As the arrows start raining down, Anton shouts to Feral, "They don't want us in here, so this is where we want to be! Get the doors open Feral, we'll cover you!" With that, he reaches into his efficient quiver for blunted arrows and sends his own volley back up in return. Anton manages to kill two of the skeletons.
Janos begins to draw his bow when he realizes that unlike Anton, he has no blunted arrows. He growls. "My arrows will make little effect, Anton!" He races across the field, following Feral to the door. The Ranger holds his shield high, trying to reach the werewolf and protect him. Janos runs up with the full intention to help shield Feral, only to realize the werewolf's massive size as he steps next to him. "Oh right, I guess I can't-" He looks up at the archers and holds the shield over himself. "Hurry, Feral! Break it down!"
As the skeletons open fire, Feral looses a throaty roar as he brings his mace crashing into the already buckling door a second time. And though several of the arrows find his flesh, they bounce off leaving little other than bruising behind. Kicking the bits of door out of the way with a gravelly laugh, he waves B'yelka, Janos, and Drosil through into the tower.
In relatively good shape, the walls of the entrance hallway display several stone sundials. A doorway to the southwest opens to a small, rubble-strewn antechamber, while a makeshift curtain of woolen blankets blocks another doorway to the northeast.
Anton sends one final shift whistling up along the tower wall and watches with satisfaction as it connects solidly with the skull of one of the remaining skeletons.
He then ducks under the threshold of the door and hopefully out of sight of the archers.
Drosil makes his way into the tower, keeping his eyes peeled for any hidden dangers.
B'yelka follows the boys inside, not all comfortable with either being shot at without, or ambushed within. Still, better than doing nothing.
The remaining three archers shoot at Feral again. Their arrows reflect off his thick pelt and armor.
Anton sends one final shift whistling up along the tower wall and watches with satisfaction as it connects solidly with the skull of one of the remaining skeletons. He then ducks under the threshold of the door and hopefully out of sight of the archers.
______________________
"What now? We're in, but if this is anything like the Temple, there will be traps!"
With the doors shattered and the way open for his allies, Feral glances hungrily up the wall at the remaining archers. He considers bounding up the wall and smiles darkly at the thought of dropping into the midst of the skeletal archers and crushing them to dust, but his concern for the others outweighs his thirst for wanton violence.
Striding into the tower, he sees Anton nod to the curtain and with a guttural roar, the hulking wolf rips it down.
HP: 67/67 // 9 nonlethal
AC: 23 (10 T / 22 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 24
F/R/W: +10/+9/+7
Mutate used (0/2):
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 10/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [X], shield [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 [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 29/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
enlarge person (6/7 minutes):+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 AC (size), -1 to hit, 10ft reach
good hope (7/8 minutes): +2 morale bonus on damage rolls, attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
Janos ducks into the tower, sword and shield in hand. He sees Feral head to the curtain and rip it down. The Ranger barrels through the space raising his shield to protect from whatever might be on the other side.
The remaining three archers shoot at Feral again. Their arrows reflect off his thick pelt and armor.
Anton sends one final shift whistling up along the tower wall and watches with satisfaction as it connects solidly with the skull of one of the remaining skeletons. He then ducks under the threshold of the door and hopefully out of sight of the archers.
"What now? We're in, but if this is anything like the Temple, there will be traps!" B'yelka says.
With the doors shattered and the way open for his allies, Feral glances hungrily up the wall at the remaining archers. He considers bounding up the wall and smiles darkly at the thought of dropping into the midst of the skeletal archers and crushing them to dust, but his concern for the others outweighs his thirst for wanton violence.
Striding into the tower, he sees Anton nod to the curtain and with a guttural roar, the hulking wolf rips it down. This long chamber runs from the foyer to the rear of the tower. Lurking inside the doorway is a veiny dismembered hand the size of a mastiff. It crouches on its fingertips like a five-limbed spider, rotting stump waving above it. The flesh of the hand is horribly necrotic. It reeks of rot and death, and shines slick with pus in the light streaming into the tower from outside.
Janos ducks into the tower, sword and shield in hand. He sees Feral head to the curtain and rip it down. The Ranger barrels through the space raising his shield to protect from whatever might be on the other side. He barrels right into the waiting grasp of another giant hand lurking unseen behind the corner. It leaps off the wall, clamping its log-thick fingers around the ranger's throat!
____________________________________________________
Drosil rushes past Feral, through the curtain, and skirts around Janos before thrusting with his rapier at the hand gripping Janos' throat.
B'yelka is distinctly uncomfortable in the press near the door, But I won't go any further, not first at least!
The remaining three archers shoot at Feral again. Their arrows reflect off his thick pelt and armor.
Anton sends one final shift whistling up along the tower wall and watches with satisfaction as it connects solidly with the skull of one of the remaining skeletons. He then ducks under the threshold of the door and hopefully out of sight of the archers.
"What now? We're in, but if this is anything like the Temple, there will be traps!" B'yelka says.
With the doors shattered and the way open for his allies, Feral glances hungrily up the wall at the remaining archers. He considers bounding up the wall and smiles darkly at the thought of dropping into the midst of the skeletal archers and crushing them to dust, but his concern for the others outweighs his thirst for wanton violence.
