Back at the Box, Daisy has the Navajo shamans perform rituals to magnify the potency of her existing weapon, armor, and protective charms and fetishes....
[Upgrades her heavy mace, chain shirt, heavy wooden shield, ring of protection, and amulet of natural armor from +1 to +2....]
Koran has the shamans increase all of his protective items and grabs a ring to add a little more.
He also receives a cloak to help protect him from spells and traps and the like.
During the time at the box the other PCs see Koran and Prof. Solomen conversing a lot, this is strange as the two have never directly spoken before. After a while the two enter Korans tent, there is some flashing lights and then the sound of glass shattering. after a few minutes Koran emerges from the tent. He has practically doubled in size, his arms ripple with even more muscle than before and he stand over 12 ft. Mjolnir is now the size of a decently sized tree. A small red gem floats around the giants head.
Koran has the shamans increase all of his protective items and grabs a ring to add a little more.
He also receives a cloak to help protect him from spells and traps and the like.
During the time at the box the other PCs see Koran and Prof. Solomen conversing a lot, this is strange as the two have never directly spoken before. After a while the two enter Korans tent, there is some flashing lights and then the sound of glass shattering. after a few minutes Koran emerges from the tent. He has practically doubled in size, his arms ripple with even more muscle than before and he stand over 12 ft. Mjolnir is now the size of a decently sized tree. A small red gem floats around the giants head.
Sweet! :-)
Just an in-game calendar reminder: It is Teusday, April 23rd, the day of The FOs' first assault on The ST, and Merlin teleports The FOs back to the Box at around 11:30 AM.
The team will spend the night resting and recovering spells, and return to The ST either on Wednesday, April 24th, or Thursday, the 25th....
(Since we are on an established wealth system (I like it!) I'm clearing cash room by turning in some of these loot drops. People can claim them as they see fit.)
Radsworth turns in the two wands of burning hands, offering them to anyone else who might need or want them. He also gives back the Necklace of Fireballs Iv. (Without the 4 strongest fireballs) There were too many of those floating around in the Tower for him to risk wearing that item. He would likely find another anyhow. He keeps a silver dagger, and turns in the other. He hands the potion of Barkskin over to Koran, who might have more use for it than he, and offers the potions of fly(x2) to whomever wants them.
Total: 37550 wealth, minus a few consumables.
When he finds time, he will address the others.
"After doing a little research, I've found some interesting tidbits on our foes. Like I mentioned before, I don't think we can defeat both the Terror and the Piscodaemon at the same time, especially when they have a number of servants who are dangerous enough on their own. Worse, they have significant Spell Resistance, which means I may not be able to affect them with some of my spells. In light of this, I'll be taking a enhancement approach. Thanks to Chesterfield, I can easier understand some of the more basic Abjuration spells. I plan on sharing Protection From Evil, which should help ward against most of his spell like abilities. Furthermore, I have commissioned a Ring of Counterspells. I have narrowed down the best use for it to two spells."
He looks at Koran.
"The first is casting Confusion into the ring, so it might protect Korans mind from the enemies first attempt to seize it. The other would be to give it to Arthur, and ward against Dispel Magic, protecting Arthurs enhancements while he engages the enemy. Either way, I'll need the ring back after we win. If we die, you can keep it."
He sits down and removes Chesterfield, then scratches his head.
"What do you say, new friend? I'm thinking Haste and Protection from Evil at least. I would imagine you know what is in my spellbook?"
Rad glances for a moment at the spellbook dangling from his belt. "Almost full! I'll need another one soon. And I really should make a backup!"
Excellent choices, Professor Radsworth.... As for the contents of your spell book, I'm quite familiar with your repertoire.... In time, we shall fill in the gaps, until you have at your disposal all the most useful spells in the greater and lesser grimoires.... All in good time, sir!
Kailin spends little time on getting new gear, he simply improves his headband and receives a small floating sphere from the shamans.
Several of your friends and colleagues left on an expedition to the woodlands of Northwest Texas, shortly after Merlin teleported you Fierce Ones to Sarasota.... Jewels was one, and she wanted me to pass on this love note to Derrik....
Dr Hoffmann grins and hands Derrik a folded-up piece of pink memo paper with heart stickers on it that smells like Jewel's perfume....
Krar, Vash and his pet roc, Greg Bear-Strong, Nature Boy, and Dwayne Lee went, too.... They're looking into the were-squatch rumors.... Not sure when they'll be returning, but I thought some of you would be wondering where your buddies were.... Anyway, welcome home, Fierce Ones! Get some R 'n R....
