"Thank you, Alarien", Caelin said with a tired smile. He set himself up to watch, and put Aumgwe on a perch to rest.
Caelin explained his watch assumptions to the others. Assuming that any visitors to the dungeon level would bother Jaxir's personal space last, he placed himself just inside that door. He left the door ever-so-slightly ajar, hoping there was enough space there to allow sounds and shadows to reveal anyone who came down the stairs or in through the caverns.
"Hopefully things will be quiet, but if someone does come down, they might check the interrogation chambers and the cells first. That should give us a few seconds to prepare."
Alarien nods, setting the feybane longsword at her side as she settles in. "Should you grow tired, wake me and I can relieve you, Caelin," she says.
Same here, Meycho chimed in before laying down to sleep.
As the rest of the group get comfortable among Jaxir's soft bedding, Caelin crouches for a lonely vigil.
Soon, the dungeon level is hushed and dark, and only the occasional creaking or footstep filters down from above. The magic illumination makes the shadowy darkness flicker, and Caelin finds his steely nerves firmly tested.
Time seems to flow like an uneven stream in the Fellnight Realm, and without accurate means of measuring the extent of the pause, the group rests until their bodies and minds feel refreshed. At this point, none of you are able to tell how long you have been in the Fellnight Realm. Years could easily have passed on Golarion, or mere minutes. Either way, you know only the cold certainty that before long, you will be facing the cruel ruler of this cursed place.
Caelin stretched his tired limbs and then woke the others.
"I'll guide the way back up to the armory when everyone's ready. We should try to dispatch the two spriggans quietly, and then perhaps we can surprise those in the throne room."
Caelin began a complex series of scroll reading and mystical murmuring over by Aumgwe. He stroked the bird's feathers and whispered softly.
Aumgwe squawked only once in response, but pecked insitently at his treat bag. Caelin obliged the hawk.
Alarien takes advantage of Taecuss' offered Barkskin wand, waiting until the party is in the army before quietly invoking a couple of prayers of her own.
Before leaving the jailer's room, Goodluck gathered everyone around.
"Da Queen has shown us some of her power in da nightmare she sent. She will hide from us, while using her power to transform us to animals. She may also try to control our minds. Maybe dis will help."
He gave a few small blessings of Gozreh to each of the heroes
"Taecuss, your ability to see invisible creatures will be critical. Please let us know where da witch is hiding, perhaps I can dispel her magic. Also, you hold the scroll of anti-plant shell given by da bleachling gnome. That should keep any spriggans or other plants at bay."
Smiling for a moment, he added, "And I almost hope we see some bees, now that you have that scroll of fireball!"
Caelin thanked Tae for the use of the wand and cast barksin on Aumgwe.
Then he took out the two potions Jervaise had given before leaving with the lumberjacks. Drinking one, he held the other out to the group with a wicked smile.
"Anybody else feel like flying today?"
Alarien shakes her head. "I'll keep my feet on the ground for now; perhaps Taecuss or Meycho?"
After the brief planning and spellcasting, the group quickly climbs the stairs and regroup in the armory.
When the group is ready and about to break down the door, Alarien crafts an illusion disguising the group as fellnight spriggans.
Heroism (80 minutes)
Shield of Faith (8 minutes)
Protection from Evil (8 minutes)
Weapon of Awe x 2 (8 minutes)
Barkskin (from the Wand) (30 minutes)
Shield Other (on Falling Star) (8 hours)
Caelin waited for Alarien to complete her veil. Once in place, he nodded to confirm readiness, and opened the doors.
He strode forward onto the walkway as if he belonged there.
He wanted to get between the spriggans and door to the throne room if possible. If he could get into position, it'd be time to start stabbing these guards.
79 of 79hp
barkskin +3 for 40 minutes
Iron Will adaptation augmented to Improved Iron Will by feyfriend circlet, 10 minutes (+4 to Will saves)
Lunge adapation, 10 minutes
protection from evil (+2 to AC, CMD and +1 to saves vs. evil)
lead blades for 5 minutes (3d6 instead of 2d6 for greatsword damage)
cat's grace 3 minutes (+4 to DEX, effecting Ref, AC and CMD)
bear's endurance 3 minutes (+4 to CON, effecting Fort and HP)
fly 3 minutes
Leading the troupe of disguised heroes, Caelin opens the door and steps out onto the covered parapet. A lattice roof of tangled limbs, vines, and leaves covers the wide parapet. The battlements offer a commanding view of the courtyard and valley beyond the palace gates.
