Jessica called out a rapid prayer for Shelyn to give her grace and then moved around the mummy to put Hunday between her and it. She then cast up another prayer, more involved than the last, and reached out to touch Sunday with divine light.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Though the mummy is able to reduce some of the damage from Sunday's sword, it's not enough to keep it around after his powerful attacks. The green lights inside the wrappings wink out as the flying guardian of these scroll tubes collapses on the ground, ending the fight.
The scroll tube that the mummy was protecting is adamantine and locked by the most intricate and complex lock you have ever heard of.
Alternatively, a character who can read Thassilonian (or who can keep track of the dozens of runes with a DC 30 Linguistics check) can use the runes on the scroll case to puzzle out the combination with five successful DC 20 Intelligence checks in a row.
"This is in Thassilonian. I might be able to figure it out... give me a moment."
After a long time of fiddling, cross referencing, and swearing in multiple languages, Vivi finally is able to get the tube to open.
"There. Sorry that took so long... whomever designed this did not want it opened it seems."
"Well done!" Delendir finally breathes relieved as the mummy collapses to the floor under the group shared might.
Observing how Vivi is taking his time with the tube, Delendir decides to leave him do it while he registers the catacomb.
"This seems like a good place to retreat and rest. Right now no one in the fortress might be aware of our arrival, which gives us a great opportunity to plan ahead" the ranger observes the upper exit of the room and looks for ways to climb up "Can anyone fly up and secure the rope there for the rest to climb?"
Delendir offers a silken rope.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The scrolls the Black Monk guard are an incredible treasure.
As the tube is opening, everyone peaks inside with great curiosity. What is worth this level of protection? As Vivi reaches int, Yavenee tells him to halt as she suddenly recalls that these scrolls were known, collectively, as the Emerald Codex of the Therassic Order, a compilation of spells and enlightened rituals related to the worship of the Peacock Spirit, a once-powerful faith of the Thassilonian Empire. The codex consists of 18 large scrolls prepared on wyvern hide-they must be handled with extreme care to avoid fragmentation.
She tells him that due to their age if he touches them, they are likely to fall apart. He needs the utmost of care to be able to extract them.
As they study the paper, Delendir notes that the scroll tube itself is worth 1,200 gp intact. Luckily Vivi was able to open it without damaging it.
Vivi scratches his head as he hears the explanation of the scrolls within the black tube. "So... some kind of religious document? To a lost god... eerie. Perhaps their god would not have been lost if they had made documents like this more.... commonly accessible." Shrugging, he closes (but does not lock) the case gently. "I am sure a scholar or collector will know what to make to them. Me, I would just want to be able to study the scriptwork... professional curiosity."
Vivi opens his handy haversack and places the scrollcase within it.
"What should we do now?"
"Well done Vivi!" Delendir observes in reverence how Vivi manages to open the tube and chuckles when he observes its knowledge should had been more common "I certainly never heard about this Peackock Spirit. Perhaps this is something you should research and unveil once again to the world Vivi?"
"Maybe that is what destiny had for you to reach this place" the half-elf observes with interest the scrolls inside "Those seem they would crackle to dust with just a blow. Does any of you have magic to fix them before we try to retrieve them and study their meaning?"
Vivi shrugs. "I am a monk and scribe, Delendir-san... not a prophet or prelate." The monk gives the ranger a weary smile as he says this.
"I do not have any such magic, though I suspect this case is doing more than its share to keep them intact. I will keep it locked until we can find someone who does have those skills. In the mean time, we have a giant lord to slay." He looks over at Jessica as she looks after Sunday. "Do you think we should rest here for a bit while you minister to his wounds, or is it less serious than it looks?"
Delendir smiles back "If not a prophet you have just made yourself the new scrolls protector at the least. I hope we find a way to check that knowledge sooner than later"
"I left Ghina outside and I do fear she will be scared if we took too much time to get out of the tower. But this can certainly be a good headquarters from where to attack the fortress" the half-elf then looks to the hole in the ceiling and tries to climb up and set a rope for the group to have a way out of the catacomb "Let's find out that giant chief we came to slay!"
