Rab-rab runs forward towards the next room.
Min hustles forward, barely manage to get near the next cavern's entrance before tiring out.
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"Yantuk can't hurt you, you can't hurt Yantuk. Destined to fight until the end of things! Fight until Rovagug eats our bones!"
Razif smirks at Yantuk's words. "Poetic as it sounds, I'm afraid we don't have that much time!"
He then takes aim and attacks one of the salamanders!
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Both Yantuk and Razif's attacks fail to land a blow on the steaming salamanders. The hooded snake-like creature directly in front of the kobold launches a flurry of careful attacks punctuated by a vicious tail strike!
The kobold dodges like his life depends upon it, which it does.
Drael begins to glow with arcane fury as this fight continues at a frustratingly slow pace. He fades in and out of sight as his axe rises and falls with renewed vigor.
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Drael's axe swing connects with the nearest threatening salamander, slicing deeply into its chest and releasing a steaming blast of black blood. The salamander replies with a growl and a vicious spear thrust of its own before spinning a tail the suli's way as well.
Drael's abjurative energies absorb the vicious thrust of the salamander's spear, while the blurring effect on his form causes the tail slap to miss! On the other end of the battle field, the non-hooded snakelike monster facing the kobold slithers forward on his right flank, its spear and tail flashing in similar aggressive fashion.
The salamander hisses in frustration, his attacks getting nowhere near the lithe little kobold.
Layaali intones the words to a prayer and casts a spell, causing a ball of light to engulf the salamanders and leaving her companions unharmed.
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Double move.
Min hustles forward some more and groans. "I hate caves! I can't see anything back here!" He manages to spy some salamanders in the distance and casts a spell.
Min sings a series of long notes. As he chants, his body glows with a bright, brilliant light. Then he claps his hands together! The light from Min extinguishes and a bright ball of light surrounds the green and pink salamander.
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The gnomes move forward as a unit, Min blasting the two salamanders on the right with a divine eruption. The targeted snake-like warriors both hiss in response. The cobra-hooded salamander off-set from Drael thrusts twice in quick, brutal succession. He then spins around with a thick, muscled tail.
The initial thrust skewers the indistinct Drael through the breast plate, but the suli knocks aside the follow-up strikes. Layaali grunts as a new gout of blood stains her clothes.
Gah! Stupid big not-kobold! Desna, guide my hand! Please?"
"Sarenrae, if you're listening, I could use some guidance as well!" Razif mutters to himself as he takes aim himself.
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Razif pulls back his bowstring, muttering a prayer to Sarenrae as he releases his flaming arrow. The Dawnflower listens, and the arrow pierces the forehead of the targeted salamander, toppling the warrior to the ground in an abrupt heap.
Hissing in irritation, the salamander in front of Yantuk slides at Drael, flanking the kobold. The first spear thrust targets the kobold, while the spear follow-through and the tail slap attempt to harry the suli!
Drael dodges and weaves. Yantuk barely moves. The outcomes are equal - the salamander misses completely.
Drael takes advantage of the salamander's mistimed attack to pinion it between himself and Yantuk, bringing down a mighty overhand chop on its head.
casting mage armor Sumpeery koo kala!
Completely ignoring the threat posed by the nearby salamanders, she casts a healing spell on herself, knowing that healing herself ensured her companions' wounds would continue to heal.
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Rab-rab's blast scours the salamander, raising a roar of determined anger from the cobra-hooded snake-person. Layaali partially heals her many wounds. The similar-appearing hooded salamander off-set from Drael, noting the odd energies healing Layaali as well as the suli, slithers closer to Drael but aims its cruel spear at Layaali!
The burning spear lances past Drael and sinks deep into the flank of the aasimar.
"Yantuk hit you now. Yes? Yantuk strikes at the green one, that he is flanking Drael.
Razif groans in pain and, realizing ranged combat is off the table for now, tosses his bow aside. He draws his scimitar in its stead and strikes.
Drael roars in fury as the salamander attacks Layaali, laying it low with a mighty blow.
Rab-rab shots at the pink salamander with air bunnies!
Min attempts to shoot past everyone to hit the salamander!
"Daree doree dooo!" Min holds his right hand over his shoulder, as if he were winding up for a pitch. Icy, blue energy gathers in his hand. Then he throws his hand forward like he's throwing a ball. A beam of ice flies from his hands!
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Rab-rab's blast of air topples the remaining salamander. Min's icy blast somehow goes straight up and hits the ceiling in a blast of steam.
Lesaar waits impatiently at the far end of the chamber. "Tarry no longer! Come this way - there are no further guards with which you can pick fights." They turn and slither into the chamber immediately to the east.
Drael leans over for a second, breathing heavily as he looks around and mentally counts the group, Everyone all right?
