Inarus pulled himself to his feet shakily. The loss of strength was crippling.
”Let’s move on.”
"We should open this door." says Festram of the door labelled Hard. Assuming that no one will stop him, he will do just that.
Limping along in an exaggerated way, Inarus went through the door as well.
Sruigryth follows, spear at the ready.
ROUND 6
PERCEPTION
INITIATIVE
WILL SAVES
+2 vs. Illusion
FORT SAVES
REFLEX SAVES
Drawbacks:
Graeil - Overprotective: If one of your allies should fall unconscious from hit point damage, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls and skill checks as long as you are farther than 10 feet away from your fallen ally.
Inarus - Warded Against Nature (Animals do not willingly approach within 30 feet of you, unless you or the animal’s master succeeds at a DC 20 Handle Animal, Ride, or wild empathy check. Animal companions, familiars, and mounts granted by your class abilities are immune to this effect.)
Sruigryth - Meticulous: You take a –2 penalty on skill checks for skills with which you’re untrained.
Festram - Haunted: You take a –2 penalty on saves against spells with the evil descriptor.
Scarlet columns line every wall around this room. Three quarters of the way towards the exit lays the activation stone with a light blue glow emanating from its base. Behind the stone stands a huge intricately carved stone dragon that stands blocking the door to the south. A large scorch mark is centered on the floor of the room in front of the statue. Several bookcases sit empty to the north and numerous scarlet-topped pillars line the walls of the room. A small circular table is located behind the dragon’s wing, a diamond shaped brass key resting on top of it.
“Greetings, travelers. I am the guardian here, tasked with judging those who would travel down the Challenging Path. Those who do not impress me should not press forward. Doing so will earn them their doom.”
Retcon:
As you depart the room the Overseer calls out to you. "I am not following you, but I am observing you. You should know that the key that admitted you to this trial serves an additional purpose. While in the Gauntlet, it will automatically identify up to ten items of your choice. When you physicall touch the item in question to the key you will know instantly comprehend the details of the item."
It turns to look over each of you in the room as it begins to speak in a deep measured tone, "I will not follow you from this room, but I am observing you and will rejoin you later."
Looking to the party member wearing the amulet he adds, "You should know that the key that admitted you to this trial serves an additional purpose. While in the Gauntlet, it will automatically identify up to ten items of your choice. When you physically touch the item in question to the key you will instantly comprehend the details of the item."
Graiel sighs and asks, "So, do we each have to impress you, or do so as a group?"
"And what must we do to impress you?" asks Festram of the statue.
Inarus mutters to himself that he was the most impressive gnoll to have ever gnolled, until he got bitten by spiders.
ROUND 7
Grail casually moves into the corner and activates his wand again.
Festram is unable to determine anything special other than it's a speaking statue. "A feat of strength, anything to show your prowess, or simply allowing me to test your resolve." the statue replies simply.
Sruigryth moves to examine the scarlet-topped pillars and the empty bookcases.
Having had quite enough, Inarus lifted his halberd and charged. ”How about this for my strength?!” So far he had been dropped, bitten, poisoned...and most importantly, outnumbered his tormenter. As such now was the time to show off Gnollish strength!
"Feel free to test my resolve."
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Inarus' weapon clangs loudly off the stone dragon. "Impressive, furry one. I acknowledge your feat of strength and you may pass." The dragon ushers Inarus behind him to the locked door.
The dragon then acknowledges Festram's commitment and says, "Please stand here, and the rest of you that wish to be tested." as it motions to the burnt spot on the ground.
”Oh...” Inarus looked at it with some hesitation. That was the first time anyone had taken a blow from him and acted like nothing happened. It was worrisome...he told himself it was due to the spiders, but he didn’t believe it. He quickly hurried past it.
Graiel sighs once more as he steps into the blackened area and activates his wand yet again.
"This is gonna hurt."
Festram moves to the indicated location.
ROUND 8: Some teams still have actions remaining for the current round and a 24 hour extension period for this round has begun. During this time any player from these teams may submit actions for characters that not yet submitted actions for this round. The current round will end either when all actions have been submitted for all missing characters or 24 hours from now, Monday 5/13 7:00 PM EST, whichever comes first.