As you ascend, you take note that his black tower likely once served as a bell tower and lookout location for these monks that protect that scroll. The tower's decorated with numerous gargoyles that are unrecognizable today save as vaguely demonic forms.
Delendir looks outside into the courtyard to locate what guards are within the walled complex.
As he comes back from his scouting the half-elf reports back what he has seen "We are quite fresh still, so I guess we want to go on for a while longer. I suggest we explore the buildings in the Courtyard and remove any resistance there before we descend into the Pit. What about checking the Bear's Hall first, then the Feasting Hall?"
"We need to find a moment without the guards looking towards this direction, then sneak through. If you have any means to pass unnoticed, this will be a good moment to profit them"
"I think I can try to reach the stables unseen and force whatever mount is there to stampede. Then we can use the distraction for you others to reach the Hall" Delendir observes the ill state of the others "But first I think we need to heal Daud and all of us in general"
With the fighting over and Delendir and Vivi working on the scroll, Jessica went about tending to the injuries of her friends. She sent out a pulse of positive energy when they were all close enough together.
...and then healed herself some more.
That seemed to be enough and she turned her focus back to what Delendir said about continuing on. She nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, I think we should push on if everyone is able to. We can fall back to this place to rest when we feel the need."
"Thank you Jessica." Yavenee says, breathing a sigh of relief as the healing washes through her.
"Thank you Jess" the half-elf smiles back at the woman as his wounds close up along with the ones of the party "Yes, this seems a good place to fall back if we need to heal up later or rest"
Once that is done, Delendir takes up the elvenkind cloak on his backpack and sets it over instead of the resistance one. With the nice camouflage clothing, he will try to sneak up to scout the area outside, and possibly the closest building. He does so behind Vivi, alongside him or in front of. The order does not matter.
If Yavenee can put a message cantrip, Delendir will whisper through whatever he spots. Otherwise he tries to convey the information through body language.
"Yes, let us keep this place ready. If need be we can try to block the door, then teleport elsewhere. Come, Delendir-san, let us find our quarry."
Vivi follows Delendir outside, attempting to keep stealthy and be as observant as possible.
Slipping from the Black Tower, Delendir and Vivi move out behind the large stables, keeping their bodies positioned out of sight by hugging the walls and staying in the shadows created by the towering walls of the fortress around them.
The enormous stone wall which is thirty feet wide and fifty feet tall has guardians perched high atop the walls. A stone giant observes in each of the six towers that rise seventy feet above the tops the walls. From previous experience, you know that these stone giants are extremely proficient at hurtling rocks towards extremely long distances.
To their southwest, the main gate to the fortress stands closed with the three harpy guardians standing watch.
Inside of the courtyard, a stone giant is still training a large mammoth-like creature.
As the pair slip around the corner, they come to the huge double doors of the stables which do not appear to be locked.
Hidden behind the corner, Delendir observes the guards carefully and when none is looking towards the tower and the stables, he makes a sign for Daud, Yavenee and Jessica to quickly come by.
While they approach, Delendir rushes to the stable doors and quietly opens them to see what's behind.
Timing it perfectly, Delendir throws up the doors to the stables and finds three mammoths, each in their own stall at the southeast part of the building. The air in this building is close, warm, and thick with the smell of manure. The animals begin to get loud and uneasy at the sight of the ranger.
Delendir reels off a bit by the size of the mounts but he resolves to try calm down the beasts "Easy friends, easy, we are not here for you..."
That said, he is not really used to deal with other animals than Ghina and his tone is not that reassuring "I think I might need some help here people"
If the mammoths do not break out immediately, the ranger keeps trying to calm down the ancient elefants, looking for a crust of bread on his backpack he tries to improve things.
