As Uesugi moves under the flying creature, Mr. Peppers and D use the opportunity to attack it. The magic missile slams into the snake-faced bat and causes it to waver for a moment, but it maintains its altitude and also manages to arc its scaly body out of the way, avoiding D's sand bullet.
Now seeing a target directly below it, the bat spits at Uesugi again, and this time, the venom splashes onto his face.
Venom vs touch:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Uesugi, give me a fortitude save DC 15 or you'll be poisoned. 1 Con damage and blindness for 1 minute. Strangely, the effects reoccur every 10 rounds (1 minute) and you can attempt a save each time. Alternatively, someone can try to Heal you.
Temple Interior, Round 1 Sirettis, Blaster, and Mr. Peppers Gallix, D., and Uesugi -- Viper-faced bat (-4)
"Uesugi take cover! That spit looks like acid!" Mr Peppers will continue his flurry of missiles from behind the pillar, attempting to strike its wings and bring it within range of Uesugi's deadly sword. Wand of Magic Missile:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Uesugi puts up his arms just in time to prevent the spittle from damaging his eyes. "I am alright. You continue bringing the serpent creature down. I have it's attention now."
Sirettis looks at the winged snake, curiously. It spits acid at Uesugi and she realizes it's a threat. She closes in towards the critter, notices its flying habits and speaks a single word: "Fall."
Casting Command: Will Save DC 15 or obey my command!
I had to read the whole bestiary entry to make sure you can Command it, but it understands Common and it isn't deaf, so you're in luck.
WILL the flying snake obey the witch?:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fly:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
As Sirettis stares at the flying snake with a cunning look in her eyes, she's able to hypnotize it with but a single word. The creature flaps its wings fanatically as it struggles to maintain its height. It will fall prone on its turn. Blaster misfires, but the creature takes another blast from Mr. Peppers.
Gallix, D, and Uesugi, you're up!
--
Winged snake (-7, will fall prone)
Mr Peppers notices Sirettis cast what he thinks is a spell but he's unable to decipher what spell as he waits for her to complete some sort of somatic pantomime and gives her a curious look. What sort of odd creature is this...
Male Human Brawler (Mutagenic Mauler) 10 / Skald (Spell Warrior) 1 | HP 95/95 | AC 23, Touch 14, Flatfooted 20, CMD 27* | Saves F+13, R+11, W+7 | Perception +4, Sense Motive +5; Init +2 | Knockout: 2/2 | Weapon Song Rds Used: 5/5 | Status: N/A
"Thanks, Peppers! This'll be dead useful!" Gallix quickly kneels behind Mr. Peppers and snatches up the crossbow and bolts. He pulls one of the bolts from the quiver and loads it. He sets the butt of the weapon against his shoulder and takes aim at the flailing creature.
Move action to pick up the crossbow, move action to load it.
As Gallix arms himself with Mr. Peppers' crossbow, the bat falls under Sirettis' spell. Its sinewy green wings stop moving, and it falls to the ground softly, landing on its back as it hisses in confusion.
Falling 20' feet, damage:2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
D uses the opportunity to launch another grain of sand that ends up flying overhead of the fallen creature. Uesugi's blade impacts the tiled ground and the sound of metal on stone rings out.
While still on its back, the creature tries to bite at Uesugi's ankle, but the samurai is far too nimble for it.
The wand wielding Elf nods towards Gallix, then turning back to the task at hand his lips grow into a smile as the flying snake falls from the air and lands with a thud right next to Uesugi. "Well done Sirettis!"
Preferring to stay back and out of the way, Mr Peppers will fire yet another missile at the now prone snake. Wand of Magic Missile:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2"Finish it off quickly before it takes off again!"
The winged snake gets vertical on the ground, and Uesugi chops at it but his blade only kicks up dust from the floor. Sirettis pulls out her mace and swings the air above the creature and Mr. Peppers' launches a third magic missile at it, tearing open a few more holes in its wings.
Male Human Brawler (Mutagenic Mauler) 10 / Skald (Spell Warrior) 1 | HP 95/95 | AC 23, Touch 14, Flatfooted 20, CMD 27* | Saves F+13, R+11, W+7 | Perception +4, Sense Motive +5; Init +2 | Knockout: 2/2 | Weapon Song Rds Used: 5/5 | Status: N/A
Gallix follows the viper as it falls toward the ground, tracing the path of its descent with the head of the bolt loaded in the crossbow. When the strange serpent collides with the hard floor, Gallix does not pass up the opportunity to get up close and personal. He rushes over, still grasping the stock of the crossbow in his offhand, and slams his gloved fist down on the head of the winged creature to put it back on the floor.
Gallix's fist slams into the serpent like a run-away wagon. The punch connects with the top of the creature's head so hard that a bit of venom splashes out of its fangs and onto the floor. Gallix looks down at the crossbow in his off hand and a surprised look crosses his face. "I should hold something in my other hand more often. Works as a pretty good counterweight."
D's sand bullet fails to hit its target and instead defiles one of the carvings on the walls, much to the chagrin of the serpent priests. Gallix pummels the winged snake, and it really isn't looking too healthy any more, now covered in a layer of its own blood, venom, and bits of its flesh.
Uesugi finishes off the serpent with a few quick slashes, and the serpent is left with both wings eviscerated from its body. It hops around a few times before collapsing.
Combat is over. There's another skill check here, but it's only one check, and you can use Perception, therefore you can Take 10 and.. Victory point awarded!
From the southern exit, you can hear faint murmuring in another language combined with the odd hisses of what could only be a serpent priest. A second more human-sounding voice appears to be pleading with the priest desperately.
