The silent crypt guardian blocks one of Myron's attacks while the other bounces harmlessly of the thing's hardened exterior.
Elrisiel's force missile slams into the statue arm.
The green glowing runes fade as the expressionless and silent statue blocks Rakara's attack as well.
It then counters with its own strikes...
...once again hitting Dumah and Rakara once each.
As much as Dumah thinks he needs to step back and heal himself, he cannot bring himself to leave Rakara and Myron to face this thing, even for a moment. He presses his attack, counting on Saranrae's grace to bolster him and trying to end the fight quickly.
Swift action, lay on hands
Attack with earthbreaker:
To hit
Damage
Edit: Possible crit:
Confirm
Damage
Dumah's selfless act is rewarded as his earthbreaker collides with the statue's chest with such force it shatters the construct into multiple pieces. As debris rains down upon the floor, the lifelike qualities fade leaving only gray stone again. Broken into numerous pieces, the only thing remaining wholly intact is the quarterstaff it was weilding.
Elrisiel shakes her head, a relieved smile on her face. She approaches the closed gate and tests it to see whether it is unlocked. "That maul of yours is quite something, Dumah."
Elrisiel finds the gate is indeed locked again.
Dumah smiles warmly at the compliment. "It is probably most power weapon, next to my faith."
He steps closer to the grate. "Rakara, can you figure out how to open this, or will we be required to force it open?"
Myron sighs with relief, then starts to sift through the broken rubble of the living statue. He examines the quaterstaff, looking to determine if it might be of value.
Then he carefully examines the walls and floor, searching for hidden doors or release mechanisms for the locked gate. [/ooc]Take 20[/ooc]
Kheled looks visibly relieved as well, That was close. This may help your search.
Guidance on Myron.
Perhaps this is a good place to stop. If we can find the mechanism and lock the gate behind us once we are all together the other group isn't ahead of us at this point.
We can rest, get some of our magical resources back...what do you all think?
The other thing I was thinking, from the tracks does it appear that only 1 person is left from the other group? If that is true we may want to think about resting around the corner of this room, out of view if possible. If that person opens the gate it will waken us and we can surprise whomever that is trying to get through here.
With a big grin Rakara slaps Dumah heartily on the shoulder. Well done my friend; you have saved our asses again!
She nods at the suggestion of figuring out the locking mechanism and moves quickly to the gate. She tries to get it open without damaging it in anyway so that they can lock it again if the wish.
The quarterstaff is a functioning weapon of exquisite construction.
The thorough search of the room, and a re-examination of the gate, reveals no secret doors or the like, but does provide an explanation for the gate closing. The hinges have hidden springs which cause the gate to close and relock in its own unless prevented from doing so, or is disabled.
The western doors are locked, but the eastern doors are not, and show signs of recent lock picking.
I don't know, Kheled. We seem awfully exposed down here, boxed in with who knows what lurking in the crypts. Our rivals would have free reign to escape with whatever they have looted so far. Besides, if we stay here, we'd have to cross the Necropolis at night to get back. I'd rather not do that. How bad is your magical situation?
"I've got a few scrolls and my cantrips left," Elrisiel says. She rejoins the party on the other side of the now-reopened gate, and only then does she breathe a sigh of relief.
I have one use of each of my magical abilities, 1 spell and one waves of healing...and cantrips as well. Lets continue then and hope for the best.
With a big grin Rakara slaps Dumah heartily on the shoulder. Well done my friend; you have saved our asses again!
Dumah beams, taking child-like appreciation in the compliments.
Then he sits down heavily, working to remove the chest piece of his armor and inspecting it for damage from the powerful staff strikes. He winces as he massages his ribs, and carefully twists and turns his torso to make sure its range of movement is back before donning his armor again.
When he stands, he recovers his falchion and sheathes it, keeping his earthbreaker out for the time being.
The faint sound of a man wheezing and panting somewhat heralds the arrival of the Professor from behind the rest of the group, still looking somewhat pale but with a new hint of resolve to his face. He spread his arms wide to orate to his companions.
"My fellow Delvers; I must apologise for the delay. I could not in good conscience, lie in bed recovering while you risked your lives on our shared contract. The worst has passed now and our sponsor kindly provided me with some medicine that suppressed the rest. Lets press on."
Professor Aristedes! How good to see you! Your knowledge and magic will surely be of great value in overcoming whatever trials lie ahead. Let's gather ourselves and move along. Kheled, why don't you take the quaterstaff that the statue dropped? It is masterfully balanced, and should give you the tools to aid in the combat without using your spells.
Kheled detects magic on the staff to determine if there are any aura's emanating from it.
"You have courage and moxy, good professor. If you are sure, your guidance and knowledge are welcome."
He smiles at Rakara with contentment. We certainly have stumbled across an excellent group. Saranae certainly blessed us.