Jewels' love note is written in big, loopy, girly script, and is filled with promises of eternal love....and dirty things she plans to do to Derrik when she returns from Texas.... It is signed: Love 4-ever, Jewels! With a heart sticker and a lipstick kiss mark....
Levinson leaves the rest of the group once they return to the Box and heads off to the library in hopes of improving Kepler's battle prowess. Between her research skills and the formidable intellect of Mahatma, she hopes not to fail her Eidolon again by burning out on spells.
After "selling" some old items, total wealth: ~39,347gp
Well... at least now between his recent size boost and improved magical claws, he won't be completely outclassed when I can't keep buffing him...
The professor looks over to the marble elephant she sat on the bookshelf in front of her, Plus we have you to ride into combat. I mean... I can ride on you right? I won't just fall off?
I would be most honored to bear you in battle as your steed, My Lady.... If you are not as confident in your riding skills as you would prefer, might I recommend fitting me with a houdah--it is a chariot-like carriage one straps onto an elephant's back to ride in. Many of my former masters have used one.... A military saddle might serve just as well, and be easier to come by, perhaps....
Hey, Fierce Ones! Welcome home, miss you guys.... I'm glad everyone came home in one piece! Wish Grimm and I were out there with you, but I'm afraid morning sickness would hinder my effectiveness as an adventurer, and I won't let Grimm go without me! Haha!
Kate embraces each of The FOs....
Sees the bigger, badder Koran, and looks up at the giant, whistling in amazement....
You've grown a lot since I last saw you, big boy!
The great, dragon-like shantak bears Mephos, Whisperer of Secrets, on the winds, through banks of dark storm clouds that flicker with lightning and rumble with thunder....
Far below, the dark waters of the Pacific Ocean churn and thrash....
It is not far now.... The risen city of R'lyeh.... Capital of My Dread Master's new kingdom.... A kingdom in which I shall rule a duchy as Duke Mephos!.... His Dread Monstrosity will reward me handsomely for delivering the new location of Pandora's Box....
Mephos grins as he spurs the shantak to fly faster.... Then he throws back his darkly handsome face to the darkening sky and gives voice to diabolical laughter!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
The shantak screams an unholy howl in response, and beats its mighty wings faster....
That night, deep in the forest of Northwest Texas, a growing pack of monstrous wolves thunders through the brush in pursuit of a panicked deer....
Long, dagger-sharp fangs bared, snarling and howling to one another, the wolves are the size of horses, and all are gray-white in color, with eyes that blaze bright red like embers in the dark forest....
The deer hurtles its body through the brush, panting heavily, heart hammering a rapid fear-beat, eyes rolling in terror.... It sees a stream ahead and dashes toward it....
Out of a dark grove of pines steps an immense giant, covered from head to toe in a coat of thick, shaggy, gray-and-white fur, with eyes that blaze with unholy red fire, and a broad, fang-filled maw....
Mighty Ithaqua opens its great, fanged maw and splits the night with an unearthly howl that shakes the trees, and causes even the fierce weresquatches to briefly pause in their relentless pursuit of the deer, which drops dead from a heart burst by terror....
The weresquatches fall upon the fright-slain deer, ravenous hunger overcoming fear of their unholy master.... They tear the carcass asunder and feast under the blazing red gaze of The Wind-Walker....
About 3 miles away from where Ithaqua oversees its spawns' grisly moonlight feast, at a campsite where six tents and a Tomahawk combat helicopter with a stylized owl painted on its front occupy a spacious grassy meadow in the midst of the evergreen forest....the distant howling of wolves echoes over the forest....and then a ghastly, unearthly howl pierces the night, louder and more terrible than the wolffish howling that preceded it!
What the f~$# was that!?
Dwayne Lee draws Daisy, and peers into the gloom at the northwest edge of the campsite, the direction from which the unearthly howl came....
The Wendigo.... The Wind-Walker who rules the northern wastes....
Greg Bear-Strong rises from his spot near the campfire and unslings his composite longbow and quiver of alchemical silver arrows from his back....
Ah.... If so, I should fire up the chopper and get us the hell out of here, pronto....
Hooty is as pale as a ghost after hearing the monstrous howl in the distance....
Omigod! That did not sound like a normal wolf.... Do you really think its.... The Wind-Walker?
Jewels draws "Mel Gibson" and peers apprehensively into the darkness to the northwest....
I'll go find out.... Be right back....