Layaali takes a moment to pray to Vildeis, healing her companion's wounds before they move on.
"There's only the leaders left, yes? How far are they?"
"Yeah, I'm good." Razif replies. "Let's get going."
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The sound of escaping steam hisses through this next chamber, the walls broken with thick cracks radiating flickering firelight. A stone table scattered with coal, ember colored stones, and elaborate patterns drawn in ash fills an alcove to the north, while opposite that lies a pallet of cinders and dark iron shavings.
Lesaar awaits you all by a large crack in the eastern wall. As you enter, they irritably gesture you closer. Unfortunately, a familiar tickle creeps into the back of your throats...
The tell-tale signs of intoxication of the inhaled elements in the air seem to be affecting the ranger and the kobold once more. Lesaar regards the two of you with disdain as you approach, then turns to look at Drael. He gestures to the large fissure in front of which he stands.
"Through here, you will find a large cavern containing a molten pool of lava. The protections you have been afforded shan't continue to protect you from the extreme heat, so you'll need to move quickly. Thratnias will most likely be slumbering with her consort, Kitil, beneath the molten surface, the slothful ruler that she is. She allows none to share the vast chamber so you have no worries of further combatants."
Lesaar offers Drael two vials. "I have prepared a tincture that mimics my innate ability to appear invisible, so you will find that useful. Additionally, the other potion allows one person to fly for a short period of time - I felt that this might be useful for your assault." Lesaar notes the wide-eyed stares from the others.
"There are stone islands floating in the pool of magma across which you may cross, but be wary! Solid enough though they may be, they are but floating objects that could easily be rocked by a foe within the pool. And your two foes are powerful indeed. Kitil is a flamebrother - one of our elite warriors, though you just bested two of them back there, and Thratnias is a fierce spear-maiden who wields the power of lightning within her weapon."
"And why, just why are you helping? Why, for the secret entrance to the lair of the Carrion King, of course, but ah more, more, indeed. Thratnias thinks Lesaar is dim and sees not where she hides her pretty treasure, but Lesaar is no fool. Indeed, the cache of Thratnias' plunder as lieutenant in Jhavuul's army lies on the southern bank of the lava pool, south of the pathetic serpentine statue that Thratnias favours so. In there, you'll find a map to the Carrion King's compound, scrawled on a brass disk delivered to the Coils of Flame once when the Carrion King tried to curry our favour. Now it lies useless to us, but valuable to you. And yes, more!"
Lesaar's eyes gleam as they hiss excitedly. "The Scroll of Kakishon! I can tell you where it is!" At your lack of a response, Lesaar glances between the five faces.
"Surely, that is what you seek. It was even coveted by General Jhavuul. It exists, deep within the Carrion King's compound - he knows not what he possesses, the beast.....you do not know of what I speak...." They trail off in exasperation.
Drael shrugs in response to Lesaar's sigh of exasperation, Never heard of it, but you can tell us more when it's ours.
He turns to the others, I think it may be wise for one of our smaller friends to take the potion of flight and stay out of danger. Should I use the invisibility to get closer before we begin the battle?
Layaali accepts the potions and offers them to Drael and Yantuk, assuming they would do the most good for those who needed to get closest to their foes.
At mention of the scroll of Kakishon, Layaali turns to Min with a raised eyebrow.
"You're correct there, we don't know. All we care about now is taking down the Carrion King, this threat to our homes. That said, it does sound quite interesting. Like Drael says, let's talk about it later... For now, we should finish this, before we melt." Razif says, sweating.
Min try's to identify The Scroll of Kakishon.
"Yantuk has no need to be invisible! Save it for a loud, clanking one who needs the help." Yantuk coughs a few times. "Speed might be good for poor Yantuk. Breathing getting harder again."
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Ignorant as to the portent of the Scroll of Kakishon, the group accepts Lesaar's potions and proceeds through the passage hidden in the western wall, emerging after a brief squeeze into a much larger chamber.
A broad pool of sputtering lava laps against the walls of this vast cavern. Through the distorting waves of heat and smoke, several rocky islands of various sizes are visible, bobbing on the steaming surface. At your end of the cavern, a massive column of steaming stone connects the floor to the ceiling. At the southern edge of the searing pool rises an intimidating metal construct: the coiled shape of a winding snake topped with a strong humanoid torso a holding a spear. Pieces of the craggy roof frequently drop into the lava pool, splashing the liquefied rock.
Movement within the lava cavern feels ponderous and fateful, as if time ticks audibly away the moments within the lethally-sweltering room. No foes are in sight.
Layaali moves over a bit, careful not to get too close to the lava, and calls out, "Helloooooo? Is anyone here?"
Then she heals her own wounds while she waits for their enemies to make themselves known.