When Chotka came out of his drug-induced haze, he mumbled something about being careful and finding the wizard before finding a nice corner to sleep in. The next morning when he awoke he set about finding his companions scattered about the town and practicing the strange tongue of the softskins.
Groomahk understands not the bird-twitters of the softskins, but their meaning is clear all the same. He laughs and makes a crude gesture before following Rikal. Carousing and food for all!
Rikal looks at the boy, impressed by his understanding of the proper tongue, and says in Hallit, "I have bartering to do first, but then I shall go to the room of silver and enjoy the fray."
Rikal looks at the boy, impressed by his understanding of the proper tongue, and says in Hallit, "I have bartering to do first, but then I shall go to the room of silver and enjoy the fray."
Rikal looks at the boy, impressed by his understanding of the proper tongue, and says in Hallit, "I have bartering to do first, but then I shall go to the room of silver and enjoy the fray."
Rikal soon found himself in Torch's market, at the wagon of Sanvil Trett. One of its walls was a pair of thin sheets of gray metal nailed together. It held a wide variety of metal horrors, from whirring things to things with tiny blinking fires inside them. He greeted Rikal in surprisingly good Hallit.
"Good day, warrior! I have heard of your mighty deeds beneath the hill. Tell me what plunder you have found? I have rings and gold for your unclean treasures."
Good to go... And try as much strange booze as possible.
Good to go... And try as much strange booze as possible.
The sworn band gave over their things of metal, save the strange fluids dear to Chotka and Karek, and spent their night quietly in an outbuilding of Khonnir Bhane's given over by his daughter to their use. In the morning, they rose, prepared themselves, and took more of the bronze god's touch to let them breathe.
So he's addicted and it's been a day. He is jonesing. Because he rolled a strong addiction, it takes the same effect to get his fix.
So options:
1) He can refrain and suck up a day's withdrawal, which gives him -2 to Con. Once he's stuck it out for a day, he can try to save to beat the addiction. (DC 20 on that.)
2) He can dose and see how things go. If he rolls the right effect, he's golden. If not he still sucks up the -2. Either way a dose will also give him 1d4 hours of +1d4 Wis (whether he gets his favorite effect or not) and afterwards he would be at -5 Perc and Sense Motive, -2 to saves vs. mind-affecting, and 1d2 Con damage. That con damage will heal naturally or with magic (base addiction stuff doesn't) and the penalties go away in 2d4 hours.
You have only 1 dose of fluid left, if it's an issue.
Karek woke in the morning with only hazy memories of his time at Silverdisk Hall. He recalled much drinking, chiefly from his pounding head. His aching backside, perhaps, did not require looking into just then.
As the war band returned to the caves, Chotka did not repeat his performance of flailing about in the water. Instead, he learned his lesson and confidently swam along with the others, eager to renew his search for his kin.
Groomahk grimly follows his war-chief into the water
Rikal, also having learned his lesson, follows Chotka and Groomahk as they dive down into the fouled water, to emerge in the cave - after casting light on his morningstar.
Rikal, also having learned his lesson, follows Chotka and Groomahk as they dive down into the fouled water, to emerge in the cave - after casting light on his morningstar.
The Sworn Band found their way through the water and to the caves without incident, finding them much as they had been the day before. In short order, they again reached the giant cavern where they battled the skeletons.
Groomahk pounds his chest and gestures towards deeper into the cavern. His meaning is clear.
Chotka adjusted his grip on his axe, and followed Groomahk as he stalked deeper into the cavern.
Groomahk laughs and slams his fist to his chest and growls.
Ha'! ghung Dun veS-DevwI' groomahk Hom neb Ha'DIbaH!. He draws his axe and stalks ahead, first snapping the bones of each of the skeletons. He rips out a few ribs and keeps them as souvenirs. One, he thrusts through through the skin of his shoulder.
HoS groomahk vaj tlha' wa' tam! mamej may' vaj qem chaH ghaH! He stalks from the cavern, obeying Chotka's command.
Ha! Great war-leader Groomahk's bone beak hungers for meat!
The soft ones shall follow strong Groomahk! He shall bring them much battle!
Groomahk laughs and slams his fist to his chest and growls.
Ha'! ghung Dun veS-DevwI' groomahk Hom neb Ha'DIbaH!. He draws his axe and stalks ahead, first snapping the bones of each of the skeletons. He rips out a few ribs and keeps them as souvenirs. One, he thrusts through through the skin of his shoulder.HoS groomahk vaj tlha' wa' tam! mamej may' vaj qem chaH ghaH! He stalks from the cavern, obeying Chotka's command.
** spoiler omitted **
Groomahk found the spot where he and the others had slain the skeletons...but no bones remained there to take.
"Let us press on to find Chotka's brethren - and the professor we seek."
Chotka and the others pressed on, following close behind their burly orcish scout.
Karek follows, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.
Groomahk makes a sign to ward away ill-luck and and stomps on, keeping to the fore, but still close enough for the others to come to his aid should they wish to engage in glorious battle!
