Hasina is going to push Francis away from her and then turn around,keeping herself between him and the Allips. She will then attack the one in front of her. She realizes that she may take an attack while getting in position.
just in case i need another one
Soumral turns to her wand now, sending a silvery dart from it into the one that is still able to see.
Elliander hesitates as Soumral attacks, but then he can’t see Hasina getting hit alone anymore. Francis seems to be stuck too. He rushes forward swinging his sword at the blinded allip. He's still careful, trying to stay out of tha allip's reach and touch.
Channeling Lvl1: Shocking Grasp at Green allip
The Biter: fight defensively,
AC +2 dodge bonus
, electricity damage
Saving Throw: none
Spell Resistance: yes
Oathday, the 29th day of Gozran, 4714 AR
Weather is mostly clear and very warm, with gusty winds coming from the north.
One hour after midday
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The bright burst of radiance seems to inflict a fair amount of harm to the incorporeal undead (6 damage.) Despite Francis’ near-catatonic state, the spiritual dagger he summoned continues to work effectively, slashing at the blinded allip mercilessly (17 damage) then winks out. Elliander moves up cautiously and attacks the same one, which is looking rather tattered now, its babbling voice becoming faint, and the duskblade strikes a blow (5 magical slashing + 6 electric damage) that causes it to dissipate with a haunted wail of terrible loss.
Hasina squares up against the one that is fixated upon her and swings her flail, striking it squarely – but the weapon seems to pass harmless through the incorporeal creature! Still, the crystal flares and seems to inflict a bit of harm upon it (1 damage). Rediz seems to latch onto Francis, but its unclear exactly what the ratfolk alchemist is trying to accomplish. Soumral casts a magic missile from her wand, and it tears a ragged hole through one of the creature’s arms.
As Francis comes to his senses, the allip swipes again at Hasina – and though it is still clearly dazzled by the brilliant flash of light cast by Soumral the monster connects, and the warrior feels more of her ‘self’ draining away with that touch.
vs Hasina’s Touch AC = Hit!
points of WIS
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Initiative Combat & Notes – Round 5
Soumral 32/32 [Mage Armor (+4 to AC) for 60 minutes]
Francis 28/31
Allip Wounded (15 damage; Dazzled [-1 to attack rolls] until Round 6)
Elliander 37/41 [Armor Crystal - DR 1, has absorbed 7 (of 10) damage this day]
Hasina 38/42 [5 WIS damage (Current WIS = 7)]
Rediz 29/29 [Darkvision for 40 minutes]
21 Hours remaining to get the remaining two elegiac compasses working in order to triangulate the source of the ‘ka’ pulse.
Elliander continues to fight the last allip, while keeping some distance. Rediz jumping on Francis behind him, makes him lose his focus though. He takes a step away from them, trying to circle the allip.
Channeling Lvl1: Shocking Grasp at Red allip
The Biter: fight defensively,
AC +2 dodge bonus
, electricity damage,
Saving Throw: none
Spell Resistance: yes
5'-step.
Coming to his senses Francis thinks frantically about what magic they have that could harm the unholy creatures. He practically cudgels himself and quickly holds out his holy symbol. "Pharasma, Channel your holy power to put this foul creature back to the death that it was rudely pulled from. Your servant and his allies need the creature gone from this world."
Hasina is going to continue to fight.. her common sense has gone right out the window..
Oathday, the 29th day of Gozran, 4714 AR
Weather is mostly clear and very warm, with gusty winds coming from the north.
One hour after midday
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Elliander casts a spell into his sword, avoiding a retaliation strike through his intense focus (Casting Defensively - Concentration Check vs DC 17 = Success!), but he tentatively swings as he splits his attention on defending himself, and the blade misses wide. Hasina follows with an attack as well, striking her foe but not inflicting much injury [2 damage] as the crystal flares again – the weapon harmlessly passing through its incorporeal form. Francis uses his divine magic to channel positive energy to bring an end to this unholy creature’s false life – but it manages to resist the full brunt of the cleric’s efforts (6 damage.)
