Your combined efforts -- Al and Kyffin's blades and Tristain's magic -- are able to utterly destroy the undead monstrosity, leaving you alone in the room.
As you look around, Heinrich notices a slight ridge in the rug outlining what looks like a hatch in the floor!
Heinrich pulls the rug back to reveal what lies beneath!
There's a locked hatch.
The walls of this large room are lined with ceiling-high bookshelves laden with bound tomes, parchment scrolls, and stacks of paper. The shelves are stuffed full and sag under the weight of their contents. A dozen amber-colored crystal lamps are fixed to the walls, and three more lamps stand on two central tables and a desk. Stairs in the western corner of the room lead up to the second floor.
Kyffin is pleased when the battle ends as swiftly as it did. It could have been much worse. He mutters a prayer to Sarenrae as he cleans and sheathes his scimitar. He takes a moment with a pearl of power to reclaim a Divine Favor as well, and turns to the group to assist with healing.
”How deep do you think that goes?” he asks, expecting no answer. ”We’ve still the outbuildings to clear, and if this is more than a room or two… well, it might be more than we can chew in one sitting. If you know what I mean. I say we clear out the outbuildings, and come back to this. Decide then if we’re in good shape to continue.” He looks uneasily at the trapdoor.
Heinirch nods and leaves the rug pulled back to remind them.
"Wait, hold one!" Tristain says, wanting a bit of time to look around. He senses for magic, using [i]Detect Magic[i] and concentrates while others heal up.
"Maybe we should spend another day or two or three in here? You know, doing research and not facing the horrors that likely infest the down-hatch?!" This contradicts Kyffin's feelings, but Tristain will speak his mind too.
Tristain does a general search of the room and books/scrolls that aren't put away and might have been accessed more recently.
Tenebrynn shakes her head vigorously, the thought of more near-endless reading more frightful to her than the flying tentacle heads. "More books?" She sighs, the sound that of abject despair.
HP: 45/53
Nonlethal: 1
AC: 16 (14 T / 13 FF) // 25% miss chance for ranged attacks
Fort: +8 // Ref: +7 // Will: +2 (+2 vs illusion)
Talisman of Warrior's Courage: [ ]
Burn Accrued: 1/7
SLAs: dancing lights [ ], ghost sound [ ], prestidigitation [ ], speak with animals [ ]
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
Elemental overflow: +1 to hit, +2 damage, and visual effects on person as long as burn is present
Con Damage: 1
In this room are many widely known books on common areas of knowledge. Many of these titles relate to matters within Ustalav, but others detail subjects from throughout the Inner Sea region.
On the table are a number of the titles that look like research books regarding dreams and how to manipulate them. Flipping quickly through them, Tristain can find various hand-scrawled notes and marked pages .
Several printed copies of two publications apparently by Lowls -- "A History of the History of Versex" and "The Stars Are Not Among Us: An Undeniable Refutation of the Works of the Doomsaying Pseudo-Scholar Dr. Henri Meirtmane" -- are stacked in two crates near the fireplace. On top of one of these crates is an envelope containing a letter signed by someone named Miacknian Mun, which apparently accompanied a delivery of alchemical goods. In the letter, evidently answering a question posed by Lowls, Mun confirms that “It seems that the Mad Poet you met in your dream journey was right. The book you seek, the Necronomicon, is located in a special collection called the Mysterium in the Qadiran city of Katheer, though it is written in Necril. If you can find a way to retrieve it and bring it to me, I can certainly help you translate and research it. I look forward to seeing you again, my old friend.”
While the party is reading through the library Albert tries to help Tenny with her terrible boredom. "What do you say we just see if that key we found fits into the lock on the trapdoor. I've got it right here." Albert pats around on his pockets and pouches for a minute and then looks at Tenny. "Or I suppose you have it then along with any other small items of mine. Well, let's just see if it's a fit or if there's another key we need to be finding."
Tristain puts down the letter after reading it. ”Well, uhm, that’s weird. I guess that’s an important book or something. But also, I’m gunna need more time to go through all this, maybe later.” Tris eyes the key that Albert is pushing and readies to move on, but thinks about the letter more. In fact, he puts the letter into his pocket for later.
Kyffin waits patiently while the others search the room. He keeps watch through the windows out in the courtyard as well as poking his head down the hall once in a while.
He's absolutely certain there's no one else about at the moment his mind temporarily wandering back over the evidence they've accumulated so far. It's enough to make his head spin - and it does!
The key does fit in the lock.
Looking out the window, Kyffin can't see too much in the gloom. Out a couple of windows looking east, he can see a one-story wooden building outfitted with an outhouse and an external awning to shelter firewood.
