Round 12, Init 18-
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 30/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
Slightly depressed now that this time with the scent of Earth and Shillelagh has expired, Mortimer turns away his face less blood spurts sully it further as Solrisa performs the coup de grace on Mask.
Is this one of those worms grown up? Uncle Foetid -- a relative? Is it really dead? Is it going to regenerate both halves now, like I've heard other worms do?
Mortimer maintains his pin on the corpse with his body as well as he can while peeling away Its mask with one hand.
What is this thing?
"Rae, what was that you said about stones? Also, I was just thinking about the jar worm we found in the observatory. Does anyone think this thing is really dead?" he queries, nervously.
"Does anyone think this thing is really dead?" he queries, nervously.
Solrisa accompanies Mort as Ascaria looks through things.
"Oh, lemme look, Mort!" Sol says, looking the creature up and down while putting away her sword and drawing her morningstar.
Know (Religion)
She will look at it with the Dragon's Eyes.
For your time working with sculpture, you've grown quite used to certain materials being denser than others. Compared to the ease of working with soapstone, marble and granite require much more advanced, much sturdier, tools of the trade.
For your 'mercy's' work, your blade is usually sufficient for carving bone. As you force the tip of the blade through the Mask's neck, you almost feel... foolish? In your hand, a tool for granite, and yet you work with soapstone. The blade passes through with no resistance, whatsoever. It's as if you're breaking the placental sac of a newborn calf.
As Solrisa slices the head off the body, ichor from the neck's arteries spews upwards. Solrisa seems to be the lucky one, since she's at sword's length. Mortimer is not so lucky. He is splattered about the head, and several exposed orifices.
From within your embrace, something shifts within the Mask's frame as the head is shorn from the body. You feel your arms somewhat constrict, as if you've opened a very large waterskin while squeezing it.
As Mortimer's hand finds the mask, he finds it securely attached to the head by leather straps that extend the full circumference of the skull. The body slides to the floor, its fluids draining outwards in a thin, expanding froth of grey and green.
Undoing the straps, Mortimer is able, gently, to show the face of the Urgathoan. The consistency of the skull seems to be that of a rotting honeydew melon.
de
You can tell that this was once a man, but now, well... it's just beyond you... and in front of you...
The investigation begins. The corpses and the lab, the bunk room, and the altar chamber. There is a door leading to the south from the bunk room as well.
You find another hallway, like the first two you've encountered, leading back into the maze, with the exception of a storage room, replete with supplies to sustain the presence of all living below the mines. Several of the wooden crates are stamped with a blood-red rooster atop a blood-red skull.
The symbol is the mark of Balabar Smenk.
The gnome starts sifting through the acolytes' items. At one point, he pulls his hand back furiously, as something hairy and black dangles from the meaty part between his thumb and pointer finger. The rat drops to the ground, and scampers away into the darkness.
Acolyte Accoutrements
3 potions
3 scrolls
4 scrolls
4 spellbooks
4 daggers
4 Coin Pouches (320gp total)
Atop the Altar
2 Gold Goblets
1 Set of Bronze Carving Daggers (3)
2 Rubies
The Mask's Personal Possessions
Leather Mask
Ceremonial Robe
Dagger
4 potions
Bracers
Rod
Coin Pouch (140 gp)
Laboratory
MW Alchemist's Lab (3 vials of acid, 3 alchemist's fire found as well)
6 Garnets
MW Dissecting Kit
Cloak
2 scrolls
Spellbook
Book with strange symbols listed in columns
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 33/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
"Ew. Ugh. This is -- not normal. It's like we just split open a sheep's bladder..." Only they smell nicer.
As he removes the mask to gaze upon the Urgathoan's countenance, he suppresses a shriek and involuntarily recoils from the body.
"What is it?!" He steadies himself to re-grapple the corpse should it move at all, and looks at Solrisa. "It's dead, right?!"
Seeing Solrisa draw her morning star, he backs well away out of splatter range.
"Be careful, Sol! You might not want to get any of that icky ichor upon your person!
Wait... IS this Diamond Lake?!
Looking at the blood-red rooster upon a skull markings upon the supply crates, Tynan points at them and speaks.
