The Cathedral looks deserted. The dead bodies and gore you left in there yesterday are missing, however, when you return. The freezing temperatures seem to be emanating from the orange pool, which still glows with a moderate light (not as bright as when you entered the first time).
As Robin dips a rag into the pool, the rag freezes solid wherever it touches the fluid inside. The icy fluid has no discernible scent.
Cadas casts detect magic followed by
Tinuviel does the same.
The pool emits a extraordinarily strong magical aura. However, the complexity of the magic makes it impossible for you to determine the properties of the pool using standard detection methods. Additionally, the magical aura is not quiet like anything you've ever seen before, the magic is slightly different, perhaps older, than current spellcraft.
Dipping the rag in the pool does not seem to diminish the glow from the pool. The side rooms are still empty and the floor is swept free of dust, debris, or trail of any kind. Looking really hard and well, Robin finds one tiny drop of the black blood of those things on the floor near the doorway.
Shrieking, at you in rage, the tiny creature screams: "How dare you intrude on the Mother's sanctum." and she then slashes her wrist with her dagger, allowing her blood to fall into the orange liquid below her. The pool's glow brightens momentarily, then dims to less than before, as one of the strange aberrant creatures you encountered earlier emerges from the pool. Another of those strange creatures begins lumbering down the stairs in your direction.
"I can not make much out of it other than it's used for creating nasties and it's magic is both old and strong. Let's move on."
Rogar nods and begins to follow the tracks.
The group leaves the Cathedral room still puzzled by the glowing orange pool, they soon end up back at the unopened door in the room with the statue of the angry-looking woman.
After listening at the door and hearing no sounds, they open the door quietly and carefully. The door opens with a sticky squeak and the party sees that this large chamber was obviously once a prison as testified by the twenty or so cells that line the room's perimeter. A rickety wooden platform overlooks the room, with two flights of stairs descending to the prison floor ten feet below. A five-foot wide wooden walkway runs from the northern edge of the platform to a passageway to the east.
As you ready to enter, you hear a thump under the platform, and as you stop and listen carefully, the now familiar strange breathing sound of those shuffling monsters seems to be coming from under the wooden platform.
The monsters under the platform hear your heavy tread on the creaky wooden floor, and come out from under looking for a fight. There are two, one on each side of the platform.
Ancient Prison - Round 1
25 Red Monster
21 Rogar
14 Smoke
14 Green Monster
7 Robin
3 Tinuviel
2 Cadas
One of the monster, lets out an unearthly (un-Golarionly?) bellow and rushes across the floor, leaping up the stairs.
Rogar takes a 5-foot step forward and swings his shield.
If Shield Hits
If Helmet Hits
Ancient Prison - Round 1 - continued
Rogar steps up and smashes at the creature with helmet and shield. The shield catches the creature full in the face bloodying it's nose as viscous black fluid runs down its face.
Smoke races to the edge of the platform and throws his javelin down on the monster on the floor below, but he stumbles on a loose board and the throw goes well wide of the target.
Green Monster makes it around to the top of the platform in it's oddly rapid gait, and lashes out at Smoke with claws and teeth, one claw rending the barbarian's arm and shoulder.
Not being sure how tough these things are Cadas will bless the party then move over to threaten the one on smoke.
Boo summons an eagle. It should appear behind Mr Reddy next round.
Rogar continues his assault on the creature.
Ancient Prison - Round 1 - concluded
Robin's whip flutters inconsequentially by the feet of the monster, as Tinuviel begins her summoning spell.
Cadas showers the group with blessings from Gozreh, and then moves forward to help Smoke in the fight.
End of Round 1
Ancient Prison - Round 2
25 Red Monster (wounded)
21 Rogar
14 Smoke
14 Green Monster
7 Robin
3 Tinuviel
2 Cadas
Oblivious to the soon to be appearing eagle, Red Monster continues it's assault on the dwarf, who looks for an opening to shield swipe again. In a classic feint move, Rogar take a hit from the beasts claws, only to rebound with his shield and helmet both connecting causing the monster to reel backwards in pain.
Swinging his greatsword forward, Smoke cuts low at the beast, hoping to occupy it's attention so his cleric kinsman can work on it. The killing blow is deflected by the monster who then turns quickly to the offensive, slashing the exposed arm and shoulder of Smoke with it's nails and teeth for 9 more damage.
