With the survival roll, you're pretty sure you know where the gland is, and it's rather easy to get to as they're dead. While the liquids are certainly valuable, worth 30 gold a vial, actually, they could easily be turned into a sort of applicable rusting powder that would affect pretty much any metal, even adamantium.
You know it's certainly possible, but you're not sure if there are any specifics to doing it.
While not hitting it particularly hard, Bromen does actually hit the box hard enough to where it simply caves in like rather poor sandpaper. That said, as the box breaks, a rush of... funk comes out of it. Something awful too, really.
(Sickened 1 round)
(Nauseated 2 rounds)
(Nauseated 2 rounds)
The smell is enough to absolutely assault the stomachs of those nearby, namely Hana and Bromen, surprisingly, but Tera is simply sickened. Bannon was far enough away to not be bothered, but it's obvious he shouldn't go near it from the facial expressions.
The things inside the box are... for the most part, dead. However, as soon as the dwarf crunched his nose, a small, wide-eyed, obviously mindless, tiny creature flew out to stab at him before covering it's eyes. The creature, even though all of the effected have tears in their eyes, has pupiless white eyes, bat ears, and a face full of teeth.
In the haze, no one really stops to look at what's inside the box, too busy covering their noses and whiping tears out of their eyes.
The creature lunges out at the Dwarf's face, but he fortunately recoils from the smell before it can get to him with it's teeth and it merely clinks off of his armor and falls to the ground, quickly finding it's feet and wincing it's eyes in pain.
1st: Bannon
2nd: Tera
3rd: ???
4th: Roman
5th: Bromen
6th: Hana
«You fellas just had to go and open that thing, uh? Worse than kids, that’s what you are! Just smash that critter's face before he bites you and get on with it!» Roman, still squatting by the rust monster’s corpse, takes out his gun, makes sure it’s loaded, then puts it down beside him, ready to pick it up if the small creature comes near him.
For the rest, he keeps studying how to remove the rusting liquid glands.
Tera pulls out the heavy round shield as she moves in she focuses on the creature, trying to determine if it's evil, or just irate at being trapped in a box.
"We don't want any trouble. Just go on your way."
"BAH!"yelled the Wizard as he saw his companions become suddenly sick.
He reached back, and was fortunate that in all his wisdom - he stayed away from the box. Judging by Bromen's yelling, all didn't seem well.
"Hm...I can't risk wading near the box...though, I might have something for this...
Drawing up his hands with interlocked thumbs, Bannon focused his will. Targeting what stood before him, he'd hope that his magic would take lock.
Daze: Will DC 14 at '???'
The small creature, as it blocks the sun from it's eyes and squints suddenly staggers and just sort of hobbles a bit.
On it's turn, the wide-eyed creature simply stands there, mouth agape, and slightly addled.
Seeing his companions in distress, Roman begrudgingly stands up from his operation and picks up the shovels he’s been using as a weapon «DOWN, BOY! Away! Go, go!» yelling to the creature as if it were stray dog, he slams the shovel hard on the ground, menacing.
As the sudden intrusion occured, the tiny creature merely sat there, addled and dazed, saved only by the fumes of the gearbox's door.
Bromen successfully gets to where he wishes to be, and Hana recoils back a few feet, unable to catch her breathe from the rush of the stench.
It's unclear whether or not the Initmidation via Roman had any effect, as the creature still seems dazed by whatever machinations Bannon set forward.
Tera raises her shield and proceeds to see whether or not this creature is evil, or just frightened.
Regardless, the fight carries on, seen only by the Ogre, who can't really make out what everyone's doing, or see what all of the fuss is about.
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Round 2
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"Did...I..." Muttered Bannon as he saw the creature dawdle before the group. Unsure if his magic worked, or the creature was playing a game - bannon felt that few options remained.
Still feeding off a combat high, the Abjurer decided that it was best to dispatch the monster and study it later.