"Well, that is Balabar Smenk's insignia... he wasn't kidding about sending supplies down here. Look at all this stuff..."
Weapon Equipped = CLW Wand
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Life Link (4) = Mort, Rae, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (1/8) (DC: 16)(Avoid 5) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 4, Concentration +9)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (4/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Second (16): (0/4) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration
Ascaria first casts Read Magic to read all the scrolls and spellbooks, then he concentrates on each item in turn, trying to suss-out its meaning.
He’ll take-10 (18) on the other items (IDs up to and including CL 3) for today.
When he gets to the book with strange symbols listed in columns, he assumes it’s a code and casts Comprehend Languages. Read Magic would also still be going.
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 33/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
"Well, that is Balabar Smenk's insignia... he wasn't kidding about sending supplies down here. Look at all this stuff..."
Upon entering the storage room, Mort immediately begins sifting through the crates avoiding rats, apparently looking for various things that when found -- he tosses into his backpack.
Cheese
Jerky
Apples
Pineapple
Mint leaves, fresh or dried as well as other herbs
Water
Tomatoes
Clay
Light weight metal foils or other light weight malleable pieces
Tinder/flint
Oil
Dowel rods and pins
Netting
Chunks of mesquite
A hammer
String or hemp or other lightweight cord
A chef's knife
Acolyte Accoutrements
3 potions, Gaseous Form
3 scrolls, Web
4 scrolls, Scorching Ray
4 spellbooks, All Zero Level Spells, 1st Level: burning hands, cause fear, color spray, disguise self, expeditious retreat, mage armor, shocking grasps
4 daggers
4 Coin Pouches (320gp total)
Atop the Altar
2 Gold Goblets
1 Set of Bronze Carving Daggers (3)
2 Rubies
The Mask's Personal Possessions
Leather Mask Detects as magic
Ceremonial Robe
Dagger
4 potions, Cure Light Wounds
Bracers, Armor +1
Rod, Lesser Metamagic, Extend
Coin Pouch (140 gp)
Laboratory
MW Alchemist's Lab (3 vials of acid, 3 alchemist's fire found as well)
6 Garnets
MW Dissecting Kit
Cloak, Charisma +2
2 scrolls, Lightning Bolt, Summon Monster III
Spellbook, All Zero Level Spells, 1st Level:chill touch, expeditious retreat, hold portal, identify, mage armor, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, shield, 2nd Level:false life, flaming sphere, touch of idiocy, web, 3rd Level: fireball, halt undead, lightning bolt, summon monster III
The book does indeed appear to be a system of code. For a moment, it seems to be self-contained, symbols translating to something of a crude dictionary. Then, you recall. Bringing this code book to bear on the scroll, you can decipher its message...
"The secrets of this page are most holy. Know ye heretics who invade them that the eye of Urgathoa is upon you. If you read this, Thedrick, you have either slain me and doomed our cause, or the time is nigh for our final victory."
"At last the riddle of this place is solved. In ages past, a great being known as Kyuss rose above the petty warlords who fought and
struggled for material gain. Mighty Kyuss is the herald of the Overgod. Soon, he will sound the clarion call to the faithful. The three sundered faiths shall be made whole."
"The undead our agents spotted must be located and captured. If they bear the worms of Kyuss then they perhaps hold the final answer to our research. The Ebon Aspect stirs within the pool, but it is still not ready to emerge. The Way of the Ebon Triad speaks of the danger of awakening the Aspect too soon. Our work will be a shadow of its power if we can't give it the time it needs."
"We must find the worms and the undead hosts that carry them. If they are not here, then we must send agents to the Rift. If Kyuss himself, or his agents, cannot shepherd in the Age of Worms, then we shall do it ourselves so that the Overgod may live."
"Our course is clear, my dear Thedrick. Smenk is no longer useful to us and must die. Kill him, then send agents to the Mistmarsh, across the southern hills. I believe that we will find what we are looking for there, among the lizardfolk. Summon more of your warriors. If the calculations and portents are correct, the time for covert action is at an end."
"As the Age of Worms begins, we must strike hard and fast to prepare the coming of the Overgod. Of course, dear Thedrick, if you were so rash as to slay my followers and I, then you, soon, shall join me in the afterlife. Doubtless your treachery has already stirred the Overgod. Our mission has failed, and you will die at His hands."
