Flying downward, Snave is able to push the ladies the last few feet to save them from certain doom (or dampness).
Chochok climbs back to the original balcony.
Maximo easily finds a place on the rail to secure his hook.
Caradeum cand hear the original spellcasting but could not see who cast it. He then sees a pair of human(?) crossbowmen cast a spell and step to the balcony 80' above Lore and Eadie.
entropic shield cast by both crossbowmen
There is additional casting faint, deep within the south balcony.
Eadie and Lore see a human-ish creature covered in chains look down at them and turn back into the chamber.
"Intruders. Get ready. We must defend the altar! Bring tools quickly!"
You hear the sound of more guttural voices and chains from within.
Kyton Evangelists
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“Incoming, Lore! Brace for impact!”
Eadie watches the sky-diving sage-slave get bigger and BIGGER as he approaches the Pathfinder duo, culminating in a push in the back which propels them to the relative safety of the ledge. “Snave, you living doll! Thank-you so much! I owe you a bucket of potash or blood-and-bone when this is done.”
✿❀❁❃
“Dunno, Lore. But I bet it’s not ‘How do you take your tea?’”
Eadie sets the gnome priestess down, and considers their predicament. She whispers, “Lore, I think you’d be safest riding Snave. Jangles is mustering more of his mates, by the sound of it. Dunno if I want just the two of us fighting them.”
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“It's OK, Lore. Unless you have another suggestion, I’m gonna go invisible for three minutes, like I did in the Golden City, remember? Until the battle up top is won and you, Turg and the boys can get into the fight down here.”
The warrior screams at Jangles. She takes a few paces towards Maximo’s rope, “ABADAR, HELP ME MAKE IT IN TIME!” before breaking her key-shaped snapleaf and backtracking a total of 45’ while drawing her falchion. Eadie remains very still watching Lore and the battle above.
Also, only the rooms with occupants are lit. The well shaft itself only has the faint glow of the dim green runes encircling rings every 20'. Any wayfinders or light spells would have been likely dispelled if they were upon Lore, Eadie or Snave.
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"I dont... Uhh..." Snave quietly responds to the bucket comment. He carries the good gnome to wherever guided within 120'.
Turg, unhappy with the "offering things to Snave" (and the fact she can't SLA until he's gone) holds off on doing anything unless he's annihilated by a bad (in which case, Mites.)
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With Chochok scrambling back to the ledge, and Lore quickly rising on Snave, Maximo leaves the rope dangling into the well and follows Caradeum down the stairs. "I suppose what appeared to be a shortcut, was indeed something quite the opposite. Oh, well." He grins at his pun.
"Since it appears we have roused the attention of all manner of scoundrel and vagabond below, I suppose it is time for a little pick-me-up." As he speaks, he takes hold of a small flask dangling around his neck, flicks open the top, and swiftly drinks the contents. He lets out a breath like one who has just unknowingly gulped dwarven spirits. "Smoooth!"
Maximo's face breaks out in a sudden sweat, and pulls at his collar like it's too tight. As he brushes a hand over his face and through his hair, a change comes upon him. His wrinkles and gray hair seem to be wiped away, and his eyes become clearer. Standing taller, his shoulders suddenly fill the coat that was before a little loose upon him. Drawing Big Love, he stands upon the steps like a general ready to go to war.
"You there!" He calls to Caradeum. "Let's skip the creeping about and stride boldly into danger!"
The ladies try to evade the notice and reach of the chain man.
Turg waits as Snave ferries Lore back.
Meanwhile Caradeum, heads to the south stairway. Maximo chugs a brew and follows with Chochok march-hopping behind with musket drawn.
The three of them look into the south room and see why the one mite jumped to his death.
As you look into the south room you see the roof is collapsing and the only exit is a set of broad stone stairs to the west.
Lore, Snave and Turg, from the original balcony, turn to see the crossbowmen cast spells upon themselves.
Eadie, hiding invisibly, hears more commotion in the northwest chamber.
The ceiling collapse is continuing from the east to the west. Large blocks of stone are falling as the entire chamber seems to be imploding upon itself. Your only hope of avoiding being crushed and buried appears to be the stairway to the west.
