”Who would even make such a thing?!”
"Yeah, exactly," Tristain agrees. "That's exactly the kind of question that is best pondered while bonking. Don't you think?" he moves towards a wall and begins to bonk while he tries to make sense of things. It's the only and best way.
*bonk*!
*bonk*!
*bonk*!
*bonk*!
*bonk*!
*bonk*!
"Before we clear away this debris, lets check the southwest and northwest corners of this place in case they hide further mischief." Kyffin suggests.
If the group agrees, he'll head west to the southwest corner.
Starflit groans as she casts some spells to heal the damage she took during her ill-conceived tumble attempt. She's left with only a shallow cut over her right eyebrow.
Once his check of the area is done, Tristain will follow Kyffin to the southwest corner, which is a very good corner, Tristain agrees. It's almost like the starting corner, but different.
After you finish healing yourself, but before Al can do more than clear a few pieces of rubble, Kyffin leads the way through the corridors again. Moving south you find knocked-over shelves are stacked upon one another as a makeshift barricade preventing entrance to whatever chamber lays behind. The barricade stands 8 feet high and blocks the room’s entrance.
"Survivors of the incursion?" Starflit asks the others in a whisper. "Or maybe Lowls and his associates constructed it to keep the monsters at bay?"
The inquisitor examines the barricade for normal, mechanical traps.
Kyffin shrugs at the barricade and thinks on the map a moment. "Let's head to the northwest corner and work our way back south. Maybe there's an easier way in." he suggests.
"Do you see anything Starflit? Maybe a secret door?"
"That barricade is made by people, not monsters. Let's call out and see if anyone answers us, maybe those missing folk are hiding back there." Al waits for Starflit to finish investigating and for the others to agree before he shouts out to any survivors behind the barrier.
Starflit dutifully searches for secret doors in the area Kyffin directs her.
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”It’d be nice to actually save some people again. Just hope that they’re not all not-doctors.” Tenebrynn then begins to tick off other threats finger by finger. ”Or river pirates, or dream eaters, or black-goop coughing spider-queens, or more faux-Muns, or evil dream-reflections of us.”
Starflit's eyes can't help but shift ever-so-briefly toward Tenebrynn as the gnome ticks off a list of monstrosities the group encountered before she joined up.
What terrible horrors these poor folks have faced! the young inquisitor thinks. Then her brain feels obliged to add, And what have I gotten myself into?
Tristain moves forward, eyes alert for danger…and for a quiet spot to bonk.
”Yes, Tenebrynn, this is only slightly less horrific than the others.”
Kyffin waits to see if Al's shouting brings anything, though he'd rather complete the circuit without survivors hanging about. Just in case there are more horrors... and there are always more horrors...
He waits to see what might be discovered.
The barricade doesn't appear to be trapped -- that said, Starflit's not sure how sturdy it actually is. She suspects if you tried to climb it -- which you could -- it could collapse. You could also try battering your way through it if you wanted to.
"Hello! Is anybody behind that barrier?" Al yells over the barricade. "We're a rescue party looking for survivors. We're here to help you."
"Yeah, we're here to help. The Elder Thyrr sent us!" Tristain tries to help Al's recklessly loud yelling. Maybe he's trying to use sound to break down the barrier.
Diplomacy to aid
Kyffin looks about the barricade from all the angles his 'flight' allows.
"Look, I say we see if there's a way around. But if we want to get through this, let's start taking it apart. I can pull stuff off from above so there's less risk of stuff falling on folks, so stand back a moment and let me see what I can do."
Kyffin wants to keep moving before his spells expire, so he'll start taking apart the structure from above. At least until he can see what's in the next chamber.
"Go away and find your own hiding spot!" a man's harsh voice calls back from the other side of the barricade.
"Yeah!" another screams. "If you think you're going to come in here, with whatever you bring with you, think again!"
Kyffin climbs to the top of the pile without touching it (Air Walk). ”Now look here.” he looks down into the room, ”We’re the good guys. We’ve killed just about everything we’ve encountered so far. So you’re better off dealing with us than risking it on your own.”