They like to use bigger creatures as the butt of jokes, or to just kill people, but the thing they love to do more than anything is find their buddies and curse equipment/structures/everything.
A strange thing about this one, however, is that it's eyes are white and it's breaking all of the expected stereotypes of it's kind, so the stay in the box likely effected it's mind.
In the hustle and bustle of the chaos and smell, the crossbow manages to simply swerve away, fortunately not hitting anyone.
The suddenly revelation sent chills down the Abjurer's mind. Mustering the courage, Bannon struggled to get his thoughts together to properly warn his allies.
"YOU FOOLS. STEP AWAY FROM HIM!!! THATS A JENKIN GREMLIN - EVIL LITTLE BUGGER THAT'LL CURSE YOU. THIS ONE'S NOT SANE. BE CAREFUL!!!"
Tera blinks, and her eyes become like cold green pools.
"Evil, eh?"
She draws her sword and prays for strength, and hope that Bannon's description is not mere hyperbole.
"Then let me end it."
With the reflexes of an effectively dead trout, the creature simply stood aloof as the blade passes through it. The creature, Exhausted and sickened, could barely do anything to pass by. In a cruel twist of irony for it's evil actions, it fell there.
The creature barely even tried to avoid the attack, mostly out of weakness than sheer poor reflexes.
As the fight is over, and everyone had plenty of time to wipe the tears from their eyes, something became a bit apparent. Having fallen out when the creature flew into it's frenzy, a small circular piece of what looked to be scrap metal, barely a 1/4th of an inch thick, carried what appeared to be 4 rings, each inscribed with some sort of identifier on it and neatly arranged.
-----------------------
Combat Over
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"A Ring you say...pass it here"
While Hana was obsessing over the jewerly, Bannon happened to have some interest. Calling out a small green light, his passed a waving hand towards the object - checking for fluctuations within the spectrum.
"I hope you can look at that and walk. I want to get out of here."
The Ring of Rings is a curious thing, indeed, as on it, there are 4 slightly different rings.
The first ring, the dwarf ring, funny enough, has the picture of a rather squat stick figure with a beard, a dwarf.
The second ring, the snowflake ring, has what appears to be a hardly symmetrical snowflake scratched into it.
The third ring, the woman ring, has a scratch-drawn face of a woman on it.
The fourth ring, the rock ring, has... a rock... where the gem should be.
Each ring is made of metal, though, hardly worth anything, really.
A thing of interest, also, despite that, is that the smell of the box ventilates rather quickly, revealing the skeletons of 5 other Jenkin gremlins, cramped, and deep in feces. It would seem that at some point, they became trapped. That last one had likely eaten what was left of the other 5 and lost it's mind.
Recognizing that a modicum of energy was detected in the objects before him, he perused the vast mental library of knowledge - hoping to recall anything significant to classify the rings.
"I think they are...
"I think they are...
You sense the direction of a well-known or clearly visualized object You can search for general items, in which case you locate the nearest of its kind if more than one is within range. Attempting to find a certain item requires a specific and accurate mental image; if the image is not close enough to the actual object, the spell fails. You cannot specify a unique item unless you have observed that particular item firsthand (not through divination).
The second and third ring, the snowflake and woman, are alien to you, as their magical effects are odd to identify at the time. Perhaps Marco could try later? Hm.
The fourth ring is a crudely made ring of protection +1, which does what you'd probably expect. +1 AC Deflection bonus.
Presented with the knowledge of the rings, Bannon shared his revelation.
"It appears these are no ordinary rings - a semblance of magic eminates from several" Allowing his words to catch effect he continued, pointing to Snowflake and Woman ring. "These...are rather alien to me. Perhaps...someone with more skill, such as the great Marco could illuminate this mystery. As for the Dwarf ring, it indead is quite special - even for you Bromen. If I remember correctly, this ring happens to be useful in finding a direction in which a bed of gems reside - however, if the magic is right, you'd have to working knowledge and an idea of what you're looking for."