Kheled's examination of the weapon reveals that the quarterstaff radiates faint evocation magic.
With Ahkenaten's return, and the party recovered from the fight with the statue, you press on. Opening the easter doors reveals a hallway leading straight away to the east, and to the south. Rakara's keen darkvision spots another door down the south hallway, on the same wall, just before the hallway turns to the east. Straight ahead the hallway carries on for a ways before it bends to the south. She can just make out what looks like another door just after the turn.
Stepping into the hallway, Rakara notices something odd about the wall to her left. An edge can be spotted where there shouldn't be one. It appears someone did not close a secret door entirely...
When Rakara mentions the secret door, We may be too late...lets check out the hidden door first.
Cautiously Rakara pushes the hidden door into the room and looks inside.
As the door swings open it reveals the stone effigy of a humanoid figure standing at the north end of this hidden room, its arms spread in a gesture of supplication, or as if commanding an object to rise in the air. The figure’s face is devoid of detail, with only vague contours where the eyes and nose should be. An extensive series of hieroglyphs covers the western wall, opposite a stone bench that stands against the eastern wall.
I think you're right, Kheled. This room looks looted. Myron says, peeking into the room but not entering.
The professor and I should look over the Hieroglyphs while the rest of the team searches the room and make sure there are no other secreted doors or compartments...and traps.
You never know what the other people might have missed.
Wait for Rakara to finish sweeping the room for traps then enter and look at the wall.
While the others search and examine the runes, Dumah will stand in the doorway with his earthbreaker ready. He's not the most alert sentry, but anything coming to attack will have to get through him first. Also, he's making sure the door doesn't close on the group; if it does start to close and he can't stop it, he'll make sure he's on the other side so he can re-trigger the opening mechanism.
Elrisiel busies herself studying the statue itself.
Before Rakara steps into the room to check for traps she notices droplets of blood on the floor near the door, marred by soled footprints. The blood is still tacky, telling her it is recently spilled. She also spies faint traces of an inscription or writing on the secret door itself, more easily spotted when viewed from a sharp angle.
As Sandtrapper then moves into the room to continue her sweep, Elrisiel receives a premonition that something dangerous is here!
Elrisiel frowns suddenly. "Something is wrong--there's something else here," she warns. With that, she retrieves a flask of alchemist's fire from her belt.
The soft scrape of bone on stone heralds the arrival of a monster with the long, sinuous skeleton of a large snake, the head of a humanoid skull, and a snake’s jaws as it slithers out from behind the statue. It rears back and bites at Rakara...
...a single fang piercing her flesh. Curiously there is no pain, but then Rakara realizes her whole arm seems to be numbing.
El lobs her flask at the bone-snake.
Elrisiel throws her flask with incredible precision causing the vessel to shatter and engulf the snake thing in a cloud of flame, catching Rakara somewhat as well. The fire stubbornly clings to the serpent like creature.
They are also resistant to blows other than bludgeoning.
"This is a creature fused by bone and arcane ritual and not the result of Necromancy. Smash it to pieces, dull not the blades of your swords upon it."
Not being equipped himself to harm the thing, Ahkenaten charged his sage advice with magic, bolstering his allies battle prowess.
The numbness quickly spreads down her arm until her entire body is unable to move.
Ahkenaten shares what he knows with magically inspiring words as Rakara feels the venom rob her of mobility.
Despite the professors advice not to use blades, Myron draws both his kukri and moves around the paralyzed Rakara to slash at the skeletal snake.
Dumah, follow me! Time to put that earthbreaker to good use. I'll do what I can to make your blows count.
In position, he slashes at the snake, trying to jam his blade in one of its joints.
Dumah advances, raising his earthbreaker high and trying to divert the creature's attention away from Rakara. As he follows Myron in, he acknowledges the professor's comments with a polite "Yes, sir."
Move to F14 and attack.
To hit
Damage +1 damage if considered undead.
Kheled moves up behind Dumah and casts resistance on him.
I will try to pull Rakara out of harms way...if I can.
As Myron dashes in, the still flaming snake bites at him...
...catching him in the neck and injecting him with the same venom that stilled Rakara.
Dumah then steps up and swings his mighty hammer just missing the serpent construct, smashing the wall instead. He then feels Kheled's bolstering magic take hold upon him.
Continuing to weave and sway after dodging Dumah's hammer, you all feel a compulsion to stand and watch the rhythmic movements as the fire engulfing it peeters out.
The musetouched elf shrugs off the magic threatening to ensnare her and retaliates with another acid cantrip.
Will save
If he can act...
Dumah presses his attack, trying to keep the professor's steady words in mind.
To hit
Damage
Elrisiel and the Professor are able to resist the urge to watch the mesmerizing dance of the construct but none of the others are able to. They stand in a stupor, unable to act at all.
Elrisiel's acid cantrip flies harmlessly wide of it intended target.