⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
Faustinia kills the spider with a surprisingly accurate shot! Only one spider remains now, but the group decides to wait for it to come at them rather that rushing inside the narrow corridor. Petals retrieves her dagger from the dead spider with a spell , while Alessandro and Varius wait until the last spider comes at them before trying to attack it. Varius attacks without success, however, because of the webs entangling him. Alessandro has no better luck. But the spider finally manages to hit its target, biting at Alessandro’s ankle.
Catina hits the stone floor once again and the fight ensues!
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Lady Faustinia
Petals
Alessandro
Varius
Green Giant Spider
Catina
______________________________________________________
--- ---
|
==========
==========
Seeing Varius struggle against the webs, she darts over and draws a thin dagger from her belt. She starts trying to cut him free, but it’s awkward work with her scrawny arms and still holding the crossbow in one hand. She grumbles as it seems less effective than she had hoped, saying, ”Accursed spiders… Sorry, Varius, I’ll try to get you out of this - it’s damn thick webbing!”
---
===========
===========
Fighting against the webs constraining him, Varius attacks twice more, desperately, at the final spider.
==========
Round 7
==========
Alessandro winces from the spider bite but compared to the other tortures he faced, it is nothing. He fights back hoping to land a killing blow.
==========
Round 7
==========
Petals can't seem to find an opening to toss her dagger again. Two many swinging weapons and shifting bodies, so she instead moves up next to Alessandro. A soft touch on his back and a whisper Just me. Not a spider, I promise then lets her spell hopefully heal the spider bite.
=========
=========
Self-doubt starts to creep in after a string of bad misses. Is it the effect from the shadows? Or is the runecurse getting to me? Is something else happening? Or are we just too tired from exploring this forsaken place? How long has it been, anyway? Would people start waking up, already?
She makes another swing without paying it too much attention, or expecting too much of it. Apparently that pays off. Her training at the temple kicks in, and she makes a very elegant - and effective - attack.
--
Thanks to the conjoined efforts of the Irises of Westcrown, the last spider falls, giving the party a deserved victory.
As soon as the last spider dies, it shrivels up and transforms into a grape-sized red garnet worth 100 gp. Now that the spiders are not a threat anymore, Catina and the others can explore the room of arachnophobia. The examination, however, does not turn up anything noteworthy. The chamber is connected with the junction in the hallway where the group chose to descend the stairs instead of taking the path through the natural rock tunnel. The chamber is, of course, also connected to the hallway from where the group came. Once the party goes back there, the sourceless voice echoes again.
“Well done, well done! You got your first prize and made the first step toward your cure! Very well! Now you just have to collect the remaining prizes and bring them back to me, and then you’ll be declared cured!”
The group must choose what to do now.
________________________
Varius throws swords to the ground and scrabbles out of his breastplate before frantically slapping and scratching the remaining few spiders off of his body. He gallantly comes to the fetal position, his face and arms and body absolutely covered in spider bites in miniature. Even after he's done his panic, he occasionally twitches and slaps, convinced there are tiny bugs crawling over his body. "I found something worse than the rot grub."
After a little while, and hopefully some healing he gets wearily to his feet and collects his things. "I suppose I'm learning a lesson about the extremes a human can go through." He looks over the garnet curiously. "I wonder what that's for? Someone smarter than me should choose the next location."
Once someone smarter than him chooses the next location, Varius strides on ahead of the group, ready to go through whatever horrible torture awaits him.
|
|
When the spider shrinks down into a gem, Faustinia mutters, "Fascinating..." to herself as she makes her way over and picks it up. Turning it over in her hand in the light of the torch and her dancing motes, she ponders. Curious magic... I wonder if the gem was somehow turned into the spider, or the spider turned into a gem. Could it revert back somehow? A despicable trick, but it seems not so much in keeping with the spirit of the game this voice wants to play with us. Very strange indeed...
Faustinia is only briefly lost in her thoughts before fully noticing Varius shuddering and slapping at nonexistent bugs on his body. She looks away awkwardly, trying not to stare and meeting the other Irises' eyes with a look that says, Well, should we do something about him, or...? She clears her throat as the man stands and disclaims responsibility for the next room choice. "Well," Faustinia begins, perhaps a little too quickly responding to the phrase "someone smarter than me" for humility's sake, "it seems what we've got left are snakes, blood, and fire. My supposition is that the fire room contains some sort of elemental creature. The snakes could be of any size - or a mix, just like the spiders. As for the blood, I have no idea, only that it sounds painful." Faustinia crosses her arms and wrinkles her brow in thought. "If there are as many snakes as there were spiders, I do have one method left of tackling that problem. But if we have any more oil, a repeat performance may be in order. Perhaps a trip into the ophidian room next is in order? We could lure them up the stairs, or attempt to come at it from multiple sides."
