Lunging forward, Kelumarion begins snapping at the giant rodents, lashing out fiercely. But at the last moment, the creature wriggles away with a squeal, and his jaws close on only empty air. In the heat of battle, he misses Bertholdt's cry, but a moment later words inch into his mind. ::The priest said to move in - it's too close out there!:: Realizing the sense in his words, Kelumarion slinks backwards, setting himself between the wounded inside and the door with a growl.
With Kelumarion's fight ringing in her mind and Bertholdt's cry to fall back inside the church, Arrika sets herself between Aravashnial and any incoming threats, readying her mace with quivering hand for if anything draws too near.
, also make a DC 11 Fort Save or contract Filth Fever in days, taking Dex damage and Con damage.
Kelumarion missed his target entirely, biting a couple inches away and then retreated inside. Elriel, perhaps discounting his frustrations regarding Horgus, stroke two rats at once, killing one of them instantly and maiming the other, who tried to flee, giving the dexterous half-elf another chance to finish it, a chance that he did not waste.
Perhaps in an attempt to avenge their fallen companions the rats attacked... or perhaps they were just hungry. One of them tried his luck against Elriel but tripped among the rocks, losing momentum and its opportunity. Another rat moved forward to also attack the more visible target ahead of it but a quick attack made by Sabrina made it change his mind, attacking the paladin instead in anger, the bite drew blood and perhaps caused something more... The other rat also tried to bite Sabrina but she managed to defend with her shield.
_______________________________
Second Round
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina - up
Anevia
Elriel - up
Bertholdt - up
Aravashnial
Arrika - up
Dire Rats
Stabbing and slashing, the rogue continued his onslaught while he yelled trying to scare the rats away.
"Out of here. There is no food here for you today!"
He scoffed, "Ha, we continue fighting vermin. Horgus would be proud."
_____________
Kelumarion waits for the rats to follow...and waits...and waits, tail twitching. Beside him, Arrika stands with her silver ceremonial mace at the ready, its head slowly drooping as her fever-weakened muscles protest the weight, hollow though the mace's head is. Bertholdt, sir? Maybe your spear can reach past whoever's in the door.
, also make a DC 11 Fort Save or contract Filth Fever in days, taking Dex damage and Con damage.
Both Elriel and Sabrina fail in contacting the rats but Bertholdt had better luck. With his longspear, Bertholdt was able to impale the rodent in front of Sabrina, lessening their enemies number to just two. Taking advantage of his clumsy attacks, the rat attacking Elriel was able to bury his fangs deep in the man's arm. The one attacking Sabrina did not got the same accuracy and managed to bite the stone door instead of its target.
_______________________________
Third Round
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina - up
Anevia
Elriel - up
Bertholdt - up
Aravashnial
Arrika - up
Dire Rats
Down to two rats and I get bit!
Elriel once more slashed and stabbed the vermin in front of him...
...but his attention was more focused on his bite wound. Thoughts of a feverish death underground marred his fighting prowess. I must concentrate at the task at hand. There will be time to deal with the bite wound later.
"Aw s%%+, I've been bit. Let's finish these off; I gotta get this cleaned. Quickly!"
____________
With the chapel's entrance bottlenecked, Arrika and Kelumarion could do no more than wait expectantly. Don't worry, she murmurs to Aravashnial. It's giant rats feeding on that bug from before, but nothing's made it in past the others - we should be safe in here.
Sabrina, despite striking the rat with her ancestral sword, isn't able to finish the pest. In front of her, Elriel, perhaps too worried about his wounds, misses the rats completely, striking stone instead and almost chipping his sword. Bertholdt's spear once more strikes true, finish the pest in front of him, leaving only one rat alive.
The remaining rat finally realized that, even if starving, he can't defeat such powerful prey and his instincts usher him to flee. Sabrina tries to capitalize on the opportunity but her attack misses the rat. The same could not be said of Elriel, who took studied the best way to attack and finished the last rodent.
Thick blood flows from the dead rats, splattered around the entrance of the shrine. If the fly from before was somewhat concealed, the same could not be said by this new scene and who knows how many enemies this new massacre will attract?
"So... is it over?" Aravashnial inquires. "What now? I think we should move forward and, if we cross our path with Horgus, we try to convince him to join us once more."
"Hum... despite having already worked as a scout a couple times, I must confess I'm not trained in following tracks and this hard, rocky floor makes it even more challenging... nevertheless I think we can assume he went ahead, right? Horgus is stubborn and difficult to come along but I think he is not stupid enough to come back the way we came..." Anevia shrugs as she starts to get up and prepares to follow you.