Soumral sends another pair of magic missiles (7 damage) at the creature as the allip fixes the Pharasmite with its dark gaze and swoops between Elliander and Hasina, apparently intent on bringing harm to the hated priest. Francis is unable to escape its touch (-2 WIS Drain damage - Please make a Fort Save!) and he feels a darkness invade his mind…
vs Red Allip’s AC = Hit!
vs DC 16 = Success!
vs Francis’ Touch AC = Hit!
points of WIS
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Initiative Combat & Notes – Round 6
Soumral 32/32 [Mage Armor (+4 to AC) for 60 minutes]
Francis 28/31 [Pending a Fort Save... - 2 WIS damage (Current WIS = 16)]
Allip Wounded (23 damage +5 THP)
Elliander 37/41 [Sword is channeling Shocking Grasp (18 damage) on next hit; Armor Crystal - DR 1, has absorbed 7 (of 10) damage this day]
Hasina 38/42 [5 WIS damage (Current WIS = 7)]
Rediz 29/29 [Darkvision for 40 minutes]
21 Hours remaining to get the remaining two elegiac compasses working in order to triangulate the source of the ‘ka’ pulse.
Thanks Soumral, that was quick! My last post is so amended. :)
Feeling the touch of the foul creature diminishes Francis in a way that he can hardly describe. He calls on Pharasma again to destroy the creature.
Elliander swings his sword, but the noise from the allip seems to be getting on his nerves and his sword cannot find anything substantial enough to hit.
Held charge: Shocking Grasp at Red allip
The Biter: fight defensively, flanking
AC +2 dodge bonus
Oathday, the 29th day of Gozran, 4714 AR
Weather is mostly clear and very warm, with gusty winds coming from the north.
One hour after midday
----------------------------------------------
Elliander whiffs badly as Hasina brings her flail around once again and strikes true – though again only the magical crystal seems to hurt the thing (5 damage), though it is now looking quite ragged indeed. In fact, Soumral’s arcane bolts tear the undead creature apart (9 damage), and all is silent again. The rooms revealed prove to be empty, much to the adventurers’ chagrin.
Only the stairs back on the other side of the entry chamber appear to lead anywhere worth exploring.
vs Red Allip’s AC = Hit!
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--------------------------------------------
Initiative Combat & Notes – Round 6
Soumral 32/32 [Mage Armor (+4 to AC) for 60 minutes]
Francis 28/31 [- 2 WIS damage (Current WIS = 16)]
Elliander 37/41 [Sword is channeling Shocking Grasp (18 damage) on next hit; Armor Crystal - DR 1, has absorbed 7 (of 10) damage this day]
Hasina 38/42 [5 WIS damage (Current WIS = 7)]
Rediz 29/29 [Darkvision for 40 minutes]
21 Hours remaining to get the remaining two elegiac compasses working in order to triangulate the source of the ‘ka’ pulse.
Clearing out those rooms came with a cost, especially to Hasina. Elliander thinks the rooms at least deserves a looking through. He’s reluctant to let go of his current spell though and asks if any if the other spellcasters in the team can cast a Detect Magic-spell to see if anything of value is hiding.
After that, he ready to take the stairs up.
|
"Ouch that did not work out very well. Lets hope we don't find any other surprises up there. Unfortunately that was my last charge for today. so I can only help you with my eyes and crossbow now."
Before climbing up the stairs the Ratman takes out a potionfrom his backpack as well as a small flask from his bandolier. Then he drinks from the flask before downing the contents of the potion. But instead of gulping it down he just seems to swirl it around in his snout before spiiting it back into the Potion bottle. The others franctically try to remeber the shape of the potion flask to avoid it should it ever be offered to them.
Soumral's mood is turning grimmer as even small steps toward their goal cost them dearly.
"There should be a compass here somewhere. Let's at least find it and getting working before anything else."
She empties her bandolier and hands over the vials to Rediz.
"So you won't get bored."
The stairs lead upward, terminating in a large chamber whose walls are decorated with intricate starscapes. A stone sarcophagus lies upon a dais in the center of the room, and above is the peak of the building - its apex open to the sky, albeit protected with thick glass that must allow a spectacular view of the night sky even after all these centuries.
Mounted into ceiling where two stone arches meet can be seen the elegiac compass that the party has been searching for. Set about twelve feet above the floor, it should be reachable if one were to stand upon the tomb, which sits about three feet above the ground and is itself about three feet in height.
The team has found the last compass, but they are running low on spells and potions. Elliander is therefore reluctant to let go of the charge he is currently holding. He looks skeptically at the tomb. It seems untouched, but they can’t be certain it’s empty. The tomb is a good place to stand on to reach the compass though.
”Can someone cast Detect Magic on that tomb and check it for traps before we touch it?” he asks.