This brings you to the leather-bound journal.
Excerpt One
"The Faceless One grows increasingly concerned. That addled beast Grallak Kur has yet to provide new insights into the Overgod’s nature. The crude missives he sends speak of the worms, of a slumbering power that must be awoken, but nothing more. I wish he would go back to the black pit that spawned him if he has nothing more to offer."
"The Faceless One tells me this ties into an ancient figure, a being of great power. Of course, he tells me little else. He enjoys keeping his secrets, but he forgets that they flourish only behind the protection of Asmodeus. His latest taunt is a scroll that he tells me contains all the answers I seek. Of course, the fool wrote it in a cipher. Were it not for the dictates of the Ebon Triad, I would lead my troops into their damnable labyrinth and kill every last bird and wizard within it."
"Grallak is the key. Thank the Scourge that he trusts me and not the Faceless One. Otherwise, I doubt the Faceless One would bother imparting anything to us. We cannot trust these mages. When the Overgod arises, I think it will be time to settle some old scores."
Excerpt Two
"Grallak Kur has finally yielded a useful clue. I personally delivered it to the labyrinth, and the Faceless one giggled like a blood addled berserker when he saw the message. Grallak spoke of the worms again, of course. He says that even now they stir and writhe.
The world is like an apple infested with them. All seems well for now, but soon they burst through the skin and swarm across the land."
"Still, part of this vision troubles me. Grallak spoke of a great power behind them, but the Ebon Triad teaches that these worms will
awaken the Overgod. Is there some other power at hand here that we cannot see? Is it friend or foe? The Faceless One knows more, but he of course has little to say. Perhaps Grallak has invented everything. His monstrous kin are few in number and battered after their pilgrimage through the Underdark. If he is an imposter or trickster, we may need to root him out of this place."
Mortimer spends the downtime waiting for the gnome to finish his studies to acquire various items.
Cheese
Jerky
Apples
Water
Clay
Tinder/flint
Oil
Dowel rods and pins
Netting
A hammer
String or hemp or other lightweight cord
Ascaria is excited by the magics, a few of them anyway, but he grows concerned as he deciphers the readings.
"Uh, guys? We've just scratched the surface of this thing. They've got a whole network it seems!"
He translates and reads out loud, all the passages.
He then holds up the cloak, "Uh, OK with everyone if I take this? This is my color and will go really, really well with my vest!" he seems rather eager.
"Be careful, Sol! You might not want to get any of that icky ichor upon your person!
Solrisa smiles at Mort. She armor is already stained with blood, both her own and that of her enemies.
"It's okay, Mort. I don't mind icky gore," Sol replies with her smile returned. She proceeds to pound the skeletony thing to dust. Her brow furrows as she works, thoughts going and out while she labors. She smashes the organs, a heart, a set of lungs, and the liver that writhes and pulses within the skeleton’s rib cage.
"Ascaria, Tynan? Have we seen that mean ol' Asmodean priestess? The jerky one who is a jerk?" Sol asks.
* * *
"Well, that is Balabar Smenk's insignia... he wasn't kidding about sending supplies down here. Look at all this stuff..."
Solrisa pokes through the stuff, more concerned with finding the body of the Asmodean than looting. She walks all the way back to the entrance, then to the elevator, then back to the Asmodean door to see if anything has moved or changed.
"Ascaria, Tynan? Have we seen that mean ol' Asmodean priestess?"
"Her tracks led this direction, into the maze. Unfortunately, all of the fighting with the birdmen seems to obliterated the already faint traces I was following. The fact that we haven't seen her is probably a good sign that there's yet another secret door around here... somewhere. Either that, or the birdmen snuck her out behind us while we were dealing with the ambushes."
Tynan frowns at the thought of her eluding the group once again."I can head back to the maze entrance and try to pick up her tracks again, or we can search for secret doors in the bedchambers. Thoughts?"
"I can head back to the maze entrance and try to pick up her tracks again, or we can search for secret doors in the bedchambers. Thoughts?"
Solrisa smiles at Tynan.