Inarus moves out of the way as the stone statue sizes up the remaining party members. "You have chosen the challenging path and I will now see just how worthy of passing you truly are."
Without warning and immediately following the end of the statement from the dragon, an explosion of fire erupts from the mouth of the statue and scorches in entire center of the room. Inarus shields his eyes and turns his head as the heat is overwhelming, even from his safe position behind it. The source of the flames continues to spew forth the deadly fire for nearly five seconds before it finally stops.
The room smells of burnt hair and thick clouds of smoke clouds still fill room. When the flames do stop, the three gnolls are amazingly still on their feet. Smoking, charred and shaking from pain, but still standing nonetheless.
At first the statue does not speak nor does it move, simply taking in the sights before it. "Hmmmm. Interesting. I admit I did not expect to see three gnolls still standing after that! You've impressed me challengers.
After a second of silence the dragon speaks again, asking curiously "Do you require my aid to recover from my test?"
Grail lets out the breath that he was holding in preparation with a cough. "Yep....it hurt. Wait for it..."
”You all live! My pack is the best pack.” Inarus was just happy he wasn’t standing there. ”Let us go now before the dragon tests us again.”
ROUND 9
"We shall be fine Great Red. I assume that we have your leave to pass?"
Once confirmation is given, Festram will move to the next door and check it for traps.
Sruigryth pats a smouldering bit of his clothing down, then advances up to the door next to Festram, also checking for traps.
As traps were looked for, Inarus helped his kinsman.
The dragon confirms, "Yes gnoll, you have my leave."
Festram will move to the next door and open it without hesitation.
Festram moves adjacent to the activation stone and places his paw on top of it, causing the metallic door on the south to slowly rise into the wall above and reveal the path to the next room.
Inarus stands in the doorway and takes sight of a 25’x25x25 room that feels cavernous, with a natural earth floor with numerous mounded holes cutting deep into the ground and stalactite shapes of rock dripping from the roof. Wisps of a faintly color smoke occasionally drift from one of the holes to rise into the air before dissipating. The activation stone rests in the opposite corner of the room from the entrance while the metallic exit door is on the same wall as the entrance, but separated by several of the smoking holes.
PERCEPTION
INITIATIVE
WILL SAVES
FORT SAVES
REFLEX SAVES
Drawbacks:
Graeil - Overprotective: If one of your allies should fall unconscious from hit point damage, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls and skill checks as long as you are farther than 10 feet away from your fallen ally.
Inarus - Warded Against Nature (Animals do not willingly approach within 30 feet of you, unless you or the animal’s master succeeds at a DC 20 Handle Animal, Ride, or wild empathy check. Animal companions, familiars, and mounts granted by your class abilities are immune to this effect.)
Sruigryth - Meticulous: You take a –2 penalty on skill checks for skills with which you’re untrained.
Festram - Haunted: You take a –2 penalty on saves against spells with the evil descriptor.
”Graeiel, I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Can you get rid of that poison in me? There is no way this cavern is going to be empty.”
Sruigryth points his spear up at the shape he sees as he enters the room, signing to the group, "there is something up there, everyone stay calm."
He has also drawn the iron vial containing his mutagen into his hand, ready to use it the moment s%## goes down.
"Verry well." says Festram, though he does draw his crossbow and ratchet a bolt into place with a KA-CHUNK! sound.
Round 10
Graiel shakes his head at Inarus, "It seems unwise at this time Inarus. If any injuries from you all transfer to me or dangers in this new room attack, I might lose concentration. It would result in healing energies wasted."
Sighing at how hard his life was and how unfair the universe was, Inarus lifted his blade and strode into the room.
Festram also advances into the room.
As this creature falls from the cavern roof, it opens like a hideous octopus, its thin, hook-lined tentacles connected by a fleshy web.
It quickly flies towards Sruigryth, opening its mouth on the underside as if preparing to bite him. Festram, who had been studying the room as he was about to enter, takes note of the stealthy approach of the flying creature and manages to reach out and grab the investigator's shoulder and pull him aside as it flies past. The creature hovers adjacent to Sruigryth, just over one of the geysers to his southeast.
Sruigryth studies the creature as he downs his Mutagen.
Sruigrth identifies this as a Darkmantle. It clings to the ceiling and swoops down to grab unsuspecting explorders.