What is that commotion out there? What's going on? And why... How is the door...
Amunets eyes widen as she looks at the slassan sage and her hands clench into fists.
What did you just do? Was that magic?
Ri'Kli'Klek notes the creature's slowness and darts forward, closing the distance in an instance and unleashing a flurry of punches with all four fists.
What is that commotion out there? What's going on? And why... How is the door...
Amunets eyes widen as she looks at the slassan sage and her hands clench into fists.
What did you just do? Was that magic?[dice = kn:arcana] 1d20 + 16
[dice = kn:psionics] 1d20 + 16
The slassan has ensorceled a wall of force over the diminutive opening to the chamber.
"IS NOT ALL MAGIC CHILD?"
As the passage to the serpent spiders is sealed off, Rokan realizes they are going to be without some capable companions.
Well, that helps them out, but we're left to deal with this. We'll have to remember to make a fine point of this to Hamza and Amunet...
He concentrates and gathers cold energy within his lungs, releasing a bolt of it at their new attacker.
The hideous, armored beast shudders slightly in its rapid approach, but is ultimately seemingly little-harmed by the monk's attack.
Ri'Kli'Klek notes the creature's slowness and darts forward, closing the distance in an instance and unleashing a flurry of punches with all four fists.
[dice=Fleet Charge]1d20+13+3
[dice=Damage]1d8+4
[dice=Attack]1d20+13
[dice=Damage]1d8+4
[dice=Attack]1d20+13
[dice=Damage]1d8+4
[dice=Attack]1d20+13
[dice=Damage]1d8+4
None of the thri-kreen's attacks hit.
The hideous, armored beast shudders slightly in its rapid approach, but is ultimately seemingly little-harmed by the monk's attack.
Amunet-Ras face hardens on the Slassans answer.
No, not all is magic. How dare you! Magic is what devastated this world once! Are you one of those damned wizards, drawing the life force around you out of everything to power your magic? Risking further destruction of our world and the sun?
I demand you remove that spell on the door! What is attacking our friends out there? Do you have anything to do with it?
Along the ceiling, Jimbli charges the beetle and thrusts with his sword. He then instantly disappears - reappearing under the beast's rear. Immediately, Jimbli thrusts again with his legendary blade.
Leonidas gestures at the large creature and attempts to weave chance in the party's favor. His lizard joins in, creating its own peculiar song. He then moves them out of its path.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsure how her companions fought, Ehawee would step back to keep the reach of her weapon between her and the creature, and then throws her hand up, hoping to put the creature to sleep.
The hideous, armored beast shudders slightly in its rapid approach, but is ultimately seemingly little-harmed by the monk's attack.
Knowledge (planes or psionics), info about foe]1d20+13
Hamza hangs back as Amunet goes on her tirade. While he of course knew of the dangers and prohibitions of arcane magic on Athas, most mages on Alaka did not use that style of casting. They instead powered their spells by drawing on the very shadow stuff their plane was made up of.
He waits for their 'host' to reply, hoping the elf's outburst did not ruin his negotiations.
Amunet-Ras face hardens on the Slassans answer.
No, not all is magic. How dare you! Magic is what devastated this world once! Are you one of those damned wizards, drawing the life force around you out of everything to power your magic? Risking further destruction of our world and the sun?I demand you remove that spell on the door! What is attacking our friends out there? Do you have anything to do with it?
"The runes and wards of my people are not those of yours, or the other races of this world. We are wanderers from afar, and have carried our own mysteries with us."
The hideous, armored beast shudders slightly in its rapid approach, but is ultimately seemingly little-harmed by the monk's attack.
Knowledge (planes or psionics), info about foe]1d20+13
Along the ceiling, Jimbli charges the beetle and thrusts with his sword. He then instantly disappears - reappearing under the beast's rear. Immediately, Jimbli thrusts again with his legendary blade.
