Pherenike spears the snake with a deft strike as Mus'ad repositions and waits to strike again should the opportunity materialize.
Poison Fort:
Kheled steps over to the dwarf and casts Resistance on him.
I hope this helps you fight its poison!
Pherenike wounds the snake once more just as Kheled places a spell upon Mus'ad. Even with the magical aid, Mus'ad continues to suffer the effects of the venom as his chest seem to constrict even more.
Having lost its desire to defend its resting spot against such opposition, the snake slithers out from beneath the table, along the wall past Elrisiel, and towards the gate you came in through.
Elrisiel whirls and flings another spell at the retreating asp, which goes wide in her haste to get away from the thing.
Myron happily ignores the fleeing snake and instead scans the rest of the courtyard for more hidden threats.
The courtyard falls quiet again as Elrisiel's last acid blob sizzles out harmlessly in the sand. The only sound that cuts the silence is that of Mus'ad's laboured breathing as he continues to struggle against the venom coursing through his body.
Myron scans the rest of the courtyard for threats but spots nothing.
Poison Save #1:
Poison Save #2:
Poison Save #3:
Poison Save #4:
After suffering another span with the poison, Mus'ad centers himself and focuses on reaching a place of serenity. Sweat beads and flows from his brow, but his breathing slows and becomes steady.
Kheled would have urged the others to kill it from a distance, otherwise he would have attempted to help the Dwarf with the poison then get back to treating her.
Horrible beast. The area around the would is still black...you look a little pale as well, how do you feel?
Take a 10 on a heal check to determine his general health.
The snake retreats out the gate and out of sight.
The immediate threat over, Kheled examines Mus'ad determining that he is no longer in any more danger from the snake's venom. His hearty dwarven constitution coupled with the spell helping to finally defeat the poison.
After checking under the table to be certain, Pherenike takes a seat allowing Kheled to treat her wound. After ten minutes of work with his kit, the oracle is confident that she will suffer no lingering effects as well.
Everyone has a chance to catch their breath and gird their loins.
Whomever is in the lead should take some magical protections from Pharasma, they don't last long but they expend little of my magical energy.
I hope that my training improves and I can provide the group with more magical protections, these are not very useful...
Kheled drop his head, feeling a little down at how useless he feels in protecting them.
Will cast Resistance and Guidance on whomever is in the lead.
Myron looks at Mus'ad with a concerned expression.
"Are you ok? I can take point for a while, if you want."
Mus'ad grimaces and shifts, clearly uncomfortable and tender especially at the site of the bite. He gruffly and hoarsely replies "Will survive... best keep moving." before returning to his position on point.
With Kheled finished his administrations, the Delvers continue checking the outer buildings. The one just north of the well was similar to the one the diseased hound was in except that this room is empty save for
debris, refuse, and windblown sand.
The corner building is also similar, but slightly larger than the previous two. This was also apparently a living quarters originally, with a separate area to the back that was likely curtained off as evidenced by a remaining rod. Like the others, little remains but debris and windblown sand, although Mus'ad spots the dried skeletons of what appears to be two cats. Looking more closely he spies other bits and pieces of bones poking out of the sand in various places...
Elrisiel follows behind the others, senses alert for any hidden dangers. "My wizard-senses aren't tingling," she quips, half-joking. "So I think we're safe for the moment. Unless there was something in that corner building?"
Breathing heavily with the effort of lugging himself around, but showing no sign or need for stopping, Mus'ad regards the bones skeptically. Pointing with his hammer outstretched he notes "Bones... more in there. Any you magi have way to clear sand from far? ...or does Mus'ad need get closer?"
Myron stays just behind Mus'ad, ready in case more dangers appear. He looks at the spellcasters expectantly to see if any of them respond to Mus'ad's question.
Shouldn't we check out the bones? There could be buried treasure amongst them.
Of course I am not the most talented to conduct such a search. Otherwise let's move into the main building!
Nodding grimly, speaking plainly "Aye... if they just bones, is okay... if not, better that we know from back here."
Mus'ad looks for a piece of rubble and pitches it at the sandy bones - so as to disrupt them from a short distance... moving in only if the action does not engender reaction.
