|
"Beautiful..." Annilda's gaze sweeps across the statues, pausing at the nude women and handsome men. "I do wonder what they represent..."
Annilda nods as Lucina explains the architecture. "Although they seem focused on her aspect of death, rather than her life and childbirth. Hmm. I wonder of Calistria will ever have a forgotten temple this grand dedicated to her. She'd probably destroy it as a prank, ho ho."
She pulls her gaze away from the heavy set woman and the mirror to look at the eighth statue. "Ah, yes, the three faces of Pharasma: midwife, reaper and prophet."
She notices Uriel moving up to one of the statues. "She isn't going to come to life, dear. And she isn't going to ask you on a date." Annilda grins. "Checking out her backside, I see?"
When Uriel announces the hidden door behind it, Annilda shrugs. "Hopefully this one doesn't try to fry me. Maybe it will come to life and ask me on a date." She shrugs and prepares to move the statue.
|
Damien's pretty interested in the various weapons held by the statues, and he takes his time examining each one. "I wish I had a hammer like that guy does. His clothes are kinda cool too." The halfling looks closely at the bearded man with the lucerne hammer. "I don't think I could grow a beard like his though."
|
The rest of you spend several minutes exploring the grand chamber, with Lucina and Damien especially enthralled by the grandeur of the Cathedral. As no immediate threats exist here you do not feel rushed to hurry now.
Once you feel you have spent enough time here you turn your attention to the next statue. Realizing the statue is most likely trapped Uriel braces himself for the shock...
...expecting the trap allows Uriel to negate most of the expected jolt, which allows his extra-planar nature to absorb the rest!
Seeing the secret door illuminated briefly Uriel quickly pushes in the hidden latch to open it. Beyond lays a crypt similarly laid out like the previous one where you fought the skeleton. While this crypt has the dusty, disused air of the ossuary’s other catacombs, the bodies interred within it are remarkably free from the ravages of age and decay. Their burial garments have long since rotted away, but the cadavers look as if they could have been placed in their niches only yesterday. Unfortunately, this amazing effect is somewhat overshadowed by the lewd and graphic positions the bodies have been placed in.
As you continue to explore the area you see the whole crypt radiates a faint aura of necromancy, especially strong upon the corpses, which do not stir.
Searching the area nets you 400 GP worth of various ornamental trinkets can be found adorning the various corpses.
______________________
Status:
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Damien (14/18 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Uriel (19/19 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
_____________________
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell.
_____________________
.
|
Uriel takes a closer, longer look at the statue, examining their magical auras with his orison. "Indeed, Annilda, her backside is impressive, but I'm also trying to determine the number of auras and the strength and location of each on the statue. It's possible the statues' weapons or other accessories are themselves enchanted."
The aasimar looks at Damien. "Be a shame, to leave something useful behind, right?"
---
After the jolt of electricity passes through him without harm, Uriel opens the secret door and moves into the chamber revealed.
|
|
"Yuck..." Lucina grimaces at the lewd positions the bodies have been left in. "I guess the thing couldn't counteract whatever magic's keeping them from rotting. Good thing, too, or this might look even worse than it already does..."
While the others have a look about this particular crypt, Lucina does her best to put the bodies back into more dignified resting positions.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
After the fight with the skeleton, Mae approaches Damien with a small wooden wand in hand "You seem wounded, let me mend your injury." She croaks, reaching out to tap him on the chest with her wand. She pauses and blinks, semi-satisfied with the results. "Not perfect but no one is." She stows the wand and hops off.
As they explore the grand hall Mae looks up at the impressive architecture "This is very amazing. You don't see such things in the jungle."
She nods in response to Uriel and heads over to inspect the nearby statue, taking her time knowing there is likely a secret passage concealed.
As she's finishing the others head into another secret passageway, she hops over to take a look "More mating? This place isn't much for burial, seems more of a vernal pool during spawning season." She tilts her head to get a better look at the strange angles a pair of corpses are propped up in, plucking a small gem from one's rectum.
|
|
Once you have finished your...explorations of the crypt you exit the crypt and turn your attention to the next statue, the one a short, smiling man holding a longspear. Figuring the statue is trapped like the others you leave it to the aasimar to bear the brunt of the trap.
