Hannah blasts the Minotaur but it catches him right in the horn, gouging a chunk out but doing little to no real damage to him!
Sigrid though lasts a nasty crunch to one of his knees, driving her flail into the minotaur.
He is starting to look pretty wounded.
Janira tries her best to stabilize Durlo, but without any of her magic available she can only try and hold Durlo's blood in as it seeps out onto the ground.
"Guys, I'm no healer and Durlo here doesn't look good,"
Round 3 - Initiative
Mordack
Durlo -12 hitpoints, unconscious, stable
Grigor
Barti
Janira
Minotaur 24 damage
Hannah
Sigrid
Bartimaeus and Grigor both fire off a couple of crossbow bolts but they ping harmlessly off the minotaur while Mordack gets tangled up in his armor as he casts a spell.
The minotaur laughs at the pitiful attacks and then swings his battleaxe at Sigrid, full attacking.
The Minotaur lands a vicious blow to Sigrid but somehow she remains standing, as the grass grows to overtake him he misses his second attack but slices away the grass threatening to entangle him.
Round 3 - Initiative
Mordack
Durlo -12 hitpoints, unconscious, stable
Grigor
Barti
Janira
Minotaur 24 damage
Hannah
Sigrid 11 damage
Sigrid and Hannah follow up with another devastating combo attack, the minotaur is looking pretty severely wounded.
Janira will try to disarm the Minotaur once again.
but she just kind of flicks her whip in the minotaur's general direction. While Barti runs forward drawing out a wand.
Round 4 - Initiative
Mordack
Durlo -13 hitpoints, unconscious, stable
Grigor
Bartimaeus
Janira
Minotaur 33 damage
Hannah
Sigrid 11 damage
Mordack launches an electrical shock, frying the minotaur. He seems pretty dazed, shaking his big bull head he'll look around at the forces array'd at him, just as bolt from on high fires by dangerously close.
He'll turn around and attempt to run away.
And in his haste to retreat, the big, evil bull-headed monster gets tangled up in the overgrown grass.
Round 5 - Initiative
Mordack
Durlo -13 hitpoints, unconscious, stable
Grigor
Bartimaeus
Janira
Minotaur 36 damage
Hannah
Sigrid 11 damage
Sigrid makes a long javelin throw, the Minotaur turns around and watches and tries to step away, dodge, anything but the grasses hold him firm and the javelin slowly descends on him, piercing him where he crumples to the ground.
Janira wipes her brow in an attempt to clear it of sweat but only proceeds to wipe Durlo's blood on herself.
"Does anyone have my wand of cure light wounds, Durlo here is gonna die soon if we don't save him,"
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Bartimaeus leaps forward, pulling a different wand from his belt. He deftly casts the spell upon Durlo. The spell flickers a bit, but holds true, the magics within clearly fading.
"That should hold him," he says, wand at the ready to dispense more charges as needed. Seeing Durlo's condition stabilize he lets out a long sigh. "That was a close one. How is everyone else faring?" he comments while tapping the dwarf again, hoping he will regain consciousness.
"Madam Sigrid, blood still flows freely from your wounds. May I administer aid? I am afraid this very well could be the last of it's power."
With the last charge used, the wand flickers one last time and becomes nothing more than a stick.
"Madam Janira, we learned much in the cavern, but there is still more. Do you wish to accompany us within?"
Letting up on Durlo now that he is healed up, she listens intently to what you've found so far in the caverns.
"It sounds like you have some unfinished business with the Gillman, I will leave that to you guys. It is after all your confirmation" she says with a smile, nodding to you guys, looking back to the entrance of the caves.
Heading back into the caves, exhausted from being up for several hours now, its now well past midnight.
You find the Gillman in the same place, mediating, as you return he greats you, "Well met, Pathfinders, I take it with your return you handled those pesky mites and laid to rest my brothers?"
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"Grigor is quite right! There is all manner of beasts flitting around this cavern, not to mention the terrors that lurk in the forest! But I digress..." I will have a splendid discussion with Grigor about his knowledge of the beasts we faced! Not to mention that trick he performed with the bat!
"Sir, we have done as you said. Would you now do us the favor of telling us more of what you know of this place? As I mentioned earlier, that carving at the center of the pool is a remarkable piece of work. Might you part with any knowledge of it's make and purpose?" Bartimaeus inquires.
Urori nods, "Yes, this place is a site sacred to the gillmen. It was once sacred to Aroden, the dead god of humanity, as well, but over the past century, the carvings in the nearby room have weathered and melted, and he speculates that soon Aroden’s influence will have faded completely. There are a number of rituals still left that if completed convey some of the last Blessings of Aroden," He goes through, showing you guys how to fulfill the rituals from earlier which assuming each person follows through blesses them in turn. "Thank you, I know much of these caverns, if you ever have questions please ask them of me, I consider you a friend to Gillman now,"
Having finished their exploration of the cave, Janira (assuming she survived) leads the expedition back to Absalom without further incident.
