Round 3
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron, Silver Salted Arrows = 49/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 16/16
Adamantine Salted Arrows = 16/16
Ghost Salted Arrows = 16/16
Undead Bane Arrows = 7/7
Human Bane Arrows = 20/20
+3 arrow of ooze slaying = 1/1
Bardic Performance = 26/34 (+2 round lingering, move action)
Boots of Speed = 10/10 (+1 attack, +1 on attack rolls, +1 dodge to AC & Reflex, +30’ move)
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Rod of Extend, lesser = 0/3 (Barkskin Koriah, Heroism Koriah, Heroism Clement)
LoreMaster = 0/1 (take-20 on any knowledge check, standard action)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +11/6/1, Dex +6, Weapon Focus +1, Bow +4, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -3)
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +4, Bow +4, (Deadly Aim +6)
Bow DR: magic, cold iron, silver
Bard Spells: (CL 15, Con: +20, SR +17, DC: 15+)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
1) (6/7) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease, Liberating Command, Timely Inspiration, Unseen Servant
2) (2/6) Calm Emotions, Cure Moderate Wounds, Glitterdust, Heroism
3) (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Haste, Invisibility Sphere
4) (3/4) Bountiful Banquet, Break Enchantment, Echolocation, Secure Shelter
5) (1/1) Cure Light Wounds Mass, Shadow Walk, Suggestion Mass
”It’s a projected image, but she needs line of effect - so she’s nearby and can see herself!”
He looks about trying to identify likely locations for the caster. While he does so, he tries to dispel the spell, casting Dispel Magic.
Bibic continues inspiring the others as he looks around.
Rhesus swoops near to Clem, ready to attack where he points.
Still invisible, Spasi flies a bit closer and looks for the real deal. He tries to stay some distance up in the air, but will double move looking.
Bibic successfully dispels the illusion and it fades from view.
The sky opens and deluge of rains begins to pour. The winds pick up to a frenzied windstorm, buffetting you with stinging water.
About a hundred feet down the shore, the Scylla emerges from the sea, writhing onto land.
Rhesus lands on shore, it will be faster for him to move on the beach than try to fly through those winds.
Round 3
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron, Silver Salted Arrows = 49/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 16/16
Adamantine Salted Arrows = 16/16
Ghost Salted Arrows = 16/16
Undead Bane Arrows = 7/7
Human Bane Arrows = 20/20
+3 arrow of ooze slaying = 1/1
Bardic Performance = 26/34 (+2 round lingering, move action)
Boots of Speed = 10/10 (+1 attack, +1 on attack rolls, +1 dodge to AC & Reflex, +30’ move)
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Rod of Extend, lesser = 0/3 (Barkskin Koriah, Heroism Koriah, Heroism Clement)
LoreMaster = 0/1 (take-20 on any knowledge check, standard action)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +11/6/1, Dex +6, Weapon Focus +1, Bow +4, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -3)
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +4, Bow +4, (Deadly Aim +6)
Bow DR: magic, cold iron, silver
Bard Spells: (CL 15, Con: +20, SR +17, DC: 15+)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
1) (6/7) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease, Liberating Command, Timely Inspiration, Unseen Servant
2) (2/6) Calm Emotions, Cure Moderate Wounds, Glitterdust, Heroism
3) (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Haste, Invisibility Sphere
4) (3/4) Bountiful Banquet, Break Enchantment, Echolocation, Secure Shelter
5) (1/1) Cure Light Wounds Mass, Shadow Walk, Suggestion Mass
Bibic continues to inspire courage, moves to get a better vantage point (with haste, 60’ move into a better shooting position), and takes a single shot just to see if it’s really her this time and to test the winds (in case we're in a hurricane!).
Round 4
Way high up & invisible.
Scylla
Fly 10'.
Spasi continues to keep his invisibility on and only casts Summon Monster VII to bring some help to the fight.
7th 1/5 (Banish*0(DC30),SMVII*1,GTele*0)
6th 2/7 (ChainLight*1(DC25),Disintigrate*0,TruSee*1,GrDispMag*0)
5th: 2/8 (Lightning Arc*0 (DC24),LifBub*0, Overland*1,Echolocation*1,TePort*0,WallForce*0) DC 23
4th: 1/8 (Gr Invis*0, Stone Shape,DDoor*0,SMIV*0, Ext Heroism*1,WallFire*0)
3rd: 3/8 (See Invis (ext)*0,fireball*0,Haste*2,Heroism*1,DisMag*0) DC 21
2nd: 2/8 (FalseLife*1, Glitterdust*0,Resist Energy*0,Invisibility*0, ScRay*1) DC 21
1st: 1/15 (MageArmor*1,Snowball*0,MMissile*0,Vanish*0,Grease*0)
Wand of Magic Missile 21/50 CL 9 left
Wand of Fly 6 4 left
Arcane Bolt: (0/10) used
Clement gestures towards the latest tentacled monster he's spotted as he glides ahead - thankful that Bibic has calmed the false storm.