"Oh, I dunno, Tynan! We can do whatever you think is best. I was just going to explore all over again really quickly. Just seems odd that she is gone. She's probably playing Hide and Troll again."
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 33/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
Satisfied everyone is healed, Mortimer watches Sol lay in on the Skeleton with its animated organs.
"Uh, guys? We've just scratched the surface of this thing. They've got a whole network it seems!"
"Yes, and I think we should take this letter to Smenk -- he should know what this cult had in mind for him -- his life might still be in danger."
"Uh, OK with everyone if I take this? This is my color and will go really, really well with my vest!"
Well, huh. The color does look pretty good for him. Nice combo with the vest. Not shabby at all. "Why don't you? Go ahead -- put it on." He likes it so much I just hope it fits.
"I can head back to the maze entrance and try to pick up her tracks again, or we can search for secret doors in the bedchambers. Thoughts?"
Secret doors? In a place like this? Unheard of.
"I think while we're here, yes -- we should make sure there aren't any doors or other passages that we might have missed."
Blessed by the others, Ascaria tries on the new cloak and very nearly giggles. He casts prestidigitation on it first to clean it. Then wears it proudly!
"Yes, and I think we should take this letter to Smenk -- he should know what this cult had in mind for him -- his life might still be in danger."
”Oh yeah, that’s a good idea. He should be warned his life is in danger.”, Ascaria seems less excited about that particular meeting.
"Anyone mind if I take one of these gaseous potions too? We should keep these around in case we need to get into small spaces or flee an odd situation."
Once everyone is healed, the magics all categorized and (mostly) identified, and the loot secured (probably) on Mort's broad shoulders, Ascaria joins Sol and Tynan in their search of the maze. He routinely casts detect magic to make sure he didn't miss anything and he chatters as he goes.
"So I think a friend of mine can give us good appraisals on the jewelry and the like. Might even buy some of it too so we can more easily divvy up the cash. Does anyone want this? How about this? Or this? This is kind of nice, i might keep it..." he goes through the various bits of finery holding stuff up and chattering about it.
Ascaria is in a very good mood.
Ascaria fumbles for a moment, the too-large cloak draping awkwardly on a small, gnomish frame, until it begins to adjust itself to fit the him quite nicely.
As you don the cloak, its magical energies seize your frame, almost as if bidden to do so with haste. Your mind's eye briefly sees something... hungry... straining to pierce a veil obscuring its inhuman face...
Your inventory of gaseous form potions felt light by one, if you think on the sets of four collected from four acolytes...
While Ascaria carefully examines the recovered items, Tynan begins searching the bedchamber for signs of any secret doors.
"Mort and Sol, keep an eye out for any stray cultists, if you could, while I'm searching for a secret door. Don't go down the hallway past the supply room though. I'll want to start checking for the priestess' tracks there, and want to make sure nothing accidentally disturbs any tracks."
After searching the bedchamber, Tynan begins examining the corridor beyond the supply room for signs of the pregnant priestess.
Ascaria reaches up and puts a hand on Tynans shoulder. "Uh, guys? There should be four gaseous form potions here, and there are only three. I think I know what happened to the missing cultist. She's gone."
He swears a bit and shrugs his shoulders. "I guess her death was not meant to be today. With the gaseous state, she could have floated up the shaft and be completely gone by now. We have no hope of catching her."
Oh, please note a potion of cure light wounds on your sheets as Ascaria dolls them out. He's giving them out to Mort, Tynan, Sol, and Ascaria.
Morimter's jaw drops as he watches the Cloak tailor itself to the gnome. He grins.
... Sweeeet! Why can't I have nice things?
"I guess her death was not meant to be today. With the gaseous state, she could have floated up the shaft and be completely gone by now. We have no hope of catching her."
Turned to gas?
"Perhaps not as such, Ascaria, but something tells me we'll run into her again. So now what?"
He paces back and forth a few steps.
"That letter mentions Thedrick, who we neutralized beyond Door One, and Thedrick's journal mentions 'The Faceless One', which I can only assume is our now empty bladder splatter here on the floor beyond Door Two. That leaves Grallak Kur -- what are the odds we'll find him beyond Door Three?"
He spins himself once around, looking to everyone.
"What say you -- do we go find out now -- or rest first, then go find out?"
