That brute upstairs. He thinks being a lieutenant gives him so much authority! Pah.
talon feels a bit confined in the narrow stairwell, it make it difficult to maneuver.
Talon does his best to stay out of sight. looking for the right opportunity to attack.
He does his best to slip past off the stairway.
"So how did he get promoted to lieutenant?" Tor says.
Talon, he doesn't acknowledge your presence. Your stealth appears to have succeeded.
Oh, you know. Skull bashing and violence. Not that I'm against such things, mind. I'm more interested in you! Not many would survive the Ghost on the stair, nevermind venture further! What are you doing here?
"Skull bashing and violence, it appears," Taerine replies to the troll. "If that was the lieutenant, do you know who was in charge?"
"We're here to remove something from this plane that doesn't belong. Which is to say the same goal but different reasoning as to why everyone on the bloody planet seems to be coming here." Rangvald says skipping the dishonesty. "Before you decide to react with skull bashing and violence please bear in mind that our goal is not to slaughter everything we come across nor is it in our best interest to do harm unto those who see fit to be an aid to us. So if you might answer the lady's question perhaps we can start a meaningful dialogue here in this wretched tomb."
Sense Motive
It's good to hear that not everyone in the world is so eager to draw blades. Ferric is in charge. And I know what you're thinking, not that one you just killed. This is the real Ferric. The lesser one took the same name in a misguided attempt to gain prestige for himself. All it did is create confusion.
Anyway, he's probably waiting for you up those stairs.
More importantly, are you referring to the Troc? You're after it too? There was a Winter Witch that came before us. Maybe you'll meet her, yes?
The troll is telling the truth. In fact, he is being uncharacteristically open and honest.
Talon remains hidden, ready should the tables turn to violence.
He eyes the stairs the Troll mentioned.
"So what is the real Ferric like?"
"And what can you tell us about this winter witch? The torc seems quite popular, of a sudden."
The real Ferric is about twice as tall, four times as mean, and eight times as smart as your average giant. Chosen of the Demon Lord to boot. Not a very likable fellow, but skilled.
The Witch? She was a piece of work. Powerful, smart. Took too many risks though. She lost a few men just in the Ghost's room and even I managed to talk my way out of that one!
What about yourselves? You haven't told me your names!
"Chosen of the Demon Lord, is he? Chaotic creatures, demons. They can't hold a candle to a devil. I should know, after all. One is my father. I am the Devil's Daughter.
"And why are you down here if Ferric is above?"
Devil's Daughter. Ahhh, yes. The Chelaxian. I have admired your work for some time. Or the rumors of it anyway.
I am her studying this shrine. I believe it was constructed by Babba Yaga herself.
Talon remains in the shadows, ready for the sudden betrayal. but he does not strike unless provoked.
Using his keen senses he surveys the room from his vantage point.
"My name is Tor of Clan Deathsteel."
Nice to meet you both. I am here studying this shrine. The challenges ahead are significant, and I am attempting to divine insight into Babba Yaga.
If anyone looks intentionally at the altar for more than a few seconds you are raptured into visions of a benighted forest. Elaborate fetishes and totems hang from the trees and you feel a profound sense of Presence, though your mind can't quite understand it. Like music barely heard through a wall.
Tor will shake his head and pull his gaze away from the shrine before asking "How long have you been studying this shrine?"
A few days now. It is a stimulating challenge! You all should join me!
Tor, you're sarting to get the feeling that this troll failed the will save you made.
"Maybe once we finish our talk with the winter witch, we can come back and do that."
"Another time. We have other places to be, it seems."
With that, Taerine turns on her heel and proceeds back to continue their exploration.
RF
G1:
G2:
G3:
W:
The party carefully extricates themselves from the curious troll and proceeds upstairs.
A massive double portal composed of two white stone doors dominates the north wall of this sixty-foot-high chamber. Its surface bears a scene of craggy, snow-clad peaks in relief beneath the cavorting forms of unidentifiable creatures. The lintel above the door bears an inscription in ancient runes. Bloodstains mar the floor of the chamber, and piles of garbage have been swept into the corners.
All that is secondary to the absolutely terrifying Giant in the room. And the frost giants, gnarled and otherwise, don't count. In the corner, standing at probably 50 feet tall, is an Abyss armored hulk wielding an adamantine warhammer or staggering size. This ebon-skinned monstrosity has a gaping maw with boar-like tusks and a wide nose beneath a furrowed brow that lacks any sort of eyes or visible visual organs. Its corded muscles twist and writhe beneath its smooth, hairless jet hide, giving its frame a gnarled, unbalanced asymmetry. It moves with a loping gait, however, and wears its armor, composed of thick, welded plates, effortlessly.
