Regin draws his weapon and makes ready to meet the rock thing if it decides to come visit.
Dommer attacks the earth elemental once again with his devastating infusion. His hands move on the air, forming a hammer made of rock, and he pushes it against the outsider. Alas, his earthen hammer strikes only a glancing blow on the elemental's shoulder. It didn't seem any the worse for the impact.
Regin pressed forward and struck the elemental, knocking loose many stones with his flail.
'Well Namtar is out, and appears to be safe.' Relieved that his friend is safe, Tribim looks at the creature, "What are you?" and steps back, casting jolt at it. As his lightning struck home, Tribim realized that Zummabu's company faced an earth elemental. They were dull-witted creatures, but dangerous all the same. Their elemental natures made them especially dangerous to those in their domain, which meant anyone standing on solid ground. They could swim through it like water and somehow just knew where best to strike anyone in contact.
Amerkashu cast again. This time his healing both mended Namtar's wounds and roused the fallen champion from unconsciousness.
Arundel moved closer to Namtar, and pulled out a potion as his illusion faded away.
The elemental swung its stony fists at Regin, coming so close to contact that he felt the breeze of their passing.
And for Regin
miss
Oh 'yere gonna get it now!
The Dwarf swung once again his devastating infusion against the creature.
But, once again, he doesn't seem to connect the hit.
'Good, Namtars awake.' Tribim steps back and calls to Namtar. "Watch out Namtar that's an earth elemental it came right through tha wall" he then casts another jolt at the thing, but accidently hits the ceiling knocking dust loose.
The wind from the elemental's strike made Rhasuel flinch. Such a powerful blow!
He tries to work his way around and get another good strike in, but he just barely misses.
With Namtar awake, Amarekashu focused on destroying the Earth Elemental.
Namtar groans and stands. Thank you, Masters. He cricks his neck and flexes his muscles. he reaches out with both harms to grab the rock beast in a crushing grip.
Seeing the space around the earth elemental fill up with his friends, Arundel hangs back, keeping the potion at the ready should anyone need it. He will keep a sharp eye on the elemental, and if the beast lumbers within range, he'll be ready with a punch.
If the elemental moves within melee range of myself, punch it with my free hand.
"Oh 'yere gonna get it now!" Dommer swung once again his devastating infusion against the creature. But, once again, he doesn't seem to connect the hit.
The wind from the elemental's strike made Rhasuel flinch. Such a powerful blow! He tries to work his way around and get another good strike in, but he just barely misses.
Namtar groans and stands. "Thank you, Masters." He cricks his neck and flexes his muscles. he reaches out with both harms to grab the rock beast in a crushing grip.
'Good, Namtars awake.' Tribim steps back and calls to Namtar. "Watch out Namtar that's an earth elemental it came right through tha wall" he then casts another jolt at the thing, striking it square in the side.
With Namtar awake, Amarekashu focused on destroying the Earth Elemental. His second blow connected solidly, throwing loose rocks and dirt.
Seeing the space around the earth elemental fill up with his friends, Arundel hangs back, keeping the potion at the ready should anyone need it. He will keep a sharp eye on the elemental, and if the beast lumbers within range, he'll be ready with a punch.
The elemental struggled against Namtar's iron grip, but proved unable to shake the champion.
Namtar grapples the elemental. Its AC drops by two from this point until it breaks free.
Elemental attempts to escape.
nope
Although it was akin to punching a wall, Amarekashu continued to hammer away on the creature.
Namtar grits his teeth. His muscles bulge, as he locks his arms tighter about the earth-beast. He slips his legs about the creature's own limbs and bends backwards, squeezing tighter and tighter, pinning the beast's limbs to it's side.
'well that went better than I thought' Tribim, realizing he had struck the earth creature, looks at his finger for a moment then shrugs hos shoulders and points his finger at the creature again "Hold him still Namtar!" and casts jolt again.
