2/3
Eri decides standing and fleeing towards Hourpen is a better course of action than listening to Mortimer call out for ignition of the oily surface of the shallows. Hourpen throws acid in Eri's direction, hoping to dissolve worms from the man's frame.
It has some effect, as several worms fall with a sizzle, but there are still plenty to work with...
Mortimer waits in vain, stepping forward, and readying to throw another alchemist's fire into the mix shortly. Ascaria moves as far as his little legs can carry him. Solrisa fumbles a fire, injuring herself in fire as much as Eri suffered in acid from the halfling. The worms still pursue their own individual wormy agendas...
Tynan delivers a couple of eggs to the shore, as Shesht and Hishka step lightly back into the pool, and begin picking up more eggs. They seem almost as agitated as the waters in which they forage, finding it hard to pick up more than eggs.
The worms' journey up your appendages has taken a very private turn. You've now lost sight of several of them...
The worms' journey up your appendages has taken a very private turn. You've now lost sight of several of them...
The water continues to roil, the circle expands further. The alchemist's fire seems to char a good portion of the surface worms, but the pool allows submersion, so the worms continue their advance, with hardly a lurch in their movement.
"Oh! They are tickly worms!"
Fort
Solrisa moves over to gather some eggs, especially those without worms.
Tynan moves back to the water's edge to gather more eggs before they can be corrupted by the worms.
Ok, here we go.”
Eri skips leg day and instead pops a spark on Mort’s thrown oil.
Weapon Equipped = Wand Cure Light Wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = No one
Channel Energy (2/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (2/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (7/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (1/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
Ascaria continues to charge toward the egg chamber. He whispers horsely as his breathing intensifies from the exertion…
Double move toward the party - 120' of 120'.
Assuming he can see it (remember 60' limit), .
"Well that didn't work so well."
Hourpen joins in the gathering of eggs as the acid splash seemed less than useful.
"Hey Shesht, Hishka!" Mortimer cries out to the LizardFolk, holding up The Trident. "Do you know if this thing can shoot lightning or ice or anything else that might be useful in this situation?" He heads for the shallows.
Let's hope that jar is truly unbreakable...
The two lizardfolk continue to move about excitedly. "No, not that we know of! It reappeared in his hand every time it was thrown, that we know!"
The worms look very much like the singular worm sitting in the vial sitting in Mortimer's backpack. They smack of the undead, as the carrion infestations of the grave. These are very active Kyuss worms, for what you have learned. Infestations found within the undead, yet, can these living worms be considered as such?
I guess that I'm the closest thing we have to a fireball right now...
Mortimer looks at the swarm, and tries to pinpoint the center of it. He hurls the flask of Alchemist's Fire into the heart of the swarm as hard has he can.
for
2/3, 3
Ascaria arrives in the egg chamber to a mad scene. The worms continue to feather out like green dye in the waters. He observes Eri finally ignite two patches of oil, one thrown by him, the other, the giant. Mortimer hurls his alchemist's fire into the advancing expansion.
Meanwhile, Solrisa, Tynan, and Hourpen gather eggs, hoping to clear more space in the shallow waters. They manage to lift , , and eggs, respectively.
In the vicinity of the first diameter expansion, several lizardfolk eggs begin to burst apart. Each hatchling has bits of shell still clinging to it, thanks to the worm's mucus. The lizardfolk spawn have an unnatural color to their skin, as if stillborn, bloodless, lifeless. The creatures begin to move through the water, seemingly born to swim.
This must be Spawn of Kyuss, although they are quite small. The worms took very little time to generate this undead creature...
Round 1, Init 24
Sol grabs more eggs, looking for clean ones, and moves away with her precious cargo.
eggs
Round 1, Init 24+
Tynan quickly takes the two recovered eggs and places them with the previous pair, then turns back toward the water, drawing his short swords.
This will need quick work, or we'll be outnumbered quickly...
HP:34/34
Saves:Fort 4, Ref 8, Will 2
Round: 1, Initiative: 19
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = No one
Channel Energy (2/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (2/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (7/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (0/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
Ascaria moves forward, bumping into the stout Mort, before casting his last Burst of Radiance (Reflex DC 18 blind or dazzled also ). He obviously does not expect to blind the worms, but if they are as evil as he suspects, he may kill a few of them.