"We definitely need to warn Smenk that his life is in danger, especially now that we know the woman got away. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, so I say we don't wait. Let's check door number three now - as soon as Tynan's done with his search for secret doors."
Searching as thoroughly as he might, Tynan is unable to locate a secret door or passageway leading from the bedroom. When he finishes after several minutes, he turns his attention to the passageway leading back into the maze.
You are able to pick up her tracks after another 10 minutes of searching. There doesn't appear to be any effort to conceal them, either. They appear to lead back into the maze.
With Tynan's lead, and Mortimer's and Ascaria's interest in the Stone Door, the group returns to the central elevator chamber.
The tracks do, in fact, lead through the maze, somewhat straightforward. By the time you reach the central chamber, the footprints stop abruptly.
"I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, so I say we don't wait."
Sol smiles cheerily at Ascaria.
"Oh Ascaria, you are so brave and good," Solrisa compliments. "I think we should rest so that we might be at our strongest. These last two corridors have been trouble and we can expect the last to be similar. While I like the birdymaze, I don't want others to be hurt."
"I was right, she did come down this corridor from the supply room. She's not even trying to conceal her tracks."
Tynan leads the group on a fairly straight path through the maze, back to the entry door. In the entry chamber, Tynan take a couple of steps following the tracks, then stops abruptly, looking around.
"They just stop. It's like she vanishes into thin air." Tynan scowls and stands, ending his search. "Ascaria, you were right about her using that potion it seems..."
"I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, so I say we don't wait."
"I think you're right Ascaria. If we proceed carefully, we can do this. We just need to be prepared to make a strategic retreat if needed."
As Mortimer readies to use the key on the Stone Door, the large chamber to the south, beyond the elevator, resonates with a single low thrum. Almost like the single beat of a heart, if your ear was pressed against the chest of a loved one as you both reclined.
A light splash is also heard.
Must just be mining noises from above...
"Wait a tick Mort. I think we should check that out before we open the stone door. That doesn't sound right."
Ascaria tries to push the group to the south and follows carefully, tensely, wand in one hand, loaded sling in the other.
"What are you talking about?" says Mortimer, withdrawing the key leaving the door locked. "What doesn't sound right?"
He follows the gnome to the south.
"In his letter Faceless spoke about an agent of some sort in the pool -- is that it? Remember the drag marks? Don't get too close!"
He tries to put himself between the party and the pool.
Solrisa stands next to Mort, but doesn't quite share his concern about the pool.
"Oh, we went right by it earlier. I'll go look at if you want," Sol says cheerily to Mort. "If we want to get this over with, we need to get this over with!"
"I'm not worried about this pool for myself, I just don't want the smaller people to, uh... to become bait," he tugs at his forelock. "Let's just go look together, shall we?"
Mortimer looks up as he enters the room, and cautiously approaches the pool.
Approaching the dark pool, it's apparent that the floor surrounding it is freshly wet, as if its brim were breached by the fluid contained therein.
Ascaria casts Detect Magic and walks into the room. He walks all around, searching and checking, ending with the pool at the very end. So Ascaria, at least, is here for a little while.
Mortimer moves into the room further and carefully watches the pool for any signs of activity.
"Hey Ty -- do you think something slithered out of this pool, or just splashed about a bit? The function of this room eludes me. Does it mean anything to you, Sol?"
Sol moves up and concentrates about the room really hard.
Know (Religion)
"Oh, I dunno, Mort," Sol says happily.
"Oh, well," he sighs. "Well, keep an eye on the pool, if you please. I'll take a look up the stairs."
He looks around for a loose stone and grabs it, takes out the loaded crossbow, then begins a cautious ascent of the stairs. If he makes it all the way to the platform above the pool without incident, he'll look down into the pool and drop the stone into it if he sees no movement therein.
"Didn't one of the texts we found refer to the Ebon Aspect stirring within the pool, but not being ready to emerge yet? I believe the writer was concerned that if it did, whatever it is wouldn't be as powerful as the Triad was hoping it would eventually become."
Tynan looks around the chamber, and at the rest of the group.
"Proceed with extreme caution... something might be waking up."
