Talia...what did you find?
While she is not Talia, Riori speaks, "Whatever this is, it's the same shape, but not size, as the amulet Nualia was wearing. What I don't know is what it means."
She sighs, answering Cade. "I can get through this lock, but it will take time. Should we search the other room first?"
She then turns to Riori, and her love for hsitory shows through as she gives a leacture. "It's a Sihedron amulet. The Sihedron Rune is a seven-pointed star that symbolized the seven virtues of rule of early Thassilon. With the decline of the empire, the rune became more closely associated with the seven vices, the seven runelords, the seven schools and Thassilonian magic, the seven skymetals, and the power of magic."
Riori smiles. "Fascinating. I didn't realize you were such a scholar, Talia, I'd love to know more about this stuff. Y'know, when we're not in the midst of all this madness."
She spreads her hands. "Would it be silly to suggest that Cade and I look into the other room while you start work on this door? Obviously if something's not right we can back off. Well, I will, I can't speak for him."
Not silly...We should all stick together and go to the next door. Talia has certain skills when it comes to exploring and I would like to keep those close by. This door is not going anywhere...
Talia moves to the unlocked door and when everyone is ready opens it.
Commenting to Riori as she does so. "Helping Archeologist's deal with the traps in ruins was my first job. I picked up a lot of knowledge, and a love of history from them."
The final door is unlocked untrapped, and opens easily. This room contains three low tables, their tops covered with a strange and chilling selection of tools, saws, long-bladed knives, and objects whose purpose is not readily apparent. A strange collection of bones lies near the southern table—too many to be one skeleton, but too few to be two.
The surgical tools are all expquisitely made, and could easily fetch a price of 100 gp.
Sitting amongst the collection of tools is a seven-pointed star crafted of silver and gold. One surface is studded with several thin nodules and blades, and the other has a long, thin, curved handle.
"What fascinating things you must've found!"
As they go into the room, the sihedron still is on Riori's mind, and out of the pile of tools her eye catches onto one in particular, picking up a metal seven pointed star. One surface is studded with several thin nodules and blades, the other has a long, thin, curved handle.
"Would this fit into the door, you reckon?"
"Some Surgeon will be happy." Talia remarks as she packs the surgical tools away for later profit.
"We can only try." She adds. looking at the sihedron that Riori holds.
With the seven-pointed star in hand, you approach the final door. Holding up the Sihedron, you see that it's the perfect size for the indentation, and all the little nodules and blades line up with the holes in the star.
The key easily inserts into the doors, and with a twist, Talia opens the doors, revealing a long room lit primarily by a 10-foot long pit of flickering fire in the middle of the room that fills the air with a strangely humid heat and the scent of burning hair. In the northern corners of the room, wooden risers each hold a dozen candles that burn without melting, while the southern wall bears an immense carving of a Sihedron Rune.
Cade rubs Bellum's neck and whispers to the dog.
Stay close...
Riori looks around and says quietly, "Somehow I don't think they built that fire to roast sausages."
Feeling the oppression in the room, she casts, just in case, remove fear, targeting herself and Talia, as she can only target two individuals, and she's the healer and can't heal them if she's frightened away, and Talia, because they need her to get them out of jams.
Talia carefully scans the room, nodding her thanks to Riori for the spell.
She also wracks her brain to see if she can discover any significance to the room?
1=Cade, 2=Karu, 3=Karjys, 4=Riori, 5=Talia
As you examine the room, a Large, snarling, canine beast on all fours suddenly appears and swipes at Cade with massive claw, raking the halfling. After hitting Cade, it briefly blinks out of sight before reappearing.
This is a greater barghest. Said to be fiendish relations of all goblinoid races, the hateful barghests come to the Material Plane to feed. As they consume the bodies of innocents, they grow increasingly powerful. A barghest eventually sheds its skin to transform into a greater barghest, at which point it often seeks out a tribe of goblins or other creatures to rule.
Cade - 21/32
What the f~~%! Bad form motherf~!+er. This shirt was a gift from the Zarina of Korvosa.
Cade weaves up and down and all around trying his best to time his attack to strike when the creature is present. He glances to his side to see that the only other person able to attack is the bear...His eyes also notice the large river of blood flowing freely from his wounds.