”You guys want to explore out or down first?” Tristain asks, not really wanting to do either and happy to sit in this room for days if given the opportunity to dither...he would dither in a heartbeat.
He begins to bonk his head against he wall while he waits.
*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*
"We got the ket to that lock, so unless there's another key that door ain't opening anytime soon. Let's explore them other building, then get in a rest before we explore whatever is beneath that locked door."
"Agreed." nods Kyffin at Albert, glad to be on the move again. "We can come back to explore down." he says to Tristain.
He'll head out the front doors and go to the first building on the right, planning to move counter-clockwise. Unless anyone else has a different suggestion.
The first building is the one you could see from the window, the one-story wooden building is outfitted with an outhouse and an external awning to shelter firewood.
Inside, you find a wooden bathtub and a fireplace. A small shelf holds bars of soap, towels, brushes and pieces of pumice stone.
Tristain looks into the room, hands on his hips. He looks around, a faint smile on his face. ”Well, look at this! Maybe this place isn’t so bad after all...”
Perception
Nothing seems to pop out at you as particularly interesting (or, happily, dangerous) as you poke around.
Tenebrynn happily helps Albert in testing the key and nods enthusiastically when the group decides to head out rather than read. As she slips a pumice stone into her bag, she volunteers cheerily, "What me to scout ahead?"
Without really waiting for a response, she steals out into the courtyard and begins to wend her way toward the eastern building.
Kyffin follows Tenebrynn slowly so as not to blow her stealthiness. But he keeps her in sight in case there's trouble.
Albert follows along with Kyffin and moves gracefully despite his apparent age.
Tristain bonks a few more times to give Tenebrynn time to scout, then follows behind Kyffin.
No use all of us making noise.
As Tenebrynn makes her way through the courtyard, the mist and driving rain help keep her concealed, though it forces Kyffin and Al to follow perhaps a little more closely than they'd have preferred.
Oddly, Al seems to move even more unobtrusively than the gnome lass, his skin almost seeming to take on a slight gray pallor to more blend in with the mist, he's so stealthy.
Still, Kyffin doesn't have quite the same luck, and his passage through the courtyard seems to draw attention of a supernatural sort! Three of the sculpted plants suddenly spring to life and charge toward the half-orc, though his armor prevents him from any worse harm than bruises.
Round 1, Initiative: 14
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Bolts = 20/20
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Bolts = 20/20
Conditions = -1 Con
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Focus +1, (Power -1) Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, (Power +2) Crit: 18-20
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Blessings (3/5, su, DC 14) (Holy Strike (std) or Powerful Healer) (sw)
Fervor (0/4, su, sw, DC 14, 2d6)
Sacred Weapon (4/5r, su, sw, +1)
Pearl of Power (0/1, first)
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +7)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (13): Command,
Second (14):
Kyffin freaks out a little as the plants themselves come to attack. He thrashes back violently and 5’ steps out of flank (if he can) toward the fountain. If he can’t 5’ step for some reason, he holds his ground.
Know (Nature)
Tristain looks at the plants, wondering what he thinks of them.
Heinrich throws his flying dagger at the closest un-melee'd bush!
Plus 1 if within 30' for damage plus 1 if within 30'.
Albert: 13
Tenebrynn: 10
Tristain: 8
Heinrich: 14
Kyffin: 14
Antagonist: 13
Kyffin's blade slashes a hunk off the nearest creature as Heinrich's dagger flies unerringly through the air toward its target before returning to his hand.
Still, undaunted, the foliage presses the attack, converging on Al and Kyffin, slamming painfully into both of them.
Aqua: 10
Pink: 6
Round 1
”Oh...try fire! They are plants! Do we have any fire?” Tristain asks as the plants slash and hack at the party.
Tristain fires his wand again at the most wounded tree.
"gad-ZOOKS!”
Wand of Magic Missile (5): 11/50 left
force damage
HP: 8/31
AC: 12
Points: 4/4 left
Spells: Lvl 1: 7/7 left (MM*0,IllOm*0,MurdCom*0,Vanish*0) dc 16
Spells: Lvl 2: 4/5 left (Kno*0,SpirW*0,Sugg*0) dc 17
Cure Used: 0/2 used
Scroll SMIII
"gad-ZOOKS!”
Wand of Magic Missile (5): 11/50 left
[ dice]3d4 + 3[/dice] force damage
Wand of Bless: 5/18 left
Bless (1/10): +1 to attacks and morale.