The chamber itself seems largely devoid of magic, save for a faint aura now circling the dark pool. It's hard to tell, but every so often, the aura pulses subtly. The longer you look, the less subtle it becomes.
Mortimer climbs the stairs and drops his rock, plunking the liquid's surface more like honey than water.
Another deep thrum, several minutes later, and everyone in the chamber can hear a roaring, coming from the depths of the pool itself. Something wicked this way comes.
Solrisa looks into the bubbling roaring water and smiles.
"Rae, look! This will be a neat experience, won't it?" Solrisa steps back, shield and sword at the ready. She looks to see what others do.
Round: Preparation 5 rounds, Initiative: ??
Weapon Equipped = CLW Wand, Sling with silver bullet
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (9/10)
Conditions = Blessed (5/40r)
Life Link (4) = Mort, Rae, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (2/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 4, Concentration +10)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (3/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Second (18): (1/5) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration
Ascaria, surprised by the roaring in the pool, immediately casts Bless and moves back to a slightly safer spot behind Sol and Tynan. He spends the next few rounds mentally checking his life links, refreshing the light on his hatband, making sure he has a bullet in his sling (silver), going over his remaining spells, and worrying.
I need some worry beads… I shall have to fret unaided…
"Rae, look! This will be a neat experience, won't it?" Solrisa steps back, shield and sword at the ready. She looks to see what others do.
”Neat?! Sol, you’re crazy. Just watch out for that pool. By the gods I bet what comes next will be unpleasant and probably very slimy!”
He worries, a little, about getting anything on his new cloak… like blood.
"Aww, hell..."
Hearing the roar from deep within the pool, Tynan prepares for the worst. He moves to one side of the pool, and draws his sword and dagger.
"Pillette! Take up a position somewhere on the stairs. You should have a better vantage point with your crossbow from up there! Where are you positioning yourselves Mort and Rae?"
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 33/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
Upon hearing the roaring, Mortimer runs down the stairs, taking several at once multiple times as he goes. Rifling through his backpack, he pulls out the netting he procured from the storage room in addition to some rope.
"Everyone - get what rope you have and help anchor this net over the pool! Tether the corners to the marble columns with the rope!"
He works as quickly as he can and assists others. "' may not work at all, but maybe it'll slow it down!"
After the netting is in place, he stations himself near a marble column with the loaded crossbow.
The liquid of the pool begins to churn, almost like the boiling of a kettle of water for tea. At first, several individual bubbles make their way to the surface, bursting, and yielding a light smell of rotten eggs and black rot. It slowly comes to full roil, the netting starting to drip like a spider's web in early morning dew. Amidst the thrashing liquid, two savage-looking hooked claws reach up, rending the net like a cobweb. Some of the net is pulled into the pool, while the tethered ropes fall listlessly to the chamber floor.
No sooner has the net been cleared than a large creature emerges from the pool. It is the stuff of nightmares. Several arms, already towering 10 feet tall and not fully risen, moldy green skin, a mouth full of shark-like teeth... and its eyes, somewhat reptilian and mostly yellow, take in each one of you, save the halfling, who stands at the ready over its shoulders.
Pillette watches with a growing horror at what emerges, and fires her crossbow in haste, as if the thing could be discouraged from leaving its watery portal.
She yelps a little, unable to control her demeanor, and scampers towards the higher platform.
Round 1, Init 18
Solrisa first looks at the creature forming out of the pool with her elven eyes, seeking the cracks between creature and cretin.
Know (Nature)
Solrisa shrugs, assuming the worst and calls upon the Dragon for aid in defeating whatever this might be. She moves forward to strike at the beast.
to hit (+dragon,-PA,+bless);
damage.
Pot Crit:
to hit (+dragon,-PA,+bless);
damage.
Solrisa feels the Dragon inside her, and nothing will stay her blade.
AC=24 (10 armor +2 shield +1 dex +1 NA) + 2 more vs. undeaddemonugly (the Dragon)
HP=36/36
Right hand = long sword
Left hand = heavy shield
LoH 2/4 used
Quik Shirt 0/1 used
The Dragon Invoked 2/2 used
[ dice]1d20+8+2+2-2[/dice] to hit (+dragon,flank,-PA);
[ dice]1d10+3+4+2[/dice] damage.
