The party works their way around the room, noticing nothing of note, and descends the stairs at the other end.
Unlike the rooms above, this level shows every sign of being lived in. Dirt and grime have been cleansed, revealing an opulent suite even the most jaded decadent could call home. Firepelt rugs cover parquet flooring in the main chamber of a communal living area. Around the room stand fine mahogany tables, desks, and gilded chairs, and recessed shelves on the walls hold a trove of books and scrolls. Cloth-of-gold wall hangings show images of a serpentine goddess raining bounty upon her worshipers. An arch to the north overlooks the well, while smaller arches west and east contain downward and upward staircases. A number of closed doors lead off from the main room as well.
Standing about the room are five devotees of Lissala.
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The normally careful Elizabeth springs into action. After quickly scanning the Lissalan devotees, she determines the one not dressed like a guard to be the biggest possible threat. She rushes forward, drawing her rapier as she does so and tumbling on the ground in order to avoid providing the gurads any opportunity to attack her.
And once she ends up in front of her intended prey, she thrusts with the rapier.
Elizabeth springs into action and jabs at the leader with her rapier, driving it into his side. He screams in rage and orders his followers to attack. He draws a whip and mutters, "Bloody elf! The might of Lissala comes down upon you."
Cultist 1 calls out to his goddess to bring hellfire down upon their foes.
The other cultists draw their flails and surround Elizabeth as she writhes about the floor. They call out to Lissala to assist them in combat.
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"What a mess. Let's organize and prioritize this a bit."
Reaching into his component pouch, his fingers emerge pinching a tiny bit of powdered stone. The words and gestures weave together in a smooth display, and the wizard flings the dust in the direction of the South wall. A shimmer ripples across the space between Liz and the two enemies closest to the wall, then disappears, leaving behind an invisible barrier cutting the latter off from the rest of the fray.
"Amiri and Kyra, I presume you can deal with the remaining 3 in under a minute?"
Phos casts a spell to separate the opponents and hopefully save Elizabeth from her doomed position.
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Kyra steps to Aamiri's rear to protect her flank from attacks and calls out to Sarenrae to aid her downed companion. In the space behind one of Elizabeth's attackers a shimmering being appears wielding a glowing scimitar. The being of force raises its weapon to attack, providing a flanking opportunity for Elizabeth.
Aamiri steps forward and opens up two bloody gashes on one of the Lissalans. Elizabeth curls into the fetal position, surrounded by the crazed cultists. Kyra calls forth on aid from her goddess and the force nearly knocks back one of the priests.
Cultist 1 steps forward and swings his flail at Kyra.
Cultist 2 attacks Elizabeth.
Cultist 3 attacks Elizabeth
Cultist 4 pulls a scroll from his belt and casts a spell.
Cultist 4 and Heshlak scream in frustration behind their invisible barrier.
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Ignoring the outrage on the opposite side of the barrier, Phos directs his attention towards cultist 2.
"Both of you against one young lady? That's hardly fair, now is it?"[b]
Pointing two fingers of his hand at the offending cultist, he lets loose with two red hot rays.
[b]Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 10):
5 (4/day) Teleport, Wall of Force, True Strike, Quick, Hungry Pit (DC 24), Telepathic Bond*
4 (5/day) Black Tentacles, Wall of Ice (DC 23), Invisibility, Greater, Acid Pit (DC 23), Arcane Eye*, Emergency Force Sphere
3 (5/day) Haste, Stinking Cloud (DC 22), Arcane Sight*, Dispel Magic, Daylight, Mad Monkeys
2 (6/day) Darkvision, Scorching Ray (1/1), Mirror Image, Web (DC 21), Detect Thoughts* (DC 22), Protection from Evil, Communal
1 (7/day) Vanish, Magic Missile, Mage Armor, Comprehend Languages*, Ray of Enfeeblement (x2) (DC 20), Air Bubble, Touch of Gracelessness (DC 20)
0 (at will) Ghost Sound (DC 19), Mage Hand, Detect Magic*, Message
* Indicates specialist spell.
