"Ulp!" Rain gulps loudly as the lumbering skeletons move forward in response to the power released by Rumha. "Here goes nothing, I guess." With a shrug, she tries to snatch away one of the animate ogres' halberd.
HP: 28/28
AC: 17 (13 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 16 (18 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +2/+6/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Shield charges used: 3/42
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (4+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
"I was getting bored being the tallest one around anyway," Grobradon whirls his two handed sword at the nearest undead ogre.
With a deft touch, Talarin is able to disarm one of the ogre skeletons, who simply flashes his claws by way of showing how he intends to carry on this encounter.
Meanwhile Grob hits the other one with a tremendous blow, clearly damaging it.
Again Rumha calls on various good deities (in a frenetic litany), "Oh, great IroriIomedaeShelynShizuruSarenraeErastil, SMOTE these suckers!" And thankfully it appears the Gods are attentive.
His weapon held firmly ahead of him, and ready for any incoming attacks, Heledar steps close to Talarin offering a perimeter of security, and he also focuses on the life energies around them, catalyzing a burst of positive energy to harm the undead creatures.
Rumha's casting has another significant effect. One of them appears shaken but the second looks as though one blow would take it down.
Heledar also casts and although the first appears unharmed, the second crumples to the floor - a mere pile of bones now.
The remaining skeleton slashes at Grob and one of its claws connects.
Rythanus connects with the skeleton and once more it takes some damage. It must be a tough cookie!
Rain grimaces as the creature brings its claws to bear. "Ah ah. You know what naughty skeletons have to do? Take a seat!" Her whip darts out as she tries to bring the undead crashing down in a heap in front of the others.
HP: 28/28
AC: 17 (13 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 16 (18 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +2/+6/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Shield charges used: 3/42
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (4+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
Grobradon grunts, and tries to retaliate, "Good softening him up, let's see if I can finish him off."
He then shifts his position slightly to the side, looking to open a flank opportunity, launching his attack.
Talarin manages to trip the skeleton, sending him to the ground. Grob is unable to take advantage however, as his blow misses the falling creaure.
Fortunately Heledar is able to make up for the fact by defeating the skeleton with a 'killing' blow.
Wheezing again despite having done very little, the pallid magus leaned an arm agaist the wall. "Nice moves, guys. I hate to say it, but: let's keep moving. I feel all this hot gold breathing down my neck."
Rain nods in agreement as she returns her whip to it's place on her hip. "No rest for the weary, right?" She gives Rythanus a concerned look before glancing to the gates the skeletons had been guarding.
"Agreed friends, I get the feeling this is all simply meant to delay us" - Heledar puts in, moving to the gate and focusing his powers to detect any magic on the gate.
As you walk through the gates, you see that the Second Ring of Xin-Grafar is largely intact, except for two walled keeps in the southeastern part of the ring that appear to have been smashed open and shaken off their very foundations.
Most of the buildings in the Second Ring are constructed of stone. The molten-gold floods long ago burned away their wooden roofs. The gold flood line in the Second Ring is a meager 20 feet high, meaning that most of the upper floors of this ring’s buildings, particularly those closer to the center of the ring, are free of gold plating.
The foundation of the Second Ring sits about 20 feet higher than the First Ring, and its floor slopes gradually up another 40 feet until it reaches the bottom of the Third Ring.
The floor-to-ceiling bedrock walls surrounding this section make the Second Ring appear as though it were a separate cavern from the First
and Third rings. As in the First Ring, three canals of molten gold split the Second Ring, all of which flow outward from the Third Ring in the center of the cavern.
Only three of the original bridges are still intact.
Just inside the gate to the Second Ring, you find your first hoard of Tar-Baphon’s treasure.
Immediately ahead, the gold-plated road reaches a crossroads and disappears beneath a mound of partially melted treasure.
Gold coins, weapons, armour, and glittering gems cover the entire intersection in a mountain of wealth that reaches ten feet high.
Rain's jaw drops as the mountainous pile of wealth comes into view. "That... can't possibly be real. Can it?" Her voice is incredulous at first, but her tone shifts to one of hopefulness as she looks from the hoard to the others.
Rythan's jaw was similarly unhinged at this display of treasure. Here was enough wealth to do... well, anything. As if in response to Rain's words, he bent down and tried to pry something loose of the melted morass.
So taken were you all by the pile of gold, it's only when Rythanus starts to examine it closely that you notice a a nearby skeleton. Unlike the undead variety, this one is definitely deceased.
