Daumari tenses as he turns to face the oncoming threat, and intones a brief prayer as the size of the approaching disturbance in the sand becomes apparent.
May the Dawnflower protect us.
As Hazreem rises up further into the air, he heads over towards the closing worm sign. Pae and Mah'ysa yell warnings as Pae starts to work his way around the massive thing and Mah'ysa and Daumari say quick prayers to the Dawnflower.
The disturbance in the sand continues to grow and move closer until it covers an area 10 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Suddenly, a massive mouth rises up out of the sand. Nearly 10 feet in diameter, the maw rises up out of the sand before slapping back down onto the ground with a loud thud. Its long cylindrical body extends away from its ravenous jaws and disappears into the sand, its body muscular and scaly. The stench of this thing's breath reeks of acid that emits from a mouth containing row upon row of nightmarish triangular teeth. This thing is huge and must weigh at least a ton!
Hit Points (Remaining/Max):
----------
PCs:
Mah'ysa 36/36
Bahir 52/52
Daumari 50/50
Hazreem 52/52
Paellat 45/45
Efreat 49/49
NPCs:
Haleen 45/45
Conditions in effect:
----------
Mah'ysa: Bless (+1 Attack and Saves vs Fear) - Ends Round 49
Daumari: Shield of Faith (+3 AC) - Ends Round 59
BLESS-- Allies gain +1 to hit and Fear saves.
Mah'ysa steps forward to (M,10), assumes a defensive stance [AC22] and sings out the Prayer to Saranrae Ascendant.
As the giant worm rises out of the ground, Mah'ysa moves towards it and says another prayer to her goddess to grant good luck for her friends and poor luck for the creature before her.
The small halfling runs around to the rear end of the giant worm, towering 3 times his height. But at the back, the worm is still burrowed under the sand. The worm slides forward, exposing more of its scaly hide as it does so. Nearly the entire body is now lying above the sand. It slides towards the tasty morsel directly in front of it. The pactmaster guard stands terrified, his shield and scimitar held high in defense.
As if it was spitting digestive fluid out of its mouth, a stream of clear liquid gushes forward from it's immense jaws. The strange fluid sprays straight out for 30 feet, going between Bahir and Efreat, but completely covering the guard standing directly before it. The man screams out in pain for just a second before he collapses to the ground, the flesh just disintegrating from his body as the acid burns through.
Another guard, as the worm moves past him, tries to stab it with his sword. But the blade just deflects off the beast's scales without having any impact.
Daumnari curses as he watches the guard melt under the monster's attack. Spread out! Don't let it catch us all together!
The inquisitor readies his hammmer as dashes along the length of the creature's body, sliding to a halt in the sand so as to strike out at its hide.
|
As the acrid fumes cause his eyes to water Bahir unslings his shield and pulls out Vardishal in a gleaming flash. Stepping into the shadow of the beast he momentarily glances down at the skeletal remains sizzling at his feet as if to confirm the man is beyond any help he can give and says, "May the light guide you."
Sensing the motion of the inquisitor moving beside it, it raises it mighty head and swings it towards him as he moves in an attempt to gobble him up. The stench is almost overpowering as its mouth nearly closes completely over Daumari. It's razor sharp teeth nearly catching his armor, the outer skin closing around him. But he manage to slip out at the last second.
Reaching the back end, Daumari quickly brings his hammer heads to bare and strikes out. The hammer hits the creature hard, the scales cracking and bending inward under the tremendous blow.
Bahir: Looking down at the man, there isn't much that can be done for him now. Maybe a burial of his remains. Looking up, the creature before you is not giving off any evil auras.
Damage:
Death Worm: 11
BLESS-- Allies gain +1 to hit and Fear saves.
PRAYER-- +1 luck bonus to all allies in 40ft burst to rolls to hit, damage rolls, saving throws and skill checks. -1 penalty to like rolls to all enemies. 1 round/level.
Mah'ysa moves to (N,4) and begins to sing the of the Brilliant Light of the Dawnflower.
Performance (Sing):
Mah'ysa Alandir. Force Multiplier.
