Swine! He's gone, fled like that other cowardly wolf.
Janos shakes his head. "So now he's infected too. I wonder if that was his plan all along?" He sighs. "Mathus has to be here somewhere."
[dice=Perception, GH]d20+11+2
"While I'm fairly certain I don't have quite the same motives as Da...Feral," Drosil pauses uncomfortably, "I admit I feel similarly."
Janos' elven ears pick up a sound as Drosil is talking. "Wait, hush. What was that?" He pauses for a moment. "Something outside. I hear a scuffling sound!"
The Ranger moves quietly back through the doorway and down the hall to see what is there.
Feral's ears perk up as Janos mentions hearing something as the large, lupine figure spins back toward the hall. "I hear it too." Swinging back around with use of the bars, Feral pads cautiously from the hidden chamber and toward the hall.
HP: 56/67 // 0 non-lethal
AC: 26 (12 T / 25 FF) (18 vs incorporeal touch attacks)
CMD: 22
F/R/W: +10/+10/+6
Spontaneous Healing used: 15/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [X] [X], open [ ] [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [X], thorn body [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
false life (7 hrs)
ablative barrier (7 hrs): 10/40 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield: 7 minutes
"Bah. Why are they all mewling cowards?" Feral growls and stalks around the small area angrily, sniffing deeply as he tries to root out Estovian or some other foe. "He'd been bit recently. Shame I didn't have the same chance."
Janos' elven ears pick up a sound as Drosil is talking. "Wait, hush. What was that?" He pauses for a moment. "Something outside. I hear a scuffling sound!"
The Ranger moves quietly back through the doorway and down the hall to see what is there.
Anton moves back outside, an arrow nocked on his bowstring.
B'yelka moves staying close to Anton. She shouts, "We can hear you and as Aroden Himself taught, 'Humanity has no fear of shadows; no fear of death.'"
Drosil moves quickly, rushing back through the hallway to the pillar-strewn entrance.
"Bah. Why are they all mewling cowards?" Feral growls and stalks around the small area angrily, sniffing deeply as he tries to root out Estovian or some other foe. "He'd been bit recently. Shame I didn't have the same chance."
Janos' elven ears pick up a sound as Drosil is talking. "Wait, hush. What was that?" He pauses for a moment. "Something outside. I hear a scuffling sound!"
The Ranger moves quietly back through the doorway and down the hall to see what is there.
Anton moves back outside, an arrow nocked on his bowstring.
B'yelka moves staying close to Anton. She shouts, "We can hear you and as Aroden Himself taught, 'Humanity has no fear of shadows; no fear of death.'"
Drosil moves quickly, rushing back through the hallway to the pillar-strewn entrance.
Estovian smiles as he sees the Six begin scrambling after him. He raises his voice in a dark spell, and within moments huge, rubbery black tentacles spring from the ground to grasp at the heroes.
================================
Knowing that these crushing tentacles could very easily spell her doom, And how ignoble a death would that be!? B'yelka scrambles out of the affected area. Gasping for breath at the end of her almost panicked run, she suddenly realizes she ran towards Estovian! Not part of a good plan, but this is where my stage mark is! The diva uncoils her whip and gives it a sharp twist, it's end snapping hard at the air. "We accept your challenge as willingly as we would accept your surrender, Dog!" Oh, heavy handed dialogue - stick to singing, child!
Janos dodges out of the way of a tentacle and races up the stairs towards Estovan. He slips a couple times on the writing tentacles, but makes it clear. "Let's finish it, Estovan!"
As the tentacles thrash around him, Anton hurries out of the area of effect as quickly as possible.
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Drosil, just at the edge of the tentacles, steps out of them and charges Estovian.
Feral bounds forward at the sound of Estovion's voice, his hulking form weaving through the writhing mass of oily tentacles with equal measures of grace and brutish force. As he bursts through the far side, he can just make out Estovion's form past a pillar as Drosil drives forward, gleaming mithral blade leading.
"Good! You're still here!" Feral laughs heartily, the sound rough and gravelly as he regards the former warden. "We have so much to talk about Estovion!"
HP: 56/67 // 0 non-lethal
AC: 26 (12 T / 25 FF) (18 vs incorporeal touch attacks)
CMD: 22
F/R/W: +10/+10/+6
Spontaneous Healing used: 15/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [X] [X], open [ ] [ ]
Prepared 2nd Level Extracts (3+1): ablative barrier [X], alchemical allocation [X], barkskin [X], false life [X]
Prepared 3rd Level Extracts (1+1): displacement [X], thorn body [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
false life (7 hrs)
ablative barrier (7 hrs): 10/40 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
shield: 7 minutes
Knowing that these crushing tentacles could very easily spell her doom, B'yelka scrambles out of the affected area. How ignoble a death would that be!? B'yelka scrambles out of the affected area. Gasping for breath at the end of her almost panicked run, she suddenly realizes she ran towards Estovian! Not part of a good plan, but this is where my stage mark is! The diva uncoils her whip and gives it a sharp twist, it's end snapping hard at the air. "We accept your challenge as willingly as we would accept your surrender, Dog!" Oh, heavy handed dialogue - stick to singing, child!