Giving a slight clap on the dwarf's shoulder, Bannon smiled. "For you friend, you might benefit the most from. May it serve you well."
And finally, the last ring; the one of poor quality.
Holding the crudely crafted ring, he showed it to his teammates, pointing to the mislodge rock that crested its top.
"This...well, it was, some ring of importance. But, look at this, it seems like a child's poor attempt at repairing a broken jewel. I can't fathom any use for said object - however, it might be something incomplete. If you want, I might be able to discern its true purpose."
Knowing that his teammates place a special value in objects that granted utility, he did them all a favor by removing the Rock Ring, and kept it for himself, where it rested comfortably on his left thumb.
"Didn't you, not a minute ago, say that whatever that thing is could curse use? How do we know the rings aren't cursed."
Realizing that if they are cursed, she'd likely spoken too late to help Bromen or Bannon.
Fool! You should have spoken right when they found the damn things, not when they start putting them on,
"Cursed? Bah. Now now, young paladin, let Bannon enlighten you. In my studies, cursed items...have a tendency of...revealing its presence. But look, I'm no different - no horns sprouting out of my head, or weird appendages. And besides, I can remove it at any-" Said Bannon as the new ring that rested on his thumb didn't budge.
"Oh..." Was all that the wizard managed to say before he fell victim to his own arrogance.
"I was so excited that I overlooked the fact that even an ordinary looking ring could be...maligned. Oh dear...this could be...quite difficult now"
"Well...this could be a problem. I suggest we make haste before...anything bad happens"
Startled, Bannon quickly tries to discern what type of curse has affected the ring. Could it have been the rock - something poorly enchanted?
As Bromen and Bannon soon realize, both of these rings they've just equipped are, in fact, cursed.
Knowing that the ring is definitely cursed, the identification goes very smoothly. The ring turns it's bearer into stone slowly when exposed to direct sunlight, but still functions as a ring of protection +1.
Every hour you must make a Dc 17 fortitude save, or lose 2 dexterity. This same dexterity will regenerate out of direct sunlight, but at the same pace as the stoning. This bestows a 10% arcane failure chance every hour to casters, as your fingers lose the ability to move properly.
Slowly perspiring, Bannon knew that this ring....could be the death of him. Being that they were in the mountains, it would be hard to hide from the warm embrace of the Sun.
Yet, there remained the matter with the Dwarf. Coming up to Bromen, the Abjurer placed a sympathetic hand on the proud fighter's shoulder.
"All will be fine. Keep in mind, often powers come with limitations - but you've the moxy and mettle to deal with whatever troubles lay ahead of you"
Casting a sidelong glance at the paladin for her lack of forewarning, Bannon studies the Dwarven Ring once more, discerning the portents of its curse.
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Hana almost laughs at the fact that the wizard seems angry at Tera yet had, moments before, warned everyone that the gremlin could curse them. But she kept a straight face, one befitting of the somber thought that people could die. She was legitimately worried for them, to be fair, but the humor of the situation didn't elude her.
Hana flicks out the sign of symbols again and looks at Bromen's ring. "Now, now. You might just be fine."
Still holding a very sharp rock he found nearby, that he has been using to cut open the Rust Monster to take away the rusting gland, dripping monster blood from the gloved hands but with a satisfied smile upon his face, Roman gets back with the group.
«So hey, guys… does anyone have a spare waterskin, or a glass vial? I think this rusting stuff may come in very much handy, and even if it doesn’t, it can earn us a pretty pen… what is going on?» he sees the group analyzing each other’s hands «Did that disgusting critter spray something on your hands?»
The ring still functions properly as intended, but Bromen will probably become very posessive of it if in the prescence of another dwarf, and the idea that they'll be trying to steal it will assault his mind, granting him a negative level in the process, but only while he's in their company as he's racked with thoughts that aren't his own.
