"I could make an attempt," Fenna explains to Casimir, "but without any magic specifically focused on counteracting paralysis, my chances of success would be minimal. She seems safe enough for now; we can retrieve her as we make our exit."
"If we free her she becomes a target for the vile wardens of this place. She's safer this way, and won't have up-to-date knowledge anyway. Fenna's right, we should deal with this when we have more time."
Kalev is reluctant to leave the Centaur in her present state, but sees no alternative at the moment.
Maybe slaying the master of this place will free her from whatever foul enchantment she is under? Let us press on.
"I think we should not all crowd around the door when it is opened, in case a similar trap triggers. Only one of us should try to open it, with the others standing well clear. I can summon another unseen servant to do it. I suspect the altars hold the key to opening the doors safely, but the details obviously elude us."
"If the unseen servant cannot shift the door I will make an attempt. I've got off lightly so far."
Ricter's luck held- the door seemed not to be trapped in any way. He led the group through to a small corridor curling around to the south-west, which in turn led to a flight of stairs descending steeply. At the bottom of the stairs, another stone door seemed to be the only obvious way forward.
Kalev signaled for the others to remain at bay, while he started examining the door and the area in front of it.
A cursory check at the door revealed no traps. The group spent a little time making sure; but they did not believe the door posed any threat.
Creaking it open slowly, they revealed a large, square chamber; carved into the stone like every other and held in place by two sturdy pillars. The room seemed to have once served as a crypt. This chamber’s walls are composed of burial alcoves. All are empty save for small stone shelf ledges holding assorted bits of pottery.
Two doors lead out from this chamber; one to the west and one to the south-east. You are currently still in the corridor just outside it, peering in.
"Another crypt. And probably more undead horrors lurking beyond those doors. Malthir, can sense the presence of evil through the doors? It might give us some warning as to whether or not to expect a fight." Casimir said quietly.
Malthir steps up to the door and then sends out his power to detect the presense of evil. He doesn't actually step into the room, just into the doorway.
I would expect another fight soon...we must be getting close.
Kalev grasps Cleft in his hands taking a step into the crypt, unless he is stopped.
Malthir extends his hand, motioning for Kalev to delay until after he has done his sweep.
Focusing, Malthir detected the presence of evil as he scanned the area on the other side. Concentrating upon the foul sensations, he got a sense of the direction of the two Strong auras he detected, but not their precise location. They were definitely lurking somewhere above the doorway.
There is something in there. Let Ricter and I draw their first attack and you move in as soon as they do, that way their attacks will fail against our shield wall! he says with an air of confidence.
We move 10' into the room and have the sheild wall up, sound okay?
Casimir peers into the room, careful not to expose himself.
"Their attacks? Are there more than one? I think we had better take some extra precautions on this one, just in case. We still have enough charges left in the wand of haste that I feel it is worth spending one. Also, if you give me a moment, I would like to cast a defensive spell on myself and I can begin my bardic inspiration as you move in."
"A fine plan! Let's go forth and crush these things underfoot"
Ricter waits for a moment for any magical re-enforcements before marching forward, keeping his shield high ready for the inevitable attacks from above.
"Then go with the guidance of the Last Azlant." Fenna intones, laying a hand on the arms of Malthir and Ricter while Casimir and Kip make their own preparations.
Were the foes that awaited the Guardians able to understand the language that the oncoming foes spoke, or were they able to recognise the tell-tale chanting as magical in nature, they would surely have launched the attack. As it was, the Guardians were able to magically prepare themselves and surge into the room, Malthir and Ricter locked into a shield wall...
Locking shields and spinning to face the attackers Malthir detected, the duo saw that they were both Soul Eaters; the same kind of summoned, foul Outsider that had hounded Kip in the skies and almost slain him. They were about to descend and attack with their shadowy claws, clearly expecting to have had the element of surprise. Instead, the Guardians were ready for a fight... and the shadowy creatures lurking/flying just under the roof of the room were no less ready to try and send their souls screaming to Abaddon.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Casimir-
Malthir-
Fenna-
Ricter-
Kalev- (GM reminder- terrain bond woods: Kalev +3 init, party +2 init)
Kip-
Soul Eaters-
Kip- 26
Casimir- 19
Soul Eaters- 16
Kalev- 14
Ricter- 8
Malthir- 3
Fenna- 1
Active Effects-
Haste on party.
