Ser Armithia's stoicism currently seems to be excelling beyond expectations.
After the combat, the priest turned to their elven guide, attitude on edge due to the several drains on his life essence during the fight. "Is there something you're not telling us?" Of course, Delenn's panic could just be from the fight with the terrible hounds itself, but the priest was thinking it likely that there were a lot more surprises than the woman had been ready for.
If Azarra is willing, Zane defers the healing to Kardas and Ser Armithia, waiting to see the results before resorting to any of Lathander's blessings.
Once the party is healed back up, the young man is eager to move on and continue towards whatever end game was in store for them.
"Eh, Zane ..." and Kardas points at the mirror. The man's snowy white familiar rubs up against the priest's leg and snarls at the mirror. "The portal might still be open and it seems more trouble is on its way. Ishta, Delenn, is there any way you could close it?"
Why didn't I bring an adamantine hammer?
"Okay, first things first. Do we have to expect more danger from this mirror?" Ishta asks to no one in particular. "If it's a portal, it seems disconnected right now, but magic usually has quite unexpected quirks."
She walks over to the mirror and carefully enunciates a strange phrase, "Melonkurio Skyweir!"
Nothing happens. Her eyes flick towards the tiny pack of hounds before returning to you. Sounding crushed she replies, "That. That is what I feared, someone has been this way, someone pussiant. They have subverted the wards, the old pass phrase no longer holds."
She then rushes over to the entrance, the great iris seal above had closed trapping you below!
Steeling herself as if for a particularly unpleasant task she explains, "Our only hope is to descend to the lowest level of the library. Down there is a room seemingly empty but for a puzzle box and many carved angels, one of which has no eyes. If you press fingers into both sockets simultaneously that will reset the wards. We must descend and fast before the hounds overwhelm us!"
"Okay... Do you have an estimate as to how should we take to reach there? These dogs seem closer every second, we might want to rush..."
Ser Armithia uses his Wand, offering it to the others.
Kardas frowns when the elf speaks and her words fail them all. "I'd almost get the feeling we're running after a horse both faster and stronger than us. Delenn, please tell me none of your arcane rivals managed to gather all the details of this place and he or she is beating us to the punch? Or, you know what, don't. Let's go, we can discuss all this later once we're victorious and cradling a jug of ale to our bosoms."
Zane could only grin at the Rashemi's bravado, though in truth he was very worried. Their elven counterpart had just admitted that their major asset, her knowledge of this place, had been compromised. There was nothing to do but continue as she suggested before another wave of shadow hounds arrived to steadily wear down the group's resources. Ishta's suggestion to rush seemed wise, so the priest let his aggravation with the situation die and walked quickly with the others towards where Delenn said their destination should lie. "Where's this side room you spoke of, Delenn?"
Delenn doesn't immediately answer, she runs her finger along the wall as she paces before stopping. You notice now that the corridors here are carved into the bedrock below Phlan, and they are are covered in bas-relief carvings depicting thousands of faces in various expressions ranging from the beatific to the diabolical.
She taps the walls and sighs, "Too solid to even think of digging trough. You see long ago they magically hardened to be tougher than mithral. This level is known as the Arcana. There's another angelic gate to the south and east. It's a little different to the one above, all the heads are arranged around it in a ring. It leads down to the Cypher Obscura level, in the center of that is yet another angelic gate, and form what I gather the heads are spread out. Once that's open we must descend to the Library's Soul. That's where we'll be able to reset the wards... Ishta is correct we should not delay, I don't want to be here when the next pack comes through."
Ser Armithia leads the way.
Zane followed behind Ser Armithia with the others, heading in a way that would take them to the southeast and hopefully to Delenn's angelic gate to the Cypher Obscura area. He warily cast a glance at the mirror before turning the corner, all too eager to be gone from the area.
Ishta accepts the wand to spend another charge on herself. "Ah, thank you."
Following the rest of the group, Ishta can't help but imagine the worst things they might have to confront today. "I hope the lower levels remain untouched. Also that the hounds are not able to follow us to the next level."
Can we break the mirror? Would that stop it?
If Delenn thinks no, then Azarra hurries along with the others.
To the west the party glimpse what might be an opening to a larger room lined with shelves where holding hundreds of books bound with red leather. To the east the corridor ends in corridor that might be running north-south.
Ishta looks west and east alternatively. "Where to? Any idea?"
Zane peered behind them at the dimly lit library area, then turned his attention down the eastern corridor. "This way?" The priest would ask Delenn, then continue down the eastern hall if the elven woman confirmed.
Kardas throws a look over his shoulder and then surveys the rest of the area before giving Zane a shrug. "It's as good a way as any."
Delenn nods to Zane, "The angelic gate is to the east and the south."
You stat walking that way when you get the faint whiff of something sharp like concentrated animal urine. Delenn stopped suddenly and whispered, "There used to be a small menagerie here, the obsession of one of the stewards if I recall. I wonder what befell it?"
"Ugh, it really stinks there" Ishta says, pointing to the east. "Can you see any other exit?" he asks to the ones in the vanguard.
Azarra follows, keeping an eye out.
