certainly, for us that would be better
Adoy giggles at his almost a joke.
AEven does not comprehend the joke yet, does not laugh, and replies to himself, "Silly hominids, of course the beast will not stay still, it is trying to cease our operation, freeze us, and avoid being struck."
Ilya again raises Fellchill. In a sweeping arc, he tries to end the suffering creature for good missing the connection in a grand and graceful movement just before he locks eyes with it. Paralyzed, he drops the weapon, but not before Adoy pounds the creature hard in the ribs. Fraga's giant maul makes the same sweeping arc as Ilya's, missing in the same fashion. AEven places another acidic bolt inside the soon to be carcass of the beast.
Ilya glances over to catch a glimpse of his partner and friend, Kitai, now a statue, before he realizes that he is about to endure a similar fate.
Adoy keeps hammering the lizard, the smell of ozone and crackle of electricity filling the air
But the blow missed, badly
AEvin repeats his same process from round 2, he slowly looks up to find a piece of the lizard's body that is not close to it's head; hopefully anyway;
"THACKKK!!!" This time AEven's bolt digs deeper into the flesh of the humanoid freezing lizard. He then looks down to use his peripheral vision and hearing again to guide him.
This is one tough Beast!
Fraga's huge magical maul completes another wide arc and hits the neck of the beast as it roars loudly in pain.
Quick, but powerful jabs launched by Adoy somehow miss the writhing beast.
A bolt launched from Heartburn was the final blow. The great beast's head rolled back once before coming down hard on the damp surface with a loud and final thud.
Breathing hard, the former drow servant speaks.
I knew that you buffoons would get into trouble. I was on my way home when I heard the commotion. That is when I met this guy, she says pointing at a creature that seems to be more machine than humanoid.
AEven, moves his crossbow straight up without holding the firing lever with his right hand and waves with his left hand, "Greetings, I am AEven AEgir or Evan for short and easier to say. Do any of you require healing at this time?" He then looks at their friends before they are able to reply, "Sorry, I have not acquired the techniques to save your friends from the freezing monster's technique."
Kitai and Ilya are now complete stone statues. Brin has taken ill inside of Mullog's cave and cannot travel with the group.
Mullog offers sanctuary to the group, some food and a place to rest before they continue their journey, whichever direction it may take.
Zivrul explains to the group exactly how the warp ring works and reiterates that when each of the six holes is filled with the missing crystal, they will be able to catch up to Dr. Grimm.
She also says that her gnome friend has the first crystal.
Greetings AEven AEgir, I am Adoy, sometimes called the sly. Are you and Zivrul passing through?
He looks at Kitai and iLya sadly, shaking his head. I have heard that this can be reversed. I hope one day we can. For now, Mullog. Care for them. One day, rewarded you may be. But this day, no.
AEven switches the crossbow to his left hand and salutes Adoy, "Nice to meet you Adoy-Sly unit. Correction, I mean Mr. Sly. Miss Zivrul found me locked up and freed me to assist you, so we were not passing through Mr. Sly for we had purpose. In addition, please excuse my speech. It will improve over time. I was brand new when I was placed back into stasis for hundreds for years and my fuzzy logic crystal and bio-speech synthesizer has not fully developed." Evan looks at Kitai and iLya with a sad look imitating Adoy, "Yes Mr Sly, I will see if I can develop the skills to render your friends back into flesh and bone."
I am called Fraga, you seem to be good shot with that thing. Do you have other skills?
I seem to be leaking some Give me a moment. He pulls a blanket from his bag and rips a piece off to tie off the wound.
Adoy giggles a bit.
interesting the way you speak. Just call me Adoy. The sly is my honrific, supposedly a description of me. It is the way of my people, if you want to call them that.
Adoy hops on a boulder and sits.
a purpose, you said. What is that purpose?
AEven salutes Fraga, "Good day Fraga, yes I am a good shot with Heartburn. Excuse me, thank you for the compliment. You both appear to be quite capable with your weapons as well. My other skills include healing and currently defensive teleport, but you seem not to be that injured and unfortunately, your friend's conditions are currently beyond my current skill level. If you think you need healing, I maybe able to heal you to max. In addition, I can attempt to cure poison and disease, and restore your senses if they are violated by magic or other means. In addition, I have a few other combat skills such as I can increase my size, increase my chances to hit, and this." He turns on his lights from his eyes which emits normal torch light into your eyes. Then instantly turns them off. "Sorry, I hate when that happens."
He then looks at Adoy, "My purpose was to assist you four Adoy. Miss Zivrul asked me to assist her in assisting you. Now what is our purpose here and beyond since assisting you in immediate combat with a dangerous foe is complete or near completion to the best of our current ability?"