Bellum stay back...not enough room for all of us to fight. Let us see if we can draw him or it out into the open.
Cade steps back slightly and draws his dagger. With an underhanded throw, he send the dagger towards the creature.
Cade steps back and throws the dagger at the creature. His aim is true, embedding in the creature's chest before pulling out and returning to the halfling's hand. However, the dagger is so small and the creature so bit the wound hardly seems to slow him.
"Foolish mortal! You dare to think you can stand against me? I, Malfeshnekor, will consume you...slowly! Watch as I feast on your companions, and know your fate," Malfeshnekor says, before turning on Karjys and laying into the bear.
His jaws clamp onto Karjys's neck as his front claws rip into the bear. With a bellow, Karjys goes limp, and Malfeshnekor rips a chunk of flesh from the bear. As the bear's body falls to the ground, Karu let's out a cry of anguish. It's clear to all that Karjys won't be getting up again. Malfeshnekor laughs as he chews.
Cade - 21/32
Malfeshnekor - 67/85
Talia moves to the side of the creature and attacks with her cold iron dagger.
"Howabout we cut you to shreds instead of watching?"
They may be without a bear, but Riori casts bear's endurance on Cade.
She then pulls a vial of holy water out of her pouch.
Karu stabs at Malfeshnekor with her longspear.
Unfortunately, her grief makes it hard for her to hit.
Talia moves to the side of the creature and attacks with her cold iron dagger. "How about we cut you to shreds instead of watching?" She is unable to strike Malfeshnekor, however.
They may be without a bear, but Riori casts bear's endurance on Cade. She then pulls a vial of holy water out of her pouch.
Cade - 21/32
Malfeshnekor - 67/85
Seeing the bear go down brings a bit of sadness to his face.
He again tosses the dagger at the creature as he steps back even more.
Seeing the bear go down brings a bit of sadness to his face.
He again tosses the dagger at the creature as he steps back even more. This time the dagger misses, however.
Malfeshnekor laughs as your attacks miss, then says, "This will prove most enjoyable - I love it when my prey fights back!"
The creature swipes one claw at Karu and the other at Talia.
Malfeshnekor vanishes just as his claw is about to hit Karu, then immediately reappears after his claw had passed. The other claw strikes Talia, cutting her arm.
Cade - 21/32
Talia - 13/22
Malfeshnekor - 67/85
Taking a step backward and then calling to Desna for aid, Riori casts spiritual weapon, and a phantom starknife appears and flies toward Malfeshnekor.
I am too pretty to to be prey. I do not know what you are but you must not be that good at much for you have been stuck in this prison like a little b$**!.
Cade shifts to the side and throws his dagger again.
F*$+ ME
Come on you little f@&+...you must really be scared that you can not stand still and fight...oh that is right this prey is too much for you....pussy
Praying that someone will give her flanking Talia keeps attacking.
"If you're that wonderful stand still and take it!" She hisses in frustration.
Karu stabs with her giant-sticker again.
But her attack misses.
Praying that someone will give her flanking Talia keeps attacking, but she misses with her dagger. "If you're that wonderful stand still and take it!" She hisses in frustration. Malfeshnekor laughs. "Prove you're worthy of giving it!"
Taking a step backward and then calling to Desna for aid, Riori casts spiritual weapon, and a phantom starknife appears and flies toward Malfeshnekor. The floating starknife appears to be an effective weapon as it strikes true.
"I am too pretty to to be prey. I do not know what you are but you must not be that good at much for you have been stuck in this prison like a little b%+*$." Cade shifts to the side and throws his dagger again. The dagger flies true, right at one of Malfeshnekor's eyes, but just before it's about to hit, Malfeshnekor blinks out and reappears as the dagger flies back to Cade's hand. F*$~ ME "Come on you little f!$*...you must really be scared that you can not stand still and fight...oh that is right this prey is too much for you....pussy"
Malfeshnekor smiles and says, "You're right, you aren't prey - you're an appetizer. I'll be with you once these two morsels are dead." It's clear that Cade's taunts have no effect on the creature.
He again strikes out at Talia and Karu with his claws.
This time, Malfeshnekor blinks just before his claw is about to hit Talia, but he strikes Karu.
