"The gnomes may be able to assist us with returning - or escaping - to the surface. Another incentive to assist them, if the rise of demon lords and their deranged cultists in the underdark was insufficient."
Slowly rotating a crystal in his hands, his eyes glinting in the illuminated cave, Myras replies to Galinndan:
"A medusa? I can't say I've had the misfortune of fighting such a creature, but I've heard stories. Best we keep these crystals close at hand, as you suggest. Wouldn't want to end up like that poor gnome over there."
"Can't say I care much for gnomes either way, but if they can help us escape, we'd best take the help."
"We should take any precaution we can against its gaze. Our group has no means to restore someone who has been petrified.", Galinndan replies, glancing at the unfortunate gnome.
"Once everyone has taken a piece - or not - as they choose, let us press on. We still have a hunt to complete."
As you examine this chamber, you notice that behind a curve of the stone is a carved tunnel into another chamber.
After pocketing a few crystals “just in case”, Odak can seem practicing attacks and lunges with eyes closed. ”If she could just stand still in front of me, I could just be closin me eyes.”
After a few minutes, Odak aknowledges that he is ready to proceed, but takes not-so-subtle measures to remain behind the newcomer. ”Ah... uh...I’m walkin’ slow cause I got got a rock in my boot. You go ahead.” though he makes no effort to pull his boot.
You head through the small tunnel, still not entirely trusting each other, and find yourself in a chamber densely-packed with statues. Many of them seem to be captured in positions of shock or fear. You stand just outside the chamber, unsure what to make of them.
Galinndan uses the mirror to look around corners then advance slowly, waving on others as space allows. If he realises that the medusa is near, he will replace the mirror in his right hand with crystal to put before his eyes.
Galinndan moves into the room, searching carefully for the Medusa. He checks around corners and moves quietly but then hears a sound behind him. The stone statues have begun to move! They cut him off from the exit!
Galinndan's allies are shocked and don't react in time but the wood elf whirls about to face this new threat!
Galinndan focuses.
One blade in hand is all I need, with effort. Hopefully we can proceed without alerting the medusa - assuming it is not behind this.
Galinndan strikes hard but can't quite crack the hard statue with his blade (16 misses).
The statues press forward, silent all but for the clumping of their feat against the stone. One of them creates an opening for Galinndan as it moves (aoo). They swing their arms through the air, their faces expressionless, at the wily goblin and noble elven warrior. But the rangers duck and dodge all six attacks!
Galinndan sees the opportunity but is still distracted by the press of statues.
I need another blade, damn it!
He draws his silver sword as his enchanted one strikes out at his chosen quarry!
[dice=Extra damage if hunter marked statue]1d6[/dioe]
From his location in the back of the line, Odak reaches out and attempts to mold the closest statue’s arm off.
Galinndan swings twice but can't manage to connect!
A little bit of dust falls off the nearest statue from Odak's spell but nothing more!
Still failure on my part! I can't believe it personally! Oh well whats done is done. Maybe mixing in that fungus into my bloodstream was not the wisest idea but we cannot stop progress! Progress almost sounds like professor and professional... I wonder if there's a correlation. That will be tomorrow's reading, the history of the pro.
I'm dizzy, am I supposed to be dizzy? I should notate that but I think those fungus were not right. They did say purple right? Or was it pink? Or green? I should write things down more.
Either way I'm running out of ideas here, I'm being stifled! The Underdark has many mysteries so maybe I'll take a stroll around. Ha! A stroll down the Underdark, I'm making it sound pleasant. Nothing with stop professional progress of a proper professor! Oh Proper! That's another one to look into.
Now where did I put that antibody...?
Galinndan's blade cuts deep into the statue, tearing a chunk of stone from it!
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Myras looks swiftly to the left and right, terrified of the horde beginning to amass itself, but welcoming signs of conflict. His companion, it seems, had walked straight into a trap. Bah! Do these fools even know where they're going? Now we're under attack! Even so, I'd best help them. They're my best shot at escape...
Myras begins singing a tune of the strangest music you've ever heard. Chaotic and brutal, but elegant, this strange music is uttered metrically, not in rhyming couplets, but in alliterative verse.
"Galinndan, go fell them!
Gaze only where you must!
Mighty medusa's fighters,
men and elf aplenty,
Flee from battle-flame,
flayed-ones of the hateful,
stone-stuck and homeless
steered by the frightful!"
While uttering these verses, Myras reaches for his rapier and turns on the state to his northwest, stabbing ferociously on the word battle-flame!
Assuming a 20 lands:
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Myras inspires Galinndan and chips part of a statue off. The statues continue swinging their heavy limbs at the intruding rangers...
Cyrus dodges the blows but Galinndan is struck once (6 dam).
You notice two statues that don't fit in with the rest, though they aren't moving. They appear to have been a gnome and a half-elf. The poor souls must have been petrified. At the feet of the gnomish statue, are three spell scrolls. Perhaps those scrolls could help you in this fight, if only you could reach them...
Odak tries to get a better view of the fight but the cave walls and the elf in front of him obscure much of what he can see.
Knowing his connection to the earth is stronger than his previous results would appear, Odak draws power once again to attempt to damage one of the statues.
Cyrus lashes out at the statues around him.
Again, the statues vigorously resist Odak's magic!
Frustrated, Odak pulls forth his axe. ”Guess we’ll have ya do this the hard way. Step aside elf, I mean to make me a pile o rocks. “
Struck but alert, Galinndan makes a realisation. He then moves with blinding speed to rush for statues to the west, faster than other blows! As he moves, he calls to the others:
"I see two whom are petrified and scrolls next to them! Perhaps we can gather allies for this battle!"
