If I remember correctly, from the legends at least, this place was used in the Lost Battles and used by the Dark One as a base after. she says with a twinge of sorrow in her voice.
Woooooow Thistletorp looks around the place, seeming to be everywhere at once, without ever actually runny. We should explore.. how can the battles be lost if we found this place?
Woooooow Thistletorp looks around the place, seeming to be everywhere at once, without ever actually runny. We should explore.. how can the battles be lost if we found this place?
Thistletorp uncovers a large st of doors behind a wall quite near to the Companions, but also a far more interesting portion of Skullcap where the fitted stone walls with their cold, blue-black faces give way to something much closer to natural rock mixed with blue-black rubble. He follows those rippling, tumbled walls to the northeast and hears the sound of falling water. In short order his spell-vision shows him a torrent spilling down from above, curtaining what seems to be a huge natural cavern.
Loren watches the kender run hither and yon, cringing at the exuberance in such a foul place. "Master Babblebrook, perhaps you should be, uh..." 'Careful' is a word that will fall on deaf ears. Rethink that, Loren. "...looking for any really interesting devices. I'm sure a place like this, where a wizard once lived, is filled with all sorts of fiendish traps and stuff. You wouldn't want to miss them, would you?"
For his part, once on solid ground, the knight draws his sword but keeps his other hand free for now.
Thistletorp pops up behind Loren. Hiya! I found a really neat place that looked like it was carved rock, but it wasn't! It was natural rock,like the kind that you find in a cave... or a mountain... or a rock on the ground.. or... He trails off for a moment as he sticks his hands in his pockets and pulls out a dagger. I think this is yours.. it got bored and wanted to go on an adventure with me. He hands it back to Loren. Oh! And there was a BIG cavern hidden behind a magic curtain.. oh and the sound of a waterfall!
He pokes his head out from under Jakun's cloak. Like this! But it wasn't a cloak.. i don't think it was a cloak. Well it was magic and it was cloaking a passage, like hiding it.. so i guess it IS a cloak of sorts. His voice becomes more and more muffled as his head ends up deeper in Jakun's pockets. There were some large doors. They were closed. I should go look! Because there could be more things in there.
Like traps! I didn't see any traps, Loren. But, traps are tricky things.
Very sneaky. Sometimes, they're there, and sometimes they're not... but they're there for other people. Like cabbages. Very bad cabbages. Can't trust 'em at all. I should check for traps!.. oh and the door! I'll check the door for traps, too!
He happily bounces along the path searching for traps (including the door).
wow.. ok.. um.. kender, apparently, are impossible to find, even when bouncing.
Thistletorp vanished into the darkness, bouncing silently about as he searched for traps. He found none about the door to the south, or on the other doors facing the Great Hall. He found himself soon at the natural cavern again, looking through the watery curtain and feeling the chill spray. Coming nearer, he saw that the cavern opened up into a wide pond. About twenty feet out, a rocky, sand-covered island rose from the water. It was piled high with gems and weapons.
"It appears we have a few ways to go. The island appears to be a classic trap. Shall we check the Great Hall first? Perhaps it was where our Dwarven Scion made his final stand?"
I would know if it's a trap! those poor things.. on that island.. all alone! Thistletorp sheds a tear from his eye.
Interesting that this treasure did not disintegrate when Zhaman fell she renarks.
"Indeed Mariel or that no other would be treasure hunter took any. Thus, the reason why it is the last place we should look. It is too... convenient".
Thistletorp sighs. OK...I guess the things will be happy there. They've stayed there this long, right?
Caitlyn nods, "Mom uses to say, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Lets try elsewhere. Oh and Thistle I suggest you avoid the island, those things which are probably mimic monsters or worse are likely to fall into your pocket and bite you!"
"Indeed, Master Babblebrook... I honestly wonder if such a horde is even real or just some conjurer's illusion." The knight then nods to Jakun, "One door is much the same as another to me. The Great Hall, then?"
"Indeed, Master Babblebrook... I honestly wonder if such a horde is even real or just some conjurer's illusion." The knight then nods to Jakun, "One door is much the same as another to me. The Great Hall, then?"
The Companions turned to the north side of the stairs. Thistletorp again pronounced the doors safe and then opened them. They swung out, dislodging some dust, to show a wide hallway that ended in identical doors. As they advanced into the chamber, the chill of Skullcap became sharper still and a small horde of translucent beings more tatters and odd violet light than substance emerged from the walls, nearly surrounding them!
The ghostly beings rushed, three converging on Thistletorp. Only one caught the deft kender, its icy claw passing through his hand as he dodged another. The chill struck him to his bone and he felt the undead almost seize on something more precious still within him before Thistle could pull away. Two more struck at Caitlyn, one seizing deep within her shoulder. A billowing rush of red came out of the wound, joining the violet light in the ghost's center as her vitality faded. Another pair reached for Mariel, one of them likewise chilling her to the bone.
