"Yep, if they plan to throw more of these at us, they'll regret it" - the surly dwarf grumbles, still pale.
"Thanks fer that lad" - he nods at Markus - "I'm fine. Tis nothin'
"We made short work of those, no doubt this is just the tip of the iceberg of the horrors we will face here" he says following Erek onwards out of the gardens
Open/Close
Light
Identify
Detect Magic
Prestidigitation
1st Level (6 + 1 evocation spell per day)
Shield - 2
Mage Armor -
Grease - 1
Protection from evil - 2
Liberating command - 1
2nd Level (6+1 evocation spell per day)
Scorching Ray - 3
Mirror Image - 2
Create Pit - 2
3rd Level (6+1 Evocation spell per day)
Fireball -
Haste - 1
Fly - 1
Dispel Magic - 2
Heroism - 1
4th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Empower Scorching ray - 2
black tentacles - 1
Greater Invisibility - 1
Wall of fire - 1
Emergency Force Sphere - 1
5th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Teleport - 1
Lighting Arc - 1
Empowered Fireball - 1
Icy Prison - 1
6th Level (4+1 Evocation spell per day)
Dispel magic, greater - 1
Contagious flame - 3
Freezing Sphere - 1
7th Level (3+1 Evocation spell per day)
Prismatic Spray - 1
Empowered lighting arc - 1
Reverse gravity - 1
Scouring winds- 1
8th Level (1+1 Evocation spell per day)
Sunburst - 2
Versatile Evocation 10rnds/
Elemental manipulation 13rnds/
Intense spells +6
Items
Arcane bond 1/
Mist Projector 20/
Rod lesser extend 3/
Rod Ectoplasmic 3/
Pearl of power level 3 1/
Scrolls:-
teleport x1
Dispel magic, greater x2
Wall of stone x2
Levitate x2
Undead to death x2
remove curse x1
Dimensional Anchor x1
Dark vision x2
Death ward x3
you are not wrong Davos, we have much worse to come Jon says as he leads them across the gardens, drawing on his powers he boosts his strength ready for the next encounter
"I'm not sure where that drain came from, you and Jon might have a disease." He checks over Morbar, looking for a sign of an infection.
Toward the northern end of the garden is a massive hole.
It is visible through the mist and the group is in no danger of falling in, but as they get closer it becomes apparent that a foul stench emanates from within.
It spans a 50ft diameter and has sucked in buildings on either side of the road ahead.
Jon leads them toward the ominous hole and as they near its edge he motions the group to go around, leading them into the ruined buildings.
we should steer well clear of that, it reeks of death Jon says as he leads them into the buildings
we will have to find a way through here
"Let's push through these buildings but be careful they're old and could be prone to collasping if disturbed" he says looking over them
Open/Close
Light
Identify
Detect Magic
Prestidigitation
1st Level (6 + 1 evocation spell per day)
Shield - 2
Mage Armor -
Grease - 1
Protection from evil - 2
Liberating command - 1
2nd Level (6+1 evocation spell per day)
Scorching Ray - 3
Mirror Image - 2
Create Pit - 2
3rd Level (6+1 Evocation spell per day)
Fireball -
Haste - 1
Fly - 1
Dispel Magic - 2
Heroism - 1
4th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Empower Scorching ray - 2
black tentacles - 1
Greater Invisibility - 1
Wall of fire - 1
Emergency Force Sphere - 1
5th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Teleport - 1
Lighting Arc - 1
Empowered Fireball - 1
Icy Prison - 1
6th Level (4+1 Evocation spell per day)
Dispel magic, greater - 1
Contagious flame - 3
Freezing Sphere - 1
7th Level (3+1 Evocation spell per day)
Prismatic Spray - 1
Empowered lighting arc - 1
Reverse gravity - 1
Scouring winds- 1
8th Level (1+1 Evocation spell per day)
Sunburst - 2
Versatile Evocation 10rnds/
Elemental manipulation 13rnds/
Intense spells +6
Items
Arcane bond 1/
Mist Projector 20/
Rod lesser extend 3/
Rod Ectoplasmic 3/
Pearl of power level 3 1/
Scrolls:-
teleport x1
Dispel magic, greater x2
Wall of stone x2
Levitate x2
Undead to death x2
remove curse x1
Dimensional Anchor x1
Dark vision x2
Death ward x3
"Wait a moment." Markus looks around, something about this doesn't feel right. "Let's take a moment, I don't want to get caught out here." He takes a look at the buildings attempting to see if anything might collapse on them. "What do you think Davos?"
