DM Talomyr |
Once everyone is "safely" at the bottom of the pit, Hana leads on down the passageway to the east. The ground is damp, slick, and has a distinct downward tilt.
After about sixty feet, the narrow passageway opens up into another cavern. The smell of decay is thick in the air of this wide but low-ceilinged cavern. To one side, the ceiling drops down to little more than three feet in height over a region strewn with bones and bits of old flesh, while to the other, the ceiling bulges upward in a dome shape—six circular, pod-like alcoves line the walls of the cave at this side.
Peering into the chamber, Hana sees a trio of hideously malformed, hairless, pustule-covered corpses, moving and snarling more like undead hounds than undead men.
Hana, you do not believe you have been noticed yet. I need a marching order behind Hana and what light sources are being used by those of you who require light to see.
Adara Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Dereje Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Estietre Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Hana Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Lawdrak Init: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
Init Festrogs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Initiative Order:
Estietre
Adara
???
Hana
Lawdrak & Sharpmaw
Dereje
Adara, Oracle of Fire |
Adara sweeps the flaming scimitar back and forth to take in the cavern at the bottom of the pit. The evidence of this being some kind of sacrificial or burial "discard" location seems evident, and the suli is quite repulsed. She mutters under her breath a wish for Sarenrae to burn the whole accursed pit with pure holy fire.
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
Whatever causes Hana to stop suddenly is still out of sight, and she squints slightly to peer further into the darkness. Adara sees nothing but vague shapes.
DM Talomyr |
F1 B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
F1 C1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
F1 C2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
F2 B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
F2 C1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
F2 C2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
F3 B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
The undead monstrosities descend upon Hana, attacking with a flurry of bite and claws. Fortunately for the samurai-ko, only a pair of claws manage to find their mark.
Hana takes 14 damage from two hits. Hana, Lawdrak & Sharpmaw, and Dereje are up to finish out the round. Estietre and Adara can post round 2 actions.
Dereje |
Dereje had little choice but to rely on his allies' light sources - torches were simply too dangerous to carry when gunpowder was involved. Initially the paladin proceeds slowly and carefully, but when he hears the sounds of battle, he breaks out into a run, pushing his way down the tunnel with gun in hand.
With the light given off by Adara's blade, Dereje peers at the undead monstrosities, recognizing their characteristics immediately.
"Festrogs," he says, spitting out the word as though it carried a bad taste. "Their pustules carry disease, and they can feed on their victims' flesh to bolster their rotten flesh. Be careful, Lady Mizu!"
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Adara, Oracle of Fire |
Adara rushes forward and wills the fire of her flaming scimitar to blast the rotting flesh of the monsters with holy flame.
Thematic action description. Technical action is Adara casting burning hands DC 14 Reflex for 1/2.
burning hands: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) = 6
burning magic rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds of 1 additional fire damage if save failed.
DM Talomyr |
R1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
R2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
R3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Adara's spell is particularly effective as all three festrogs catch fire. With a quick, powerful strike, Hana finishes off the undead monstrocity closest to the entrance - showering herself in disgusting pus from the boils on the creatures body.
Hana needs to make a DC 12 Fort Save or be sickened for 1d6 ⇒ 5 rounds. Estietre is up.
Estietre "Mum" Hruska |
Estietre moves up behind Adara, and points at the nearest festrog. After a brief arcane phrase, a thin ghostly ray shoots out toward her targeted foe.
disrupt undead vs touch AC: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
DM Talomyr |
Estietre's spell burns a small hole in one of the festrogs, but is not enough to end its unholy existence.
Still on fire, one of the beasts steps on its dead companion and opens up a flurry of claws and bites on Adara. The other does likewise to Hana. Each creature lands both claws, tearing into their target's flesh.
Adara takes 10 damage. Hana takes 13 damage and is down (unless she chooses to use her resolve).
B1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
C1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
C1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
B3: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
C3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
C3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Hana, Lawdrak & Sharpmaw, and Dereje are up to finish out the round 2. Estietre and Adara can post round 3 actions.
Lawdrak |
Sharpmaw precedes LAwdrak out into the cave (Sharpmaw will provoke from Festrog #1),but have no time for anyhting but getting into the fight.
