Murmur wanders over to the gnome's image. A fool's mocking tones: "You make these metal dolls to play with and still must empty your own chamber pot? They must be dear friends indeed, or perhaps...something more? Tell me, do you have a flesh doll that appears similar to a female gnome?"
Gathroc laughs at the disembodied voice "Empty words from beyond these walls. Were we lesser begins, perhaps you would scare us, but I have been far greater than a mere mortal for centuries. Perhaps others will not harm you if you comply, but *I* look forward to tearing apart this wretched tower and slaying all who make it their home."
The gnomish image is unmoved by your posturing "Undead abominations may still be yet returned to dust. I do not fear you." and with that starts to waver and disappear. Just before it vanishes you could swear that you see a smirk on its face.
Murmur begins Inspire Courage.
perception
perception
The center of the roof retracts outwards, revealing an area of deep blackness in the hollow above it. The darkness is roiling and moving as you observe it, though has not yet expanded out. The roof continues to retract outwards toward the wall.
The center of the roof retracts outwards, revealing an area of deep blackness in the hollow above it. The darkness is roiling and moving as you observe it, though has not yet expanded out. The roof continues to retract outwards toward the wall.
knowledge arcana
stealthvesta shifts her position and hides in plain sight as she watches the roof to try and figure out what it is
Knowledge(Arcana) With detect magic activated
I move away from the center of the room, making sure to avoid the front door at the same time
I'll move to be adjacent to someone, doesn't matter who. Preferrably one of the casters.
Also,
initiative
Round 1:
A flurry of crossbow bolts arc out of the darkness at the party. They come from all angles within the animate cloud of black to strike at the undead arrayed below.
Murmur attacks: and and
Gabriel attacks: and and
Daemon attacks: and and
Euridicea attacks: and and
Gathroc attacks: and and
Vesta attacks: and and
Ignac attacks: and and
You hear a low hum starting to build up in the room.
Standard non-magical bolts mean they don't affect me. If they're magic they have a 50/50 chance of affecting me. (i'm pretty sure thats how it works. If not feel free to correct me.)
Given this new informationVesta will make her way to the center of the disk and attempt to pass through it to get into the mechanism of the trap. assuming I can do this I want to begin to telekinetically start ripping it apart. Not sure what to roll. Please advise.
Murmur peers into the darkness, looking for the source of the bolts. If he cannot see anything with Darkvision, he'll cast Dancing Lights, in the form of four glowing spheres.
Euridicea seems oblivious as the bolts fly by all around, most missing and striking nothing but stone. One does chance to graze her upon her shoulder. The hit spun her about to tsk at the darkness, "Missiles like angry words from the darkness, do not wound without magic or some finesse, the howling of the hounds off the chain, inspire no fear at their pitiful pain."
Gathroc, being unable to attack whatever is up in the ceiling, decides to plant himself and wait for anything to come through the hole and strike then.
The bolts clatter harmlessly through Vesta, striking the wall behind her. Any other strikes with the bolts have them hold fast to their target - adhering at the point.
The hum builds to a crescendo before discharging with an almighty boom. Lightning arcs out from the center of the black cloud striking any creature that was hit by a bolt. The electrical discharge burns up the bolts and sends waves of destructive sparks through your body.
"Ah, I see, that is a darkness spell specifically tailored to dull senses and prevent probing within it. There appears to be a mechanism housed in it that uses the bolts as tracers for the lightning. Hardly dangerous but we should probably destroy this nuisance."
I'll stand my ground, preferrably standing in front of anyone who can be harmed by electricity.
I'll stand my ground, preferrably standing in front of anyone who can be harmed by electricity.
Vesta lets loose a lightning bolt into the area above you, which immediately strikes the roof and rebounds into the chamber below. It ricochets from ceiling to floor a couple of times before reaching the end of it's tether. On the second rebound a broken crossbow falls out of the blackness to the floor, stock broken and metal bow warped.
Lucklily none of the undead group are struck by the rogue bolt.
Gabriel falls from the roof holding onto a second crossbow that is similarly damaged. The hand nimbly disengages and manages to avoid taking any damage from the fall.
Murmur's dancing lights disappear if forced into the miasma of black, then reappear if directed back below the lower threshold.
"The rain of bolts and thunderstorm is coming again." Annoyed at being unable to see anything past the seemingly magical darkness, Murmur casts Dispel Magic on the darkness.
"Anyone who has a tough time with electricity, get behind me for this next flurry. It doesn't affect me."
As Murmur's spell finishes, the roiling black fades away as though dispersed by an invisible gust of wind. You see a large number of crossbows floating in the now visible space, animated by magic as there are no hands wielding them.
In the centre of the roof sits a multifaceted orb hanging on a stubby chain. It crackles slightly with electricity as you observe it.
perception
If vesta is in the mechanism when the darkness fades, she will shift into the stone ceiling (sideways as if laying down).
If vesta is not in the mechanism she will pull a pull a scrap of cloth out of her pocket and toss it on the floor, mentally dismissing a magic effect (Shrink item). The scrap of cloth becomes a 5 foot diameter stone boulder weighing 300 lbs. She will then use the violent thrust version of telekinesis to launch it at the machine.
To hit trap Half for objects So the total is 23 damage to the trap
Then the boulder proceeds to fall back to the ground
Note: This ability is based on HD (which are higher), not caster level.
Violent Thrust: Alternatively, the spell energy can be spent in a single round. You can hurl one object or creature per caster level (maximum 15) that are within range and all within 10 feet of each other toward any target within 10 feet per level of all the objects.
You can hurl up to a total weight of 25 pounds per caster level (maximum 375 pounds at 15th level).
You must succeed on attack rolls (one per creature or object thrown) to hit the target with the items, using your base attack bonus + your Intelligence modifier (if a wizard) or Charisma modifier (if a sorcerer). Weapons cause standard damage (with no Strength bonus; note that arrows or bolts deal damage as daggers of their size when used in this manner). Other objects cause damage ranging from 1 point per 25 pounds (for less dangerous objects) to 1d6 points of damage per 25 pounds (for hard, dense objects).
Dismissing the spell is a standard action, so the stone throw will have to come through next 'round'
Euridicea proceeded to begin a waltz under the reloading crossbows, her parasol being pulled forth once more and popped open above her head. She couldn't do much regardless as most of her spell selection for the day was based on dealing with the living or things of flesh, not the unthinking coldness of machine and metal.
Vesta reaches out with her mind tearing at the dangling orb. It comes free with an almighty crack and falls to the floor below. At the same time the remainder of the crossbows also fall inert to the ground.