Success
The stench is foul and turns his stomach but Markus feels no other ill effects.
The buildings are all but destroyed but aside from more serious damage, they remain intact enough that you could carefully pick yourway through them.
It's a sinkhoe. Kendra says quietly. Look, you can see where it's collapsed in, it hasn't been dug or caused by anything else. she looks around. This whole city must be collapsing into the ground, it's completely saturated with necromantic energy and it's like the earth is swallowing it up. Amazing...
From somewhere distant you hear a sudden piercing shriek. It is animalistic and incredibly loud but with the sound echoing around the ruined streets it is impossible to determine distance or direction.
Markus turns away from the pit the smell almost turning his stomach."Ok let move, I don't want to bump into whatever made that noise." He points towards the building. "It might be better going through there."
let’s hope the place doesn’t fall in whilst we are here, we have enough to deal with as it is Jon says as he moves forward into the buildings, picking his way amongst the debris of the collapsing structures.
Glancing backwards to make sure everyone is following he presses on, as he draws near he draws upon his demonic powers and the great wings unfurl from his back, if there were more of those damn mohrgs nearby then he wanted to be well out of their reach. He would rather fly in the storm than be paralysed again.
The screech roars again, louder this time, and directly above.
The group picks it's way through the ruined building carefully. Chunks of rotten plaster and pottered bricks cover the floor of a now non-descript ruin. Most of the ceiling and the walls are still intact but it through gaps in these that you spy something huge and dark above the building.
Whatever it is it lands heavily and you feel the ruin shake until it's weight.
Before you can react, whatever it is beats a set of great wings and suddenly the building is collapsing down on top of you! Chunks of masonry and wooden beams rain down as the building is reduced to rubble in mere moments.
The wings flap again and whatever it is, it has flown away.
When the dust clears, Kendra pick herself up and dusts herself off. Despite obvious injuries, she remains stoic and resolute. A gash on her forehead starts healing by itself seconds after she gathers herself.
Before he can cry out Jon is crushed beneath the collapsing building, chunks of masonry and timber rain down on him as he is struck to the floor.
As the dust and debris settle he groans and coughs heavily fighting for breath, spitting out blood he groans in pain as he struggles to get out, clawing his way to the top of the rubble he can see the others doing likewise
is everyone ok? We are going to have to deal with whatever that was sooner or later he says rubbing at his shoulder it’s big whatever it is
A little sore but I'm ok. Kendra smiles. Whatever that thing is I think it's spotted us and is going to hunt us all the way to Gallowspire. se adds.
Once the group extricates themselves from the rubble, they skirt the remainder of the sinkhole.
The mist is as dense as ever and in their field of vision they can see a series of narrow tenements connected by alleyways like veins running through paper-thin skin. Alternatively, a wider area opens to the north-west and what looks like a once magnificent stately home, strangely intact, sits proudly in the middle of it's grounds.
Markus coughs as the dust whips about, a large chunk of the building hitting in the shoulder. He holds it close to his chest as he pushes away a few remaining bricks. "This place is going to pull us apart before we get anywhere." He says with a frustrated face. Then remembering Kendra he steps over to her, but see's her wounds are already healing. "I'm glad your ok Kendra, everyone gathers around I'll heal us. But your right Jon that damned thing is going to have to come down."
thanks Markus Jon says as the healing pulse washes over him
maybe we should take this thing out now rather than later, if it is hunting us maybe we should set a trap for it, lure the son of a b#!+% in and destroy it Jon says still annoyed at having a house dumped on him.
