Ojal gazes at the pictures, trying to fathom their age and purpose. He hardly hears the discussion going on around him.
Ojal recalls nothing like this being recounted by his tutor or his time at the psionic school in Urik.
Wishing he had paid a little more attention during his ancient history classes instead of trying to probe the mind of the pretty girl next to him, Ojal follows Shamash.
The group carry on down the corridor until it opens into a very large chamber. 10 foot tall statues flank the sides of the room, depicting armoured warriors with feathered wings. Pillars hold up the ceiling. There are inscriptions on the walls.
Ojal looks from the inscriptions to the statues and back again, more and more bewildered that his education has such enormous gaps in it.
"I'm reluctant to appear heretical, but it does seem that Hammanu has been leaving out a great deal of our past. For some good reason, no doubt. I hope for some good reason."
The potter examines the writing, which seems to be a list of unfamiliar names. They seem to be a memorial to the dead. Inscriptions such as "The Fallen of the Great War" dot the chamber.
Ojal ponders aloud. "Great War? When would that have been and against who?"
The references could be to any number of ancient conflicts, but Ojal recalls legends of a time that the old gods warred with the primordial forces of creation, and were destroyed or banished.
"My nur... an old lady told stories like this long ago. Fairy tales, of course."
Ojal sounds more and more doubtful.
"Stay alert," says Shamash, his weapon drawn as he edges into the chamber.
Monoc follows close behind his dray companion, eyes watchful and alert.
Ojal follows, deep in thought. He has far too many inexplicable gaps in his knowledge of the world for his own comfort.
Considering that both the caverns, and man's brick halls are foreign hunting grounds to him, T'klik lets the others take to the front. He knows where his abilities are best, and it is not here unless they find prey.
The group carries on through the hall, flanked by the giant statues. An archway leads into another chamber, lit by torches. At the far end, some 15 feet away, are two reptiles, guard drakes. They hiss at your approach.
T'klik, seeing that he has just been brought back to his element, prepares to take down the beasts. If done quick enough, there should be plenty of good meat on them.
They seem to be guarding a set of stone steps that lead upwards into daylight.
Monoc's scarred face splits in a gruesome grin. "Cousins of yours, Shamash?"
Monoc Strides forward to stand near Taanak and Shamash.
"Does anyone know of these creatures?"
Monoc... does not.
T'klik looks confused at Monoc's question, "They not be related, they different than Dray. You think me cousin to scorpion?" T'klik thinks of what he knows of the drakes.
Like all other fights, T'klik rushes in to face the two beasts, relying on his clutchmates to be ready to assist him. He rushes forward and strikes out with all his limbs, multiple times. He spins, claws, scratches, and bites. When all is said and done there are many little cuts and marks, and one of the drakes had been scooted closer to the group, like an offering of a target.
Taanak seizes the opportunity provided by the kreen and hastily conjures up his scorpion spirit.
At the elf's command, the scorpion strikes out against the drake offered by T'klik.
With a soft whisper, the shaman coaxes forth another spirit from the soil, which manifests as a soft ball of light hovering just behind the thri-kreen.
T'klik knows from his days as a hunter that many of the softskin tribes use guard drakes (as the name suggests) as guard animals or for hunting. They are more dangerous in numbers.
Taanak calls forth his spirit allies, which further baffle the drakes.
Initiative
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1
2
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash moves in close, sword swinging.
Shamash joins the fray at the bottom of the stairs, which the comrades see lead above into daylight. The dray smashes into an already bewildered drake.
Initiative
Guard Drakes 13
1
2 Bloodied
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
The drakes snarl and savage the horrible insect that has been kicking and scratching them.
Initiative
Ojal 11
Monoc 10
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1
2 Bloodied
Monoc strides forward beside Shamash, to deliver his own howling blow against the bloodied drake.
Monoc strides forward beside Shamash, to deliver his own howling blow against the bloodied drake.
Monoc makes his trademark attack against the wounded drake, smashing its skull in. His howl is one of horrible triumph.
Initiative
Ojal 11
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1 -2 to defenses (eoMnt)
Monoc 10
"Maybe someone should help T'klik?" Monoc rumbles as his head clears from the dizzying joy of the kill.
His head still swimming from the recent flurry of world-shattering images, Ojal takes a while to realise that battle has joined. So long indeed, that T'Klik has fallen as well as a drake before he can collect himself long enough to concentrate on the scene in front of him. When he does so, it makes little difference. Firing a futile mental blast at the remaining drake, he moves closer to his fallen comrade.
Lemris jogs forward and intones arcane syllables. The drake looks confused.
Initiative
T'klik 22 prone, unconscious (death save needed)
Taanak 16 : Spirit Companion provides flanking (eoTant); Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
Guard Drakes 13
1 -2 to defenses (eoMnt), bloodied
Monoc 10 Invisible to Drake 1 (eoLnt)
Ojal 11
Lemris 5
Taanak inches closer to the battle while summoning up a healing breeze to restore the downed kreen.
The elf gives his scorpion the command to attack. It assumes an intimidating posture, lashing out with claws and tail, inspiring allies nearby to do the same.
Shamash slashes the remaining drake with his obsidian sword.
Taanak revives his fallen ally, in yet another example of the strange bed fellows Athas can make. Shamash guts the last drake, and it dies thrashing on the ground. You can hear silt-runner voices up the stairs, in a commotion.
Initiative
Monoc 10
Ojal 11
Lemris 5
T'klik 22 prone, 1 failed death save
Taanak 16 : Spirit of Athas (adjacent allies gain +1 to defenses)
Shamash 14
"We should press on before the organise. But together," he adds, as the thri'kreen gets up off the floor.
T'klik offers "Or we stay, use room with many stone trees as ambush to what come looking."