Moving behind Bahir and up by the camels, the creature doesn't get a chance to go for her as he already threw himself after Daumari.
Among the chaos, a voice is heard on the sands. It instills strength in you, removing some of your fear and inspiring courage to fight this monstrous beast.
Seeing the beast, Efreat backs up and chants, "Besh'ven'dos!"
Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Hazreem knows he can do little to hurt the worm. Still this form may still prove useful.
Pae: As the creature moves away, you attempt to stab it. But your rapier only clangs against the creature's scales as you can't manage to get it between and under its protective hide to where the tender flesh resides while its moving. Following it, you try again. This time you get up and under the and puncture the creature with your rapier.
But as you withdraw your blade, you notice the metal is covered in a very acidic blood. It seems to be eating away at your rapier.
Hazreem: As the worm is a huge creature, I don't believe the whirlwind attack can effect it. But normal slam attacks should.
Targets one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Efreat: With a quick chant, you empower your allies with the gift of quicken feet and faster reflexes, making them deadlier against their foes.
Hazreem whirls down and slams into the top of the worm's backside, impacting it hard enough to cause the creature to recoil a bit. Though it doesn't seem to do any critical damage. But as you come in contact with its skin, you find that it secretes a noxious substance into your swirling form that makes you feel weaker forcing you to fight through it.
Holding his shield high and stepping up right in front of the giant, open maw, Bahir slashes out with his frosted scimitar. The blade cuts deep through the side of its mouth. But as the blade comes out the other side, corrosive blood covers the blade threatening to eat through his weapon.
The camels spook and begin running toward the northeast, taking the wagon with them. Garaval tries to catch the wagon, but it is no good. But he does manage to grab a weapon from the back, his long bow. He turns around and faces the beast. Radi and the old man both follow the camel's lead and begin moving away as well. The guard next to the worm, tries to attack once before before retreating back away from it, his blade just clanking against the worm's armored scales. The other two still standing guards step back a little towards the spot where the wagon was and they pull their bows from their backs, expertly drawing back arrows and firing. Both arrows bounce off the worm's scales with no effect.
Haleen charges forward, running as fast as she can on the sand to get next to Bahir, and spears the beast with her rapier. But as she withdraws her blade, it is covered in that acidic blood. Looking down on it, the bubbling acid seems to be eating away at the metal.
Not happy with the food before him cutting its mouth, the giant worm lets out a foul smelling bellow before attempting to consume some dinner. It's monstrous jaws try to embrace the paladin forcefully. But Bahir is too quick on his feet and dodges out of the way in time.
Round 2 - Everyone is up!
Damage:
Huge Worm: 29
Haleen's Rapier: 1/15
Daumari steps toward the beast, bringing both ends of his weapon to bear against the monster.
I think you'll find that in Elemental form Hazreem is immune to poison
Dauamri steps up closer and pounds the creature with hammers, cracking the creatures scaly skin, exposing the tender flesh under underneath. The beast moans and responds by rolling in place to the injured area up high out of the inquisitor's reach.
Pae, thinking he found the vital spot to drive his rapier into the worm's tail, attempts to shove it in. But it catches on something hard and just won't go in. Not wanting to touch the glistening and sticky looking coating, Pae is unable to brace against the beast and instead has to pull his blade back and try again.
BLESS-- Allies gain +1 to hit and Fear saves.
PRAYER-- +1 luck bonus to all allies in 40ft burst to rolls to hit, damage rolls, saving throws and skill checks. -1 penalty to like rolls to all enemies. 1 round/level.
INSPIRE COURAGE +1: Ally who sees performance gains +1 morale bonus to Saves vs. Charm and Fear, and +1 competence bonus to attacks and damage.
Mah'ysa maintains the Inspire Courage song [Free], and makes a Sling Glove attack.
Attack 1: for a possible crush damage.
Hasted Attack: for a possible crush damage.
After dodging the beast's attempt to eat him, Bahir strikes back with lightning reflexes and slashes out with his scimitar three times. But twice the blade just clanked uselessly off the beast's tough scales. One manages to cut between two scales and slices into the tender flesh underneath, freezing it as it cuts. The bubbling blood just slides off the blade leaving it untarnished.