"Hum... despite having already worked as a scout a couple times, I must confess I'm not trained in following tracks and this hard, rocky floor makes it even more challenging... nevertheless I think we can assume he went ahead, right? Horgus is stubborn and difficult to come along but I think he is not stupid enough to come back the way we came..." Anevia shrugs as she starts to get up and prepares to follow you.
Elriel finishes cleaning up his blades and inspects his bite wound again. Convinced that it is as clean as it can be, he turns to the issue of Horgus.
"Let's not worry about a stubborn man in full faculty of his senses. I repeat; no one pushed him out and we owe him nothing."
He looks about, their situation far from ideal, "We have a sick girl, another person with mobility issues, and person who just lost their eyesight. We have plenty of challenges to be worrying about another one."
He turns to the others, "Can we agree that our first priority is to get everyone here out safely? If we catch Horgus then he will be asked if he wants to join us but that is as far as I'm going with this. Understood?"
I d-don't want to chase him, e-either, Arrika shivers, leaning against Kelumarion. Like Elriel s-said, he chose to l-leave...
Kelumarion lets out a low rumble. My concerrrn, though, is why he would deparrrt...trrraveling with otherrrs was his best hope for success, especially considerrring his apparrrent distaste for worrrk. There seems little rrreason to leave...why then would he rrrisk it?
"So, it is settled then. Let's move on and leave this place once and for all..." Aravashnial ended the conversation, clearly eager to move on and have his vision healed.
You walk towards south for more than one hour. As the previous tunnel, you notice a couple minor tunnels, all going down, but no clue as to which path Horgus took. You can only hope he was wise enough to keep in the main tunnel. The tunnel ends up in a bifurcation, both wide enough to be the main tunnel. Anevia moves forward and studies both entrances and points to the left one.
"I'm pretty sure this is the way we should go... the air is less stale in this one... I guess we have to take a chance here." After a couple more minutes and a gradual rise in elevation, you find yourselves in a large chamber, even if small compared to the one you had fallen. Stone figures are carved into the walls of this cavern. Each depicts a different crusader clad in armor and wielding weapons, but their carved stone features contain expressions of sadness.
Perception DC 20 to notice the darkmantles.
As you find yourselves in the middle of the cavern, Anevia shouts, quickly grabbing her bow and sending an arrow to the ceiling. "There is something up there!"
Two creatures, disguised as stalagmites, drop from the cavern roof, opening like a hideous octopus, their thin, hook-lined tentacles connected by a fleshy web.
One of them, with an arrow at its side, drops on Sabrina, slamming and enveloping her in a mass of tentacles. A faint scream leaves her mouth as she falls unconscious on the ground but the worst is the sound of bones being crushed... perhaps it was just a rib... perhaps it was her spine.
The second one drops on Bertholdt but his armor protected him. Anevia stepped backwards and let another arrow fly at the creature constricting Sabrina.
"We need your help, Aravashial! These creatures are dangerous!" The elf also steps away and starts some kind of conjuration. Will he be able to hit the creatures, even being blind? After a couple seconds nothing happens and he continues to chant... perhaps this is not an attack spell.
_______________________________
Surprise Round
Anevia
Darkmantles
1st Round
Elriel - up
Bertholdt - up
Anevia
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina (need a stabilize check)
Aravashnial
Darkmantle#1 [11 dmg, grabbed - wounded (-2)]
Darkmantle#2
Arrika
Elriel unsheathes his blades and starts hacking at the flying octopus that enveloped Sabrina.
"Get off of her!"
_________
As the creatures drop and attack, Kelumarion springs into action, jumping toward the creature enveloping Sabrina and attempting to tear it away from her. ::I prrray I'm not too late!::
Only the first of Elriel's twin slashes finds its target, drawing dark blood from the creature. As Bertholdt moves away from the creature, both of them try to slam him but only the first hit the priest. Kelumarion bolts forward but, in his eagerness to free his new companion, he misses the target entirely.
The creature grappling Sabrina, desperate to flee, starts of darken, as does the very air around it. When it does so it opens its guard, enabling both Elriel and Kelumarion to attack. The half-elf's attack goes wide but the called god is able to finish the creature. The other one, suddenly surrounded, resorts to the same move and even if Bertholdt is able to almost slay it, the room suddenly becomes pitch black. A dislocation of air suggests that the creature flew upwards but without vision, it is difficult to be sure.
_______________________________
1st Round
Elriel
Bertholdt
Anevia
Kelumarion
Sabrina (need a stabilize check)
Aravashnial
Darkmantle#1 [-8 - unconscious/dying]
Darkmantle#2 [13 dmg - critical (-3)]
Arrika - up
2nd Round
Elriel - up
Bertholdt - up
Anevia
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina (need a stabilize check)
Aravashnial
Darkmantle#1
Darkmantle#2
Arrika
"Cover me; I think it went upwards from where it came from."