Mr Peppers starts to pull out his journal once the winged snake stops moving but instead will hustle down to the southern hallway to listen at the urging of Uesugi. I guess I'll have time to make some notes here soon enough.
"Everyone be silent so I may hear what's going on." Perception:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Mr. Peppers peeks around the corner and listens. He's taken aback by the strange glows emanating from the corners of the massive, circular chamber. In the center of the room, an elevated, spiraling staircase entwines a column of stone, atop which sits an altar.
In the center of the altar, a human lies bound, shackled to the stone table.
What appears to be a serpentfolk cleric stands above the the altar with its hands folded in front of it. It whispers prayers,
Draconic "Great Ydersiusss, please accept our sssacrifice, that we may defeat the feeble Azlantians as our war continuesss."
The human lying before it looks to be unconscious and is dressed in important-looking regalia. Around the cavern are various serpentfolk and skeletal abominations standing by to witness the rite. There are also the corpses of several of the rebels you had earlier rescued, including Uszanriar, who lies knocked out in one of the far corners of the room.
Mr. Peppers, as far as making notes go for the Temple Interior area, we'll head back if there's time. The next room, the Ophidian Rectory, is the goal. Anyone who heads in, go ahead and roll initiative.
If possible, D. stealthily approaches the source of the voice.
He tries to move into position to get a surprise shot at the priest.
Hopefully outside of the room. I can't point the source right now, but i've seen 'corner shots', where if a line could be drawn from one of your angles, and it's not obstructed towards the target, you could plausibly shoot. Up to DM's discretion of course.
Sorry D, map is updated to give you a better idea of the angling. I should mention the priestess has full cover from the altar and can't be hit. The other creatures in the room can, though.
From the altar?
Probably more from elevation.
I drew a line on the map, would you consider that tiny bit against the skeleton's NW corner cover?
D. would motion his compatriots to follow him, in particular Mr. Peppers with his magic missile wand. If he could get a surprise shot in as well, all the better.
Mr Peppers will squeeze into the hall just enough to see the skeletal creature to the south and aim his wand, ready to fire it off once someone starts things off. "Gallix and Uesugi will need to get in the room quickly so that we may bring our superior numbers to bear on these snakes."
A wand blast for when the time comes: Wand of MM:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Uesugi nods and drags Gallix with him. "Come barbarian your unorthodox ways will be needed again." They move down the passage with haste but still try to keep as quiet as possible. When they near the front Uesugi makes sure to keep a hold on Gallix's shirt so that he does not go running off into the chamber. "What is the plan? You wish us to charge in? The stairs look steep but the priest is well defended while there from anything other than a close quarter fight. If we run in the guards of the priest may only fight us one at a time. It seems that this is the best option. Me or the barbarian will take the lead while the other defends the back."
"Let those with musket and sand blasts and spells deal with the priest, you two try to fight side by side and I can aid either with spell or wand. We just can't get blocked in these tunnels or the priest may escape and his sacrifice not."
I will be out rest of today, but it looks like Blaster may have an early initiative and I don't want to delay. It appears he will need to double move just to get into the room, so that is what he will do.
The party heads through the narrow tunnel, and D takes cover behind one of the corners, spying out a shambling mass of bones. Not being noticed yet, he uses the opportunity to launch his signature sand bullet, which easily takes out the red-armored skeleton, sending it onto its back.
Unfortunately for you, the rest of the minions immediately notice the fallen creature.
Draconic "Who daresssss to interrupt usss... Servants of Ydersius, sstop them at once!"
The blue boned skeleton moves up towards the source of the sand bullet, and Blaster moves into the narrow tunnel with his musket in hand. Blaster, I moved you once instead of double moving, since the tunnel is rather cramped and you'd draw an AoO
Knowledge Religion DC 11:
These are human skeletons, resistant to all types of damage except for bludgeoning damage. They appear to carry rather shoddy looking broken swords in one hand and use their claws otherwise.
Knowledge Nature DC 12:
This red and black snake is a constrictor snake, known for its lethal bite and its ability to grab its targets, crushing them in its grip.
Ophidian Rectory, Round 1 Uesugi Green skeleton Sirettis Snake D Yellow skeleton Gallix, Mr. Peppers
Realizing her crossbow won't do much against the skeleton, Sirettis decides to change tactics, and begins stroking her hair. It drags out to a large mass of hair that drops to the floor. It balls up into a massive wad, reaches over Uesugi and tries to bludgeon the skeleton with the green shoes.
Using Prehensile Hair hex. Her effective Strength is 18 when using it, and has 10 foot reach.
And I believe your hair deals bludgeoning damage... SO:
Sirettis' hair becomes a creature of its own and smashes the skeleton's skull right off of its body.
1d2 ⇒ 1 Bite:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
The red and black cobra slithers towards the group, leaving a trail of slime behind it. It raises its mouth into the air, spreads its jaws and chomps at Uesugi's ankle, but the samurai is quick on his feet and pulls his leg up in time.
D, go for it. Whoever is botting Gallix can also post his action. And Mr. Peppers, anything else other than your magic missile?
Knowledge: Nature:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19Anything else useful on that snake? Poison?
Mr Peppers curses as his party gets blocked into the crowded hallway with the steady stream of skeletons and now a snake. He fires his wand at the snake. "Don't let that snake grab on to you with its bite or it'll crush you to death! We've got to get out of this hallway!"
Wand shot was 4 that I rolled earlier. Cool hair trick Sirettis!