”More fire, more fire! Before this gets completely out of control! You’ll save a few eggs at the cost of our lives. Throw more fire! It's a swarm, it burns!”
As the creatures are undead, the divine energy of a channeling should be effective. For what little is understood about Spawn of Kyuss, nothing has been related regarding resistance these creatures may have.
For all the fire being cast about, when the gnome's light erupts, a much different picture peels back as your eyes regain themselves. No living worms exist within blast radius, and the hatchlings all char, falling still within the shallow waters. Ascaria's Radiance is exceedingly effective.
If you throw it I will set it on fire. This is not what I want to have crawling up my pants!
Eri will spark the next flammable liquid thrown and the take a 5’ step away.
Ascaria is surprised by the effectiveness of his spell and saddened that it's his last.
"Wow, did you see that?! Cool..."
The area of the gnome's spell, 10' radius, was wiped clean of worms and hatchlings. As for the greater diameter spread of worms, it's still wonderfully active with worms, and some of the eggs are starting to quiver, much like the first batch of eggs that yielded decayed lizardfolk hatchlings.
Round 1, Init 10
AC 19, 23 on AoO; 39/39 HP
BAB = +5 (level 5)
ToHit = 1d20+9
RHit = 1d20+9-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
LHit = 1d20+9-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+3 (+2 base/wis, +1 headband)
Initiative+2
CMD = 23, 21 if flat footed
Flexibility Slots: 4/5
Shirt Slots: 10/10
Watching the gnome erupt into a stunningly bright Flammenwerfer, Mortimer gawks in awe, uselessly clutching the trident.
! I was wrong!!!! Ascaria is the closest thing we have to a fireball! [ ... ] For the LizardFolk's sake, I hope the eggs weren't cooked...
"Wow, did you see that?! Cool..."
"Do it again -- whatever it was! Anyone else got any of that -- bright flashy lights thing?"
He hurls his only remaining oil flask into the greater diameter spread of worms.
"ERI! Here!"
He braces for the inevitable emergence of decayed lizardfolk hatchlings.
Round 1, Init 11
Hourpen sits the eggs he has in a safe place. "What was that? And what about these hatchlings?"
Hourpen carries his armful of eggs away, preparing for aggressions against the impending horde. Eri ignites Mortimer's last flask, continuing to keep some form of flame going to discourage the worms. Tynan delivers his eggs, then draws forth his blades. Ascaria decimates a goodly amount of worm and birth alike. Solrisa manages to thwart the worms' corruption for several more eggs.
Hishka and Shesht continue their salvaging, bringing another and eggs from the water.
"Do that again, gnome!! Again!! Burn them from this place!! Quickly now!!" Hishka flicks his snout towards the spanning circle, hoping Ascaria can bring another burst.
new hatchlings erupt from their shells. They pause to gain their bearings, preparing to spread out, as they seem to detect your presence in the chamber.
Round: 2, Initiative: 19
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = No one
Channel Energy (1/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (2/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (7/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (0/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
"Do that again, gnome!! Again!! Burn them from this place!! Quickly now!!" Hishka flicks his snout towards the spanning circle, hoping Ascaria can bring another burst.
"Alas, I cannot, I have no further light of that sort to throw!" he clenches his teeth. He rushes forward right up to the edge of them, and channels energy - this time to damage undead. He spares nothing in his area. No one is healed by this particular emanation.
(DC 18 Will for half)
Round 2, Init 24
Solrisa moves 20' and gently puts down the delicate eggs she has. She then activates her shirt and moves 20' back to get more eggs.
You become intimately familiar with these worms, as you step into their radius, or they extend their radius to include you. The waters are murky. As you look down into the shallow pool, you watch their speed change from scarily quick to methodically slow in their ascent onto your legs.
Round 2, Init 24+
Tynan moves forward next to Hourpen, and readies his weapon to lash out at any infected hatchling which approaches.
Ascaria's wave of positive energy reduces the hatchlings' number by seven, leaving two to survive just a little while longer. The waters continue to yield dead worms in a majority of the chamber. The gnome fails to hit a crescent moon of worm spread towards the back part of the chamber. Several eggs continue to quiver, a sign that its contents are still transforming, despite the positive energy recently passing over them.
