Trying to hold to his promise of getting them all out safely Tal calls out to Naberius. Catch her on the way out. Tal then picks her up bodily from Monday and makes to throw her up the neck to Naberius. Hopefully Mera or Monday can patch her up enough to keep her from expiring till they can give her more healing when they get out.
reflex save
Str check to lift Calseinica to Naberius .
Turning to the others, Who is next? One of you needs to save her while I get the other out.
Tal reflex save for Naberius exiting
acid damage
Though sickened, Mera does her best to avoid the acid the majority of her climb inside the beast. She slips once and her foot touches the acid again, but she's able to pull it back before she burns too badly. Towards the end however, fatigue and nausea get to her and she slips into the acid once more down to her knee. She bites her lip to avoid screaming, blood and tears freely streaming down her face.
She reaches out and places her hand on Calsenica's limp form and bestows her some desperately needed healing before climbing out herself.
Help me give a boost!
Tal moves to assist Mera in climbing out of the beast and hopefully positions himself to let Monday aid as well.
Reflex save
Climb aid
Naberius watches in disbelief as Tal hurls Calseinica out on the stage. He does his best to catch the actress, almost toppling to the ground under her minute weight. The conjurer lays her down, and flicks his wrist. A wand of red bloodwood appears in his hand. He touches the magical implement to Calseinica's forehead, leaving behind a faint bloody stain, as if the wand were actually coated in gore.
Mera reaches the top of the beast with the help from Tal and is just about to pull herself out when she mistimes her last step and slips and loses her grip on the razor sharp handhold. She hangs her head in mock defeat and sighs loudly. "Sorry. Let me try again."
She just barely manages to climb out without slipping the second time, taking a huge gasp of fresh air once free. This wasn't acting, her body had been craving that for nearly a minute now. She hacks a few times, getting that foul smell from her mouth. Once she is on the ground, kneeling, she looks up to the beast and prepares to sing a song for her companions.
Reflex save Monday first attempt
Second attempt
Tal climb check
Reflex save
Tal climb check 2
Reflex save
Climb 3
Reflex save
Climb 4
Acrobatics
Tal resolutely crawls out of the acid bath and up the beast's neck into th mouth. Sighing at the finality of the act Tal tumbles down to the ground. Scarred, burned, slashed and battered Tal struggles to rise to his feet in defiance of the trial. He makes it to his feet but sways there weak but alive.he sees Naberius with his wand and dips his head towards him hoping to receive a jolt to the system and heal him up.
When Tal emerges from the Beast, the audience erupts in cheers and whistles. The battered state of the tormented is enough to sate their bloodlust. The only ones who do not look happy is Thesing and Delour. Thesing for Mera's survival and Delour for Calsinica's survival.
Amid the cheering, clapping and whistles the curtain closes. Delour, her face set in a stern grimace, exits to begin her song. Thesing says with mock sincerity, I am glad you all made it through.
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Tal grabs his shield and exits the stage dropping as soon as he is past the line of sight of the audience. He remains there as Monday gently heals him from the damage of the acid and the blades in the neck. Softly at first but growing stronger as the healing commnpences, Tal grips Monday in an embrace. Thank you. I wasn't sure if I was actually going to make it out of there once you were gone. My hands kept slipping as I climbed lacerating myself. Then trying again it was so blood covered that it was harder the next couple of times.
When she is done healing him Tal stands up and shakes off the despondency that he had just exhibited. Umm, yes, well let's get ready for these birthing monstrosities. Thanks to your touch Monday I am ready to go. Try to stay behind me if you can and keep them from getting to Calseinica as well. With a little luck we can elimate two of them immediately leaving the stage open for better maneuvering to limit their attacks upon us.
Happily letting Tal almost crush her in his hug she smiles weakly up at him in regards to the next act. "I'm sorry for leaving you in there. But I'm glad you're feeling better. Use that to keep Mera, and Calsenica, and Nabe safe, okay?"
Naberius, quite unharmed, stands by coughing awkwardly as Tal stumbles. He nods appreciatively as the two make eye contact.
"Ah yes," he says, cracking his knuckles. "The conjured monstrosities. With any luck, I will be able to turn them against each other. Just keep them off me..."
Knowing that combat is imminent, Naberius weaves additional wards to shield himself from harm.
As Delour’s performance comes to an end, you all take your places. Calseinica still a little burned, still a little scraped, takes her place on stage muttering, I’m going to die! I’m going to die! As Delour passes her on her way to her dressing room, she whispers, Tut! Tut! Child, I am sure the fates will give you what you deserve..