Lawdrak will provoke as well, if they have Combat Reflexes or don't swing at Sharpmaw...
Dereje |
From the back of the group, Dereje attempts to line up a shot on the closest festrog. The explosive discharge of his firearm echoes through the cavern, harmlessly if a bit grating on the ears.
Ranged Touch Pistol Attack (PBS): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13 vs. Soft Cover
Damage (PBS): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
DM Talomyr |
The festrog's disease ridden flesh sizzles as the last remaining bit of Adara's fire burns. Estietre's bolt of positive energy goes wide of her intended target.
Obviously not long for this world, the festrog unleashes a flurry of claws and bites at the samurai-ko, both claws tearing into to her flesh and sending Hana to ground.
Hana takes 13 damage.
b: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
c: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
b: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
The party is up.
Mizu no Hana |
Hana stirs momentarily, then before she even opens her eyes her hand feels around for her katana and grips the hilt. She drags the sword back close to her and sighs, then says, "Just... give me a moment."
A few seconds later she slowly pushes herself to her knees, then stands back up, wobbling.
Dereje |
Dereje gently places a hand on Hana's shoulder and concentrates, infusing with his entire allowance of curative power for the day.
Lay on Hands (3 uses): 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1) = 13
"Good work, everyone. Now then, shall we proceed?"
DM Talomyr |
Searching through the remainder of the festrog's chamber you find a human body. The body of Captain Alizandru Kovack, the treacherous captain of the Jenivere. Nearby the body is a strip of leather covered in word scrawled in blood.
I am Captain Alizandru
Kovack, betrayer of my crew
and destroyer of the good
ship Jenivere. Hell would be
a welcome escape from what
hideous unlife looms before me,
but it is no less a punishment
than I deserve. That I was
enslaved mind and body to a
serpentine demon who wore a
Varisian’s skin does not pardon
me. It is my weakness that
led the Jenivere, her crew, and
her passengers to their doom.
That Ieana has abandoned
me here is nothing more than
the fate I deserve. I do not
beg forgiveness, but I despair
that she lives still, and that
she seeks something dire on
this forsaken isle—she seemed
particularly interested in Red
Mountain. If you read this
and you be a kind soul, seek
out what I have become and
destroy me, and then seek out
Ieana and slay her as well.
And to those whose lives I
have helped destroy, I can only
apologize from this, my dark
cradle and darker grave.
Mizu no Hana |
Hana reads the note slowly, her mouth moving with the words.
"An ill fate for an ill man," she says. "Yet from beyond the grave he has given us a mighty task."
She turns to her companions and says, "The Red Mountain, it seems, will be the harbinger of further troubles... and if we stay here in hopes of drawing another ship, every day we wait is another day for this 'serpentine demon' to draw out her plans."
Dereje |
Dereje frowns as he reads the message, not at all pleased by this turn of events. He had hoped to capture the captain and Ieana alive, so they could brought to justice.
"Serpentine demon, indeed," he mutters, shaking his head. "So he claims that Ieana is the real mastermind behind our great misfortune. But what was he doing here, I wonder?"
"I suggest that we finish clearing this cavern and then see to the lighthouse. Once it is completed, we can decide whether we want to investigate this matter."
DM Talomyr |
1d100 ⇒ 35
The party follows the passageway out of the festrog cavern about forty feet before the tight and narrow passage opens into a roughly 35 foot diameter cavern.
A dark pool of water lies in the center of this silo-shaped cavern. A five-foot-wide ledge of stone winds down to the pool below, passing several cave entrances along the way.
Adara, Oracle of Fire |
"Only if you think we are in a position to succeed should we encounter more devilry, Mizu no Hana," Adara cautions with a stern look.
So where did we land on the potion identifications?
She raises her flaming scimitar. "I trust that Sarenrae will guide us to what is required and no less."
Dereje |
"We have accumulated quite a few curative potions during our time here," Dereje remarks as he inspects their surroundings, gun still in hand. "We could retreat now, or use some of them.
We have at least 20 potions of CLW, unless I've been neglecting to deduct them from the sheet. I don't believe I have, though.