Tynan manages to injure a spawnling as it streaks through the waters, and yet it still moves. The second surviving spawnling finds its way directly at Ascaria! Its razor-sharp teeth tear through the gnome's pant leg.
The bite feels quite painful, and you can feel something already coursing through your veins.
Fortitude Save DC 12, or suffer Con damage.
vs DC 12
Ascaria feels the bite, but resists the worst of the attack.
”I cannot defend us against all this, this is simply insurmountable!! Fall back I tell you, everybody for the love of their lives grab what eggs you’ve saved and flee this chamber! It may be we can stop them at the door, but even that is risky and may not be possible! We should try if only to save the lizard folk.”
”Hishka, get your people out of here! Now! This egg was meant to be your doom!”
Ascaria wishes he had movement left to flee… but he remains frozen in place a little while longer.
Hourpen follows Ascaria's advice, backing away quickly hoping that he can provide some kind of cover.
”I cannot defend us against all this, this is simply insurmountable!! Fall back I tell you, everybody for the love of their lives grab what eggs you’ve saved and flee this chamber!"
Mortimer rolls his eyes as the gnome speaks, and barrels into position to defend Ascaria from the hatchling attacking him..
He must be shaken..."What's this? Nonsense! We got this -- Just one more time, Ascaria! We need to get you just a little closer for one more shot!"
for
Wha!? Are these things full of air?
Tynan injures his spawnling, standing amidst quivering eggs. Solrisa hastens her rescue effort. Ascaria emanates and decimates many a worm, as well as most of the spawnlings. Eri pulls his bow, and takes out the already-injured spawnling.
Hourpen retreats, shedding a handful of lights in the general area of the menage e spawn. Mortimer maneuvers into position, but fails to end the critter nipping on the gnome.
Seeing Ascaria destroy a multitude of the green, Shesht snaps to, and moves into the oncoming wave of worms, and brings his own tremor of power, finishing off the back wall's smear of remaining worms. Hishka travels with his eggs, still hoping to avoid further loss of potential life.
Fate bestows upon you a final brood of eleven, bringing the current count of spawnlings to twelve. They shiver and shake off bits of eggshell, their eyeless sockets hinting at wormy movement deep within the orbits. For what it's worth, there doesn't seem to be any further movement from the current eggs remaining in the waters...
Round: 3, Initiative: 19
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = No one
Channel Energy (0/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (2/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (7/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (0/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
Ascaria watches Mort charge in when he said to fall back. He watches the lizard folk charge in as well, but he’s pleased when Shesht is so useful.
Maybe we can stem the tide... I need more of this... he wishes.
He hopes the lizard folk has one more channel, because he’s not sure his will be enough, but he can’t get clear, let alone his people, like this.
He concentrates and tries to burn one more time…
(DC 18 Will for half)
He steps 5' out of flank and hopes for the best. It felt good but only time would tell.
Mortimer glances around, distracted slightly by the color motes drifting around and the sudden yet not unexpected appearance of hatchlings surrounding them.
Careful not to step on any eggs, he maintains his position.
"No need to move now, Ascaria! Just channel again!"
"I can't Mort, if anything moves it's up to you lot to take it out. My light is nearly dim!"
He looks nervously at the hoard of draining little bites surrounding him and the others.
The gnome's energy pulses out across the chamber yet again. For all the spawnlings accounted for, four of them collapse under the power. The remaining eight shriek in pain, but remain quite viable.
Round 3
Solrisa draws her sword as she wades back in. She heads for the nearest beast and slices.
to hit;
magic damage.
"Oof, are you sure you don't want to claw me, instead?"
AC=24 (10 armor +2 shield +1 dex +1 NA)
HP=44/44
Right hand = long sword
Left hand = heavy shield
LoH 0/5 used
Quick Shirt 0/1 used
The Dragon Invoked 1/2 used
Breath of the Dragon 0/1 used
[ dice]1d20+10-2+1[/dice] to hit; (bless)
[ dice]1d10+4[/dice] magic damage.
Round 3, Init 24+
Tynan quickly sizes up the hatchling attacking Ascaria, takes a step forward, and strikes with his enchanted sword.
"Oh no you don't...