Thesing smiles and says Bon Appetite! as the curtain rises.
Despite her shattered nerves, as soon as the curtain rises, Calseinica the Actress takes over.
Thesing looking at the bruised and bloodied cast says with a gleam in his eye, You have crawled from the maw of the Beast. Let us see what blasphemous lies slither from your treacherous insides. Show them.
Before Tal heads out onstage he heads over to Calseinica. A bit gruff after that harrowing ordeal he still tries to give her the best advice possible in the situation. Listen, I tried to warn you about this and now you are stuck in the middle of it. Don't pity yourself. Instead get angry at Delour and Thesing for misleading you. Use that anger to fuel you to get through the next few acts.
Now, quit that sniveling and focus. Once the combat starts get behind me and stay there. I will keep them from you but I can't have you acting hysterical behind me understand.
With that Tal grabs his shield and marches out not looking back to see what her reaction is.
Perform act
Clearly the trials we're taking their toll on Tal as he refused to even act as he faced Thesing and the eggs. Dear Asmodeus! Spare us!
Listen, I tried to warn you about this and now you are stuck in the middle of it.
Continuing his droll reciting of lines Tal simply states the reason for the others horror while he himself just stares dead ahead. Oh horror beyond nightmare! The eggs, they burrow deep within us. They hatch deep in our insides, churning our guts to paste and slurping them through gritted devil teeth. They feed on our souls. When these foul devils have eaten their fill, they tear their way free—terrible things! Hideous devil-children bearing our own faces, but filled with hate for all we are. We are mothers to twisted things and look upon our own visage as we die by their taloned hands.
The audience, seeing Tal healed from many of his wounds and not really into his acting, turn on him.
Hey! Looks like he found a cleric during the trial!
Ain't much of a trial if ye can get healed!
Several pieces of rotten fruit and eggs are thrown in his direction.
Here! Chew on these eggs, Drovalid!
Six pieces of rotten fruit slam into Tal's armor brightly decorating it in reds and green.
Seven eggs also hit their mark cracking against the armor and sliding down to pool at the floor.
Thesing, gleeful at how the audience has turned on Tal says with flourish, Shall you recant now, or will you give birth to abominations of your very flesh?
Calseinica not having much sympathy for Tal after he berated her, says without looking at the messy warrior, Do your worst, fool of a mortal. I am a princess to hell, and no child born of my black soul shall bear malice against me.
Tal's half hearted attempts to move out to the way of the fruit and eggs give testament to how tired he is of this play. He refuses to wipe the grime off of him He hears the catcalls and the sees Thesing gloat mockingly but could care less. All that mattered now was surviving the last 2 acts of trials along with the rest of his group. Even Calseinica doesn't bother him either. If she does not take his message seriously or listen to it then he is not going to worry about her any longer.
Glad to be rid of lines for the act Tal waits tapping his foot for the rest of the farce to end.
While not particularly strong, Mera approaches the bailiff with her knees slightly bent and a hunch in her back. She grasps the bailiff's throat lightly and straightens out to give the appearance that she is lifting the bailiff up.
"Ha! Give me your egg, you lickspittle. If Asmodeus wishes it, I shall choke the life of my own devilish child with glee. I gulp this egg down before this court and our dark lord’s very eyes."
Naberius walks up to Mera and the 'bailiff,' dramatically whipping out his hand with a flick of his his robes—now quite tattered.
"Well, give me mine," he says, grabbing one of the eggs. "Not much good it shall avail you."
He raises the egg up, as if to inspect it closer, letting everyone in the audience see it gleam redly in the limelight. Thoughtfully, he muses, "The real Dentris Maltrada was killed ages ago at my own devilish hands, when I was born from his old soul. I am a child of this egg..."
Gonna kill Singy, gonna kill Delour, gonna kill Robahl, gonna kill the audience, gonna kill that pathfinder lady who talked us into this.
Once Monday sees Tal not even trying to dodge the rotten objects of riducle she stomps over to the edge of the stage and begins shouting. "Ain't much of a trial if we all die before they're over either! I don't see any of you lazy f$~~s volunteering to come down here and get tortured! So quit yer b@@&&in! Or do you not want your coins' worth ya overstuffed f@@!wits? Bah! You make the Taldans look frugal." she ends with a dismissive wave of her hand while moving over to Naberius. "Truly?! I had no idea!" she remarks, seamlessly slipping back into her Tybain-Galtan accent.
