The town is like dead. No one is seen on the place most of the time. A lonely villager going to the Walleyed Kraken or coming back from there, but nothing else. The day drags itself out into unbearable length.
Spugnoir waves to the villager. Excuse me! The town seems sorta quiet, is there some meeting going on?
The person shortly looks up, but then hurries even more to get to the inside again.
"Well half the town was ground up bodies and brains in jars, so I don't expect a lot of people to be here." Stam says. "To church then? Maybe we can repent for our sins?" the last sentence is dripping with sarcasm.
As it becomes unbearable boring the group decides that taking a look at this temple of Gozreh couldn't hurt. It is just a walk over the market place. The temple has three sections, one larger than the next in all three dimensions. On top of each rests a normal peaked roof.
The first one is an open, colonnaded portico that faces the dark waters of Lake Encarthan. A stone statue of a mermaid with long, flowing green hair
holding a trident and a conch shell stands in the middle of the portico, also looking out to sea. An open archway to the east leads inside.
Stepping through the archway leads to the vestibule. Two leaded stained-glass windows to the north and south display images of the same mermaid depicted by the statue outside. Another open archway leads further in. It is flanked by two doors. Obviously everyone who wants to enter further into the temple is supposed to leave their shoes here, as eleven pairs of shoes line the wall.
In the bethel warped wooden pews stand within this central meeting hall, decorated with a decidedly nautical theme. A wooden statue of the same mermaid depicted elsewhere in the temple stands at the front of the hall, though she holds a strange octopoid creature in one hand rather than a conch shell.
Four men stand in the hall, apparently meditating before the statue. As Grergof and Darius clank around, they turn and two of them approach the group. "Blessings strangers. I'm sorry to tell you, that our service is not for people from out of town. I hope you understand, and agree to leave the temple." one of the men says.
Stam looks at the at the mermaid as they pass by. "Have any of you ever laid eyes on a mermaid before?" Stam asks
Stam is a bit shocked they have asked them leave again. "We are not allowed to stay and ask questions?"
Ahem..Sorry to intrude, we were looking for some of the authorities but they seem to have left their office empty. Would any of you qualify ?
"What do you mean 'authorities'" the man from the clergy asks.
Well, the Sheriff or mayor, of lead religious leader.
"What would you need them for? I don't see what you have to do with our town." the man replies becoming impatient.
We are attempting to apprehend a criminal who we followed to this town and wished permission to capture him without breaking any town laws.
"If it's someone from out of town, we don't care. Neither will the sheriff or the mayor. Now leave."
"not very Hospitable around here are you?" Stam asks
The other two cultists get up too and go to the side doors and open them.
The man in front of you doesn't answer but puts his hand on the hilt of his sickle.
Spugnoir looks at their resident paladin to see if it is time for high impact violence.
Arcanist Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +15)
5th (2/3)— teleport
4th (5/5)— ride the waves UM (DC 19), summon monster IV
3rd (5/5)— fireball (DC 18), haste, lightning bolt (DC 18)
2nd (2/5)— acid arrow , glitterdust (DC 17), summon monster II , web (DC 17)
1st (1/6)— detect charm , ear-piercing scream UM (DC 16), mage armor , magic missile , protection from
evil
0 (at will)— acid splash , arcane mark , detect magic , disrupt undead , light, mage hand , mending,
prestidigitation, read magic
HP 65/65
Reservoir Points 11/13
Counterspell (Su) Use 1 reservoir as an imm action, counter with spell 1 level higher or same spell at +5 bonus.
Dimensional Slide (100 feet) (Su) Use 1 reservoir as part of move/withdraw, move to spot in sight for
only 5 ft movement & no AoO.
Metamixing (Su) Use 1 reservoir while casting a spell, apply a known MM to spell without affect on
casting time.
Piercing Spell Affected spell treats creatures with SR as having an SR of 5 lower
Quick Study (Ex) Use 1 reservoir as a full rd action, consult spellbook to switch out mem spell (provokes
AoO).
Sickening Spell You can cast a spell that sickens those injured by it (duration = spell's level in rounds,
Fort negates).
Scroll Comprehend language x3
Scroll of Identification
Scroll of Obscuring mist
Wand of Grease 5/14
Wand of Spider climb 40/15
Pearl of power 0/1
Lesser silent metamagic rod 3/3
Liquid Ice 2/2
Smoke pellet 4/4
Smoke stick 1/2
Spell Latice vanish 1/1
Stam pulls out a scroll and a smoke stick from his pack.