Striding into the tower, he sees Anton nod to the curtain and with a guttural roar, the hulking wolf rips it down. This long chamber runs from the foyer to the rear of the tower. Lurking inside the doorway is a veiny dismembered hand the size of a mastiff. It crouches on its fingertips like a five-limbed spider, rotting stump waving above it. The flesh of the hand is horribly necrotic. It reeks of rot and death, and shines slick with pus in the light streaming into the tower from outside.
Janos ducks into the tower, sword and shield in hand. He sees Feral head to the curtain and rip it down. The Ranger barrels through the space raising his shield to protect from whatever might be on the other side. He barrels right into the waiting grasp of another giant hand lurking unseen behind the corner. It leaps off the wall, clamping its log-thick fingers around the ranger's throat!
Drosil rushes past Feral, through the curtain, and skirts around Janos. As he does so, the second giant hand scrabbles at him madly, trying to get a grip on the fetchling. Drosil is too nimble and well protected for it to succeed. He runs the hand grabbing Janos through, eliciting a fountain of rotting pus to squirt all over him. He feels horribly sick immediately, and he can feel his life force draining away into the necrotic fluid streaming down him.
Drosil feels something cold touch his ankle, and then searing pain. Looking down he sees a small ghostly hand hovering just above the floor. He feels more of his lifeforce draining away at the hand's touch.
================================
___________________
fail
Bab=8
Dex=4
PBS=1
Longbow=1
Weapon bond=2
Rapid shot=-2
Deadly aim=-3
+11/+11/+6
Damage
Str=2
DA=6
PBS=1
Divine Favor=2
Weapon bond=2
Bow=1
Total of 14
and
Seeing Janos getting snatched, Anton spins and tries to thread the eye of a needle, firing at the oversized hand that tries to throttle his friend.
Janos recoils from the hand around his throat only to realize it's not attached to anything. He grunts and growls as the thing tightens its grasp. The Ranger reverses his grip on his sword and tries to stab the hand holding him.
Relying upon his considerable reach, Feral lashes out at the nearest scrabbling hand with a howl.
HP: 67/67 // 9 nonlethal
AC: 23 (10 T / 22 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 24
F/R/W: +10/+9/+7
Mutate used (0/2):
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 10/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [X], shield [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 [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 29/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
enlarge person (6/7 minutes):+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 AC (size), -1 to hit, 10ft reach
good hope (7/8 minutes): +2 morale bonus on damage rolls, attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
power attack: -2/+4
Drosil bends over, retching, then moves back to the relative safety of the entryway.
Seeing the spectral hand trail through her friend reminds her too much of the Harrowstone and B'yelka begins a chant to stop it.
Initiative:
Party
Skellies
Hands
???
Seeing Janos getting snatched, Anton spins and tries to thread the eye of a needle, firing at the oversized hand that he can see.
Two of the paladin's arrows penetrate the hand, squirting necrotic pus onto the floor.
Janos recoils from the hand around his throat only to realize it's not attached to anything. He grunts and growls as the thing tightens its grasp. The Ranger reverses his grip on his sword and tries to stab the hand holding him. He strikes it twice, soaking himself in pus.
Fail, Pass
He shudders and involuntarily sicks up as his body is drained of life by the vile goop.
Feral readies himself to attack the other hand should it also step up to Janos.
B'yelka begins singing, bolstering the boys in this deadly struggle.
The hand grabbing Janos squeezes down on his throat.
The other hand steps up to aid its companion, right into Feral's waiting jaws. The wolf is somehow fast enough to bite into the hand and withdraw his mouth before the fountain of pus erupts from it. Though he damages the undead, it doesn't stop the monstrosity from clawing poor Janos.
A suppressed cackle of evil glee rings out through the tower as the incorporeal hand floats over to touch Janos...
Hit
Pass
The ranger feels his body stiffening into paralysis, and catches the stench of a rotting corpse in his nostrils, but he forces back the feeling successfully.
"Unhand him!" Feral starts to chuckle darkly at his own joke, "Eeheh. Ahhhah. Hehh hehh haaaah!" as he tears into one of the corporeal hands harrying Janos.
HP: 67/67 // 9 nonlethal
AC: 23 (10 T / 22 FF) (14 vs incorporeal touch)
CMD: 24
F/R/W: +10/+9/+7
Mutate used (0/2):
Prepared Mutagen: Strength (darkvision, scent) [X]
Spontaneous Healing used: 10/35hp
Enhanced Potions used: 1/3
Hero Points used: 1/3
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (3+1): cure light wounds [ ], enlarge person [X], shield [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 [ ] [ ]
Ongoing Effects
ablative barrier (7 hours): 29/35 hp converted, +2 armor (force)
barkskin (70 minutes): +4 natural armor
heroism (70 minutes): +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
enlarge person (6/7 minutes):+2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 AC (size), -1 to hit, 10ft reach
good hope (7/8 minutes): +2 morale bonus on damage rolls, attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
power attack: -2/+4
inspire courage: +2/+2
Janos tries to recoil from the nasty pus, but his head begins to spin and he can barely struggle against the hand choking him. He manages a small groan, but that's it.