Nature Boy stands and transforms into an owl, taking to the night sky with beating wings, and flying northwest to investigate from what he hopes is a safe distance aloft....
Perception to notice Nature Boy in owl form flying into view, at 100 feet distance succeeds....
Ithaqua perceives the true form of the Elven Druid within the owl, and recognizes a spy....
Roaring like a hurricane, the Wind-Walker changes its shape, too.... Into that of a Huge air elemental....and rises into the air in the shape of a great tornado!
Realizing his imminent doom, Nature Boy-owl screeches a warning as loudly as his owl lungs and vocal chords will bear, and begins a futile dive to pick up speed in hope of evading the huge, fast approaching whirlwind that is Ithaqua in air elemental form....
SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!!!
The desperate warning shriek echoes over the pines....
Perception vs DC 15 to hear Nature Boy's warning screech (range penalty factored into DC).... fails....
Perception vs DC 15 (range penalty factored in) to hear Nature Boy's warning screech.... succeeds....
I just heard an owl screech.... Do you think it was Nature Boy trying to warn us of something!?
Perception succeeds in hearing the warning screech....
I heard it, too! I don't speak owl, in spite of the name, but that sounded like "Get the hell out of there" to me!
Hooty the Helicopter Pilot leaps up and runs to the Tomahawk....
Goddammit, Hooty, let's not panic yet, bubba.... We got to wait for Nature Boy!
Dwayne Lee aims Daisy at the darkness to the northwest, eyes straining to pierce the gloom....
Nate's a f@!#ing owl, Dwayne, I think he can get away better than we can right now! Get in the f~+*ing chopper, now! I'm not waiting around to get chewed on by a Great Old One for any of you motherf~@%ers, dammit!!
Hooty throws open the cockpit door and vaults into the pilot seat....
Jewels exchanges worried looks with Dwayne, Greg, and Vash, who whistles for Glaza....
She dashes to the chopper and throws open the side door....
C'mon, boys, all aboard!! barks the young orcess in a tone that brooks no argument....
As Glaza soars down out of the night sky, she clutches Vash gingerly but firmly in her talons and tosses him onto her mighty back, wings beating small dust devils in the pine needles as she swoops low to the ground before ascending away into the night again....
Dwayne Lee and Greg Bear-Strong dash to the chopper and leap inside, followed by Jewels, who closes the door as Hooty lifts the chopper skyward with a yank on the controls....
The helicopter soars up and away to the east....
The relentless whirlwind Ithaqua steadily, inevitably closes the distance to Nature Boy-owl, drowning the hapless druid's fearful screeches in its roaring winds as it finally overtakes him, sweeping him up in its furiously howling winds and hurtling him around momentarily, before dashing him against a tall pine, dealing falling damage....
As the owl's dazed body drops to the forest floor, Ithaqua resumes its true, terrifying shape--a towering Titan in gray-white fur, with flaming red eyes, and a fang-filled maw!
Nature Boy struggles vainly to escape, rising to his taloned feet and furiously beating his wings, but Ithaqua looms above him, already upon him....
Powerful bite plus cold.... To confirm crit crit damage ....dealing 60 piercing and 2 cold damage.... Ithaqua's powerful, sword-like fangs shred Nature Boy, and the great maw swallows his remains....
At the box Yingzen gets his sword, armor and cloak strengthen along with finding a ring to help him evade attacks
Merlin seems to have taken a natural interest in Radsworth's development as a wizard, and that night (the 23rd), he presents the professor with a gift of six spells to scribe into his spellbook:
2nd level: acid arrow, summon monster II, web
3rd level: stinking cloud, beast shape I, water breathing
These six scrolls are scribed with some of my favorite lesser-grimoire spells.... Ones I've noticed you don't seem to have in your spellbook already.... See how you like them, Professor Radsworth.... All of them are from schools you are comfortable with, I believe....
The Navajo shamans perform an Enemyway Dance ritual to ward off enemy divinations at dusk on the 23rd of April, as their own divinations suggest that Dread Cthulhu's cult seeks the strongholds of those who resist....
The lich Lavinia and her flesh golem son, Wilbur, follow the four mummies through the winding, zigzagging corridor far beneath the Necropolis of Gisa....
Ahead, a scintillating rainbow of colored lights dances in a chamber....
Ahhh.... Here be the Rainbow Chamber pa used t' tell of.... Those as knows the answer t' the riddle, as I do, can pass through safely....
The emaciated, redheaded lich halts her macabre company....
Step only where I step, children! she commands.