[dice=charge]1d20+20
[dice=damage]1d4+11+3d6
[dice=surprise strike]1d20+15
[dice=damage]1d4+9+3d6** spoiler omitted **
Jimbli lands a couple of slid blows on the creature, but the hideous beast still rages uncontrollably.
Breath Weapon (Su)
A Crimson Sentry’s breath weapon deals 20d6 points of damage and is usable once every 1d4 rounds. A target that succeeds at a DC 22 Reflex save takes half damage. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.
In a single swift motion Ri'Kli'Klek vaults backwards, avoiding the flames. He continues his assault, though he believes it pointless against such a guardian as this.
The hideous, armored beast shudders slightly in its rapid approach, but is ultimately seemingly little-harmed by the monk's attack.
Knowledge (planes or psionics), info about foe]1d20+13
Hamza switches back to telepathically communicating with his host. ::"Apologies for my companion's outburst, the use of magic on her world is a literal blight upon the land. Much like you, my people use a different form of magicks, drawing upon the very shadowstuff our plane is made from to work our spells. I do hope we can get back to negotiating some sort of mutually beneficial agreement between yourselves and my House."::
** spoiler omitted **
SEVERAL HOURS AGO, IN THE HEIGHTS OF THE "AERIE"...
Once again, the accumulated web of schemes woven by the enigmatic decade of unnamed, hooded masters of the Chāyā Pāriṣada, the 'Shadow Council' that rules the hidden rākṣasa city of Alaka hunched on the tenebrous precipice of Mt. Sumeru, have ensnared the fates of one of their most promising scions -- Hamza, esteemed son of Śūrpaṇakhā Mīnakshi.
Several weeks previously, at least in the reckoning of time outside the shrouded lands of the Black, Hamza was dispatched to the far corners of the Great Alluvial Sand Wastes in reply to the empty pleadings of an overly extended missive dispatched by one Fenriz-Bilé, the Usher of Damnation. This avaricious half-fiend has long been a distant mercantile associate of the rākṣasa lords of Alaka, one who has always been able to provide them with the souls necessary for their most hidden and awful schemes.
But now, apparently banished from his previous demesne in the City of Brass, Fenriz-Bilé has removed himself to a new lair in the ruins of ancient Kalidnay, the ravished city once ruled by the sorcerer-queen Kalid-Ma. There, he has evidently seized the remnants of the forgotten city's famed diamond mines, and ensconced himself as the new lord of the intellect devourers and morlocks, the disheveled, mutated descendants of the city's original inhabitants, who occupy the vast network of tunnels within the mines known as the 'Riese'.
Moreover, he has inculcated in these new servitors a devotion to the same terrible creed he pursued in the City of Brass -- the cult of Ymeri, Queen of Fire Drakes, the Mother of the Everburning. In addition to settling his fire drakes within the upper reaches of the vast cavern complex, Fenriz-Bilé, who refers to himself now as the 'Master of the Aerie', has initiated several of the devourers into the peculiar sorcerous arts of his cult, whereby they have unwittingly becomes tools of draconic spirits from the treacherous cambion's infernal home.
At least this much has been observed by Hamza during his brief tenure within the elaborate lair of this erstwhile fiendish ally of his people, for the tiefling's subterranean domain is vast, and doubtless contains many mysteries and horrors that have gone witnessed by the princess Śūrpaṇakhā'a favored child.
Hamza has been a guest during his tenure with Fenriz in the 'Aerie', a mysterious remnant of the Glassmakers, an ancient race of offworlders responsible for many of the mental and arcane mysteries of Athas. It is they who are the source of the ancient halflings' naturemasters. The 'Aerie' is some kind of sky vessel, concealed from external view by powerful sorceries, and welded into the dead volcano that contains the diamond mine by the passage of time, as well as the comparatively haphazard architectural efforts of the complex's many later occupants.
The strange corridors of this 'Aerie' is where the Usher of Damnation holds court with his greatest disciples among the intellect devourerers. It is also where he treats with the representative dispatched by the shadowy masters of Alaka.