"We're in it's hunting ground and it's dragon, no doubt it will be highly intelligent I don't think a trap will would work on such a creature" he says holding some cloth to his head from where debris landed
Open/Close
Light
Identify
Detect Magic
Prestidigitation
1st Level (6 + 1 evocation spell per day)
Shield - 2
Mage Armor -
Grease - 1
Protection from evil - 2
Liberating command - 1
2nd Level (6+1 evocation spell per day)
Scorching Ray - 3
Mirror Image - 2
Create Pit - 2
3rd Level (6+1 Evocation spell per day)
Fireball -
Haste - 1
Fly - 1
Dispel Magic - 2
Heroism - 1
4th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Empower Scorching ray - 2
black tentacles - 1
Greater Invisibility - 1
Wall of fire - 1
Emergency Force Sphere - 1
5th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Teleport - 1
Lighting Arc - 1
Empowered Fireball - 1
Icy Prison - 1
6th Level (4+1 Evocation spell per day)
Dispel magic, greater - 1
Contagious flame - 3
Freezing Sphere - 1
7th Level (3+1 Evocation spell per day)
Prismatic Spray - 1
Empowered lighting arc - 1
Reverse gravity - 1
Scouring winds- 1
8th Level (1+1 Evocation spell per day)
Sunburst - 2
Versatile Evocation 10rnds/
Elemental manipulation 13rnds/
Intense spells +6
Items
Arcane bond 1/
Mist Projector 20/
Rod lesser extend 3/
Rod Ectoplasmic 3/
Pearl of power level 3 1/
Scrolls:-
teleport x1
Dispel magic, greater x2
Wall of stone x2
Levitate x2
Undead to death x2
remove curse x1
Dimensional Anchor x1
Dark vision x2
Death ward x3
"An undead dragon. It will be insanely more powerful, it might even still possess its intelligence. We need to move and get into the open. I agree with Davos a trap might not work here." He looks over Kendra again.
"We head to the Manor house. It will give us some cover from that dragon and this storm." He makes sure everyone is ready and then moves. Taking the time to check everything, expecting something to be around every corner.
As the group gets closer to the manor, they see that it is in fact much more like a palace.
The grounds are open, decorated here and there with tiny copses of trees - now long dead - and once exotic topiary animals beautiful flower gardens, and exquisite fountains. All of these are now long fallen to rot and decay.
The palace is a breathtaking structure built in classic Ustalavan style, with now cracked marble pillars, high windows that rise to tapered points, minarets, and domes decorated with slender spires.
A pair of rotten mahogany doors hang barely on their hinges.
Morbar grumbles something about "If we get inside, it's just more building fer the thing ta drop on our heads" but eventually shrugs it away - "We gotta go in... Right?" - and looks at the others.
Caradwen is mostly focused in the area around them, constantly searching for the airborne menace.
But the sight of the palace, how dreadful it may be, simply takes her breath away - "It must have been beautiful..."
"I wonder why the tyrant used this city as his "home", during his regin" he says look around at the death and decay that covers the gardens and the mansion
"I think the mansion is too big to bring it down, it will be the safer option. Now let's move please I don't want to stay down here." He shudders the evil saturated place getting to him.
ok we move, but there will be no safe path here. Inside this mansion it will be as bad as it is out here, worse maybe. Stay close and keep your eyes open Jon says as he moves forward leading them inside
this will be your mausoleum John, once you go in maybe you don’t come back out a cold familiar voice whispers behind him and a chill wind blows down his spine suddenly. But John has heard their empty words for years and they no longer frighten him, but he knows what lay ahead and he can’t help but think maybe this time they will be right
The group moves in cautiously, first into a massive entrance hall and then into the decrepit rooms beyond.
Once fine wallpaper hangs in ribbons in most of the rooms, along with plaster in rough piles where it has flaked from ceilings. In one downstairs sitting room water has forced it's way down through the roof and bored a hole like a drill down three floors.
The whole place stinks of damp and age but it is far more intact than most other buildings you have seen so far.
The shriek you heard so close cries out again, but this time it sounds as if it is frustrated and beat of wings takes the noise further east.
Standing in the Great Hall, it appears that the ground floor at least is completely empty but soon, you begin to hear whispers.
Dark whispers of death and defeat, those same whispers you heard at Renchurch Abbey.
Markus is quick to look around feeling the effects of a spell stripping him of his magic. "Who are you!" He shouts out, attempting to spot him.