Once you are ready Uriel pushes the statue aside and as expected the electrical arc travels into his body...
Once Uriel has recovered from the effects of the trap, you enter the crypt and see it looks very similar to the other two crypts, however it is nearly devoid of anything of interest...except for something that looks like a mix between a lump of melted fat and a stalagmite. As you watch closer, it begins to congeal into a vaguely humanoid shape in the middle of the tunnel!.
.
______________________
Round 1:
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Uriel ((13 or 16)/19 hp, Reflex save pending)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
=============
??
=============
Sunny (16/16 hp)
_____________________
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell.
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
"Ouch." Uriel retrieves his wand of cure light wounds, treats the injury, and stows the wand.
"It's a lemure, boys and girls! Its special attacks include __________, and its special defenses include __________."
Uriel hauls out his wand of bless and activates it. He lets it fall, noting where he dropped it. I wonder if Pharasma's clerics offer free refills... Then the brave paladin-oracle steps forward, hefting his shield and bastard sword.
|
|
While Uriel realizes the lemures have little in the way of special attacks, just essentially able to slam their foes, they do have quite a few defenses which help them stay alive. Silvered weapons are most effective, as are holy ones. Fire is useless against them, as is poison; acidic or cold attacks are less effective as well.
______________________
Round 1:
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Uriel (18/19 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
=============
Lemure
=============
Sunny (16/16 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell, Bless
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
Mae peeks in around the corner of the statue, taking a look as Uriel educates the group "Silver? I have none of this. The last merchant took the last of it, all that remains is gold, platinum, and a few annoying coppers I found on the street."
She reaches out and touches Annilda on the shoulder "May the spirits guide you in your next endeavor." She maintains her position, waving at Sunny in the attempt to get her attention.
|
|
"I will help stall for time." She looks at Lucina's mace. "I am not skilled in the use of many weapons, unfortunately. I will trust Uriel can wield it properly. Uriel is a much better candidate for this."
She withdraws a vial from her side as Lady Mae blesses her. "You said it was a devil, yes? This will work wonders against it!" And with that, she hurls the vial against the creature.
"Step to the side, Uriel and I will take your place so you can use that mace."
|
|
As the Pathfinders prepare to deal with the devilkin by equipping themselves with the proper weaponry, Annilda hurls a vial of holy water at it. As the vial shatters against its flesh it burbles in pain, but does not slow its advance. Even as Damien's lance penetrates its hide it takes a pair of swipes at the person in front of it...
...but Uriel finds it mere child's play to dodge its clumsy blows!
______________________
Round 2:
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Uriel (18/19 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
=============
Lemure (-7 hp)
=============
Sunny (16/16 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell, Bless
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
Realizing that she's way at the back of the pack and that Uriel is up at the front, Lucina swallows hard and then takes off towards the melee. She ducks around Sunny, slides past Annilda, and attempts to roll through Uriel's legs and into the alcove opposite Damien - but of course it's a risky maneuver and it leaves her open to a strike from the lemure.
"Here, take it!" she gasps, offering the mace to her angelic companion.
|
|
Seeking to assist her companions, Lucina rushes to the forefront dashing past the lemure who mindlessly takes a swipe at her...
...but the clawed limb passes harmlessly above the diminutive halfling's head!
______________________
Round 2:
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Uriel (18/19 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
=============
Lemure (-7 hp)
=============
Sunny (16/16 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell, Bless
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
Mae moves in behind Annilda, hearing the blob is resistant to acid she lets Sunny continue licking the statue. "There must be some old residue on that statue, she won't stop licking it."
She reaches her sticky fingers out once more, granting Annilda Guidance on her future endeavors. "The spirits bless you once more. They must like you, or they also dislike these cramped halls. I find them to be comfortable really... they could be damper, my eyes are feeling dry again." Her tongue lashes out to moisturize.
|
|
While Annilda and Lady Mae prepare for the battle to continue another round, the doughty halfling ends the fight before it even begins as he drives the tip of his lance into the center mass of the bubbly mass of flesh, splitting it in twain!
A quick search shows the crypt is otherwise empty, though you do note a rune on the inside of the door leading into the crypt.
______________________
Status:
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Uriel (18/19 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
_____________________
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell.