Guidance on Malthir and Ricter (expend for +1 bonus to a roll)
Mirror Image on Casimir (please roll)
Inspire Courage (Rounds left being tracked? Its been a long day.)
Map-
Notes-
Round Actions-
Casimir supressed a shudder as their enemies were revealed, still painfully mindful of the sanity-wreaking attacks he suffered from the last soul eater they encountered.
The sight of the two Soul Eaters fills Kip with dread and sends him into somewhat of a panic. He quickly blurts out the words and motions at the two awful creatures to impede their actions before taking an unconscious step back .
The six identical versions of Casimir raised their swords and strode forth to stand beside the other warriors.
"Come then, Spawn of Evil, and be banished back to Abaddon."
He took up a fighting stance, ready to strike the moment an enemy ventured near.
Not truly understanding Casimir's spell, the pair of Soul Eaters swooped around him and his six raised swords effortlessly and opted to attack Ricter. Just as the pair reached the Hellknight, Kip unleashed a wave of lethargic, mind-numbing energy at both of the Outsiders. It slowed one enough that it abandoned its attack on Ricter, barely managing to finish its flight back up to the roof of the room. The other Soul Eater shook off the magic's effects and raked a claw along the raised shields of Malthir and Ricter as they easily warded the attack between them. Like the other soul-eater, it finished its fly-by-attack and ascended to the roof. The two Soul Eaters kept their distance from one another, clearly wary of further magic. The stark contrast between the hasted movements of the Guardians and the slowed movements of the affected Soul Eater was quite astounding.
Kip, can you make Kalev large and heu will be ale to reach them and stop their attacks. Ricter we should go defensive for the moment.
Go full defense.
"Ready for their attacks and strike them as they swoop past!
Kalev carefully waited for an opportunity to strike at the creatures.
[ooc]Ready - Condition: being within reach of the soul-eaters, i.e. either them moving or me getting extra reach from Enlarge spell).
Fenna eyes the two shadowy outsiders warily, before intoning a prayer, "May the fervour of the Soldier fuel our strikes, and shield us against those of these dark foes."
Ricter strikes back at the creature as it batters against his shield:
As it swoops up out of reach he keeps his shield up, flail spinning in a steady circle ready to punish it's next attack.
While the soul eater's own attack proved fruitless, Ricter's flail arced perfectly to batter the extraplanar creature's black, smoky form. It hissed in pain and was sent reeling away as it finished its fly by attack.
Round 2-
Ordered Initiative-
Kip- 17
Soul Eaters- 16
Malthir - 3
Fenna- 1
Readied Actions to Strike-
Casimir, Kalev, Ricter.
Active Effects-
Haste on party.
Guidance on Malthir (expend for +1 bonus to a roll)
Mirror Image on Casimir (5)
Inspire Courage +2
Prayer- +1 on most checks for you, -1 for your foes.
Map-
Notes-
Soul Eaters 20 feet altitude.
Round Actions-
Suddenly enlarged, Kalev strikes at the nearest foe.
The slowed Soul Eater flew away to the west and south, floating down into an central alcove to the west and out of sight. The other continued its attack, again opting to attack Ricter and limit the amount of Guardians that could attack it. This time, Kalev was ready, stepping out from behind Malthir in order to strike. Between the bashing heads of the flail and Kalev's slashing polearm, the Soul Eater struggled to bring its claw to bear. This time it got past the shield wall, only for its claw to scrabble in vain against the Hellknight Plate. Another heavy blow from Ricter as it finished its dive run sent the Soul Eater crumpling to the ground, its form rapidly dissipating into nothingness.
Moments later, Kalev was enlarged by Kip's spell. Peering down the west alcove where the Soul Eater had disappeared revealed an open door leading to a more natural looking cavern than the stone-carved rooms of the dungeon so far- the Outsider had clearly not wanted to continue to fight while debilitated by the Slow spell. In addition to the door leading west, another door to the south-east led south.
Kip reloads his wand into its sheath and then draws forth a scroll. Now is probably a good time to use one of these. Reading from the parchment, Kip conjures forth some additional protection for the Guardians.
Casimir slams Brightclaw into it's sheath, then moves to where he can get a good look at the cave without entering. As he goes, he draws his bow.
