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Unhindered by the jungle's density, Narayan moves in closer, shouting words that the Barbarian's do not seem to understand, and while it seems to cause one of them to shrink back for a moment, it seems to have the reverse effect on the rest, almost as if reinforcing the idea that their backs are truly to the wall.
As Kitako moves in closer, he likewise can only barely make out some shapes within the darkness and fog. He attempts to offer greeting in a few different languages, but is unable to see any possible reactions. No response comes immediately.
ROUND 1
Narayan ()
Ptolomeo ()
Henrikuaxian ()
Kitajo ()
Barbarian 1 <green> (Shaken-> R3)
Barbarian 2 <pink> ()
Barbarian 3 <blue> ()
Kaleena ()
Emma ()
Jarek ()
Barbarian 4 <yellow> ()
Barbarian 5 <purple> ()
Crippled Barbarian <red> ()
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Ptomoleo travels with the other Pathfinders without say a word. He is a contemplative man, after all.
Once they notice the barbarians, his first idea was try to deal with them peacefully, until the gnome create a pit to catch them in a trap.
With that, Ptolomeo advances and draws the lucerne hammer, preparing for the fight.
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Unhindered by the jungle's density, Narayan moves in closer, shouting words that the Barbarian's do not seem to understand, and while it seems to cause one of them to shrink back for a moment, it seems to have the reverse effect on the rest, almost as if reinforcing the idea that their backs are truly to the wall.
Kitajo and Ptolomeo both move in closer, one ready for a fight if it's coming and the other hoping to avoid one. Hen draws a wand and casts a spell to help protect himself.
Afterwards, you can hear some commotion just beyond what you can see until three of the barbarians come into view, allowing most of you to actually see them for the first time. Two approach from one path, while another mostly peeks it's head around the corner from the other. One of them savagely attacks, leaping at Kutajo is answer to his attempted greetings. Despite the savage club in his hands, he instead attempts to bite the monk with sharpened and deadly teeth.
ROUND 1
Narayan ()
Ptolomeo ()
Henrikuaxian ()
Kitajo ()
Barbarian 1 <green> (Shaken-> R3)
Barbarian 2 <pink> ()
Barbarian 3 <blue> ()
Kaleena ()
Emma ()
Jarek ()
Barbarian 4 <yellow> ()
Barbarian 5 <purple> ()
Crippled Barbarian <red> ()
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Jarek lowers one shoulder, charging through the brush and blowing past his ally, and then raises his shield and swings his mace in a deadly uppercut at the barbarian.
You would be wise to understand your place in the world, savage! Feel the wrath of Asmodeus, and greet him in the afterlife!
He glares at the other barbarian, daring him to attack.
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In perhaps the first time in recorded history, a firearm . . . wait for it, . . . misses. The loud crack of thunder startles the savages, and Emma steps in to help jolt one of them even more, but her timing is just slightly off, and the brute is able to push the magic aside.
Not taking kindly to the barbarian's attitudes, Jarek moves in and levies an ascending arc swing with his devilish weapon, snapping the save man's neck with relative ease. The other two barbarians move up, now in sight, though they stop.
Suddenly, there is a bloodcurdling scream from somewhere behind the barbarians, something unnatural and unnerving. Your unsure just what it is, or where it's coming from, and though it lasts one a few seconds, it seems to have an effect on all around you. The world seems to grow even darker, , as if true and utter darkness is consuming the light. As if hope where being drained to feed, . . . something. The remaining barbarians seem to grow stronger, almost empowered by the scream. Things do not look good.
ROUND 2
Narayan ()
Ptolomeo ()
Henrikuaxian ()
Kitajo ()
Barbarian 1 <green> ()
Barbarian 2 <pink> ()
Kaleena ()
Emma ()
Jarek ()
Barbarian 4 <yellow> ()
Barbarian 5 <purple> ()
Crippled Barbarian <red> ()
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Jarek shrugs.
If you say so. If they are defending something else, then whatever they are defending must be pitiful indeed. I shall levy a request with the commanders of the Godsclaw order to bring the word of Asmodeus here. Several clerics of the Word could easily turn this place around and put an end to the savagery.
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Jarek calls his reply to Kitajo over his shoulder as he readies his mace for a downward swing onto the skull of the barbarian closest to him.
There are those who use the laws of Asmodeus to their own advantage like that, yes. But the true intent of the Word is law, binding and inescapable. A set of walls, to keep people from going astray, and a guide for those who wish to live with order and peace. From the look of your training I believe you are familiar with that concept, yes?
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(This won't do, he is entirely too tall, let's try to bring him down a few pegs...) Henrik thinks, taking in the barbarian engaged with his companions . He grabs a component out of his pouch, and then gestures towards the group, shouting an arcane word.
When he does this, the ground underneath the barbarian instantly becomes coated with a layer of slippery grease.