Bold spells have already been cast.
Phos lets two jets of fire burst forth from his fingers and one of the cultists falls to the ground, burnt to a crisp.
Elizabeth stands up and the cultist swings at her, but Elizabeth responds by putting a rapier in his side. Aamiri moves up to help Elizabeth and slices the head off of the cultist that swung at her.
Meanwhile, Kyra and her spiritual ally beat on the cultist across the room.
Cultist 1 steps out of flank and swings at Kyra, once again infusing his flail with negative energy.
Hesklak screams in rage and his fellow trapped behind the wall looks nervous crumbling his used scroll into a ball.
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After the two cultists that had been flanking her are put down, "Thanks you guys!" Elizabeth sees that party surrounding the last cultist not held back by Phos' arcane barrier. With the elven wizard's guidance, Elizabeth charges at the surrounded cultist, hoping to drive her rapier deep into his chest.
Aamiri continues to swing at the cultist. Kyra manages to connect although her ally does not. Phos helps Elizabeth as she walks over and digs her rapier into the cultist's side.
The cultist on the outside of the wall of force tries to cast a spell but can't concentrate while surrounded by enemies.
Elizabeth's rapier bounces off the man's armor but Kyra's ally knocks him to the ground. Heshlak yells out in frustration that his men are being slaughtered and he can't do anything about it.
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"Thank you for getting me out of that jam. I should've been more careful. I got a pretty good stab into Mr. Whippy there, but I wouldn't doubt if he's managed to heal himself up a bit while he's been watching us slaughter his friends."
Elizabeth sheathes her rapier and grabs a small sack that seems to be covered in a bit of tar and resin.
"You know, I've been carrying around this tanglefoot bag for a while now and I've always wanted to try it out. Tell you guys what - let me see if I can get the guard caught up with this."
Phos dismisses the wall of force and Aamiri tears into the leader.
Heshlak responds by lashing out with her whip.
The cultist swings his flail in Aamiri's direction.
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The breeze created by the cultist's missed fall shot fanned the flames of the caster's fire damage. Ignoring the cultist for the time being she attempts to take out Heshlak.
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[ooc]Should the first shot take down Heshlak I'll make my second attack against the cultist with Powerful Blow for another 2 damage.
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With a few arcane words and gestures, 5 bolts of arcane power erupt from Phos' outstretched hand towards Heshlack (or the cultist, if the whip-master has gone down).
With two mighty swings Aamiri brings the head cultist to his death. Phos lays some magic missiles into the remaining man as Elizabeth sticks him with tar. Kyra's ally misses but the cleric's scimitar lands true.
The cultist drops his flail and drops to his knees. "Please! Mercy!"
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Stepping aside allow the fuming barbarian to pass, Phos calmly gestures to Kyra and Elizabeth, "Would you ladies mind binding our prisoner's hands? I have never been terribly adept with knot tying." As they work, Phos removes the cultist's helmet (if he wears one), removes a copper piece from a pouch on his sash, chants a few arcane words, and flips the coin towards the prisoner. As the magic flows through him, him, the wizard focuses his mind on that of the cultist, willing the helpless man's mind to open to him and reveal his secrets. "Now tell me, who is in charge here?" (Will save DC 22)
"Miakovna! Miakovna runs the temple, she made the deal with the Aspis!"
You can see faint memories of a beautiful woman leading groups of worshiper in prayer. He thinks of angry words between this woman and several higher-ranking cultists and a group of astounded Aspis agents, presumably as shocked as anyone that the cult of Lissala is still alive. More memories show the female leader standing with Lyone, one of the Aspis you fought above, seeming announcing to the cult an agreement between the two parties. Several Aspis agents sit among the faithful. More recent memories show more selective meetings where the leader speaks with several cultists about kicking the Aspis out of the temple for good, having served their purpose to the cult.