Elriel then bent to where Sabrina was and felt his way to grabbing her and dragging her away from the darkness.
"Uff, heavy armor girl. How can you walk on that thing?"
He asked the cat-thingy, "If you can see, cat. Make sure no one attacks us."
Kelumarion, able to see perfectly in darkness, was able to confirm Elriel's guess. Perhaps if he jumps he would be able to strike it once more...
The crrreaturre is on the ceiling...take carrre! Kelumarion bunches up his hind legs and leaps into the air, snapping at the floating creature in an attempt to finish it off. His jump is powerful; unfortunately, too powerful. The momentum carries him nose-first into the stone of the cavern's ceiling, and he falls ungracefully back to the floor with a snarl, already tensing for another attempt.
Arrika lets out a small shriek as the light disappears, plunging the cavern into darkness. Desperately, she reaches for the head of her mace, hoping against hope that she can will some illumination back into the dark cavern.
Stinging Failure: Kelumarion takes points of nonlethal damage and a -2 penalty on bite attack rolls for rounds.
Arrika's light spell had no effect on the darkness of the room. Elriel was able to drag Sabrina away from the middle of the fight and can see she is out of immediate danger. After he misses his target, Kelumarion falls on the ground, stung by his failure.
After a couple seconds the darkness leaves the cavern as the creature retreats and flees from you and the light from Arrika's mace is able to illuminate the cavern once more, revealing the carved statues again. Anevia guides Aravashnial to you and he produces a heling potion from his belt.
"Here... give this to her." The elf offered.
Sabrina open her eyes and sees herself surrounded by her companions. She is still hurt but at least she can walk once more.
Elriel was still wounded and looked at the priest, "Can you eh, call upon your god or something? Maybe a burst of healing energy would be helpful for everyone."
Elriel looks up to see if the octopus was going to drop on them again and inspected the statues. "Is this some sort of shrine or temple? Do these statues mean anything to anyone?"
He then began describing the statues on hope that perhaps the blind elf may have heard of them.
I don't know...but they're...sad, almost. Strong, but sad, like no matter what they did, it wasn't enough. The images of the soldiers burn themselves into Arrika's mind - for she'd known the same struggle, when the fires had been lit, and she'd struggled against her captor's arms in vain...
::Therrre was nothing to be done. You werrre merrrely a cub.::
Her god knew her mind, as intimately as she did; what more proof did she need of his divinity? Brushing the beginning of a tear away with her baggy sleeve, Arrika straightens with her hand on Kelumarion's shoulder. Are you okay, Sabrina? Did the potion help? I couldn't do anything...I'm sorry, it surprised me, and then it was so dark...I tried to bring the lights back, but then the thing ran away, it did no good...
|
Sabrina slowly starts to come around. she does not get up immediately. but she does look a little disappointed in her ability to protect the others.
I'm sorry I let that happen, I will be more alert next time. Thank you for whoever helped me. I am indebted to you.
She staggers to her feet, momentarily dropping back down to one knee. then using her blade as a crutch Sabrina gets back on her feet.
I takes a moment or two for her to regain her bearings and soon is again trying to figure out the statues. this time she checks the ceiling for more creatures first.
with the area now clear Sabrina can finally examine the statues that Arrika was examining.
These are old, before my time, maybe the first crusade? Sabrina isn't totally sure but she does know they are older than she is.
standing beside Arrika, I know that feeling all to well. I just wish I could remember more about when my father answered the call in the first crusade.
Bertholdt nods at Elriel's suggestion. He takes Iomedae's holy symbol in his hands and prays to Her. after a couple seconds a wave of reassurance washes over you, tending your wounds and spirit.
After Elriel describes the statues to Aravashnial and Sabrina's opinions, the elf starts to think about it.
"Your findings are quite interesting! There is a theory of mine... an old legend says that after the First Crusade a group of crusaders who had become infected with Abyssal energies fled into these caverns to raise their deformed children in peace, and that their descendants live on today in the tunnels below the city. The presence of these statues here gives significant credence to the tale, as I assume they were carved by the children." The elf finishes with clear delight.
Anevia looks around, visibly worried. "I think we shall press on... who knows when the creature will come back? And..." She looks forward, clearly in doubt. "...I have not noticed it before because of the fight but I think there is a light source on the other end of this tunnel! Perhaps we have found Horgus after all!" She then points forward.