Jessica watched for Delendir's sign and quickly made her way over tot he stables when he signalled. She waited for Delendir to enter and followed behind him only to see the biggest animals she had ever seen outside of that terrible red dragon that had attacked Sandpoint. She also noticed they were agitated as Delendir tried to calm them down. Reacting quickly Jessica gestured the others to plug their ears and quickly put her hands of Delendir's for him as she began to sing. It was a quiet lullaby, just loud enough for the mamoths to hear over their own agitation, and laced heavily with Shelyn's grace. She could only hope this would help and that Delendir would understand what she was doing.
[b]"When Delendir suggests scouting ahead, Yavenee quickly cast a spell that allows the barest of wishes to travel on the winds to the others in their group, allowing them to communicate without drawing attention.
She hangs back with Sunday, on the lookout for any of the giants that might approach.
Despite his best efforts, Delendir is only sucessful in calming one of the three beasts. They are about to trumpet a warning when Jessica makes her way in and captivates them with her lullaby while Delendir and Vivi plug their ears and turn away.
The mammoths calm down and allows the ranger and monk to head into the stables for a quick look. There isn't much of interest in this large building, finding only three tack and harness kits for the mammoths worth about 300 GP each. At the opposite end of the stables, a large set of double doors leads out into the courtyard.
Vivi releases a sigh as Jessica is able to calm the animals. He creeps past them, being careful not to look at Jessica as he does, and stealthily pokes his head out of the other set of doors.
Delendir nods understanding Jessica and avoids listening at her by putting his hands on the ears.
The ranger advances to the other doors and peeks through with Vivi.
Assuming they see the harpies and the mammoth trainer in the same place atop the gates and on the courtyard, Delendir whispers through Yavenee's magic "I suggest we guide the mammoths to the courtyard while they are enthralled, to distract the giant while we run from the backdoor to see what's in the pit and the other buildings"
If so... the half-elf guides the animals out and pushes them to run into the courtyard while they are still fascinated by Shelyn's beauty.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Delendir sees what he expects to see, the harpies and the mammoth parading around the courtyard inside the large fortress walls. Confirmation in hand, the front doors of the large stables are opened and the three mammoths are ushered out of the building into the large open area.
As soon as the third creature is out the door, Delendir hustles to the rear of the building to rejoin with Vivi and advance further into the complex by sweeping behind the large stone building to the north. As they run, they can hear commotion of shouting chaos in the courtyard as the three free mammoths are discovered.
The group utilizes the distraction to dart between the hall and the tower and make their way to the entrance to the large crater in the center of the fortress. They find a ramp on the western side of the pit that winds underground in what looks like caverns below.
Making your way down about eighty feet and find the pit floor is a tangle of bones and broken bodies, a combination of humanoid, giant, and even four large dragon corpses. Flocks of crows, buzzards, and other scavenging birds swarm over the bodies, picking at the flesh until only bones remain. What appear to be three dens of bones, bits of cloth and leather, and swaths of matted fur line the walls to the east. The air in here is thick with the scent of animal dung and spoiled meat.
You only make it a few feet into the cavern floor when you are assaulted by three large bears, spittle dripping from their feral roaring maws and their matted fur broken in places by wicked, bony growths. It appears they heard you coming as they were prepared for intruders and they act first, attacking Delendir twice and Vivi once. Only the monk gets struck, but luckily he avoids the jaws that were tightening around his arm.
"It's working! It's working! Keep running!" Delendir takes the lead going through the structures trying to reach the cover of the pit as soon as possible, as the ramp is discovered, he darts there trying to investigate what is hidden in there.
Before going inside, he looks around to see if Ghina is flying there and if so, he makes a sign for the hawk to swiftly come and join the ranger.
"Ffffiu! We made it! Wh-what are all those bones bellow? A dragon?" the ranger sniffs in the air and reels from the horrible stench "Eugh! This place smells worse than the Hookmountain ogres lair"
That is when the half-elf is attacked by the raging bears "Aah!" but succeeds at stepping back avoiding the mouth's grasp.