He continues amiably, ”Can you tell us, what’s to the north of you? We haven’t been there yet.”
Tristain rolls his eyes.
”Did they not hear that Elder Thyrr sent us in? We’re the good guys!” Tristain backs up Kyffin, but really waits for Al to fix things.
Diplo to aid Al
”I don’t think the guards will open the front doors for us before everything in here settled will they? Maybe these folks are safest here, like this, until we can get the rest of this terrible library under control.”
"You folk have nothing to fear from us. The Elder sent us to rescue you, like my friend says. If you're not ready yet we'll continue exploring and come back for you. We killed those dogs that jump through walls, and that invisible thing with tentacles, did you all encounter anything else down here?"
Starflit nods at Tenebrynn's words. Still, any information they can glean from the survivors might prove valuable.
"Lies!" one of the men shouts. "We won't be deceived, deceivers! You won't kill us too!"
Al and Starflit are the only ones able to react quickly enough as the guards -- Kyffin can see there are six in the room -- begin casting!
The men seem manic, with wide eyes and tight grips on their weapons. You're not sure they're actually in their right mind.
"Quit being foolish!" Albert yells at the survivors. "If we healed your wounded, then would you trust us? The Elder would be disappointed in you risking lives like this." While he's speaking Albert holds forth his symbol of Erastil as proof of his allegiance to the gods of good.
Starflit moves forward enough that she can get a look at men. Then she uses her detect alignment (evil) ability to determine if their impending attack is indeed merely a misunderstanding or perhaps something more.
Tristain hopes no one gets hurt as he startles to act.
Tristain: 16
Tenebrynn: 14
Kyffin: 12
Starflit: 21
Albert: 20
Antagonists: 17
Starflit feels the presence of evil in front of her.
Meanwhile, Al's words seem to have no effect on the men, who cast spells to ready themselves for combat. "We won't fall for your foul lies and tricks! We know you've been corrupted!"
One of them cast haste.
Five of them cast mirror image.
Red: 6 mirror images
Blue: 6 mirror images
Aqua: 4 mirror images
Green: 5 mirror images
Orange: 4 mirror images
Yellow
Round 1
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = -2 con dam, Magic Vestment (1/11h, +2), Life Bubble (8/120m), Air Walk (8/110m)
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +8/3, Str +5, Magic +1, Focus +2, (Power -3) Damage: Str +5, Magic +1, Specialization +2, (Power +6) Crit: 15-20 DR Magic
Longbow: Attack: BAB +8/3, Dex +1, Magic +1 Damage: Str +4 (adaptive), Magic +1
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Arrows = 10/10
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Arrows = 10/10
Blessings (6/8, su) (Holy Strike (std), Battle Companion (full), Fast Healing (std), or Powerful Healer (sw))
Fervor (4/7, su, sw, DC 17, 4d6)
Sacred Weapon (11/11r, su, sw, +2)
Sacred Armor (11/11m, su, sw, +2)
Boots of Speed = 9/10 (+1 attack, +1 on attack rolls, +1 dodge to AC & Reflex, +30’ move)
Pearl of Power (1/1, first)(0/1, second)
Spells (Caster Level 11, Concentration +13)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Stabilize
First (13): Command,
Second (14): Bull’s Strength, Burst of Radiance, Hold Person, Protection from Evil Communal,
Third (15): Dispel Magic,
Fourth (16):
vs DC 18
vs DC 17
Kyffin calls out what he learns about their casting. He’ll then cast a spell himself, summoning his battle companion for the first time. ”This’ll take a moment!” he calls out to the others, hoping Al or Starflit will cover for him.
- - -
"What is going on, Kyffin?" Tristain asks as he (probably) didn't see the casting himself.
"The mirror one? Meh. We might as well wait it out here, behind the barricade, no need walking into that. And if they all cast it, it will take forever to knock them out. Just wait out here."
Tristain moves out of sight and delays.
Tenebrynn shakes her head as madness reigns, then sparks and jolts her companions into quicker action.
