Thervold heads back to the Observatorium. He tries to focus his thoughts on the rodeo from where the group had been to see if the room will display the area.
Will:
Perception:
Finding the others enjoying a meal I share what I learned with them. Ensuring the 'natives' can't hear, especially Castiel.
We should look into this eastern tunnel, but only when we are ready to make a full out attempt to leave, we might be destroying some things to get out
** spoiler omitted **
Teriwyth finds Aniya and Castiel together in one room performing together. he asks them a question that resonates throughout the halls. "Hey, why don't you share music with the world?" Aniya is hesitant. She looks to Castiel fearfully for approval to speak. "We can't. We don't talk about such the things. Home is where we live and we protect music from corruption here. Home protects the world from music too. "
So whats protecting us from music? Alric picks an oppertune time to wander by.
Aniya seems confused by your question. "What do you mean? Music is beautiful, so use it." She pauses, perplexed and mutters to herself a moment. "Beautiful, and we share it, but we don't share it with the world because it will be corrupted. "
Castiel speaks up. "We are not protected from music. We are it's guardians and vessels. Through us music is preserved and protected from corruption in the outside world. That is our duty. "
Hmm. So why does the world need protection if we don't?
"Haven't you been listening?" Castiel is becoming frustrated. "Music is only dangerous if those who would abuse it know. Here within these halls, we can guard its power and keep it pure and protected."
Being drawn in by the rising argument
Castiel, what value is music if it is kept locked away in this complex?
Castiel, we wish to take our leave. We will be leaving, one way or another. Either show us the way or stand aside.
Castiel's eyes alight at Thervold's comment.
"Have we not treated you with kindness? Shown you beauty beyond your wildest dreams? Yet still you wish to depart for the world of corruption." He turns to go towards his own chamber. "You will eventually come to change your mind, but I will not stop you at this juncture." He leaves you alone with the others. They avoid eye contact with you and try to go about their business normally.
Mumbling: Imprisoned in a palace is still imprisonment
Funt continues to nervously bang on the bongos. He looks around to see what you will do next. The rest of your hosts join Funt in song, evidently airing their discomfort about the whole situation.
"So....shall we go? The apocalypse waits for no one."
Teriwyth, lead the way. I am not sure what we should attempt.
Your group leaves the room, passing by Castiel in the next chamber. Edelle nods towards the eastern tunnels. Castiel looks at you with disdain and turns purposefully to the north into the Chamber of Destiny. As you continue along, you hear a small voice from behind you. It is Jingles, flitting through the air at top speed to catch up with you. The creature puts small arms up in the air to show peaceful intent. Jingles speaks with a hushed voice.
"To be set free you need a key.
Find the heart for a good start.
This place is meant to bring joy, but I have seen so much sorrow.
I know that I don't know what there will be tomorrow.
But I see your passion and I know that it's true.
Break this prison, do what you must do.
And if music is love, and love must be free,
then maybe music can save the world."
You are almost shocked at the lack of rhyme in the last phrase. It hits with extra emphasis. Jingles speaks once more and then turns and flits back. " Good Luck."
Well, time waits for no one.... still....
Alric plays idly on his new instrument
The cavern shifts slightly to harmonize with Alric's performance. As he continues to perform, a larger rumbling begins and the hall shifts down. With a release of warm air, you see that the hall now leads deeper down into the earth. It is warmer here and you can immediately hear a throbbing noise, like a pulse, emanating from further down. The noise passes in waves which overwhelm your hearing intermittently.
Putting my ear plugs back in:
Ear plugs guys, this could get interesting
Then I race off down into the warmth.
Putting my ear plugs back in:
Ear plugs guys, this could get interestingThen I race off down into the warmth.
I put in my earplugs and follow.
As you progress deeper down, the sounds of the heart become more powerful. The slope of this hallway steepens and you almost begin sliding downward on the slippery crystal. Finally you come to a large chamber lit from above by an ornate orb. Across the room, you see the source of the pulsing. It resembles a young child curled in fetal position, though it is much larger than any child would ever be, and it appears to be a mixture of both crystal, flesh, and energy.
As you enter the room, you bump into another invisible wall. Feeling around, you note that this one does not completely block your path, but instead it appears to be the start of a maze that covers the room. Finally, you hear a groaning noise as three creatures present themselves to you.
The first is a crystaline deer in the centre of the room that stirs as you bang against the wall. It does not approach, but it appears to be observing you curiously. The second and third are not seen, but felt. From beneath you, a fist reaches up through the earth to try and grab Teriwyth, but misses. From above, a ray of energy is released from the orb. It is refracted through a series of invisible walls and narrowly misses Alric's head.
I put in my earplugs and follow.Putting my ear plugs back in:
Ear plugs guys, this could get interestingThen I race off down into the warmth.
Likewise
Initiative
First Round's Actions: Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage)
Initiative:
With my bardiche that I clearly drew while sliding towards this room, I flurry attack the fist attacking Teriwyth:
Attack: & Damage:
Attack: & Damage:
Attack: & Damage:
possible AoOs:
Attack: & Damage:
Attack: & Damage:
edit: adjusted 5' before attacking, as shown on map.
edit2: There was no plausible reason why I wouldn't have flurried at the 'fist'
Drawing a metamagic rod, Casting Extended Protection from Fire
Initiative:
Thervold points towards the large hand and quickly utters the arcane language for a lightning bolt. The air crackles as the power flies forth.
Lightning:
Round 1
Alric prepares himself for combat, sheltering himself in a soothing cool glow that will protect him from the heat.