---
Catina is pretty despondent, and she finds it hard to get excited and accept the disembodies voice's congratulations. She's about to suggest the fire room, because it seems like they have to do them all anyway, when Faustinia again turns out to be the voice of reasons. "Yes, I suppose we should do that. Should two of us go back to go down the stairs from the other direction? Varius can stay here with you, if he has more of that oil."
"Flanking the room sounds like a good plan to me. Come on Catina, we can take the room from the north and Faustina and Varius can take it from the south."
Petals tries to help the flailing smacking mess that is their friend, taking out her wand, stepping on whatever crawls out, and healing whatever she can.
Secretly she is hoping the fire room is going to be easy with their resident tiefling with them. But she understands snakes are easier to wrap their minds around. Alessandro leaving her out of the bottlenecks hurts a bit. She knows she's a weak as a new born kitten right now but still...
So she stays at the top of the stairs with Faustinia and Varius. Dagger and flares at the ready.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
The group splits as suggested by Lady Faustinia. The noble woman, Petals and Varius approach the Ophidiophobia room from the south, while Alessandro and Catina do the same from the north.
Two flights of stairs allow access to this cylindrical, thirty-foot high room, one leading up and the other down. The walls of this room are studded with narrow holes and hundreds of short wooden pegs.
At first, when Alessandro and Varius enter the room from opposite flight of stairs, nothing happens. But before the group can take a breath of relief, hissing vipers start slithering out of six of the holes lining this room and slither down the walls, using the pegs and each other, to attack anyone in the room.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
The snakes swarms on Alessandro and Varius. Varius gets bitten once and Alessandro twice.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Vipers
Catina
Petals
Varius
Alessandro
Lady Faustinia
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
=========
=========
Catina trembles slightly, glaive in hand, when she enters the room behind Alessandro. "I don't like this," she mutters. "What kind of lunatic would try to cure people of their phobias like this. It feels just like the Trials of Larazod, making us go through this just for someone's amusement."
She manages not to cry out when the snakes finally show themselves. "Vipers. They're venomous," she hisses, whispering for no real reason. The tiefling girl isn't quite sure whether it will do anything, but she steps back and pokes one of the snakes with her glaive.
--
Catina's attack is more than enough to kill one of the vipers!
Petals doesn't have a problem with snakes, no legs are way better than too many. Unfortunately she knows next to nothing about snakes though, not many slithering around the streets of the city.
They're so small, how are they danger- Catina interrupts her with the fact they's venomous. Oh, have GET OFF HIM! she cries out as they wrap all over Various.
But even this slim piece of metal as a weapon feels too heavy, or she's just being extra careful not to stab her friend.
========
========
After the spider swarm Varius seems far less phased that he would have been otherwise, and he regards the snake hanging off of his arm calmly. Taking advantage of his small blades, Varius attacks one snake, and then the other.
|
|
==========
==========
Faustinia drops the torch on the steps with her crossbow, retrieving her staff as she moves forward. She bats at one of the snakes, hoping that even her weak arms can knock away these little things.
Instead she nearly hits Varius in the head. She winces and gives a quick ”Sorry!”
---
==========
Round 1
==========
Alessandro's immune system fights off the poison and he flails ineffectively against the snakes slithering all over him.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
The dose of poison injected into Alessandro’s and Varius’ veins is not enough to drain their energies, and their immune system effectively fights off the effects of viper poison.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
Catina kills a viper with a single strike, showing the group that there’s nothing special about these vipers: they’re just tiny snakes with a powerful poison, but they shouldn’t be hard to kill, with enough luck. A luck that the group seems to be lacking at the moment, at least after Catina’s successful attack, when Petals fails to hit her target, perhaps because of her tiredness. Varius splendidly compensates the elf’s bad luck with two precise and quick attacks, which result in two more vipers killed. Lady Faustinia and Alessandro fails to hit their targets.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
There are 3 snakes remaining. This time Alessandro is able to avoid being bitten, while Varius gets bitten by the only snake close to him.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Vipers
Catina
Petals
Varius
Alessandro
Lady Faustinia
______________________________________________________
--- ---
========
========
Seeing how the group deals with this threat lifts Catina's spirits somewhat, although it saddens her that there animals would be put her with the express purpose of being killed. "Are they even really animals?" she muses. "Those don't change into gemstones, normally..."
