|
"It is a Caryatid Column, a construct I believe, but it looks damaged. Nevertheless it will require powerful blows to damage it being stone and all," Morallo says,
"I doubt it will be able to do much, but if attacks a summon rather than you martial types I call that a win. I suggest we all strike at the same time," He calls as he drops his shield and fires his crossbow before gesturing to the eagle and calling,
"Attack!"
|
|
|
Upon encountering the new statue, Rolvark pauses and listens to both Morallo and Cork's exchange. Well, guess some of the bookish ones are actually competent after all too
Seeing the hawk swoop down to engage the creature in melee, Rolvark moves in carefully to attack the statue as well with his sword.
"Morallo! Get your hawk to move to its side so that the others have a clear shot!"
|
Since Rolvark charged, or I assume he did, I moved him one square back as he would have required to stop at the closest legal square against the column
Upon Morallo's lead, the group coordinates a charging attack against the old statue! However, the strikes barely penetrate the rock hard caryatid column. The statue starts to move making crunching stone noises.
|
|
Morallo frowns and chants a spell, flicking a small drop of melted butter towards the statue, "Uncto in eis!" A layer of viscous grease appears beneath the thing.
Components V, S, M (butter)
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can’t move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The eagle flying above the grease asaults the statue, ignoring the fact that the stone figure is virtually impervious to its blows.[/spoiler]
|
|
Domrilin shoots away magical entities at the column. The acid sizzles loudly as it starts to disintegrate part of the stone away but the magic stone bounces off the statue without even making a dent!
Rolvark moves around carefully after the initial charge to strike with his greatsword but the column deflects away the swing with his bare hands. However this serves as a great distraction for Morallo to create a spell of grease which causes the construct to fall.
With whatever ounce of strength it has remains, the caryatid column swings it's arms towards the eagle.
|
|
Rolvark hacks away at the statue as it picks himself up. The sharp end of the human's greatsword manages to chip some stone bits away but the fight is far from over as the column stands headstrong still.
From afar, Diplomat and Morallo fire off bolts towards the column with no luck as both shots fly inaccurately away from the stone creature. Cork, however, finds himself luckier with his ray of frost touching the creatures legs, freezing a small piece off.
~~~
|
|
The acid dart finds itself corroding away the knee of the column that it loses integrity and falls. Smashing itself into pieces with impact.
With the path cleared, you are able to travel deeper through the dark and dimly lit chambers of this ruin. The walls, ceiling, and floor of this room are covered in elaborate patterns of countless tiny tiles. The tiles also form three images on the west wall: one depicts a woman in a cloak hovering above a pile of skulls; another depicts the same woman kneeling before a massive fiend; the third shows her in the company of a godlike figure standing before a massive pyramid.
This depicted fiend is Ahriman, Lord of All Divs
Heavily damaged objects have been left behind in this room. The objects include: gold-plated idols of the pharaoh (heavily dented); a lacquered box of stale incense (covered in tooth marks but unopened); a ceremonial platinum dagger (snapped in half); dozens of pieces of pottery (smashed to bits); six scrolls (chewed up into spitballs and stuck to the ceiling—now illegible); and numerous objects of gold and silver, all dented, battered, and broken a dozen times over.
These date back to the reign of the Pharaoh of Forgotten Plagues.
|
|
Morallo quirks a brow studying the mosaics with bright eyed interest, "Ahrim, Lord of all Divs... This spoiled miscellany appears to date back to the reign of the Pharoah of Forgotten Plagues! I suppose we might salvage a little of the precious metal, but alas it would be likely best melted down."
With a sigh he casts detect magic and sweeps the room just in case anything offers up an aura that might prove valuable or illuminating.
|
|
"At a guess? Our old friend the disembodied flying head? Though it is rarely wise to make such large assumptions. Chewing up a scroll and wasting it like that would seem to make sense for a creature like that, unable to utilize it in any more proper way," Morallo says scowling at the wadded up mess.
|
|
Leaving no stone unturned, Morallo attempts to seek possible signs of magic. However, whatever remains in this room has no magical essence towards it. And after discerning some perhaps interesting information, you press on into what seems to be a dead end chamber.
A well-preserved wooden chest sits atop a platform against the south wall of this room. A series of arcane glyphs burnt into the top of the chest forms a spiral. Iron bindings reinforce the chest, and it has no apparent lock or key. A series of heavy latches keep the lid tightly shut. The latches are apparent that they can be easily manipulated to open the chest (it doesn't look to be locked). The arcane glyph bears a resemblance to that of the one on the floor upon your entrance into the ruins.
|
|
Rolvark grunts as the statue collapses due to the acid dart. He nods at Domrilin and sheathes his sword before moving on.
Ignorant of ancient religions, Rolvark nevertheless takes note of Morallo's comments to report back to the Venture Captain later. Upon encountering the wooden chest, Rolvark turns to the others. "Anyone knows what those magic markings do?"
|
|
"Mmmm, gliphs on a treasure chest suggest the presence of magical traps I would first try examining it with detect magic from a distance," Morallo advises standing as far away as possible.
"I would also guess it might well contain another of those head creatures so we ought to be excessively wary. My presumption being that the one which fled was in the chest we saw near the entrance."
|
|
"Well, we can but open it at this point I think. I do not suppose anyone is capable of locating traps? If not I shall stand back over here with a summons at the ready in case any thing unpleasant pops out. Perhaps you would open it Master Rolvark? My assumption being that you would be best able to deal with any consequences." Morallo says raising his shield and peering over its rim, his free right hand extended ready to summon should any creature emerge?
|
Echoing footsteps on stone fade in from the direction the group came from, from around the corner a light source pushes through the darkness to reveal a man with a thick head of hair carrying numerous broken and discarded items, including a skeleton's skull, from the previous rooms. He stops and awkwardly waves a hand at the group, trying to not drop anything.
He's dressed in a standard tunic with various stains and singes all across it, while underneath a bit of a fine mail shirt can be seen. He's wearing a pair of criss crossed bandoleers with their loops well filled with various potions and vials. His backpack is large with camping gear and water bottles strung throughout. A curved one-handed sword, yellow wooden club, and crossbow compliment the look nicely. He smiles and awaits your response, leaning to the side a bit to try to get a look at whatever is in that large chest before continuing on.
|
|
Dale gives the two a weird glance of confusion before laughing and swapping his speech, slowly at first, back into the common tongue "Sorry.. about.. that. Like I said, I've been in and around Mwangi for months now, and down there Polyglot IS the common tongue." He then goes on to reiterate what he said earlier for those who didn't understand it.
"So, what have we here? Anything particularly interesting? Mind if I take a look?" Dale takes another step forward to have a look at the contents of the chest.