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Narayan moves in to engage one of the savages, leveling a solid fist-to-face that nearly drops the barbarian on the spot. He is staggered for a moment, but then quickly snaps out of it. The mage begins searching for a few components to work his trade, suddenly pointing at the ground around one of the beast-men and finishing words in the spidery words of the ancients, when everything around him suddenly becomes covered in a layer of thick, slippery, viscous material.
Kitajo embraces the oldest and noblest of monk traditions, unlashing a Flurry of misses, despite the target being unable to properly defend himself as he looses his balance, though he does seem to at least partially redeem himself as he gets in a single blow as the barbarian tries to rise, outright dropping him right back down face first.
The brute near Narayan tries to divert with his club before going in for a savage bite, only barely missing the reptilian monk's warm flesh.
ROUND 2
Narayan ()
Ptolomeo ()
Henrikuaxian ()
Kitajo ()
Barbarian 1 (-8)
Kaleena ()
Emma ()
Jarek ()
Barbarian 4 ()
Barbarian 5 ()
Crippled Barbarian ()
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Kaleena clears her weapon and then levels it, quickly aiming at one of the nearer foes and lets lead fly, grazing the warrior in the arm, but drawing blood, just as Jarek moves around to engage the other, though he fails to land a solid hit.
Emma attempts once more to force the power of her will on the enemy, this time smashing through his cerebral defenses to lock his mind in place in some dark, below the depths place.
The slightly wounded barbarian watches as his brother-in-arms fails to react as he circles around to attack the armored dark warrior.
ROUND 3
Narayan ()
Ptolomeo ()
Henrikuaxian ()
Kitajo ()
Barbarian 1 (-8)
Kaleena ()
Emma ()
Jarek ()
Barbarian 4 (-4, Dazed)
Barbarian 5 ()
Crippled Barbarian ()
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Henrik will move forward, just to the edge of his greased area, and then flick his wrist, ejecting a wand from the wrist sheathe there. He jabs the wand in the direction of the barbarians, and with an arcane word causes a glowing ball of energy to shoot forward toward the barbarian that had already been struck, hoping to push him over the edge.
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Circling around, the two remaining barbarians really have no chance against your assault, and both fall fairly quickly to your might. Once the battle has concluded and you have a little time to rest and examine the immediate area, you find that the single remaining warrior, laying nearly motionless on a makeshift liter doesn't react to your presence at all. Neither fear nor surprise crosses it's face though bloody fluid seems to seep from his eyes and mouth.
From the bodies you find half a dozen small metaline trinkets, likely things the kuru collected from deeper in Sevenfingers’s tomb or things that might have slipped from an explorer’s pack years ago. Each bauble is a fanciful hand-sized shape of twisted precious metal worth 75 gp to a collector.
Nothing you do seems to cause the last barbarian to move, react, or even look at you, including violence, and as far as you can tell, he may very well be brain dead, or close to it.
Not far away, while wandering around in the fog, you stumble upon a grizzly sight. Skewered here by a crudely carved post is a gruesome scarecrow constructed of tree branches, jungle vines, and bloodstained human bones. The skull-headed effigy accusingly points a bony arm down the trail leading west.
Following the trail, you come upon an unnervingly open clearing, and the combination of darkness, fog, and perhaps a bit of your own imaginations lead you to feel very alone, lost, and like you are being watched. In the center of this clearing stands a large standing stone, about five feet in diameter and twelve feet tall. Carved into the dark stone are dozens of leering one-eyed humanoid faces, their mouths agape as if preparing to appease some unspeakable hunger.
Just beyond, a crack in the earth splits the ground, most of it covered by thick weeds and the roots of a huge strangler fig tree. There are several gaps between the roots through which an adventurer might squeeze. Below the tangled roots is a deep shaft that descends into the gloom.
. . . Welcome to the Hall of the Flesh Eaters.
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"How delightfully creepy" the little gnome says as he examines the stone monument. The entire area doesn't seem to bother him too much, as he looks all around with a little grin, as if excited to see what might be there. He examines the stone monolith closely, casting a spell as he does.
"It appears to be a focus for dark energies, necromantic and evil. The aura is faint, so it likely no longer functions, or at least doesn't function properly. I can't be certain, but the carvings on it are of the ancient Cyclops pantheon, and given the design, it was likely an instrument of sacrifice to their gods. Fascinating..."
Noticing the opening behind the stone pillar of creepy evilness, Henrik says "So, who wants to be the first to climb through the strangler fig into the hole behind the evil sacrificial stone monument into the evil tomb?"
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Jarek shrugs at Henrikuaxian.
Evil is... an opinion, my little companion. There are many who view my homeland as evil, but to those who call it home, it is anything but. Do you think those who carved that statue believe themselves to be a plague on the world?
The large man hefts his mace and starts to enter.
They do not. But that does not mean they do not need to be taught the error of their beliefs. But armed with that knowledge, is it not easier to enter such a place? Knowing that you are bringing peace and order to those who need to be given such rewards?
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The Chelaxian will ask for a brief respite and will send a telepathic message to Jarek