Maybe the smell is the menagerie?
Ser Armithia leads the way. The Paladin ignores the stench; scanning with the 30' area cone as they go.
Kardas takes a moment to unwrap one of his many Raumathar scarves from his head. "Expect it to be corrupted and perverted, just like everything else in this accursed place." He then takes out his waterskin and douses his scarf with water before wrapping it over and around his face, covering both nose and mouth, making sure he can still breath.
If anyone gives him a funny look, the bulky brute simply shrugs. "Imagine how bad it will stink once you get into the actual room."
Zane watched the Rashemi with curiosity, but once the intent was clear, the cleric eyes his wrappings with a certain degree of envy. The priest was silent, wary of his stomach betraying him should he open his mouth, but he was skeptical that any of the original inhabitants of the menagerie would still be living after fifty plus years. Whatever was causing the smell was an abomination, to be certain. The young man followed the zealous gold elf and walked with the others, ready to confront whatever terrible thing was in this area of the hellish library.
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Ishta produces a rod and keeps it in one hand in case it's needed.
After weighing the balance of the rod, Ishta murmurs something to herself. "Give me a just a few seconds... She concentrates for a very short time and smiles. "I'm ready."
You poke your head around the corner and a preternatural stench causes your eyes to water. Beyond you can see a chamber in chaos. Remnants of bent, broken, and gnawed cages litter the room, along with mounds of books and papers. Blocks of stone from the ceiling and walls litter the ground, partially obscuring another angelic gate. Moving among the wreckage you see partially decomposed forms of various exotic animals. Standing among them, facing away from you is the rotting form of an ancient looking man in the formal regalia of a librarian.
Zane's lips curl back in disgust as they round the corner into the dark mockery of the menagerie. He kept his quiet, making sure his companions had time to prep what they might want while he grasped the rosy pink disc of Lathander firmly, sure that the divine energy he could channel from Above would soon be called upon.
Ishta offers to cas Enlarge Person to anyone who wants. Then she does some preparations. "Let me start with a nice boom, right?" she goes as she thumbs up. She then talks specifically to Delenn. "If you have a nice spell to throw that could otherwise hurt us, now is the time. Get it ready for when I throw mine."
Ishta turns around the corner and shouts an arcane word, producing a radiant burst of light among the rotten figures.
rounds.
Kardas nods at Ishta. "We best ride in wild, magicks blazing." Even though he tries to breathe through his nose as much as he can, the putrid stench still manages to penetrate right on through. Best not consider what it will be like to be standing next to the vile being.
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Whispering, Delenn tells you, "I have a scroll that will protect us all from evil for a while, perhaps I should use that if we are to face the undead."
Azarra says softly Sounds like a good idea.
Once everyone is ready and has cast their prep spells, if any, Azarra starts softly singing right before the big guys rush in, getting louder as they attack (and of course she will stay in range as we get into rounds).
The Paladin points his magical bastard sword at the Ghast.
Helm shall like to meet you!
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The creature amongst the 'animals' of the menagerie looked filthy, and Zane doubted any of the party would relish coming under the assault of the thing's natural weapons. Drawing upon Lathander's grace, he lightly touched Kardas's shoulder, imbuing a light protective aura around the Rashemi man.
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it's a monogamous relationship.
Ishta is trying to coordinate the spells, when Ser Armithia suddenly turns the corner and shouts a challenge, starting to close in.
"What the..." She curses for herself, thinking quickly whether she'll have enough time to cast before the area can affect the paladin. "Quick, Delenn, it's now or never!"
Kardas calls into being a disc of magical force that protects him from blows and arcane missiles.
Delenn casts her spell from an ancient looking scroll whose surface was full of dense and flowery writing in some language none of you recognize. She spoke a single word and it flared with blue radiance before crumbling into dust. An invisible barrier settled upon you all that felt a little like static electricity. She promised it would help ward you from harm.
Kardas casts a warding spell and surrounded by the art he boldly steps forwards! The undead as one swivel round and hiss, in a most unnerving way!
Kardas Rasalas
Azarra <----- WE ARE HERE
Delenn
Zombie Animals
Ghast Librarian
Zane Levallis
Ser Armithia-Seendren Action posted
Ishta Khosiv Action posted
Spoiler:Kardas Rasalas Prot from evil (10 rounds), Shield of faith (50 rounds), Shield (50 rounds)
Azarra Prot from evil (10 rounds)
Delenn
Zombie Animals
Ghast Librarian
Zane Levallis Prot from evil (10 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Prot from evil (10 rounds), Smite
Ishta Khosiv Prot from evil (10 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas Prot from evil (9 rounds), Shield of faith (49 rounds), Shield (49 rounds)
Azarra Prot from evil (9 rounds)
Delenn
Zombie Animals
Ghast Librarian
Zane Levallis Prot from evil (9 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Prot from evil (9 rounds), Smite
Ishta Khosiv Prot from evil (9 rounds)
Azarra is up.
Um... I guess I'll cast Protection from Evil on Ishta before we go in as my round 1 action (spell-like ability, not actual spell). Then when we go in, I start singing.