Janos dodges out of the way of a tentacle and races up the stairs towards Estovan. He slips a couple times on the writing tentacles, but makes it clear. "Let's finish it, Estovian!"
As the tentacles thrash around him, Anton hurries out of the area of effect as quickly as possible.
Drosil, just at the edge of the tentacles, steps out of them and charges Estovian. He slides his long thin blade between the wizards ribs, and slices open his heart. The shadowy swashbuckler withdraws the blade as red blooms across Estovian's shirt.
Feral bounds forward at the sound of Estovion's voice, his hulking form weaving through the writhing mass of oily tentacles with equal measures of grace and brutish force. As he bursts through the far side, he can just make out Estovion's form past a pillar as Drosil drives forward, gleaming mithral blade leading.
"Good! You're still here!" Feral laughs heartily, the sound rough and gravelly as he regards the former warden. "We have so much to talk about Estovion!"
The nearly dead wizard growls madly, stepping back from Drosil. The sounds chanting grind from his throat along with a bloody froth. The smell of ozone fills the air as power gathers around Estovian's hand. Then it releases with a crack of thunder as a bolt of lighting sears through B'Yelka and Anton.
_________________________________________
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The lightning from Estovion's hand courses through B'yelka, giving rise to a spectacular burn mark tracing from her waist to her knee where it exits. "Yeeeeow" through clenched teeth and then the thought that every time she has been hurt, Dantrian has been the one to save me! And he's gone - under some wolfish façade! She straightens against the pain and puts it away for now, This is where I am the woman that little girl has grown into!
With a shout and a twisted gesture, she sends a wave of fractured sound after Estovion - entwined notes made solid and then broken, shooting at the less than noble warden of Ascornar Lodge.
It didn't have to be this way Estovian, but you brought this on yourself!
Bab=8
Dex=4
PBS=1
Longbow=1
Weapon bond=1
Divine Favor =2
Inspire=2
Good hope=2
Rapid shot=-2
Deadly aim=-3
+19/+19/+15
Damage
Str=2
DA=6
PBS=1
Divine Favor=2
Good hope=2
Inspire=2
Holy=2d6
Total of 15 + 2d6
and
Crit threat with Bracer of Falcons Aim
and
and
HP=64/68
Lay on Hands [x][][][][][][]
Level 1 Spells - Divine Favour [] Protection From Evil []
Level 2 Spells - Eagle's Splendour [] Litany of Righteousness []
Janos darts out from behind the pillar as Estovian blasts B'yelka and Anton. He swings his sword, intent on ending the pitiful man.
Feral chortles as Estovion's spell finishes, the sound grating and harsh. "Hah! Estovion, is that truly the best you can muster? Ha ha haaa! Dantrian's seen stronger shocks from children shuffling their feet across carpet!"
It didn't have to be this way Estovian, but you brought this on yourself!
[dice=Reflex]1d20+14
** spoiler omitted **
[dice=Attack 1]1d20+19
[dice=Damage]1d8+15 and [dice=Holy]2d6[dice=Attack 2]1d20+19 Crit threat with Bracer of Falcons Aim
[dice=Damage]1d8+15 and [dice=Holy]2d6
[dice=Confirmation]1d20+19
[dice=Additional damage]2d8+30[dice=Attack 3]1d20+14
[dice=Damage]1d8+15 and [dice=Holy]2d6** spoiler omitted **
Estovian goes down with an arrow in each eye.
Anton takes no pleasure in putting Estovian down. He sighs as he looks at the singed cloth of his gloves from the man's spell.
He meant what he said in that it really didn't have to be this way. No matter what wrong-doings in the man's past he could have at least begun to pay back his sins by helping he and his friends. But instead he had chosen his own destruction and in the end the paladin had done his duty, and executed justice decisively and without equivocation.
Janos, perhaps you might check Estovian's body? If he wouldn't help us in life perhaps he might in death. Then, I think we have no option but to ascend.
Feral shakes his head as Estovion collapses and chides, "Well, I guess he won't be answering any questions now. It's a shame Tibideau's not here. Not only would I have liked to meet him, but he might've been able to ask some questions like he did of that poor, little girl during the Beast's trial." The false tone of remorse vanishes just as quickly as the wolfish figure stalks over to the body. "He wanted this, you know." Feral then looks at directly at Anton, "He wanted death at our hands; to avoid turning." He snorts then, derisively, at the corpse, "Wish granted, coward."
Janos nods and takes note of Anton's arrows puncturing the man's head. We're very lucky that he's on our side. Or perhaps that Desna is on his.
The Ranger search Estovian's body, looking for anything which might help them understand more what was going on. He glances up at the others. "He must have come here seeking refuge when our questions got too close. Ashan probably tipped him off. You think he didn't want to turn, Dan-...Feral? If he was an ally to Mathus, why would he have been bitten?"
