The eastern wall and ceiling of this room have collapsed, and the grand table in the center has been smashed beneath the weight of a ruined lead and glass chandelier that fell atop it long ago. Once a fine dining room, this room holds nothing of value or interest, as you have seen from the outside when moving around the house.
Also in the room where you killed the two followers of Dagon holds no surprises. Whatever furnishings were once in this room have been used as fuel in the old fireplace, which contains a fairly fresh collection of ash. Only a plain wooden bench now remains beneath the western window. A single lit lantern, hooded so that its light does not shine beyond this chamber, has been set upon the hearth.
The most southern room has a surprise, and it is no nice one. Though the walls of this room are still intact, it is clear that the roof above has sustained damage. The floor of the chamber bears a sizable puddle in which the rotten remnants of a settee still sit.
Out of this setee crawls just as you set foot into the room, a swarm of ticks that longs for blood.
[spoiler=Know(Dungeoneering) DC19]This swarm is really dangerous. It spreads disease, distracts it's victims, and drains their blood. Immune to weapon damage. And even if you leave the swarm, the ticks don't leave you.
HP 68/68
AC 17/12/15 (21/14/17 with mutagen)
Saves F10/R10/W796 fear) (+6 vs. Poison)
Weapon in hand:Mace+1
Special effects:
Bombs:13/14
Nononononono! No swarms. Spugnoir chucks an ice bomb at the ticks
Plus bonus vs. swarms
The swarm is hit and quite some of the vermin are staying behind dead as the swarm moves on, but there is a frightening amount of them left. They come over Grergof and Darius like the water over a river bed.
Assuming he can move: Grergof moves back as far as he can from the swarm.
Ouch!!!! I can do nothing against that!
Arcanist Spells Prepared (CL 9th; concentration +14)
4th (4/day)— black tentacles , ice storm
3rd (4/5)— displacement, lightning bolt (DC 18), slow (DC 18)
2nd (2/5)— glitterdust (DC 17), hideous laughter (DC 17), summon monster II , web (DC 17)
1st (4/6)— detect charm , hypnotism (DC 16), mage armor , magic missile , protection from evil
0 (at will)— acid splash , arcane mark , detect magic , disrupt undead , light, mage hand , prestidigitation, read magic
Reservoir points 9/12
"I can do something but we all need to be clear of the swarm first"
Cold Arctic wind blows through the building coming to centre around Stam, drawing in the cold energy Stam unleashes it upon the swarm.
Even more cold comes over the swarm.
Grergof continues to move away as he settles his stomach.
Mr. Spugnoir, would you be able to make me a vial of liquid fire for situations like this in the future?
Grergof asks as he tries to figure out how to help.
Sure
"What the, these are disgusting!!" Darius says as he also tries to get away from the swarm.
"I'd also like some of that thanks!" Darius says referring to what Grergof said.
Spugnoir adjusts his frost bomb so it will not harm his allies
The swarm splits and the bomb falls on the ground. They even take very little damage from the splash. But now the swarm goes for Spugnoir.
"Try to lead them through the storm it should kill them." Stam backs away again from the approaching swarm
Darius backs away and tries to get the remaining ticks off him.
Spugnoir bombs again, making sure to just get the ticks
Bombs 11/14
Grergof also manages to shake off the ticks.
Spugnoir is unfazed by standing in the midst of the ticks so far. He bombs them again, to good effect, but they are still not done with.
Stam fumbles with his pack for a second pulling a cold vial. Stm then throws the vial at the swarm.
Stam easily hits the swarm. And Spugnoir in the splash.
"I'm SO not prepared for this today." And backs away.
Grergof backs away and reaches into his pack.
Ohh, boy...I forgot to restock my Oil..
He growls in frustration as his companions have to take care of this foe.
Spugnoir does nothing
Spugnoir staggers out of the swarm
The swarm goes after Stam.
- Leave the room through the ice storm via the southern door. It hurts the swarm more than it does you.
- Go bathing in the pond. The swarm can't swim.
- Put a fly on Spugs when you approach again.
- Summon a horde of ponies to keep the swarm occupied.
- Heal the ability damage
- Don't just stand there and get eaten.
"To hells with this." Darius says and moves up to Stam and slams his hand on the ground as light erupts around them in a 20ft radius.