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d20+2-4[/dice] to hit; ()
[ dice]1d8-1[/dice] piercing damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
Heinrich nods and flings at bomb at the plant-monster!
plus 1 if within 30' for fire damage and 6 splash, Reflex DC 13 for half!
Albert shift to the southwest and slashes at the foliage.
Round 2, Initiative: 14
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Bolts = 20/20
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Bolts = 20/20
Conditions = -1 Con
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Focus +1, (Power -1) Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, (Power +2) Crit: 18-20
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Blessings (3/5, su, DC 14) (Holy Strike (std) or Powerful Healer) (sw)
Fervor (0/4, su, sw, DC 14, 2d6)
Sacred Weapon (4/5r, su, sw, +1)
Pearl of Power (0/1, first)
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +7)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (13): Command,
Second (14):
Kyffin continues to press his attack. (Let me know if I take 6hp of fire.)
He'll then shift West, following Albert.
"Huh? What's going on back there?" Tenebrynn pads back toward the group and when she recognizes the aggressive shrubbery, she sends a blast of wind toward the nearest one, causing the mist to curl and twist in its wake like eerie, grasping fingers.
HP: 45/53
Nonlethal: 1
AC: 16 (14 T / 13 FF) // 25% miss chance for ranged attacks
Fort: +8 // Ref: +7 // Will: +2 (+2 vs illusion)
Talisman of Warrior's Courage: [ ]
Burn Accrued: 1/7
SLAs: dancing lights [ ], ghost sound [ ], prestidigitation [ ], speak with animals [ ]
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
Elemental overflow: +1 to hit, +2 damage, and visual effects on person as long as burn is present
Con Damage: 1
driving rain: -4 ranged to hit
Albert: 13
Tenebrynn: 10
Tristain: 8
Heinrich: 14
Kyffin: 14
Antagonist: 13
Al and Kyffin slice swatches off two of the creatures, the leaves and shrubbery blown away by Tenebrynn's blast, though that doesn't seem to actually hurt the creature at all .
From afar, Tristain blasts one, and then Heinrich ups the ante by tossing a bomb in the direction of the group. Unfortunately, in the gloom and rain, he misses, his bomb sailing far off toward the edge of the clearing, where is splashing flaming liquid over nothing by the path. The creatures seems perhaps more frantic as fire enters the scenario, and one manages to painfully slam Kyffin, bruising the half-orc's ribs.
Aqua: 21
Pink: 25
Round 3, Initiative: 14
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Bolts = 20/20
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Bolts = 20/20
Conditions = -1 Con
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Focus +1, (Power -1) Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, (Power +2) Crit: 18-20
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Blessings (3/5, su, DC 14) (Holy Strike (std) or Powerful Healer) (sw)
Fervor (0/4, su, sw, DC 14, 2d6)
Sacred Weapon (4/5r, su, sw, +1)
Pearl of Power (0/1, first)
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +7)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (13): Command,
Second (14):
Kyffin winces as he feels, and thinks he hears, a rib crack under the blow, but he hangs in there and strikes back!
Round 2
Tristain watches Heinrich’s fire miss the targets. ”Oh, Heinrich! Put the fire *on* them! Try that!”
Tristain fires his wand again at pink.
"gad-ZOOKS!”
Wand of Magic Missile (5): 10/50 left
force damage
HP: 31/31
AC: 12
Points: 4/4 left
Spells: Lvl 1: 7/7 left (MM*0,IllOm*0,MurdCom*0,Vanish*0) dc 16
Spells: Lvl 2: 4/5 left (Kno*0,SpirW*0,Sugg*0) dc 17
Cure Used: 0/2 used
Scroll SMIII
"gad-ZOOKS!”
Wand of Magic Missile (5): 10/50 left
[ dice]3d4 + 3[/dice] force damage
Wand of Bless: 5/18 left
Bless (1/10): +1 to attacks and morale.
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d20+2-4[/dice] to hit; ()
[ dice]1d8-1[/dice] piercing damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
Albert shifts again to create flanking with Kyffin and slashes at the plant creature.
Heinrich groans and nods and pulls another bomb from his belt.
for damage!
Albert: 13
Tenebrynn: 10
Tristain: 8
Heinrich: 14
Kyffin: 14
Antagonist: 13
Continuing their assault, Kyffin and Al combine forces to cut at the same living topiary, slashing chunks of it off. It's nearly denuded when Tristain blasts it and the thing falls apart, leaves and detritus scattered across the courtyard.
