for stealing his kill...
Catching a glimpse of Grommesson starting to lose control, she nods to Cole, who zips over to him. With a comforting purr, he tries to soothe the beast.
Thrassk looks Beast Mode in the eyes, not flinching. He adopts a neutral posture, and makes soft soothing noises.