|
When the kobold points out the shouting, Zilka chuckles nervously, and says in Draconic, "Just stress, you know - they fight like that every time things get tight."
"So there's the King and the shaman -- do they stay together most of the time, or do they have their differences? Maybe we could convince the shaman to join you too."
Belladonna goes for the benches and layers them so they will block both doors. She looks disappointed. Perhaps there was something bigger or heavier that would help reinforce the barricade?
Curiosity mixed with the newfound stability they had just reached, Zirren let the others talk as he wandered into the room to more closely examine the wall on the eastern side.
"Zilka." Zirren called for his Pathfinder companion to follow him.
"No, I didn't think I was mistaken... now how do we open this?" he said, beginning to feel around the edges. He couldn't help but feel a moment of excitement as he'd actually found a secret door and without anyone's help too.
The kobold leader shakes his head in response to Zirren's question, his grotesque ear flopping in an almost comical way as he does. The other kobolds watch in awe as Zirren finds a small finger-hole in the stone wall that allows him to pull the door open with a slight grind of stone upon stone, but the door swings fairly freely.
Zirren turned excitedly to look at Zilka and then called back out toward the rest of the group. "Caine! Caine!! It's alright now, the Kobolds here are not a threat to us. We've come to an agreement. But... just get everyone to come here and look. I seem to have found a secret passage!"
"That ain't where the missing kids are." Caine said flatly. "You think there's anything down there that's more important than them?"
"Without knowing what is down this way... it's hard to say for sure." Zirren felt a moment of discontent but he knew Caine was doing what he thought best.
He came back over to the group.
"Alright, before we press on, let's review what we now know. There are still two of the children missing. One with this demon forge spurned somewhere on this level, and the other still captured by King One-Eye. We have a truce with Kerrdremark and his followers. And while we've explored some of this level, there are definitely still areas we have not been to. Especially because of that passage I've just discovered.
Kerrdremark seems to have been put in-charge of this level, he has told me about the dangers still awaiting down below. Clearly they had only just recently emerged and had not taken control of it, as evidenced by the ghouls, the slime, and the lack of traps. One thing about Kobolds is that they like to set traps.
Kerrdremark has said that there are many traps and ambush points down in their lair below, he'll try to point them out but even so, we'll have to be extra careful.
There are also King One-Eye's personal entourage known as the Dark Talon's. They are completely loyal to him, so there won't be any chance to talk to them.
The King One-eye and his Shaman are foolish but both are strong in magics according to Kerrdremark. The shaman has a powerful magical dagger called Heartripper. The king is also very strong physically."
Zirren stopped to let the others have a chance to think about this.
"So with all of that in mind, where are we going?"
"I think it'd be more efficient to start with the demon, followed by the King, right?"
"It certainly would be the best. As well as us finishing anything else that might get in our way up here too."
Zirren then blinked.
Wait, didn't Tommy actually mention something about that?
"Tommy, you had actually said you knew where this Forge Spurned went, right? If so, then I think we have our next course of action."
Tommy nodded and points to the smoke-filled tunnel. "It's in there."
You all can hear more of the ringing sounds of a hammer upon metal echoing from the tunnel.
Well, what are we waiting for, Nathaniel readies his halberd, and then unties the holding strap on his sword, just in case he needs to get to it quickly.
With that done, he turns toward the indicated passageway, and starts off ahead of everyone else, then turns
Are we going to need more light?
then turns again, and heads off to meet this demon face to face.
"Hold on." Caine said. "If this thing's some kind of ghost, we're going to have problem fighting it. I can't cast the spell I used to enchant Art's halberd again. The only thing we have that can hurt it is the cure wand."
"Art, do you think you can channel your Lady's power again today?"
"If it's the forge spurned, which by all accounts it sounds like it, it will be a physical being. Demons will heal from positive energy like any other living creature."
"Alright. Where'd I get the idea that it was a ghost?" Caine asked, confused.
Zilka's light shines overhead as Artegal begins to rush into the smoke-filled tunnel. While the light illuminates the area directly around, the smoke restricts vision to only about 5' ahead. Just as Art and Zilka make it into the first 10' into the tunnel Art doesn't even notice the hidden beast that was waiting for the party. All he spots before he and Zilka are suddenly engulfed in flames is two glowing eyes and a toothy maw that spits a cone of fire that overtakes Zilka and Art both!
