Barl's aim is true, and the bolt is has just enough force to penetrate its scaly hide, dealing it a severe blow. But it remains fluttering at the ceiling, hissing angrily.
|
The Pathfinders have worked their way through the Temple Interior, and have discovered that the serpentfolk are performing some kind of ritual in a basement level called the Ophidian Rectory. Perhaps if you rush there you can learn all about the serpentfolk's ancient sacrificial techniques.
…
Oh, also potential save some people. That could be important too.
|
"Hardy little thing, isn't it?" Isme muses, more entertained than alarmed by the flying serpent. She moves up closer to where the creature swoops above Etna's head and attempts to bring it down with her crossbow.
"Also quite maneuverable! Perhaps my next project should be a flying creature like this one..."
The serpent is annoyingly fast and crafty, dodging Lorian's blade and Isme's bolt. Zavubak seems to nail it squarely in the wing...
and yet the beast still does not fall. Just as the group begins to despair that perhaps they cannot defeat this nasty serpent, Ajaline's arrow hits home...and the beast is no more. The quest for the Holy Grail could continue It falls to the ground and twitches and twists a few times as Etna runs it through, sending it back to the oblivion of time from whence it came.
The party begins to examine the room, taking in the ancient symbology and regalia. Barl picks up a few pieces of the priest's jewelry and gives it a good Appraisal.
"The workmanship, while seemingly primitive, belies a level of sophistication and skill. The styling is deliberately crude. Interesting..."
Ajaline, Etna, Isme and Zavubak all Perceive a few telling details, making note of several distinctive features that might prove to be historical significant. As he points out how the serpents seem to be devouring themselves in one pictograph, Zav says, "Zavubak not just a pretty face."
Lorian expounds on the Nobility of the ruling priest caste, depicted both on the iconography carved into the walls, and on the vestments' illuminations. He seems to have grokked the most useful information in the party, and indeed, begins to drone on about how it reminds him of a certain Chelaxian noble line when he suddenly shrieks out loud (almost to the relief of the rest of the party...almost): "My eyes!!! It burns!! I can't see!!"
The party rushes to his side. Barl forcibly pulls Lorian's hands from his face, preventing him from clawing out his eyes. Isme leans in close. "Let me see--oops. Sorry about that. I mean, perhaps I can help."
Isme tends to Lorian, using cloth, water and then some wine to try and neutralize the poison. Lorian thrashes on the ground for what seems an eternity while Isme continues to minister Healing.
Lorian thrashes for another minute or so, taking another point of Constitution damage. But Isme's ministrations and his own fortitude and luck seem to throw off any further effects of the poison. Unfortunately, he's still blind.
The group begins to argue about the best way to proceed. Someone gets Lorian a preist's rod to use as a walking stick, while others in the group begin rigging up a rope harness to allow Viata to act as his seeing-eye fox. Just as you help Lorian to his feet and place the rope leash in his hand, Lorian's eyesight begins to return. It's difficult to tell who's the most relieved: Lorian, Isme...or Viata.
|
|
Although Isme has no wish for Lorian or anyone else to come to permanent harm, she had to admit to herself that being able to witness the results of the serpent's poison was certainly interesting. Or rather, it would have been if they were in a safer place of study. As it was, she realized that trying to aid Lorian's recovery was more important than indulging her own curiosity.
"Hold still! These compresses need to stay on your eyes in order to counteract the poison," she chides as she tends to the ailing peacemaker. "The alcohol in the wine will burn but it shouldn't be any worse than the poison itself," she adds, hoping that this might cheer him - which it clearly does not.
When the poison eventually clears from her companion's system, she does look rather relieved. "Good...we need everyone's eyesight in order to maximize our returns while we're here and I don't believe any of us has the ability to heal such a condition; we would've needed to retreat out of the bubble most likely."
And I'm not sure how well Viata would respond to someone else's commands. Note to self, test that later - in a controlled environment.
|
Etna would lash out against the snake, impaling it on her rapier before she realized that it was already dead. With a flourish she would whip it to the ground before she shrugged. "Sorry I was not much help their. I need to pick up some daggers.
After looking about the room a bit she would jump when Lorian began to scream. After seeing he was getting taken care of though she would relax. "Yeah, we would be pretty bad with out our music maker. You need to see the action to make everything that much more fitting.
She would be game for heading deeper to save the General now that everyone was in fighting conditon
|
|
"Thank you for helping me Isme"Lorian said. "After that, I think the wine might be better used to calm my nerves but yes, it does burn in the eyes. That was close as I do not plan on changing my name to Lorian the Blind any time soon."
Now able to see, he pointed to the exit. "We still have to rescue the General and the sands of time are flowing. Onward!"
The party rushes onward, into the bowels of the earth under the temple complex. minutes, you come upon the Ophidian Rectory:
Some heavy presence within this massive, domed chamber claws at the chest and weighs the air itself down. Strange glows emanate from the cardinal points of this massive, circular chamber. In the center of the room, an elevated, spiraling staircase entwines a column of stone, atop which sits an altar.