Crrrrrriiiiiiink!!
Everyone suddenly, and without much difficulty, hears the sound of a lever being pulled.
The sound is that of the Ogre himself pulling the right lever, which Hana knows is the emergency switch. The ogre apparently forgot which one to throw.
That said, the sight following is rather apparent and everyone's heart skips a beat as the bridge free-falls to it's base setting. The emergency latch apparently lets the bridge fall via gravity, rather than metal.
However, as the bridge falls at surprising speeds, the nearby chain that had been rusted snaps from the sudden increase in pressure, and actually flails at a break-neck speed to the person nearest it; Tera.
Unfortunately for her, however, it finds it's mark and slashes her across the chest before flying into the air and arcing over the entirety of the bridge itself. It strikes with such force that it actually knocks her prone, though, not away.
The bridge is now crossable, but the ogre just sort of sits down and his bottom lip sort of quivers. "Dey broke it..." he says with a sigh. Wiping away a slowly forming line of mucus from his nose with his whole forearm, he grumbles as he starts looking for his tools. "You guys can go... I'ma fix." He seems rather crestfallen.
While the Ogre had been busy playing Toll Operator, Bannon's mind raced with the newly presented problem.
"I must seek shelter...less I become like the very stones that mark this place..."
Leaving the others to talk with the hulking idiot, Bannon ushered Cornelius nearby and he made for the bridge.
"We must tarry, or tiddle ladies and gents. Let us continue..unless you wish to engage our generous host in a game."
Tera sighs, and opens her mouth to speak. The snapping chain draws her full attention, and the surprise at the sudden sound slows her reaction. With the resounding crash of metal on metal heralding the impact of the chain on her armor. She barely has time to wonder why the world was spinning so fast before the ground slams into her back. Her cry was cut short by the wind being knocked from her lungs. She gulps for air for a few seconds before her sense recover enough for her to roll over and slowly stand back up.
"E-evryone alright?"
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As for it being hampered by spell resistance, no, it just skips that entirely.
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Hana offers a hand for Tera, casting a dirty look to the wizard and the dwarf who left her there. "We're fine, dear. You took the blow like an expert."
If she lets her help her up, Hana obliges, though is a bit strained by the paladin's armor and weight. After situating her, she notes the heavy blossoming bruises and palms her a curious vial. "Healing potion. That looked like it could kill a man. Good thing it didn't strike either of them," she says, and gestures to the dwarf and the wizard.
Tera takes the offered hand, her legs still being a little shakey after the jarring blow.
"An expert would have been well away from the bridge, but thanks."
Tera manages to stand, and is rather surprised to find a small vial in her hand. She looks at it for a moment, smiling as she hears Hana's words.
"Thank you. I guess we need to get them straight." She says gesturing to the others. "That chain would have only killed me. Those rings might kill all of us."
She makes sure all of her gear is on her person before walking over to the others.
"So, do you know anything about curses?"
"Curses and Blessings - though essentially polar opposites, its Curses that we fear the most. Typically, they maim or hinder said individual; from changing shapes to even death, curses range in malevolence. Though in my state, I'm more prone to becoming like the earth."
Collecting his thoughts, he didn't want to add any strain towards the dwarf, despite having even presented the condition.
"We've one thing in our capabilities - Marco. Should we make it back in one piece, I'm quite certain the good arcanist has a panacea for this condition. In any case, the more we dally I'm sure we'll understand what fate befalls our dwarven ally here. Make haste, we go!"
"What. Does. That. Mean. Why are you turning into stone?"
It's obvious that Tera is in no mood for people who go the roundabout way of saying things. She begins to make her way towards the bridge as she asks her questions.
"What. Does. That. Mean. Why are you turning into stone?"
Bannon's brow furrowed. He never did like being open about his ailments. Part of his job was to be an abjurer - that is, an anti mage. Revealing your fragility or setbacks often rouse the fears in clients, and power for his enemies.