Galinndan deciphers the scroll and realizes it can turn stone back to the flesh it once was for one statue! He reads it and reaches out for a statue.
Galinndan touches the half-elf and the statues shifts suddenly from being pure stone to pure flesh! The half-elf stumbles slightly in surprise then looks around and sees a dwarf, an elf, a goblin, and a dark-skinned half-elf beset by moving statues! The elf seems to have restored him from his petrified state. Bewildered, he leaps into action.
Perception Check:
Myras is at first frustrated why Galinndan would take an interest in investigating some statues when clearly they were trying to kill him. Nonetheless, on seeing the effectiveness of the scroll and the cunning of the elf, he is extremely intrigued as to the source of this magical power which has ennervated the half-elf. Nonetheless, he still seems concerned primarily with saving his own hide and getting rid of these stone golems.
"Well, what are you waiting for?!" Myras shouts in Elvish. "Get to work on some of these statues!"
Myras steps 10 feet west to make room for Odlak, and mutters under his breath "So glad you could join us..."
Another stab at the statue which is now to his northeast!
All muscles and bones seem to screech when Kar starts moving again. "Woah!" he moans. He quickly realises he's in the middle of a combat, and after another second or so he decides he'll probably take the humanoids' side - even if there's a very suspicion dark elf with them. Clumsily moving behind one of the statues, his arm lifts the sword with effort and discharges a blow while he calls for divine help.
The newly-enlivened half-elf fails to land a solid blow on these strange, hard statues!
Cyrus lashes out twice more.
It is up beyond your last post. You posted a little late and I think the DM counted it.
Galinndan uses his spell and zips rapidly away from the statues, leaving them confounded. Then he snatches up a scroll and reads it, bringing one of the statues that was not moving back to life as a tall half-elf! The half-elf looks bewildered but strides forward and strikes manfully at one of the attacking statues, not quite landing the blow. You find yourselves surprised as well to find this sudden ally!
Cyrus manages to strike one of the statues, nearly destroying it, while Myras misses but inspires Galinndan and Odak can't quite get his spell to work.
Three of the statues move slowly to catch up with the speedy Galinndan while two others attack Cyrus, not yet aware of the half-elf at their backs, but miss the dodgy goblin. One statue turns and swings a heavy stone limb at him but the half-elf's armor holds true.
Unaware of the statues joining the battle at his back, Kar tries to deliver another blow to the ones in front of him, which present a closer threat anyway. "Name's Kar!" he shouts, "and I praise the Morninglord!" After all, most of the sentient creatures he's found down here we're not of the straightest morals. "Who are you and what's your allegiance?" he manages to ask amidst swings and dodges.
Galinndan does not pause once he has touched the half-elf statue. He seizes another scroll, and brings it up to read.
He recalls Myras' exhortation to only Gaze only where you must.
He then touches the gnome statue, hoping for a similar effect.
Whether or not that statue changes, he will call out:
"Welcome back to life! I am Galinndan Siannodel, foe of orcs and demons!"
He nearly adds drow to that list.
His magic having little effect, Odak moves past the newcomer drow and the goblin to engage the statues with his axe alight with an eerie green flame.
Myras rushes forward to size up the newcomer. Standing at Kargoroth's side, and chuckling, he says "The Morning Lord, eh? Sounds... uh... bright. We don't really have an allegiance, other than a mutual agreement to flee before the Drow. Mind your eyes: word has there's a Medusa about, and you must have been one of its victims. Say, what're you doing down here anyway? Who knows how long you've been petrified."
He offers the same statue he's been hacking at another slash:
He then shouts melodically toward Galinndan.
"War-sore wood-elf,
wax in vitality.
Hard-pressed, now hear,
let wounds be healed!"
HP
Cyrus continues to lash out.
The gnome statue springs to life, disoriented, but realizing that these moving statues must be much less friendly than the living folk, one of whom just brought him back to life with a scroll!
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The little gnome unfroze and then even over the sounds of battle, "... that's why they have snake hair you know! Not because they ARE snakes but because they are..." He coughs some dust out, "Oh this place, when is it? What is it? Ah it doesn't matter!" A piece of rock just sailed over the gnome's head.
"Professor Rankle Boomtop!" He made a note that this was not the time to introduce oneself, "I'm very thankful and all but you seem to be in a bit of a jam. He hopped a little, "Jam, oh I could very well go for breakfast. Or would it be lunch? Dinner? Do you happen to know the time?" He gives a small sigh.
Seeing the stone statues he smiles at Galinndan, "Let's see if I still work properly after your help, which I really really do appreciate you know."
The words are fast but not as fast as his hands, quickly procuring a small vial and with a crack and a couple of shakes it flies out toward the stone statues near Kargoroth.
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The gnome statue springs to life, jabbering animatedly, and throws a flask of acid at two of the statues. One moves out of the way while the other is damaged somewhat. The statues then shuffle forward to attack, swinging their heavy arms. One misses Rankle (15 to hit) while another strikes Galinndan (23 to hit for 4 dam). Kargoroth manages to block a blow (13 to hit) and Cyrus ducks once (8 to hit) but then is struck (17 to hit for 4 damage). The motley crew of adventurers realize they'll need to keep fighting hard to get this finished!
Galinndan draws his second blade and replies:
"Professor, withdraw towards the others. I shall cover you, then follow!"
As he speaks, the elf's blades slash and hack at the statue nearest him!