"There!"
Gliding into position, Clement gestures to Rhesus to follow.
for
Bibic's and Clement's strikes fail to land.
With Clem in range, the creature attacks:
The creatures tentacles try to latch on to Clement, but his magics allow him to easily evade her grasp.
Round 4
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron, Silver Salted Arrows = 44/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 16/16
Adamantine Salted Arrows = 16/16
Ghost Salted Arrows = 16/16
Undead Bane Arrows = 7/7
Human Bane Arrows = 20/20
+3 arrow of ooze slaying = 1/1
Bardic Performance = 25/34 (+2 round lingering, move action)
Boots of Speed = 10/10 (+1 attack, +1 on attack rolls, +1 dodge to AC & Reflex, +30’ move)
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Rod of Extend, lesser = 0/3 (Barkskin Koriah, Heroism Koriah, Heroism Clement)
LoreMaster = 0/1 (take-20 on any knowledge check, standard action)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +11/6/1, Dex +6, Weapon Focus +1, Bow +4, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -3)
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +4, Bow +4, (Deadly Aim +6)
Bow DR: magic, cold iron, silver
Bard Spells: (CL 15, Con: +20, SR +17, DC: 15+)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
1) (6/7) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease, Liberating Command, Timely Inspiration, Unseen Servant
2) (2/6) Calm Emotions, Cure Moderate Wounds, Glitterdust, Heroism
3) (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Haste, Invisibility Sphere
4) (3/4) Bountiful Banquet, Break Enchantment, Echolocation, Secure Shelter
5) (1/1) Cure Light Wounds Mass, Shadow Walk, Suggestion Mass
Finally in position, Bibic continues to inspire courage, and then unloads a proper volley at the caster. He hopes this time to land a blow! Alas his die rolls are feeble and he may have only landed the one blow.
Round 5
Way high up & invisible.
Scylla
Fly 10'.
Spasi summons up a Greater Water Elemental to help Clem get less clamped.
It will move closer and strike.
to hit;
blunt damage
7th 1/5 (Banish*0(DC30),SMVII*1,GTele*0)
6th 2/7 (ChainLight*1(DC25),Disintigrate*0,TruSee*1,GrDispMag*0)
5th: 2/8 (Lightning Arc*0 (DC24),LifBub*0, Overland*1,Echolocation*1,TePort*0,WallForce*0) DC 23
4th: 1/8 (Gr Invis*0, Stone Shape,DDoor*0,SMIV*0, Ext Heroism*1,WallFire*0)
3rd: 3/8 (See Invis (ext)*0,fireball*0,Haste*2,Heroism*1,DisMag*0) DC 21
2nd: 2/8 (FalseLife*1, Glitterdust*0,Resist Energy*0,Invisibility*0, ScRay*1) DC 21
1st: 1/15 (MageArmor*1,Snowball*0,MMissile*0,Vanish*0,Grease*0)
Wand of Magic Missile 21/50 CL 9 left
Wand of Fly 6 4 left
Arcane Bolt: (0/10) used
Rhesus curses his inaction as Clem is injured. "Get off Clem!"
Clement waves off the others.
"I'm fine! Keep hitting it - it won't last long!"
Clement concentrates on using his restorative magics on himself for a change of pace.
Only one of Bibic's arrows finds purchase, but Rhesus and the elemental, put in some work.
Seeing a more dangerous foe, the eldritch abomination turns its attention to Rhesus:
Protected by his own magics, the creature's vile tentacles fail to grasp Rhesus, but the wolf head bites, leave him bleeding .