Drosil, unable to assist, continues to retch on the floor of the entryway.
Seeing Feral rip into the hand, Anton steps back to the edge of the wall making sure nothing is trying to flank the party from that direction.
Nevertheless, he lets one arrow fly toward the disembodied hand.
Feral manages to bring down the hand, but gets a mouthful of its necrotic excretions.
Anton cannot see much in the interior of the tower, most of it is dark. The light from the doorway and roofless central tower cannot penetrate the curved passageway.
"Just stay here then you bloody huge doorstop!" B'yelka cannot see anything, but she can hear the sounds of Janos' struggle. Choosing the most aggressive course she is willing to, she casts Invisibility on herself and steps past Feral into the room.
"Unhand him!" Feral starts to chuckle darkly at his own joke, "Eeheh. Ahhhah. Hehh hehh haaaah!" as he tears into one of the corporeal hands harrying Janos. Feral manages to bring down the hand, but gets a mouthful of its necrotic excretions.
Janos tries to recoil from the nasty pus, but his head begins to spin and he can barely struggle against the hand choking him. He manages a small groan, but that's it.
Drosil, unable to assist, continues to retch on the floor of the entryway.
Anton cannot see much in the interior of the tower, most of it is dark. The light from the doorway and roofless central tower cannot penetrate the curved passageway. He moves into the lit central part of the tower, circling around to aid Janos. Most of the floor above this central tower room has collapsed, leaving the room exposed to the sky. Two doorways, both with missing doors, lead to flanking antechambers, while a rickety set of stone stairs coils around the outer wall up to the second floor. Rubble and other debris clutter the floor. The skeletal archers are standing on the steps.
"Just stay here then you bloody huge doorstop!" B'yelka cannot see anything, but she can hear the sounds of Janos' struggle. Choosing the most aggressive course she is willing to, she casts Invisibility on herself and steps past Feral into the room. She recognizes the hand lurking near Janos' feet as a spectral hand, there must be a spellcaster nearby.
The remaining giant hand continues to vice down on Janos's neck. He can feel its potato chip-sized, filthy nails shredding through his skin and muscle. Dots begin to swim in his vision as he gets weaker and weaker.
The group can hear chanting coming from the dark hinterlands of the tower for a few seconds, then a hissing sound as dark green gas billows out of nowhere to choke the passages of the tower. The gas begins burning the skin and soft tissues of the Five, whether they breathe it or not.
=============================
The skeletal archers raise their bows and fire at Anton, but cannot see him in the fog and miss.
_________________________________
Seeing the fog spring up around the others, Drosil moves further into the tower, trying to find the source. He sees the archers on the stairs and approaches, rapier drawn.
Gagging and retching from the obviously poisonous cloud around her B'yelka follows the shadowy shape that must be Drosil deeper into the keep and away from the billowing choking miasma.
Hearing the choking gasps of Janos but being unable to see him, Anton does the only thing he can think of. He whispers a prayer to Desna and unleashes a wave of healing energy that sweeps over his friends. He tries once more, hoping that his words are heeded.
Anton then hastily steps back out of the green mist that seems to be eating away at him.
We need light in here, I can't see anything! Feral, are you still up? We have to help Janos!
The chaos of the situation is almost overwhelming.
HP=68/68
Lay on Hands [x][x][x][x][x][][]
Level 1 Spells - Divine Favour [x] Protection From Evil []
Level 2 Spells - Eagle's Splendour [x] Litany of Righteousness []
Janos begins wheezing from the gas as the hand tightens its grip.
The skeletal archers raise their bows and fire at Anton, but cannot see him in the fog and miss.
Seeing the fog spring up around the others, Drosil moves further into the tower, trying to find the source. He sees the archers on the stairs and approaches, rapier drawn.
Gagging and retching from the obviously poisonous cloud around her B'yelka follows the shadowy shape that must be Drosil deeper into the keep and away from the billowing choking miasma.
Hearing the choking gasps of Janos but being unable to see him, Anton does the only thing he can think of. He whispers a prayer to Desna and unleashes a wave of healing energy that sweeps over his friends. He tries once more, hoping that his words are heeded. Anton then hastily steps back out of the green mist that seems to be eating away at him. "We need light in here, I can't see anything! Feral, are you still up? We have to help Janos!" The chaos of the situation is almost overwhelming.
Janos begins wheezing from the gas as the hand tightens its grip.
Pass
The deadly gas seems ineffective for now against the giant wolf. He rams his frame through the doorway and past Janos, then bites the hand choking his friend.
The hand choking Janos lets go of him, and leaps at the new threat which just attacked it.
Fail
The hand claws Feral, but cannot manage to get a grip around the wolf's thick neck.
The fog begins to drift slowly out of the tower. More sinister chanting fills the air, followed by the most hellish shriek any of the Five has ever heard. It seems to come from the very world itself as a rent in the Material rips open near Janos and Feral. What appear to be thousands of tortured spirits burst from the rent, all translucent screaming skulls, and bony claws. They rip through the Five like a galeforce wind in the dead of winter, shredding away at their souls.