You manage to reach the other cavern and find a small campfire and a well-used bedroll, along with a few utensils and tools, sits near another cave opening in the far wall of this cavern. Near the campfire there is a dwarf in dusted clothes. He has a deep red hair and beard and looks at you with insane eyes. As soon as he spots you he mumbles a couple words and makes quick gestures and soon after his outline appears blurred, shifting, and wavering.
_______________________________
1st Round
Aravashnial
Bertholdt - up
Elriel - up
Anevia
Arrika - up
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina - up
Millorn
Still thinking about deformed children from hundreds of years ago worried Elriel.
With just one of his blades out, he holds it up in a non-menacing way and addresses the dwarf, "Ho there, friend... we mean no harm We're only seeking a way out of this mess. Were you caught down here as well from yesterday's disaster?"
The dwarf shrieks like a man possessed. "You'll never get me, NEVER! I shall kill you and use your corpses for my masters' needs! Hail the horned ones, hail the persecutors and defilers of souls!" He then cackled madly. He points his crossbow to you, making aim.
Arrika had been hoping for a peaceful resolution as much as Elriel apparently was. She rushes forward next to the half-elf to help with greetings, hand open in a gesture of peace - and as he raises his crossbow, her hand is suddenly enveloped in a slimy goo that flings itself forward and lands at his feet.
"Hey, that's not a nice way to treat new friends. Crazy dwarf."
Noting that the spell could potentially affect his ability to close in, Elriel moved, drew his shortbow, and let an arrow fly.
___________
Friendly Fire: Elriel's attack hits Bertholdt instead.
Bertholdt bolted forward, charging the crazed dwarf as soon as he started to blaspheme. He was sure his attack had hit the dwarf but blurred image made him to miss his mighty attack. Soon after Bertholdt felt the sting in his shoulder... Elriel missed his attack and hit his companion instead. Anevia also shot at the dwarf but missed.
After Arrika finished her spell, the dwarf lost his balance and felt prone into the ground, cursing and blaspheming in his language.
_______________________________
1st Round
Aravashnial
Bertholdt
Elriel
Anevia
Arrika
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina - up
Millorn
Once the threat becomes clear, Kelumarion darts forward between Arrika and Sabrina. You darrre to thrrreaten us? he growls, snapping at the blurred, indistinct outline of the figure on the ground.
|
|
With the creature still alive and a definite threat Sabrina glances back at the wounded, stay here, we will keep that mad man from getting any closer.
she then advances on the "dwarf" May the gods grant you mercy.
(+4 for enemy prone)
Unfortunately the grease has proven to make the target a bit slippery.throwing off Sabrina's aim.
Kelumarion is able to bite the prone dwarf but Sabrina is unable to hit him.
, unconscious, blinded and stunned for rounds, then blinded and stunned for rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
From his prone position, the dwarf cast another spell, making a vivid cone of clashing colors spring forth from his hand. Bertholdt and Sabrina are able to resist it but the bright lights are too much for Kelumarion and he drops unconscious into the ground. The dwarf then gets up, opening his guard but neither Bertholdt nor Sabrina are able to take advantage of this fact, and then moves north, taking care not to fall from the slippery surface but remaining on it.
_______________________________
2nd Round
Aravashnial
Bertholdt - up
Elriel - up
Anevia
Arrika - up
Kelumarion - up
Sabrina - up
Millorn [10 dmg - grazed (-1)]
Elriel quickly moves through his companions, discarding the bow and taking out his blades as he.
He remains outside the greased floor and stabs at the dwarf.
However, his careful maneuvering spoils his aim.
_______________
Bertholdt attacked with his spear and Elriel with his blade but both of them failed to reach the crazed dwarf. Seeing her trusted companion falling unconscious and not knowing what hit him, Arrika darts forward, intending to check on Kelumarion. Sabrina, on the other hand, is able to slash through the enemy's magical defenses. Her blade comes back covered in blood.
Surrounded and desperate, the dwarf reaches in his pockets for a vial of potion but just as he was going to drink it Bertholdt is able to thrust his spear in the dwarf's gut. The crazed creature finally finds his end, in a puddle of blood, underground, and forever forgotten.
On the dwarf's corpse you are able to find two potions (both unidentified), two scrolls (both unidentified), a dagger, a light crossbow with 10 bolts, a well made cloak (unidentified), his spellbook , 8pp and 7gp. Near the camp you can also find the dwarf's meager gear, consisting of a ratty bedroll, a small pack filled with dried meat, preserved fruit, and some moldy cheese (6 days of rations), and a chipped 6-inch-tall marble statuette of a humanoid throwing a spear.
With the fight finished, Kelumarion wakes up after almost a minute.
If read magic was cast, you know this spellbook contains detect secret doors, fog cloud, grease, invisibility, resist energy, shocking grasp, silent image.