Karu cries in pain but stays on her feet and retaliates.
Her spear strikes true but the tip just stops when it hits Malfeshnekor's skin, as though it failed to penetrate.
Cade - 29/40
Talia - 13/22
Karu - 16/27
Malfeshnekor - 59/85
Riori casts divine favor on herself, and directs the phantom starknife to attack again.
As soon as the dagger appears in his hands the little blade is sent back toward the creature.
Appetizer...ohhh that is right you have been caged up for soooo long...You meant to say hors d'oeuvre. I can understand your lack of civility. It is the first thing to go when one is imprisoned. I mean look at you...pathetic. I am right here come little poodle. I got a treat for you...
He makes some kissing...
Come her girl...
...and whistles sounds.
Talia again attempts to cut Malfeshnekor, but is unable to do so and screams in frustration.
Riori casts divine favor on herself, and directs the phantom starknife to attack again. It again cuts the beast.
As soon as the dagger appears in his hands the little blade is sent back toward the creature. "Appetizer...ohhh that is right you have been caged up for soooo long...You meant to say hors d'oeuvre. I can understand your lack of civility. It is the first thing to go when one is imprisoned. I mean look at you...pathetic. I am right here come little poodle. I got a treat for you..."
He makes some kissing..."Come here girl..."...and whistles sounds. Cade's attack misses the beast.
Malfeshnekor smiles at Cade and says, "Well, if you insist. Let me move this one out of the way."
Malfeshnekor steps forward, shoving Talia back as he approaches Cade. You notice that he steps in the fire pit as he does so, and it appears to singe him somewhat.
Karu stabs him as he moves Talia out of the way, but it doesn't penetrate as deeply as it should have.
Looming over the tiny halfling, he says, "Ready to be eaten?"
Karu steps to a more advantageous position and stabs.
But she's unable to hit the brute.
Cade - 29/40
Talia - 13/22
Karu - 16/27
Malfeshnekor - 50/85
"Ready to be eaten?"
Coughing, Cade keeps his smile.
Are you ready to take a breath mint. Good Gods...Damn you have doggy breath. You really need to stop eating from the cat's litter box.
Waving his weapons back and forth, drawing the creatures attention to the his face and his big smile.
You have no idea what is going to happen...do you? You tilt when you should withdraw.
He blows the creature a kiss.
Bellum...say hello to the poodle.
and with that Bellum starts to move.
Just as the creature's eyes dart to the dog, Cade's rapier stabs forward.
Bellums grabs for the creature.
Riori directs the spiritual weapon to attack again .
She then throws the vial of holy water in her hand at the monster.
As he rudely pushes her Talia slashes at him, feeling some joy as her blade hits him.
Saying politely, "Excuse me. Would you mind dying painfully you pompous toad!"
Encouraged by her success Talia slashes again.
As he rudely pushes her Talia slashes at him, feeling some joy as her blade hits him. Unfortunately, her dagger just scrapes along his skin without actually doing anything. Saying politely, "Excuse me. Would you mind dying painfully you pompous toad!"
Encouraged by her success Talia slashes again, this time trying to target something more vital.
Targeting a vein, she hits and manages to...leave a small cut, nowhere near as deep as it should have been.
Riori directs the spiritual weapon to attack again, then throws the vial of holy water in her hand at the monster. The force weapon cuts into Malfeshnekor, and the holy water splashes him, sizzling.
Coughing, Cade keeps his smile.
"Are you ready to take a breath mint. Good Gods...Damn you have doggy breath. You really need to stop eating from the cat's litter box." Waving his weapons back and forth, drawing the creatures attention to the his face and his big smile. "You have no idea what is going to happen...do you? You tilt when you should withdraw."
He blows the creature a kiss.
"Bellum...say hello to the poodle."
and with that Bellum starts to move.
Just as the creature's eyes dart to the dog, Cade's rapier stabs forward. Unfortunately, his attack misses.
Bellums grabs for the creature. He bites it, but his teeth don't sink into it.
Malfeshnekor laughs. "More food? How pleasant."
He casually swipes at Bellum with a claw, while swiping at Talia with another and trying to bite Cade.