"Guess someone is home" he says and attempts to buff himself
Open/Close
Light
Identify
Detect Magic
Prestidigitation
1st Level (6 + 1 evocation spell per day)
Shield - 2
Mage Armor -
Grease - 1
Protection from evil - 1
Liberating command - 1
2nd Level (6+1 evocation spell per day)
Scorching Ray - 3
Mirror Image - 2
Create Pit - 2
3rd Level (6+1 Evocation spell per day)
Fireball -
Haste - 1
Fly - 1
Dispel Magic - 2
Heroism - 1
4th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Empower Scorching ray - 2
black tentacles - 1
Greater Invisibility - 1
Wall of fire - 1
Emergency Force Sphere - 1
5th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Teleport - 1
Lighting Arc - 1
Empowered Fireball - 1
Icy Prison - 1
6th Level (4+1 Evocation spell per day)
Dispel magic, greater - 1
Contagious flame - 3
Freezing Sphere - 1
7th Level (3+1 Evocation spell per day)
Prismatic Spray - 1
Empowered lighting arc - 1
Reverse gravity - 1
Scouring winds- 1
8th Level (1+1 Evocation spell per day)
Sunburst - 2
Versatile Evocation 10rnds/
Elemental manipulation 13rnds/
Intense spells +6
Items
Arcane bond 1/
Mist Projector 20/
Rod lesser extend 3/
Rod Ectoplasmic 3/
Pearl of power level 3 1/
Scrolls:-
teleport x1
Dispel magic, greater x2
Wall of stone x2
Levitate x2
Undead to death x2
remove curse x1
Dimensional Anchor x1
Dark vision x2
Death ward x3
As he looks around Markus suddenly starts to see shapes coalescing in the darkness of the manor's great hall. They are horrid, nightmarish things. In one moment they seem to have no shape at all and in the next they look like bats or birds or spiders or old loved ones, the dead long gone or the living soon to join them.
These are animate dreams. More info on the result
They begin to close in.
13.8
13.25
Markus has heard of these things, he knows what comes for them. "Animated dreams." He steps back, attempting to remember how to fight them.
Hearing Markus call out about the creature he follow suits same as Jon and removes a scroll and casts death ward on himself
Open/Close
Light
Identify
Detect Magic
Prestidigitation
1st Level (6 + 1 evocation spell per day)
Shield - 2
Mage Armor -
Grease - 1
Protection from evil - 1
Liberating command - 1
2nd Level (6+1 evocation spell per day)
Scorching Ray - 3
Mirror Image - 2
Create Pit - 2
3rd Level (6+1 Evocation spell per day)
Fireball -
Haste - 1
Fly - 1
Dispel Magic - 2
Heroism - 1
4th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Empower Scorching ray - 2
black tentacles - 1
Greater Invisibility - 1
Wall of fire - 1
Emergency Force Sphere - 1
5th Level (5+1 Evocation spell per day)
Teleport - 1
Lighting Arc - 1
Empowered Fireball - 1
Icy Prison - 1
6th Level (4+1 Evocation spell per day)
Dispel magic, greater - 1
Contagious flame - 3
Freezing Sphere - 1
7th Level (3+1 Evocation spell per day)
Prismatic Spray - 1
Empowered lighting arc - 1
Reverse gravity - 1
Scouring winds- 1
8th Level (1+1 Evocation spell per day)
Sunburst - 2
Versatile Evocation 10rnds/
Elemental manipulation 13rnds/
Intense spells +6
Items
Arcane bond 1/
Mist Projector 20/
Rod lesser extend 3/
Rod Ectoplasmic 3/
Pearl of power level 3 1/
Scrolls:-
teleport x1
Dispel magic, greater x2
Wall of stone x2
Levitate x2
Undead to death x2
remove curse x1
Dimensional Anchor x1
Dark vision x2
Death ward x3
Markus shouts out everything he knows about the creatures. "Don't get hit by them! Stand back and near me! remember their incorporeal! I have something they can't bypass." Then Markus hold out his holy symbol and chants calling on Desna to protect them. A large sphere extends out from him.
Kendra moves in quickly to the gathered group, making sure she is near Markus and within the shimmering field of the spell.
Cara and Morbar follow suit, the dwarf roaring all the while - "Ye're sure they can't pass this bubble o'yours?"
Half of the animate dreams throw themselves forward at the group before they bounce off, striking the invisible barrier. They hiss in frustration before the other half change tactic and volley the group with spell-like abilities.
Morbar and Jon instantly collapse to the ground, clattering down onto the huge dining table and then to the cold floor.
The sudden waves of exhaustion flood Morbar and Jon's minds and they initially collapse as though asleep, but almost instantly shake the effect off and regain their feet.
Erek moves close to Markus and calls on Iomadae's power.
Holy smite
Fail
Fail
Fail
Following Erekd lead Jon unleashed his own power and blasts the creatures that surround them