"Hmmm. Not used to being the second wave; this place has been through more than once over, looks like." Estra tries to pinpoint the source of the voices that she can just faintly make out.
"Well, least we don't have to worry about exploding right away." remarks Seelah, eyeing the traps strewn about. "Even so, keep a watchful eye! They may have missed one or two. Scouts, onward, if you will."
The voices are echoing far too much to know which direction they're coming from.
Estra steps deeper into the entrance hall, but stays back from Daedin and any others who take a lead position; she knows both her strengths and her weaknesses...
"Look at him sneakin' around all quiet-like. Don't you know you got an old lady with you on this one? If my bum knee don't ruin that, my wicked sense of humor will! hahahahaha"
Daedin steps to the Northeast, into a long room that stretches northward. Racks for bows, crossbows, and other ranged weapons line the southern walls of the chamber. Receptacles for ammunition stand between the racks. A large arcane mark glows on the floor atop a raised platform.
The arcane mark is the only lighting in the room other than what you bring in with you. Along the eastern and western walls, about halfway up, vines hang from the walls and sway in a breeze you cannot feel.
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Hiko sidles in behind Daedin and Bock, curious as to what might be living in a place as foreboding and uninviting as this.
"Oh, interesting, vines and a rune... But I wouldn't think there's enough fo a breeze to be moving those vines around. Shall we shoot an arrow or crossbow in their direction to be sure they are just vines?"
Hiko then grabs out her crossbow and starts loading it.
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"Must we start with violence, my dear?" asks the paladin, stepping forward. The woman peers into the room, mumbling "Iomedae, show me the nature of those before us."
"Any of you casty types know what's going on with that sigil?"
Estra will give the glowing symbol a look. "My magic isn't quite traditional; I may not be able to decipher this."
No sooner has the tengu spoken than a sudden gust of wind roars through the room, coming from the north to the south. It's 50 mph, but very brief and then it's gone!
"Hahahaha! No wind!" Estra gives Bock a wide, friendly grin, then looks up to examine the vines.
As Daedin creeps in, another gust of wind hits the room, this time from the east! It passes just as swiftly.
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Hiko's eyes light up as she gets a good look at the glyph. :Oh, this is a glyph of minor creation, my parents had one just like it in their workshop! I would probably guess the command word is something simple like blow or gust or possibly those in Tein. But with a few seconds, I can probably get it to activate when needed."
Soi caught up in the glyh, Hiko misses Daedin's advance into the room until the vine's movement catches her eye. "Hmm are you sure we want to be going in there? Do you think the gusts of wind would help at all? I mean maybe that's how this tomb was set up?"
"Well, what's it create; anything we want?"
She looks around the space, lingering on the creepy, wiggly vines. "Let's see what the wind does the next time it comes through. It seems to be kinda regular, right?"
She keeps her eyes on the vines as she waits for the wind to rush through the room again.
"Well, that could work." Remarks Seelah as the other discuss the wind's interaction with the vines. "Perhaps we could..."
Trailing off as Daedin fires his arrows, she frowns. "Or, there's that." she sighs.
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"Hmmm, I'd assume it was likely responsible for that gust of wind there, but it might create something else. Let's see if I can get it to activate."
Hiko mutters through a couple of likely command words before arriving on the correct one. Watching the glyph do it's magic, Hiko also catches sight of Daedin shootin arrows at the vines. "Hm, wouldn't something that could cut be more useful?"
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Hiko speaks the magic word and three man-shaped straw men appear at the far end of the room, apparently made to be targets for this archery range!
Only Daedin's first shot gets off, hitting the vines with a wet thwack! They immediately hiss and begin to shuffle along the walls toward you!
Round 1:
Bock and Estra
Vines
Daedin, Hiko, Honaire, Red Raven, Seelah
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"Look at what you've gone and done, Daedîn, waking the plants up... Wait... Why are the plants WAKING UP? Why are they moving? Why are they coming here? Are those real plants?"
