"Ah no ya don't!" Lucrezzia chants a spell and a sense of success washes over the party, invigorating their attacks.
Wood golems are immune to all magic that allows spell resistance with the exception of those spells with the fire descriptor which affect them normally
A magical effect that deals cold damage though effectively heals the golem
They are strong melee opponents and can also cause an explosion of splinters to radiate out from their bodies
Hit
Did not confirm
Miss
Miss
Miss
Miss
Miss
Hit
Hit
The golems react quickly, slamming Corum and sapphire with powerful blows, their wooden limbs crashing down like greatclubs.
Two of them round on Elleros and though the flail, his illusion protects him and none of them land telling blows.
Corum snarls and spits blood. Pressed for space he drops his axe and grabs his warhammer. Holding it in two hands he tries to strike the golem but the blow glances off.
Pa rage
Dam
Del looks at Sapphire and retorts with a shrug, "It's not my fault there are so many of you beautiful ladies everywhere we go!" He slips a new bolt into Ruby's cradle then and let's it fly, sending another to chase right after it.
HP: 48/48
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +8/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 0/2
Healing Amulet charges remaining: 3/3
Regular bolts remaining: 39/80
Cold Iron bolts: 34/40
tangle bolts: 3
tracer bolts: 3
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Favored Terrain (cold): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
they are wooden golems! Greyston, use fire against them. They are immune to most other magic he calls out as he recognises the figurines for what they are.
Trusting in his magic Elleross stands statue still amid the flailing attacks that miss him by mere inches , the blows powerful enough to have driven him to the floor easily.
As the last one lunges toward him only to scatter another of his images he takes his chance and girls himself forward away from the creatures.
Spinning back around he dips his hand Into his spell component pouch and unleashes his spell .
Dimensionum, spatium,altiorum,spica suddenly an extra dimensional space opens up beneath two of the golems.
Miss
Hit
Hit
Miss
Elleros shambles out of the midst of the wooden golems, trusting on his magic to keep him safe. Partly, it works, though he is battered by two clubbing blows that almost knock him to his frail knees.
Fail
Success
Showing surprisingly agility, one of the golems targeted by his spell jumps to safety though the other topples down into the pit.
Pointing at the golem that seems fixated on Elleross, Lucrezzia shouts, "You can be missin' for the now!" A flare of energy lights around the golem and...
Elleross clamps a hand to his cracked ribs and hisses with pain as he watches one of the Golems tumble into the pit.
The other one however leaps to safety and now he found himself badly exposed.
Hp 20 /. 42
"Someone get over to Elleross." He shouts out as he listens to the old wizard and takes out a bomb, shaking it up and lobbing it at the creatures.
Corum smashes his warhammer into the golem before him sending chips and splinters of wood flying.
Pa rage
Dam
Attack 2
Dam
Sapphire grits her teeth and sets to with her blade, chopping at the golem like an axe.
Wincing as he hears the golem's fist connect with Elleross' side, Del tries to focus his fire on the golem nearest to the old elf.
HP: 48/48
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +8/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 0/2
Healing Amulet charges remaining: 3/3
Regular bolts remaining: 37/80
Cold Iron bolts: 34/40
tangle bolts: 3
tracer bolts: 3
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Favored Terrain (cold): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
deadly aim: -2/+4
One of the golems tumbles into the pit to land with a crunch like a falling tree branch. Corum smashes a chunk out of another though it still remains standing afterward and though Greyston's bomb douses another with burning flame only Sapphire is able to destroy one of them, decapitating the vaguely humanoid thing with a powerful slash of her black blade.
The one before Corum suddenly erupts in a shower of wooden splinters like a thousand tiny javelins that lance through the group, including the other standing golem. It then continues to rain blows onto the warrior whilst the other follows after the old wizard an smashes a club-like blow on the elf's head, sending him sprawling.
Fail
Hit
Hit
Hit
Sapphire screams then, half her face embedded with inch long splinters that somehow narrowly missed her eyes.
With no time to remove them, she moves towards the next foe, channelling the pain in to more attacks.
Elleross staggers backwards as the razor sharp shards of wood lance into him, lacerating his flesh and he cries out in pain.
Half blinded by blood that runs freely from a gash in his forehead he barely has time to react as one of the lumbering golems descends upon him and its tree-like limb crashes down upon his head. A harsh cracking sound like a board splitting fills his ears as he is driven to his knees and with a groan he collapses face down onto the cold floor his life's blood pooling before him.
Shaking his head at the press of bodies and then at Elleross' suddenly truncated cry, the half-orc slips through the wall of allies and out into the open before bringing Ruby around against the golem looming over the crumpled form of the old elf.
HP: 48/48
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 21
F/R/W: +8/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 0/2
Healing Amulet charges remaining: 3/3
Regular bolts remaining: 36/80
Cold Iron bolts: 34/40
tangle bolts: 3
tracer bolts: 3
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Favored Terrain (cold): +2 bonus on initiative, Knowledge (geo), Perception, Stealth, & Survival
deadly aim: -2/+4
Channeling her spirits, Lucrezzia glows for an instant before a wave of energy washes out, healing her allies.