Yes, Master! He will not escape the Champion of Dalath
'We have to break that habit.' Tribim rolls his eyes, "Were not you masters Namtar, your part of the same team we are. Don't you gladiators have events where you work on someone's team?"
Regin swings and gets lucky as Namtar's strikes move the Rock into his weapon's path!
Arundel continues to watch, waiting for an opening.
The dwarf sees Namtar holding the enemy, and does another of his swings with the earth hammer.
The dwarf sees Namtar holding the enemy, and does another of his swings with the earth hammer. With Namtar holding the elemental fast, Dommer's hammer connects with stunning force. Its earth tears a hole clean through the creature's own earth, which shifts weakly to fill the empty space.
Regin swings and gets lucky as Namtar's strikes move the Rock into his weapon's path! He struck true, courtesy of Namtar, and disrupted the elemental as it tried to reform. The creature couldn't take much more of that.
Namtar grits his teeth. His muscles bulge, as he locks his arms tighter about the earth-beast. He slips his legs about the creature's own limbs and bends backwards, squeezing tighter and tighter, pinning the beast's limbs to it's side. He held the elemental nearly immobile!
'well that went better than I thought' Tribim, realizing he had struck the earth creature, looks at his finger for a moment then shrugs hos shoulders and points his finger at the creature again "Hold him still Namtar!" His lightning disrupted the elemental still further, so loose dirt began to run down over Namtar.
"Yes, Master! He will not escape the Champion of Dalath!" Namtar answered.
'We have to break that habit.' Tribim rolls his eyes, "We're not you masters Namtar, your part of the same team we are. Don't you gladiators have events where you work on someone's team?"
Although it was akin to punching a wall, Amarekashu continued to hammer away on the creature. He connected once and the elemental collapsed entirely, showring Namtar with still more dirt and rock.
Namtar flexes, letting the dust mix with the oil and sweat of his body into a thick patina. Masters, should I go back through the mold? he hoped they would say no. He didn't relish the cold again, but, he would obey the commands of his masters, as the Father of Buctories commanded.
Amarekashu shook his head. "You are more valuable. Perhaps we can retrieve them another way." Looking into the passage, he tried to determine whether they could be hooked with a rope or long pole or another potential implement.
Yes, Master. Maybe.. there is something we can do to burn away the mold?
'He just doesn't listen.' As the dust clears, Tribim shakes his head. "For gods sake, don't go back into tha mold and stop calling us Masters." Pointing to the mold, "I think a good scrub brush would do a better job. But we's certainly don't want ta use fire, it would make it grow. We need something cold or a really good bleach."
The statue's destroyed, Masters. Perhaps I can walk back in? He pulls on the rope still tied about his waist. You can pull me back out if I fall.
Amarekashu shook his head. "You are more valuable. Perhaps we can retrieve them another way." Looking into the passage, he tried to determine whether they could be hooked with a rope or long pole or another potential implement.
Amarekashu thinks it would be a long shot, but they could throw a rope over the staff and try to roll it toward them. Anything else inside is probably out of reach given the angles involved.
'Talk about bull headed.' Tribim, Still holding on the rope, is barely able to keep his feet as he is dragged across the cave floor. Trib rolls his eyes at his big friend. But tries a different tack. "I thing that is still a terrible idea, and besides we need ta clear tha moss so's I can check tha room for hidden doors. Cause I ain't crossin tha moss again. And stop callin' us 'Masters' has any master you ever seen drag his slave out of a bad spot? No, they leave 'em there ta rot! So's we ain't yer masters!"
Zummabu is a kind master. He bought me and gives me to the Father of Victories, that may blood and sweat may be offered to glorify Him.
Region chuckles, That habit was probably beat into him, Trib. You aren't going to change that with a nice suggestion.
We need cold. Hmmm. Yup, I got nothin'.