Lavinia walks below the archway, engraved with a combination of Middle Kingdom hieroglyphs and Greek letters, and sets foot only upon specific bands of the rainbow-hued floor of the chamber beyond, as radiant as a noon day....
Her ghastly entourage shuffles in her footsteps, avoiding the perilous magic that destroys those who misstep....
At Pandora's Box in the Canyon, a brilliant newcomer named Andy Cox presents the Navajo chiefs and the faculty from Pandora's Box with blueprints for several different weaponized vehicles that might prove useful in the fight against Cthulhu and the other Great Old Ones....
From spare parts salvaged from abandoned military vehicles, and given the needed labor and tools, Mr Cox proposes to build a number of innovative weaponized vehicles on site at the Grand Canyon base, and launch them against Cthulhu when the moment is right.....
Some of Cox's plans resemble mecha from sci-fi literature and games....
Radsworth looks at the bundle of scrolls, then looks back up at Merlin.
"Thank you. I really appreciate this. There's some here I've never dreamed of using, but I'm probably not thinking about their application hard enough! I will scribe them at once!
As he turns, he runs right smack into Sun Mi, who has her hands on her hips, tapping a foot impatiently.
"Oh no you won't. You promised me dinner with Aaron and I. Every time you get locked into that study of yours I don't see you for hours. Not this time old man. You're coming with me! And no scribing at the table either!"
She grabs Radsworth by the hand and drags him away, ignoring his stuttering protests.
Kailin laughs quietly as the Professor is unceremoniously dragged away to his dinner.
Have a nice meal Rad.
Kailin spends most of his time in the box fluting outside his tent.
Breaking through a bank of dark, storm-fraught clouds, Mephos, Whisperer of Secrets, Rider of Shantaks, beholds R'lyeh below....
He is momentarily confused by the vast, cyclopean ruins, with their suggestion of impossible antiquity.... Non-Euclidean geometry evident in the mad architecture....
Other flying things swooped and soared amid the green, slime-covered spires, domes, and polyhedrons that clustered like islands buffeted by the tide of the Pacific Ocean....
Tentacled things squirmed in the sodden streets of that fell city, and Mephos fought to retain his sanity at the vista that met his eyes below....
Landing on a surf-sprayed terrace jutting a few feet above the surface of the ocean, Mephos slides off the Shantak's back down its leathery wing, and strides toward an immense portal looming before him in the side of the mountainous ruins....
Yingzen wonders off to find a place where he can practice his sword and meditate in peace. He sets about working with his sword,his movements are fluid and graceful.
Levinson sits in a corner skeptically reviewing the plans of Cox as Rad is dragged off and Kailin snickers.
Ugh. I can't make heads or tails of this. A year ago, I would have brushed off this plan in a heartbeat, but now I'm friends with King Arthur, a talking elephant, and a moody monster from beyond our reality...
Kepler gives a scoffing noise at that before returning to eating his entire lamb.
Still... Giant fighting robots? Seems a little far-fetched. And why not just use illusory magic to hide the Box and defend us? I think the military surplus could be better used elsewhere, right?
Conventional weapons and tactics have proven useless against Cthulhu and his spawn.
Andy points out the cockpit and control mechanism for the vaguely quadrupedal machine depicted in the plan Levinson is perusing....
My designs utilize a unique neurokinetic synergy system that translates the pilots movements perfectly.... They are more like....second skins....suits of armor that respond to and amplify the pilots movements....
Let me get this straight.... This guy wants to build us giant fighting robot suits to fight Cthulhu with.... And you're poo-pooing the idea!?
MJ winks at Levinson and grins....
Sign me the f~@& up, sir! I wanna drive the black lion that makes up Voltron's head....
This is the usual, and to be fair, sane response to my designs.... They all laughed at the Pentagon, too.... I know they seem....extravagant....but mankind has never faced an enemy like Cthulhu before.... We can't afford to remain hindered by conventional logic when dealing with an entity that seems to personify evil and madness....
Mr Cox speaks calmly and evenly, as though he were used to skepticism regarding his designs, expected it, and was prepared to address it with patient explanation....
I'm a biologist, not a mechanic engineer, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to judge if these will work or not.
Levinson lays out the pages, so the Marble Elephant's vast intellect can analyse it.
As much as I want to be Iron Man, I don't want to end up putting any of our guys in a possible brain-frying death trap....
Grimm looks at the mecha plans over Levinson's shoulder, half-drunken bottle of Jack Daniels in hand....
So.... Mr Cox.... Did you work at the Pentagon prior to Cthulhupollooza?