Cadas strikes at the creature and tells Smoke to step back by the dwarf after his next attack.
Ancient Prison - Round 2 - concluded
Finishing her summons, Tinuviel stands back as a majestic eagle appears behind Red Monster arching towards the beast, talons extended for a fearsome strike. While the creature avoids the razor-sharp talons, the bird's snapping beak catches the monster tearing a long strip out of it's flesh. The overwhelmed monster collapses in a heap as the eagle screeches a victory call.
On the other side of the platform, Cadas spears the other monster with her holy weapon. The trident sinking deep into the flesh of the foul beast, such that she has to jerk it free, with a loud sucking sound.
Throwing jeers and insults out, the Court Bard's words seem to have no effect on the aberrant monster.
End of Round 2
Ancient Prison - Round 3
21 Rogar
14 Smoke
14 Green Monster (wounded)
7 Robin
4 Eagle (last round)
3 Tinuviel
2 Cadas
Rogar takes a five foot step and swings his shield at the abomination. As he swings he gets close enough to drive his helmet forward.
forgot, I don't have double slice.
Ancient Prison - Round 3 - continued
Both of Rogar's smashing attacks hit the beast, knocking it slightly off balance. Smoke follows up those hits with a mighty swing of his greatsword, the blow splitting the off-balance monster nearly in twain. As the fight ends, the summoned eagle screams loudly and disappears as quickly as it arrived.
End of Combat
Cadas Tries to close some of Smoke's wounds before channeling to heal everyone.
Rogar looks around the prison, searching for any clues.
And then looks for signs of travel.
Boo pets the eagle before it poofs. She then looks for the door.
The cells of the prison are either empty or hold the remains of skeletons that long ancient, the bones dry and brittle, many disintegrate to dust as you touch or disturb them.
One cell has a removable grate in the floor with an iron rung ladder drilled into the wall below. This leads down into the cavernous passageway, as indicated on the map.
The same footprints you saw outside the door look like they were made by these now-dead creatures. It looks a like they also traveled east down the passageway on the raised platform, but not to the extent they roamed in this room.
There is't a door, per se, in this room but the raised platform leads into a hallway headed east.
Seeing that Smoke is still badly injured Cadas calls again on her god for help
She then casts Detect Magic to help search the room.
The room is empty of any magical auras.
The space under the platform is big enough for a man to stand upright, but has not other interesting features. It is surprising clear of dust or debris for a confined space.
The wooden platform extends eastward then meets back up with finely finished stone floor in a passageway that traverses east for about 20' before opening into a chamber.
This room contains several ancient relics of what appear to be torture implements, although their function and style seem strange and archaic. In one corner sits a spherical cage with spikes protruding inward from its iron bars. In another stands what appears to be a star-shaped wooden frame, its surface studded with hooks, And in the center of the room is a long table covered with leather straps and a number of cranks that seem designed to rotate and swivel. The room has iron-bound doors on the south and east.
As you enter, the morbid howling sounds you heard earlier repeat themselves, seeming to come from deep below you.
Yes
"Vhat in the seven hells is going on?" Rogar wonders aloud.
It sounds like someone is being tortured.
"On then?" Tinuviel asks.
Agreed. Cadas says looking to Rogar.
"Ve shall go south, then." Rogar says.
The howling below you sounds very animal-like, but not any animal you've ever encountered before. It abruptly breaks off into silence again.
There is no trap or lock on the ironbound door. Listening at the door reveals no sounds from beyond and Rogar carefully pushes the door open.
The crumbling remains of several chairs and a long table clutter the floor of this room. To the south stand three stone doors, each bearing a now familiar symbol that represents a seven-pointed star. Large piles of rubble, covered throughout with papers, leather bindings, and the detritus of destroyed library litter the floor. Many of the papers seem to be covered with the same spiky writing that you say glowing on the walls before. The characters are strange and the language unintelligible.
None of the stone doors are trapped or locked either, although one does stick a bit when pried open. Inside each door is a small cell. Each cell is occupied by a remarkably well preserved skeleton. Each skeleton appears to be of a badly deformed humanoid. The first having three brittle arms, another with an enormous misshapen skull, and the last with a ribcage that extends all the way to it's pelvis -- a pelvis with stunted leg bones strewn beneath it's strangely flat girth.