Without much else to do, she stabs at another of the snakes accosting Alessandro.
--
Trapped in a room in this evil place, controlled to perform however that demanding voice wants... I hope they are not, Cataina. It is not a way I'd like to live
Gingerly she stabs the writhing snake again, careful to not stab the man it is biting.
===========
===========
His face a complete mask of concentration as the viper gnaws on his arm, Varius manipulates his small swords expertly, trying to impale the snake on his arm. He then moves towards Alessandro, and with perfect fencing posture strikes out for one of the snakes on him.
==========
Round 2
==========
Alessandro continues to swing. "Ugh. I prefer my targets big and easy to hit. These tiny opponents are so vexing."
The group kills the three remaining snakes with relative ease. As soon as the last one dies, it shrivels up and transforms into a grape-sized piece of green jade worth 100 gp.
The group now needs to decide their next destination.
____________________________
Catina wipes a sleeve across her forehead. "Well, that wasn't so bad, all in all. Is everyone OK?" She then looks at the stairs up. "So, what's next; the fire room?" We've already seen enough blood for a lifetime, I suppose...
Varius, you got bitten, are you poisoned? Alessandro, did you get bit? Petals will fuss over them, because even though we know they passed the fort tests, she doesn't. Then when all is settled with them, she'll agree with Catina. Fire does sound better than blood.
|
|
Faustinia gathers up her things, checking her crossbow and preparing for the next challenge. She scoops up the newly formed gem, examining it as she did the spider garnet. ”How bizarre…” she mutters before pocketing the jade and refocusing on the conversation at hand.
”Yes, pyrophobia next. As they say, always save the most esoteric and horrible for last,” Faustinia says in an attempt at morbid humor. Judging by her grim and nervous expression, it certainly fails to relieve any of her own tension. She sighs and adds, ”Shall we approach it as before? Catina and Alessandro on one side and Petals, Varius, and myself on the other?”
"Very well, keep working on your persistent fears! You're halfway through!" Says the sourceless voice.
Varius looks over the tiny puncture holes on body, and shakes his head at Petals. "Dry bites I think. I don't feel any less profoundly awful than I did before fighting the snakes."
He looks curiously at the jade. "How do the snakes and spiders turn into gems?" He snaps out of it when he realizes Faustinia is pushing for the next room. "Oh - right. Fire. Good - ah... yes that sounds fine Faustinia. Shall we? I'm sure after I've received permanent facial scarring some ghastly thing and punch out all of my blood."
Flipping his swords in hand once more, he nods at the group. "Catina and Allesandro on one side, the rest of us on the other. I'll lead. Let's go."
At least the disembodied voice is being encouraging, don't you think? Nothing like dying horribly to cheerfulness. She'll join her assigned team at the stairs.
"I'm fine. I did get bit but I didn't really get hurt. Fire next is as good as any. So far so good. We got these trials in the bag."
Catina makes her way over to one of the entrances next to Alessandro. "I should probably go first here," she says, somewhat shy. "My body... It's made to withstand the fires of Hell, on some level."
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
The group splits again, with Alessandro and Catina that take the central stairs, leading down and deeper into the Knot. After what seems like an eternity, the two reach a small, square chamber made of stone, with a door on the center and two flight of stairs going upwards on each side. Assuming the one on their left to be the right one, Alessandro and Catina start to ascend through the stairs, while Faustinia, Petals and Varius are ready on the opposite side of the pyrophobia room. As soon as they spot their companions arriving they enter the room, followed immediately after by Catina and Varius.
Hundreds of flickering candles burn in narrow niches lining the walls of the room all the way up to the ceiling.
A few seconds after the arrival of the heroes, the candles suddenly flash with fire and light.