Once safely back in the Grand Lodge, Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine inquires excitedly about what you guyss found and asks to see their notes. He compliments those who recorded notes for being certain to write down ideas and observations while the thoughts are fresh, observing that it’s difficult enough to remember what one had for breakfast the day before as it is to recall exactly what one was thinking while studying an inscription.
As the your group is now the foremost authorities on that cave and what it contains, Shaine also invites you to come up with its name. The elf is certain to compliment Janira for her guidance and assistance, much to the halfling’s delight.
Three days later, you all participate in a ceremony, honoring your entry into the ranks of the Pathfinder's. As part of the ceremony, you are gifted a personalized wayfinder to, a reminder that this is not only the symbol of the Pathfinder’s trade but also a reminder of the three principle duties: explore, report, and cooperate.
Happy and excited for your first real mission as Pathfinders you gather eagerly in Ambrus Valsin the famed Venture Captain for the Grand Lodge in Absalom.
As you shuffle into his cramped office, trophies from his adventures all across the globe litter the room.
"Please, gather around and listen up, this is a time sensitive mission, as such there is no time to waste. A fellow pathfinder, a beginner like you was out cataloging the ruins in the Cairnland outside Absalom, you know the ruined battlefieds of armies that assaulted Absalom and failed. They built a great many structures and this plucky young Agent was building us a site map, he was supposed to check in earlier today and it appears he has been captured, he was able to smuggle out a messenger bird that had a small map with it. This is the location the Pathfinder's been captured." He says that last bit as he unrolls a rough map of the Cairnland "Now quick run, run before something wicked befouls this Pathfinder!"
You guys dash through run eliciting many shouts from noblewomen, bakers and the like but a Pathfinder's life is at stake!
Arriving at the entrance to the castle it leans lopsided and much of it is crumbling and broken. MAP
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"Companions, be wary. All manner of beast may lie within this structure," Bartimaeus advises. He examines the building with scrutiny, hoping to find any indication of what is held inside.
He braces his hat against his head as a stiff breeze threatens to blow it off, his scarf whipping in the wind. An ominous omen. May the spirits of the dead keep us from harm.
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"Yes, Grigor. That is a good idea. That ability, it is how do you say...what you are, yes? You were not cursed with this power?"
He draws his greatsword readies himself, and awaits the results of Grigor's scouting.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Bartimaeus gets a whiff of a faint smell emanating from the tower, it smells like a mixture of rotten eggs and manure.
Grigor circles the tower, flying around a couple of times, he notices their are several points of entry should one want to climb up the tower, several exposed sections of the tower could allow for entry. Something looks off about the top floor of the tower, it seems be sagging under its own weight.
As you guys stand around watching Grigor fly around, a couple of dogs have emerged from the ground floor and growl menacingly at you guys!
They are about 25 feet away and just growling, their ears and tails are standing straight up. they look like mangy flee-ridden beasts.
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Bartimaeus' nose curls at the stench. "There is the slightest hint of something foul in the air. A wretched combination of rotten eggs and manure..." he says, clearly disgusted by the thought that they were going to be moving closer to it.
Yet another disapproving look takes hold of his face as the filthy dogs show up. I do miss the lack of mangy mongrels in Geb. Quite pleasant without creatures like this showing up. Granted, there were other things more worrying if you did not have the ability to circumvent them.
"I am well versed on the topic of animals, however I have never had much of a desire to interact with them. Does anyone have the desire to placate these mutts peacefully?"
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"Now that I get a better look at them, these filthy things are poor specimens of their breed. They should be easy enough to frighten off, if somebody would care to do the honors?" Much more relaxed after making his observation he takes his hat off and brushes some smut from it. Should be easy enough to handle them. It would be faster than putting them down at least.
The combined effort of Hannah's gun's retort and Sigrid charging the dogs yelling nonsense seems to frighten them as they yelp and run off into the Cairnlands with their tails between their legs.
Walking forward into the open way, The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall. The southern wing is filled with rubble making it largely impassable.
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Grigor lands, taking human form again, breathing a bit heavy from the exertion. "I don't think this tower is entirely stable. The top floors seems to be coming down under their own weight. That may be more dangerous than anything that lies within. I did notice there are some areas exposed by collapse that could give us alternate entry points higher up the tower. Looks like you had some company while I was away?"
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What a strange ability Durlo thinks. He eyes Grigor warily before moving on.
"As only one of us can fly, let us work our way up this decrepit place from the bottom."
-Posted with Wayfinder
As it looks like the coast is clear you guys shuffle into the spider webbed room, the dogs must have scared its inhabitant out since it looks totally clear.
A sticky web shoots out of the darkness in the ceiling.
It wraps Sigrid in its sticky embrace, rooting her to the floor and muffling her.
Up on the ceiling 8 glowing red eyes illuminate revealing a giant spider lurking in the darkness, its mandibles drip with a viscous green fluid.
Round 1 - Bold may post!
Hannah
Durlo
Sigrid - Entangled in a web
Bartimaeus
GIANT S-S-SPIDER!!!! 20 feet up
Mordack
Grigor