On the other side of the chamber, one dug deep into Jakun and the sensation of his life billowing out as Caitlyn's did was oddly familiar. The image of a bloodstone on a silver pendant flashed through his mind as it happened. Sensing martial righteousness, three closed on Mittens and each chilled his soul. But the light of Kiri-Jolith would not be dimmed within him! Finally, one chilled Loren as well.
Inits
never flat-footed
Thistle, AC 20
miss
miss
Caitlyn, AC 18
Mariel, AC 10
Jakun, AC 12
Mittens, AC 10
Loren, AC 11
"Aieee it burns!" shrieks Caitlyn as she lashes out with her hammer. Due to the confined circumstances she couldn't hit the ones right next to her, instead she went for the pair north of Thistle. Despite the rage, she was cautious - these things seemed insubstantial!
- Wielding sword two-handed w/ power attack (shield won't help against touch attacks)
- BAB is only +5, so just one attack per round. :-(
As the shadows came alive and the restless spirits rushed the party, Loren briefly froze in terror. Never in his years of training had he actually confronted something like this. Skeletons and zombies, certainly, but spirits untethered to bodies? As the creatures began to suck the very life from the Companions, though, his terror gave way to duty and his faith. "Corij, guide my blade!
Worried about the vulnerable spellcasters and the gasp of pain he hears from Jakun, the knight swipes his blade at the ghost able to attack him, Mittens and Jakun.
Jakun grunts as the spirit rends his corporeal form with its incorporeal one.
The Minotaur Wizard falls back 5' and casts a spell!
Jakun speaks in words of magic invoking speed to aid his allies!
Jakun then raises his hand to bludgeon the foe with Force - Telekinetic Fist Damage.
The Revered Daughter shows forth her medallion as an agry flash of platinum light fills the chamber
Be gone foul creatures of Chemosh! The power of the Platinum Dragon, the Valiant Warrior bids you to depart along the River of Souls causing no harm to those blessed with life. The power of Platinum Dragon, Skyfather, commands you to depart from here!
channel positive energy, sun domanin keeps the undead from channel resistance
dc 20
Wow!! ghosts!!!
Thistletorp narrows his eyes at the ghosts and pokes at them with his sword.
"Wow!! ghosts!!!" Thistletorp narrows his eyes at the ghosts and pokes at them with his sword. He cut into the ghosts, sending disruptive currents through their undead essence. Just after he struck, Mittens did as well. Loren held off, waiting for magical aid from Jakun.
The Revered Daughter shows forth her medallion as an agry flash of platinum light fills the chamber, "Be gone foul creatures of Chemosh! The power of the Platinum Dragon, the Valiant Warrior bids you to depart along the River of Souls causing no harm to those blessed with life. The power of Platinum Dragon, Skyfather, commands you to depart from here!" The ghosts burned in platinum fire, one almost dispersing.
Caitlyn too held off, holding herself ready for magic's foul touch. Jakun grunts as the spirit rends his corporeal form with its incorporeal one, then falls back speaks in words of magic invoking speed to aid his allies! He then raises his hand to bludgeon the foe with Force.
Now bolstered, Loren struck. Never in his years of training had he actually confronted something like this. Skeletons and zombies, certainly, but spirits untethered to bodies? As the creatures began to suck the very life from the Companions, though, his terror gave way to duty and his faith. "Corij, guide my blade! Worried about the vulnerable spellcasters and the gasp of pain he hears from Jakun, the knight swipes his blade at the ghost able to attack him, Mittens and Jakun. His second strike destroyed it.
"Aieee it burns!" shrieks Caitlyn as she lashes out with her hammer. Due to the confined circumstances she couldn't hit the ones right next to her, instead she went for the pair north of Thistle. Despite the rage, she was cautious - these things seemed insubstantial! Her first strike destroyed one already hurt by Mariel and Thistle. The second and third finished another, leaving the way ahead clear of ghosts for the moment.
The remaining ghosts descended up on Mariel and Loren with a vengeance that the Revered Daughter barely survived as more and more of her life was torn from her. The spawn of Chemosh did not forgive. Loren fared better. Caitlyn suffered single further liferending touch.
miss
So ghosts. We're down from 12 to 9. Bummer.
Thistle
miss
Caitlyn
miss
Mariel
Yow, 10 Con drain.
That's six of 'em. 3 more. For Loren.
miss
miss
"Mariel!" Caitlyn screamed as she saw the life literally getting sucked out of her friend. She smashed Wyrmslayer down repeatedly as hard as she could, as she frantically tried to obliterate the ghost nearest to Mariel.