HP:34/34
Saves:Fort 4, Ref 8, Will 2
”More?!?!? Stay dead! “
I kinda want to kill this black dragon.
Eri takes a 5’ step and fires off two arrows to any undead within 30’.
for
for
Tynan quickly sizes up the hatchling attacking Ascaria, takes a step forward, and strikes with his enchanted sword.
Ascaria watches Tynan step up and clear one off him, or try to at least. "Thanks Tynan!"
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Solrisa and Tynan mercifully end two of the spawnlings, leaving six of them still viable. And vicious. Three of them swarm Solrisa, all avoiding the maiden's opportunistic blade. One of them manages to slash her, just behind her knee.
Ascaria suffers his own attacker, as it streaks fiercely through the shallow waters.
Mortimer manages to break off two of his own, both attempting to bleed the giant into the waiting waters below.
Eri's attacks are both for naught.
Ascaria tries to rise up out of the water to keep from the creature, but fails.
He exhales slowly as his body fends off the insidious attack!
Fort
Solrisa smiles as the little buggers try to bug her.
Hourpen pauses to concentrate, entering a state of mystic focus. Then he casts the last of his more powerful spells, hoping that it will buy Ascaria some time before moving into position to attack the spawnling near the gnome.
, , , ,
Round 3, Init 10
AC 19, 23 on AoO; 24/39 HP
BAB = +5 (level 5)
ToHit = 1d20+9
RHit = 1d20+9-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
LHit = 1d20+9-2 (-2 to hit, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+5 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+6
Will+3 (+2 base/wis, +1 headband)
Initiative+2
CMD = 23, 21 if flat footed
Flexibility Slots: 4/5
Shirt Slots: 10/10
Mortimer scowls at the ever shifting pondfield.
Too bad holy water takes so long to make...
for
for
Foo, I'm tired...
Tynan quiets one spawnling, while Solrisa downs another. Ascaria adds to the reduction in numbers, but the little biters manage to maintain their majority. Eri lets fly two arrows that chunk into the pool, missing their marks. Hourpen brings a touch of cold and snicks another hatchling, while Mortimer succumbs to poison, and retaliates with a kill of his own.
When you struck your foes, you noticed that some of the cold from your attacks found its way below the surface of the water, unlike the fires.
Shesht unleashes another wave of damaging energy to the remaining spawnlings.
And with that, the waters still.
"Thank you. I have long held that soft-skins are blind to my kind's struggles. But you have fought alongside us now. Not only that, you helped to protect our future, our children. We are indebted to you." Shesht approaches each of you, and extends a scaly hand.
...
When you return to the captives, and the rest of the lizardfolk, Hishka makes his way to gather several items, speaking of your exploits in the egg chamber in draconic to the clan, then returning to your presence.
"Please, take these as a sign of our trust and gratitude." He hands you an amulet and a pair of bracers, additional items worn by Kushak.
The lizardfolk in their individual ways, bring you items, and lay them in front of you all. Partially-consumed animal carcasses, bright eggshells of large birds, well-made clubs of darkwood, bone necklaces of various animalkind. They keep their distance, out of respect.
Shesht approaches you finally. He hands you each a hide throat-wrap, bright red in its color. "For your travels in the Mistmarsh, wear this, and be known in the eyes of all lizardfolk as 'Isthasi'. 'Brother'." He looks on each of you. "If you pave a way, we will meet with those who represent Egorian, and forge a peace. If it is possible."
"Did anyone else notice how the cold dispersed into water?"
Hourpen sheaths his rapier, nods and shakes Shesht's hand. "And thank you for sharing your struggle."
Hourpen nods and speaks hesitantly. "I can speak only for myself, but if any of these gifts would lend to the survival of your community, please know that the gift of knowing you have what you need to protect yourselves and forge a future from this betrayal is much more than I deserve."
Hourpen smiles. "I do hope peace is possible. I have seen to many die because they shared the same fighting spirit, but not same skin. Or size for that matter." Hourpen tries not to laugh to much at his joke, questioning if his humor will be lost on the lizard folk.