Keeping out of the beast's range, Mah'ysa continues to sing while firing off a couple of shots. Both projectiles impact, but then roll off and into the sand with no evidence left behind of any damage dealt.
Hazreem is glad his form renders him immune to the poison. He continues to provide flanking for the others, as he continues his attacks.
Floating next to the giant worm, Hazreem in his swirling elemental form slams into the side of the beast a couple of times. The first blows doesn't seem to do anything, but the second time several of the creature's scales are blown clear and painfully off. Bubbling ooze streaming from the open wound exposed by the injury that runs down the side towards the sand.
"Kree'nar" shouts Efreat. A ball of fire appears and forms out of the air directly on top of the giant worm. The thing seems tiny in comparison to the immense size of the beast. But small or not, it sears the beast's scaly skin with a sizzling noise.
Haleen steps to the side of the beast, getting out of the way of the huge maw, before stabbing it once again. She finds another tender spot and drives the blade deep into the beast.
The camels and wagon continue to flee as a volley of arrows come flying in from Garavel and his guards. This time, three of them break through the worm's armored skin and form a giant pin-cushion, the ends of the arrows protruding from its side.
The beast looks weak after the major beating it has taken, but continues to fight on. It rears up and turns its head around to face the pesky insect that has repetitively pounded its side painfully. Streams of clear yet congealed liquid comes flying forth from it's mouth as if spitting a stream of mucus. The acid breath completely bathes the area where Daumari is standing, spinning his hammers. His defenses have little they can do to defend against the onslaught as the inquisitor tries to minimize the impact from the sludge.
Damage:
Huge Worm: 119
Haleen's Rapier: 1/15
Daumari howls in pain as the creature's saliva washes over him, burning his flesh. Despite suffering such an attack, though, he is still able to collect himself and strike out once more against the beast, channeling his anger and hurt into his blows.
Despite the intense burning from the worm's acidic digestive fluid, Daumari manages to fight through it and make one more attack, the adrenaline of the situation coursing through his body. Guessing correctly that this is a magical beast, he channels his divine power into his attack. Pounding the beast twice more, the creatures scales break apart, bubbling blood running out from all the impact points
Bahir instructs the worm that he was the biggest threat by expertly slashing and thrusting his frosted scimitar into the beast's tender mouth with tremendous quickness. All three of his attacks cut deep, splashing the acidic blood from the wounds. One attack actually severs off a large chuck of the beast causing the strange blood to gush forward, soaking the sand at Bahir's feet.
Pae steadies his hand and thrusts his rapier deep between two scales, driving the blade solidly into the tender underside. Luckily the worm hasn't completely exposed his tail from the sand so that it isn't whipping around.
After the three of you do another 94 points of damage, the massive worm lets out one last blast of foul smelling breath across Bahir's face before it ceases to move any more.
Pae removes his rapier and tries to wipe the corrosive blood from his blade before it does any damage.
Daumari manages to stow his hammers before falling to his knees, offering a mischievous grin to the approaching paladin despite his wounds. After the Dawnflower's healing energies have knitted most of the damage, the inquisitor grasps Bahir's arm and pulls himself to his feet.
We mustn't do that again. At least, not any time soon.
Mah'ysa will cast Expeditious Retreat (hopefully stacking with Haste) and starts running to the camels.
Once there she will cast Remove Fear on as many as she can.
"Err..Hadn't somebody better go and catch the camels?" Pae asks as he observes the dust cloud moving speedilyaway from the site of combat
Hazreem hovers over to where the halfling and moans in an whistling voice, "I will go after the camels, Pae. You may as well check out the metal object we noticed earlier."
He then flies off afterr the camels, noting Mah'ysa joining him, and once he catches up to them, he will shift back into his normal form and then attempt to calm the animals.