Heinrich this time has more luck as he throws, hitting the nearest statuary in a splash of fire, that catches Kyffin too. It trumpets in pain and swings at Kyffin but misses as it seems more concerned with rushing off toward the hedges
Tenebrynn tries to blast the last of the creatures, but it does nothing but ruffle its leaves and draw its attention, though the gnome is able to duck away as it charges her.
Aqua: 21
Red: 19
Round 4, Initiative: 14
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Bolts = 20/20
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Bolts = 20/20
Conditions = -1 Con
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Focus +1, (Power -1) Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, (Power +2) Crit: 18-20
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Blessings (3/5, su, DC 14) (Holy Strike (std) or Powerful Healer) (sw)
Fervor (0/4, su, sw, DC 14, 2d6)
Sacred Weapon (4/5r, su, sw, +1)
Pearl of Power (0/1, first)
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +7)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (13): Command,
Second (14):
vs DC 13 for half of 6
Kyffin winces at the splash, but is glad one of the fell beasts is making for the trees. He takes a swing as the foul thing goes.
He then moves up and swings anew at the remaining shrubbery. He tries to move around so he can be just south of Tenebrynn. I think I can do that without provoking, but whatever he can manage without provoking is fine.
Round 3
”Oh there you go Heinrich, just like that. Burn the plants...but maybe avoid Kyffin.”
Tristain hand casts Magic Missile, saving his wand and the most wounded plant.
"gad-ZOOKS!”
force damage
HP: 31/31
AC: 12
Points: 4/4 left
Spells: Lvl 1: 6/7 left (MM*0,IllOm*0,MurdCom*0,Vanish*0) dc 16
Spells: Lvl 2: 4/5 left (Kno*0,SpirW*0,Sugg*0) dc 17
Cure Used: 0/2 used
Scroll SMIII
"gad-ZOOKS!”
Wand of Magic Missile (5): 10/50 left
[ dice]3d4 + 3[/dice] force damage
Wand of Bless: 5/18 left
Bless (1/10): +1 to attacks and morale.
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d20+2-4[/dice] to hit; ()
[ dice]1d8-1[/dice] piercing damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] CMB to trip vs. CMD
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] force damage
Albert moves in and joins the assault on the final shrubbery while keeping an eye out for shrubbers or knights that say 'Nie'.
The blades and Tristain's magic cut down the topiary attacking Tenebrynn, leaving her free to blast the remaining one.
It disappears a moment later into the hedge, emerging a handful of seconds later to charge again -- this time at Tristain. The heavy blow nearly knocks the scholar to the ground. It doesn't get a chance to do anymore harm, however, as Kyffin and Al rush to Tristian's defense, cutting the thing apart.
Tristain tries to dance back from the flailing brush, scraping his knee in his efforts to get away.
”OW!” Tristain rubs his knee. ”What the heck, tree? Did someone water you with piss?”
Tristain takes a moment to register his injury, ignoring the more greivous ones that others had taken.
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Cold Iron/Silver Blanch Bolts = 20/20
Cold Iron/Ghost Salt Bolts = 20/20
Conditions = -1 Con
Scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Focus +1, (Power -1) Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, (Power +2) Crit: 18-20
Ranged: Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Blessings (2/5, su, DC 14) (Holy Strike (std) or Powerful Healer) (sw)
Fervor (0/4, su, sw, DC 14, 2d6)
Sacred Weapon (4/5r, su, sw, +1)
Pearl of Power (0/1, first)
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +7)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (13): Command, Divine Favor,
Second (14):
"By the gods does everything have to attack us?" Kyffin swears some more before seeing to his more egregious injuries with his own power. He then breaks out the wand to help the others who are injured.
Tenebrynn frowns for a moment, but then brightens, ”Bushes are better than those floating tentacle heads at least.” When it seems to her that the others are sufficiently patched up, she resumes her furtive passage across the grounds.
Tenebrynn moves to the building that was her previous goal and opens the door to see a well-appointed lounge with a brick fireplace, a mahogany table with three matching chairs, and an antique sideboard near the foot of the stairs.
Perhaps more surprisingly, a man and woman dressed in the finery of nobles sits around the table, sipping wine from crystal goblets.
"Oh, hello!" the man says, surprised as the door opens.
"More visitors? Please, come in," the woman says after a quick start.
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Tristain hangs back, wondering what kind of monsters there people are. He keeps an eye out behind them, not trusting them at all.
”Uh...what kind of monsters are these...the worst kind, probably...humans...”
Kyffin grunts in agreement with Tristain, and wishes for a moment he was but a ranger, just so he could hate them more.
But for now he steps over the threshold, scimitar still out, and tries smiling at the couple, "Uh, hello. Do you have other visitors here?"