His face overhung by a large cowl, the half-fiend speaks,
"It is so very kind of your rulers to answer my summons so promptly, for surely our mutually beneficial arrangement lies under a serious threat."
Fenriz gestures grandly at the bizarre construction of the Aerie's vast audience hall, which must have once been some variety of observation portal or command center....
"You see, despite the... unfortunate circumstances that compelled my speedy egress from the City of Brass, I had successfully re-birthed my chosen enterprise in these auspicious climes, and had continued our longstanding intercourse in the spirits of men and beasts without any difficulty..."
His attention then appears to return more decidedly to the rākṣasa prince who stands before him,
"But now you're here, and I doubt not that all shall be well. Indeed, I have several tasks for you -- we must work together to remove the creatures my servants have taken to calling the 'serpent spiders' from our midst. These outrageous creatures have recently manifested deep within the tunnels beneath the city of Kalidnay through some kind of portal, and proceeded to drive all and sundry before them."
"More alarmingly, their entrance has also reawakened the pylons that contain the consciousness of Kalid-Ma and her greatest templars, and thus opened the Great Orrery, a gate to many other worlds, and summoned many of their inhabitants to Athas. I fear the serpent-spiders are drawing power to themselves for some currently unknown design."
"This unwelcome trespass upon my domain has also brought unwelcome attention from outside quarters. Dregoth's former apprentice, a sniveling creature known as Faalcuun, has camped upon my doorstep, and the sorcerer-kings and queens of Nibenay, Urik, and Raam have already doubtless dispatched their own servants to Kalidnay. It is said the former ruler of the city, Kalid-Ma, attempted to use the Grand Orrery to open a door to a world containing an artifact that could speed the dragon metamorphosis process."
"It is now apparent to you, I suppose, why the reawakening of the city if of great interest to many parties -- particularly Dregoth, former ruler of Giustenal by the Silt Sea."
"As of yet, only several of Dregoth's servants, a seemingly newly-created race of reptilian creatures who call themselves dray have been detected. They parlayed, absent my permission, with several of my servants, who have been punished. Yet the dray passed into the city, and their ends and abilities remain unknown. They have manifested impressive powers of illusion that allow them to change their appearance."
"An large embassy of House Vordon, the merchant house of Tyr that was borne in Kalidnay, is also now ensconced on the edges of the ruins. Several of their members accosted my servants, but then left before they were escorted to my presence. My servant Itzpapalotlilamatecuhtli-Aghathlelb," he gestures at one of the devourers who currently wears the body of morlock mystic,"assures me that these hirelings of the merchant house are in a camp of the Serpent Singer tribe, the elves who used to operate the market in Kalidnay. I need you to collect them, and return them to the task I had intended to put towards their company before they absconded. This is the destruction of the serpent-spiders -- these outrageous creatures are not only about to sunder my trade, but they have even taken hold of the audacity to corrupt my good servants, blotting out the blessed ardor of Ymeri with their blasphemies."
"My allies in Alaka can assist thus -- I will guide you through the tunnels to the ancient mortuary which lies beside the Serpent Singer camp, there you will find the emissaries of the Merchant House, and will be able to return them to me."
NOW, IN THE TWISTING DEPTHS OF THE EARTH...
Using the map offered to Hamza by the loquacious tiefling's minions, Hamza quickly descended a winding corkscrew that terminated, excepting for a few intervening caverns, in an immense arcade, seemingly several miles in length, and hundreds of feet in height. These must be the 'tombs' spoken of by Fenriz, and, according to the map, the end of the colossal arcade is the exit to the valley that contains the camp of the Serpent Singer elves, as well as the emissaries of House Vordon.
Unsure how her companions fought, Ehawee would step back to keep the reach of her weapon between her and the creature, and then throws her hand up, hoping to put the creature to sleep.