"Perhaps we should consider setting up camp here. It is a relatively defensible area, and I could prepare a spell in the morning that would get rid of the mold." As the elf suggests this, he replaces the potion back in his backpack, unused.
[b[Camp, Master? We.... sleep here?[/b] Excitement and terror warred in his voice. He had never slept beyond the walls of Dalath. The prospect was both exhilarating as horrifying.
Day 3: Flamerule 21 in the Year of the Worm. (2,090th year of Gilgeam's rule)
Zummabu's Company withdrew a distance from the mold, to a spot of comfortable warmth. There they laid down camp, set watches, and slept soundly. The morning arrived without incident.
During the night you dream that you are walking in a labyrinth. The stone walls, floor, and ceiling all have a strange blue tint, like no stone fit for building. Even the air seems to carry the hue. You know you must find the heart of this place, but the stone tells lies: Every time you turn your back, it seems to move. Corners vanish into blank walls, new passages open where there was solid rock. Something growls in the distance.
For an age, you can't make any headway. It feels almost as though you haven't taken a single step, despite your aching feet. Then the labyrinth changes in an eyeblink, becoming a perfectly round chamber with statues evenly spaced along the walls. All are Untheri priests, all the same and all staring directly into your own eyes. They have no faces. The labyrinth appears on the floor, spreading out from Dommer's feet, and the domed ceiling above sags down, becoming a grinning leather mask with brilliant lapis lazuli eyes.
Then you wake.
The Dwarf wakes up confused. If while awake his stonemason experience was already forcing his dull head into thinking all the pathways they had been taking, it seemed that sleep had made matters worse. Dommer stands up, assessing the place they slept. Grumpily he yawns, reorganizing his thoughts, and then in silence moves to examine the walls - crudely drawing their path in the floor with rocks. He kept thinking about the blue tint from his dreams.
The Dwarf wakes up confused. If while awake his stonemason experience was already forcing his dull head into thinking all the pathways they had been taking, it seemed that sleep had made matters worse. Dommer stands up, assessing the place they slept. Grumpily he yawns, reorganizing his thoughts, and then in silence moves to examine the walls - crudely drawing their path in the floor with rocks. He kept thinking about the blue tint from his dreams.
[dice=Craft]1d20+5+2
So far as Dommer could tell, the labyrinth bore a vague resemblance to the Cairn of Whispers but none of the paths in it seemed to match where Zummabu's Company had walked. He found nothing about the walls to suggest that they would move about on their own as those in his dream did.
Namtar wakes up with a yawn. He stretches, working out the kinks in his muscles from sleeping on the ground. Then, he begins his daily exercises. The Father of Victories demanded his sacrifices be in peak fighting form. Offerings made through weakness were of little value to the God of the City and the Sky.
His eyes sparkled whenever he looked around, and a smile kept pulling at the large man's mouth. When he was finished with his exercises, he took to tending his weapons.
This is so exciting! I slept on the ground! Out of the city! I've.. I've never done this before! It's OK because Zummabu said I am to do this, but... It's so different!
Arundel rises with the others, and begins his own daily morning rituals. He performs a weird sort of combination mediation and study time, examining the spells in his spellbook while also holding various poses and moving his body in slow, deliberate motions.
He smiles a quiet smile at Namtar's amazement, and glances occasionally at whatever Dommer is doing, but does not let it interrupt his process.
After about an hour of this preparation, the elf stores his spellbook, and looks around at his companions. "I have prepared a cold spell for the day, so we can make our way past the mold. Let me know when we are ready to head out."
Still a little speechless, the Dwarf stands up and replies Arundel.
I'm ready to keep going, Elf. Thanks for preparing such spell.
Regin's preparations are more like Namtar's than Arundel's. He spends the morning preparatory hour praying toward the sunrise (though he couldn't see it) and preforming a few rituals associated with Ishtar, the goddess of farming an magic, among other things. His prayers included several marital drills that included litanies concerning the administration of justice in the absence of an actual judge and how to best defend the poor and needy.
