Corbyn will attempt to do damage to the beast.
one point of STR damage
one point of STR damage
one point of STR damage
one point of STR damage
Ruperta feels awkward moving and fighting with her new size, but makes an effort to only concentrate in the enemy, trying to see it as they both were "normal" size, and ignoring his now small friends.
"Make it go down!"
She tries to cut it with her Starknife.
Paxs summons a large earth elemental to fight the reaver. The elemental slams with its great fists at the reaver
Pai casts another spell, forcing the Reaver to make a save It makes its save, but the sound of its bones creaking is awful to hear!
Corbyn again attacks, but the creature's thick skin is impenetrable to his swords.
Paxs summons a great being of stone, who flails at the beast, crushing his flesh!
The invisible Ruperta slashes at the brute, her starknife cutting deeply as it makes sounds of surprise.
Slumper stabs and bashes, and creature cries out as wounds blossom on its flesh. It lets loose a mewling cry and flees toward the exit, whimpering loudly as it goes!
Ruperta tries to stop them for continuing the attack:
"Let it go! I think it has learned its lesson. Is anyone hurt?"
She turns to look at her friends, seeing if they need help...
Slumper looks himself over and shrugs at the Giant Ruperta
Paxs allows the elemental to chase it to make sure it does not hurt any of the villagers, but instructs it to not attack it unless it attacks them.
Ruperta becomes visible again and extends a big hand towards Slumper's face.
"It's really weird to be taller than you, my love."
After she returns to his normal size she goes towards Paxs.
"Thank you for your help, that was great! And it was a good idea to send your creature to protect the villagers. Sorry for Thrak, I am afraid I didn't had time to do anything for it"
She kiss him tenderly on the cheek.
She then goes to hug Pai.
"I hope I never make you mad. You are quite a powerful wizard now!"
Finally she makes a nod towards Corbyn.
"Well done! You were quite acrobatic gaining the back of the creature."
Finally she kneels, and start to pray thanking Desna for all her blessing, a tear falling from her eyes.
Pai shrugs at Ruperta. "Not powerful enough...that thing kept resisting most of my magic. I can do some interesting things, thou,"Pai smiles at Ruperta, as she still hadn't shown most of her most powerful spells yet.
Tekra'Kai approaches after the reaver flees. She smiles broadly at you all and bows. "Thank you, outlanders. You have cleansed the house of Desna and for this, I thank you. I understand you wish to speak to a Truthspeaker; one will be arriving in the next day or so. The Lyrune-Quah travel from place to place and are scheduled to arrive here next. Akram, a priest of the Night Butterfly, will be with them. You may speak with him when he arrives. In the meantime, you are welcome to share my maidens' camp with us, or spend the night here at the Temple if you choose."
"Would we make it uncomfortable on the tribe by staying closer, at the Maiden's House? If so, we don't want that, and will be fine here. But we don't want to insult them by refusing their hospitality either. What would you advise, TeKra'Kai?"
"As much as I would like to sleep in this blessed place" - she starts - "I think I would love to accompany you, and hear from you and your sisters, learning of your customs and adventures. If that is ok with you. Maybe you can even teach me how to paint myself properly."
Tekra'Kai smiles. "You are welcome at our camp. The rest of the Quah will arrive tomorrow and they will respect our choice. You are welcome." Tekra'Kai leads you to the womens' camp about three hundred yards from the temple. There are about a dozen female warriors there, and nine of them bear wounds from battles with the reaver.
You pass the night with the women, offered good food and drink from their stores. They sing songs of the Lyrune Quah: songs of Desna and the moon and of heroes and magic. By the time the next day arrives, you are friendly with most of them. The rest of the Quah arrives around midday, a long line of horses and aurochs pulling wagons filled with supplies. Tekra'Kai and three warrior-maidens ride to meet them and when she returns, she is accompanied by an older man with white hair wearing pants and a vest of deerskin decorated with many beads and sigils. A butterfly tattoo that covers his chest can be seen through the vest.
"I am Akram, truthspeaker and priest of the Night Butterfly. I understand we have you to thank for reclaiming our temple. I thank you and offer you welcome in the Lyrune Quah lands. Why have you come seeking me?"
"We need your services as a Truth Speaker. We are here to prevent war between our city and all of your tribes. We were told we needed to pass some tests to be accepted and only then could we speak out against how war would be awful for both sides. We want you to accompany us to the test site and follow us to the _______________ tribe so that we can be allowed to speak."