"An ally of convenience perhaps and Mathus no longer had any use for him? Or someone other than Mathus was the one to try and turn him? Who can know at this point?"
As Janos searches Estovion's body, Feral searches the pair of dead silverhides as well. Once finished, the hulking werewolf hefts each of the bodies and removes them from the shrine with a nod to Anton. Seeing a bit of confusion in his eyes, Feral clarifies, "I'm going to go out on a limb and guess corpses littering her foyer isn't something that Desna finds particularly pleasant."
Sarcasm unconcealed, "Your gallantry is a wonderful trait." However, she does set to helping searching, at least with advice, "Do you retain any of Mister Almaeus's gift with the scientific? What were the esoterics in the pit-room?" She heads off that way.
Ashan is nowhere to be seen. Apparently he slipped away at some point after his fit, perhaps while the other five were down below searching the rooms.
Drosil takes a moment and cleans his blade on Estovian's shirt, barely concealing his disgust at the thought of Feral inside Dantrian, aware of his surroundings as the alchemist helped the Beast. Perhaps Dantrian is aware of what happens here, as well?
"Regardless of the reason, we need to finish our task here, whether that is finding a line of succession for the werewolf clans, or eliminating those clans altogether, I will feel better when we are done with this forest."
Anton is both surprised and impressed by Feral's gesture to clear the bodies from Desna's temple and for the first time he wonders if the beast had been in Dantrian, how much of Dantrian was in the beast?
This place has long since been Desna's house. Perhaps when we clear out these mangy wolves I will try and get it in order. Yes... he scratches his chin. Yeah, I think I'd like that.
the light of the full moon from the remains of
the most savage werewolves, some foul spellcasters seek
out the corpses of such bestial murderers, attempting
to enslave their spirits and harness their capacity for
brutality to fulfill the spellcasters’ dark whims. To do
this, a spellcaster must prepare a canopic stone, a talisman
that typically takes the form of a ceramic totem or amulet
bound in silver.
Upon creating this object, the bearer can
summon a vilkacis once per day. The stone grants no control
over the vilkacis, but the creature will not attack or attempt
to possess the stone’s bearer. Upon being summoned, the
vilkacis turns its attention to the nearest creature other than the summoner, attempting to possess the creature’s
body and go on a murderous rampage. Using a canopic stone
to summon a vilkacis is considered an evil act.
Janos collects the items from Estovain, particularly the ones he thinks may be magical, to bring to B'yelka. Then he follows her into the room where Estovian had been hiding. "You find anything, Red? Estovian had a bunch of stuff on him. I figure some of these are magic. Care to take a look?"
Drosil moves to search Estovian's room as well.
A partition of iron bars divides this chamber. To one side, rows of shelves lined with bottles and beakers filled with strange fluids and jars containing powdered reagents and herbs surround a long stone surgical table. Another shelf holds a selection of tarnished surgical tools. On the far side of the bars, a 10-foot-deep pit sits in the floor of a crudely chiseled cave. Rusted manacles lie scattered about the floor near the edge of the pit.
The surgical tools in the room are all made of solid silver, and the entire collection is worth 3,000 gp. Undertaking a casual search of the room discovers a locked iron strongbox . Stashed inside are a wand and three wooden scroll cases decorated with fragile, colorful moth wings, preserved with unguent of timelessness. One scroll case contains pages of faded notes taken from a Desnan priest’s ancient journals, which provide a harrowing account of the priest’s attempts to cure his son of lycanthropy.
For over 800 years, the temple administered to those of Desna’s faithful among the settlers of the Shudderwood, until the Whispering Tyrant came to Ustalav. At that time, the high priest of Desna at the temple had a single son whom he loved dearly. During the wars against the Whispering Tyrant, the priest’s son served as a missionary, but when he returned home some years later he had changed, for at some point he had contracted a particularly virulent strain of lycanthropy.
The priest tried everything he could to save his son. He imprisoned his son in a secret chamber beneath the temple and conducted experiments upon him, desperate to reverse the curse. When his research failed to yield positive results, these experiments turned dark and terrible. The priest developed a serum from his son’s blood that he used to infect his congregation with lycanthropy in order to study the disease’s effects. Over the generations, these afflicted werewolves’ offspring became natural werewolves, and their descendants now hunt the Shudderwood as the Mordrinacht tribe. When the temple fell to the armies of the Whispering Tyrant, consumed in mysterious pillars of white fire, death transformed the cleric’s wretched son into the undead vilkacis. The Stairs of the Moon was soon abandoned.
The second case holds an ancient scroll containing a communion ritual that can be performed atop Highthrone to activate the Dusk Moth. The third and final scroll case holds a scroll of remove disease .
Janos pulls the lockbox out of the corner of the room. He hands it to Feral. "You can open it, right? Dantrian probably could, so I would guess you can too."