Forewarned of the dangers that lurked in the strange desert in the cave, the Sworn Band stalked warily forward. But the ways of this unnatural place, or perhaps the strange fluids some had imbibed, bent their seeing around the forms of two of the four-armed skeletons, which burst from behind nearby rocks and attacked. In an instant, two fell upon Groomahk, slashing his flesh. The heartbeat's warning was just enough for Rikal to defend himself as a third skeleton erupted next to him!
The not-dead paused not an moment, pressing with all four arms. Their claws further slashed Groomahk, though he had much blood-hoard left to him still. Rikal felt the bite of sharp bone more deeply, enough to cause even the boldest warrior pause.
Karek rolled 12+2 for 14
That's...not good news.
That's also not good news. But it could be worse. On that note...four. Groo is the big doofus in front, so he gets two of 'em all to himself.
5 damage
miss
And that's surprise.
Which means now they get full attacks. Groo again
5 damage
2 damage
Rikal
no
10 damage
Chotka snarled in fury that the skeletons had managed to get the drop on them once again. As he bellowed in rage, he lurched forward to tear at their bones with his tusks before stepping back and leveling his massive ram.
,
,
Groomahk roars in challenge and flexes. His thews grow large with strength, and his tusks drip froth. He hungers for bloodshed, and swings at one of the skeletons before biting at the other.
Rikal whips his Morningstar at the skeleton.
Unfortunately, his injury causes him to miss, and he takes a cautious step back.
Karek moves up beside the Skeleton and uses a hammerfist.
Smiling in delight as he feels bone splinter.
Once roused, the Sworn Band turned on the skeletons in a fury. Chotka, Groomahk, and Karek each slew one, with only the simple orc requiring a second strike to finish his prey and only there thanks to his axe slipping between skeletal ribs rather than cleaving them in twain.
Groomahk roars and pounds his chest in victory! Then, he grabs one of the skulls and rips off its lower jaw. The top he slams over his head so that his own eyes peer out from its eye sockets.
Then, he shatters the bones of the skeletons into dust so they cannot rise up against him again.
veS-ra'wI'! mamej may' SuyItHa' groomahk! 'ach reH ghung 'etlh 'Iw!
He stalks further into the cavern.
War-Leader! You give Groomahk much battle! Yet, his blade still hungers for blood!
Chotka tucked his ram over his shoulder and reclaimed his axe, then quickly looked about to make sure the skeletons hadn't been carrying any clues about their origins, before he hurried after feral orc.
** spoiler omitted **
Chotka tucked his ram over his shoulder and reclaimed his axe, then quickly looked about to make sure the skeletons hadn't been carrying any clues about their origins, before he hurried after feral orc.
The sworn band followed the rough trail across the strange desert beneath the earth. It took them across the width of the place, past many tall rocks and finally to the foot of a cliff rising above. There it turned, following the rock face for a brief while before fading to nothing just in sight of a bright pool of light reaching out from the rock. No rock gleamed and the light did not dance as that of fire did. Instead it lay cold, immobile, surely a thing of the Black Arts.
Chotka tightened his grip on his axe and crouched low, waiting for his companions to catch up. It was best to surprise their enemies together, in a quick rush of fury.
Once everyone had gathered up. Chotka motioned for Groomahk to attack.
Groomahk rushes forward with a savage roar and slams his axe down on the light with a powerful over-handed chop.
Groomahk rushes forward with a savage roar and slams his axe down on the light with a powerful over-handed chop.
Groomahk's axe cut the air in a great arc, propelled by his mighty thews so powerfully that it passed through the stone as easily as the air. So powerful where Groomahk's arms that the stone had no chance to scream as it was struck, and the blade came flying through as the momentum carried the orc in a half-circle. He didn't even feel steel strike rock, but rather as though he had swung only through air..
Nor did the others of the sworn band see the axe bite or hear its strike. Instead it seems that the blade passed through the stone cliff as through nothing at ll.
Rikal narrows his eyes and casts a spell that will allow him to study any magical auras, examining the wall.
Chotka wrinkled his nose and moved forward to inspect the location where Groomahk's axe should have sheared shards of stone from the wall. With no evidence of damage on the wall, Chotka tentatively reached out to touch the wall.
Rikal narrows his eyes and casts a spell that will allow him to study any magical auras, examining the wall.
[dice=Knowledge (arcana)]1d20+1
Rikal found no trace of magic at all.
** spoiler omitted **
Chotka wrinkled his nose and moved forward to inspect the location where Groomahk's axe should have sheared shards of stone from the wall. With no evidence of damage on the wall, Chotka tentatively reached out to touch the wall.
Chotka felt nothing but air. His fingers did not stop at the stone but instead pressed through its face.
Chotka snarled. "Some kind of illusion to hide.... something." He quickly prodded the ground beyond the illusory wall to make sure of his footing, then hefted his axe over his shoulder and stepped through.
Karek follows, curious as to what is causing this illusion?
"There were no black magics used to create this illusion. I sense none. Whatever has caused it, it is far darker than that."
Rikal follows the group through, ready for any sign of trouble.