Heartburn turns to dust in AEven's hand and floats away. He seems not to be worried.
I must confess. I have a deep desire to return home. I wouldn't mind seeing the Doctor again. You could use my expertise with the warp ring you know. We need to find that gnome and get the crystal. I'll bet he isn't far. What do you say? Zivrul says addressing the party.
very well.
Fraga finishes up tying up what looks to be a spear wound. Starts to get up and says,
We were headed towards this gnome creature when those frog men attacked us. If you know where they are it would be helpful.
"If finding the Gnome to retrieve the crystal is our next mission, I am in. Please lead the way?" He waits to follow everyone with his head on a swivel.
Fraga will lead the way if no one else will, heading towards the village he spotted earlier.
The travelers find themselves weary from the intense encounter, so many dead amphibious warriors surrounding the open sand floor of the carvern that they warped into from Gryzzl'huk's tower.
The enormous cavern leads to an even bigger cavern with a small volcano at its center surrounded by a lake.
It seems that everywhere possible is covered with some type of bioluminescent fungi of some type.
Fraga sees the small city dwelling to the right of the volcanic lake, about 1000 yards away.
Nothing is moving near your group as far as you can tell.
Mullog, in the city, who dwells? Adoy asks the small native
Pacing back and forth, Mullog eyes Adoy nervously before answering the question.
Frog warriors come from there. Mean troll kept them away. I think big king lives there. Big fires, loud drumming every night after plant light is off.
AEven listens to the conversation and gathers data for later use but for now, has nothing to offer to the conversation.
Adoy thnks a short time.
The city may be dangerous, but seems to be the only place to go. We should investigate it, to see if the one we seek is there, or has been.
AEven nods in agreement, "A city is a good place for Miss Zivrul's Gnome to hide."
What are we waiting for then? lets get going. Inspects his bandage before heading out of the cave towards the mud city.
The group heads down the path towards the mud dwellings which become more visible as they approach. The dwellings resemble hives with a simple circular hole that serves as a door to each one. Several are stacked upon one another in a mound-like structure with the largest dwelling in the center of them all. The dwellings extend about fifty feet up the side of the cavern wall. The entrance to the city is marked by an archway covered in luminescent fungi.
It is strangely quiet considering the melee that just occurred. The gate is now about 500 yards away.
Looking around for any movement or other signs of life, Fraga will approach a gate house.
Lets go say Hi shall we?
AEven looks at Fraga and waves, "We are going to go say hi too?"
Cautious, we should be, hmm. The toad men came from here, and they didn't just say hi Adoy keeps his loaded crossbow to hand.
AEven remains vigilante but currently does not draw or call any weapons.
So, The party moves into the city.
Adoy says Look for prominent buildings. Those who consider themselves important like large buildings, I have found. Adoy pulls his hood over his face.
Adoy's hood has obviously blocked his vision
There doesn't appear to be any sign of movement at the gatehouse. There is a deep humm eminating from the central dwelling about 300 yards away.
AEven looks around, "Is it me or is it too quiet around here except for where that hum is originating from?"
AEven continues to have his head on a swivel and does not want to call Heartburn too soon.
let us continue. Be wary adoy keeps going
Fraga Thinks we should check out this hum. We need to find a little gnome.
AEven nods his head, "Yes, let's investigate?! If you see something I should arm myself for and commence firing, please alert me?"
Close scrutiny reveals two frog warriors posted on either side of the hole that serves as an entrance to the pod-shaped dwelling. They appear to be in some sort of trance at the moment.
A ledge hangs above the entrance with some sort of slimy mold hanging half over its edge.
Aeven looks at Zivrul, Fraga, and Adoy to receive any indication of what to do next,
Adoy says sometimes, the direct approach, value has. Let me try talking. Wait here if this goes wrong.
He walks out in front of the guards, in clear view. oi! Whoese house is this?
The guards have a glazed over look about them and although fully alive, appear to be in some sort of trance leaving them vulnerable.
Anxious, Zivrul represses her impatience to witness the wisdom of Adoy in action. Ready for what should happen next, if anything.
Adoy snaps his fingers in front of their faces.
Anyone home?
There is no response from either one of the guards as they stand there almost like statues on each side of the entrance to the main building.
The humming sound eminates from within the structure, clearly discenable through the dark hole in the side of the building.
Adoy looks at the others and shrugs.
a trance, they are in. Something strange is going on. Come, quickly over here. he gestures for the party to join him.
He manifests detect magic and enters the building.