Unable to stay back while his sister and allies were beaten and tortured Tuesday steps up and begins to play the prop bag pipes. Badly.
Whether he was horrible but trying to perform or okay and choosing to be horrible was anyone's guess. Or maybe he was just plain horrible and also intentionally staying that way. At least it might draw some of the ire away from the others.
Naberius shakes his head and smirks at Monday. Whether it is a part of his act or directed at the absurdity of the situation, it is hard to tell.
"...if only everyone was as naïve as you, paladin."
Monday happily smirks back at the infernalist. "I like eggs! Red, white, or otherwise. Hand me mine! I'll eat it raw!" she giddily says while holding her hand out like an expectant child waiting for candy.
Tal grabs his egg and chokes down the foul creation.
Fort save success, sickened for 2 rounds.
Tal manages to keep himself together as the concoction churns his insides threatening to overwhelm him. Luckily though he is able to resist the worst of the effects as the mass threatens to come up. Not able to hold it back any longer Tal turns towards Thesing as the ooze forcibly is expelled.
Possibly worse than being in the belly of the Beast, Monday was not liking the feeling of the infernal gunk rumbling in her stomach. Granted that did remind her of her first time with Naberius, and how she was slightly disappointed that there wasn't any trace of brimstone or sulfur in the taste.
Finally she also turns towards Thesing and, with his appearance being a boon now under the circumstances, vomits the foul liquid up.
Naberius does not have much of a chance to plan his trajectory. He staggers back, wiping his mouth on a sleeve.
The audience roars with laughter as Monday heckles them back. Rude gestures and even ruder insults are directed her way. A volley of eggs and vegetables are hurled in her direction.
Monday is able to deftly dodge the missiles.
Pale as she grabs her egg, Calseinica holds it aloft. You don't know whether she will bolt from the stage. She swallows hard and puts the egg in her mouth. She chews and an utter look of disgust is on her face. A momentary feeling of relief after swallowing is quickly replaced by sheer terror as she grips hold of her stomach. She then retches all over the stage until she is dry heaving.
Mera actually loves eggs, but not these eggs. She takes the egg and turns to the side as it comes up a moment later. The worst part is that after it is gone she feels worse that it did when it was in her. Nauseated she crawls on the floor on floor for a moment, trying to avoid all of the retch laying nearby. She reaches a tenative hand out to someone, anyone to help her to her feet. She pulls it back suddenly and puts it over her mouth, afraid another wave of vomit is coming.
After the moment passes she slowly pushes to her feet, tear streaming from her eyes and stomach still sending boils of discomfort through her body.
Seeing the trouble Mera has with this challenge Monday steps forward but stops once the diva retreats her hand. Once she stands however the Spiritualist places one hand on the other woman's shoulder and the other on her back and begins gently rubbing in an attempt to soothe.
From behind the curtain, you hear the faint incantation of a spell. Suddenly from four of the five piles of vomit, a pervision of a child appears writhering - and angry!
Round 1 action
Tal sees the 4 monstrosities form and takes savage glee in drawing his sword preparing to strike the creature down. The worries of the previous trials and the fatigue of the sham are gone now that Tal has a target to focus his ire upon. Trusting in his armor Tal brings the sword down in a mighty stroke hoping to cleave into 2 of the creatures as best he can.
power attack combat expertise with cleave if possible for
cleave attack for
The nausea is simply too much for Mera and she is quickly losing her patience for this farce of a play. Leaning on Monday, about the only thing Mera can do is move to position herself behind Tal.
Mera quickly retreats behind Tal. Tal, finally able to fight something, strikes quickly against his lemure. He wounds it but does not put it down.
The lemure in front of Naberius tries to rake him with his claws.
One claw rakes the mage.
The lemure in front of Tal strikes at the warrior.
But is unable to penetrate the armor.
The lemure that was in front of Mera, ignores Monday and goes after its 'mommy'.
Its claw hurting Larazod!
Monday can see the vomit in front of her swirling .
Calseinica's child also tries to claw her.
But lucky for her they barely miss penetrating her costume. Feeling too sick to even punch the vile creature, Calseinica takes a step back next to Tuesday.
Naberius staggers away from the lemure that struck him, managing to not vomit again until he is all the way at the back of the group.
Stepping over Monday strikes at the Lemure attacking Tal.
Or attempts to anyway.
Gladly stopping his performance with the pipes Tuesday steps in front of Calsenica and lashes out at the Lemure trying to attack her.