Yahirma walks up to H4, winces, and steps a bit further to G4. From there she peeks around the corner. There, she readies an action to cast Ill Omen on the mysterious tiefling when the woman next tries to strike. She then waves a hand to the others and points down towards Maddok.
Oh, she should not have shot him. It is time to see the nature of this spirit within Maddok.
Derek moves up behind the beast-that-walks and peers at the woman.
We do attract an awful lot of interesting females, too bad this one will most likely not survive that long.
Determining that the best he can do for the moment is supporting the beast-that-walks he begins to sing again.
Just wait, I'll try tumbling past you next, wouldn't that be sweet? Boxed in between a beast-that-walks, a bard that...uh...stings, and a solider of Abbadar that is more nimble than you think.
I wonder what he is saying? I'll just pretend he is making song requests like the drunks do during after hours at the temple.
Appario delays, looking for a way into the fight.
When her turn next rolls around, Yahirma will likely need to delay. If the planar minotaur is in bad shape after a round, she will ready another Ill Fortune.
Semenya, having seen the bestial transformation of Maddok, says of the beast with the axe, "It suits you!" As a move action, she moves to G4, and as her second move action, loads a masterwork cold iron crossbow bolt into her crossbow.
A pity the quarters are so close - a sheet of flame could be quite handy now.
Deciding that the deep wound in her side is a sign of a plan gone awry, and with wide eyes at the appearance of the Beast of War, the fiendish-looking tiefling withdraws southwards, disappearing into the shadows and vanishing from sight as she moves.
The Beast of War can still detect her scent.
Appario will draw Extortion and move to H1.
"Where did she go? I am wary of following into traps. Let us proceed with caution, eh?"
Appario will look up and down the corridor.
Perception (+1 for traps)
To the north, Appario can see a 30 ft. long hallway, along which there are three smoky glass windows set at eye level. The hallway ends at a stone wall.
To the south, he sees another 30 ft. long hallway, also with three smoky glass windows set at eye level. This hallway ends at an open door. Beyond the door the hallway becomes more cavelike as it extends for another 40 ft. before taking a sharp turn to the east.
Appario can't see the tiefling woman in either direction.
The Beast of War bounds down the hallway, sniffs the air just as it reaches the door, and brings the axe down with full force, seemingly striking into thin air. A cry of pain can be heard, and Appario can see blood splattering the walls to either side of the hallway. He still can't see anyone besides the Beast.
The woman's scent is still strong and full of life, although now the scent of blood is just as strong as her own. Despite smelling her right before him, he still can't see her.
>>>Current Map, northern section<<<
>>>Current Map, southern section<<<
She'll get away, but I can't get past her since I don't know WHERE she is!
Derek moves after the beast-that-walks, keeping just behind his back, singing away while trying to find an opportunity to get into a better position.
Decidedly perplexed as to where the female went, Yahirma moves forward to join Appario. She sticks to the right (ending in G1) and watches out for danger to the north.
>>>Current Map, northern section<<<
>>>Current Map, southern section<<<
When Derek moves up close to The Beast of War, he can see blood dripping down to the ground just ahead of it, and not all of that blood is dripping from the axe.
Current Initiative order:
21 - The Beast of War and Semenya
20 - Yahirma
17 - Derek
10 - Tiefling
9 - Appario
Semenya moves to I1, keeping the crossbow loaded. She readies an action to fire the bolt if the Tiefling becomes visible.
The Tiefling realizes that withdrawing at half speed seems like a poor option, and standing to fight the bestial creature in front of her also seems suboptimal. She tries to withdraw again, but moving further this time.
Alone among the group, Yahirma can see the Tiefling as she moves down the hallway and vanishes around the corner. The Beast of War smells her moving away, but eventually loses her scent as she gets too far away.
>>>Current Map, southern section<<<
As the others are befuddled by the tiefling's withdrawl, Yahirma realizes she must act now. Glaring at the back of the Beast's horned head, she wills it to look up - UP!
As the creature's nostrils flare and its head jerks upwards to see the tiefling, Yahirma lets out a sigh of relief.
I can't imagine what the Shoanti spirit would do if his prey were to disappear without sating his hunger...
Appario will double move to P1 while watching for traps.
Perception for traps
The Beast growls as he loses sight of his prey and then, somehow, he spots her again passing around the corner.
Gripping his weapon tightly he bounds around the corner after her.
Hang on, I'm coming!
Derek will hasten after that blood mad bovine, keeping his broad back in clear view as he sings for god and country.
Appario doesn't find any traps on his way, but he notices that one of the smoky glass windows has been wiped clean, and the window provides a clear view of the Bearded Devil's cell. There's was no corresponding window on the inside of the cell.
The Beast of War catches up to the fleeing Tiefling next to another open door. Behind the door a large chamber with a domed ceiling stretches out. Long mildewy strips of wood paneling hangs down from above like drooping branches, while a large pool of churning muddy water fills much of the room. The water flows down a trough to gather in a small pool in the eastern end of the chamber. Dozens of bones lie scattered along the ledge surrounding the pool.