102/250
Round 5
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron, Silver Salted Arrows = 39/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 16/16
Adamantine Salted Arrows = 16/16
Ghost Salted Arrows = 16/16
Undead Bane Arrows = 7/7
Human Bane Arrows = 20/20
+3 arrow of ooze slaying = 1/1
Bardic Performance = 24/34 (+2 round lingering, move action)
Boots of Speed = 10/10 (+1 attack, +1 on attack rolls, +1 dodge to AC & Reflex, +30’ move)
First Aid Gloves = 10/10
Rod of Extend, lesser = 0/3 (Barkskin Koriah, Heroism Koriah, Heroism Clement)
LoreMaster = 0/1 (take-20 on any knowledge check, standard action)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +11/6/1, Dex +6, Weapon Focus +1, Bow +4, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -3)
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +4, Bow +4, (Deadly Aim +6)
Bow DR: magic, cold iron, silver
Bard Spells: (CL 15, Con: +20, SR +17, DC: 15+)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
1) (6/7) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease, Liberating Command, Timely Inspiration, Unseen Servant
2) (2/6) Calm Emotions, Cure Moderate Wounds, Glitterdust, Heroism
3) (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Haste, Invisibility Sphere
4) (3/4) Bountiful Banquet, Break Enchantment, Echolocation, Secure Shelter
5) (1/1) Cure Light Wounds Mass, Shadow Walk, Suggestion Mass
Bibic continues to inspire courage, and then unloads a proper volley at the caster. Not like last round - though he mutters a short prayer to Desna under his breath to help make it happen.
Spasi remains invisible, quite certain that doom cometh with arrow and hammer. He stays out of the fray and looking for other foes that might emerge.
Perception
He remains invisible and 70' up.
The ancient being cannot withstand the assault. Pincushioned by arrows, it collapses under the crushing blows of Rhesus' hammer.
In the aftermath of the chaos, a runner from the pathfinder society tracks you down with a message from Sheila Heidmarch. The Sihedron Council is meeting at Heidmarch manor and your presence is requested.
When you arrive, you find most of the other members of the Sihedron Council already there, each wounded, worried, and worn out, but as you enter, the council stands to give you a round of applause.
Refreshments are handed out and Sheila calls the meeting to order. As a first order of business, she says, "You were meant to be gifted with these after the ceremony, and perhaps they might be a bit underwhelming considering your accomplishments here today, but still, they are yours. So, please take them with our thanks." She hands you each a wayfinder of endless doorways inscribed with you name. There is another round of applause.
A wayfinder of infinite doorways has 10 charges; these charges automatically replenish at a rate of 1 charge every 24 hours. The wayfinder has one ioun stone slot—as a standard action, the user can drain the power of an ioun stone inserted in the wayfinder to restore a number of charges equal to the ioun stone’s cost divided by 2,000 (thus, draining an ioun stone worth 8,000 points would instantly restore 4 charges).
The item can be used to activate any of the following powers as a standard action that expends a variable number of charges.
• The wayfinder of infinite doorways can be used cast detect secret doors. Using the item this way costs no charges, but can only be done if at least 1 charge remains in the wayfinder.
• It can be used to cast knock at the cost of 1 charge.
• It can be used to cast dimension door at the cost of 2 charges.
• The wayfinder of infinite doorways can be used to transform any regular door within 10 feet into a portal that functions as a word of recall, causing any creatures that step through the targeted doorway to step out of another doorway that has been preselected. If no target doorway has been selected, this use of the wayfinder fails. Using the wayfinder in this way costs 4 charges. Attuning the wayfinder to a destination doorway requires a full-round action and 1 charge, and the user must be standing within the doorway when she does so.
"The second order of business is to discuss what has happened here today and I'll turn the floor over to Toth Bhreacher, (founder of the Magnimar Golemworks)our leading expert on Thassilonian constructs."
An older human male stands. Still weary from using his magical power to help reforge the Sihedron, he gets quick to the point.
"All of the runelords had varying degrees of mastery over the crafting of constructs, but as far as I’ve been able to deduce from the writings recovered from the Therassic Library below Jorgenfist, it was their original leader, First King Xin, who was the most talented of them at this art. His entire city of Xin was supposedly protected by an army of golems and constructs, all commanded by one man, Xin himself."
"As he grew old, Xin apparently sought a way to achieve immortality by transferring his soul to a sort of clockwork reliquary, but before he managed to complete this task, the treacherous runelords sent a rune giant assassin to end his life. That was when the seven shards of the Sihedron were scattered, each claimed by one of the seven runelords. And there, information about Xin grows sparse—the empire left the city to fall into ruin, and rumors that Xin’s ghost haunted the site persisted until the end."
