Somer is very glad he cast mirror images as he retreats towards Balmir, a second image winks out but that is what they are there for.
Onmce he gets some space all he can do is fire a single arrow.
As soon at the giant in front of him drops, Balmir takes off towards the closest standing one.
Toboyn decides he needs some relief. Veteran (or escapee) of many a bar-fight arising from worship, he almost instinctively chooses 'sanctuary' to lower the heat a bit.
Somer puts Yellow down, thanks to the softening up Toboyn does. (@Toboyn - you can save your spell if you like).
Blue tries to smash Balmir as the dwarf closes in, sliding under the swing and standing back up again as if he just strolled in.
Mouser yanks off his shortbow and fires and arrow at the last giant who appears to be literally falling apart.
The arrow hits just the right spot, dropping the giant as well.
This was … strange. Have you seen a lot of giants like these in this warren?, Toboyn asks, slightly shaken.
"Is anyone else hurt?" It would seem not, but he waits until the group has gathered a bit before venturing a bit of healing.
Strange; the spell worked, but he still felt somewhat less-than-whole.
"Anyone else feeling a little … sapped?
|
Mouser again thanks Tam for his improved invisibility.
"That is the best protection--not being seen! I wish I had that permanently," he muses. "Work on that, will you?" he asks.
When Toboyn asks if they have seen any giants like this before, Mouser shakes his head. "These seem a little--more dead than usual," he says. "Though we've killed a number, they didn't quite look like this."
High above the valley stands a massive facade carved into the side of the cliff face. Of simple design, it consists of four colossal tapering pillars flanking a dark opening. Just below the doorway, white stains cover many of the surrounding rocks. On the valley floor below lie the rotting carcasses of two large, dragonlike creatures covered in long spines.
"I'll work on it," says Tam to Mouser.
"Those spines might be from manticores? Dunno about the stains. Maybe from poop from flying creatures, like bird poop that stains rocks? Manticores hunting wyverns or something?"
Balmir gazes at the white covered rocks and the carcasses. "I guess we could just go check out those things. From here I can't tell how long they've been dead."
Balmir moves up to the closest of the felled creatures and investigates it trying to determine how long it has been dead and how it died.
The white stains on the rock are drake guano, likely deposited indiscriminately by the two dead two spire drakes. It appears from the looks of things, they were likely killed by giants throwing boulders at them.
The opening is about 120 feet above the valley floor. While the height and steep ascent make falling from the cliff face perilous, the craggy rock offers plenty of stable footholds and can be readily scaled .
Toboyn assesses his preparedness for the climb and what they might find on top, "We can go if you wish, but although I can assist with healing, I have used all the destructive powers granted me by my deity today." Though never comfortable with heights, he closes his eyes for a moment and resolves to follow should they choose.
"That is a pretty big climb my friends, much longer then my rope. I can probably climb it, probably, if that is where we are to go. If we rest I have a spell that will let us climb like a spider in my spellbook."
"I sure don't need to rest but there's no way I am going to climb up there. If we're headed up there, I'll have to be pulled up." Balmir finds a sturdy rock to sit on and plops down on it. "So some giants killed those things. Any chance the giants are hiding up in the cave just waiting to throw some rocks on us?"
Mouser climbs up, having attached a few ropes together. For him, it is a rather easy climb.
Beyond the facade is a broad, rough-hewn cavern with an arched ceiling. In the center stands a great slab of stone. Huge bones lie scattered around the slab amid broken shards of reddish clay. A shelf like groove cut into the cavern wall runs around the entire perimeter of the chamber, and is littered with a variety of dusty, giant-sized baubles. It appears that something, perhaps the dead drakes below, have built a giant nest of branches, bones, and tattered hides against the back wall of the cavern.
Finding a place to secure the rope, Mouser is confident it will hold.
"Mouser, is there anything there worth the climb?", Toboyn hollers. His ironic nonchalance is betrayed by slight sheen of sweat appears on his palms, quickly wiped away. "Perhaps dinner is in order?"
Balmir casts a suspicious glance up to the cave opening. "I'm not about to climb that rope unless there is something up there. But dinner sounds good. Are you cooking Toboyn?"
"Cailean will provide, I'm sure, if we manage to get everyone back to the table…", he says, tentatively unpacking a couple goblets. He hands one, inexplicably filled with ale, to the dwarf, and takes a generous quaff from the other.
The cavern is large, but not too deep.