Dropping the bow, he uses the buckler to defend himself and draws his magical sword in the other hand "I seriously hope you can tame the beast with your voice as you did with the mammoths Jessica!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Jessica was quite pleased that her spell worked out and even more so with how her friends used it to cause a distraction. As they moved ahead Jessica kept a careful watch out as she slipped through to the pit and down into the caves. What they found turned Jessica's stomach, the stench was foul, the worst thing she'd ever smelled, and even worse...were the three big bears that attacked them! Jessica was glad she was keeping her glaive ready as they traversed this place as it meant she could react quickly.
Jessica began to move, looping slightly around to flank the bears withDelendir and Sunday on it's opposite side, just staying out of reach of it's claws, and stabbed out with her glaive as she said, "Nope, it won't work if they are already attacking us!"
Vivi curses in Tien as the bears attack, leaving a decent amount of blood flowing from his chest.
Setting his feet, the monk retaliates with a series of melee attacks against the offending bear.
As the massive bears attack, Yavenee, throws up a hand in a gesture, chanting in a rising pitch that culminates in an explosion of shimmering golden particles that envelops two of the monstrous creatures.
Sunday begins hacking at the bears as his wisps break down the nearest flesh.
All of the party members hit their targets with their attacks, with only a couple of Vivi's missing and Sunday's critically striking. The brown bear GETS BLINDED by Yavenee's spell, but the other one manages to avoid it.
After Sunday's massive assault, the brown bear is only barely left standing while pink is slightly injured and the yellowish one is uninjured.
Though blinded, the brown bear gets lucky with a swing of one of its claws and nips Sunday's shoulder .
Flanked by two huge bears, only one of the six attacks against Delendir manages to catch him .
Y: 79/95
P:
B: 2/95
Delendir reels from the bear's claw, his right shoulder starting to bleed "Damn it! Why the giants love this much the bears?! Rear back beast!" the half-elf fights with his longsword more trying to defend himself from the surrounding attacks than actually trying to be effective combat wise.
"Please get rid of this one to my side, it is going to have me for desert!" Delendir covers himself in the flank using the buckler.
Leaving the near dead and blinded bear to the spirits Sunday steps up and turns his attention to the bear attacking Delendir.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Locking her keys on the bear facing Delindir, Yavenee reaches out to twist the creatures fate calling up grave misfortune.
Vivi turns his attention to the wounded bear, aiming to put it down with a flurry of punches and kicks.
With a bear still between her and Sunday Jessica took a pair of strikes at it with her gliave.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The brown bear falls first, only barely surviving from last round. With amazing precision, the party lands critical and well placed strikes one after the other in rapid succession. The large bear to Delendir's collapses at his feet, dying.
With the threat of the bears eliminated, you are free to move further down the ramp into the room and search several caves off the path. Nothing much of interest can be found here and so you continue down to where
The ramp ends here at a cave entrance that leads underground, while the bone-strewn floor of the pit sprawls before it. A smoldering brazier sits in an alcove just to the right of the entrance. As you move forward, an old stone giant moves to intercept you. It speaks in Giant, and sighs heavily as she adopts a defensive posture. "I don't have much time, but know that if you are here to slay Mokmurian, I am your ally. Come with me to a place we can speak in peace, for I would aid you in your quarrel here-without my assistance you might find only your graves below Jorgenfist."
Sunday tilts his head at the apparently non-combatant giant before turning to Yavenee for a translation.
Vivi sees the look on Sunday's face and quickly translates the old giant's words. He then turns to her and addresses her in Giant.
"And why should we believe that any here would want Mokmurian slain? No offense, but you could be trying to lead us into a trap... why do you want to aid us?"
As he finishes speaking he quickly translates his question to Sunday, adding, "Keep an eye on her, Daud-san. No telling what is going to happen next."