It's coated in gold and wearing a gold-plated Razmiri mask.
Fortunately you are all far enough away to see the impending danger and a shouted warning from Talarin to Rythanus probably saves his life as a shower of molten gold materialises from nowhere and rains on the spot the magus was touching. It lasts only a few seconds but has hit an area approximately twenty feet across.
No sooner have you caught your breath than you hear, "Lay down your arms, heretics and traitors, and we shall spare you! You are surrounded!
Hundreds of Razmir’s faithful beg me to kill you — but I will spare your lives if you surrender to the Living God. Make your decision!"
Rumha laughs, "Not gonna happen as Razmir has no such forces. But we will accept your immediate surrender. Come out or prepare yourself for death."
"He certainly hasn't gotten them here anyway," Grobradon sneers
"This is your last chance. Surrender or die!"
Rain shakes her head, looking around for the source of the disembodied voice. "Actually, I was thinking that Razmir can kiss my rosy achterwerk."
"Yeah, yeah. Buddy, we fought a DEMON today... so you know what? You're not exactly scaring me," Grobradon snaps, "In fact...@#@@ with us, and if I find you, I will tear your ####ing throat out and send you to the boneyard so you can meet a real goddess, the one of DEATH!"
No sonner has Grob uttered his challenge than six acolytes appear from the nearby buildings. Close behind is a black robed cultist - no doubt the one that spoke before.
Aglanda (Black robed cultist) = 13
Acolyte 1 = 10
Acolyte 2 = 10
Acolyte 3 = 10
Acolyte 4 = 10
Acolyte 5 = 10
Acolyte 6 = 10
With a flick of his wrist, a wand drops in the cleric's hand. He points it at the leader and fires.
Rumha casts and the black robed figure appears shaken by the effect.
Rain sneers as the Razmirans leap into view. "You all can kiss my rosy achterwerk too." She then sends her whip darting out, hoping to wrench a holy symbol free from the black robed cultist's grip if he brandishes one.
HP: 28/28
AC: 17 (13 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 16 (18 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +2/+6/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Shield charges used: 3/42
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (4+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
Grobradon actually smiles, "Your cult is going to need a recruitment drive after this."
Grobradon moves to hack the closest cultist with his great sword
Talarin is able to take the first acolyte's shortsword out of his hand with a deft flick of her whip.
Grob takes out the second cultist with a single blow.
The black robed cultist is not with the rest of the group. The remaining five step in close and personal. Four of them swing and miss but one manages to wing Grob.
Burned and gilded, Rythanus stayed back at first, instead pointing out the black-robed cultist behind the others.
Then he moved to flank one of the lesser cultists with Heledar.
Grobradon doesn't mind the nick much. Downing a foe for every slight cut he gets is more than a fair trade. Noting enemies bunched together, the half orc takes a chance on ending this quicker. His great sword arcs out attempting to cleave as many foes as he can
Four of the cultists swing their blades - more in hope than in expectation. As is the case, one of them gets lucky and nicks Grob's arm.
Rythanus manages to hit the black-robed cultist with his magical spell, Heledar manages to take out the third cultist with a single blow.
Rain fades back a step and tries to wrench another of the thugs' swords free, but the whip fails to wrap around one of the offending blades. "Stront!"
HP: 28/28
AC: 17 (13 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 16 (18 vs disarm)
F/R/W: +2/+6/+4
Second Chance: [ ]
Shadowstrikes used: 0/7
Shield charges used: 3/42
Spell Slots:
Cantrips (--) - arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, prestidigitation
Level 1 (4+1) - [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]
Ongoing Effects
The priest keeps the enemy leader distracted with another blast from his wand.
In almost a carbon copy of a matter of seconds ago, Talarin's whip goes looking for a sword and Rumha casts a spell.
This time Talarin fails to connect but it appears Rumha was successful again.
The black robed figure again remains inactive, clearly something has affected her.
Pakak attempts another flurry of cuts and strikes attempting to take the peons out quickly.
Grob swings with a wide arc, power resonating through the blade. He takes out two of the acolytes but the third just evades his sword.
Of the two acolytes remaining, one is swordless and stands there, clearly wondering what to do. The other swings feebly at Grob but misses.
Moving in to flank, Rythanus slashed at the acolyte who still had a weapon in hand.
Feeling just a mite vengeful, Rythanus darted after the black-robed cleric, intending to ensure that the cultist didn't cast anything nasty at them.
Rythanus swings and misses - not by much but by enough.