An instant after this flash of light, three small creatures entirely made of fire burst out of the ground to attack. Their flickering forms are as changeable as a burning flame.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Varius
Fire elemental
Fire elemental
Fire elemental
Alessandro
Lady Faustinia
Petals
Catina
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
========
========
Varius manages to block his eyes against the flash although he's bewildered for just a moment. As he regains his sight, he realizes that living fire creatures are attacking them, and have him flanked! All business, Varius smoothly steps out from between two of them, and preparing for some pain, he begins stabbing.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
Varius deals with one of the fire beings with incredible quickness and accuracy, thinning the ranks of the enemies of one unit. The other fire creatures immediately retaliates, but instead of attacking Varius, they focus on Lady Faustinia, still blinded. Fortunately, only one of the attacks actually connects.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Varius
Fire elemental
Fire elemental
Fire elemental
Alessandro
Lady Faustinia
Petals
Catina
______________________________________________________
--- ---
|
|
==========
==========
First there’s the flash, then there’s pain and fire as Faustinia has the wind knocked out of her, but she manages to leap back before the flame catches. ”AHHH!!” In pain and confused, she staggers back up into the hallway, trying not to stumble over the steps too badly. She fumbles with the crossbow in her hands, pointing it in the direction of the pain and the heat, firing blindly into the bright white spots that make up her vision.
---
========
========
Catina realizes in time what's happening with the flames, even if she's not in time to warn the others. She stumbles an apology, which causes her to react slow when the fire starts to come alive. Pretty soon, she reacts going first. "Sorry, they're too close for my to swing my glaive." Instead, she reaches for her mace and starts clobbering the living flame in front of her. "Can they be hurt by weapons? Anyone know?"
--
=======
=======
"Faustinia!" shouts Varius in some panic as the wizard is blinded and attacked. He doubles up with Catina, stabbing straight for the centre of the living fire with no heed for his hands.
They are fire elementals! she shouts almost in awe Hundreds of stories about these things. Um... they all agree that the smaller they are... she informs as she stabs the one between her and Catina ... usually the weaker they are. Also, well, immune to fire of course, and weak to cold, but anyone could guess that.
========
Round 1
========
Alessandro is blinded by the flash of light. Afraid that he might hit Catina in front of him, he remains back and defends until his vision returns.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
Alessandro waits to regain his sight while Lady Faustinia leaps back before the flame catches. She staggers back up into the hallway, trying not to stumble over the steps too badly, and fumbles with the crossbow in her hands, pointing it in the direction of the pain and the heat, firing blindly. It is no surprise that she misses her target.
In the meantime, Petals stabs the living fire between her and Catina with her rapier. The weapon passes through the fire body of the creature but causes some damage to it nonetheless. Catina clobbers with her mace instead, but the elemental manages to avoid her attack.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
Varius doubles up with Catina, stabbing straight for the centre of the living fire with no heed for his hands. He strikes twice, and although he only hits once, he manages to kill the elemental with his incredibly accurate and powerful attack.
There’s only one fire elemental left, and it throws itself at Petals, but with no luck.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Varius
Fire elemental
Alessandro
Lady Faustinia
Petals
Catina
______________________________________________________
--- ---
|
|
==========
==========
As Faustinia’s vision clears, she gets a proper view of the small fiery creature. Reflexively her scholarly mind brings more information about it to the forefront of her thoughts - from the curious way that its elemental body functions to the potential for it to set someone on fire.
None of that seems particularly relevant to her immediate survival, though. She fires off another bolt, advising, ”Keep at it! Only the one left!”
---
===========
===========
Seeing another elemental fall before him, Varius starts to properly enjoy himself and gets a little cocky. "These things aren't so bad! Maybe this really is curing me of any fear of fire."
Smoothly stepping in, he continues his direct assault on the elemental, his hands now red and blistered from the quick stabs into the living flame.
========
========
Seeing what it had nearly done to Faustinia, Catina doesn't waste time and steps up to the last of the elemtals, next to Varius. It feels a relief to her to fight something that isn't a person, or a simple animal. These elementals don't provoke pity from her. Or at least, not as much as the snakes had done. Varius's way of throwing himself in danger does provoke pity from the tiefling girl. "Please be careful, Varius. You don't have anything to prove!"
--
Varius kills the last fire elemental. As soon as it dies, the living fire bursts into smoke, leaving behind a fiery orange, grape-sized
pearl worth 100 gp.
______________________
Catina hastily stows her mace and then checks up on Varius. "Silly man, what were you thinking?" she berates him without venom in her voice. "Come, let me see that." She checks up on his hands and does what she can to soothe the burn marks that must be there.
"Well, I think this strategy of splitting up really works, all in all. So, last room? Same teams again?" She's still not looking forward to the 'blood room', but at least the trails weren't too deadly.
The blood room. she says in a grim voice, obviously not looking forward to it. The strategy is working really well at least. Petals agrees as she moves to the upper stairs ready for anything.