Oh, and it's looking at Talon.
His incredible reach allows him to swing over the intervening giants and catch the sneaky ninja completely off guard. It nearly crushes you where you stand!
be overcome by wrenching spasms that wrack its body. These spasms cause the victim to be nauseated and deal 1d6 points of damage to Strength and Dexterity due to the painful contortion of bones, muscles, and limbs. The spasms continue for 1d6 hours or until healed with heal, regenerate, or greater restoration. The effects of this ability do not stack, but once a creature has recovered from or been cured of the effect, it can be affected again. Once a creature has made a successful saving throw against this effect, it cannot be affected by the wrenching spasms from that particular gigas for 24 hours.
+8 more if the lighting is at least dim light)
"Well, this must be the real Ferric, then. Let's see what he's made of shall we? Perhaps take some preparations?"
Silas nods at Taerine's suggestion.
"I could summon a companion to help. Or try to bind the big creature in place with magic chains; I don't know how effective they'd be against it considering its size and likely strength, though."
Talon had been flung back to the group and given his report of what he saw prior to the business end of a huge warhammer.
He gets up and brushes himself off, well, that was a bit unexpected.
from his new vantage point on the stairs there is what appears to be some sort of white wolf. Talon simply holds a hand out and a ray of black energy shoots forth to strike at it.
RF:
G1:
G2:
G3:
W:43
Your sudden attack severely harms the wolf. The giants, now that they've spotted you, start hurling huge chunks of ice down the hall, but most of them are aimed for the dwarf in the room. Old prejudices, you know.
The only rock to come close is the big one. Calling it a rock is really doing it an injustice. The thing practically grabs a house-sized boulder of ice and absolutely clobbers poor Tor with it.
The wolf blows frosty air down the hall in the direction of it's attacker.
Talon lets loose with another blast at the wolf
Talon brings down the wolf with a second ray. It's a bit sloppy for him, meaning he missed his desired target on the wolf's body by a whole eighth of an inch.
Tor will cast freedom of movement on himself and then move next to as many enemies as possible.
Tor takes a beating as he moves up. All the giants hit him in spite of his specialized training against them.
HP 247/250; Burn (max 12)/non-lethal damage 3/51; Internal Buffer: 3/3
AC 36, touch 22, flat-footed 31; CMD 34
Fort +23, Ref +20, Will +15
Effects: Force Ward (17/17 temp hp); 10/150 stoneskin; magic vestment (40 hours; +5 enhancement, +2 over normal)
"Damned fool dwarf," Taerine mutters as the dwarves beat on him. "He's going to get himself killed, and I'm not yet done with him."
She gestures at the nearest giant and blasts it with flame, smiling as it catches fire.
Blue flame blasts (2 burn) + burning infusion (1 burn) + extended reach (1 burn); accepting 1 burn.
Burning infusion: Your kinetic blast ignites your foes. Whenever an infused blast hits a foe and penetrates its spell resistance, that foe catches on fire, regardless of whether it takes damage. A foe that catches fire takes 1d6 points of fire damage each round until the fire is extinguished. Against a creature on fire from this infusion, any fire kinetic blasts gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls, to DCs, and on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance.
Silas gestures with his staff and a coruscating ray flies from it toward the largest of the giants.
Tor stands in the midst of a furious barrage of attacks. For giants focus in on him, and only Ferric himself gets a hit in. It's a solid hit, but the dwarf should be dead, which frustrates the monster to no end. He howels curses at Tor and starts swearing painful death on his entire lineage.
Tor will swing his hammer defiantly on the Real Ferric, saying what can only be insults in the tongue of the giants.
Talon maneuvers into the room getting opposite Tor to catch one of the giants off guard.
A few flips and dodges to get there Talon draws one of his blades, as he lands the blade strikes at the giant.
Current Efffects: (Overland Flight, Countless Eyes (17 hours), Heroes Feast (16 temp hp), Heroism, Barkskin)
Without a word Ragnvald slips down a bottle of foul smelling liquid down his throat and attains a familiar monstrous form. Floating higher above the fray his stance and posture suggests a build up of intense power about to be precisely unleashed.
Move: Fly
Standard: Monstrous Physique 3 into 4 armed gargoyle.
RF: 10
G1:
G2: 57
G3: dead
Talon slips behind enemy lines, Taerine and silas preform a light show, and Tor screams inappropriate things about Ferric's mother. The right side giant goes down!
The counter assault is fast and furious. Tor and Talon each take a hit while the world shakes around them with every giant miss.
Tor will continue to beat on Ferric.
And Ferric barely manages to fend off his blows, but manage it he does.