Ok, we are going.
Grergof motions for the group to step back.
Assuming the others follow he says quietly when out of earshot from the the temple.
11 of them was too many to take head on at one time. Remember what happened with the mass of Skum?
I suggest we rest and regroup and maybe come up with a way to take care of groups of them quietly. Maybe magical Silence on me, or magical walls would be helpful?
I can make people slip with my grease bombs and keep them from running.
"I have my grease wand and can mist the area to make it harder for them to see, Or I can just burn the building down around them?" Stam says almost nonchalantly
As long as you can dispel the grease when I need to get close, that might work. But I'm not all that good at fighting if I slip down.
Have you noticed this is the second time they have opened the doors when they look to be angry at us. So I assume there will be a number of creatures that will attack us from the side rooms. So maybe when the fight starts you use the wands to block the doorways? That way once the fighting starts the creatures there will slip if they try to join in, and we can take them a few at a time.
He pauses for a momement then says:
I suppose if you don't want to wait I could change and we could dispense justice now...
I am very low on bombs and extracts and will need to rest to replenish
Then lets rest for the night.
Grergof leads the group back to the inn, as there does not seem to be a pressing issue, and after eating they all settle in for the night. Making sure to set watches as needed.
"Sounds good, I could prepare better spells to take them out enlarge and maybe not kill them all." Stam says
Spugnoir will watch with Darius during the night, mixing up a new mutagen and infusions.
The night is uneventful and silent. Which is to be expected after ending the largest threat from the sea that steals people at night. It would be nice to say, that the smell of fresh coffee wakes the group in the morning. But it is only the smell of the ever same fish stew.
Fish and coffee,fish fish and coffee, coffee and fish and coffee and fish coffee...
Grergof dresses in his full battle armor today, given his armor, there's really no question what is about to happen.
I assume we will not be talking this time, we are just going in to dispense Justice? he asks before the group leaves the room.
If so before we do this, I want to spend a couple moments preparing myself before outside the temple.
The clergy seems to live in the temple and pray in shifts, as another four of them stand in front of the wooden statue inside.
As there is not much room for interpretation about the intent of thegroups repeated visit the clergy opens combat.
You suddenly find yourself in heavy fog, and can't hear a thing anymore.
Anyone wanna prepare some more or shall I drink these myself?
HP 65/65
Reservoir Points 13/13
Arcanist Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +15)
5th (3/3)— teleport
4th (5/5)— black tentacles , summon monster IV
3rd (5/5)— fireball (DC 18), haste, lightning bolt (DC 18)
2nd (5/5)— acid arrow , glitterdust (DC 17), summon monster II , web (DC 17)
1st (5/6)— ear-piercing scream UM (DC 16), mage armor , magic missile , protection from evil , thunderstomp
0 (at will)— acid splash , arcane mark , detect magic , disrupt undead , light, mage hand , mending, prestidigitation, read magic
Counterspell (Su) Use 1 reservoir as an imm action, counter with spell 1 level higher or same spell at +5 bonus.
Dimensional Slide (100 feet) (Su) Use 1 reservoir as part of move/withdraw, move to spot in sight for
only 5 ft movement & no AoO.
Metamixing (Su) Use 1 reservoir while casting a spell, apply a known MM to spell without affect on
casting time.
Piercing Spell Affected spell treats creatures with SR as having an SR of 5 lower
Quick Study (Ex) Use 1 reservoir as a full rd action, consult spellbook to switch out mem spell (provokes
AoO).
Sickening Spell You can cast a spell that sickens those injured by it (duration = spell's level in rounds,
Fort negates).
Scroll Comprehend language x3
Scroll of Obscuring mist
Wand of Grease 5/14
Wand of Spider climb 40/15
Pearl of power 1/1
Lesser silent metamagic rod 3/3
Liquid Ice 2/2
Smoke pellet 4/4
Smoke stick 1/2
Spell Latice vanish 1/1
Stam then falls into a summoning spell.
Darius stumbles forward in the fog to get out and see those fish-lovers. The one he finds in front of him as he steps out of the mist attacks him with a sickle.