You see a human chained to that altar, with a Serpentfolk priest standing above him. There are several serpentfolk skeletons, and a giant constrictor snake . The priest hisses, more out of exasperation than anything else.
The skeletons and snake turn toward you, and their hostile intent is quite clear...
|
|
"Such a vile creature. I only wish it had made me a little more angry..." The half-orc says looks at the corpse of the viper bat. His eyes dilate and turn crimson for a moment, and you can swear you see his hands morphing into the black claws of a dragon. The effects disappear as he takes a deep breath and moves forward. "Indeed, we've come this far, let's keep going. The General must be nearby. I suppose the rebels must be further in by now, anyway."
The blue skeleton charges Etna and lashes out with a claw.
The purple skeleton charges Zavubak and claws at his face.
The green skeleton double moves, advancing with menace in his gait. A fourth skeleton (the red one) emerges from the far side of the pillar.
|
|
"Seems we've found our man," Isme hisses, eyes wide at the sight that greets them as the skeletons and the large snake snake move to intercept the party.
"I believe now is the time for decisive action!" she adds as she steps behind Barl and pulls out a small stoppered bottle and a vial of liquid. With practiced ease she applies the liquid to whatever is in the bottle, gives it a good shake and then heaves it in an arc to land just behind two of the attacking skeletons.
If there were any question as to why she didn't aim directly at either skeleton, it becomes clear as the bottle shatters just behind them and bathes both in an explosion of fire.
|
|
Zavubak nods at Isme's words. "Time for action... Very well." This time, he lets his anger flow. As he shuts his eyes, his skin tinges dark and looks as if its now scaly, and his fingernails grow long and sharp. His hands look a lot more like claws now, and he swings them at the skeleton in front of him. "Pile of bones, BEGONE!"
Zavubak transforms into a fearsome clawed warrior, slashing the skeleton in front of him, bits of bone flying everywhere as it's torn to pieces.
Not to be outdone in the transformational department, Ajaline raises his protective ward and his skin thickens, gaining a scaly sheen. Meanwhile Lorian shouts encouragement and positions himself perfectly to get showered in bone bits, as Barl brings down the hammer, shattering another skeleton.
The smell of sulfur and brimstone fill the air, as Isme rains fiery death upon a 3rd skeleton (and engulfing the remaining bits of the one Zavubak eviscerated...if a skeleton could be eviscerated). Luckily, the skeleton that was within reach of Isme when she chucked her bomb could not take an attack of opportunity, though she also was showered in bits of bone as a result of Barl shattering it.
"Watch out for that snake! It looks like a constrictor. It'll probably try to grab anyone it can, then squeeze the life out of them," Isme shouts in warning.
The snake slithers forward, hungrily moving up to Lorian.
The snake takes great umbrage with the cheeky halfling who dared to try and poke it, so it lashes out at her, trying to grab her with its bite in order to draw her into its deadly coils.
Etna lets out a bold, "Ah, ha, ha HA!" after the snake misses her, and steps into its space deliberately on her own. You have never seen a snake warring with the emotions of consternation, frustration and confusion...until now. It clearly was hoping to drag Etna into her current position, but under very different circumstances.
The skeleton, whether out of thoughtless abandon or feeling pity for the poor snake, charges Etna and strikes with its bony claw.
Zavubak lashes out with his claw. At first, it appeared the snake was going to slip aside, but the annoying little halfling in its space distracts it just enough to allow Zavubak to strike home. It is a severe blow, but the snake remains a threat.
Ajaline is so impressed with Zavubak's strike, he almost forgets he's shooting an arrow.
Barl's warhammer of skeleton smiting fails him, despite its lowered defenses from charging Etna.
Isme follows the burly dwarf's lead block, counting on his bulk to protect her from the linebacker skeleton. She lines up her shot and it strikes home, staggering the snake.
Lorian continues to inspire his compatriots, takes a step away, then puts a spring into his step.
Etna finishes off the snake, who twists and writhes, bleeding out onto the temple floor.
The skeleton seeks to avenge his fallen comrade...or just mindlessly keeps attacking.
It uselessly flails about with its claws...you get the feeling that even for a mindless animated skeleton, it realizes things look bad.
The serpentfolk priest, sensing his creatures' demises[sic], gives up on his ritual, and hisses something in Draconic.
The skeleton deftly dodges below Zavubak's first attack. If it could think, it'd be feeling smug...right up until his second claw rips it apart.
|
|
After making sure all the skeletons were out of commotion Etna would begin to head up the stairs to go release the captive. As she begins to cut the knives binding him
She will speak. "You probably have no idea what I'm saying but don't worry we are here to help. Let's just hope that other lizard does not show back up".
|
"Well done, everyone." Ajaline says as the last skeleton falls. His tone makes it sound like he thinks he's in charge. "It's time for us to free that captive up there." He points up to the alter. Etna was already at the top of the alter working on the prisoner when Ajaline sees her. Slightly annoyed that she didn't wait for him to announce the team's plan.