Peering in, he scans the room for the escaping Soul Eater and any other threats, while calling back to the others.
"Good idea, Kip. We should keep the pressure on while we hold the advantage, but that thing might be leading us into an ambush. I doubt I will be able to bring it down with my bow alone, so it would probably also be a good idea to make one or two of us fly, if we are able. Malthir, probably, and maybe Ricter, if we can spare the magic."
It has been a long day. My arcane abilities are beginning to wane. I'm not sure if it is wise to expend the effort on flight at the expense of my other talents. We are stumbling about blindly. We have no idea how close we are to our goal. Besides, for them to remain under the protection of the scroll's spell they need to stay close to me.
Unless you think they do not need the extra protection.
Kip looks to the others for guidance as well. What say you Malthir? Ricter?
Kip, I think I am with Casimir on this.
They have a major advantage over us with their flight. Ricter and I are best suited to face them as heavily armored as we are. I know you have expended many of your spells, as have I with my powers granted from Iomedae. If you are able I would suggest giving us flight and we will finish them or try to drive them to the ground.
Ricter we should stay together and try to hunt them down while the others follow from below.
"We can shoot, it can't. Could we not just draw our bows and take potshots until it makes a move? Kalev can be on hand to punish it if it does. And if it doesn't give us a clear shot, well...what's to stop us ignoring the cowardly monstrosity and pressing on?"
Suddenly Casimir remembers something Fenna said earlier, when they fought the first Soul Eater.
"Perhaps a shame that we slew the creature, then," Fenna offers in response to Kip and Ricter, "Soul Eaters have been known to turn on their masters if forced to flee from their assigned targets... treacherous beasts."
"We should let it go and follow it. It could be headed for the one who summoned it. With luck, it is going to attack our enemy." he says excitedly.
"Now there's a pleasing possibility"
Moving out of the door, Casimir could see that the corridor likely led to a natural cavern. The corridor continually sloped around, so he could not see especially far here from the doorway. The Soul Eater was, apparently, long gone from the corridor.
Casimir calls back to the others what he sees.
"I can't see it. It has fled into a natural cave. We should save the flying spell for when we make contact again, and pursue on foot while our haste spell lasts. Kalev, can you pick up Kip and carry him, since his speed is not enhanced like ours? The rest of us will stay close to you. We do not want to get separated."
Sure. Hop up, little friend, Kalev says, extending a large hand to Kip.
I will cast fly on Malthir should the need arise, Kip says as he climbs onto Kalev.
Cowards are probably waiting for us to battle some other guardian and then will try to strike us from behind...keep your eyes open.
Malthir moves forward in the front with Ricter.
Casimir joins up, staying close to Kalev where he can use his bow under the cover of the giant ranger's extended reach.
Remember to stay close to me. The protection spell requires it.
Gathered fairly close to Kip, the Guardians advanced down the corridor of naturally formed cavern. It eventually opened out into a large chamber.
This wide chamber appears to have been naturally formed; its ceiling rises 25 feet and is festooned with stalactites. The stink of sulfur and tar are strong, as a huge lake of bubbling black tar dominates the chamber. From rock outcrops here and there on the walls bubble small springs of milky looking water. Across the chamber, a stony shelf provides purchase for a door stoop before a black wooden door swollen in its frame. The broken stumps of two support posts protrude from the rock of the shelf as well as that of the main entrance near the pool’s edge, showing where a wooden bridge once spanned the inky soup.
At the far end of the bubbling, steaming hot pool of tar, a grey-bearded zombie, clearly once an old man, stood. To be more precise, the zombie stood amongst several images of himself; clearly generated by a Mirror Image spell. His feet also appeared to be hovering slightly above ground.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
Casimir-
Malthir-
Fenna-
Ricter-
Kalev- (GM reminder- terrain bond woods: Kalev +3 init, party +2 init)
Kip-
Zombie-
Kip-
Kalev-
Ricter-
Zombie-
Active Effects-
The air in this chamber is hideously noxious. Every round a creature breathes the air in the room, it must make a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw— failure indicates the creature is nauseated for 1 round. A saving throw of a natural 1 results in 1d4 points of Constitution damage from the toxic air. This is a poison effect.
Map-
Notes-
Action-