"Now, the thing that worries me is this: those destroyed constructs that washed ashore with the tsunami, along with the clockwork monsters that yet lived, all bore the unmistakable flourish of Xin’s touch. Because of this fact, combined with the ominous storm clouds on the horizon, I fear that the activation of the Sihedron may have activated much more than a single artifact. I fear that the island city of Xin itself has awakened!""
There are some murmurs at this declaration, but after the events of the day, people are pretty numb. Ismeir Odinburge (commander of the city watch) speaks up. "If the island city of Xin has indeed risen and Xin’s clockwork army is awakening, then this the exact type of threat to the city that the recovery of the Sihedron was intended to protect against!"
All eyes turn to the artifact floating beside Spasi.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Spasi finally starts paying attention now that he is the center of attention. He was planning his night, and deciding which Temples he was going to visit. And what old friends he wanted to re-visit for a long night of shenanigans.
”Why are you staring at me?”
Bibic laughs as Spasi refocuses on the conversation. ”Xin Island huh? I guess perhaps we should. Spasi, if you thought you were rich now, just wait. Xin Island. Wow.”
He turns to the council and says, ”I’ll go. And I suspect Koriah will go as well, but it will be up to her. Dangerous mission this. C’mon Spasi, it’ll be fun. Clem? Rhesus, I know you’re in for a little bloodshed!”
Despite his bravado, Bibic is uneasy about what lies ahead. He also realizes he doesn’t have an ioun stone to put in the new wayfinder. Seems odd having such a fine device without an ioun stone. He hopes there will be time for some last minute shopping and preparation…
Wings tucked neatly behind him, Clement fiddles with the wayfinder, popping it open and closed until Toth makes his address.
Listening intently, Clement raises his hand as the island, clockwork army and Sihedron are mentioned.
"What do you mean? How would the Sihedron protect Magnimar against the awakened clockwork army? Can it control the creations? Issue some sort of power down command?"
Clement glances at Bibic, apparently eager for even more brawls so soon - a bit surprised the elf is eager to return to combat from his typical larger distance. The real thrill is up close, where their adversaries pummel Rhesus and Clem and they flirt with Death itself time again.
"Certainly, none are more qualified than us to investigate the island. It sounds as if it should have been mostly... untouched from plunderers all this time?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rhesus listens intently and scratches his butt with the new wayfinder. "Will they have blood Bibic? If it's constructs maybe I should get one of them things that helps my hammer go through their shell?"
He nods along with Clem. "Oh yeah, we'll take 'em out no problem. I'm sure after that demonstration on the beach we can count on you to back us. This is a great city we call home and it'd be a shame if some old dead emperor guy wrecked it."
Rhesus listens intently and scratches his butt with the new wayfinder. "Will they have blood Bibic? If it's constructs maybe I should get one of them things that helps my hammer go through their shell?"
Bibic holds his up for inspection, "It's a golembane scarab. Great thing to have, though it doesn't work on everything construct like. Just golems, but they tend to be the nastier ones."
"Oh yes, the island has been untouched for millennium. Full of all sorts of wonders built by one of the most power wizards in the history of the world. It's an incredible opportunity. I doubt there is very little in there that wouldn't be considered priceless"
Sheila looks directly at Spasi, "One might very well end becoming the most wealthy eligible bachelor in the all of Varisia. It's the kind of wealth and fame that might have women falling over each other to catch such a person's attention."
Bibic quickly finds an ioun stone he can afford for his new wayfinder. He picks up a Clear Spindle Ioun Stone (4,000gp) just as quick as he can and puts it in his wayfinder.
He then rushes to his inn (still under construction?) to find the head of household for Magnimar, Soare Nicu. She should be at the inn, either overseeing construction or getting things in motion to open the place already. Bibic’s sinking a small fortune in the place, but he’s looking forward to recouping the costs over time - and he has a long retirement to look forward to if he survives all this, being elven.
Finding Soare eventually, he commands her attention, doling out a few commands on this and that for the family while he’s away. Further he adds, ”And see to it that tavern I’ve been eyeing in Kaer Maga is purchased. I’ve the crew now for it, and so I want to get it going.”
He’ll put down 910gp for a tavern in Kaer Maga, and round it off with another 90gp toward miscellaneous expenses in its improvement.
He then seeks out Spasi, always the easiest to find, and announces his readiness to proceed. When the party has fully assembled, including Koriah, he’ll suggest, ”I can Shadow Walk (link) us all if we want to travel that way. They wouldn’t see us coming at least. And it’s fast.”