Despite water flowing constantly from the large pool to the small pool, the water level at both pools appear to remain constant.
Beyond the eastern pool, yet another open door can be seen. The beginning of a smooth, circular tunnel can be seen behind the door.
The Beast of War notices something moving behind the surface of the water (at V9, V11, and V12).
Derek notices something moving behind the surface of the water (at V11).
>>>Current Map, northern section<<<
>>>Current Map, southern section<<<
>>>Current Map, south-eastern section<<<
Lu Lolu, he's fast!
Yahirma follows as best she can, which gets her to S1 on the "southern" map.
Semenya follows the others down the hallway, keeping the crossbow loaded as she moves to U1.
Both Derek and The Beast of War can see the Tiefling as she once again attempts to blend into the shadows while withdrawing. She takes care not to step into the water as she moves.
>>>Current Map, southern section<<<
>>>Current Map, eastern section<<<
Appario will double move to V2.
That tiefling is leading the bull around by the nose. Heck, she's making him moooooove quickly. I wonder if that's because she's cowed. I'm sure the bull just wants to axe her another question.
Appario giggles a bit while he provides chase.
The Beast of War's thunderous swipe of Semenya's axe virtually splits the Tiefling woman in half from head to toe, and she crumbles to the ground beneath its cloven hooves as her veins bleed out.
>>>Current Map, western section<<<
>>>Current Map, eastern section<<<
Yahirma jogs around the corner and squeezes past Derek (end in V4). There she glances at the Beast, realizes the Tiefling is no longer extant, and then the oracle spends a standard action pulling out a map-making kit.
Too many twists and turns in here. I wouldn't want to get lost in a pocket dimension. Can't minotaurs do something about...maybe?
Lacking much knowledge of monstrous beasts, she shrugs and finishes fishing out the drawing supplies.
As Yahrima squeezes past a part of Dereks mind chuckles, especially the one remembering her acting as the dark but delicious devil of the play.
I do so love those women...
Now that The Beast of War isn't distracted by his hunt for the fleeing Tiefling, his keen senses detect that the filthy water smells foul with a mix of mud and rot.
Before Derek can act, a thin, blue-skinned humanoid creature with long, sharp teeth and fingernails, and webbing between its fingers and toes, clambers up from the water near The Beast of War and the dead Tiefling. Mud and filthy water drips from its pallid flesh, and The Beast's sense of smell is assaulted by the horrible stink of death and corruption emanating from the creature as it crouches down next to the Tiefling woman's body and begins tearing strips of flesh from her and feeding.
The Beast is just barely able to resist the sickening stench.
The shape Derek saw beneath the water earlier is still there.
The two other shapes The Beast noticed beneath the water are still there.
This is an Undead creature known as a Lacedon Ghast, an aquatic cousin of the ordinary Ghast, which again is a more dangerous variation of the Ghoul. Like an ordinary Ghoul, a Ghast can inflict disease and paralysis with their attacks. Unlike the Ghoul, a Ghast is surrounded by an overwhelming stink of death and corruption that can cause nearby creatures to become sickened.
Undead traits are also revealed.
As above, plus you can read the Bestiary/PRD statblock :)
>>>Current Map, western section<<<
>>>Current Map, eastern section<<<
Semenya moves to and readies an action to fire the crossbow bolt at the creature in case it attacks.
Spotting something in the water, she says "There's still something moving beneath the surface. Take care!"
Forgoing speaking to shout out a warning, Derek calls out.
"Watch out, it's claws paralyze, and it's bite is infected with rot. Destroy it before it can hurt you."
Having moved closer to the creature, Derek finds himself overwhelmed by the immense stench emanating from it.
Derek finds the stench so horrible that he becomes sickened by it.
Three more creatures, all looking almost exactly like the first, clamber up from the water. These, seeing that the first one has already secured a dinner, attempt to secure their own by sinking their teeth into The Beast, Derek, and Semenya, respectively.
The creatures attacking The Beast and Derek both find their mark, and The Beast takes 5 damage while Derek takes 7 damage. Both of their bodies successfully fight off the infection and paralysis.
These are Undead creatures known as Lacedons, an aquatic cousin of the Ghoul. Like the Ghoul, their attacks can cause disease and paralysis.
Undead traits are also revealed.
As above, plus you can read the Bestiary/PRD information on the Ghoul.
>>>Current Map, western section<<<
>>>Current Map, eastern section<<<
Appario delays until Semenya is unconscious, dead, or moves.
When that happens, Appario will move up the L#3 and strike with Extortion.
to hit;
damage.
Fort Save
The Beast slices the creature at his feet in half, before turning and kicking the nearest creature hard in the gut with one hoof.
The creature's stench still lingers, although now much less potent.
Noting that the beast has torn apart one of the nastier targets, Yahirma lowers her hand as it is about to start invoking a clap of thunder. She instead steps back (V3) to give Semenya room to fall back (to V4, perhaps, giving Appario room to engage). She braces for impact, just in case the ghoul can break through.