Heaving a puff, he explained in the best way he could to the paladin.
"This ring's curse will turn me into stone provided I spend a lengthy time in the sun. Though, I suspect equal amount in the shade would provide an opposite boon. And then there's the fleeting thought of my magic being hampered. *sigh*Consider it the price I pay for my arrogance..."
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"If the rings take their cost in arrogance, it's only by the providence of luck that they haven't taken their cost of me," the white-haired frail girl riddles as she catches up to the others. "If I had to face a price in the sum of my arrogance, I doubt there'd be much left of me after the down payment."
Slipping ahead, low to the ground, Hana keeps a wary eye out.
"Alright, so we have to treat you like wine, except perhaps not as well aged. What about Bromen? Do we know what's going on with him?" Tera asks the mage.
"If the rings take their cost in arrogance, it's only by the providence of luck that they haven't taken their cost of me," the white-haired frail girl riddles as she catches up to the others. "If I had to face a price in the sum of my arrogance, I doubt there'd be much left of me after the down payment."
"There some days I feel like I would be so far in debt, paupers look like kings."
The road carries on for quite a while, marvelously flat after being strip mined. The walk isn't too arduous, but there is a lack of shade. A remarkable lack of shade, at that. Hardly anywhere for Bannon to seek shelter from the sun for the entire duration.
Roman follows closely behind with the group, making sure his gun is more than just a little bit ready for another encounter. In just two hours and a couple of minutes, they'd been resurrected, befriended an ogre, and attacked by mindless gremlins. Surely, on this cavolcade, they'd see even stranger things.
That said, the walk is pretty plain, aside from the lack of darkness. The mountains spire in the distance over the sea of trees, and the sight of civilization, if there were any, wasn't visible. Occasionally, large dragons can be seen in the distance soaring through the sky, but there's always just enough of an area to watch as it goes over the horizon.
The walk is arid, and save for the forest far beneath the cliffs, there's not really any vegetation. Newcomers to Hazrit will realize that on the mountains, the only thing that seems to grow are riches. A fact that most dwarfs love to claim.
Other than that, nothing in particular, and hardly more terrifying. At least, not for now.
The walk is long. Really long, actually, and another 30 minutes pass. Bannon fortunately staves off his stone-turning, as only the finger immediately turns, and even that's not enough to get in the way of his casting.
That said, as the group walks the lengthy cliff, avoiding the gaze of tyrant-like dragons, a curious thing happens. Far in the distance, a figure is seen by Hana. It seems to be a woman, though she seems to be red-tinted, escorted by 2 dwarves. A frighteningly apparent thing is that she has rather large red wings.
She hasn't noticed the group yet, however, and you guys have since gotten far higher above the forest on the treck across the road. The cliff is now 90 feet high above the forest.
This section of cliff is a mere 15 feet wide, however, and is rather tight against the wall.
The ring, unfortunately, cannot detect any form of rare ore in the present area. It sifts through 600 feet, but unfortunately just can't seem to find anything in the area, as it's apparently been mined clean. It certainly looks the part.
The thought seems rather unusual, but a quick look at Hana's feat reveals flat shoes, and she's not wearing heels. The footprints are not that of the party's. Regardless, a stone wall juts out of the cliff side, and you readily realize soon that your worries were for not. Just a bit paranoid, it seems.
Constant look-out for other clues (an assumed taking of 10) reveals nothing, really, as it just seems like a very lengthy cliff road on the side of the mountain.
What manner of which would dwarves consult with dragons, or any form there within?
In a hushed whisper to the group.
"I'm a stranger to dwarven culture, but isn't there a stigma that concerns dwarvenkind and dragons regarding to the age old, 'who's the king of the mountain; debate?"
The wizard had a difficult reasoning the current state of affairs. Within in sight could be a difficult or extremely dangerous situation of a dragon lady and dwarves. Anything could happen.