”Do we know how far away the island is? Shadow Walk will get us about 400 miles in a day, but then we’ll want to come out to rest. So we could island hop if it’s further away than that.” he suggests though he’d be surprised if it was that far away.
Spasi looks Sheila up and down, wondering if she was proposing something interesting or not. But he knows better than to poop where he works and politely declines.
”Yeah, heavy is the head that wears the crown, which is why I’ll need someone with some bigger pillows to lay my head,” Spasi declines politely. It’s clear that Spasi is still a bit vexed about being kicked out of the Pathfinders, even temporarily.
”Shadow walk, huh, Bibs? Yeah, that’ll work. Unless the Pathfinders can get us a scrying of the island? Or a strong description? Then I might be able to teleport us closer there. Of course, I can’t just teleport us to the middle of the ocean, I’d need to see something first, you know?”
Clement pats Bibic on the back as the elf returns from his errands and the group socializes all the updates of their recent activities.
Returning to his chair, he gestures to Roxy and Sparkles to resume chasing the knots from their shoulders.
"Oh, right there. Where the wings come out. It's not easy flying around in this armor, you know?"
Clement considers the island before them.
"Is it close enough that Bibs should start saving some of his money to develop a tavern out there? And a chartered ferry? Presumably the weather is nice as long as some Runelord isn't making it nasty out of jealousy."
Clement drums his fingers on the table as he tosses a half-dozen grapes into his mouth.
"Can't we send some junior Pathfinders out there to scout the island? I imagine anything extremely scary is going to be stashes up in some fortress at the center, or perhaps in the center of some volcano. They could just sail around the perimeter and whisper their observations to the wind to carry back to us?"
Clement adjusts his belt around his midsection which seems to largely be ignorant of the parting of the shard of gluttony from the half-angel's possessions.
"This armor is awful heavy."
A chartered ferry...
Bibic smiles as Clement suggests another investment opportunity. "Might not be much of a destination though. We'll have to check it out first."
Spasi looks over at Clem. ”Send over some junior Pathfinders to chart the area? That’s a good idea, Clem. Them Pathfinders just love sending teams into weird situations,” he agrees readily. ”We should send an advance team out there to build us a nice resting quarters too, give us the lay of the land, figure out how to mingle with the locals, you know, take care of our needs. Stuff to keep us happy.”
”Or a chartered ferry. If we’re not going to have an away team. The chartered ferry will allow us to bring some attendants, you know? How much is a stately pleasure craft, anyway?” Spasi asks, wondering if the Society will be footing the bill.
Magnimar's magical elite confer briefly and turn back to the hero's of the day. "So far all attempts of scry the area have met with failure. Xin's wards must still survive even after all this time. Still, based on the time between the earthquake and the arrival of the tsunami, not to mention the darkening on the horizon visible from atop the Irespan, it's safe to say that the source of the disturbance can't be much more than a hundred miles away.
In response to the discussion of sending an advance team of expendable pathfinders, the Venture Captain shuts down that suggestion. "This situation is much too dangerous to send inexperienced members into. You four have the most experience dealing with the ruins of the runelords and are our best option of success."
”Oh yeah, that’s some good science there. That makes sense,” Spasi nods along with how they figured out where the island might be. ”Yeah, okay. We’ll probably Shadow Walk over then, and we might want to consider stocking up on some swimming solutions, just in case.”
Spasi will make an additional purchase or sale or two and then be ready to go.
Bibic, having made his purchases, is ready when the others are.
Clement rustles his wings slightly as Sheila rebuffs his suggestion at deploying Society agents to scout the island.
I thought the Society numbers thousands of Agents, and some at nearly our prowess at exploring ruins?
Glancing at Rhesus, he nods, as Sheila does have a point that there's no group better equipped than theirs.
"A hundred miles, not sure if that improves the desirability of Xin as a place for a tavern or hinders it..."
Spasi will do some shopping and be ready to go in the morning, unless the Pathfinders insist on something else that is completely unreasonable when this is all their fault.
Bibic also would wait until they're fresh. No telling how tough this island is going to be.
Loot
The scylla had Bracers of Armor +5 (12,500gp sale value) and 12,000gp in Thassilon-era gold jewelry, so 24,500gp total. Divided by four, we each get 6,125gp. Enjoy!
Bibic sells off the gold and looks for a little something for himself. For now he’ll pick up a Find the path scroll (16) (2,400gp) and save the rest toward a larger purchase. He has 5,000gp to loan out if anyone needs it.