If so....
Elleross splutters and draws in an agonising breath as he lifts his face from the pool of his own blood.
His mouth is filled with the hard metallic taste of it and he retches violently as he rolls over.
the pain behind his eyes is a throbbing agony and he wonders if his skull is cracked.
This thought is instantly dismissed as his vision clears and he looks up at the golem above him
Ignoring the pain he focuses his mind and reaching into his spell pouch he gestures suddenly and opening his hand he unleashes three streams of raging fire.
Calor,ardescit,ignis!
Hp 9 / 42
The warrior grunts in pain as the golem first showers the group with splinters and then as it's blows smash into him. He is driven back into the wall but immediately surges forward, pushing off from the wall to hurl himself onto the golem before him. As he barrels into it he swings his warhammer once,twice in deadly arcs. His fury powers his blows.
Pa rage
Dam
Attack 2
Dam
Hit
Corum smashes the golem before him into pieces whilst between them Sapphire and Del combine to finish the other still on solid ground.
Struggling to sit up , Elleross is gripped by a wave of pain and nausea as he tries to regain his feet.
The others had rushed to his aid and the Golem that nearly killed him lay in pieces beside him, he knew he had had a lucky escape.
Gingerly he wiped away the blood that still ran freely from the dreadful wounds in his scalp and he hissed in pain as his fingers traced the birds egg sized lump that had risen on his skull.
Inching his way towards the wall he slumped against it and tried to regain his bearings.
ahh! Gods! ....that was too close. So ...stupid! he said a little breathless, his ribs were definitely broken and his breathing was painful and shallow thank you , all of you. I should have known nothing in this place is as it seems . A painful ....lesson well learned he says gasping and holding his ribs.
I will need ...ahh! A few moments, before I can carry on. Need to catch my breath
He says fumbling at his spell components pouch, his hands trembling as he drew out the things he needed.
Grayston rushes over to the old elf. "You need to be more careful, please I don't know what we would do if we lost you." He says checking over his friend's wounds. "Here take this it will help with some of the wounds." He hands over a small metallic red potion.
"Maybe we should think about resting." He states for the group.
Corum ignores his own wounds and, while the others help Elleross, takes care of the last golem by pouring lamp oil onto it and dropping a lit torch into the pit. Eventually the thing stops struggling as it burns to ash.
Turning around then he considers Grey's suggestion. Corum can see several members of the group are wounded, himself included. His urge to continue to explore this place is strong but he resists and nods his agreement.
"Greyston is right. We need to rest and tend our wounds."
Despite Lucrezzia's timely healing, Sapphire's face is still slashed to ribbons on one side, her clothes soaked in her own blood.
I have no objections to resting, I fear we have reached the limit of what we can reasonably accomplish safely this day...
Eyes alighting on Elleross, she adds
It's no-one's fault Ellri, this place is filled with traps and tricks, might as well curse the Rider for bringing us here rather than looking for blame amongst ourselves!
Looking up at the young alchemist Elleross reaches for the potion with a trembling hand and breaking the seal he downs the bitter mixture in one.
The magical liquid begins its work, spreading through his system, repairing the damaged tissue and bone instantly.
thank you Greyston, I think my ribs are no longer broken. But my head is still sore. he sas as he begins to cast his own spell, replicating a healing incantation by altering his own prepared spells.
Sanaret, Instaurabo, Vivificabit
Completing the spell Elleross releases the power into himself and the pain in his head recedes to a very dull ache.
you are right Sapphire, this place is one large trap. But I do curse the rider, every day. I will continue to do so until I can throw off the yoke he has placed upon me. he says as he stands with a little help from Greyston
we need to heal up as much as we can and then find somewhere we can regain our strength.
Greyston do you have any more healing potions? Sapphire and Corum are both hurt.
I am hoping you and Lucrezzia can help them, if not I can use my magic to heal them but I have only enough power to help one of them
Hp 42/42
Del casts a sideways glance at Elleross as the old elf voices his tremendous distaste for the geas he and the others bear, the half-orc's countenance briefly darkening beneath a shadow of grim seriousness.
He then turns his attention to the one remaining splinter jutting from his chest, and he plucks it with an exaggerated frown before flicking it aside. "What about that room where we met Jadrenka and the hag turned on us? That seemed defensible, as far as twisted magical trap-tunnels go, at least."
At Del's suggestion for campsite Lucrezzia says, "Sounds as wise as any, though we would have a cot or three if we were back ta where we met."
* * *
Lucrezzia works her way around the party's ad hoc camp and does what she can to assuage their hurts. Once she is done, she sits down and unshoulders her pack, something she hadn't done even while taking a breath between battles. She takes a tidbit from her belt pouch and feeds it to her bag, speaking in a chirp and chitter as she does so. While focused on this task her eyes glow and her smile brightens her already winsome face.
Corum smiles and thanks Lucrezzia when she uses her healing magic on him. He sits down then and eats some of his dry rations while the others are tended to.