As soon as Caelin steps through the door, a Fellnight spriggan steps out from behind one of the living support columns. The creature's thorn-covered bodies blend perfectly with the plant columns, making it very hard to spot.
Along the parapet, three more spriggans look out from behind other columns, regarding the group with curiosity, but not alarm. The one who stepped out to block the way addresses Caelin in a questioning tone.
"From Jaxir. Ask that one", Caelin said with a shrug, pointing to Taecuss and snaking his way toward the throne room doors.
The spriggan does not appear to suspicious of neither your appearance or Taecuss explanation. His face does harden a bit at Taecuss choice of words, and he lowers his voice and casts a fleeting glance at the double doors before replying.
He moves to the double doors with a strict glare at Caelin, as if wordlessly ordering him back in line.
In response, Caelin attempts to run the spriggan through.
In response, Caelin attempts to run the spriggan through.
** spoiler omitted **
That sounds like a call to roll for initiative if I ever heard one. No surprise, though. Both sides are aware of each other, and the guard is watching you closely. The moment any of you go for your weapons, so do they. You did manage to get them out of hiding, so I guess that's something.
Round 1
Initiative:
Meycho - 29
Spriggan #4 - 23
? - 22
Spriggan #3 - 19
Caelin - 18
Spriggan #2 - 16
Goodluck - 15
Taecuss - 12
Spriggan #1 - 12
Alarien - 11
Meycho makes a whistle sound, directing Falling Star to attack the spriggan, while he moves around the pillar to attack the spriggan from the flank with one of his daggers.
The spriggans eyes widen in disbelief, as Caelin suddenly swings his greatsword in a mighty overhand chop. The spriggan does not even have time to cry out, before the enchanted blade cuts him in half.
Retcon to move to R15 (with Falling Star) and ready an attack
As the spriggan falls and Meycho moves into position, the closest of the remaining spriggans rushes forward, drawing a long thorn covered whip from it's own body.
Screaming , it grows in size, coming toe to toe with Meycho and threatening the approach to the double doors with the thorn whip.
From the courtyard below and the towers, the call of alarm is answered as the defenders of the castle scramble to respon to the threat within their walls.
Caelin lunged forward to help dispatch the noisy guard.
Between them, Caelin and Meycho quickly dispatch the second spriggan. Caelin moves to the double doors, poised to open them.
Goodluck followed the others in and, raising his hands in front of his face, blew a cold breath on a piece of quartz held deftly between his fingers. A wall of crackling ice appeared between the heroes and the other spriggans.
Goodluck's wall effectively cuts off the remaining guards, and blocks vision along the balcony. Their frustrated shouts can be clearly heard, and it sounds like they rush off to find an alternate route to you.
Threats momentarily abated, Alarien takes the opportunity to invoke the Unquenchable Fire's favor and moves to rejoin the party near the doors.
"I'll get the doors!" Caelin shouted.
Meycho waits for Caelin to open the doors.
Caelin pulled the doors open with a grunt!
As Caelin pushes the doors open, he is greeted by the sound of birdsong and the scent of blooming flowers.
Flowering vines decorate this magnificent chamber, hanging from thorny columns that rise into archways supporting a vaulted ceiling. Songbirds flutter within small, golden cages dangling from these vines. Adorning the west wall, twin tapestries depict a setting sun and a rampant moon over a primal meadow. To the east, a carpet of woven summergrass leads to a polished mirror before an ebony throne, next to which hovers a swirling cloud of smoke and shadow.
A woman, wearing all green and holding a large staff, stands up from the throne. Everyone except Alarien recognize her immediately from your nightmare vision. It is Rhoswen, the Fellnight Queen.
"Challenge me in my own realm, will you?" the fey-queen sneers. "The Second-born know their doom has arrived and you’re the best they could send?"
She gestures toward the mirror before her throne.
"Look there, if you dare," she taunts.
The mirror shows images of a raging battle between the good creatures of the forest and her Fellnight army, as well as the citizens of Bellis huddled in their homes, frightened as mist and shadow close around them.
"This prison can no longer hold me. Your sad tale ends here, your minds shattered and souls cursed for all eternity."
Edit: adding the initiative order
Round 2
Initiative:
Rhoswen - 22 (acted)
Caelin - 18 (standard action left)
Goodluck - 15
Taecuss - 12
Alarien - 11
Delay:
Meycho
Wary of the thorny columns that hid spriggans before, but also wanting to close the distance with the queen, Caelin moved into the room, his sword at the ready.