Cade's defensive stance keeps him safe from the jaws, but Bellum and Talia are not so lucky as the claws rake them. As they do so, the creature shimmers, and stops vanishing in and out.
Karu stabs.
She hits, but her spear doesn't penetrate its hide.
Cade - 29/40
Talia - 4/22
Karu - 16/27
Bellum - 4/13
Malfeshnekor - 37/85
Karu get in closer and box the poodle in.
Cade waits for Karu to move behind the creature in order to give both him and Talia a better fighting position. Seeing that the creature is not solid Cade drops his dagger to better concentrate on his offense with the rapier. The handsome halfling attacks with a combination of quick strikes, sacrificing his accuracy for multiple, minor wounds that he hopes will prove exceptionally deadly.
[b]That had to hurt...did that hurt. I mean come on you yelped like a little b**&@ poodle in heat...So it had to hurt.
Bellums the hit and shaking away the pain, growls and attacks again.
Riori once again directs the spiritual weapon to attack.
She curses colorfully as it misses and then vanishes as the spell ends.
She then casts cure moderate wounds, holds the charge, her hand glowing purple, and then steps five feet toward Talia to touch her with the healing magic.
Talia draws her silver dagger from her wrist sheath and tries to hurt the thing.
Talia draws her silver dagger from her wrist sheath and tries to hurt the thing. Unfortunately, she fails to strike it.
Riori once again directs the spiritual weapon to attack. She curses colorfully as it misses and then vanishes as the spell ends. She then casts cure moderate wounds, holds the charge, her hand glowing purple, and then steps five feet toward Talia to touch her with the healing magic. Talia's wounds close, giving her the strength to keep fighting.
Cade waits for Karu to move behind the creature in order to give both him and Talia a better fighting position. Seeing that the creature is not solid Cade drops his dagger to better concentrate on his offense with the rapier. The handsome halfling attacks with a combination of quick strikes, sacrificing his accuracy for multiple, minor wounds that he hopes will prove exceptionally deadly. While his strikes connect, many of them ultimately fail to draw blood. His attempt to menace the creature comes off more as trying to convince himself he's effective than actually intimidating.
Bellum takes the hit and shaking away the pain, growls and attacks again. His teeth can't gain purchase, however.
Malfeshnekor laughs. "You know, little morsel, I like your energy. It makes you delicious."
He then swipes a claw each at Bellum and Talia while biting at Cade.
Talia deftly evades his claw, but Bellum is not so fortunate as the claw rakes the dog, causing him to collapse into a heap. The jaws find purchase on Cade, sinking deep into the halfling. Malfeshnekor licks his lips and says, "Mmmm...delicious..."
Karu again thrusts her giant-sticker at Malfeshnekor.
This time, Malfeshnekor evades the spear.
Cade - 16/40
Talia - 18/22
Karu - 16/27
Bellum - -8/13
Malfeshnekor - 13/85
Cade sighs...
BELLUM!!!!
Tsk tsk....all that energy you wasted on my dog. You seem to be very worried to face me one on one.
Feeling very angry Talia tries to pin the pest to the floor. "Laugh that one off you ponce!"
Riori casts bless on the party.
Feeling very angry Talia tries to pin the pest to the floor. "Laugh that one off you ponce!" The dagger pierces where a vein would be, but Malfeshnekor's skin resists some of the blow, so it's not as serious as it could be.
Riori casts bless on the party.
Cade sighs...
BELLUM!!!!
"Tsk tsk....all that energy you wasted on my dog. You seem to be very worried to face me one on one." His rapier hits, but merely bounces off Malfeshnekor's skin.
Bellum continues bleeding.
Malfeshnekor snorts at Cade's response. "Says the tiny man attacking with his friends." The beast swipes a backhand claw at Karu before biting at Cade and attacking Talia.
Cade is barely able to dodge out of the way of Malfeshnekor's teeth at the last second. Karu and Talia are not so lucky as both get raked by the claws.
Barely standing, Karu thrusts her giant sticker at the monster.
She barely hits him, and can't get enough force behind the blow to pierce his hide.
Cade - 16/40
Talia - 8/22
Karu - 2/27
Bellum - -8/13
Malfeshnekor - 6/85
Feeling her life draining away Talia grits her teeth and tries her best to take Malfeshnekor with her.