|
Bruce the Air Elemental appears right as Lem and Shadow attack and attacks the cleric at the same time. After completing the summons, Cizish is then free to cast a spell of his own: Storm Burst.
- nonlethal. The cleric also takes -2 on attack rolls for one round as she is buffeted by winds and rain.
|
Zamar launches the first attack nailing the cleric with a painful snowball. She looks up in complete surprise as an Air Elemental suddenly appears and slams her hard, she rocks forward as Cizish storm burst buffets her. Already looking overwhelmed, Barboo's inspiring song begins to ring around the place, as Lem suddenly strikes with his rapier driving it deep into her side. Shock evident on her face, she looks like she wants to scream. But there's no time, Shadow's bite rips her throat wide open, as his paw drops her to the ground.
A hush, covers the room and even a pin drop could be heard. Then the sound of the bubbling lava catches everyone's attention. The statue seems to grin as the lava continues to pour forth. The smoky forms inside the obsidian relief behind the alter, seem to strain against it, fiery eyes straining to understand what has taken place.
You hear a voice in your head, Now you must let me out little fierce one! It sounds like a deep whisper.
You hear a voice in your head, How dare you interfere, throw yourself into the lava to repent! It sounds like an angry whisper.
You hear a voice in your head, You're clearly the most powerful, take your beast and finishes the others and you'll be rewarded beyond your greatest dreams! It sounds like a power torrent.
You hear a voice in your head, What a lovely song you sing, now sing praise to Moloch! It sounds threatening.
The cleric's body lies in ruins on the alter, and clearly something evil is afoot!
|
|
As Zamar hears the voice of Moloch in his thoughts, he yells out
We need to stop whatever is allowing Moloch presence! Shadow, knock the idol off the pedestal.
Shadow swings his massive paw and knocks the idol off of the pedestal.
Shadow
After the idol is knocked off, Zamar still sees the smoky forms on the bass relief.
Zamar casts Magic Missle at the obsidian relief to destroy it and/or the smoky forms.
Shadow, attack the shadows and that relief! Maybe it is some other form of an evil container!
Shadow attacks the shadow forms and the obsidian relief
Shadow Enlarged/Power Attack:
|
|
Cizish pauses at the top of the stairs, considering what he has just heard. Hmm, repent? I wonder how it would feel to jump into lava. Would I be alive long enough to feel the weight of liquid stone? A very strange thought and not one that I think I want to experience in real life. Then, as the crash from the idol striking the ground stirs him from his thoughts, he calls out to the air elemental.
Out loud, in Common, he shouts: I agree with Mr Lem! We should remove the idol from this place. Perhaps without heat it will no longer be active and a threat. I've asked my good friend, Bruce, to grab up the stature and fly with all haste from the lava filled rooms. Quickly now, let's give chase after him, that way we can defeat anything that comes out of the stature if this plan fails. He will do his best to defeat it or at least contain it until we arrive.
- just in case that skill would help to ID the effect that the statue has or the voice in Cizish's head.
Oh! Cizish says with a start and genuine concern for his fellow party members. Whatever you do, don't throw yourself into the lava to repent. I think the pain will not be worth the brief, but interesting experience.
|
|
Shadow jumps at the idol, knocking it clearly from alter, the lava flow stops immediately. Bruce sweeps in and snatches it up and flies away down the stairs. Lem calls out his wise advice, as he and Barboo notice that a small but perceptible portal, linking the idol and the obsidian relief, begins rapidly closing. From the portal, the you can hear cries of terror, anguish, and the sounds of metal-on-metal combat, and then within seconds the portal is closed. Smokey forms swirl around the relief, but seem further away.
|
|
There seems to be something about that obsidian relief that ties in with the statue to open the portal. We need to destroy or disable it to keep anyone else from opening in the future! Shadow attack!
Does anyone have any spells or adamantine weapons to break this faster?
Zamar hits it with a Snowball and Shadow full attacks it to try and break it.
Shadow Enlarged/Power Attack:
|
|
Zamar and Shadow go to work on the obsidian relief, hitting it with spells and attacks. Lem expresses his concern for Bruce and the idol. As the assault on the relief continues, the lava in the room continues to dissipate. Zamar breaks out his Adamantine Wire Saw to aid the job. It takes a bit of work, but steadily the group dismantles the relief until it is completely broken, the smoky forms fly out and screech loudly before fading into smoke. The feeling in the room lightens almost instantly.
You head back downstairs and find Bruce and the idol in the forge room (or just the idol if Bruce would have already returned to the elemental plane). The room is now also devoid of the lava which once powered the forge. Vulcus is nowhere to be found, and it's safe to assume he took his opportunity for freedom.
You're happy to see that the Qadiran sandstorms have receded making your travels back to town easier; and soon you are once more in Absalom delivering the idol to Hamshanks.
Well done Pathfinders! Not only did you stop an evil cult from reforming, but now the chroniclers and sages can study this idol's planar powers and the heritage of the archdevil Moloch. We'll be sure to keep it safe. Hamshanks says reassuringly.