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
"Well...that was over quick," Lucina marvels as Damien makes short work of the lemure. She looks awkwardly at her mace; the hand holding it still outstretched towards Uriel. After a moment she withdraws it.
"Um...I guess I'll just hang on to this then..."
As they proceed with searching the small crypt, the rune on the inside of the door immediately catches her eye.
"Oh hey, this crypt was dedicated to the sin of Sloth," she remarks as she studies the rune. "Guess that's why the jelly-blob lemure was in here, maybe? Because nothing says 'sloth' more than a shapeless pile of flesh!"
|
|
Mae consoles Annilda "You did very well, just not as well as Damien this time. He appears to have much experience at this." A tongue whips into the air to snag a fly that was heading over to check out the pile of slain pudding. "Sloth can be good." She says, heading out of the room and towards the next statue.
|
|
Eagerly moving on from the thoroughly plumbed crypt you turn your attention to the next statue, the statue of an obese man with rotting flesh, wielding a scythe. Knowing the statue is trapped like the others you leave it to the aasimar to bear the brunt of the trap.
Once you are ready Uriel pushes the statue aside and as expected the electrical arc travels into his body...
Moving the statue aside you see yet another crypt shaped like the previous ones. As you take note of the various items inside you see what could only be a zombie, grossly bloated, with its rotting skin stretched and straining as if pumped full of air, shambling towards you!
.
Zombie
______________________
Round 1:
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Annilda (14/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
=============
Zombie
=============
Uriel (15/19 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
As Annilda rushes into the fray Damien holds back to allow his trusty mount to have time to react. Lady Mae decides to help the aasimar warrior prepare for the coming battle.
The zombie lurches forth mindlessly and as it reaches the middle of the corridor it takes a swipe at Annilda...
...solidly connecting with the woman's side!
______________________
Round 1/2:
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (9/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
=============
Gasburst Zombie (charged)
=============
Uriel (19/19 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
"Oh yuck...Annilda's right, this is going to get even stinkier than it already is," Lucina remarks, wrinkling her nose with disgust as she moves into the crypt just ahead of Uriel. She winds up a small orb of acid into her palm and then gives it a good, solid toss.
"Eat acid, you restless worm farm!"
|
|
"You okay, Annilda?" Damien moves up through the hall, past the staggered zombie and into an alcove. "I gotta say, this place bein' so cramped makes it tough for Ruby to charge forth like she's so good at! Jus' wanna feel the wind in my hair, ya know?" The halfling grins slyly as Ruby turns, and he swings his lance at the zombie.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Feeling a bit nervous about it, but doing so anyhow, Mae hops into the small room behind Uriel and again Guides his next action. "See? The jungle spirits like you. They like you so much they asked me to bless you again." Her long sticky ET finger reaches out and touches Uriel on the back of the leg.
|
|
Lucina sends a small glob of acid at the zombie, scoring a glancing blow, while Lady Mae sends her spirits to bless her companion's blows. Uriel steps forward and slashes hard at the zombie, yet to his surprise his blade skids off the bloated body with no effect! Damien has much better luck, as his lance pierces the gaseous body as a slow hiss is heard with the gas leaking its body!
The zombie continues its assault mindlessly here, heedless of the fact it is nearly surrounded, lashing out at Annilda once again...
...but this time Annilda's magical protection is enough to ward off the blow!
Round 2/3:
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Annilda (9/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
=============
Gasburst Zombie (-6 hp)
=============
Uriel (19/19 hp)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell
_____________________
.
_____________________
|
|
While Lady Mae offers her never-ending blessings, Annilda feels her blow bounce off the surprisingly tough hide of the zombie. Damien, however, has no issues as he sends a powerful blow thudding into its body. It is Ruby who finishes off the zombie, nearly shredding one of his legs in two...which triggers a violent explosion as the gas contained bursts forth filling up most of the crypt!
______________________
Status:
Annilda (9/14 hp, Mage Armor)
Damien (17/18 hp)
Lady Mae (15/15 hp)
Lucina (8/8 hp)
Uriel (19/19 hp)
Ruby (13/13 hp)
Sunny (16/16 hp)
_____________________
Current Effects: Uriel Light spell, Damien Light spell, Annilda *Virtue spell.
_____________________