"I have one potion left if anyone needs it." He says taking off his armor and settling in.
"Maybe we should all take a moment and try and work out this place. It's a massive maze and everything is trapped as sapphire said." He takes out his formula book and bring to read through it, as he tea beings to brew.
"It be like this, not so trapped if you're a clever bird, and lethal if ya be runnin' in like a flock of dodo birds. But, aye, dangerous enough for us lot."
Gathering his spilled belongings and tying them into a bundle with one of his blankets he follows the others as they seek a safe place to rest.
As they Settle down as best they can he sits beside Greyston and massages his aching leg and he listens intently as Lucrezzia speaks, her thick accent sometimes hard to understand, especially when she speaks quickly.
us lot of dodo birds you mean Elleross says to Lucrezzia with a small chuckle id like to think we were a little smarter than that but one should always remember , there's always something cleverer than yourself he says smiling as he draws out his pipe and fills it carefully before lighting it and drawing deeply on the smoke.
what have you got there? Another companion? he asks as she bends over her pack if you don't mind me asking, what is your homeland like Lucrezzia? I have read a little about it but never had any first hand accounts
Del shakes his head at the talk of birds and dodos and riddles, "I don't think it's so much a measure of cleverness as it is Baba Yaga jerking the lot of you around." He huffs, adding, "You've been obediently chasing after her across nearly the whole height and width of the Inner Sea and all she sees fit to greet you with at each new destination is more riddles and obfuscations? It's absurd! And wrong! And absurdly wrong!"
Lucrezzia looks up from her pack, and grins. "He calls himself the Magnificent Mister Magee." She drops her voice to a conspiratorial whisper and adds, "I don' think tha's his name though! She pats her thigh and chirps. From the pack a narrow head pokes out, it's mottled skin shines more than is completely natural. "Come now, Mister Magee. Sit with me here and meet Magister Elleross." The pint sized dinosaur hops out and then up onto Lucrezzia, his mouth open, tasting the air in the room. He chirps twice at the old elf and then settles back onto his haunches. "Now Magee, that's no a nice thing ta be sayin'!" The dusky woman pets the dinosaur's neck and it responds with a kind of purring.
"My Homeland? Mwangi? It's more than you know. Stain'd a bit by the Chelish colonies, or maybe enlightened." She shrugs, not committing to either thought. "Mostly I be thinkin' a how it's split. Too many got none, and too many don' care none. But you sure don' mean how's politics in a land three thousand miles away tha' likely we not be seein' for a spell." She smiles, a dazzling sight, and continues. "Imagine a sea blue as the sky with sands under as pale as a' moon. Tha's the bay. There are cities, no so grand as Absalom or the trade ports a' Qadira, but cities. An' the grasses." Lucrezzia opens her arms wide, "Wider than tha eye can see, dotted with plantations worked by kin on both sides a' my blood. Beyond that is the Jungle." The way she says the word Jungle imparts to it a gravitas all its own, as if it were a sentient thing. Green and lethal, or if you know the right songs as gentle as a mother's calm breath. It's there that some of the ancient secrets of Garund, and of Golarion, are to be found."
* * *
So, you say you be lookin' for the hag herself? That is absurd..." Her voice trails off as she thinks about the implications.
Corum leans across the Lucrezzia and smiles as he takes another of her potions
He says "Thanks for these lady."
He settles back and drink the potion, feeling it's healing warmth work on his wounds then chuckles as he listens to her brogue.
"I never heard anyone speak like you do. It takes some getting used to but I like it. It's kind of pretty. Like a song on a stormy day."
Sapphire turns in surprised gratitude as the magics of the shaman take effect, bathing her in cool light that removes her hurt.
Honestly I can't recall the last time we weren't bleeding or bruised!
She sits with her back against the wall, blade across her knees, looking tired.
There's some adage I heard from a soldier about not standing when you can sit, I don't remember it all but basically means grab shut eye when you can...
She promptly falls asleep and starts snoring softly.
It's difficult to determine the time of day in the halls of Artrosa and you wonder for those trapped or otherwise dwelling here for the centuries, whether they truly have any idea how long they have been here.
Regardless, you rest peacefully. Only once do you hear anything, what sounds like a struggle and cursing somewhere distant to the south east.
As the group rouses and gets ready for the next encounters Lucrezzia confers with Mister Magee and gets herself ready. "Is anyone still feeling yesterday's pains?"
Elleross looks at the small reptile with sudden I nterest.
He knew a little of the Mwangi expanse and had heard they tame the large lizards for domestic use.
a strange companion indeed, is it common for your folk to keep this sort of thing as pets? he asks as he blows out a stream of smoke rings and reaches toward the reptile as if to pet it
--------------
@ Corum
As Lucrezzia finished administering what healing she can, Elleross can see that Corum still carries some wounds though not as bad as they were.
Corum, let me see if I can heal what wounds you have left. he says and as the gruff warrior sits before him he weaves his magic, replicating the diving healing Lucrezzia herself employed.