Ruperta spends the night talking and enjoying her time with the warrior-maidens. She helps and heal them, using as much channel energy as she has to do it.
When Akram arrives she salutes him, and tells him:
"I am Ruperta of Hetzau, truthspeaker, and I am also a child of our mother, she that dreams in the night."
She shows him her hand butterfly tattoo.
"These are my friends and family, my trusted and honorable companions. About the temple you have no one to thank except for Desna, as she helps all of us, and it was our privilege to obey her will. And yes, we came looking for you, to ask for your blessings and help in our quest."
She waits until the introductions are passed and are in a comfortable place to get "down to business"...
Happy that Ruperta is back to size, Slumper follows her around the camp as she talks to the warriors.
Akram's eyes go wide when he sees the mark of Desna. "A test? You wish to take the test of the Quah-Eater? The devil worm, Cindermaw? You understand that the test involves the worm swallowing you whole? Is preventing this war worth such a fate?" Akram's eyes narrow and you get the sense he is weighing your character and worth.
Ruperta's face lose color, and her eyes betray her fear, but her voice has only resolve when she answers:
"If by my actions and sacrifice I can prevent the dead of the innocent, I will do it gladly. And I am sure I am also speaking for my companions. "
"Being eaten by a monster?! That doesn't sound fun," Pai whispers to the others.
Akram nods. "Very well. I shall witness this thing. We will leave in the morning for the monster's hunting grounds." He stands and bows his head sadly. "I must see to the temple. Enjoy your rest, outlanders. Tomorrow will bring much to see."
After the truth speaker leaves, Pai turns to the others. "Is this crazy? Can we survive being swallowed by a worm? Would it even be possible to cut it open from the inside, or use enough spells to blast it open? This is scary..."
"Excuse me, Truthspeaker, May I ask what the test consists on? What is Cyndrmaw? Any information and advice you can give us will very appreciated and thank for."
Akram stops and turns around. He seats himself and clears his throat. "Cindermaw is the Quah-Killer. A great worm of terrible size, he burns with the same fires that rage across the plateau. He is old, as old as the ruins that dot the land. The orcs of Urglin avoid his land; the giants of the north do not venture too deep into the lands of the Clan-Eater. Only Skurak has survived him. Skurak approached him with only a dagger and allowed himself to be eaten. He cut his way free and was born anew from his exile as a Shoanti once again. If you live through this, I will speak the tale of it and the other Quahs may look upon you as more than tshamek. But first you must survive."
Ruperta thank Akram and returns with her companions.
"Twice we have been told the same thing ... We must let Cyndermaw, some kind of desert fire-worm eat us, escape from within and live to tell the tale. I wonder if we all need to be devoured of it is sufficient that I am. "
"Can we help or do we have to stand adly by and watch her be eaten... I'm not sure I can do that?"
Ruperta throws herself into Slumper's arms, kissing him with passion.
"I knew you were going to say that, love! Thank you! I'll feel less scared if you are with me! "
Akram smiles at this. "I suppose only one person needs to pass the test, though a tale it would be if you all did!"
"I hope Cindermaw is hungry tomorrow!" - Says Ruperta with a smile.
She shares her plans with the rest. She is able to protect them, somewhat, from fire and lack of air and the elements, and teleport up to 4 creatures (including her) out of Cyndermaw, if the need arises.
"But not all of us..." - She says worriedly - "So in any case I will need to be the last to "leave", so I can be able to take some of out with me."
In the morning she will cast Deadeye's lore on herself giving her +4 survival and the ability to track at full speed for 9 hours.
When the action is about to start the plan is to cast Life Bubble (between 5 that should be 3.5 hours duration), Protection from Energy, communal - Fire (immunity to 108 fire damage each) and Resist Energy, Communal - Fire (DR 20 against fire - ONLY after the 108 points are expended), for 20 minutes, except her, only 10 minutes.
Then Blessing of the Mole, granting them Darkvision(and +2 stealth) and Elemental speech (Earth) on herself, so she can try to talk to Cyndermaw and give orders to the summoned Small Earth Elemental, And Shield of Faith on Pai, Paxs and Corbyn (giving each of them +3 AC each), for 9 minutes)
4 rounds before Cyndermaw arrives cast Blessing of Favor, giving them nice bonuses, specially the ability to casts Extended or Enlarged level 1 or 2 spells to Pai and Paxs. And after that they can use the Ac bonus, etc. for 9 total rounds.
3 rounds before an enlarged (thanks to the Blessing of fervor) protection from evil, communal, giving them 4 minutes of +2 to AC (3 minutes to her and Slumper).