"Sorry Stam this will hurt them more than us."
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area 20-ft.-radius burst
Duration instantaneous (1 round); see text
Saving Throw Will partial; see text; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
You draw down holy power to smite your enemies. Only evil and neutral creatures are harmed by the spell; good creatures are unaffected.
The spell deals 1d8 points of damage per two caster levels (maximum 5d8) to each evil creature in the area (or 1d6 points of damage per caster level, maximum 10d6, to an evil outsider) and causes it to become blinded for 1 round. A successful Will saving throw reduces damage to half and negates the blinded effect.
The spell deals only half damage to creatures who are neither good nor evil, and they are not blinded. Such a creature can reduce that damage by half (down to one-quarter of the roll) with a successful Will save.
Spugnoir is freed of his ticks, as they all die off in the holy light.
"GAHHHH!!!!!" Stam yells "The Nine Hells that burns!"
Grergof looks around to see if there are any big stones or beams he could try to toss into the swarm to try to kill some of them from a distance.
Spugnoir looks even more horrible but throws another ice bomb
Bombs 10/14
Stam is hurt by the holy energy too. Stam also follows his own advice and runs into the ice storm to get rid of the ticks.
Spugnoir shows signs of getting sucked dry. He misses. Doing the agile swarm only a little damage in the splash.
Grergof goes through the rooms in his mind, butthe only stone large enough to splat a number of ticks that would make a difference is that altar like stone in the room with the giant. And Gregof doesn't feel like lifting that.
With Stam gone it is Darius' turn again to get swarmed.
Spugnoir throws another frost bomb, making sure it doesn't hurt his allies
9/14 bombs
Supgnoir misses again - but this time even the splash damage is enough to reduce this horrible swarm of ticks into dead bird food.
"Ugh geez. That was ridiculous. Definitely need to change some of my spells tomorrow." Darius says swiping the last of the ticks from him.
"Gather close let me heal everyone up a bit."
"How's everyone after that?"
"I am not to bad, that spell I used worked pretty well in a small room." Stam helps to see to the others. "That couch needs to be burned!" Stam stays clear of it
The couch is utterly destroyed by the hailstorm Stam sent on it and now the sorry remains are covered in drifting snow.
Thank you Mr. Redgrave. But I seem to still be out of breath from the blood loss.
You wouldn't happen to have a way to fix that would you?
Spugnoir makes up three Lesser Restore extracts
Who needs more? I should check everyone out for infections
"Let me have a look. I too feel weak from the blood loss." Darius digs in his backpack.
While the others dig around for the wand Grergof searches to ensure there is nothing left in the room that they care about.
It's hard to tell through the snow, but if the treassure isn't hiding under the couch, then there is nothing.
"Ah here it is!"
Darius uses the wand on those who need.
"Anyone need another hit?"
Ahhh! All set here. Still, those nasty ticks could have carried disease, I should diagnose everyone to make sure.
Stam nods his thanks to Darius and puts his arms out to his side to allow Spugnoir to inspect him.
"No rectal checks thank you very much." Stam says cooly " So are we still able to go through the portal?"
If you are diseased, I could whip up some antiplague to help heal
I am much better. Thank you Sir. That wand is very useful, we may want to consider picking up another one of those.
Then he submits the Spugnoir's examination.
I am pretty resistant to diseases so I wouldn't expect to have any issues, but if you are worried...
Once the examination is done he says:
I can proceed, but maybe we want to look upstairs before we go through the gate?
Grergof leads the group upstairs.
You move up the stairs, and open the only door at the upper level. This room has weathered the years better than the rest of the house, as wooden shutters remain closed over the windows, keeping most of the elements out. A low hearth stands in one wall, over which hangs an elegantly rendered painting of a tall ship in the midst of a storm. Spaced about the room are three cushioned armchairs, and a wooden pipe rack hangs upon the south wall.
Also there is a man in clerics robes, similar to the ones you found already. From the looks of it a higher ranking member. Wielding a golden trident, with some seashell ornaments in his armor and a golden crown that looks like a golden gannet was landing on his head from behind.
Oh my goodness! We were attacked by adventurers who tried disrupting the ritual with the child. We droe them off but they took the child, please help us recover him.