He then turns to Soumral:”Can you get at the compass without standing on the tomb? Would it be too unstable to stand on someone’s shoulders?”
He eyes the room looking for danger and things to loot.
Elliander notes that the dust in the place seems to have been disturbed, probably quite recently. In fact, he thinks that the sarcophagus has indeed been opened and then sealed back shut again - though how long ago it's difficult to determine.
Soumral grimaces as she checks out the setup.
This looks problematic of course."
She begins a scan of the area, looking for magical auras.
"Seems someone else has been here recently. Somebody check the sarcophagus lid. Look for chips around the seam between the it and the lid. If the seam is still filled with dust and such, that's probably a good sign."
Francis looks at the sarcophagus with concern. It was too likely that it had already been robbed, but he didn't feel comfortable climbing on it. With Rediz's suggestion he turns. "Good idea. Hasina and I can search around the debris below. There's probably something. But we can't take much more time!"
Soumral detects magic from the sarcophagus , though Rediz' inspection doesn't add anything to Elliander's observations.
Francis and Hasina head back down the steps to look for something for Soumral to stand on, and about the only thing even remotely portable are the sarcophagus lids. They'll be heavy and bulky, but there's plenty of them and they could be dragged up the steps with some major effort and stacked atop each other to do the job. They'd probably need at least a dozen or so. The stone worktables are simply too heavy to lift.
Elliander tries to recall what they had seen in the small rooms. Was there something that could be easier to use then the stone worktables?
There is no wood to be found in the place, as the beds in the smaller rooms are simple mats (which have partly disintegrated due to centuries that have passed) and the tables in the main chamber are made of stone.
Soumral detects a faint aura of magic, but she is unable to pinpoint the school - perhaps it is the stone lid that obscures her inner sight.
Hasina and Elliander do the bulk of the lifting, though even Rediz and Francis do what the can to drag the heavy stone lids up the steps into this chamber. The process takes a solid two hours of heavy work, after which the party is fairly exhausted - but they have done what is needed. Soumral can step up onto the platform made of stone lids to reach the compass and get it working so as to triangulate the source of the 'ka' pulse...
Soumral spends the time while the table is being constructed circling the tomb with magic inside it. She ponders it contents, but doesn't dare touch it. When the table is finished she climbs up and goes to work.
Sweating from the heavy lifting, Elliander wipes his brow. They’ve hopefully collected enough lids for Soumral to reach the compass now. The two first compasses were successfully activated, but they need this one too, to work. It seems a compass can only be active for about 24 hours before going dormant again. That still gives them time, but the duskblade would be happier to get this one working too as soon as possible. Chasing down a fourth one, if they fail with this, might not even work if the compasses need to cooperate to triangulate the source signal.
He’s about to offer the wizard his aid when he sees her reaching out for the compass above them. This one seems different somehow, because she looks a bit confused or disappointed.
”What is it? Can you activate it?” he asks her, stepping up beside her.
Oathday, the 29th day of Gozran, 4714 AR
Weather is mostly clear and very warm, with gusty winds coming from the north.
Three hours before sunset
----------------------------------------------
Perhaps it is the platform of stacked lids that keeps shifting annoyingly beneath her feet. Or perhaps it’s the mental stress of dealing with mummies and phantoms that drain one's life force in this hellish tomb. But for whatever reason, even with Elliander's help, Soumral utters a curse as a critical and delicate piece cracks in two as she is manipulating it into place. Fortunately, it can be fixed - she was given the tools and materials to do that should this occur. Unfortunately, it's going to take time… In fact, Soumral figures she’ll be lucky to have it fixed by nightfall. And considering that the other compasses will only hold their charge until mid-morning tomorrow, and with a good night’s rest still needed to confront the source of the ‘ka’ pulse, time is precious indeed…
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
PC Health & Notes
Soumral 32/32
Francis 28/31 [2 WIS damage (Current WIS = 16)]
Elliander 37/41 [Sword is channeling Shocking Grasp (18 damage) on next hit; Armor Crystal - DR 1, has absorbed 7 (of 10) damage this day]
Hasina 38/42 [5 WIS damage (Current WIS = 7)]
Rediz 29/29
17 Hours remaining to get the remaining two elegiac compasses working in order to triangulate the source of the ‘ka’ pulse.
Oathday, the 29th day of Gozran, 4714 AR
Weather is mostly clear and very warm, with gusty winds coming from the north.