He’ll spend the night relaxing and gears up first thing in the morning, casting his long term spells, but saving heroism and the like for when they reach the island. When the party is ready, he’ll cast Shadow Walk.
Does anyone want the Scarab? I already have two things competing for my neck slot.
If we sell it, that's another 9,500gp each!
Rhesus is only interested in getting a golembane scarab, not sure there's anything else he's missing other than minor upgrades to rings and such.
Spasi makes his purchases, had a fairly rowdy night on the town, and will be mostly not-hungover when the party is ready to leave in the morning.
"Okay, let's do this. Let me tell you about the oread triplets I met last night. I think they were oreads, or shorn dwarves, not really sure..."
Bibic doesn’t buy anything new with his 9,500gp, but he is more seriously considering that property in Korvosa he’s heard about through the grapevine. But that can wait until their triumphant return.
When the party is ready, he’ll cast Shadow Walk and travel to the island.
Before they re-materialize, he’ll cast the usual heroism and other prep spells.
The party takes their time preparing for their expedition, working, as always, on their own schedule. Heading out a few days after the meeting, you dip into the plane of shadow and are off. Skittering along a ribbon of darkness, you glide out over the trackless sea in the general direction of where you suspect the ancient island of Xin's has risen. Eventually, rocky shapes emerge on the horizon. Islands, where no islands should be. Aiming for the largest land mass, you shift back into the material plane, hoping to end up in a relatively safe spot.
The cluster of islands that you find yourself on compose a ruined wasteland of long-collapsed buildings, crumbling tower tops, and disintegrating archways. Strange sites abound, and everywhere looms the distinctive interplay of spherical and linear designs that is the hallmark of Azlanti architecture
Dead and dying sea life litters the ground at your feet, and crabs scuttle in all directions to feast on the bounty. Starfish cling futilely to long-toppled columns, and spiny barnacles and dying but razor-sharp coral encrust collapsed walls and old, broken spires, making even casual investigation of ruins onerous. The stench of decay is overbearing.
Beyond the ruins, very little ornamentation or evidence of ancient habitation remains. Centuries on the sea floor, the island’s recent rise, and ages of erosion have wiped away most of what once rested in the depths. While some of the facades are remarkably well preserved, the fact is that most ruins are but empty shells of the former domiciles, with layers of coral and urchin beds obscuring the old buildings’ original use and purpose. But even time can’t wash everything away, and discerning eyes can detect hints of the city’s former magnificence. Shattered glass globes covered in barnacles still hover along cracked sidewalks, where they once provided illumination. Likewise, stone benches and broken machinery of an indeterminate nature float in place.
At the highest point of the largest island, looms a dark edifice. The apex of the jagged black spire smolders with thick, dark smoke, and embers and sharp crystal flakes shed from its surface. Other than jagged crags, the spire boasts no window or doors beyond a single grand archway that provides entry into the imposing structure.
Bibic casts heroism on many (including Clement and, I think, Rhesus) and his other preparatory spells.
vs DC 18
"Well, isn't this a lovely smell?" Bibic mutters though in truth he's fascinated by what they've found here. This place is ancient!
He looks around before following the others to the arch.
(heroism)
Fort
Spasi casts his usual spells, and then waits for Rhesus to lead the way.
"My god. I haven't smelt anything that awful since I was sniffing around Noya's armor. It was awful," Spasi annotates.
Spasi will keep his eyes out for danger, flying up 20' in the air.
Perception
Clement covers his mouth.
"Was gonna say, could fix the docks here, plenty of seafoo, *urp* but.. how much presigitation will this take, Spasi?"
Flapping his wings, Clement ascends a hundred feet, certain his angelic form will attract anything evil on the island serving as a guardian that's paying attention at this particular moment.
Rhesus takes a deep breath before watching the others for any pukers. "Smells like used underwear after I've hit someone with my hammer."
Clement ascends to the sky, trying to draw out any enemies lurking waiting pounce, but none take the bait. As the party approaches the archway, a trio of gillmen climb out of water filled trench that lies to the arch's south. One calls out to you in aquan "Ho, travelers! Have you come to in search of Xin's treasures as well?"
Bibic knocks an arrow and trains it on the newcomers. He waits for Spasi to say a few words. He maintains his flight so as to keep a clear line of fire. He'll go to 10' up... 15' if they have reach weapons.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Spasi smiles nicely, but does not speak aquan. He will respond in various languages and hope that one will be met with understanding.
Should one of those work, he will respond thusly.
Know (Local/nature) - mermen?
Bluff