Eadie could not see jangles up from her initial spot on the western ledge, but as she walks eastward, she sees his outline against the backlit room. Sounds of others moving in the chamber as well, but not yet visible.
Turg helps Snave land on the balcony with Lore. (anything else?)
Lore jumps down to the balcony about the same time Chochok emerges from the next lower balcony, clinging to the edge. He looks a bit confused as he stares down the well he had just seen half a minute ago.
You can hear Maximo calling from further into the room.
Eadie invisibily makes her way towards the dangling rope.
Eadie inches her way through the darkness and eventually reaches the rope.
Caradeum moves to the stairs, but catches himself next to Chochok as he realizes the stairs lead nowhere but down.
Maximo sees his two friends balancing on the edge of the well as he calls them back.
Eadie sheaths her Falchion
Two of the crossbowmen fire their crossbows at Lore and Snave.
Fire at the flying ones!
@Lore Crossbow
for
@Snave Crossbow
for
for
One quarrel soars over Lore's head, but the other finds its mark in Snave.
Jangles appears in the balcony and peers down. He throws a chain and it becomes rigid and he quickly (amazingly quickly) climbs 40' down to the landing at the water level.
Intruders! I will guard the doors. Take them down!"
Two of his buddies appear in the upper room and head down the ledge/stairs towards the group. Both are carrying chains as well as being wrapped in chains.
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Maximo continues exploring the illusion.
"For the love of Shelyn, I cannot fathom the purpose of this illusion!"
Upon hearing Lore's fireball explode, he moves towards the ledge where Chochok and Caradeum loiter. "What on Golarion was that? Oh... You there!" He calls to the burning chain gang below. "Would you be so good as to tell us how to descend so that we might engage in a fair fight?!"
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"Oh, good dodge. A+." Turg says to her vineball, overflowing with bitter sarcasm. "Ok, now go carry... One of them to wherever the fight is."
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Snave uses his 60' fly speed makes his way to either the Dandy or the Frogman (depending on who asks first) to airlift them to their desired fight zone.
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Astonished at how fast the chain-bound creatures can climb, Eadie tries to deduce where the northern two baddies are planning to battle the party.
Can they see me? I wouldn't have thought so ...
Maybe they're going to scale the walls some place? Perhaps from about where I am now ...
Eadie retreats 35' and draws her Lucerne hammer.
Lore casts a spell and a ball of flame exploses in the southern balcony and the two men cry out in pain, one more than the other. They look at their crossbows then back at Lore.
"Ouch! We can't repel firepower of that magnitude!"
Chochok, braces himself to enter back into the 'collapsing' room and searches for a secret door.
Caradeum quaffs a potion of flying, similar to the one Eadie tried earlier.
Turg directs air traffic.
Maximo continues to search in all the wrong places and moves to the ledge.
Eadie retreats 35' and draws her Lucerne hammer.
The two crossbowmen move back away from the ledge, into the room and out of sight.
A couple of similarly garbed men appear to step directly out of the south wall of the chamber Chochok is searching.
They are followed by a commanding woman wielding a flaming whip.
"Hey frogman...I think you need to look a bit more to your left."
Meanwhile, jangles takes up a defensive position in front of the doors at the western edge of the pool.
His buddies move down the ledge. The first reaches the spot directly beneath the dangling rope. The other still 30' behind.
Maximo takes a drink and exchanges pleasantries with the woman.
"We are not afraid of rabble such as yourselves. Lissala will reward us for your slow deaths!"
Chochok and Caradeum are both able to see past the illusary wall now that people are walking through it.
Caradeum, flying near the 15' ceiling, hurls a flurry of snow a the newcomers and the barrage hits the trio unexpectedly.
The first two take it full in the face but the lady manages to dodge a bit of the snow.
Eadie throws a potion bottle across the well, having it shatter on the far side. Both of the jangles brothers look at the impact but the one close to the rope (and Eadie) calls out.
"I think it came from over there - south like.
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Turg stares at Snave, irritated by Only the Gods Know What as Snave circles around to prepare for Summoner Liftoff (provoking if he has to, though he looks fine with his 60'.
Turg mounts lazily as she couples her turn with a Full Defense.
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