2 rounds before Cyndermaw arrives cast Summon Monster II to summon an Small Earth Elemental to find, warn, and maybe attract, Cyndermaw. With the Blessing of Favor it will remain 18 rounds.
Just before Cyndermaw arrives she will cast Prayer, trying to get it in the spell radius, granting them 1 to attack, damage and saves for 9 rounds.
As soon as she sees Cyndermaw she will cast Debilitating Portent (Will DC 19 for 9 rounds) on it.
At Slumper's suggestion Ruperta smiles mischievously.
"That is a great idea, my love. A great idea. I'll be back later."
She goes to the warrior women, an idea forming in her mind.
The next day her comrades will wake up to find her dressed (as little as decently possible) and painted like a Shoanti woman, a smile in her eyes (that means she won't be taking her armor or equipment with her, just a the Shoanti clothes and her starknife).
"We are supposed to be "reborn" as Shoanti, right? I want to look the part. Like it, my love?"
She smiles with coquetry to Slumper.
Slumper whistles appreciatively.
"Is the goal to survive or destroy the beast?"
The journey to Cindermaw's hunting ground takes four days. As you approach it, you can see signs of depredation: fewer birds and animals, great sinkholes that appear from nowhere, tremors beneath your feet. Finally you reach an area where the grass has been scorched down to near earth, and a stink of sulfur permeates the air. Your eyes water and drip tears; even the Truthspeaker seems nervous here, keeping his eyes on the horizon and starting at every tremble.
"This is the area he was last seen in. Occasionally young braves will dare each other to spend a night here. Sometimes they even come back."
"Try to be safe, Truthspeaker, and please pray for us. I hope the next time we see each other we have proven ourselves worthy."
To Pai she kneels and hugs.
"Don't worry, I can take care of this. And, just in case, take care of them for me, and remember me from time to time. Don't let the mad Queen get away with her plans. You are a great friend. "
She waits, next to Slumper, so see if Paxs and Corbyn joins them.
The rumbles beneath the ground appear to be growing in number and sound. Akram looks nervous and keeps kneeling to listen at the ground. "He is coming."
Ruperta begins her preparations, casting spell after spell as the others move to a safe distance from the spectacle. Akram looks both excited and dismayed as suddenly the ground beneath Ruperta gives a lurch and the great worm erupts!
The beast's body is 20 feet across, and the mouth is at least as large, with rows upon rows of inward facing teeth. The breath from the thing reeks of brimstone and rotten meat and its dozens of tiny eyes blink devilishly at Ruperta as the things seems to shiver with anticipation of a meal. Its skin is a mottled orange and brown and seems to glow from within. Fire plays along the skin in short waves, and you can see the remains of spears and swords bristling from the thing's skin, the trophies of past warriors who tried to slay the Clan Eater.
She stands, holding hands with Slumper, marvelling at Cyndermaw's size, and she starts to speak to him (hope somebody can translate, as she speaks in Terran).
"Oh mighty Cyndermaw, we came here to marvel in your magnificence and to ask a favor from you. We need for you to eat us so we can be reborn, together, as man and woman, people of the Shoanti. Please let us show we are worthy and brave. Please consume our cowardice and fear. Our pettiness and egoism. Our lies and hypocrisy. Let us be born again!"
If they understand her they will see this is more than a "show off" to her. She is taking it as a real "Rite of Passage". At least Slumper will know it as he will feel her hand Shaking heavily.
(+2 with Heroism)
The great worm stares down at the pair, clearly mulling over this request. Finally it makes a sound like boulders crashing against each other.
"Yessss. I am the great worm, the devourer of clans. I will eat you, but there will be no rebirth, only food for the Great Worm!" The immense worm lunges down, engulfing the two lovers. With a colossal jerk of its great head, they disappear down its throat!
plus fire damage!
Initiative!
Round One:
26 Ruperta
27 Paxs
24 Pai
19 Corbyn
14 Cindermaw
11 Slumper
"Sorry, Cindernerd, no more food for you. Don't want you getting a tummyache," Pai calls out as she double moves to fly straight up and away from the hungry monster.
I don't dare damage it...I might hurt Ruperta and Slumper!
Ruperta embraces Slumper when the Worm lunges at them...
"See you on the other side, my love..."
Upon being devoured she tries to Channel Energy to heal them both.
Slumper calmly acesses the situation before bursting into a flurry of action.
rapier
rapier
shield
shield