HP: 138/142
Nonlethal: 50
AC: 17 (15 T / 12 FF) // 25% miss chance for ranged attacks
Fort: +13 // Ref: +13 // Will: +7 (+2 vs illusion)
Burn Accrued: 5/10
Ki Pool Spent: 1/5
Ongoing Effects:
Warden of Nature: +1 to hit/+2 dodge bonus vs aberrations, oozes, vermin
Foe of the Strange: +1 to saves vs aberrations, -10 to confusion results
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1
Haste (1/9): +30ft speed, +1 to hit, +1 AC, +1 ref
Elemental overflow:
+x to hit, +2x damage, and visual effects on person as long as burn is present (x = current burn, max 3)
Ability Score increases (+2): Dex, Con
"Ah, leave them be, they're probably safer behind the barrier while we explore the rest of this place." Albert agrees with Tristain's approach although he steps forward and shields Kyffin while the summoning begins.
"I'm picking up some sort of evil presence on their side," Starflit informs her companions.
I'm at the top of the pile I think, and can see over it, but let me know if that's not the case.
Kyffin worries that this lot is now agitated, and so we should deal with them now. He's going to keep summoning - especially if Starflit is sensing evil.
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”C’mon, Kyffin. We can just wait a few minutes. Or come back in a bit. It will be easier,” Tristain maintains his delay.
If he's already started, Kyffin will finish the summons, no sense in wasting it.
If he hasn't started yet, Kyffin will shrug his shoulders, "Sure, I'm ready to move on." He takes one last look over the pile at the crazies below and wonders whose side they're on.
Albert continues to shield Kyffin while the party decides on the most prudent approach.
Backing away, you head to the unexplored section of the library, where you find the shelves hold hundreds of books bound with red leather.
A pair of wooden, iron-bound double doors stand closed to the south. As you investigate, it appears something is blocking the doors from opening into the room beyond.
Tristain takes a moment to inspect the red bound books, assuming that they are some kind of encyclopedia set. He will look for the letter 'S' and hopes to read up on sphinxes.
"I guess we've got to go over the wall of junk they piled up. I can hook a rope up there so it's easier to climb. Also, I have a plan that might help if they're magically altered. If they're just evil, well," he shrugs, "We'll just have to deal with it."
He goes back to where the crazy people were (well, the crazies not in the party). He then begins his summons anew, planning to put the hound archon in their midst. Naturally, he plants the grapple and knotted silk rope first.
(bull's strength)
(bull's strength)
(bull's strength)
(bull's strength)
Luck is not with him as he (possibly) struggles against the doors.
Tenebrynn taps Kyffin on the knee as he takes a breath after ramming his shoulder into the barrier for the fourth time. "Maybe I can take a turn?"
If given the chance, the little gnome's hair suddenly pulls up into the air above her as wind begins to swirl and churn and crack and rumble around the group. This continues for a few long breaths before she draws the swirling storm tight around her before throwing it into the doors at the end of a graceful, spinning kick.
The books appear to be by a woman named Avracrem Gant, and from the title, looks like they include hundreds of treatises on magic.
Kyffin can't budge the doors, but Tenebrynn -- perhaps with the fear of Tristain's wanting to examine the books -- blasts them off their hinges, sending them flying and revealing what looks like a heavy table on the other side that was blocking it.
Beyond the damage the gnome inflicts, this room is in disarray. An alchemist’s lab is set up on one of the tables, and a few of the shelves have been cleared of books. Throughout the room, a chaotic swirl of yellow hues has been painted, daubed, and scratched into the walls, on the spines of books, and across the floor. Unfortunately, before you can take in any more you see a familiar figure -- one you encountered several times back in Cassomir -- and a vaguely humanoid creature about the size of a dwarf.
"No, no!" Miacknian Mun cries. "Haha! You won't get us! No, you won't, haha! Get them, get them!" his voice rises to a piercing screech as he prepares to throw some vial at you and the dwarf-thing steps in front of your path.
Starflit tries to puzzle out what the dwarf-like thing is before going into attack mode.
Starflit identifies the lumpy dwarf-thing and pulls a sneaky deception at the same time. "Eat this, homunculus!" she snarls, moving forward 10 feet and hurling her magic starknife at the thing.
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