Round 1
All party members can post!
Art - 16/18
Bella - 15/15
Caine - 14/18
Ruhk - 19/19
Zilka - 17/17
Zirren - 16/16
Enemy - ??/?? (3/3)
I have not called upon the strength of my lady this day, if that is what you mean.
Ah! An ambush. There is something here, be ready!
Nathaniel closes his eyes and silently calls out to the Lady of Mittonwir to help him find the foe, even if he cannot see it
Using Detect Evil, just to get an idea of where the creature might be, left, right, behind or ahead. I realize I probably cannot use it to pin point the monster's location
Sensing the villain is near, Nathaniel strikes out with the halberd
That will be all for you, Villain!
"Art, Bella, see if you can move to flank."
"Okay!" Says Belladonna as she draws her dagger and leaps into the cave. She doesn't even notice that she's been turned invisible thanks to Zilka, but instead is absolutely focused on navigating through the rocks.
Zirren readies his crossbow but is unable to do anything because of the smoke.
"Art what is it?! I can't see because of the smoke!"
I don’t know, Nathaniel shouts back at Zirren, and then he spins about in place, left then right, trying to understand what Mister Caine was saying
Move to flank! How in the hells am I supposed to know where that is supposed to be through all this smoke? I can’t see it, but I think it’s over this way.
Artegal attempts to slash the fiery dog with his halberd and while his attack strikes, the blade turns upon the natural armor! Zilka casts a spell and causes Belladonna to suddenly vanish. She moves into a flank with Art while the rest of the party seems to hold their position and wait to see the outcome. The beast, however, is not so idle... With a snarl that is reminiscent of a roaring fire, the hound snaps out and bites down hard upon Art's torso! Several of the teeth penetrate through your armor into flesh and you feel a few ribs crack from the pressure and heat that sears the meat of your chest!
Round 2
All party members can post!
Art - 5/18
Bella - 15/15
Caine - 14/18
Ruhk - 19/19
Zilka - 17/17
Zirren - 16/16
Enemy - ??/?? (2/3)
Belladonna freaks when Mr. Artegal gets bit and hurriedly slaps the dog thing with her little toothpick across the behind. It was not effective.
"I got Art. See what you can do." Caine said. He stepped in hugging the cave wall and tapped Boote with the wand.
Ugh, that's not right. Take this you smoke monster!
Slicing down through the smoke, Nathaniel feels his weapon strike the ground and then moves to his right deeper into the cave where he calls out
Miss Goodbarrel I'm coming to where you are, don't be alarmed and stick me by mistake
Zirren was beginning to feel frustration creep in. He couldn't see whatever it was in the tunnel and he couldn't risk distracting everyone to keep asking questions.
Now what? I can't do any... no wait. Maybe I can try that.
Taking a step back from where Ruhk and the others were crowding, Zirren dropped to a knee, set his crossbow down, then swung his pack off and began rummaging through it.
He collected a vial of ink and his water skin.
Ruhk begins to move to fill a position better suited for combat.
"O-okay!" Says Belladonna as she realizes that she's just slapped the butt of something that could turn around.
Round 2 Recap
Belladonna moves in and stabs the hound-like creature in the backside, eliciting a yelp of surprise more than pain. Art feels a some of his wounds ease as Caine applies a bit of healing before striking out, but finding nothing but the ground before moving to one side! Zilka moves in and hits the beast hard, cutting into its shoulder! Frustrated, Ruhk waits for a better position while Zirren delves into his back and rummages around for some times.
The beast snarls at Zilka this time and tries to bite you, but your armor turns the vicious teeth back. The creature snarls and snaps as it realizes it's now cornered! To the back of the tunnel, the sound of forging continue unabated...
Round 3
All party members can post!
Art - 10/18
Bella - 15/15
Caine - 14/18
Ruhk - 19/19
Zilka - 17/17
Zirren - 16/16
Enemy - 11/?? (1/3)
Since the creature isn't attacking Belladonna, she continues to stab at it's backside. A little better this time, Belladonna will call it "consistent".
|
|
"Art, strike it and move to the side for Caine or Rukh!" Zilka calls out, before trying to demonstrate. She can't remember reading anything about this creature that she hasn't already recalled, and her sword swing misses the creature entirely. Cursing, she steps back to let in one of the men behind her.