At the end he looks refreshed and laughs good-naturedly at Namtar's enthusiasm. That's the spirit! I wish I could still say the same. The novelty has worn off for me, unfortunately.
Oh, Master, I will remember this! When I'm back behind the walls of the City, I will remember the first day I slept outside! He grins like a boy and picks up a shiny piece of stone. I'll have this to remind me, if Master Zummabu lets me keep it!
"The ground makes as fine a bed as any," Amarekashu said cheerfully, putting away his sleeping roll. "But given the choice, a feather bed and a warm companion - or two - is a preference." Rolling his shoulders and hefting his pack, Amarekashu looked at the others. "Shall we start by letting Arundel show us how to destroy that damned mold?"
Indeed Regin leads the way back
Indeed Regin leads the way back
Zummabu's Company arrive at the mold without incident.
'I hate sleeping on the ground.' As Tribim awakes he watches the others begin their morning routines. So he does so also, and toddles down to the latrine. 'Glad they put a latrine in this place, nothing worse than relieving yourself in the corner your walking around later.'
Done with his morning ablutions just in time to hear Namtar, Tribim smiles and slaps him on the calf as he walks past. "You may as well make a necklace of it, 'air will be plenty more 'first time' rocks before were through.!" Hearing Arundel explain he has the right spell prepared Tribim smiles, "Now lets go deal with tha moss." Tribim, toddles after Regin, staying out underfoot from the longshanks.
When they arrive back at the mold, Arundel wastes no time. "Well, here we go" he says, pointing at the leading edge of the mold and uttering an arcane word. As he does, a ray of frost shoots forth, hitting the leading edge.
Arundel continues to hit the mold with frost shots until a path into the room is cleared.
Namtar clenches his fist when he feels Tribim slap him, but then he looks down and smiles when he sees his friend. Ok, little Master! I'll make a necklace if there are more!
When they arrive back at the mold, Arundel wastes no time. "Well, here we go" he says, pointing at the leading edge of the mold and uttering an arcane word. As he does, a ray of frost shoots forth, hitting the leading edge.
Arundel continues to hit the mold with frost shots until a path into the room is cleared.
A tiny web of frost erupts around where the ray strikes, then fades away in a few breaths. Moments later the entire expanse of mold turns black and crumbles to nothing. The unnatural cold vanishes as it does and the way is open.
Proceeding along, the others see what before only Namtar could:
The ceiling glowed with what seemed to be natural light, which nonetheless never reached past the archway once blocked by the mold. It illuminated a series of worktables, vises, spinning wheels, and blocks of unfinished marble. A huge, unfinished statue of an imposing, bare-chested warrior with its arms held grasping something now gone stood to one side. The bearded figure was an Untheric noble, just like those on the reliefs and statues that Zummabu's company had seen elsewhere in the ruin, but clearly meant to be a different individual.
The seven-segmented staff that Namtar found and then dropped when struck low lay on the floor. A short red pedestal against the south wall once held the elemental in egg form, now no more than a few loose bits of dirt remained. On the tables sat a pair of lapis lenses bound together with bronze and three miniatures: A tall ziggurat, a rearing bull standing upon a cloud, and a grand arena. Three triangular, obsidian rods no longer than a man's forearm rested in an ancient stone rack mounted to the wall. Each was tipped with a carved seal.
The elf looks slightly stunned at just how effective his spell was. "Wow, that worked well. Might have to keep that spell handy more often." Moving into the room, he will bend and pick up the staff, and begin to examine it with his arcane sight.
Red metal pedestal: nonmagical, weighs 200 pounds, worth 300gp
Staff: nonmagical, but masterwork
3 miniatures: nonmagical, worth 200gp each
2 obsidian rods (only two of rods, my mistake earlier) are all archaic Untheri wands: unseen servant (16 charges), shatter (7 charges)
1 set of lenses: goggles of minute seeing