Leonidas gestures at the large creature and attempts to weave chance in the party's favor. His lizard joins in, creating its own peculiar song. He then moves them out of its path.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
** spoiler omitted **
Perception.
Diplomacy. Not great, but not terrible. However, hopefully with my 27 Diplomacy check on April 18th, the two are enough for things to go well.
Hmm, they seem to have resistance to my elemental energy. It's time to try the fist.
Rokan runs up to the sentinal and releases his psionic focus in a martial strike.
Jimbli blinks away, and reappears up against the ceiling twenty feet away. He dives in again to hit the same spot on the creature - returning to his position opposite Ri'Kli'Klek.
** spoiler omitted **
"AH, THE TOMB'S GUARDIANS STIR ONCE MORE. They who sleep sleep restlessly. THE DOOMS OF ANCIENT TIMES STIR."
Hamza easily detects the sound of pitched combat outside.
The enigmatic entity appears to be non-plussed by the recent uproar from the vanished draconic eidolon.
Jimbli blinks away, and reappears up against the ceiling twenty feet away. He dives in again to hit the same spot on the creature - returning to his position opposite Ri'Kli'Klek.
[dice=diving charge]1d20+20+2
[dice=damage]1d4+3d6+11
The halfling lands a solid blow, but the fearsome golem maintains its attack.
Amunet-Ra gathers herself, calming down a bit.
The ancient guardians stir indeed. Ate you planning on doing something about it? Could you at least open the gate again please so we can do something about it? There are some individuals outside I care about, among them a precious kreen specimen who may not be lost.
With fists clenched and twitching ears she addresses the sage. She looks to Hamza for help.
Amunet-Ra gathers herself, calming down a bit.
The ancient guardians stir indeed. Ate you planning on doing something about it? Could you at least open the gate again please so we can do something about it? There are some individuals outside I care about, among them a precious kreen specimen who may not be lost.
With fists clenched and twitching ears she addresses the sage. She looks to Hamza for help.[dice=diplomacy] 1d20+20
The slassan sage regards here quizzically, the refracted lens of its multiple bulbous eyes focusing intermittently on the elf,
"WHICH DOOR should I open? THERE ARE MANY DOORS which I have both OPENED and CLOSED."
As the creature concludes its statement, a cluster of shimmering portals begin to slowly come into view and circle its form.
As the many doors move and come int view, the elf's expression changes visibly from being angered to somewhere between awed, confused and lost.
What is this? More of your magic? How can you hold so many doors and where do they lead? They weren't even here a moment before! I mean the one we came through of course! Are you making fun of me? Hamza, some help?
She begins to prance around between the doors and take a look helplessly.
As the many doors move and come int view, the elf's expression changes visibly from being angered to somewhere between awed, confused and lost.
What is this? More of your magic? How can you hold so many doors and where do they lead? They weren't even here a moment before! I mean the one we came through of course! Are you making fun of me? Hamza, some help?She begins to prance around between the doors and take a look helplessly.
The strange creature answers, almost in a whisper,
"Our ancient and deceased forefathers, the mojh, gifted unto us, their greatest children of the lineage of the dragon, the power to shorten the way between one place and another. Before the coming of the giants and the war the destroyed our fathers and drove us under the earth, the ancient mojh opened doors to many places in the western lands of the Diamond Throne. We have borne this legacy and studied it and extended its reach and power."
It gestures at one and then another of the shimmering portals,
"That one leads to one of the many libraries contained within the Azure Dome, wherein dwell my confederates,"
"That one opens onto the Plaza of Power, which surrounds the Fortress of the High Templar Ahmun-Ahnpur on the shore of the Lake of Doom, within the center of the ruined city of Kalidnay. Enemies from our world are gathering speedily in a compound adjoining the Plaza."
"This one terminates in the depths of the Diamond Mines of the High Templar Khnum Khamenkhephres. The demon who rules the mines detests our ability to visit him as we please."