Ascaria watches Shesht scatter the rest of the creatures to the depths of the pool - lifeless in every way. Whew
He sees Mort is injured however, and much paler than before. He moves over to him, ”Hold still. Let me look at it.”
vs DC 15
”That bandage is just a start, I’ll need to add a poultice to that later - as you sleep. Don’t wander off… Tomorrow, I’ll take care of the rest of it.” He worries…
"Thank you. I have long held that soft-skins are blind to my kind's struggles. But you have fought alongside us now. Not only that, you helped to protect our future, our children. We are indebted to you." Shesht approaches each of you, and extends a scaly hand.
Ascaria shakes it gladly, "You're welcome."
"Please, take these as a sign of our trust and gratitude."
Shesht approaches you finally. He hands you each a hide throat-wrap, bright red in its color. "For your travels in the Mistmarsh, wear this, and be known in the eyes of all lizardfolk as 'Isthasi'. 'Brother'." He looks on each of you. "If you pave a way, we will meet with those who represent Egorian, and forge a peace. If it is possible."
He chuckles at Hourpen's joke. "As Hourpen says, we'll try. You should also reach out to the other lizard folk clans in the area. You have some fence mending to attend to there as well." he says simply.
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Mortimer braces to swing again at the undead hatchling Thing, only to watch it wither under Shesht's spell.
Whew!
He weakly shakes Hishka's -- or is it still Shesht? -- claw and wanders with the others back to the captives in something of a daze.
This fatigue is worse than what the Weasles of Unusual Size dolled out. I am sooo tired. It happened so fast. I just want to rest...
”That bandage is just a start, I’ll need to add a poultice to that later - as you sleep."
Mortimer looks blearily down at the bandage, wondering what it's doing. At the mention of the word "sleep" he quickly interjects, "Thanks Ascaria! Yes, let's do that maybe sooner than later..."
He collapses flat on his back in the LizardFolk dwelling, vaguely aware of the comings and goings of the natives.
He tries to look completely helpless when Solrisa wanders by.
"Please, take these as a sign of our trust and gratitude." He hands you an amulet and a pair of bracers, additional items worn by Kushak.
Mortimer raises his head and spies the bracers greedily, then wordlessly drops his head back to the dwelling floor in exhaustion.
Without moving he weakly watches a food bearing LizardFolk approach and offer sustanance.
What's this -- Spa Day already?! Can't be -- hey! Would it kill her to put that food thing into my mouth for me? Maybe she can help me chew it while she's at it...
His hopes dashed as the LizardFolk walks away, he reaches out to the offering left behind and tears a small hunk of meat off. He manages to choke it down without assistance.
Not bad... He sits up and grabs a darkwood club for inspection.
Shesht approaches you finally. He hands you each a hide throat-wrap, bright red in its color.
"'Isthasi'," repeats Mort, chewing slowly on a bright orange egg, "much appreciated. I think we shall go back, and make arrangements to explain things to the Egorian Representatives."
He lays back down and waits for someone else to make a move for the door first.
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Solrisa seems saddened by the death of so many eggs and shakes no hands until she is sure the rest are safe. Only when the work is done and the eggs are moved does Solrisa begin to smile again; she was intent on saving eggs from the trap of the dragon.
"For your travels in the Mistmarsh, wear this, and be known in the eyes of all lizardfolk as 'Isthasi'."
Solrisa smiles broadly as she receives the gift. She dons the wrap immediately, thinking it will complement her new shiny armor wonderfully. She spins and smiles with the bright red wrap.
"Oh, I love it! Thank you, Shesht! That the Fell Dragon has not destroyed your tribe is a sign that the True Dragon guides us all," Solrisa remarks. "We shall create the peace that you offer. It is what we always wanted."
Solrisa looks toward the others, happy to have worked together.
[Mort] collapses flat on his back...
Solrisa moves to check on the man. Peering over at him, her hands on her hips.
"Are you okay, Mort? Did the little buggers get to you?" Solrisa asks, offering a hand to help the man to his feet. "What's wrong? Is it the 'down there' itches? Lemme see..."
Heal
Solrisa's eyes go wide as she checks Mort's health. She notes his pallid skin, dirty fingernails, probable constipation of the panceas, and likely hernial bleeding of the left aorta and is very concerned.
"ASCARIA! MORT IS BROKEN! HELP!" Sol looks to see if the gnome can help.