In the midst of an existential crisis, Bock manages to draw his sword, and walk up to the elvish infiltrator, with a focus on defense at the moment.
Estra delays while the vines creep five feet closer and snap out at Daedin and Bock!
for damage plus a grab attempt !
for damage plus a grab attempt !
Estra moves over behind Seelah so she can get a good view into the room with the vines. Who knew I'd need you to fight vines, Honaire. Really, how could I have known. What are we doing fighting vines anyway?
Still, she's not worthless without Honaire. She uses her mind to conjure a sword made of pure force, glowing with the sickly greenish hue of powerful grave energy. The swords whips towards one of the vines at her command.
A weapon made of force appears and attacks foes at a distance, as you direct it, dealing 1d8 force damage per hit, + 1 point per three caster levels (maximum +5 at 15th level). The weapon takes the shape of a weapon favored by your deity or a weapon with some spiritual significance or symbolism to you (see below) and has the same threat range and critical multipliers as a real weapon of its form. It strikes the opponent you designate, starting with one attack in the round the spell is cast and continuing each round thereafter on your turn. It uses your base attack bonus (possibly allowing it multiple attacks per round in subsequent rounds) plus your Wisdom modifier as its attack bonus. It strikes as a spell, not as a weapon, so for example, it can damage creatures that have damage reduction. As a force effect, it can strike incorporeal creatures without the reduction in damage associated with incorporeality. The weapon always strikes from your direction. It does not get a flanking bonus or help a combatant get one. Your feats or combat actions do not affect the weapon. If the weapon goes beyond the spell range, if it goes out of your sight, or if you are not directing it, the weapon returns to you and hovers.
Each round after the first, you can use a move action to redirect the weapon to a new target. If you do not, the weapon continues to attack the previous round's target. On any round that the weapon switches targets, it gets one attack. Subsequent rounds of attacking that target allow the weapon to make multiple attacks if your base attack bonus would allow it to. Even if the spiritual weapon is a ranged weapon, use the spell's range, not the weapon's normal range increment, and switching targets still is a move action.
A spiritual weapon cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it. A spiritual weapon's AC against touch attacks is 12 (10 + size bonus for Tiny object).
If an attacked creature has spell resistance, you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against that spell resistance the first time the spiritual weapon strikes it. If the weapon is successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the weapon has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.
Sword out, Seelah charges into the room. "Hey viney things! Leave them alone or deal with me!" she calls out.
"I beg you to reconsider, or this could get messy!"
The vines quiver with anticipation of an impending meal! Estra's spiritual sword slashes at the wounded one, hurting it more, while Daedin slides out of the grip of the vine and fires, hitting it again. Seelah's threats don't seem to affect the brainless vines for some reason.
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Hiko gives a couple of blinks in surprise as the glyph creates something completely useless... I guess I should have expected this. The place is set up exactly like a shooting range.
She takes a look at the vine attacking her companions and decides she should probably get in there and help as well. she takes a few strides forward pulling out her previously loaded crossbow. She takes a good defensive place behind Bock and gives a small prayer of thanks that the vines are so far up that Bock and company aren't blocking her shots.
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Hiko's shot barely misses as the vines whip and lash around!
The Red Raven's shot likewise misses by inches as the vines lash!
ROUND TWO:
Round 2:
Bock and Estra
Vines
Daedin, Hiko, Red Raven, Seelah
Estra allows Honaire's sword to keep hacking away at Daedîn's vines while she ponders something she can do to help. She slides up into the room with the others, and gently taps Hiko on the elbow. "Keeps those eyes sharp now, aim true." she says.
This spell imbues the subject with a touch of divine guidance. The creature gets a +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. It must choose to use the bonus before making the roll to which it applies.
Bock slashes, but the vine dodges deftly, while Estra guides Hiko with a bit of wisdom involving not getting eaten by plant life.
The vines attack!
for damage and grab . If successful, take an additional damage!
for damage and grab . If successful, take an additional damage!
"Ouch! Don't say I didn't warn you." grunts Seelah. Raising her sword high, she tries to split the vine in two.