Edelle whips about her bardiche at the earthen arms sticking out through the ground, she makes contact with each strike, but the elemental's tough skin protects it from any penetration.
The hulking elemental glides underneath of the ground and circles around to Edelle. It stays underneath of the surface, safe from your attacks for the moment. However, it's reach is long enough to launch an attack from this safety. The elemental swings a fist upwards toward Edelle, as though moving through water. As it breaks the surface, there is a shattering sound and the terrain sharpens into dangerous shards of crystal where Edelle stands. She takes damage from the impact and risks further injury moving out of the broken square.
You all hear the orb overhead creating a rising glissando. It needs a turn to recharge between attacks apparently. You hope that is what that means anyways.
Thervold, moving a bit slower than the rest, attempts to fry the assailant hand with a bolt of lightning. The target moves slowly, and takes the full force of Thervold's blast.
Round 2 Initiative
24- Edelle, Alric
16- Teriwyth
13- Earth Elemental
12- Orb
3- Thervold
Guys, I'm having trouble touching this thing :(
I 5' step north then prepare to unleash forbidden techniques on it should it come any closer
Attack: , damage: + Super Special Sauce?
Seeing as the crystal elemental rises up before him, Alric lashes out with a furious barage of attacks, claws and even teeth darting out in a blur.
Crit threat on the Bite Damage
Teriwyth will roll away and continue playing, readying a spell for when the thing rises up from out of the ground.
Thervold readies another lightning bolt and lets it fly.
Map
Round 2 Initiative
24- Edelle
16- Teriwyth, Crystal Stag
13- Earth Elemental
X-Alric (Held)
12- Orb
3- Thervold
Edelle repositions and prepares to attack. She stumbles a bit making her way out of the spiked crystals where the elemental previously attacked. She cuts her leg on a spike. and misses her opportunity to get in a good swing.
Alric is well prepared and waits for his opportunity to strike when the elemental lashes up next.
Teriwyth continues surging air into his bagpipe and the deer in the distance perks up to this and begins to approach. As it does so, you see its large antlers scraping against invisible walls, leaving them marked with a hot glow.
The elemental rises up out of the ground to strike at the three casters all lined up. It strikes Thervold first, then continues the swing through and hits Teriwyth.
Alric seizes his opportunity and unleashes a flurry of attacks against the elemental. Two strikes hit and the third just barely misses. Alric takes out a large chunk of the creature and severs it, but the creature keeps moving.
The orb lighting the large chamber lets off another beam, this time targetting Teriwyth and hitting.
Thervold attempts to cast his spell with the elemental right next to him, but unfortunately, the creature is ready for him, and knocks Thervold to the side, potentially interrupting his spell.
Thervold gasps in pain as he is doubly hit. He tries to maintain concentration to complete his lightning bolt.
Concentration check:
Continuing to play the bagpipes I sort of wedge the bladder against my side and play with one hand, the music goes sharp for a second as I shoot fire from my other, attempting to cook the elemental.
Burning Hands Fire Damage, DC 15 reflex half
This elemental appears to be outside of my abilities, I'm going to try and head off the deer
Withdrawing I step across to the maze wall in front of us and turn left and move along dragging my right hand along the wall.
Round 3 Initiative
3- Thervold
24- Edelle
16- Teriwyth, Crystal Stag
X-Alric (Held)
12- Orb
Teriwyth's song modulates momentarily and crescendoes suddenly He mumbles something between breaths and waves his hand about wildly. His arm appears to become molten for a moment and spreads forward like a steaming foam against the elemental. It is able to shield itself in time to avoid the worst of the spray, but it still smolders for a moment and the crystals composing the beast become less sharp and more smooth
Thervold manages to launch his attack despite the elemental's attempt to disrupt him. This is enough to finally dissipate the elemental. Its joints fuse together as they melt under the heat of Teriwyth and Thervold's attacks. It is now frozen statue like in a pile.
Next Round.
Edelle leaves the rest of the group to handle the elemental, she moves along attempting to find the path through the invisible maze. Her natural speed allows her to move along quite quickly. She rounds the first curve this turn.
The Crystal Stag continues to advance forward toward the group at a trot. The sparks it sets off along the walls are multicoloured and form a strangely beautiful display.
I keep moving along with my right hand dragging along the wall.
With the Elemental slagged, Alric moves up the maze as best he can toward the Stag, following Edelle where possible.
Thervold casts his mirror image spell.
Round 4
24- Edelle
16- Teriwyth, Crystal Stag
X-Alric (Held)
12- Orb
3- Thervold
Edelle continues along. She finds herself ascending stairs invisible to the eye. It is a bit unnerving to be uncertain whether the next step up will fall through. Nonetheless, Edelle is brave and presses onward and upward.
Teriwyth continues to play his bagpipes and begins to follow the rest of the group down the invisible path. The Stag continues to advance, passing very close by underneath Edelle.
Alric rushes to catch up with Edelle. He notes that she is climbing up and actually passing over the creature. Alric moves with more confidence, knowing that he is following Edelle's path.
The orb floating above the group charges again and fires a shot at Thervold. The beam just barely misses, grazing his ear and melting the floor behind Thervold. The spot where the beam hit glows a molten red for a moment before cooling.
After seeing that, and already being quite beaten up, Thervold takes no more chances. He summons up illusory copies of himself to act as decoys.
With the complication of stairs I start using the but of my bardiche as a seeing pole tapping the floor ahead of my self. Continuing along keeping continuous wall to my left.
Alric continues to follow Edelle