"Big cutter." Runk says as he looks at the drawing.
Looking around a bit he thinks about the wizardess walking through the goblin defiled room to reach the library. Finding it unlikely he closes the door to the goblin art room and leads the party back to the double doors.
Kesten is somewhat behind, having left Orik's room as the last one.
He will then cast "purify food and drink" on his arm, before going.
Before going through the door he can no longer hold in his snicker, and walks after the others in a hurried step.
"What's up?" he casually says.
"Bookworm in here? I can help your defense, but not against magic I'm afraid Runk."
He leans on his spear, looking around for anything that might be able to hold his attention for more than 3 seconds.
--
Checking the double doors and not finding anything Runk swings them open to find a large room. Stone fonts containing frothy dark water sit to the north and south of the eastern entrance to the room, and twin banks of stone pillars run the length of the long chamber. At the western end, shallow stairs rise to a platform about two feet off the ground. The walls surrounding this platform are lit by hanging braziers that emit glowing red smoke, giving the place an unnerving crimson lighting that throws the bas-relief carvings of countless monsters feasting on fleeing humans into lurid display. A black marble altar stone, its surface heaped with ashes and bone fragments, squats before a ten-foot-tall statue. The sculpture depicts a very pregnant but otherwise shapely naked woman who wields a kukri in each taloned hand and has a long reptilian tail, birdlike taloned feet, and the snarling head of a three-eyed jackal with a forked tongue. The left kukri flickers with fiery orange light while the right one glows with a cold blue radiance.
"Not good."
Runk steps into the room, using one of the pillars for cover while he looks about for any threats.
Blake moves to his customary position close to Runk at the door. "She is likely behind this door. Be ready," he softly says to everyone. With blade in hand he prepares for Runk to open the door.
As the door is opened he looks about trying to locate their quarry and following Runk through the door.
Runk and Blake step into the room and start to look around in front of them when all of the sudden from out of the darkness near the ceiling above them two emaciated, hairless canines swoop down upon them flying just over their heads.
Kesten ducks instinctively as he enters the room and sees the dogs flying above.
He prepares his spear, and casts a spell on himself. He is filled with a strong sense of honour and duty, and protecting his own.
"What are these?" he looks at the arcanists.
As the flying dogs swoop in Blake reacts by dropping his scimitar and pulling the ranseur. With a thought he imbues the pole arm with arcane power and stabs at the closest one.
Kesten moves into the room as a glimor of a shield flashes in front of him before disappearing from sight. Blake pulls out one of the ranseurs to attack, stabbing into the flying dog.
The dogs move in to attack Blake as he is the closest prey.
Blake swats at them with the ranseur but not use to huge flying dogs attacking him they both bite into him and start riping at his neck. Blood gushs from his throat as he falls to the ground unconcious and bleeding out on the floor.
Ethan whispers a prayer and allows divine energy to flow out of him.
"What are they? the halfling asks no one in particular.
Runk is staring up at the flying dogs when the flicker of the imps wings against his leg remind him of their prior fight against flying opponents. Withdrawing dropping his sword and dagger he retrieves his net and sends it spinning up at the closest of the aberrations.
"Blake!"
Zizou runs into the room and targets one of the flying dogs. He holds out his hand and a ball of flame appears in his open palm. He throws the ball at the nearest dog and then the flaming ball reappears in his hand.
What kind of penalty would "Climbing on someone's back" be on your attack roll? :p
Pain, blackness, warmth...in an instand Blake finds himself aching and on the chambers floor. Blood and agony surge down his body as he pulls himself to his feet, summons the arcane energy to imbue the ranseur again and thrusts it at the closet of the creatures.
Zizz blasts one of the dogs, but as the flames wash over the beast it only barely singes the creature. Runk tosses a net over the dog. Runk steps back pulling out a net from his pack and tossing at the injured canine.
The net catches but the dog remains flying, only slightly hampered by the net. Ethan calls again on the power of his god healing some of Blakes injuries. Blake grabs the weapon that fell to the floor with him and jabs up at the injured dog. From his angle he manages to place the strike into the creatures gut and it yelps in pain.
Kesten steps forward, standing in front of Ziz and Runk to shield them somewhat and lunges upwards, stabbing the flying whatcha-ma-callit.
His spear finds a weak spot in the underbelly, and the thrusts up. The wind whips up slightly as he hisses, a sound he was not expecting to make.
What are you...
I have an idea!
We can't!
He's not ready.
Like hell he is.
Kesten, you can do it...
Do what?
"Stay back a bit, I need them lined up.." he whispers as the static forms around his entire body.
Kestens stabs another hole in the flying canine adding the wounds from Blake and Ziz. It tries it's best to escape the net.
It has little success only further tangling itself up in the netting. The other one lets out a loud and frightul bark mixed with a growl as it moves toward Kesten.
Steeling himself against the unnatural fear, Ethan tries to recall anything he may have read about such creatures.
The howling snarl brings back memories of the gripping fear the imps magics had instilled. This time however Runk is ready for it. Even before the haunting sound can begin to cloud his mind he pushes it aside giving a growl of his own in response.
Ziz feels the hairs rise on the back of his neck, but fear fails to overtake him. With a grimace, he shakes his hand, letting the flame dissipate. He replaces it with a ball of lightning, hurling it at the flying creature that is still free. "Hunkigarriak eskura!"
You recall reading about beasts as these. Yeth hounds are evil outsiders that delight in hunting intelligent prey. They lope through the night skies, relentlessly pursuing their chosen quarry for miles, and harrying them with their frightful baying. A yeth hound stands 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs about 400 pounds.
Grabbing his sword with one hand Runk gives a heave on the rope to try and bring the beast into range.
What are their vulnerabilities?
Ziz blasts the flying dog once again this time with lighting, while the shock to the canine is apparent it seems to shrug off the worst of it, even so with the constant attacks it seems rather injured. Runk attempts to pull on the net but the flying dog yanks back with the full force of it's body and manages to stay put.
"Erastil ward your servant against the hounds of the abyss," he calmly intones.
"Yeth Hounds! They are spawn of the lower planes, and not native to our world," he tells the others.
A panicked creature must drop anything it holds and flee at top speed from the source of its fear, as well as any other dangers it encounters, along a random path. It can't take any other actions. In addition, the creature takes a –2 penalty on all saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. If cornered, a panicked creature cowers and does not attack, typically using the total defense action in combat. A panicked creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Unholy fear consumes Blake's thoughts as he watches the hounds howl and swoop. He lets go of the ransuer gets to his feet and takes off with out regard to his companions screaming, "Hell is coming after me!"
"Get away get away!!!" Kesten shouts, as Blake is running in his direction!
Seeing the hounds effects on Blake and Kesten Runk frowns, a bit of empathy sparking in the back of his mind but ignored in favor of the need to focus on the escalating difficulty of the task at hand.
Blake and Kesten, gripped with fear from the unnatural sounds of the bark growl coming from the massive flying dog run away in terror. The dog entangled in the net tries once again to get free.
Still struggling it can't break free. The other dog swoops down at Ziz to attack.
The dog chomps into Zizs arm as he puts it up to defend himself.
"Circle it" Runk calls out.
Runk releases his hold on the net leaving the hound to writhe in it's tangles. Taking a step he draws a dagger and attacks.
Kesten still has a look of absolute horror on his face.
His mind flails, and he screams at the top of his lungs.
What is happening?
I don't know...
Did you..
NO!!
Why is he cowering?
Well, he is your grandgrandson, no?
Come here and say that.
Blake continues to flee as quick as he can.