Two hours after sunset.
----------------------------------------------
It takes a lot of hard work, with assistance from Rediz, but after about four hours Soumral wearily wipes her brow and engages the compass.
Leading the others back out through the door - which is still cracked open only enough for the adventurers to squeeze through - she sets up the ritual components given her by Sebti. It only takes about ten minutes, and the magic takes hold, allowing those gathered around and inhaling the incense to see the elgiac beams crossing the darkening sky above the Necropolis.
As the priestess said, there are a good many gatherings of necromantic power to be seen – appearing as sickly green clouds that rise from the ground and into the sky where they become tied in to the beams of energy that emanate from the compasses. Some are quite faint, and others quite strong – but none are as powerful as the vortex that rises up some distance to the west.
According to the map of the Necropolis given to the heroes, the source of the ‘ka’ pulse seems to be a building noted as the Observatory of Truth and Wisdom- a house of learning and record keeping dedicated the Ancient Osirian deities Maat and Thoth, the goddess of celestial order and truth and god of the moon and wisdom.
The site is perhaps only a twenty minute walk from your current location – though darkness is falling fast and a good night’s rest is probably in order…
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
PC Health & Notes
Soumral 32/32
Francis 28/31 [-2 WIS damage (Current WIS = 16)]
Elliander 37/41 [Sword is channeling Shocking Grasp (18 damage) on next hit; Armor Crystal - DR 1, has absorbed 7 (of 10) damage this day]
Hasina 38/42 [5 WIS damage (Current WIS = 7)]
Rediz 29/29
12 Hours remaining to get the remaining two elegiac compasses working in order to triangulate the source of the ‘ka’ pulse.
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"Yes it's working! Well done Soumral! No where ith that bad kitty?"
Looking through the window he checks out the necropolis and immediately notices the big green cloub rising from a building to the east.
"Over there! Now where is that map? Obthervatory of Truth and Withdom! What a blasphemy."
After finding the source the discussion turns towards resting and foinding a save place.
"Well we always could return to your new friend at the cenotaph, Soumral. Although I doubt she had rest in mind when inviting you over."
"I think the savest place is probably the tomb where we entered the city. If we give a wide berth to the Observatory we could be there in half an hour."
Elliander continuous to keep watch as Soumral and Rediz work with the compass, but as time drags on without any new attacks, he starts to relax. He sits down in one corner, resting.
It might look a bit weird to his allies, but the duskblade seems to have some kind of quiet dialogue with his sword, even if they can only hear his mumbling.
Finally, the pair working with the compass seem ready, and Elliander joins them again.
”Good work, both of you. What now?” he asks, before following the wizard back down and outside again, where she continues.
Elliander again takes the role of defender until she’s ready and can show them how everything operates. The sun starts to sink down below the horizon and the shadows grow. The duskblade is feeling a bit exposed and he knows he’s at a disadvantage if it gets dark.
The work bears fruit though, as they learn the likely source of the dark energy pulse. Now they have a target, but they also need to rest.
Rediz suggest hiking back to the crypt the crept up through to enter Necropolis, but Elliander is not that keen to go out in the dark.
”How many charges do we have left in that wand to help us hide from undeads? Is it really wise to use them now? Won’t we need them tomorrow? Can’t we stay here in the room where we found the allips? They seem to have been left undisturbed.”
Considering the time, and the more powerful undead that likely roam the place at night Francis agrees with the others to barricade themselves in a safe spot. "I hate to be cornered, but the place didn't seem to have had undead crawling around. Let's close off what we can."
You're a pretty good distance from the tunnels - they're a bit further away than the building that is your target. And of course it's night.
That said, yes you could use another five charges from the wand to make the trip, get into the city for a good night's rest and then come back tomorrow if you'd like to do that. I believe you've only used 20 charges of the wand, which has 50 total. So you'd still have half the wand's charges remaining tomorrow.
A proper sleep in a real bed and the chance to unload the loot they’ve found, seems enticing to Elliander and he will agree to indeed exit Necropolis the way they entered if that’s what the others want.
He has already picked up his thrown javelin earlier, but there are the falchions to carry. Maybe they can find some help for Hasina too. The allips seem to have hurt her in some way that makes her less ‘present’ than before.
Keeping a count of the usage of the wand, Francis feels it is worth it to get to a real safe spot to rest. He uses the charges and sets off for the tunnel entrance....