Before the fight starts, Spugnoir drinks his Heroism extract and then when it gets cloudy, he moves up.
Flashback before the fight:
If you are offering, I'll take the one that makes me grow and puts a shield in front of me.
As the fog comes up Grergof wanders straight forward drawing his flail out and setting it flaming as he does.
As soon as he sees a cultist he smashes at the creature with his flail.
AoO if I get one.
[/dice]
One of the cultists orders Grergof to drop his weapon. But Grergof instaed smashes the first cultist right away.
HP 75/75
AC 17/12/15 (21/14/17 with mutagen)
Saves F11/R11/W7 9 Fear Poison Immune
Weapon in hand:Mace+1
Special effects: Mutagen, (Heroism)+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Bombs:15/15
Spugnoir move sup and whacks at a cultist with his mace.
Spurgnoir hits the cultist, but not to much effect. One cultist steps back and both shoot icicles from their fingertips at Grergof.
One then turns, opens the door and calls for help.
Darius closes the distance to one of them and swings his sword, wounding the cultist.
Stam completes his spell, summoning his small earth elemental friend, they both move forward to help out.
The next cultist believes it to be better when no one can see and adds another fog cloud filling the room.
HP 75/75
AC 17/12/15 (21/14/17 with mutagen)
Saves F11/R11/W7 9 Fear Poison Immune
Weapon in hand:Mace+1
Special effects: Mutagen, (Heroism)+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Bombs:15/15
Spugnoir steps up and keeps swinging
Grergof continues to move straight ahead until he is next to the enemies.
Mr Stam, can you take care of this fog?
He asks before smashing his flail down at the Cultist next to him (Target the one closer to the Wall).
AoO if I get one.
Spugnoir beats the fog with his mace. Grergof wounds one of the cultists badly. But they keep shooting icicles at him
Also Darius keeps fighting his cultist.
And gets cold back from his opponent. Or so he thought.
Do you really think your demon will protect you? I am the agent of justice for your crimes against your own townsfolk!
Grergof continues to smash at the two cultists before him with his flail.
As he continues forward the divine might flowing through him refreshes himself.
AoO if I get one.
The cultists die like flies under Grergof's assault. The wounded one falls down, the other one is badly wounded.
"just a moment" Stam says pulling out his spell book and memorizing a new spell.
HP 65/65
Reservoir Points 12/13
Arcanist Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +15)
5th (3/3)— teleport
4th (5/5)— black tentacles , summon monster IV
3rd (5/5)— fireball (DC 18), haste, lightning bolt (DC 18)
2nd (5/5)— acid arrow , glitterdust (DC 17), Gust of Wind , web (DC 17)
1st (5/6)— ear-piercing scream UM (DC 16), mage armor , magic missile , protection from evil , thunderstomp
0 (at will)— acid splash , arcane mark , detect magic , disrupt undead , light, mage hand , mending, prestidigitation, read magic
Counterspell (Su) Use 1 reservoir as an imm action, counter with spell 1 level higher or same spell at +5 bonus.
Dimensional Slide (100 feet) (Su) Use 1 reservoir as part of move/withdraw, move to spot in sight for
only 5 ft movement & no AoO.
Metamixing (Su) Use 1 reservoir while casting a spell, apply a known MM to spell without affect on
casting time.
Piercing Spell Affected spell treats creatures with SR as having an SR of 5 lower
Quick Study (Ex) Use 1 reservoir as a full rd action, consult spellbook to switch out mem spell (provokes AoO).
Sickening Spell You can cast a spell that sickens those injured by it (duration = spell's level in rounds,
Fort negates).
Scroll Comprehend language x3
Scroll of Obscuring mist
Wand of Grease 5/14
Wand of Spider climb 40/15
Pearl of power 1/1
Lesser silent metamagic rod 3/3
Liquid Ice 2/2
Smoke pellet 4/4
Smoke stick 1/2
Spell Latice vanish 1/1
Spugnoir adds a dent to the cultists armor. The cultists withdraw. But Stam finds out that someone else joined the fight. A large three legged monster, with a beard of tentacles and two fear inducing shears that are big enough to cut off a head.
The others only notice by Stam's sudden struggling.
Grergof moves forward following the Cultist that tries to escape him.
He smashes at the cultist through the doorway.
If he drops the cultist and does not see another one he calls out:
Call out where they are in this fog!