"Mariel!" Caitlyn screamed as she saw the life literally getting sucked out of her friend. She smashed Wyrmslayer down repeatedly as hard as she could, as she frantically tried to obliterate the ghost nearest to Mariel.
[dice=Hasted attack, Rage, Power attack]1d20 + 13 + 1[dice=Damage]1d12 + 16
[dice=Primary attack, Rage, Power attack]1d20 + 13 + 1 [dice=Damage]1d12 + 16
[dice=Iterative attack, Rage, Power attack]1d20 + 13 + 1 -5[dice=Damage]1d12 + 16
Feeling her life force being drained, the Revered Daughter reaches out to Paladine. Guard me oh Holy One nad keep me from these abominiations. Send them back to whence they came
I'm going to have Loren delay until after Caitlyn.
His first action will be to use a point of vigor to cast Protection from Evil as a swift action, giving him another +1 deflection to AC and a +2 to saving throws. What he does next depends on Caitlyn's success and movement.
If Caitlyn is still in the same square as she was at the start of the round, Loren will take a 5' step to the southwest (adjacent to Mariel) and begin attacking any foes threatening Mariel.
However, if Caitlyn took a 5' step to the south, Loren will first strike at the spirit to his southeast then take a 5' step to the west (where Caitlyn had been standing), and attack the spirit to his southwest (that Caitlyn hasn't been able to attack due to her reach weapon).
Loren calls upon the strength of Kiri-Jolith to further bolster him against the spirits' wrath , then yells, "Leave her be! You have yet to touch my soul, foul creatures! Come at me!" He then starts swinging, trying to finish off as many of the spirits as he can.
Jakun pours Force energy into the Ghost which has nearly undone the Revered Daughter!
Magic Missile
Stay away from my friends! Thistletorp spins like a whirlwind, swords flashing in the torchlight.
Stay away from my friends! Thistletorp spins like a whirlwind, swords flashing in the torchlight.
[dice=stabby time]1d20+12-2
[dice=damage]1d4+8
[dice= stabby again]1d20+12-2
[dice=damage]1d4+8
Can you DMPC Mittens?
Can you DMPC Mittens?
"Stay away from my friends!" Thistletorp spins like a whirlwind, swords flashing in the torchlight. He only scored once, but somehow cut the ghoststuff all the same. At the Companions' other flank, Mittens cut into a ghost as well.
Feeling her life force being drained, the Revered Daughter reaches out to Paladine. "Guard me oh Holy One nad keep me from these abominiations. Send them back to whence they came." Platinum flames engulf the ghosts, destroying one in a flash and leaving the rest greatly diminished.
Jakun pours Force energy into the Ghost which has nearly undone the Revered Daughter! His force missiles tear it to pieces that fade into nothing with a last, cold sigh.
"Mariel!" Caitlyn screamed as she saw the life literally getting sucked out of her friend. She smashed Wyrmslayer down repeatedly as hard as she could, as she frantically tried to obliterate the ghost nearest to Mariel. Her first stroke scattered another, then so did her second. Her third claimed still another.
Loren calls upon the strength of Kiri-Jolith to further bolster him against the spirits' wrath, then yells, "Leave her be! You have yet to touch my soul, foul creatures! Come at me!" He then starts swinging, trying to finish off as many of the spirits as he can. He dispatched one to his side and stepped up to strike the last still menacing Mariel, only to have to pull back his blade at the last instant as the ghost crowded in too near to strike without cutting through it into the Revered Daughter.
The devastating display drew all undead eyes to Caitlyn. Hate smoldering violet within them, two ghosts clutched her soul and nearly tore it from her body. The other groped toward Thistletorp, but remained no match for the kender's reflexes.
Loren delayed until after Caitlyn.
Pretty sure Caitlyn shouldn't get a 5 step in the middle of a full attack, but I'm not going to be picky about it considering the ghosts are all in such poor straits just now. :) Also I couldn't quite make the reach work to have her wipe away all Mariel's friends, so she took down one of Loren's.
Loren's action needs to change too then, but that's ok. He just nails the one NE of him instead of SE.
3 ghosts left. 2 for Caitlyn
Thistle
Jakun wheels around and strikes at the foes that now harass Caitlyn with the threat to the Revered Daughter now less critical than it was moments before.
Quarterstaff Attack #1 - Damage
Hasted - Quarterstaff Attack #2 - Damage
Thistletorp grits his teeth, a dark look burning in his eyes.
Cold, so cold! Caitlyn shivered as it seemed the horrid things raked her very soul. Ice had formed on her skin which cracked as she stumbled away and frantically attacked the ghost nearest Mariel. Putting everything she had in it, her hammer swiping through it again and again.
Paladine, let your glory once again resound within these halls and cast these creatures back to the planes of darkness. she says again holding her medallion and channeling the power and light of the Platinum Dragon as radiance busts forth again.