Between the bric-a-brac on the carved shelf sit numerous stone tablets, each chiseled with archaic Giant runes. Inside the nest, Mouser is like a kid in a candy shop. There are thousands of coins, gems, potions, a horn, jewelry and more.
As the halfling enjoys working through the options, a screech is heard as a dragon flies in to block Mouser's exit. This reptilian creature’s gaunt body, legs, and batlike face are covered in long spines. Two wings stretch out from its torso.
Spire drakes are unusually intelligent for their kind. They are particularly curious about magic and magical items, and enjoy having large collections of such items even if they don’t know how to use them. Lacking the ability to detect magic, they often scour their hunting ranges for any items they suspect might be magical, collecting an array of strange and obscure devices and objects and displaying them proudly so they can boast to other drakes they encounter (who often jealously try to steal or destroy the collections of their rivals).
Spire drakes often demand tribute from merchants and caravans passing through or near the lands they claim, or may offer to let opponents escape a fight in exchange for surrendering a magic item. Spire drakes are rarely as clever as they think, however, and can be easily tricked by temporary magical effects into believing an item is magical. Still, spire drakes that manage to collect true magical items use them offensively or defensively as appropriate, and love to show off their latest prizes. A typical spire drake measures 18 feet from its nose to the long, thin tip of its tail, and weighs about 1,700 pounds.
You can also ask for 2 specifics, such as Immunity, Special Abilities, etc.
Balmir and Mouser are up, although Balmir is far from the action.
Balmir stands abruptly, dropping his plate of food so that he can grab his hammer. He points up to the cave entrance. "We've got a problem!" he blurts out and then starts moving towards the dangling rope.
Mouser can't be sure, but he doesn't think that the drake has noticed him yet. However, dragon's love their treasure, and certainly things have been moved. And there is a rope secured at the front of the cave...
Blamir makes the first climb check with ease, and manages to climb 20ft rather quickly.
Somer yells up to the drake.
As he yells he launches a Gloomblind Blot at the far off creature.
DC17
Toboyn ponders a moment, and then decides to take the heat down a notch or two if he can: "I'm going to try to calm the creature; don't 'ruffle its feathers'!"
Calm Emotions (DC17 will, 8 turns)
The drake keeps coming, and it spits a compressed ball of jet-black dust that bursts into a spray of clinging motes that sap the spiritual strength of those of you on the ground (Toboyn, Somer, Tamxander).
Tam splutters angrily as he winds up half-dead and moves for cover.
Somer gives a little gulp as the drake swoops down. He is slightly out of range so Somer quickly moves back thirty feet and cast a spell to offer a bit of protection.
Toboyn takes a split-second to take stock of how badly he's hurt.
He seems to have escaped the worst of it. Tamxander did not, he sees, and the cleric calls upon a higher power to help them recover.
"Tanxander, what was the spell you used against the creature?"
"I haven't used any spells!" Tam replies. "I'm too busy trying to not die!"
Balmir stops mid-climb to watch the drake dive down on the party. The creature is still above him but is descending fast! Instead of continuing the climb. Balmir grabs some of the loose rope dangling below him and makes a few loops around his body and legs. With his arms free, he grabs his hammer and prepares to strike.
Balmir ties himslef in a knot, ready to start swinging, but the drake never really gets within range. Eventually regaining its sight, it continues to dive on Toboyn. Amazingly, though, the blindness must have thrown it off its game, because he completely misses the cleric.
"Spit darkness, beast? Dwell in darkness!"
Blindness, DC18 Fortitude negates.
As the healing washes over him Somer smiles because he drake is in his range. Getting two arrows ready he whispers a spell as they streak off wreathed in scorching heat.
Somer's smile fades as he misses with both arrows. The attempt at blindness also fails to work.
Balmir hangs from a string...
Balmir grumbles. The drake didn't get close enough to swing at. He drops the hammer twenty feet to the ground below then turns his attention to the rope that he tied around himself. With a couple twists he untangles himself and then jumps free of the rope allowing himself to fall to the ground. He tries to land on his feel but at impact his knees buckle and he crashes to the ground with a grunt.
Tam says, "Gonna try to end this in one shot..."
He says something gravelly and low that doesn't seem to fit his throat and makes a bizarre two-handed gesture.
The drake has a horrible vision, which pains him but does not kill him. In fact, at the end of it, the drake finds his vision has returned. Practically sitting on Toboyn, the creature slaps him with its tail as it lands and bites at him.
plus
Mouser is now 1/2 way down and floating (60' per round)