Elrisiel shakes her head. "I hadn't prepared any such spell," she says.
The chunk of tossed debris lands on the floor adjacent to a few gleaming white shards of bone with an echoing thud. For a moment it seems nothing will happen, when all of a sudden a trio of skeletons burst from the ground with alarming suddenness. Only the Delver's heightened state of readiness allows them a chance to react so quickly to the sudden threat.
At the sound of rattling bones, Elrisiel moves at an angle to get a better view. "Odd," Elrisiel remarks. "They didn't disturb the ground at all. An illusion?"
She incants a short phrase in Celestial, and a jade streak of magical force knifes through the air to slam into one of the skeletons.
Perception
Kheled looses a bolt at them to test her theory.
Maybe, if not I will destroy them!
Elrisiel's force missile slams into the skeleton causing bits of bone to explode away, staggering it for a second, before Kheled steps over and launches his own projectile just past its shoulder.
The skeletons charge out of the room claws outstretched...
...each of them raking the targets of their wrath!
Myron takes a couple of steps back, then bolts forward, using Mus'ad's broad back as a springboard to somersault up and over the feline skeletons.
In position behind the enemies, he spins and slash away with his kukris.
Round 1:
AoO: for
Conf:
Mus'ad lashes out as the skeletal felines close, scoring a solid blow. Repositioning he continues the blunt assault...
Warhammer: for
The suddenness of the skeletal charge catches Mus'ad slightly unprepared, allowing them to rush past before he can react.
Myron vaults into position but is unable to avoid the raking claws of the two skeletons...
...with one catching him as he passes. Myron then slashes back, striking the one closest to Elrisiel, but his kukri having no effect upon the hard bone.
Mus'ad's hammer strike, on the other hand, destroys one of the skeletons in a cloud of bone fragments.
Aristedes surveys the battlefield...
...reminding you all to use blunted weapons against them before proceeding into offering general words of encouragement.
Pherenike's strike pulverises a second skeleton, reducing it to a cloud of bone meal.
Kheled will withdraw from the skeleton putting some fighters in between him and the remaining skeleton J,25.
Brow furrowing as he senses something more he growls "Look to feet... more coming."
El backpedals away from the sole surviving skeleton, incanting again and flinging another blob of acid at the undead.
Elrisiel's acid soars past the skeleton and splashes on the wall beside Myron.
Mus'ad's warning comes just a moment before 3 more skeletons burst forth from the ground amongst your ranks! Wicked claws reach for some of you...
...with Pherenike's and Elrisiel's flesh being raked.
Dropping one of his kukri, Myron tucks and rolls, coming up in the corner of the courtyard with a skeleton between him and Pherenike.
As he stands, he pulls out his sling staff and strikes upward, trying to shatter the skeleton's spine.
The blow connects with an audible crack, sending bone splinters everywhere.
Myron's foe collapses, the magic animating and holding it together overwhelmed by the blow.
Eyeing the nearest skeleton to him Mus'ad growls and puts a tangible malice into his swing. The hammer comes down with a thunderous clang...
Warhammer: for
...though sadly just makes a dent in the floor.
As Mus'ad misses Ahkenaten steps away from the skeletons while continuing to offer encouragement.
Pherenike explodes another skeleton, leaving just two threatening the party currently.
Elrisiel quickly backpedals away from the skeleton which clawed her. She incants that cantrip again, spending another blob of acid at the creature.
Kheled shifts away from the two skeletons, drops his crossbow gets his shortspear out and puts it up in a defensive manner.
Elrisiel's acid lands upon the skeleton, eating away at the bone in multiple places, but fails to stop the relentless attack. Meanwhile Kheled scrambles away and tries to keep the undead at bay.
Both skeleton's focus upon Pherenike, attacking her from both sides...
...with one of them able to batter her with a bony hand.
Myron moves next to the professor and smacks the injured skeleton.
Mus'ad continues to attempt to put the heavy end of his warhammer through the skeleton's fragile skull...
Warhammer: for
...though again his rage is for less than naught.