36/38 charges wand of MMissile
The Ebon Aspect bellows in pain, as Solrisa finds light in the darkest of places, and wields it against the abomination.
You can tell, incredibly, that your blade might have done even more damage against this creature...
The Aspect looks at the others, and settles on Raella... no, looks into Raella, and finds something it can use. Satisfied, it turns its full fury on the maiden.
The creature spits a black, viscous substance onto Solrisa.
Round 1, Init 17
AC 18, 22 on AoO; 33/33 HP
BAB = +4 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+8
RHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+8-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 22, 20 if flat footed
Damnit. Now I need a new net.
Mortimer sighs, moves and takes a swing on the creature.
for
for
for
Round 1, Init 16
Seeing Sol strike the creature mightily, and Mort step forward and backhand the beast, Tynan is somewhat heartened. He uses the distraction to circle around behind the many-armed foe, jump onto the stony edge of the pool, and strike at its exposed flank.
The displaced water on the stone ledge leaves Tynan off balance, and his stab misses as he compensates to maintain his footing.
Aww, hell...
HP:25/28
Saves:Fort 4, Ref 8, Will 2
Round: 1, Initiative: 13
Weapon Equipped = CLW Wand, sling (silver bullet loaded)
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = Blessed (5/40r)
Life Link (4) = Mort, Rae, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (2/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 4, Concentration +10)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (3/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Second (18): (0/5) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration
Ascaria watches Sol’s blow, ”Nice hit Sol!” and then he watches the assault. Wow.
Amazed Sol avoided most of the blows, he smiles as some of the damage is absorbed.*
Targeting near the ceiling so as to avoid the party, Ascaria casts Burst of Radiance (DC 16 blind or dazzled also ).
I hope we win! This guy looks tough.
Raella closes the distance by simply stepping up, and throws her own blade at the Ebon Aspect, but not before bringing about her own strength in rage.
Pillette piddles in position, plinking a poorly-placed shot. Solrisa brings an otherworldly blow to bear upon the brute. Mortimer places two well-weighed fists into the creature's side, and yet the damage doesn't seem as full. Tynan slips behind the monstrosity, and politely declines getting its attention. Raella relocates and refrains from adding to the poor newborn's punishments. Ascaria assaults the creature's senses, burning its face in the sudden burst of light.
Pillette reloads her crossbow, and fires again, trying to add some injury to the goliath in the pool.
The bolt flies true, but fails to injure the Aspect in any observable way.
Round 2, Init 18
Solrisa takes the hit from the creature, its hand severely denting her breastplate near her impossibly perfect breasts. She smiles as Ascaria's presense immediately soothes her wound.
She looks around the creature, at Tynan.
"Oh Tynan! Let's play OopsyTopsy!" Sol squeals. This was just like the game she used to play with Rae. Instead of Rae, it was Tynan over there. Instead of pillows, Sol was wielding her trusty sword. And instead of Mum wrapped in a blanket, it was a hideous demondeamondevil. But otherwise, just the same.
Solrisa swings low from the right, trusting Tynan to swing high from the right...as that's how you play OoopsTopsy.
to hit (+dragon,flank,-PA,+Dragon);
damage.
AC=24 (10 armor +2 shield +1 dex +1 NA) + 2 more vs. undeaddemonugly (the Dragon)
HP=21/36
Right hand = long sword
Left hand = heavy shield
LoH 2/4 used
Quik Shirt 0/1 used
The Dragon Invoked 2/2 used
[ dice]1d20+8+2+2-2[/dice] to hit (+dragon,flank,-PA);
[ dice]1d10+3+4+2[/dice] damage.
36/38 charges wand of MMissile
The Aspect roars again, obviously frustrated that his flurry of blows against the metal-covered human is largely impotent. As the others step up and seek to bleed it, it seeks as well. This time, when it swings its meaty appendages, the force behind them seems greatly diminished, however. This time, it savages Mortimer, to a slightly better outcome.
Round 2, Init 16
"Oh Tynan! Let's play OopsyTopsy!"
OopsyTopsy? More like SlashyBleedy with this guy...
Tynan studies the giant creature, and stabs at what appears to be a weak spot under a shoulder blade.
We have to take this down quicker...