As the giant worm stops moving, Garavel and the guards turn and begin running as fast as they can through the sand after the camels and the wagon, two of the guards moving much faster than the others. Mah'ysa comes up along side and passes even the fast guards, reaching the wagon first and calming the two camels harnessed to it. She continues moving as the guards reach the wagon and manages to catch up with a couple more camels, stopping their flight. Hazreem flies overhead, traveling a little faster than Mah'ysa and manages to pass up the caravan of camels. He lands before then causing many of the group to halt and turn. Transforming back to his humanoid form, Hazreem immediately begins trying to calm the startled beasts before him. Several turn and head back towards Garavel while a few stop and stare at the druid. After about a minute, all of the beasts of burden are calmed down and being led back towards the oasis.
With Bahir's divine healing, the inquisitor is amazingly healed back to almost his full health. A few small acid burn marks still blot his skin and his clothing is a complete mess. But his mithral armor is completely undamaged from the acid. Daumari stands up on his feet with the help of the paladin who quickly turns away and walks to tend to other tasks.
With the sun starting to get low in the western sky, the remains of the giant worm provides some much desired shade here at the oasis as the few trees don't block much of the sun. Though the smell of the worm corpse is less than can be desired, especially when mixed in with gnoll and hyena parts.
Pae heads east towards the spot where Mah'ysa indicated she saw a flash, a reflection off something metallic. It takes nearly a half hour for his little legs to carry him through the sand to reach the area a mile away.
Initially, you don't find anything but waves of sand dunes after more sand dunes. But when you are about to give up, you come over one last ridge to see evidence that a large group of creatures, mostly humanoid and possibly human or gnoll, had recently been camping out between these dunes. Clearly, there were over 30 people here. Several tracks lead up to the top of the western dune. From there, you have a good view of the oasis and the now dead giant worm. Recent tracks lead off to the North away from the camp and off into the distance as far as you can see. As you investigate the area, you find a couple of spots where waste is buried in the sand. You also find evidence of some small, four legged animals having been here as well, but no evidence of anything metallic that might have reflected the sunlight. Whatever it was, it is gone now.
By the time Pae makes the trek back to the oasis, the sun has found its way down further in the sky and is threatening to disappear soon. The camp has been set up for the night, dwarfed by the giant carcass nearby. Several of the camels are down at the water's edge, lapping up the precious fluid of life with their long tongues.
As you approach, the group is just finishing up with a short blessing and prayer to Sarenrae, asking the Dawnflower to take care of the soul of the pactmaster guard who lost his life with the giant worm attacked and to look over and protect the brave men and women who continue to put their lives in danger to save others. "Let us take this man's remains back to his family in Katapesh so that he can receive a proper burial." says Garavel as the group breaks up and goes about their business.
"So what do we do..hare off on a wild camel chase through the desert or just press on to Katapesh" asks Pae after explaining what he found. But given that the camp is already up and the sun is low, the immediate answer seems to be to stay put for the night.
The rest of the evening goes by uneventful and guards are posted throughout the night. You awake early feeling refreshed and ready to go. Thanks to the Dawnflower's blessing, Daumari's near-fatal injury yesterday is nothing but a bad memory as he rises for the day at full strength. The events of yesterday evening only seem to bolster your abilities.
|
|
Feeling refreshed and newly invigorated with the coming dawn Bahir rises from his prayer mat and approaches Radi, "I would like very much to hear once again the story of what happened to your caravan but this time in The Dawnflowers purifying light. It burns away all falsehoods and leaves bare only the truth. In this way can you gain my trust. If you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear. Do you agree?"
Efreat stretches and focuses the fire within. "I feel better. Let us make haste to our destination."
Hazreem sidles next to Bahir. "Seems like a good idea to me. Ever since we left Kelmarane, we have run into quite a bit of trouble. Be good to know if you are indeed worthy of trust."
A momentary look of shock shows on Radi's face just before his expression changes to one of resolve. "Is that really necessary? Wasn't it obvious that I was attacked?" He stands up and looks around, "But if you insist, I really don't have a choice. I've seen what you did to that worm. Even if I wished you harm, I wouldn't stand a chance against you."
After completing her morning devotions to the Dawnflower, Mah'ysa looks on curiously wondering as to what Bahir is on about.
:
Everything seems to be in order. Move along.