"This one leads to the habitation of men known as the Free City of Tyr. My brothers and I are exploring an ancient ruin in this metropolis."
"And this one leads to my home world of Serran, a small frontier town known as New Balatosh that sits astride an ancient ruin. It is the frontier where the power of the dragons is returning."
Leonidas avoids the creature's path and again gestures at it, attempting to weave chance in the party's favor. His lizard continues with its peculiar song.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonidas avoids the creature's path and again gestures at it, attempting to weave chance in the party's favor. His lizard continues with its peculiar song.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ehawee curses softly and takes up her spear, spinning it around before she stabs it forward, trying to help take the beast down, however she would use the reach to her advantage, and to stay out of her allies ways
Ehawee curses softly and takes up her spear, spinning it around before she stabs it forward, trying to help take the beast down, however she would use the reach to her advantage, and to stay out of her allies ways
[dice= Stabby to the face] 1d20+10
[dice=Damage if stab effective] 1d8+6
Hmm, they seem to have resistance to my elemental energy. It's time to try the fist.
Rokan runs up to the sentinal and releases his psionic focus in a martial strike.
[dice=unarmed strike attack, mythic surge]1d20+10+1d6
[dice=B damage, expend psionic focus]1d8+4+4d6
Hmm, they seem to have resistance to my elemental energy. It's time to try the fist.
Rokan runs up to the sentinal and releases his psionic focus in a martial strike.
[dice=unarmed strike attack, mythic surge]1d20+10+1d6
[dice=B damage, expend psionic focus]1d8+4+4d6
Hamza can't help but chuckle at his companion's exasperation and plea for help. "I believe my friend here wanted you to open a door that would allow us to help our allies in their fight. However, these portals are most useful."
-- ESILENA --
The seventh day after the 'Removal'...
The cursed red orb seemed to burn hotter and hang lower in the sky than yesterday. That SHOULD be impossible, but one was never certain in this terrible land, more awful than any the giantess had yet visited in her home.
Ah... home... the Lands of the Diamond Throne... it seemed, day by day, so... distant.
The bulbous profile of the ASCENDENCY, Esilena's supernally-boyant aircraft, hurtled through the heated air with a rapidity that unsettled even the hardened battle maiden.
Beside Esilena, Arcinisidies, her second in command, sniffed the hot wind with a forceful motion of his canine snout. The jackal-like sibeccai ranger, the first of the dragon-hunting Scalebreakers which the giantess had founded to strive against the serpentine creature's new intrusion into the westernmost territories of the Diamond Throne, was undoubtedly her most brave, trustworthy, and reliable companion.
Suddenly, the aggressive motion of Arcinisidies' muzzle halted, and the sibeccai fixed its attention on some heretofore unseen target in the ruins below.
He did not fail to soon apprise his mistress of the matter,
"Mistress Lore, the strange trail, it leads beneath that edifice."
They had been tracking the strange multi-limbed, reptilian creatures which had clashed with their party the previous afternoon upon their arrival through the immense black ring of obsidian which hung ominously in the sky above the vast ruins.
Esilena doubted not that the accursed mojh sorcerer known as the Shadebourne was to blame for this and other devilries that had beset the giantess and her party since their arrival in the ruins at the beginning of the week. Indeed, t was said that the Greater Seed carried by the sorcerer, once the possession of the Dragon God itself, possessed the powers of the ancient Phase Heart of the fiendish dramojh, from whose dark grip the giants had freed the continent in centuries past. Clearly, it had opened the gate to this world, but others as well.
Acknowledging her companion, the giantess nodded,
"Then, by all means, let us prepare our weapons."
Esilena, her commander, and the other Scalebreakers proceeded to dexterously position the enormous ballista, aiming its fearsome cavalcade of munitions are the elaborate building which had just been pointed out by Arcinisidies' super-acute senses.
His ancestral intuition was then verified in a terrible fashion as a massive shape tore through the roof below the ASCENDENCY....